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Buffalo Bill’sflan;m, fluflu m Ifleflesuue.

BY LEON LEWIS,

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Buffalo Bill’s Ban.

 

Buffalo Bills Ban:
CODY TO Tris: RESCUE.

A Romance of the Clean-out in Southwest
Colorado.

BY LEON LEWIS,
AUTHOR OF “ BUFFALO niLn‘s nan.qu ROLE.”

CHAPTER I.
LURKING ASSASSINS.

BUFFALO BILL‘,

Yes, the lone liui‘semun was be.

Just where one would expect to find him, and
in just such a situation as he likes best—in the
midst of a great solitude, splendidly mounted
and well-armed, and engaged in one of those se-
cret and dangerous missions to which the mili-
tary authorities? of the Wild West so often called
him in his scouting days.

In more precise terms, be was riding West-
ward at an easy pace, late in the afternoon of a
dismal, sunless and blustering day, about mid-
way on the stage road, (then a .nere trail), be-
tween Dnrango and Fort Harris, in Southwest-
ern Colorado.

His identity was somewhat coricealed, as any
man’s can be so readin with a muffler, broad-
rimined sombrero and army overcoat, but the
air in those elevated regions acquires a well-de-
fined chi l by the middle of September—the
date of this chronicle—and the few persons he
encountered scarcely noticed that he avoided
observation as much as was possible.

He was ascending at a walk the slope of a
divide near the fork which leads tiiWHl‘d the still
unpretentious hamlet ot Pairrott, i h n a double
detonation suddenly disturbed the silence, and 'a
couple of balls whistled past in such close prox-
imity to his head as to show that they Were in-
tended to kill.

Unslinging his rifle, he spurred his horse
promptly in the direction from which the missiles
had come, but bad~no sooner manifested this in-
tention than two men sprung from the covert of
rocks and bushes beside the trail, making stren-
uous efforts to escape.

In their desperate haste, the one nearest the
soout caught his trigger in a bush, and the re-
maining barrel of his rifle was discharged, the
ball passing completely through the body of his
associate, who fell headlong, death stricken.

With a yell of mingled horror and terror, the
author of this fatality darted to one of two
horses in waiting, gained his saddle at a bound,
and dashed away at a furious gallop.

Buffalo Bill f'ollOWed him for enough—per—
hope one hundred rods—~to see him turn into a
dense pine grove where a dozen men, in all sorts
of worn and will! raiment, and armed like out-
laws, were seated around an almost smokeless
fire, in the act of eating a supper consisting
principally of game, as was indicated by the
carcasses of a bear and deer hanging near by
and then he drew his horse to a walk and faced
about, retracing his steps to the scene Of the
shooting,

“ We~we knew you were coming, Cody,”
gasped the fallen assassin. “Our orders from
the cap’n—were to kill you i”

“Who is ‘ we?’” asked the scout.

“ The Ravagersl Beware—”

A gasp, and the man was dead.

“ So, this is my first encounter with the ene-
my?” muttered the scout, as he returned to the
trail and resumed his journey.
that these men are aware of my coming? I have
spoken of my intention only to Colonel Nayler
and Ben Letts. Ben, I am sure, has said noth-
ing. The news must have come from some one
very near the colonel, and who stands high in
his confidence. I must keep my eyes open for

 

 

~ that traitor l”

He looked back at the pine grove, where not
the least sign of life and movement was appar-
ent, and a smile curled his lips.

“ They’re well sted ” he added. “ They
know what sort of one ’m accustomed to ride,
and realize that it would be a fool’s game to pur-
sue me.”

He contrived to walk his horse another min-
ute, looking back, as if to tempt the enemy to
pursue him, that he might see more of them‘
then he chirped to his steed and left the scene 0
his narrow escape at an easy gallop.

CHAPTER II.
CALLED 'ro DANGEROUS wonx.

HOLDING steadily to his course, with no other
delay than that caused by easing his horse up
and down the many sharp crests on this route
the scout at length reached his destination, jus
as the first shadows of the coming night began
to descend around him. .

Fort Harris, primarily a mere post of the reg-
ular army, with a permanent mixed garrison of
two or three companies, infantry and cavalry,
is now both fort and village, some forty or fifty
dwellings, including several frame houses of far
SlZ", having gathered around the original mili-
taryinclosiire. '

Ad he reached the entrance of the fort, the

 

“ But how is it,

 

i
scout was met in person by Colonel Nayler, the l

commandant, a finelooking, genial, and cul- j
tured gentleman Of middle age, who was on the
lookout for him, and who greeted him with i
all the warmth Of an old acquaintance, passing l
his horse to a waiting orderly, and conducting,r l
him to headquarters, a neat,tw0»story frame I
house, with cupola and verandas, which stood 
nearly in the Center of the inclosure.

“ I am delighted to are you again, Mr. Cody,”
said the colonel, leading the way into the house. 1
“ I was afraid you wouldn’t come.” i

“ W hat! af'tcr the pressing call you sent me?”
returned the great scout, explorer and detec-
tive, as he stood his rifle in a corner of the hall, ‘
and laid off his sombrero and overcoat, display-
ing a. civilian suit of serviceable Cheviot. “There 1
was no occasion for your fears, colonel. I have i
never yet refused to honor any demands of this
nature.” I

“ I know that,” acknowledged Colonel Nay-
ler, waving his guest into the parlor, “but I
was afraid you couldn’t come just at present.
Follow me, please,”he added, loading the way
into his Own sleeping apartment. “ Here’s i,
everything necessary to take off that dust, and '
in ten minutes our supper will be on the table. ‘
Return to me as soon as you are ready. I re-
gret exceedingly that Mrs. Nayler is not here
to welcome you, but she has one into the vi!-
lage to (pass the night at the edside Of a very l
dear la y friend who is dangerously ill.”

He returned to the parlor, which was pleas- i
ant! y furnished and lighted, with a glowing fire
in the grate, and thince proceeded to the kit-
chen, where his cook and niaid-of-all—work—-a
motherly good-natured, and shrewd half—breed
woman of some forty-[i ve years—was busy with
her preparations for supper. Thanks to the at-
tention which had been given durin the after-
noon tO the expected arrival, t e ‘interval
named had not quite expired when Colonel
Nayler and his guest seated themselves facing
each other, with a. liberally supplied table be-
tween them.

“ Of course, Zellie,” said the commandant,
with a nod toward the door which had just
closed behind the cook, "‘ is diacretion itself, af-
ter long service with us. But I believe we are
quite competent to wait upon ourselves this
once, Mr. Cod , for the sake of being able to
discuss our af'airs without the rOSQIN‘O of a
third person. The truth is,” and o lowered his
voice, ” I wish what I have to say to remain es-
sentially private. and that’s why I shall even
refrain from asking my officers to meet you un-
til to-morrow’s dinner.”

“I comprehend, sir,” returned Buffalo Bill,
in a corresponding tone, with an almost imper-
ceptible start, turning an attentive ear toward
a door communicating with a rear hall. “We
are tospeak of the exploits and mysteries of the
Ravagers. Is Ben Letts still here?” ~

“ Ben Letts? Certainly,” was the colonel’s
answer, “ and I really don’t know what we
should do without him. His time expired last
month, to be sure. but he continues to stay on.
and says he expects there’ll soon be a demand
for his. services, as in the days when he and
you scouted together. In fact, it’s partly owing
to Ben’s advice and entreaty that I ’vo taken the -
liberty of asking you to come to our assistance.
He has lodgings outside in the village, but he’s
here almost every day,and is probably here
now—”

“ Then I WiSb you'd send for him, colonel,”
interrupted Cody, in a whisper,“and let him
take the place of the sneaking scoundrel who is
listening at yonder door l”

“ What! you think—”

“ Look and see!”

Gaining his feet in silence, Colonel Nayler
crossed the floor in three or four strides, With
the stealthiness of a tiger, and drew open the
door in question. abruptly.

Sure enough, his favorite orderly,the man
who had received the scout’s horse,had~ been
listening at the keyhole, and now found himself
surprise-d in such a position and attitude that his
guilt was only too evident.

“Ah,bere you are, Finklestcnel” cried the
commandant. in rage and disgust, taking him
by the ear. “ Thoughtyou’d listento what we'd
have to say.dld you? But you’ll never play
eavesdropner here again, you miserable fraud !”

Still holding the man by the ear, Colonel Nay-
ler rushed him out through the back hall, which
Zellie was just coming to light, and out of the
back door, into the large open area at the rear
of the house.

“Here,corporai of the uardl” he shouted,
addressing the Ofiicer in c arge of the relief,
who stood near a fire in front of the guard-
house, which was about six rods from the house.
“ Take charge of this prisoner.”

“Yes, colonel,” responded the corporal,ad-
vancing promptly to meet Finklestone, who was
being expedited toward him with a speed cor-
responding to the colonel’s wrath and excite—
ment.

“ And also take notice that he is reduced to
the ranks 1” continued the commandant, thrust-
ing the disgraced orderly with a final twist of
the ear into the custody of the corporal. “ Put
him in the calaboose. and detail a file to stand
guard over him with loaded rifles and fixed

 

 

bayonets until I can find tune to come and put
him in irons.”

“1 will, colonel—”

“ And also send Ben Letts to me!”

“ Sorry. colonel.” replied the corporal, “but
Ben Letts has not been here tO-day——”

“Then send three men to hunt him up, and
bring him to me, Dimmick, the moment he is
found.”

“ All right, colonel,” rejoined Dimmick. “ I’ll
attend to the matter immediately.”

And with this the corporal marched his ris-

' Oller to the guard-house, while the colone re-

turned to his guest, exclaiming:

“The soulless repayinte! And to think that
l have raised that man from the ranks, rushing
him through all the grades in five months. But
tell me, Cody,”and the commandant resumec
his seat, “ how came you to get track Of him so
soon?”

“ I noticed him when he took my horse,” ex-
plained the scout. “ He seemed to have a bad
face, under some strange excitement of that
moment, and I readily detected that he has a
sinister interest in my arrival and presence. A
quick ear and tho watchfulness which belongs to
my trade did the rest. Who is he?”

“ I’ll tell you later. Why do you ask?”

“ Because he has plenty Of friends in this gar-
rison, whoever he may be,” declared Bill, his
voice again sinking to a whisper. “ I was look-
ing from the rear hall—without allowing myself
to be seen, of course—at the moment you hand-
ed him over to Dinimiclmand could not help re-
niarkin that the ma fority of the soldiers res—
ent are is friends. believe they would have
fired upon you, colonel, if he had called for as-
sistance. The thought struck me that he and
they might be Ravage-rs!”

Colonel Nayler appeared to be startled by
these declarations, which, it must be admitted,
were of a very startling character.

“ Be that as it'may,colonel,” added the scout,
“ I would advise you to look well to his safe-
keeping! Otherwise he may give you the slip,
or be rescued by some Of his associates! I have
no hesitation in saying he’s a scheming and dan-
gerous man—yes, a traitor!"

“ I’ll put him in irons us soon as we are done
supper,” returned Colonel Nayler, with involun-
tary sternness, “ and if I’m not greatly mistak-
en, he’ll remain in them until he is brought be-
fore a drum-head court-martial.”

Buffalo Bill remained silenta few moments,
with an air of deep thought, and then said:

“ There’s another reason, colonel, why I was
so prompt to notice that fellow. I arrived here
with my teeth on edge,” and he smiled. “ In
other terms, I had an adventure with the Rav—
agers on my way from Durango!”

And with this be old his story, not a little to
the consternation 0 his bearer.

“ And now the grand question is Where is
the leak?” continued the scout. “ I saw at a
glance how astonished Finklestone was to see
me arrive here safely, and how upset he seemed
at my presence. To ‘ spot ’ him was easy. That
man is a treaclicrous villain !”

The colonel assented in silence, as if reflecting
upon sundry dark problems suggested by his
guest’s convictions, and then he aroused himself
and said :

“ But all this time our supper is getting cold,
Cody. Fortunately I have reserved too good
appetite—in the hope of having you here—to
allow any such man as Budd Finklestone to in—
terfere with it.”

“The same here, colonel.” avowed Buffalo
Bill, with his usual hearty cheerfulness, and in
another moment the two gentlemen were giv-
igg their best attention to the reth before
t em. -

For some time Colonel Nayler remained si—
lent, as if painfully preoccupied with the scout’s
suggestion of the presence of Ravagers within
the fort, and especially with the scout’s encoun-
ter with the outcasts on his way thither. -

“ Since they’re as near as t at, and so fully
informed,” he flnall y remarked . ‘f they may well
have smuggled themselves within these walls.
In any case, we cannot discuss the Situation too
soon, or‘too econ get towork to change it for

e better. Let’s talk as we eat. I’ve sum-
moned you here, Codv, for a desperate and dan-
gerous undertaking, namely, the unearthing and
suppression of these infernal Rangers!”

 

CHAPTER III.
MYSTIRIOUSLY manna. ,

BUFFALO BILL expressed his desire to know
more of the situation thus suggested, and Colonel
Nayler continued : '

“ You have of course received some hint of
the outrages which have been committed in
Southwestern Colorado during the last eighteen
months?” .

“The work of the Ravagers? .Yes,colonel,”
replied the scout, with keen interest. “ But,
you’ll remember that I’m very imperfectly post-

‘ed, have been busy elsewhcere, and will indly
give me details. There has been a great deal of
lawlessness and violence ?”

“More than ever before, Cody. In fact,l
veritable reign of terror l”

 

Buffalo Bill’s Ban.

3

 

 

Ere another word could be uttered, Dimmick
came in briskly by the rear hall, after an excited
knock.

“ If you please, colonel,” he announced, “the
Ravagers have been at it again, and here comes
a dozen fugitives, with several children, asking
for food and shelter!”

“ Put them in a casemate, Dimmick,” ordered
the commandant, “ and see that they do not
lack for anything in the way 01" food and bed—
ding. I wil call upon them imm 'ately after
su )pcr. IV here are they from?”

‘ From near Cedar Cr0ssing, sir.’

“ it’s the old story, no don ht?"

“ Precisely, colonel,” replied Dimmick. “ They
were Visited early last evening by a band of
Ravagers who are believed to be under the com-
mand of ‘ Whoop-pee ’ himself. All their build-
ings were burned, their stock driven off, and
their grain and all other supplies carried

.awa !’

“ saving them with barely the clothes they
stood in, as is usual in such cases, corporal?”

“ Exactly, colonel.”

The commandant made a gesture of dismissal,
and the corporal vanished.

“ But just what are these Ravagers, colonel?”
asked the scout. “ I can only suppose, from
what you and Ben Letts have written me, and
especially from what I’ve board since reaching
this neighborhood, that they are a band of un-
known miscreantswho are devastating the whole
region to the westward of us.”

And that’s just what they are, Cody,” de-
clared Colonel Na ler, earnestly, suspending
his attentions to iis supper for a moment.
“They're a band of demons! They waste and
destroy everything they cannot drive or carry
away, and hence the name which is generally
applied to them. They not only destroyisolat
ranches and dwellings, but wipe out entire ham-
lets, seizing every sort of stock and grain
wherever they can lay hands upon it. ome~
times they appear as ‘hostiles’ under a chief
who is known as ‘ Bad Medicine,’ and sometimes
they come as masked robbers, with a leader they
cal ' Whoop-pee.’ They’ve burned every fairly
good house in the western half of this county,
and seeni to have done this as a part of their
8 stem, which is one of wanton destruction.

hey have carried off from the district indicat-
ed nearly all the potatoes and other sup lies of
the ranchers and squatters, and have left their
victims neither cow, sheep nor steer. As to
horses, no man hereabouts can be certain of

finding one on his premises when he gets up of a
morning.”

“ What a state of things!” commented Buffalo
Bill. “ Their name describes them!”

“But what gives especial terror to the rav-
ages of these rufiians,” continued the command-
ant, “ is the fact that no one has ever been able

to obtain the least clew to their identities, their
numbers or their hiding-places and headquar-
ters. No one knows whence they come or
whither they go. One day here, and the next
day fifty miles away, committing their charac-
teristic crimes in both places, they elude and
defy all pursuit so readily and surely that our
best scouts and oldest frontiersmen are power-
less to do the least thing toward their detection
and suppression. I myself, for instance, as
much as [ have heard and seen of the doings of
the Ravagers during the last year, have never
set eyes on one of them. Nobody, as far as I
am aware, has ever run one of them to his
hole I”

“ But you’re made the eflort?” queried Buffalo
Bill, thoughtfully.

“ Repeatedly, and with as many men as I
could s are Without endangering the very exist-
ence 0 this fort and village,” replied Colonel
'Nayler. “I have sent out strong detachments
a in and a sin to hunt the villains, and have i
tafiEen the lie d in person.”

“ And with what results, colonel?”

“ Why, without any results whatever, other
than those of a negative character,” affirmed
the colonel, his brows contracting. “ In every
case the enemy seemed to be as well posted as
ourselves in regard to all we were doing,and
laid low and waited, keeping out of the way.
They were so well-informed, in fact," he added,
“ that I believe some traitor in our midst must
have revealed all our lens to them."

“ That is indeed pro able,” affirmed the scout,
his eges turning involuntarily in the direction
Bud Finklestone had gone. “ But do the Rav-
agers seem to have any particular likes and dis-
likes in their dealings with the communitv ?”

“ Well, yes,”answered Colonel Nayler. “ They
seem to be particularly ‘ down ’ on all sherifl's,
judges and other representatives of the law,
aid to be particularly ‘sweet,’ if I may use
that ,term, on soldiers, and especially cavalry-
men.

A smile of comprehension flitted over the fea-
tures of the colonel‘s guest.

“ Has any of their peculiar work been done in

this vicinity ’l” he asked.

“Certainly, within easy striking distance of
t is fort,” was the colonel‘s reply. “In fact,
Cedar Croesing, where the affair of last night
took place, is only fifteen miles northwest of us.

 

,And yet not a trace of the Ravagersl Not a
hint as to their abiding-place!"

“ Was Budd Finklestone outside of this fort,
yesterday?” asked the scout.

“ Budd? Yes. He went out to look for a
deserter named Jack Bossy—he often goes out
on such business—and did not return till late
this morning.”

“ Ah, indeed I”

The smile of Buffalo Bill deepened, as if he had
reached some well-defined theory in connection
with the ravages under discusSion.

“ But, what are these men driving at?” he
asked. “ What is their ultimate purpose ?”

“First, to live without work, or at the ex-
pense of others,” replied the colonel. *‘ Second,
to terrorize all settlers and ranchers and drive
them out of this part of the State, so that they
can have it to themselves. I may add that they
do not kill unnecessarily, or when they are not
resisted. But, woe to any one who ventures to
defend his home and possessions! For all such
these miscreants have no mercy!”

“Give me some further details of their pro-
ceedings, please,” requested the scout.

“ Well,” answered the officer, “ there have
been so many mysterious disappearances lately
that the whole county is in a panic. Take the
case of Alice King, for instance. She went out
on the morning of the 16th of August to look for
a calf which had strayed during the night, and
has not been seen since, nor has any hint been

'ven of her fate. Take, too, the case of Sarah

annett. She was the only child of her parents,
who were woll-to-do people living on an unsur-
veyed ranch just west of Mancos. One evening
in July, when her arents were about to retire
for the ni ht, they eard an awful scream from
the chum ier of their daughter. Hurrying to
her room, they found it tenantless, and nothing
to tell them how the girl had vanished. An—
other case is that of John Scott, a ranchman,
who had signalized himself by resisting the
Ravagers on one of theirraids, He disappeared
one night, to be seen no more, and such was also
the fate of a neighbor named Wilton. To these
cases many others might be added.”

“ Was Budd Finklestone outside of the fort
the night Alice King disappeared?” asked the
scout.

" Yes, he was, as I can recall from a number
of circumstances. Why do you ask?”

“ I will tell you later colonel,” returned Buf-
fslo Bill smili ly “ But, about the raids of
the Ravagersl ave they been many?”

“They’ve made three as hostiles and two as
masked robbers,” replied the colonel. “ All of
these raids came from the direction of the San
Juan Valley and River, and their line of retreat
was generally the liIancos, so that it is at least
suggested that their principal hiding-place is
somewhere near the Junction of the Mancos and
San Juan.”

“ Did you go that way to look for them?”

“ I did, but in vain! They vanished as com-
pletely as if they had climbed a tree and pulled
the tree up after them 1”

“ So that, up to this date, the Ravagers seem
to have the best of the stru 1e?”

“ The heSt 0'3 it?” 799011 the commandan‘.
“They have the whole field to themselves.
\Ve’re absolutely powerless to cope with them.
In fact, we’re losing ground daily. I’ve even
had fears that the ubiquitous demons might
make an attack on the fort and village, and
have at the same time walked up t the fa. t that
a portion of the gamson lscorru , demoralized,
and indifferent. For these and) many similar
reasons, Cody, I’ve asked you to come here and
help us out. We want to get track of these
Ravagers and suppress them, and you’re the
man for this work. I hope that nothing I’ve
said will cause you to shrink from the under-
taking.”

“Certainly not,” declared the scout; “ to the
contrary. I’ll do what I can. The Ravagers
may elude me, as they have eluded others, but I
doubt it.”

And again his glances turned thoughtful] in
the directio‘h in which Budd Finklestone
vanished, while he renewed his attentions to his
long-neglected supper.

CHAPTER IV.
CONCERNING rINKLES'rONn’s inaan.
er'rLs: more was said until the two had fin-
ished their supper and lighted cigars.

“ Who is this Finklestone?” then asked Buffalo
Bill, the deep thought in which he had been ab-
sorbed beginning to find expression.

“ He’s one of a dozen men who came here last
March and enlisted 'n a body,” re lied Colonel
Nayler. “ They cla ed to have
on a railroad to the eastward.”

“ But, had the i”

“ I can’t say, ody, I never gave the matter a
thou ht.”

“ evertheless. it’s a question of some conse-
quence,”insinuated the scout, “for the whole
crowd is just as likely to have come direct from
the camp of the Ravagersl"

The commandant started at the suggestion,
and Bill continued:

“ How did Finklestone manage to find such
favor with you i”

“ Well, he showed himself very capable and
energetic—a superior sort of man, in fact—and
seemed devoted to his duties, reliable and

 

n at work.

 

anxious to please. I naturally took some notice
of him, making him a corporal, and it was not
long before he told me he was the only son ( i” a
well-known En lish baronet, Sir Hornby Finkle-
stone, and thatgiquor and bad associations had
tumbled him into the pit which had led to his
enlistment. He showed me letters and other
authentic documents in proof of these asser-
tions.”

“ Please state their nature?”

The commandant did so, specifyin letters of
introduction. hotel-bills, and other letters from
Sir Homby Finklestone.

“ There is a baronet of that name,” comment-
ed the scout, “and he has a son named Budd, or
Buddington, butit‘s morally certain that your
late orderly is not the son."

“ Then how did he come bythose documents?”
demanded the colonel.

Quick came the reply:

“ He may have taken them while figuring as
a Ravager, from the real Budd Finklestone!”

Colonel Nayler started again, and stirred un-
easily in his chair, with the air of being aston-
ished at the light he was getting.

“ And so you kept advancing him, partlyhe-
cause of his good conduct and capacity, and
partly because of his aristocratic connections?”
continued the scout, uietly.

“ The exact truth, ody l”

“ But events must have favored him strange-
lv, Colonel, for him to have been advanced near-
1 y a dozen grades in five or six months.”

“ They did, indeed l” admitted the command-
ant. “ Somehow the man just ahead of him
was always getting out of the way. Twice at
least his immediate superiors were disabled, and
at least three others deserted. Besides, I ad-
vanced him several gradesat once—forinstance,
from third corporal to second sergeant.”

“ Have those absences of which we were
:peak’ing ever been of any considerable dura-

on ?‘

“ Of course they have,” was the reply. “ I’ve
given him furloughs whenever he asked for
them-so reasonable would seem his wishes——
and some of them were for two or three days.
Then, too, he has been outside a great deal to
hunt up deserters, not to speak of two or three
hunts in which he took part against the Rav-
agers. In a word, he has been in and out freely
evernsince I began to promote him and trust
him.

It was now the turn of Buffalo Bill to look
startled and stir uneasily. Such possibilities or
consequences seemed to flow from these facts
and admissions that he could hardly preserve
his outward calmness.

“You have made a great deal of this man,
colonel?” he resumed, after a pausv.

“ Too much, Cody—a thousand times too
much, I must admit!"

“And he has stood high in your confidence, '

assisting you in your campaigns against the
Ravagers, and having a knowledge of your se-
crets?”

“ Yes, especially during the last two or three
months, or since everything has been going to
the dogs!”

The scout moved his chair nearer to the colo-
nel‘s. looking around and listening, and then re-
sumed, in a whisper:

“Didn’t Budd and his crowd turn up here
just after you had been hunting the Ravagers
with all your might?”

I “ They did—now that your query recalls the
act. -

“ Did it ever occur to you that this man is
probably a Ravager?”

“ Never 1”

“And possibly that he is ‘Bad Medicine’
Whoop-pee,’ or the very King of the i.

and ‘
Ravagers?” .

“ The thought never occurred to me!

“ Nor that the men who enlisted with himiare
also Ravagers?”

“ No such suspicion crossed my mind l”

“ Nor that thev are all here as spies and trai-
tors—as corrupters of the garrison?” pursued
the scout.

Colonel Nayler stirred again, in startled un-
easmess.

“ The mere suggestion of such a state of af-
fairs here,” the army commandant declared,
“ takes my breath away, Oody l”

“And you have never even had a suspicion
that these men have smug led themselves into
the fort to oppose and n if all your efforts
for the destruction of their rotherhood, just
as naturally as mice burrow in a cheese to de—
vour it?”

“ Not even a suspicion!”

“ In a word, you are still unaware that figur
arch~enemy—the mysterious head of these v-
agers—has been living at your side, in peace
and honor, while on have literally ransacked
all Southwestern olorado to find him i”

Colonel Nayler laughed hysterically, his color
changing from white to scarlet.

“ Come, come,” he cried, “this is too much!”

“ Nevertheless, such a state of things as I
have suggested may he—nav, probably gs—the
absolute truth!” assured Buflalo Bill, with the
emphasis of a profound conviction. “ Look into
the matter! Probe the facts! Make your con—
nections on what has happened! As a first

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4

Buffalo Bill’s Ban.

 

step, let’s have Finklestone in here, if you have
no objections, and subject him to a r' orous ex-
amination, letting me 'take a hand in it. He
knew you expected me, of course?”

The commandant assented.

“ Then it can do no harm for him to have a
c10ser view of me. Will you send for him .3”

Heavy footsteps resounded in the back hall at
this moment, and Corporal Dimmick again
made his appearance.

“ We haven’t yet been able to find Ben Letts,
colonel,” he reported. “The boys have been
to every place where he’s likely to be, but it’s

no go?

-‘ 'ou can leave Ben to me, colonel.” said
BuilaloBill,inawhisper. “ Ican finilhimlater l”

The commandant accordingly said to the cor-
poral:

“ Never mind Ben now, Dimmick. You
needn’t continue to search for him. How
does Finklestone take his reduction to the
ranks?”

“ He has said nothing, colonel,” replied the
corporal, “ but I think he meditates some des-

ate move!”

“ What do the boys say?”

“Some of them say too much, colonel—so
much that I have threatened to arrest them at
any repetition of their conduct!”

‘ Indeed? Give me some examples!”

The corporal complied, and the colonel and
his guest exchanged glances of comprehension.

“ You were quite right, Dimmick ” said
Colonel Nayler, “ not to let such remarks pass
unnoticed. You may bring Budd into the back
parlor. But first search him thoroughly, so

hat we may be entirely assured he has no con-
cealed weapons about him. You and our file
will remain under arms in the back ii, and
be ready to appear the instant I call you, in
case of trouble with the prisoner. You me
also bring a gag and a pair of handcuffs with
you. Comprehend i”

“ I do, colonel,” and Dimmick vanished.

CHAPTER V.
wao AND WHAT IS an?

Tm: colonel and his guest transferred them-
selves to the back parlor which was used ha-
bitually by the commandant as his office and
rece tion-room, it being handy for his military
fann .

“ 81% here, please,” invited the colonel, indi-
cating a sofa. “ We may as well place our-
selves between the prisoner and the doors, so
that he won’t have the least chance to escape.”

The room had two large windows at the rear,
which had been stained to a hight of six feet to
exclude the gaze of the soldiers who were always
within a few rods of it.

Zellie had not only li hted the lamps, but had
kindled a lively fire, an the apartment was fur-
ther illuminated by the vivid gleams which came
in at the windows.

By the time the two gentlemen had arranged
their line of interrogatories, the disgraced or-
derly was ushcred into their presence.

“ You can sit down, Finklestone, if you care
to do so ” said Colonel Nayler, indicating a
chair, as biminick and his guard of two men re-
treated to the hall.

“Thank you, colonel,” was the re ly, in a
husky voice, which was accompanied y a ma-
li ant scowl. “ I prefer to remain standing.”

hat a picture of sullen rage and fury the
traitor presented l

Never a handsome man, his visage now dis-
played that repulsiveness whi 3h belongs only
to the most hideous aseions. Physically how-
ever, he was a in el of health, strength and
activity, being in his early prime, or not far
from thirty.

“ I made the offer out of consideratioa for
you,” continued Colonel Nayler seating him-
self on the sofa beside Buffalo hill, “and he-
ticimse’our interview is likely to be of some dura-

on.

“ Wh so?” asked the prisoner, scannin alter-
nately t e two stern faces before him. “ sthere
so much to be said i”

“ A ver great deal,” answered the command-
ant. “ e propoeeto give you a thorough over-
hauling—to turn you inside out, so to speak.”

The prisoner sneered audib .

“ You'll havea good time,” cretorted. “ You
are treating me very badly,” and he raised his
hand to his car which was considerably swollen.
“ I have heard a great deal about Buffalo Bill.
Ben Letts, for instance, is never tired of talkin
about him. Well. the man arrives here, an
you sit down to supper with him. I have occa—
sion to speak fq you and come' to the door.
Hearing voices, pause almoment to see if my
intrusion is likely to be untimely. And et
just because of that pause, which was an a of
simple discretion, you treat me as if I were a
red-handed pirate l” .

He folded his arms upon his broad chest, and
looked as if he were the most abused man on the

 

continent.

“That ‘ use’ was rather too long for this
excuse to old good,” remarked Buflalo Bill,
with smiling sarcasm, addressing himself to the

risoner. ‘You were eavesdr ping, in the

all sense of the term. You ha been at the

door more than a minute when it was opened.”

 

“ I am too truthful to deny it,”returned Fin-
klestone. “ I was curious about your resence
here, as I‘ve indicated, and a remark caught
tempted me to listen to what was said about Ben
Letts. But, is such on act—a inere slip in the
path of duty—a sufficient excuse for treating
me with this rigor?”

“ Such a ‘ slip ’ is certainly a warrant for in-
quiring into your character and acts,” replied
the scout, ” and such is the nature of the atten-
tions we now propose to give you. It’s not
merely because you have been caught at eaves-
dropping once that we have entered upon this
inquiry, but also because you have probably
been playing this game for months. lt’s not
more] that you are false in one particular but
also t at you are probably false in all. n a
word, you are accused of something more serious
than eavesdropping, as Colonel Nayler will now
prooeed to show you i”

“ Yes, Finklestone,” added the colonel, “ you
are now an object of the gravest and most
dama ing suspicions. To begin with, I must
frank, y say that Mr. Cody thinks very badly of

on 1’

“ Well, I don’t care what he thinks about me,”
replied the man, glaring at the scout, “ no more
than I care what you think about me, Colonel
Nay ler. If you want war, you can have it, both
of you i”

“ Have a care!" warned the commandant
sternly. “ Whatever indulgence I may be in-
clined to show you on myown account, you will
not be permitted to insult my guest with im-
punity.’

The prisoner remained silent a few moments,
looking angrily at his questioners and sharply
exploring his surroundings.

“ What do you want of me, anyhow i” he then
demanded. ‘ Of what am I accused? ’ '

“In the first place ” returned the colonel “I
require of you a civil tongue and respectful de-
portnient. You will do well to remember that
you are an enlisted man and thatIam your
commanding officer l”

Finklestone snapped his fingers contemptuousp

l .
y" That’s what I care for ‘your commanding
oflicerl’” he muttered.

“In the second lace,” pursued the colonel,
who seemed inclin
his prisoner for the sake of the information he
was seeking, “ we desire to know who you
really are, and what was the name you were
before you an red at this fort, and what is the
real motive 0 your presence 3”

“ Oh, you do ?”sneered Finklestone, continuing
to glare at his questioners, while his face flushed
hot V.

“ Yes, we wish to know if you and the men
who came here with you are Ravagers ” pursued
the colonel. “ We want to know i you are
‘ thoop—pee’ and ‘ Bad Medicine,’and if your
career at this fort is a mere episode or pendant
of a different and larger career you have lived
and are living elsewhere. We wish to know if
your presence here is merer a hand in a. daring
and fiendish game you arep aying. We want to
know if you have been a spv and a sneak ever
since the first hour of your arrival, and a
traitfr from the moment I made you a cor-
PO’? "

“ Is that all, colonel?” sneered the prisoner.

“ In a word,” finished the commandant, “ we
wantto know if you are the head and front of
all those crimes and outrages which have dis-
turbed the peace of Southwestern Colorado dur-
ing‘the last eighteen months.”

heface of Finklestone had grown livid as he
listened, but he seemed neither surprised nor
disconcerted at this long string of accusations.
El: even smiled with an air of mockery and dos
nce.

“ Did ou kill or shut up in some secret den
the real udd Finklestone, taking his name‘ and
papers?” continued the commandant. “Did

cu abduct Alice King and Sarah Gannetti

id you raid Cedar Crossin last ht, while
pretending to look for Jack Bony! ave you
or anized the bands of cut-throats which have
so ong been raiding this vicinity, and some of
which have been seen this very day within a
few miles of us! Face to face with us, and a

risoner with Dimmick and his in wait-

ng,” added the colonel, wavi hand around
impressively “the hour for e answering of
all these terrible and weighty questions has now
sounded. Who and what are 'you? We de-
mand and must have an answer!

CHAPTER VI.
now run munvmw nxnsn.
BUDD meLnsronn sneered again looking
from Buflalo Bill to Colonel Nayler with‘savage

defiance.
time in getting into port on

 

. “ You’ll be a 10
that tack, colonel,’ he declared with the return
of his wonted equanimity. ‘The man who
suggested that long string of questions”—-and
here he inclined himse’f sarcasticall to the
scout—“had better take the contrac for fur-
nishing the answers 1”

“Then you won’t give us any information!”
queried the colonel.

“ Not a particle l”

“ You won’t even deny—”

,,~ . -~

 

to overlook the insolence of .

 

“ Not even that I built the Tower of Babel, if
you care to accuse me of that performance.”
interrupted the prisoner, again carryii g his
hand to the ear the commandant had twrstcd.
“ If you had treated me even rationally, no: to
say civilly, I should have been quite at your
service, and would have made short work of the
chatter this too enterprising new-comer has
been pleased to assocmte with my name. But,
since you have chosen to act in this scandalous
fashion, after treatin me with equally foolish
partiality for a numgcr of months, cu may
carry on your ‘inquiry ’ in any way that may
suit on, but you’ll get no help from me. Hav-
ing hus stated my position, I beg to add that
I’ve nothing more to say to either of you on any
subject whatever.”

“ But how easy, if you are really Budd Finkle-
stone, and a son of Sir Hornby Finklestone,”
suggested Colonel Nayler—" how easy to dis—
proveall the accusations I have advanced against

you l”

“But do they need any disprovali”retorted
the prisoner, with another bitter sneer. “ Have
you produced a particle of proof to connect me
in any way with the Ravagersi”

“ Well, no,” admitted the colonel. “But we
have merely entered upon our inquiry—J

“ Oh, the deuce take your inquiry, and you
with it!” said Finklestone. “ I expect my fa-
ther here from one day to another,” and a
strange gleam agpearcd n his eyes, “and it is
needless to add t at his arrival will soon make
trouble for you and your bison ac uaintance.”

The repetition of this claim 0 aristocratic
connections annoyed Colonel Nayler consider-
ably, inasmuch as he did not take the slightest
stock in it. _

“ When your distinguished father appears,
then,” he declared “ a new order of things shall
be inau urated. n the mean time, however, a
diet of read and water for a few days may in-
duce on to see things in a diflere' t ight, even
if it dyoes not incline ydu to make full confession
of your crimes and im ures. If not, we’ll
try what virtue there is n a bail and chain, with
handcuffs.”

“ You may try what you please, colonel,” re-
sponded Finklestone with biasing eyes, “and I
have no doubt you’ll be Just about as success.
ful therein as you have been in your campaigns
against the Ravagersl In the mean time, and
untilI get a chance to ive your ears such a
twist as you’ve given in no, I take pleasure in
tendering you t e assurance of my heartiest
contempt and defiance!" . . .

The colonel sprung to his feet thh the air of
a man whose patience was getting exhausted.

“ You must see, Finklestone,” said Buffalo
Bill, arising and taking the commandant by
the arm, “ that such conduct as this can only
do you great harm. You should hasten to an-
swer our questions unless you wish us to put
the worst pomible construction upon your re-
fusali”

“ Oh, you go West, young man, and grow u
with the bufialoesl” returned the prisoner, witl;
scornful impatience. “ I don’t want you to say
another word to me l”

As was natural enough, the commandant had

now reached the end of his atience.
“ Cor rel of the ardi” e shouted, turning
his face ward the cor.

Dimmick lostxno time in making his appear-
ance, with his file of men at his heels.

“ Have you that gag and that pair of hand-
cuffs, corporal?” asked the colonel.

The corporal produced them.

“ And you ma put them in use as soon as you
please, colonel,’ exclaimed Finklestone, with
furious voice and mien, as he shook his fist at
the commandant. “I care no more for your
threats than I should for those of an old granny,
whom you so much resemble l"

‘ ‘ Silence 1” thundered Colonel Nayler.

“ Neither do I care for your Bufl'alo Bill, who‘
has come hereto stir you up against me, or to
save your precious bacon from the Ravagers,”
continued li‘inklestonel turnin a murderous

upon the scout. ‘ As to a your question-
ng, susgicion, or what not—I scorn and defy
you hot i”

“ Silence, I say, or I will gag you i”

,“ Well, I don’t care for that, either i" returned
the prisoner. “ If you choose to take that
course, take it, and if you will, at the same
time, gag yourself, and so spare me all further
chatter, shall be duly thankful l”

“ I see that I shall have to ado t stern meas-
ures with you,” the officer said, but, so be it..
You have onl yourself to blame for it. I’ll at
you in irons,’ and he stepped forward as i to.
give the order.

“ You will, will you?” cried Finklestone..
“ It’s easier said than done, Mister Martinet l”

With a single bound he was at the colonel’s
side, catching him by the arms, and whirling
him arour‘d in such a way as to lace the body
of the commandant between h mself and the
scout, thus using him as a shield.

“ That’s what I care for on, Nayler, and
that’s what I care for yourt teats,” he cried,
jerking the colonel toward the stained windows
at the rear of the room. “ And with this, good—
ni ht and good-b l”

l -.
,..._

e hurled the ort commandant into the arms:

-.&n~a\.--.

- ~. m---n;...

'to outrun his discretion, and was proceeding to

, himself 1"

Buffalo Bill’s is...

5

 

 

of the astonished Buffalo Bill, who had sprung
to his rescue, and, the next instant, a tremen-
dons crash succeeded. By the time the scout
could steady the colonel and himself upon their
feet, and before he could draw a revolver, both
realized what had taken place. The desperate
rufflan had flung himself bodily through the I
sash and glass of one of the windows, and was
already on his feet and bounding like a deer to- ,
ward the eitternal walls of the fort. ‘

“Stop him! Kill him!” came in a chorus of
voices from the vicinity of the guard-house. I

A number of shots succeeded, tWo of the sen- .
tries having caught aglimpse of the fugitive, ,
but none of them seemed to touch him— at least !
they did not stop him—and in a few moments
more he had leaped from the top of an outer
wall, at one of the angles of the fort, and van-
ished into the intense darkness which was now
reigning.

In a word, the daring spy and traitor had
made good his escape!

CHAPTER VII.
SIn noasnv FINKLESTONE.

THE scene of wondering excitement which
succeeded as Colonel Nayler hurried outdoors,
followed by Dimmick and his guard, will be
readily comprehended, a dozen voices blending
excitedly in an inquiry as to what had hap-

mom].

I The corporal was especially chagrined at the
escape of his prisoner,aud was eager to dispatch
half the garrison in instant pursuit.

“ What! in this darkness?" queried the com-
mandant, with a glance at the lowering hea-
'vens.

“ We might at least make an effort to catch
him, colonel!” ventured the co ml.

The commandant smiled half cynically.

“When you get to be a colonel, my son,” he
said, “ you ll never order your men to make
any efforts which have no reasonable chance of
success. Of what use would it be to worry and
weaken this garrison in huntino for that man at
such a moment? To find a needle in a haystack
would be an easy task in comparison.”

Dimmick realized that he had allowed his zeal

 

stammer his excuses, when the colonel waved
him to his post, and turned and retraced his
steps into the house, closing and locking the
door behind him.

“ You are right, Cody,” he said, the moment
he encountered the scout, who had retreated to
the parlor to avoid the curious glances which
had turned to the broken window. “ That fel-
low has plenty of friends here! More than half
of the men I saw out there are glad of his es-
cape. Why is it?”

‘ It can hardly be because of his aristocratic
father, I think, ’ returned Buffalo Bill, with a
smile. “The high estimation in which he is
held must proceed from some quality peculiar to

“Evideutl ,”assonted the colonel, “but it’s
awkward to ave such a man on my hands, and
then suddenly realize that he has more friends
within these walls than I have!” "

“ Are you going to pursue him, colonel?”

“ Not to—night, if ever! The truth is,” added
the officer, bitterly, “ I don’t know who to send!
To judge b what I’ve just seen, one-half of my
men woul sooner send that man on his way
than detain him !”

“Then the first steap would seem to be, c 10-
nel,”sug ested Buff 0 Bill, “to separate he
‘sheep' mm the ‘ goats ’or, in other terms,
the friends of Colonel Nayler from those of
Budd Finklestone, and the sooner such a step is
taken the better 1’

“ It’sa matter I will have attended to this
very night.” vowed the commandant. “ I’ll
have Dimmick,and others in whom I have com-
plete confidence, make a report to me of all the
men in the garrison who are likely to be Rava-
gers, as of all those who have evidently been
deinoralized by these reprobates. The basis of
this list is of course to be had readin in the. re-
cord of those who came here with Finklestone.
Until such a separation of the ‘ sheep ' from the
‘goats,’ Cody has been made, as you have sug-
gested, I think it would be an act of folly to
make a detail to go in quest of the escaped
prisoner. Don’t you?”

“ I do indeed, colonel!”

