Published Every c jeaclle, {f' fldams, Tub! I'SILGT’S, Ten Cents a Copy.
NO‘ 6 1 3 ' Wednes‘lay' 99 WILLIAM STREET. N. Y.. Jqu :33. 1990. $500 9‘ Ye”  

 

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THE BIBBUS IT iIHIII GUPHEH.

BY ALBERT W. AIKEN,
Al'Tll()R ms “ 01in BENZINE," “RICHARD TALBOT
or I‘INNARAR." “THE FRESH or 'FRlsco,”
“JUE PHENIx, THE PULICE SPY," ETC.

 

 

CHAPTER I.
THE DRIVER AND THE SPORT.

ABOI'T the liveliest town III the Territory of
New Mexico, at the time of which we \\ rite, was
the Ininmgcamp in the White Uuks district
known as Golden Plume.

It lunhtml of nearly five hundred inhabitants,
and as all the mines in the neighborhood were
doing \\ ell the town had quit“ a boom.

There was a haek line which ran once a week
between Golden Plume and White Oaks, afford-
ing a means of Communication wlth the outer
world.

It wusnn all-day journey: the hack left “'hite
Oaks at Seven in the morning and arrived at
(lull-n Plume nt fiVe In the afternoon.

“ KIN I BELIEVE ME EYES!“ rum) urn ItanIxI-z. “ Is IT YOU, swnzr WILLIAM, It was 1M thul Yhethanve “‘us an great but
(m. yap. uuos'u’ the road was in such a dreadful state that the

 

 

2

horses were not able to do better than five miles I

an hour over the greater part of the road.

()n this particular morning on which We begin
our tale, the back from \Vhite Oaks only had a
single paSsenger on board, and that passenger
was of a class that rarely traveled over this par-
ticular route.

A young and good-lOoking girl, a lady born
and bred, evidently, from the way she carried
herself.

“ No common trash!” as Long Hank, the
driver of the stage, observed to the agent of the
Express Company in White Oaks, after the lady
had entered the hack, thus affording the John
an opportunity to inspect her.

She was neatly dressed in dark clothes: tall
and finely formed, with regular features, lit up
with great, gray eyes, so dark in color that tiny
seemed to be black; her hair was as ebou in hue
as the raven’s wing and fully as lustrous as the
plumage of that ill-omened bird.

She was not over twenty, yet had a resolute,
fearless way with her, and acted more like an
old, experienced woman of the. World than a
young and, presumably, timid girl. But the
firm, squarely-cut chin, and the strong lines
about the mouth, showed that the girl had a
dauntless will, and a good judge of human
nature would have set her down as being
capable of taking care of herself in any situa-
tion.

The stage only made one stop between “'hite
Oaks and Golden Plume, and that was at a lit! le
settlement in the mountains known as Murphy’s
Clearing, which was just about half—way.

Here dinner was provided for the passengers,
and the homes Were fed.

The stage arrived at Murphy’s on time, and
Long Hank, in the most gallant manner, escort-
ed the lady passenger into the dining room.

After the meal was ended, the driver con<
ducted the lady back again to the hack.

“ 1 am very much obliged to you for your
kindness,” she said, her voice particularly sweet
and melodious. '

“Don’t mention, missl” the driver replied,
with an elaborate bow. “It does me proud to

be able to help you along. I’m no rough and,
’iii

tough \Vestern rustlcr! from old York
State, I am, and I have handled the ribbons
over some of the best stage lines in the northern
part of that country, and when thur’s a lady in
my hearse, I reckon I know how to do the per-
lite thing by her,” and then Long Hank made
another elaborate bow.

“ You are very kind indeed,” the lady re-
sponded, with her sweetest smile, as she settled
back in her seat.

The driver turned away and winked in a
knowing manner at the keeper of the Half-way

ouse, who stood in his doorway with a broad
grin on his face.

Just at this moment the driver was accosted
by a stranger, who came hurryin up.

The new-comer was a man of thirty or therea-
bouts, a little above the medium height, splen-
didly built, his muscular proportions giving
assurance of uncommon strength.

His features were regular and clearly cut, and
the massive chin showed that he was a man
possessed of wonderful resolution, as was also
evidenced by the expression of his dark eyes,
which were as bright and keen as those of a
hawk.

He was dressed in a dark business suit, rather
the Worse for wear, still neat and respectable.

In the streets of a great city he would have
been taken fora bank clerk, or a professional
man, for his white hands, and general bearing,
betrayed that he did not gain his bread by hard
manual toil.

But in this wild western land a man dressed as
the stranger was is usually set down for a
“ sport ;” a gentleman who makes his, living by
the use of his wits, and, as a rule, the guess is
not far Out of the way.

“I am just in time, I see,” the stranger ex-
claimed as he came up.

“ Just in time for w’ot?” the driver responded
in an extremely rough and insolent way.

The new—comer a peared to be surprised at
the tone of the 0!; er, and he surveyed Long
Hank from his head to his feet for a moment,
a peculiar light shining in his dark eyes.

“ My dear sir, you have a very strange way of
speaking ” the gentleman remarked, in a quiet
tone. “ may say, a decidedly offensive way
anan assure you that it is extremely unbecom-
ing.

“ If you don’t like the way I talk you needn’t
to speak to me,” the driver retorted, his tone
as full of insolence as before.

“Say, my man, what on earth has hit you!”
the stranger exclaimed in a tone of astonish-
ment.

“Something will bite you if you sling any
loose gulf ’round byerl” the driver declared in a
very warlike way.

T 9 driver was standing by the side of his
horses, a yard or two from the coach door, but
his loud tones reached the ears of the lady and
she looked out of the window to see what was
the matter.

The stranger caught sight of the lady and im-
mediately conjectured that her presence had
something to do with the driver‘s uglines.

l

 

 

Keen Billy, the Sport.

 

“ Oho! the fellow wants to pass as a bully be-
cause there is a woman in the neighborhood,
and he thinks he can bluff me,” was the coin-
inent that passed through the mind of the
stranger and then he said aloud, very quietly:

“ My dear sir, as I see there is a likelihood of
our holding considerable of a discussion, and as
the conclusion to which we may come will hard-
ly be likely to prove agreeable to the lady, would
it not be well if We moved around to the other
side of the house so as to be out of her sight?"

The speech was spoken in so 10w a tone that
though it was perfectly plain to Long Hank yet
it did not reach the lady’s ears.

The driver was a little astonished, for he
understood that the stranger had “ called his
bluli’ ” to use the sporting phrase.

Long Hank prided himself upon his ganieness
though, and he was not the man to refuse an
invitation of this kind, although it was alto-
gether unexpected.

“ All right! that will suit me to death!” he
exclaimed with a swagger. “I am jest the kind
of man that you want to talk to! You can’t
hitch me wrong, and I am as sound asa dollar!”

“ Come along then!” the stranger responded
in the most pleasant and friendly way possible.

The lady sunk back again in her seat, deceived
into the belief that there wasn’t going to be any
trouble.

The two men sanntered around the corner of
the hotel and Murphy, who was too keen an
lrishnuin to be fooled by the placid manner of
the stranger, followed after, for he had a sus—
picion that there was going to be some fun.

The stranger proceeded to the back of the
hotel, then halted and, turning around, faced
the driver, who glared at him in an extremely
warlike way.

“Now then, sir, that we are out of sight and
hem-mg of the lady, I want to say a few quiet
words to you,” he remarked.

“You kin sail in and work yer jaw-bone for
all it is worth!” Long Hank declared.

“ Your tone is offensive, and your manner dis-
agreeable, and it is utterly without reason too,
for I am a stranger to you and there is not the
slightest cause for your acting in any such way.
I am going to take passage with on to Golden
Plume, and as an u out of the ack line it is
your duty, as it shou d also be your pleasure,
to treat your passengers with politeness and
civility.”

“ Say! you are a kind of long-winded cuss,
ain’t you?” the driver exclaimed. “And from
this liyer specimen that you have given me I
reckon that you kin sling words aroundas loose-
ly as any man in this deestri’ct.”

“ Well, I do not know about that. I am a
stranger here, and so am not acquainted with
the acquircments of your citizens, but, as a
rule, I think I usually succeed in making myself
understood.”

“Oh, you’ll pass all right when it comes to
slinging (good United States talk!” the driver
res on e .

‘ Say, you are asport, ain’t yer?” Long Hank
asked abruptly.

“ Yes, I suppose I am.”

“ And you don’t know me?”

“ No, this is the first time that I have ever
stacked up against a man of your size. You
will excuse my using a professional term, but
it seems to fit the situation just now,” the stran-
ger observed, with a pleasant smile.

“ Oh, that is all right! You can’t talk no
lingo of that kind, that I can’t catch onto!” the
other declared.

“ You are a sport and you want to ride in my
hearse to Golden Plume?’ the driver asked.

“ Yes, that is my lay-out just at present.”

“ It will cost you two solid chucks and a
half!”

“ N o trust, eh?” the sport inquired, with a
beamin smile.

“ Wa , now you kin bet yer sweet life that
ain’t!”

“ I will tell you what I will do. I will throw
dice with you to see whether I pay the fare or
ride free,” the other suggested.

“ No, you don’t, by a. jugful!” Long Hank
exclaimed, immediately. ‘ If you can t pony
up two chucks and a half, nary a foot to Golden
Plume do you ride in my hearse!”

“ Is that so?" the sport inquired, in a quizzi-
cal way.

“ You kin jest bet all you are wu’th it is!” the
driver, asserted, with great dignity.

“I was only joking, my long-legged friend,”
the stranger declared, with a laugh. “ I am
able to pay my way. For proof, gaze upon this
yellow-boy,” and the speaker drew a five-dollar
gold-piece from his ocket, and held it up be-
tween his thumb and orefinger.

“ You see I am sufficiently well-provided with
the needful to enable me to make the trip to
Golden Plume,” he continued. “ You want two
dollars and a half—take it out of this and re-
turn me the change.”

“ Hain’t got no change i” the driver re lied, in
a sulky way. “W’ot do you take me or? Do
you think I am a national bank, to go lugging a
lot of cash around the country? No, sir-ee! I
don’t do business in that way. You may have
fifty of them yaller-boya, as you call ’em, for all
I keer, but you don’t ride no foot toward Golden

 

Plume till you put me down two solid plunks
and a half, and don’t you forget it i”

“ I reckon I will have to ask you to change
this for me,” the sport said, turning to Murphy,
who was an interested spectator, grinning in de-
light at the, discussion.

“Oh, yes, i will be either accommodating
yez,” the Irishman replied, hauling out a hand-
ful of coins and making the change.

“Much obliged,” returned the sport, with a
bow,

“ Say, what do you want to do that for?” ex-
claimed Long Hank, angrily. “Can’t you see
that I don’t want this galoot to ride in my
hearse?”

Murphy looked astonished at this outburst,
but the sport did not seem to be surprised.

“ Phat the divil’s got inter yez?” the Irishman
cried in wonder.

“ You see you have surprised our friend, the
landlord, here,” the sport remarked. “ But I
am not affected in that way, for I concluded
that you had in mind some little game of this
kind right at the beginning.”

“ Oh, you did, did you i” the driver growled.

“ Yes, I did. I don’t exactly understand who
you want to try any such thing, and I will thank
you to explain.”

“Thar’s alady in that hearse,” Long Hank.

declared, in an impressive way, shaking his bony
forefinger at the stranger.

“Yes, I saw her. I am not blind,” the sport
rejoined, tartly.

“ And I want you to understand that she is
the real genuine article and no mistake!”

“ Well, who said she wasn’t!”

“ We], now, I hain’t made up my mind that it
is quite proper to ’low any low-down, mean mis-
erable gambler like you to ride in the same
hearse with a furst-class, elegant she-male like
this hyer plum bird on a. lily root!” the driver
declared in an extremely arrogant way.

Lightning flushed from the dark eyes of the
sport and he seemed to grow a couple of inches
taller as he clinched his fist and looked the
driver full in the face. .

“Take that back, you misera is bound, or I
will hammer you within an inc of your life!”
he cried with fiery energy.

“ W’ot’s that?” fairly howled the driver, so
surprised was he by the defiance.

And then doubling up his big fists he made a
rush at the sport.

In a rough-and-tumble fight Long Hank was
counted to be a. good man, and he had mentally
resolved that when he got the sport in his gras
he would treat him to a “ ar hug " whic
wkoultl go pretty nearly to, squeezing the life out
0 him.

But the sport knew a trick worth two of this,
and he had no notion of letting the other come
to close quarters, so as the rlriver rushed upon
him he met him with a straight right hand hit
between the eyes which laid Long Hank pros-
trate upon the flat of his back, and for the mo-
ment more stars flashed before the eyes of the
stricken man than he had ever imagined ex-
isted in the heavens.

And to add to the driver’s discomfiture when
he fell he came down in such a clumsy way that
he hit the back of his head an awful rap against
the hard ground. .

Murphy was fairly beside himself in his
deli lit at being able to witness such a display.

a hopped up and down like a dancing Jack
in his excitement. . ,

“ Oh, murther and turf! isn’t it beaut1ful!”he
cried.

The stage-driver was game though, and was
not satisfied to cry quits yet awhile.

He got on his feet as soon as be possibly could,
and made another clumsy rush at the sport,

He had learned wisdom though from his pre-
vious experience and was a deal more cautious
in his advance this time, but. it availed but lit-
tle, for the sport hanged him in the ribs with his
iron-like right fist, the blow falling with such
force that for the moment Long Hank was sures
couple of his ribs were broken, and then the s ort
got in a powerful “ left hand swin ” w ich
caught the driver on the jaw, apparengy loosen-
ing every tooth he had in his head, and sent him
to “ grass” with the impression that the hotel
had suddenly fallen on him.

Murphy capered up and down.

a Oh, tare and oundsl Oh. be the howly
smoke! Oh, musha!” he cried. “ Rise Up, Bank,
ye diVel, and if yez are kilt say 30 1"

It was fully a minute before the driver
moved. ‘ .

Never before in all his life had such liberties
been taken with his person, and yet in the course
of his wanderings he had been In many a fierce
r w.
0But it was the first time though, that he had
ever faced a first-class man. as fax" as strength
and skill went, and who had the solentfic train-
ing which enabled him to put every pound of
his in his blows. _ .

Slowly, Long Hank rose to a Sitting posture
and looked with wonder upon his conqueror.

The sport comprehended from the expression
upon the face of the other that the battle was
over, so he rested his arms upon his hips and, in
the litest way, remarked:

“ hope you have changed your mind about

 

 

 

 

 

«i

Av‘h—J

.. __,__.

 

Keen Billy, the Sport.

 

 

this little matter and that you will allow me to
to ride to Golden Plume in your back?”

“ By gum! you kinride—don’t you make no
mistake ’bout that—you kin drive the dnrned
old hearse if you want to! You own the hull
blamed outfit now for all of me!” Long Hank
cried, and then he rose slowly to his feet, sore in
every limb.

“ Oh, no: all I want is two dollars and a half’s
worth of it—a ride from here to Golden Plume,”
the sport replied.

The driver surveyed the Speaker from top to
toe and then shook his head in a dubious way.

“ I am blamed if I understand itl” Long Hank
declared. “ I have run up ag’in’ some good men
in my time but you take the cake!”

“ What kind of sperts do you have in "this
country?” the stranger demanded. “ Are they
men who are not able to hold their own .0”

" Oh, yes, butI reckon you will travel far and
look long before you strike a man like yourself,”
the driver replied.

“ You ought to see my brother—”

“ NC, by gum! I don’t want to!” Long Hank
declared, hastily. “ One of your family is
enufl‘ for me, 1 hope I may never strike another
one, for I am no hog!”

“ It is an illigant pair of black eyes ye have,
Mister Hank, to carry inter Golden Plume wid
ye!" the Irishman exclaimed with a prodigious

rm.

g “Yes. I reckon I will have to give the boys a
ghost story ’bout being kicked by a mqu in the
corral at White Oaks,” the driver remarked in
a woeful way.

" Faix! a mule couldn’t have damaged yez
much worse!” Murphy declared.

“ I reckon it will pass, unless, stranger, you
want to go ’round bragging how you laid me
out,” the driver observed to the sport.

“ Oh, I shall not say anything about the mat—
ter,” the other replied. “ I don’t covet the title
of a fighting man, and I do not doubt from
what little I have seen of Golden Plume that I
shall get into a row quickly enough there to
enable the boys to see what kind of a man I
am.”

“ I reckon though that you won’t astonish any
galoot in the camp more than you have aston-
ished me!” the driver declared. “ What is your
handle, by the way i”

“ Keene—William Keene l”

“Keene, eh? VVal, you are Keene by name
and keen by natur’l” the driver observed as he
led the way to the hack.

He mounted to the box, and took up the
lines, the sport got inside, then away the vehicle
went. __ __

CHAPTER II.
AN EXCHANGE OF CONFIDENCES.

THE stage was nothing‘but a common, cheap,
ordinary four-seated hac .

The lady sat in the back seat so the sport took
the front one;

He had bowed to her politely upon entering
the vehicle, and she had returned the salutation,
then he gazed out of the window while the lady
studied his face for a few moments as though
endeavoring to make out what kind of a. man he
was.

Ten minutes went by without the silence
being broken.

Keene was conscious that the lady was sur-
veying him with a searching glance as though
she would read his very soul, but this did not
worry him in the least, and he pretended not to
be conscious of it. .

“ The scrutiny may amuse her and it certainly
does not hurt me,” was the thought that came
to him when he became aware of the inspec-
tion.

“ I beg your pardon, sir,” the lady said at
last and quite abruptly. “ Butdo you live in
Golden Plume.”

“ Yes, miss, it is my residence at present,” he
replied, withdrawing his attention from the
landscape and fixing it upon the lady.

“ And are You well acquainted there?”

“ No, I cannot say that I am. You see, I am
a stranger," he explained. “ I came to the camp
about a week ago. I was with a arty who
came across the mountains from the West, only
stayed three days In the Camp, and then came to
Murphy’s Clearing.” I

“1 ho you will pardon me if I seem to been-
rious,” t e lady remarked, after a little pause,
during which she seemed to be revolving some-
thing in her mind.

“Oh, certainly, of course.”

“ I am a perfect stranger to this country, and
I should like to gain some information about the
place to which I am bound.”

“ I shall be glad to give you any information
that I possess,” the sport remarked. “ Although
I fear that it will not be of much service to yon.
although in such a camp as Golden Plume. a few
days’ sojourn to a man who keeps his eyes and
ears open will put him into possession of about
ever.l’thing- in connection with the town warth

nowing.”

“ Yes, so 'I would imagine, for I am aware
that it is quite a small place,” the lady remarked.

‘ That is, it, would be considered not to amount
to much if the town was situated in a wall—set-
tled region, but with the peculiar exaggeration

 

common to the Wild IVest, the people of this re-
gion speak of it as though it was of great impor-
tance and would one day be a metropolis.”

“ Yes, that is a common Western failing,” the
sport rcSpomled, with a smile. “ Every little
camp is a Chicago or Kansas City in embryo,
and the people in it affect to believe that it is
going to be the great city of the section. The
air of the region is remarkably bracing, you
know, and perhaps that accounts for the rose-
colored way in which the inhabitants regard the
m‘Ospccts of their towns.”

“ I expected to learn something about Golden
Plume at \Vhite Oaks; you see I thought I would
have to wait there,” the lady explained. “ But
as it; happened, I arrived just in time to catch
this stage, and did not stop at White Oaks over
fifteen minutes.”

“ Pretty quick work.”

“Yes, and I was glad it was so, for I was
anxious to get on. If I had not caught this
stage, 1 should have had to wait in White Oaks
a week, and that would have been unpleasant.”

The expression upon the mobile face of the
gentleman showed that he did not exactly un-
derstand how this could be, but he was too
polite to ask questions. I

“ Would you mind telling me your name?" the
lady asked, abruptly, but she smiled sweetly as
she put the question.

“ Certainly notl My name is William Keene,”
the sport replied, promptly.

“ And mine is Adrienne Richmond,” she ob-
SOI‘Vi'd. “ You see we will have to introduce
ourselves, as there is no one else by,” and she
laughed merrily at the idea.

“ Oh, well, in a. region like this people cannot
stand upon ceremony.”

“\Vill you excuse me if I ask you a ques-
tion?” Miss Richmond exclaimed, in her pecu-
liar, abrupt way.

“ Of course.”

“ Didn’t you have some trouble with the
driver before we started?”

The Sport glanced quickly at his hands, and
then at the bosom of the fawn-colored flannel
shirt which he Wore; he was not aware that any
blood had been drawn, but the question made
him think that it was pesSible there was some
on either his clothes or hands, and this fact led
her to suspect there had been trouble.

The lady guessed the thoughts that were in his
mind.

“ Oh, there isn’t anythin about your person
to suggest that you havefiiecn engaged in any
difficulty,” she said. “ But I heard -tho voice
of the driver raised high in apparent anger, and
then the cries of the Irishman, which made me
suspect that you were having trouble with the
driver.

“Well, there was a little misunderstanding,”
the s )ort responded.

“ es, I should judge so, from the looks of the
driver’s face. I caught sight of him as be
mounted the box, although I was careful not
{Jo allow the man to see that I was looking at

1m.

“ Yes, the fellow is one of those arrogant
Westerners, halfhorse, half-alligator, who are
disposed to bully quiet-appearing men who do
not go around with a whole arsenal of weapons
stra pcd to their waists.”

“ judge that you handled him pretty rough-
ly, though,” the lady observed, with an ad-
miring lance at the muscular proportions of
the cut eman.

“ es, I fully satisfied him that he had made
amistake in his man,” the sport replied in his
quiet way. “And the j( ks of the matter is
that it was on your account that he picked a
quarrel with me."

“ On in account?”

“ Yes; will tell you all about it. The fellow
picked me out for a sport—a gambler, in short
—and as I think that a man should always tell
the truth when he can, I admitted that his judg-
ment was correct, and then he said that I could
not go to Golden Plume in this coach, as I was
not fit to asst ciate with a lady like yourself.”

“ What an ideal As if in traveling ina public
conveyance we could select our companions.”

“I had to hammer the man until I knocked
some sense into him,” the sport remarked.

“ I do not pretend to be one whit better than
I am, you knOW,” he continued, earnestly.
“ But it is utter nonsense to suppose that even if
I am a sport and follow gambling for a living I
am going to contaminate anybody by riding in
the same hack with them.”

“ No, it is not reasonable, and then it is strange
that the man should take such a fancy into his
head, in a country like this too, where almost
everybody seems to gamble,,and where the busi-
ness is carried on as openly as a grocery store or
a meat market.”

“ Oh, it was merely one of those odd notions
that men sometimes take into their heads. He
felt in the mood for a quarrel and picked me out
for a victim.”

“ But eVents did not turn out exactly as he
anticipated though,” the lady observed, smiling.

“This is a very uncertain world,” the sport
replied. “And many a man who goes in on a
sure thin comes out at the little end of the
horn. Ta 9 my own case for instance. I met a
man in Golden Plume, on theflrstday of my

We.

\

I

arrival there, who pretended to take a wonder-
ful fancy to me; he made me an offer to come to
Murphy’s Clearing and take charge of a mine
which he said was destined to turn out to be one
of the biggest strikes ever made in this region.

“Well, I will admit frankly that I am not
over and above fond of thc life of a sport, and
whenever an opportunity comes in my way to
go into any other line, which seems to promise
more than a bare living, 1 am always ready to
embrace it, so I jumped at the chance which
this gentleman offered, and came with him to
Murphy’s Clearing.

“ Now, I am an old and experienced man of
the world—have seen a good deal of life, and I
flatter myself that I am not easily made a fool
of, but this guileless-appearing chap, with his
innocent ways, completely took me into camp.
He was an out and out fraud—a humbug from
1 beginning toend. His claim wasa good one, but
the gold in such shape that expensive machinery
was needed to work the ore, and in some way
the idiot got it into his head that if he could get
me interestwl in the property I would be able to
raise the money to put in the machinery.”

“ People do get such wild ideas sometimes.”

“And, mind you, I had not said a word to
lead the man to suppose that I had wealth, or
could command any backing,” the sport re-
marked. “On the contrary I had said, in the
i'rankest manner possible, that I did not have
any more money than I knew what to do with,
but the fellow did not belieVe I was speaking
the truth; he fell into the mistake of taking me
for a tenderfoot, and thought I was lying when
I said I had no money.”

“ The wish was father to the thought.”

“ Yes; well, the truth was that I had exactly
ten dollars when I arrived in Golden Plume,
and by the time I got to Murphy’s Clearing the
ten had been reduced to five. I talked pretty
plainly to my mine-owner when he revealed his
little scheme, butI will do the fellow justice;
although he Was terribly disappointed, yet he
expressed himself as being very sorry that ho
had troubled me and offered to pay me for my
trouble; that is, he would owe me whatever
sum I thought was right, for gold and silver he
had none,” the sport added, with a laugh.

“ It was an unfortunate affair for you,” the
lady remarked, thoughtfully. “You had little
money enough in the beginning without fritter—
ing any of it away.”

“ That is true and in my business a man must
have some cash to go on or he cannot hope to
make anything. As it is I shall strike Gclien
Plume with the magnificent sum of two dollars
and a half in my pocket.”

“I can sympathize with you for I am in ex-
actly the same condition!” Miss Richmond de-
clared.

“ Is it possible?”

“ Yes, only that my wealth is over double
yours for I have about six dollars.”

“But you have friends, of course, to whom
you are going?” the sport remarked, decidedly
interested in his companion.

“Well, I am not certain in regard to that,”
the lady replied. “ And that is why I wished to
question you in regard to the town. ’

“ I am not sure that I can give you much in-
formation, but you are quite welcome to what I

sSess.”

“ Yes, I felt sure of that the moment you en-
tered the carriage,” Miss Richmond declared.
“ I am very quick to come to a conclusion, and
after I had studied your face foramoment I
felt sure you could be trusted.”

“I am very glad indeed to know that you
have such a good opinion of me,” the sport re—
marked.

“ Although I am not very old in years, yet I
have seen a great deal of the world, and think I
am a good judge of mankind,” the lady said,
earnestly.

“ I am at present strangely situated,” she
continued, “and I need a friend in whose wis—
dom I can trust. We are strangers, and you
are a man whose ways of life would not be con-
sidered blameless, and yet 1 am inspired with
the belief that I can fully trust you.”

“ I assure you that I feel honored by your eon-
fidence,” the sport replied. “I am not a man
who cares to speak much in regard to himself,
but I will say that I do not know any one who
ever trusted to me and had reason to regret the
confidence afterward.”

“ That was the opinion I formed of you,” Miss
Richmond observed. “ And now I will explain
how it is that I am situated as I am. You must

ardon me if I do not give a full explanation,
lint at present I think that it will be wisest for
me not to do so.” -

“ Do as you think 'best about that by all
means.” ‘

“ Of course I can de nd upon you not to
speak to any one about t e matter.”

“ Certainly. You can rely upon me.”. .

“ Being a woman, I am a strong believer in
preeentiments, like the most of my sex,” the
lady said. “ And ever since I began my Jour-
ney to the West I have been haunted by a fear
that some dire misfortune threatened me.”

“ Yes, I can understand that sort of thing,”
the gentleman remarked, thoughtfully. “As a
sport I am a strong believer in luck, and them

 

 

l
o
i
i
i

 

 

 

_'ment so frequently made:
not a practical miner, but a man of wealth, and

’ she continued.

' the camp of Golden

4

Keen Billy, the Sport.

 

is no denying that some people have presenti-
n-ients which turn out to be remarkably true.”

“ Well, I do not know whether I am particu*
larly gifted in that way or not, but most cer-
tainly some presentiments which have come to
me have enabled me to escape dangers which
would have proved to be very serious in their
consequences if I had not heeded the warning
and prepared to meet them.”

“ on are certainly justified then in paying
serious attention to any presentiments that you
may have,” the sport remarked.

“Yes so I believe. Now I have come to
Golden lume on a certain errand, and a gentle
man in the camp is connected with my business.
Durin my brief stay in White Oaks I inquired
of the x ress agent in regard to him; the man
had new y come to White Oaks—had never
been to Golden Plume, and did not know much
about the town, so I did not succeed in gain-
ing any information. He had never heard of the
party for whom I inquired, but perhaps you

now of him.”

“ If he is a rominent man in the town it is
possible tint have.”

“ He is the owner of the largest mine there,
the White Gopher property.”

“Oh, es, have met the gentleman l" the
sport exc imed. “ He was one of the few to
whom I was introduced during my brief sojourn

' in the town. The Murphy’s Clearing man in-

troduced me to him in the saloon of the Metro-
politan Hotel: that’s the principal hotel in the
town, and he seemed to be a very nice fellow in-
deed, and m partner said thattthere wasn’t a
liyer man a the camp than El Van Buren, as
they all called him.”

“ Haven’t you made a mistake in the name?”
:he lady inquired, a troubled look upon her

ace.
“ No, that is correct.”
“ But Victor Kin ey‘is the proprietor of the
property. Elliott an Bureu is the working

m , merely.”

“ Well, I did not understand it in that wa ,”
the sport responded, a parently surprised y
the statement. “ Yes, am sure I am correct,
for the conversation was upon mining matters,
and this Mr. Van Buren told how he had im-
proved the White Gopher property since it
came into his possession and when my man sug-
gested that as he was all alone in the speculation

t would be a good idea for him to get some part-
ners who could put in capital, he res nded that
he had all the money needed to run 0 mine and
that he did not believe in partners.” ‘

“ It is very strange,” the lad observer], slow-
ly. “ For six months ago ictor Kingsley
owned the property, and his Mr. Van Bureu
was the wor ing manager. It was the arrange-
Mr. Kingsley was

he gave this Mr. Van Buren an interest in’ the
property on account of his being an expert
miner.”

“ Yes, I see, and I am afraid that in this case

it was the old joke over again,” the rt re-
marked.” In the beginning Kingsley ad the
money and the other man the experience. Now
Kingsley has the experience and Van Buren the
money.
, “ I am afraid that it is that way) but I do
not understand what can have happened, for only
three months ago Mr. Kingsley was in control
of the property.

“ In three months’ time much may happen, on
know,” the sport observed, thought ully. ’ NEW,
Ido not wish to appear as if I wanted to pry

into your businessmbut I fancy from what you
18

have said that th r. Kingsley is the gentleman
whom you have come to see.”

“Yes, that is true. I have no desire to con-
seal the fact from you, and I will not den too
that I have a grave apprehension that all s not

~right," and a sad, earnest look came over the

dsome face of the girl as she spoke.

“ Bu that Mr. Kingsley has left Golden
Plume the s rt questioned.

“ Then I wi l he in a bad way indeed for I have
only afew dollars, as I came depending upon
meeting him.”

“How will ou manage?”

“ Oh, I wil get along all right,” Mrs. Rich-
mond replied with a confident air. “ I am a
daughter of Bohemia and used to looking out for

myself.

“ And now I have a favor to request of you,”
“As soon as I arrive in the
town] will c ll 12pm Mr. Van Buren and ask
him about. 1'. ngsley and while I am thus
occupied, will you do all you can to ascertain

A how it is that Mr. Kingsley gave up the mine

and Mr. Van Buren came into possemion of it?”

"Certainly. I will be glad to oblige you.

service is a slight one and it will not be any

trouble.”

This finished the conversation upon this subject

and they conversed anon different matters until
ume came in sight. ‘1,

 

CHAPTER III. '
an on) acquarmascz.

As the hack approached the outskirtsof th
an idea occurred to the sport.

 

( _"'i

.- " mfg“ 14:1,;
' '3’)”. 
.1 ~ . a

“ I thinkI will get out before we get into the
camp,” he observed. “ There is always a group
of idlers at the hotel, and if they see us get out of
the stage in company they will at once jump to
the conclusion that we are acquainted, and if
you should have any trouble in this quest of
yours, and re uire my assistance, I may be able
to do more or you if the people of the town
think we are strangers.”

“Yes, that is probable, but how shall we ar-
range to communicate, for you will have to see
me to make your report?" Miss Richmond asked.

“Oh, we can arrange that easily enough. I
will take a bed at the hotel tonight; there is a
sitting-room on the second floor—the ladies’ par-
lor, they call it, and we can see each other there.
By tomorrow morning I can learn all the par-
ticulars.”

“ That will do nicely, and I shall be so much
obli ed to you.’

“ ou’t mention it!” the sport exclaimed, gal-
lantly. “ The White Gopher Mine is only about
five minutes walk from the hotel, the coach
passes it and I will speak to the driver to leave
you there.”

“ If you will be so kind.”

“ No trouble at all!” the sport declared.

Then he hailed the driver, had the hack stop-
ped and dismounted.

“ Sa , stran er, I don’t hear no malice, you
know,’ Long ank declared, as Keen closed the
door of the carriage and came by the box.

“I am glad of that l” the sport responded in
his cheerful way.

“ If I had known as much about you before
hand as I know now thar wouldn’t have been no
misunderstanding!" the driver remarked.

“Yes, but you see our foresight was not as
good as your hinds ght and that it the way
it always is in this mi hty uncertain world."

“ If you won’t say notghing ’bout the matter I
shall reckon it a favor, for, you see, the boys
think thatI am a pretty hefty man and they
would have the rand laugh on me if it went
round that I h picked up a soft thing and got
left on it.”

“ Oh, that is all right! I told on so before,”
the she replied. ‘ I am not so ting myself up
for a ch of, and at any time would rather keep
out of a difllculty than get into one; so-longl
and with a wave of his hand the sport de-

parted, but turned are he had taken three steps»

and said:
“ Oh, by the way, the lady in the back would
llilkie to, have you leave her at the White Gopher

he. -

“ All right,” 1' nded the driver, and‘then
the sport struck to the right while the hack
went on.

During his brief sojourn in the camp Keene
had become acquainted with the foreman of a
mine situated upon the hillside, to which he was
now bound.

The Thunderbolt was the title of the property
and the foreman’s name was Alex Mackenzic.

He seemed to be a jolly, good-natured fellow,
and Keene had looked upon him as a desirable
acquaintance, and now his idea in calling upon
him was, first to et the information about the
White GOpher ine that Miss Richmond (is.
sired, secondtOsee if he could not induce the
genial Mackenzie to go intoa partnershi with

im; Mackenzietoflnd the capital and e the
skill. If he had a hacker, Keene did not doubt
that he could strike a poker game in which
he would stand a chance to make some money.

He was too old and experienced a sport to
risk cash—in endeavorin to break any of the
faro-banks in the camp, ing a firm believer in
the old sa ing, “ it is not wise to attempt to beat
a man at is own game.”

To the disappointment of the s rt, though, he
found that Mackenzie was out o town and was
not expected back for a week.

Slowly the sport turned away, a thoughtful
look upon his expressive face.

“Luck runs counter,” he murmured, as he
took his wa toward the center of the cam
where the etropolitan Hotel was situa .
“ Mackenzie is the only man in the town whom
I know, and there would nqt be much ciliaéice o:

etting any stranger to go ate a spoon a ion 0
fhat kind. If I were to propose such athing,
nine men out of ten would jump to. the im-
mediate conclusion that I was trying to at
tfiem intoa game for the purpose of skinn ng
t em.

“ Well, as far as I can see, the only thing left
for me is to strike some little two-bit ante crowd
and sail close to the wind until I get money
enough together to get intoa table game.
but it goes against my grain to play with these
low-down two-bit gangs, for the men who com-
posesuch parties kick like steers if they are
touched for a fiver. Needs must though when
the devil drives l”

By this time the sport-had arrived in the
main street of the cam , sing there he came
face to face with a at, l ~lookiug man,
althou h clad in a moat miserab e way.

His 8 irt had once been red, but now wasa
dozen different colors, for it had apparently
been patched with whatever cloth came handy.

The pan locus were of as may hues as t e
shirt, and In high bootswere ly in need of
new loin. .  ,

  

 

His hat was a broad-hrimmed felt with a
high crown, which looked as though it had been
used as a target for revolver practice, for it was
full of holes, through some of which the shaggy
hair of the man protruded.

The fat fellow struck an attitude of surprise
when he came face-to-face with the sport; he
had just. emerged from a saloon and was wiping
his mouth with the back of his hand when he
encountered Keene.

“Kin I believe me eyes?” cried Old Benzine.
“ Is it you, sweet William, or yer host?” P

“ Oh, I reckon I am flesh an blood 1” the ‘
sport replied.

“ Give us yer paw i” and the 'other made a,
dive for Keene’s hand, and, havmg got posses-
sion of it, indulged in a hearty shake. “ You
remember me, the old, original Joe Bowers, Old
Benzine as the smart galoots named meu_ m
that delightful Montana camp, Ricaree ty,
and a healthy burg that was too! 1 have seen.
some tough camps in my time, but that town
was about the toughest one I ever struck.”

“ Yes, I think it would puzzle a man to find a
harlder camp anywhere in the West,” the sport
re led.

‘Now yow are shouting!” the veteran bum~
mer exclaimed. “ But I so , what are you
doing down in this region? I. bought on were
goin into the cattle business in New exicol"

“ I- did, but being a greenhorn m that
line, I failed to make a success of it,” Keene re—

lied. “ In fact, the speculation was a total
allure, and I lost about all the money I poa—
sessed, so I was forced to come back to my old
business again.”

“ And how is the wife?”

“ 0h, she is well. I have a nice home for her
with friends in Santa Fe, and after seeing that
she was comfortable. I came down here, haviu ~
heard that this region was booming, to‘try if
couldn’t carve out a new fortune.”

“ Ah, yes, I see; well, I am on the same lay
myself, trying to pick up what ducats I can,”
the other 0 rved “ How is luck running?”

“ Very badly at present—struck a bad streak
you see, and I am about down to the bed-rock.
am in hopes, though, that things will pick up.“

“ This camp seems to be a pretty lively place,”
the veteran observed, with a glance around.

“ Yes, I reckon it is. I do not know much.
about it. for I have only been here a few days,
and hav’n’t had time to look around. I was in-

terested in a mining venture, and so did not , g .

give an attention to sporting matters.”

“ An the mining spec didn’t u out. well!”

“No, I wasted my time, an a little money;
not much, but still more than I could well.
afford to throw away.”

“ Well, me noble (look, I would be glad to help
you out, but I ain’t well fixed myself 'est now, ’
the veteran observed. “ You see,
money as light as the purse in which I do carry
it, and when I make a stake I don’t allers hold.
on to it as I ought to.”

“ That is the trouble with most men—there is
where the egotism of humanity comes in " the

rt observed. “ When a man is basking in '
t e sunshine, his vanity leads him to think that ~'
the sun is bound to shine on him forevor, and he
neglects to provide for a rainy day.
Right you are and no mistake!” Joo-Bowers
exclaimed. “ Still, men who kin handle the
te-boards as Well as you and I kin, ain’t like-
y to starve if thar is any ,
borhood with sport-in blood in their veins.” ,

“ That is true, and don't doubt that we will
be able to get along.” '

“ I have struck a soft ma _
me,” the veteran announced with a 81‘1".
of ,the miners whom. I run across
is anxious to be a s and so 1 made a contract
to teach him all t 6 tricks of the trade in con—
sideration of my bunk and my grub. He’s got
a comfortable ittle shanty upon the hillside
yonder," and the veteran. inted to the north of
the town.
red-headed Irishman, whose fin ers are a ;
thumbs, and I reckon. from what i ave seen of,
him that if he practices hard he will be able to
11 ure as a sport in about two thousand years.”

eene laughed. '

,1

“ You are all right then, for your board and, ,

lod log for the rest of your natural e’xistence, if
be out back out of the contract,’ the sport.

observed. . l . ‘ I i _
“Oh, that is all ri ht,” Old Benzme replied, 4,

“ He w ll stick to it, I reckon, n..-

coufldentlyo fie kin afford he

til I git tired of the job.
luxury for he makes good
White Gopher Mbine, an? "they say he is one of
the best men in 0 war 3. ._
“ Ah, is that so?” the sport remarked. " We",
now this he pens to come in lucky.
et a little Information about that mine fora
riend, and this pard of yours Will be the v

man to give it.” And then Keene explained what, . _-

W

log!” Joe Bowers declared

.. Then an appointment was made for that  ff; 
“t the MetI‘OpOlitan Hotel and the two gay-t V . ,1 .
he will

“Joe Bowers is a shrewd follow an
 learn all that is known about the mat--
ter,” ee
hotel.

’ ' 1
. .

hold my, I

  
   

galoots in the neigh.  t, 

“His name is Paddy Kelly, a bi ,.  v

wages; he is in the  H

as wanted. _ I . ,.
“ Cert! I kin do that as easily as rolling of!” ,-

  
  

ne observed as he proceeded toward  , 1

.‘ss‘
i

 

 

 
#9 -

 

which will help . " ’ a 
“One ! '
last night i

I want to. ,- ,1 V:

,
K
x’ .‘

 

V :1.‘ , a, .
“a. , a. 1,

4.1-.“

Keep Billy, the Sport.

   

5

 

 

CHAPTER IV.

MISS RICHMOND INQUIRES.

WHEN the hack arrived at the White Gopher
Mine it came to a halt, and the driver called to
a small boy who was passing, to open the coach
door, so the lady could get out, then when she
 dismounted he drove on.
 The reason for this proceeding was, Long
~ Hank knew, that the interview he had with the
Sport had not improved the leeks of his coun~
tennnce. and he was anxious to keep her from
' seeing his bruises.
There was a small shanty in front of the mine
, , which bore the sign, “office” on the door, and
 Z" ‘ this door Miss Richmond entered.
..  t The room within was plainly furnished: a
’1 ' small desk, a table and three chairs.

There were two men in the apartment.

One, seated by the table, reading a newspaper,
was a blonde-haired, blonde—bearded man of
thirty-five or therealiouts, a gond looking and

' rather portly gentleman, well dreSSed in a dark
business Suit, although he wore the dark flannel
shirt so common to the region.

This was Elliot Van Buren, the proprietor of
the W'hite Gopher Mine.

The other man, who sat at the desk on a high
stool, was a tall musculanly-bnilt fellow with
the broad face, light hair and pointed beard of
the German.

He was called Herman Gotterang, and was
Van Buren’s manager.

Both of the men looked surprised when the
young lady entered. Mr. Van Buren rose and
bowed politely.

“ Is this the office of the White Gopher Mine?”
Miss Richmond asked.

“It is, miss,” Van Buren replied.

Then the lady looked around her in an in-
quirin way. ‘

“I 0 not see the entleman whom I expected
to meet,” she said, s owl y.

' The others looked surprised.

“Excuse me, but who did you wish to see?”
Van Buren asked.

“ The proprietor of the mine."

“ I am that person—I own the property,” the
miner said.

An expression of surprise appeared on Miss
Richmond’ countenance.

“ I do 1 0t understand it,” she remarked.
“You are not the gentleman I expected to see
at all. It is Mr. Kingsley I want.” ‘

The two men exchanged glances, and both
their faces grew a trifle sober. .

Mr. Kingsley neat to be the owner of the
mine, but he sold the property to me some time
ago,” Van Buren explained.
- ‘“ Oh, yes, I see,” and Miss Richmond smiled
» in her captivating way. “ Then Mr. Kingsley
is'not here any more?”

“ No," the mine-owner answered.

“ Where will I find him?”

Innocent as was the question. yet it seemed to

a trouble both of the men, for Van Buren hesi-
' _ ‘tated before he replied, and the German at the
" ,. ~ desk cast a swift glance, full of suspicion, at the

  

 

" r1.
u l 8!" Where will you find him?” Van Buren said,
'. a  . .
, “ es I have come to Golden’Plume ex iressly
, “to see him!” Miss Richmond lexclaimecf, in a
i " .charmiug outburst of girlish candor.
‘ “ Well, really, I don’t know as I can ans er
that uestion ” Van Buren remarked. “ 1r—
. 'man, id Mr. ingsley leave any address when
he went away?" -
t, The German appeared to reflect over the mat-
ter for a few moments, and then he shook his

  
     

 
 

"i

  

 “No, I don’t think that he left an address,”
aromarked. “ If I remember rig tly about
, , matter, he said that he was uncertain where
i- - 319' was going, and it did not matter anyway, for
' Id he did not bigot an letters.”

. ,_ "And I Ch k be nrther said he would write
, when he of: settled and let us know, didn’t he,
~  , Herman Van Burpu added,
' “ Yes, I think he did.”
v “He 18 not In GOldun Plume, then?” and the
lady’s tone was full of surp '

t

 
 
  

rise.
Oh, no,” the mine-Owner answered.

: V “ And how long has he been awa 9" Miss
Richmond appeared to be full of an ety as she

V put‘the uestlon. , I

 ,- “ Wel I should say it was about four months

” 213' ch erman?" Van Buren observed. v

'- ‘7“2Yes, just about four months,” the other re-
ied -

  

  “This is really very distressing!” the lady ex-
,” .mkfilaimed. “ I came here on .
32?} H 'lngsley and hadn‘t the least idea that he would
x. '41. not be here when I arrived.” _
l" f" it“ It certainl is unfortunate,” the White
 ‘chher man 0 served. ’ And then he studied
:Bthe face of wagering girl for a moment.

’She stood. th her gaze bent on the ground,
5:: . flatly deep in perplpo and anxious

, one t. ‘
‘i‘ZExcnse me, are yen a relativé of Mr. Kings-
I’ay’sf” :Van Buren asked in'an insinuating wa .
' Oh,- dear me! why shonld‘you think so?" t 9
ng (lady exclaimed, apparently very much

  

  

 
 

purpose to seeMrL,

med that such might be the

fact from your inquiring, and then it seems to
me that you resemble Mr. Kingsley,” the gentle
man said.

“ Well, I am sure you are the first that ever
thought of such a thing!” the yOung lady de-
clared. “ My name is Richmond—Adrienne
Richmond.”

“ Ah, yes; well, Miss Richmond I am pleased
to make your acquaintance,” and Van Buren
made a gallant bow; and the lady was prompt
to return the salutation, appearing quite con-
fused though, a charming specimen of maidenly
innocence.

“And I am sorry that you have been diap-
pointed in not Foeng Mr. ingsley,” Van Buren
continued. “But after be disposed of the mine
to me be left town immediately. and it is my
impression that he went East. He got a ood
price for the mine and as he was a w thy
man. intended to retire from active business life,
I believe.”

“It is very unfortunate, for I counted upon
seeing him, or else I should not have come to
Golden Plume,” the lady remarked, slowly.

“Yes, it is disagreeable to be disappointed,”
the other observed, soothino‘ly. “ But as you
are a friend of Mr. Kingsley I should be delight-
ed to help you in any way; if you need assist-
ance do not be afraid to say so.’ \

“I am very much obliged. I am sure, but it
was Mr. Kingsley I wanted—and—and if you
should happen to hear from him will you send
word to me please, at the hotel?” she said, evi-
dently a little embarrassed.

“ The Metropolitan?”

“ Yes, I suppose so—l believe that is the name
of the hate]: it is the rincipal one in the town,”
]the lady replied. “ hat is where Mr. Kingsley
ived.

“He boarded at the Metropolitan, and when
Jake Bozain, the landlord, finds that on are a
friend of Mr. Kingsley you can depen upon his
doing all‘ln his power to make you comfortable,”
Van Buren aSSerted. “ You will find Mrs.
Bgza’iyn, the landlady, too, to be very agree
a le.

“ I am glad of that, and you will not forget,
pleasc to let me know if‘ you hear anything
from Mr. Kingsley,” and Miss Richmond looked
toward the door as she spoke. ,

“ Oh, you can rely upon me to send you word
immediately!” Van Buren declared. “Do you
intend to remain for any length of time in the
town?” putting the question in the most insinu-
ating manner.

“1 don’t know; this unexpected disappoint-
ment has completely upset all my plans," the
lady declared, an anxious expression u n her
handsome face. "“I was so confident‘ should
find Mr. Kingsley here that the thought of what
I should do if he was absent never entered my
head, and I shall have to reflect upon the matter
before I can come to any decision. Good-day,
gentlemen l” \.

And'then with a graceful inclination of the
head, Miss Richmond de arted.

Van Buren advan to the window and
watched her until her handsome fl re was bid
from sight by the house, around he corner of
which she turned. ‘

Gotterang drummed in an absent sort of way
upon the deg, a peculiar, thoughtful, anxious
e ression u n his face.

‘- fter Miss Richmond disappeared from Van
Buren’s sight, he returned slowl [to his seat by
the table an expression upon his ace akin to the
one upon his companion’s countenance.

He sat silent in thought for a few moments
then shook his head in a doubtful way and

said:

“Well, Herman, what do you think‘ of this
little'aifairl”

“ I do not exactly know what to make of it,”
the other replied.

“ I was considerably astonished when I found
out what she wanted.’ \ ‘

“ Yes, so was I.” ‘

“ And I fancied that I traced in her face a re—
semblance to Kid ley."

“ Well, I don’t now,” the German observed,
doubtfnlly. “ There is somethin about her
face which seems familiar to me, at I am not
sure that she recalls Kingsleva ni'y min .”

“ It seems to me, now that Ithink the matter
over, that she acted a little mysterious! 000,”
Van Buren remarked, thoughtfully. “ he did
not say why she wanted to see Kingsley, or, in
gaca’pnything in regard to her business with

im. ‘ '

“ No, that is true.”

“\It is a very strange affair,” Van Buren
remarked, musingly. _ “ _ never heard Kingsley
speak of having any famdy, In fact, it was my
impression that he Was an old bachelor, and
without a relative in the world."

“Yer, I had that idea also; it seems to me
that 1 once heard him make the remark that he
was all alone in the world, and that if he should
die there wasn't a soul, attached to him by ties of
blood. who would mourn for him.”

“ Yes, it strikes me that I have heard him
speak in that way also. And he hated women
too, if you remember.” ' ~ __  fl

“ Oh. yes, he couldn'tbearthe sights: them.”

“ And- that made me thinkhe "a
love disappointmen early ifs, 

s

 

 
  
 
   

   

 

   
   
   
  
  
   

the reason wh he was so imbittered against
the sex,” Van uren observed.

“ Under the circumstances then how strange
it is that this young woman should come to the
town in quest of him.”

“ Yes, my first thought was that she was his
daughter, and I got that impression because I
fancied I saw a. resemblance in her face to his
but then it seems to me that if he had been a
married man, with a daughter as old as this
girl, he certainly would have said something
about it at some time, although he might not,
for he was not given to talking of his life.”

“ He was slow-mouthed,” the German re-
marked. “But if this girl was his daughterit
is strange that no letters ever came from her.”

“ But are you sure that they did not come?”
Van Buren asked.

“ Yes, certain!” Gotterang declared, in the
most positive w ay. “ I always got the mail, for,
if you remember, Kingsley rarely troubled him-
self to go to the post-office after it.”

' Van Buren nodded. . ‘

“ And if any letters had come addressed to V 
him in a woman’s hand I should certainly have ,.
noticed it.”

“ Yes, undoubtedly! There is a mystery
about this girl, but time may solve it,‘” the
mine-owner remarked, thoughtfully.

“ I do not like the looks of her at all, and I
fear she comes with the idea of makin trou~
ble!” Gotterang declared, with a doubtfu shake .
of the head.

“ Do you think so?”

“ I do, indeed! She seems to be young, inno— .
cent and artless, but it is my impression that
she is a dangerous woman, and this artless inno-
cence is assumed.”

“ Well, I don’t know about that,” Van Buren
remarked, slowly. “She did not strike me as
being particularly dan erous, excepting that
she is a good-looking gir , and her fascinations
might be dangerous to an impressible man and
thereby induce him to make a fool of himself,”

Van Buren remarked, with a light laugh.

The German shook his head.

“ I do not think that it ,is a matter to jest
upon l” he exclaimed. “ I’do not like the looks ‘
of the girl and I fear that she will make trouble

for us.

“ Well, she will have to be a rticularly'
acute and cunning woman to image any dis-
turbance!” Van Buren replied, with scornful
accent. “ You are certainly over-cautious, my
dear Herman, for ’you scent danger where none
can 'bly exist. ‘ ,

“ don’t know about that,” the other re-
marked, in his grave and earnest way. “It is
the unexpected that always happens, you know.”

“Oh, but our position is so strong that we
can laugh at any attack 2” Van Buren declared. _ t.
“ In the first lace my title to the mine is per- ’
fectly good. he deed bears Kingsley’s signa-
ture, and there were" two witnesses besides the
notary public before whom the deed was exe-
cuzeil, so that it is all right and regular enough.”

“ Yes, we are undou tedly strong, as far as
that cos,” the other admitted.

“ hen, in regard to Kin sley’s sudden de-

rture, we had nothing to o with that,” Van

uren argued. “ The old man was eccentric,
thgd no friends, and was noted for doing strange

in s. w

“ hat could be more natural than for a man A
of that kind to depart, after he had disposed of ” ‘
his property, without taking the trouble to say
anything to anybod about it?” "

“ It is true,” the rman remarked. “ It was»
nothing out of the way for such a man to do a»
such a thing.” .- '

“And w at grounds has any one to su 
that we had anyth' g to do with his move-,
ments?” _ '

The German reflec for a moment. t ,‘

“ You are right; no one can fossibly connect,
us with the affair; but for all t at, I wouldkeep
an eye on the woman.”

Van Buren laughed. , ’

“ Ah. there comes in your caution again, but
as it will not do any harm to follow your advice,
I will certainly do so.”

CHAPTER V. r -
AT THE noun. i

Arum leaving the White Gopher Mine Miss. '
Richmond proceeded straight to the Metropolf- ‘
tan Hotel, which was situated in the center of
the town. 