At this instant a. tremendous uproar arose
just outside of the main entrance of the fort—
an u roar in which were blended the clatter of
rapi hoofs, the shouts of sentries, the cries of
a fugitive for assistance. the curses and ex-
clamations of a band of pursuers, and a dozen
or twenty shots from numerous rifles and re-
volversl

“ Ah! hear that?” cried Colonel Nayler, lead-
ing the way rapidly in the direction of the tu-
mult and making a gesture to Buffalo Bill to
follow him. “ Perhaps they’ve stopped him!”

Emerging from his front door, he-struck a
gong suspended beside it, and immediately the
sentry on duty at the gate ulled a cord which
broke a bottle of inflamma les over a bale of
combustibles and ignited the same, on the high—
est point of one of the bastions nearest the en-
trance.

As the result of this proceeding, a bright

 

glare of light was instantly cast far and wide
over the scene, as well without the fort as with-
in, and the colonel and Buffalo Bill, on reaching
the little door in the great gate, were able to
take in at a glance the nature of the alarm
which had startled them.

It was simple and yet peculiar, a fugitive of
some Sort having been chased to the very walls

of the fort by a dozen pursuers who could only ‘

be outlaws of some kind, as they were neither
citizens iior soldiers.

These pursuers were now in full retreat, hav-
ing been stopped by the shots of the seiitri'es on
that side of the fort, and the light which had
been so promptly cast upon the scene by the
action of Colonel Nayler barely sufficed to show
their general as -t and numbers ere they vau—
ished in the 'direction from . which they had
come.

“ That seems, colonel,” said the scout, “like
the very crowd I encountered at the fork of the
road, on my way here, as I told you. They act
like it. too!”

“ It‘s the same, no doubt," returned the com-
mandant, passing outside. “ But who is the
man they were pursuing, and where is he?”

“ [161 e, colonel!” was the answer from a
group of men a couple of rods away from the
entrance.

The colonel advanced in that direction, the
scout accompan ing him.

Before them ay the figure of a man in a
state of unconsciousness, his head supported by
one of the several sentries who were always on
duty at the entrance of the fort, to receive visi-
tors or render any other service that might be

uired of them.

‘ What is the trouble, Heron i” asked the
commandant of this sentry.

“ Either his horse stopped so suddenly as to
throw him, colonel,” was the reply, “ or else he
threw himself from the saddle in such a hurry
as to lose his balance and get a tumble."

A roan came from the insensible stranger.

“ t’s take him to my sitting-room,’ pro
posed the commandant. and nothing more was
said until this measure had been accomplished,
except that the colonel gave two or three or-
ders to the sentries and officers at the entrance
to keep a shar lookout for the pursuers, or for
an renewal o the disturbance

een in the light of the colonel’s sitting-room,
the stranger was readily made out to be a
rather robust and distinguished-looking gentle-
man, somewhat past the prime of life, and with
an aspect that would have struck a traveled
observer at sight as being unmistakably En-
glish. This view was sustained by his plentiful
flaxen hair and florid complexion, as also by his
“ mutton-cho ” whiskers and his dress, which
was stylish, e egant, and quiet.

The garrison doctor was uickly summoned,
and Heron was sent to find t e stranger’s horse
and take care of it.

“I see no fracture,” was the report of the
physician, after a careful examination, and the
removal of some stains from the nostrils and
tem les. “ He has been stunned and shaken
up, ut I think he’ll be all ri ht in an hour.
We’ll lay him on the colonel s bed and give
him a dose, besides getting his feet into hot wa-
ter to draw the blood away from his head and
keep it in motion. Leave him to Dimmick
and me, colone1,as I see you have company and
are busy. Is he the man I heard coming in such
a hurry?”

Colonel Nayler bowed.

“ But what sort of a crowd was that pursuing
him? Ravagers ?”

“Evidently,” answered the colonel. “ At
least such is the opinion of Mr. Cody, to whom
lI tzk’e pleasure in introducing you, Doctor Paw-

e .

The informal introduction was duly acknowl-
edged, the two gentlemen shaking hands and
exchanging a few words in regard to the situa-
tion.

Dr. Pawlett had grown gray in handling
all sorts of injuries resulting rom violence, and
the opinion he had expressed in regard to the
condition of the stranger was accepted by the
commandant as final.

“But, who is he?” asked the doctor, when the
several measures of relief he had ordered had
been duly taken. '

“ We haven’t the least idea who he is, doctor,”
replied the colonel. “ Possibly he may have a
card or a letter upon him that will answer your
question. In any case, you had better take
charge of an documents and valuables he may
have, including his watch and purse, until he is
in condition to take care of them himself.”

The doctor complied with the suggestion, but
had not gone far in his investigations before he
encountered several copies of an address card
which read as follows:

“ Sir Hornby Finklestone, The Grove, Man-
lcheatgr Road, Southport, Lancashire, Eng-

an .

e

 

CHAPTER VIII.
BEN LETTS.
No doubt could long subsist in the face of the
discoveries that succeeded.
The new-comer was provided with a
number of papers and

eat
ocuinents, includ ng a

\

 

letter of introduction to Colonel Nayler from
his commanding general, which showed unmis-
takably that he was really the well-known
English baronet, Sir Hornby Fiiiklestone.

And not only did he have in his passession
thousands of dollars in ready cash, but letters
of credit and bills of exchange, from prominent
bankers in London, in the name of Sir Hornby,
for tens of thousands additional.

The colonel and Buffalo Bill could not help
exchargiiig glances of astonishment.

“ The man is certainly authentic,” declared
the scout. “ \Vhat‘s more, he’s a man of the
best character and standing. and an oft quoted
authority on various industrial questions and
discoveries. A distinguished party of English
gentlemen for whom‘ I acted as scout last sum-
mer had a great deal to say about him in con-
nection with the geological strata of the Rockies
and other scientific subjects. But how strange
that such a man as yourdisgraced orderly should
have declared to us within the hour that he ex-
pected the baronet!”

“ it is indeed a puzzle,”returned the com-
mandant, who had been eiideavoring to take in
the sense of the letter of introduction from his
general. “ and it’s all the more so because I
read here that ‘the baronet is coming your way
to look up his only son and heir, who is in some
great troublc!’ What can it mean?”

“ Certainly, not that your disgraced orderly
is really the son of this gentleman,” declared
Buffalo Bill, in a tone of earnest conviction.

“ What then i”

I“ It can only mean that this rascal has killed
or imprisoned the real son, as a preliminary to
the masquerade he has been having. Your re-
cent suggestion to this effect seems to me very
reasonable. Would it not be quite in keeping
with what we know or sus ct of Budd Finkle-
stone that he should be hol g Sir Hornby’s son
for a ransom ’l”

“ That’s the only con 'ecture I find reasonable,
so far as we‘ve gone, ’ said the colonel, as an-
other groan came from the injured and uncon-
scious baronet. “ But all speculations in such
a matter are useless. We must wait until Sir
Hornby has recovered his senses,and he’ll tell
us all about it.” ,

“ But, see here, colonel,” spoke up Dr. Paw-
lett, at this moment, “ I cannot consent to be
the depository of all these moneys and valuables,
not even for so short a period as evidently in-
tervenes between the baronet’s insensibility and
the return of his senses. You must take charge
of them.”

“ All right, doctor,” returned the command-
ant. “ Get them tog-ther in a neat parcel, and -
I’ll take charge of them and lock them up in the
safe, with the paymaster’s money.”

The speculations of the trio, as to what could

ibly be the connection of the disgraced or-
erly with the movements of the baronet, were
continued for several minutes, as they gave
their best attentions to the insensible guest, but
no satisfactory results were reached.

“ Evidently we must depend upon the gentle-
man himself for our information,” at length re-
marked Buffalo Bill, “and as it will probably
be some little time before he can speak, I think
I’ll leave you to look through the fort with your
officers, colonel, and put everything in the best
possible shape while I go and find Ben Letts
and et to work with him in my own fashion.”

“ at can you find him. Cody!”

“ Readily, colonel, I have no doubt, as I am
in receipt of late‘advices from him. But, I’d
like to get out unseen. The fire-ball has burned
out, of course, but that’s not enough. I s Zellie
safe?”

“ As our own selves, Cod !”

“ Then she can put one 0 her old cloaks and
bonnets on me,” suggested the scout, “ and walk
with me as far as the gate.”

“ Excellent,” was the eommandant’s com-
ment. “ She often goes out that way with our
washwoman, who lives in the village, and no
one will see anything icious in the per-
formance. It will be we] if you can move
about unnoticed, but the task is difficult, as
Buddhas of course announced to all the Rave ers
burrowing here that you were expected. on
will of course be on your guard constantly
a ainst surprises and attacks of every nature.

on will take your rifle and hat under the
cloak, I su pose?’

“ M ri eonly, colonel,” was the reply. “ I
have ecided to leavo my hat and overcoat here ,
till my return, and will wear Zellie’s cloak and
bonnet during this absence. I will also borrow
a second cloak and bonnet for Ben Letts, and
smuggle him in here in that dis uise !"

“ Capital!” commented Colone Nayler. “ But
you may need the countersign,” he added, “ or
if not, it will do you no harm to have it.”

He gave it in a whis r, and then hastened to
summon and instruct ellie.

The faithful woman was delighted  have
such a chance of being useful, and within a few
minutes, under her escort, the disguised scout
had passed quietly out of the fort and beyond
the not any of its occu ants.

“ any thanks. Zellie, ’ be said, receivin \
from her a second cloak and bonnet she ha
provided for the use of Ben Letts. “ I’ll wait

ere a moment to see that you get in safely,”

 

 

 

.vin :_ ‘ ‘

-4 :

’this noon,

6

Buffalo Bill’s Ban.

so

 

 

The moment Zellie had withdrawn the scout
entered upon a stroll through the village, as if
desirous of making himself familiar with its
features.

There was light enough, of course, in the
various stores, saloons, and dwellings, to enable
him to make his way without difficulty, and yet
not enough—with the care he took—to show
any one who he was or What he was doing.

fishing at length under the lighted Window
of a house stau ing near the street, be ex-
amined carefully a rude sketch of the village he
had drawn from his pocket, taking care to keep
his face in the shadow and well muffled.

“ Yes, I’m right,” he soliloquized. “This
streetto the left Will take me to the La Plato.
trail, and there ”- he touched a point on the
map—“ is Ben’s new house.”

Returning the diagram to his pocket, he walk-
ed away rapidly in the direction indicated, and
was soon lost’in an intense darkness, having
left all the li hts of the village behind him.

He was ab 6, however, to follow the general
direction of the trail, and at length—at a dis-
tance of nearly a mile from the fort—he came
to asnug little frame house which stood quite
by itself. He was just able to make out its out-
line: with the aid of the light which reached
him from a lurid rift in the dark canopy of
clouds above him, and a murmur of joy an re-
lief escaped him.

This was the place he sought.

Advancing to the door he knocked lightly, but
in an unwonted and peculiar fashion.

“ It’s me, Ben,” he called, in a guarded tone,
at the key-hole. “ Hear me? I’m Bill 1”

A front window was promptly raised a few
inches. ,

“ Yes, I hear ye, pard,” came the answer.
“Wait a minute! ’

Then came sounds of the removal of a sort of
barricade from a small front hall, and the door
was drawn ajar.

“ Slip in, Bill.” invited a voice.

The scout complied, closing and locking the
door, and found himself infolded in a pair of
arms wnich seemed to possess muscles of steel.

“ Such joy as it is to see ye again, Bill,” eon-
tinued the voice.
match, so you can See your way.”

Suit! his action to the word, the occupant
of the little house led the ‘wa into a small,
square room. with a fire-place ut no fire, ad-
vancing a chair.

“ W hat’s that dis ire for?” he asked.

“ I assumed it, en,” replied Buffalo Bill
taking the burning match from him, “ to avoid
being reco ised by the enemy, and l’ve brought
you a simi ar bonnet and cloak to enable you to
enter the fort with me without being noticed.
Get into them.”

Ben Letts hastened to do so, adding, as the
flame of the match expired:

“Excuse me for not lighting a candle, Bill.
I’ll tell you "by later. In fact, we sha’n’t re-

uire any light if we’re g in to the fort imme-
diately. But I must hea t e news before we
start, and I’ve something to say. Sit down.”

’ Ben Lotte was not a model of bean in a
Grecian standpoint, but he could ho! h sown
every time in any crowd ever seen in the Rocky
Mountains, he being a man of the Custer type-—
small. wiry, limber as lightning and with the
eye of a hawk. He had neither ainin nor rela-
tives, and his life had its great desolatiqns, but
he had a faculty of being visible at the right
time and in the right wav,and had already been
the associate of Buffalo Bill in a numberof ver
important expeditions and missions, although
hir age was scarce! y seven-and—twenty.

CHAPTER IX.
rascBLn AT HANDl
“I (301. Our last letter and map at Durango
en,” sail Buffalo Bill, sittin down
with his rifle across his knees, “ and reac ed the
fort 'ust before dark.”

“ hen you’ve seen Colonel Naylerl”

“ Yes, and Budd Finklestone tool Let me
tell you what has happened since I left the
county seat.” . .

He hastened to do so, speaking briefly of the
various events we have recorded—his encoun-
ter with the lurking assassins at the fork of the
roads, his arrival, the eavesdropping or Finkle-
stone, the revelations of the colonel, their inter-
view with the disgraced orderly, and the lat-
ter’s daring escape.

“Thunder! that was like him 1” was Ben’s
comment. “ But What a close call that was for
you at the forks! How can the Ravagers have
got wind of your expected arrival?”

“ Oh, the colonel told Finklestone, in con-
nection with the preparations for my reception,
and Finklestone sent word to one of his lieu-
tenantsto intercept me, as the easiest way of
conjuring his danger.”

“ The rascals!” cried Ben. “ But we’ll make
them settle, Bill! You’ve made up your mind,
of course, to wipe them out! ’

“ Naturally, and all the more naturallybe-
cause of that sort of conduct,” assured Buffalo
Bill, with a flashing eye and flushed cheek.
“Since the Ravagers have chosen to begin the
war, and to begin it in that dastardly fashion,
they’ll either have to go to the wall or I shall.

“ Come inside. I’ll light a -

 

That Budd Finklestoue especiall must be
huntgd to his hole and the hole (given in on
him!

“ Oh, we can get him again, Billl” declared
Ben Let , with joyous eagerness and excite-
ment. ‘ ‘He has a sister in the village, a Mrs.
Goggin, and will doubtless go to her house!”

‘ S0 near the fort, Ben?"

“ Oh, lle don’t care for the fort nor for any-
body in it,” explained Ben Letts, “ so complete-
ly has he demoralized its defenders.”

“ But this sister, Ben?” queried Buffalo Bill,
with intense interest. “Is the woman really
his sister, do you think?’

“ At least they both claim that relation-
ship,” re lied Ben, “ and I. must say that there
is a deci ed family likeness between them.”

“ Then wh couldn’t we learn something
through her a. ut him 1”

“That's just what I’ve been trying to do,”
avowed Ben. “ I pretended to be smitten with
her and have been hanging around her a great
(lea lately, as a welcome visitor, and flatter
myself that she has swallowed the bait. At
any rate, she has let out a number of weighty
secrets, including the fact that he’s her brother 2”

“ But here comes in a curious complication
of the mystery concerning that man,” an-
nounced Buffalo Bill, and with this he pro-
ceeded to report the arrival .of Sir Hornby
Finklestone at the fort, and the peculiar cir-
cumstances under which it had taken place.

“Well, well,” declared Ben, “that is a puz-
zler! But I’m sure Mrs. Goggin is really the
sister of that rascal, whatever may be his other

ersonal surroundings. I have no doubt they’re
Brother and sister, although very few know it.
In this fact is our meat. Budd likes his case as
well as any one. Besides he was outside near-
ly all last night. To-night being what it is—
dark as a glue-pot and a storm threatening—he
will doubt css go around to his sister’s and take
a good snooze to make up for lost time. Oh,
gee, Bill, We’ll go around to the house of Mrs.

oggin in a little while, and SCOOP him! Have
you had supper!”

“ Yes, With the colonel.”

“ I’m :31th sorry, Bill.” said Ben, “ I’ve
been getting up such a set-out, including a nice
roast of young buffalo. But that will come
in good later.”

Ben had indeed been making rather elaborate
preparations for the reception of his friend and
associate, and his modest table was literally
covered by the good things u n it.

“ As I’ve been writing ye, ill,” resumed Ben,
“the fort’s fairly swarmi with Ravagers,
and with men who are reaIiIiS to beecme such.
I’ve already 'spotted' at east twenty-five.
That Finklestone is ‘Whoop—poo’ and ‘Bad
Medicine,’and such men as Tim VVi gins, Dutt
Smiley, and Stubby J obson, who on isted with
him, are his mOSt,deVoted and active assist-

t8.

“What’s the present strength of the garri-
son!” asked Buffalo Bill.

“ Nominally about three hundred. Now.
twenty-five men in a garrison of three hundred
would seem at first glance to be no t shakes,
Bill, but these chaps are particu arly daring
and dangerous. They’re all in the habit of hav-
ing the countersign, whether they are on guard
duty 01' not, and they have dozens of rope-lad-
ders for lowering themselves from the walls, so
that they can go. out for their drinks and come
in about 33 "WHY as if they were in a fashion-
able theater.”

“ But the colonel—”

“ Oh, the colonel’s all right, a good fellow,
and a splendid man every way,” assured 8611,
with affectionate warmth. “He‘s sharp, 900.
as well as sound and ca ble. But, he made the

t mistake of allow ng his feelings to be 611-
isted by what Finklestone told him about his
fine birth and breeding. n fact. the colonel
has always believed him to Sir Hornby’s son.
You see how easy it is to make mistakes of this
kind Bill. The colonel has trusted that fraud
implicitly, and the lying impostor has made the
best of his chances. He and the other Ravagers
within this fort have wide and extensive con-
nections outside, and hence they may be con-
sidered _ the advance-guard of a formidable
army. They know I’ve been watching them,
and are tearing mad. I didn’t go to the fort
to-da y, Bill, for fear some of them would lay me
out before our arrival.”

“Is it as ad as that, Ben?”

“ Bud’s no name for it, Bill,” was the use.
“They’ve been watching for days for a c co
to murder me!”

“ The villains I” commented Buffalo Bill, under
his breath. “ But are they really bad enough to
kill voui”

“Why not, as well aswaylav you? The Rav-
agers all know that you and I are old friends,
and that we’ve been in many a tight place to-
gether. I’ve often talked of what we’ve done.
Then, too. they know that I’ve sent for you,
and that the colonel asked you to come in con
sequence of my advice. They further know
that you have come here to hunt them up and
suppress them. You’ll see from these few sug-
gestions how terribly they must hate us. If we
ever fall into their hands, Bill, they’ll make
short work of us!”

 

 

“We must take good care, then, to keep them
at a distance,” was the reslionse. “ Have you
said anything to Colonel Nayler about the,pres-
once of Ravagers at the fort?”

“ No, Bill, ’ replied Ben. “ I wasn’t quite
ready. I wanted more facts and proofs. lav-
sides, I thought best not to say anything on that
subject before your arrival. In fact. I w.<
afraid to say anything. I reasoned that the
Villains might do something desperate if I stir-
red up the colonel against them. Why, the."
might have killed the colonel, or carried his
wife off to one of their hiding-places, if I hm:—
n’t been patient and silent. They‘ve been lung-
ing around my lodgings in the village till I got
tired of dodging them, and that’s why I’ve
bought this place with my savings and taken
possession.”

“It’s a nice little place,”said Buffalo Bill,
“ but it seems ex and unprotected.”

“PityI didn’t look at it in that light,” re--
turned Ben. “My idea was that it would be
retired and out of the way, and my further idea
was to be here a long time, and make the place-
our headquarters, before the Ravagers would
get track of us I”

“But you have slipped up in that project,
haven’t you i”

“ Decidedly!” acknowledged Ben. “You saw
how I was barricaded? The rascals have
tracked me here already, although I didn’t move
in till this morning, and abstained from even
getting in an old woman to clean house for me.

n fact, I’ve been expecting a visit from the
Ravagers ever since dark. They're coming here
to clean me out. and that’s why I haven’t any
fire, and why I didn’t want a light. A crowd
of them may be here. Bill, in about another
minute!” '

“ Indeed! But why should they be in such a
hu to visit you?”

“ h, the; evidently think they’ll make a

reat point Ty getting rid of me before on and

connect. hey don’t know that you ave a]-
ready left the fort?” '

“ Certainly not.”

“Then we shall soon see them here, as fierce
as so many hungry wolves l” .

“ Why not act accordingly?” queried Buffalo
Bill, arising. “ Why not slip away to the fort
without further delay?”

“ And leave them to eat that roast, and burn
my house afterward? Stop! An idea strikes
me! I’ll set a trap for them 1”

Stepping to his little pantry, he brought out.
a bottle and stood it on the table.

“ Excellent whisky ” he muttered, “ but it’s
doctor-ed ! And now let’s be of! l” .

Striking a match, be seized his rifle and led
the way to asmall lean-to at the back of his,
house. .

“As you see, Bill,” be said, waving his di-
minutive flame over piles of wood, “ I’ve begun

etting ready for winter. Mind that snow~

ouse. Yonder is the door. It’s only bolted.
The windows and doors are all shuttered with-
in with oak plankin faced with iron, and will
readily stop a bulle . The fact is, I have been
busy here for a share of several days, and
have taken ly such action as I would in a
bowling wi demess, with Injuns and grizzlies
for my neighbors!”

“ You’ve done well,” returned Buffalo Bill, as
Ben’s match burned out, plunging them again.
in darkness. “ These Ravagers— Listen I

A I'llSh of heavy footsteps resounded, ap-
proaching from the direction of the. vi! e.

“ Thunder !" whispered Ben Letts. ‘ Here
they come 1”

 

CHAPTER X. ,
AFTER BEN’S BCALP. er

VERY ragid although quiet was the action
taken by so Letts to conjure the peril by
which he and' Buffalo Bill were now menaced.

Hastin opening the door of the lean-to. or‘
woodshed, be pinned to the outside of it a scrap
of 1paper he had drawn from his vest pocket.

hen he took Buffalo Bill by the arm and left
the place, closing the door behind him, and.
walked quietly to the edge of the woods stretch-
ing away to the. north and west to a point very
near his dwelling.

The Ravagers being now close at hand, their
noisy fwtstepdresounded louder than ever, but
the scouts realized tbat no one could see a rod
in such darkness as was reigning. especially in-
su‘ch close roximity to a great forest, and were
not at all ustered by the near presence of their
enemies.

In a few moments more eight men had sur-
rounded the little house, rifle in hand, and one
of them advanced to the front door, knocking
loudly upon it.

The scouts divined the situation without rx-
actly seeing it, computing the number of the
newcomers by the noise they made and by the
sounds of the movements of those on the side of‘
the house nearest them.

At the spot where they had taken refuge was:
a rustic bench which had been a favorite place
of repose for a previous Owner of the premises,
and the scouts seated themselves upon it, in a
line position for watching the intruders.

“ Light 11 , Ben and let us in,” called the»

man at the cor, after suspending his knocking,

Buffalo 

'7

 

 

and listening a few moments. “ We are some of
your old friends of Company F, and have good
news for you. Let us in!”

A smile of contempt curled the lips of Ben
’  Letts, and he stirred impatiently, his fingers

‘ toying with his rifle.

‘ The poor fool hardly comprehends how easy
it would be for me to step that way and drop
him," he whispered. “ I recognize him by his
voice. He’s Sam Gaddley, one of Finklestone’s
most intimate cronies, and one of the meanest
re tiles I‘ve ever encountered!”

‘he man at the door began knocking again,
more vigorously than before, and even made a
fruitless attempt to break in.

“ Hey, there! Do you hear, Ben Letts l” he
cried, after waiting in vain a second time for
an answer. “ If you can’t take a little notice

' of fair words, we’ll try something else. Let us
, in and be quick about it! Otherwise, we’ll pile

- a and of kindling against your shanty and roast
you alive in it!” _

Another interval of silence succeeded—a si-
lence broken only by the skurrying of (lead
leaves and the wailin of wild winds.

“ He bay dut be ere,” suddenly ventured
one:i of the eight men, who evidently had a bad
col .

“ He was here this afternoon,” said another
of the sinister visitors. “ I saw him cutting and
splitting wood just back of the house.”

“ Sil;nce all of you i” enjoined Sam Gaddley,
angriLy. ‘ Do you think I want to set up a de-
bating club under the nose of Ben Letts as to
where he is and what he’s doing?”

“ If he’s not here, we can at least clean out his
house,” a third suggested.

“ Ad burd ebrysce that’s dut worth carryig
away,” supplemente< the man with a cold.

“ ill you keep quiet ’17” growled Sam Gaddley,
with increa ' im tience. “ Evident] I’ve
started out at he end of a debatiu c ub or
idiot asylum to capture one of the In danger-
ous catamounts that ever stood on two legs!
Just dry up, will you, and I’ll see if there’s any
wgy of getting into the house!”

helteri himself from the wind beside the

door, he lig ted a lantern he had brought with
him, and entered upon a tour of the dwelling,
takin careful note of everything and listening
intent y.

“ Hey, boys!” he shouted, in joyous excite-
ment, at the end of a few moments. ‘ Come
here!”

His followers promptly gathered around him
at the door of the woodshed.

“ Ben Letts has gone to the fort,”he announc-
ecl, holding his lantern up to the scrap of pa ;er

I Ben had inned to the door. “See what t at

says? ‘ I you get here, Bill, before I return,
walk right in and make yourself comfortable.’
That was intended for Buffalo Bill!” '

The statement was true.

Ben had first attached the scrap of
his front door, early in the day, as a pre '
to a hunt.

“ Yes, he’s away,” repeated Gaddley. “ This
is why no notice is taken of us. What an awful

i pity we’ve failed to get him! The cap’n was
.3 very anxious to have him killed before he and

Buffalo Bill could get together.”
“ How careless they are I” whispered Ben, as
_. the eight men stood 886(grouped at the donr of the
g lean-to and discu their disriovery, all of them
? more or less plainéy revealed by the light of
their lanterns. “ e could drop them all in
their tracks, and not give them the least chance

at us.

“ True, ’ returnedBuflalo Bill, “ but we must
stick to our old text, Ben, and never kill-not
even such cha as these—when we can possibly

I; avoid it. des,,your ‘ trap’ is in a fair way
' to do the business.

It was, indeed!

The Ravagers had tried the hear door of the
lean-to and opened it, looking within.

" Everything semis all right.” remarked Sam
Gaddley, after listening a moment with raised
forefinger. “ But, is it? Is Ben Letts roall
away? And, if gone, when will he be back?’

1 flashing his light into the woodshed.
I “ Perhaps not to-night,” said one; “ there’s no
telling.”

“ In any case, we may as well take a look at
things,now we‘re here,” decided Gaddlcy. “ Get
in, boys, and we’ll start a fire. Ben is sure to
have enough to eat and drink. He’ll be away
for hours, if not all night.”

“ Led‘s get id," proposed the man with a cold.
8. little impatiently, as his comrades hesitated
about entering each waiting for somebody else
to take the lc . “ We can bah a dice tibe, ad
bake oursebs cubstable till Bed cubs!”

The movement thus indicated had barely been
entered upon, however, when a clatter of hoofs
in the distance resounded upon the hearing of
the Ravagers.

“ What can that be?" demanded Gaddley, re-
tracing his stcps toward the front of the! house,
followed by his companions. “ Are those scouts

. already coming from the fort i”
 All lis‘ened breathlesst as the clatter of hoofs
came nearer.
“ No, it’s only one man,”added Gaddlcy, “ and
he’s evidently one of us. He’s coming here.”
“ How cad you doh that?”



aper to
inary

A ‘ 

 

“Why, because Ben would not be mounted,
and no one else would be starting out for a
longer ride than this on such a night.” .

A few moments later the horseman rode up to
the house and dismounted.

“It’s only me, boys,” he called, approaching
the waitin group. “ I got impatient and
thought 1’ see what ou’re doing. It’s really
essential to wipe out on Letts before Buffalo
Bi'l can connect With him. Is it done?”

The questioner was Budd Finklestonel

CHAPTER XI.
READY FOR QUICK, SHARP WORK.

Tm: eight Ravagers who had undertaken the
task of suppressing Ben Letts all hastened. to
answer, each in his own way, the inquiry of
their leader.

Then Sam Gaddley proceeded to explain.

“ No, cap’n,” he said, “ we haven’t yet wiped
out Ben Letts,for the sim is reason that he’s not
here to be wiped. The act is, he has gone to
the fort to see Buffalo Bill.”

A savage curse escaped Finklestone.

“ 1 had begun to fear as much,” he confessed,
“ or I wouldn’t have come out, for I’m sore as a
boil from that 'ump through old man Nayler’s
window. But ow do you know Ben has gone
to the fort?”

“In the first place, because he isn’t here,” re-
plied Gaddley, “and in the second, because he
has left his card behind him. See here.”

He led the way to the rear of the woodshed,
flourishing his lantern, and invited the attention
of Finklestone to the scrap of paper Ben had left
pinned to the door.

“That’s all very well, as far as it goes,” ac-
knowledged Finklestone, after reading the slip.
“But why was it left here, instead of at the
front door, where you would naturally expect
to find it?”

The concealed scouts, who continued to listen
and watch, could not hclp smiling at the ques-
tion, so well did it indicate how watchful and
guarded their arch-enemy meant to be in his
dealings with them.

But Sam Gaddlcy was not to be confused by
3: small a matter, and hastened to explain fur-
t er.

“ I can only sup that Ben had some under-
standing with Bu alo Bill to this efl’ect.”

“ That is indeed possible ” acknowledged Fin-
klestone, thoughtfully. ‘ Ben would hardly
care to stick such a sign as that on his front
door, where it would be seen by every one who
chanced to pass. Have you looked through the
house?”

“ Not yet, cap’n,” answered Gaddley.

“ No?" and Finklestone started, scannin the
house and listening. “Then how do you anow
that Ben Letts is not here, and 'ust in the act of
pokin r hisrifle cut of that win owtodrop you?"

“ W y, he didn’t show up and answer—’

Finklcstone made a gesture of impatience,

unslingii g his rifle.
at all, Sam,” he said.

 

“ That’s no rcasonin
uneasily. “ Hasten to 00k through the housc—
you alone. The 1': st of 1113—”

He made a rapid gesture, and his followers
surrounded the house in silence, with their fln-
gers upon the triggers of their rifles.

Sam entered the house by way of the lean-to
flashing the rays of his lantern around him. and
thus reached the principal room of the dwelling.

“ Come here, cap’n,” he suddenly called, in an
excited voice, retracmg his steps sufficiently to
li ht the way. “ What a feast!”

inklestone hastened to join him, leaving his
horse with one of his followers.

“ You see, on ’n," resumed Gaddley, wavin
his hand and ashing his light over the we] -
filled table. “Ben has made all these reparaa
tions in expectation of having his frien here to
supper, and has gone to the fort to fetch him.
Finding that the colonel has get ahead of him,
the couple will doubtless pa es the evening with
the commandant, and asmst him in cooking u
a lan for our total and immediate destruction. ’

‘ That is indeed quite possible,” returned

Finklestone. “Look at that roast! There’s
enough of it for half a dozen. What’s in that
bottle?” ‘

Gaddle smelt andtasted.

“ Whis y,” he reported. “ Will you try it!"

“ Of course not,” was the answer. “ The da
has gone by when can drink out of bottles le t
around loose in that manner. May it not be a
bait l”

“ It may indccd i”

“ For just such fish as us?”

“ I can’t dcny it, cap’n!’

“ 'l‘hcn let it alone, Sam,” on 'oined Bi;dd,wl'th
nwisc shake of the head. “ here is too loud
an inquiry just now for ‘ Whoop—pee ’ and
‘ Bad Medicine ’ in a hundred diffcrent quarters
for me to take any risks. Besides. there‘s no
privation in the matter. as I’m always supplied
with a little of the best!"

He drew a handsomely-mounted flask from a
side-pocket, and turned a liberal dram into a
tumbler.

” Try that,” he said, extending the tumbler to
his henchmen.

“ After ou, cap’n,” said Gaddley. “ But
here’s anot er glass.”

“ Good. Hold it up here.”

.i .w a. ...  -,,_ A

 

A second dram was turned out, and the two
men touched glasses.

“ Here’s to getting s uare with Ben Letts and
Buffalo Bill,” proposed inklestone. “ May they
die the death of dogs, and at our hands!”

The couple emptied their tumblers, and then
Finklestone dro ped into the nearest chair.

“ We’ll certainly give them something to
think about between now and morning,” he
said, with savage gleam and glow, as he,rub<
bed his sore ear. “ Do you know where Mrs.
N ayler is i”

“ Certainly. watching with Mrs. “'ayland,
an old friend of her school-girl days, who has
recently come here from the East!” answered
Guddley.

“ Exactly! Well, Sam, don’t you see how
easy it is for us to take a terrible revenge upon
the Colonel for this twisted ear—not to s ask of
somethin else—by securing his wife an carry-
ing her 0 to our retreat .1”

“ Good! glorious! It can be done!" was Gad-
dley’s comment. “And without the least
trouble or danger!”

“ Of course it can,” pursued Finklestone, his
eyes glowing luridly. “ Mrs. VVayland’s house
is close enough at one side of the village to be
readily reached. Old W escoit is attending the
patient, but one or two calls a day can hardly

lace him in our path. Presumably Mrs.

'ayler is the only watcher. In a word, there-
fore. the prize can readily be ours!”

“ Evidently,” returned Gaddley, with the
brevit of a man who awaits his orders.

“l’lf charge you with the matter,” resumed
Finklestone. “ You had better take with you
Hank Tilkins, Dan Ring wood,snd Ted Grupple,
who are all tried and true. I’llgive you fifty
dollars if you make a complete success of the
abduction. You had better all show yourselves
at once at the door, if the coast is clear, so that
Mrs. Nayler Will see at a glance that resistance
is out of the question.” -

“Of course it will be well not to move too
'iaoon.”cr while there’s much stir in the vil-
a e?

“ Of course, Sam. And once Mrs. Nayler is
in your hands, without noise or pursuit, on
may bring her to the house of my sister, rs.
Goggin, taking good care that you are not seen
to enter.”

“ Will on be there on our arrival?”

“ Yes, . I’m going there to have a ood
slee , as I’ve hardly closed my eyes for t ree
nig tspast. I believe you comprehend every—
thing?”

“ erfectly, cap’n.”

“Then take your boys and be off, remember-
ing not to open your head to them in anything
louder than awhisper, and notjeven in that
till you are at the scene of action. As you pass
out, send Dutt and the rest to me, hitching my
horse near the door.”

In another minute Sam Gaddlcy and the men
assi cd him were retracing their steps toward
the village, while the other four hastened to
join their leader in the interior of the house.

“ I o to leave the four of you here,
Dutt,’ Said Finklestone, arising and addressing
the man be regarded as the leader of the little

rty remaining. “And what do I leave you
fire for, do you suppose é”

“ Wh , to capture or kill Ben Letts and Buf-
falo Bill, when they come from the fort,” an-
swered Dutt Smiley, with a save ye twinkle in
his eyes, as also with the air of eing pleased
at being intrusted with such an important task.

“ Yes, that’s it,”avowed Finklestone, “and I
have no great choice as to whether it’s kill or
capture. You’ll have to be guided by circum-
stances. To kill will proba ly be the surest
and safest, but if you can capture the couple
alive I’ll gladly share a special present of a
hundred dollars between you.”

“Oh, we’ll get them,” declared Dutt Smiley,
with eager mien. “ We’ll all watch till mid-
night, and then it will be two and two till morn-

n

in .

Budd Finklestone reflected intently a few mo-
ments, scanninghis folIOWers, as if making an
estimate of their several capacities. =

“ Upon the whole,” he said, “you needn’t
make an effort to capture the scouts, Drop
them suddenly the moment they get within
striking distance. I will divide two hundred
dollars among you if you kill them both. Let’s
have no more failures! Two such botches as
I’ve had to-nightareenou h!”

“ You refer,” returne Smiley, “ to the
failure of Tooker to kill Buffalo Bill and cap-
ture Sir Horriby Finklestone?”

“ Yes, Dutt. Think of it l” and a fierce curse
escaped him. “Twelve of them posted at the
forkstocatch the baronet and drop that meddling
scout, and yet they let them both slip through
their fingers! I had a plan for getting at least
fifty thousand dollars from Sir Homby, and
I’ll have it yet!”

“You will of course get him out of the fort
between now and morning, cap’n l”

“ Yes, Dutt—as soon as I’ve had a nap at my
sister’s and got rested. I can get him—sure?

" But how came Tooker to lose both men—”

“ Oh, I can only suppose that he andrall with
him think they’re out for a picnic,” replied
’Finklestone, bitterly, “and give their princi-

,3_
/~

 

 

.in

8

Buffalo Bill’s Ban.

 

pal attention to eating and drinking. That’s
our besetting sin, you now. Let’s have none
of it here to-ni ht,” and he glanced anew over
Ben’s well-fille table. “Take a bite, if you
will, but never drink out of strange bottles.
On this latter point, I may as well be dead cer-
tain.

Seizing the bottle Ben had stood on the table
earlier, he dashed it into the fireplace, scatter-
ing its contents in the ashes.

" You may show me out, Dutt,” he added,
leading the way toward the door by which he
had entered. “ I’ll leave you now, with a final
injunction to look sharp, or you’ll be gobbled by
the enemy before morning!”

“ But when are all of us, cap’n, going to quit
the fort forever?" asked Smiley, lighting his
chief through the lean-to. ‘

“ Why do you ask?"

“ Because Dimmick or some other snoop may
discover that secret tunnel at any moment, and
then what a hullabaloo! Now that Buffalo Bill
has come, too—”

“Oh, you can leave me to name the hour of
our departure, Duct,” interrupted Finklestone.
“ I’ll only say now that We’re going very
soon I"

“ To our secret retreat, of course?”

“ Yes, Uutt—to the ‘ Quadrangle.”’

Passing out and gaining his saddle. he waved
his followers adieu, and dashed away toward
the village.

 

CHAPTER XII.
FOUR THE LESS 'ro FIGHTI

IT was with a gloomy aspect that Dutt Smiley
returned to his three assosiates.

“How cold it’s getting!” he growled, closing
the door behind him. “ We sha l have an early
winter. What a pity, too, about that bottle of
whisky l”

“ Yes, ad ebberlastig she be!” groaned the man

i with a cold. “ I deeded sub l"

“ l‘hat cap’n’s ‘clean gone’ on the subject of
being gizened by somebody,” lamented another
of the avagers. “ He wouldn’t dare drink the
milk of a cocoanutl Holy artichokesl”

“ Has anything bit you, old Porous?”

“Jest smell 0’ these tumberlersl" wailed the
man thus cognomened. “ The on ’n and Sam
had a dro together. Sech whis y, too i” and
he drain a teas oonful Finklestone had left.
“This is too awfu y awful l—to drink all they
want and then smash the bottle under such a
flimsy retextl What an elongated and ever-
lasting ypocrite the cap’n isl”

The tumblers were ssed around, in solemn
conclave, with mutterings dire and dark, while
the four Ravagers grew faint with the scent
which reached them.

“ Well, we can at least have a fire and warm
ourselves,” at len th remarked Dutt Smiley
proceedin to the eplace. “Here is plenty of
wood, wit nice kindlings— Moly hosesl”

“ What now, Dutti”

“A miracle! a perfect miracle 1" announced
Smiley, advancing his lantern into the fireplace.
“That, bottle struck in some ashes and shav-

83"-

" And isn‘t broken, Duttl”

“ Oh, yes—it’s broken, the neck having hit
the back of the chimney,” explained Smiley
“ but the bottom issound, and at least a third of
the whisky is left in it!"

We need not record the exclamations of de-
li ht which succeeded, as the four men proceed-
ed to divide the whisky into equal parts and
swallow it.

“ And now for a slice of that meat,” said
Smiley,taking a seat at the table and beginning
to carve the fine roast Ben had provided a ainst
the arrival of his distinguished friend. “ ome
of you will have to find boxes and barrels to sit
upon, but none of us will have to go hungry.”

The four Were soon as busy as t e rare supply
of good thin s before them could make them.

‘ Just thin , boys,” resumed Smiley, when he
had helped his associates liberally, “in what an
uncertain sort of world we’re livmg! Little did
it occurto Ben Letts, as he turned this morsel
before the blaze so patiently, that it would be
eaten by the hated Ravagers! Ha. ha l”

All laughed heartily, and then Dutt stepped
out-doors, and looked and listened a moment, to
assure himself that the scouts wore. still at a
distance.

“ Somehow—I don’t feel quite right,” he said
as he returned to hiscomrades. “ think I’ll lie
down a minute.”

He took passession of Ben’s lounge, closing
his eyes, and nothing more was heard from
him.

The next instant Staples stopped eating, look-
ing around upon his associates with a sort of
dazed and scared air.

“ There’s subthig wrog,” he said. “ 1—”

He arose and staggered to Ben’s bunk, which
was built solidly to the wall, and managed to
deposit himself in it, when he, too, relapsed into
silence.

As to the other two Rangers, they attempted
to express their surprise and compare notes, but
their drowsiness increased so rapidly as to ren-
der their attempt futile, and in another minute
they had become inert masses on the floor beside

' the table.

I
Then the scouts opened the door of the lean-to
I and looked in upon them, with smiles of a very
I contented description.

“ I thought that‘s where they’d fetch up,”said
Buffalo Bill. “ Your ‘ trap’ has closed 11 on
them. Did I not hear a horse in that little 3 ed
, in the edge of the woods as we sat looking at
1 the Ravagersi”

“You did, Bill—a couple of them, a work—
horse and a splendid saddle thoroughbred. I’ve
been drawing wood with the former.”

“ Then you have a wagon?”

“ A roomy and solid ‘ lumber ’-box—yes.”

“Good. We are prepared then to give these
four Rwagers a prompt change of scene.”

' “ Yes, Bill,” and Ben Letts seized the lantern
of Dutt Smiley and led the way from the apart<
ment. “ We have only to hitch up and load
up. There’slittle danger that we shall be trou~
bled further.”

Such proved to be the case, and the scouts
were soon on their .way to the fort with the four
unconscious Ra vagers thinly covered with straw
occupying the body of the wagon.

Gaining admittance by giving the countersign,
the scouts drove directly to the colonel’s door
and hastened to give him a report of all that
had happened.

After a brief expression of his surprise, Colo-
_ nel Nayler desired to know how long the sleep-
} ers would remain under the influence of the
dose they had taken.

“Probably till morning, sir,” was Ben’s an-
swer.

“And you think you‘ll get hold of Budd be-
tween now and then ?”

“Undoubtedl , colonel. I didn’t hear what
he said to Sam addley as his men were around
my house at the time,’ explained Ben, “ but I
did hear him sayto Dutt Smile that he was go-
ing to his sister’s to have a goo nacp.”

‘ And he said he could and woul get hold of
Sir Hornby i”

“ He did, colonel.”

“ And hopes to get fifty thousand dollars from
the baronet?”

“ That’s what he said, sir.”

“ What, then, can be the mystery between
them? Unfortunately, the baronet has not yet
recovered his senses. But I’ll (place a guard
around the houso to prevent Bu (1 from getting
hold of him. As to these four men, I’ll put
them in a casemate, under special guard. And
you i”

“ We must leave as soon as you have unload-
ed the we on and sent it outside of the gate to
us,” said en.

A few minutes later, still disguised in Zellie’s
cloaks and bonnets, the scouts were on their
way back to Ben’s house with the horse and
wagon, which were in due course returned to
the places whence they had been taken.

Then thley hung up their disguises in the lean-
t0, appea ng in their roper semblance, and
took a fresh departure. saving everything se-
cured for the night behind them.

A profound sigh escaped Ben Letts as be
halted a few rods away and took along look at
the dark outlines of his little dwellin .

“ We may see it again, Bill ” he as d, “ but in
all likelihood, not until we have weather a
considerable scrimmage.”

“ Evidently.” returned Buffalo Bill, with
thoughtful brevity.

And the two friends took their way at an easy
pace, and with watchful mien —occasionally
pausing to look and listen—toward the retired
portion of the village in which stood the house
of Mrs. Goggin.

CHAPTER XIII.
GOING FOR THEIR ENEMY.

“Or course we’re taking an early start,” ob-
served Ben Letts, “ but it isn’t necessary to sing
Budd Finklestone to slee . He drops of! the
moment belies down, and, like all such men, he’s
not easily awakened."

“But this sister—this Mrs. Gog 'n,”Queried
Buffalo Bill. “ Is she good-looking ”

“Oh, anything‘d pass for that in s. garrison
town, where an old skirt on a out is enough to
arouse general enthusiasm. be can be agree-
able, when she cares to be. She claims to be a
widow, but I suspect Mr. (Joggin to be a polite
fiction.”

“ She has a large circle of admirers, of
course?”

“ A very large one, Bill. and they come in all
sorts of garbs and accouterments, so that I’ve
seen half a dozen rifles stacked in her umbrella.-
stand at once. She is not likelyto recognize
you from any picture or description she has re-
wind, but still you had better remain outside
until [ give you the word to enter.”

“ Shall we find a crowd there, do you think?”

“ Hardly. at this hour, and on such a threat-
ening night as this,” answered Ben, glancing
inquirineg at the dark sky. “I may find two
or three soldiers or teamsters there, as is gener-
allythe cusi‘, but she'll soon get rid of them,
when i tell her that I have very important news
for her and must see her alone.”

“ But she mus-t know you are an enemy of the
Ravage-rs. Ben, and that her brother is trying
to kill you.”

“ N 0, Bill,” replied Ben, “ for the simple rea-

 

 

 

“

son that she does not know me as Ben Letts, but
as ‘Captain Hickman.’ I always slip on a cer—
tain wig and heard just before I reach her
house, and l’ll do so now.”

He suited the action to the word.

“There! I’m now ‘Captain Hickman,’Bill ”
he resumed, in a changed voice, he being able
to assume several, every one of which was quite
distinct from his natural modeof speech. “ The
aged "arising, Bill, you can figure as my bro-

er.

“ Has Budd seen you in this character?”asked
Buffalo Bill.

“ Naturally not,” replied Ben. “I’ve been
here as ‘ Hickman ’ only when I knew Budd was
busy elsewhere.”

“ But does Mrs. Goggin always receive you ?”

“ Certainly, and every one else who pulls her
door—bell,” was Ben’s reply. “ in fact,” and he
smiled audihly, “she’s entitled to be called the
Great Receiver!”

The situation thus presented requires a few
words of explanation.

it had become an open secret to Ben Letts, as
t.) a few others, that Budd Finklestone and his
sistcr had been engaged ever since their appear-
ance on the scene, six months before, in the
moral undermining of the garrison of Fort
Harris. in some secret interest which had as yet
been scarcely more than suggested.

He, within, while passing rapidly through all
the grades of a non-commissioned officer, had
been brought into more or less close relations
with the men in the fort, and had devoted him-
self zealously to the task of corrupting them.

She, without, had kept open house at the ex—
pense of her brother, receiving and entertaining
all of his comrades who cared to call, and exer-
cising all her arts and fascinations upon them,
to the same general end as her brother.

To such an extent had these machinations
been carried that the discipline and efficiency of
the garrison had been practically annihilated.

The men were constantlyygrumbling about
their “ poor pay” and ‘9 rations,” their
“wretched quarters” and “shoddy clothing,”
and their “ eternal drills” and other garrison
duties, and prompt and loud were their ‘com-
plaints a slant the least service of an extra or
unusual c racter.

In fact, it is not too much to say that this
work of demoralization had been carried so far
that a third or one-half of the garrison would
have been worthless in any necessary demon-
stration against either hosti es or Ravagers.

As to desertions, they had long been of al-
most daily occurrence, and it was no rare thing
for two or three or more men to vanish to-
gether.

Ver many of these desertions had been sug-
gest and favored by Budd Finklcstone and
his sister, who were a ways willing to furnish
money to this end, and not a little of all the
other forms of corruption within the fort could
hay: been traced directly to Budd’s influence or

‘ e C

It only remains to be added that Colonel
Na ler and his staff—up to the hour of Buffalo
Bil ’s arrival—had no conception of the influ-
ence Mrs. Go gin and her brother had acquired
over thega son, and were not even aware that
they were brother and sister.

Their relationship had been kept so secret, in
fact, that Ben Lotte had been perfectly war-
fznted in telling Buffalo Bill that very few knew

“ But of course she must be captured or si-
lenced in some waybsfore we can capture her
brother,” suggested Buffalo Bill, after a
thoughtful pause. “How is this point to be
managed!” ‘

“ Oh you can leave that to me, Bill.”returned
Ben. ‘There are fair means and foul, or vio-
lence and strategy, but I’ll be guided by cir-
cumstances.” ..

“ The {30b is a very ticklish on, Ben,” warned
Buffalo ill.

“ Yes—I assent to that. At the least squawk
frOm the sister, I should have the brother on
my hands, and at the least menace to his liberty
he’d go through another window, sash and 1 .
But still I can handle them 1”

The couple were now at no great distance

from the house of Mrs. Goigin, and according-
ly ceased to talk in anyt mg louder than a
whislper.
“ here! you may now drop a few rods to the
rear, Bill ” suggested Ben, “and keep out of
sight till I have entered. You had better stand
under this tree, in fact, until I come for you.”

Buffalo Bill complied with the suggestion,
comin to a halt beside the trunk of a fine large
oak w ich had been left growing in front of an
open lot.

Then Ben Letts resumed progress, ascending
the steps of a neat frame dwelling and demand-
ing admittance, which was promptly accorded

im.

Left to himself, Buffalo Bill could not help
experiencing a thrill of satisfaction at noting
how completely he was lost in the darkness
reigning around him.

Some fifteen minutes were away, however,
and he was beginning to et nervous about the
situation of affairs, when en Letts came saun-
tering quietly out to him, taking him by the

I u

»«~..—_-

,8

., wit—yak...“ at . .M»m~.w< «w-h-_‘

u .. urea“... «uh—.mhe . a____.__ _..

.... «.4...

Buffalo Bill’s Ban.

 

(

arm, and pronouncing the one word, in a whis- i

r:
p8“ Come!”

A minute later, Buffalo Bill was ushered into i

a neatly-furnished parlor, where a woman in a ‘
handsome evening robe lay on a sofa, apparent-
l y asleep.

“ l‘ve managed her, you see,” announced I
Ben, in a low tone, waving his hand over the l
inoiionless fl re. “Fortunately I found her i
quite alone—’ l

“ But her brother!” l

“ She sa s he’s in the next room—the back é
parlor—as eep on a lounge, and I’ve no reason i
to doubt it.”

“ flow did you reduce her to this helpless
condition!” pursued Buffalo Bill, easily recog-
nizing from the breathing of Mrs. Goggin that
she was in a sound slumber.

“As I sat down with her,” explained Ben, ,
with an attentive ear toward the door, “ I ef- I
fered hera few lozenges resembling this one,”
and be exhibited one of ordinary size, then '
placing it in his mouth. “ They were of course
different, and from a special pocket made for
carrying them, as also of another color,” and he
smiled si nificantly. “ It was several minutes,
however, fore she swallowed one,she wassoex-
cited over a story I told her in my réle of
‘ Captain Hickman,’ to the eflect that her
brother and Sam Gaddley had dispatched his
two most dangerous enemies, namely, Buffalo
Bill and Ben Letts! You should have seen her
del‘ htl”

“ can comprehend it,” said Buflalo Bill,
with a smile. She of course kissed you, as the
bearer of such delightful tidingsl”

“Sh: did, I‘m :orry to confess,” and Ben
wiped his cheek energetically.

“ And she hadn’t a suspicion of her ‘ gallant
captain,’ and still less that he was one of the ‘
‘ dead men ’ he was talking aboutl”

“ Not the slightest, Bill!”

“ You’ve gotten to be quite a masquerader ‘
since I saw you, Ben—perhaps I should say!
quite a deceiver!’

“Oh, this ‘Captain Hickman’ is one of a,
dozen characters in which I’ve recently ap-‘
peared,” said Ben, complacently, “ and I’m in a ‘
fair way to invent others.”

“ I'm lad to hear it Ben,” declared Buffalo 5
Bill. “ 9 shall need them all, I fear, before .
we‘re done with the Ravagers. But how long ,
will this woman lie in this helpless condition?" ‘

“ Possibly an hour, Bill,” replied Ben, “but ,
more likely half or a quarter of that time, as a
she ‘ fell oil" before she had taken half a ,
dose.” ;

"Then there’s no time to lose! We must be i
getting hold of that brother!”

" Exactly, Bill! Come 1”

Crossing the floor in silence, Ben Letts opened '
the folding-doors bet ween the two parlors, and !
led the way boldly into the presence of thej
sleeping Rav er, whose whereabouts were ;
plainly reveal by a lamp burning on an ad- i
jacent table. The entrance of the daring in- l
truders did not disturb his slumbers, and they I
proceeded to bind him hand and foot with cords ,
they had brought for that purpose. It was not ?
till they gave their handiwork its final pressure
that he awakened.

“ Silence!” enjoined Buffalo Bill, presenting a
revolver, at the very instant the Ravager
opened his eyes. “ Your sister can’t come to

on, for the reason that she is also he! lac.

ou die at the least attempt to call for elp.
You can easily feel and see, Budd Finklestone,
that you are our risoner l”

The silence of udd, like the wild lare of his

e es, attested that he comprehend the situa.

on.

“ 0! comes we must him before we an ,
remove him tothe fort, suggested Ben Letts, '
advancing nearer. " Perhaps—”

“ Listen!” interrupted Buffalo Bill, suspend-
in his respiration.

Heavy footste reeounded at the entrance of
the house and n the wide hall, and four men
came hu into the front rlor—Sam Gar!-
dley, Han kins, and the r associates—the
two former bearing between them a half-faint-
ingwoman!

t sight of them, as he looked out of the
back room, Ben Letts looked as if he found him-
self on the borders of hallucination.

“ Thunder! they’re four of the Rav are who
were at my house to kill me, Bill!’ be :an-
nounced, hurriedly. “ Their prisoner is the
colonel’s wife—Mrs. Nsyler! The ’ve stolen
her from the house of her sick frien to spite or
paralyze the colonel l”

A wild cry for help came from Finklestone,
and the new-comers bounded toward him, to
find themselves face to face with his captors.

“ Cap’n Hickman!” cried Ted Grupple.

“ Buffalo Bill !” recocnized Sam Gaddley.
“ Curse him! Kill them!”

“ Cut me loose, boys.” yelled Finklestone,
struggling with his bonds, ‘and I’ll kill them
both! That pretended ‘ Hickman ’ is really Ben
Iatts. as you can see by his eyes!”

“ Help! save me!” screamed Mrs. Nayler,
who had gained her feet, after being hastily
dropped by her abductors, and was watching

 

 

 

for a chance to place herself near the scout.

'  _ ,.

9

 

“Kill him! the blame ing toad!” shrieked
Mrs. gin, floundering rom her sofa into the
midst o the noisy scene, the “dose” adminis-
tered by Ben Letts having already ceased—
naturally enough, with all this uproar—to en—
chain her senses. “ Don’t let him escape!”

CHAPTER XIV.
AN EXCITING ENCOUNTER.

THE noise and excitement in the scene in
which they were figuring did not in the least
divert the attention of Buffalo Bill and Ben
Letts from the task they had undertaken.

Out came a revolver in each hand, and the
four Ravagers were covered!

Budd Flnklestone groaned in dismay.

He had he d that some one or all of his fol-
lowers woul act swiftly and in silence, thus
getting the drop on their enemies.

“ Silence, all!” exclaimed Buffalo Bill, with a
lightning—like glance around. “ Mrs. Nayler I”

“Yes, sir!”

d “ Please step into the hall and lock the front

em I"

The colonel’s wife hastened to comply, while
the scouts changed their positions in such a
wa as to place themselves near Mrs. Goggin,
an between her and her line of retreat.

“Now, Ravagers, take notice, one and all,”
continued Buffalo Bill, "that my friend and l
are in command here, and don’t you forget it!”

Mrs. Goggin shrieked again, dancing about as

if possessed b a fury.

Cowards!’ she cried glancing at the four

 

' Ravagers, who stood as if paralyzed. “ Are you

afeard of these men? Don’t you intend to fight
them? Shame on you l” ’

Ted Grupple and Dan Ringwood were. some--
what swept from their be so by these ineltations.
They were particularly sweet on Mrs. Goggin,
and recognized riva!~'. so that her reproaches
and appeals went to their very marrow. They
ventured to draw their revolvers, but with that
slowness and hesitancy an int~.rnal conflict so
readily occasions.

Meanwhile, the scouts had exchanged glances.

As we have seen, it was one of their cardinal
principles not to kill when they could help it,
and the glance in question said as plainly as
words that they did not regard the Ravagers as
sufficiently dan erous to warrant extreme
measures in dealing with them.

That glance also pointed out a satisfactory
way of dealing with their enemies.

As a simple matter of fact, therefore, the two
Ravagers had scarcely dragged their revolvers
from their kets before their watchful ad-
versaries ha taken due action.

Crash! came a couple of furious blows from
that number of swinging chairs, and Ringwood
and Grupple found themselves knocked out of
time—one of them in a corner, and the other
wedged between a sofa and a bookcase in such
a position that it looked as item article or
the; other would have to be mtve! to let him
on . ,

At the same instant Grupple’s revolver was
discharged by the concussion of his fall, and the
ball grazed one of Mrs. Goggin’s well-rounded
arms, stinging severely.

At sight of the blood which immediately be-
gan flowing she uttered a wild scream, which
was follow b the brief exclamation:

“ Oh, I’m kil edl”

And then she fainted, in such an unreserved
and unartistic fashion, that she sunk in a heap
tothe floor, becoming oblivious to all her sur-

roundings.

How quick] these events influenced Sam
Gaddlgg' and ank Tilkins, who had stealthily
reach for their revolvers, need not be re-
lated. They hastened to remove from their
attitude all cause of complaint, and even of sus-
plclon.

“ There! let’s have no more of this!” order-
ed Bufl‘alo Bill, as he and Ben again covered
the remaining Ravagers. “ A single move-
ment—”

“ Oh, don’t shoot!” interru&ted Sam Gaddley,
with the haste of terror. “ e surrender!”

“ All right,” returned the scout. “Pin their

wi'lnvgs, Ben!”

0 two prisoners were quickly trussed by
Ben Letts, with a turn or two of cord and a
knot, in that expeditious but effective stale
of which all first-class plainsmen have' e

secre .

Then they were placed in a sitting posture
with their backs a. inst the sofa aforesaid, and
were honored by en with an admonition not
to make more noise than they could readily con-
ceal in an ounce vial.

“It appears to me,” then said Ben, as he
passed in review the prostrate figures of Ted
Grapple and Dan Ringwood, “that the eyelids
of one of these fallen braves are somewhat
blinky and tremulous, as if their owner were
tempzted just a little to take a look at us.”

“ ou can tell if he’s conscious by sticking a
pin in him,”suggestod Buffalo Bill.

“ Excuse me, there’s no med of that,” ex-
claimed Ringwood, as Ben was about to act up-
on his ally’s suggestion. “ I’m all right again.”

Opening his eyes, he gained a sitting pos-

“Olad tb see it,” commented Ben. “Allow

y
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. -l «air-"r. lair)? "r‘ =' “5“ (2N‘ii-‘53‘3’9’P 1‘4"“). )9 ‘-

us to take you into our fold. We like to be ‘ all
ri ht,’too.”

ingwood protested that there was no neces-
sity of binding him, but he was dealing with
men who preferred facts to chatter, and in a
few moments more he was as helpless as his
com nions.

“ hat ends the present bout,”then ejaculated
Ben Letts. “ The victory is ours.”

He drew of! the wig and beard which consti-
tuted his chief claim to be known as “ Captain
Hickman,” and thrust them into the grate with
the air of a man who makes an end of a thing
forever.

Remarking the victory of her friends, Mrs.
Nayler returned from the hall as smiling and
hopeful as she had before been terrified and de—
pressed.

She was rather slight of frame but in the full
maturity of her forces and much hardier than
she looked. Without being beautiful, she was
the [leasessor of a sweet and attractive face, and
her manners were charming.

The scouts hastened to meet her, Ben Letts
nudging his associate—as was his wont—to do
the talking’required b the occasion.

“ We are delighted, rs. Nayler,” said Bufl'a—
lo Bill, inclining himself with that courtly dig-
nity which is ever a part of his bearing, “ to
have,had the chance 0 rendering you the ser-
v1ce.

“ I haven’t words to thank you as I ought,”
Mr. Cody,” returned Mrs. Nayler, offering her
hand, “ but I shall ever be grateful !”

All these events had passed in a few moments,
but those few moments had seeried an age to
Budd Finklestone. as was natural.

He had kept his mouth shut while the battle
was in progress, out of sheer anxiety to see how
it would end, and be shut it still tighter now
because of a keen realization of the fact that
any use of it would be foolish and unavailing,
not to sa dangerous.

“But ow came you to be in the hands of
these men, Mrs. Na ler?” pursued Buffalo Bill,
who had kn0wn not ing, it will be remembered,
of Finklestone‘s design to seize her. “ We came
here merely to capture that ruflisn,” and he in-
dicated Budd, “ and had no suspicion that fate
would place you so strangely in our th.”

This was the first intimation Mrs. ayler had
receivedcf the disgrace which had overtaken
Finklestone, and she asked for further informa-
tion, which was given her.

Then she gave the drsired information.

“ I was watching with a sick lad ' outside of
the fort,” she began, “and was acne in the
house with her. She had fallen asleep, after a
long paroxysm of pain, when there came a
knock on the outer door. Taking a light in my
hand and carefully Closing the door of commu-
nication behind me, I proceeded to answer the
knock, and found these four men at the en-
trance.”

“And they seized you?” exclaimed Buffalo
Bill involuntarily.

“Ilardly that,’ replied the lady, “but this
man,” and she indicated Sam Gaddley, “re-
minded me that the sick lady was in a critical
condition, and that any alarm or violence
would be quickly followed by her death—a.
proposition with which I could do no less than

acquiesce.

“Well?” breathed Ben Letts, excitedly, his
brow corrugated with pain.

“ The man then told me that he and his asso-
ciates had been sent there to carry me off, out of
hatred for my husband, and that they would
certainly execute their purpose, even if they
took me dead I”

“ And so ryou consented to walk away quietly
with them ’ queried Buflalo Bill.

“ I did ” acknowledged Mrs. Nayler, with a
sigh. “I realized that the least so d of a
struggle would be the death of my frlend, and
so I made no attempt at resistance. or at calling
for help, until I was out of hearing from her
house.”

“ What a glorious self-sacrifice!” commented
Buffalo Bill, with suppressed emotion. “And
this is why everything remains so silent in that
quarter!”

“Yes, that’s the explanation, Mr. Cody,”
avowed Mrs. Nailer. ‘I dare say my poor
friend knows not ing of what has happened,
:adflis still sleeping as soundly as when I left

er.

“What a strange afl'air!” cried Ben Letts.
“ But if this poor, sick lady is still ignorant of
your absence, Mrs. N ayler, such may not be the
situation of the colonel.” '

“True Mr. Letts,” acknowledged Mrs. Nay-
ler, “ and that is the thought which has pained
me soever since the first moment of my cap-

‘ tivity. Oh! let’s hasten to carry the news of my

safet to my husband!”

“ r, better still, we’ll hasten to escort you to
the colonel’s presence,” said Ben.

“ But these men?” queried the lad .

“ Oh, they’ll not be ne lected, ’ responded
Buffalo Bill. “ We’ll take t em with us.”

CHAPTER XV.
CONTINUING TO RUN IN ms: RAVAGEm.
“ AND this—this woman?” asked Mrs. Nayler,
with a glance at Mrs. Goggin, who had already

 

“.5 z
1 its. (s-n.‘  y i

I

l

 

,—

v the silence he had hitherto maintained.

0

10 .

uttered several moans, and seemed on the eve of ’

recovering her senses.
“TVe’ll leave her here, as she is in her own
house,”replied Buffalo Bill.

enough of her own kind near at hand to give
17

“ That’s not a serious wound, I hope?"

“No, madam, a mere scratch," announced
the scout, after briefly examining the wound.
“The flow of blood has ceased, so that we
needn’t sacrifice even the few moments required
to apply a bandage.”

He spoke a little anxiously, conscious that
callers might arrive at any moment.

“ But how are we to move these fellows to the
fort, Bill?” asked Ben Letts, who had been in-
vestigating the in 'uries of Grupple.

“ in this way, en,” was the reply. “ As we
came along the adjacent street I noticed an ox-
cart with its pair at the ‘Rancher’s Saloon.’
Go and hire the same for an hour of the owner,
whom you will doubtless find on the premises.
A dollar will tempt him, and spare us the risk
of waiting long enough to go for your horse and
lumber-box.”

“ But on, Bill—”

“ Oh, can ‘ hold the fort ’ till you get back,
I reckon,” assured the scout, with one of his
careless smiles. “ Hurr !”

A groan from Mrs. oggin put an end to
Ben’s hesitation, and he vanished.

“ I must say you’ve liyed your cards well,
Mr. Cody ” said Budd) inklestone, brfia‘king

er!
well indeed l”

“ How do you mean?” questioned Buffalo
Bill, turning a scornful glance u on him. “ In
escaping from Tooker at the for s! In detect-
ing your eavesdropping, and so quickly discov-
ering that you are the chief of the Ravagers?
In capturing you now? Or how?”

The prisoner flushed hotly, looking as startled
as if he had seen a host.

“ You must be ld Nick himself to have
found me out so well in such a short time ” he
declared. “But why should you take me ack
to the fort? I don’t see as you are to make
anything by that proceeding. Can I not come
to terms with you for my liberty?”

The scout raised his hand impatiently.

“ You merely waste your breath,” he said.

“But it’s equivalent to handing me over to
the gallows to return me to the fortl” protested
the villain, earnestly. “ There are lots of
charges which can be raked together against
me, now that you have furnished the claw! I
may be shot or hanged !"

“ That does not concern me,” returned Buf-
falo Bill, quietly. “ Should you be condemned
to be shot or hanged, you’ll die only because
you are guilty!”

The prisoner gnashed his teeth in impotent
fury, glaring at his captor.

“ In any case,” he resumed, “ these men have
had nothing to do with me, beyond the mere
civilities of a. casual acquaintance.”

. Buffalo Bill turned upon him a glance that
made him quail.

“ I can show you to the contrary of that as-
sertmn,”i.e then declared. “Didn’t you send
these tour men, and four more with them, to
the hon-33 of Ben Letts to kill him? Didn’t you
ride out there yourself to see that the work was
done before Ben could connect with me? Are
not Sam Gaddloy and Butt Smiley your Very
particular friends, and didn’t you leave the lat-
ter at Ben’s house—”

“Ah, you know of that?”

“ I know because I was there,” announced
Buffalo Bill, sternly, “and I may add that Dutt
Smiley and those with him are now prisoners in
a casemate of the fort!”

“ But, Mr. Cody—”

“ Nota word more! You are going back to
the fort, and these four men are going with
you, to answer for this abduction!”

At the end of a. couple of minutes the rum-
bling of heavy wheels fell upon Buffalo Bill’s
hearing, and he added:

“ Here comes the necessary conveyance.”

By the time he had bound the fourth abduc-
tor, who was now in possession of his senses,
Ben Letts returned.

“Lively now, Bill,” be exclaimed, with an-
other nervous glance at Mrs. Goggin, whose

reams of returning consciousness were increas-
ing rapidly. “ Let’s get these chaps out of here
in about seventeen seconds!”

“Agreed but they must be gagged first,”
suggested the scout. “I don’t want them to
have the slightest chance to be disagreeable
during their brief-journey.”

Budd Finklestone was tempted to yell with
all his mi ht, in the hope of attracting the at-
tention 0 some passing friend or confederate,
but two reflections restrained hitn.

The first was that he was rather more likely
to attract foes than friends the latter being in
a decided minority,and the second was that
any further cries would probably be of no use,
as those which had already been uttered, with
their accompaniment of a pistol-shot, had re-
mained entirely unnoticed. thanks to the isolated
situation of his sister’s residence.

He set the good example, therefore, of remain-

I.

“Should she re- -
quire assistance of any kind, she doubtless has .

 

Buffalo Bill’s Ban.

ing uiet and passive, while a rude gag was so-
cu in his mouth. and the other prisoners were
wise enough to do likewise.

“ There! we can now be off with a fair pros-
pect of reaching our destination undisturbed,”
commented the scout, when the task had been
duly executed. “ Ready, Ben?”

“ Well, I should think so, with the tongue of
that woman getting ready to lance me!” re—
turned Ben Letts, with a. grimace, as he shoul-
dered one of the prisoners. “ Two trips apiece
to the cart, Bill, and the thing’s done!’

The trips in question were quietly and quickly
executed and then Buffalo Bill inclined himself
anew to Mrs. Nayler, offering his arm.

“ Let me now escort you to the fort,” he said,
as Ben Letts shouldered Finklestone and took
the lead in a final movement toward the en-
trance. “I shall not breathe freely until you
are again in the colonel’s care 1”

“Thank you, Mr. Cody,” returned Mrs. Na —
ler, placing her arm in the scout’s, and shrin '-
ing a little from the stare which the newly-
opened e es of Mrs. Goggin bestowed upon her.
“ What elight it will be to get home before I’m
missed!”

In a few moments more the couple were in the
street and on their way to the fort by the most
direct route, while Ben Letts, whip in hand, did
not hesitate to give himself the most hearty ex-
ercise in his attempt to quicken the pace of the
gaunt yoke of cattle of which he was the-tem—
porary proprietor.

“Here’s a new sum in ’rithmetic, old pard!”
he called, with 'oyous mien and voice, as he
whacked his du l cattle vigorously. “ We’ve
taken one from four, and yet we have five re-
mainin ! See?”

And e pointed at his five helpless prisoners
with an air of boundless triumph.

 

CHAPTER XVI.
A GLORIOUS TRIUMPH.

How busy, in the mean time, had been Colonel

Na lerl

isiting the newly arrived refugees in the
casemate assigned them, he had received full de-
tails of the raid at Cedar Crossing, and been
amazed and startled for the fortieth time to
learn how thoroughly the wonted work of the
Ravagers had been accomplished.

Then, accompanied by Captain Greyson, his
officer of the day—a tall, stern-looking, but
kind-hearted soldier, who was old in border
life, although scarcely turned of thirty—~he
made a complete tour of the fort, and gave a
thorough overhauling to the details for the day,
endeavoring to separate the “sheep” from the
“ oats.” as Buffalo Bill had suggested.

espite his severe questioning, however, no
Ravager was .act'ially unearthed within the
fort, and no direct clew to the presence of one
was obtained.

The best he could do,thereforc, for the mo-
ment, was to relieve from duty all the men who
had enlisted at the same time as Finklestone,
and arrange with sundry trusted oliiccrs, non-
commissioncd mul otherwisd, including Dim-
mick, to keep them carefully in view until fur-
ther orders.

“ Onesuggestion more, captain.”he said. to Cap-
tain Gre son, as the couple walked thoughtfully
toward cadquarters,“acd that is to place a
man at the entrance to watch for the return of
Buffalo Bill andBen Letls. If they bring Budd
Finklestone. as they bore to do, I want them to
get in quietly; and if they fail to seize him, it is
still more essential that they should be able to
come and go unchallenged and unwatched.”

“ I comprehend you, colonel,” returned Cap-
tain Greyson, “and will take measures accord-

ingéy.” _
hen the captain he d gone, the colonel paid a
visit to his sleeping apartment, where Dr. Paw-
lett, assisted by Zellie and a couple of men who
had passed years in the infirmai'y was giving
his best attentions to Sir Hornliy Finklestone,
who lay in a sleep that was almost a stupor.

“I still hope he’s not seriously hurt, colo-
nel,” said the doctor, in answer to a ucstion as
to the condition of his patient. “ c has had
the use of both his tongue and his arms, since
you were here, but his speech was wild and ir-
rational, and we could not have uieted him
without a vigorous opiate. To say be least, he
has had a serious time with those pursuing
Ravagers.”

He glanced at his watch, and added:

“Upon the whole, colonel, he will not be in
any position to satisfy our curiosity concerning
him before morning. I suggest, therefore, that
the present moment is a good one in which to
get him to bed lip-stairs.”

The colonel assisted in this transfer, and soon
afterward proceeded uneasily to his front

rch.
p0“ How odd it seems to have that little wife of
mine absent!” he ejaculated. “ This is the first
night she has been away from me in years! I
wonder—”

His musings were interrupted by the ap-
proach of a man who had just been passad into
1the fort by the subaltern on duty at the en-

rance.

'\

 

man
a

“ Ah, Doctor Wescott,” greeted the colonel,
hait’ening to meet the new-comer. “ What’s
u ).

The gentleman thus addressed could not im-
mediately answer, but clasped his hand to his
side, and sunk down upon the doorstep, panting
for breath.

He was rather past hisprime, and considerably
inclined to obesity, besides being in a poor
state of health. He was strugglin , too, with
an intense excitement, and ha ev1dently
gome in greater haste than was good for

1m.

“1 hope nothing is wrong, doctor,” resumed
the commandant, as a grave shadow appeared
on his face. “ Mrs. Wayland—”

“I left her sleeping peaceably,” said the doc-
tor, finding his voice. “ But an event has oc-
curred of such gra re significance—”

Dr. W eScott paused again.

“ In heaven’s name, doctor,” cried the com-
mandant, with a start,“ has anything happened
to my wife?”

“ Sim ly this, colonel,she is not at Mrs. Way-
land’s a this moment!”

“Not—there?” gasped the commandant, be-
comin really alarmed, as was shown by his
changing features.

“ No, sir. I expected an important change
to-night in the condition of the patient, and ar-
ranged to call rather late in the evening. Mrs.
Nayler did not answer my guarded knock, as I
expected, and I entered unbidden. The patient
was sleeping quietly, as I said, but of Mrs. N ay-
ler—not a trace l”

The commandant reeled, grasping at a post of

the porch and trembling like a leaf.

But he was quick to recover his habitual self.
control.

“ She—she must have step to a neighbor’s
for some herb or for some in ormation or assist-
ance,” he said catching at the first straw which
presented itself to him.’

‘“ That was my first idea,” said Dr. Wescott,
struggling to his feet, “ but on inquiring at the
nearest neighbor’s, I learned that Mrs. Nayler
had walked away in company with four strange
men!’

“ Four— strange —— men?” repeated Colonel
Na ler, while.ever trace of color left his face.
“ \ ithout noise? ithout resistance?”

The physician bowed his head in silence.

“ But why? and whither?”

“ Heaven only knows!" groaned the doctor.
“ I searched quiein a few moments, and then
thought I had better come to you, colonel l”

“ 0h, maul why didn’t ou come sooner?”
exclaimed the commandan . “ Some horrible
plot is in progress! Either Finklestone himself
or some of his allies have seized my poor wife!
But l’ll send out a prompt alarm with bell and
cannon!"

“ Not yet, colone ,” pleaded the physician,
with all the dignity of his profession and his
gray hairs, as he laid his hand restrainingly on
the commandant’s arm. “ We are not yet sure
that anything is wrong about the four men!
Mrs. Naylcr maybe in no trouble or danger!
But my atient, colonel—L”

“ Wel , what of your patient?”

“ She will die, colonel—quickly! inevitably!—
at the least alarm l”

“ And—and m wife knew this?”

“ Certainly! warned her!”

“ Oh, my God! Then she is indeed lost!”
cried the covnmandant. “ Sweet, brave soul!
She has sacrificed herself that Mrs. Wayland
might live! Oh, pitying Heaven! 1—”

lie pans-id in wild amaze.

The great gate had opened almost in silence,
and into the gap thus disclosed between the
darkness without and the gleaming of lights
within had advanced a yoke of oxen and a rude
cart, and on this cart stood three figures which
rapidly took such semblance that they could
not be mistaken!

Yes! they were Buffalo Bill and Ben Letts,

and the racefull swaying figure between
them, wit a ban poised on each, was Mrs.
Nayler!

'i'he commandant seemed to pass from death
to life at the sight.

“ S96! sec! old friend !” he cried, clinging .to
Dr. Wescott for support, and hardly able to
maintain even an outward composure. “ls it
not a glorious sight? It saves my life or my
reason—or both! I livea ainl”

And with this he boun ed toward the new-
comers with such alight and rapid step that it
reminded Mrs. Nayler of those glad days—hap-

ily not too far distant—when he came to woo
er.

 

CHAPTER XVII.
MRS. GOGGIN 1N A NEW ROLE.

CART and cattle had now come to a halt be-
tween the great gate and'the housc, at a point
where they were eclipsed by the latter from the
view of the relief at the guard-house.

As was to have been expected, considering
the lateness of the hour, very few soldiers were
visible, and these few paid no particular atten-
tion to the new arriva .

“ Here you are, then?” was the repressed
greeting with which Colonel Nayler exam
his hands to assist his wife from the

Bufi'alo Bill’s Ban.

ll

 

 

”“ We have been very anxious about you,
.Neerie!"

The very sobs with which Mrs. Nayler sunk
upon his breast, clinging convulsively to him,
in the natural reaction of that restoration to
,safet , told him a terrible story.

“ on have been in great peril?”he continued,
«caressin g her.

“ 0h, such awful peril!”

.She shuddered as if with a deadly chill.

“ And these brave fellows rescued you?”

“‘ Yes, John! Yes!”

Holding the trembling form of his wife to his
heart, the colonel raised his hand to the lady’s
gallant rescuers with a quick, solemn earnest-
.ness which spoke volumes.

“ I thank you, entlemen,”he said, with the
simple grandeur o a meanin for which there
is no ad uate expression. “ owe you more
than my ife—the life of one of the purest and
sweetest wives that ever blessed mortal 1”

Then turning a swift glance upon the shrink-
ing. wild-looking figures in the bottom of the
cart. he added:

“ These are the abductors, l suppose! You’ve
taken them red-handed.”

“ That’s the exact truth in the matter colo-
nel,” answered Buffalo sin. “Ben and ’I had
'the good fortune to appear at just the right
'time and in the right place."

“As you so often do, in fact,” commented
'the commandant, in a voice that still vibrated
with its great freight of joy. " 1 do not need
to ask you a single question to know that some-
‘thing very extraordinary has happened. At
what a moment you arrive too! Just as the
revelations of my old friend here, the doctor,
were driving me to madness!”

“ You missed me, then, did you ?” questioned
 Nayler, rousing herself from her husband’s
'breast and extending her hand to Dr. Wes-
oott.

“ Just as soon as I called,” replied the phag-
cian, “ and in due course I learned from Mrs.
ton that you had gone away in the company of
:four strange men. Where did they take you?”

“ To the house of Mrs. Goggin.”

“Mrs. Goggin !” echoed her husband and the
doctor in chorus.

“Yes. And there I was found by Buflalo
Bill and Ben Letts.”

“ But what were they doing there?” asked Dr.
Wescott.

“They had come thereto seize Budd Finkle-
stone, who is Mrs. Goggin’s brother, and who
was asleep in her house,” explained Mrs. Nay-
ler.

“ And they succeeded?”

“ We had that honor, colonel,” responded
Buffalo Bill, who had quiet! removed the
gags from the mouths of his p nets. “And
here he is!”

Until now the object of these remarks had
kept his face averted from the light streaming
upon him, and the colonel had not even suspect-
cd his identity, the more especially as the sides
of the cart cast a dense shadow upon all of its
occupants.

“ Of course you’re pleased to see me again,
colonel, after what has occurred?” remarked the
sinister plotter, with a deprecating voice and
manner.

“ I shall have something serious to say to you
later, Finklestone,”returned the commandant,
with scornful severity. “ For the present I am
more interested in your assocxates than in you.
Who and what are these men, Mr. Cody?”

“ Ben Letts can answer this question better
than 1 can,” replied the scout. “ It seems that
two of them are deserters who left the fort two
weeks ago and have since been hiding in the
village.”

“ Who, Ben?”

“ Sam Gaddley and Hank Tilkins!”

“So, they’ve turned up again, have they?”
commented the commandant, as he peered curi-
ouslvinto the dark faces of the men named.
“ I am lad to see them again. And the other
'tWo’! Igho are they, Ben?”

“ One of them is Ringwood, the fellow who
was drummed out of the service two years ago,
and has since been keeping a rum-hole and gam-

bling-den, and the other is that horse-thief. Ted !

Grapple, who has ‘done’ several terms in the
Penitentiary, and who has lately been a hostler
at the ‘ Silver Tavern.’ ”

The commandant turned his gaze upon the two
men thus unfiatteringlv presented.

“ Do either of you wish to explain to me the
scheme which has brought you into this fix?” he
demanded.

“ Nary explanation,” answered Ted Grupple,
with grim defiance.

“ You won’t get a word from me,” declared
Rinc'wood.

“ Not a word l” assured Hank 'I‘ilkins.

“ Not so much as a whine!” afiirmcd Sam
Gaddley. -

The commandant turned away in dis net and
anger, but not without a visible thril of joy
that his wife had been rescued from such deadly
miscreants. '

“ Two of them, as deserters, are subject to
summary punishment by drum-head court—
‘martial, as you are aware, gentlemen,” he re-
marked; “ but I am not inclined to exercise my

 

authority in this instance. Instead I will hand 

the whole quartette over to the ci vilauthorities.
Is this right?”
“ Entirely so, oolone ,” replied Dr. Wescott.
“That’s the very course I was about to sug-
est.” declared Buffalo Bill, and to this remark
en Letts hastened to nod approval.

“ In this way,” added Dr. Wescott, “you’ll
be rid of the whole batch for many a long year
to come, if not forever!”

“ It is settled, then,” concluded the colonel,
with a sigh of relief. “ They shall be tried by
the civil authorities for the abduction of Mrs.
Nayler. I will now consign them to the guard-
house, placing them in irons and putting a
strong guard over them, with loaded muskets
and fixed bayonets! The will be safe there un-
til morning, and then
Finch and make formal complaint to him, and
he will hold the whole batch to bail and com-
mit them in default of it, or commit them
without bail—as he shall see fit. In any case,
they'll go to the county jail at Durango in the
morning. Permit me!"

He p seed a silver whistle to his lips, blowing
lightly upon it, and Corporal Dimmick instant-
ly made his appearance.

The necessary orders were soon given, and the
cart was unloaded, the prisoners being convey-
ed unceremoniously to their temporary rison.

“ But what about this ox-team?" as ed the
commandant, retracing his steps from the
guard-house.

“ I’m to take it back to the owner, who is at
the ‘ Ran::her’s Saloon,’ colonel, answered Ben.

“ No, I‘ll send a man with them.”

He proceeded to do so.

“Will you come in, doctor?” he then asked,
drawing the arm of his wife within his own.
“ At least for a few moments, or long enough to
take a glass of wine?”

“ No, thank you, colonel,” was the reply. “ I
must hurry back to my patient. I am afraid
she has waked up already. Ot' coursel must
find another watcher for her, under the circum-
stances!”

" That is only too evident,” responded the
commandant, with an involuntary shudder.
“ I would not let my wife 0 back there to
spend the night, as intend for all the gold
and silver that was ever mined!”

“ You are quite right, of course,” commented
the doctor. ‘ Fortunately I shall be able to se-
cure Mrs. Liston or some other neighbor. In
fact, Mrs. Liston may be installed there al-
ready, as I made a request to that eflect.
Good-night, all.”

And the doctor shook hastily the various
hands offered him, including that of Buffalo
Bill—to whom he had been introduced while
the prisoners were being transferred to the
guard-house—and then took his departure.

“ And of course, Mr. Cody, you and Ben will
not leave the fort again to night,” said the
commandant, turning to the scouts, with his
most earnest and thou htful manner. “ To be-
gin with, you’va ha enough of travel and
fatigue for one day, and it is quite possible that
we ma prevail upon one of the prisoners to tell
all be new s in the morning, in which case we
shall learn many a fact you ought to know be—
fore you turn your attention elsewhere. Am I
not right?” '-

“ I cannot den the fact, colonel,” replied
Buffalo Bill, “ an so we’ll remain here till fur-
ther advices, with the understanding. however,
that Ben and 1 shall be free, if we so elect, to
pass a portion of the night at his cottage or in
the Village.” _

“ Of course! of course!” assented the com-
mandant eagerly. “ I wish you to be perfectly
free in all your plans and arrangements. But
come. come, both of you! This chill in the air
is gettin r too sharp for any of us to be standing
aroundt elawn in this ia~hion, and especially
for thi little woman! Let’s get under cover!”

He led the wayto the front door. and in a
few moments more the group had vanished into
the dwelling.

But they did not withdraw unnoticed.

For several minutes a concealed intruder had
been peering at them from an adjacent clump of
flowering shrubs with an air of such desperate
malignancy and determination that they would
have been startled had they seen it. '

This intruder was dressed in the uniform of a
soldier, including a blue overcoat, but on one or
two occasions, when this outer garment blew
open, a glimpse was afforded of a figure that
must have inevitably been recognized as that of
a woman. ..

In a word, the intruder was the sister of Budd
Finklestone— Mrs. Go gin—and it could have
been seen at a lance y her mien that she was
there for some aring and desperate purpose.

CHAPTER XVIII.
A WAY or ESCAPE OPENED.

Tnn rescue of her brother was of course the
motive underlying Mrs. Goggin’s intrusion.

This purpose was apparent in her every look
and action—in her stealthy movements, as in
her wild, feverish glances. ,

After a brief survey of her surroundings. she
smiled sarcastically bestowin
upon thedoor through which 00 one! N. yler and

x «v,

 

,w in: v. . it: g. .. . ~46-

will call in Justice 2

 

a final glance ' 0

ii: wife had vanished with Buffalo Bill and Ben
tts.