Like all the somlled “ hotels " in the mining-
cam , it was more saloon than hotel. »

Al the lower part was occupied by a bare _
room, and there was an ell at the of thé 
building, in which the restaurantnwh , i '  _
answered for the dining-room of the hotel—and '
the cooking departmentwas situated. ;. \ ‘

But, contrary ’to the usual custom. v there
wasn’t any mbling saloon connected with the ‘ “
place, y the greatest moneykmaker of the ,.
wild western hotel. “

I; lieu cf this0 agraftifilét however, gags;-
pri 7 rie r e ropolitan o ,
0011.35.53? a small a at the rear of. the.
saloon,and screened it w th colored cotton cloth
in place of scenery, and there‘at night a variety. -
‘fiet'm attenuator-Stony *‘

   
   
       
       
        
       
        
         
        
   
           
     
       
        
     
       
            
         
      
         
      
 
        
     
     
       
       
     
       
         
   
     
   
   
 
       
        
         
     
   
    

     
   
   
    
      
     
        
 
    
     
       

         
      
     
 

 

       
 
   
         
    
 
       
   
   
  

      
     
       
 
       
 
   
  
  

   
  

    

  

>519  LIE

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6

Keen  the Sport.

 

 

 

performers, and the music was furnished by a
solitary violinist.

There was asmall bill—board in f rout of the 1
hotel, and upon this some amateur artist had
painted a description of the attractions that
might be Seen within.

Miss Richmond paused and read the placard,
which ran as follows:

“ CFO-NIGHT:
BE SURE TO TAKE IT IN!
FREE ADMISSIONI.
Tm: unsownsn sumo-come
LILLY DAVEN P( )RT!
run: CHAMPION BANJoIsT,
BILLY SKIDIHCRZ
THE FAVORITE sex or menus,
ANDY WILLIAMS!”

She perused it intently from beginning loend,
a peculiar expression upon her face, and then
she entered the hotel.

Long Hank had warned the landlord that he
might expect to see the met “ bang-up lady that
ever struck Golden Plume!" to quote the driver’s
words, so he was on the lookout, and when Miss
Richmond entered the side door, from which the
stairs led to the second story, Mr. Bozain, who
was a middle-aged, fat man, with a good-na-
tured, jovial face, was on hand to greet her.

“ How do you do, miss? I’m glad to seeyoul”
he exclaimed. “ The driver told me you were
coming, and would probably want to step here, ,
and so my wife has got a room all ready for

on.”
y “ You are very kind indeed,” the lady re-
marked.

“ Oh, that is all right; though Mrs. Bozain and i
I are running a hotel at the jumping-off place of l
civilization, as you might say, yet I reckon you 
will find that we know how to take care of any i
kind of folks who may come along,” and as he 1
spoke the landlord led the way tip-stairs to the i
parlor, where his wife was waiting to receive the
new-comer.

Mrs. Bozain was just as fat and jelly as her
husband, and she received Miss Rlchmond as
warmly as though she was the nearest and dear- 
est friend she had in the world.

“ Take off your things—sit right down and
make yourself to home!” the good lady exclaim-
ed, bustling around the girl and assisting her to
remove her outer garments. “How may I call
your name, miss?”

“ Richmond, Adrienne Richmond,” the young
lady replied, as she accepted the chair that the
landlord brought. “ I was quite disa pointed
on calling at the White Gopher Mine to nd that
Mr. Kingsley had left town.”

“ Yes, yes, Long Hank—that is the driver of
the hack—said as how he had left you at the
mine,” the landlord remarked, “And did you
com: to the camp on purpose to see Mr. Kings-
ley?

“ Yes, if I had not believed that he was here,
I should not have come.”

“Bless me! Mr. Kingsley has been one for
five or six months, hain’t he, Jake?” t e land-
lady exclaimed.

“ Somewhere around that time ” the host re-
plied. “Wife and I knew Mr. kingsley well,
for he used to board here.”

“ So they told me at the mine. Did Mr. Kings-
ley say where he was going when he went away?”
the irl inquired.

“ 0, he never said a word,” the landlord re-
plied. “ Jest paid his bill on Saturday night
and went out, and that was the last we ever saw
of him.” .

“ Why, it seems to me that he acted very
strangely!" the girl declared. “thm he did
not come back I should think you would have
fancied that there was something wrong about
the matter.”

“Oh, no, he was in the habit of going ofl? in
that way without saying anything to anybody,
and seeing that he was a kinder odd man, no-
body thought nothing about it,” the host re-
marked.

“ You see he was one of the kind of men who
did not like people to meddle with his affairs,”
the landlady explained. “ And if we had troubled
ourselves about his absence, and he had come
back, he would have been apt to be angry at our
interference.”

“ Yes, I understand,” Miss Richmond said,
thoughtfully.

“ And then in a camp like this, miss. you see,
it is different from a town in the East,” the
landlord explained. “ Here everybody has so
much business of their own to attend to that
they hain’t got no time to bother themselves
’bout what their neighbors do. If we hadn’t
heered anything from Mr. Kingsley I s’pose we
would have wondered some, but on Monday we
gota note from him re nesting us to send his
trunk over to White 0a 8 by the first stage as
he wasn’t coming back to Golden Plume, and
right on top of that came the news that he had
sold the White Gopher Mine to Mr. Van Buren.”

“That explained his departure,” the girl ob-
served.

 

 

 

“ Yes; we are all on us here in this ’ere town
to make our pile, and when a man gets what
he thinks is enough, you kin jest bet that he
is going to clear out as soon as he kin,” Mr.
Bozain remarked, with the air of a philosopher.

“Oh, yes, I should not think any one would
care to stay here if they had plenty of money to
go and enjoylil'e elsewhere,” Miss Richmond
said. “ You sent the trunk, lsuppose,”sheadded,
carelessly, not as if she took any interest in the
matter, but just as if she spoke for the sake of
saying something.

“Yes, by the next stage, and I was glad of
the chance to do something for Mr. Kingsley,
for he was a mighty tine man, although he was
a leetle odd in his ways,” the landlord replied.

“But how was it that he went on Saturday
night?" Miss Richmond questioned, as though
the fact slruck her as being strange. “Idid
not know the stage went at night.”

“ It don’t,” Mr. Bozain replied. “ It run then
just the same as it does now, on Tuesday.”

“Oh, then he did not go by the stage?” the
young lady said.

“ No, he had his own boss, you know, and he
jest mounted the animal on that Saturday
night, and lit out without saying a word to any
one,” the host explained.

“ VVasn’t that rather strange?"

“ Well, no, I reckon that Mr. Kingsley had a
mighty good reason for it," Mr. Bozain ob-
served, with a knowing shake of the head.
“ You see he was an awful, mighty sharp old
gentleman, and the man who got the best of
him had to git up very early in the morning.

1 On that Saturday he sold his mine to Mr. Van

iuren, and got a mighty bi sum in cash for it,

right down on the nail, and s’pose be reckoned
that as the news of the trade would git all cvci'
town before the stage left on Tuesday, some
galoots might take it into their heads to try
a little road-agent business, and waylay the
stace.” ‘~

‘PAh, yes, I see!” Miss Richmond exclaimed.

“ So he jest stole a march on them and scooted
out of the camp af'oi‘e any of the boys got wind
of the trade!” said the landlord with a chuckle,
which showed that he Considered the move to he
an extremely smart one.

“ And Mr. Kingslev waited in White Oaks
until his trunk came, suppose, andl then went
on his wa l” the girl obsei ved.

“Yes, reckon so, or he might have gone
right on and left word for his trunk to be for-
warded,” the host replied. “ I don’t know any—
thing ’bout that, for I never heered a word of
the man arter he left this camp.”

“ And it is such a shame, too, to think that
vou came all the way to Golden Plume to See
Mr. Kingsley, and then to find him one!” the
landlady exclaimed at this point. “ don’t re-
member to have ever heard of anything more
disap ointingl”

“' es, I am sadly put out,” Miss Richmond
replied, slowly. .

“ Was Mr. Kingsley a relation of yourn ?” the
hOstess inquired with all a woman’s curiOSity.
“ It ’ more to me that you look a sight like him.”

“ Why, I never heard any one say that be-
fore!” the girl exclaimed, as if surprised by the
statement.

“ \Vell, I think it is so, don’t you, J like?” Mrs.
Bozain asked.

Then the host carefully studied the counte-
nance of the young girl for a few moments.

“ Yes, I sart’inl y think there is a strong like-
ness,” he responded with Owl-like gravity.

“It is uite odd, I am sure, but as I never
saw Mr. (Iiingsley, I cannot say whether you
are correct in your belief or not,” Miss Rich-
mond observed. “I suppose that it is possible,
though, for ple who are not connected by ties
of blood often look like each other.

“ It is a sad disappointment to me to find Mr.
Kingsley has gone for good, for 1 came with the
intention of making my home with him,” she
added.

“ Is that so?” the landlord ekclaimed, full of
interest.

“ Yes, he used to take a deep interest in my
family, and about six months ago I got a letter
from him telling me that he had settled in this
place and inv1ting me to make my future home
with him, if I felt disposed to put up with an
old man’s whims. He knew that I was all alone
in the world, without any one to look after me,”
the (mug lady explained. ‘

“ ix months ago, hey?" the landlord exclaimed.
“Well, I reckon that at that time he had no
notion ofselling the mine.”

“ No, I think not; for he wrote as though he
intended to spend the rest of his days in this
place,” Miss Richmond observed. “ By an un~
fortunate chain of circumstances the letter did
not reach me until a month ago. I was in
England , traveling with some friends, and by a
blunder on the part of the person who got the
letter in my absence, it was not forwarded to me,
but kept in America until I returned.”

“Well, now, that was a blunder 1” Mr. Bozain
declared.

“Yes, and as soon as I received the letter I
made up my mind to an3wer it in person and so
I set out for Golden Plume, and that is where I
made a mistake, for I ought to have waited
until I had written to Mr. Kingsley and re-

\
i

 

ceivedaletter from him, but youth is always
rash, you know,” Miss Richmond remarked with
one of her charming smiles.

“ I’m sure your coming was very natural in—
deed I” the landlady declared. “ ’Most everybody
would have done the same.”

“ Yes, but I am placed in a very embarrassing
position,” the young lady remarked. “I came
in such haste that I did not int-umber myself
with a trunk, only packed up a few things in a.
hand sachel. and the result is thatlflnd my-
self here alone and friendlcss in a strange
place With very little money in my pocket in-
deed.”

 

CHAPTER VI.
A NOVEL IDEA.

“ NOW, say, don't let that trouble you a bit!”
the landlord hastened to exclaim. “ And don’t
you talk ’bout being in a strange town, alone
and friendless, as long as Mrs, Bozain and a
man about my size are in the land of the
living!”

“ Yes, don’t you worry, dear!” the hostess
cried, “ ’eos we, will make you comfortable.”

“Never mind ’bout the money!” Mr. Bozain
declared with a lordly wave of his fat hand.
“You kin stay here, all right, money or no.
money, until you kin write to your friends
and tell them jest how you are situated.”

“Oh, you are so kind,” Miss Richmond re-
plied, a grateful look upon her fair face.

“Not a bit of it! We are only a living up to
the golden rule, do as you would be done byl”
the landlord declared with a flourish. ,

“Yes, deary, we have got a darter, married,
and a-settled ’way off, and I reckon my old man
here is only a-trcating you as he Would like our
Jane to be treated if she should gitjnto atrouble
like this,” Mrs. Bozain remarked.

“I am so thankful to you,” the, young lady
remarked in the sweetest tones. ” But i am so
badly situated that even your kind offer does:
not improve my position much. You see, my
friends are all in the East; they are not very
well olf, any of them, and you know it costs a
small fortune to get from here to New York, so
I don’t really believe there is one of the number
who would be able to send me money enough to
pay my fare, even if they were quite willing to
do so.”

“I reckon you are ’bout right,” the landlord
observed in a. reflective way. “It dots cost a.
heap of money to git to the East, and it is axing
a good than] of a. friend to call on him to put up
so much cash.”

“ Now if I could only get something to do
here,” Miss Richmond suggested. “ Some work
which would pay me enough to enable me to
live and save a little each week and then, when
I got enough, I could go away without feeling
that I had incurred a debt of gratitude which I
may never be able to pay.”

“ I declare to goodness, Jake, if Miss Rich—
mond ain’t talking good, sound sense now I” the
landlady declared. “ She is jest right now, and
don’t you forget it.”

“ I believe that is so,” Mr. Bozain observed, in
areflective way. ‘,‘But I will be jiggei‘ed if I
know what there is in this hyer camp that She
would be able to work at.
work for men—good, strong, able-bodied fel-
lows, who kin do hard work—but I am blessed
if I kin think of anything for a gal to (10.”

~ “ I saw a show-bill as I came in,” the young
lady observed in a timid way.

“ Yes, we give a variet show in the saloon
down-stairs every night. on see,'my_ Wife here
is opposed to my running any gambling games
in the saloon—she allers belonged to the church
at home, you know—and as I had to have some“
thing to re the boys in at night, I. started the
show, and it works fu’st rate. I git Jest as many
people in as the other saloons that run gambling
as an attraction.” .

“ Well, I was thinking that perhaps there
might be some chance for me to earn something
in that line,” the girl remarked. “ I have sung
a great deal, and people have always compli-
mented me upon my voice, and I think if you
would give me a chance I would be able to give
satisfaction."

The landlord was greatly surprised by this
spefech, and he looked in a puzzled way at his
m ,e.

The woman’s wits were by far the quickest.

“ Well, I don’t see why she should not be able
to do something in that way, Jake,” she der
clared. , .

“You are a good—looking girl, and any
one with half an eye can see that you are a
lady!” she added. “ Then you have a real nice
speaking voice, and if you can Sing anyvhere
near as well as you can talk, I am sure the boys
will like you: don’t You “link 50,_ Jake?”

“ Well, I dunno; it is . kinder risky,” the land-
lord replied, with a dubious shake of the head.
“ You see, miss, it looks like an easy thing jest
to come out on a. platform and sing a song or
two, but when you come to the scratch you
will find that it is a. hard job, and then,
though I have , one of the best fighting
men in the camp who comes every night ex-
pressly to preserve order, yet the boys are kinder
rough once in a while, and if the performer
ain’t up to the mark they are mighty apt to poke

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a lots of fun at the party, kinder guy the show,
you know, as these actors call it, and you can’t
put a dozen men out, bounce ’em, jest for telling
the performer that he’s no good, and that he
would make more money by taking a shoe-
maker’s job, and things of that kind.”

Miss Richmond laughed merrily, by wliieliit
could be plainly seen the the host's discription of
the audience had struck no terror to her soul.

“The remarks are certainly candid if they
are not complimentary!” she declared. “ But I
am not at all afraid of the ordeal. You miners
are only men, and although they may be a littlo
rough yet they are honest and I feel sure I will
receive fair treatment from them.”

“ I’ll bet that she will get along all right!” the
hostess declared, impressed by the confidence of
the girl.

“ Oh, I am willing for you to try it if you feel
like running the risk," the landlord remarked.

“ It will not be my first appearance, for I have
sung in public,” Miss Richmond remarked. “ So
you need not fear that I shall be frightened
when I appear before the audience.”

“ Oh, that makes a difference l" Mr. Bozain
declared. “ If you have faced a crowd oncc,
Why you kin do it ag‘in; and, mcbbc, you will
do furst rate. Nobody kin tell anything about
that until the thing is tried on, you know, and
the better you please the boys the more money
you will git. _ _

“ You see the way I fix the thing is arter this
fashion,” the landlord continued. “ I don’t pay
no Wages but I give all the performers their
board, and then when they git through their
turn on the stage the hat is passed around and
the boys give whatever the choose.”

“ Yes, I understand,” 1155 Richmond ob-
served. “ The more popular a performer is the
more money they get.”

“ That is the way of it, and if the performer
don’t take, then the boys won’t shell out,” Bozain
explained. “Nobody is obliged to give any-
thing, you know, for it is a free show, but if the
performer is good for anything at all it is a
mighty poor night when the but don’t pan out a
dollar’or two. We don’t use no coin less than a
quarter here, and it only takes four men at a
quarter apiece to make a dollar, and we gener-
ally have twenty-five or thirty in to see the
show and on Saturday nights fifty to sixty.” ’

“I think the erformer stands a very good
chauceindeed,” “85 Richmond declared. “ And
I am quite willing to try my luck.”

“Will you put her on tonight, Jake?” the
landlady asked, taking a great interest in the
affair.

“No, I reckon she had better wait until to-
morrow night,” the host replied, after thinking
over the matter a moment. “ That will give
me timetoadvertise her. lVe Ought to work
the trick so as to git all the boys in the cam in
to see her the first night, ’cos we don’t 2; t a
new performer more’n once a month. But I
say, it would be an awful bad break if you
should happen to git frightened and make a
failure.”

Mr. Bozain evidently had doubts.

“ I am not at all afraid!” the young lad de-
clared, with the utmost confidence. “ ' hese
miners may be rough, but I am sure they will
not be any harder to please than the audiences I
have faced before, and as I always got through
all right I have no fears now.”

“ I am sure she will please ’ein, Jake!” Mrs.
Bozain exclaimed.

“ All right, I will let you go ahead,” the land-
lord announced. “ One thing is_ sartain,‘ and
that is if you do make a go of it you Will be

retty sure to pick up from ten to tWenty dol-

ars the first week, ’cos the boys are all flush
now, and if they like you they will be apt to

lank down their two-bit pieces in a pretty
ivel manner.”

“ ell, I will do my best to please them,” the
young lady remarked.

“ And you’ll do it, too!” Mrs. Bozain declared.
“Jest you Waltz out on that air platform with
the idee that you are the best singer that ever
struck this camp, and if you can sing one-half
as nicely as you speak you’ll ketch the crowd
for all they are worth 1”

The landlord had been surveying Miss Rich-
mond s costume with a speculative eye.

“ I s’pose you ham’t got no stage dress?” he
said.

“ No, of course I did not expect to have to do
anything of this kind and made no preparations
for it,” the young lady replied. '

“ It is a pity, for a gorgeous dress is half the
battle,” Bozain remarked. “ If you could come
in on astunni’ng blue or yaller Sllk with laces
and fringe and buttons and all sorts ofpmcracks
upon it so as to paralyze the gang befOrc you
open your mouth, it would help you out amaz—
invlyl”

Miss Richmond laughed, and shook her head.

“ I am afraid I will have to do the best I can
as I am.”

“Mebbe Lily Davenport will help her out,”
the landlady suggested.

“ Well, I don’t know ’bout that,” the husband
replied. “ Lily is a jealous kind of a eat, any-
way, and she may take the notion into her head
that Miss Richmond’s coming will interfere with
her, although she told me this morning that I

 

ought to get more performers, ’cos I hadn’t
enough to give a good show and she wasn’t'going
to do more than three turns a night after this.
She’s been doing four turns, tWo songs to each
turn, eight in a night, and she said it was too
much and she wouldn’t sing more than six here-
after.”

“My goodness! I should think six was quite
enough,” the young lady declared.

“ \l'ell, I calculate to give ’bout an hour and a
halt show; we commence ’bout nine and wind up
Close to eleven.”

“ Near two hours, Jake, generally!” the wife
declared.

“ They have been running a little longer late-
ly on account of Williams and Skidder doing
some nigger acts.

“ lint I say, wife, Lily’s dresses wouldn’t fit
Miss Richmond even if she was willing to lend
them, for she is stouter than this young lady and
not near so tall.”

“ Oh, they could be altered. that do you
men know about such things?” Mrs. Bozaiii ex-
claimed. .

“ Nothing, of course, but I will go you a big
doughnut that you don’t work the trick!” the
landlord declared.

“I think I would prefer to go on as I am,”
Miss Richmond said. “ I would not like to place
myself under obligations to a stranger.”

“ I reckon Miss Richmond is right, Jake,” the
landlady remarked. “ And Lily Davenport,
too, is one of the kind of women that you never
know how to take. One moment she is so nice
and pleasant that you wouldn’t think butter
would melt in her mouth, and the next she is a
regular spit-tire.”

“ Well, my dear, you must remember she has
had a deal of trouble,” Mr. Bozain observed.
“ But show Miss Richmond to her room, and I
will go ahead to advertise her appearance.”

3') while Bozaiii descended the stairs the land-
lady conducted the young lady to a small apart-
ment, situated next door to the parlor, and there
left her to her Own meditations, which were far
from being pleasant ones.

CHAPTER VI.
THE SERIO-COMIC.

MISS RICHMOND sat down by the single win-
dow that illuminated the room.

The apartment was on the side of the hotel, the
parlor occupying the front, but as there was a
large vacant space between the hotel and the
next building, which was a one—storied store, the
young lady was able to get a view of the main
street.

Deep in meditation, and with dark lines of
care wrinkled upon her white forehead, the girl
rested her chin in her hand and gazed listlessly
out of the window.

Though her eyes were fixed upon the scene
without, yet it was evident that her mind was
far away.

She was roused from her meditation by the
landlord with her sachel, and when she an—
swered his knock at the door, as if by magic all
traces of care had Vanished from her face and
her countenance was wreathed in smiles.

It was plain that she was a most excellent act-
ress, and possessed a perfect command over her
features. 1

She took the boy, thanked the host for his
kindness, and then, when he departed, returned
to her seat, and again the mask dropped from
her features and the old careworn look returned;
with this expression on her face she looked fully
ten years older.

For fully twenty minutes she gazed out upon
the street, her chin resting in her hand, her eyes
fixed, but no word escaped her lips, nor was she
conscious of anything that took place in the
street.

Men were passing up and down, but she saw
them not.

She was like a seeress, trying to see into the
future.

From her observation she was roused by a
knock on her door.

TEVith an expression of annoyance she called
on :

“ Come 1”

'But Ly the time the door opened, her counte-
nance changed, and she were the mask of cheer-
fulness again.

The door opened to give entrance to a woman,
a showy-looking girl of twenty-two or therea-
bouts, although there Were hard lines upon her
face, due to sad experiencq, which made her
look older than she really was.

The new-comer was a blonde, with rather
light hair, which suggested that it owed its -
culiar hue to the bleacher’s art, and gray-biifo
eyes, with a glint of fire in them, apparently
showing that the owner had considerable tem-
per. She was rather short and stout, still with
a fine figure; and, take her for all in all, she
would be considered to be a fine-looking girl in
any society.

Miss Richmond guessed at once that this was
Lily Davenport, and so she rose to greet her
with a. pleasant smile.

The new-comer closed the door after her, ad-
vanced half-way across the room, halted, and
surveyed Adrienne with a piercing look, as
though she would read her Very soul.

 

 

“ You are Miss Richmond, I suppose 3” she ex-
claimed, at'ter she had apparently satisfied her
curiosity in regard to the looks of the other.

The young woman spoke with a deep and
rather musical voice, but the well-trained ears
of the young lady detected immediately that the
voice was deteriorating, and was not now what
it once had been.

The girl had evidently been careless of the gift
which Nature bad bestowed upon her, for the
voice must be taken as much care of as a costly
musical instrument, which will not bear rough
usage or neglect.

“ Yes, that is my name, and you are Miss
Davenport, I suppose,” the young girl reinai ked
with her charming, urtless smile.

“ Not Miss Davenport—Lily Davenport, for I
am a married woman, worse luck 1" the other
replied.

“ Excuse me! 1 did not know, of course,” Miss
Richmond protested, evidently embarrassed by
her mistake.

“ Oh, that is all right! You need not make a
face about it as though you had swallowed a
little (lose of medicine!” the other exclaimed.
“ Miss Bozain told me about you so I thought I
would come and see what on were like.”

“ You are very kind!” iss Richmond said,
sweetly.

Lily Davenport cast one of her piercing glances
at the girl, and then a contemptuous expression
appeared on her face.

“ Oh, humbug!” she exclaimed. “ You are
too soft entirely! but as 1 am an old stager and
used to such games you cannot fool mel”

“ Really I have no intention of doing anything
of the kind!” the other protested in a reproach-
ful way.

“Oh, no, of course not!” Lily Davenport ex-
claimed in an extremely sarcastic manner.

“Well, I will take a seat on the bed as there
doesn’t seem to be another chair in the, room,
and the lady suited the action to the word.

“ Take this chair, please!" Miss Richmond ex~
claimed, hastening to proffer it.

“ Uh, keep it yourself! 1 am very comfortable
here, thank you. Sit down now so I can have a
talk with you.”

The other obeyed the command with the
docility of a well-trained child.

Lily Davenport favored her with another long
and earnest look.

“ So your name is Adrienne Richmond?” she
said at last.

“ Yes,” Miss Richmond responded, smiling in
her winning way.

“ It is a retty name.”

“ I am g ad you like it.”

“ It is too pretty to be real, though,” the other
declared, with a sneer.

Miss Richmond laughed as though she thought
that this was a joke.

“ You do not seem to be offended by my
rather brutal frankness!” Lily Davenport ex-
claimed, evidently astonished.

“ Whyshould I be offended?” the girl demand-
ed. “ I do not see anything in your remark to give
me offense. If you do not believe that it is my
real name because it happens to be a pretty one,
that is no reason why 1 should feel hurt. Every
one ought to be entitled to their opinion, and
free to express it, it seems to me.”

“ You are either an extremely sweet-tempered
young lady, or else you are as clever an actress
as I have ever met!’

“ In either case I suppose I will have to thank
you for a compliment,” Miss Richmond re-
flex-tin, with a polite inclination of her shapely

eat .

Lily Davenport knitted her thick brows to-
gether.

“ Oh, you are certainly a very Sweet creature,
indeed!” she cried, but evidently in sarcasm.

“Well, I do not know about that, but I al-
ways try to be agreeable to everybody whom I
chance to meet,” Miss Richmond i‘e1.lied, noth-
ing in her manner indicating that she had given
the other a truly feminine dig.

“ Oh l” the other exclaimed, “ that was very
nicely put, and you said it in such an innocent
way, too, just as if you were not conscious that

on had managed to give me a strong hint that

had not behaved myself as well as I ought to.
I can see that you are amply able to take care
of yourself.”

“ Well, I don’t know about that. I try to, of
course.” the other said in a doubtful way.

“ What is this that Bozain has been telling me
upon your gomg on in the 0110?” Lily Daven-
port demanded, abruptly.

“ About my singing in the show?”

“ Yes; don’t you know what the olio means?” i

“ Well, I suppose you mean the performance.”

“ You are a nice, innocent little duck to try
such a life as that!” the other exclaimed, con-
temptuously. “That is if you are one half as
green as you try to make yourself out to be.”

“ Well, I don’t know. I am obliged to do
something,” Miss Richmond responded in a
doubtful way. “ I am here all alone, without a
friend u n whom I can call for aid, and with
very litt e money indeed. I must get money in
some way so I can et away, and as I have no
friends to whom can write for assistaan
am compelled to depend upon myself. I would
be glad to get something else to do, of course,

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but the landlord/could not tell me of anything,
and so} am obliged to try what I can do on the
stn e.

“gWhy don’t you ick up a husband?” Lily
Duven ort demanded), bluntly. “In a camp
like this there are always plenty of men with
money who would be glad of the chance to pick
up a pretty doll-like girl of your kind!”

Adrienne laughed merrily as though she
thought the suggestion was a very good joke in—

 

 

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freedom to Sell it, unlessfindecd I got aman with
a couple of millions, so that my chains would be
a golden one.”

“ Your head is certainly level there!” the
other declared with an approving nod. “I was
foolish enough to fall in love and get married,
and I have repented my folly in Siwkcloth and

' ashes almost over si’uco, ’
“ You speak bitterly,” Miss Richmond re-
, marked in her mild and gentle way.

“ I have am he reason for it!” Lily Davenport
declared. “' y story isthe old one, and it is no
secret here in the camp, for there urea lot of
men here who know all about me, men who
knew me when I sung in the towns on the

\ Santa Fe road. You see I have been a vocalist

' evvr sinceI wasa child. I am a good singer,

~ understood my business thoroughly, and got as

1. gm] a salary as any serio-comic in the business.
' ou know what a eerie—comic is, I suppose?”

“ Yes, I think so,” Adrienne replied, hesita-
tin 1y. “ It is a lady who sings both serious
bal ads and livel comic songs.”

“ That is it. {sing everything from the Last
Rose of Summer down to the Mulligan Guards,
but in a camp like this the men don’t want any

. of the Last Rose of Summer in theirs. All they
care for is liver songs with plenty of fun.”

“ Yes, I suppose so although I don’t know
anything about it,” Miss Richmond remarked,
in her innocent way. ,

“ Oh, I am giving you a straight tip,” the
other declared. “ I could see from the way that

. Bozain spoke that he had an idea that I would
be jealous of you, but I am not. Even the nar—
row world of this little camp is plenty big
enough for both of us.”

,“ I am lad of that,” Miss Richmond declared.
“ I shoul be unhap y if I thought that my at-
tempt to gain a litt 9 money by the only means
which seems open to me would result in making
any one my enemy.”

“Oh, that is all right, we will not quarrel,”
Lily Davenport asserted. “I have not a doubt

-. but what there will be plenty of two-bit pieces
 ' for both of III; and if you have nerve enough to
‘. at through your son 5 I shouldn’t be surprised

. ff the miners take qul a fancy to you—that is,

- if you can act as well on the stage as you can
= .cfl. 

, “What an ideal” Adrienne exclaimed, as if

' she did not know what to make of the speech. '
 “Oh, yes, I am considerably disappointed in

 Aw” ‘
. “ ssibiei’"

.

 . deed.

3' “ Oh, no, I am not anxmus to get married yet
I“, . awhile!” she exclaimed. “ I am too fond of my
r ‘ w

i "

Is that‘
x _‘ “ True a preaching! You are not the kind of
5 girl that I expected to see at all. You succeeded

. in pulling the wool over the landlord’s eyes, and
' ‘ even Mr . Bozain doesn’t seem to suspect, but I
am a w ,man who has seen a deal more of
' life than has the landlady, though she is old
v enough to be my mother, and I can see that you
‘. g are/not anywhere near as simple and 'inpocent

' as you try to make out.”

’ ‘ I am sure I hav: never retcnded to be
‘ ginghlt but what I am, Miss Rlc mond declared,

5ywords, but by your actions you imply a great
deal. Oh, you are a deep one!"
3 ‘ Miss Richmond laughed. ‘
’ _ “11' yo have such a belief I do not suppOse
vsthat it w ll be any use for me to try and argue
‘r. on out of it," she said, smiling as swgetly as‘
hpu h she thought she had been compli ented.
 ‘Xnd this story of yours of coming here to
. seoMr. Kingsley—do you know it seems to me
‘ to be a little thin, to resort to slang?”
‘ ' “Now, Mrs. D venport, if it is not the truth,
'nd I have come era for some other purpose, it
7;)!th that if I am the deep and designing.
creature you take me to be, I will not be apt to
bean-3y my secret to the first comer upon the ask-

u . uv ‘
, I‘I am well answered,” was the other’s com-
. v ‘ ment. 1 “ And Whet\h‘er you are simple or deep,
,; it is evident that yo have brains enough to en-

’ ble you to take care of yourself, which is more
gnu I can say for a. lady who is known as Lily
, aVenport.” x
, “0h, Mrs. Davenport. you wrong yourself, I
"am sure!” the other declared. '

“No, I don’t! I know what I am talking
about, and you do not. I cannot believe that
 any man could fool you into such a wretched

marriage as I made!”
 _ “Irdon’t know; I
r the circumstances.”
9%.: “ Well, Ned Davenport, my husband, made
.3; my acquaintance in Denver. He was then on
' Ma'wav‘to this camp. . That was about a y
38'0-
hud plonyy of money, and laid siege to main the

  

  

  

  

  

  
 

   

   

am not acquainted with

  
 

  
  

   
    
 

  

 

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C “El‘l'l’i: I don’t suppose that you do say much in ‘

 

He was a good-looking fellow, apparently -

" K..er Billyfkthe spas: '

x

most earnest manner. He made quick work of
it, too, for in a week after we became acquaint-
ed we were married.”

“ Oh, I don’t think I should have been in such
a hurry as that!” Miss Richmond declared, with
a shake of the head. ,

“I do not doubt itl Simple and innocent as
you appear to be, yet you would have had more
swinel but i lost my head. I became infatuated
with the follow, and then hedazzlcd me with his
stories of how happy we Would be, and the life
of luxury he would give me, the glittering liar!”
the woman cried, with bitter accent.

“ He gave me to understand that he was a
partner in tho \Vhite Gopher Mine, when he was
only the bookkeeper and treasurer.”

Mrs. Davenport was so occupied with her
story—so incensed as she reflected upon the post,
that she failed to notice the lint of fire which
came in the 0 es of Miss Richmond when she
spoke of the \ hite Gopher property.

It was but a momentary flash of light, and
then the eyes were as sweetly uncxpressivepe
cvcr.’ '

"' I believed every word the fellow said, mar-
ried him and came to this town, but before I
had becn here a month my eyes were Opened as
to the true character of the man whom I had
married,” Mrs. Davenport continued. “ At
heart my husband was a rascal, and if he did
not stoop to crime it‘ was becaUse he was a
thorough coward and feared the consequences;
he was not honest because he believed in honesty,
but because he was afraid of being caught.

“lAud then in addition he wasadrunkard, one
of the kind who stole of! and took his liquor all
alone by himself. He had the decency to try
and hide from me just how bad he was doing
the first of our married life, but, little by little,
the mask drop cd, and before our honeymoon
was over I unc erstood that I was Wedded to a
man who was a complete slave toliquor. There
was not a night in the week that he Went to bed
sober!” ' '

“ But if that was the case, how was be able to
attend to his duties at the mine?” Miss Rich-
mond asked, evidently taking a great interest in
the recital.

“ He did not attend to them as he shOuId have
done, though he was careful not to drink much
until his work was done,” Mrs. Davenport re~
plied. “ Twice though he got on sprees and was
discharged {by Mr. Kingsley, and I went and
begged him back. He had two strong friends
in the mine, too, Mr. Van Enron and the Ger-
man, Gotterang. How in the world m hus-
band succeeded in deceiving them, I 0 not
know, but they believed him to be an eXCellent
man, only easily led away, as Mr. Van Buren
himself told me. p

“ The two helped me to get my husband taken
back, and after this second scrape he was cure
in] not to drink in the daytime so that he could
not attend to his business.”

“ I suppose of course that the gentlemen felt
sorr for him as the presumed he was a good
wor 'cr,” the other 0 served.

“Yes, he was an excellent bookkee r, and
one of the most expert penmen in the est; his
writing was absolutely faultless and there was
h-u'dly anything which could be executed by the
pen which he could not do.”

“I do not wonder then that they interceded
for him.” ’

“ It proved to be an unfortunate adair for
me, for after the occurrence my husband began
to treat me badly, and as I havea temper of my
own We quarreled; then, in a rage, I went away
--went back no the stage again, as many a wo-
man who has been in public life and retired on
account of marrying has been obliged to do,
but in my case I did not go back to support my
husband. That is somethinlg I would not do.”

“ I do not blame you, should think that
would be dreadfull’P iss Richmond declared.

“ About a month ago I came to White Oaks.
My husband heard that I was there and he came
to see me. I had neither seen nor heard from
him since I went awayi ,

“ He wanted me to come back; told me all
about Mr. Kingsley selling the mine and sai
Van Buren had promised to give him an inter
in the reperty, provided he kept straight add
attended) to bus noes, and he begged me to come
back to him.”

' “ He promised to behave himself in the future,
of course,” Adrienne said with one of her cheer:
to! smiles.

“5011, as, he was‘ ready to promise anything
under t a sun, but such promises are like pie-
crust only made to be broken 1” Mrs. Davenport
exclaimed, scornfully. .

“ I did not believe that he had reformed, but I
came back, for I thought I ought .to givehim
another trial; but it was just as I expected
though. He was worse if anything than when
I went away. I staid with him. just two weeks,
he has a little cabin on the hillside near the
works, and then we ‘hud words one ni ht when
he came home in a most disgusting sta , and I
came down to the hotel: the next day and ar-

ranged to go on in the n t olio, and Ihave
been here ever since." _

 ‘:¥11a@.9   , ‘ i’t'o i
"fl, gag-my, ‘  seemeonceua
  nie‘tbothois going

 

    
  

   
   
  

    
 

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to turn over a new leaf, but I know just how
much faith can be put in his promises now. He
is beyond redemption, and I can plainly see
that he is going all to )ieces.

“' In fact, I met r. Van Buren yesterday
and he told me that my husband has not done
five days’ work in the lost two weeks, and he
was afraid from the way he was going on that
he would not list long, and he spoke as if he was
really sorry for him; said his drunkenness was 
really a disease, and he could no more help it
than a man could help having a cold or fever, 
and I must not worry about him, for he and Mr.
(iotterung had made up their minds to see him
through and they would look out that he should I .
not want for anything. ,1 t ' .

“ How good S” Miss Richmond exclaimed, open‘ ’
iug her big eyes to thcir fullest extent.

‘ Yes, I suppose I ought to be vcry thankful,
but I will be honest with you and say ihatl am
not!” Mrs. Davenport declared, with a somber
face. i

“ The unfortunate wretch is dying by inches,

I kn0\v,but I cannot findi in my heartto be sorry i
for him. I cannot forge that he has wrecked ,1.
all my life, and though he may succeed in (10- '
ceiving Mr. Van Enron and (iotterang, smart as
they think themselves, yet he cannot deceive mo- ‘
1 know that he is a base, unprincipimi rascal,
and if he has not committed any crime it is be~
cause he. is too big a coward to risk the conse-
quences.”

“ I do not doubt that you are right,” Miss 1; 7
Richmond declared. “ I would sooner trust the .. 3;; , ‘
judgment of a Woman like yourself on a subject 1
of this kind than all the men in creation!” ‘ »,

Mrs. Davenport’s face was firm and hard, but :3
it relaxed a little as she listened to the girl’s as-
surance. 

“ N ow see what an idiot I am i” she exclaimed§
“ Here I have madea confidante of you, an utte
stranger, and 1 will tell you frankly that you are
not the kind of woman I would want to trust 
with a. secret if I had sto to consider the ’ ‘ 
matter, but I did not; I bubbled away like a. '
foolish child or a loose-tongued old Woman.”

“ Why would you not have truetod me?” Miss M
Richmond exclaimed, in accents of amazement. .

“ Because my womanly ins 'nct tells mp that
£our appearance is not to be elied upon,” Mrs.

avenport declared. “ You look to be asimple,
innocentgirl,‘ but I so ct you are a case of
‘ still waters run deep.’ feel sure you are wise,
skillful and determined, and that any one who
makes an enemy of you will need to keep their
wits about them.” \

Miss Richmond laughed in her merry, light—
hearted way. ' '

“ Upon my word, if you keep on you ‘will make
me out to be a perfect paragon of a woman!” she
exclaimed. ' ,

“ But I can understand how itis that you came .»
to tell me your story. You wanted to confide '.  
in somebody, and in some mysterious wny'thé 
impulse came to you to tell me the sad tale. It
was very natural-indeed. It is human nature ‘
and it has always been so since the world be an.
Don’t you remember the story of King idu »“ '
who rel ed away back in the fabulous ages)“ a. (‘r/

“ No, must admit that my educaltion is none ‘
of the best.” ' /

“ Well, this king was one of the mightiest on
earth, the king of all kings, but although a very ‘
handsome man he had a pair of asp’s airs m-
staad of a human’s. This'fact, by a dextrous
arrangement of crowns and caps had always
been concealed from the world, so that no one '
suspected the truth. There came a tune though
when the king was obliged to allow the slave
who waited upon him to know ‘how , he was
afflicted. The man understood that to dare
reveal the secret to the world. would surely
cause him to be put to death, but the secret was
too big to be contained in his own breast, so as he
did not dare to tell: itto any human he went
down to the water‘s edge and whispered to the  ,
nodding reeds, “King Midas has ass’s éarsl’ 
so be relieved his mind. Then up came a storm "’ ‘
the winds blow and from each particular 
came the cry ‘Kin Midas has ass’snnrsl" and 3
so the secret was pu lished to the world.- . ' . .-

“ You see, even the reeds couldn’t hold .thplr
tongues!” and Miss Richmond 1411311903111 113‘ _ ,
silvery way. ’ {I - - .i. -.'

“ There is a deal of truth in the story ” Mrs.  _
Davenport remarked, reflectiVely. “ y n this ~
world itis not possible sometimes for peeple to -
keep still even when it is most important that ,
they should. . . . ' '

“But enough of this dolcful sub it!” she ex- . '
claimed abruptly. “ Let us get own to busi- ,
ness. Mrs. Bozuin asked melt-I would not be , ,'
kind enough to see What I OWN do toward 
fixing on up some sort at a. dress, and that is ‘r.
what came about.” ' ‘ ‘ -" 
"‘ You are very kind indeed l” _ . g ‘

" But'come into my room and we will see what»
can be done.” ~ ,. ‘ r -. ' 

“ With pleasure!” Miss Richmond

Lily Davenport then conducted the’gir '
apartment which was in the back of them.

CHAPTER VIII. V _
ran CONSULTATION. ‘  ~ I ’2
THE apartment'of the eerie-comic was en the
other side of the entry from the room occupied

l

     
     
     
     
     
 

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9

 

Keen Billy, the Sport.

 

by Miss Richmond, but it was the same size and
exactly like the other in all respects.

As it cost a small fortune to freight goods to
this lonely camp not a piece of furniture was
provided that could possibly be done. without.

The only articles in Mrs. Davenport’s room
which Were not duplicated in the other, were
the little pictures with which she had adorned
the bare walls, and the good-sized trunk which
stood in one corner.

“ What a difference the pictures make in the
a pcarance of the room 1” Miss Richmond ex-
c aimed, after taking a good l vok around.

" Yes, and they are only little common things,
chromos which I have picked up here and there
in my wanderings,” the other replied. “ As you
perceive, I have never been able to afford the
luxury of frames, not on account of the expense,
but because they would take up too much room
in my trunk.”

“ Yes, I suppose it would be difficult to carry
them around.”

“ Now then, we will see what we can do for a
dress for you,” and Mrs. Davenport unlocked
the trunk, took out the tray, and proceeded to
unpack.

Suddenly she paused.

“ ()h, by the way, what are you going to
singi” she asked. ‘l I forgot to speak about
that, and yet it is necessar for me to know in
order to pick out a suitable ress.”

“ Well, I really don’t know; I haven’t thought
about that yet,” Miss Richmond replied, evi-
dentl puzzled by the question.

“ hat is the first thing to be settled, you
know. If you are going to sing sentimental
ballads of the ‘ Home, Sweet Home,’ style, you
ought to wear an evening dress with a train,
but if you are going to do a regular eerie-comic
tune, give them ‘ Kerrigan’s Masquerade,’ and
pieces of that stamp, then you want a short
dress like this,” and the speaker held up a
gaudy silk dress, elaborately trimmed with
gold ace, the skirt of which only came a little
we. below the knee.

‘ Oh, I don’t think I would like to wear a
dress so short as that,” Miss Richmond said, her
modesty evidently shocked by the shortness of
the skirt.

“ Now if you are going into this business with
the idea of getting a living out of it you must
get such nonsense as that out of your head 1” the
other declared.

“ This dress is not half as bad as'the ones that
high-toned fashionable ladies Wear to mas—

uerade balls, and I havo never seen any per-
ormers on the stage quite so bold in exhibit-
ing themselves as some so—called society ladies
at one of the swell balls that I attended in San
Francisco once.”

“Oh, I suppose that is all in getting used to
it,” the young lady remarked, thoughtfully.
“It is like bathing in cold water; you hesitate
about taking the first plunge, but when that is
done. there is no more trouble.”

“Yes, that is about the idea. This dress is
my favorite. I have six different ones, pretty
much alike in pattern, so as to be able to wear a
different one every night in the week.

“ Now, here is one which I think will suit
you,” she continued, and she spread a magenta
silk dress, trimmed With black lace and jet
bugles, upon the bed.

“ 0h, isn’t it pretty 1” Miss Richmond ex-
claimed. . .

“. Yes, and I think it Will about fit; you as it
is too small for me,” Mrs. Davenport remarked,
with a critical glance at the well-proportioned
figure of the other.

“Yes, I should think it would fit.”

“It is a demi-train, but as you are fully
three inches taller than I am, it will come about

- to the tops of your boots, so it will be a sort

of a compromise between a long dress and a
short one.”

“ Oh, yes, I will not mind that. and I presume
after I get used to the stage that I will not mind
the short dresses.”

“Of course notl it is a mere matter of busi-
nessl” the other declared. “ Now we will try
this on and see what alterations it needs. I
have the 51“! Stockings to match and your own
beets will (10. for It does not make any differ-
ence in a place like this. It is not like a regu-
lar theater where one is expected to have every-
thing in style.”

“Yes, I can understand that, and I think that
you are ever so kind to take so much trouble on
my account, but I Will try some day to repay
you for it. I have a long memory and 1 seldom
forget either friend or foe." _

“Oh, I know that without your telling me!”
the other declared. “ I am certain that you are
no shallow-headed girl, for all you do 1 k to be
so innocent and artless, and I should ot be at
all surprised if you have the brass to go on and
face the audience as if you had been in the song
and dance business all your life.” .

Adrienne laughed, and shook her head at the
candid speaker.

“ I do not mind what you say, for I have got
used to you now, and I have no doubt that your
bark is a real: deal worse than your bite.”

“ Wellfi know I have not the dogged deter-
mination that some women possess,” Mrs.
Davenport observed. “ I flare up quickly and

 

fly in a passion, and then it is soon over. If I
had not been easy-going I would not have stood
Ned Davenport’s nonsense as long as I did, but I
finally got in mad up at last and then I left
him. The fel ow has ruined all my life though,
for I shall never trust a. man again as long as I
live.”

“I can hardly blame you.”

During this conversation Miss Richmond’s
dress had been removed and Mrs. Davenport
had robed her in the stage costume.

“It is a little too loose, but as you do not go
on until to—morrow night we will have plenty of
time to alter it.”

“ Oh, yes.”

And then Mrs. Davenport in deciding about
the alterations chanced to place her hand on the
breast of the girl and an exclamation of sur-
prise came from her.

“ What is it?" asked Adrienne in a very inno-
cent way.

“ Oh, you are a thorough humbug and no misc
take!” the other declared.

“ \Vhat has started you off again?”

“ Why, you have a rm'olver concealed in your
bosom!” Mrs, Davenport cxclaimcd. “ And a
good-sized one, too. No little pop-gun tov such
as women generally carry when they think they
need a weapon.”

"' Oh, you are altogether too sharp l” Miss Rich-
mond exclaimed, but she did not attempt to say
that the supposition was not correct.

“ I knew that you were both deep and danger-
our the moment that I looked at you!” Mrs.
Davenport, declared.

Miss Richmond laughed but did not reply.

Then the fancy costume was removed and
Adrienne resumed her street dress.

“ Now you want to make up your mind what
you are going to sing and have Dutcliy—he’s the
violin player, Brm-kel is his name, but nobody
calls him anything but Dutchy—coznc up to your
room and rehearse. He’s a geod man but awful
slow and stupid and cranky. I will speak to
Bozain and have him sent up.”

“ If you will be so kind,” and then the conver-
sation Changed; Mrs. lhvcnport got out her sew-
ing materials and while the two worked on the
dress they chatted upon various subjects, none
of which are of interest to the reader, and so we
leave them.

 

CHAPTER IX.
A SPECULATION.

LONG HANK had to stand considerable joking
on account of his damaged frontispiece, and al-
though he protested Vigorously that the bruises
were caused by his accidentally running against
an open door in the dark, he being considerably
under the influence of liquor at the time, yet the
statement was received by jeers and he was un-
mercifully chuffed at every place he entered.

In one saloon in particular, the Royal Gin Pal-
ace, as it was grandiloquently called, a lace
kept by an Englishman known as Liverpool ack,
and one of the driver’s favorite resorts, the jok-
ing at his expense was so extensive that the
driver’s wrath was roused.

“ Say, let up!” he exclaimed. “Blame it all!
you fellows talk as if no man ever got a black
eye except from another fcllow’s list.”

“ Oh, that is all right!” the barkeeper replied,
a burly fellow called Bobby Beodigo, who was
the champion bruiser of the town. “That will
do to stuff the gang with, but we coves who are
hue to a. thing or two know better than that!”

And then the little group of loungers in the
saloon laughed uproariously.

“ The hull trouble is, ye know, you have run I

hup ag’in’ some man who understood how to
handle his dukes, and he gave you Tom Sayer-5’s
favorite smash between the heyes; many is the
time that I have seen that blooming champion
put in his ‘ auctioneer,’ as he called his favorite
inaulpy, and lay his man out with one good
cli .

he barkeeper was looked upon as an oracle
when he spoke upon pugilistic matters.

He claimed to he the grandson of the famous
English fighting man known as Bendigo, who at
one time was supposed by the sporting men of
the “ tight little island” to be without a rival in
thg prize-ring.

ince coming to Golden Plume he had met and
defeated three of the “ supposed to be ” g ' at
fighting men of the town in regular prize- ng
contests, and therefore was looked upon to be in-
vincible.

“ It won’t go down, this ’ero door story, ye
knowl" the bartender continued. " You have
run hup ag’in’ a man who knew how to handle
himself, and that is how you came to grief, and
I must say from the looks of your peepers that
the cove w’ot did the damage wasa mighty hard
hitter.” ,

There was another laugh from the loungers
at the driver’s expense, and then the landlord
joined in.

“ You ought to git this cove to come to Golden
Plume!” he declared. “ You could match him
ag’in’ Bobby ’ere, and if he could best Bobby
you could pick up a whole barrel of money i”

“Yes, that is the dodge l” the bruiser exclaim-
ed. “ If you can scare up 9. 00d man for a
scrap I would go him for as muc money as ou
kin raise, and we kin charge the boys a coup eof

 

dollars a head to see the mill and the gate would
run up to two hundred ducats, sure!”

While the speaker was making this proposition
a brilliant idea had come to Long Hank.

Why would it not be a good scheme to match
the iron-fisted sport against the boss bruiser, as
he was fond of [erming himself?

The driVer felt satisfied that the sport would
be a match for the Englishman.

He had seen Bendigo light and knew just what
he could do, and in his way of thinking ilwre
was no doubt the sport could defeat him easil 5'.

Then, too, Long Hank had put on the gloves
and boxed with the barkeeper, and although he
got the worst of the cncountei‘, yet the bruiser
had not handled him as the sport had >ucceeded
in doing.

The only doubtful thing, as far as he could
see, was the uncertainty as to whether he could
get the sport to go into the nil‘m’r or not,

“ Oh, you are jest spoiling for a fight then,”
he said.

“ Yes, I’m gitting rusty!“ the barkeeper de-
clarcd. “ I haiu’t [mocked a man out for six
months, and I am jest hungry for a chance to
git at some cove and show him a few points in
the hurt of ‘jab, stop, and git away.” The
Englishman would take liberties with his 11's
once in a while.

“ Wal, now, I reckon I know a man who
would be apt to make a pretty good fight with

' you,” Long Hank remarked.

“He’s the blooming cove I am looking for!”
the bruiser exclaimed. “ Jest you trot him hup
’ere as quick as you kin, so I kin make a match
with him. If he kin make me cry quits he kin
git away with a couple of hundred ducats with-
out fail."

“ Oh, I don’t know as he Would be willing to
go into it, but when I meet the man I will tell
him that thereis a chance. for him to pick up
some money, and mebbe he’ll try it on.”

“ You jest git any man to make a match
with me for a hundred, Markis of Queensberry‘s
rules, and I will give you a tenner for your
trouble, for I am jest as safe to collar the bun.
dred the moment the match is made as though I
had the mopuscs in my ’and l” the bouncer de-
clared, boastfully.

“ Wal, when see the man I will speak to
him,” and with this assurance the driver de-
parted.

He spoke carelessly about the matter, just as
if he did not attach much importance to the
affair, but in reality he thought he as 3' a chance
to make some money, and had made up his mind
to find the sport and make a proposal to him as
soon as possible.

The. driver was in luck, for he encountered
Keene just as he got to the Metropolitan Hotel.

“ llvllol you are jest the man I want to see,”
Long Ilank exclaimed.

“ I; that so?” queried the sport. “ Well, I am
here, all right.”

“ Come into the llfltti, I have a leetle business
matter that I want to talk over with you.”

Then the driver led the way into the hotel,
and the two tonk seats at one of the tables
which was in a corner by the window, remote
from the bar, where a conversation could be
carried on without any danger of its being ever-
heard.

“ How are you making out, sport i” the driver
asked.

“ Well, it is rather early in the game for me
to answers. question of that kind,” Keene re-
plied, a little evasively.

“Oh, I ain’t asking jest for the sake of hear-
ing myself talk, or to prv inter your business,”
the driver declared. “I hain‘t got much curi-
osity, and I don’t ever trouble myself to poke
my nose in business which don’t consarii me,"

“ Well, as far as my experience goes that is
the right way to get along in this world.”

“ I reckon it is. Oh, I am reg’lar old business
now, and you kin jest bet yer dollars onto it
chry time, and you will be sure to corral the
ducats.”

“ Dead sure, eh?" the sport remarked, with a.
smile.

“ Oh, yesl” the driver assented, confidently.
“I don’t know much about you, sport, but I
kinder got the idee that you ain‘t any better
heeled than you ought to be.”

“Your surmise is correct. I have not so
much money as to'need a treasurer to aid me in
taking care of it.”

“ This is semething more than wind, you
know; this is business,” the driver declared.
“ And the reason I am axing how you are fixed
is that I jest run across a little speculation
which I think there is some money in, if I“ kin
induce you to go into the thing.”

“ I am open for an offer, and I am not flush,”
the sport replied. “ I thought 1 might be able
to strike a small game, but I must admit that
the men with whom I would be forced to play
are a leetle too ton h. I want money badly
enough, but I will be anged if care to get it by
playing with an of the hard cases I have run
across to—day. I have always tried to beia gen-
tleman even though I am a sport, but the men
who piay the twenty-five cent ante iker game
in this camp are the meanest crowd have ever ,

struck. I reckon that if I succeeded in winning
five dollars of any of them, it would end in my

   

having to fight the whole gang, and though I
profess to be able to take care of myself, and do
not object to a scrap if anybody around is spoil-
ing for a fight, yet I do not propose to run the
risk of being done up by a gang for the sake of
a paltry five dollars. ’ '

“Sport, I kin give you a chance to rake in
a couple of hundredl" Long Hank declared, im-
pressi vely. '

“ You can?”

“ You bet!”

“ You are just the man I am looking for thcnl
, ,. Go ahead and explain!”
I i The driver did so and Keene listened atten-
V , tively while Long Hank related his conversation

l, . with the boss bruiser.

 “Well, this is a little out of my line,” the
 , ' sport remarked in a reflective way. “I am a
" ' fumbler, but this speculation calls for a pagi-
ist.”

“Sport, if you are as handv with the paste-
boards as you are with your lists you must be

V away at the top of the heap when card-sharps
are around!” the driver exclaimed.

“And then I have no money for the stake.”

“ I will find that 1" Long Hank exclaimed. “ I
have a hundred deposited with the Exprch Com-
pany here which I kin git of the agent at any
time. I drive for the Express Company, you

, know, and Jerry Downing, the Express agent

hyer, is one of the boys, and he has a grudge
 ag’in’ Liverpool ack and his gun too, for he
backed the last an that fought endigo and
.is kinder sore over his lesses. When I explain
to him what kind of a man you are, he will
Be jigs}; ripe to go in to git square with Liverpool

ac .

~4fik§§'%fi¥d%¢¢   d-‘E“'“”‘." o *

 

“ That is natural.”
“Liverpool and ris crowd are so confident
that Bendigo kin g t awn with anybody, that
they will back him to t eir last dollar, and
Jerry will have a chance to bet all the money he
wants to put up, and I will make an arrange-
ment with him to give you an interest in the
bets; then, too, I will give you half the stake if
,. .you win, so w’ot with the stake, the gate money
,A : . and the bets, you stand a good chance to pull in
A a couple of hundred dollars.”
 “Quite an alluring ms t ror fifteen or
,./ twent minutes’ work, (gr t e chances are that
the agnir will not last longer than that if the
man is what you represent him to be.”
1' - ' “ Sport, I have given it to you as straight as a
.. string!” the drivar declared.
 “ Will he be willing to fight right away with
4 ' out taking time to train, think you?”
“ Oh, yes, that has allers been the way the
..thin has been worked. The match was made
one ay and pulled oil? the next."
“ And this boxer is the barkeeperl”
“Yes.” _ '
" “‘ And drinks a good deal, I so pose?” r .
“Oh, you bet! He is h’isting n the bug-juice
all day and night! I doubt if the galoot goes to
bed sober once a week.”
 “ He must be all out of condition then and car-
ryin a great deal of fat?” I
“ h, yes, he’s as fat‘ as a h . You 'est
ought to see the stomach on him-1i e an al er-
, man’s!” .
“But he has always succeeded in defeati
I the men who fought with him,” the sport 
‘  . reflectively.
 “But he hain’t had a acre. for six months,
and then he was in a muc better condition.
,  didn’t used to drink so much, and was not
fat, and then the galoots he knocked out were
, men of my kidney, galoots who thought that
' they k ew a heap about boxing until theigot
an a run with a man who has made a usi-
, non; of ghtin and then the found that they
’ didn’t know ha i as much as ey thought they

. ‘ “Well, I Will tell you what I will do,” the
.. lsport remarked, after thinking the matter over
for a few minutes. “ As far as I can see this is
,a good speculation, and though [am not anxious
it? win a name as a prize-fighter, yet I ainso
situated that if I could pick up a couple of hun-
‘r tired dollars it would he] me along amazingly
, sol will 0 and have a ook at this man. {I
' I and that e is the sort of follow you re resent
him to be,‘and Ithink I stand a fairs ow to
' win I W111 gointo the thin .”
'. ‘fThat is all right!” the river declared, high-
»,17 delighted. “ It ,is dollars to cents that you
‘ Ewill take a hack at the speculation, for you will
I find that the cuss is jest as I say. I ain’t mak-
ing no, mistake you know for I am not fool
I. 2?. . énou b to put up) my hundred dollars without
 J thin I stand a ig chance to win.”
‘ - “ You would be unwise indeed to go into the
zaflair if you did not think'all the, advantage
i' ‘ was on your side." ,
,; ’ ‘.‘.You kin bet yer bottom dollar I wouldn’t!
9 wasn’t born yesterday i” " v ’
“'Ikwill go up to the place, walk in and get a
. Grin ,soas to have an opportunity to size, the
ma up, and if you will wait here J will give
:. you an answer inside of half-an-hour.”
‘ {‘All‘rightl I will wait.” ,
l " As! an: a stranger, no one in the Gin Palace
will he apt to suspect. my busineu.” ‘ ,
"5/ f'Oh, not The . would have to be mighty
gaineruwdgthatk , ' .,. ,. r >
r” ‘ "1‘ I will be’bac ‘in twentyor thirty militia"

'.,f“"

 
 

    
    

“ I
~.

  
  
  

 
      
 

a. ‘fi

  

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 

r Keen Billy,

I
l
I

 

     
 
 

,x .

“Take yer time, I’m in no hurry l” the driver/

re lied.
hen the sport departed.

Long Hank waited for his return in perfect
confidence that the answer would be a favorable
one.

The driver had not long to wait.

Before twenty minutes had expired the sport
re-entcred the saloon and resumed his former
seat.

“ \Voll, did you take it in?”

it Oh, yes.”

“ And wasn’t things as I said l”

“ They were.”

“And you will go into thanpcculation?”

“ Yes, to use the expressive slang, I think you
have struck a regular pudding l” the sport
declared. ,

“ Didn't I tell you so?" Long Hank exclaimed.

“ From the fellow‘s appearance I should
imagine that in his day he had been a pretty
good man, but he is old, stale and fat, and if he
i s able to stand up before me for fifteen minutes
I shall be surprised.”

“ So would I be.” .

“A half-a-dozen good blows in his wind and
he will be a goncrl”

“ Come over to the Express Office so I can in-
troduoe you to J crryi" the driver cried, and
then the two departed.

When the Express agent learned the particu—
lars he was as ea rer to go into the scheme as the
driver, and within another hour the match was
made, and soon the news spread around the camp
that Bobby Bendigo had agreed to “stop” Long
hank’l Unknown in ten rounds.

CHAPTER X.
nownns IS WARNED.

KEENE waited at the Express Office while
Long Hank made the arrangements for the
match, and it was at the sport’s suggestion that
Long Hank made the oifer to the burly Bendigo
to produce a man whom the fighter could not
“ stop " in ten rounds. ‘

The sharp shrewdly observed: »

“ There is an old sporting 39. log that a match
well made is half won, and w ile we are about
it we may as well start in with all the advan-
tage on our side that we can possibly secure.
The odds are big, and this Englishman is so
confident in his skill as a fighter that he will be
agreeable to make a match that I can’t stay ten
rounds with him, and itwe can make an ar-
rangement of that kind, you will be safe in
betting two to one I will wm.”

The Sport was right in his con 'ecture; the
bruiser had so good an opinion of imself that
he was glad to accept the offer.

After leavmg the saloon, Long Hank was care- ,
ful not to return directly to the Express Office
for he was afraid of being followed by some spy
anxious to ascertain who was the unknown.

But he was not Watched. ‘

The Englishman and his friends were so con.
fident that there wasa’t a man in the town who
stood any chance in a match “of this kind op-
posed to the bruiser that it was a matter of per-
fect indifference to them who the unknown was,
and not one of them would have taken anyltroun
ble to find out.

It was with a great deal of satisfaction that
Long Hank announced thatall the arran ements
had been made and slapped a ten-do lar bill
down on the table in front of Keene. '-

“ Thar, sport, {jest stow that away in yer
pocket!” he excla n ed. ‘

“ What is this?” Keene asked.

“ That is the first p’iles of the war,” the driver
replied.

 

the town who stands any show with him that he
tried a bold hint! on me by saying that if I
could git a man who would make a match with
him he would give me ten dollars.”

Keene laughed, for this incident appeared to
him to be funny.

“ And he was as good as his word, eh ?"

“ Now, on had better believe that he was!”
Long Han replied. “ The moment the articles
were signed ‘he pulled out his roll and put up his
saw-buck like a little man, saying as how, he
could allers afford to pay ten ducats for the
sake of making a hundred. ’ I

“ Confident, isn’t he!” the sport exclaimed.
sarcastically.

“ Oh, yes, he rockins he’s got a sure thing i”
the driver replied. ;

" These supposed to be sure things turn out
to beedmighty uncertain sometimes,” Keene ob-
serv .

“ You see this hyer galoot has jest been spoilt,”
Lon Hank explained. _“Ee has had such an

ion c with the men he has run up ag’in‘ since
9 struck the town that he don’t think anybody
kin be scared up who kin best him.”

“ I will do my best to change his opinion in
regard to that me. r,” the s is declared.

You .kin do it!" the d ver exclaimed, em-
phatically. “ dad it is my notion that you kin
do it pretty as ly, too. If Bendigo was the
man that he wall, when he first struck the camp,
and had the flgh ' which made ple think he
w uterror, me . on would ave to hustle a

 

   

" That darned galoot of a prize-fighter r
'is so sart’in that no man can be scared up in

' landlord had related it to Adrienne. ,

 
    

take him into camp; but now, with the man as ‘
fat as a hog and full of licker all the time, you I
will be able to lay him out and have something
left over.”

“ Yes, I do not think you have made any mis-
take about the matter, although this is an un-
certain World,” the sport remarked.

“You bet! but it is long odds that you will
clean up the dust this time, and hyei; is ten as a.
starter,” and the driver pushed the bill over to
Keene.

“ Yes, but really this is your gains, you
know,” the sharp observed.

“Nary time! If it had not been for you, I
would not have been able to have corraled it,
and so I reckon you have a better claim to it
than a chap ’bout my sizcl” Long Hank de-
clared. “ And then, didn’t I understand you to
say that you wasn’t over and above flush?’

“ Yes, that is the truth,” Keene answered.

“ Then this will come right handy, and it will
keep you until the fight takes place: it is to
come off the night after tomorrow. I tried to
fix it for tomorrow night, but the galoot is
going off with a aiming party to-morrow, and
he wouldn’t have it that way.” *

” A day more or less does not make any dif-
ference,” Keene remarked. “ If he had asked
for a month, so as to train some of the fat 05 of
him and get in a fit state for a contest, then ‘
there might be some reason to object, but the
man is so utterly out of condition that it would _
zalml’plly a month to get him really fit for a

s .’
“ Bless you! he is so sart’in the thing will be a
walk-over for im that I reckon he would laugh . »’ .
at the action he ought to train for to git himself 4.
in a good condition.”

“If I succeed in knocking him out he will be
a Wiser man after the contest than he was before
it,” Keene observed. “ But touching this ten
dollars, I will not deny that it will come in
mighty handy, a d if you think 1 have the best
right to the mon y, I will be glad to take it.”

“ Sport, you are welcome to it, and then thar’s
a leetle lesson which you give me, and which I
didn’t settle for,” and the driver grinned, while
the Express aglent laughed outright. ,- ‘

“ All right, will take the ten, and We’ll call
the thing square,” Keene declared, rising and
pocketing the bill. ‘ ‘ _

“ We will attend to the betting,” the Express
agent said, “ and if you succeed in cooking the.
Englishman’s goose you can depend upon pull-
ing in a good stake.” -

“ If I don’t win it will not be for the want of! '.
tryin ,” Keene replied,apd then he departed. «

“ T ings are coming my way," the sport ro-
marked, as he walked toward the Metropolitan
Hotel. “ Unless I have made a big mistake in
regard to this bruiser I shall be able to settle
him without much trouble, and if I do, that puts '
me in funds at once. ~.  ,

“ If‘it nets me two or three hundred, auditfg, ' A
ought to do that, I can hold m own without _1 " -2."
any difficulty, for with a stake l he that at my
back I can go into a big game where, if things
come my wa , I will be able to clean up a thou-

sand or two. . a , z ,
sport foil; , .

       
      
        
 
      
       
        
          
      
     
          
        
        
        
  
    
        
 

 

   
         
          
         
        
     
       
    
   
     
       
        
           
  
       
       
       
      
    
         
       
        
      
   
   
       
            
     
        
          
    
    
    
  

    
     
         
        
   

     
       
       
 

As will be seen bythis speech, the
veg confident in regard to the future. . .
e entered the hotel and made arrangements, . a .
to take a room for a week. ' -
“ By the way, didn‘t you come toltown in the-
coach with Miss Richmond?” the landlord asked, ,
as he gave the sport the number of his room. 'r’
“ Yes; and a ve/y‘nico young lady she seemed
be too ” ' ‘ '

 
 
 

    
         
       
     
      
    
  

  
  
 

to , . .
“ Did you hear how she was disappointed?”
“No; how Was tight?” ,r. ' » ,. -
Then the landlor related the story of the in] ' "

and Keene listened as attentively as thong it ,

was all new to him. ~ ' '
“ And she is going to try what she can do on "

the stage, eh?” ‘ I
“ Yes, and I shouldn’t be surprised it she did' i

right well‘tool” the landlord declared. I, v I ’

At this point the sport saw the veteran Joe '

Bowersstrolliag along the street and he wen‘li':

forth toth him. -  “’- A
".31! you are just the man for my money‘l??\. \

Joe ,owers declared. “‘I was ,a-igeckon.

wheiifabout I should strike y , for I~war lathe;

the otel awhile ago and thighs“! you wasn’t 3,;

there.” 1 g ,
get the information I wanted?” the ~

     
   

  
   
        
    

1‘.
,.

 

  

     
 
   

    
     

“ Did you

sport asked. ._

“ We], now you kin bet your bottom dollar I . " _

did, me noble dock! and but is the kind of a T *

hair-pin I am!” Old Benzine declared. ,( ' ~ ' *: ~r
And then hcproceeded to tell the smgoff,‘ L

Kingsley’s departure from the camp, just.” @135 .

   
    

 

       
       
     
   
  

 
   
 

“ You kin de mi u n this yarn as ‘ .u:
“might as $31,323 forgogot it from Pambeiajy I V.
who works in the mine!” Joe Bowers docgred‘at
the conclusion of the tale. ’ ~

.“ (Ill, the story is all.” the sport observed. “IV:-
was talking wit the Express agent and, his ac- 
count of Kingsley’s going away was exactly the“ ’ g
game. By the way, there is going to be a chance ' '
for a little speculation the day ,after tomorrow,
so you must try and get hold of’ some cash.” "

 
    
  

  
 
    
     
     
   
    
     

 

li ‘ o, bntieven then would put up every ducat
I nonmet- ever expoethgmthnt you would
  . {-r‘...‘ f ‘ ‘ i .-

    
 

vl‘ :- I

(.

“ on, me gophetic soul, me uncle, that is to ,
soy, Paddy e lyl” cried the irrepremible. home 
mar striking an attitude. “I kin  loan :‘

 
 
 

  
 
 
 

‘.

 

.. w" '

 Keen Biny, the Spdrt.

 
  
 

11'

 

 

   

6
out of him, for I have got the galoot so he kin
deal from the bottom of the pack now without
dropping mor‘n one card out of live, and as he
thinks he is on the high road to success I kin
strike him for a stake.”

“ I will put you up to the time of day to-mor-
row,” the sport remarked. “ That will give you

lenty of time to make your bets {or the affair
( ocs not come off until the day after to—mor-
row.”

“ Sav! is this hyer match ’tween Bendigo and
Long Hank’s Unknown ?” Joe Bowers exclaimed.

“ Oh, you have heard of it then?”

“ You bet! the news is flying ’round the camp
‘prctty lively, and the boyees are getting ready
to put up their ducats on the bold Bendigol”

, .. “ Are they offering any odds?”
I i , “Yes, six to four on the Englishman.”
"‘ They have a good opinion of him."
“Notso mneh that as a bad I 'lt,‘ of the Un-
known. The boyees don’t take much stock in
‘ Long Hank’s being able to find anybody tostand
up for ten rounds ag’in’ Bendigo. You see they
have been counting noses, and they don’t see
where the man is coming from.”
4 “ He will be on hand, and you are safe in bet-
‘ting five to one that when the time is called at
the end of the tenth round the Unknown will he
to the fore, although there is a. doubt about the
Englishman.”
’ * , A sudden light appeared to the veteran.
‘ 4‘  ' “ I twigs, me lord!” he cried. “ You have
"' struck a soft snap!”

, , “ Yes. but don‘t give it away. Tnlk Bendigo
i 5 3 up until you can get two to one on him, and

,3 V, ' theu”put up every dollar you can get against

1‘ ' himl .

“ I’ll be thar, large as life and twice as nat-
ural !” Joe Bowers declared.

And then the two parted; the veteran went
on dlown the street and the sport returned to the
ote

 

 

\

CHAPTER XI,
THE LANDLORD AND THE SPORT.

UPON entering the hotel Keene Was hailed by
the landlord.

There was no one in the place but the host, so
the air had the saloon to themselves.

“ ay, Mr. Keene, I have jest been speculating
’bout you,” Bozain remarked.

“Is that so!” the sport replied, approaching
and leaning upon the bar behind which the land-
lord sat. '

“Yes, you were hyer ’bout a week ago and
stopped with me a day or two?” \

“ I was.” ‘

I “ Well, I reckoned you were a miner then—
you had a pard with you, and if I remember the

' thin straight he said he had a big strike down
at urphy’s Clearing."

“ That was his lay-out, but the thing wasn’t
exactly as he represented it.” And then Keene
«explained how ho had been fooled by the guile-
iess miner.

“ It is the old story, ain’t it?” Bozain exclaim-
ed, with a knowing shake of his head. “ Why, I
’have heered of jest such a racket as that more

\ times than I have fingers and tocs since I have
been out hyer in the mining country!”

"Oh, it is on old game of Course, and the
fellow would not have fooled me if he hadn’t
been such a confounded innocent duck,” tho
sport declared. “ If he had been a r ular
minin shark I would have spotted his ittle

ame in short order, but as he was a fool himself
' e succeeded in making one of me.”
' “Mining ain‘t your business than?" the land-
. lord remarked. after making a careful exam-
V ; 'ination ogKmiie. ,
' . ; »",‘ No, I m a speculator,” the other replied with
 ,.,:._o gulch smile.
“W; 3" Y . I reckon l uidcrstand,” and the land-
' m grinned. “Speculator in pasteboards and
'ivo and sich truck.”
‘ .‘ -“ Oil-have hit it, but pasteboards, colored,
, ar‘e m bent bolt!” Keene admitted.
‘ 9". I Mkoued so from your gincral
make-up. and that is the reason why I spoke to
on. I am something of a rounder myself, you
new, and I am very fond of‘a leetle came of
. j draw, on the sly, you understand. Ior mv
' , wife would kick up a furious ro‘w in the wig-
wam if she knew that I indulged in anything
of the kind. She reckons I can make more
money”runniuga hotel than I kin in playing

  

 

  

  

er.
“ Maybe she is right,” the sport remarked in
.- 3’ reflective way. “ Some of these women have
a'heap of sense and hit the bull’s-eye every
 “m0. Of course. don’t know how good a
-' ,game you can play, bur. one thing is sure there
- {are not many men in this world who get rich
V by playing poker.”
 “Well. now, I tell you, stranger. I play a
,Ihighty cod game, and a big slilf one too
1 [when fairly waked up!" the landlord (le-
' 7.} ’clared, proudly.
,_ f ‘.‘Yon #ejust the man I am looking for!”
4  ,oene declared withudeal of earnest warmth.
;~: _“ f I can succeed in raping you into apoker
' ‘  about Once a week, maybe I will not have
. ' a. ctr-onyme ”‘ -
’9’ rir

*  surprised. at, this candid de-
mon” as the sport made it with

 
   

  

  
  

a grave face, not betraying any indications that
he was jesting.

“Well,” I don’t know about that,” he said,
slowly. Although I am fond of a game of kecrds
I am no man’s fool, you know, and if I took
three or four hacks at you and made the dis-
kivery that you were too big a chief for me
to tackle, you kin bet your sweet life that I
would not go on and let you skin me right
straight along.”

“ That declaration Shows that your head is
level!" Keene exclaimed. “After a man finds
out that he does not stand any chance in the
game that he is playing he is adonkey if he
keeps on.”

“ Of course.”

"‘But if the majority of men who gamble
were not donkeys, sports of my description would
starve to death,” the sharp remarked with the
air of a philosopher.

The landlord reflected upon this statement
for a moment and then admitted that he be-
lieved it was cerrect.

“ You are safe in betting on it, sir,” Keene
remarked in his precise/way. “ The average
man who plays cards with a professional
gambler, who puts his amateur skill against
that of a man who makes its business, is seldom
satisfied that he is not a match for the profes—
sional, no matter how often he loses; he blames
everything but his own want of skill.”

“ You are right) The card sharps would not
be able to make a living if it wasn’t so,” the
landlord remarked. “ But I will be hanged if
you or any other sport kin play me for a sucker
—-that is, not for longl” '

“ ()h, as far as I am concerned, I will let you
down easy,” the sport observed. It you will let
me win my board and my bar bill—and I am
not much of a drinker—out of you every Week,
I shall be perfectly satisfied.”

The landlord stared at the sport for amo.

' ment, who kept a straight face, merely smiling

blandly. ,

“ The blazes you will i” Bozain declared.

“Oh, yes, I will not ask anything more. If I
can get my board and bar bill out of you, I
shall he deuced unlucky if I can’t get my clothes
and spending-money out of the rest of the

ng.’

“ Se 1 I reckon that you are considerable of
a joker," the landlord observed, having come to
tltiebconclusion that the sport was making game
0 1111.

“Oh, yes, I joke once in a whilel” Keene ad-
mitted.

“ You are So durned serious that I will be
han ed if I did not think you were in earnest.”

“ h, but I am, as you will find out if you
have the sand to test what I am' made ofl”
Keene declared.

“ Well, now, you can bet your boots that I
will try you on,” the landlord replied. I “ Mebbe
you think you can scare me, but you can’t work
any trick of that kind on me!”

‘ Al? you are a man of metal 1” Keene ex-
claimed. “ I thought that you had plenty of
sand the moment I set eyes on you 1”

. “ Nobody said I hadn’t yet!”

“ All I want is one back at you, and if I don’t
stick you for a month’s board, with the bar bill
thrown in, and maybe ten dollars for spending-
money, then I am not the man I think I am i”

“ , I see your game!” the best declared.
“You want to git me worked u , but I don’t
keer a rap for that! Burned if I on't try ou
one rastle, jest to find out for my own sati ac-
tion how high 0 f you are!”

“That is the wa to talk! You are just the
kind of man that like to stack up against once
in a while!” Keene declared. '

“ But,I say, all this hyer talk has kinder
thrown me ofl’ from what I was going to say,”
the landlord remarked. “I made up my mind
that you was a sport when you wanted a room,
so I gave you one right next to the parlor, on
the right-hand side of the entry, and that re-
minds me, .it is kinder odd you and Miss Rich-
mond came in the sa 6 coach, and I have given
you rooms right op ite.” '

“Is that so?” the s rt remarked, carelessly,
although he was gla to ascertain where Miss
Richmond was lodged without going to the
trouble of “ spying out the land.”

“ Yes, both on you are right next to the parlor,
and what I wanted to say was that if you strike
anybody who wants a quiet little game you kin
run them right into the parlor, for that is what
I fitted up the room for. It is nice, quiet and
retired up there, and there is no chance for any
loungers to come in and disturb the game.
There is a little dumb-waiter‘here so I _ send
up drinks when they age) required," ah the
landlord opened a litt e d r in the wall back of
the bar revealing the a paratus. '

“,All right, I am gla you mentioned th/mat-
tor," the sport remarked. “For if I had run
across anybody anxious for a little amusement I
would not have known where to have taken
them and they might have run in some place. as
I am a stranger in |the town, where 1 could not
have stood any show for my white alle ." 

“Oh, as, there aretwo or th
tom: w a. stranger w ‘t

deem ‘ if".

    

 

.a '
chance!” the landlord , i “I
sport like an: '
' ' r 2 ‘\,V 311- a;

fsion on his face led her to believe that he ° not

she in -
stand ’

things in a polite and gentlemanly way, ’cos I
kin see that is the kind of game you play—wants
a headquarters where people will be able to find
him if they take it into their heads that they are
hungry for a little poker.

“ You see if you are a good player it will soon
get around the camp and there will be plenty
anxious to find out jest how good you are.”

“ No doubt! Well, I am much obliged, and I
think I will go upstairs and take a look at my
quarters”

“ All right.
fore you come to the parlor.
hand i”

The sport nodded and then departed.

CH AFTER XII.
GETTING AT THE MYSTERY.

KEENE Went upstairs, examined his room, ,, . ‘,'
which was a counterpart of all the other sleep. ‘
ing apartments in the house, being but little bet-
ter than a good-sized closet, then took a look at
the parlor. '

“ i wondered when I was here before, why the
landlord took the trouble to fit up the room.”
he remarked, as he glanced around the apart~ ‘ I.
ment, for he has so few lady guests that it hard- ’ .9."
ly seemed to be worth while to provide a parlor
for their accommodation, but it never struck
me that it was poker parties, for such rooms
are usually on the ground floor in the rear of f
the saloon so that the liquid refreshments——
which is where He houae comes in-——can be ‘ . ‘ , ‘
readily furnished, but I never thought of a ‘ ~
dumb waiter, which isa new wrinkle in a camp
of this kind.”

Then the sport took another look around the
room. ,2

“ it seems to me that Miss Richmond and my-

self can have a nice,iquiet talk here without A
any danger of anybody disturbing or of being I
able to overhear the conversation, if we are '
careful to speak in moderate tones.” he mused.
“ Then, by allowing the door to remain open as
it is at present we will have timely warning of
the approach of any one, for the length of the
entry must be traversed before the room can be
reached.

“ It will do admirablyl And at this time of
day too there is little danger of our being dis-
turbed.”

Having come to this conclusion the sport .
knocked at thd door of Miss Richmond's room.

Adrienne appeared in answer to the summons,
and she greeted the sport with a smile. 9‘ "

“ I have been expecting you.” she said.

“ And when I heard your knock I felt sure that
it was no one but yourself.” - .

“ It you will take the trouble to come into the
parlor I think we can talk there as long as we
ikc without any likelihood of our being dis
turbed or of any one hearing what we say,” the
sport remarked.

"Yes, that was the conclusion to which I I
came,” the young girl replied. ,

Then Keene proceeded to the parlor, followed 5 y
by Adrienne. '

They took seats, and then the sport spoke: "

“ 1 got the information you required without  '
any difliculty,” Keene said. and then be related
the story he had been told in regard to Kings—- L ‘
ley’s abrupt departure.

“I have ascertained some facts in regard to
the matter in addition to what you have heard,” 
Adrienne remarked, and then she related what
the landlord had told her about sending away
Mr. Kingsley’s trunk; and Bozain’s idea that the V
old gentleman had secretly departed under.  "
cover of the night, for fear that the stage mi 1: '
be stopped by road—agents if be delayed to \ .
passage in it. 

The sport listened attentively and then shook
his heat , and this fact coupled with the c res-‘ ~' '

  
     
  
 
  
  
   
    
  
  
   
   
  
  
  
    
   
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
   
  
 

It is the last door, just be» t
On the right 

 

    
 

5. ‘_'t‘

    
     
     
         
       
         
   
   
       
       
    

         
     
       
       
         
     
         
     
         
     
 

          
     
       
     
       
     
 

 
     
   
       
   
 

.11

    
       
   
     
    
      
 

      
    
 

share the landlord’s opinion. V
“ You do not think that Mr. Bozain has hit »
upon the truth?” Adrienne asked. ~ .
" No, I do not. In the first lace it isalon ‘
and, rough ride from here to hits Oak. ‘ 5',
know forI have ridden to Murphy’s Clearing, ‘ 7,
one-half the distance, and it .is not a ' urney 
which any man would be apt to take it he could... F
avoid it, and from what have heard about-i i '
this Mr. Kingsley, it appears to me that he
would be about the last man in the world to try
Such strip, for he was well along in years and
in poor health, and I doubt if he was physically
enough to make the trip.” "
“ {Phat is the truth, for when he wrote to me
he said he was not well and he did not expect to. _; ‘
live much longer." '. .".« '
“ Then in regard to his fearof beingrobbeda ‘«
road-agents if he waited for the stage. that is '
nonsense!” the sport declared. “All hehud to ’
do was to go to the Express Office, deposit hi ' it
money and take their receipt, the cash to be do. » :
livered to him at a prominent point which he ,
might designate. t dee for the
safekeeping of his money all t and he could v
gain: this stage saith $29 bhsfglignggedgs that
orty mod-again m' 1th w out bemg' ,
abletogetathisl'nnds.” , w W’ 1‘
an old and axe
of business he sure] ' ,

        
       
 
       
     
     
  

        
           
       
  

     
  

  
 

   

is

             
     
           
 
   

  
 
 
       
   
  
  

    
  
   
    

 

  

  
 

“Yes, that istrne. and as
1 , aware that he could dothls, ‘

  

 

 
 

12

Keen Billy, the Sport.

a

 

 

“ Certainly! as the French expression is, that
goes without saying,” the sport replied. “ Then
in regard to the trunk, it seems to me that there
is something Very suspicious about the business.
He would have to wait at White Oaks to
get it and there would be fully as much danger

' of his being waylaid by road—agents in getting

away from that camp as from this one.”

“ But Mr. Bozain said that he received a
written message about sending the trunk.”

“A forged order is a very simple thing, and
could be easily arranged. Then the landlord is

. a careless, good-natured fellow, and the chances

are great that he could be deceived in a matter
of this kind without any trouble.”

“ Yes, undoubtedly!” Miss Richmond ex«
claimed, in a tone of conviction.

“The whole affair has an odd, mysterious look,
and the more I hear about it the stronger be-
comes in impression that there is something
wrong. am not a detective, you know, and
never had any experience in that line, but I am
satisfied that this affair is not straight.”

“ So am I l" the girl declared in deep, impres-
sive tones. “And I fancy that you, like my-
self, havo jumped to a conclusion about this
matter.”

“ Yes, you are right, I certainly have.”

“Would you mind telling me the conclusion
to which you have come?” Adrienne asked,
earnestly.

“ Of course not I” the sport replied. “ I con-
sider that you are entitled to know, forif it
were not for you I would not have been inter-
«ted in the matterat all.”

“ Yes, that is true; I really dragged you into
it against your better judgment, perhaps,” the
girl remarked with a sad smile.

All the mask of cheerfulness was gone now,
and a sorrowful expression was on the hand-
some features.

“ Oh, no, it isn’t that way at all. I went into
the matter willingly enough,” the sport replied.
“I have very little to do in the daytimelto
occupy my time, and I might as well busy my-
self with a case of this kind as to lounge in the
hotel.”

” You are very kind!” the girl declared, and
this time there was the ring of truth in her
words, quite different from the false notes
which pervaded her voice when she had on the
mask of deeeitfulness.

“ Tell me frankly, then, what you think about
the matter, and then I will reveal to you the
conclusion at which I have arrived.”

“It is my opinion that Kingsley never left
this campl’ the sport declared, in deep and
earnest tones.

“You think that he was murdered here?”

“ So that the White Gopher Mine could come
into possession of a man who, without be com-
mitted this crime, never could hope to own
it.

“ You think he was murdered by, or at the in—
stigation of this Elliot Van Buren?’

‘ I do.”

There was silence for amoment, Adrienne’s
gaze was bent upon the floor, then she raised her
eyes to the face of the sport, and said, in deep
tones:

“ I believe so too—I have striven to fight
against the conviction, for it is dreadful to think
that a human life could be so lightly taken, but
the more I reflect upon the matter the stronger
becomes my belief that the man who now claims
to own the White Gopher Mine murdered the
original possessor.”

“ It is difficult, from the facts in the case, to
corne to any other conclusion,” Keene remarked.

“ So it seems to me.” ,

“ As I said before I am not a detective, and
therefore not an expert, but I have become in-
terested in this case and have set to work to
study it, just as I would study some new game
of cards by which I expected to gain my living.
And then from my experience with these blood-
hounds of the law I have often been impressed
with the belief that the current tales about their
great smartness was all bosh, and that in reality
they do not know any more about the detection
of crimes than common, ordinary, every—day
men.”

“ Of course there are exceptions, but I think
you are right in regard to the majority of them,”
the ir] observed.

“ never troubled my head about the matter
until you got me into this affai, but now, hav-
ing become interested, I have been thinking up
what I know about crimes and criminals,’ the
sport explained.

“ As well as I can remember there are certain
well-founded rules, a sort of detective creed,
which guide these man-hunters, and the first
and most important of all is, when a crime is
committed lock for the criminal in the party
who will be benefited by the deed.”

“ That seems to be good logic, and in this case
it indicates Van Buren,” Adrienne observed.

“ Yes, it certainly does. Kingsley had the
White Gopher Mine; he is gone and Van Buren
in possession of the property. Now, the question
is ow did he get it? A piece of property—real
i .

 

estate, like a mine~cannot be passed from hand
to hand like a ten-dollar note.

“ You can’t knock a man down and take a
piece of property out of his pocket and walk off
with it.”

“ Oh yes, I understand that.”

“ And that fact makes this case a complex
one. In transferring a piece of real estate from
one owner to another there is a paper to be
signed—a legal document which must be wit-
nessed to make it of value, and the party trans-
ferring the property must appear before a notary
public in order to execute the deed, so that if
there is fraud about this transfer of the mine
from Kingsley to Van Buren, there must be a.
number concerned in it. First, there are the
two men who witnessed the signatures of the
grantor of the deed, then the notary public who
is supposed to be personally acquainted with the
man who executes the document; that though is
often a farce, for if the man is a stranger to the
notary one of the others will introduce him, say-
ing, ‘ Mr. Brown, this is Mr. Smith,’ and then
with a clear conscience Mr. Brown proceeds to
put Mr. Smith through.”

“Yes, I can understand how such an affair
could be arranged. Any one might be intro-
duced to the notary as Mr. Kingsley.”

“ Exactly; but when we got hold of the notary
we can very speedily find out whether he did
know Kingsley or not, and if not, get a descrip-
tion of the man who was introduced as Kings-
16y.”

“ I do not see any reason why this cannot be
done,” the girl observed, thoughtfully.

“ There isn’t any reason, but—excuse me for
putting you through a cress—exaniination—is it
necessary to go to this trouble? I do not want
to pry into your business, nor ask you to give

,me your confidence, but this proceeding will take
'both time and money, and will the result which

you expect justify the going ahead?”

“ I understand your position and comprehend
that it is now necessary for me to explain what
I intend to do,” the girl replied, thoughtfully.

“ I wouldn’t ask, you know, only we are
rapidly approaching a point where it will be
impossible for me to go ahead in the dark and
expect to reap any substantial benefit.”

“ Oh, I do not fear to trust you, for I believe
that you are one man pickedcut of-ten thousand,
and I am sure that it was the hand of Heaven
itself that brought us together, for I am satisfied
that without the aid of some daring, determined
man like yourself it would not be possible for
me to accomplish anything, for I am only a
weak woman, and can only use the weapons of
my sex, flattery, smiles and tears; secret cun-
ning must serve me where a man would use open
force.”

“ Very true! but a woman’s wea us are
might powerful sometimes, and a wea woman
has 0 ten changed the fate of a nation, to say

nothing of an individual,” the sport commented.‘

“ It is my belief that Mr. Kingsley was mur-
dered so he could be robbed of his pro rty. I
think the man who now holds the mine, com-
mitted the crime although he may have used a
tool to strike the blow.

“ My mission is, first, to bring to justice the
man, or men, who murdered Mr. Kingsley;
second, to recover the property for his heir, for
he has one, with all the necessary legal proofs to
make ood the claim.

“ hat, suppose you, is the value of the White
Gopher Mine?”

“ The Expre agent, to—day, a well posted
man, rated it at being worth over fifty thousand
dollars,” the sport replied.

“ The value of the mine is proof that there
has been foul lay, for where would this Van
Buren, a simp e mining engineer, who was
brought to this camp by Mr. Kingsley to take
charge of this mine, only about a year ago, ac-
cumulate any such sum of money as that?” the
girl demanded.

“ It is not possible of Course that he had any
such amount, but if the sale was an honest one
he may have paid only a thousand dollars or so
to bind the bargain and given a mortga e for
the rest, but that will appear on the doc , and
when we examine the records we will find out
all about it.”

“ Well then, I am fighting for fifty thousand
dollars, for I represent the heir, and will not a
sum like that be worth the expense of a strug-
gle?” Adrienne demanded.

“ I should say it would i” Keene exclaimed.
“ If you spent ten thousand dollars and ccrralled
fifty it would be considered to be a pretty good
speculation.”

“ It is my belief that when we come to look at
the deed we will find that there isn’t any mort-
gage on the mine, that it is free, and the sole
property of Elliot Van Buren.”

“ I am not much of a law er,” the sport ob-
served, thoughtfullfi, “ but lyknow that if we
come to a legal fig 1: in regard to the transfer,
one of the first questions which would be put to
Van Buren will be where he got the fifty thou-
sand dollars to pay for the mine, and if he can-
not or will not explain, it will throw a deal of
doubt upon the transaction.”

“ Yes, certainly! Now there is another point,
but in order to get at that I must explain my
situation at present,” Adrienne remarked, “ I am

 

here aloneand without money, nor is there any

means by which I can get funds by sending

away, so I am compelled to rely upon my-

self, for 1 must have money, first, that I may be-

able to live, second to enable me to hunt down.
and bring to justice this concealed murderer.”

“ Oh, yes, without money we cannot do much.

in this world; money is the sinews of war.”

“ The powerful lever which moves the world
and yet requires no fulcrum upon which to
rest!” the girl declared.

“ That is a good illustration and it is true too.”

“ In order to get money I have arranged to
sing nightly in the saloon below.”

The sport looked surprised.

“Well, that is an odd idea, I must say!" he.
exclaimed.

“ In my
other recourse,” she remarked, a sad smile play-
ing upon her strongly marked features.

“ The idea is a good one and if you succeed in
pleasing the miners, there is no doubt that you
will make plenty of money.”

“ I will succeed!” the girl exclaimed in the
most confident way, “ I have no fears in regard
to the result. Through making this arrange-
ment I became acquainted with the lady who is.
now performing.”

“ lily Davenport?”

” Yes.”

“I saw her when I was in the camp on my
first visit.”

“She was very kind, and has loaned me a
dress for my appearance; we got into conversa-
tion, and she With that inclination that some
people have to confide their troubles to others,
told me the story of her marriage to Edward
Davenport, who was the bookkeeper and trea~
surer of the White Gopher Mine.”

“Aha! that was a lucky chance i” the sport
declared. ’

Davenport, a fine business man, but a terribly
hard drinker, was discharged twice by Mr.
Kingsley, but taken back because his wife and
the two prominent men of the mine, Van
Buren and Gotterang, the superintendent, plead-
ed for him.

“ Davenport is a penman of such ability that
he can do anything possible with the pen. ’

“ There is the man who got up the papers,
then I” the sport declared, rubbing his hands
briskly together. “ Upon in y word! we are
really getting a little light on the subject.

“ Mr. Kingsley is gone, but Davenport is still
attached to the mine, drinking harder than
ever, though; works when he feels like it, and
stops when he doesn’t.”

‘ A nice, agreeable sort of way to get along!”

“ The new owner,Vau Buren, does not seem to
care, says the man is drinking himself to death,
and cannot last much longer, but Daven ort is
such a good fellow that Gotterang and 6 will
see that he does not want for anythingl”

“Oh, it is as plain as the nose on a man’s
face I” the sport declared.

“ Davenport is the tool who did the work—
forged the papers, and this precious pair do not
dare to interfere with his having his own way,
for they are in his power.”

“ Yes, yes, I feel sure that that is the truth!”

.“ And they are undoubtedly supplyin him
With all the liquor he can drink in hopes t at he
will come to a speedy end, and then they Will be.
able to breathe more freely.”

“ Your ideas are exactly the same as mine!”

“Well, under the circumstances, I don’t see
how anybody can come to any different con-
clusion,’ Keene remarked.

“ These three men are the ones who contrived
the plot to which Mr. Kingsley fell a victim.
Van Buren is, probably, the chief, and the
others are his tools. ,

“ We can get at the mystery if we take time,
and have a little money to help us!”

“I will soon have some!” the girl said, con-
fidently.

“Well, I expect to make a stake in a day or
two, and I can help you out.”

“ I will acce t it if I need it, for I feel sure

we will win, an then 1 can pay you back.”

“ You are quite welcome, and I am not at all
afraid of the security.”

“ We must win for Heaven is on our side,
and it is not possible that this red-handed mur-
derer will be allowed to enjoy his ill-gotten
gains in peace!” Adrienne exclaimed.

“ At any race we’ll leave no stone unturned

to make things lively for him!” the sport de-.

clared.

“ One of the first things to be done, Miss
Richmond, is to have somebody at White Oaks,
which is the county seat, wtere the records are
kept, go and examine the deed given by Kings.
ley to Van Buren, so_as to ascertain all the par.
ticulars in regard to it.” _

“ Yes, I understand; that Will put us in p03.
session of the facts.”

“ Exactly! Then we can see who the wit.
nesses are—what Van Buren paid for the mine,
and all the particulars.”

“ And you will attend to this?” the young girl-
exclaimed, a grateful expression on her face.

“Yes, just as soon as I get some money. I
shall have to employ a lawyer, you know, and

gentlemen in that line of business require a fee

to set them to work.”

case it is Hobsn’s choice—I have no-

I

l

 ...-.‘.-.~¢‘~.W-

 

at .

ii.

   

wry-r.

Keen Billy, the Sport.

13

 

 

“I will have some money to-morrow night
if I don’t make a failure,” and Miss Richmond
laughed in a way to suggest that she did not
feel much fear that she would not succeed.

“ Hello! there’s some one coming up—stairs, so
I will get out!” Keene exclaimed.

CHAPTER XIII.
'riiE PROFESSOR.

KEENE’S enrs Were wonderfully quick, and as
he had discovered that somebody was coming
lip-stairs the moment the ascent was begun, he
was able to get out of the parlor and into his
own room before the new-comers, for there were
two of them, could reach the entry.

Miss Richmond understood why the sport
retreated without his having to explain the
matter.

It was evident that there was a difficult fight
before them, and it would be decidedly to their
disadvantage to allow any one to suspect that
the were working in concert.

'I’he new-comers were Bozain, the landlord,
and a short, fat gentleman, almost as broad as
he was long, whose yellow hair and beard, mild
blue eyes, and heavy features, proclaimed his
Teutonic origin.

Under his arm the stout gentleman carried a
violin in a box.

The best ushered him into the parlor and,
with a flourish, introduced him to the young

 

a y.

“ Miss Richmond, this is Professor Von Brackel,
the leader of our orchestra."

And the host did not think it was necessary to
inform the young lady that the German was not
only the leader of the orchestra, but the orches-
tra itself, for he was the only player.

“I am ver glad to meet the gentleman,” the
lad said wit a low courtesy, and the charming
smi e which was so attractive.

“ So blessed i” ejaculated the professor, speak-
ing with a strong accent, and ducking his head
in what was intended for a bow, at the same
time with his little, keen eyes be regarded the
young lady with a deal of curiosity.

” Lily Davenport said as how you ought to
have a talk with the leader about yer music,”
the landlord explained. “ And so I run him

11 .

p“You will find Dutchy here a first-class
fiddler l” he continued, hitting the pro-
fessor a hearty slap on the back. “And
what he don’t know about music ain’t worth
knowing! He has played for all the big-bugs in
the Grand Operey, hain’t yer, profess?”

“ Yaw, yaw, I blay for dem all!” the German

aSSented.

“Well, Dutchy, we’ll put yer through all
right,” the host remarked. “Now, mind, old
man, I want you to do your level best, for if
Miss Richmond don’t please the boys the chances
are big that they will think that it is all your
fault, and go for you red hot!”

Then the landlord grinned at Miss Richmond,
who answered him with a smile, as a proof that
she appreciated the joke; then he retorted:

“Sit you down, my tear, und vs vill see v’at
ya can do,” said the German, with another duck
of his big head, covered with the enormous
shock of yellow hair, which bristled up in all
directions in the most odd and independent way,
as if to bid proud defiance to comb and brush.

The German had his hat in his hand when he
entered the room. It was a well—worn, old
slouch hat, but be deposited it upon the table
with as much care as though he expected that it
would be a long time before he got another.

Then, helping himself to a chair, he opened
the box and took out the violin.

It was an old, common-looking instrument,
and one who knew .nothing whatever about vio-
lins would be apt to consider that the article
was comparatively worthless, but the German
handled it with the utmost care: a young
mother with her first-born babe could not have
been more tender.

Miss Richmond had drawn her chair up close
to the profe§80r, and she watched the produc-
tion of the Violin with a deal of curiosity.

“ It Seems to me that on have a valuable in-
strument there,” she Sal , after the German had
carefully dusted It With a faded silk handker-
chief, and adjusted the keys to his satisfaction.

The professor looked at .er. in surprise.

“ V’at you know ’bout Violins, hey’!‘ he asked,

“ Oh, not much, of courfife, but I think I
know the tone of a good V1011!) When I bear it
speak,”and your instrument sounds like a human
veice.

"‘Ach, Himmei! dot ish SO!” the German ex-
rclaimed, “You are right, my tear, der goot
violin comes der nearest to the human voice of
all der instruments dot man have made.

“Man is der great animal! He ish clever—
very mooch smart, so mooch so dot somedimes
he t’inks dot he ish almost a God, but dot ish

use man makes v’at you call a John-
donkey mit himsequ somedimes, all de v’ile."

This speech showed that the German was an
intelligent man and something of a philosopher.

“Und you vas right, my tear, apout dot VIO-
lin,” he continued. “ It vas a poor-looking fid-
dle, as dot fool landlord calls it all der while,
but it vas made by a man who vas a master' he
has been gone dead mit der grave dis hundred

 

ears, und I am only a poor fiddler, as dot John

onkoy landlord say, but I would not dot violin
sell for two hundred tollars, und it would dot
sum fetch, my tear, from any musician who his
art understands.”

“ Oh, yes, i can comprehend that readin
enough,” Miss Richmond observed, with her

)leasant, winning smile. “ I have had violins
in my hands which were estimated to be worth
a thousand dollars.”

“ Yes’s, yes’s, dot ish so, but not many of dem
are in de world!” the German declared. “ They
are mooch scarce, like der high diamonds dot
only der great kings can to buy afford.”

“ Precious articles are seldom plentiful,” Miss
Richmond obsched. “ If they were they would
not be dear, you know.”

“Mine gootness! dot vas true. You hafe on
your shoulders a head,” the professor observed,
with what was intended to be a gracious bow.

“ Yes, I hope so,” she replied, with another
one of her charming smiles.

“ I t’ink we will hafe mooch pleasure together
mit der moosic," the German remarked, With an
air of grave deliberation.

“ Oh, yes, 1 do not doubt that we will get
along nicely together.”

“lcan see mit half an eye dot you are der
lady. Vhy you come here to dis den, eh?” ex-
claimed the professor, shaking his head with an
expression of great disgust.

“ It ish all right for a mans like I am, but I
would not here be if I was not of the peer too
fond, but I hafe no poddy but mine self und
vat difference ish it vhere an old John Donkey
stay til! der time comes for him to cross mit der
dark river?

“It ish all right, too, for dot Davenport wo-
mans,” the German continued, shaking his

“ She vas to dis life mooch used, und she vas
as happ here as an where else already.” And
the pro essor shock is head in a wa that plain-
ly said that he did not have a g opinion of
Lily Davenport.

“Of course, I do not know much about Mrs.
Davenport, but she seems to be very wise, and
she certainly has been very kind to me,” Adri-
enne observed.

“ Dot ish right, my tear, alvays speak well of
der bridge dot carries you over!” the professor
exclaimed, with a Wise shake of his shaggy
head.

" Und, new, my tear, we will come down to
der business, if you blease.”

H Yes.”

“ Hafe you der moosic fer der songs dot you
vill Sing?”

“ No, I haven’t any music,” Miss Richmond
replied. “You see, I did not come to Golden
Plume with the expectation of doing anything
of this sort.”

“Ah, yes; veil, it does not matter. I am up
in all der songs mit der day. I hafe been play-
ing mit der variety shops for der ten last years,
so if you blease tell me der names of der songs
dot you will sing, you vill see how quick I vill
blay dem for you. You sing by ther ear?”

“ No, by note.”

“ Ah, yesh, all der ladies mit der variety
business dey sing by der note, but sometimes
der notes dot dey do sing and der notes dot I
do blay do not agree at all, und dot ish because
I do not der violin understand, pretty well, al-
read ,” and the professor grinned as though he
considered that he had said a good thing.”

“ You mean that they pretend to sing by

,note, when really they cannot, and when you

play 6 music as it is written they cannot sing
it?”l Miss Richmond observed, with a knowing
smi e.

“If I vas to say to Lily Davenport dot she
could not sing by note she vould me kill as dead
as never vas! ’

" Is it possible?”

“ Oh, yesh, und ’bont all dose variety womans
are der same. Dere ish not one out of ten
dot knows one note of moosic from anodder!”
the violinest asserted, with an air of great dis-
gust.

“ It vas too funny for anything to see dem
variety womans who would not know one of
der notes of moosic und de fell over dem in
der dark, put on der big fril s, as de American
mans say, when dey come to rehearse dose
songs.

“ ‘ Mister Leader if on biease to blay dot song
in dot ke , which ish er key I sing in alvays,
I say ‘ aw, yaw, I blay him just as you say,’
den starts off mid de key und the womans
strikes annodder, and den vhen der troubles
comes she cries, Ach, himmel! Mister Leader,
vhy do you not blay der moosic as I tells youi’ ”

“ They know so little of music that they are
not able to tell whether you are playing correct-
ly or not, eh i” Miss Richmond said, laughing.

“ Dot ish it!" the German replied with a rave
shake of his ponderous head. “ At first vas
not smart, and I would der woomans tell dot der
moosic she did not know.”

“ and then she was highly offended, I sup-

“ Oh, yesh, but now when der womans say I
sing der song in such a key, I an , ‘ Oh yes, my
tear, I will p ay it for you,’ nu den I let der
womans begin uud I follow her, so it does not

 

matter v‘at key she sings der song in, I am all
right mit her, und if she takes it into her great
head to sing every verse in a different key den
1 am all right too, und she smiles so sweetly at
me as never vas, und say I vas der best leader
dot can be found in der gountry, already!"

Adrienne laughed in her merry, light-hearted
way.

“ Ali, professor, it is evident that you are a
gay deceivei',” she declared.

“ Veil, veil, I must something do to get der
bread und butter,” he replied. “ Und if I vas to
blay der moosic as she ish written, den der wo-
mans could not sing at all.”

“ You will find that i am an exception to the
rule, for I was luck enou h to receive a good
musical education, ’ Miss§lichmond remarked.
“ And though you may consider that I am boast-
ing yet I assure you that I am always able to
sing the music as it is written.”

“ Dot is goot, und it vill not be so mooch
troubles for me. Und now v’at vill you sing?”

“ Do you know the drinking-song from the
0 raof the Enchantress, "Tis the sparkle of
c ampagnei‘ ”

The rofessor looked sur rised.

“ Ac Hinimeli” he exc aimed, “ dot ish not
v’ot I oxpected. You sings a song from der
opera, hey?”

“ Yes, do you know the work?”

“I t’ink not."

b“ Listen!” and then Miss Richmond bummed
t e air.

The German stuck his head on one side, paid
strict attention for a few moments, and then a
smile came over his broad face.

“ Ah, yesh, yesh! dot I know!” then he
played the air upon his violin, and she sung the
words, but went through the performance in
the peculiar, mechanical way common to the
well-trained singer when rehearsing.

When the song was finished the professor nod-
ded his head with an air indicative of great
satisfaction.

“ Dot ish goot!” he exclaimed. “ You are von
artist, und it is a bleasure to blay for ydu, but
do you t’ink dose miners vill dot song like!”

“ Oh, yes,” Adrienne replied, carelessly, as
though it was a matter of perfect indifference to
her whether the song leased or not. “ And
now, do you know the ‘ ilver Line?’ ”

“Ah, yesh,” and then he played the popular air.

As before, she went throng the words of the
song, but without trying to give any particular
expression to it; the professor though was too
old, and good a musician not to understand
that she could give expreSSion if she chose to do
so. It was not because she could not, but be-
cause she did not care to sing as she would do if
before an audience.

“ Von t’ing ish sure, my tear,” the professor
remarked, shakiu his head in a thoughtful way.
“ Dose songs vill new to der (poys. De hafe
not been sung to death like er ‘ Full oon,’
‘ V’ite Vings,’ and t’ings of dot sort.”

“ Yes, I had an idea that they would be fresh
to these miners, although they are not new, aar-
ticuiariy the one from the o ra of the u-
chantress, which is older than am.

“ And now let me see: how many songs do I
need to sing?”

“Dot Daviniport womans sings t’ree,” the
German repii . “Two turns, and t’ree songs
each turn. You see, der beoples come in and
sta for an hour or so, und den de go avay
11nd, new beoples come in for der ast of der

show.”

“Ah, yes, I understand. Have any of the
airs from the Grand Duchess been sung by Miss
Davenport?”

“Oh, no, she sings nothing but der regular
serio-comic songs.”

“Do you know ‘The Sabre of Mon Pere?’
and Adrienne sung the first few notes of the
givorite air of the dashing ruler of the German

ucby.

“Ach, Himmei, yes!” And the professor
played the lively song with wonderful spirit,
while Miss Richmond bummed the words.

“Ah, yes, that will'do nicely, and now, as
soon as you finish the air, go right into this as a
sort of a wind—up.” Adrienne laughed as she
spoke, and then she bummed a few notes which
made the professor grin.

“Mine goodness! dot ish somet’ing new,” be
exclaimed.

“Oh, no, it is something very old,” she Are-
plied, with a smile.

“ Ah, yesh, I know dot, but v’at I means is
dot it ish new here; but I do not der t’ing
understand,” the German remarked. “ Hate
you vords which you vill sing to der music?”