“ That poor colonel l” she sneered, inau ibly.
“He thinks everything ’11 be lovely, new that
those scouts are taking a hand in the game! lint
Dorus can be got out of here, and he shall he,
with all the friends we have here 1”

How she watched and listened, moving about
uneasily, as if to invoke the assistance she
needed! .

“As totheir grand hunt fo r the Rava ers,”
she muttered, “ those scouts will find they re in
an up—hill business. We’re too well burrowed
for the first mole which happens to pass to un-
earth us. Oh, that colonel and his scouts’ll soon
be wiser!”

Turning away, in a silence which showed that
her feet were mufiied, she sauntered along a
fiOwer-bordered and neatly-kept walk uniil she
could look around a rear corner of the co!-.»nel’s
residence toward the guard-house, the fire in
front of it, and the relief around the fire, some
of them warming their hands, others their feet
and still others adding fuel or fallen or detached
embers. .

This fire had been a feature of the scene for
several days, the wood costinfiJnothing, and the
soldiers wxllingly cutting and ringing it forthe
sake of the warmth and the light.

Halting just within the shadow cast by the
house,and in a position to seealinost everything
within the circle of illumination without. being
herself seen,Mrs. gin struck a match on her
sleeve and lighted a pipe quite in the style of an
old smoker.

Then she took in all the features of the scene,
finishing with a glance into the dark, lowering
sky—which seemed all the darker in such close
contrast with the flames—and asking herself if
it were likely to rain before morning.

Her aspect at that moment, like her attitude,
was almost statuesque.

She wasn’t even nervous.

What had she to fear!

Even if her presence should be detected, the
fact of her being in male attire—in a soldier’s
uniform, as mentioned—could only be regarded
as a very natural piece of feminine indiscretion,

The very worst, then, she had to apprehend,
was expulsion.

No one could force her to tell how she gained
admittance, or what was the motive of her in~
trusion.

Besides, was not the situation of her brother
a warrant and an excuse for all she was doing?

She was standing at the pomt mentioned, ex-
ploring her surroundings with a sinister intent-
ness, with the aid of the bright light of the fire
in front of the guard-house, when a man in the
uniform of a private came from the vicinity of
the fire, advancing toward her with such direct-
ness as to give here start.

“ I thought I couldn’t be mistaken, Dollie,”
be greeted with a pleased air, halting in front
of her. “ hat means this mas uerade?”

“ Hush! Do not betray me, osh I” returned
the woman, hurriedly, making a pretense of
sm911‘ Md d i i la :1:

‘ un erstan ! 'ou re ) in a e.”

“ Yes, Josh.” I y 8 83,

“ How did you get in ?”

“One of the ‘ hoys’ pulled me up the wall
near the post. It’s needless to say that I am
here for a purpose, namely, to see if I have any
friends.”

" Can you doubt it, my dear ' l?” queried
the new-comer, with a reproachfuguair “ Rest
assured that we’re all your: friends, and also
your admirers. But I see what you are driving
at. The grand question with you now is, How
can the cap‘n be rescued, or make his escape?"

“Yes, yes! Can you help me!”

“I can and I will! It’s true, is it, that Mrs.
Nayler has been rescued and brought back] "

“ Only too true, Josh. That was Buffalo Bill’s
work, as sudden as unexpected.”

“ What a pity! But we’ll get her again!”

The fellow glanced around sharply, to be sure
that no one was looking or listening, and then
added, in a whisper:

“I’ve the best of news for you! I’m one of
the six men who have been placed as a special
guard over the prisoners, and you know what
sort of a keeper ’1! make, don’t you?”

“ I do. indeed! But the other five!”

“They are as much like me as peas in the
samapod. In a word, they are Ravagers.”

“ hat joy !” murmured Mrs. Goggin, with
the keenest relief. “ I’m delighted to hear m
brother is in such good hands. And you w’
all stand by him?” .

“Toa man! We‘re bound to get him out of
here, if only for your sake.”

He looked at her in fond admiration.

He was handsome and robust, with a rollick
ing disposition, but selfish and unscrupulous—a
type, in fact, of many of his fellows. ,

“I thank you so much, Josh,” she said, with
along breath of relief. “ I’ve been quite upset,
this thing has come upon ussosudden. But you
give me new life.”

“ And now for a nice little secret that will
make your heart flutter,” said Josh, in a barely
audible voice. “The way of escape is already
!

“Really, Josh!”

 

    
 

Buffalo Bill’s Baa

 

 

12

 

 

“ It is!”

He glanced around again keenly, listening a
few moments, and then resumed:

“ Within a few days past the boys have made
a secret tunnel under the rear wall of the guard-
house. The work was done at odd times, the

I most of it by men who enlisted at the same time ?

as your brother, and the existence of this sub-
terranean passage is still a secret to everybody
exce t those who made it.”

“ at how could it be made so secretly?”

“ Oh easily. with two or three workin quiet-
1y, an as many more on the watch. he dirt
was carried off with that of the well the colonel
has been sinking. ”

“ Why was it made, Josh?”

" First, to let in whisky to any of us Ravagers
who might get into limbo. Second, to let any
of us out, the need arising.”

“ And the colonel and his dear Dimmick knew
nothing about it?"

“ No. Why should be? It’s on the opposite
side from that he’s always watching from those
rear windows.”

“ But I should think it would be easily dis-
covered,” said Mrs. Goggin.

“ There’s little danger of that,” assured J Osh.
“ The inside end of the tunnel is under an im-
mense army chest, and is also concealed by the
large quantities of straw with which the floor
of tho guard—houseis always covered. The outer
end is masked by piles of wood which extend to
one of the covered ways, and hence escape will
be easy and safe!”

“ But are not the risoners ironed and hand-
cuffed i” asked Mrs. oggin anxiously.

“ Oh, yes,” replied Josh, “ but there are dupli-
cate keys,”and he slapped his pocket significant-
ly. “ I’m prepared to set all the prisoners free
at any desired moment. The ‘ King of the
Ravagers " is not to be so easily ‘ jugged ’ as the
colonel imagines!”

CHAPTER XIX.
PREPARED FOR FRIENDS on FOESI

“ HOW nice, Josh! w fortunate!” was the
comment of Mrs. Gog in upon the communica-
tions of her corrupt a mirer. “ That tunnel ’ll
be just as useful for my brother’s escape as if
made on purpose!”

“The idea of it came from the cap’n,” said
Josh, “and I dare say it entered into his plans
and intentions, or rather into his precautions.
lHav’e you the countersign for the night, Dol-
ie?’

“ As usual,” replied the disguised woman.
smilingly, " but I hardly expect to need it. I
have too many friends among the sentries to
even be challenged. Can I utilize that tunnel
to reach my brother?”

“Certainly and that’s what you ought to
do,” advised Josh, “ for this disguise of yours
is no good exce t in the dark where nobody
can see you: ou’ll always pass a thousand
times more readily for a pretty, charming girl
than for a soldier!”

“ You’re a good fellow, Josh Reeder,”declared
Mrs. Goggin, with a flush which attested how
much the compliment gratified her. “ Will you
have a drink? ’

“ With pleasure.”

Mrs. Go gin
right-ban poc at of her overcoat, which
seemed of a very capacious nature, inasmuch
asthe bottle cou dn’t have contained less than
two uarts, and her friend and ally took a
libero. dram from it, expressing his apprecia-
tion and his thanks. .

“ Tell me how to reach that tunnel from here,
Josh "then requested the fair schemer, return-
in the bottle to her pocket.

osh Reader proceeded to do so in brief
terms, adding:

“ You’ve been here often enough, secretly or
otherwise, to know the fort thoroughly l”

it Oh, ya.”

“You re not afraid, I see,” said Reader,
chucking her familiarly under the chin.

“Why should I be? At least every other
man I may encounter wouldn’t hesitate a mo-
ment about doin me a favor.”

“ That’s true,’ said Josh. “You've won all
our hearts andso has the ca ’n. But I must
go now. I’m after overcoats or the prisoners,
who complain of being cold.”

“ What! with that ig fire in front of them?”

“Oh that don’t warm much into the guard-
house, explained Reeder. “ But of course the
cold is only a pretense. What the risoners
really want isto have the overcoats n readi-
ness for their departure.”

“Can they really leave to—night, do you
think?” asked the woman, breathless] .

“ Undoubtedly, and better to-night than
later!” declared Josh. “ We shall go as soon as
everything gets quiet—probably somewhere be-
tween midnight and two o’clock!”

“ Shall you 0, too?”

“ I shall. he presence of Buffalo Bill here
at this time can have only one explanation, and
that is that Colonel Nayler has charged him
with the task of hunting up those mysterious
,p owlers who have long disturbed the peace of
the country. ”

; .» .thenaverl,,0,lh37.’

roduced a bottle from the!

 

 

“ And you don’t pro ‘ose to do much service

“ Not if I kn0w it,” replied Josh, “ and there
are many more like me within these walls. The
cap’n told me just now‘that he has sent for
Little Elk to meet him at the secret cam ), and
that they’re going to make a great stri e to-
gether. Of course I’m gomg with them, as are
all the rest of us.”

“ I’m glad to hear it, Josh,” said Mrs. Goggi'n,
smiling sweetly upon him. “ You’ll see me
again soon at the guard-house, I suppose, and
assist us in laying out our plans for getting
awa i”

“ h, yes. I’ll be there in five minutes.”

And with this assurance Josh Reeder resumed
his way toward his quarters.

As Mrs. Goggin stood motionless, reflecting
briefly as to her further proceedings, she saw a
man approaching whose bearing was quite dif-
ferent from that of his predecessor.

He was a fourth corporal of one of the com-
panies, who had been rapidly advanced, and
who had fallen into the habit of giving himself
airs of importance that none of his superiors
would have thought of assuming.

“ Who are you?" he asked, bluntly, halting
directly in front of Mrs. Goggin and taking her
by the sleeve.

“ A new recruit, if it’s any of your business,”
she answered, assuming a masculine voice.

“()h,that’s it. I thought I hadn‘t seen you
before. Would you like a hit of fun?”

“ Of what Sort ’6”

“ To watch that guard-house during the next
hour or two.”

“ And why, if you please?"

“ Because there’s going to be music there soon,
if I’m not greatly mistaken.”

“ Indeed? Of what sort? Is the band coming
out?”

“ Oh, don’t be so foolish! That Finklestone
and his crowd are cooking up some plan of es-
ca 8.”

“ You think so?"

“I know it! I’ve seen ’em hobnobbing with
their cards.”

“ ell, it‘s none of our business, is it, since
we’re oil? duty?”

“ It may not be yours, greeny, but I propose
to make it mine. Somebody will have that or-
derly’s place to—morrow, and why shouldn’t it
be mine, if I could detect a conspiracy to free
the prisoners?”

” True-there is something in that. You will
watch, then?”

“ Yes, if you will keep me company. It’s
ticklish business to hang around that guard-
house just now alone. Any of th0se chaps ’d
kill me at sight if they were caught in an at-
tempt at escape.”

“ I see! And so you want me to watch with
you? Take a drink, and I will think it over a
moment.”

The bottle came from the left-hand pocket
this time, and it was scarcely more than half as
large as the other.

‘ Thanks. That’s verv nice,” said the man,
wiping his mouth. “ Will you come with me?”

“ I would, if I had a. revolver.”

-“ Well. I can get you one,” volunteered the
corporal. “ Of course we don’t want to go fool-
ing around that crowd unarmed.” '

He reflected a moment, adding:

“ I want to get a bite and bundle up a little.
You won’t mind remaining here a few min-
utes?”

“ Of course not.”

“But you had better step back a little more
into the shadow of the house, so no one’ll see
on while I’m gone.” .

“ All right,’ said Mrs. Gaggin. complying
with the suggestion. “ Won’t you have another
d 1

r0

“Ii don’t mind. as I’ve been watching already
till I’ve got a chill.”

Joining the temptress in the shadow, the
corporal took a second drink, again expressing
his thanks, and adding a few cautions and sug-
gestions.

“ Funn , isn’t it?” he then queried, striking
an attitu e of astonishment.

“ What’s funny 1”

“Why, that they’re putting out that fire!
Are they pourinUg water on it? How fast it’s
getting dark! gh! How cold, too!” and he
shivered violently. “ What! all out! 1—”

He sunk down at the feet of Mrs. GogEn
with a few inarticulate exclamations, and y
as if dead.

Ascornful smile curled the full lips of the
disguised woman, as she quietly restored the
bottle to her pocket.

“It’s not much watching you’ll do tonight,
my friend.” she muttered. ‘ The biggest guns
in this fort are powerless to disturb you before
morning!”

She broke off a few of the flowering shrubs
near her and tossed them upon the motionless
figure, thus concealing it from casual observa-

ion.

“ What a lucky escape for us!” she could not
help saying under her breath, as she bent an-
other wary glance around. “How fortunate
that he applied to me instead of to another!
The rascal is decidedly clever! If he can see so

 
  

much, why should that Corporal Dimmick be
 L . t q',wh_at,we‘re doing)?” Why should

  

 

Buffalo Bill and Ben Letts fail to detect us and
stop us? We must be shy and secret, or we
shall fail 1”

She lighted her pipe again, and sauntered
away in the direction of the covered way to
which Josh had alluded, keepin a furtive and
keen watch of everything. and displaying an
outward calmness she was far from feeling.

Two men looked after her, exchanging
glances.

They were seated at an open WlndOW of the.
second story of the house, and had witnessed
the precedin interviews, overbearing all that
was said, an seeing all that was done.

LeThese two men were Buffalo Bill and Ben
tts.

 

CHAPTER XX.
ALL READY TO FLY.

As is generally the case with small forts and
camps, the guard-house of Fort Harris was
identical with its prison.

In other terms, about half of the building
which had originally been devoted to the con-
venience of the guard—a budding some twenty
feet by thirt , and composed of logs a foot
square—had een partitioned of! and set apart
for the confinement and safe-keeping of pris-
oners, and more than once in the history of the
fort had it been crowded, either by red-skins
who had been caught off their reservations. or
by soldiers who had been guilty of some breach
0 duty. '

The light of the fire of which we have spoken
repeatedly shone directly into the doors of no
two divisions of the structure, showing that
there was very little difference between them.

Both, in fact, were without furniture of any
sort, and the only attempt made to ive them
an air of habitability—even to the rage eyes of
a. soldier—consisted in covering the bare earthen.
floor with a thick layer of wheat or rye straw,
and renewin the same often.

If Colone Nayler, without betraying his
Eresence, could have looked into that portion of

is guard-house which was used as a prison, he
would have seen—a few minutes subsequent to
the interv1ew of Mrs. Goggin with Josh Reeder
—such a remarkable state of things tnst he
would have felt compelled to ask himself if he
were awake or dreaming.

To begin With, he could not have failed to no-
tice that his five prisoners were as serene and.
happy as ever, and not in the least cast down
by their confinement or by the prospect of im-
prisonment to which Dr. Wescott had alluded.

To the contrary, they were having a "good
time,” as they understood the phrase.

They were not only smoking and drinking, but
a substantial supper had been served them, and
they had done it ample justice.

Budd Finklestone sat with his back against
the great army chest of which Josh Reeder had
spoken, and often turned his gaze toward the
loose straw at one end of it as if expecting some
pleasant manifestation from that quarter.

He had been handcuffed and heavily ironed,
but the fact had in nowise interfered with his.
wonted equanimity.

In the middle of the guard-house crouched the
four abductors of Mrs. Nayler, in the act of
playing a game of cards, with the aid of a large-
square box which had been turned bottom up
between them.

They played under some disadvantage, to be
sure, seeing that they had been ornamented in
the same way as their leader, but they seemed
to be enjo in their awe, and at times to be-
come rea y a sorb in it.

At one side of them stood a sentry, who ap—
peared to be uite as much interested in the
game as any 0 the players. He was, of course
armed, and his rifle was loaded and displiyed
its bayonet, but it seemed no more terrifying to
the prisoners than to him, as he spread is flu-

ers upon the shank and leaned heavily upon it,
fn that attitude which so generally character-
iros the sentinel when on guard over nothing in

particular.
J nst inside of the entrance of the guard-house
stood J ooh Reader doing duty in the same non--

‘chalant style as I associate, with the simple

diflerence that he was leaning upon the butt of
his rifle instead of its muzzle.

As to the remaining four of the six ardsmen
referred to by Josh, they were sea d on the
straw, with their backs to the walls, at as many
different ggints of the interior, with their rifles
reclining tween their legs, and with the air of
men who are quite at peace with themselves and
with all their surroundings.

Outside, on benches around the fire, or near it,
were a dozen men composing the relief, some of 1
them conversing, and others walking back and
forth, but none of them givmg any particular
attention to the guard—house or its occupants.

They had discussed the affairs of the prisoners
with some interest, but had now turned their
thoughts upon other matters.

“ How are things out there. J oshl” suddenly
asked Finklestone, with a nod in the direction of
the relief. .

“ Well, they’re all our kind save four, and I
think those four are nuliiierent to everything
save their rations.”

“ Where’s that Dimmick?”

u

 

“t

‘ m~._....... ‘

 
 

“t

  

  
    

uao 1 S an.

 
  

 

 

“ He seems to be buzzing around the colonel,
and has evidently taken your place.”

“ Where’s Captain Greyson ?”

“ I haven’t seen him for an hour, but at last
accounts he was having a ‘ rubber ’ with Salton
and Mix.”

“ Well, I know what those ‘ rubbers’ amount
to,” commented Finklestone. “ Th0se chaps are

well out of the way. But why is it, Josh, that
my sister does not appear? Are you sure that
she understood about the tunnel l"

“ Perfectly. She will be here in a minute.”

A rustling of the straw at the end of the big
chest caught the hearing of Fiiiklestone.

“ Sure enough,” he added. “ Here she is.”

The next instant an opening ap ared in the
straw at the int indicated, an within that
opening a b ght air of eyes, which outshone
the lamps by w ich the guard-house was
lighted.

“ Everything is all right here,” whispered
Fiuklestone. “ You can come in.”

The hint was sufficient, and Mrs. Goggin as-
cended through the aperture, appearing to the
prisoners and their keepers.

“ You can talk at your ease,” said Josh to the
newcomer, with a smile. “ All here are our
kind, and Hillyer and the rest will give us time-
ly warning if any one comes.”

The disguised woman seemed a little startled
to see her brother and his friends in irons, which
clanked at every movement, but his smile of
welcome and their evident ease of mind reassured
her. She remained too nervous and preoccupied,
however, to give a thought to the concealing of
her identity.

“I was sure on would come,” was Budd’s
greeting, “ and osh has reported his interview
with you. What have you done since our cap-
turei”

“ I have set my house in order for a long
absence,” she replied, handing him the larger of
her two bottles “and have taken the liberty
of ordering Jim 'Ransom to be in waiting at the
grove with all our horses as soon as he can.”

“ Ca ital! The very thing!” cried Finkle-
stone oyously, as he sent the bottle on its
rounds amo his fellows. “ I was wishing on
would havenghe forethought to do that. on
comprehended, of course, that we should find
means of escape?"

“ Well, I hoped as much after what has been
Said and done,” she answered, looking sniilingly
around upon her admirers, “ but I didn’t know
just how it would be, now that the pinch has
come!”

“ We’d all die for you and the cap'u,” as-
sured Josh Reeder earnestly. “ \Vouldn’t we,
boys?”

“ Yes, yes!” answered several voices in
chorus.

“I thank you all heartily,” returned Mrs.
Goggin, with her brightest smile and sweetest
voice. “ But I have nevertheless been nervous,
not knowing as you would be able to carry out

your good intentions.”
“ Oh, it’s all arran ,” declared Fiuklestone.
" We can get out of ere at any moment. But
ets quiet for

we wish to wait until everything
ittle time be-

the nighta so as to be absent some
Iore our ight is discovered.”

“ I understand that Dorus,” declared Mrs.
Go gin, making use of the name b which she
ad ressed her brother habitually. ‘ but every-
thing is now uiet, and I am an: one to see on
all get out of his hole assoon as possible. by
not go now!"

She glanced from her brother to Josh with
eyes of earnest outfits. .

“Why notr’repea Sam Gaddley, looking
up from his game and throwing down his cards.
“ I have as much nerve as the rest of you, but
I’d like to vamose!”

“ So would I,” said several voices in concert.

“ Let me take a look,” proposed Josh Reeder,
moving toward the entrance. “ Our road may
indeed be open 1”

lie stepped out and made a tour of the guard-
house, coming back with a crisp and energetic
manner.

“ Everything is indeed strangely quiet,” he
reported. “ I m almost tempted to advise a
start. The colonel iseither busy with his guests,
or he and they have retired for the night. I
don’t see the least necessity of taking the risks
-of further delay.”

“ Nor do I,” avowed several voices in chorus.

“ Then let’s be off,” said J oeh.

CHAPTER XXI.
THE scours FURTHER nNLiGa'rnNED.
ALL eyes turned upon Budd Finklestone in
such a way as to show that no one expected to
leave without his assent and permission, and he
hastened to respond to that mute appeal, with-
out the least sus icion that Buffalo Bill and Ben
Letts had foun their way into the tunnel, un-
heard and unseen, and were now concealed he—
ond the big army-chest, watching and listen-

 

g‘ Of course, my entle Ravagers. I compre-
hend your desire to one,” said Finklestone,
looking around smiling y. “It was even my
intention to leave before now, for I see only too
clearly that our days of usefulness hereabouts
.are over, and feel only too keenlythat we’ve had

 

about enough of this sort of amusement. But
that Buffalo Bill and Ben Letts have done us a
very nasty turn in taking Mrs. Nayler away
from us, and I itch all the way from my Alpha
to m Omega to get square with them.”

“ atura ly, cap’n, assented Josh Reader;
“ but can we get 8 uare with them?”

“ lVeli, you can t ’most always tell exactly
how things will eventuate till your hen comes
off the eggs,” replied Finklestone, “but there
are plenty of good points in the situation. To

begin with, we can get out of these irons about i

as easy as a spy eel can swallow himself. There
are arms within reach : also horses. There’s a
sufficient sprinkling of Ravagers in all the reliefs
and on all the posts to paralyze any attempt
which may be made for our annihilation. The
night is so dark that a lest dog would think him-
self fenced in by it and lie down and keep quiet.

It may even rain pitchiorks before morning, if ;

ment, he turned out from under the straw
enough rifles and revolvers to arm the released
prisoners and his sister and himself.

“And now for a few instructions,” pursued
Finklestone, after a brief consultation With his
sister. “ The place of rendezvous is at the
northeast angle of the fort, where a rope-ladder
has been p1anted,in charge of the sentry at
that point, who is one of us, and who is going
away with us. You are to proceed thither
singly, taking any route you please after get-
ting clear (if the tunnel, but you’ll take good
care to keep as much under cover as posswle.
Understand, all?”

A general assent was given him.

“Should you find yourselves in any danger
of being stopped between here and there,” con-

1 tinned Finklestone, “ you‘ll have to act prompt-

the wind should go down. Under these circum- ,
stances we have no especial reason to be dis- "

couragod.”

“ Not if we leave, Dorus,” returned Mrs. Gog-
gin, with visible anxiety. “ But here we’re in
terrible peril.”

“ Oh, we’re going, sis,” said Finklestone.
“The only question is, just how soon? I I‘t‘allZB
that we‘re playing a losing game with those
scouts as long as we remain in this fort. But
once we catch them outside—on our own ground.
so to speak—we shall not belong in getting rid
of them forever. In the mean time, is there
any reason why we should not hold on an hour
or two, more or less, and endeavor to give our
enemies our compliments before leaving, or why
we shouldn’t visit them in their lairs, and raise
high old mischief here before we get up and
dust!”

“Why shouldn’t we?" demanded Josh, look-
ing around with grim ferocity. “ We might at
least seize that paymaster’s cash which arrived
to-day, and not wait for its distribution to-mor-
row.

“ We might even seize Mrs. Nayler again,”
an gested Sam Gaddley.

‘ And knock old man Nayler on the head,”
put in Ted Grapple.

“ Or, better sti l,”pursued Flnklestone " hook
on to those infernal scouts and take ’em into the
hills and hang ’em for the vultures to contem-
plate. The ’re the chaps I want to fry, stew,
and boil! ince they’ve come here to chaw us
up, whata nice thing it‘d be to make ’em our
meat. Let’s wait a little, boys, and ponder
seriously on this subject, kee ing our eyes
pieled. It’ll be singular enoug i we don’t

ve achance to set u high old Chimboraso
hereabouts before we ta e our departure.”

“ Nevertheless, Dorus—”

Finklestone had noticed that the face of his
sister rew more serious with every word he
uttere ,and that brief and unfinished remon-
strance was scarcely needed to tell him that she
was not at all in favor of waiting.

“ Well, sis?” be queried, with a smile, caress-

ing her.

‘ It’s neither wise nor safe to remain here a
minute longer,” she declared, earnestly. “ Our
friends are as one to a dozen or twenty. Some
one of the many on have confided in may be a
traitor. It woul n’t take much of a search to
discover this tunnel. It may even be known to
the colonel already. We shall never have an-
other such favorable night, and never again be
so ready. Your first duty is to save yourself
and these friends. We must go, Dorus—now,
this very instant! Unless you use this tunnel
while it is open to you you'll soon be chained to
a cannon. and doome to certain death 1"

An awful murmur of approval succeeded,
the face of every bearer—even Finklestone’s—
growin white under the influence of Mrs.

oggin s only too visible anguish, and especial-
ly her sense and logic.

“Sobe it then, returned the brother, after
scanning t e rigid features around him.
“There’sa great risk in remaini ,certainly.
I’d like to take instant and terri 1e revenge
upon those scouts, as I’ve indicated, but I agree
that there are matters of greater consequence
claiming our attention. Josh, you may unlock
all these irons i”

“ How joyfully,” returned Reeder, with such
excitement that his breath came pantingly,
“ need not be stated 1”

He gave all his attention to the task in hand,
and neither paused nor spoke again until the
last of the five prisoners was at liberty. i

“ What joy!” muttered Sam Gaddley,rubbing
his wrists and stretching his legs.

“Blessed moment! for which we’ve waited
too long i” said another, with mock sentimental-
ism. “I wouldn’t go through the last ten min-
utes again for ten thousand million—”

“ Hold on, Ted," interrupted Finklestone
smiling] , shaking a warning finger. “ Any of
us woul do the same thing over again for a
quarter of that money! Are you all sound in
limb and wind like a first-class race-horse?”

“ Perfectly,” affirmed Hank Tilkins.

“ Never better.” avowed Ted Grupple.

“ Then keep quiet a moment,” enjoined Fin-
klestone. “ The next thing in order is the
tOOlsl”

Proceeding to a rear corner of the apart-

 

ly. Not being able to fire without raising an
alarm, you‘ll have to use the butt of your guns.
Is this also understand?”

“ Perfectly,” answered Sam Gaddley, and his
associates indicated that this also was their sen-
timeiit.

“Then I have only to add that horses await
us at that first grove on the La Plata route,”
added Finklestone, “ and that you may now
help yourselves to overcoats from that pile in
the crrner and hold yourselves in readiness for
de arture.”

‘he released men hastened to help themselves
to the garments indicated.

" And now to be off,” said Josh Reeder, after
another inquiring glance from the guard—house.
“ You and Mrs. Goggin had better go first,

“Pin.”

‘ No, thank you,” returned Finklestone.
“ My sister and I will go last. Since those
scouts are within the fort, intent on discovering
our secrets, it’s quite possible that they may
come prowling in this direction at a very awk-
ward moment. Should such be the case,” and
his face glowed savagely, while his clutch tight-
ened on a revolver he had drawn from his
pocket, “ I’d sooner trust myself to meet them
than dele ate the job to even the best of you!
You and ddley can go first, Tilkins, the pair
of you, as two will attract little mere attention
than one, and we’ll give you a start of three
minutes. You‘ll both bear in mind the peculiar
construction of that tunnel, as it has heretofore
been explained to you, and not biimp your
heads!”

He made a gesture of dismissal, and Sam
Gaddley and Hank Tilkins vanished into the en-
trance of the tunnel.

CHAPTER XXII.
NOTHING TO manna anti

Amosr holding their breath, the Reva rs
listened intent] to assure themselves that m
Gaddley and ank Tiikins were in no wise
headed off or interfered with in their escape
from the guard-house.

Thus three minutes passed.

“ They’re all right, it seems,” muttered Finkle—
stone, looking up from his watch. “They’ve
got through safely, or we should have heard an
alarm. You two can go next!”

He nodded to Dan Ringwood and Ted Grup-
ple, who hastened to take their way through the
secret tunnel as silently as phantoms.

“This was the right thing to do, after all,
Dollie,” whispered Finklestone, without ceasing
to listen “and I must thank you for insisting
upon it. 'We have too much at stake to takeany
other course.” .

Mrs. Goggin presed his hand in silence,a sigh
of relief escaping her.

After a wait of a couple of minutes—for those
remaining an to get nervous—Ted and Dan
were follow by a couple of the recreant
guards, and soon Josh Reeder was left alone
with the brother and sister.

“Of course Josh,” suggested Finklestone,
ou’ll let Stubby know we’re OH, and will repeat
he hint as to the action he’s to take in the met

1..”

“ I’ll tell him,” returned Josh, and with this
he stepped out to the fire, looking across it to a
bench on which sat half a dozen men who were
oi! duty.

Among these men was one who had been ob-
serving Josh fnrtively a few moments, and Josh
had only to raise his finger to call this man to
his side.

“ We’re going now, Stubby,” he whispered,
“ Don’t forget to follow us in due course, as
talked, and bring Tim Wiggins with you. Of
course we’d like you to go with us, but we must
leave a trusty friend here to bring us word of
the measures which will be taken to find us!”

The man nodded understandingly. '

“ But perhaps we shall not go far to-night,”
resumed Josh, “and, in any case, you’ll easily
get away to- morrow and overtake us some-
where on the route, or at the Crater camp.”

“ I understand all that, Josh,” was the re-
sponse of Stubby. “ But how long shall we
wait before we ‘ discover ’ that prisoners and
keepers have fled together?”

“ Oh, not too long—say half an hour. But if
you see any one else is about to discover our ab-
sence, you must give the alarm ahead of them,
even if you give it within five minutes.
everything understood?”

 

4%

1,1,1}-

 

~ the sentry.

  

14

 

 

 

 

“Buffalo Bill’s Ban;

 

“ To a hair, Josh.”

“Then good-night and good luck 1”

A brief response was made to him, and then
Stubby sauntered back to his seat, while Josh
returned to the brother and sister.

“ I suppose we’re to follow the rest now,
cap’n?” be queried.

“ Yes, J csh. You’ve heard nothing laterfrom
Dutt Smiley and those with him!”

5‘ No, cap’n.”

“ They gave no sign of coming out of that
sleep!”

“ Not the slightest. Doctor Pawlett took a
look at them, and said they’d sleep until late in
the night, or possibly till morning.”

Finklestone smothered a curse.

" It’s hard to leave them here,and in that fix,”
he declared, “ the more especially as I can’t say
just when I’ll be back, if ever. You’ve told
Brower what message to give them when they
recover their senses?

“ Of course, cap’n.”

“ Then we must leave them to make their way
to the ‘ Quadra 1e ’ when the can,” concluded
Finkleetone. “ e cannot ta 0 the risk of an
attempt to move them, nor can we delay here
until they wake up. l’d liketo get hold of those
meddling scouts,’ he added, “as the mere fact
of having them in our hands would paralyze all
pursuit, and enable us to control the colonel in
any possible contingency of the future, but we
shall have to adjourn that pleasure, in all likeli-
hood , {till we can catch them outside of the
fort. "

He led the way through the tunnel, and Mrs.
Goggin readily f0110wed, her previous trips by
this route having made her acquainted with it.
Josh Reeder kept at their heels, and all three of
them were soon at the northeast angle of the
fort, where they found themselves awaited by

“ Are there any more to come, cap’n?” asked
this personage, nervously, at sight of Finkle—
stone.

“ No,” was the answer.

The sentry slung his rifle across his shoulders
with an air of indescribable relief.

“ I’m so glad!” he muttered. “ The anxiety of
the last few moments has been killing 1”

He led the wa rapidly down the rope-ladder
which had enab ed the preceding fugitives to
lower themselves from the wall,and was as rap-
idly followed by Josh and the brother and sister,
the latter declining assistance and making as
good time as her companions.

“ And now to vanish 1" proposed Budd, draw-
ing his sister’s arm within his own, as his quick
ear detected the rancing of impatient steeds in
the distance. “ Ve’re out of that box, and the
coloriel and his dear scouts are none the wiser.
Let’s mount and be off!”

Vanish was indeed the word! In another mo-
ment the dark night had enwrapped the secret
of their flight!

 

CHAPTER XXIII.
NOT .ALL THEY SEEMEDI

WITH what wild joy and relief Budd Finkle-
stone and his friends saw that vail of darkness
deswnd between them and their enemies, will
be readily comprehended.

They had carried their point!

Not only had Finklestone subtracted himself
dextrously from the Nemesis whose hand had
been extended to clutch him, but the four ab-
ductors of Mrs. Nayler were also hastening to a
place of safety.

After a brief but rapid walk, which was al-
most too much for Mrs. Geggin in her heavy
and awkward garb, the last four fugitives
reached a lonely grove on the La Plata trail to
which their comrades had preceded them.

“ You are fully decided, then, to go with us,
Dollie?” suddenly asked Finklestone.

“Yes, Dorus."

“You won’t wait even a few days, or until
the rrand clearing out and disappearance of all
the ricnds we ve left temporarily behind us?”
pursued the brother.

“ N0, Dorus. There‘s no reason for doing so,”
returned the disguised woman, “ and I so much
need a change! Buffalo Bill and Ben Letts are
hunting us, and thcy’ll be like bloodhounds af-
terthe fine piece of work we have just served
up to them! I cannot leave you to fight them
alone. Say no more, Dorusl I can return to
Fort Harris whenevm‘ I choose to do so i"

“ All right, sis. We shall all be glad, of
course, to have you with us.” ~

“ Here is your horse, Dollie,” said Josh
Reeder, leading up to her a high-spirited,
prancing animal. “Unfortuname Jim Ran—
som did not quite comprehend that a lady was
to be of the party, and the saddle has two stir-
rupsl” . .

“ So much the better,” rejoined Mrs. Goggin.
bluntly. “ If I really detest that one-legged
business by da light and at an easy pace, just
imagine how must dislike it on such a dark
night as this and at the pace we are likely to
take!”

“ You are quite right, Dollie!”

“Besides,” added Mrs. Goggin, continuing to

 

speak in her natural tone, as she accepted the

assistance of Josh to gain her saddle, “ you
must recollect that I am now disguised as a
man, which is in itself a very good reason for
wishing to ride man—fashion !’

“ Is Jim Ransom here i” asked Finklestone,
looking around sharply.

“ Yes, cap’n,” came the reply from under an
adjacent tree, as the speaker began advancing
toward him, “ and here’s your horse.”

“ Have you one for Reeder?”

“ Certainly. Here it is.”

‘ ‘ How many have you in all l”pursued Finkle-
stone, leaping into the saddle-

“ Fourteen.”

“ Then there is one for ourselfl”

“ Well, I should smile i there wasn’t!”

“ Then you had better come with us,” ad~
vised Finklestone, hurriedly. “ Otherwise you
are likely to be arrested as an accomplice of our
flight, and asked some very awkward questions
as to who is your backer in the livery business,
and what has become of your horses! We have
left a high old carnival behind us!”

“ I took stock of all that, cap’n,” returned
Ransom, “ and came prepared to leave with

H

11.

“Then let's be elf! Is everybody mounted?
Fall in! We’re wasting valuable time!”

Budd glanced into the grove behind him, and
was just able to distinguish the outlines of the
men and horses there assembled.

Some of the horsemen-those who arrived
first—had been waiting long enough for their
steeds to get impatient. Others had taken the
precaution towalk their horses about a little
without mounting them, while still others, hav-
ing less excitable horses, or exercising better
control over them, had quietly awaited the
completion of the party and the si al of de-
parture, while givmg careful attention to their
fell.0ws as fast as they made their appearance.

“This wag. all,” invited Finklestone, riding
away from t 6
Sister beside him, “ and let’s have as little noise
as ible.”

he rest of the party rode into line by twos,
Jim Ransom and the sentry bringing up the
rear.
For the first half-mile the pace did not exceed
a slow walk, as a gallop would have echoed to
the fort.

“It’s strange we do not hear any alarra be- ,
hind us,” then remarked Finklestone to his:
sister. “Jobson must have become nervous‘

enough by this time to ‘discover’ our absence
and report the same, 33 arranged, that step
being absolutely necemary to clear him from
suspicion.”

“Perhaps Colonel Nayler will say nothing
about his loss till mornin ,” suggested Mrs.

n. “ What good wou d it do him to raise
an alarm, when it is so dark, and we have such
a start? Would he wake the few settlers along
this trail? He must reflect that we can turn off
it any moment into a pathless wild, and extend
our travels to California, if we choose, without
nearing a house or showing ourselves to a bu-
man being. I think the colonel will ‘hold his
horses’ and not make a fool of himself 1”

“Be all that as it may,”remarked Finkle-
stone, “it’s evident that he's not making noise
enough just DOW t0 cover the clatter we should
false if 801118 at 1" gallop. We shall have to
hold to this snail’s pace a little while longer,
therefore, rather than run the risk of being
overheard by the too attentive ears of those in—
fernal sentries !”

“0f mum, it Will soou be known in what
direction we’ve gone, Dorus?” resumed Mrs.
Goggin, after a pause. .

‘ Yes, Dollie, and of course pursuit Will
made,”returned Flnklestone, “ but we can easily
reach the Mavens trail ahead of them, and it
will not be difficult to throw them ofl’ after-

ward. As all roads lead to Rome, so all roads ,

lead to the ‘ Quadrangle.’ And let them not
hunt us too fiercely,”he added, his tone growing
savage and sinister. “ There is not onlya large
Party Of US. but we are well-mounted and well-
armed. lf they get too fierce, sepecially in this

darkness, I’ll certainly ambuscade them in some 1

natural stronghold—such as we are constantly
passing—and kill them by the dozen l”

Mrs. Goggin did not rebuke the cxtrava ance
of this language. for just then she thong t of
Ben Letts, and the mere thouzht Of his mas—
querade as “ Captain Hickman ” was enough to
make her vengeful.

“ Are you sure we’re all here, Dorusl” she
suddenly usked,after two or three rapid glances
behind her. “I counted but twelve just now.
Are we really fourteen l”

“ I can soon see,” he answered.

Ordering a halt and dismounting, he handed
his reins to his sister and slowly made the cir-
cuit of the whole party. at the same time inclin-
ing his ear attentively toward the fort, where
all still continued quiet. ’

“ Yes, there are fourteen of us,” he. reported,
as he regained his saddle and resllmm‘: lll'OgI‘Ws,
“ that is to say, Josh and his five guards. you
and 1, Jim Ransom and Sam (isddley, Hank
Tilkins and Ringwood, with Ted Urupple and
the sentry!” ,

“ And of course you can vouch for the whole

crowd?” asked Mrs. Goggin, in a guarded tone. '

grove toward the trail, with his ;

“ Of course I can. I know them all of 0161..
Have you any suspicion of any one 3”

“No—nothing more than an uneasiness for
which I cannot account,” exclaimed Mrs. Gog-
gin. “ But I didn’t quite understand who that

sentwr is l”

“ by, he is Jim Ransom’s brother—Pete
Ransom—a fellow 1 have proved in a thousand
ways, and who is as true to me as a dog to his
master.”

Mrs. Goggin appeared relieved.

"I suppose our adventure with Buffalo Bill
and Ben Letts has made me nervous," sl,“ l'i—
marked by way of excusing the turn she had
given to the conversation. “ I keep thinking
they may turn up again l”

“ Well, there you are wrong, Dollie.” assured
Finklestone, with a grim chuckle. “With all
their cunning and smartneSS, we are too much
for them,ha, ha!” and his chuckle grew to a
mocking laugh. “I’d like to see the faces of‘
that couple when they hear that the guard-
house is empty—the stupid fiends, the dolts, the
pretended man—eaters! Ha, ha!”

In the jubilant excitement of that moment
Budd struck a safety-fuse with the intention of
enjoying a good cigar. as was his wunt when he
felt contented. Tho fuse sputtered and glowed
furiously, not only illuminatingthe faces of the
brother and sister, but those of the two men
who rode immediately behind them, and ‘whom
they supposed to be Sam Gaddley and Hank
Tilkins.

That supposition was all wron , however.

Had Budd Finklestoneoers. oggin chanced
to look over their shoulders when that brilliant
“ lucifer" so unexpectedly illuminated their
surroundings, they would have seen that the two
Injecn next behind them were Buffalo Bill and Ben.

tts!

How bad the scouts come there?

Having detected the intentions of the prison—
ers and their “keepers,” as related, they had,
taken their measures accordingly—sows“ taken
them, in fact, that they got the drop on Sam
Gaddley and Hank Tilkins and captured them,
binding them hand and foot and gagging them,
at the very moment that couple descended from
the wall of the northeast angle of the fort, and
had taken their places!

In a word,the two scouts had smu gled them—
selves into the presence of Budd and his associ-
ates, under cover of darkness, and were going
out with them to see whither they were bound
and what they proposed to do—rcserving to
themselves the privilege of gathering them into»

 

the fort later!

CHAPTER XXIV.
BOUND FOR THE QUADRANGLE!
Tn] darkness of the night had been, of course,
the first essential condition of the success 0-
the substitution the daring scouts had under-

en.

In that intense and exceptional darkness,
which seemed to increase from minute to min-
ute as the night advanced, how easy it was to-

ss for the two men—Sam Gaddley and Hank.

ilkins— whose places they had taken!

How easy to accompany the fugitives wherever"
they might go, and take due notice of all they'
were saying and doing!

What revelations and discoveries might not;
reasonably be expected l

How essential it was, in fact, to take this
course, if they would be quickly and surely en-
lifigtenedl

is Cigar lighted to his satisfaction, Finkle—v
, stone again turned his ear attentively toward
the fort. ‘

“ Not a sound!” he ejaculated.

“They may listen all the more!” suggested.
Mrs. Goggin.

“ True, sis,” admitted Budd, “ but there is a.
chance that no alarm has been given yet. Pos—-
. sibl there may be no dismvery in the case un—
i til t e guard is changed at two o’clock, or about

an hour from now, but that would be almost too-
, much to expect.” ‘
i “ Is J obson safe, Dorms?”
“ Safe, Dollie? If you ever get another bus--
i band that is half as safe as Stubby Jobson,
you’ll be extremely lucky.”
l The scouts rcpvatcd the name mentally, with
I an excmnge of glances which attested that they
I were laying it up for future reference, while
: Mrs. Goggin made a gesture of impatience, as if
l the allusion had recalled recollections of a dis-
: agreeable nature.

“I don’t want {my more husbands,” she dc-
clared, feelingly. “ The one I had was quite
sufficient for a lifetime.”

“ And yet you lived with him only four
, weeks,” the brother reminded her.

“ It would have been all the same, Dorus, if I
. had known him only four days! He was an ex—
ceedingly disagreeable creature."