“Oh, no, it is only as a sort of a wind-up to
take me off the stage,” Adrienne explained, and
then she laughed again.

“Ah, yeah, I see,” and the professor nodded
his big head sagely. “ I t’ink you vill get along
all right.”

“ ell, I will try and do my best to please the
audience. More than that mortal cannot do,”
Miss Richmond remarked.

“Oh, you will do; you are an artist, al-
though you hafe not got an attack of der big
head; but I can see dot on kn0w v’at you are
spout!” and with this eciaration theprofessor
took his departure. ‘ " ' ‘

w an attitude.

‘. attic veteran asked.

, I neighborhood, and blow

 

':”.:_ shew—Ms '  1.1
p, ,, . . 3

"t l'

Keen Billy, 

. )

~

 

.‘_.

 

CHAPTER XIV.
Bownas‘s IDEA. .

AFTER the rehearsal began in the parlor the
strains of music which floated out on the air to
the street attracted the attention of the people
who passed and almost every one stopped to
listen for a moment or two. I

Among,r the rest was the veteran bummer,
Joe Bowers, and he cocked his head on one side
and listened with the air of a man who knew a
good thing when he heard it.

It was the strains from the Grand Duchess
music which reached Bowers’s ears, and the fact
rather surprised him.

“ Well, now, this is kinder elevating!” he re-
marked. “I wonder how the boys will take to
the opera style? 1 am a leetle afraid that it will
betoo rich for their blood, and a iiiCe mess Lily
Davenport will be apt to make of it, thatis, when
compared to the gay and gorgeous creatures
that I have seen fling themselves in the Grand
Duchess.”

Just as the veteran came to the end of his ro-

ections the landlord made his appearance with
painted billboard, similar to the one already in
ition in front of the saloon, and this now an-
uncement Bozain placed by the side of the
her.

Bowers read the proclamation aloud.

“ ‘ Great attraction! The queen of seriocomic,
Miss Adrienne Richmond to—night. First ap—
pearance. Be on handi’ Well, you have got
something new, chi”

Bozain looked askance at the bummer; Bowers
was a stranger and his appearance did not
' strike the landlord favorably. I

Bowers being a remarkably shrewd fellow
guessed at once the thoughts that were in the
mind of the other.

“Oh, it is all right, me sportive tricks!" he
exclaimed, with a dignified wave of his fat
hand. A“ You don’t know me, of course, but [
am all wool and a yard wide! One of the kind
of white men that it is safe to tie to; and when
it comes to a leetle fumiy business of this kind,
why, yen Couldn’t strike a man for a thousand
square miles ‘who would be able to give you the
good old solid advice that I kin put forth!”

/ “ Is that sol” the landlord asked in an ex-
tremely doubtful way. |

“Oh, you kin bet all your wealth itis!” Bowers
cried with great diglnitlyfi “ Savl ‘didn’t you
neVer hearn tell of t e eater chal in Grass
Valid that I runl’N

,} ‘i , I nevor did.” . ‘
" “ Then you are doomed. -like an ill-roasted
egg, all on one side!” the bummer cried, and he
shook his head in a very grave way.

“ What in thunder are you talking about,
anyway?" ,exclaimcd Bozain, mystified.

‘ “ Only a leetle speech outen a play,” Bowers
A : 'exgslainod. “ I tell you what it is, me roynl

ni , Iam jest the kind of fakir you ought to
get a—hold oft Oh! couldn’t I jest boom yer old
show if I went into the business!”

“ Why don’t you?” Bozain inquired with a
" grin, for he fancied he would bother the loud-

; : spoken stranger if he took him at his word.

' “ You wouldn’t give me a chance, I reckon,”
w Joe Bowers observed, loftily.

s “Yes, I would i" theland 0rd declared; “You,
kin him right in to-night if you like. But what
kin on do? Are on a comic singer?"

“ ary time! ' ’m no performer—I’m a man.

or, '51 am!” the bummer declared with great
'dl y:

, gPA manager!” Bozain exclainmd, surveying
the other from head to foot. y
, “Yod bet! and I‘am a hustler from Hustler-
‘ , ville too!” ' '
:j « “i reckon that you are in hard luck
f‘ though.”

;  “ Oh, no don’t you make the mistake of think-
‘.ing on kin tell anything ’hout a man by sizing
up h a harness! ‘ ’Tis not alone me inky cloak,
good mother!’ ” Joe Bowers exclaimed, striking

jest now

, ’ 1' ‘f Well, I. don’t see how you kin do anything

, for me.” .,

- ' “ Why, I kin boom yer show around the
camp,” the veteran exclaimed. “ Now, you have
got a new performer co ing on to-night. This

yer little bill is all righ ;it will tell the galoots

' . who happen to come along this way that you

hav something new on to-night."
“ es, that 'is my calculation.” ,
“Butwhat ’bout the men who, don’t go by 1”
“They won’t know any-
thingvpbout it, you know." u.
“’ al, 13’ V not,” the landlord responded,
scratchin his head in a thoughtful way.
“Cert Joe Bowers exclaimed; “ on kin bet
 your ducatscn that and on woulc win every
'time! Now suppose you d a man ’bout my
size—a galoot who kin sling good United States
 talk e ual to any two-legged cuss in all this
, bread and—.wa 'would make it his business to
' . call round this’hyer camp and the mines in the
for the show—gi‘n ’em
thh kind of a lay-out: ‘ Boys, you Jest ought to
take in the Metropolitan tonight! I would
' rather have a thousand dollars in in hot
than to miss it? T big-hearted cuss w 0 runs
 concern has ot on the bi gut'kind of a
x show—you jest ought to see i: '
Jilin Adrienne Richmond! a, Oh, you kin

. .
,/. ' . . '

 

yer wealth that she takes the hull bakery every

time! She’s away up at the top of the heap,
and they do say that the last time she sung afore
the Sultan of Turkey the old Turk slung her a
diamond as big as a walnut! Oh, I tell you,
boyees, you will just miss it if you don’t waltz
into the Metropolitan to-nightl’ Thar, how does
that strike you?” the bummer asked, with great
dignity.

“ Will, I reckon that some gas of that kind
might pull a few of the chaps into the show who
wouldn’t be apt to come,” the landlord replied.

“In (‘Olll'SUl Thur is not a doubt 'bout itl”
Joe Bowers declared. “ Yau kin bet that I could
rope in twenty or thirty extra every night.
Say twenty, ’cos I believe in putting the figures
down low,” and the Veteran proceeded to count
on his fingers. “ Twenty men, three drinks
apiece on the aim-rage, mebbe tour; Will, it is
safe to reckon on a dollar a head, twenty dollars
a night, and that is jest what I would be Worth
to you to boom the show i”

‘ Oh, no, no!” exclaimed the landlord, shaking
his head vigorously in dissent. “ You are away
off; you Wouldn’t git no sich Sum as that in add-
ition to my regular custom, and thar ain’t no
mistake about it!"

“ Well, now, a p’int of this hyer kind is not
easily decided,” Joe Bowers remarked. “ But
one thing is sart’in, and that is, I kin do you a
heap of good. 0!! course it ain’t possible for
me, or you, or anybody else, for to say just ox-
actly how much good I could do your shebaug,
but there is no mistake but what I could help
trade by hustling round town and doing a. big
heap of blowing for the show.”

“I reckon you could help the thing along a
little, but, as you say, it ain’t possible for any
one to tell how much,” Bozain observed.

“ S’pose you give me a chance, and then you
will be able to see jest what I kin do,” Joe Bow-
ers suggested.

“Yes, I might do that, but the p’int is how
much do you want—-whut kind of an arrange-
ment do you reckon to make?”

“ Well, I tell you, seeing that it is you. and
that on are jest the kind of man 1 think it is
safe 0 tie to, I will make youagood, squar’
offer. I will boom the show ’way up to the
mines for 'i’ree drinks!” the veteran exclaimed,
with the air of a man who thought he was con-
ferring a favor. .

The landlord surveyed Joe Bowers from top to
too for a moment, and there was a look on his
face as though he was making a mental calcula-
tion as to how much liquor the veteran would
be able to stand, then he shook his head.

“ Say! I don’t want to hurt your feelings, as
you are a stranger to me ” the landlord re-
marked. “But it is my i eethat if I was to
make any such bargain with you, I would get a
deal the worst of. it, for you look like a man
who kin git away with a heap of liquor.”

The Veteran bummer inned as though he
considered that he had eon greatly compli-
mented.

“ Mighty satrap! I reckon that you have
managed to hit me 'bout where I live!” be de-
clared. “ I! am willing WOW!) up, right away,
that I kin punish in share of licker.”

“ I don’t doubt it ’ Bozain exclaimed. “ And
I reckon that if I agreed to give you all the
drinks you wanted, would come out of the
little end of the horn.”

“ Then you don‘t keer to go inter the thing on
Ehfit basis?” the Veteran remarked, thought-

u y.
“3%, I don’t! There's no money in it for
me.
“ S'pose we fix a limit on the drinks,” the
other suggested. “ And there is another thing

on must take into consideration, too, and that
sthat when a champion bu -juice h’ister like
myself waltms up to the bar, e allers takes his
fluid with sich a relish—sich an air of ‘ Ah! if
this ain’t the very best oh-bejoyful that I ever
tasted I wish I may be jiggeredl’ that every
galoot in the room will feel a mad desire to rush
up to the counter and take a drink too, ’cos
men are jest like a. lot of geese, whar, one goose
goes the rest come tailing on arter.”

The landlord could not help admitting that
there was a deal of truth in this statement; still,
he declared he was afraid that it would not
work well enough in his business to admit of his
\“ banking” heavily upon 

“ Of course, there is no lling how a thing of
this kind will always work,” the veteran ob-
served. “ A man has got to take chances. But
if you ain‘t inclined to play me without a limit,
3’ so you set one. How man drinks a day
kill) you stand? How does ten rike you? Jest
try it for one day, you know—today, say-«to
see how it goes, and then if it don’t pan out all
right you kin stop.”

The landlord thought that this was a ' fair
offer, and immediately accepted, and then stood
treat to bind the bargain. »

The veteran deported to “ wake up the camp,”
as he expressed it, and he certainly worked in
the most faithful manner, for he managedto
borrow a. home, and~ on the back of the animal
visited every mine within five miles of Golden
Plume, and the way be " blowod ” in regard t?
the attraction of .thcnow star of the Metropol -
tau . uncanny wonder ui, and, the result was

./

 

that when night came the saloo‘h held a bigger
crowd than had ever before congregated Within
its walls.
CHAPTER XV.
ADRIENNE APPEARS.

JOE BOWERS had stationed himself by the end ' '

of the bar near where the landlord stood so as to
be able to talk to him. '

The saloon did an extra good business, and the
rush of customers at one time was so great that
the landlord was obliged to help the bartender.

“ W'at do you think of this hyer?” Joe Bowers
demanded in exultation. “ Don’t this hyer gong
piling in look as if I had done you Some good?’

The landlord was forced to admit thatit was
more than probable.

“ But it is the first night of Miss Richmond,”
he added. “ And, of course, when a new per-
former comes on it always makes some differ-
ence.”

“ Oh, yes, but if I hadn’t puffed the gal from
A to ampersand the heft of the gang would not
have had their curiosity excited and you kin bet ,
they would not have been so anxious to see w’ot ‘
she was like.”

Bozain agreed that this was probable

“And, say, thar is another p’int I was oing
to touch on, and that is that your Dutc man,
when he announces the performers don’t put on
fancy touches enufl‘,” the veteran declared.
“ All he says is the name of the performer, in-
stead of giving out that they are‘qest the very
{tingspnd queens of creation in their particular
ines.’

“ Oh, well, he does the best he can,” the land-
lord replied. “ You must remember that he is
not a native and he can’t sling good United
States talk as well as he might.”

“ If I had the tugs now I reckon I could make.
the gang open their eyes and stare with Wonder!”
the veteran exclaimed. “ But I am one of the
galoots w’ot never feels easy when I have good
harness on. In old duds, like this hyer uniform
of mine, I am at home, and if I feel like taking:
a snooze in a corral shed, or any other place of
the kind, I kin bunk right down and not be
skeered of hurting anything.” w

“ Well, I reckon that you couldn’t hurt your
clothes much,” Bozain assented. ’

The conversation was Interrupted at this
point by the appearance of the professor, who, ’,
violin in hand, took his seat before the rude» ‘
music-stand which stood on the floor at the right.
hand of the little stage. '

This was the signal that the performance ‘
was about to begin, and a hush fell upon the».
audience. ‘

The entertainment commenced with a “nig--l
ger act,” introducing the banjoist and the coniic‘l
singer.

When the “ turn” was ended, the professor
announced: ‘
“ Now, gentlemen, der valter vill go round
mid der hat, land you must git'e v’at you can for ‘
der poys!” . ‘
After this ceremony was performed Lily
DaVenport made her up arance, and as she was
a favorite, was greet with considerable ap- "
plause. ’

erted herself more than usual, for she was
afraid that the now-comer, although nothing

Elk
_‘,’

She was anxious to please to—night, and ex-/ 

but an amateur, might prove to be a dangerous, ; a ‘ I

rival, and she did not wish to be outshone oh
the stage where she had been the bright par—

ticular star. . v.
The hat was passed around for Mrs. Davenc

port’s benefit, and then the banjoist appeared» ‘

and after his act was fluisheck’curiosity was on
tip-too, for the miners conjectured that the next
to appear would be the new star, and every
neck was craned to see, when the professor an:
nounced: ' .

“ Miss Adrienne Richmond!"

.The pert

behold the debut of the new-comer as the nu,- '

’dience, and were all gathered in the side scenes, - r

where they could command a view/of the lta . ,,

Adrienne was dressed, ready to go on, be   ,
e . ,v

the
” wings,” and watched the various acts un her
time came to appear, apparently not at all
anxious about the ordeal. "

performance commenced; she sat. lg!

But the performers shook their heads sa 1y, 
and whispered to each other, “Wait til she ) V,
faces the footlighta, and see if it don’t knock her; * 7

cold!”

They fancied that her '
inexperience; she did not comprehend how diffi—
cult was the task she had umicrtaken, and when
she came in front of the glittering lights and ,,
saw the sea of heads, With every eye fixed uponxj
her, she would become a prey to that strange"

foari’which is called stage-fright, and its victims 1

confidence came from‘ .'

;

ers were equally as nations to" 

when attacked, stand trembling before the nadir  

once. unable to utter a single word.

Lily Davenport though did not agree with  ,
others. ~ v 
“ The girl has cheek enough to. car Jim»

through, even if she never faced the'foo ‘

before!" she declared. a.
“ You just ‘mark my words: she 
through all right, though she is- not able to ,
a note correctly." ’ A, v
_ I . I! ,  .l‘ 

'1

to .

 

 

I

.inen "Billy,

the Sport. i

 

15

 

 

  

And the woman was far wiser than her

brother performers, as events proved. ‘

"' When the time came for Adrienne to make

-‘ her appearance, she seemed to be transformed

 _,. suddenly into another being.

 All her listlessness disap named and she ad—
vanced t0 the footlights wit a dashing, taking.
way that immediately won the good opinion
, of the audience, even before she opened her
month.

i The performers stared in amazement; never
in all their experience had they beheld an ulna—
teur make such an entrance, for the most capa—
ble old-stager could not havo done it better.

Andgreat was the curiosity of the profes-
sionals in regard to what she would sing.
They had tried to cross-examine the professor,

3 but the old German was just cranky enough not

5 to gratify their curiosity.

‘ You vait long enough, you see for your-

. ,  » selluts, mebbe,” he replied.

 . And when the professor played the opening

* 1* ' bars of the air, it was not familiar to them, for
i, ' none of the performers were acquainted with

the old—time opera.

“ The Vintage of Champagne” is a charming
song when well sung, and Adrienne Richmond
sung the air to perfection. Her voice was
magnificent; any one who understood music in
connection with the human Voice could see that
it had been most carefully cultivated, and the

oung woman had been taught how to use it to

8 best advantage.

She sung with. both fire and expression
"acted”the song too as well as sung it, and
when at the close of the first verse she produced
a tiny wine glam, which she held concealed in‘
her handkerchief, and flourished it in’tho air,

“i the audience signified their approval by a tre-

mendous burst of applause, which the fair singer

received with an air which seemed to say that
while she appreciated the compliment yet she

I was conscious of being worthy of it. ’

' When the end of the song came Adrienne re-

treated from the stage, while the miners yelled

at the _top of. their lungs and stamped on the
oor With their heavy boots until the landlord
gan to be alarmed lest the boards should give
way under the pressure.

Miss Richmond came smilingly back and sung
the “ Silver Line” as no one in the apartment
had ever heard it sung before, and when she

4 i had concluded, the audience yelled and stamped

'I  ‘ until she again appeared.

i" is... . J " This time she gave them the famous th‘ from

4' “ 7  . the'Grand Duchess, “ The Sabre of Men Pere,"

 and as the miners shouted their delight, at the

and. to the astonishment of all, the violinist
played the can-can, and Adrienne, lifting her

i , skirts daintily just above the top of her boots,

' dan for a minute, as the churacters dance in

the Grand Duchess at the end of the act; not the
high-kicking, vulgar can-can which Americans»
know under that name, but lively, graceful
French measure, which is no more offensive
when rightly danced than the common fancy
dances.

The audience fairly went wild.

. - , Amida perfect hurricane of applause Adri-

a. i ‘enne faced the footliglits again, and she held up

' her little hand as if to impose silence.

'  3 ,, ’ r The miners quieted down immediately.

' V “I hope, my friends, that you are satisfied

,- With my humble efforts to plea-ac you ” she said,

'. \with one of the sweet smiles which she knew so
‘ ' “ ' well how to render captivating.
yes, yes!” came in. a perfect roar from
all parts of the room.
am glad of‘that. for i hope to remain a
-.  littl while in Golden Plume, and it is pleasant
 , tethe‘artistto know that she is appreciated.
I : .‘iAnd. ‘now, professor, the last verse and the
 f dance, please, and after that I shall have to ask

You ‘vto excuse me, for I shall try my best to
” plaus'yon. and if you want to excite me to my

greatest efi‘oris, don't forget to see the hat when

t oesarduudi”

' nd this injunction was delivered with such

litrcbhtness that it made the miners roar with de-

li-l - .

Then she repeated the last verse of the song
and the dance which Was fully as well received
as before, then Adrienne. ran, laughiugly, oil?
the stage amid cheers of approval. . ,

As soon as the miners settled down the waiter
started with the hat.

/ And just at this moment Keen Billy thou ht

 

 

  

 
 

  

that it was time he did something so help jg‘
: fair ally‘alogfi.

He occupi a seat in the front row, clown
.where the waiter stood by the. professor’s side,
i and as the man stunted with the hat, Keene
, Pumped to his feet, and exclaimed in a_,t(me
‘ and enough to be heard by every one in the
room. \ .' ‘ A .

r “ vaant to be‘the first manta put a dollar in
3. =_that hat!” ’ .
'i 1 Then, s ti the action to the Mind, be cast
2 a silver'dollar. nto the article.
The sport was acting on Joe Bowers's notion,
. that men were likegeesa and prone to imitate.
' ‘ The,va bummer, who was standing by

  

 

  
  

 
   

detectmhe game that the other

 

the ml:“ a ten feet in the rear of the sharp,

 
 
  

son:
to
Wand wompt towinp in” to help

 

” I want to be the second man to put a dollar
in that ere hat!” he yelled out, and diving his
hand into his pocket he Started ferward; as the
passageway was blocked he tried to push
through the miners, but they were not inclined
to give way.

“ Hold on, old man!” ried one.

“Keep your place an wait till the but comes
’round to you i” exclaimed another.

“ You are away behind the lighter, anyway!”
declared a third, “ for two or three are ahead of
you now 1” ~

This was the truth, for some of the men in the
front row had been spurred on by Joe Bowers’s
declaration to cast their coins into the hat.

The veteran grunibliiigly declared that it was
a shame. and that he would rather have given
five dollars than have been deprived of the
opportunity of being the second man to chip in.

meg to this start, as well as the fact that
the girl hat really made a great success, the
coins tumbled into the hat in a;livcly manner,
for really every man in the place felt like giving
something, and the waiter grinned with delight
as he started for the stage with his spoils.

 

CHAPTER XVI.
TnE SERIO-COMIC SPEAKS.

THE sta e department was so arranged that
the ladies ad a dressingroom on one side and
the gentlemen on the other.

When Adrienne quitt/ed the stage she went
directly to the dressing-room and, sinking into a.
chair, helped herself to a glass of water.

Lily Davenport followed, leaned against the
door-pom; and regarded her intently.

Miss Richmond looked at Mrs. Davenport and
smiled, with a shy look in her eyes.

“ I got albng all right, you see,” she said, de-
murely. ‘

“ Yes, I should say you did!” Lily Davenport
exclaimed in a very sarcastic way.

“But I suppose that it is an easy matter to
please an audience of this kind,” Adrienne re-
marked, refiectively.

.“ Oh, very easy!” and the sarcastic tone deep~

en .

“ If I had been in a regular theater, in a large
city, where the audience are used to seeing the
best of everything, perhaps I would not have
got along so well,” and the girl shook her head
as if she had some serious doubts in regard to
this matter.

" Oh, come now, don’t try to fool me!" Lily
Davenport exclaimed. “For you cannot do it
and you are only wasting your breath!”

“ Why what do you~meani” And Miss Rich-
mond looked at the serio-comic in a very inno-
cent way.

“ J ust as if you did not know i” the other ex—
claimed with a fine touch of scorn.

“ Well, if you will take the trouble to explain
I will surel understand then,”

“ In the rst place you are no amateur!”

“Ah, y ‘, are kind enough to say that be-
cause I have been fortunate enough to please the
audience.”

“ Not at all! I would have said the same thing
if you hadn’t got a hand of apcpelguse!” Lily
Davenport declared in a very decn wa .

“ W , I am satisfied that you woul have
scored a success if there had not been ten people
in the house i” '

‘ “Now you are flattering me!” Adrienne ex-
claimed with 'her lips wreathed in smiles.

“Oh, no, I am only speakin the truth. I can
tell you, young lady, that I ave been too long
on the boards to make a mistake; I know an
actress when I see one. You are no amateur‘but
a regular professional and a high grade one at
that/tool” ’

“ Compliment on compliment!" _

“ Truth! nothingvbut the truth i” the other
cried, firmly. “~ by, I could see that you
know perfectly well what you were about the
moment you struck the stage, and when you ad-
vanced to, the footlights with that peculiar
swing of yours I was certain that you would
catch the audience for all they were worth!
There is not one woman in a hundred who can
do the trickl I know what I am talking about

‘by sad experience, for I have tried to put on

style of that kind myself, but, somehow, I can-
not do it. I suppose that it. is something that
must come natural, and cannot be taught.”

“ I suppose so, for mast assuredly I haVe never
tried to be anything but what I am.”

“And what a musician you are, too!” Mrs.
Davenport exclaimed. “ I am not a'first—class
musician myself by an manner of means, al-
though I will admit t at I am not generally
willing to own up that I am not, for it is my
bread $16 butter to make people believe that I
am. ha I lknow enough to understand that I
cannot hope to deceive an artist like yourself.”

“ All. new you" are flattering me stain,”
Adrienne exclaimed, shaking her uplifted finger
archl, at the other. 1 ‘-

“ ou know better than that,” Mrs. Daven-
port declared. v “ Why, it was really a fight to
watch Dutchy’s face while you. were singing.
That Dutchman is a little or. on music, you.
Mom and. I , .ld Isotroingciupreniohun

is con , .nce » i ' ‘ ‘
treatto _ ‘ ”

 

    
 

  
  
  
  

 
  

    

    



'why you choose to masquerade as an amateur,

   
  
    
  
  
  
  
   
  
   
  
  
   
    
  
   
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
   
  
   
   
   
  
    
  
  
  
     
  
  
    
 
   
   
  
     

“ I am lad of that.”

“ And will admit that it was a treat to me,
too, for I dearly love music, although I cannot
boast that I was ever thoroughly trained in it,
but I will tell you what I will do—I’ll give. you
half of all I make if you can only teach me to
sing one-half as well as you do!”

“ I will be glad to do all I can for you, but I
fear you overrate my abilities.”

“ Oh, no,I don‘t! Bu understand, of course,

hat it may not be pessib e for me to learn. The
smartest teacher cannot make a priina donna.
out of a, woman if she hasn’t got the talent in
her, and I do not really believe that I have.
But there is one thing,r I guess you can do, and
that is to teach me to dance in that nice way
that you have.

“ Why, you can have no idea how astonished
I was when Dutchy struck up the canteen! I
said to myself, ‘ It cannot be possible that she : I V '
intends to dance that—4t woull be altogether 4
too risky l‘ But I never saw a yborly dance it “‘5
as you did, and you were just as modest as 
modest could be. By the way, isn’t it the new
skirtdancing, as they call it, that some of the .\
English girls have introduced .4”

“ Yes. something of that style.” :3,

“ \Vell, I thought so when you were dancing.  
I have heard of the new style, but had no idea. i H
of what it was like, but it is just splendid, and I
do not wonder that the audience fairly went
wild over it.”

“ W ell, I am quite willing to teach you to the
best of my ability," Adrienne remarked. “ And
1 shall not charge you anything either. You
Were obligiiig enough to help me, and you had
no idea. that I would be able to return the favor; .
it was all pure kindness on your part, and I am
very glad to be able to do something for you.” . i

“ I guess that your heart is in the right place,” '
Lily Davenport exclaimed, impulsively, and then
she advanced to the side of the young girl, put
her arm around her neck and kissed her on the
cheek.

“ Well, I hope that it is,” Miss Richmond re~
plied. “But whether it is or not, one thing is
certain, and that is I am not apt to forget any
one who is kind to me." '

“Oh, [do ,not doubt that! Nor are you the
kind of girl to either forget or forvive an injury
either. I did not make, any mista '9 about you,
for it was my first impression that despite your
innocent, artless way, you were nobo<ly’s fool, ,
and ’could be depended upon to take care of your.— 5’» ,

“Yes, I believe that is the truth,” Adr one: l
admitted. /

“I know it is!” the other declared. “ This
Egrformance of yours tic-night confirms me in my '

lief, but I must say that it a mystery to me

    
       
       

 
 

   

or how you happened to come to this jumping
ofi’ place of creation.”

“ It was just by accident,” Miss ‘Richmond re-- ,
plied. “ I came ere expecting to meet a certain "
party, and upon my arrival Was astonished t0» - ,3
find that he had gone away Without leaving an x 
message or instructions for me. I had not ca -
culated upon,any accident of this kind happen-
ing and so was abruptly thrown upon my own
resources. As it happened I had no money to-
speak of, and if the idea had not come tome that ; .
I might be able to make something by appearing , _
in this place I don’t know what I Would have
done.” . ‘.

“ You will do well enough now, for you have i "
made a hit, and can safely calculate upon getting ’.
five or six dollars a. night,” Lily Davenport said. - ,f
“ I have got twoand a half already, and on my a ‘r ' ‘
second time I will be pretty sure to pick up a"?
dollar more. The "second time generally pans u
out about half what the first one does, for only ,
the new-comers chip in, and there are not many ;
of them.” \ "

“Judging from the amount of applause that”
I received, I ought to reap a harvest." ‘

“I would not be afraid to give you ei’ hteen‘
or twenty dollars for your first rake !’ Mrs.
Davenport declared. ‘

“ Do you think it will be as much as that?” I

“My estimate is under the mark! I got fifn
teen dollars on my first night, and though I
scored a success, yet the audience did not 0
wild about me as they did about you tonight.

“ Well, I“ hope that your 0 inion wiil proveéto
be Correct, for I am sadly ahead of moneyflgfi
Mira Richmond observed in a thoughtful way;

“ And, Mrs. DaVenport, you can do men.
favor if you feel inclined.”  

“ Certainly! I shall be led to. for I ham ‘
taken a liking to you, sit ough I know that;
you are dreadfully deep,” the other repiisd  .
promptly. , r' ' ,, a

“ It is that on will not tell any one that you
think I am ' p, or that I have ever appeared
on the stage before. 1 line good man, I as, i‘.
assune you, for asking this 'favor," x-

“ Oh, thatis all right. I will keep my opts-t
ions to myself, and as to your reasons, It is none

y business.” ‘

of ‘m 4 . A
The a of the grinnipg waiter at W

point interrn the conversation. ' M‘

. Been: the money into Miss Richmond

      
  

  
  
  

   
       
     

      
     
        
  

     
  

 
     
       
   
       
     
    
     
      

I

        
       
     
       
  
 

  
  
    
    
  
  

   
  
 

  
  
 

  

 
 

      
     
        

 
 

        
     
  
 

 

  
  
  

 
   

 H "a a. windfall indeed, for more.” 

'16

Keen Billy, the Sport.

 

 

“And you will get five or ten more next
timel” Lily Davenport exclaimed.

And her guess was correct, for Adrienne’s
second appearance was as successful as her
first, and nine dollars were added to her gains.

After the performances ended it was the uni-
versal opinion that it was the best show that
the Metropolitan had ever given, and the land-
lord was delighted at the lucky stroke of fortune.

CHAPTER XVII.
A CONFERENCE.

IT was about half-past ten when the show at
the Metropolitan came to an end, and as Keene
came to the front of the saloon he encountered
Joe Bowers.

The veteran was in the best of spirits; he had
succeeded in getting through the evening on
five drinks, so still had five to his credit, as he
remarked to the sport, after he explained to him
the particulars of the bar ain which he had
made with mine host of the Ietropolitan.

Keene was amused by the novel idea and re-
marked that he thought it was a genuine stroke
of genius, then the thought came to him that as
he wanted to take a look at the bruiser, Bendigo,
it would be a good idea to take Bowers with
him so as to get the opinion of the veteran in re-
gard to the boxer’s capabilities.

He suggested the visit to Bowers and that
worthy approved of it at once.

“ You are right, me noble dook l” the veteran
bummer exclaimed. “ There is where you are
wise. The man who knows w‘ot is w’ot don’t
take no more chances than he kin help. This is
a mighty onsart’ln world, and the man who
plays a sure thing whenever he kin get a cinch
on it is bound to come out on the top of the
heap, and don’t you for et it!”

The two then repa red to the Royal Gin
Palace.

“I sized the fellow enip before I made the
match,” Keene remark to his companion on
the way. “ And if I had not been satisfied that
I stood a good chance of getting away with him
I would not have gone into the scheme.”

“ That is where your head was level!” Joe
Bowers observed with an approving nod.

“ And now that the match is made I have
a curiosit to see if the man is taking any care
of himsel . I have been told that, as a rule, the
the fellow ets full nearly every night, and a
man who int ulges in liquor by the wholesale has
no business to go into a fight. ’

“ N ary time!” Joe Bowers declared, emphatic-
ally. “ And if the man ain’t taking care of
himself it shows that he ain’t got no sense, but
then there is a lot of these would-be big chiefs
who make mistakes of that kind, and from what
I have seen of this galoot I should say be war
jest the man to reckon that he had an easy job
on hand and so make a fool of himself.”

“That is about the opinion 1 have of him,”
the sport remarked.

B this time they had arrived at the saloon of
the nglishman.

The place was well filled with patrons when
they entered, for the Royal Gin Palace was the
principal gamblin -house of the town.

Bendigo was in is accustomed place behind
the bar, and at the first glance the pair saw that
the bruiser had been drinkin heav11y.

After the two entered endigo became en-
gaged in a “ chatting ” match with a miner who
ventured to in iiire if he wasn’t “ a leetle
skeered of Long ank’s Unknown?”

“ Oh, yes, I am awfully skeered l” the bruiser
replied, with a sneer. “And I kin just tell you
that if they didn’t tie me in bed every night, I
Would be sure to cut my lucky and git out be-
fore morningl" And then Bendigo laughed
loudly at his joke, his admirers joining in the
merriment.

Keane and Joe Bowers only remained for a
few minutes and then withdrew, having satis-
fied their curiosity.

“ The galoot ain’t letting up any,” the veteran
remarked.

“ No, he evidently thinks he has an easy snap,
and that it is not worth while for him to take
any trouble.”

“ So much the better for you!” Joe Bowers
declared.

“Yes, no doubt about that. It will make my
work easier. If the man had taken care of him-

 

‘self I should have my hands full. As it is, I

think I will be able to handle him without much
trouble.”

“ I’m mighty glad that I have got a line onto
this thing, for it will give me a chance to pull in
some ducats,” the veteran remarked, with a
chuckle. “ The miners are soconfident that this
hyer Bobby Bendigo will have a walk-over, that
the are jest crazy to put their mono on him,
an so are willing to give long 0d I which
gives a man a chance to pick up a heap of
money on a small investment."

“ The town is all at sea in regard to the Un-
known, and as it 13 the general impression that
there isn’t a man in the camp who stands any
chance with the bruiser, the men are anxious to
bet on him.”

“ Mebbe they will know more arter the picnic
is our," the veteran observed, with a grin, and
then the two parted.

The sport proceeded to the hotel and went to

 

bed, where he slept as sleeps the man whose
mind is free from care.

He was up early in the morning, went to the
restaurant, got his breakfast, and then proceed-
ed to the parlor, his idea being to get speech
with Miss Richmond.

Contrary to the usual custom of the stage
people she was an early riser, and came down to
breakfast while the sport was at the table, and
after Keene reached the parlor he only had to
wait a short time for Adrienne to appear.

“Allow me to congratulate you upon our
success last night,” the sport said, as the gir en—
tered and bade him “ good-morning.”

" Thank you,” she replied, as she seated her-
self. “I hoped tobe able to make a success,
but the result exceeded my anticipation.”

“ Really, you have great talents in that line,”
the sport remarked. “ I have always been a
great theater-goer,and so am qualified to judge.”

“ Yes, my appearance was a success, and I got
much more money from the audience than I ex-
pected, but I fanc I am a little indebted to
you in regard to t at, for the performers told
me about one of the audience 8 urring on the
rest by crying out that he wante to be the first
man to put a dollar in the hat, and it was their
opinion that this declaration contributed ma-
terially to the success of the collection."

“ And you jumped to the concluSion that I
was the man, eh?” Keene remarked, with a
quiet smile.

“ Yes, for I feel satisfied that you are desirous
of aidin me, and you are shrewd enough to un-
derstan that in a case of this kind men are like
shee , inclined to follow a leader.”

“ was the piggy, and I did go on that idea,”
the s ort admit .

“ on place me under obligations which I will
try to cancel as soon as I can i” Adrienne de-
clared, earnestly.

“ Oh, don’t worry yourself about that l” Keene
exclaimed. “ If you succeed in winnin this
fight you will be able to square all you wi I owe
me Without any trouble.”

“ Thanks to the success I made last night I
shall have plenty of money to aid me,” Adrienne
remarked. “ And without money in a struggle
of this kind one is helpless.”

“ No doubt about that, and, by the way. I can
give you a tip, as the boys say, whereby you can
add to your gains,” the s rt declared, an idea
having come to him. An then he proceeded to
explain about the boxing match.

“ The odds are two to one on the Englishman,”
he said in conclusion. “And if you bet twenty-
ilve or thirty dollars you stand a good chance of
doublin your money, for the Unknown is going
to win, ar accidents."

Adrienne fixed her brilliant eyes upon the
speaker.

“ Are you the Unknown i” she asked, ab-
ruptl .

‘ es, but you are not to give it away, you
know.”

“Oh you need not fear to trust toimy discre-
tion!” Miss Richmond replied. “ But I suspect-
ed the truth when I heard the performers talk-
ing about the matter last ni ht and listened to
their conjectures as to who ong Hank’s Un-
known would turn out to be.”

“ And you came to the conclusion that you
knew the secret?”

“ Yes, for I was aware of how easily you got
the best of the driver when he objected to your
going in the stage, and it was not difficult for
me to guess that your rowess on that occasion
had caused him to be ieve you would be more
than a match for this Englishman.”

“ Well, unlem I have made a great mistake
I shall be as successful in my enterprise as
you were in yours last night, and so, as I said,
there is a chance for you to double all the
money you can put on this affair,” the sport
advised.

“ The best way will be for you to see Long
Hank and give the money to him to bet for

u.

“ I will do so.”

“ If I win—and to my thinking, the chances
are a hundred to one that I will—I shall
be in funds, and as you will pull in money
steadily here, in a week or so we will be
able to go ahead in this fight without fear
of not being able to carry it on for lack of
funds."

“ Yes, that is all that has troubled me, for I
have felt sure that if we had money enough to
back as we would surely succeed in brin ing to
the light all the particulars of the fou crime
which I am certain has been committed!” Adri-
enne declared.

“ I have been thinking over the matter, and
have come to the conclusion that it would be
better for me to o to White Oaks in person and
see a law er, rat or than to write.”

Miss R chmond reflected upon the matter for
a few moments, and then she remarked:

“You would surely be able to accomplish
more."

“That is my idea. I can get a horse and ride
over without letting anybody know that I have
left town, ascertain all the particulars which
will not take me long. and then return. I have
no notion, mark you, that it is suspected by any
parties in this town that I am trying to help

. i

he would
result, and when the miners came to the R0 ‘11.

 

you, but I am going on the idea that the fact
may be known and that we must keep our eyes
open.

“ Yes, I think you are wise to take that view
of the matter,” Adrienne observed, thought-
fully. “ It is always best to be prepared for the

. worst.”

“ That‘js my idea. The man who is constantly
on guard is not likely to be taken by surprise,
and in a game of this kind it is not prudent to
give away a single point.”

“ You are right,” the girl assented.

“ As soon as the contest is over and I rake in
the battle-money, if I am lucky enough to win,
and I would be willing to bet all the money I
ever expect to get hold of in this life that I will
come out ahead, I start for White Oaks. I will
see you Lefore I go, but until that time comes I
will keep away for fear that some one may do-
tect that we are consulting together.”

“ Yes, that will be the best. We must not
arouse suspiCion if it can be avoidet .”

This brought the interview to an end. The
sport descended to the saloon, while Miss Rich-
mond sought her apartment.

 

CHAPTER XVIII.
THE UNKNOWN APPEARS.

THE news that Long Hank had backed an Un-
known to stand up against the veteran bruiser,
Bobby Bendigo, created a deal of excitement,
and few men were there within twenty miles of
Golden Plume who did not make arrangements
so as to be able to come to the camp on the
night of the fight, that they might take in the
“ paicnic.”

etting ran strongly in favor of the English-
man, an great was the wonder of the miners
that so shrewd a man as Long Hank was popu-
larly supposed to be should make such a blunder
as to “ stack up” against such a chief as Bobby
Bendigo.

The driver had to stand a deal of chafiing, but
he took it all in good part.

” Mebbe I have made a mistake,” be ad-
mitted “ but I am jest man shut! to keep right
on in the same line. You tellers may think you
kin scare me out of my boots, but that ar’ thing
ain’t to be did as easy as you s’pose. I reckon
that my man stands a chance to stay ten rounds
with Bendigo and if you galoots think that he
can’t do it, all you have to do is to put up your
ducats, and you kin clean me out for I have jest
saludnenuff to back my man to the extent of my
pi 8.

Long Hank spoke boldly enough but when it
came to making the bets the would-be backers
of the Englishman discovered that the driver
wanted two to one, and was not willing to put
up his mone on any other terms.

“ You fel ers have been making sich a big
talk ’bout my not knowing what I was about.
and you are so durned sure Bendigo is going to
have a walk-over, thatI have made up my mind
I ought to have big odds if the chances are so
much ag’in’ in man!” he declared. “ So, two
to one, gents, is what I want, and if you are
game to come up to the scratch at that figure I
Will cover all the money you kin scare up!"

This was regarded as a “ bluff" on the part of
Long Hank, and although the miners were con—
fident that his Unknown stood no chance in the
coming contest, yet they hesitated to bet at such
odds, but when they found that the driver was
firm in his position—“ Two to one, or nary a
bet do you et out of me i" be repeated persist-
ently—they nally did business on that basis.

The Englishman and his friends were aston-
ished when they found that the driver was
really willing to back his man.

It was their idea that he had acted like a fool
in makin the match, and they had no notion
willing to bet any money upon the

Gin Palace to get a “tip,” all the men in he
lace, from Liverpool Jack down to the meanest
an er-on, declared that it was a “dead sure

cinc ,” the bruiser could not possibly lose.

Thus encouraged, the miners, who were fond
of betting, proceeded to invest small sums upon
the result.

Liverpool Jack and his friends set them an
example by trying to bind! Long Hank. They
did not think the driver was well-heeled finan-
cially speaking, and the went on to bet him to
a stand-still, but, to their astonishment, they
were not able to accomplish this.

They had to put up two dollars to Long
Hank’s one, and as he had the Express agent at
his back, he was able to stand the racket, much
to the surprise of everybody.

On the night fixed for the contest to take
place, there was the biggest cr0wd in Golden

liime which had ever been seen there.

The mystery which surrounded the afi'air had
appealed powerfully to the imagination of the
miners, for the secret had been well kept, and
not a soul in the town outside of the getters-up
of the affair had any idea of who was the man
selected to contend with Bobby Bendigo.

It had been arranged that the fight was to
take place in the Royal Gin Palace, and the

m: of admission had been fixed at a dollar a

ea .

The saloon was about thirty feet wide, to
there was ample room to erect airegular twenty-

1-

6.
I"!

 

. _. .__._.__r_ 

Keen Billy, the Sport.

17

 

 

four-foot ring in the rear of the apartment, and
in order to get all the spectators possible, the
managers of the contest had arranged to have it
take place at half—past ten in the evening, so
that the Metropolitan crowd, as the patrons of
that establishment were termed, would be able
to attend without missin the variety Show.

The performance of iliss Richmond was the
talk of the camp, and as she was cwrtuin to
draw a crowd, the managers of the fight thought
it would be wise to arrange the matter so that
the miners could “ take in ” both events.

Liverpool Jack held a consultation with the
landlord of the Metropolitan in regard to the
matter, and Bozaiii agreed to hurry his perfor-
mance through so that it would be over by ten
o’clock thus enabling his patrons to goto the
boxing match.

An announcement to this effect was displayed
on the outside of the hotel, and it did not take
lon for the news to spread around the town.

(golden Plume on this particular night held
more people than hzid ever been in the town be-
fore. One would have thought that it was a
holiday, for the camp wore a gala air.

Acquaintances button-holed each other, men
were led into dark Corners by other men, and
the question put in the most mysterious manner:

“Say, hev on diskivered who Long Hank’s
Unknown r’allly is?”

But none could give any information on this
point, and the people at large were utterly in
the dark. '

One of the results of this inflow of people was
to crowd the Metropolitan saloon, and Adrienne
re ated her success.

or “ act” Was hailed with wild cheers of ap-
proval and the hat held five dollars more than it
contained on her first appearance.

Before the performance commenced the actors
bad chatted about the boxing contest, and the
banjo player, Billy Skidder, who was a melan-
choly sort of an individual in private life, de-
clared his intention of betting on the Un-
known.

“ l have picked up a good bit of money in my
time by betting on dark horses,” he explained.
“ And when I kin git the odds of two to one I
think it is safe to risk a trifle; then too I know
that Long Hunk is no fool, and I reckon he had
his eyes peeled when he went into this thing,
and from the Way he is putting up the solid st:fo
anybody kin see that he isn’t skeered. \Vhy,
IIdrec’kon the man has put up five hundred dol-
. ' rsl

The remark afforded Adrienne the oppor-
tunity she sought. She had given all her money
to Long Hank to bet on the contest, but had
neglected to make any arrangements with him
to take the cash she would receive after her per-
formance was over, and so, pretending to be
convinced by the banjoplaver’s words that it
would be safe to bet on the Unknown, she asked
him to take her money and bet it.

This favor Skidder readily granted, and after
Miss Richmond got her cash, she_turned it over
to the banjo-player, much to Lily Davenport’s
astonishment. .

“ Well, I declare!” she exclaimed.
getting to be a regular sport!”

“Oh, it isn’t that; do not care anything
about such contests, but I am anxious to make
money,'and it seems to me that this is a good
chance,” Adrienne explained.

“Well, I don’t know about that,” the other
observed, doubtfully. “Judgingifrom the way
the men talk, this Unknown does not stand any
chance, and you will only lose your money.
The miners are not fools, you know; they would
not not two to one against the Unknown, if they
then ht he stood any chance to Win.”

“ ées, but as no one but the ones who are
backing the Unknown can poss1bly know any-
thing about him, don’t you think that the men
who are betting so largely against him are act-
inga little rashly?" Adrienne argued. “How
can they tell anything about a man of whom
they know nothing?"

Lily Davenport reflected over this problem
for a few moments.

“Well, your _urgument seems to be good, but
I suppose the idea is that the men in the camp
all know each other, and if any man had a
reputation as a boxer the rest would be aware
of it, and so they feel sure that there isn’t any
one in the town who is a match for this Ben-
digo ” Mrs. Davenport observed.

“ en sometimes do not make a boast of what
they can do,” Adrienne argued. “So it is not
safe to go on that idea.” _

“ Maybe so, but I would look a long while at
my money before I would risk it in .such a
way!” Lily Davenport declared, and this ended
the conversation. _

The )erformance at the Metropolitan ended
prompt y at ten o’clock. and in a few minutes
the saloon was about deserted, only a few men,
who did not care for boxing-matches, remaining
in the place to keep the bartender company.

Even the landlord had pested of! to the Royal
Gin Palace, anxious to secure a good place to
see the contest.

At half-past ten the crowd surrounded the
roped inclosure five deep.

Prompt to the minute Bobby Bendigo appear-
ed in the ring in full fighting costume, stripped

“ You are

\

 

to the waist, and wearing knee-breeches and
stockings.

Liverpool Jack and his “ bouncer” followed
him to act as his seconds.

“Now, then, Hank, produce your cove!” the
Englishman cried.

The driver and the Express agent stood to—
gether by the side of the ring.

“ anit a moment!” Long Hunk ejaculated.
“ Thur‘s the referee and time-keeper to be se
lected lirst. I claim the right to keep back my
man until the last minute.”

“ Well, I dunno ’bout that!” the Englishman
exclaimed, with a shake of his big head.

“ Oh, that is all rizht!” Bendigo cried, scorn-
fully. “Give him all the time he wants! Can’t
you see that he is skeered, ’cos he knows I will
knock out his blooming Unknown in short order
when I git a chance to make a. chopping-blix‘k
out of him?” and the bruiser stretched out his
bi arms in a menacing way.

endigo was a brawny fellow, but a sporting
expert, a geod judge of men, would have de-
cided at the first glance that he was in no condi-
tion to enter a contest of this sort.

He was old, stale and fat—his day had gone
by; it is an old maxim that a man must be as
“fit as a fiddle” to enter a boxing contest, for
in no other form of athletic sport is it so im-
portant that a man should be in the best condi-
tion possible.

“ All right! we’ll fix the referee and time-
keeper then,” Liverpool J :ick remarked.

A half a dozen men were proposed and object-
ed to, first by one party and then by the other,
before a choice was made.

Then it fell upon Jake Bozain, the landlord of
the Metropolitan, and Andy Williams, the comic
Singer.

Bozain was known to bee square man, one
who never bet, so he had no money on the match,
and was well posted in regard to the rules which
govern a contest of this kind.

Andy Williams too was well posted, and he
was another man who did not bet.

Bozain and Williams took their places in the
ring.
“ Now. then, trot out yer Unknown!” Liver—
pool ack cried.

And as soon as the demand was made Keen
Billy threw his hat into the ring and then lightly
leaped over the ropes to the astonishment of all.

CHAPTER XIX.
“A SURPRISE PARTY.”

THE appearance of the sport in the ring as-
tonished everybody, the two who were in the
secret, the driver and the Express agent except:-
ed.

Keene was a stranger to almost every one in
the room, for he had kept very quiet since his
advent in the town and made but few acquaint-
ances.

There were two stools in the ring for the ac-
commodation of the contestants, and Keene, after
entering the ring seated himself upon one of them
and began to remove his outer garment, amid a
general hum of astonishment as miner whis red
to miner, giving vent to their amazement. ong
Hank and the Express agent got over the ropes.

When Keeno’s coat was off it was seen he wore
no vest—that he had removed the fancy flannel
shirt which he always wore, and only had on a
flesh-colored undershirt, the sleeves of which
were cut off at the elbow, and a belt of untanned
leather girded in his waist. -

An exclamation of surprise came from the lips
of the bystanders as they gazed upon the muscu-
lar development of the sport, which was freely
ex osed by the skin-tight undershirt.

eene was one of the men who “ stripped
large,” as the sports say, and his appearance
astonished all the beholders, and none more so
than Liverpool Jack and his bruiser.

Both of them could boast of a deal of experi-

ence in ring matters and they were wise enough
to seethat the new-comer was no “ dude chump,”
as they had at first believed when the gentle-
manly-looking sport made his appearance in the
rin .
‘gW'e hav’n’t tossed for corners,” Keene re-
marked. “ But as there isn’t any difference be.
tween them, this suits me very well if the other
side is satisfied.”

“Oh, es, that is all right,” Liverpool Jack
observer , in a rather sulky way, for he was not
at all pleased with the appearance of the “ Un-
known.”

“ Say, blow me tight! but this ’ere chap hain’t
Not 1 expected to see at. h’alli” Bendigo ex-
claimed, in Liverpool Jack’s ear. .

“ 'lhat is so,” the other replied: “ I’m blessed
if that blamed Long Hank ain’t rung in a. bloom-
ing surprise party onto us!”

“ But I kin do him, and don’t you forget it i”
the hruiser declared.

“ Right you can!” Liverpool Jack assented.
“ You mustfigo right in and smash ’im. There
isn’t one bout of a ’undred of these dude chaps
w’ot has the sand to stand up to the rack and
take their gruel like men if they git some bloom-
ing good punches!"

“ You jest leave me alone!
walk all over him!” Bendigo declared.

“ Now, gents, if you are ready we will
ahead with. the procession 1." 30min. anxious.

 

I will go in to

 

“ All ready l” Long Hank exclaimed, after ex-
changing a look with the sport.

“ Ready and willing 1” Liverpool Jack cried.

Keene rose to his feet.

Then the bruiser tried the old—time dodge—
the betting challenge to intimidate his oppo-
nent.

“ I‘ve got a hundred ’ere which I will put 11p
ag’in’ fifty that I best you!” Bendigo exclaimed,
pulling out a roll of bills.

“ I regret that I cannot accept your offer, but
I haven’t got the cash with me just at present,”
Keene replied.

This was the banjo-player’s chance. As soon
as he had washed off the black after his perform-
ance, he tried to find some one anxious to bet on
Bendigo, but as it was late everybody whom he
accosted had made their investments, so he was
at the ring side w ith his mone still in his pocket.

“I’ll go you fifty!” Billy gkidder exclaimed,
pulling out the money, which was in a small
buckskin ba , and throwing it at Keene.

“ Thanks! ’ cried the sharp, catching the bag
with the deftness of a base-ball player.

Then the wager was made, the money being
placed in Bozain’s hands.

This accomplished, the landlord of the Metro-
politan madea little speech, wherein he expressed
his determination to see that the contest was
conducted in a square manner, and that both
men should have a “ fair field and no favor.”

This speech was received with general appro-
bation.

Then from the lips of the landlord came the
call, “ Time!"

The contestants advanced and shook hands,
after the custom common to the prize-ring, then
separated and sparred for an opening.

And now that the two men stood opposed to
each other in actual battle array the spectators
were amazed to discover that there was so little
difference between them in size.

It had been the general impression that the
bruiser was by far the larger man.

He certainly was stouter than the other, but
now that the opportunit for comparison was
given, it was eVIdent to a 1 who were p0sted on
such matters that Bendigo’s extra weight was
made up chiefly of fat, which could not help
Beingto his disadvantage in a contest of this

ind.

The sport was not as large boned, but he was
more muscular than the other, and far better
built in every way, and then to the eyes of the
expert judges, and there were many such in the
crowd, men who had been present at hard-fought
battles, Keene seemed to be in splendid condi-
tion, just as if he had been in training for an en-
counter of this kind.

As the men sparred for an “ opening ” such a
deep silence fell upon the assemblage that the
drop of a pin would surely have been heard.

Before the antagonists bad sparred for ten
seconds the experts at this sort of thing, who
were watching with anxious eyes, made up
their minds that the unknown sport was no
novice in the use of his fists; his position was an
elegant one, he was much lighter on his feet
than the Englishman, and evidently was going
to be an extremely hard man to “ get at.”

Bendigo had tried twice to put in a blow, and
each time the other had parried the stroke, and
he had plainly made up his mind to act on the
defensive for a while. for though he made two
or three “ offers” at the Englishman, it was evi-
dent to the boxing experts present that they
were mere feiuts, designed to draw his opponent
out.

Then Bendigo, losing patience, made a sudden
rush at his man.

The sport retreated, and just as it looked
likely that he would be caught in an ugly place
on the ropes, ho ducked under the arm of the
Englishman, and as the other turned, Keene
gave him an ugly lick under the ear, landing on
the jugular vein, which made the big fellow
wmce.

Bendigo, rendered furious by the blow, started
in to “rush” his opponent, but he got as good
as he sent.

The Englishman reached the sport twice on
the jaw, light blows, though, which did not
seem to have any steam in them, as one of the
boxing miners whispered to his com anion, and
in return he got the sport’s right an left on the
chest just under the heart, strokes which made
the bruisor grunt with pain.

Then there was a clinch, in which Keene did
some sharp infightin , amid great excitement,
and cries of “ Break! reek!" from the referee.

The sport had played for the wind, and when
the pair separated, Bendigo bad “ bellows. to
mend,” and was puffing as though he had been
in a foot-race.

Then, takin advantage of the confusion of
his opponent, eene “measured " his man and
sent in a right‘hander which seemed to take the
bruiser between the eyes with the force of a pile-
driver. Over he went on his back, coming down
in a most clumsy way with a crash which
seemed to shake the whole house.

There was a yell of delight, for it was not
often that the miners of Golden Plume had a.
chance to see such a raree show as this.

“End of round first—time is up!” criedths
man. with the watch. ,

 

\
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I- _ -A.;_.‘.=.>-,ri:;. ._ ,»

the ,Spo‘fi;

 

 

 

Liverpool Jack and his bouncers made haste
to assist their man, while Keene, with a quiet
smile upon his resolute face, walked to his stool,
Where his attendants proceeded to fan him with
all their might, for the apartment was ex-
tremely hot on account of the number crowded
into it.

Keane’s breath came a little faster and there
was more color in his cheeks than when the
contest began, but otherwise he showed no signs
that he had been indulging in violent muscular
exercise.

Bendigo, on the contrary, was in a bad way,
the extra weight of fat that he was carrying had
made him short of breath and he was gasping
likea fish out of water when his seconds got him
on the stool.

A perfect Babel reigned in the saloon, for al-
most everybody was trying to talk at once.

The astonishment of the spectators at the
manner in which the “ Unknown ’“had handled
Bendigo was great, and although two—thirds of
the crowd had bet on the Englishman, and
were therefore anxious for him to win, yet they

\ could not help admiring the way in which the

sport had fought.

r And now, with that sudden revulsion which
often takes possession of a crowd, hard] a man
was there in the assemblage who hai bet on
Bendigo who was not anxious to hedge.

One and all wanted to back the sport, and
were angry enough to kick themselves be.
cause they had put their money on the English-
man.

But in the first place there would not have
been any betting at all to speak of if it had
depended upon the miners, for all wanted to bet
on Bendigo. Long Hank and the Express agent

i were the men who had kept speculation alive by

taking the odds offered so freely on the bruiser,

and now that the current of public opinion had

‘sot in another direction, it was impOSsible for

any betting to go on when all of the speculators

wanted to bet the same way. The miners very
soon made this discovery, and then came into
operation the cunning which all humans possess,
more or less.

All who had bet on the Englishman felt satis-
fied that they were going to lose, and each and

, every man was anxious to save himself in some

way.

A few enthusiastic soulsoifered to bet three to
one that the sport would win, and found no

’ " takers, but there was a middle ground upon
which 911 could take refuge. ’

, ,It was a certain th g, to the notion of the

crowd, that the sport ould win. The terms of

the battle Were that he was to stand up for ten
rounds.

 In the minds of the spectators it was as sure as

i anything can be in this uncertain world that the

rt would “ stay ” the ten rounds without'
oubt, but the had grave fears that Bendigo‘
would not be a is to last that long, and now the

3 question was how long would he last’il .
~ There Was a great difl’erence of opinion upon
this point, and therefore a chance for betting and
the mine were quick to improve it.

Some 0 them who had bet heavily with Long
Hank and the Express agent tried to get the pair
to speculate upon this point, but their efforts
were fruitless.

_ “ Oh, no, boys, we are well satisfied to let

I, things go as they are,” the Express agent replied.

 ; “For myself, apersonally, i don’t reckon that
’  Ben 0 will h f last out the ten rounds, but I
 " am betting on it.” So the miners had to bet
, among themselves.

'1 I There was dismay and disgust in the English-

nian’s corner. .
“ Blunt my heyes!” Liverpool Jack exclaimed.

“See ’ere, 'Bendigo, this blooming dufler is mak-
. log a bleeding chopping-block bout of on i”

' ,1 ; ' Iain’t in n condition for ago of his kind,”

e‘:’,the pugilist gas . “ Don’t you see thatl am

2' fat as a hog!” ,_

"' “ W’ot in the blooming, bleeding blazes did you
want, to go into the scrap for?” demanded Liver-
.gol Jae , angrily. “By the lord ’arry! I will
 hout nearly five ’undrcd chucks." ,,

' “ Well, who e'xnpected to run up ag’in’ a rooster

'of’thie are kind the other replied. “ Didn’t we

” ; all think that it would be some chump that I

3 ‘ could get away with without any trouble?"

f}: “Yep, I s’poae you are right,’ Liverpool Jack
observed, slowly; “ This binoming Long Hank
’  Gunpletely taken us bin." 1

 “Cant we crawl out of it in some way?” the
gmilist asked. “ Can’t we bring on a wraugl

'00" git up a fight and break the match up?:
 , {Liver )ol ack shook his heed.

,. ‘»‘.DmiEt think that kin be worked, oh?”

.1 “No. no! there is too big a1 crowd ’ere, and
long Hank has too many friends for us to try a

died 0 of that: sort. All the” coves have got,

.‘ ’ ers and it Would and v in loody murder,
 , like as not, We might git our ticket for

9- ' '

" “It’s a blooming shame!” Bendigo declared.
.tFor re isn’t much doubt, ye know, that the
v. beat me! If I was myself, on see—if
' j,” the man I was a year ago, I would be

and for :‘him, but I am so fat new and out of
condition that when the dollar givaa me two or
’pu’nches in the wind it makes me feel like

  

 
 

  

  

 
  

 
 

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Keen/53111,,

I I

gives you a lick in the bread-basket whenever he ‘;

kin,” Liverpool Jack declared with a solemn
shake of the head. . '

“My game now will be to close in on him
whenever I can, so that when we break away I
will have achance to swing for his jaw,” the
bruiscr remarked. “If I could land one good
"uann the right spot, maybe, I could knock him
out. .

“ Yes, tryofor it, and try too to git him to foul
you; drop when you are in a clinch, and if he
gives you one when you are on yer knees we will
claim a foul, hiiistuntci'!” Liveniool Jack de—
clared. “ “'0 must do all we can you know to
save hour money.”

“ 'l‘imel” cxclaimod Andy Williams. at this
point, thus abruptly putting an end to the con-
versation.

 

CHAPTER XX.
THE RESULT.

KEENE was on his feet in an instant, but the
sluggcr came slowly up to the scratch, and it
was plain from his appearance that he Would
have been glad of more time to recover from his
cxertions. .

The En lishman was an experienced piigilist,
but for al that ho was puzzlul to know how to
get at his nimble antagonist, who was fsirlightcr
and quicker on his legs than any man he had
ever met in the ring.

In the previous round his idea had been to
“rush” his antagonist, relying upon his, sup-
posed, superior weight and strength to bear
down his man, but he had met with such ill-
success that it rendered him wary about trying
the same game again, so the bruiser had made
up his mind to let his opponent do the leading
and try to smash him in a “ counter.”

The two spurred for a few moments, and
when the sport saw that Bendigo was not dis-
posed to come to close quarters he guessed what
tactics the other had made up his mind to try.

The moment this conviction came to him, the
sport showed that he was a true ring general by
cuaiiging his plan of operation.

All of a sudden be rushed upon Bendigo with
the fury of a tiger, and fairly drove the bruiscr
before him with halfa dozen apparentlyvferocious
head blows, but theseyere but feiuts to throw
the other off his guard, for as soon ashesuc-
ceeded in confusing the Englishman, forcing
him backward—and Bendigo retreated in an
extremely clumsy manner—he watched his
opportunity and sent in another of the terrible
right hand “rib-roosters,” which made the
bruiser grunt with ain.

Rendered furious y wild by the blow Bendigo

dashed at the sport, and boring in, despite
the sharp punishment he received. succeeded in
getting home a facer and a flush hit on the
jaw, then, thinking he saw an opportunity for
a “ knock-out.” he “swung” with his left, but
Keene clever! dodged the blow by ducking;
coming up an or the guard of Bendige he got in
one, two, on the stomach again, just over the
mark, and then the bruiser closed ,in with
Keene, getting some sharp punishment in the
face as he did so. I ’
/ The referee yelled “Break break 1” and the
“crowd took up the cry, wild with excitement,
but the Englishman, though, never heeded the
command, but holding on to his antagonist with
a bear-like hug, endeavored to throw him.

“ Break, break 1” howled Bozaiii, dancing up
and down in a frenzy of excitement.

, “Break, break!” chorused the bystanders in
wild confusion. ‘

But Bendigo would not “break,” and the
spbrt could not; but the struggle onlv lasted for
a. few seconds, for, although the Englishman
.irided himself upon his Wrestling abilities, yet

eene contrived to “back-heel” him. Down
they went with a heavy crash, Beudigo under-
neath, and the sport lending his weight to in-
crease tho force of the fall.

“ Foul, foul!” cried Liverpool Jack, as loud
as he could shout. “ I claim a foul—he fouled
my maul” '

‘Go—long; you are away off!” Long Hank
retorted, yellin at the t0p of his lungs.

“ Time’s up! howled the comic singer, hav-
ing to shout as loud as he could so as to make
himself heard above the din. “

And a lucky'thing it was for the bruiser that
the end c the round had come, for it took both
of his seconds to carry him to his corner, while
the sport was not in the slightest need of any
assistance. ’ .

“I claim a foul, Mr. Referee!” Liverpool
Jack declared, after he had got his man on the

stool.

“ Better claim the earth 2” the Express agent
suggested in sarcasm. :

“ Wrestling is ag’in’ the rules!” the English-
man cried. \

“ Who began it?” Long Hank demanded.

And then the scene of Babel was recalled
again, for almost every man in the room tried
to express his opinimi on this int.

“Silence,silencel" yelled min. “ W ill you

 

hold r' ' , “ll . ' and ’
wig-83;“ a canyon, gin moo.
- Rheum quieted down.  ,. - '

"i

   

' Bendigo declamd. “ The licks I got on the cocoa-i

 

i “And the bleeding cove knows it toofor he 1 “I reckon, gents, that you are all liyer toseo'

a fight, ain’t yer?" the landlord exclaimed. .
The crowd, speaking as one man, declared .
that that was exactly what they had come to

see.

“ Wal, that is my notion, and I don’t pro so
that you shall be cheated out of yer fun. gills
fight is going on, an I don’t intend to let either
one of the men wrigg e outbf itl” the landlord
exclaimed, with great dignity. “ My judgment
is that thar wasn’t no foul. l is ag’in’ the rules
to wrestle, and the men must break away when
they are told to do it; but, although it seems to
me that though Bendigo was the mOSt to blame
for the wrestling, yet as he didn’t gain any ad-
vantage b it, I in’t going to lay it up ag’in’
him, so ti o fight/is to go on.”

This decision gave general (satisfaction, for it
was apparent. that it was a perfectly fair one,
and the crowd loudly expressed their approba-
tion, and even Liver )ool Jack and his bouncer,
although they grow ed and muttered that they
wasn’t going to “ git no show for their money, ’
yet they did not attempt to argue with the
referee about the matter. '

“ How do you feel?” Long Hank asked of the
sport, as he proceeded to rub him down with a
towel, the cxci‘tion and the warmth of the room
having started the perspiration. ‘ i

“ All right, only a little winded. for that last
bout was a tOugh one,” Keene replied.

“ We]. now, [reckon it was!” the driver ex—
claimed, in tones of admiratioin “ Why, do
you know, you flexed yer man so that e
couldn’t git up? His seconds had to carry h m
to his corner.”

“ The pace has been too fast for him,” the
sport remarked, with a smile. _“I made it fast
on purpose to wear him out. He carries .too
much fat to stay long in a contest of this kind.
His own exertions wind him about as much as
my blows.” ‘

“ You bet!” the Express agent coincided.

“He is about at the end of his rope,” Keene
remarked. This wrestling business Was his last
dodge. He went in to throw me, calculating to
add his own weight, so as to give mongood
shaking up, but I was able to givo him a dose of/
his own medicine.” .

“ Which he didn’t like to take,” observed Long
Hank, with a grin.

“ How much longer do you think he will last?”
the Express agent asked.

“ I should not be surprised if this round finish~
ed him, for I have got him beaten," the‘s rt l
replied. “He is fat to last, in fact so i. or?
ougth out of cond tion that it is a wonder he
has done as well as he has.” I

“ I suppose you will go right in to finish him
new!” the Ex recs agent remarked.

\, “ Yes, 1 sh lforce the fighting and not give
him any rest from now out,” Keene replied.
“ If I can reach him in the wind three or four
times more his goose is cooked." \

“ Didn’t I tell ye, pard, that th
be a paying speculation l" Long Hank exclaimed.
to the Express agent, in hi h glee.

But while the driver. an the Wells and Fa 0
man were con rutulating each other upon t 0
success which ad attended their eflorts, there
was naught but anger and deep disgust in the
op ite corner. 1 .
t was true that Bendigo bad to be carried to ‘
his corner; enthusiastic seconds oftendo carr .
their principal when there isn’t any need of .i ,,

but in this case, if the bruiser had not been car- 

ried

he would never have been able to reach his '

cornea, until some minutes had elapsed, for he . "

was completel winded. ~ . . ,

“Blast my eyes, old mambut you are in a
bad way!" Liverpool Jack said to Bendi
afteeih the discussion in,regard to the foul had '
end . , ,

This foul businesswas ashrewd dodge on the
gut of th En ishmanto gain time for his main, .
e calculi that the time-keeper would be
apt to get interested in the discussion and so,

neglect to look sharply after the time, and this  ,1-

roved to be so. ,.

Andy Williams, excited in regard to the  , ,

tion, did forget that he was the lime-keeperan

so Bendigo gained some three minutes. more'in' f“ 
he was entitled "ml, _

which to recover his wind than
to have. .

“ Oh, I am done for,” the sluggor'fiplied, so i  '

exhausted that he could hard! speak—
“Oh, come now, not so ha
pool Jack exclaimed, encoumgingly.
“ Blame me if it ain’t so!” the other WC!"
ed, with a dolef'hl shake of the head. ' I'tell
you w’ot it 13,11; is, them punches in the wind _

that this cove is mgiying me W’ot is doing the 1

business.” . , .',.
“ Yes. he has nailed you titre pretty hard,” ~ 1:

the Englishman rem-irked. . I i g
“ You kin bet yer blooming heyes on thatl’”,

not I don’t mind. He could punch away «my. «~
’ead all day, and I wohldu’t mind it but‘when
be its in one 0’ them cracks in the Wind it
kl er doubles me all up, and regularly
for to take the life out of me.” ’ :

 
    

“ I say, old man, it ain’t possible that this lere \

dandy sport is a-goin to knock you bout, you;
know 1” Liverpool J

exclaimed,
gust. .

;

    

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“Say, w'ot do you take me for, Liverpool!”
the other rctortcd. “I h’am only flesh and
blood, I h’am; I ain’t made out of no iron, ye
know, and when I meets a man ‘ who is a better
slugger than I am I have got to, knock under,
and there ain’t no LWU ways about it K’

“ Yes, I s’pose so,” but it was evident that the
admission was fairly wrung from Liverpool

“ It was mv idce arter the first round that if I
war as I used t‘i') be—in condition and fit to fight
for a man’s lifc—-that I could lr’st this cove,
but, blame me if I liain’tgot a different opinion
now,” the bruiser declared.

“ Is that so!”

“ You kin bet on it!” Bendigo responded, em—
phatically. “This cow is an out~and-outer, and

I ‘ nobody but a world-beater has got any right to

git into the ring with him. - I don’t believe I
could have whipped him the best day I evvr
saw. He is no regular pug, but one of them
amateur coves w’dt is ofth jest as good as tho
bestof the Sluggers who make their living out
of the prize ring, and though, as a rule, them
chaps don’t have the sand to take the hard
knocks that tho regulars kin grin at, yet this
cove kin stand the racket.” 7

“ Time!" cried Andy Williams at this point.

Keene advanced quickly to the center of the
ring, apparently none the Worse for the exertion
he had made, for he 100ked to he as fresh as when
he began. _

~But Bendigo was evulcntly very much under
the weather, for he came slowly to the scratch,
and there was a look on his faco which seemed
to plainly indicate that he had no inclination for
the job before him.

The sport was general enough to understand
that he had his man beaten, and all he had to do
was to go in and finish him, so he led off at
01106.

There were some sharp counters, but the Eng-
lishman’s blows lacked force; every time though
that the sport got home on the stomach Bendigo
plainly showed his dislike for the proceeding.

Three times the slugger tried to close in with his
active foo, so as to escape punishment, but Keene
managed to aVoid his embraces; then at last he
got an opportunity to swing his right in on the
neck, and Bendigo went down all In a heap.

r The yell that went up from the throats of the
crowd was deafening. _

All believed that the end of the tight had come,
for it was the general opinion from the way was
the slugger fell that be had been knocked out.

This was not really the truth, for although the
blow Was a terrific one and Bendigo had gone
down under the stroke like the ox before the
blow of the butcher, yet it had not really “ put
him to sleep,” to use the term dear to the hearts
of the sports who delight in boring-matches.

He could have got up and renewed the battle,
but was wise enough to understaan that he was
in such a state he could not possibly damage his
op neat, and by attemptng to go on with the
figiii); would only subject himself to additional
punishment, witéiout any chance of his gaining
an hln b so oing. ’

Bgndigo played ’possum. After being
knocked down be shut his eyes and pretended to
be insenslble. _ 4

Liverpool Jack and his bouncer made a move-
ments: though to go to the assistance of the

trate man, but Long Hank and Jerry
gaining were on the watch for just such a
thing). I _ .
“ ou’t you touch him !” the driver cried.

“ Let your man Alone!” the Express agent
. elled. ‘ It is against the rules for a man to bo

ucbed until the round is ended, and we don’t
want to win the match on no .foul when
our man has got the fight right in his own

’ bands! Keep your eyes on the watch, Mr. Time-

keeper! You are the man now who is running
this thing!” _ '

All eyes were now fixed upon Andy Williams,
but the comic singer did not get “ rattled."

“ 0 you kin bet that I am right up to the
mark! be declared. “ One half minute more!"

A hUSh fell  the assemblage; every neck
was strained, eyes distended.

“Another uarterl”a pause. “Threeminutes
are up! The nknown wins!"

And then the crowd yblled to their hearts’con-
tent, While Liverpool Jack and his bouncer ad-

- ‘vanced with a look of disgust upon their faces to

assist their fallen champion.

CH APTF‘R XXI.
AFTER '1‘ FIGHT. I
Tnmflghthad only lasted about fifteen min-
utes, so that it was all over by eleven o’clock,
and for the next hour the miners amused them-
selv by making Golden Plume hOWI, as one of
the c _ ief leaders in the revels remarked.
f Bendigo was taken away and put to bed, for
he was completely used up, but hcene was so
little injured that he leaped oyer the roves at
the end of the fight fully as mniblyus he. had
umped into the ring at the beginning, and s t
rom some slight discoloration on his ace,
show no cigar; that he had taken partina
- on ht be e, .
h“'l‘rlie miller: wanted to make a “ lion ” out of
‘ but he would not have it.

 

V I    much obliged to you, gentlemen,”

kin bet yer life that Jerry, and a cuss ’bout my

he said in response to the many invitations he

received to indulge in the flowing bowl. “ But
I will have to ask you to excuse me. I have

been through an experience which requires I
Should take some rest as soon as possible, and I
hope you will not think I do not appreciate your
goixlwislws if I get home to my hotel and get
to bed as soon as possible.”

The crowd in the most good-natured manner
possible coasented to excuse the hero of the
hour and the sport departed, accompanied by
Long Hank and Jerry Downing, both of whom
were highly elated at the successful termination
of the speculation. \

The pair accompanied Keene to his room in
the hotel, and, in their give, insisted upon hav-
ing a nice, hot lunch and a bottle of wine sent

p. ,

“ A bit to eat and a glass or two of champagne
will not do you any hurt,” the Express agent re-
marked. v

“ Nary a. bit!” the driver exclaimed in his
emphatic way. “ And I reckon that if you
managed to stow away a hull bottle of wine it
would be all the bettir for. you.”

“ Oh, I feel in need of a little, refreshment, of
course, but I did not want to make a night of it
when I would be compelled to drink about ten
times as much as’I needed, so I got away from
the crowd," the sport explained. I

When the lunch’ was served and he cham-
pagne opened, the conversation turnei upon the
light.

During the interval the Express agent had
been figuring upon the results.

“ Well, as near as I can figure the thing down,
you will get a little over five hundred dollars
for your share in this picnic,” he announced to
Keene.

“ That is better than a lick in the back
with a big stone!” Long Hank exclaimed, grin-
ning.

“Yes, I should say that it was,” the Sport
replied.

“Andpmebhe, we kin scare up another pud-
ding of this kind,” the driver declared. “ \Ve
ought to, for this is as good a thing as I have
been in for ten years.”

The Express agent shook his head.

“You don’t think so?” the driver queried.

“Not likely!” Downing replied. “ You must
remember that this was in the nature of a sur—
prise party. No one knew anything about our
Unknown, and the miners bet two to one on
Bundigo because they did not believe it was pos-
Bible we could scare up any man in the camp
who would stand any chance with him.”

“ That is 50,” Long Hank admitted.

“ Lightning don’t often strike twice in the
same place, and it is safe to bet all we have won
on this affair that we could not play a game of
the kind on this camp again.” .

“ No, nor anybody 9159,” the sport observed,
dryly. “ The men here have got a lesson which
will be apt to make them mighty cautious in the
future, anfl the next unknown who strikes this
town willmot be apt to be held cheaply. The
miners will be certain not to bet rashly against
him until they find out all about the man.‘

“ I reckon that you are ’bout right,” the driver
said. “ But if this hyer Liverpool Jack ain’t
satisfied with the thrashing thath‘is man got,
and scares up some other. galoot for a fight, you

size, will back you to our last dollar, hey, Jerry?”

The Express agent nodded assent. .

“ Well, gentlemen, while I am very much
obliged to you indeed for this expression of the
confidence which you. have in me, yet I must
warn you not to make any more matches where-
in I am to figure as the principhl,” the sport oly
served. “ While I have shown tonight that I
am abundantly able to hold my own in the magic !
circle of the P. R. yet I am not desirous of being
classed with the men who make a livmg by that
sort of'thing. ,, . _ ‘

“ In this case it was Hobson’s chonce With me
I came to the cam broke and I had to ra'
money some way. y following my profession
as a card-sharp can generally manage to make
a good liv' g, and, usually, a little more, but it
is absolut y necessary for me to have some cash
to back me, and now that I amin funds-on my
legs again, as ou might say—you, can depend
upon it that do not care to go into any more
fistui: encounters.”

“ reckon that you are right, pard l” the Ex-
press agent exclaimed. “If I was situated as
you are I don’t believe I would care to fight in a
rin either.” ‘_ .

‘gMebW you 3'0 1‘1 hi." the drivenremarked.
“ But thar’s no mist e ’bout your hauling in a.
heap of money this time in mighty short order.”

‘f Ah, yes, if -I could strike a picnic of this sort
every Week or SO I might be induccd to keep
on,” Keene declared. “ But there isn’t any
chance of it.” I.

The Express agent agreed to this, and then
the comgization turned to subjects which have
no conn ion with our story, and so we will not
detail it. .‘

s After the lunch was finished, and the wi '
drank, the backers departed, and Keene we
to bed, where he enjoyed ta

    

He rose in good season in the morning, and
after breakfast got an opportunity to converse
with Miss Richmond.

She congratulated him upon the easy victory
he had achieved, and explained that she was
in possession of the particulars the preceding
evening, for she and Lily Davenporiidiarl wait-
ed in the parlor until the banjo-player returned
with the news, and with him he brought the
hundred dollars which he had won, twenty for
himself and eighty for Adrienne.

“ So you see, thanks to your hint, I am eighty
dollars better off than I should have been,” she
said, in conclusmn.

“I am in about five hundred, so we are well
prepared for a campaign,” Keeno remarked.

“ Although I am very much obliged for your
kind offer, yet I do not think I will have to
call upon you for assistance as far as money
goes,” the girl declared. “I think I will have
enough of my own, thanks to this windfall
which I owe to you.”

“ All right! but you must not hesitate to call
upon me if it is necessary. You can pay me
back after you win the prize.”

“ But suppose that I fail and do not win?”

“ Let it go then,” Keene replied, indifferently.
“ I am going into the speculation With my eyes
Open. and if I lose I shall not complain.”

“ Very well; if I need money I will not hesi»

‘.
,.

 

tate to call upon you, and you can rest a red .. V

that if I succeed in my design you shall be well  k ,

rewarded.” , ,3 3,. ,3,
“Oh, that is all right,” Keene rejoined. “ I’m. ‘ . 

going into this thing because 1 take an interest .
in you. Itbink that you are a brave girlto-
undertake a task of this kind all alone, and I
have made up my mind to see you through. If
you win and can'afford some day topay me, ‘
well and good. IWill take what you eel that
you can give, but if you don’t succeed and have i
only your lainr for your pains. I shall not com— A
plain if I have to put up with the same.”

Adrienne extended ‘her hand, actuated bya .
sudden impulse, and the two clasped palms.

“ You are a man indeed!” she exclaimed, ‘
“ and I see now that I did not make any miss
take when I thought I could trust you, although-
you were an utter stranger. ‘

“ I am not like other girls of my age, with my,
head full of romantic fancies, but have led a" 
life which has made me old before my time.
There is no romance about me, but I am as.“
sternly practical as any business man of the \
world that you can find, and in this quest of ‘ _
mine I am pushed forward by two motives—r»
avarice, for I desire to ownthis mining prop- _~
cvty, and revenge, as 1 am determined to hunt I;
down the men whom I believe to ha’ve commit.
ted a cowardly murder. Between'us two I be-
lieve the task can be accomplished.”

" Well, I reckoa we can make a good try her
it!” Keene remarke' --in his quiet way, as the 
girl relinquished hi grasp upon her hand, and
sunk back in his sea . -' 4 ,

“ Now, as soon a I get my money to-day Ir
am goin to investina horse and then set out-m, ‘ 
for a litt e ride which will last until I arrive in
W'hite Oaks. t will not take me long to get at .
the truth, and when I return, which will be in a
couple of da , you can depend upon my’ bring-
ing ouafu account.” ‘ ~

“ shall wait with the utmost tience,”"
Adrienne remarked. “I have full lth b 
you will do all that man can do.” , '

“ You can depend upon my doing all my.,
power!” Keene declared. _ - " « . '

And after this assurance, he tool: his deported

ure. . j.

“ Heaven indeed favored me when it gave  ,4, p
the’ opportunity to secure such an ally!” the: 34
girl declared. ~ > g . ,9 «i.

 
 
   
   
  
   
 
    
  
   
  

  

      
      
 

  

 
  
 

  
  

 
       
       
   
 
      

  

       
 

 
 

    

  

       
 
       
  

 
  
 

              

 
 

     
      
    

 

    
   
  

CHAPTER “XXI l.

 
 

. A. DISCOVERY. , . 1,; v

A I.an after nine o’clOCk a message came?
from Jerry Downin to the sport 
him to come over to e Express Oiflce. , , Mr-

Keene complied with the request, and the
Express agent showed him the statement which? "
he had made out of the results of the
tion and id over to him his sliare,which 
within a w cents of'six hundred dollars. , ,

“The thing panned out better than I expect:
ed,” Downing remarked. “ I did not think;
would be much over five hundred dollars when . 5
made a rough calculation last night, but it ox»
ceeded my anticipatious.” . '

“ Well,“ is much better to line it come ._
that way than for it to run short,” the» , .,
observed. as he pocketed the money. 

“ You bet! Thar’s a hen of cod scandhogs, _
sense in that!” Long Han deemed-,who Vial '
present to assist in closing up the “picnic”; "
be remarked. _ ‘ , .

Then Keene observed}, in a careless way, that.
as be was fond oi‘fagiiliugtgaet thougt mow”.

uy a horse, e n , as ' ‘
follow a card-30pm Fife the timeEiiZg ha,
on his hands during the day, and he know, of -
better way to while away the idle rs than
spend a few of them on horseback. ,x. '

    
   

 
     

 

    
 
 
 
 
 
   

  
 
  

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i- i to in mum
w 10 comes amen « f  _
lie-lunatic ‘ g ~ ‘  f ' a”

l i, 

  

 

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m”

   
 
  

the

    

Dowui _ ‘iedtbathetbo’n \‘
“afghan. beast w

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., v‘ 1.;
.{,_,

AL

 

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bought on a speculation from a man who was
obliged to leave the camp, and therefore he
could afford to sell it cheap.

Keene examined the horse, a powerful roan
mare, and an extra good beast for that section
of country.

    

mczrfj‘r'~«"r ,  "   f“.
". "‘ ‘r 1  « \~ . ‘ ~.. '

A bargain was soon made, and the horse sent
 ' over to the hotel corral.
fr? ' ' Keene soon followud. The landlord of the
{It Metropolitan happened to be in tho corral when
la the sport arrived.

a" x

“ Been buying a horse?” Bozain asked.

“ Yes; I have a little business to which I must
attend over at Murphy’s Clearing, and I thought
I would get a horse so I could ride over when-
 . cvor I felt like it,” the sport replied, “Ium

going to make a trip that way now,” he con-
tinued, vaulting into the saddle with the ease of
g1 '_ . a racticed rider as he spoke. “I may be de-
’ tamed for a day or two, so just hold on to my
room for me.”
, V “All right,” replied the landlord, and then
’ ’ r the sport rode off.

He roceeded at a slow cantor through the
town, ust as if he was out for amusement, try-
ing the poses of his new purchase, but after
A, a . he got well out of the camp, and secure from

* ' , . observation, be pushed forward at a good rate.
r ' Naturally durim,r his progress through the
tawn be attracted considerable attention.

Ever man he met bowed to him and said,
“ How ’y,” in the most cordial manner, for the
citizens esteemed it a favor to receive a saluta-
tion from the champion who had succeeded in
putting the redoubtable Bendigo to sleep so
«can y.

As the sport rode (past the White Gopher

Mine three men, stan ingby the door of the
Romeo, nodded to him, and Keene acknowledged
' the bows as courteous] as ssible.
. ' The three were Elliott an Buren, Herman
~" Gotterang and a slender, rather good-looking
Jellow, whose face was deeply seamed with the
lines of dissipation.

This was the expert bookkeeper, Ned Davan-
port, Lily Davenport‘s husband.

, ; g He had a weak and sickly expression and did
2 not look as if he had much of a hold on ife.
,3 “I would give a fortune, if it was mine to

., ,«W

     
       
   
       
      

  

 
 

vehif I was strong and healthy as that fel-
- owl Ned Davenportexclaimed, In an envious
 way, as the sport rode by.
And Keene, although he bowed to the three,
_v and smiled as pleasantly as though they were
' the dearest friends he had in the world, yet to
 himself he whispered:
 “If those three fellows had any idea of the
ature ol' the errand upon which I am bound,
the odds are big that they would do all in their
 ower to keep me from even reaching White

  

  

  

“; "gut this is a world of delusion and it is not
possible for us in'the game of life to always
make out what kind of cards the fellow has who
 on the op osite side of the table until he
pie them: t e fact makes the thinga good
use ,more interesting; but the surprising parts
that occur sometimes are enough to make a
man’s hair stand on end!"

I rt rode on his way, chuckling lo
imself as 0 them ht how astonished the White
be when they learned the ob-

    

  

?! ‘ “Gopher men wou

‘ act of his urney. .
\But. as t 9 sport often remarked, this is an
éoucertain world, a fact which was destined to
be brought forcibly home to his knowledge he-
ore‘ he was many days older—but we will not
,innticipate.

Van Buren and the German exchan d glances
filter Ned Davenport spoke, but as hfigazu was
,3 {ed wistfully upon the retreating horseman be
will not notice the expression on the faces of the

  

 

 

  
  

hen when he turnedh-‘is eyes upon them it
lshed

Oh, you are all right, Davenport!” Van Bu-
clnimed. “ You must not get low-spirited

 
 

._ ex
Magi 0,1,1 don’t happen to feel very wel. once

’ w e.

h but it is not once in a while; it is all the

, ,” Davenport replied, withamournful shake?

the head. , ‘
‘3}: that sol” the German asked, wlth an ex-

 ‘ of great concern. '

Yes, I am getting so that I havon’t any apo

I .g‘ I can’t eat anything.”

Wpll, ‘ you make up for that by drinking,

 
 

  

 
 
   

  
 
 

fl Van Buren declared, with a light
as though he believed he had made a good

, as, but how is the thing going to end?” the
_ flficlslmsd. in a very serious «my.
v, v = at]. how should it end?” Van Buren asked,
‘ though he was surprised by the question.

9 can’t go on in, this way for very long,
~ nking like a fish and not eating enough to keep
cansrybim alive 1” t
 must change your programme,”'Van
v “replied. still smiling as though be consid-
,  matte: a jest. .' You must eat more

a less. " ~

‘ I it'is'sllavery Well for you toadvise me
tight, but I cannot carry it out)” Daven-

  

  
  

  
  

  
  
   

 

"hmclalmsdi ,
.‘ Egan?! sea,th  by,” Van Buren. Ds

      
 

\

“ It ought to be easy enough if you will only
tr 7.”
l‘ Well it is not!” Davenport exclaimed, do:-
gedly. Icannotletliquor alone. Imust drink
just so much or I believe I would go crazy. But
it isn’t the liquor that is troubling inc; Ican
carry all I can drink readily enough, but this
not being able to eat anything worries me. I
know that it is not right. If a man doesn’t out
he can’t expect to live long, and although the
world has never treated me very well yet I
will be hanged if I am anxious to leave it yet
awhile.”

“As far as eating goes, my experience has
been that the smallest eaters are usually the
longest livers,” Van Buren observed, thought-

m
t:
._..

“)lr3ut I will tell you what you ought to do,
DaVonport; you ought to consult Doc Finnigan
~—the Doc will pull on through all right!”

“Bahl he is a lieu-mouthed bog-trotter—a
fraud of the first water!" Ned Davenport de-
clared, angrily. “ He is nothing but a common
country cow-doctor setting himself up to bea.
medical sharp!” . ’

“Judging from this florid description of
yours I should say that you had already con—
sulted the doctor and the prescription he gave
was not to your taste,” Van Buren remarked,
laughing.

“Ya, that is so, I guess!” the German de-
clared. “The doctor usually speaks his mind
out ilaini”

“ on are right, I did speak to the big-
headed Irishman and he said that there
wasn’t anything the matter with me except
that I was laboring under the delusion that
I was a whisky barrel when I wasn’t and
that ii.’ I would let liquor alone I would be all
right.”

” Well, advice of that kind is easily fol-
lowed if a man thinks it advisable to do 30,”
Van Buren observed, with the air of s. philos-
Opher.

“ How much did be tax you for the counsel?”

“ The im udent bound 1” DavenpOrt exclaimed,
angrily. ‘ I told him to his teeth whatI thought
of him, and if the boys hadn't got in between
us, I reckon there would have been a shooting
match.”

“The doctor is hot-headed and it always riles
him it any one doubts his skill,” Van Buren
declared. -

“He is nothing but a blundering Paddy-
whack I” Davenport declared. “ 1f the fool was
anything off a. doctor he would be able to
give In: something so I would have a little ap-

tite.
p8“ Tiat seems to be true,” Van Buren ob-
serv .

“ Ya, no doubt about it!” the German assent~

“ But don’t let us talk any more about the
donkey l” Davenport exclaimed. “ I get dis«
gusted every time that I\\even hear his name
mentioned.

" By the way, were you at the Palace last
night to see the fight?” he asked, thus abruptly
changing the subjcet.

“ Oh, yes, you don’t catch either Herman or
myself missing any shows of that kind. We took
it in and paid pretty dearly for our fun too, for
we backed the Englishman, thinking that he
could not sibly‘ 10se.” _

“ Well, never bet, so I did not get caught,
but if. I had bet, I most surely woul have put
my money on Bendigo, for I reckoned he had a
sure thing,” Davenport remarked.

“ About everybody thought that way, and the
majority of the sports are broke this morning!”
Van Buren declared. “ A bad case of miSplaced
confidence. you see.”

“ It is strange how these things ha pen,” N
Davenport r ked. ‘f The sports 0 this cam ,
reckon that they are as keen a. set of men can
beacared up anywhere in the West, and tore
this event came 03' they would have b ted at the
idea that they could be taken into cam so easily;
this man, too, this sport,dyesterday h was un-
known, and no one in Go] on Plume w id have
taken the trouble to turn the head to look at him
as he passed along the street, but now everybody
gapes after him.”

" Such is famel lt cometh up like a flower!"
Van Buren sXclsimed.

“ And, by the way,
morning.” Davenport remarked.
the Metropolitan to see my wife. You know
Lily and. I do not get on very well together.”

The others 11' dded.

“ She prete s to think
but the whole trouble is that I haven’t got the
money to uander on her that I used: to have,
and she is l e the most of the women, when the
money is gone she hasn’t got much use for the
man,” and Ned Davenport made this declaration
with the air of a martyr.

“ Women are notoriously fickle-minded,” Van
Bum o rved. , .

“Wei , I went tohave a talk, with her to see
if we ‘could not c we to a better understanding.
It was a failu j by the’way, for she said she
thought we got on much baitsr apart, as we did

0th I: gut»  when we were together,”

lain ,
'0, m9 ill-kt. the.

I made a discovery‘thls

  
 

    
 

“ I was up to»

that I drink too much, I

 

was taking a sensible view of the matter,” Van
Buren said.

“We would get along all right if she would
hold her tongue about my drinking and not kick
up such a deuced r0w every time I got a little
full,” the husband explained, in an aggrieved
tone.

“lVomen will be unreasonable, you know,”
Van Buren remarked. r
‘ “ h, they all like to have men tied to their
apron-strings,” the German declared. Like
many Inen of his race, he believed that women
had few rights, and a wife should be but little
better than a slave to her husband. '

“ We didn’t come to anyagreement-except
to let things remain as they are, but she is per-
fectly friendly, and talked like a person tome
upon the evil of m ways. She detected that I
wasn’t well. and, 1i e that fool of a doctor, laid
all to drinking, although I explained to her that
it was not the liquor I drank but becauseI
couldn’t eat anything; of course, though, she
obstinately stuck to her opinion.”

And both the othersshook their heads as much
as to say, “ Just like a woman!”

“ We had a nice, agreeable conversation to-
ether after we got t ough with our discussi n,
or I did not get an r with her, nor she w thy '

mo, and in the course 6 the talk she told me of
an odd circumstance which had come to her
knowledge. You know this new star .who '
has come to the Metropolitan—this Adrienne
Richmi ind i”

The others nodded ament; they were all atten
tion now.

“ Do you remember last night just before the
fight began that Bendigo offered to bet the sport
a hig’idred dollars against iil’ty that he would
win ,

“ Yes, and as Keene did nbt have the money
the banter was taken up by Billy Skidder, the
ban 'o—player,” Van Buren observed.

“ xactlyi Well, forty dollars of the money
that Skidder put 11 be onged to the Richmond
girl, and by herpuck in betting on the Un—

I

known—for she gave the money to Skidder and ' .
told him to bet before any one knew who the V ,

Unknown was—she gained eighty ducats.” r

Van Buren and the German looked at each
other, a peculiar expression upon their faces.

“ It seems to me that this was indeed odd,” the
proprietor of the White Gopher remarked. ‘

“ Yes, very odd ” the German added.

“And my wife has got the idea that the girl
knew that Keene was the Unknown when she
made the bet,” Davenport continued. “ For
when the‘performers were talking about the fight.
early in the evening, before it came off, and the
banjo-player happened to mention that he was
going to make abet on the Unknown, she Jumped
at the chance to do the same, and as women are
usually cautious how they go into anything

of the kind, Lily got the idea she had a quiet tip -- 

inIari’vance that the Unknown had a big show to
win. .

“It certainly looksas if that was true,” Van: f

Buren observed.

“ They are acquainted—there is no doubt about
that,” the German said. “The
in the same stage, and it Was t 6 driver,
Hank. who got up this match.” .

“ Yes, an my wife, who has an uncommon
sharp pair of eyes, and Usually manages to see
everything that is going on, has seen the .pan‘
talking together in the parlor of the'hotel-tho~
sport stops at the Metropolitan, you know.” .

The others nodded, and it was evidth If!“
both were seriously disturbed by the intelligence,
but DaVenport was not sharp enough to perceive
the fact; he had drank so much liquor that his
per‘cgtions were dulled.

Y

in her stage line, you know, but inprivate life.
In fact she is rather stuck on the girl. _ I

“ Well, I must be going for it is about time for
my noon drink, and ‘whlsky, I believe, is the only
thing that keeps me alive.
claratipn Davenport departed.

CHAPTER XXIII.
PREPARING FOR TROUBLE.

 

VAN BUREN and Gotterang lookedatgpoch’l"; '
other for a few moments, a seriOus Q! N ' v.

upon their faces, until Ned mvenpont" '
out of hearing, and then the ownerof the:
Gopher said, slowl , and in.a thoughtful way:
“ What do you t ink of thini Herman?”
The German shook his head. ‘ j \
:: goultion’t ilk: the looks‘of it, oh?" ~ .. r
0 do not! i I
" Neither do I. And the joke or the matter is

And with this do- ‘

came totown r
Long

wife has an idea’that this Richmond wo— '
‘ man is uncommonly smart too—she don’t mean

, ‘ly

that it has come upon uSISO unexpectedlyd—like  if

clanof thunder out of clear sky.”
“Yes, eve 'ng was all

tron a”. r

"Strum are right. I did not anticipate any-'
thing of the kind,
girl will worry us
served, thoughtfully.

" Yes, that is the point; if she can, and what '_ i

think you in regard to that?” ‘

 Well, I don’t know," the other replied, slow;_:\.: "

ly. “ My first impression wasth'at the girl would
1.193. be able to trouble us any; that was when she

I

 

right, and there did .
not seem to be a chance that there could be any, ~N- -

butnowI feel sure that this 
if she can,” Van Buren ob- 

  
 

:752 ‘

well v . ;
hits 

_«,ug~fi¢5"” ' .

.‘ 1‘ .V -\
guises...

 

 

        
     
     
     
     
       
         
       
         
      

 

        
       
   
       
   
      
     
      
             
      
    
     
         
    
     
     
         
  
       
     
    
       
      
        
     
      
     
       
   
    
       
       
    
       
       
    
     
   
  
     
     
       
       
    
     
      
     
       
      
      
   
     

._ _..___? ‘ 

.s.-x..-. ,K__.‘_ of; I ‘jkw- .

_.»u, 

. A..- 4‘ gm; ,3“

Keen Billy, the Sport.

21.

 

 

made her appearance, you know, and came to
the mine in search of Kingsley.”

The German nodded.

” Her appearance did not give me any uneasi-
ness, for I said to myself: ‘ What can this girl,
alone and friendless, probabliy without much
money, do in a case of this kin , even if she had
anything to go upon?’ And you know, Herman,
that there is not one chance in a thousand for
her to make any discoveries.”

“Yes, that is true; I reflected upon the matter

myself, and came to the conclusion that she
could not hope to do anything.”
, “ I was not worrying about the matter at all!”
Van Buren declared. “Although I will admit
that when I discovered that she had made an
engagement at the Metropolitan and intended to
stay in the camp, I was alittle annoyed, for, un-
der the circumstances, I would have preferred
that she should get out, still I wasn’t borrowing
any trouble.”

“No, there did not seem to be any cause for
alarm, but this story of Davenport’s puts another
face upon the matter!” the German exclaimed,
shaking his head in a grave way.

“ You are right!” Van Buren declared. “ No
doubt about that. The girl, alone and helpless,
is one thing, but she, with this daredevil sport
at her back, is quite anotherl”

“ Yes, but do you think you can depend upon
Davenport’s story?” the other asked. “ Do you
believe that the girl and this sport are in
league?”

“ I see no reason to doubt it. They most cer-
tainly came to town together, and although they
have not been seen openly in company—I take
my meals at the Metropolitan, you know, and I
am aware that they do not Come down to the
table together—that does not prove that they
are not working in concert. It would certainly
be their game, under the circumstances, to try
and keep the fact quiet.”

“ So as to take us by surprisel” Gotterang
added. .

“Exactly, but thanks to Mrs. Davenport we
are in possession of the secret, and I can tell
you, Herman, that I do not like the looks of the
matter at all.”

“Is not everythingso arran ed that it will
be impossible for any one to o tain proof that
there is anything wrong?” the German de-
mended.

“ Well, it is my idea that we had made every-
thing so secure we could laugh at any attempt
to probe into the East, but now that an enemy
has appeared in t 9 field I do not feel one-half
as certain about the matter as I did.”

“ The appearance of the girl has not changed
matters any; everythingis as it was before,"
the other argued.

” Yes, I know that well enough, but her ap-
pearance introduced a new and important factor
which we did not calculate u ii when we made
the arrangements which resu ted in the transfer
of the White Gopher property from old man
Kingsley to myself.

“ If you remember, we took the ground in
our calculations that there wasn’t any one in
existence who had any interest in Kingsley’s
property, and therefore_ when the fact of the
transfer was made public, nobody would be apt
to trouble their heads about the matter.”

“Yes, but are you not going too far in as-
suming that this Richmond girl really has any
interest in the matter?” Gotteran asked. " She
came to Golden Plume to see 'ngsley, it is
true, but there isn’t anything so far to prove
that she has any legal c aim 'upon. him, or an
right to inquire as to the disposition of his
estate.”

“ I know that. I have taken all the facts
into consideration, and looked at the matter in
all possible lights,” Van Buren replied.

“ As you sa , I hain’t any proof to go on, but
for all that am satisfied that the girl has a
claim of some kind on the old man, and so I be—
lieve that the chances are great she is entitled to
an interest in his estate, therefore has a motive
to. inquire into all the particulars connected
With the transfer of the mining property to me;
if I am correct, she will be apt to take consid-
erable ains to find out why Kingsley left
Golden lume so abruptly.”

H We", sup that this is all true—that you
have not ma 6 any mistake about the matter—
what can she do? What can she find out?” the
German demanded. ‘

“Ah, now, my dear Herman, you are pro-
pounding :a conundrum which is a little too
much for me; I shall have to give it up.”

“ I can answer it easily enough. Itis not pos-
sible for her to make any discoveries at all!”
Gotterang declared.

“Now, my dear fellow, you are too positive
about this matter—too .itive altogether!”
Van Buren asserted. ” €33 are making the
same mistake which a thousand smart men
have made before you, and which has brought
them to ruin.”

“How is that?” the German asked, evidently
perplexed.

“ Why, you think we have arranged the mat-
ter in such a skillful way that no clew can be
obtained to the truth ” Van Buren replied. “ I
will admit that it real! does look that wa , but
as I said, a thousan or more of men, ustas

 

smart as we are, have made the same calcula-
tion, and, too late, discovered that there was
some little point which they had not covered, so
all their schemes wers set at nan ht.”

“ Yes, I understand now, but am 10th to be-
lieve that it can be so in this case!” the German
declared, with all the natural doggedness of his
race. ‘-

“ The wisest way it seems to me is to assume
that there is danger of such a thing and prepare
for it!” Van Buren declared.

“ Oh, yes, that is true enough!”

“ And that is just the course that I am going
to pursue. I do not think there is a doubt that
the girl and the sport have an understanding,
and if that is the case, it is a strong team, for
the sport is a dangerous man, and the girl, by
her performance upon the stage, has turned the
heads of half the men in the camp, and if she
entered upon any kind of a struggle you can de-
pend upon it she would find plenty of friends
who would be glad to help her.”

“No doubt about it! a young and pretty
woman can always find friends, and then when
she happens to be on the stage, as this one is,
there are always a lot of fellows ready to make
f0ols of themselves for her sake.”

“ Very true! and for that reason I regard her
as likely to prove very dangerous, particularly
if she can count on the assistanCe of this dare-
devil sport, and I have no doubt that there is an
understanding between the two.”

” Well, if we find that the pair are going to
make an attempt to annoy us we shall have to
protect ourselves!” Gotterang declared with a
dark look.

“ Oh, yes, of course!” Van Buren declared.
“ You can rest assured that I shall not hesitate
to strike, and strike promptly, the moment I am
threatened with any danger. If there is going
to be war I calculate to strike the first blow.”

“ \Ve must be on the watch.”

“ I shall keep my eyes open, of course!” Van
Buren declared. “ I have been turning the mat-
ter over in my mind since we have been talking,
and I have thought of a plan by means of which
I may be able to gain an idea of what the girl
is up to.”

” That is good!” the other declared.

“Lily Davenport and I have always been on
good terms, you know; it has been my game to
keep on the right Side of that lady, for she would
be apt to turn out to be an ugly customer if she
took it into her head to be spiteful.”

Gotterang nodded assent.

“ The plan I am going to work is to pretend
that I have become fascinated by this Rich-
mond girl,” Van Buren explained. “ I will call
upon Lily and tell her that I am very much im-

ressed with the new star, and that I should
like to find out all about her.”

“ The chances are that Mrs. Davenport is not
favorably disposed t0ward this girl, for she has
rather put? her nose out of joint,” the German
observed. “She was the star of the show until
Miss Richmond came, but now is obliged to take
second place.”

“Yes, and if she is not furiously 'ralous, she
is not the woman I take her to be,” an Buren
declared. “ I do not doubt that when she finds
that I am interested in the girl she will be glad
to tell me all she knows about her, for the odds
are great, I reckon, that there isn’t any love
lost between the two, and the probability is that
if I make Lily a good offer I can get her to play
the spy upon this Miss Richmond, so I can be
posted in regard to her movements.”

The German thought this plan wasa good one,
and said as much.

And then Van Buren, who believed in striking
while the iron was hot, proceeded to the hotel
and called upon Mrs. Davenport. I .

But the schemer made a mistake in thinking
that he could deceive that experienced woman,
or induce her to aid him, although Van Buren
did his best to tell a plausible story.

Lily Davenport was too old ta bird to be
caught with chaff, and she knew the White
Gopher man too well to believe that he would
play the fool for any woman.

“ I don’t know anything about the gir ,” she
declared. “ And if I did, I wouldn’t say any-
thing. I believe in minding my own business.
so you will not get any information out of
me.

Van Buren tried hard to induce Mrs.Daven-
port to change her mind, but the effort was
fruitless of results, and the plotter was obliged
to depart, no wiser than when he came.

But Lily Davenport was a true friend to
Adrienne, for she lost no time in telling her of
the occurrence.

 

CHAPTER XXIV.
IN warn: ours.

KEEN]: arrived at White Oaks after an une-
ventful journey.

He had a slight acquaintance with one of the
lawyers of the town, and, after utting his horse
up in the hotel corral, proceed to hunt up his
a uaintance.

e found the lawyer’s ofllce without any dif-
flculty, but was it ucky enough to meet with a

I

 

set-back, as the sport terser termed it, right in
the beginning.

The lawyer was out of town, and it was not
certain when he would be back.

The office was over a store, and the store»
keeper, an obliging fellow, gave the inquirer all
the information in his power.

“ The lawyer may be back this very day, or
he may not be back for two or three; his com-
ing was uncertain.

“ Did you want to see him on a personal mat-
ter, or just on legal business? Because, if any
lawyer would answer, there are two more in
town, and both are here at present, for I was
speaking with them a while ago.”

The sport replied that he wanted to see the
lawyer on a little matter of legal business, and
as long as he was out of t0wn he supposed that
either one of the others would do.

“ IVell, Judge Drummond’s office is right
across the way, and you will find him in, for I
saw him at the door not five minutes ago.”

The sport thanked the man for his friendly

advice, and proceeded to the office of the law- 3

yer.

The judge was busy at his desk when Keene
entered, an elderly, gray-bearded man, with u
owl-like look.

He invited the s rt to take a chair, and in-
quired what he coul do for him.

“ I want to see about the title to a certain
piece of property.”

“Ah, yes, I see,” and the old gentleman
rubbed his hands briskly together in a manner
which denoted considerable satisfaction.

“ You attend to such things?”

“ Oh, yes, and I am very careful about it,
tool” the judge asserted. “I always give such
matters my personal attention. I do not know
as you are aware of the fact, but a good many
of my legal brethren do not look after such little
things themselves; they delegate the duty to
clerks—sometimes mere office-boys, but I hold
that in a case of this kind, where an investment
of hundreds of dollars may depend upon accurate
information, the lawyer who takes charge of the
matter ought to be certain of his own knowledge.
that everything is Correct.”

" Yes, I should think so,” the sport responded,
but he was not at all deceived by this statement.
He understood that the’ old lawyer was only in-
dulging in a little self-praise.

“ Is this property situated here in White!
Oaks?”

“ No: it is in Golden Plume."

“In Golden Plume?” said the old gentleman
slowly, and the quick ears of the sport detected
a peculiar tone in the voice, and his experienced
eyes trained by long use to read the truth in
mens faces, no matter how much they might
try to hide their feelings beneath the mask of
indifference, saw that the judge was disagree-
ably affected by his statement.

But the sport was fully as skillful at conceal-
ing his feelings as the best actor could be, and
had such a perfect command over the muscles of
his countenance that it would have puzzled the
shrewdest reader of the “ human face divine,” for
have told from his expression what thoughts
were in his mind.

So the judge did not suspect that the stranger
had detected that he was not pleased, as the sport
repeated:

5‘ 
Plume.”

" Well, that is a little out of my field," the
legal gentleman observed. " Still, I may be able“
to attend to it for you. What is the name of
the property? Give me the data, if you please,”
and as he spoke the judge dipped a pen in the
ink, and drew a sheet of paper t0ward him as if
to take notes.

“ The property is known as the White Go her
Mine, and is now owned by one Elliott an
Buren, who got it from Mr. Victor Kingsley.”

“ Ah, yes, I see, a mining property,” and the
old lawyer made a few unmeaning scratches
with his pen upon the paper.

“ Yes, it is a mine.”

“ Well, I don’t know, let me see!” and the
old gentleman stared up at the ceiling for a mo.
ment as though he was deeply engaged in
thought, and scratched his ear with the end of
the penholder.

The sport conjectured what was coming be.
fore the lawyer spoke, so he was not surprised
when the 'udge said:

“I dont believe that I will have timetogo
into this matter. These mining cases are usual--
ly complex' I had an idea, you know, that it
was some little simple matter right at home
here.”

“ No, it is in Golden Plume."

“fish, I can’t really take it; sorry that it it

“Oh, that is all right, good—morningl” the
ipogt observed in his unconcerned way and then
9

the property is situated in Golden

this?” Keene muttered after he got into the
street.