“ “fell, I hope he won’t turn up again, if such
are your sentiments.”

“ I hope so, too—for his sake."

The exchange of thrse few Words. Which rcadv
ily reached tl'e hearing of Buffalo Bill and Ben:
i Letts. was cxtrcmcly edifytngv': to turn), leaking
i plain the cause of. the woman’s restless and un«
l scrupulous state of mind.

A brief silence succeeded, and then Mrs. Gog»

 

 

{‘1

n—fi’»< .»r u...

 

Buffalo Bill’s Ban.

l5

 

 

gin resumed, with an air which showed she had
been reviewing the situation:

“ It seems almost singular that the colonel, or
at least Buffalo Bill and Ben Letts didn’t get
track of our proposed escape.”

“ It does, indeed,” returned Budd. “ Where
can have been their boasted penetration? But
we must remember that they have no idea. of
the taorsugh manner in which we have honey-
combed the garrison. Many of the men are far
more friendly to us than they are to the officers.
But what were you thinking of?”

“ IVhy, I was simply recalling that there is a
man in the fort who was sufficiently sharp to
suspect the true state of things I”

“ Indeed! What sort of a man?”

Mrs. Goggin described him,and Budd fidgeted
in a way which showed that he recognized the
description.

“ You mean that wretched, meddling fourth

porporal, Brottle,” he declared. “ Well, how did

you get track of him?”

Mrs. Goggin summarized the terms in which
Brottle had set forth his suspicions.

“ The reptile! How did you get rid of him?”

“ Oh, I gave him a couple of drinks from my
smallest bottle.”

“ And he took kindly to it?”

“ Yes. He went off like a lamb, and I cov-
ered him with bushes and left him asleep on the
dark side of the colonel’s house.”

“ That was well done, sis, and a narrow es-
0 ,” commented Finklestone, thoughtfully.
“ 'l‘hat Brottle is one of the most dangerous
little scamps in the fort.”

The scouts took note of the opinion.

“ But we are now rid of the whole brood,”
ursued Finklestone, “ and I must say that
here is a bright as well as a dark side to the

m uerade we have been having during the
last ew months.”

“ There is, indeed.”

And the speaker looked back involuntarily at
Josh Reeder.

“ We have not onl won over to our side
many of the brave to owe now with us,”con-
tinned Finklestone, " but we have left affairs at
the fort in a very nice situation. To begin with,
just think of the sort of pursuit all such fellows
as Cook, Steele and Brewer will make for us!”

A silvery laugh from Mrs. Goggin floated out
on the air,while the scouts took into their mem-
ories the names mentioned.

“ Excuse me for laughing so loud, Dorus,” ex-
claimed )lrs. Goggin, “ but I couldn’t help it—
it’s such a ridiculous piece of nonsense to an
pose that any of the ‘ boys' will. be disagreeab e

0 us, after the very handsome .manner in
which we have treated them 1”

“ And especial] after the attentions so many
of them have pai you, sis!”

“ Exactly, m dear brother. Do you know
how many of em I have rejected up to this
date? No less than fourteenl’

Finklestene made a re id gesture, implying
that the two men imm tely behind them
might overhear these confidences.

“ Oh, they are not among the number,” ad-
mitted Mrs. Goggin, with another laugh, as she
glanced archly around at them, without making
any secret of what she was saying;e

“ And such fellows as Ben tts are not
included I presume?” continued Finklestone.

“ 01), never really firepoeed. Dorus. He
‘simpered and sighed, ’ bu he never got down to
business, and never intended to.”

“ But are you not afraid that fourteen reject-
ed suitorl may possibly be equivalent to fourteen
enemieef’asked the brother.

“ Not a bit of it. I put their rejection on such
felicate grounds that no fault can be found with

t.

She did not continue the subject, but her bro-
ther understood her, she having pursued in these
matters a regular system.

She had professed the greatest respect and
esteem, with just a little love, for every one of
her suitors, but had asked for time and a better
acquaintance, allowing every one of them to go
away with a conviction that he would even-
tually be the man of her choice. Had she been
sowing to the whirlwind by these deceptions and
coquetrics? It remains to be seen.

“ l merely allude to these matters now,
Dorus,” she soon resumed, “as an explanation
of my confidence that we have nothing to fear
from the garrison. In an other sense than
this, talk of this sort woul be foolish at this
time and place. But where are we going?”

“ We’re bound for the ‘ Quadrangle,’ of
course,” replied l-‘inklestone, “ but our route is
likely to be a zigzag, if our pursuers should be
too numerous and too active."

“ But we shall halt by the way ?” pursued Mrs.
Goggin wonrily.

" Yes, often enough,” was the answer, accom-
panied by a glance of solicitude. “ In fact, my

ntention is to tuko two or three o'avs lo the

journey, and watch Closely every ll‘ove that is
made behind u~‘. Considering thopocr rest. we
are 1‘” getting to right. we can’t do better, I
third , than t) pass th ~ day in reprise.”

"‘ i wish we mmht, Dorus.”

“ We mll,”d4‘clarcd the brother. “ My idea

 

until late tomorrow, if the enemy should not
oust us. If this ride, however, is too long for
on—

“ Oh. no, Dorus. Let’s go to the Crater Camp.
It’s, there that Little Elk is to meet you, isn’t
it?

“ Exactly,” replied Finklestone, as he looked
sharply behind him. “ But we‘re far enough
from that fort now, boys,” he added, raising his
voice, “ for us to whoop ’er up a little,” and in
a. few moments more, following the example of
their leader, the entire party was flying along
the La Plata trail at a lively gallop.

CHAPTER XXV.
A CURIOUS HALTING-PLACE.

DARKER and darker had grown that wild,
bl ustering September night, in the absence of
the moon and stars, but several of the fugitives
had been over the route, and the only effect of
the gloom was to make them congratulate them-
selves that no one could see who they were or
where they were going.

After a sharp ride of a few minutes the fugi-
tives reached the La Plata Creek, where the
trail branches, and took to the Left Fork, which
they followed a couple of miles at a rattling
pace without seeing anything of lights, houses
or inhabitants.

At this point they forded the stream, taking
care to emerge from it in as many different
places as there were horsemen, and struck the
trail which leads across the divide between the
La Plata and the Cherry, a distance of six
miles.

Another half-hour of rapid movement suc-
ceeded, almost without the exchange of a word,
and the fugitives reached the east bank of the
last-named river.

As far as the river itself is Concerned a horse
can almost leap across it at the point inques-
tion, but its banks present towering.r and )recipi-
tous walls, as is so 0 ten the case with rivers in
the high altitudes of the Rockies, and it is no
easy matter to find a gapwhere one can descend
safely from the bluil‘s to the water.

But Budd Finklcstone had often passed this
way, at all sorts of hours and in all sorts of
weather, and knew just what he was doing.

“ From this point,”he announced. “we must
go south half a mile, in single file, following the
stream. I will take the lead. Try to keep in
my tracks, all of you. The idea is to conceal
the fact that we are a considerable body of
horsemen, and leave it to be supposed that some
solitary hunter has made all these tracks by go-
infirepeatedly to his tra .”

he half-mile in ques ion was traversed at a
walk, and Finklestone then led the way dawn a
precipitous bank into the stream, facmg about
in it to the northward and ascending its had
nearly a quarter of a mile,or about half the dis-
tance: he had followed its bank to the south-
war .

“ The next trick,” he then announced, halting
a moment in the stream, “is to get out of this
creek by means of that little branch abreast
of me to the west. I will ascend this branch a
hundred yards, and the rest of you must all
take intervals within this distance, coming out

 

singlyto the right or left, as you choose,but.

all keeping your eyes on me and heading to-
ward the point to which you see me advanc-
mg.

Two or three uestions were asked by those
who did not fu 1y comprehend the proposed
movement, and then Finklestene gave the signal
for its execution.

The result was apparent as soon as all had
again rallied on their leader, who had taken his
stand on a gentle elevation overlooking the per-
formance.

“'Dherel you now know what ‘ throwing off
pursuit ’ means,” he declared, when his associ-
ates had all halted around him. “ Here we are,
and I undertake to say that no man on this
cart will ever be able to say just how we came
here ”

The scouts could not help exchanging glances
of admiration at the cleverness with which the
rasr'al had executed these several movements.

“ Our next step,”pursued Fiuklestone, “is to
strike west ward,in the direction of the Mancos.
The country hereabouts has not been surveyed,
nor is it inhabited, nor is there any regular
travel, in the direction I’m about to take you,
but I’m familiar with every foot of it. and you
may be sure that I have in my mind’s eye on
objective point which you will find worthy of
your urtL-ntion.”

He set the example of resuming progress,
Mrs. (loggin taking her accustomed place by
lti-x side, and for nearly another hour he dashed
on to the wcs«.ward at an almost constant gal-
lop, now through woods, now across plains,
and now along refines or slopes, but all the
while in a darkness that made the most vet-
erem riders tremble for the footing of their
steeds.

" Here We are.” at length announced Finkle-
stone, halting and looking back on his follow-
(rs. “ We are three miles from the Mancos,
night from the Cherry, and chuitecn from
Fort Harris, and almorat due west of the laiter.

is to push on ,to the Crater Camp, “ here we l 'l‘hereis not a house or a cultiwred piece of
shall be as safe as comfortable, and remain ground within many miles of us, nor any other

 

human being than ourselves. Just ahead of us
is an ancient crater, of several acres, with an
abrupt rim, or wall, on every side, the whole
interior as bare of verdure as the back of your
hand, but having dense ve station all around
it. At this spot—as I wil mention for the
benefit of Josh and the other new recruits—the
Ravagers have long had a secret halting—place,
station, retreat, or whatever you choose to call
it, but which is general] spoken of in our an-
nals as the ‘ Crater amp.’ I have passed
many a night here, when journeying to or from
our headquarters at the Quadrangle, and we
have here three or four small buildings, in-
cludmg a woodshed and a shelter for our
horses!”

“ How dare you i” queried Josh. “I should
think the first hunter who comes this way
would see these buildings, comprehend what
they are for, and set a trap for you!”

“ Impossible, for forty reasons,” returned
Finklcstonc. “ The rim of the crater rises per-
pendicularly three hundred feet above the sur-
rounding woods, and is everywhere so broken,
scaly, and dangerous, that I do not believe any
human being was ever desperate enough to un-
dertake to climb it. At only one spot is there
a rift in the rim, and this is reached by a high
and narrow natural causeway, a mere isthmus
of rock, and even this one entrance is so thorv
oughly masked by huge bowlders and pines that
you have to be close at hand before it becomes
visible. In fact, this gateway is so narrow and
difficult, especially in the night, that I shall
have to conuuct you into the crater by twos.”

“ And once we’re in?”quoried Josh.

“ Oh, it’s one of the snuggest retreats the eye
of man ever looked upon,” declared Finkle-
stone, enthusiastically. “ There is one spot at
the entrance wnere half a dozen men could defy
all the world, if all the world would come with-
out cannon. The interior of the crater, how-
ever, is like the floor of a house—smooth and
level—and here you are shut in by such high
walls that even such a wind as this cannot en-
ter. There is also a splendid spring of water,
which is evidently forced up by hydraulic
pressure from some reservoir in t e adjacent
bills, as it always ren sins at the same level, no
lower and no higher. whatever the quantity of
water taken from itl”

“ What a remarkable place!” exclaimed Mrs.
Goggin, as her brother dismounted. “ And is
it here that we are to pass the day, Dorns?”

“Yes, unless I give orders to the contrary,
which 1’ve no present intention of doing.”

“ But is it not possible that the pursuers will
reach he re in the course of the day ?”

“ No. Dollie. At least there is not one chance
in a million that they will be able to follow us
here, and the chances are still less that the

will be able to stumble upon us by sheer acci- :

dent.”

He had given these views for all present,
rather than for his sister alone, and he now
added:

“ Allow me to go first and see that the coast
is clear. Remain where you are, all of on.”

He went on at a slow pace, leading his horse,
with occasional halts to look and listen, and soon
disappeared from the view of his companions,
althth they could hear the tread of his horse
over a hard and ecnoing surface, apparently a
path of solid rock.

“It’s all right,” he soon called, in a voice
which sounded hollow and strange, coming
from the interior of the crater and echoing

against its lofty sides. “ There is plentyvof dry
wood here and I’ll soon have a fire. sit in
patience.”

The two scouts exchanged startled whispers
at the mention of the word fire, and .began to
realize that their adventure had reached a crit~
ical point.

 

CHAPTER XXVI.
UNAWARI OF HIS PEBIL.

AT the end of a minute or two, the light of a
fire begfn reaching its fingery gleams up into
the dar clouds flying above t e Crater Camp,
and was welcomed by a generalmurmur of satis-
faction from the observant Ravagers.

“You see?" called Finklestone, whose move-
ments could almost be followed by his gigantic
shadows, as he fled fuel on the flames. “It
will be well lig ted by the time you all get
here. and you can see where you are, or at least
what are your surroundings. Patience! I'm
coming!” .

“ Shall I go over with you, Dollie?" asked
Josh lteeder who had made his way to her side.
“I mean when the cap’n comes for you. Of
course I wouldn’t dare undertake to pilot you
over in this darkness, as I am not acquainted
with this region.”

“ Yes, Josh, I shall be lad of your company,"
was the reply of Mrs. oggin, as she took the
arm of her admirer and loaned heavily upon it.
“ Seal m y brother has lighted an immense torch
to Show us our way. How nice!”

She turned toward the spot the scouts had
just moulded, as i f to communit ate her enjoy-
ment to them, but she saw that they had van-
isbvd.

They had, in fact, withdrawn to the rear of
the little party, so as to be out of the way of the

"

’- -.
S’s

 

4

f

Buffalo Bill’s Ban.

 

 

coming torch, as well as of the fire Budd had
kindled.

Mrs. Goggin watched the zigzags made by
her brother, with occasional eclipses, as he tra-
versed the intervening space, and uttered an
Exclamation of joy when he again stood beside

er.

“ Give me your reins,” he said, addressing
Josh and his sister.

The request was complied with.

“ Don‘t fret,” he enjoined, with a glance at the
others. “ I’ll get you all over as soon as I can.”

W'ith his torch in one hand, and the reins of
his sister and Josh in the other, he proceeded to
lead their horses to the vicinity of the fire he
had kindled.

“ What a dangerous passa e!” Mrs. Go gin
could not help exclaiming, wit a sigh of re ief.
“ I wouldn’t return over that spot for anything
till morning!”

“ And what a lonely scene around us!” ex-
claimed Josh Reeder, as he assisted Mrs. Goggin
to alight, sending a swift glance around upon
the tall. encircling rim of rocks. “But what a
safe hiding» place I”

“ Now for the rest I” remarked Finklestone
turning away. “ You’ll find a place for your
horses under yonder shed.”

Drawing the arm of Mrs. Goguin within his
own, Josh took his way to the shed indicated,
the light from the fire being already ample to
reveal his surroundings.

“ We can be comfortable here,” he observed,
with appreciative glances, as he led the horses
under the shed. “ Ransom has broughtprovisions
enough for a couple of days, including coffee
and utensils, and our stay here will be nothing
more nor less than a sort of picnic.”

He secured the horsesto rings in the wall of
the shed, abovo rude boxes serving the place of
mangers, and then conducted Mrs. Goggin in the
direction of the fire.

As she had foreseen, the fireplace was under

cover, it occu ying nearly the whole of one side
of a low bull ing some twenty feet square, and
surmounted by a widely-spreading roof. The
entrance of this structure was even wider than
the fireplace and immediately in front of it,
and was furnished with two doors which swung
in o posite directions.
“ hope the snakes and cenillpedes have not
taken possession,” exclaimed rs. Gog n, as
she surveyed the place. “ Who could s eep in
those empty bunks along the wall i”

“Well, you could if you were as tired as I
am,” rejoined Reeder, smilingly. “ With an
overcoat or a horse-blanket for a covering, one
can sleep there like a king. You wait till all of
us are here, and the scene will be less gloomy.”

Ringwood and Ted Grupple were the next two
to be conducted East the dangerous entrance,
and then came t e two Ransoms, leaving the
five guardsmen and the two scouts on the outer
side of the passage.

“This thing is getting a little monotonous,”
remarked Finklestone, as he returned to the
‘waiting group. “ Let‘s see, there are seven more
of you. think dyou can go safely in two batches
—four now, an three later. But the two men
ahead had better lead the two horses behind,
and all of you must stick close together and
kefip quiet.’

oopposition was made to this (proposition,
and four of the guardsmen were uly guided
throu h the entrance, leaving only three of the
part ehind them.

“ he circle is rapidly narrowing to a point,
Ben,” whispered Buffalo Bill to his ally. as they
allowed their impatient steeds to draw them out
of earshot of the waiting uardsman. “ Of
course we can’t go near that re orallow Finkle—
stone to look us over with that torch l”

“ Of course not,” returned Ben Letts. “ We
should be rec ized before you could say ‘ Hail
Columbia !’ hat’s your idea, Bill?"

“ First to capture this guardsmanl We can
easily do it l”

“ ertainly. There’s ample time l”

“ And then we must capture Budd Finklestone
as alreadysuggested. Hitch your horse and we’ll
suppress that traitorous guard !”

heir horses hitched to low-branched saplings
which covered the proceeding, the two scouts
returned to the unsuspecting guardsman, whose
eyes were fixed im tiently in the direction of
the lights n0w mu tiplying rapidly within the
camp, as the different members provided them-
selves with torches and proceeded to explore
their surroundings.

“ We’ve a little surprise for you, comrade.”
mi 1 Buffalo Bill, “and must ask on not to say
anything to any one about it. n a word, my
friend and I are not what we seem, but are—
just raise your hands over your head !. Silence!”

The pressure of the muzzle of a revolver
against the temple of the guardsman completed
the revelation.

Of course the man could have uttered a single
yell before being silenced forever, and the scouts
took their chances of such a proceeding. but
it must he said in honor of their mode of pro-
cedure, as a lawyer would say. that the number
of men who would cry out under those circum-
stances is exceedingly limited. In all their long
experience the _ scouts had never encountered
even one.

 

“1—1 have nothing to say,” gasped the
guardsman, as Ben Letts took his wrists in a
grasp of steel and lowered them behind him,

.‘ proceeding to tie them together with a dexterity

which showed that this was not his first perform—
ance in that line. “ I comprehend! You—you
are Buffalo Bill and Ben Lettsl”

“ Right you are, the first time trying,” ac-
knowledged Ben Letts. “ Allow us to add that
it will be safer for you as well as for us if we
gas: you.”

Nothing more was said until the guardsman.
as helpless as a trussed fowl, had been conveyed
to a secure hiding—place, with an injunction to
be quiet, and the scouts had returned to the
spot where they had been awaiting the return of
Finklestone.

They were just in time.

“Here he comes, Bill,” said Ben.

CHAPTER XXVII.
AGAIN IN CUSTODY.

As Budd Finklestone neared Buffalo Bill and
Ben Letts, they advanced to meet him, ap-
proaching from oppoaite directions, and taking
care not to let the light of his torch fall on their
features.

“ Where’s the rest of you ?” he demanded re-
ferring to the recreant guard the scouts had
seized, gagged, and secreted.

“ He’s where you'll soon be,” returned Buffalo
Bill, in a tone of deadly menace, seizing the
torch of the questioner with one hand, and
taking the drop on him with the other.

“ Dead 7” gasped the astounded Ravager,
raisinghishandsunbidden, afteralong, horrible,
staring pause.

“'No, simply a prisoner,” replied Buffalo
Bill. “ I see you comprehend what we want of
you. But Ben is not tall enough to tie your
hands at that hight. Lower them a little l”

Finklestone did so, but in a stupefied and me-
chanical sort of way as if he could not yet
realize the dreadful eclipse his recent jubilance
had suffered.

“ 1—1 see,” he faltered, in awful. aralyzing
consternation. “ You are Buffalo B 11 and Ben
Lettsl”

“ For once you speak the truth, Cap’n Whoop-

,”acknow edged Ben, giving prompt atten-
ggen to the task of securin the prisoner.
“\Ve’ve hooked onto you again, and no mis-
take! Take it easy !”

It was hard to do 30.

Such a despairing. horrified look as had now
invaded Budd’s livid countenance, no human
being had ever before seen upon it.

Nothing less than the dread certainty which
stared him in the face—that of instant death—
could have kept him quiet and silent.

“ You were not so stupid, then, after all, as I
supposed?" he demanded, with a wild, wistful
look toward the scene he had just quitted.
“ You spotted our proposed departure?”

“ Naturally," acknowledged Buffalo Bill.

“ And the secret tunnel? ‘

“ We discovered it l”

“ And the sort of guards we had?"

“ We took note of them i”

“ And you watched our flight?"

“ To be candid, we were not far distant!”

The prisoner uttered a dismal sigh.

“ And we thought we were so cunning!” he
ejaculated.

“ Most rogues think the same, and that’s why
they’re so generally a failure,” commented Ben,
with smiling contempt, as also with very evx-
dent satisfaction. “ There! your hands are
fastl Have you any further use for your
tongue just at present3 Do you wish to leave
with Us any message for your sister or your
friends?”

The fears of the prisoner returned again, un-
der the prickings of his inner consciousness, and
he became as white “a sheet. He knew that
his captors were aware of his recent attempts
to confess their degradation, and it was only
natural to jump to the conclusion that they in-
tended to dispatch him on the instant, treating
him as he would so gladly and uickly have
treated them. He trembled like a eaf.

“ You—you mean to kill me i” he falt'ered.

“ Not unless you tempt us by talking too
loud, or by some other rashness,” answered
Ben Letts. “ But we propose to give you the
best of reasons for holding your tongue during
the next few hours.”

" I see! What a pity!”

He sighed deeply again, as his glances turned
anew in the direction of his noisy and un-
suspecting followers.

‘ We can send your sister a line of explana-
tion, it you say so,” offered Ben Letts, compre-
hending his pain and annoyance. “ All you

‘need say is, ‘ Gone away with Sam and Hank.

Remain here till I return. B.’ See?”

The prisoner reflected rapidly, with renewed
wistful glances into the camp.

“ That would he more your message than mine,
I think.” he then said.

“ Well. let it be ours, then.” said Bufi‘alo Bill,
with sting grimncss. “ it will at least have
the merit of truth!”

“ Then you have captured Hank and Sam?”

“We have. and also Private Hillyer,” ac-
knowledged Ben Letts. “You are the fourth

i .-‘.;.'.i.'
'.‘-L

 

of the original fugitives who have fallen into
our hands ’

‘ ‘ Where—where are they ?” asked Finklestone,
peering r round into the darkness.

“ You‘ll excuse us. Time is pressing, ”returned
Ben. “We must be off.”

He produced a gages he spoke, and motioned
the prisoner to open his mouth. It was a hard
task to comply. but there was no help for it, and
at the end of another minute all danger of any
disturbance from Finklestone was definitely
averted.

“ 0!? course we’ll leave the line on have sug-
gested, Ben,” said Buffalo Bill, as e produced a
notebook and pencil. and tearing a leaf from
the former. “ It maytranquilize the sister,and
peasibly keep the whole crowd here until we are
ready to bag them i”

The note written. it was stuck in a forked
stick Ben had fixed in the ground, and the torch
was placed upright near it to point it out in due
season to Mrs. Goggin.

“ It’s awkward that we have one less horse
than we want,” remarked Buffalo Bill, as his
gaze again turned toward the camp. “ I shall
have to go and get one.”

“ But the risk, Bill!”

“ We must tn ke it! But first we’ll mount
our prisoners and tie their feet together under
their saddles. so that you can get away, Ben,
whatever may ha pen!"

This was soon one, and Buffalo Bill turned
toward the camp, after hitching the three
horses. -

“ It’s a risky business attempting to get there
without a torch," suggested Ben.

“True, but we can’t wait for daylight,” was
the rejoinder. “ The prolonged absence of
Finklestone may be remarked at any moment,
and some of that crowd will begin to wonder
why the rest of us do not appear. Fortunately
that fire is now sending some light this way, and
everybody seems busy With an examination of
the camp. I’ll venture 1"

He hurried away as he ceased speaking, and
Ben Letts boldly followed him, ascending the
precipitous and dangerous ridge until he could
seeinto the camp, and then he struck an atti-
tude of attention which did not change until he
caught a glimpse of the moving figure of his ally

[within the hidden rendezvous.

“ That’s good for a beginning,” he then mut—
tered, shifting his weight from one foot to the
other and sig ing like a pair of bellows. “ But
now comes the critical int!”

He continued to loo , with his hand on his
rifle, read to dispatch a bullet into any one
Who shoul attempt to interfere with the intrud-
er, and for a couple of minutes he was about as
uneasy and uncomfortable as be had ever been.
At the end of that time,however, he saw Buffalo
Bill on his way back, leading a horse. and al—
readyin the act of disa pearing under the hang-
ing rocks which shad the inner end of the dan-
gerous passage.

With what breathless interest be crept back
and waited another minute will be comprehend-
ed, and than all his anxiety was ended by the
return of the successful forager.

“ I think the horse I have secured is the one
ridden by Finklesfone ” announced the new-
comer, strikin a mate . “ Yes, it is. It was
where he b y left it, and was much more
handythan if he had taken it to the shed. Each
of us now has a horse, and we’ll vanish.”

He mounted and started, leading Finkle-
stone’s horse, and Ben Letts followed,1»ariing
gfilhorse upon which had been secured Private

yer.

For at least half an hour the retreat was con-
tinued at a walk, and not a word was spoken,
Ben Letts having nothin further to do than
to conform his movemon to those of Buffalo

“ We are now a couple of miles from that
cam ,” then said the latter.

“ t least that, Bill, and consequently out of
hearin .”

“ I gunk we may accordingly remove those
gags from the mouths of the manners.”

“ Certainly,” confirmed n, as both dis-
mounted.

The sug cation was duly carried out.

“ Manyghanks,” said Finklestone, with a long
sigh of relief. “ How much better that is, isn’t
it, Hillyerf”

“ I should say as much,” answered his fellow-
prisoner. “I was almost suffocated.”

“ Of course you both understand that this
liberty is not to be abused,” remarked Buffalo
Bill. “ At the least attempt to call for help, or
to otherwise endanger us, you will be shot with-
out a word of warning!”

“ We comprehend all that of course,” said
Finklestone. ” \Ve shall be quiet and silent!”

“ Then we‘ll take charge of your revolvers
and resume our journey.” ..

The scouts suited their actions to the word
and then regained their saddles.

“ But what bothers me,”declared Finklestone,
after a brief pause, “is the fact that I see noth-
ing of Sam Gaddley and Hank Tilkins. Where
are they i”

“ At the fort,” replied Buffalo Bill.

“ You don‘t mean it?”stammered the aston- '

ished prisoner. .

¥

C

“ I do,” assured the scout quietly.

“But you said you captured them.”

“So we did.”

“Where, may I ask l”

“At the northeast angle of the fort, as they
descended frOm the wall. They came alone,
you’ll remember, and were the first to take that
route. We ‘ trussed’ them promptly, and Cor-
poral Dimmick, wno was with us, with ample
assistance, had them taken in irons to their
new quarters.”

“ And—and you two took their places on this
long ride?” gasped Finklestone.

“ Exactly.”

The consternation of the prisoner, as he re-
called his conversations with his sister, and the
games of “ fox-and-geese” he had playexl to
throw off pursuit, was of such a nature that he
could not speak for several minutes.

" How completely I’m dished!” he then ejacu-

“ Well, I should smile if you wasn’t!” returned
Ben Letts grimly. “ And not only have we
booked on to you, Mr. Whoop-pee, but we’re
going back to that lovely Crater Camp to scoop
the rest of your tribe as soon as we’ve landed
you in the fort beside Sam Gaddley and Hank

ilkins!”

Such indeed was the intention of the scouts.
The grand uestion was, would they be able to
carry it out?
CHAPTER XXVIII.

a MYSTERIOUS UNKNOWN.

BUFFALO BILL was just in the act of asking
himself what dangers and complications could
possibly manifest themselves, when his horse re-
coiled abruptly, tossing its head high and rear-
in with a wild snort of terror. '
is performance was repeated, in substance,
by the arse of Ben Letts.

Slippin to the ground, the scouts peered in
the direct on they had been going and were able
to make out that they were on the verge of a
tremendous precipice.

There was a deeper tint to the darkness ahead
of them—a falling away or sinking of the tree—
tops—a sudden vanishing of footing—which
could be accounted for upon no other theory
than that a vast abyss yawned immediately be-
fore them.

And from these im shadowy depths, as the
two men halted in istening wonder, there came
up twirling puffs of wind in such a wayas to
show that their range had been unimpeded by
tree or rock for a long distance.

“ We’ve evidently missed our way some dis-
tance back,” said Buffalo Bill. “ Listen l”

He felt around at his feet for a stone, which
he tossed into the yawning void he divined rath-
er than saw. .

It seemed an age before the crash of the
stone came up to him from the tree-tops and
.rocks below.

“ It’s even so, Ben,” he resumed. “ We’ve
gone astray, and our path is cut elf 1 Here is a
re ular barranca .’ Hark l"

tread of heavy and bounding animals suc~
ceeded, pawing and scratching up some gap in
the cliff, and the next instant three immense
animals leaped silently into the midst of the

ou

gr“ hat are they, Billi—bears or catamountsl”
asked Ben Letts, getting his rifle into readiness
.for use.

Butl'alo Bill could not decide, but just then
his nostrils detected a strange scent, asif the
mysterious animals had brought it with them.

And just then, too, as the uneasy horses made
a sudden flank movement, snorting anew and
endeavoring to break away, there came in a
stern voice from a cluster of bushes scarcely a
rod away the one word:

“ Halt l”

The scouts checked the attempted flight of
their horses continuing to look and listen. and
reflecting that the man in their path must be
some solitary hermit, squatter, or moonshiner,
rather than a representative of the Ravagers
or of any other band of outlaws. In other
terms, there was no necessit of arding
him as dangerous until some urther evelop-
ment.

“ We’re prettywell ‘ halted ’ alread , I should
say, stranger,”returned Buffalo Bil, quietly,
after a barely perceptible pause. “ Have you a
lantern handy ”

“ Naw, don’t need no lantern!” .

“Then you have the advantage of me,”pur-
sued the scout “for I need one, and if you have
no objections I’ll produce it.”

He drew from one of the pockets of his over-
coat a dark-lantern—of the bull’s-eye variet --
with matches for lighting it, and within a ew
moments. sheltering himself from the wind be-
hind his horse, which his proceedings promptly
tranqliliilized, he was able to throw a vivid glare
of lig t u ii his surroundings.

Natura ly his first thought was of the abyss
yawning ahead of him, and a single glance was
enough to tell him that the impression he had
conceived of its Character and extent was per-
fectly correct.

Then he hastened to assure himself of the
nature of the panting animals beside him, send-
ing a broad stream of light upon them.

  

 

Buffalo Bill’s Ban.

“Siberian bloodhounds, eh?” he recognized,
as the creatures slunk away from the glare of
his bull’s-eye, almost falling over one another in
their haste.

“ Yis, purps i” came from the unknown, who
still remained concealed in the bushes from
which he had ordered a halt, the light of the
bull’s-eye being unable to penetrate to him.

“Good for anything?” uei'ied Buffalo Bill.

“Wal, you’d think so, reckon, ef I war to
tell ’em to chew 'e!”

“ It’s funny they didn’t bark.” remarked Ben
Letts, who had lighted a lantern and devoted it
to the same use as his ally.

“ They’re not a barking Sort.” explained the
unknown from his cOVert. “ Butthey tear and
bite all the same when I tells ’em to do it I”

The scouts could not help looking at the dogs
in admiring astonishment, as they came snifling
back, their eyes having apparently become
accustomed to the glare of the li ht.

They were of the hight of a on f of six weeks,
and displayed all the characteristics of their
race—deep, wide jaws, heavy, flabby lips, and
lank, angular frame and limbs, at the same
time that they were strangely powerful and
active. They were as much alike as peas in the
same pod, and were the color of light sole-
leather.

"The ’re fine-looking dogs,” remarked Buf
falo Billy: “ Don’t you think so, Ben?”

“ I do, Bill. All one litter, too,” returned
Ben Letts, with an appreciative air. “What
are they good for, stranger?”

“ Hunters!” was the laconic answer.

“ Indeed?" queried Ben. “ What do they hunt
best?”

“ Wal, I’ve never l‘arned ’em to hunt more’n
one sort 0’ game 1” announced the evident

owner.

“ And that one?” asked Ben Letts,

“ Goes on two legs and drinks whisky and
chaws tobackerl” was the fierce response, with
a grim, fearless sort of merriment.

“ Then they’re man ~hunters?" commented
Buffalo Bill. “ Speakin ' of whisky, however,”
and he turned his face anew toward the dogs,
“ the seem to reek of it!"

“ is, it do seem to linger in their ha’r a
little,”acknowledged the owner, with a careless
chuckle. “ I’ve been washin ’em in that sort
0’ p'izen, ye sea, to keep 0 the mange and
worr the fleas! And now let me ax you a few
questions. How many in your party 1”

“ Only what you see—four l”

“ Twu on the ground, and two on the horses!”
exclaimed the unknown—who also remained
the unseen—with the tone of a man taking an
inventog. “ The two on the round armed
with ri es and revolvers, and t e two others
strapped to their horses and their hands tied be-
him ’em! Evidently two sherifls or deputy-
sherifi's with two prisoners!”

“ That’s about the state of it, stranger,"ac-
knowledged Buffalo Bill.

“ Whar ye bound to?”

“ To Fort Harris l”

“ Whar ye from?"

“ From a certain deserted camp between two
and three miles west of us.”

‘- Whar those empty buildings are, ye mean,
in the crater?”

“ Exactly.”

“ It’s thar ye caught ’em 1”

“ Just so!”

“ What have they been doing!”

“ Oh, a great deal more than I have time to
tell you,” explained the scout, with the same
candid tience he had constantly exhibited
during he intervieW. "Did .you hear of the
raids of the 1108151168 and masked robbers
through this county last spring “(1 1351; yea-1"

" Nawl Wasn’t here!” '

“ No? May 1 ask Where you were!"

“In old Kintuckl I’ve been here only three
or four months. more or less.”

The scout smiled.

That “here,” under the circumstances, was
equivalent to an admission that the unknown
was not a wandering hunter, but that he 11..
bitually remained in the vicinity where he had
been encountered. I

In other terms, he was familiar with his .sur-
roundings, and could guide the scouts out of
their awkward predicament.

“ And ou’ve never heard of those raids to
which I’ve alluded?” resumed Bufi'alo Bill.

‘ ‘ Nary a word I”

“Then you don’t know anything about the
Ravagers?”

“ Naw, never heard of ’em, never saw ’em!”

“ You don’t very often see strangers here-
abouts, I take it?”

“ New—rarely! You’re the second one I’ve
exchan ed a word with in two months.”

“ We 1, there is one thing you can do for us.
stranger,” announced Buffalo Bill, “and that is
to guide us out of this somewhat disagreeable
situation. We wish to go on to Fort Harris, 33
I'snhiélhand we’ll pay you well to get us started
rig .

“ \Vhen did you come from the fort?”

“ Since midnight.”

“ BV what route?”

_ Buffalo Bill hrir fly described it.

“ I see,” returned the unknown. “ I knows

'. \i‘. yak....:l.“~ ' all ‘ ’7' » - "A 5“"

 

 

 

 

ye’re telling the truth. Them oawgs heerd ye
going and coming, and that’s how and why ye
find us stirring, as we allows nothing to sar-
cumnavigate hereahouts ’thout knowing what
it is. To come back to what we war talkin
about. You are only a mile and a half out 0
your way, or from the course ye took in com-
ing, cf I understand rightly what ye’ve said.”

“ And you can give us the lift we need?' do-
manded the scent. I

“ Yis. But what will ye give me in return
for my sarv1ces’”

“An thing reasonable.”

“Ha f a dollar?”

“ Yes, a dollar.”

“ You‘re very liberal.”

A brief silence sur‘ceeded, as if the unknown
were listening or reflecting.

“ Will you guide us out?” soon questioned
Buffalo Bill.

“ Yes, of course. That’ll be a dollar easily
’arned. Wait a minnit.”

A sound of stealthy footsteps succeeded
blending with a slight rustling of bushes, and
the scouts redoubled their attention, supposing
that the unknown was about to present himself
to their notice.

Instead, the sounds in question died out
abruptly and the silence around the scouts be-
came deeper than ever.

“ Are you there?” called Buffalo Bill, remark—
ing that the three bloodhounds had vanished as
they had come.

No answer was given him.

“Arn’t you coming to ide us, stranger?”
pursued the scout, with an den misgivings.

The silence remained unbroken by any word
or sound from the unknown.

“ Evidently enough, he has given us the slip!”
exclaimed Ben Letts, with an air of keen cha-
grin. “ He has vanished!”

“ Perhaps not. I‘ll call again.”

He acted upon this thought repeatedly, but no
response reached him.

‘ Sure enough,” he finally concluded. “The
rascal has left us in the lurch.”

“ The infernal mutton-head l” exclaimed Budd
Finklestone, with a savage voice and mien, for
the first time breaking the silence since the
encounter with the unknown. “ The stupid
idiot !”

“What’s the matter now!”asked Ben Letts,
turning his attention anew upon the risoner,
after having been several minutes ob] vious of
his presence.

“ Matter?”repeated Finklestone fiercely. “ Do
you suppose I would have remained quiet and
silent all this time if I had even suspected
that the fellow would take himself 03 in this
fashion!"

“Why, what would you have done?”

“ Done? I would have bribed him to help us
out of this, Hillyer and myself! The poor fool!
He might have had a thousand dollarfor giving
us our freedom!”

“ Pity you didn’t speak sooner, cap’n.” said
Private Hillyer. “ I was, of course. waiting
for you to take the lead in the matter. I’m
sorry now that I didn’t speak up as soon as the
ke to us. We should have been the
first to tal to him, and told him a good story.
We might have been free at this moment.”

“ Yes we might,” returned Budd Finklestone,
with a bitter curse. “If we had bribed him,
and waked him up to do it, he could havo shot
both of these infernal scouts from his conceal-
ment,” he added, carried away by his regret and
vexation, “before they could have even set eyes
upFn him!”

he scouts exchanged significant glances.

“ It seems to me, Bill. that I’ve heard about
enough of that sort of talk,” then said Ben Letts
indigantly.

“ es, and seen enough of that sort of irit,”
returned Buffalo Bill; “ We'll take g care
that they don‘t have any chance to show us the
kind of favor suggested. Give me that bull’s-
eye a moment, while I cover them. At the
least sq uawk from either, their last ride will be
ended! ’

The prisoners whined and protested, but they

did not dare raise their voices, and all they {lid
33; was as little heeded as the murmur of the

nd. In another minute their gags hadbeen
replaced securely.

“And now to lead our Own way out of this
box,” proposed Buffalo Bill. “ Fortunately
we’re not exactly helpless with these lights—”

_ “ Hist l”suddenly interrupted Ben Lette. fac~
ing about quickly. “Some ody—or something
—is coming l”

 

CHAPTER XXIX.
AN IDYL on THE NIGHT.

THE eyes of Buffalo Bill and Ben Letts, like
those of their prisoners. turned quickly toward
the sort of gap by which the three bloodhounds
had made their appearance and taken their de-
parture. .

Far down in this gap had arisen a Strange
scratching and rattling, as of hasty climbing——
almost such a sound, in fact, as had been caused
by the bloodhounds in going and coming- and
this sound grew louder and came nearer every
moment, until a human figure suddenly came
bounding into the view of the watchers.

mwmwmmaax 4.4.x mun. 43‘. “A? .11: -

is

._ -3...

. 9‘  *

  

 

The lanterns of the scouts had of course been
focused upon the crest of the cliff at that point
where it was intersech by the gap, and they
were quick to note what they now had under
their gaze.

The figure was that of a sinewy, well-knit
girl of eighteen years, with long, flowing hair of
a. very light flaxen color, and With large blue
was which Well) at once gentle and fearless.
ner form was full and well-rounded, and the
plain and somewhat outgrown calico dress in
which it was incascd served to render its rare
grace and loveliness all the more apparent.

For a moment the new-comer seemed dazed
by the light falling upon her, or by the two
handsome faces revealed by it, and then she ad-
vanCed toward the scouts with a candid, trust-
ful mien, exclaiming:

“Father has sent me to guide you. He said
you’d give me a dollar, and that the mention
of the fact would be a sufficient voucher for
me.

The scouts exchanged glances indicative of
the keenest interest, and then brought such a
pleased and surprised gaze to bear upon the girl
that she could not help blushing scarlet.

“ Your father?” exclaimed Buffalo Bill. “ We
ex ted him to his us.”

‘ He has other usiness, sir.”

“ At this hour of the night?” and the scouts
could not help looking their astonishment, as
their gaze lingered admirineg upon the girlish
face and form before them.
“And I know the way as well as he does,”
added the '1'], quietly and firmly. “ You have
orgy to fol ow me."

he produced astick which had been finely
splintered at one end and soaked in turpentine
and rosin, and touched a lighted match to it,
when it flamed up intoa torch of the most ef-
fective description.

“ This Way,” she indicated, turning in the di-
rection from which the scouts had come. “ You
‘ cannot 0 down where I came up. I must take
ou bu: half a mile before we can get clear of

is ravine,”

“Do we need to dismount, miss?” demanded
Ben Letts, as he hastened to place himself next
to the fair guide.

“No sir, ’ she responded, “unless you think
yourse f more sure-footed than your horse. The
path is easy and open.”

“ Then why shouldn’t you get up behind me?”
suggested Ben Letts, turning red suddenly at his
own boldness.

A swift glance was mixed to his face.

“ Thank cu, stranger. I will!”

She up on her toes beside him, and he
hidrewnd her up with a stout eflort, planting her be-

him.
“Of course we‘ll take the lead. sir,” she said
to Bnflalo Bill, with a raceful nod and smile,
as she threw away her rob and took the bull’s-
, e e from the hand of Ben Letts, sending its
into the darkness ahead. “You’ve only
follow us.”
She sbuddered involuntarily at what she was
compelled to see of the prisoners while thus
‘ g ‘ lancing back and speaking, and a look of pain
ed‘across her features.
Bulalo Bill noticed her emotion.
“ You can let me lead that horse, Ben,” he
said, considerstely. “I can just as well lead
a two as one.”
3 The transfer was duly made, and the little
‘cavslcade started briskly. 1
“Now for your orders air,” said the fair
do to Ben, as she faceda little more, to the
. t, and her arm around his waist to
. steady:wa without asking permimion. “ You
must ” very particular to go where I send the

‘I comprehend. miss,” returned Ben Lotta,
with a kind hallucinatsd sort of air. “ How
» V ! haw nice! You are comfortable?” -
‘ Perlth , thank you. Pulls little to the
left, please, she added. “And don’t stare at
new over your shoulder! Look where you’re

‘0 ’9

‘f £4 can’t help lookin at you,” stammered
,-. lien, in a voice which v1 ated with new and
_ ‘e sweet emotions. “You seem such a
(no. m ,"he went on, his glances comin back
to her as soon as he had looked ahea . “It
 seems low very singular to find ‘such a rare
newer growing alone in such a Wilderness—J’

“ Alone, sir i” and the candid eyes lacked him
through again, and even linzsred upon him
briefly, as if through some undefined and novel
magnetism. “ Alone, with my father and tire-
tl'nr, with my books and flowers, and with my
birdsand music? Alone, with these grand and
] glorious woods and mountains around us. where
' s l linger the footprints of the Infinite Father,
as sit on the first primevaLmorningi No, no,
_ nger! There is no such thing as loneliness
fer thosewho have once entered the great temple
creature!”
“You are a strange girl, I see.” said Ben
, W, with admiring fervor. “ But I like youl
=You must have a pretty name! May I know
inhabit is?" ‘.