“Lawyers are generally eager enough to
take fees, and this old fel ow was hot after the
caseuntil he discovered that it was the WHO
Gopher property I was after.

‘ Can it be possible that the men in m

l

l

1G‘I‘pttrt'ied. .
“ ow. what the deuce is the meaning of

 
 

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l

l w  Kg... 131113}, the sport. 

a. ‘ , V \s  I ,' "'1: '
.. . -

 

 

  
  
   
  
  
  
  
   
   
   
  
   
    
 
  

Plume have arms so long that they reach away,
down here to \Vhite Oaks?"

” I will be hanged if it don’t look like it!”’:he
sport exclaimed, after deliberating over the mat—
ter for a few moments.

“ If this lawyer has been employed by Van
Baron, of Course he can’t act for me, and I
v 9 reckon that is the secret of his refusal.

. ‘ ‘ “ Now where is this other duck’s office?”
 ~  And as Keene put the question he saw the
{ “‘shingle” of the other lawyer on the opposite
side of the street.

He crossed and entered the oilice.

The legal gentleman was a young sprig of the
law, and he received the sport as though he
had been a lougdost brother.

“A little legal business! Certainly! I will
be happy to attend to it for you i” the gentleman
declared.

Then Keene explained, and, to his amazement,
the moment the White Gopher property and
Golden Plume were mentioned the learned
counselor immediately seemed to lose all in—
terest.

He gave the same excuse as his elder brother
in the law.

“Come to think of it, he had a lot of busi-
11953 to which he must attend, and these
mining matters were generally so mixed up,
really, he did not See how he could take the
case, and then he politely bowed the sport
out.

“Well, upon my word! it this don’t beat the
Dutch!” Kenneexclaimed. “The White Gopher
people have evidently captured the young lawyer
aswall as the old one!

“ Now, there is only one more in the town and
that is my acquaintance whom I saved from be.-

‘ ing skinned alive at poker when he had a little
, more liquor on board than he could convenient-

ly carry.

' “ I .don’t believe that he has been left out in
the cold, and I would be willing to bet at least
ten to one that when I get hold of him he
will be as 10th to go into the affair as the

. others!”
' And as the sport made this declaration his eyes
, were gladdened by the sight of the lawyer rid ng
‘up the street.
\ The horseman dismounted, entered his office
‘» rand Keene-followed close upon his heels.
. The lawyer remembered the sport and shook
, : hands with him in the warmest manner.
‘ ' Then Keene came to business at once.
1 “Oh, yes, I’ll look into the matter!” the
_.~attorne declared. ‘
. - But t e moment the sport said, White Gopher,
. ithe expression upon the face of the other
a » change .
‘ ‘ “A mine, eh?” he said. Well, 1—”
_“8top right therel” Keene exclaimed. “I
' know what you are going to sa ! You are
' “very busy mining titles areycomp ex, and you
don t think you can look after the matter.”
The lawyer was astonished.
 “Well, really, I—upon my word I don’t
39‘8—
’  “How I knew what you were going to sa ?”
-- the sport interrupted. “ Why, both the ju go
find that young cub of a law or gave me the
, “came ghost-story so I ought to pretty well up
' lnzt by this time!"
" Oh, you have been to the other two law-

  

  

  

  

if”.

  

were?”
j “ Yes, and none of you legal entlemen, it
« .- “seams, are willing to do anything or me. and I

 ,‘mp that means that you have been retained

, 1’ y lliott Van Buren; it is his little game to throw
m l the Obstacles he can in the way of anybody
who, wants to find how it is that he managed to
‘get Wm of the White Go her Mine.”

“ oil, that is business, on now !” the lawyer
declared with a laugh. “ I you were in posses~
Man of a piece of property, and you had an idea
:, f I, t some other parties were nosing around after
' t,»you most certainly would beapt to take all
he measures you could to prevent them from
in any information.”

. “ I on’t know about that—that depends,” the
 sport declared with a wise shake of the head.
“ Depends upon what?” .
'“ Upon the kind of title I had!” Keene re lied
wdly. “ If my title was all right, Is ould
he in the least degree alarmed about an -
,«hody looking into it. On the contrary I should
mrt investigation. 1 would an , ‘ See here, my
“title is good and I defy you to ad a flaw in it,
«tearch as carefully as you may l’ And from the
‘ .Ztact that Van Buren is so alarmed I am satisfied
. hat he tears an investigation, which shows that
théreia something rotten-in Denmark 1”
“Kg ought to be a lawyer, for you have ar—
_ is out well,” the other declared with a
,_ i _ “ But as I have taken the man’s money
" not do the beat I can for him.” ‘
A 5‘ 01 course!"
" ‘“ But I haven’t ton-ghetto!) that you did me a ser-
_ , as once, and now I help you out a little. All
tbcrccords are at the courthouse and open for
iémctien. You have eyes and can learn all the
g f as,de assay lawyer in the land, but you

‘ vc me away 1”
sport declared. Then be thanked
grlcndly limb of the law for his original, in-.
. took.

 
  
 

       

A
!
I].

  
  
 

  

  

     
  
 
 
  

 

  
 

  

  
 
 

    

   

  
 

F
gs
§

 
  

CHAPTER XXV.
KEEN BILLY INTERVIEWS THE CLERK.

“ Well, I have sucoeeded in getting a ‘steer,’
anyway,” the sharp exclaimed, as he walked
down the street after leaving the lawyer’s
oilice.

“ I am rather sm;prised at the way aflairs
have turned out, for had no idea that I would
have any trouble about the mrtter. I supposed
that as soon as I got to White Oaks all would he
plain sailing, but this little experience satisfies
me that the men who are on the opposite side of
this affair are putting up the strongest kind of a
game, and I must go in and hustle for all I am
worth if I expect to gain any advantage.

“ It is plain that the “’bite Gopher people ex-
pected trouble, and have done their best to pre—
pare for it.

“ The fight will be an up—hill one, no doubt
about that, for the contest begins with the
enemy in a strong p()sll’i(m,: d it is going to
be a hard struggle, but I’m ii for the war, and
I will do my best to make it hot for the White
Gopher men.”

Meditaiing after this fashion, the sport pro-
ceeded to the court—house, which was a rather
primitive structure on the outskirts of the
town.

A tin sign u ion a door indicated the office of
the clerk, and 'ean entered without any cere-
monv.

The office wasasmnll one, and plainly fur-
nished-a table, a desk, three chairs and a. safe.

There was but a single occu mat, a big, burly
fellow, with a long, sandy-co cred beard, who
sat in an arm-chair, with his feet cocked up on
the table, reading a newspaper and smoking a.
Cigar.

As soon as the sport got a good look at the
man he saw how gustly he was entitled to the
name of “ Sandy ’ Smith, for both hair and
heard were of that color. v

“ How are ye?” said Keene, in his quiet, polite
way, with a friendly nod.

“ Howd’y,” responded the oflicial, lowering
his paper a little, and gazing over the top of it
with an inquiring look.

“ You are the clerk?”

“ I reckon I am.”

' “ I shall have to trouble you upon a little mat-
ter of business.”

“ No trouble at all it there i any money in it
for me,” responded the official with a grin.

“Ah, you are on the make?”

“That is what I am hyer for, young teller.
You don’t suppose I am holding down this chair
for fun?” I
“ o, I presume not; money is what we are all
after.” _

“ Right you are! and you are safe in betting
all yer ducats on it, too! ’ x

“ Well, I am prepared to put u ,” Keene oh-
sarved. “ I am not so unreasonablg as to expect
any one to take any trouble for me for noth-

in .”

g‘That is where your head is level!” the other
declared, with an approving nod. “ What do
you want?” .

“ I desire to find out the particulars in regard
to the transfer of a certain piece of roperty—
to examine in regard to. the title,” Keene ex-
plained.

“ Oh, come now, this ain’t exactly the square
thing, you know!” the clerk declared. “ Are you
a law er?”

u . no!” X ‘

“Well, I reckoned that you wasn’t, for you
look more like a sport.”

“ I do a little in that line once in a while,”
Keene admitted, in a modest w y.

“ I reckoned so the momen I clapped my
peepers on you!” the clerk declared. _

“ Now, Sport, every man to his own business
is my idea, ’ the official continued. “ This little
game that you are oing in to play now is all
out of your line, ano you ought to get some legal
she. to take the hand—you savvy?”

“ es, I understand, but there are certain rea-
sons why I cannot work the scheme in that way,”
Keene explained, “so I am compellerL to go
ahead on my own book.”

“ Ain’t well heeled with (liicatsil’Saudy Smith
in aired, in a rather oil'ensive way '

eene did not take any notice of the peculiar
tone, although there was a glint of fire in his
eyes as he replied:

“ Well, 1 am not boasting of my wealth, but I
reckon I have got enough here to enable me to
get along without troubling my friends to put
up for me.”

" Worse and worse!" exclaimed the official,
his manner now decidedly offensive. “ It a man
is broke, clean down to the bed-rock, so to speak.
I can understand his trying to beat the legal
sharps out of a fee, but. it he has the rocks he
cughtt'.” to put up by all means. You savvy
ag n _

“ Oh, yes, you don't have to knock me down
with a c ub to make me understand anything,”
Keene replied.

“Well, that is lucky! I likeaman who has
sense enough to understand good, plain United

  
   

 

  
 

the way  the court-house, pad

   
 
  

_ “ cone ever accused me of, beiiig deficient
magnum-loud - -
‘ on . sport. ‘ ‘

    

 

 

 

c Wipide awake

enough, and I am surprised that a man like you
should go in to skin the legal sharks! ’Taiu’t
right, you know! Dog ought not to cat dog.”

“ That is true, I admit, but circumstances
alter cases, you knew.”

“ You will not save any money by the opera-, '

tion, it that is the little game you are trying to
play, for I make it a rule to stand in with the
lawyers, every time! and if you don’t pay one
of them afee, why, it is a kind of a p’int of
honor for mete collect it; savvy an’in?”

“Oh, yes! Well, I am not icking, you
know,” Keene replied, placidly.

“ That shows your head is screwed on right!”
Sandy Smith declared with a grin.

“ How much do you want?”

“That depends upon the nature of the infor-
mation you require.”

“That is the amount of trouble you are put
to eh?” ‘

“Oh. no, I don’t reckon to take any trouble
at all!” the oilicial declared, bluntly. “ What
do you s’pose I am hyer for—for fun? not much!
I charge for ermitting you to look at the
records, and I ( on’t propose to go into that line
of business myself.” v

“ Ah, yes, I see.”

The, temper of the sport was rising 'as could
plainly be perceived by the peculiar glitter in
his resolute eyes, but as his tone did not change,
the clerk, who was a dull-witted fellow, had no
suspicions that a storm was brewing.

‘ I start on ten dollars, nothing lower than
that, and run up to fifty or a hundred accord-
ing to the value of the property that the man
wants to look after.”

“ Yes, but I say isn’t this a little irregular?”
Keene asked, in a very innocent way.

“Irregular?” cried the clerk, with an angry
frown. “What in blazes do you mean?”

“ Well, I am not a lawyer, you know, and so,
of course, I am not as well-posted about such
ail‘airs as I might be, but I had always sup
that records of this kind were 0 n to t ein-
spection of the public at reasons. 1e hours, and

that the clerk was obliged to produce the books .

when called upon so to do.” ,

“ I see that you reckon you know a hen l”\
the other cried, in an insolent way. “ But I in
just tell you one thin , and that is that what

on know ain’t a mar er to what you don’t

now! That is a straight ti now I am giving
you, and don’t you forget it 1’

“Partner, that goes without saying!” the
sport declared. ” Bdt for all that I reckon I
am right in my statement.”

“Mehbe you are, and mebbe you ain’t, bnt' .

one thing is amoral certainty: I am in the office
to make a stake, and I reckon to have my little
rak‘e out of everything that goes on in hyer,
and if I don’t git it, why, then I ain’t as smart
as I think I am. ‘ _ .

" Mehbe the law does as that I ought topm-
duce my books when any Jody axes for them.\
but I have got such a blamed bad memory that
I don’t remember. anything. about it, and I
know mighty well that the books don’t come out
of that safe until some ducats are put up. If a
man wants tocome into the game he mustn’t
forget to ‘ ante up,’ on know, and if he ain’t
willing to ‘see i; e uck,’ why he kin hire a
lawyer and go before some judge, and git an
order, which will have to obey, but most men
who ain’t dod-gasted, woodemheaded fools think
that it is cheaper to pay me, ri ht at the begin-
ning than to go to all that trou le."

“ reckon they are right about that,” the
sport admitted, with an air of dee reflection. ,

“ Of course they are right, and
ways about it!”

“ You are correct, for the other course would
take time, and, undoubtedly, cest more money.”

“You bet!” the ofl‘lcial exclaimed, emphati-
cally. “ It is a heap sight cheaper to ‘See’ me
and ante right up in the first place.”

“ I reckon 1 will have to do business with
you then,” and Keene smiled in the face of the
other, but there was a look In his eyes which
showed flginly that there wasn’t any merri-
ment in heart, but the clerk was too dull to

see it. , . I,

“ It will be money in your pocket!” the other
declared.

“ How much did you say?" Keene asked, put-
ting his hand in his pocket, as if he was about to
produce his cash. A

“ Not less than ten dollars, and ebbe more,
I said. It depends upon the Value of the prop-
erty. “ I can’t tell you how ‘much until I
know all the facts in the premises, as a legal
sharp would say. You see I have so muchto
do with these lawyers that I am half a law-
yer myself!” the clerk declared in an extremely
c m c n we. ; -—

0“ gigs: I tsupposey sol" Well, I wanted to see the

records about the White Gopher Mine property, I,

situated at Golden Plume.”

A low, prolonged whistle came from the lips 

of the official and he took his legs down from

the table, and stared at the sport in amaze-  V. ,
Plume!” he. . I

merit.
“ The White Gopher of Golden
cried. . ,
" hat is what I said." “
“ And vou want to examine the title?” .
“ ,Yes, I Would like to look into the patina”, , -

era‘s no two ,

 

1.1,  , .p

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 "set my, the sport:

I ‘ v « i' v ’ . ' ‘L " W 5 ‘ c ..
f. , 1,, V.” ‘ g: _. , . .. V _ ‘ .3

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... .

23

 

 

 

‘* “ Well, if this don’t beat all i” the official mut-
tered evidently speaking to himself. but his tone
was loud enough to enable the sharp to dis-
tinguish his words.

‘ I reckoned that something was up, but I

\ didn’t expect it so soon,” the clerk continued.

l “ The White Gopher, eh?” he exclaimed,

aloud.
“ That is the property I want to see about,”
Keene replied.
,g “ It will cost you a hundred dollars!” the
' clerk exclaimed, throwing back his head in a
.5, defiant way. .
“ A hundred dollars?” cried the sport as if
amazed.
“That is what I said! A hundred solid
ducatsl”

 

CHAPTER XXVI.
A wamnrr ARGUMENT.
‘ THERE was Silence for a good long minute.
The sport looked at the official with an in-
quiring glance, as much as to ask if his ears had
not deceived him, and Sandy Smith grinned
in the face of the visitor, as though he considered
. the whole thing to be an extremely good joke.
“ A hifndred dollars!” Keene exclaimed at
last, dwelling on each word.
“ That is the figure!” .
“ Sayl haven‘t you made some mistake about
this matter?” .
“ Nary a mistake l”
“ You don’t think that
property from you, do you?’
“ Well, I reckon not! I haven’t got it for sale,
and it would take a hundred times a hundred
to fetch it, if what I have heard in regard to the

 

 

’I want to buy the

 “*1” 22‘; ~

   
 

' 5?.” value is true.” . .
l  ' , “ A hundred dollars Just for the privilege of
f s '.  '- looking at the record?” .
"  “ That’s the price, and if you have not got it,
§ , you might as well clear out, for I shall not drop
’ '  a dollar!”

f" “Well, if that is the price, and there is no
way of getting around it, I suppose I shall have
to stand the racket,” and again the sport’s hand
sought his pocket.

The eyes of the clerk dilated as he saw the

, movement. ‘

.‘ “ You don’t mean to say that you have the
sand to put up a hundred just for a Sight?” he
exclaimed, in wonder.

_ “ Well, I don’t exactly see howl can get out

‘ of it, so~long as you are not Willing to make a,

, lower tariff.” ' _

1 ‘1 “What in thunder is up ’bout this White

, ‘ , Gop§er property, anyway?” the clerk exclaimed.

. - ‘ r

 

at much, eckon.’
“ I reckon th is, or else you would not be
0 a h ndred on it!’

. ~willin to i
- “O , w l, I am kinder free with my money
sometimes, and as I realize that you are here for
the cash you can get out of the place, I am will-
ing to be p you along,” and as he spoke Keene
smiled, showing his teeth in a peculiar wa , and
,_ now, for the first time, Sandy Smith ma 0 the
' discovery that there was something menacing in
" the “ grin ” of the other.
V , The clerk took the alarm at once, and it made
.  , him “ mad” tovthink that the stranger should
'   attempt to make game of him“
’ -. 5 , ' “Ahl none of that!" he cried. “You need
not try to pull the wool over my eyes, for I will
not have it!”
. “I reckon that you ain’t got money enough
to afford to throw any hundred dollars away

 

of that kind 011 me, for I wasn't born yescer.

' day.” .
” “ Will you bet a hundred that I will not put
,1 the ante up?” Keene exclaimed:
, “No, I won’t! And you might as well un.
‘derltand first as last that a .hundred ain’t
j  WHEN. Since you are so free With your money
_ ‘. kiwi raise the ante and it will now cost you
, two bundrcd,,to come in!” And the official

laughed. sneelringly, as he made the announce—

  

ment.

“ Well, I reckon I have got two hundred!”
and down went the hand in the pocket again,
much to the amazement of the official.

“ You don’t mean to say that you will put up
two hundred 1” Sandy Smith cried.

.“ Well, I will havc to stand the raise if you
.. insistu on putting up the fl rel” And as he
 " spoke eene drew forth a r0 of bills. .

 “ You are clean ofll’ you!” mm” theeclark ex-
vclaimed. f" '
; i , 4 ‘f’l‘wo hundred, eh?” the SP0”? Qudln a bush

.\ nessvlike way, and he made a motion in though

   

    
 

   

.'I,_. about: to count the money. ,
“ No, I said three hundred l” Sandy Smith
‘  witha malicious grin“
f The sport coughed in a quiet way and pocketed
' “932% h l h i th ther cried
v a tatstum on ey co .
i “ Sandy Smith. ygsuyare' a colosal and glitter-
ing'assi" Keene declared.
wi

     
  

he clerk was on his fee in an instant, white

. " thy .
' i’.“Whatis that you say you internal sconc-
. drew/ho fairly howled, Indigoangly.‘ Do you
 duotolnuult main my own o 06 D
. .u an insult! ltisthc t h, and no mis-
. like? t "sport “ ml were not

,sml- would m3. belle for a mo-

   

   
 
 
 
 
   
 

  
  

 

, even if you are a sport; you can't play no game

ment that I would be fool enough taggive you a
hundred dollars for a. service which isn’t worth a
Cent.

“ I was only playing with you, old man. I
wanted to see just how big a donkey you were,
an :1 now I am satisfied that you are entitled to
uleather medal as the champion ass of New
Mexico!” I

This insult was more than the clerk could
brook. If the, words had come from a bigger
man than himself, he would have been apt to
have drawn his revolver, but as Keene was
smaller, he made up his mind to avenge the in-
sult by thrashing the impudent stranger within
an inch of his life.

“You scoundrell I will hammer you until
you are black and bluel” the clerk yelled, and
then be rushed upon the sport.

This was exactly what Keene exppcted. He
saw that it. would not be possible for him to get
along with the official, and so he had made up
his mind to bring on a fight, whip his man to a
stand-still, and then see if he would not be
willin to listen to reason.

So eene was all prepared for the attack, and
as the clerk rushed forward he received a
“right-handei‘,” which ulighted with such ter-
rific force upon his jaw that for a few moments
Sandy Sini: h labored under the impression that
not only had the blow loosened all his teeth, but
that the jawbone itself had gone up into the
middlevof his forehead.

, He staggered backward a step and then the
sport banged him in the chest, Just under the
heart, with his terrible left list.

Over went the clerk, knocked out completely,
and as he tell, his head came in contact with the

cor so sharply that he was stunned.

The sport took advantage of his foe’s insensi-
bility to remove his revolver, then he sat down
and waited for him to recover ~

In a couple of minutes the shock passed away,
the clerk rose toa sitting posture, and glared at
the s ort.

“ eally, you are knocked out, you know,”
the sharp said. “But I didn’t call ‘tinie’on
you, for I was willing to give you another
chance to come up to the scratch and show what
you are made of ; you see I am as easy a man as
you ever struck i” ‘ ’

“You scoundrel!” the official ejaculated, and
he felt for his revolver. "

“ That game will not work i” Keene declared.
“I had an idea that you might try something of
the sort, and so I took your pop~gun away from
you. I

The other glared at the sport.

“ But I give you fainwarningl You wouldn’t
stand any more chance to beat me with guns
than you do with fists, but there is this
difference: If I knook you down, it will not
take you long to recovsr, but if I once
drive a ball through you, it is ‘ good-by,
Johnl’ ”

Sandy Smith rose slowly to his feet, and
sunk into a near-by chair. He was complete]
exhausted by the experience through whic
he had just passed. and though in the first
moments of his recovery be had felt for his
pistol with a wild idea of attempting to avenge

y arms his defeat, yet, now that e had time
to think over the matter, he realized that he
stood but little chance to get the best of the
sport who seemed to be bred to the trade of
war. a .

“I reckon I am willing to call the thing quits,
just-ea she stands,” the clerk remarked, slewly
and with great reluctance.

“ You have more sense than I believed,” the
sport commented, “ but, my dear Sandy, it pains
me to remark that if you are willing to call it
quits, as the affair stands at present, I am
not. I came here to see certain records, and
I am going to see them, too, if I have to
wipe out every clerk in" New Mexico! Do
you savvy? I am oing to make a personal
matter out of this: I ou refuse to show me
these books I will public y post on in the streets
of this town as acontemptible, ow-lived coward,
and then you Will-either have to fight me, or
admit that you do not dare to come up to the
scratch.”

The breath of Sandy Smith came hard and

fa t.

all am no coward!” he declared. “But a
man ain’t required tog-o intoafight when he
doesn’t stand any sho . Fightin is your busi-
ness—your trade..ev ly, and I would be a
fool to risk my life, who there isn’t any show
for me.” ' '7
dig}: is astonishing hgvzh much sense you a n

y ng since you go at con is of crac

the art remarked. p h,

“ ow, Sandy, my tnli , I‘ understand the
kind of, a game that has n putu . Soma-
hody in Golden Plume ‘had an idep that some-
bod else might want to look into the White
gopterttittle. sot tlétlay giggly made an arrange-

on m you 0 oc einvestiga' tion. Tn
probably oi! ey

ered to give you as much money to
cop the books from being examined as any one
would pa for the service. .

“ The hing doult amount to much, an

 

   
 

 

    

but it is the moot the party evidently
. t this $3“) all pd 
flfiyu$d&m"- b“ 

-/ 

k ‘ 

 

  
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
 
   
  
   
    
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
   
    
   
  
   
 
  
   

“ Now I appreciate that you want to make all
the money that you can out of the affair, but
you can’t hold those books back withontits cost-
ing you more that you can make out of it. I
can suggest a way, though, for you to work it,
for it is my game to make the men on the other
side ay out all the money that I can.

“ gen can write to them and tell a cock-and-
bull story about the books being examined in
your absence—you ut the books on the table 
and step outside t e door while I make the 31-
search—that will save your conscience all right,
for I an pose it is a little delicate.”

The c erk winced at the sarcasm.

“You can explain thatit wasn’t your fault,
and give a descri tion of me, and the chances
are bi that the bite Gopher people will come
down andsomely.”

The clerk reflected over the matter for a few
minutes. ,

As far as he could see the course suggested by
the sport was the best one for him to follow,
and so he said he would agree to the proposi-
tion.

He produced the books, and then retreated to \
tEN; doorway, standing just without the thresh-

Q l -

The sport was soon in possession of all the
facts that he desired to obtain, which he jotted
down in his memorandum-book, and then he
took his departure, much to the relief of Sand
Smith, whose parting request was that the afla r
should be kept quiet, and Keene consented.

CHAPTER XXVII.
THE EOTARY PUBLIC.

“ So far, so good!” the s rt exclaimed after
he got into the street. “ have made a begin-
ning. The game is on and the first trick is
mine!

“ The White Gopher man made up his mind
that I should not gain any information from the
clerk, and as I told that individual, I understood -- ‘3
how the game was worked just as well as though ‘
I had stocked the cards myself. i

“ Van Buren told this blow-hard that he would
pay him as much to keep back information as
any one would offer for it, and that is the reason '
why he struck me for a hundred first, and then
when he supposed I was going to be fool enough /
to l“pay the price be increased the figure. If e
b not been the biggest kind of a feel he might
have known that no one would pay a hundred ‘
dollézrs just for the sake of looking at the re-
cor s.

“ There is somethin crooked about the aflair
or else Van Buren—w o, of course, is the man in
the background, engineering this thin —would
never have taken the trouble he has to lock the I ‘ *

wa . .
‘yBut, as I said before, the trick is mine. I ,
have procured the information I was in search '
of, even if I could not get any lawyer to help me, “
and now the next point is to look into the par-'
ticulars of the transfer. ,
“ Gotterang and Davenport ‘ were the wit
nesses, as I e d, and now comes thequestion,
where will I nd this William Carreck, the no-
tary public, in whose presence the deed was exe- '
cu
“ I never heard of\any such man in Golden ,
Plume, and, in fact, I don’t believe that there is ~.
a notary public in that camp. ,
“ He must be here in this town then, and as it ; i '
is more than probably that Van Buren hastamp- ,,
ered with him too, I must be careful how I  
ahead. If the White Gopher man secured all 
the lawyers, and the clerk, it is big money that ‘
he gathered in the notary public as well.” if
The sport halted and pondered over the matter ‘
for a few moments. V 4;, ..
“ I must be careful how I proceed, for it will " ‘
not do to make any mistake about the matter,"
he mused. “Having won the first trick I must
play my best for the second. . ,
“It seems to me that the best move for me to n -“
make at resent is to find out all I can about
\Villiam arreck befdre I go to see him. Ac-
cording to the date on the sad it was executed
the day after the One on which Kingsley dil- -
apps-med from Golden Plume. --
"‘That was cunningl arranged, for thest ,
that Van Buren will to l is that be, and the wi w”
nesses to the deed, accompanied Kingsley to this '
lines, where the transfer was made and ohm
ingsley went away to the East, or, West, just
according to‘Van Buren’s notion as to . most»
robable destination, and the precious pair,
goth-rang and Davenport, who are as deep in
the mud as Van Buren is in ‘the wimp

Fir:

undon’htedly, swear to the conectness o

The sport's meditations were interruptednt
this point by the agapeamnce of the stoic} caper“ ,
with whom he had fore conwised. ». V L

As lt'bappeped, the sport had chancedtohaltwa : -

'f tfthsto  v
mmo e mlmfiudlngahwyerfithe

 

 
   
   

.

      
     
     
  

     
   
           

      
  

    
   
      
     
      

i? t.

  
  
   
     

‘.

    
    

“ Did you succeed
storckeepsr asked. . s. ,
“ Oh, yes. but it againsthat the bumnea; I have,
needs a man who is a notary public,” Keene.

lied. _, .
"£77911,me is one in town,.and 
old Billy Camck, and a sweet-scented 
ot-a-gunho'l ththemand,   , V

' . .«‘

    
   
  
 
     
  
  
 

      
  

  
     
 

   
 
 

  

24

 

Keen Billy, the Sport.

 

much interest in his manner that the other was
induced to go on.

“ Yes, you can bet high .
would win, every time, the storekeeper de-
clared. “ He is the postmaster here. That is
his store across the street. I am not down on
the man, you kn0w, because he is in the same
line as myself, but I am jest giving you the
solid, bottom facts. He is no opposition to me,
or to any one else in the town, either, for he
doesn‘t attend to business. He is too fond of
licker and gambling; but as he has nobody to
look out for but himself, he manages to get
along.”

“Well, I will not have much business with
him,” the sport explained. “ And, maybe, none
at all, if a certain party don’t come up to
time.” _

“That will be all right, but if it was any-
thing where he could get a chance to skin you,
it is a moral certainty that he would try his
best to do it.”

“ I see! He must bea kind of a tough citizen,
but I say, if my man should happen to come to
town at night where would he be apt to find this
Carreck.”

“ He stays at the store until about nine—that
is the time we usually c10se up, and then he goes
over to the You Bet Saloon—that is on this side
of the street, right opposite his store, and hangs
out there until midnight. If you want him any-
time after nine you will find him in the saloon.”

“ Maybe I will not want him at all but I am
much obliged for the information.”

Then the sharp went down the street to the
hotel and secured a room.

This done he visited Billy Carreck’s store and
bought a necktie so as to see what kind of a
man the shopkeeper was.

He found him to be a wrinkled old fellow
with a face as hard as a pine—knot, and saw im-
mediately that he could not hope to play on old
Billy the game which had succeeded so well
with the clerk, Sandy Smith.

But the sport was fertile in expedients, and
made up his mind how to get around the post-
master before he had been five minutes in the
place.

When Keene came to pay for the necktie he
produced his big roll of bills and the eyes of the
old man glistened at the sight.

“ You are well fixed !” he remarked.

“Yes, I have got enough to get along with.”

" You are a sport, I reckon.”

“ Well, now that’s funny! You are about
the tenth man who has asked me that!” Keene
exclaimed in a very innocent way.

“ You kinder look like one, and then you are
well heeled,” the other explained.

“ I am considerable of a speculator and I play
a game of poker once in a while, but I reckon
that if I went in to beat a regular sport I would
be apt to come out at the little end of the
born.”

The storekeeper was quick to take the bait
thus skillfully presented.

“ I am very fond of a quiet game of poker
myself, and there is a little gang which meets
almost every night in my back room hyer,” and
the old man nodded his head toward the rear of
the store.

“ Well, now that is jest the kind of a crowd I
would like to get in with 3” the sport declared.
“ I never care to go into any of these public
games, for a man never can tell who he is buck-
ing against, and though I think I play a pretty
still? game, yet I don’t stand any chance if I get
in with a lot of sharks.” '

The postmaster agreed to this, and gave the
other an invitation to come over and have a
quiet game.

“ My clerk runs the store at night, and I am
at liberty to play,” he explained.

So it was arranged that the sport was to drop
in that night about eight o’clock.

Keene saw through the postmaster’s game:
the old man had picked him out for a tender-
foot, and invited him to a little game for the
purpose of possessing himself of the attract-
ive roll of bills which he had displayed, and this
was. just what the sport expected.

He made his appearance promptly on time in
the evening.

Of course, the poker rty which was accus—
tomed to meet in the ittle back room of the
store existed only in the imagination of the
postmaster, but in order to give an appearance
of truth to the fiction Carreck had invited a.
crony of his to assist in skinning the stranger.

The two were busy in a “little game” when
the sport made his appearance, and then when
tilie hand was finished Keene joined in the
p ay.

It was his game to lead the two to believe
that he was a tenderfoot who could be plunder-
ed, and he managed the matter so well that they
had no suspicion that they were tryin to beat
one of the greatest short-card players t at ever
operated in the West.

on that and you

Keene allowed the pair to win; not a great-

deal, but ‘ust enough to give them the impres-
sion that t ey had a sure thing, and after the
game had gone on for an hour, the sport con-
lained that it was dry work and sent fora
ttle of whisky.
The clerk, having closed the store, went for

 

the liquor, and when he returned joined the
party as a spectator.

Both he and the proprietor slept in the store.

As the game proceeded, the liquor was drank,
and in two hours more the landlord was fifty
dollars ahead, the crony was broke, and all the
party, with the exception of Keene, well under
the influence of the liquor.

Then Keene, thinking that old Billy was in a
fit condition to talk, turned the conversation to
mining matters, and related how a friend of his
at Golden Plume had got hold of a very valuable
mine for about half price, winding up with the
declaration that El Van Buren was always a
domed lucky fellow.

“ Wh , I know him!" the postmaster exclaim-
ed. “’lxie deed which transferred the mine to
him was executed before me!”

“ Oh, then you know Victor Kingsley, too!
He’s another old friend of mine,” Keene de-
clared.

“Yes, I know him—that is, I met him once
when he came before me and executed the
deed.”

“ Well, but I thought the law required that a
notary public should know that the man who
executes the deed is really the person he repre-
sents himself to be!” the sharp exclaimed, in
pretended amazement.

“ Oh, that is all right!” the postmaster replied,
with a laugh ands. sly wink. “ There is more
than one way to kill a eat, you see, and when I
don’t know the party who wants to make the
deed, Why somebody introduces him to me, and
than I know him, you kn0wl” and then the old
fellow chuckled.

“ Ah, yes, and I suppOse Van Buren intro-
duced Kingsley to you.”

“No; it was Ned Davenport, for Van Buren
wasn’t here. That German, Gotterang, acted
for him.”

“ How was Kingsley lookingi—he was a pretty
sick man when he came out to this country, and
it was my idea that he would make a die of it
here,” the sport remarked.

“ Darned if 1 know how he looked!” the post—
master replied. “ I never saw him but once,
and then it was about ten o’clock at night. The
three, Davenport, Gotteraug and Kingsley
came to the store here and sent a message oVer
to the You Bet Saloon that they wanted to see
me on a little business. Davenport came over,
and he was so hnii ry for liquor that I reckon
we had six or seven rinks afore we came back,
and as I had been h’isting pretty freely I was
mighty well slewed, but I was able to attend to
the business all right; as for telling you, though,
how Kingsley looked, that is an impossibility,
for I only saw him then, and ’bout all I noticed
was that he was no chicken.”

“ I don’t suppose that on would know him if
you ran up against him,’ the sport exclaimed, in
a jovial way.

“ No, of course not, unless there was money in
it for me, and then you bet I could pick him out
—that is, if I was put on to him beforehand!”
the old fellow declared, with a grin.

“ You are a man who can take care of him-
self!” Keene remarked, with a laugh.

“You bet!” the postmaster answered, with a
great deal of drunken dignity. “ Did you hear
anything ’bout there being any trouble over the
White Gopher property?” he asked, abru tly.

“ No, is there any?” Keene questionet , as if
amazed.

“ Well, I dunno,” and the old man shook his
head gravely, whileawise look came Over his
face. “ But I kinder suspected that there was
going to be some, ’cos I got a message from Van
Buren t’other day that he wanted me to keep shet
’bout the transfer and not give anything away
if anybody came a-nosing ’round.”’

“ on are just the kind of man to live right up
to that!” the sport declared.

“Oh, you kin bet high on that! And Van Bu-
ren wrote for me to let him know if anybody
came, and said he would pay me well‘ for my
trouble.”

“ Van Buren is a liberal fellow!” Keene de-
clared.

“ Yes, and I am going to work for him unless
somebody comes along who can afford to give
me .more money,” and the postmaster grinned
again.

Then the ame proceeded, and as Keene had
got all the i formation he wanted he went in to
clean out the postmaster, which he did in short
order, and without remorse, for he saw that he
was a regular old rascal.

An hour ended the game, the postmaster was
broke as well as his crony, and the sport retired
in triumph, leaving behind him three very drunk
and very dis usted men.

The expedition had been a success.

 

CHAPTER XXVIII.
KEENE’S DECISION.

THE sport enjoyed a sound night’s sleep and
early in the morning got his breakfast. mounted
his horse and rode off for Golden Plume, get-
ting out of White Oaks before a majority of the
inhabitants of that lively burg had risen from
their beds.

He was rompted to this early move because

P
the landlord of the hotel told him that Sandy ‘

 

Smith had inquired in regard to his where-
abouts during the preceding evening, and, as it.

, happened, got no satisfaction out of the land—

lord, for by one of those unaccountable blunders
which the best of men sometimes make, the host
did not recognize the sharp by the description
the clerk gave, and declared he didn’t know any
such man.

After Sandy Smith departed though, it had

suddenly flashed upon the landlord that the .

sport might be the man of whom the clerk was
in search, so when the sport came in the host re-
lated the circumstance to him.

Keene replied, carelessly, that he “ reckoned”
there was a mistake about the matter for he
hadn’t lost any Sandy Smiths, but this intelli-
gence hastened his departure.

It was one of the Cardinal principles of the
sport never to get into a fight if he could help it;
he acted on the sage old courtier’s advice to his
son in Shakespeare’s Hamlet:

“ Beware of entering into a quarrel, but once
in, bear it so that they opposed may beware of
thee.

In this matter his idea was that Sand Smith
feeling agrieVed by the manner in whic he had
been treated, had got his friends together with
the idea of making it extremely warm for a,
gentleman about his size.

In a case of this kind the sport considered
prudence to be a virtue, and so he shook the
dust of White Oaks from his feet as soon as
possible.

And now that We may be able to dismiss the
subject, and not have to refer to it again, we
will say that, notwithstanding his acuteness,
Keene had jumped to a wrong conclusion.

Sandy Smith had ineditntcd over the matter
and decided that he could make a better bargain
with the sport than with Van Buren, and he
wanted to see Keene to ask him how much he
would be willing to give to have the knowledge
of his visit kept from the W'hitc Gopher man.

But when he was unable to find Keene he be-
came enraged, and, as a means of getting square
with the sport, wrote to Eliott Van Buren and
related how the stranger had succeeded in tak-
ing him by surprise and obtaining the informa-
tion which otherwise he would not have 0t, 80'
that the day after Keene returned to lden
Plume Van Buren was in possession of the
knowledge of his trip to White Oaks.

The sport reached the camp without meeting
with any adventure on the way, and as see as
opportunity served met Adrienne Richmon‘ in
the parlor of the Metropolitan Hotel. l

He related the particulars of his visit to
White Oaks, but as he was not the kind of man
who delighted to figure as the hero of his own
story, he passed over the means by which he had
managed to force the clerk to give him the in
formation, merely saying that he had trouble to
get information on account if Van Buren hav—
ing taken measures to prevent any one from
acquiring it, but succeeded at last. He did not
hesitate though to relate how he had pulled the
wool over the eyes of the postmaster.

Adrienne listened to the recital with the
greatest interest.

“ Evidently there has been foul lay in the
matter or else this Van Buren would’ not have
taken so much trouble to prevent any one from
learning all the particulars of the transfer,” the
girl remarked.

“ Yes, that is my idea. If it was all honest—
if there has not been any crooked work, Van
Buren would never have thought of trying to
keep anybody from discovering all the particu—
lars of the transfer: such an idea, you know,
would not have occurred to him.”

“ You are right!” Adrienne declared, in a
tone of conviction. “ His actions show that a
crime has been committed, and he fears dis—
covery." ,

“ ‘Consciencc doth make cowards of us alll’
as I heard an actor declare once in a play,” the!
sport remarked.

“Have you formed any theory in regard to
the matter?” the girl asked, thoughtfully.

“ Oh, yes! I am greatly given to speculation
anyway, and when 1 come across an affair of
this kind it is the most natural thing in the
world for me to try and get to the bottom of it.”

“ And what result have you arrived at?”

“ I think that Mr. Kingsley has been mur.
dered by Van Buren and his confederates," the
sport replied in a tone which plainly showed
how strong was his conviction. ‘ 1 think thbre
were three of them in the plot: Van Buren, the
German, Gotterang, and this ,drunkard, Ned
Davenport.”

“ That is my opinion also.”

“Van Buren and the German were the men
who got up the plot and theynsed Davenport
for a tool. If you remember, his wife said that.
he was a. splendid penman, able to imitate any.
body’s handwriting.”

“ Yes, that is true.”

“The scheme was worked in this way: Van
Buren and the German were the principals,
they conceived the idea of robbing Kingsley of
the propertv, having DaVenport, who was able
to imitate Kingsley’s signature. The old man
was decoyed by some means to a lonely spot,
killed, and his body hidden away in a p ace
where it was not likely to ever be discovered.”

l

 

 

 

H.” w ._ r
' . AM. ’ ' *
_. I. \ ,1

My,“

 Kéénfniuy, the sport. "

  

25

 

    
   

The girl shuddered, tears came into her eyes
, and she hid her face in her hands.

. “Pardon me for speaking So bluntl ,” the
sport said, his voice low and gentle. “ ought
to have been more considerate of. your feel-
. in s."

I E Oh, no, it is not your fault,” the girl re-
plied, raising her head and wiping the tears
away with her dainty handkerchief. “ I ought
to be made of sterner stufl' than to yield to
tears. It was but a sudden flow of emotion,
and it is over now. You need not fear that I
will allow my feelings to overcome me again.

” Go on! speak freely, it is necessary that we
handle this matter without gloves."

“ Yes, we must come to a perfect und arstand-

.‘ ing in order to be able towork together,” the
sport remarked. .

“ Oh, I know that!" Adrienne exclaimed
quickly. “ 80 speak without reserve.”

“ The first int in this game of robbery was
to. remove r. Kingsley,” Keene explained.
“After he was put out of the way, the next
move was to have, Davenport write anote to
the landlord here in Kingsley’s hand, ordering
his things to be sr-nt to White \OaRS.

“Then the three conspirators wentti “'hite
Oaks and had the deed executed which trans-
ferred the iroperty to Van Buren. ,You will
notice that {Ian Burcn himself was not prose t,
but delegated the German to act for him. he
idea of this was so‘ that he could persouafe
Kingsley, and there isn’t any doubt in my mind
that he is the man who was introduced to Car.
rock, the notary public, asyKingslety.

“It would be an easy matter or himtoas-
some a disguise so as to represent an old man; a
wig and beard would do the trick, and, if you
notice, Carreck was got well under the Influence
of liquor by Davenport begfore he was brought
over to attend to the executing of the deed."

; , “ Yes, I noted that, and that was the reason
‘ ,why he was not able to give adescription of
r  Kingsley.”

“ Exactly; he was well soaked withdiquor, so
he could not tell anything about the man who
- gave the deed, excepting that he was well along
in years.” ‘

“ That would describe Mr. Kingsley, of
coursc.” ,

“ Yes, and then, by some hocus-pocus, when
. the deed was signed, Davenport was the man
who put the name of Kingsley  thedocument,
: althou h' the Conspirators contrIVed it so that it
seemc to Cai-i'eck as if it was the old man who
wrote the signature, and there is the whole plot;
in a nutshell.” . .

Adrienne remained silent for a few minutes,
tier brows bent in meditation, then she raised

,  her eyes to the face of the sport and said, ab.

rupt'iy: ‘. '

" hat you have hit upon the truth, Ihave
no more daubt than I have that Iam sitting
there this moment, and now the question rises,
' how can we possibly avenge this cruel deed, and
bring the murderers to Justice, stripping them
of their ill-gotten gains?”

CHAPTER XXIX.
. ADRIENNE’B sroav‘.
7' . KEENE pondered for some time over the mat-
' - v tor before he attempted to answer finally he
said: i.
" Well, you have asked me a Question which I
’v am afraid is a little too much for ma. It has not
u been a difficult jobto arrive at the Opinion which
ff; ‘ ' g I now hold; I am satisfied that Van Baron and
 , his associates murdered Kingsley in order-to gain
:3;  passession of the White Gopher Mine, but barn
  convinced of the thing in in own mind_ an
proving ittotlie satisfaction 0 a Judge and 1w,
toreven to the citizens in general, is quite ano er

 WM ."
 i-’7“P§cs, I understand that,” Mi Richmond re-
- I marked, thoughtfully.
{‘N‘The crime was committed b these men, and
. in the manner that l have described, I firmly be-
. lieve, but the s have covered up their tracks
so well that it 8 going to be an extremely diffi-
cult matter to get at them," Keene observed, ,
. “ I am not a lawyer, of course, yet I think I
* now enough about] matters to be able to
.5‘ecide that in a case ii e this it would puzzle the
‘ shrewdest lawyer to kn- nw how to begin, particu-
' Iari when the fight must be madeinarough,
. ‘ wll count like this, where the courts of law
' - are not con acted with the smoothness and regu-
. laxity of old and well settled regions.”
. “ Oh, yes, the way is full'of difficulties!” the
H‘giri exclaimed with a doe Sigh.
r i “ We cannot come out oidly and charge Van
Buren and his gang with the murder of Mr.
, ingsle , for we have no proof that the man is
e ,” t a sport explained. “ And if we should
- _ are the accusation Van Boron would refute it
“by bringing forward the landlord to testify that
-. \ he had received a letter from Kingsley saying
Mint he had disposed of the mine and was gomg
’30 leave this section, and if we set up a claim
thatthe letter was a clever forgery, it would not
’ ed t3, for We have no proof to produce
1’ “I? 'it’mm" r be, is Ilright d
‘ en ' r o t mine a an
' . ‘  'comfdol‘tiou is twenty thousand
 that is the only weak

 

 

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point in the whole 1111' r. The mine is worth
nearer sixty thousand t ian twenty in the judg-
ment of the men in the camp who are qualified
to pass an opinion about the matter, and the
question as to where Van Buren got on y tweiit y
thousand dollars in hard cash might be difficult
for him to answer.”

“ True, for such a man as he is would not be
apt to ban» so much money.”

“ Correct, but it would be a hard matter to
prove that, and then itis probable, if he was
hard pushed on that point, that (iotterang
would come forward and swear that he had
loaned Van Burcn six or eight thousand dollars,
so the total amount would be divided among
them, and it Would be a hard matter to prove
that it was not the truth.”

“Yes, you are right; it would indeed puzzle
an expert lawyer to devise a way to bring the
crime. of these villains home to them.”

“ That is true, and if we should consult a
lawyer, I have no doubt he would declare, after
learning the circumstances of the case, that no
etc F Could be taken in the iiizittcr until the
bOL y of Mr. Kingsley was discoverel, so that it
could be proved beyond the shadow of a doubt
that he was dead, and if wounds were found up-
on the remains, it would go to show that he had
been foully dealt with; then the question would
immediately arise as to who had any motive to
kill him.”

, “ Yes, I see," Adrienne observed, thoughtful-
ly. “Suspicion then might be directed toward
these men who are noini possession of the min-
ing property.”

‘ Of course, for a motive could be shown for
the murder.”

“ Everything now, therefore, depends upon
the discovery of :3: body of Mr. Kingsley?”

“ Yes, and we ' not do anything in a regular
way without it.”

“ In a regular way
stand.”

“ Why, when I say the regular way, I mean,
to call in the aid of the lawyers and bring the
matter into court."

“Yes, I comprehend now; but isn’t that the
only way we can proceed?”

‘ Oh, no, in this wild Western land little
matters of this kind are often settled without
the aid of either the lawyers or the courts. If
two parties claim a mine, the dispute is some-
times settled by force of arms.”

"Ah, yes, that is what is called jumping a
claim.” — ,

“ That is the term, and that may be termed
the irregular way of going ahead. But in all
cases where such a method is resorted to, the
men who do the jumping ought to be are that
their claim to the property is a pretty 00d one,
so that they may say to the citizens at large
‘ This mine really belongs to me, and by rights
ought to be in possession of it, and if I resort to
this violence, it is because I know that lawyers
are a set of rogues, and if I have to wait until
the courts do me justice 1 shall have to wait a
precious long time.‘

“ It is always safe in a case of this kind to
abuse the lawyers, for the average man out in
this region looks upon them as a set of remorse-
less, hungry sharks, who live by praying upon
honest men.”

“ Well, I have a good claim to any property

? I do not exactly under-

, of Victor Kingsley, for I am his only child,i’ the

girl announc

“ The statement does not take me by sur rise,
for I expected something of the kind, the
Sport remarked. “ Although’ it is the general
opinion in the camp that Kingsley was on old
bachelor. " , ,

“No, that is not correct," Adrienne "replied.
“Twenty-five years ago he married a young
and popular actress, Emily Richmond by name.
After her marriage she left the stage. Mr.
Kingsley was than in business in New York.
He w s nearly twent years older than his

wife, nd altogether diflerent in disposition, he '

being a staid, steady, sober man pf business,

'While my mother was full of life and anima—

tion."
\ “ Ianticipate that the pair, being so ill suited
to each other. did not get on together.”

“No, they did ,not. Although my mother
gave up the s e after she married, and settled
down to a quiet, domestic life, yet she always
regretted the step, but was wise enough not to
allow my father to see that she had any long-
lugs to return to the sphere where she had
figured ‘as a bright particular star.”

“It was very natural that she shouldfepl
that way," Keene remarked. “I can under-
stand it, for I have been situated iii the same
way myself. ‘ Thellfe of'a sharp is a public one,
an there is a certain fascination about it after
a man has followed itvfor some time; I have
tried to retire and lead another kind of an ex-
istence a half a dozen times, but after a while I
drift back to the old life again.” ‘

“Yes, I supposetbat it is so with almost
everybody who has ever led a. public life,”
Adriepne observed. -

“ W ell. my mother did her to be satis-
fied With her quietlife, and al oufih she and
her husband did net get (Impartial-18th”
might, there warm 0 ",q ' anal.» xwas‘
ainut‘, two years'ol’d .

. 'I

   

  
    

 

 
  

 

' ness and gone to California for a fresh start.

\

     
  
  
  
 
 
 
    

more and more exacting, and my mother, who
was naturally high-spirited, resented his domi—
neerin ways, and the result was a separation.

""M father, at that time was a wealthy man
and he fancied that his money would enable him
to win a triumph. It was his idea to take me
from my mother and So force her to return to
him, but he made a mistake in thus calculating,
for my mother fled with me to England, and
there was easily able to make a good support for
herself by returning to her old stage life, but
she took the precaution toassume a diiIerent
name.

“ She was never traced. and when I was
twelve years old she returned to this country
and boldly played under her maiden name.

“ In the interval my father had failed in busi-

“ He succeeded and when I was eighteen years,
old my mother and myself came to San Fran-
cisco with the troupe with which we were con-

nec .

“I neglected to state that when I became old
enough my mother had allowed me to go upon '
the stage, and by this time I had won a good ‘, an;
position and commanded a high salary. ' ‘ r

“ My father came to see us and offered to take
me, but I refused to go with him.” ~ . V

" \Vith your mother’s experience in your mind a. 1
I do not wonder at it,” the sport remarked. “ .

“ My refusal made him very angry and be de— . g 3*:
clured that henceforth he would forget that he 
had ever had a child.”

“ When I hear of a thing of this kind it makes
me think that there is not so much truth after
all in the old saying that blood is thicker than
water,” Keene declared.

“ I Would have gone with my father if I had
been alone in the world, but no temptations
would have made me desert the mother who had
taken such care of me.”

” You would have been ungrateful to have
left her.” I

“ Two years after the time we were in Cali~
fornia my mother was taken ill, and for many
weary months hovered between life and death.
At last the and came and her sufferings ended. »

“ Her illness had been along and expensive a
one, so that the money we had saved up was ‘
nearly all gone when the bills were settled.

“The death of the popular actress was pub-
lished far and wide. .

“ My father, here in Golden Plume, read

n account of it and wrote me a very kind
letter saying that he regretted his harshness
in the past and hoped I would come immediately
to him so that in the future he would make .
amends for his errors. I .

“ He described his mining property, said it
was richly worth seventy to eighty thousand
dollars, and declared that it should all be mine-
at his death.” ‘

“ And you have that letter i” exclaimed
Keene, eagerly.

“Yes, I was careful to ’preserve
soon as I received the message 1 star
place, and the rest you know.”

“ Well, with that letter to go on I think we
will have a good fighting chance, as the legal .
sha 5 say!” the sport declared, in a most de-
ciddd) way.

    
         
   
   
       
     
     
       
         
     
     
       
       
       
     
     
     
       
       
         
       
   
         
 

it and as
ted for this

      
             
      

.—.——~

CHAPTER XXX. 7, ‘
\ navnivroa'r’s nnnusros. '

GOTTERANG set in the office of the White

Go her Mine, busy with his books.

he German was apparently in a bed humor .
for everynow and t en he laid down his pen
and glared around him in an angry wav.

“ I do not like it!” he muttered. “It is not
right to take matters so easily. We are walking.
on the edge of a volcano which may burst at any
moment and ingulf us!” ‘

At this point his meditations were interrupted
by the entrance of Pete Baker, the watchman A,
of the roperty, who came in a hurried way as y .
though a bad news of importance to communi~ ‘

“.What is it?" Gotterang demanded in his 
imperious way. ,3 "
“ Davenport is going crazy, I reckon!” Baker «
exclaimed. ' ‘*
“ What makes you think so?” the German
asked .evidenly alarmed.  
« ell, he didn’t eat any dinner, and he" did
not come for his bottle of whisky as much», .
about three o’clock I thought I would go to hifi ._
cabin and see how he was getting along. ', 3
“ That was right, for he has complained late» .2 .
ly that he was not well.” ‘ ‘ , _\3
“ He was lying on ,his bunk when I went - \
flat on his back, with his eyes fixed on the r V , ’
and he didn’t take any notice of me, and w
I asked him how he was, he didn’t anew -
began to jabber awayin the most cutie
fashion. so that I couldn't make ,head nor
what he said.” I . .
“Oh, it isn’t anything serious, Iithmk," 
terang nmerked, rising, and taking his 
“ It is probably a little attdck of the horrors." , 7
“The horrors?" , ‘ ‘ 
_“ Yes. the man with the poker. you know.” I
*-  m" ‘1 “2.1" 5i“ "‘ ‘i‘méb‘k'kh'am "Mi
man ‘ I ~
'thatwastheimufile.” . ' 

       
      
  

  
 
   

   

         
      
      

 

      
     
     
       
 
       
     
     
     
  

   
     
     
       
           
     
    
    
 
    
 

    
     
  

 
       
 
 
 

 

 

   
 
  

 

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26

Keen Billy, the Sport,

 

“You see, his stomach has gone back on him,
and be shut down on his whisky, which ac-
counts for the trouble,” Gotterang explained.
“ I will go right over, and you stop at the store-
house and get his liquor.”

The two men left the office; the watchman
went after the liquor, while Gotterang proceed-
ed to Davenport’s cabin.

The German entered without any ceremony.

Davenport was lying on his bunk, exactly as
the watchman had described, and the gibberish
which puzzler] the watchman was a strange
compound indeed.

“A common noun equals Y plus X, and is
governed by the horizontal circumference of the
unknown quantity l” he raved.

His mind was back again to his schoolboy
days.

“ How goes it?” Gotterang inquired, taking a
seat by the side of the bunk.

Davenport sat bolt upright, stared hard at
the German for a moment, and then pointed to
the door.

“ Don’t let them in!" he cried, in a hoarse
whisper.

The request was made so naturally that Got—
terang looked toward the door to see who was
there.

“ Who is coming?” he asked, perceiving that
the door was tightly closed.

“ Don’t you hear them whispering outside?"
Davenport cried, his features beginning to Work
convulsively.

The German now understood that it was but a
delusion. '

“ Oh, no, be quiet old man, there isn’t any-
body there!" he declared, endeavoring to soothe
the other.

“ I hear youl I know what you are up tol”
Davenport yelled, putting his feet to the floor
and glaring at the door.

“ Don‘t be a fool l” Gotterang exclaimed.
“ There isn’t anybody there!”

“ Yes, there is a lot of hideous black men
with a box of snakesl" Davenport cried. “ Don’t
open the door or they will crawl in. Seel the
snakes are trying to get through the cracks n0wl
Don’t you see their ugly flat heads and their hiss-
ing tongues?”

And with distorted features, trembling in
every limb, the unfortunate man pointed at the
entrance.

At this point the door opened and Pete Baker
appeared with the bottle of whisky.

Davenport gave a wild yell, Jumped to his
feet and commenced to dance around the
room, endeavoring to crush the imaginary
snakes. "

“ Kill them, kill theml” he howled. “Don’t
let them bite me! take them off!”

“ Get a couple of men to help you and bring a.
lariatl" Gottcrang commanded.

Baker put down the whisky and hurried out.
The German barred the doorway, for Davenport
manifested a disposition to rush outside to es-
cape the snakes.

“ Let me out; let me out, kill them, kill them,
don’t let them bite mel” he yelled, making
a dash at Gotterang and jerking him from his
position.

The German was a strong, stockily-built man,
and, under ordinary circumstances, would have
easily overcome Davenport, who was slender
and not powerful.

But the delusions under which the afflicted
man labored gave him almost superhuman
strength, and so in despite of Gotterang’s stout
resistance Davenport dragged him away from
the door, but the German clung to him and
owing to the fact that Davenport relaxed his
exertions every now and then, in order to heat
away the snakes who he fancied were attack-
ing him, the other was able to keep him from
leaving the cabin.

Very glad indeed was Gotterang when Pete
Baker appeared with the two men.

By this time Davenport had got to such a
stage that he was but little better than a raving
maniac, so the four men seized, and, after a
desperate struggle, bound him with the la;iat,
hand and foot, then placed him on the bed, and
Gotterang tried to pour some of the whisky
gcwn his throat, thinking it would help to quiet

1m.

But Davengort resisted and fought so that it
{yes not possi le to get him to take any of the

I nor.

as of the men suggested that the doctor
ought to be summoned, and although Gotterang
was averse to this, yet as the rest were as
strongly of the opinion that it ought to be done,
he yielded to their opinions and a messenger
was dispatched for the doctor.

As it happened, the “ medical sharp” was in
the immediate neighborhood, and so in five min-
utes he was by the bedside of the patient.

“ I am not at all astonished at it!” the doctor
declared. “I have been expecting it for some
time, and the only wonder is that he did not
have an attack before. He has not eaten enough
to keep a chicken alive for a month, as near as
I can understand, but has been keeping up on-
tirely on whisky.”

Then the doctor managed to administer a
soothing draught which had the effect of quiet-
ing the raving man.

 

“ That has acted quickly!” Gotterang ex-
claimed.

“ Yes, I have drugged him, I had to do it;
there is no other way in a case of this kind," the
medical man replied.

“ Well, do you think there is any danger?”
the German asked.

“ Yes, I dol” the doctor answered, decidedly.
“ As a rule when a man has one of these attacks,
there isn’t; I have known men to have the hor-
rors three or four times and pull through all
right, but they were strong follows with won-
derful constitutions.”

“ You think there is danger then that he will
not get over this attack ?” Gotterang said.

“ \Vell, I don’t know as I would care to say
decidedly that he will make a die of it,” the dic-
tor remarked in his abrupt way. “ But if I was
going to put up money on the thing I reckon I
would bet on old death winning and give odds
too. Still as I reckon this is the firstattack—for
I never heard of his having one before—he may
pull through, but if he does Ireckon he will never
amount to much."

Then the doctor left some pills—~like all medi-
cal men in the mining regions, he always carried
a supply of medicines with him—and took his de-
parture.

As Davenport had become quiet, the lariat was
removed, Pete Baker delegated to watch him,
and the othch departed.

Gotterang returned to the office, a cloud upon
his brow.

 

CHAPTER XXXI.
IN COUNCIL.

THE German had hardly got into the office and
taken his seat before Van Buren entered.

“ \Vhat is this I hear about Davenport’s being
under the weather?” Van Buren asked.

“Ho has had a pretty bad attack; the Man-
with-the-poker has been after him. He has been
seeing snakes, and devils, and all sorts of things,”
Gotterang replied.

“ So one of the men told meas I came up. The
doctor was here too, he said,” Van Buren re-
marked, helping himself to a chair.

“ Yes, 1 would not have sent for him, but the
men thought that I ought to and as I was afraid
it would make talk if 1 did not, I complied with
their wishes.”

“It would not have been wise to refuse, so long
as he rest thought that it ought to be,” Van
Buren observed, thoughtfully.

“That was my idea, but if I could have done
as I wanted to about the matter I would have
let the scoundrel rave to deathl” the German ex-
claimed with bitter accent.

“ You are right; he is a scoundrel,” the other
observed, slowly.

“ Yes, one of the cunning ones who contrives
to keep in the background—who arranges it so
he can profit by the rascality, and yet if discov-
ery comes he could plead that he was but an un-
willing tool in the hands of others.”

” That is the game he plays. I have been in
hopes for the last month or so that the end would
soon come, and in order to bring about that de-
sirable result I have taken care that he should
have all the liquor he wanted.”

“ Oh. I understood the game, of course,” the
German declared. “ And I fancy the end is not
far off now, for the doctor says it is his belief
that he will not get over it.”

“ Is there any danger of his betraying any—
thing in his ravings?”

“ No, none at all! It is the regular honrors he
has—sees all sorts of imaginary things, and, in
fact, acts like a. lunatic,” Gotterang replied.
“He is not a strong man, you know, yet it took
four of us to get him on his bunk and tie him
fast.”

“That is usually the way in all such cases.
Maniacs are always p0 of wonderful
strength.”

“ He is resting quietly enough now; the doctor
told me that he had drugged him.”

“ Given him a dose of morphine it is likely, or
something of that sort,” Van Buren observed.
“ That is what is usually used in such cases.”

“ And he left some pills which were to be
given him if he began to get violent again,” and
the German produced the box of pills for the
other's inspection.

“ Morphine, I reckon,” Van Buren remarked,
after taking a look at them. “‘How many did
he say to give at a time?”

" Two of them, and if the dose did not quiet
him, two more.”

“Couldn’t you make a mistake and give him
all that are in the box at once?” Van Buren
asked, with a grim smile. “ That would be apt
to make him keep quiet.”

“ I would like to, if I wasn’t afraid that it
would be discovered,” Gotterang answered, with
a dark scowl.

“ One thing is certain, and that is we will
nevembe able to breathe freely while the fellow
lives.

“That is true, he will always be a thorn in
our sides.”

“ Let us hope the doctor is right in his guess,
and that this attack will finish him,” Van Buren
remarked. '

“ And now, to change the subject I have
some news from White Oaks which is rather

.-.,,‘..........4., 14.4.... owl” shew: “NT ‘1... . .5“..- ..,....,_.... .

 

disagreeable.” And he drew a letter out of his
pocket as he spoke.

It was the letter which Sandy Smith had
written in reference to the sport’s visit.

Gotterang listened attentively while Van Bu-
ren read the letter to him.

“ What do you think of it?” Van Buren asked,
when he came to the end.

The German shook his head.

“ You don’t like it, eh?”

“ No. I do not!”

“ It looks as if somebody meant business?”

“ Yes, it certainly does."

“Do you recognize the man by the descrip-
tion?”

“I should judge that it is this sport, Keene.”

“ Not a doubt about iti”

“ And he has succeeded in obtaining the in~
formation that he wanted in spite of an effort to
prevent him,” and the German shook lns head
in a gloomy way. ,

“ Yes, the man succeeded although I reckoned
we had blocked the way. Still, the information
does not amount to much. I am not worrying
so much in regard to the fact that he obtained
what he sought as I am that it shows that these
parties mean business,” Van Buren declared.

“ Oh, yes, they are in earnest.”

“ I carefully considered the matter over as I
walked up from the post-office, and I think I
have not neglected any of the points,” Van
Buren 0b5erved in a thoughtful way.

“We arranged the affair so carefully that I
do not think it is possible for any one to find a.
weak point," Van Buren continued.

“ You are right, I think,” Gotterang declared.
“I too have reflected long and earnestly about
the matter, and though I did not know that
any one had succeeded in getting at the facts yet
I went upon the assumption that such a thing
might happen, and my conclusion was that it
would not be possible for any one to produce
any preof that there had been anything
wrong about the matter. The parties who in
vestigated might have suspicions that all was
not as it appeared, but that would not be
enough to make trouble.”

“No. in a case of this kind suspicions don’t
count,” Van Buren remarked, with a grim
smile.

“ But this letter puts us on our guard,” he
continued. “ We know now that there is an
enemy in the field and we must keep our eyes
open, for there is no telling when an attack will
be made, although I will admit that, under the
circumstances, I do not see how any movement
can be made.”

“ Neither do I. I have no doubt that this Miss
Richmond is some relation to Kingsley although
she has not set up any such claim.”

“ She is an uncommonly shrewd girl, I think,
and I supposa she has been waiting to ascertain
just how matters stood before comin forward
in her true character, but I agree with you that
she is, probably, a relative of Kingsley, but
even if she is his daughter, or niece, or anything
of that kind, I don t see how she can possibly
find any excuse for interfering in this matter.

“ I have the deed from Kingsley, and I defy
the sharpest lawyer to find anything irregular
about it. Kingsley was not a lunatic, you
know, but a man in full possession of all his
senses—there are fifty men in the town who will
swear to that—and, of course, he was able to
buyer sell without being under the necessity of
consulting any heirs that he might have in re~
gard to the matter.” . .

“ Very true; but suppose the claim is made
that Kingsley is dead?” the German asked, in a
low and cautious tone, and he glanced around
as he spoke as though he was afraid of being
overheard. _

“ Well, in order to do anything they will have
to prove, first, that the man 18 dead, a blob I
fancy will be an extremely difficult matter, and
then that he died before the deed of the mine to
me was executed, and that will he more difficult
still,” Van Buren declared.

“Yes, that is true, but, as far as I can see,
they must go ahead on these lines,” Gotterang
remarked.

“ Suspicious are not proof, and mere unsu
ported assertions will not have much weig t
with anybody,” the other replied.

“ Suppose such a claim as this is made," Van
Buren continued, “who would believe it? And
could we not rout them, horse, £0017, and
dragoons, by calling upon them to back 11 their
assertions by some proof, and if they cou d not
do it—and they cannot—they would be the
laughing—stock of the town.” .

This declaration made it ev1dent that the
speaker did not feel at all alarmed.

“ On, our position is a strong one, I am wen
aware of that, and I should not feel in the least
degree alarmed if this sport was not mixed up
in the matter,” the German remarked.

“ ‘Well, he is a good boxer, and I have no
doubt a smart fellow generally,” Van Buren
said, in a patronizing way. “ But; I fancy that
a matter of this kind is a little out of his line,
and I am not inclined to regard him as being.
particularly dangerous.”

Gotterang shook his head.

“ You don’t agree with me about that, eh?”

“Well, if this affair was going to be fought

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Keen Billy, the Sport.

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out in the law courts I would agree with you,
but as I don’t see a chance for the party to try
anything of that kind, I do not believe they will
go ahead in that way.”

“ I understand what you are driving at!”
Van Buren exclaimed. “ You think there is a
prospect that the girl may set up a claim
to the mine, as the legal heir of Kingsley,
stating that he is dead, and attempt to jump the
Claim?”

“ Yes, that is the only course open to her as
far as I can see.” _

“ Well, I agree with you that that is about all
she can do, and I admit that if it came to a
struggle of that kind this sport would be apt to
prove to be a dangerous customer.”

“That is my notion l” Gottcrang exclaimed,
with a very emphatic shake of the head.

“ A ame of that kind may be tried, but in a
camp ike the Golden Plume it Would not do
even for a young and pretty woman to try any-
thing that looked like downright robbery,” Van
Buren observed. “ If she set up a claim to this

roperty, and had this sport raise a gang to seize
it, without going to the trouble to prove that she
had a right to the mine, the whole town Would
be up in arms against her. In a small, wild,
and lawless camp, away off in the WilderneSS,
such a trick might be worked, but never in
Golden Plume l”

“ That is true; she would have to make out a
pretty strong case before she would be allowed
to go ahead without interference, but what I
am afraid of is that her arty might Jump the
claim first and explain a terwards,” Gotterung
observed.

“There is something in that, of course, and
we must be on our guard,” Van Buren replied.
“ One thing you must bear in mind—We have
got a number of men on the premises, and it will
take as many more to get us out; and as from
this time forth we will be on the watch for an
attack, it will not be an easy matter to take us
by surprise. Then, too, I shall now set spies to
work to keep their eyes upon this sport, and if
he attempts to raise agang in Golden Plume,
you can rely upon it thatI will soon be informed
of the fact.”

“Yes, yes, we must not neglect any precau.
tions.” '

“Oh, you can rest assured that I Will not!”
Van Buren declared. “ At present I think all
the advantage is on our side, and'I shall do m
best to have the situation remain in that way,’

“ From the fact that this sport went to White
Oaks and examined the records, it is certain
that he is in league with this Miss Richmond,
and will make us trouble if he can,” the German
said, in a thoughtful way, and With a dark look
on his face.

“ Yes, there is no doubt of that.”

“ Would it not be wise for us to arrange a

lan to strike a blow at him, without waiting
For him to make another move?"

“ Well, I don‘t know—perhaps it would,” the
other replied, evidently favorably impressed
with the idea.

“ I think the matter could be arranged, and
without much trouble,” the German declared.

“How would you prooeed?”

“Set some of Liverpool Jack’s gang on him;
the men who hang out in the Royal Gin Palace
are eager for a chance to get even with the
sport, and if a man was to )ut up a hundred
dollars, the chances are big t at some of Jack’s
gang would try to settle the sport for good and
all ”

“The scheme is worth trying, and I will look
into it.” _

“ Another point: Are you sure that a certain
thing is all right? The earth generally keeps a
secret, but sometimes the wild animals or some
accident defeats the plan.” .

“Well thought ofl" Van Buren exclaimed.
“I will take a stroll out that way tomorrow,
and see for myself if everything is all right.”

“We must not lose a point, even if all the
advanta es do seem to be on our side,” the Ger-
man dec ared.

“ “7011. We may be a little annoyed, but we
arranged the matter so carefully that it will
take a miracle to upset us,” Van Buren de-
clared, boastfully. “And the days of miracles
are over,” he added.

CHAPTER XXXII.
AN UNEXPECTED MOVE.
\\ THE medical sharp of Golden plume was an
(Odd, eccentric individual, a man apt to take
uliar notions into his head, and when an
idea took possession of him he Was apt to try to
carry it out regardless of the consequences.

“ I‘hat poor blaggurd hasn’t long to live,” the
doctor muttered, as he proceeded down the
street—he spoke with a slight touch of the
brogue when he became excited, or deeply in-
terested. _

“ He is a. miserable rapscallion, but thin that
is no reason why he should be hurried out of the
world before his time, and it is certain that if he
stays up at the mine it is mighty little care he
will et.

“ is wife is a decent sort of woman; maybe
now that he is booked for the other world she
will be willing to help smooth the pathway a
little for him.

 

“ Share! it will do no harm to have a. talk wid
her about the matter.”

And, acting on this decision, the doctor pro-
ceeded to the hotel.

He explained to the landlord that he wanted
to speak to Mrs. Davenport, and was escorted
to the parlor by that gentleman; when the
seriocomic made her appearance, the landlord
discreetly retiring.

“ It is not on good terms ye are wid Your
husband?” the doctor questioned.

The lady cast an inquiring glance at the medi-
cal man, for she was surprised by the speech,
but being well acquainted with the doctor she
understood that he had an object in speaking as
he did apart from idle curiosity.

“ Well, I am not on particularly bad terms,”
she replied. “ We do not live together, and I
have to support myself, but you know the
reason for that as well as I do. If the man
would behave himself and stop drinking we
would get along all right, but he will not do it.”

“That is true enough, particularly whin he
has kind friends who supply him wid all the
liquor he wants, bad ’cess to them, 1 say!"

“ Yes, I know who you mean—the IVhite
Gopher people,” Lin Davenport remarked. “ I
spoke to Mr. Van Buren once about the matter,
and told him that lie was not doing my husband
any good.”

“ .-\nd what did he say?”

“Oh, he spoke smoothly enough; he is a good
talker, you know,” Lily Davenport replied.
“ He declared that he did not think I ought to
blame him for giving Ned a little liquor every
now and then, for he had become so used to it
that it was a question if he would be able to get
along without it.”

“ Well, there is a d’alc of truth in that,” the
doctor remarked. “I do not doubt that if
your husband’s supply of drink was suddenly
cut off he would suffer, but then there is no
need of anybody’s givmg it to him by the pail-
ful.”

“ Yes, that is what I think, and although Van
Buren said that it was not true that my bus-
band could get all the liquor he wanted at the
mine at any time, yet I have been told that
such is the fact.”

“ I have heard so, too, and I do not doubt
that it is the truth.”

“ But why do you speak of this subject?” Mrs.
Davenport asked, with natural curiOsity. “Why
do you interest yourself in the matter?"

” 'Well, I have just come from your husband,
and it is a. sick man he is. He is up at the mine
now stretched out on the flat of his back, and it
is a uestion if he ever gets on his legs again.”

“ am not surprised, for I have been expect-
ing some such a thing for a lon time. I will
not stoop to deceive you, doctor, y saying that
I am deeply shocked Ly the matter, for I am
notl” Lily Davenport declared, frankly. “ The
man has treated me in such a way that every
vestige of the love I once bore him has fled,
never to return. and I am willing to admit, too,
that I never was over head and ears in love with
him, and when I look back and reflect upon the
past, it is a mystery to me how it was that I
ever came to marry the man.”

“Mrs. Davenport, I do not think any the
worse of you bekase you don’t hesitate to say
what you think!” the doctor declared. “And
it isn‘t any wonder to me that you feel as you
do about the matter.”

“ The man has acted in such a way as to ut-
terly destroy what little love I once had for
him. I feel sorry for him, of course, as I would
feel sorry for any man that I knew was drink-
ing himself to death, and 1 would be willing to
do anything in my power to make him comfort-
able.

“That is jist what I thou hill" the doctor de-
clared. “ And that is why have come to see
you. It is my idea that Davenport~ought to be
moved; he needs care and attention, and there’s
no one at the mine but alot of rough men to look
after him.”

f‘ Yes, and though Van Buren pretends to
think a lot of Ned, and has always declared that
he should never want for anything while he
lived, yet it seems to me that he is not exactly
acting like a friend in allowing Ned to have all
the liquor he wants, when he must see that it is
killing him i” the serio—comic declared.

“ That idea has come to me. Upon me wourd!
if Van Buren was anxious to get your husband
out of the world he could not have gone to work
on a better plan."

“ Well, I don’t know'what to make of the
matter, but it seems odd to me.” Lily Daven-
port remarked, thoughtfully. “Ned. you know,
don’t really do any work to speak of at the mine,
and yet he gets his salary just the same, and the
idea that Van Buren may get tired of paying
him for doing nothing and discharge him one of
these days, never seems to enter his head."

“ That is true! if he was one of the owners of
the mine he couldn’t be more independent.” ,

“I tried to frighten him once by saying that
Van Buren would give him the grand bounce
one of these days if he did not leave liquor alone
and attend to his business a little better, but he
only laughed in my face and declared that there
wasn’t any danger of that; he was a fixture in
the mine, and as long as El Van Bur’en and Got-

 

terang were connected with the White Gopher"

property he would be sure of a job.”

“ It is a very strange affair,” and the doctor
shook his head as much as to say that the riddle
was too much for him.

“ Yes, I don’t puzzle my brains over it any
more. It may be that Van Buren and the Ger-v
man are great friends of Ned, but if they have

any Judgment at all they ought to be able to see

that the liquor is killing him.”

“ He is going to have a narrow shave of it this-
time!" the doctor declared. “ And it is my
opinion that he Will not pull through unless he is
taken away from that mine and put where he
will have careful nursing. If he is allowed to
remain where he is at present, and given all the
liquor he wants, the odds are about a hundred
to one that he will never be after getting on his
feet againl”

“ Well, I am perfectly willing to take care of
him, and you can rest assured that I will do all I
can for Ned, but, really, the hotel is no place for
him, and I do not believe Mr. Bozain would be-
willing to have him come here either.”

“Oh, no! he could not he brought here!” the
doctor exclaimed. “ But I will tell you what I
will do: I will give up my cabin to him; I can
be after finding quarters here at the hotel for a
week or so, and you are quite welcome to my
shanty.”

“ I am sure I am very much obliged, doctor,
for your kind offer, an as I know you mean it
I will accept, and thank you heartily, tool” the
serio-comic declared.

“ It is the only chance the man has for his
life!” the doctor averred. “ I will do the best I
can to pull him through, and I want him in a
place where I know my orders about his treat-
ment. will be obeyed.”

“ You can rely upon my following them to
the letter!” Lily avenport exclaimed.

“ Yes, I know that, and that is why I am anx~
iou's you shall take care of him.

“ But here is another point; the White Gopher
people may object to your taking him away?”
the doctor suggested.

“He is my husband, and I reckon I have a
right to take him!” the serio-comic declared,
spiritedly. “ I shall go armed. I have a good
pair of six-shooters, and I hav’n’t lived all these
years on the frontier without knowing how to
use them; so, if any of the “'hite Gopher people
attempt to prevent me from taking my husband
away, you can depend upon it that there will be
trouble, and somebody may get hurt!”

“ That is the way to talk 1” the doctor de-
clared, admiringly. “ I will have a litter rigged
to carry him on, and while it is getting ready
I will jist pass the word around town among
the lads so there will be fifteen or twenty of
them to go with us, and if the White Gopher
people attempt to interfere with the procession
there will be apt to be a ruction.”

“ You can de mi upon it that I will stand up
to the rack l” rs. Davenport declared. “ And
if they are wiSe they will not attempt to inter-
fere with me!”

“There will bethe divil’s own row if they
do!” Finnigan exclaimed.

“ In half an hour I will be ready for yezl”
was the doctor’s parting remark, and then he
hurried away.

Lily Davenport went to her room and pre-
pared herself for the expedition.

She was a woman of dauntless courage, and
having made up her mind to take her husband
from the mine, was determined to go ahead, no
matter what the consequences might be.

After finishing her preparations she ascended
to the street, and standing in the portal of the
hotel waited for the arrival of the doctor and
his assistants

Finnigan was prompt.

Within twenty minutes from the time he-
left the hotel he was back again with a rude
litter, constructed out of poles and blankets,
and had organized a force of a dozen men to as—
sist him.

Lily Davenport came out, and the party pro-
ceeded toward the White Gopher Mine.

The march of the “procession” excited uni—
versal attention, and by the time the mine
was reached a crowd of fully fifty people had
collected.

The men in the mine saw the crowd com--
ing. and Gotterang, jumping at once to the
conclusion that war had begun, and an attempt
was going to be made to jump the mine, hastily
bade his men knock off work and prepare to re-
sist the attack.

CHAPTER XXXIII.
AN ACCIDENT.

THE German got his men together, all of them
armed, ready for a fight.

As it happened, he was forced to take com—
mand, for Van Buren was away.

The White Gopher miners were very much

astonished by this sudden call to arms, for they” ~

had no idea that there was any trouble brew-

ing.
Gotterang, in his alarm, when he discovered
tge bcarowd approaching, had let the cat out of
t e g. 
“ They are coming to jump the mine!” be ex»

  
  
    
   
  
   
 
 
  
   
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
  
 
   
   
   
  
  
   
  
  
     
     
     
     
       
       
        

claimed, when he called his men out.
;' must beat them off!” ‘

The men complied with his request to got
their arms readily enough, for it is one of tho
unwritten laws of the mining region that the
workmen in a mine must be Willing to fight as

well as work if the occasion demands it.”

Speculation was in each eye as the crowd ap—
proached, for the reason for the attack was a
mystery to them, the German excepted.

But when the crowd got near enough so that
the White Gopher men were able to make out
who were in the throng, they come irnmmlintely

' to the conclusion that the German had made a
mistake when he suppomd that the party were
coming with the idea of seizing the mine.

They saw that the doctor, F‘iuuignn, was at
the head of the party, and by his side walked
Lily Davenport.

Then, too, no arms were visible—no revolvers
or rifles were brandisth in the air, nu. woull
undoubtedly have been the case if the crowd
were bent on war.

Pete Bak r, the watchman, who was noted for
being a at talker, was the first to voxce the
views of t e minors.

“ Say, this ain’t no we party,” he exclaimed.
"‘ That is Doc Finniganygnd the woman is Mrs.
Davenport! The Doc has been to tell Lin that
her husband is sick, and she has come right out

- to see about it.”
' “ Yes, yes, that’s so!” cried three or four of
the others.

“ But why does the crowd come, tooWGot-
'terang demanded, suspiciously.

The men who carried the litter were in the

.Vrear, and hidden“ from the eyesvof the “bite

Gopher people by the ones in front; if the

miners had been able to see the litter they Would

immediately have guessed wh the crowd came.

“ Wal, I reckon it don’t 9 much to misc 0.
gang in Golden Plume!" Pete Baker declared.

I “ A dog fight is good for the biggest kind of a.

‘t'rowd at any time i” i

_ “ What on earth are you after?” the German

exclaimed in a rather sulky way as the procrs~

sion came up.

“‘ Upon me wourd! it looks as if you had pre-
pared to give us a warm reception !” the doctor
remarked with a quizzical look at the rifles of the
minerS. ,

“Well, when I saw such a gang coming I
“thought there was mischief afoot, and sogot
read to meet it,” Gotterang explained.

‘ “ edo not come on war intent but on an
errand of peace and mercy,” Finnigan replied.

“ You know Mrs. Davenport of course.”

, The German nodded, but there was a puzzled

’10 it upon his face.

9 understood that it was natural for Mrs.
Davenport to visit her sick husband, natural
also for the doctor to accompany her, but why
such a simple thing should attract so largo a

;.crowd was a mystery.

g " You have a very sick man here, Mr. Got-
teranf and I considered that it was my duty

 to tel Mrs. Davenport just how he was,” the

‘ . dootor remarked.

Gotterang nodded again. ‘

“And like a true wife, sir, she has made up
her mind to take care of her sick husband! ’
 Finn’igan announced. 4,. ' 

..  It was no secret to the miners that Ned
_ ven rt and his wife were not on good terms,
.- nd this action on the part of the lady impresscd

‘ them most faVorably, as was evident from the
expression upon their faces.

But' the German did not like it at all, and his
face ew dark as he replied:

x,’ “ ell, I don’t see hOW the matter can be or-
‘ ranged. We haven’t anyacoommodations hcre
, for women.” ,

" “Oh, don’t be afther troubling your head
' about that!” the doctor exclaimed; “ Mrs.
-' Darenport hasn’t any idea of trespassing upon
»' your hospitality.” , ’

I, " How can she take care of her husband then?”

' Gottcrang demanded bluntly.

“ Alsin enough! on’t you be afther worry-
. in; anal! about that!” Finnignn retortod,
not] king the tone in which the German Spoke.

. “I have given hp my cabin to her, and we
have come to move Ned down there, do ye
mind!” ‘

V The German stared blankly for a moment at
, the Irishman.

Despite his stro. powers of self-control he
I could not “help shovv ng in his face how extich-
ly distasteful to him was this idea. 7

‘f l“ Going to take Ned away!” he exclaimed in a

‘zmanner which plainly showed that he did not
{know exactly what to say. I
'1 ' “That is what we are going to do,” the doctor
, T0pll8d. '

r “ But It, will be apt to kill the man to
‘move‘him in his present condition!” Gotterang
 .‘ def: ‘red. ,

.  ,‘ " Oh, no, not at all—not the Paste dangorl

-«»'Woha.ve a stretcher here for him, and all the
,h'yea have come along so a's to give a hand; we’ll
& , !“him down to my place as aisy as you
.“ Kati; hll nonsense! It will kill the man

0 him, I tell you!” the German exiled,

roiighlgl. . z '
,2, I e oodof the doctor wu up in a moment;
J \ . / ' ’ . x» ‘

 
 

      
      
         
      
 
    
        
        
     
         
       
        

 
  

  

  
 

 
  

  

        
      
 
    
    
    
      
 
    

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’ Keen Billy,

" And we.

the 

“ Upon me wourd! you had better be either
telling me, that I do not know anything about
me profession l” Finnigan cried, hotly. “ Which
ought to be the host judge—a man like yourself
who knows nothing about the matter, or a
medical professor of my experience?”

“ Well, he is not oing to be moved and that
i: all there is to it!” Gottcrang declared, an-
grily.

This was something that 110 did not dare to
sanction. At all hazards Ned Davenport must
be kept on the place.

This decided announcement was Lily Daven-
port’s (-110 to sunk.

“ Do you moan to say that you will attempt
to prevent me from taking my husband away
to a place where he can have good care and
where 1, his wife, can see that he does not want
for anything?” the serio-comic demanded, her
face flushed with anger.

“I don’t intend that you shall kill the man b
attempting to remove him i” the German cri ,
his features white with rage.

“It is you who want to kill him by keeping
him hcro where he will suffer!” Lily DaVenport
exclainwl.‘ “ Is he a slave, then, that I, his
lawful wife, am denied the right to do what is
best for him—and I am backed by medical ad-
vice, too. The doctor knows what is best!”

“The doctor be cursed!” the German cried,
and he made a movement to reach for his rovol-
yer, which he had returned to his belt at the bo-
ginning of the conversation. -

Those foolish words, and the action which
followed, brought on an immediate commotion.

No two men in the crowd agreed exactly after-
ward in regard to how the thing happened, but
as far as any of them could tell, the doctor
” went for ” his revolver the moment the insult-
ing words reached his cars, and everybody else
on the ground proceeded to got out a weapon.

There was a sharp, quick report; Gottr‘ranz
threw up his hands, staggered forward and fell
on his face.

Nobody know who fired the shot, so 1great
‘ was the confusion, but as far as could b0 (1 scov-
cred, it was a purely accidental one, and as tho

.rerman was shotin the back, it was supposed
that some one of tho Vlhite Gopher miners, in
the excitement of the moment, pulled the trigger
without knowing it.

It was an accident, anyhow, and everybody
was conscious of it tho moment after the tragedy
occurred, and that was the reason, probably,
why the iirer of the ball was not discovered.

If any of the miners know, they judged that it
was Wise to keep the secret. ,

Gotterang had been killed immediately, for
when tho'mincrs raised him from the ground he
was breathing his l’lSl}.

“ It is an unfortunate accident,” the doctor
observed. “ But if he hadn‘t been such an obsti-
nate Haggard it Would not have happened.
Thunder and turf! who ever heard of anybody
trying to keep a wife from taking care of a sick
husband i”

There was not a man in the crowd who did
not think that the German had made a big idiot
of himself by acting as he had, and the dead
man had no mourners, for Gotterang was not a
favorite in the camp.

Even the White Gopher miners, who Worked
under him, did not like the man.

After the German’s death no one ventured to
make any objections to the removal, and so
Davenport, sti I under the influence of the drug,
was removed to the doctor’s cabin, where his
wife took up her residence, and set out to make
the sick man as comfortable as possible.

The affair created adcal of excitement in the
camp, and it was the universal opinion that no
blg’tof‘ idiot than the German had over set foot
in the town.

“ What will Van Buren say when he hears of
it?” was the general ,cry.

CHAP'l‘ER XXXIV.
ram mrnnrosns. ,

Anour an hour or, so after the tra ybo-
curred, while all. the camp were busy iaoours-
ing it, a new subject for conversation came 11 .

l‘he veteran bummer. Joe Bowers, made fill
up tunes in the camp. bearing the startling
intelligence- that Elliott Van Buren had been
thrown from his horse and badly hurt, in a
rocky ravine a half-mile from the town.

“ U n me word! it is lucky that the stretcher
it ready)! Finnigau declared;

A party was at once orga ized, headed by the
doctor, and under the guidance of Joe Bowers,
proceeded to the assistance of the injured man.

Van Buron was bad] in'ured, his right log;
was broken and a coupe 0 his ribs: but he

 

' bore the transportation to the town with won-

derful courage, although in great pain.

After being put to bed in his cabin, Finnigan
proceeded to make the'wounded man as com-
fortable as possible.

Van 'Buron ha’rl requested that all should
leave the room, so as not tointerfere with the
medical man’s work.

“ This is a pretty bad accident, isn’t it, doc-
tor?” Van Buren nskoil,iwhen the two were alone
and Finnigan legal) his task. ‘

 

 

 

 

  

~ “Faith! may a that. and divil a taste of
I he! find iguana! city thing for you that you

 
      
  

     

 

I

 

if

 

‘_

Were found so soon afther it hap ned l" the doc-
tor deciarcd. “ It was a lonely? spot, and ye '
might have laid there for days if this fat bum-
mer hadn’t happened to come along. It was well
for you that the spalpeen took it into his head to
prospect for gold up that same ravine, although
it don’t say much for his skill as a prospector,
for no one but a fool would think of looking},r for
color in such a place.”

“The infernal scoundrcl! I will murder him
when 1 got ovor this!” Van Buren cried, in a
sudden outburst of passion.

‘he doctor suspendi'd his operations and looked
at his patient in astonishment.

“ Would yez

 

“\Vhat’s that?" ho exclaimed.
be ni'ther harming the man who brought assist.
ance to yoz?”

“ Yes, I would, {or i he infernal villain was the
cause of the accident!” r: if”

Finnig'm was amazed at this statement. .

“ Oh, it is a fact. You need not store, doctor.
I know \rhr‘t I am talkihg about, although I
have no doubtihat tho scoundrel does not sus-
pect that I know what he'was up in, but I do.”

“ Upon mo wourd! this IS aregular mystery 1”
Finni'gan exclaimed.

“ Yes, that is true, but I can easily explain
the limiters I can depend upon you to keep
quiet about the thing?”

. “ ()h, yis! don’t ye worry about that!”

“ I have been sticl'ing to Work pretty steadily
lately so I went out for a little ride this ailer-
noon, as I felt the need of eXcrciso, and I went
up to the north through that ravine, where I
was thrown, as a short cut to the prairie be- ‘ ,
yond. ‘ 

“ The country is rough and broken, you know  
and so I couldn’t go on faster than a walk ‘un
after I got into the ravine, I happened to g anco
behind me and I caught a glimpse of this ellow.

“ 'When/I turned my head he pretended to bo
prospecting, but I reckoned at once that he was
playing the spy upon me.’

“ Why in the world should he do that?” the
doctor asked in wonder.

“ Well, 1 don’t know: he may have thought
thatI was after a ‘lend,’ and if he played the,
spy upon me he might strike a rich flnd ” Van
Buren replied, but from the way he spoke the
keen-witted doctor guessed that the speaker was
not telling his true surmise in regard to the
man’s action.

“Yis, I see,” Finnigan observed, as though
perfectly satisfied with the explanation. *  .  ‘

“Anyway, he was dogging me, I thought : -
and in order to satisfy myself on this point,I _ 4 »
slyly kept watch of his movements as I rode on, . ' ,_ ,3! . _
and the result of this proceeding on In part " ' =3“! — ‘ ‘
was that I did not take proper care of my orse,
the brute stepped into a hole, and I got a tumble
which will be apt to lay me up for some time.”

“ True for ycz!”

“ And so you see, that if it had not been for
this scouncrel, the accident would not have
happened, but I will get square. with him as i '
soon as I get on my legs again!” Van Buren de-
clared. ~

“ ell, small blame to you if you do,” the
doctor observed. ‘_

“ And it is a mighty grave thing. this
accident happening to you to-day, too,” Finni-
{;an continued. “It jist carries out the old ad-
age kit misfortunes Seldom come single.” ,

“ l hy, what other misfortune has happened 1"
Van Baron asked in astonishment. . , -

“ Gottcrang, yo know?” ' -‘ ._ v i

it Yes?” , ,  f; '

“ He has passed in his cheeks.” , 

,The blow struck Van Buren with thextorce of , f, ,
a thunder-clap.

“ Is it 351 lo?" hecried.

“ Posai 18 it is!”

And then the doctor told the fitory of what '
had occurred. '

Gloomy indeed was Van Buren’s face as he
listened to the tale. '

“ This is bad news,” he said, slowly, when the . »
doctor finished the recital. . v ‘-

“Yis, and then this accident toyou right on ‘ ‘
the heels of it; first, Ned Davenport is puton w,
the that of his back, then Gotteran .gota an ~
ticket for sou ), and now you are laicf up for 9.
month or two. ' , ,

“ Yes, it is ve odd indeed ” Van Buren said, , '
his voice soun ing strangely hard and un- ‘
natural. “If we White Gopher people werea. .1 ‘3
band of robbers now, a superstitious man might ’i. f
be in’clined to say that the hand of heaven was .i:
in it. ’  ' -

“ Faix! it would look-as if fate was striking at
yez, but luck will run that way sometimes, thp 
doctor obser I > . r i ‘ ' v

This ended the conversation u on the sub set;
the doctor finished his work an departed, eav.
ing Van Buren to meditations which were . :

loom in the extreme. ’ f ‘ ‘
g “LII‘OlKl” he exclaimed, “well.  it is, V
luck; what is luck but fate? One thing £5,095"  
tain. the grime is getting desperate. . f -

“ antiserum: is dead! Cut down in his tracks
without a moment’s warning. ' ‘ - _ '

“ Ned Davenport is in the hands of hil wife , _,
and she is a friend of this Richmond girl, and  r
friend to me; I am helpless on my back without; " 
a soul xiipon whom I can depend to aid main»
parrying any blow that may be  at 1139.” ' y:

      
       
       
             
     
       
       
     
     
     
       
         
     
     
     
       
         
   
       
       
    

 

 
   
     
       
      

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‘- "Keen Billy, the Sport. /

29‘

 

“It will be a month or two maybe before’ I
will be myself again, and what may not hap n
in that time, with active and persevering oes
hard upon my track.

“ 1 do not believe that Davenport is going to
get over this attack. It is my belief that he is
doomed—and that death will come quickly, tool

“ When he finds that he is about to take the
final step into the dark, will he have courage
enough to hold on—to keep from telling the story
which at such a moment will be apt to hang
heavy upon his conscience?

“Ah, that is a difficult question to answer,”
and the muser shook his head.

“ In my opinion be will weaken at the last
moment; his wife will prate to him of the dread
hereafter and urge him to clear his conscience
before he departs. All the women are more or
less superstitious, and the odds are big that he
will weaken.

' " If he tells the truth though it will show that
be was more to blame than either Gottenang
or myself; that although we carried out the
plot, he was the one that suggested and planned

it. ~

“But as far as that goes, he will be likely to
palter with his conscience; he will try to make
himself believe, and will beaptto sWear that
Gotterang and myself led him On, and that if it
had not been for us the job would never have
been done.

“ Well, I suppose that is true enough. for he
would never have had the courage to carry it
out, although he did suggest the idea in the be~
ginning. 4

" I am helpless. and must allow matters to
take their own course, and if the storm breaks,
all I can do is to take refuge in a stout denial,
and defy them to prove that I am guilty.

“ Ah, how true the old Biblical saying is about

.how will it profit a man to gain the world and
lose his own soul."

it will be seen from these reflections that the
lot of Elliott Van Buren was far from being an
enviable one.

Events turned out as he antici ted.

Ned Davenport awoke from his stupor to find
that the hand of death was upon him.

The doctor told him that he had better ar—
range his earthly stairs, for his hours of life

were numbe .
The news of Gotteran ’5 death and Van Bu-
ren‘s accident were e known to him and

immediately his soul was seized with mighty

\ terror.

“ The way of the transgressor is hard,” he
murmured.

His wife perceived that there was a wei ht
upon his mind, and she or ed him to make is
peace with Heaven before t was too late.

And Davenport, feelin that the shadow of the

ve was upon .him, ca ed in the doctor and
a: landlord and made a full confession of the
way in which he, with Elliott Van Buren and
Herman Gotterang, had murdered Victor Kin s‘
ley in order to gain possession of theWhite o-
pher Mine. . .

Not a detail of the crime did he omit, and he
confessed, too, that the plan was conceived in
his own brain when he discovered that Mr.
Kingsley had determined not to put up with his
as lect of duty and was about to discharge him.

he stealing of the property, after the old man
had been murdered, was arranged in the way
that Keen Billy had imagined. DaVenport s
marvolous skill as a penman had made the task
an easy one. _

The body of the old man had been buried in
the ravine where Van Buren was thrown from
his horse, and his presence there was due to a
desié'eto see if the remains had been tampered
wit .

This disclosure created an immense excite.
ment. The ravine was examined, and human
bones found in the exact s t where Davenport
Bald thfi’murdered man had)0 been buried, but it
was not possible for any one to ldentif the
bones and so to be able to swear positively u re
gard to the matter, still there were few in the
town who doubted the me,

An hour after the confession was made Ned
Davenport joined his brother-in-crime in the
shadpw land. '

Van Buren kept a stifl upper lip, as the camp
declared. He said that the confession was the
storg of a lunatic and not worth notion.

T on Adrienne told her tale, revealed her
identity and claimed the White pro 11,,
as Victor Kingsle ’3 daughter, but she deem
she would not to e any active steps in the mat-
ter until Van Buren was able to defend himself.
so the cam waited anxiously for Van Buren to
get well. e played ’possurn thou h, tended
to be disabled when he could get a and one
night fled from the town.

‘ him go!” Adrienne declared, when she
has the news, “Heaven will punish him if}

The man was never heard of again. I

The H came in possession of the mine, and
after gdaflsirevaas settled. formed awstolfk com-
pau , a turn the pe over t out.

w “l will return to swagifi... said. "8nd to

the East, which’bves me well!" , ‘
ho thousand dollars in hardcashshegave

Keen Billy, which the mart took thankfully.

 

 ‘f‘911youweronotmarried,audlwasthekind
. . ‘ V A ,

u  V v

       

 

of girl to fall in love, we might make a match,”
she said, laughingly. " But, as it is, we will be
content with being true friends i”
“ So-longl” cried the sport, and so they parted.
THE END.

 

Beadle’s Half-Dime library.

IY PHILIP S. WARNE.

Cf Patent-Leather J 0e; or, Old Rattlesnake, the Char-inns.
ITE Captain Arizona; or, Patent-Leather Joe's Big Game.
198 Captain Mask: or Patent-Leather Joe’s Defeat.

319 Dell and, the Duelist: cr, The Mountain Vsmplrfl.
888 A onfi‘h Boy: or, The Dwriri‘s Revenge.

80 Little ornado: or. The Outcasts of the Glen.

8? Little Jlngo: or, the Queer Pard.

88 Little (“buy or, Caught In His Own Trap. .

401 Little fihoo-E’lyé or. A Race for a Ranch.

408 Little Leather-o roechear or. Old Jumbo’l Corn.
481 Little All fills; or, The Curse of Blood.

Rate. A Tale of the Mines.

5]? Jim Gladden’a Dcput .

527 The Jolly l’ards to t 0 Rescue.
54’? Randy Andy; or, A Good Man Down.
556 Lariat Ll]; or, The Cast for a Life.

574 "Ill “'easel-to . the Man with the Dogs. ,
593 Keen Clem. tliegisnch linp.

599 Jim Dandy the No-Name Sport.

6112 llllly Blanca; or,The Skeleton‘u legacy.
680 Ilklaholllu III. the Blue-Coat Scout.
648 Happy Harry's Bl. Flnd.

(HM Cheeky Charley. the Special.

nv EDWARD wrnmc'r'r. \

167 Asa Scott. the Steamboat Boy.

199 Featherweight the Boy Champion ofths Maskinglll.
.98 (lum- k Alf or, Featherweight Among the Outlaws.

Bil. The 'i‘ypo Detective; or. Weasel, the Boy Tramp.

.95 Fearless Phil: or. The King of Quansvllle.

811 The Rovln Sport; or, The Pride of Chuckaluck Camp. ‘
828 None the Detective; or. Kit Ken on‘s Vendetta.

Mo on. in. Conwrtlonlstl or.’rh- out-n- Vina-i...

BY J. O. OOWDRIOK.

.00 Silver-Mask, tin Man of Mystery-
Nlll Shasta, the Gold King; or, For Seven Years Dead.
480 The Dctootlve'a A prentlcet or, A Boy Wlthoot a Name.
“4 Clbuta John 3 or, -Hol Times It All“ M. i
480 l andy Darn. the Stress! Seoul.
Mano Dan. the Dlll ' Dude.
Irondwn‘tfllll . t e Bootblack Bravo.
. ledll’ht Elva, the Prince of the Road.
llroa way Bl l'y’s Boodle.
Fhe Enclneei- leteotlve.
580 Broadway Billy's ‘Dlllkllty.”
548 Mnrtp the Night Express Detective.
55? Broadwa Billy's Death Racket.
57] Alp-Line ,uke the Young Engineer.
579 The (‘hlnsncy Spy; at. Broadway Billy's Surprise-Party.
592 The Boy Pinkerton.
005 Wllllam 0’ Broadway" >11. The Boy Detective‘s Big Inning.
815 Fighting llarr ' the Chief ni Chalned Cyclone.
628 Broudvo Bill’y‘a Dead Act.
640 Bus-clue - Beth, thi- ('rntaui or the Circle.
0 7 1 pewlller Tllly. the Murclmnl’l Ward.
859 . oonllght March", the " Plume-i. ” Man ornate Bar.
809 Broadway Billy Abroad.

BY J0 PIERCE.

391/30]; 0’ the Bowery! or The Prince of Mulberry SM
415 The Vagabond Detective: 0!. Bowery Bob's Boon.

I llots in Bob the Streetlkxv Detective.
we The .awyer": llhadowt «mm-'- Mm-
478 Jaunty Joe, the Young Horse-King.
494 flurly film. the Young Ferryman Detective.
1504 Five Points Phll.
509 (era, the Butcher Boy Detective.
5 6 Tartar lmx or. Five Points Phil's Menagerie.
5 6 lbortli River Not. the PM Detective.
It Wrestll Rex, the Prlde oi the Slxth Ward.
541 Jet! Filo er. the sum. Boy Detective.
5!" Nick Nettle, the Bov Shadow
1559 Ilurlem Jack, the (mic:- lie} Deli-til".
569 Brooklyn Ben, the 0n.iiln.0wn-liook Detective.

7 Pavement Pete the Server. Sifter.
58H Juvk-o‘Jmntern, the Under-Sea Prospector.
“(MI Wide-Awake Bert. the Strait-Sum".
614 \‘ hl-tlln. Jacob, the Detective”! Aid.
623 Buch "usnblehee, the Harlem Hummer.
 auanlscBSii’ul lhv Express-Train Fern-t.

am n o .I |‘ Bowery Badger. one: i a fill Set.

658 Sky-Rocket nob, the Life-Saver. Mp” " 1”"

BY HMO]! HENRY B. STODDARD. Ex-Ioont.

800 Neck-Tie Ned; or, The Du -Out Pnrds.
4G ,I ler Rn hoe]: or,The word-men oi Zamtecsa.
U91 kl - love 'lt. the Dandy of the Rockies.
233 Ill?“ #33?“ ii“ 3”" if? if" 5‘15. ii ‘
e an- on on v, e o .
“5 Powell’- Pal-(Ii or. The (mg-Armed Gian? u pm

BY HARRY ST. GEORGE.

80 Roaring Ralph Rookde the Run e?-
44 Rattllnt Rube; or, The Ni h’lhnwkl 0 Kentucky.
59 1nd Illa cry: or, Pandy Ellfi’a Seal .
 “salami”; or, Than-3r" nfihanglrdor’woll.
an t or e rs r- H a
m Thunderbolt output, a. $41.33. 8”

nv ALBERT w. AIKEN.

II The Two Delectlv or he Fortnn of very 0
re Abe ooii. the mow—slid... '7 " ' no M
79 Del Ginger, the Ola tTra per.
:88 Joe Buck of Ange a an His Boy Pard.
44 ol'k N. Tole olTrk-ks and Traps in an“...
458 New En land lek‘i ov, The Fortunes ofal'oaadllnc.
464 N‘llllbla loll, the Circus Prince.
 gull-(Ted. 11:10 Arizona Sport.
00 »o on o. t e Hal -Bneod Detective.
518 Cool Colorado in New York.

BY GEORGE WALD!) BROWXE.
so lung Rock the Man from Texas.
90 ' Fhe read Rider-i or, The Tenn Duelist.
99 ' ‘he Tiger of Taco; or, Dandy Rock's Angel
115 ' l‘he Mid Minor; 0!, Dandy Rock’s Doom.
131 " ‘he Golden "and: or, Band Rock to the Rescue.

164 Dandy Boo 's Pl 1 or tedto Death.
in handy Roch“. Rlv c or, Tho-ilaunud Maid oi'l‘asa.
BY can .i. n. e. souls.

 

)(l Colora o

 

 

 

{ht-house Lilo: or, Osceola, the “refined.
she‘ll. Hunters: 9311‘s. Underground Camp. ,

84 Ore n Sol: or Nick Wins.“ a ,
4e 91.5.: lazy.i the em. Shot of a. 3193a."
154 Ned also lh- Boile'l‘nm.
as Nick hid e’o n er in 11.. m oi Death. \
so The hlto Indian; or, 'm Scent or e mum
70 Old Zl ’I Cabin 8 or. flu Greenhorn in the Woodl.
81 nghtn n3 Jo, the Tenor oi the Prairie
8‘ Book Bushman or. the Female per.
‘1! old Grlanly and Ills Po 3 or, The Wil W'
as:
.38

9 King 3 or, 0 Hanan Mom".

The
BY lflIER STARBUOK. '
1'? giving?“ inl, mm M'

i

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.3

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Tram” «gin. our-a. . 1

fl

BY BFCKBKIN SAM (Malor film. S. Hall.)

284 Old Rocky‘s " Boyeea: or, Benito, inc Horse-Breaker.
“6 Giant George; or The Ang’i of the Range.
75 Arlnonn Jack; or, Giant George‘s Pnrd.

29'! The Tarantula of Taoi- ' or. “in!” Gwm’l 30"“!-
807 The Stram Paul; or. inn. lien r Dellh Hum
818 Ker-whoop). Ker-whee: or. The ’l‘srnnmln ofTaos.
82? Creeping at. the Caddo; or, The Red and White Paul.
‘89 Erie Fred: or, The 'l‘onkswsy’s Trust.
844 The F htlng Trio; or, Rattlesnake, (he Tonkaway.
849 W “(I all; or, Big-Foot Wallace to the Front.
857 The Rom-h Raiders or. The Siege on F0"- Plftflory.
884 Snap-Shot, the Boy anger.
875 {Chiotm the Greek: or, The Three Thunderbolts.
881 llandera lllll: or. Frio Frank In the Front.
89. .lo—eo and the Reds: or, The Beleazusrsd Ranch. 3
404 .lttle Lav-lat; or, Pecan Pete‘s Big Rampage.
414 "he Daley fi-om Denver.

'l‘he Three Trallernz 01. Old Rocky on the lamps“.
44a lllul’ Blllt or. The Lynx or the Leona.
4.55 .Ittle Lone lilar: or. The Belle of the Cibolo.
684 Cache Carl, the Chico Giant

BY WILLIAM If. EYSTER.

190 Dandy Durke; or. The Tigers of High Pine.
’10 Faro Frank: 01. Dandy Darke’l Go-Down PM

BY COLDN EL DELLE SARA.

108 The Lion of the Sea; 0'. The Vnrlsd Indy. - l ‘,
180 Cool Deg-and; or. The Gambler's Big Game. .‘-.'

BY JAMES L. BoWEN
107 0-9.3 ad 8!— s or. The Abandoned Forest Home.
110 The B k Steed of the Pralrloa. A Story of Texas.

BY 0. DUNNING CLARK.

I“ Clvtlll Pnul ° or. The Boy Spy}; of the Mountains.
m The Yankee [luau or. The ate at the Black Shared. i}

BY GEORGE C. JENKS.
485 Git Thar 0wney the Unknown-
GOS Glt Thar (Disney’s Pledge.
518 The Den-on Doctor.
5131 Double-Curve Dan. Ihe Pitcher Detective. ‘ ',
59H Flute. the Sin," Detective. .‘l '
608 The Pitcher Detective”- Fdllz or. Dan'l Double Play. 
618 The ocean Detective: or Th: Lani Cruise ofths Black Bear.

in can. ALFRED 3. Tumor: U. s. s. . ‘3

I" Rift]. Blll’. the Boy Bullwbacker.
I“ Bum. Bill I Bet 5 or, The Gambler Guido.
\

BY CHARLES E. LASALLE.

50 Burt Bunker, lhe Trapper.
.5 The White Bulnlo. A Tale of the Northw-t.

BY Join: J. murmur. . 
‘0 Roving Ben. A Story of a Young American. "
97 The 0utlaw Brothers; or, The Captive of the Herpes.