“Quick! more to the right I” cried the fair
 lde, imgsratively. “Do you want me to
go the reins from you? If not, you must
, dtobnslnoss!” . - , '

 
  
    
  
    
   
  
   
   
 
  
   
    
  
  
 
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
    
   
   
    
  
   
   
   
   
 

'what my father is like, stran er, until y

_-I like it!’." ',

 

 

' seesaw.

“I really will do better if you’ll answer my
question.”

“My name is Esther,” said the girl, with a
demure glance at her cavalier, as if she were
jerst a little anxious to know how he would like
i .

“ Esther?” he repeated. “ I’m lad to hear
it. Esther is one of the nicest 0 names. It
was my mother’s. If I ever marry, Esther shall
be the name of my wife‘. You came lately from
Kentucky, it seems?”

The maiden looked at him quickly, almost
with a. start.

“Did father tell you thati”she asked.

“ He did, or I shouldn’t have known it.”

“You must have made a good impression
upon him,” she declared. “He hasn’t said as
much as that to any one else since we crossed
the Mississippi l”

“ I’m glad to hear it," said Ben, taking care
to follow all the movements of. the light she
continued to send aheadof them. “ How unlike
you he is‘!” '

“Ina few externals, like his s ch—yes. I
took something from m mot er—who, for
three years past,” she ad ed, with a reverent,
tender glance into the Wild skv, “ has been a
dweller in the holy of holies. You cannot say
on
know him. lie is one of the nob est and best of
men!"

“Your assurance is all I need in proof of
that, Esther,” said Ben. “ May I ask for your
other name?”

“It’s unnecessary to give it,” she answered,
gently. " You can call me Esther as easily as
you could call me anything else. am
afraid my father would not approve of my
mentioning his name to strsr ers. 1n a. few
minutes more,” she continue with a sigh,
“you will be safe upon the trail by. which you
came, and I shall leave you. You will go our
ways and I shall go mine, and there is 'ttle
likelihood that we shall ewr see each other
again. Under these circumstances,” and an-
other si h escaped her, “what does a name
more or essaignify?”

 

CHAPTER XXX.
A sraanon POINT or coarser.

THE girl raised a timid and et searching

lance to Ben’s‘face, which had me singu-
arly serious, and even expressive of pain and
re rut.
' I shall hope to see you again, Esther,” he
said, Suddenly becoming conscious of the pres-
ence of the prisoners and experiencing a sense
of thankfulness that he could talk withoutbeing
overheard by them “Pardon me if I frankly
say a word more. Ihave carried around with
me for years an ideal of such a girl as on are
without having hitherto found its res ization,
and that is why it seems as if you were almost
an old acquaintance. ”

Esther ved a sigh, and a light that was
almost er flashed into her starry eyes.

“ I feel that way, too,” she admitted, with a
candor as charming as rare. “ [must have seen
you in dream, or perhaps in than ideal world to
which you have alluded, and in which I, too,
live so much. But—” 7

She paused, signing profoundly.

“There’s little use of this sort of talk,” she
added, rousing herself and raisin her head with
an arch smile. “ If our route been a. little
rougher and i open, we would have been on
our time tobet r advantage. You live at Fo
Harris, I sugpooei” -

“ I have can there for twd years put”. EO-
ther.” he answered, pleased to hink that the
question indicated an interest in him-

“ Are you a soldier?"

“ I have been, but am now free, mytime hav-
ing xpired.”

‘ Is your mother livingi” .

No, Esther. She died four years 380. Mid I
am now all alone in the world, having neither
brother nor sister.” a

The maiden heaved another great sigh, and
her glances turned again to his faccwith a sym-
path that thrilled him.

“ our mother must have been a "splendid wo-
man.” she said. ,

“ Thank you! She was, Esther. She was
sweet, noble, soulful—like you, in short! To see
me, astl’ve run to seed inthe great. brutal battle
of life, you’d never guess how gentle and charm-
ing she was!"

“ Oh, yes, I should!” and the sweet eyes look—
edup shyly at him. “I comprehend what she
was by what I’ve seen of you ! May I ask for
your name 1"

“Of course!” and Ben started self-reproach-
fullv. “ Howstupid of me not to havementloir
ed it at once when you gave me yours! it’s
sim ily Ben Latte.”

“‘Reellyl How odd ! My brother’s name is
Ben. How surprised he’ll be."

“ Surprised? 'V\’ out about?" ‘

“,Why, when I tell him that one of the men I
guided is named lien. I’m glad that is your
name.”she added, with another shy glance. f‘l

‘ Havinng nuelf,Ben Madam

a,» ,n'. 5;. - 5., H, “a,
‘ ., . 3".
Ban.

“ Excuse me, miss. I’m so sorry,” said Ben.

 

 

 

 

duty bound, to resent his companion, which he
did in those gowing and appreciative terms
which the occasion brought so naturallyto his.

li is.

file was delighted to see how much the fact of
his being in such company commended him to
Esther. ‘

“ I’ve often heard of him,” she said, after ex-
changing a few pleasant remarks with Buffalo
Bill, while the horses continued to advance at an
easygmce, “ and, now I recall the fact, I’ve also
hear of ' you, I think. Yes, yes! I’vo heard
Brother Ben s of you i”

“ You have!” cried Ben Letts, with a flush of‘
joy. “ Under what circumstances?”

‘ I’Vh , didn’t you rescue a wounded comrade
from a and of hostiles—”

“ Sure enough,”admitted Ben, suppressing the
narrative with a gesture.

“Then you are the very man brother Ben
was speaking so Warmly about.” declared Es—
ther, wit h a glow of proud satisfaction. “ How
pleased my father and brother will be to hear
that I have been ableto render some service.
however small, to two such men as Bufl'alo Bill
and Ben Lotte!"

“ Many thanks for the compliment, Esther.
I shall hope to make the achuaintance of your
father and brother when come this way
again.”

” But—will you come this way againi” falter—
ed Esther.

“ I certainly shall if on will let me.”

“ Why, h0w could prevent it?” and she
smiled brightly at him.

“Then you do not forbid it? A thousand
thanks, Esther! But, where do you live, and
how shall I find you?"

“ You need only Come anywhere hereabouts.”
answered Esther, “and those dogs will find
you—es they’ve found others! Should an be
in aburry to arrivc”——how archly she noted
at him—“you can fire your the, and 8012112
one will look on up! That’s as much as I
need to say,” 5 10 added, a serious look banish—
ing her smile, “until I see if you’ll really care
enough about me to come!” ,

“Oh I’ll be here, Esther,” assured Ben,
earnes ly, “and within very few days. In
the mean time, you will be my one constant

thought l”

“ 'l‘hank you, Ben Letts ” returned Esther,
with a flush that delighted to. " You will be
welcome! But here we are,” flashing her bull’s-
eye over a trail which had recently been in“; by

many ho. see. “ You passed here on your Way

westward, and will have no difficulty, with tho .

aid of four lanterns, in going back to your
starting-place.”

She sh ped from the horse, as Ben draw rein,
and ban ed him back his bull’s eye.

" Good-night, Mr. Letts,” she added, offering
her hand, as he also dismounted.

“Good-night, Esther, since we must. leave
3'03,” he respondfil‘l, shakingnher hanld walrngt)?
an ressi a son 11 erereeas r.
“ Here is Ithe promisegodollar, and also the
lantern to light your way back.”

“ Oh, I have another torch, thank you—”

“ Then you must light it before you leave us,”
said Ben, earnestly.

She proceeded to do so.

“And I do not nod to be id” she con—
tinned, finishing the remark 11 had inter-
ru d. “I am glad to serve friends without.
pay, and such I feel that you both are!” ‘

“ We are, indeed, Esther,” said Buifalo Bill,
dismounting and producing a bright tut-“818,
“and on that account, I beg you to accept iron:
as this triils, not as pay for your services, but
ass memento of a ride which will always be
memorable to us both, and especially to my
esteemed comrade. Nay, do not refuse it be-
cause it is gold,” he added, as the girl drew
beck and raised hrrhands in a negative gesture"

“for that fact renders it all the more like it; '-

fair recipient!” .

For an instant the girl hesitated, her eyes
gleaming like stars, despite ssudden mist which
haddimmed them.

“ Well, I will, many thanks,” she then said,
taking the piece daintin between her thumb
and forefinger and Wing. it to her bosom by:
way of her lips. “Good-night, gentlemen! I
wish you a safe and pleasant journey. May we
meet again !”

She turned away, as the scouts responded to
her farewells, and her torch flamed up briskly,
causing the horse ridden by Finklestono to

start.

As she looked up quickly, with that deprecat-
ing glance so natural to the circumstances, her
gaze encountered his face, and she started as if.
shot, her face blanching and a. wild scream of
terror and amazement escaping her.

“ The general !” she cried, recoiling, with a
icok of agonized recognition.

Finklcstone bowed assent, an awful groan ( s-
coping him. , _

“ A prisoner to these maul" and she waved
her torch inquiringly over the prisoners, for the
first time taking in fully their situation.

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panied by violent nods, as several Igile forms,

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bloodhounds the scouts had previously en-
countered.

“ How strange! how terrible!” came from the
whitened lips of the girl who had tottered
forward, waving her torch within a yard of
Finklestone’s face, as if to dissipate all possible
doubts of his identity. “Oh, pityiiig heaven 1”

And she bounded away like an antelope,
vanishing promptly from the view of the m0—
tionlesa watchers, with her dogs scouring on-
ward like a whirlwind around her!

CHAPTER XXXI.
AN IMPORTANT CLEW.

HOW discordth y the recognition of Finkle-
stone bygEsther crashed in upon the tender in-
terest] n Letts had begun to take in her, need
not be stated.

He was shocked and pained beyond expres-
sion.

What could be the relations between them?

Where and how had their acquaintance com-
menced, and under what circumstances and
conditions had it been continued?

How naturally a. flood of questions of this
nature came surging into BLn's soul.

For a few moments he stood leaning against
his horse, pale, breathless, and bewildered, star-
ing wond ringly after the beautiful girl, and
listening to the noise made by her bloodhounds
in crashing throu h the bushes in their constant
deviations from o trail.

“ So! it seems she knows this horrible mis-
creant l" he then exclaimed, a hot flush sweeping
over his face.

“ She at least called him general,” returned
Buffalo Bill, with hardly loss surprise than
Ben’s, if with more calmness, “ and spoke to him
as one speaks to an old acquaintance.”

“ That’s only too certain l”

“ It’s clear, too,” continued Buffalo Bill,
“ that she was horrified to see him in such a
situation.”

“ Or else at seeing him in our hands,” re-
turned Ben imly, endeavoring to master his
emotions. “ idn t she speak as his friend?”

Buffalo Bill smiled somewhat cynically.

“I’ve never seen I. young girl show so much
feeling as that at the misfortunes of an enemy,”
he declared. “ I will not undertaketo say, how-
ever, just what sentiments are indicated by her
recognition of Finklestone, her emotion, or her
sudden departure. ”

“ What a pity that we didn’t detain her, or
even pursue her!” cried Ben, still looking and
listening, as if tempted to mount his horse and
take the action he had suggested.

“ With those s in her immediate neighbor-
hood ?” queried B alo Bill. “ For one, I beg to
be excused l”

“ Say yes or no, Bill 1” cried Ben, sudden]
facing his ally. “ Is Esther the friend of (11%
man or not?"

“ No, Ben 1"

“Then what is the secret of her acquaintance
with him?”

“ It may be as simple as kissing. For in-
stance, this reptile has often passed near here on
his way to or from the ‘ Quadrangle ’or even on
his way to or from the Crater. Those dogs
have hunted him up. She even said,when sug-

esting that they would find you. that they had
ound others.’ Thismnn has doubtless imposed
upon Esther and her relatives, to them he
is a general in the army, and lookin or deser-
ters, red-skins. or what not, and tEey have no
conception of his real character.”

Ben drew a long breath of relief, his face

brightening.

‘ Oh, what a loud you have taken from m
soul l” he cried in a tone of indescribable gra -
tude. “How I thank you for clearing up this
awful puzzle 1”

“ But I’ve cleared up nothing, Ben. I’ve
merely suggested—” ‘

“ Oh, tut you’ve stated the facts just as they
are Bill l" interrupted Ben earnestly. “ That
giri is as much taken in by this man’s chatter
as was Colonel Nayler up to the moment of your
arrival! Don’t you see it?” _ ‘

“ The theory is certainly reasonable—” .

“ What on ve said is the absolute truth in the
case,” sai Ben eagerly, “ I do not need a word

 

more to see just how the case stands. Poor girl! .
we must undeceive her! It’s another case of 
the wolf and the lamb! How sorry I am that :

I should wrong her in my thoughts for even a
moment!”

“Perhaps Finklestono hirrsclf will give us I

someinformation on the nature of his relations
to the girl,” suggested Buflalo Bill.
“ l’d scorn to ask him,” said Ben. “ Besides,

I couldn’t put the least :faith in anything he 1
l I

might say.

An incoherent murmur came from Budd,

Finklesione— the loudest sound, in fact, his gag
would permit him to utter.

“ “That! are you choking, Whoop-pee?” cried ,

Ben Letts, hastening toward him.

The prisoner shock his head energetically.

“ Are you ill?"

Another vigorous negative.

“011, I comprehend! You are mad because
we’re wasting time here! You wish to be mov—
in l”

e prisoners both assented, jerking their

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heads up and down several times with wrathful
vigor, while their frames shook as if with con-
vulsions.

“ Well, you needn’t be too eager,” commented
Buffalo Bill. “ We shall move on when we get
ready. Men ofyyour sort, like beggars, mustn’t
be choosers. ou ought to remember that
you’re paying the natural penalty of your mis-
deeds, and that patience under reverses is the
hi"hczt form of courage.”

lie handed to Ben the reins of the horse ridden
by Private Hillycr, and swung himself lightly
into his own saddle. Ben Lotis was not slow in
following this example. and the couple resumed
progress, to the evident relief of the prisoners,
who relapsed into silence.

“ What a girl she isl” remarked Ben, in a low
tone, a few moments later, thus showing what
he was thinking about.

“ I agree With you,” returned Buffalo Bill,
with hearty sympathy. “ I am not surprised
that you are ‘smitten,’ and I was lad to note
that she reciprocated. You will, 0 course, see
her again, and I shall expect in due course an
invitation to tho weddin .”

“ Oh, if it were possib e to win her!” si hed
Ben. “ But what can be the mystery 0 her
residence in such an out of the way wilderness
as this? And what sort of men can her father
and brother be?”

“ These are questions you can settle when you
pay your proposed visit,” suggested Buffalo
Bill, Wilh a smile.

“ In any case,” said Ben, “ they’re evidently
wide-awake to the possibility of a disagreeable
Vielii of some sort, and do not intend to be
caught napping l”

The prisoners groaned again, and the scouts
turned their glances inquirineg upon them.

“ You want to go faster?” queried Ben.

The prisoners bevwd vigorousIV.

“Well, you shall,” returntd Ben. in a tone
which expressed annoyance. “You‘ve only to
hold on, and ou’ll arrive on time, certain 1’

What a rice was that which succeeded!

Now at a rattling gallop, and then at an easy
M; or a walk. according to the nature of the
ground they were in aversing, they left mile
after mile behind them, continuingto light their
way with their lanterns.

Two or three times they had to dismount, to
be sure that they Were still upon the outward
trail, and occasionally they consulted and com-
pared compasses, so intense was the darkness,
and so easy was it to get nervous in these
strange solitudes.

At times h0wever, they shortened their way,
in the usua style of travelers, by an exchange
of views respecting the situation, or certain of
its features. '

For instance, they spoke of the guardsmen
who had left the fort with the Bav’agers; of the
secret tunnel which had enabled them to es-
cape; and of their own marked success in deal-
in with them.

tor, their thoughts went back to Mrs. Gog-
gin and the Crater camp.

“ Of course we’ll send a detachment after
them,”  Buflalo. B111, omeing a decision
he had reached within a minute of I inklestone’l
capture. “ But they may find the camp desert-
ed. Mrs. Goggin may have an understanding
with her brother that she Will repudiate at a
gla’nce that scrap of explanation we left behind
us.
“She doubtless will take that course,” re-
turned Ben Letts. “ It would be a strange
thing for her brother to leave in that manner,
when he could just as well have spent a minute
in explaining his preposed absence. It was the
best we could do, however, and it will certainly
delay their flight or pursuit lon enough for
Josh and the rest of the Ravqerfio (mom. it,"

Descending into the valley of the Chcrry
Creek, the scouts crossed the stream at the first
ford they could find, and then laid their course
direct for Fort Harris, the country being new
sufficiently open to render this course practic-
a

“ We’re getting on, you see !” than exclaimed
Ben Letts, in a tone which betrayed how much
the fact cheered him. “ Evidently this man is
bound to reach the fort, despite Mrs. Goggin or
any one else I”

‘ Evidently,” returned Buli'alo Bill,with keen
satisfaction. “ And this iElmortant ca' ture is
not the orgy result of Our masquerade. begin
to think i e have a clew to the very headquar-
ters of the Ru vagers l”

“ I wns 'ust thinking 01' that same thing,
Bill!” criei Ben Letts. “ You refer to the
‘ Quadrangle,’of which Enklestone has repeat-
edl y spoken?”

I “ Exactly l”

The scouts turned their bull's eyes upon their
, principal prisoner.tmd noticed that his face had
: flushed to an intenselylivid hue, whde his eyes
seemed ready to burst from their sockt'ts.

“ It Struck Ive at 01109,” resumed Ben Letts.
“that the ‘ Quadi'ancle’ (“an be located only at
the spot where the State of Colorado is joined
to the Territories of New Mexico, AriZnna and
Utah, in a right angle. This is.in fact, the only
' instance of a quadrangle in all the boundary

lines of the United States!”
The scouts again looked at their prisoner.

 

 

‘l

 

He was now ghastly white, the blood having
receded from his face as if by the influence of
some awful constcrnation.

“You see, Ben?” uericd Buffalo Bill, with a
'ubilant laugh. “ single glance at that face
is enough to confirm our theory. We shall find
the headquarters of the Ravagers at or near the
junction of the State with the Territories
fiame’d. Is there any settlement thereabouts,

en ?’

“ Yes, Bill," and it was now Benls turn to
flush and look excited. “ Curiously enough
there is quite a hamlet at the junction aforesai
—a place of some eighteen or twenty houses,
some of which are roomy and handsome. It is .
partly on the Navajo Reservation.”

“Have you been there in person i”

“ Yes, on one of the scouts we devoted to the
Ravagers,” explained Ben, with suppressed ex-
citement. “ We chased quite a. body of them
into that vicinity, when they vanished as sud-
denly as if changed into vapor. I see now what
took lace, Bill. The rascals made their way to
this mlct and assumed the réle of uatters
and ranchers. I recall now how nice y they
played their game. We couldn’t get a particle
of information from them. They had never seen
anything of tlio Ravegers in theirneighborhccd,
and were as innocent as ignorant.”

thfl‘alo Bill had listened as if cntranced.

“That hamlet is doubtless the ‘ Quadran; 16,"
Ben,” he declared, with an air of the fullest con—A
viction. “ As soon as we have landed these
chaps beside Hank Tilkins and Sam Gaddley,
we’ll take a ride in that dircciicn.”

Once more the scouts turned 1hrir light upon
Finklestone, and the air of indifference he on-
deavored to assume did not fora moment deceive
them. They readily detected that ho was a prey
to the wildest regret and consternation.

 

CHAPTER XXXII.
ran BOMEWAILD JOURNEY.

A DULL, dismal lifting of the intense dark?
ness had for some time been making itself no—
ticeable on the eastern horizon, and at length
sufiicicnt light was shed upon the scene to re-
mind the travelers that a new day was at hand.

They accordingly extinguished their lan-
terns, returning them to the capacieus pockets
from which they had been taken.

By the time thzir eyes had become accus-
tomed to this change, the light in the eastern
sky had grown strong enough to reveal their"
surroundings with something like distinctness.

“ This is more like it,” then said Buffalo Bill,
with an air of relief. “ We shall now be able»
to see where we are going, and can avoid dis-
agreeable encounters.”

“ Yes, we’re well ‘ out of the woods ’ now,
Bill,” returned Ben Letts, in a tone which at-
tested how heavily the cares and anxieties of
the night had rested upon him. “ There is little I
likelihood that Mrs. Goggin and her friends,
even if they were to see through the trick we
have played upon them, would be able to
place themselves between us and the fort!”

“ No, Ben, we’re all right now,” affirmed Buf-:
fnlo Bill, moderating his ce. “ We can pro-1
coed more at our leisure.’

A groan came from Budd Finklestone at this;
juncture, and it was echoed by Private Hillyer,
as before.

“ What! more-trouble?” inquired Buffalo Bill,
turning in his saddle.

The prisoner nodded.

“ Your gag hurts, perln sf” r

Another nod, Private yer joining.

“ resume you’d like to say something?”

Bo "isoners si an affirmative with,
all‘poesigle v or.

‘ That is o ynatursl, I must confess,”com--
mented Buflalo Bill, “ but you’ll have to excuse.-
us from complying with your demand.”

The prisoners shook their heads.

“ You can’t and won’t excuse us?”

The response was an earnest ne ative.

“ But you’ll have to excuse us, ’insisted Buff--
falo Bill. “ The truth is, we cannot take any
chanccs of allowing you to summon assistance,
in case an opportunity should be afl'orded on
of making us trouble. An hour hence, or w en
we are within a reasonable distance of the fort,
we may be able to show you the consideration
demanded, but just now it is out of the ques—
tion.”

The prisoners shcok their heads again.

“ Do you mean to insist on that point, after-
what I’ve said ‘l” added the scout.

Another negative.

“ You want something, perhaps?”

An earnest aflirmntive.

“ A drink of water?" .

The affirmative became still more emphatic.

“ Is thutall?”

A irom; t negative. ,

“ h, I see I”cried Ben Letts. “ You Wifh to
have breaLlastl” .

Very emphatic affirmations were 5;] Vex:- by
the pi'isoncrsto this question, with thumps of
their knees upon their saddles.

“ Exactly ; there is food in your saddle—
bags,” remarked Buffalo Bill, looking from one
to the other; “ but, after the feasting which
took place in the guard-house just before mid—

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night, we can’t really take it for granted that
you are already on the verge of starvation l”

“ It is out of the question that we should
bother with their breakfast—or our own, for
that matter,” declared Ben Letts, with unquali-
fled emphasis. “ We must not delay so long,
nor can we allow them the freedom of their
tongues. Besides, we must either feed them,
or untie their hands to allow of their feeding
themselves, and I‘ve no intention of showing
them either of these favors!”

“ Certainly not,” confirmed Buffalo Bill.
“ There’s no use of talking about it.”

He faced to the front and chirped to his horse,
thus indicating to the pnsoners that their plea
was indeed definitely rejected.

The awful scowls he left behind him will be
readily comprehended. Both prisoners strained
at their bonds until the veins on their foreheads
stood out like whip-cords, and the hue of their
faces became almost as dark as that of a man in
an apoplectic fit. But their rage and self-tor-
ture did not help them.

“ The truth is, Bill,” whispered Ben, leaning
close to his ally, “ I don’t propose to give the
rascals the least chance of escape. It has cost
me no little worry to reflect that Budd is ac-
quainted with that girl and knows where she is
to be found. Might be not molest herif he were
to recover his freedom i”

“ He certainly seemed to give her a great deal
of attention,” returned Buffalo Bill. “ lie
watched you both as a cat watches a mouse.
But he won’t escape us i”

“ 1 hope not, Bill. But—harkl what’s that?”

He drew rein abruptly, with a startled look,
and his ally did likemse.

A clatter of boots sounded unmistakably on
their hearing. it was exactly ahead of them
and a proaching rapid] .

“ hat can it be? ’ as ed Ben.

“ It can only be that Colonel Nayler has sent
a detachment to our assistance,” suggested Buf-
falo Bill.

“ But they ride like men who know their road,
Bill!” cried Ben. " And their road—it is that
of Budd and his sister. Whatif the new-comers

.should be their friends l”

“ How could they be?”

“ Easily enough! Sam Gaddley and Hank
Tilkins may have again made their escape, con~
sidering the friends they left behind them and
the utter demoralization of the garrison l"

“ True! We must hide!”

CHAPTER XXXIII.
A Vicar Chess SHAVE.

Tim two scouts lost no time in exchanging the
open in which they found themselves for a nook
behind the nearest bushes and trees.

They had barely time to notice that there
was a considerable cliff to their rear and a bean-

 

‘tiful spring and brook of running water in front
of themi midway between their hiding-place and

the trai they had vacated, when the horsemen
they had heard came dashing into view.

The scouts had already decided, from the
sounds and echoes reaching their ears, that the
new-comers were not more than two in number,
and they were not at all surprised to see that

these two were old acquaintances.

They were, in fact, the two ex-cavalrymen
with whom the scouts and already had such
close dealings—Sam Gaddley and Hank 'l‘ilkins!
The couple they had captured at the instant of

'their descent from the northeast angle of the

fort, and whose places they had taken on the
ride from the fort to the secret camp!
Despite all the scouts had said to each other in

'the consultation last recorded about the possu-

bility of such an event, they were none the less
disagreeably affected to see their anticipations
thus transformed into a reality.

The two ex-cavalrymen were in the best of
spirits, as could have been seen by a glance at
their faces, which fairly glowed With jubilant

excitement, it was so nice to be free again, and

so sweet to have given their enemies such a keen
disappointment.

A few additional bounds of their jaded steeds
brought the new-comers abreast of the spot at
which the scouts were concealed, and then Sam
Gaddley suddenly set the example of drawing
rein, lookin critically at the clear, ebbly
brook crossing the trail, and then runn ng his
glance along its course to the spring.

“ Yes, this is the spot, Hank ” he exclaimed,
bringing his horse to a walk and leaping lightly
to the round. “There is the ‘ Aztec Spring,
of whic I was speaking. There’s no better
water anywhere. We must halt long enough to
giy’e our horses and ourselves a good taste of

“ I’m quite willing,” rejoined Hank Tilkins,
as he also drew rein and dismounted. ” I never
wanted a drink worse, and as to our horses—
see! how eager they are!”

“ We’ve made quick time,” said Sam, looking
at his watch, while the horses plunged their
noses into a crystal pool and began drinking
greedily. “ We’ve been only an hour and forty
minutes in coming from the fort.”

“Quick work, indeed!” commented Hank.
“But I dare say we have by this time been
missed. Neither Dimmick nor Nayler would

[long leave us out of their sight."

 

“True, Hank, but even if they missed us an
hour ago,” said Sam, “ they’ll not be able to
overhaul us; not even if they instant] discov-
ered what direction we have taken. e’ve rid-
den too fast for that.”

He felt of the flanks of his panting steed,
drawing its nose definitely out of the water, and
added:

“They’re quite hot. We must not let them
drink too much.”

He led his horse away from the brook, hitch-
ing him to a sapling close at hand, and his
aswciate followed his example.

“They really ought to rest a moment,” sug-
gested the latter, leading the way toward the
spring. “We’ve pushed them too hard, I
think.”

“Let them breathe a minute,” replied Sam
carelessly. “ They’ll go all the further for it.”

The two men proceeded to quench their thirst '

leisurely, and then seated themselves upon a
grassy bank beside the spring, With the inten-
tion of having a further and final drink from it
before resuming their journey. Both looked
around sharply, loosening their revolvers in
their belts, but they did not unsling their rifles
from their shoulders.

The spot where they sat was not exactly under
the gaze of Buffalo Bill and Ben Letts, inasmuch
as the latter were concealed, but the scouts were
nevertheless scarcel a down rods from it—so
near, in fact, that t ey had readily overheard
every word of the preceding conversation.

It had been overheard, too, by the prisoners,
and it will readily beimagined what effect such
a close proximity of their friends had upon
them.

But Buffalo Bill had promptly taken a position
beside Budd Finklestone, coverin his too active
brain with a revolver, while Ben tts had been
equally prompt to lace himself in a like attitude
beside Private Hi1 yer.

The scouts had realized, of course, that a
single groan, of the sort the prisoners had been
uttering, and were still able to utter, despite
the gags in their months, would be quite enough
to attract the attention of the new-comers, and
they did not propose to allow any such hint of
their presence to e given.

“ Not a word now,” enjoined Buffalo Bill, in
one of those low, concentrated tones which
speak of a deadly resolution. “We don’t pro
pose to lose you because of this passing encoun-
ter! You are ours, living or dead—just as you
choose! At the least attem t to communicate
with your friends, we’ll 11 both you and
them! ’

The threat of Buffalo Bill, with the certainty
of its execution, had the desired effect upon Budd
Finklestone, as was natural.

in fact, Budd had too much sense, not to say
too much experience with violence, to be in any
doubt as to the consequences of his disobedience
and he bowed his head repeatedly in token o
submission, at the same time ordering Private
Hillyer bya nod to conform to the example thus
set him.

In a single instant, therefore, the crisis in
which we left the scouts had been safely weath-

ered.

But the prisoners none the less kept their eyes
fixed in the direction of their friends, and lie-
tened eagerly to the conversation that suc-

ceeded.

“ Well, Hank,” resumed Sam Gaddley, with a
long sigh of relief, “ we’re now fairly clear of
dril and guard duty, and I propose to make this
leave-taking flnal.”

“ The same here, Sam l”

“ The truth is," pursued Gaddley, “ we’ve run
too many risks already. Just think of the sur-
prise those infernal scouts gave us at the very
moment we thou ht we were getting away!
It’s only because ick Rasker happened to be
placed on guard over us that we are now free!”

“Yes, and he would have had no chance to
help us if any one of a dozen points had been
different,” returned Hank Tilkins. “ Like you,
Sam. I’ve played soldier long enough, and now
prlotpo’se to go to the ‘ Quadrangle ’ and take com-

o .

“ Such is also the ca ’n’s intention,” said
Sam, thoughtfully. “ is masquerade at the
fort has been a success, and he’s now ready to
reap his harvest. He said yesterday, in so many
Words, that there’ll be another raid of hostiles
soon, and that this time it ’11 be a raid of real
red-skins.”

“Indeed? At that rate, Sam,” said Hank,
“he’ll soon be known as the most dangerous
man in the Rockies.”

“ Uh, he‘s the comin terror,” remarked Gad-
dley, contentedly. “ ' e’s going to blow up the
fort, and wipe out everything near it, including
the village. Little Elk and a hundred warriors
will help him.”

“ But may not Buffalo Bill and Ben Letts get
hold of him?” demanded Hank, arising to take
another drink from the spring.

Sam’s face clouded.

“ There is indeed danger of that,” he declared,
thoughtfully. “To begin with, they hoped to
see and hear a great deal about the Ravagers
before daylight—”

“ Yes,or they wouldn’t have allowed the cap’n

to leave the fort,” interrupted Hank. “They '

 

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knew he was going, and could have stopped him
and the whole party. They knew all about the
tunnel, but they let him run to see where he’d
go and what he d do! That point gained,they’ll
gather him in again and the whole band with
him. Don’t you see? When they leave that
crowd—which they must have done before now
—they’ll bring the cap’n away with them 1”

“ By thunder! that‘s only too likely and too
possible!” cried Sam, excitedly. “ Let’s haVe
another drink, and push on to the Crater Camp!”

The proposition was instantly acted upon, and
the couple vanished at a gallop.

CHAPTER XXXIV.
Tins RAVAGERS EXCITED.

THE more the two ex cava!rymen reflected
upon the matter, the more clearly did they
realize that their leader was likely to be in
trouble.

They were accordingly ready, when they struck
the trail left by the scouts and their prisoners,
to take due notice of it.

Even in the dull, bleared li ht of that lower-
ing morning, those tracks 0 the four horses
going to the eastward-and consequently coun-
ter to those left by the fugitives—stood out with
startling distinctness.

“ Look, Hank!” exclaimed Sam Gaddley,
drawing rein and dismounting. “ Here you
have it. Four horses have gone east, and two
of them were evidently led, as their tracks are
too near those of the other air to admit of their
havin traveled abreast. ee?”

Tilkins assented, with an excitement as great
as that of his companion.

“ Quick, then!” cried Sam, regaining his sad-
dle. “ Let’s go over the distance between here
and the Crater Camp as soon as (possible?

They pressed their pace accor ingly, scarcely
exchanging another word until they had reached
their destination.

The clatter with which they finished the last
half-mile of their ride was quite sufficient to
excuse the liveliest curiosity of their friends,
who had all turned out with the first gleams of
day, and were in the act of takin their break-
fast, which included several cho ce morsels of
game which had been secured by the more en-

 

erprising members of the part .

3’

“That must be my brother,” said Mrs. Gog-
gin, as she arose hastily, with a flush of joyous
expectancy, and stepped toward the dangerous
passageway b which the secret camp was
reached, as re ted in a former page. ‘ Don’t
you think so, Josh?”

“I shall be very glad if it is "returned Josh
Reeder with a dubious shake o the head, as he
drew the arm of Mrs. Goggin within his own.
“But I still have my misgivings. I can’t be-
lieve the ca ’n would have taken leave of us in
that way Without saying a word, and leaving
that scrap of paper stuck on a stick to inform
us of his departure.”

“ But he may have had his reasons, as I keep
telling you,” returned Mrs. Goggin.

“ Let s wait and see, Dollie.”

The horsemen were soon near enough to be re-
cognized,und the flush upon the face of Mrs.
Gog 'n deepened intense] .

“ 'l hey’re Sam and ankl” she announced,
waving her handkerchief to the new-comers.
“ But where is my brother?”

She could hardly wait for the two men to
ride into the camp.

“ Where is the cap’n i” she demanded, remain-

ing routed to the spot, unable to advance and
greet them. i

“ I don’t know,” replied Sam, slipping to the
ground, with an inquiring glance at his panting
and foaming steed, and refraining from the
least hint of what he knew and feared. “ Isn’t
he here?"

“No. Didn’t he go away with you?” asked
Josh Reader, remarking that Mrs. Goggin was
literally gaspin for breath.

“ With me? o away with him?”

“ Yes, you and ank!

“ We haven’t seen him,” replied Sam Gafidley.
looking nearly as bewildered as his questioners
with the state of affairs thus presented.

“ Then what is the meaning of this word he
left mei”asked Mrs. Goggin, rallying, as she
drew a slip of paper from her pocket and ex-
tended it to the new-comers. “Quick! what
does this mean?"

The two ex-cavalrymen cast swift glances over
the slip of paper, and then recoiled in conster—
nation, Se in exclaiming:

“it means that you have been cheated by
Buffalo Bill and Ben Letts, Who have captured
the mph] and carried him off with them!"

“ Buffalo Bill?” gasped Mrs. Goggin.

“ Ben Letts?”crie_d Josh Reeder. “ Then you
didn’t go away with the cnp’n?”

“ We go away with him?” roared Ilank Til-
kins, with an oath. “ How could we! We
haven’t been here till now!”

“Then 'where on earth have you been?” (le-
manded Mrs. GOggin, looking more and more
beWIldered.

“ We've been in irons and in Fort Harris un—
til nearly daybreak,” replied Sam. “We didn't
come here with you—no! We were captured
by Ben Letts and Bufl'nlo Bill as we descended
from the northeast angle of the fort, and were

IN

Buffalo Bill’s Ban.

 

 

at once conveyed inside by Corporal Dimmick
and others in waiting I”

“ Then you didn’t come here with us ?” gasped

Mrs. Goggin, looking ready to sink to the
around.
U “ 'l‘hat‘swhat I’m telling you—n0! A million
times no! The men who came here in your
company were Buffalo Bill and Ben Letts!
They took our places, and came all the way
here with you!"

“ Anti hi. ard all that was said,” howled Josh
Reeder, dropping the arm of Mrs. Goggin and
stepping about with the air of being panic—
stricken. “ The rode next behind you and the
(:ap‘n, Dollie! noticed they acted queerly,
and thought they didn’t look quite like Sam
and liank! I see it all now, Dollie!”

“ Well, it’s a pity you didn’t see it a little
sooner,” returned Mrs. Goggin, almost angrily.
“ I can now see it, too! Those men fell to the
rear when we reached this camp, and were the
last to remain outside—the very last, with the
exreegmion of Private Hillyer !”

“ l‘nen all is clear,”cried Reeder. “Those
infernal intruders have played their game well!
.iinowing that they could not. come into the
Jigit of the camp without being recognized
tnvy remained the other side of the bridge, an
have captured your brother, Dollie, and carried
hizn oil Willi them!”

lt was only too evident.

Mrs. Goggin wrestled with the terrible con-
viction in silence.

“ .inl with them has gone Private Hillyer,”
:ie’chd Render. “ The two scouts and their two
prisoners are by this time in Fort Harris!”

-i ,:y t'luullel‘l you’re right!” cried Sam Gad-
ilh '. , oringing hishand down on his thigh fierce-
lv. . “ flank and I struck their trail just this side
of the ‘ Aztec Sprin ’—the trail of four horses
going eastward. \ hat’s more, we at once
leaped to the conclusion that the cap’n had
been captured, and that’s why we’ve ridden so
1‘.i iidl .”

‘|~ Hoyt how came you here after being captured
a s wand time?” asked Josh Reeder.

“ 4 .1, Dick Rasker set us free, he having been
put in charge of us,”answered Sam, “ and he
and Stubby Jobson will be this way in the
c arse of the morning. But about the ca i’n—J’

“' We must fly to his rescue,” exclaim Mrs.
noggin, dashing the tears from her eyes. “Is
there not a chance, Josh, that we may overtake
him beiore he reaches the fort?”

“ A. Very poor one, if any, Dollie,” was the
answer. “Still, the four horse trail was not
new .i the other side of the ‘Aztec Spring.’ If
WU start immediately, and the scouts should
llli'Pt Little Elk coming north, or have other
drsiwb LCkS' we may possibly overhaul them, as
Hie}, can’t go at full speed with those led
horses l”

“Quick, then! Let’s be off!” proposed Mrs.
noggin, with the eagerness of a wild hope.
“ Lot’s rescue my brother. even if we have to
smuggle Ourselves into the fort to do it, and
let‘s also take a terrible revenge on that vile
lien L;tl:s and B‘ifi’alo Bill!”

The entixe crowd was prompt to respond to
this appeal, and in a few minutes more were
ra, .idl y lcaVing the Crater Camp behind them.

“ There is of course no occasion to be worried
about the cap’n,” assured Josh Reeder, as he
took his place beside Mrs. Goggin. " Even if
they get him back into the guard-house we can
readily get into the fort to-night in sufficient
numbers to save him.”

“ ()r if not, We’ll send the fort and evarybOdy
in it to kingdom come!” declared Mrs. Go in,
in the accents of a deadly resolve. “ 9’11
either save my brother, or avenge him!”

CHAPTER XXXV.
BUDD’s UNAVAILING ruav.

THE emotions with which Buffalo Bill and
Ben Letts, in their covert near the Aztec Spring,
had listened to the conversation of Sam Gaddley
and Hank Tilkins, were equaled only by those of
Budd himself.

He looked as if his friends had caught him in
a coffin and were endeavoring to close the lid
upon him.

How pale and red his face grew b .turns at
the revelations of Hank Tilkins! 1th what
wrath and disgust be inclined his ear in the
direction of the s kers!

If looks could ave killed, they would have
died under his gaze. .

Thus watching and listening, be obeyed the
injunctions of his captors. as did Private Hill-
y”. until the two ex—cavalrymen had taken
their departure, and then he gave vent to ma
pent up feelings in a 10111.: and dismal groan.

“I must say, Finklestone,”observed Buffalo
Bill, contemplating him With a smile of intense
satisfaction, “ that they do not give you a very
excellent character!” _ _ .

Budd tossed his head disdainfully, as if to say
that he was not responSible for the views of

th rs.
o “i‘levertheless,” suggested the scout, “ they
seem to have got you down to a line pomt. Are
you really tilt: {find of the Ravagers, as Hank
ins asser ( .
ri'lll‘he prisoner shook his head With prompt and
angry vigor. ‘ ‘

 

  

 

“ And didn’t you have a hand in the raids to
which they alluded?”

Another shake.

“ And didn’t you say yesterday that another
raid—and one 0 real red—skins—would soon be
forthcoming?”

The prisoner tossed his head impatiently, as if
to say that all such accusations were beneath
his notice, and that he didn’t propose to give
them a thought. I

“ Well. they‘ve certainly given me a new
idea of you,” declared the scout, “ and I’m more
and more pleased every moment with the
liberty I took last evening of placing myself in
your company without an invitation.
your view, Ben?”

“ It is, Bill l”answered Ben emphatically. “ I
wouldn’t let this fellow slip through our fingers
for a million of dollars!”

I

l

“ Nor would 1, Ben. I have no doubt those l
ex—cavalryinen have reachedthe correct view of 4
l

him.’

I

horsemen who had just come into view a score
of rodsahead, and were approaching at such
an easy pace that no hint had previously been
given of their presence.

CHAPTER XXXVI.
ESTHER‘S museum surroa.

THE approaching horsemen were three in
number.

The one who took the lead appeared to be
about five and twenty years of age, and could
have been best described as a rural dude, he
carrying a fancy riding—whip and wearing

leves, an eye—glass, a profusion of curls and

 

Isn’t this ‘ Jewelry, and a suit- of check flannel, cut tight.

and short.

His bearing was conceited and affected. as
also overbearing and insolent, a not uncommon
conjunction.

His appearance suggested wealth, but was
still more strongly indicative of dissipation.

Handsome but tough would have summarized

The effect of these confidences upon Budd : the impression he would have produced at an

Finklestone was at least suggestive.

only writhed anew in his bonds, but his face 1

He not ! ordinary county fair.

Just behind this singular-looking personage

darkened intensely with guilty and desperate . rode two men of middle age, of coarse aspect.

passions.

“And now to get him safely hived,” added ‘

Buffalo Bill, with smiling content, as he led the
way toward the spring and brook. “ Let’s water
the horses and be off.”

The scouts were soon in motion with their
prisoners, but a shadow Continued to rest upon
the face of Buffalo Bill.

“ I can’t tell you, Ben,” he declared, after a
brief pause, “ how anxious I was during those
critical moments. It’s very seldom that horses
will meet in that way without a whinny being
uttered on one side or the other.”

“ You think the horses, then—”

“ Certainly. They did not remain ignorant of
their near approach, and it’s the strangest thing
in the world that a whinny from one side or the
other didn't give us away!”

“ Well, all this only proves how lucky we are,
Bill ” suggested Ben Letts, with a smile.

“ erliaps so. but let us hope to be spared all
further risks of that nature, for we shall never
be favored twice in this way, you may be cer-
tain.”

Striking a smart gallop, the scouts held to

their course a couple of miles without speak-
ing.
“ Perhaps you wondered, Ben,” then said Buf-
falo Bill, as they allovved their horses to walk
at the rise of a short crest, ” that I didn’t sug-
gest the capture of those fellows?”

“ Not at all, Bill,” Was the answer. “ I think
our hands are full already.”

“ True, Ben, but that isn’t quite all my rea-
son for doing as I did. Besides bearing in mind

 

to ‘let well enough alone.’and remembering!

that ‘ a bird in hand is worth two in the bush,’
I also reflected that the capture of those two
men was a serious undertaking. If we had
taken a ste in that direction, our risoners
would have groaned their very lou est, and
that would have put the ex—cavalrymen on their
guard. Next, if we had given our attention to
the propoaed capture, 011!‘ prisoners would have
made an effort—and a successful one, no doubt,
with the aid of a few shotS—to stampede their
horses. And, finally, those two men, with rifles
in their hands and a good tree or rock between
them and us, could have certainly made in
trouble.” , r

“ I felt that way, Bill, without having the ht
it out so fully,” and Ben. “ and I must add t at
I am glad you adjourned the capture of that
couple to some more favorable moment. But
31:18.12,” 9. whinny had announced our presence,

i l

“ Well, in that case,” was the response,
“ there would have been a very serious scrim-
ma 0 this morning “‘11ch Spring.’ As to
jus how it would have ended, I will not under-
take to say, but  think the Ravagers would
have sustained an irreparable loss 1”

A hollow, snarling sort of groan came from
Budd Finklestone at this juncture, and it was
echoed by Private Hillyer, both prisoners shak-
ing their heads Vigorously.

‘ He means to say, I presume," interpreted
Ben Letts, “that we have no rightto imply
that he is either the head or a member of the

vagers !”

This view was confirmed by a succession of
emphatic nods from both prisoners.

“ e11 he can save h s powder,” returned
Buffalo Bill, with smiling scorn. “ We can
take no stock whatever in his denials. I have
no doubt he’s the chief agent of all the violence
and crime we’ve undertaken to wipe out i”

A veritable explosion of furious groans came
from Budd Finklestone at this avowal.

“ How angry he is!” Ben could not help say—
ing. “ He must hate us like poison!”

This view was fiercely confirmed.

“He hopes to get square with us sooner or
later!” pursued Ben, scrutinizing the prisoner.

More confirmations.

“He’ll burn us alive if
chance I” added Ben.

gugoiis Igods succeeded.

u ’a 0 ill smiled contem tuousl ,but ere
he could reply, his gaze fell Iiipon aygroup of

he ever gets the

- .l‘ . v ~ 1. -. I - .
. ,1. / .:,.,, v ,1. L”)  M  .

(‘4’

 

 

kw : u ,>

and coarsely attired, and so freighted with to-
bacco that it appeared on their chins and shirt-
fronts, as well as on their beards and in the cor.
ners of their months. They were armed with-
rifies and revolvers like their leader, and were

i figuring as deputy-sheriffs.

They appeared to ride a little to the rear not.
merely out of deference for their companion,
but for a variety of other reasons, among which
was the exchange of various ideas and senti-
ments with which their leader had nothing in.
common.

The first glance of the scouts took in the num-
ber of the new-comers, the second their aspect,
and the third their bearing, and the impression
resulting from this survey was one of quiet in-
difference, so that they continued to advance
precisely as they had been going.

N ot so the new-comers.

At sight of the scouts and their prisoners,
the rural dude started as if alarmed, and drew
rein with such violence as to cause his horse to-
rear, at the same time appealing to his associ-
ates by word and look to ive him their opinion
of what they saw ahead ogthem.

This opinion was evidently of a tranquilizing
nature, for the trio resumed regress. and the
2:0 parties were promptly wit in speaking dis-

nce.

Not wishing to be delayed, the scouts saluted
the strangers by raising their hats olitely, but
without drawing rein, and would ave passed
without speaking if left entirely to their origi-
nal intentions.

The newcomers, hOWever, did not content
themselves with returning these salutations,
but drew rein a little nervouslly, with an air
which showed that they desire to ask a few
questions.

“ I beg pardon for troublin you, strangers,”
said the rural dude, in a c ear but squeaky
veice, “but we’d like to know where we are, if
you can tell us.”

The scouts drew rein, and Buffalo Bill point—
ed out briefly the whereabouts of the anxious
in uirer.

‘ So far from Fort Harris!" was his com-
meziit. “Whovmade all those tracks ahead of
us.

“ They were made,sir,” answered Buflalo Bill..
“by a band of robbers and deserters l”

The dude paled at the information.

“ And you’ve been hunting them, gentlemen!"
he continued, with swift glances from one pris-
oner to the other.

“ We have, sir!” replied Buffalo Bill.

“ And captured two of them, I suppose!"

“ As you see, sir.”

“ What a wild country!” commented the
dude. “ Is it safe to ride further in this direc-
tion i”

“That may depend upon who on are and
What you’re doing,” replied uffalo Bill.
” There has been some violence threatened here-

3.1)

max“

abouts, but you needn’t run till you see the '

enemy.”

“ 1-1 be? to ask your advice,” stammered
the dude, ‘ as on are evidently posted, and
also reliable. e’re all the way from Ken—-

tuck‘y—”
“ nd deputy-sheriffs,” announced one of his:
henchmen.

“ And are looking f or a man I” supplemented
the second deputy-sheriff.

“ Or rather for a whole family,” explained
the diide, excitedly—“ a father, son, and daugh-
ter—

“For a moonshiner and assassin,” declared I

the first deputy. _

“ For a fugitive from justice,” exclaimed the
second deputy, striking his breast-pocket 5:5-
nificantly, “ and we’ve got the guv’nor‘s req -
sition right here for him!”

“ And we propose to find him,” avowed the
dude, with vicious energy. “ He has been
tracked clear across the countryto Durango
and Fort Harris, and has been seen by one of
our detectives at the latter place and traced in
this direction 1”

“Did you mention the name?" asked Ben

 
 

 

 

. ........._v...._- .m»..._ .-. -_ . (I ,.-,‘g-. -.., .

_ m.........___...._.....a.. “I...” _......~.. ...-..--- ;. «wean.

,~.~

. ._ _. m._......—M

 

’to force his horse

(:2

r‘i

Letts, taking part suddenly in the conversation,

.113!) a tone and mien which attested a keen in-
‘terest in it.

V“ HLs name is Clewson—Irby Clewson," re-
‘fiied the dude. “His son is named Ben, and
‘ he girl’s name is Esther!”

The scouts exchanged startled glances, realiz-
ing on the instant that the family threatened
by these new-comers was that of the fair girl
who had just been their guide!

“What has the father done?” resumed Ben
'Letts, to whom Buflalo Bill naturally left the
inquiry.

‘ Done? He nearly killed me,” responded the
dude, with a sudden glow of wrath and malig-
nancy. “He sent an ounce-ball clear through
my body 1”

‘ For what reason? What provocation did
"you ive him?” pursued Ben.

“ Vell—I had paid some attention to his
~dau hter—”

“ r tried to!” amended the first henchman.

“ Or wooed her with a little too much vigor!”
explained the second deputy, with a laugh.

“ And the father forbade ou his ouse?"
continued Ben Letts, with a grim sort of smile.

“ Or rather his shanty,” smilingly corrected
~the first deput . “ He was a moonshiner, and
lived in a but u the mountains!”

“At any rate, he told you to stay away, as
'the daughter had reviously told you?”

“ Yes—he did, 3 rl”

“But you intruded again and he shot you i”

“ He did sir, but I’ve had him indicted. The
county judge is a particular friend of my fami-
ly, and we propose to make it hot for the old
outlaw, if we can find him! I’ve already
:spent more than a thousand dollars in the
chase!”

“ What! for such a man as that?” exclaimed

Buffalo Bill, exchanging a glance of secret in- '

.telli ence with Ben.

“ h, it isn’t much the old man as the
daughter that wish to get hold of,” ex-
plained the dude, with smiling insolence. “ I’ve

ad the son indicted as accessory and both as
moonshiners, and the ’11 be out of the way for
manga long year a ter I get hold of them,
and ” shall then have a clear field with the
:gir !

“ Exactly,” returned Ben Letts. “But you’ve
"not et found them!”

“[0, but they can’t be far distant. Have
you ever heard of them?”

“ Not a word till this day,” replied Ben. “ I
' resume you’d pay big money for any informa-
. ion about them!”

“I would indeed,” assured the dude.

“Well, we’ll bear in mind what you’ve told
us,” said Ben vathering up his reins, “and
shall be pleas to keep track of you. You will
return to Fort Harris, I suppose?”

“Certainly this afternoon. We’re stopping
at the‘Ranc er’s Saloon.’ My name is Pur-
kitt—Hamilton Purkitt—and these gentlemen
are brothers named Hayter. If you can do
anything for us, gentlemen, I will reward you
liberal y. Meanwhile, is it safe for us to push
on further? I ask because we’ve seen two or
thrge suspicious-looking parties hovering near
us.

“No, it’s not safe, Mr. Purkitt—since you

ask our opinion—for you to take a step further

in this direction,” assured Ben Letts, with an

earnestness about which there could be no

- uestion. “You have probably heard of the
avagers?”

“ As who hasn’t!” returned I’urkitt, excited—

“ Well, you may encounter a dozen or twent
of them at any moment,” announced Ben, wit
grim impressiveness. “ But that’s a minor
peril, as the ’d simply take your arms and
*money and c othes, and let you go back to the
fort in the style of Adam. hat you have real-
’ly to fear is this: We hear Little Elk and a
hundred braves are about to go upon the war-
path in this ve vicinity, and if they get hold

of you. Mr. Pur itt, you’ll never see, Kentucky,

again.”

The dude became hastly white, and hastened
n the direction the scouts
were going, as did his deputy-sheriffs.

“ As to the Clewsons.” added Ben, “ I will

' only say that they’ve found friends——friends

who are posted about you and your motives,
Mr. Purkitt—and that your life wouldn’t be
worth the sixteenth part of a cent if you were
to intrude in any way upon that girl. ”

“Just what we’ve been telling him all day
yesterday and all night,” exclaimed the first
deputy, with an oath of grim contentment.

“ And now I hope he’ll see things as they are !”
growled the second deputy.

“I do indeed,” acknowledged‘Purkitt, in a
voice rendered more squeaky than ever by his
apprehensions. “We’ll get out of this, gentle-
men. as quick as We can!”

“ Sensible at last!” cried the first deputy. “In
what direction is the fort. stranger?”

Ben hastened to give him full directions.

“Thanks,” cried Piirkitt. “ We won’t wait
to keep you company, as you’re considerably
hampered by those prisoners. Good-morning,
gentlemen.”

‘- Good-morning!” echoed from both sides.

.,..,I ,.,. .. ,_ ., saw...“ _  _.

Buffalo Bill’s Ban.

of regre behind them.
The scouts exchanged congratulatory glances.
They felt that they had done an excellent
thing in taking the part of the Clewsons, and
down deep in his own soul Ben Letts had a con—
1igictilon that he had also been fighting his own
att e.

l CHAPTER XXXVII.
AFFAIRS AT THE FORT.

CONTINUING to ride rapidly, the scouts reach-
ed the fort by the time the dark, sunless morning
had fully dawned, and were admitted by Cap-
tain Greyson in person.

Not much to their surprise, they found Colo-
nel Nayler awaiting them just within the en-
trance, after a few hours of that refreshing
sleep all army officers learn to take so readily
whenever an opportunity is offered them.

The delight he experienced at sight of Budd
Finklestone very naturally found expression in
the greetings and congratulations with which he
received the successful niasqueraders.

“I suspected you’d be here early with good
news,” he declared, “and that’s why you find
me waiting. As to this man,” and he glanced
at the crestfallen Finklestone, “ I propose to
anchor him so that he will stay.”

Summoning Dimmick, who was in waiting,
with the stripes of an orderly upon his sleeve
the commandant ordered the gags to be removed
from the mouths of the prisoners, who were then
sent to the forge under strong guard to be heavi-
ly ironed.

“Of course Hillyer is of no account,” remark-
ed the colonel, when the couple were out of hear-
ing, “ but I may induce him by this sort of
pressure, to tell us what he knows about the

avagers in general and about Budd in partic-
ular. A fine lot of horses,” he added, looking
them over with a critical eye. “ You took them
from ,Budd and his friends, I suppose, gentle-
men?’

“ We did, colonel,” replied Ben Letts. “ This
bay,”in fact, was ridden by Finklestone him-
self

 

“We would like them to have the best of
care,”said Buffalo Bill, “as we propose to use
them the next time we leave the fort.”

“You are quite right to retain them, gentle-
men,”observed the coionel—“ at least until they
are claimed by some more legitimate owner than
Budd Finklestone.”

He lost no time in sending the horses away to
his own stable, with careful instructions, and
then invited his guests into the parlor, in which
a brightflre was burning. Mrs. Nayler appeared,
but remained bare] long enough to greet the
scouts and congratu ate them upon their success
and then hurried to the kitchen to give additional
orders for breakfast.

“ How far did you go?" demanded the colonel,
as the trio sat down. ‘

“ To a remarkable ancient crater some seven-
teen miles due west of us,” answered Buffalo
Bill, making use of the information Finklestone
hail riven him.

“ know the lace,” said the colonel. “ It
was shown to me y an old trapper who used to
haunt that region, and 1 even passed a night
there with him, when [was still. a captain. But
what took you in that direction?”

“Oh,the place is now used as halting-place
b the Ravagers,” explained Buffalo Bill.
“ Budd and his followers went there as direct as
if they had been shot out of' a cannon!”

“Did you learn anything from their move-
ments and discussions, as you thought you
would?”

“ A great deal, colonel.”

“ Please give me the particulars.”

Buffalo Bill did so, dwelling particularly upon
the fact that the head uarters of the Ravagers
was at the “ Quadrangle,”and that this retreat
was probably in the extreme southwest corner
of the State, adjoining Utah, New Mexico, and
Arizona. The reasons be advanced in favor of
this theory had great weight with the colonel.

“ It is certainly a point to be investigated as
soon as possible,” concluded the commandant,
after a brief discussion, “ and of course I shall
leave this investigation in your hands. But
give mea fuller idea of your journey with the
Ravagers.”

Continuing, at a silent request of his associate,
Buffalo Bill related all that happened since he
and Ben took the places of Sam Gaddley and
Hank Tilkins, giving especial prominence to the
ride to the Crater Cam , the capture of Fink|e~
stone and Hillyer, an the events of their re.
turn, including their encounter with the mys-
terious unknown and hi i daughter.

“ That ‘ unknown ’ isa moonshiner,”remarked
the colonel. not much to Ben’s surprise, but
somewhat to his confusion. “ I have been
aware of his existence and whereabouts for a
\couple of weeks past, and should have sent a
squad after him before now if the Ravagers had
made me less trouble. He’s ‘ wanted ’ in Ken-
tucky, however, on a very serious charge, and
the prospect is that he’ll soon be outside of my
jurisdiction, as two or three deputy-sheriffs

 

-m 1 .xgfi I

passed through here yesterday on their way to
1m.

.4»... 1.....- w..- ’ ‘ --...... . ,. -—-» - A

 

 

 

And the dude and his henchmen rode away at I Ben Letts flushed at these observations, but he
a lively ace, without as much as a single glance : did not care to continue the subject.

“ Has anything new happened here in our ab-
sence, colonel?” he asked.

“ Nothing very important,” was the answer.
“Still, here are one or two points. I have
searched the honse of Mrs. Goggin thoroughly,
as you suggested before leaving, and have
fotrnd a letter which may be useful. Here it
is.

He passed it to Buffalo Bill, who read it
aloud.

It was as follows:

“ WEDNESDAY, the 13th.
“ DEAR DOLLIE:-

“i wish to see you and Dorus immediately, or at
least one of you. Do not fail to come.

“ Morass.”

The scouts exchanged gratified glances, and
then turned to the colonel, who cried:

“ Ah! it strikes you as important?”

“Very,” answered Buffalo Bill. “Dollie is
Mrs. Goggin, und Dorus is Finklestone! They
called each other by these names all the while
we were With them. It appears from this letter
that they are really brother and sister, and that
their mother is livmg.”

“ Excellent! You d better kee the letter for
future reference,” said the colone .

Ben Letts extended his hand for the letter
with a preoccupied air, and secured it in one of
his pockets.

“ The only other incident worthy of a men-
tion,” continued the colonel, “is the escape of
Sam Gaddley and Hank Tilkins, with the assist-
ance of Dick Rasker and Stubby Jobson, and
you seem to have known of this event almost as
soon as we did. But the two latter are now in
irons in the guard—house, in the places of the
two they released,and much good may it do
them!”

“But what about Sir Homby Finklestone,
colonel?” asked Buffalo Bill. “ Has he come out
of that swoon, or what not, and given you an
explanation of his journey to Colorado and of
his relations to Budd Finklestonei”

The colonel’s face clouded.

Ere another word could be said, however, Dr.
Pawlett, the post surgeon, came hurriedly into
the room, coatless and breathless, with a face
that was fiery red with some great shock, and
with the air of being indescribably startled.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.
THE CAPTUBED DESERTER.

To say it all in a word,the doctor was ina
state of bewildering excitement.

“ Ah, there you are, colonel?” he cried, as he
caught Sight of the commandant, and, hardly
noticing the presence of the scouts, be con-
tinned:

“ You could never guess what has happened.
Sir Hornby has disappeared!”

“ D'isa peared l” echoed the commandant,
gaining is feet as if electrified, as did the
scouts. “Why, he must have stepped out to
take a look at the fort or the village l”

“ No, c010nel l" assured the doctor, wringing
his hands. “ I‘ve looked, and had others look-
ing. There’s no trace of him anywhere. He
couldn’t be more completely out of the way if
the earth had opened to swallow him! Come
and see l"

He turned and fled.

Inviting the scouts by a gesture to accompany
him, the colonel led the way rapidly upstairs,
hastening to verify the surprising neWs by a
personal inspection of the scene of the baronet‘s
disappearance.

It was a handsome chamber over the pa lor,
and had been assigned to Sir Hornby, it will be
remembered, after a first treatment had been
given to his injuries in the colonel’s own bed-
r0011].

“ And this is the route he must have taken,”
said the commandant, raising the curtains of
one of the windows, which was found to be
e n.
pf: Sure enough!” said the scouts in chorus.

“ This side of the house being in the shadow,”
pursued the commandant, “Sir Hornby was
able to lower himself from this window unseen,
the three sentries I posted with special refer-
eence to his safe-keeping being at the three
doors, front and rear and the other side. But
why should he take leave of us in such an un-
ceremonious fashion? Is he out of his head,
doctor?”

“I think not,” answered Dr. Pawlett. “ To
the contrary, he had recovered his senses, and
had asked a few questions, besides making some
allusion to the lateness of the hour.”

“But you haven’t had a chance to question
him, I suppose, in regard to his relations to
Budd Finklestone, if we may still speak of this
fraud by that name?”queried the colonel.

“No, sir—nor about anything else. He was
so weak and nervous and upset—so nearly out
of his head, in fact—that 1 should have been
violating the first principles of m professional
duty to have questioned him, or a lewed him to
be questioned. I wanted him to get at least a
short natural sleep, with the benefit of the
medicine I had given him, before proceeding to
the inquiry suggested. To this end, I had sent
away all watchers and attendants, and had

 

 

 

    

 

1!

 

Buffalo Burs Ban.

 

thrown myself down fora nap on a lounge in
the adjacent bedroom.”

“ And soitis impossible to say just how or
when he vanished," commented the comman-
dant, in a voice indicative of the keenest re-
gret. “ But one thin is clear—his disappear-
ance is in no sense t e work of Budd Finkle-
stone. Having been otherwise accounted for,
Budd can have had no chance, Mr. Cody, to
carry out the intention you heard him express-
ing.

“ That’s clear enough, colonel,” returned
Buffalo Bill. “But how is it that no one has
seen the baronet pass the gate or the wall?
Let’s make search wit 'n the fort, and in—
quire.”

The proposition was duly acted upon. but
nothing came of it. The fact of the baro-
net’s disappearance from the fort, as well as
from the colonel‘s house, was further and fully
established, but not the least clew was gained
as to why, where, or how the distinguished
gentleman had vanished.

“ Well, this is awkward enough,” commented
"the commandant, when he and the scouts had
returned to the parlor, and Dr. Pawlett had
gone away by himself to continue the inquiry
in the village or elsewhere. “ I so much want-
ed to hear what he had to say! What can have
been his motive in taking such a secret and un-
timely start?”

“There are several explanations, colonel,”
suggested Buflalo Bill, thoughtfully. “ The
baronet may still be out of his head, and under
the impression that he is flying for his life, as
he certainly was at the moment of his advent.
Or he may have heard that Budd Finkleatone
is in high favor here, and so felt that he had
got out of' the frying-pan into the fire! 0r,
possibly, he may have pressing business or out-
side connections of which we know nothing.”

“ In any case, he’s out of our keeping for the
present,” Concluded the colonel, regretfully.

‘ It only remains to turn our attention upon
other matters. To begin with, Mr. Cody, you
and Ben must get to bed soon, and spend a good
.share of the day in sleep!”

This suggestion was perfectly in harmony
with the wishes and intentions of the scouts, as
they Were conscious of needing such a prepara-
tion for their proposed visit to the mysterious
headquarters of the Ravagers.

“All right, colonel,” replied Buffalo Bill,
after consulting Ben with a glance.

ment under Captain (Ire son or some other
competent leader to seize rs. Goggin and her
friends at the Crater, in case they are still
there.”

“It shall be done, Mr. Cody,” returned the
colonel. “ Possibly I’ll go myself, as I need a
change from the close confinement of the last
week or two. Be that asit may, the force in
question shall start immediately. Ah, break-
fast,” he added, catching sight of a gesture from
his wife, who had been busy in the dining-room.
“Come, gentlemen.”

The scouts followed him to the table, taking
their places.

They ate rather lightly, as was their wont in
grave circumstances, and then took their way
to the side veranda with the colonel to enjoy a
cigar and start their digestion before retiring to
their slumbers.

They had barely seated themselves, however,
in the rustic arm-chairs at their disposal, when
the colonel saw his new orderly approaching
from the direction of the main entrance of the
fort.

"If you please, colonel,” announced Dim-
mick,“Sheriff Watrous is here, and is very
anxious to see you.”

“ Let him come in, Dimmick.”

“ That's what I’ve done, sir. As I know you
always receive him whatever may he the
pressure of business, I have passed him in with
his deputies-—” '

“That crowd at the gate?” interrupted the
colonel, lookin in the direction indicated.

“ Yes, sir. hey bring a captured deserter,
who has been shot and is dying, and who has
very important revelations to make to you con-
cerning Budd Finklestone.”

“ All right, Dimmick,” returned the com-
ma ndant, motioning the orderly to remain, and
arising and leading the way from the veranda.
“Come, entlemen,” and e beckoned to the
spouts. ‘ I dare say the promised revelations
will prove to be of as much interest to you as
to me.”

 

CHAPTER XXXIX. .
JACK aossr’s REVELATIONS.

THE commandant advanced quickly toward
his visitor, who had up red at the heels .of
Dimmick, and the scout .astened to follow mm
and give all their attention to the scene which
had thus begun to develop. _

“ I am glad to see you again, sheriff,” greeted
the colonel, as he shook hands With the new-
comer. .

Then he presented the sheriff, who was a man
of formidable proportions,but of kindly eye and

to his ests continuing:
mi91i3'ut, whagtu’supl’ Something out of the usual
run, I have no doubt.”

’ In " l- f:

“We’ll I
take the rest suggested if you’ll send a detach- ‘

 

“ Quite so, colonel,”acknowledged the sheriff,
rubbing his hands nervously together and then
waving one of them toward a group that was
slowly approaching from the direction of the
principal entrance. “ In a word, I’ve captured
that runaway soldier who fired upon Captain
Greyson a couple of weeks since!”

“You have?” rejoined the commandant, his
eyes turning quickly upon the approaching
party. “ I’m led to hear it—ver; ! That

ack Bossy is a esperate and dangerous fellow,
and has long given us no end of trouble. But—
what ails him ?”

” Oh, I had to shoot him to get him,” explain-
ed the sherifi‘. “ He fired upon us repeatedly,
and would have emptied a couple of revolvers
{Into us if I hadn’t been lucky enough to disable

llll.

The prisoner was brought nearer. He lay up—
on an army blanket, which was held at the four
corners by two of the sheriff’s deputies. His
face, although tanned by the sun and covered by
a short, stubby heard, was strangely pale, as if
he had lost nearly all the blood in his veins, and
his aspect was unmistakably that of a man near
his end. ’ .

“Has the doctor seen him?” demanded the
commandant, tersely, as the deputies deposited
their burden at his feet.

“ No, colonel.”answered the prisoner, speak-
in for himself before any one else could.
“ hat’s the use i”

He spoke with such diflltulty and in such a
broken way that Only a strong will could have
enabled him to speak at all.

“ I don’t want no doctor,” he added. “Jack
Bossy knows as well what’s the matter as if forty
doctors had told him.”

He paused, gasping for breath.

“ I’m sorry to see you in this fix, Jack,” said
the commandantflnndly, steeping to wipe the
suiferer‘s frothy lips. “ You’re badly hurt.”

“ It was his own fault, colonel,’ exclaimed
Sheriff Watrous. “ He wouldn’t stop when
halted, nor surrender when surrounded.”

“ That’s all true, colonel,”conflrmed the dying
man. “ I don’t blame the sheriff. But I didn’t
want to cOme back here.”

“ You needn’t have felt that way, Jack,” as-
sured the commandant. “ Haven’t I always
used you well and even made more allowance
for on than I ought to have done?”

“ rue, colonel: and that’s why I want to tell
you something before I die,” declared the pris-
oner, in a voice which seemed to fail with
every word. “ I didn’t want to be brought
back here to stand trial for shooting at Cap’n
Greyson, for 1 know how serious that sort of
business is, but I’ll do you a last good turn,
colonel, as an ofl'set for the trouble I’ve given
you. I want to tell you about Budd Finkle-
stone.”

The commandant bowed gravely, and the

 

scouts bent nearer, marking the death-stricken :

hue of the features before them,

“ He is very low,” said Buffalo Bill,producing
a flask from his pocket. “ He had better have
a drop of brandy.” '

He suited his action to the word, and the
effect was quickly beneficial, the sufferer open‘
ing his eyes and rousmg himself.

“ Thanks,” he said, In a feeble voice. “It’s

1
I

“ There’s something in this, colonel. Little
Elk left his reservation ten days ago, and is now
encamped, with forty or fifty unruly young
bucks, at Cinder Butte, within a dozen or fifteen
miles of us. ”

“Indeed T’ejaculated the colonel, looking as
annoyed as astonished. “ What excuse does he
make for being off his reservation?”

“Oh, one of those eternal old stories of wish-
ing to trade cattle or ponies with another tribe,”
replied the sheriff, “ and when that excuse is
played out they’ll saythey’re going to the Crow's
for a new supply of herbs and roots for medi-
cine. I’ve sent a mess¢nger to Commissioner
Abbott to tell him that he and the old chiefs
must look after these young warriors, and am
still in hopes that Little Elk will return in peace
to the reservation. Meanwhile, you had better
throw out pickets, colonel, to make sure that
they ,don’t get too near the fort or village un-
seen. ~

" That’s good advice, colonel,” commented
Jack Boss , whose voice had sunk to a mere
whisper. ‘ Budd Finklestone has long been
stirring up the red-skins on the Navajo and
other reservations, and he says he can put hun-
dreds of them on the war-path at any mo-
ment!”

The sheriff and Colonel N ayler again ex-
changed startled glances.

“ Can the rascal really have such influence,
colonel?" asked the former. “ And if so what
is he doing here as a private? How long has he
been here ?”

“ About six months,” was the answer.

“ Was he alone when he enlisted?”

“No. There was a considerable crowd with
him—some ten or a dozen.”

“ And they came from nowhere in partic-
ular?”

“ I understood they came off from some rail-
road to the eastward.”

“ Where is he now l”nursued the sheriff.

“ In the guard-house I”

“ Then you’ve begun to smoke him out?”

“ It looks that way, certainly.”

“ His conduct has always been right?”

“ Or, rather, we’ve only just discovered to the
contrary.”

“ He claimed to be somebody of consequence,
didn’t he?”

“ The son of an English baronet—yes.”

“ But there’s nothing in that claim?”

“ Nothing—if I except a mystery, the prccise
nature of which is not yet apparent.”

“ He has no righttothe name of Finklestone?"

“ None whatever. There is a Woman here,
however, in the Village, who claims to be his
 ” Gog ,

“ i rs. gin, ou mean T

“ Yes, Mrs. Goggin!”

“She really is Budd’s sister,” assured Jack
Bossy, again taking part in the conversation.
“ At least he told me so—and so did she. She
has been in the fort often—but always secret] y,
With few exceptions. S!‘ e shares all her broth-
er’s secrets—and. is as had as he!”

The feeble, broken voii e had now become at
times almost inaudible. But the rrisoncr strug-
gled with his rapidly—failing forces, and con-
tinued :

“ There is a real Budrl Finklestone—hut he is

allowing to Budd Finklestone that I’ve reached 3 a prisoner—in ti e bands of tins deadly impos-

such an end. I was

happy and contented until } tori So is Alice Kirg. Ho )3 Sarah Gannett and

he began saying to me, as he says to everybody ! others. They’re ( mini: d rt a 1:.£i(‘e('all('d the

else: ‘ thy should you be worked to death for
thirteC-h dollaisa month? Why should you go
out and be killed because of a few red—skins and
raiders? W by Shoumn’t you take things easy?
Why not Ste 11 “ht-9Y0” Lave a chance, 8.)“ lie
when‘there’s anything to he g fined by it? Why
shouldn’t you Shirk “H duty as far as shirking is

POSSible? “7133’ “0t have ’1 gnfid time when: vcr j.

you can? thy not insist on your rights? \l'hy
not ask for better rations and. beter quarters?

l
f
l
.

!

Why drill and do guard duty 903nm“)? Why :

not desert if you can llve elsewhere or have any
friends to go to? Why be the slave and dupe of
those Ofllcers or of the Government? Why be a
mere tool of the schemes of others? Why not
eat, drink, and be merr and do nothing?’ Such,
colonel, is the sort of angu’ige that man is al-
ways using, and that’s why so manv of us have
become discontented and. dangerous. That’s
why there has been so much trouble in the fort
lately and so man.v desertionfl”

The prisoner collapsed again, panting for
breath and closing his eYeS.

“ I have begun to get track of that fellow,
J ack,” re lie( the commar dent, “and I am
greatly o liged for this information, which I
can of course aCCept as your dying declaration.
You comprehend, no doubt, that you are about
to leave us?”

“ Yes, colonel, I’m going,” returned the pris-
oner, again arousing himself. “ But I want to
warn you against that man! He‘s here for a
deadly purpose! He’s mixed up with all the In-
juns and outlaws, and has wide connections all
up'and down the Rmkies. He told me he was
[Fromg to send for Little Elk, who is a particular

riend of his. and that be and Little Elk are al-
ready agreed between themselves to wipe out
this village and fort and everybody in them 1”

Sheriff Watmus started, e‘xchangin a sur-

prised look with the commandant, andt en said:

l. ,' 1
m .I_   u 

 

‘Quadrangle’—wsil h is so has ml because itis
where— the Slate zit-1119 ti o thrre Territories
south and west. '1‘: e ‘deraiir le’is the real
home of the Ihvuizers. T cy live there like
princes—on what tlzty steal I”

“Is the pure known by any other name,
Jack ?” asked the commandant.

“ No. colonel. For the reason—as they say—
that it’s nut yet ls rte en ugh—tr because
they‘vo not yet decided—what to call it. They
preterd 10 be honest. 'I‘hey could ’t live there
-—if not all riglt with L tile Elk and other
chiefs. Such a hirrilrh- lot as thevar' 1 There‘s
a road uiidergromdn c l I el. I’ve been there.”

The Commandmzt ext “any ed giant-i 5 With the
scouts, as if a little disturde by the manifest
want of coherency in Jack’s declarations, but
the good faith and arnestness with which he
struggled to finish them was too evident not to
find acceptance, as he continued, in a gasping
veice:

“ He—-has often told me, colonel—that he in-
tends to wipe out this fort and village so thor-
oughly—that not one stone’ll be left On another!
He and others—including myself, colonel—have
been setting secret mines of powder and dyna-
mite—to blow up the fort—and on and all—”

Aboarse rattle in the three of the Speaker
interrupted him, and he half-raised himselth
one elbow, struggling desperately for breath.

“Beware of him, colonel l" he gasped. “ He’s
the terrible ‘ King of the Ravagers!"
‘ Whooppee’ and ‘ Bad Medicinei’ His real
name is—”

And the speaker fell back heavily—dead!

CHAPTER XL.
TAKING STERN MEASURES.
FOR nearly a minute Colonel Nayler gamed
upon the face of the dead deserter in thought-
ful silence.

 

 

 

 

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W-u- s—«mmm -~.—.-m_,.vv ~_.~....._.... H4. .

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 .

“‘ What a pity that he didn’t speak sooner!”
he then ejaculated, with involuntary bitterness.
“ He might have saved us a great deal of
trouble 1”

Turning to his new orderly, he resumed:

“ There’s no one in the iniirmary at this mo-
ment I believe, Dimmickl”

“ o, colonel.”

“Then take this poor fellow there, with the
aid of these deputies,” ordered the command—
ant. “ Detail acouple of men to prepare him
for burial, and a second file to dig a grave for
him. You can send a corporal with these de-
tails to bury him as soon as everything is ready.
In the mean time I will spea to Chaplain
Robertson, who will doubtless wish to offer a
prayer at the burial.”

Dimmick and the deputies raised the body
gently between them, still in its stained blanket,
and walked away with it.

“Come back here, orderly,” added Colonel
Nayler, “ as soon as you’ve given the necessary
instructions.”

“ In about a minute, colonel.”

“ A very strange batch of revelations, gentle-
men,” resumed the commandant, turning to the
scouts and the sheriff. “ What do you think of
them, Mr. Cody?”

“I have no doubt of the man’s good faith,
colonel,” replied Buffalo Bill, “ and l’m not at
all displeased, naturally, to find that the said

 

revelations agree perfectly with what Ben,

Letts and I were saying to you a short time
o "

“ Clearly enough, these facts call for imme-
diate action," said the colonel. “ Now that you
happen to be here, sheriff, I will send Finkle-
stone before a civil court, and lodge him at Du-
rango for safe-keeping.”

“ That will be a good move, sir ” a proved
the sheriff, hastily. “ He should 9 etached
from all his associates and associations here as
soon as possible. The moment he becomes
known as ‘ Whoop-pee ’ and ‘ Bad Medicine,’
there will be hundreds of complaints lodged
a ainst him- enough to imprison him thousands
0 years, if he could live so long!”

“ Of course you are as willing to take charge
loxf him now as later, sherifl?” pursued Colonel

a ler.

‘yCertainly, the moment you’ve had him for-
mally committed by competent authority,” an-
swered Watrous, “ and that need not be a long-
winded business, seeing that Mr. Justice Finch
resides within a hundred yards of the fort. It
will be impossible, however, for me to take
charge of the man until late this afternoon, as
I’m going westward to hook on to another
deserter.’

“ That will do, of course,” said the colonel.

He looked around for Dimmick, who was just,
returning from his previous errands.

“ Run, orderly,” he commanded, “ and brin
Mr. Justice Finch here as soon as you can. Tel
him the matter is very important, and that the
sheriff and I are waiting for him.”

“ Yes colonel,” and Dimmick vanished.

“ Wil you come in, gentlemen?” asked the
commandant, turning anew to the scouts and
the sherifl, as also to the two deputies who had
arrived from the inflrma . “ 1t will be some
few minutes before Mr. F nch can be with us."

“ Oh, yes, thank you—we’ll come in a few
minutes, colonel ” replied Watrous, as the com-
mandant led t a way toward the side-door.
“ That fellow has given us quite a shake-up.”

The worthy ofllc al sighed wearily.

“Perhaps a lass of wine will not beatall
amiss for you w ile you’re waiting,” suggested
the colonel.

“ Not for us, certainly,” admitted the sherifl,

' following the commandant into the house.

“To be candid, we’ve not yet had our break-
fast.”

“ That’stoo had,” declared Mrs. Nayler, ad-
va to shake hands with the sheriff, and
then nodding gracefully to the de nties, “ but
it is a deficiency that can be quic y remedied,
as Zellie is still in the kitchen. ’

As the result of the measures she took, within
another minute the sheriff and his aids were

in tly en in repairing their confessed
dmi on whi a continuing the conversation with
the colonel and the scouts, who had taken seats
near them. 9

“Where did you get Bossy?” at length asked
the commandant.

“ At a barn near Parrott ” replied Watrous.
“ He had been starved out of the hills—he
wanted tobacco—and had come to a chance ac-

uaintance for supplies, but, as usual, his
c ance acquaintance was ready to betray him
for the reward which is always hung over such
customers.”

The sheriff sighed, and added:

“ It’s the worst tackle we‘Ve had this summer
and the boys and l are really surprised to find
that we have come out of the scrimmage unin-

ured.”

At the end of a few minutes, or by the time
the sheriff and his aides had done justice to the
substantial collation furnished them, Mr. J us-
tice Finch made his appearance, escorted by the
orderly.

He was a little old man, with an extremely
bald head and meager frame, but he was dis-

 

Bufi'alo Bill’s Ban.

tinguished for his uprightness, learning, ability
and courage.

His salutations were prompt] and pleasantly
uttered, Mrs. Na ler and Buffa 0 Bill coming in
for special atten ion, and then be seated himself
at the colonel’s desk, in response to the com—
mandant’s invitation to that effect, and was put
in possession of the facts in the case.

‘ Wh , what an extraordinary state of
things!” he could not help saying. “ I never
heard anything like it i”

“ What I wish to do, therefore,” concluded
Colonel Nayler, “ is to send this horrible fraud
to Durango for safe-keeping and future trial and
punishment, and :0 leave myself free to give all
my attention to the capture of his numerous
associates.”

“ You’ll have your hands full, and so will the
sheriff,” declared the justice, with a grave
shake of his head. “But your idea is a good
one. I’ll set the ball rolling by committing the
Villain Without bail for a hearing.”

He set to work.

“ You can leave the document with the colo-
nel, Mr. Justice,” said Watrous, arising, “and
I’ll take char e of it, with thé prisoner, on my
return from t e hills.”

The justice bowed assent. and the sheriff and
his deputies took their departure, Dimmick
escorting them to the entranCe.

“ And now we‘ll take our snooze, Ben,” said
Buffalo Bill to his ally, with a sigh of relief at
the turn a airs had taken, “and I must say
that for once I feel pretty thoroughly in need of
it.

Nodding a temporary adieu to their hosts
they took their way to a handsomely-furnishe
room over the back parlor whir'h had of ten been
at Ben’s disposal, while Colonel Nayler hastened
to give his orders for the proposed expedition to
the Crater Camp.

CHAPTER XLI.
BEN AND ESTHER.

Bur-ram BILL was almost instantly asleep,
but Ben Letts, despite his resolute attempt in
the same direction, was not long in discovering
that he was engaged in an uphill business.

In fact, he had ideas of an entirely different
order from those essential to slumber.

Uneasy and anxious, with his thoughts turn-
ing constantly to the hills in which he had en-
countered Esther, it was easy for him to reach
the conclusion that any further attempt on his
part to woo the drowsy god could only result in
failure.

The outcome of such a state of affairs can be
readily foreseen.

Gaining his feet quietly, he wrote a. few lines
of explanation to his associate, leaving them
where they would be found later.

In another minute he was ready for departure,
the removal of his boots. coat, and vest being
as far as he had proceeded in the task of un-
dressing.

Slipp ng down-stairs, he resumed possession
of his hat. rifle and overcoat unseen, and left
the tort, walking briskly to his own little dwell-

in .

glue}: to his relief, he found everything there
as he had left it.

A whinny from the rude shed he used as a
stable reminded him that he was anxiously
awaited in that quarter, and thither he went.

Here was the horse he had used the previous
evenin , and he hastened to feed it. “

But t is was not all.

Openingl a secret door, a second horse ap-

to is gaze greetin him with a lance
hat was almoat human El its gentle' ntelli-
once.
3 This second home, of which he had said noth-
ing to any one save Buflalo Bill, and which he
had possessed only a week, was a thoroughbred,
young and sound, and a beauty.

The price Ben had paid for t was a large one,
considering the time and place.

But it was worth all he had paid.

The horse had shown speed and endurance of
no common order.

Giving it a small mess of oats, B49n returned
to the house and made a somewhat elaborate
toilet, which included a shave and a linen shirt,
with necktie and collar.

Bylthe time he had taken ~.a final look in a
sma mirror, his favorite steed had finished its
oats and was ready for a drink of water, which
Ben gave it. ‘ ,

Then he saddled it and led it Out, closing his
house and stable, and mounted and rode quietly

awa .
Hf}; course was that he and Buffalo Bill had
taken on the previous evening With the Rava-

era.
8 In other terms, he was bound for the region
of which Esther Clewson was the princess and
priestess.

He was a little less than an hour and a half in
reaching the spot where he had taken leave of
her, and here he fired his rifle, as she had sug—
gested, then continuing to advance in the sup-
posed direction of the enchantress.

To his great joy, but not uch to his surprise
—for, man-like, he judged sther by himself—
he soon heard a skurrying of nimble legs and a
bounding of agile figures at no great distance

' 3

 

ahead of him, and the three bloodhounds made
their appearance, greeting him as an old friend.

“ What intelligent, noble creatures!" be ex-
claimed, with the hearty promptness of a man
who is in a mood to see everything couleiu' de
rose, as he patted the heads of twu of the three
which had placed their forepaws on the withers
of his horse. “ Where’s your young mistress?
Where is Esther!”

The dogs recognized the name, and looked in
the direction from which they had come.

Sure enough, she was not. far distant.

Disinounting, Ben advanced to meet her, rais-
ing his hat as soon as she appeared to his gaze
and bowing profoundly.

in another minute they were together, and it
would have been hard to say which of them was
the shyest and most joyous.

“ What pleasure to find you so readily !” were
the words with which Ben began his greetings
as be seized her hand, in a caressing clasp, an
raised it to his lips. “ Perhaps you are sur-
prised, Esther, to see me a ain so soon.”

“ Not particularly, Mr. etts—”

“ Not particularly, Ilcn. you should say,
Esther. l’m Ben to everybody, and very par-
ticularly and especially Ben to you !”