BY WM. G. PATTEN.

489 The Dis-cld Sport; or, The Double I'aea ofBed Rock
519 Ca tul- ‘yate tor. Five in Ono.

.81 D I Dare the port from Denver.

58? old Bo-hahell, the Ranger Detective.

004 Iron Fern, the Man oi ire.

019 The Do Tran-p Detective: or,Tho Double Griletn-a
629 Violet 'ane, the Velvet S on. . .
641 DlA-al Dave’s Dandy fiard. ; , ~
651 Round Boy FTnk. the oung Amateur Detective. ’
668 Violet Vane’s 'lctory.

BY CAPTAIN FRED. WHITTAKER.

15 The Sweat; or. The Witch of Dar-ion.

.9 The Dun-b l’ e ‘Ior, The Doge’a Daughter. ‘

48 Dlek Darling. 0 any Express Rider.
ISO Lance and aaoi or. The Children of the Ch”,
154 The Sward Hunters; or. The Land orthe El. “Eden.
1" The Lost 0. hilt 0r, Skipper Jabs: Cofln'l raise. ‘
.00 The Boy Be oulno: or. The Brothers of the Planned Lance. , 
.14 “'olfnng, the Robber of the Rhine. \,
I49 Mllo Ito-er, the Animal King, or, Round the World. l
I“ The Tfier Ta-ert or The us of the Jungle. ‘
“1 Black Ink. the Demon or.
895 California Joe’s War Troll.

BY J. W. 08803. .‘

(69 The Rival Giants ofNowhar’.

498 Cactus Burr. the Man from Hard Look.

58? Old Bucke e. the Sierra Shadow. ‘ I
“4 Powder I’ ll, the Boy Minor. 7
G09 Boll Dorrit, the Veteran Deiertii'e. -
680 L“. (3 LI htnlng’a League: or, The Mystery oftnelaland.'

38‘ Plueky .lll, t :9 Boy Prospector. .

IIBOELLANEOUH AUTHORS. e 7

4 The Wlld-llorse “Intern. By Capt. Mayne lid and
Frederick Whittaker.

9 Adventures of Baron Mindanao-.-

I. Gulliver’s Travels. 8 Dean nwm.

1‘ Aladdin: or.’l‘hs Wonder lump.

in Crusoe. (91 Illustrations.)

the Sallor. His Seven Vs,“ I

The Sea Serpent; or,Tbo Boy so soon Crusoe. ByJu.

88 The Ocean Bloodhound: or. The Red Pirates of the.
Caribou. B 8. W. Pierce.

86 The Boy own: or, The Arena Queen. By I am.

‘8 Ned “'yldcv the Boy Scout. By Texas Jack

3; The Boy ms... or, The Undo

and Camp: By A‘ C. Ira... ‘
The Rival Rovers; or, The eebootol'l of the Mississippi.
Bv Linn-Col. Has-lune.

98 Robl- flood. the Outlawsd lad, or,The Merry Ides of Gun- .,
wood. 3 Prof. Gllderaloeve. . '
105 old Ra the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive. 3, c”
Hamilton Holmes. _ I.
Ill The lad Ila-ten or. 1h. Cave of Death. Dylan-Ian. " '
I“ Envy. the Texan: or. The Young Champ»; y, a...” .

sunl-
l” Tnl .Ya- pflvmgrg or,The Pirate‘s Stmghold. 3’
.ny av .
I“ S..." g". ; or, The Adveu totes of a Nondl~ Boy. '1‘:-
Alex-Id" 3""
.wh 3.".911. 11pm: or, The Green Ranger“ the Tole 

“1'

I 1 Fe s Penman ht the th Y wk 3 B G. L. Alb-Ll ‘
3:. ar. the Ga do; or. Davy cm?“ MI Tran. '

By Incl C. D. Warren. ‘ . I

.9. Red aw the Ono-Eyed Trapper; or,'l'lie Iaidoltha CIR.  i. '

DyCaptaln 0mm.
3" pg...“ page, the Lively Lu min Loadvlfla. )y M-
iflt‘fi‘ifi‘zh'... or A so ' fight a: urea-dunes."
"8 s languid. Free. ' ’ ' ..
“0 ed Ralph. the River love" or, The hasten Is-
vsn . By‘Ned Bunlllne. l
:3: Edam. “3”... rev. .‘5::."'“°'.....;:- e: ' “a...
. u .
on oniir. la Joe’o in» run. s, 
I 0“
a all” Bo-mhahelL/tho Clll Climber. 37 32!. With”.
The Black Ehl . 3 Johns Wan . '
Comanche Meg and lb Three km ’7' ~
can

emu. .
us What!- a. band . Anna! 1‘. II...
as m Oowto 'nniie. twink... F's-mt.
us Arm a. Arline, s, David Druid. , ,
ossme thelovl’mt. BvH.IotoI. ‘
O” The Bea .teetlvc's Double. ByienuO-th \ ‘
A New Issue Every Tuesday. ‘ .
The Half-DU library ls 1 sale all my."
“pawn.wnashynaioaueol;lerds»esaueaan. ’,
noun m units. mock; 1"“
so wan- “not. new 

 

 

 

I
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31 l

Behdle’e  Library ' 

 

l

 

l

 

no TheThree Spaniards. ByGeo. Walker.

A Equinox Tom. the Bully of Bed Rock' or, Dan
Brown’s Masterstroke. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.

.3 Captain Crimson, the Man of the Iron Face: or
The Nemesis of the Plains. By Maj. Dangerfield

 
  
 
    
   
 
   
 
    
  
   
  
  
  
     
    
   
   
   
 

143 The Czar’s S ' or, The Nihilist Lea e. B
Col. T. H. Melfil’tery. gu y

[144 The Hunchback lot NotrezDame. By Victor
Hugo.

145 Pistol Penis; or. Soft Hand. the Silent Sport
from Cinnabar. By Wm. R. Eyster.

r ' 140 The Doctor Detective; or, The Mystery of the
' v . Golden Cofln. By George Lemuel.

347 Gold Spur, the Gentleman from Texas; or. The
Child of the ment. By Colonel Prentiss
Ingraham.

248 One-Armed Alf, the Giant Hunter of the Great
Lakes By 011 Coomes.

M9 The: Border Rifles. By Gustave Aimard.

150 El Ruble Bravo, King of the Swordsman; or.
The Terrible Brothers of Tabasco. By Col.
V Thomas Hoyer Monstery.
151 The Freebo'oters. By Gustave Aimard.

152 Captain Ironnerve, the Counterfeiter Web or,
55110 Gypsy Queen's Legacy. By Marmaduke
.oy.

153 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 CoL Prentiss Ingraham.

156 Velvet Face the Border Bravo; or Muriel. the
Danite‘s Bride. By Maj. Dangerfield Burr.

l

157 Moursd, the Mameluke; or. The Three Sword-
masters. By Col. Thomas H. Monetary.

158 The Doomed Dosen‘ or, Dolores. the Danite’s
Daughter. By Dr. frank Powell.

‘ I 1.59 Red Rudiger the Archer" or The Lady Bertha’s
Treachery. ‘By Capt. F. ’Wh’ittaker.

i‘flfiott Hand Sharp; or. The Man With the Sand.
By Wm. B. Eyster.

H The Wolves of New York; or. ,Joe Phenix’s
Great Man-Hunt. By A. W. Aiken.

' .- 168 The Mad Mariner; or.Dishonored and Disowned.
By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham.

'. 163 Ben Brion the Tra r Ca tain; or,  th,

 the Aveng’er. By  H. fiebinson. pa

. 3'15; The Kin ’s Fool' or The Kin hts of the Clasped
. Hands slid Braiich. By D. Clark.

 165 Joaquin, the Terrible. By J. E. Badger. Jr.

i3: its Owlet. the Robber Prince; or The Unknown
‘r ‘._;.- . Highwayman. By Septlmus R. ‘Urban.
5, 467 The Man of Steel; or, The Masked Knight of the
 White Plume. By A. P. Morris.
 16 Wild Bill, the Pistol Dead Shot; or, Dagger Don’s
 3 ' Double. By Colonel Prentiss ingraham.
, f.  Corporal Cannon. the Man of Forty Duels. By
. \ Colonel Thomas Hoyer Monetary.

. f  Street William, the Trap er Detective; or The
 Chiet or the Crimson lan. By Joseph B.
 , ‘ . Badger, Jr.
.31 Tiger Dick. the Man of th Iron Heart' or The
Dumb Bandit. By Philip .Warne. ' ’

v as The Black Pirate; or. The Mystery of the Golden
Potters. By Colonel P. Ingraham.

in California John, the Pacific Thoroughbred. IBy
Albert W. Aiken. .

 {at The Phantom Knights. By Capt. r. Whittaker.
' II Bili's'l‘ru Card: canal-ass Heiress.
 By new».

 Inst! J th Robb Queen.
 MuKWtoiiI. a er 3’0"”?

  

 

  
 
 

   

  

 1’1. ‘
3 1271301: Diablo. the Planter-Corsair; or, The Rivals
~ of theSes. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. '

a?! Dark Dashwood. the Water or,The Child of
‘the sun. By Major Sam 3. Hall.

“'00:: the Convict; or. Was He Gull i
.. .Progg’tewart Glidersleeve, LL.D. t, By

 ‘   The Amos 0! Arizona. ByJos. E.
 or,The Nemesis or the
{ ‘  Ufiwim Knightsot the Canyon. By
’. yd tgzigugfikor.  in therlderness.
 “.ararstzzr °‘n‘;.‘7'ri".:.¥.°ii°' °‘ W

 stoneware W m w
  The 'i‘onkswsy‘s Triumph.

"ease; armhirw w

  

  

   
 
 

  
   
 

191 The Terrible Tonkawa ‘; or, Old Rocky and His
Pards. By Buckskin m.

192 The Lightning Sport' or. The Bad Man at Slaugh-
ter Bar. By W. R. yster.

193 The Man in Red; or, The Ghost of the Old Guard.
By Capt. F. Whittaker.

194 Don Sombrero, the California Road Gent; or,
The Three Men of Mount Tabor. By Capt. Mark
Wilton. .

195 The Lone Star Gambler; or, The Maid of the
Maguolias. By Buckskin Sam.

196 La Marmoset the Detective Queen; or, The Lost
Heir of Morel. By Albert w. Aiken.

197 Revolver Rob. the Red-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 fngrahain.

.11" 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, r.

202 Cactus Jack. the Giant Guide: or, The Masked
Robbers of Black Bend. By Capt. Mark Wilton.

208 The Double Detective: or, The Midnight Myr
tery. By Albert W. Aiken.

204 BigFoot Wallace, the King of the Lariat; or,
Willi Wolf, the Waco. By uckskin Sam.

205 The Gambler Pirate; or, Bessie, the Lady of the
Lagoon. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

$6 One Eye, the Cannoneo-r; or. Marshal Ney‘s Last
Legacy. By Capt. Fred. Whittaker.

207 Old Hard Head; 0r; Whirlwind and His Milk-
White Mare. By Philip S. Warne.

2% The White Chef. By Capt. Mayne Reid.

209 Buck Farley, the Bonanza Prince; or. The Ro-
mance of Death Gulch. By Edward Willett.

210 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 uckskin 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 end‘s Big “Clean-Out. ’ By Capt.
, Frederick hittaker.

210 The Corsair Planter; or, DriVen to Doom. By
Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

817 The Ser nt of El Paso; or Frontie Frank, the
Scout 0 the Rio Grande. By Buc . n Sam.

218 The Wild Huntress' or, The Big Squatter’s Ven-
geance. By Capt. llisyne Reid.

1319 The Sco on Brothers; or. Mad Tom’s Mission.
By Capta it Mark Wilton.

220 The Specter Yacht; or. A Brother's Crime. By
Col. P. lngraham.

2931 D erate Duke. the Guadaloupe “ Galoot.” By
Buc skin Sam.

as: Bill, the Blizzard' or. Red Jacket’s Double
Crime. By Edwa Willett.

ass Canyon Dave, Clown of the Mountain' or,
Tfifgoughs of Silver Spur. By Captain Mark
11.

234 Black Beard the Buccaneer; or, The Curse of
the Coast. By Col. r. ingraham.

as; Rocky Mountain Al' or N t Nell the Wait
of the Range. By Buc iii-5% ‘

an The Mad Hussars; or, The 0’s and the Mac's.
By Capt. F. Whittak

61'.

M Buckshot Ben. the n-Hunter 1 Id '
The Cactus Creek  ny°ctpihh£riz
Wilton.

as The Marcoh. By Capt. Mayne Reid.

m Ca tain Cutsleeve' or. Touch-Me-No the Little
.Spgrt. By Wm. RI Eyster. t‘

no The Flyi Dutchman of 1880; or, Who was
Vanderd en. By Capt. Whittaker.”

281 The Kid Glove Miner or, Th ‘ ' t
Golden Gulch. By car. P. 1% pm 0'

sin Ortonon, the Man of Iron' ‘r TheRi erM
‘ ter-y. By Isaac Hawks. '  ’ v y’-

38 The Old Boy of Tombston ' or, W eri .s
we on a Card. By J. E. Badger. Jr. a n:

934 The Hunters’ Feast. By Cept. Mayne Reid.

85 Red htnin the Man of Chance; or Flush
Times 11 (region Gulch. By Colonel Prentiss
[Ingrsham ‘

a Chain on Sony or Th Monarch of .
,ByCo ’1‘. H.1ifonsiery.e I mallow

8871.0 stream . '

I age?” as83§vfieBlukIAsgneotthe
as “hi: Ire-incl the Crescent my theti‘

v fie Owls of «:0er ByADil” 0".

    

 

 

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WWh%fi?““5Wv  2

,240 A Cool Head: or, OrsonOxxin Pall. Bylssss
Hawks. ‘

241 Spitfire Saul. Kl of the Bunions: or, eea
Dixic's Grand “ und-Up.” By Josep l3. . ,
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 Buffalo Bill.

244 Mercile s Mart the Man-Tiger of Missouri;'0r
The Wa i of t le Flood. By “Buckskin Sam."
Maj. Sam S. Hall.

245 Barranca Bill. the Revolver Champion; or, The
Witch of the Weeping Willows. By Captain
Mark Wilton.

ueen Helen, the Amazon of the Overland; or.
he Ghouls of the Gold Mines. By COL Prentiss . .
Ingraham. _ .~ . ‘r

247 Alligator lke; or The Secret of the Everglade. ' ‘ fit; I
By Capt. Fred Whittaker. , . ’

248 Montana Nat. lhr Lion of Last Chance Camp.  x

1'3:

1’46

B" .‘r‘iu wal-ri W": lath

 

249 Elephant Tom, of Durango- or, for.“ Gold Dust
or Your Life. By Joe. E. Badger. Jr. , I
250 The Rough Riilers' or. Sharp-E e the Seminole "
Scourge. By Buck’skin Sam. y ’ _ , 1
251 Tiger Dick vs. iron Des ard; or, EveryMaans' "
His Match. By P. S. arne. ~ 1 I
252 The Wall Street Blood; or. Tick, Tick. the Tel.-
graph Girl. By Albert W. Aiken. ~. . V
268 A Yankee Cossack; or, The Queen of the Nihilo‘ '. ‘ 1:
ists. By Capt. Frederick Whittaker. . ’
254 Giant Jake the Patrol of the Mountain. By
Newton M. Curtis.
256 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.
257 Death-Trap Diggings; or. A Hard Man from 
'Way Back. By Joseph=,E. Badger, Jr. 
258 Bullet Head the Colorado Bravo- or The Pris- ’
oners of this Death Vault. By denim um .. ,
Wilton.  
259 Cutlass and Cross; or, The Ghouls of the Sea;
By Colonel Prentiss lngraham.
260 The Masked Mystery; or, The Black Crescent.
By A. P. Morris. /
261 Black Sam. the Prairie Thunderbolt; or, m
Bandit-Hunters. By Col. Jo Yards.

862 Fighting Tom. the Terror of the Tough; By
Col. Thomas Hoyer Monstery. '

263 Iron-Armed Abe, the Hunchback Destra’ver:  :'
The Black Riders‘ Terror. Capt. Mark ilton.

264 The Crooked Three' or, The Black Hearts of
the Guadalupe. By Buckskin Sam. 
3! 

265 Old Double-Sword; or. Pilot's and Pirates.’
Captain Frederick Whittaker. 
966 Leopard Luke, the King of Horse-Thievesfih'i” ' ‘ '
T'haSwamp Squattor’s Doom. ByCapt. ‘
n. ‘ ~ 

.267 The White Squaw. By Cap. Mayne Reid.

see M cMike, the Man of Erills; or. Bad we
Brigade. By William R. Eyster. 

$9 The Ba on Bravo: or, The Terrible Trail. By 
Bucks . I ' . . 

2’70 Andros the Free Rover or The  7' 
Daught’er. By\Ned Buntun'e. ' .. 3.5

271 Stoneflst of B Nu t M' of Old
chum’s Tug of v5». y Capt. M’ark ’Wilto w:

WSethSlocu RaflroadStlrve or or TheSeoret 
of Sitting email By Capt. Fridhhlttoker: . '

273 Mountain Mose the Go Outlaw orl ht“
Horse Leon’s Five ‘Figh‘getor Life: By’ 113%...
skin Sam. , ‘ ' '

374 Flush Fred the menisci .Sport' or Tough
Tlmeein'rslmsssee. By Egret-d Willett. « . ‘

am The Sm ‘ler Cutter' or, The Cav ' . '
Chit. By .D. Conroy‘. °"' l” 

 
      

 

       
 
      
     
     
     
     
     
       
 
     
 
      

 
        
        
    

 

    
         
    

 

      
       
     
        
        
     
       
   
    

      
    

      
       
          
     
     
      

  

 Chick the Southwest Dates 
Tiger , The Vulture Queen. By ‘ ' . .
Mark Wilton. . I  j; w

WTheSauc Jane Private r:-or eniuflll] in! ‘
Old nonsldes. 3y CapteFred'thiflaku'. A :

velvet!!an '

Bstptgin‘

      

   
    

978 Hercules ids ur, the Man of the
or, The Poker een’s Guns.
Howard Holmes. -. ‘ '

279The (1 Dr on' 'or, 7   r 
houngogByWaifiismEm. \  .< 

280 Black-Hoes Ben; or.'i‘iges Dick‘s Lam m "
By Philips. Warns. . , y A

as: Th SenOwl- 01-.me Captain eschew? 
ByeColonel Prentiss Ingrshysm. ‘ '«  1‘; 3‘ 5..

:88 Th Me oiless Marauders: or. Chaparrsl Cali" \
3838112; ByBuckskin Sam.   

$3 Shel: Sam. the Devil of the Miner or  .
orthe FieryCroes. ByJos. E. i, r. ,  

‘Ss‘The Three Frigates: or, Old Ironsides’ Magi. I '
By Capt. Fred. Whittaker. . r . ,

a hull Boi the

: tMf'guntallgost'st'Grudge.

 
      

     
  
  
             
  

   
   
   
     

  

it

P j  . 

          
 

J

 

 

w-

Beadle’s Dime Library.

 

 

287 Dandy Dave, and His Horse, White Stocking;
or, Ducats or Death. By Buckskin Sam.

288 Electro Pete, the Man of Fire; or. The Wharf ‘

Rats Of Locust Point. liv A. 1‘. Morris.

289 Flush Fred’s Full Hand: or. Life and Strife in
Louisiana. By Edward \Villt-tt.

290 The, Lost Corvette: or, Blakclcy’s Last Cruise.
By Capt. Fred. Whittaker.

291 Horseshoe Ilzink. the Man of Big Luck; or, The ,

Gold Brick of idaho. By(,‘ant. Mark Wilton.

292 Moke Homer, the Boss Roustabout; or, The ‘

Fresh-Water Sharks of the Overflow. By J. E.
Badger, Jr.

293 Stampede Sieve; or, The Doom of the Double
Face. By Buckskin Sam.

294 Broadcloth Burt, the Denver Dandy: or. The
Thirty Pards of Deadwood. Bv Capt. H. Holmes,

295 Old Cross-Eye, the Maverick-Hunter; or, The
Night Riders of Satanta County. By Capt. 1".
Whittaker.

296 Duncan. the Sea-Diver; or, The Coast Vultures.
By George St. George.

297 Colorado Rube, the Strong Arm of Hotspur

City‘ or, The Giant Brothers of Buzzard Roost. i

By illiam H. Manning.

298 Logger Lem; 01‘. Life and Peril in the Pine i

Woods. B Edward Willctt.
299 Three of a ind. 'l‘igsr Dick, Iron Despard, and
the Sportive Sport. By P. S. Warne.

800 ASport in S tectnclt-s; or, The Bad Time at ‘

Bunco. By \ 'illiam R. E 'ster.
301Bow|tlo~r Bill; or, The n from Taos. By
Buckskin Sani.

802 Euro Saul, the Handsome Hercules; or, Thai

Grip of Steel. By Joseph E. Badger. .Jr.
303 'l‘op-Notch Tom, the Cowboy Outlaw; or The
Satanstown Election. By Ca )t. Whittaker.

304 Texas Jack. the Prairie Ratt er; or, The Queen 1

0f the Wild Riders. By Buffalo Bill.

805 SiIVer-Plated Sol, the Montana Rover; or, Giant “

Dave’s Fight with Himself. By Capt. Mark
Wilton.

NB The Roughs of Richmond; or, The Mystery of
the Golden Beetle. By A. P. Morris.

807 The Phantoni Pirate; or, The Water Wolves of
the Bahamas. By Col. P. Ingrahain.

8m Hemlock Hank, Tough and True' or, The
Shadow of Mount Kathadin. iy E. Willt-tt.

309 Raybold, the Battling Ranger; or. Old Rocky’s
Tough Cam aign. By Buckskin Sam.

I810 The Marsha of Satanstown; or, The League of
the Cattle-Lifters. By Capt. Fred. Whittaker.

811 Heavy Hand, the Relentless or. The Marked
Men of Paradise Gulch. By Capt. M. Wilton.

312 Kinkfoot Karl. the Mountain Scourge; or, Wip-
ing out the Score. By Morris Redwing.

318 Mark Magic, Detective. By A. P. Morris.

314 Lafitte; or, The Pirate of the Gulf. By Prof. J.
H. ingraham.

315 Flush Fred‘s Double' or. The Squatters' League
of Six. 8 Edward Willett.

316 Lafitte’s Lieutenant; or, Theodore, the Child of
the Sea. By Prof. J. H. Ingraham.

317 Frank Li htfoot, the Miller Detective. By J. E.
Bad er. r.

318 Thefindian Buccaneer, or, Red Rovers on Blue
Waters. B CO]. Prentiss Ingmham.

819 Wlild Bill, t e Whirlwind ot the West. By But-
a o .
320 The Genteel Spotter; or, the Night Hawks of

New York. By A. W. Aiken.

821 California Claude, the Lone Bandit. By Captain
Howard Holmes.

322 The Crimson Coyotes; or, Nita, the Nemesis.
B Buckskin Sam.

323 otspur Hugh; or, The Banded Brothers of the
Giant’s Arm. By Captain Mark Wilton.

824 Old Forked Lightning. the Solitary; or, Every
Inch a Man. By Jos. E. Badger Jr.

8% The Gentleman Pirate' or, The Hermit of Casco
Bay. By Col. P. Ingra m.

323 The Whitest Man in the Mines. By Captain F.
Whittaker.

327 Terrapin Dick. the Wild Woods Detective; or,
Trailing a Traitor. B Edward Willett.

828 Kin Kent; or, The audits of the Busch. By
Buc skin Sam.
The League of Three' or, Buflalo Bill's Pledge.
By Col. Prentiss Ingra am.

380 goggllolt, The Quaker City Detective. By Chas.

3 s.

881 Chlspa Charley, the Gold Nug et S rt; or, The
ROOKy Mountain Masks. B '  E. Biotdger, Jr.

332 Sgring-Heel Jack; or The asked Mystery oi!
t e Tower. By Col. Monstery.

388 Derringer Deck, the Man with the Drop. By

in. . yster.
8” The Cipher Detective; or, Mark Magic on a New
385 W 81-1 BY A. P. Morris.
3 Dan. the Nabob- or, The Blades of Bowie
336 Th" BY Cagmin H. Holmes.
9 ,Male hit? or, The Freebooters of Sandy
Hook. By Col, _ “graham.
337 Old Gabe, the Mountain Tramp; or, The Tragedy
of the Deserted Camp, By Ed. Wine“.
338 Jack Sand, the Boss of the Town. or The F001
01' Fiddler’s Folly. B thp s_ wam’e
889 Spread Eagle Sam, 9 Hercules magnum“.
340 15y 'losdaph  ll? (183“ka De
oo onrat e a 0 we“ .
Lair to Lair. ' By Captain H. Holm‘egf 0” From

841 The Sea Desperado. By Colonel P. sham.

842 Blauco Bill, the Mustang Monarch. y Buck-
skin Sam.

343 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. B. Eyster.

845 Masked Mark, the Mounted Detective. By Jos.
E. Badger, Jr.

846 Ocean Guerrillas- or, The Planter Midshipman.
By Col. Prentiss ngraham.

847 Denver Duke the Man With Sand; 0r. Centi-

ole Sam’s Lone Hand. By Captain Howard
mes.

848 Dan Dillon, Kin of Crosscut- or A Woman's
Wild Work. By ward Willett. '

849 Lion-Hearted Dick. the Gent] Road-Age
By Albert w. Aiken. emu nt'

W Flash Falcon, the soc] c
J. Cobb. e y Dem'e- B! Weldon

861 Nor'west Nick. the Border Detocti -
Brown‘s Fight for Life. By Jos. E. 536%, I}?

352 The Desperate Dozen; or. The Fair Fiend 0f the

C(Blli‘ d’Alene. By Capt. Howard Holmes.

353 Barb Brennan, the Train Wrecker; or, The King
of Straight Flush. By John Cuthbcrt.

354 Red Richard; or, The Brand of the Crimson
(,‘ross. By Albert W. Aiken.

‘» 355 The Mad Athlete; or, The \Vorst Pill in the Box.

‘ By Jos. E. Badger. Jr.

356 Three Handsome S torts; or, The Double Coni-

l binaiion. By Wm. . Eyster.

357 Jack Siinons. DetectiVe; or, The Wolves oi!
Washington. B ' A. 1‘. Morris.

358 The Prince of tin-Out; or, The Beautiful Na-
vajo‘s Mission. By Buckskin Sam.

359 Yt-llow Jack. the Mestizo: or, Tiger Dick to the

l Rescue. By Philip S. Warne.

, 860 Jumpin Jerry, the Gamecock from Sundown;

i or, A Craw Ftill of Sand. By J. E. Badger, Jr.

l

l

l

l

361 Tombstone Dick. the Train Pilot; or, The Trai-
tor's Trail. By Ned Buntline.
362 Buffalo Bill’s Grip; or, Oath-Bound to Custer.
By Col. Prentiss lngrahaiu.
363 growlpiugshield, the Detective; or, Pitiless as
eat .

B Albert W. Aiken.
I, 364 The Sea

ugitive; or, The Queen of the Coast.
By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

, 365 Keen Kennard, the Shasta Shadow; or, The

l Branded li‘ace. By Capt. Howard Holmes.

366 The Telegraph Detective; or, The Dynamite
League. By George Henry Morse.

I 367 A Royal Flush; or, Dan Brown’s Big Game of

| Freeze-Out. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.

’ 368 The Canyon King; or, A Price on His Head. By
Edward Willett.

l 369 The. Coast Corsair: or, Madca ) Madge, the Siren

; of the Sea. By Col. Prentiss ngraham.

; 370 The Dusky Detective; or, Pursued to the End.

By A. W. Aiken.

1 371 Gold Buttons; or, The Up-Range Pards. By
Buckskin Sam.

372 Captain Crisp. the Man with a Record. By
Jos. E. Badger, Jr.

873 The Sailor of Fortune; or. The Buccaneers of
Barnegat Bay. By Col. Prentiss Ingrahain.

374 Major Blister. the Sport of Two Cities; or, The
Broad wa ' S tter in the Black Hills. By Capt.
Howard 0 mes.

375 Royal George, the Three in One; or. The Cold
Deck on Blazers. By Wm. R. Eystt-r.

376 The Black Beards; or, The High Horse on the
Rio Grande. By Albert W. Aiken.

377 Afloat and Ashore; or, The Corsair Conspirator.
By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

878 John Armstrong. Mechanic; or, From the Bottom
to the Top of the Ladder. 3y Capt. F. Whittaker.

379 Howling Jonathan; or, The Terror from Head-
waters. By Jos. E. Badger. Jr.

380 The Golden Serpent; or, Tiger Dick’s Pledge.
B P. S. Warne.

881 T 9 Gypsy Gentleman; 01‘. Nick Fox, the Demon
Detective. By Albert W. Aiken.

882 The Bonanza Band; or, Dread Don, of the Cool
Clan. By Ca t. Howard Holmes. .

883 Silver Sam, he Detective; Or The Hustlers oi‘
gutsteACity. By Major Daniel Boone Dumont,

384 Injun Dick, Detective; or, Tracked from the
Rockies to New York. B Albert W. Aiken.

885 Wild Dick Turpin the ion of Leadville; or,
The Lone Hand. y Wm. H. Manning.

886 Hawk Heron, the Falcon Detective' or, The
gothzm Flats Mystery. By Jackson Knox, (Old

aw .

887 Dark Durg, the Ishmael of the Hills; or, The
Gold Phantom. By Jos. E. Badger. Jr.

388 The Giant Buccaneer; or, The Wrecker Witch
of Death Island. By Colonel P. Iiigraham.

889 Colonel Doubleedge, the Cattle Baron’s Ford
or. The Marshal o Sandstone. By Major Daniel
Boone Dnmont. U. S. A.

890 The Giant Cupid- or. Cibuta John’s Great
Jubilee. By J. C. owdrick.

391 Kate Scott the Deco Detective; or, Joe Phe-
nix‘s Still Hunt. By . W. Aiken.

The Lost Bonanza; or, The Boot of Silent
Hound. By Captain Howard Holmes.

893 The Convict Captain; or. The Battles of the
Buccaneers. By Colonel Prentiss in raham. .

394 White Beaver. the Exile of the Patte; or, a.
Wronged Man’s Red Trail. By Buflalo Bill.

395 Deadly Aim, the Duke of Derringers; or, 8. Fight
for Five Millions. By Jos. E. Bad er. Jr.

396 The Piper Detective; or, The G t Edge Gang.
B Wm. R. Eyster.

397 T e Wizard Brothers; or, White Beaver’sRed
Trail. By Buflalo Bill.

398 Sleepless Eye, the Pacific Detective; or, Run-
ning Down a Double. By Geo. C. Jenks.

399 The New Monte Cristo; or, The Wandering Jew
of the_Sea. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham.

400 Captain Coldgrip, the S rt Detective; or, The
New York Spotter in olorado. By Captain
Howard Holmes.

401 The One-Arm Pard; or Red Retribution in Bor-
derland. By Buffalo Bill.

402 Snapshot Sam. the Pistol Sharp; or, The Racket
at Angels’ Flat. By Wm. R. Eyster.

408 The Nameless Sport; or, The Kilkenny Cats 01
Way U . ByJos. E. Badger, Jr.

404 Silvor iifle Sid; or, A Daisy Blufl. By Philip S.

Warue.

405 Old Baldly. the Brigadier of Buck Basin; or,
Hunted own by a Woman. By William H.
Manning.

406 Old P0 Hicks, Showman; or, Lion Charley’s
Luck. y Capt. F. Whittaker.

4477 Captain Coldgrigs Nerve; or, Injun Nick on
Deck. By Capt. oward Holmes.

4m Doc Gri , the S rting Detective; or, the Ven-

detta. of eath. y Albert W. Aiken.

409 Rob Roy Ranch' or, The lmps of the Pan Han-
dle. B Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

410 Sarah

rown, Detective; or, The Mystery of the

avilion. Bv K F. Hill.

411 The White Crook; or Old Hark's Fortress. By
Major Daniel Boone Dnmont.

Locke, the Man of Iron; or, A Fight for

412 Larry
By Capt. Fred. Whittaker.

Fortune.

League. B Capt. H. Holmes.

414 Red Rena , the Indian Detective; or, The Gold
Buzzards of Colorado. By Buffalo Bill.

415 Hot Heart. the Detective 3p ' or The Bed
Jsgusr‘s Mission. By Wm. .Msnnlng.

w ‘

 

413 Captain Coldgrip in New York; or, The Dragon

l

416 Monte Jim. the Black Sheep of Bismarck. By
Jos. E. Badger, Jr.

| . .
'417 Tucson Tom. the Bowie Brave; or. the Fire

l
l

l
l
i
l

 

Trailers. By George St. George.

418 Sibyl, the Sea Siren: or, The Fugitin- Privateer.
By Col. P. Ingrahtun.

419 The, Bat of the Battery; or. Joe Phenix, King
of Detectives. By Albert \V. Aiken.

420 The Old River Sport; or, A Man of Honor. By
Maj. Daniel Boone Duinoiit.

421 Father Ferret, the ‘Frisco Shadow; or,TheQueen
of Bowie Notch. By Ch )iain Howard Holmes.

422 Blue Grass Burt, the old S'ar Detective; 0 .
ToDnty Bound, to Vengeance Sworn. By J. .
Cowdrick. ,

423 The Lone Hand; or, The Recreants of the Red
Riwr. By Albert W. Aiken.

424 Hawk Heron’s Deputy: or, Nixey’s Nip. By
Jackson Knox. tOld Hawk.)

425 The Sea Swurd; or, The Ocsan Rivals. By Col.
P. Ingraham.
426 The Ghost Detective: or, The Sp of the Secret

Service. By Joseph E. Badger. r.

427 The Rivals of Montana Mills; or, Redgrave, the
Renegade. By \Vm. H. Manning.

428 The Flying Giim; or, The Island Lure.

“ms.

429 Hair Trigger Tom of Red Bend; or. All Wool
and a Yard Wide. By William R. Eyster.

430 The Fatal Frigate: or. Rivals in Love and War.
By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham.

431 California Kit. the Always on Hand; or, The
Mountain Rivals. By Philip S. Warne.

432 The Giant HorSenian; or, Tracking the Red
Cross Gang. By George C. J enks.

433 Laughing Leo: or, Spread Eagle Sam's Dandy
Pard. By Jose h E. Badger, Jr.

434 Lucifer Lynx, t ie Wondei Detective; or, A Cool
Hand Among Hot Heads. By Ca t. H. Holmes.

435 The One-Aimed Buccaneer; or. he Havenless
Cruiser. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

436 Kentucky Jean, the Sport From Yellow Pine
By J, C. Utils‘di‘lck.

437 Deep Duke, the Silent Sharp; or, The Man of
Two Lives. By Wm. H. Manninfi

438 Oklahoma. Nick; or, Boomer olt’s Surprise
Party. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

439 Salamander Sam; or, The Swamp Island Rene-

adcs. By Major D. B. Dumont.

440 he High Horse of the Pacific. By Albert W.
Aiken.

441 The (‘alifornia Sharp; or, The Trail of the Gold-
en Grandee. By Capt. Howard Holmes.

442 Wild West Walt the Mountain Veteran: or, The
Gunmakers of orld‘s End. By W. H. Manning.

443 A Cool Hand; or, Pistol Johnny’s Picnic at Top
Notch. By Joseph E. Bad er. Jr.

444 The Magic Detective; or, '1 e Hidden Hand. By
Jackson Knox.

445 Journeyman John. the Chain ion; or, The Win-
ning Hand. By Capt. Fred. hittaker.

446 Ocean 0 e. the Outcast Corsair; or. The Good
Ship of l-Omen. By Col. P. Ingraham.

447 Volcano, the ’Frisco Spy' or. The Secret of the
Secret Seven. By Capt. Howard Holmes.

448 Hark Kenton. the Traitor; or, The Hunted Lite.
B Major D. Burr.

449 B ufl Burke, King of the Rockies; or, The Black
Stake Rivals. By Wm. H. Manning.

450 The Rustler Detective; or, The Bounding Buck
from Bnflalo Wallow. By J. E. Badger. r.

451 Grlpiock, the Rocket Detective; or, The Han-
shaw Myste . By Jackson Knox.

452 Rainbow R0 . the Tulip from Texas; or, The
Spot Saint‘s Mission. By J. C. Cowdrick.

453 Captain Coldgrip‘s Long Trail: or. The Rivals 0!
Silver Deck. By Capt. Howard Holmes.

454 The Night Raider; or, The Mysterious Marauder.
By Ma or D. B. Dumont.

455 ank ellowbird. the Tall Hustler of the Hills;

or, The Conspirators of Medicine Springs. By

Wm. H. Manning. :

456 The Demon Steer; or, The Outlaws on the Abi-
lene Cattle Trail. By Leon Lewis.

457 The Sea Insurgent: or, The Conspirator‘s Son.
By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

458 Dutch Dan. the Pilgrim from S itzenbe‘iig; or,
The Rocky Racket at Rough Bob I). By oseph
 Badger, Jr.

459 Major sunshine. the Man of Three Lives; or, The
Waiting Waits at Git Thar. By Wm. R. Eyster.

460 Captain Coldgrip. the (‘ity Detective; or, The
Coolest Woman in New York. By Capt. Howard
Holmes.

461 The Fresh onthe Rio Grande: or, The Red Riders
of Rayon. By Albert W. Aiken.

462 The Circus Detective; or, Griplock in a. New
Role. By Jackson Knox.

463 Gold Gauntlet the Gulch Gladiator;‘ 6r. Yank
Yellowbird's Hot Campaign. By Wm. H. Man-
ning.

464 Sundycraw, the Man of Grit; or. The River
Sport‘s Revenge. By Major D. B. Dumont.

465 The Actor Detective. By Albert W. Aiken.

By Leon

466 Old Rough and Ready, the Sage of Sundown; or, ‘-

Not for Life but for Honor. By J. E. Badger, Jr.

467 Mainwaring the Salamander; or, The Detectives'
Ordeal By Jackson Knox.

468 Coldng in Deadwood; or. The Great Detective’s
Double Trail. B Captain H. Holmes.

469 The Lieutenant etective; or, The Fugitive Sail-
or. By Col. P. In raham.

470 The Duke of Da ota; or, Yank Yellowbird’s
Fiery Gantlet. By Wm. H. Mannin .

471 The. Heart of Oak Detective; or, ggzag’s Full
Hand. By E. A. St. Mox.

472 Six-Foot Si; or, The Man to “ Tie To.” By P. S.
\\ arne.

473 Gilbert of Gotham, the Steel Arm Detective; or.
Fighting the Powers of Air. By J. C. Cowdrick,

474 Dadd Dead-Eye, the Despot ol' Dew-Drgapé or,
The amsel from Deseret. By Jos. E. ger.

475 Ch n Chin. the Chinese Detective ;Wor. The Dark
W0 k of the Black Hand. B A. . Aiken._

476 Bob Brent. Buccaneer; or. he Red Sefi'Ra-ldel‘.
By Col. P. Ingraham.

477 Dead-Arm Brandt; or, The Lops Vengeance.
By Jackson Knox.

478 Pinnacle Pete: or, The Fool From ’Way Back.
By W. R Eyrter.

479 Gladiator Gabe, the Samson of Sass: Jack; or.
Yank Yellowbird's Cutie Crusade. By Wm. H.

scan. .

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3‘519 Old Riddles. the Rocky Ranger; or.

530 The Suva es
‘ Cruiser. By

BEADLE’SakDIMEieflBaA

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Published Every lVednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Ten Cents. No Double Members.

 

480 Hawkspear. the Man with a Secret; or. New
York hick‘s Spirit Trail. lly Captain Howard
Holmes.

481 The Silent Detectives; or, Thh Bogus Nephew.
By Leon Lewis.

482 Ocean Tramps; or. The Desperadoes of the Deep.
By Col. P. lngraham.

483 Flush Fred, the River Sharp; or, Hearts for
Stakes. By Ed.Willett.

484 Captain Ready. the Red Ransomer; or Nick
I’eddie‘s Wild West Inheritance. By Leon Lewis.

485 wlock. the Harbor Detective; or The Terrible

ins. By Jackson Knox.

486 Kansas Kitten. the Northwest Detective; or,
Yank Yellowbird's Search-Brigade. By Wm. H.
Manning. ‘

487 Sunshine Sam Chip of the Old Block; or, The
Silent Trail of the Silent Six. By Capt. Howard

Holmes.
488 The Thoroughbred S ort; or. The Big Bracer’s
Bequest. By Jos. E. adger. Jr.

489 The Pirate Hunter; or, The Ocean Rivals.
CoL P. lngraham.

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,
A recious Set of Scoundrels. By E. A.'St. Mox.

492 Border Bullet. the Prairie Sharpshooter; or,
Yank Yellowbird‘s Black Hills Colony. By Wnl.
H. Manning.

By

493 The Scouts of the Sea; or, The Avenging Buc-
caneer. By Col. P. Ingraham.

494 The Detective‘s Spy; or, The Invisible Rook.
By Jackson Knox.

495 Rattlepate Rob; or The Roundhead‘s Reprisal.
By Joe. E. Badger. r.

496 Richard Redilre. the Two Worlds Detective;
or. To the Bitter End. By Capt. H. Holmes. 9

497 The Fresh in Texas; or, The Escobedo Millions.
By A. W. Aiken.

498 Central Pacific Paul, The Mail-Train S y; or.
Yank Yellowbird‘s Iron Trail. By Will am H.
Manning.

499 Twilight Ctarlie the Road Sport; or. Sulphur
Sun’s Double. By J. C. Cowdrick.

500 The True Heart Pards; or. The Gentleman
Vagabond. By Dr. N. Dunbar.

501 Sglngsteel Steve. the Retired Detective; or,
T 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.

504 Solemn Saul the Sad Man from San Saba; or,
The Big Shell-Out. By Jos. E. Badger, 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 Yellowbil'd versus the Leather
Jackets. By Wm. H. Manning.

50? The Drummer Detective; or, The Dead
Trail. By Geo. C.Jenks. '

5m Topnotch Tim, the Mad Parson: or, The Bad
Mm of the Basin. By Major D. B. Dumont.

509 Old Falcon. the Thunderbolt Detective, or, The

Hateful Legacy. By Jackson Knox.’

i More. the Corsair Commodore: or, The Lion

o the Lagoon.

Straight

510
By Col. P. lngraham.

511 int Pete, the Praire Patrol-

' Rancheros. By Major 8. s. Hall

512 Cafitain Velvet‘s Big Stake; Or, The Gold Goths
of o Man's Ground. Bv Capt. H. Lohnes.

518 Texas Tartar. the Man with Nine Lives; or,
Yank Yellowbird’s Best Yank. By W.H.Manning.

514 Gabe Gunn, the Grizzly from Ginseng; or,
Solemn Saui's Seraph. By Joe E. Badger, Jr.

515 Short Stop Ma 9 the Diamond Field Detective;
tor, Old Ealcon s'Master Game. By J. Knox.

516 ‘Chatand. the DeadrShot Duelist; or, The Fate-
i'ul Heritage. By Col. P. lngraham.

517 Buffalo Bill’s First Trail; or. Will Cody, the
(Pony Express Rider. By Ned Buntline.

518 Royal Richard the Thoroughbred: or, Long
Pete Jenkins‘s ionvoy. By John W. Osbon.
The Reser-
- vation Castaways. By J. C. Cowdrick.
520 The Lone Hand on the Caddo; or, The Bad

.Man of the Big Bayou. By A. W. Aiken.
521'Paradise Sam. the Nor’west Pilot: 0r. Yank
Yeuowbird's Great Diskivsry. By W. H. Manning.
1522 The'Champion Three; or, Six-Foot Sl’s Clean
Sweep. By P. S. Warns.

,or. The Rival

" JimReynal-d of Red Jack; or, The Lost Detective.

By Captain H. Holmes. .
594 The Sea Chassr; or, The Pirate Noble. By Col.
'3 lngraham.
wit/Fresh Frank. the Derringer Daisy; or. Millions
/ on the Turn. By Wm. B. Eystvr.
5% Death-Grip the Tenderfoot Detective' or, A
Still Hunt for Old Secrecy. at Geo. c.- enks.
527Dandy Andy. the Diamond Detective: or. The
Twins of Tlptop. By Jos. E Badger, Jr.
as H‘sckloberrg. the Foot-Hills Detective;

or, The
Rival Ranc men. By Lieut. A. K. Sims.

5“ The Fresh in New York; or. The Vendetta of
Hate. By A. w. Aiken.
of the Sea' or, The Avengifi'g
Col. P. Ingmham.
551 Saddle-Chief Kit. the Prairie Centaur; or. The
Border Blacksmitb's Terrible Temptati
Wm. H. Manning.

on.

 

 

. 532 Javert. the independent Detective“ or. Captain

Cinnabar ill New York. By Capt. . Holmes.

533 Oregon. the Sport with a Scar: or. The Best
Man of Brace Box. By Wm. R. Eysier.

534 Greenmollntain Joe: or, The Counterfeiter‘s
Cave. By Marmaduke Dcy.

535 Dandy Dutch. the Decorator from Dead-Lift; or,
Saul Sunday‘s Search for Glory. By J. E. Badger.

5‘36 Old Falcon‘s Foe; or. The Matchless Detective's
Swell Job. lly Jackson Knox.

597 Blake. the Mountain Lion; or. The Fresh Against
the Field. By Albert \V. Aiken.

538 Rube Rocket. the Tent Detective;
Treacherous Two. By Geo. C. Jenks.

539 Old Doubledark, the Wily Detective' 0M
visible Poe‘s Masquerade. By Wm.

540 The Fleet Scourge; or. The Sea Wing of Salem.
By Col. Prentiss Ingrahanl.

541 Magor Magnet. the Man of Nerve' or ThéMucko
a-.\ ucks of Animas. By Joseph B. Badger, Jr.

542 The Ocean Drift; or. The Fight for Two Lives.
By A. F. Holt.

543 The Mn nate Detective; or. Major Million‘s
Joust wit the Witch. ByCapt. Howard Holmes.

544 The Back to Back Pards; or. The Right Man in
the Wrong Place. By Philip S. Warns.

545 Hustler Hang. the Cowboy S rt' or. Daring
Dan Shark’s neral Delivery. y .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 Jon. E. Badger, Jr. '

548 Falconbridge. the S hinx 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 Bar.
By Wm. R. Eyster.

550 Silk Hand. the Mohave Ferret: or. The Marked
Man of Arizona. By Capt. Howard Holmes.

551 Gar Kean the Man with Backbone; or, The
Gls. atom of Jack’s Delight. By W. H. Manning.

552 Prince Primrose, the Flower of the Flock; or,
Theichlligid Camp at Paradise Gulch. By Lieut.
A. . s.

553 Monte the Mutineer; or, The Branded Brig.
By Col. P. Ingraham. .

or, The

The In-
anning.

'\

554 Mad Sha . the Rustler; or. The Drummer De-
tective‘s B Lay-out. By Geo. C. Jenks.
555 Gri

Sack Sid. the Samgle Sport; or, the Rivals
of ock-about Range. yJoseph E. Badger. Jr.

556 Fresh, the S oxtChevaiier; or, A Big Racket at
Slide Out. y A. W Aiken.

557 The Mountain Graybeards: or. Old Riddle’s
Greatest Riddle. By J (i. Cowdrick.

558 Hurrah Harry.the Hligh Horse from Halcyon: or,
High Old Times at uni Pan. By W. R. Evster.

559 Danton. the Shadow Sharp' or. The Queen of the
Hidden Hands. By Capt. oward ilolmes.

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.

562 Lone Hand. the Shadow; 01-. The Master of the

Triangle Ranch. By Albert W. Aiken. I
569 WyomingI Zeke. the Hots ur of Honeysiiclde;
or, Old uluility’s Hard oad to Travel. By

Wm. H. Manning.

564 The Grip-Sack Sharp; or, The Seraphs of Sodom.
‘By Joe. E. Badger. r.

565 Prince Paul. the Postman Detective; or. Crush—
in; a Serpent’s Head. By J. C. Cowdrlck.

566 The Dsuntiess Detective; or, The Daughter
Avenger. By Tom W. King.

567 Captain Midn lit. the Man of Craft; or, The
Road-Knight‘s lot. By P. S. Wame.

568 The Dude Detective; or, Phelin McGallagin's
Hard Luck Hustle. By Wm. R. Eyster.

569 Captain Cobra. the Hooded M stery; or The
Quickened Dead. By Captain oward Ho mes.

570 The Actress Detective; or. The Invisible Hand.
By Albert W. Aiken.

571 Old Dismal. the Range Detective: or. The Hid-
den Cabin of Wind Canyon. By Wm. G. Patten.

572 Jaunty Joe. the Jockey Detective. By Geo. C.
Jenks.

578 The Witch of Shasta; or. The Man of Cheek.
Ry Major Daniel Boone Dumont.

574 Old Falcon’s Double. Bstckson Knox.

575 Stead Hand the Napoleon of Detectives.
By W am H Manning.

W6 Silver-Tongued Bid or. The
Clean Sweep. By. Joseph E.

577 Tom of California; or, the Actress Detective‘s
‘ Shadow Act. By Albert W. Aiken.

Gri Sack Sharp‘s
Badger. Jr.

m ven Shot Stev ‘the 8 within Smile. B
Byfl, illiamREystex? port y

 

579 Old Cormorant. the Bowery Shadow. By Capt.
Howard Holmes.

580 Shadowing a Shadow: or, The Pacific Slope
lletective's Triple Trail. By J. C. Cowdrick.

581 The Outlawed Skipper; or. The Gantlet Runner.
By Col. P. Ingraham.

582 Joram, the Detective Expert. By Jackson Knox. ‘

583 Captain Adair. the Cattle King; or. A Red
Ransom. By P. S. Warne.

584 Fire Feather. the Buccaneer King. By Ned
Buntline.

585 Dan Dixons Double: or, The Deadlock of Danger
Divide. By Wm. H. Manning.

586 The Silver Sharp Detective; or. The Big Rustler
at XL Ranch. 3y Albert W. Aiken.

587 Conrad, the Sailor Spv; or, The True Hearts of
‘76. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

588 Sandy Sands. the Sharp from Sna Cit ' or
Hoist by His Own Petal-d. By JosephPE. Ridger:

589 Prince Hal. the Battling Detective yor, Pat Lyon,
the Master Locksmith By Charles Morris.

590 Gentle Jack, the High Roller from Humbug: or,
The Dark Deal at Doubledeck. By W. R. Eyster.

591 Duke Daniels, the Society Detective or. Caging~
the Uncanny Birds. By J. C. Cowd ck.

59! Captain Sid. the Shasta Ferret' or. the Rivals of
Sunset. By Captain Howard olmes.

593 The Sea Rebel; or. The Red Rovers of "the Revo-
lution. By Col. Prentiss lngraham.. .

594 Fire Face. the Silver King’s Foe; or,. The Mys~
terious Highwayman. By Albert W. Aiken.

595 Wellborn, the Upper-Crust Detective; or, Plays
ing for the Challoner Millions. By Jackson Knox.

596 Rustler Rube, the Round-Up Detective. By
William H. Manning.

597 Big Bandy. the Brigadier of Brimstone Butte.
By Josep E. Badger. Jr.

598 The Dominic Detective; or. The Deedham Sen~
ration. By J. C. Cowdrick.

599 The Dead Shot Nine: or, My Pards of the Plains.
By Hon Wm. F. Cody. (Buflalo‘Bili).

600 The S ver
Col. tis

601 Joe Phenix’s Shadow; or. The Great Detective’a
Mysterious Monitor. By Albert W. Aiken.

602 Captain N smelessthe Mountain M‘ylstelg; or, The
Blue Coats of the Big Horn. By m. .Patten.

603 Desert Alf the Man With the Cougar; or, The
Strange Pilgrimage of Gentle Jack. By Vim.
R. Eyster.

604 The Detective in Rags; or, The Grim Shadower.
By Dr. Noel Dunbar.

605 The Shadow Silver Ship; or. The Bed Rebel of
the Revolution. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

600 The Drog Detective; oi. The Dreamthorpe Sen-
sation. y Jackson Knox. . '

607 Old Benzine. the “Hard Case" Detective' or.
JoeAjBEWc-rs' Racket at Bicaree City. By Alth
W. en. l

608 Silent Sam the Shadow Sphinr or. Following
the Invisibfi Trail. By Capt. H. olmes.

609 The Texas Tramp; or, Solid Saul. the Yankee-
Hercules. By Capt. F. Whittaker. ,

610 The Red Flag Rover; or, White Wings of the» /

Waves. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

611 Alkali Abe. the came-culcken from Texas; or, , '

The Smash-U in “No-World Kingdom.”
Wm. H. Man ng.

612 Shel-ii! Stillwood. the
or, The “Suspects”
Cowdrick.

313 Keen Bu . he Sport; or. The Circus at White:
Gopher. Albert .W. Aiken.

614 The Showman Detecti‘
By Capt. F. Whittaker

615 The Three Buccaneers or. The Ocean~"0utlaw’s.
Nemesis. By Colonel Prentlsl Ingrabam.‘

616 Magnus, the Weird‘ Detective. By Jackson.
Knox. Ready August 18.

617 The Gri -Sack Sharp’s Even—up: 01‘. The. Boss
Rocket 2:; Solid City. BY Jmph E. ,Badger..
Ready August 20.

618 uses Ks the Detective
Kat Leadvillll‘e. g Lieut. A.

Ready August -

619 Kit gandydfi Co. the Border DetectWes. or. The
“W

By‘

fr in. Frisco. By J. C.

t at. Hermit Dome. By Oil Coomes.
~ y September 8.

A new issue every Wednesday. ,  “

Boadlo’s Dime Library is for sale by .n’

Newsdealers, ten cents per copy, or \sont by mail  x ‘

receipt of twelve cents each. \
BEADLE AND'ADAMS. Publishers.

l

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Ship; or. The Sea Seouts of ’76. By
s Ingraham. ‘

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