“ 'Well, Ben, 1 was wishing you would come,
and I should have passul an uncomfortable day
if you had failed to appear."

‘“ Then I am very glad I was not forced to re-
main away, Esther,” said Ben. “ Is theie any-
thin wrong? You seem worried.”

“ t’s all on account of that prisoner you and
Mr. Cody were conveying to the fort,” said
Esther, facing,r about quietly, and walking
homeward. “Father and Ben are so anxious
to know how he came to be in such a fix. We
can’t even form a rational theory of the mys-
tery. What can a g: ncral have done to be
treated in that terrible manner, bound and
gag ed l"

“ ou shall hear in due course, Esther,” re-
turned Ben. “ But first, if you are i ntirely
willing, tell me how you came to be acquainted
with him.”

" The dogs guided him to our cottage one
afternoon about two months ago, and he had a
little chat With father and Ben, while he ate a
piece of pie and drank a glass of milk. Nat-
urally enough, he gave some avccunt of himself,
saying that he was a general in the army, and
had been sent here secretly from Washington to
hunt up su: dry outlaws who had become trou-
blesome. Since then Ben has heard about the
Ravagers, but he kept the information to him—
self until this morning for fear of worrying
father and me, but we n0w suppose the outlaws
referred to by the general must be the Rav-
agers.”

Walking beside Esther, Ben ventured to take
her arm gently in his own, With that bold sort
of deference, or innocent sort of boldness, which
is rarely considered offensive by its object.

“ And since that day ?”he queried.

“ Well, he has been here four times since that
first occasion, explaining that business brought
him near us, and that he could not refrain from
paying his respects. I did not see him the last
two times he was here. for the reason that I did
not like either his looks or his actions. Right.
or wrong I felt that I was in some way the
object 0 his intrusions, for such they were, as
none of us ever invited him to call upon us.”

“ And this is the sum total of your dealings
with him Esther?”

“ Yes, Ben.”

“ I’m not onl glad of that, Esther, but I
must conuratu te you upon the fact. Some
subtle influence must have caused you to flee
his prescnce. That man— But how near are
we to your cottage!”

" 0h, within a few hundred yards. Why do
you ask 1”

“ Because I shall be better pleased to finish
what I was about to say after we havo joined
your father or brother.’

'Bhe girl uttered a pleased little cry.

“ Those do are returning, you see, Ben,"
she said. “ ey’ve been for my brother, and
are bringing him to us. Here he comes.”

CHAPTER XLlI.
min 'rwo BENS.

Tun meeting of the two young men was most
cordial and leasant.

“ So, this 3 my namesake!” greeted Ben Clew-
son, shaking hands warmly, as he smiled a wel-
come. “I have been curious to see on. from
the moment my sister returned in suc a flutter
from the little service she rendered you as
guide.”

“ I am glad to meet you, Mr. Clewson,” re-
turned Ben, in that hearty tone, and with that
pleased, earnest mien which is better than all
the elaborate phrases in the world, “ and the
more so because I bring you good news.”

He led the way to the trUnk of a fallen tree
near at hand, and motioned the brother and sis-
ter to sit down near him, which they did,

It almost seemed to him as if he were looking
into a mirror, so much did Ben Clewson re-
semble him, being just about his a e and build,
with the same sort of hair, eyes an features.

“ N ewsf” repeated Ben Clewson. “ That's
about the last thing we would look for. ” .

we..- a,.. a..-» --.. .-........_...,. ....._-—a-.u....,». .

 

Buffalo Bill’s“ Ban.

25

 

 

 

“ Nevertheless, I bring you news that will
surprise you. l’ve had a talk with Purkitt.”

A cry of mad-dog could not have startled the
brother and sister more than did the utterance
of that name.

They stared in uestioning horror.

“ Yes, Buffalo
daylight,” pursued Ben, with a smile between
merriment and contempt. “ He was ‘ armed to
the teeth,’ as the novelists say, and was accom-
plinied by two deputies named Hayter, who had
the ‘ guv’ner’s requisition’ for both you and
your father. But i sent them to the right-
nlmiit, as you shall now hear.”

llopruccedeu to detail his interview with the 1

rural dude from Kentucky, with many a smile
and laugh. and gradually the hunted look fade-d
ii on the features of his hearers.

“ And so they’ve gone back .9" asked Ben
Clewson, in his wonted voice.

“ Yes, never t ) return,"replied Ben Letts.

Esthei's little hand stole into the narrator’s
at this juncture, and nestled there confiuingiy,

while her starry eyes looked gratefully at him

through a must of tears.
“It’s Well for him,” declared the brother,

“ and I cannot deny that it is also well for us, ‘

and especially for Esther.

count of his persecutions that we came to Colo-
rado. With the warm gratitude of my sister,
as she has already expressed it, in her own way,
Mr. Letts, please accept mine, and the assur-
ance that my father’s also will be forthcoming
at the first opportunili ."

Ben raised his hand Mth a quick, deprecating
gesture.

“i don‘t deserve any thanks,” be said. “ [saw ‘

at a glance what a villain Purkitt is, and

could do no less than send him about his busi- ‘

joy to be rid of that incubus!” ex- .
claimed Esther, with a glad, bright uplifting ,
of! the last vestige .

.ness.”
“ What

of her head, as if shaking

of Hamilton Purkitt’s blighting influence.

“ How good of you, Ben, to see things as they 4‘

are so quickly!” -

“Ho, ho!” exclaimed the brother, with a
smile as delicate as a woman’s.
ting on, it seems!
read !’

“ es, two brothers!” cried Esther, taking

Two Bens in the family al-

the hand of Ben Clewson, fondly, she having 1

placed herself next to Ben Letts.
denty our great shadow has lifted!

“ How sud—
And what

sunshine has come! Surely there is a Great ‘

Hand in human affairs, which manifests itself
at the right time and in the right way!"
“Let us never doubt it, sister,” said the
brother, with solemn tenderness, dropping a.
kiss upon Esther’s fair hand. “What better

and brighter change could have possibly come ,

into pur lives than that brought by this other
Ben! ’

He arose in pleasant agitation and began
walking to and fro in front of the young couple,
with many a glad and admiring glance of af-
fection at his sister and of gratitude at Ben
Letts, while he resumed:

“It’s only candor and justice to say, Mr,
Letts, that there is nothing wrong) or wicked
about us. Father did indeed shoot urkitt, but;
under such circumstances that any right-mind-
ed man must approve of the act.”

“Colonel Nayler mentioned—probably upon
some chatter of the Hay'ters—that our father
is a moonshiner,”said Ben, fran y. “What
truth is there in that!”

“Not an , Mr. Letts ” was the brother’s re-
ply. “Fat er has indeed talked moonshine
and whisky, but merely with the idea of odor-
‘ing an excuse for our stay in this wilderness
and to conceal the fact that we were really
hiding from the Hayters and Purkitt.”

“ Quite natural, quite right,”commented Ben
Letts.

” As to what else there is to be said about
us,” ursued young Clewson, “ the record would
hardly fill a thimble. Like so many others
hereabouts, we have squatted u n a piece of
land which has not been surveye , and of course
we shall till the same another year and raise all
w 3 want. Meanwhile, we have a cow and a few
chickens. not to s k of three good horses.
We’ve built a fair good house in an out-of-
tiie-way place, and have stores enough in it to
carry us till spring, or the money to procure
them. so that we are in a fair way

a ) lar eiy into a border bill of fare.”
"A l of which is very pleasant, I must say,"

commented Ben, with a smile which was at once |

u caress to Esther and a con mtulafion to her
twother. “ There’s only one rawback to your
«irimtion, as I see.”
' And that, Ben?” ueried Esther.
“ ~tthe factthat‘ hoop-

E i h under the vague title of ‘ Generali’”
ow his hearers stared at him, literally gasp-
in;,r for breath.

“ What can on mean!” asked the brother.

“ Just what tell you,Mr. Clewson. The man
Buffalo Bill and I captured last night, and who
is known to on as ‘the general,’ is really the
Chief of the vagers.”

ill and I encountered him at '

He has been the ter- ;
ror of her life for two 3 eers, and it was on 8.0- t

“ We’re get- i

to live eom- j
fortably, even without the game which enters ,

e ’ and ‘ Bad Med- ‘
icina' has smuggled himse 1 into your rustic I

l The expressions of wondering terror which
. succeeded can be readily imagined.
i “ But, happily,” resumed Ben, “ we now have
, the miscreant safely ‘hived’ at Fort Harris,
i and there is little likelihood that he will ever in-
! trude upon you again. His headquarters, as
I’ve just learned, are at the ‘ Quadrangle ’ a lit—
! tie hamlet at the point where Colorado joins
Utah, New Mexico and Arizona.”
‘ ‘ Is it possible?” cried the brother, excitedly.
“ \Vhatl you’ve been there?” asked Ben, with
corresponding surprise.
1 “Yes. Not knowing what minute Purkitt
l would arrive here,” explained young Clewson,
“father and I have been looking for another
retreat,and have explored-the whole country
lictWeen hero and the point you name. We
were even tempted to remove to the hamlet
in qu: stion, but were discouraged by the inhab-
; itants.”
I “ And can you guide me there, Mr. Clewson?"
asked lien Letts, excitedly, as he relinquished
the hand of E:ther with an earnest caress and
sprung to his feet.
. b “ in a bee—line, Mr. Letts, or as near as may
; c.”
“ Is your horse geod for the journey?”
“Perfectly, although, as we have three, we’ll
both lead one, naturally.”
“Then [’11 pay my respects to your father,
and we'll be off. Come!"

CHAPTER XLIII.
THE mrsrrsious HAMLET.
, ALL was now excitement, even the bounds
3 springing up to lead the way to the cottage, af-
; ter navmg sat quietly on their haunches around
Ben’s horse, with anair as grave and quiet as if
the had been listening to the Conversation.

The two Bens and Esther were soon met by
Mr. Clewson, who received his new acquaint-
ance with marked cordiality,leading the way
into a neat, roomy cottage, which stood in a
dell at the base of a rocky cliff, with a spring
; beside it, and stately pines all around.

i. “Oh, fatherl'such news as Mr. Letts has

i brought usl” cried Esther, rushing up to her

i father and embracing him.

, “Good news, evidently,” returned Mr. Clew-
son, with an admiring smile.

I “The best news possible, father!" assured

1 Esther, as all sat down. “ Ben wrll tell you!”

Young Clewson hastened to do so, quite as
much to the joy and relief of his father as to
Esther’s and his Own.

Then was made known the identity of “the
general,” and the proposed visit of the two Bens
to the “ Quadrantg e.’

Of course the ether approved warmly, very
much pleased that it seemed possible for his son
I to be of some use to his namesake.

. A few minutes were passed pleasantly, while
; preparations were being made for the journey,
1 and then the two Bens rode away at an easy
. pace, each leading an extra horse, so as to
5 divide their coming fatigues and make rapid
; progress.

3 Ben Letts was glad to find that his companion
i

l

l
l

was an alter ego in a warlike sense, as well as

in looks, for he carried a rifle and revolver of

:26 best make, and, was evidently at home with
em.

The three dogs had been left behind for many

reasons, and notably because the journey was

likel to be too 1098 find rapid for them.

“ tall seems like a dream, Mr. Letts,” was
the first remark of youn Clewson,as the couple
reached a crest from which they had a last view
of the cottage.

“ All good things generally do,” was Ben's re-
plv “but I hope this proposed suppression of

Whoop-pet“ W111 Drove 3 Permanent rulity.
You refer, of course. to Purkitt’s retreat and to
the masquerade of the Ravager as ‘The Gen-
eral?”’

“ Exactly, and also to the stran e manner in
which you met Purkitt and got ri of him. But
see b several of your remarks that I am not
at h f-posted about the career of that man.

‘uppOse you tell me, as we ride quietly toward
his retreat, all you know of his history i"

“ With pleasure.”

We need not pause upon the conversation
of the travelers, nor upon the incidents of
thteir journey, which were neither many nor ex-
ci mg. '

The dark, windy (193’ was rather favorable
than otherwise to their movements, and good
I time was realized. so that by the middle of the
: afternoon they found themselves approaching
. their destination.

“ hat 3 that, Clew i” suddenly asked Ben,his
‘ new friend having requested him to address him
by that name for the sake of convonience, as his
chums had done at school and college. “That

H

 

crest ahead of its?”

Clew whipped out a glass with which he had
provided himself, and took a look at the object
' 1n uestion.

I “ hat’s the most hideous little dwarf that
i ever existed,” he then replied, restoring his
E glass to his pocket. “ He has been watching us
: and is running to carry the news of our ap-
}Eroach, without bearingmih mind sufficiently

ow much the late frosts ve denuded the trees

moving figure, I mean, in the bushes on that 1

i
l and bushes of their leaves. You should see him

close to, as I have on one occasion. He’s hideous-
| ness and wickedness incarnate. He’s evidently
employed by somebody interested to take note
, of all persons who are seen appioaching.”
I “ Then he may have seen me, when l was here
2 before,” said Ben, “and in that case I may be
: reco ized as an enemy.”

“ ’ou’ve been here before, then?"

, “ Yes, once, from the Westward, coming and
going in the dark,so that I‘gained no particular
idea of the typography cf the country here-
abouts, the more especially as we looked to our
Injun scouts for guidance. Our route today is
mostly new to me, so that I should have been
quite unable to come here with an hing like
your directions. But where is that wart now,
Glow?”

“ Oh, we shall see no more of him. He’ll take
some short cut across the ravine we are com-
pelled to go around, and will arrive at least a
quarter of an hour ahead of us. We shall hard-
ly see him again.”

He reflected a few moments, and added:

“ From that crest we could get a sort of bird’s-
eye view of the ‘ Quadrangle,’ but we should
also give the enemy a glimpse of ourselves, be-
sides losing time. “'e’d better push right into
the settlement. I presume you have some plan
of action?”

“ In a general way—yes, Clew. But as it
must necessarily be modified by circumstances,
I’ll wait to discuss its features as occasxons
arise.”

The couple were now on a trail which had been
so frequently used that it was fully entitled to
be called a road,alth0ugh neither fence nor field
was visible.

“ I have been looking for a glimpse of a house
for the last ten minutes," announced Ben.

“ We shall not see one till we have crossed
the ravine ahead of us,” returned Clew, ufor
the reason that the ridge on the other side is
heavily wooded, as you see, and the sight of the
hamlet slopes away from us.”

” We ought at least to see the smoke of some
chimney l”

“ Perhaps so, but it’s not exactly an hour for
meals, and it’s even possible that people of this
sort never light a fire in the daytime. ’

Continuing to advance, the couple crossed the
ravine which had been mentioned,and began
ascending a slope which led to the ridge masking
their destination.

A few minutes later, on reaching the crest of
the ridge in uestion and getting clear of some
trees and bus es inclosing the road, the travel-
are came suddenly upon a hamlet of about twen-
ty houses.

These buildings presented a wide variety,
some of them being mere huts, others substan-
tial log—cabins, and still others handsome frame
dwellings.

They were clustered at the intersection of
two roads which crossed each other almost at
right angles, making a cross-roads very nearly
in the form of an ordinary letter X.

At least two of them were so large as to sug-
gest a tavern.

. The configure

 

tion of the vicinity was such
that the travelers could look down upon the en-
tire hamlet at a glance, and any one domg so
could hardly fail to notice its X like character.

Singularly enough, as the travelers halted a
moment to take in the features of the scene, not
a sign of life was visible: not a human being of
anyage or color; neitherhorse nor cow; not even
a dog or a cat. '

“ Evidently nobody’s at home,” remarked
Ben Letts, smilin sarcastically, as he resumed
progress. “ But hey’ll none the less have to
take note of our arrival.”

And with this he led the way toward the net: r—
est house, where he dismounted and advanced
to the door, knocking loudly upon it.

CHAPTER XLIV.
AN INTERESTING nouns.

Tan door was soon drawn ajar bye. faded
young woman, in an easy-wrapper, who peered
out very suspiciously at the Visitor.

“ I want to see the captain’s representative in
this place,” announced Ben Letts, With his most
careless and unconcerned air.

The young woman stared at him still harder.

“I don’t know what you mean, sir.”st de-
: clared. .“Whatcaptain? Whatrepresentative?
, I don’t knowanything aboutthem. You’ll‘have
s to excuse me, sir.” i
1 She closed the door in his face.
i “Well, that’s ‘short and sweet,’ Claw,” said
: Ben to his associate, asbe passed him on his way
‘ to the next door. ‘ “ I’ll try again.” .

‘ The next house was close at hand, and in an-

1 other instant Ben was again knocking for ad-

, mittance.

! There was some delay about the response, but

f at length the door was opened acouple of inches,
and a little old man with one eye and one arm

i looked out inquit'ingly. _

f “ I fear I’ve mistaken the house, sir,” said
Ben, smiling and bowing, “but I Wish to find

, some one here who has authority to act for the

! ca tain.” .

! ‘Who sent you!” came in a crisp, snarling

voice.

 

 

 

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_.._.;.t_«._: A ‘ -‘

 

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u
a
l
,

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I

«551....— .-_-._ _ A.“ i V:  .

 

 

26

Buffalo Bill’s Ban.

“IA -._-.-...v ____.l.._...~_~..~4——-—.-u-——-'

 

“ The captain.”

“ 7hzfave’you a letter to anybody here i”

e" & 0___)

Slam! and the young investigator again found
himself alone.

" Well, we are at least learning that the place
is not as deserted as it looks,” said Ben, as he
struck out briskly for the third house. “ Don’t
be discouraged.”

The third door soon received his attentions,
and it was opened on the instant, as if the occu-
pant of the h uuse had been attentive to the un-
wonted arrival.

This occupant was a very old woman, and
close behind her stood a young girl of a dozen

ears.
y “ I want to find the captain’s sister, Mrs. Gog—
gin,” said. Ben, bowing politely. “ In which of
these houses does she live?"

The old woman stared at her questioner long
enough to easily count twenty, and then shook
her head slowly.

“ Mrs. Goggin l" she repeated. “ The captain?
I never heard of them. I don’t know who you
mean, sir.”

She gave a slight jerky nod of dismissal, clos-
the door.

Crossing the street to a fourth door, Ben again

knocked loudly.

A somewhat marked delay followed, but at
last a voice called from within:

“ Who’s there '0”

“ A messenger from the captain,” replied Ben
through the keiyhole.

A grunt of isgust was heard, succeeded by
retreating footsteps.

Ben knocked again, but no further tangible
notice was bestowed upon him, and he returned
to Clew with an air of disap intment.

“ This ‘ captain’ business on’t work,”he said,
in a guarded tone. “I shall have to try new
tactics. But we’ll get there in time, Clew.”

Selecting the best house in the place, as near
as he could judge by a hasty and incomplete
survey of the exterior from where he stood, Ben
hastened to announce himself at the front en-
trance.

The door was opened promptly and widely by
a large, portly, grim-faced woman rather past
the prime of life, and at the same instant out
came a burst of nois laughter, from some ill-
defined quarter and d rection. but evidently the
merriment of a party of men over some game,
play, or droll story.

But how hollow and far away the sound!

It seemed to come from the bowels of the earth!

“ Ah, good-afternoon, madam," cried Ben,
with his politest b0w and most insinuating air.
“ I’m glad to have found yoJ at last after try-
ing several doors. I come from horns and
Dollie.”

It was the first time Ben had pronounced
these names to any one save Buffalo Bill and
Clew, since they came to his hearing, and he
had reserved them for his last, desperate play.

Not in vain, as it proved!

The effect was instantaneous!

“ Come in I come in,sir!” cried the old woman,
with a start and a flush.

Scarcely waiting to close the door after Ben
had stepped into the hall, she added:

“ They are well, I hope?"

“ Oh, yes—as usual!’

“ This way, please.”

She led the way into a handsomely furnished
room—which was lighted only from an inner
court, however-and motioned him to an easy-
chair resuming:

“ on have a letter, I suppose?”

“Oh, yes,” replied Ben, in the same careless
tone as before, as he began feeling in his pock-
ets. “ I put it away very carefully, as there is
a nice present from Dollie with it, but I’ll soon
find it. ’

“Are those your horses?” asked the woman.
“ And is that man with them your friend ?”

“Encfl _”

“Then [xii send them around to the stable,
and ask your friend to come in,”she said.

She touched a bell as she spoke, and a door
opened, giving admittance to the horrible
little dwarf Ben had seen half an hour earlier,
and who glared at him now like a tiger.

Leading the way through the hall to the door
which she opened again, the woman beckon
to Clew, at the same time giving her orders to
the dwarf, and the next instant Clew came
into the house, while the dwarf gathered the
reins of the four horses into one hand and start-
ed around the corner with them.

“ Walk in, sir,” invited the woman, waving a
jeweled hand. and following Clew into Ben’s
presence. “ Please be seated.”

Clew accepted the invitation, but without un-
slin ing his rifle, as he saw thht his leader bad
m e no move in that diuection, while the
strange hostess planted herself in an easy atti-
tude near Ben, and contemplated his proceed-
ings with ea erness and anxiety, as be searched
and search for the letter whose existence he
had inVented. '

“ Strange where that letter can be i” he muta
tered, as a flood of erspiration began to bead
his forehead, while 6 thrust his hands into his

kets with desperate energy. “ Did I give it
you, pardi”

in

 

“Perhaps you did,” answered Clew, arising
and beginning to search, comprehending that
this an gestion might be preliminary to some-
thin e se.

“ l y daughter is well, you said?” questioned
the woman, with the air of being moved by her
excitement to say something.

“Quite so,” replied Ben, looking more closely
at her, and noticingaiow a marked resemblance
to both Finklestone and Mrs. Goggin. “ Ah,
perhaps it is here!” ‘

He drew out a package of several letters, and
began running them over.

" Here’s yours, to begin with,” he said, with

He had also tucked a revolver in his belt and
buckled on a saber nearly as long as himself.

But what a hideous little caricature of human—
ity he was!

Scarcely four feet in hight, he looked still.
shorter by reason of the unsightly bump on his
back and that shortening of the body which is
inseparable f rem that s ecies of deformity,
while his arms and legs, k, crooked and un-
gainly, seemed to be out of all proportion to his
body, as is the case With the limbs of various
species of spiders.

The visitors arose at the entrance of the cou—

:‘ ple and inclined themselves with a smiling ease

his most insinuating airI as he handed the Wo- ! that very few men could have attained under‘

man the letter the colone had found in the house
of Mrs. Goggin. “The fact that Dollie gives
me such a message to keep will at least assure
you,my dear madam, that I am no imoostor.
Dollie and Dorus both regret exceedingly that
they have not yet been able to make any suita—
ble response to this epistle, but they desired me
to say that they will both be here without fail
in the course of the evening. 'Where can that
letter be i”

“ Oh, never mind it now, sir,” said the wo-
man, with a very gracious air, handing back
the letter, upon which she had bestowed a
single glance of recognition. “As you sug-
gest, you must be all right, or my last letter to
my daughter would not be in your ossession.
The one you seek may be in your sad lc-ba 5!”

Ben struck an air of relief, looking as the
suggestion were an inspiration.

“That’s it, sure enoughl”he cried. “ I’ll go
and get it. ” \

He made a m0ve toward the door.

“ Never mind it just now," said the woman,
a smile intended to be pleasant appearing upon
her countenance for the first time since the ar-
rival of her visitors. “ We’ll go to the stable
togetherto fetch it later. Remove your arms
and your overcoats, gentlemen, and take pos—
session here, making yourselves as comfortable
as possible. I’m about to have my afternoon
tea served here, and shall be glad if you will
join me. Excuse me just a moment while I
give the necessary orders.”

She bowed herself out with pondercus grace,
going toward the rear of the dwelligfi.

Then the daring intruders exchang glances,

Ben‘s being one of triumph, and Clew’s an in-
quir .
“Kn I know distinctly,” then said Ben, in
answer to that mute appeal, “ is that she's the
mother of Finklestone and Mrs. Goggin! Evi-
dently, too, we’re in the head shanty of the
whole gang! Listen!”

The burst of noisy laughter he had heard on
entering the house again resounded on his
hearing from some point far, far below!

CHAPTER XLV.
IN A STRANGE HOUSEHOLD!

Can held his breath as he listened.

“ What can that be i” he asked.

“ It's evidently a guard of Ravagers who are
playing cards, or otherwise amusing them-
selves.”

“ Where are they l”

“ In some underground place—perhaps an old
mine, or mining excavation. This house seems
to be built exactly over the spot and to be the
entrance to it.”

Another burst of lau htor succeeded.

“ We will of course ook in upon them,” said
Ben, “ as econ as we’ve made things fast here.
Jack Boasy spoke of an underground place, in
which are confined Alice King, Sarah Gannett,
and others including the real Budd Finkle-
stone, and from these facts you’ll see what sort
of an investigation is before us!”

“ Shall we peel, as the old woman suggested f”
ask Clew.

“ es, but leave your iron handy l”

He set the example, laying his overcoat
across the back of a chair, and standing his
rifle in a corner, in such a way that it was
masked by the garment.

Clew did likewise, and then they loosened
their revolvers, Ben’s in his left breast-pocket
and Clew’s on his right hip.

“ Of course you’ll act, Clew, when I give you
the word.” pursued Ben, as they resumed their
seats. “Our situation is critical. There are
Ravagers all around us, male and female, par-
ticularly the latter. There me be a dozen of
those guards, or keepers. It’s ikely. hawever,
that most of the men here are suitable subjects
for the retired list. The man I saw at one of
those other doors was a one-eyed cripple. That
fiendish little dwarf, too—” .

A door opened softly, and the “ fiendish little
dwarf” made his appearance. It was the door
by which the woman had retreated, and she
followed the dwarf.

She still smiled, but in a rather feeble and
fluttering way, as if she had found cause for an
easinees in the situation.

As to the dwarf, he had somewhat changed
his appearance for the better since the arrival of
the visitors, putting on a wide‘turned school-
boy collar, with a huge red flaming neck hand-
kerchief, and inserting in his ears small circu-
lar rings which had doubtless been the property
of some lady.

 

 

such circumstances.

“Here comes my afternoon lunch, gentle-
men,"said the woman, holding the door open.
to admit a long-leaved table which was borne
by a couple of female Mexican servants, who
would have been called pecans in their own
country. “ I have added a substantial dish or'
two in consideration of your long ride, but We’ll
have a good dinner later. I serve it here on
y0ur account,too, instead of in the dining-room,
as we wish to be quite by ourselves, of course,
in order to talk freely, my servants speaking.
English.”

Even while these few words were being ut-
tered, the peonas had raised the leaves of the
table and need four covers, and they now re—
tired in ' ence.

During this interval the dwarf had taken two
or three turns in the room With a stalking theat-
rical step, asif tryingto give himself the dignity
of his saber, but he strode promptly to the side
of the woman the moment the door had closed.
upon the servants.

This act. like all his actions, and even like his
accouterments. made a marked impression on
the visitors. He looked and moved. in fact, as
Effie were at home, and master of his house—

0 .

“The present moment, madam,” said Ben
Letts, as the visitors again inclined themselves,
“ isa good one for a brief mention usto who
we are. My friend is Ben Clewson, and I am
Ben Letts. We have not yet formally joined
the brotherhood,but we are in a fair way to do
so,asIhave been paying attention to Dollie,
and have found favor in her sight.”

“One word only, Mr. Letts,” said the dwarf,
in a harsh, discordant voice. “You have been
in the cavalry l”

“ Y es, sir.

“ You have been here before?”

“ In this beautiful hamlet—yes.”

“ Y. 11 came here with Colonel Nayler, on one '
of his scouts?"

“ Ah, you recognize me? Good! Yes, I was
here. Like Josh Iteeder, Sam Gaddley, and so
many of your best friends, I’ve had my da
among the troopers, butI hope that fact wi i
not be at all to my disadvantage in the new role
I’ve undertaken.’

He again inclined himself, and the woman.
smiled unreserved] upon him.

“ Certame not.’ she said.

“Certainly not,” repeated the dwarf, as a
modification for the better became a parent in
the grim, suspicious outlines of h s hideous
countenance. “ We recruit our friends, of
course, wherever we can. You seem a model
of frankness, young man, as Mrs. Wrexton was
saying!”

‘And that reminds me,” said the woman,
with a flourish of her jeweled hand that was
meant to be graceful. “I must tell you who
we are as an acknowledgment of your polite.
ness. am Mrs. Wrexton,” and she inclined
herself, “and this gentleman,” she indicated
the dwarf by a second flourish, “is Mr. Wrex-
fOn. my husband!”

The dwarf acknowledged the introduction by
a bow and an inclination.

“And now to table,” be invited, with the air
of a man in his own house, as he waved an un-
gainly hand and arm toward the waiting re-

past.

 

CHAPTER XLVI.
CAUGHT IN THE ac'rl

IN the mean time, events had been tending at
Fort Harris to grave complications.

The new day had proved to be a repetition of'
its predecessor, but gradually grew to exhibit
such an increase of cloud, wind, and gloom, as
to suggest that nature was gathering her forces.
for some tremendous strn gle.

Colonel Nayler return in due course from
his expedition to the Crater Camp, but reported
that he had seen nothing of Mrs. Goggin and
the Rangers, and had been obliged to content
himself with burning their buildings and the
firewood they had accumulated to warm them.

Dutt Smiley and his three associates recov-
ered in the course of the morning from the ef-
fect of the drugged whisky in which they had
indulged at the house of Ben Lotte, but they re-/
mained under close guard in the casemate to!
which Colonel Nnyler had consigned them.

It was wholl in vain that be consumed an ‘
hour in plying t em with threats and promises,
with a view to at least one confession, but they
all defied him. .

Buffalo Bill did not appear upon the scene

 

 

 

Buffalo Bill’s Ban.

2'?

 

again until late in the afternoon, and then the
colonel and Mrs. Nayler were surprised to see
him alone.

“ Ben has gone away,” he announced, in an- i
swer to their eager questions. “ In fact, he
left this morning, with a few words of explana-
tion to the effect that he couldn’t sleep, and
might as well visit the charming daughter of
th? wilderness of whom I was teliing you, colo— .
ne .’

“ But when is he coming back, Mr. Cody?” 

“ tie doesn’t undertake to say, colonel. Here
is his note, and all I can make out of it is what
I’ve stated.”

That, indeed, was all that could be made of ;
it. !

“ But may he not get into some danger in that l
neighborhomi?” asked the colonel, as he handed ;
back Ben’s note.

“Hardly, but I’m not without a fear that
he’ll strike out for the ‘ Quadrangle.’ l-le’s ca- ‘
pahle of that or any other rashness. How
about Sheriff Watrous and his prisoner?” .

“The sheriff has not yet agpeared,”replied ‘
Colonel Nayler, “ but he may e looked _for at
any moment, if his plans have been carried out
according to his intentions. We’ve all had din- ,
nor, of course, but we’ve kept yours ready.
Come to the dining-room.”

Buffalo Bill hesitated barely long enough for ‘
his hesitation to be perceptible.

“ I would wait for Ben, and even for Sheriff
W’atrous, if there was any certainty us to the .
moment of their coming,’ he then said. “ As
the case stands, I may as well have my dinner,
and have it out of the way.”

The colonel and Mrs. Na ler remained in the
dining room with him whi e he ate dinner, and
even Zellie came in two or three times, with
fresh supplies of warm food. exhibiting a keen
desire to make the distinguished guest as com-
fortable as possible.

A visit to the secret tunnel under the guard-
house succeeded the dinner, and lsuii‘alo Bill
could not help wondering that such a work
could have been executed without the knowledge
of the colonel or any of his officers. '

“It shows how well the rascalsare organized,”
he declared, after a discussion of the various
facts in the case, “ and gives us a pretty strong ;
hint to remain On our guard or we may again be
caught napping.” .

Returning to the side veranda, the colonel and
his guest waited in vain for the arrival of Ben
Letts and the sheriff until night again made its I
ap earance. . . _

ut there was nothing annous in this wait-

in .

‘8‘ Ben knows that everything is all right here,”
said the colonel in r use to an expression of
solicitude from rs. ayler, “ and it 5 perfect]
natural that he should take a little time to cu -
tivate the acquaintance of the enchantress he
seems to have encountered in the mountains.”

Buffalo Bill nodded and smiled his approval
of this Opinion, with which he agreed cordially.

“But what about those secret mines, col-
onel?” he demanded. “ Have you found them?”

“Not the least trace of them. Mr. Cody, al-
though three or four of us have been givmg con.
stant attention to the matter since my return
from the Crater. Can it be that Jack was mis-
taken on that head?”

“ I don’t think so, colonel. They ’probably
exist. But they’ll hardly be flred,’ with a
smile, “so long as we keep afew Rangers in
irons in the guard-house and casemates l”

“ True, Mr. Cody, and the suggestion shall not
be forgotten,” said Colonel Nayler. "As soon
as ‘ Dorus’ is gone, I’ll people that guard-house
with Dutt Smiley and his party, while waiting
to collect a new batch of the enemy. .Ah! here
Cornea Watrous at last,” he added, springing up
briskly. “ Let him have dinner promptly,
Neerie, as he still has a long ride before him.”

Three men had indeed driven into the fort,
with the team of the sheriff, which had been
there often enough to he recognized at a glance,
one of the horses being marked almost as strong-
ly as a rebra.

It was the view of this team, rather than of
the three men, which had called to the colonel’s
lips the exclamation we have recorded, for the
men were so muffled that very little of their
faces was visible.

The hat of the principal figure, like the out- :
lines of the figure itself, seemed to belong to the 1
sheriff. but a hat more or less, even in the feeble i
light shed upon the scene, was not like]; to be 
taken by Buffalo Bill for the man himsel .

With a start, he looked closer. I

“ This is not the sheriff, colonel!” he whis- 

red. .

“ No! It’s certainly the sheriff’s team. That 1
is his spotted horse-J . ” 1

“See! they’re beckoning! Let’s go to theml 1

They hastenei to do so.

Ere they could reach the wagon, however, the I
driver had taken a half-turn,_thus_bringing his :
face and that of his companions into .the sha-
dow and placing the vehicle in readiness for ‘

 

 

departure. _ _
’ dere we are, colonel,” said the driver, in a .
low. hoarse, but distinct tone, which was so
near. like the sheriff's that it would have passed ,
tor hi with any one who was not on the watch

for a trick. “Bring out your man. The more
quiet you are about it the better, so that the

. enemy’ll not detect what we are doing.”

Bulfan Bill pinched the colonel’s arm, and
both realized the situation.

These men were not the sheriff and his dc-
putics, although they were in posse:sion of the
sheriff’s team!

They were Ravagersl

And the only conclusion to be naturally drawn
from these premises was that they were there to
get Fiiiklestone into their hands and so compass
his esoapel

But where was the sheriff! I

The question was instantly, strangely and
terribly answered! I
l

CHAPTER XLVII. 5
BAD FOR FINKLESTONE.

EVEN as Buffalo Bill and Colonel Nayler asked ,

themselves that question, three men came hur-

 

in hand, and advanced a few yards intoa de-
sirahle position, taking the drop on the three
im ostors in the sheriff’s wagon.

hese new—comers Were the real sheriff and
his deputies.

They looked almost as disguised as their
predecessors, so thoroughly were they bandaged
and bundled, as the heroes of a hard-fought
battle, but they were none the less authentic—
none the less dangerous!

At sight of them, Colonel Nayler could not
repress a loud exclamation of joy.

The three men in the wagon turned quickly,
as was natural, to see what so moved him.

Grand tableau!

“ There’s your answer,” cried the command-
ant to the three frauds, with a wave of the
hand toward the sheriff. “And if you don’t .
find it sufficient,” he added, with a gesture to
his guest—-“ why, just look here!”

One look was enough!

Colonel Nayler and Buffalo Bill had them
covered— the latter with a revolver in each
hand, as was his Wont in certain situations.

“ That’ll do, colonel.” cried the driver, throw-
ing down the reins. “ We’ve lost the game,
and can only surrender at discretion 1”

“ Then step down here, one at a time, begin-
ning with you ! ” \

The man proceeded to comply. \\

“ Corporal of the guard,” cried the colonel.

The call was an5wered in about six seconds
by “ Fourth Cor ral Brottle,” who had been
drugged by Mrs. oggin, as related in a former
chapter.

He had been promoted several grades upon
the recommend of Buffalo Bill who had heard
something to his credit, it will he remembered,
on the occasion of the famous ride to the
Crater. ,

Due orders were given, and the three impos-
tors were investigated and ironed.

They turned out.to be Sam Gaddley, Hank
Tilkins, and Dan Ringwood.

Seeing them being cared for, Watrous and
his men slung their miles on their arms and has-
tened to come forward. -

“How welcome you are, sheriff,” cried the
Commandant. Offering his hand to Watrous and
nodding to the two dopufies, “it’s unnecessary
to sa . You’ve been in a tight place.”

“ ell, I should mule "answered the sheriff
excitedly, taking the colonel by the arm and
conducting him be 0nd the hearing of any one
else. “ A dozen 0 these chaps met as on the
Parrott road, and took us in after some severe
POPPIDK and “135"” ‘8 you can see by the
way we’re battered. 6 were bound, chained,
ironedand anchored till wehad no iore show
for escape than a fly corked in a bot el”

“ Then how are you here?”

“We were set free by a Ravager who has ‘
turned traitor—by Ted Grup 1e!”

“ Ah. I’d like ‘90 '06 him! e‘s one of the four
who carried off my Wife. But why has he
turned traitor?” _

“ In one word—Jealousy! If a second is
needederevengle! It seems the fellow went
sweet on Mrs. Goggin some time ago. Now,
discovering that there’s no chance for him, be

gone sour. It’s on? of the funniest situ-
ations you ever saw! That woman-has engaged
horselt to no less than seven Ravagers, and the
victims have at length ttogether and com-
pared notesl Oh,sucha uzzingl Some of ’em
11 be here soon to unload what they know.
Meantime, Ted Grllpple has been the fit“ to
act, or give a practical turn to his wrath, and
here we are!”

“ Bravol” cried the eclonel, in delight. “It’s '
bad to mix love and War, and I’m not sorry to
see our enemies reame their natural harvest.
But who is the accede man of the crowd, if
there is an Q”

“Oh, thi‘; chap here—Dan Ringwood! rs.
Gogflin has agizeed to marry him as soon her
brother is re , and the condition of his v
accfifitance was that he should join Sam and
H9 in this effort!”

The colonel made a gesture to Brottle.

“ Get these three into the wagon,” he ordered,

Brottle complied, With the aid of the men he
had called to his assistance, while the sherifll
gave fuller explanations.

 

m ‘v .-« .,

‘

 

“And now, Brottle,” resumed the colonel,
“slip out and find Mr. Justice Finch an" bring
him to me. Tell him very important.”

The corporal vanished.

“ Your idea is, colonel, to send these three to
Durango for trial?” queried Watrous.

“ Exactly, for carrying off my wife. To this
end, we shall need commitments, and Mr. Finch
will require some few minutes to prepare them.
This will afford you a chance to have dinner.”

“Goodl’ cried Watrous. “We haven’t had a
morsel since we left here this mornng.”

Leavmg the wagon under guard, the colonel
led the way into the house, and scarcely spoke
again until he had examined the wounds of his
ghosts, given them a chance to wasri and
renovate their toilets, and conducted them to
the table.

The next event was the arr} val of Mr. Finch,
who was pleasantly excited With the facts Brottle

, had given him.
, riedly into the little gate at the entrance. rifle l

“ Our ball is rolling on, it seems, colonel,” he
cried. “The more you give me of this sort
of work the better. Go on with your dinner,
sheriff. I’ll be ready as soon as you are.”

He proceeded to the commandant’s desk and
commenced operations.

“ Shall you want an escort, sheriff?” asked the
coloneL

“ What! with three of us to guard them 1” ex—
claimed Watrous. “ We’d be ashamed l”

His deputies approved of this answer.

“ But Finklestone is such a dangerous cus-
tomer!”insisted the colonel. “ Then, too, the
roads are full of Ravagurs, as you have seen for
yourself. Mr. Cody was wayluid by a dozen of
them at the forks on his way herel’

“ Oh, Well,” said the sheriff, " I’m ready for a
compromise. You may provide a stout chain
and padlock for each prisoner, in addition to his
irons and handcuffs, and chain him to the-
wa on l”

“ It shall be done, sir,” returned the com-

, mandant, motioning Dininiick to accompany

him and moving toward the door. “ But I must
also insist on an est-ort. You must take at least
the four men who are now guarding the pris-
oners in the guard house. We can’t be too sure
of getting these men to Durango.”

CHAPTER XLVIII.
ANOTHER TBAITOROUS GUARD.
Wrrn what emotions the four prisoners in the
rd-house—Budd , Hilly er, Stubby J obson and
ick Rasher—had t1 ken such note of the pre-
ceding events and proceedings as their situation
permitted, can be briefly stated.

Like many other sheriffs in the vicinity of our
Western forts, where dceertions had become so
frequent as to receive especial consideration in
the current reports of the Secretary of War,
Watrous had captured great numbers of these
fugitives, and hence had become one of the best-
hated men in the county. .

With what scowls he four prisoners had’

lared at him, therefore, as he came into the -
ort, will be divined from these premises:

“ Look at him, boys l” cried Finklestone. “ He
comes just in time to knock our proposed rescue
in the headl He’s ashard on us as he was on
poor Jack Bessy! Yes—see! Sam and the rest.
surrender! Bad—bad] Ob,that cursed sherifll
There’s a man I’d like to chaw and spit out! I
hate him even worse, if such a thin is possible, ,
than I hate that meddling Buflalo B lll’

“ And who don’t?” queried Stubby J obson.
With savage malignancy. “ But we look like.
chawing him, don’t we, with those three now
added to us?”

He waved his hand in awful and despairing”
bitterness, his chains rattling.

“ True, Stubby, things are in a bad state,”
admitted Budd, as he glanced at the wild eyes
and dc to facesof his fellow-prisoners, “ but.
they m ght be worse! Just think of itl Our
guards are our own mind again, despite all the
old man’s care to the contrary i”

It was true! .

Another group of traitorous guards had been.
placed over the risoners.

They were , stalwart men,

r.

They had never figured as Ravager-s, but two
of them had been endeavoring to woo Mrs.
Goggin, and the brother and sister had not ex-
perienced much difficulty in winning them over
to their cause, in this Clark and desperate hour.

An ofler of five hundred dollars to each man,
half cash, and the balance in the mcrmr' 8. had
removed any scruples they may have had in
the premises, and had mace them anxious for
the completion of the busini as. t .

“ Then, too,” resumed Budd, after a Jubilant
glance at his guards, all of whom had been post-
ed just without the entrance of the guard-house,
sothat the colonel could see them at 8113’ mo"
meat from his back window, “ it‘s no small
point in our favor that my sister has been able
to smuggle herself into the fort unseen, bring-
ing me a full report of the situation of affairs
outside.”

Mrs. Goggin was indeed present, seated near
her brother, with a face which had its shadows,
but which was none the less a mirror of energy
and hope.

She was still in the disguise of a soldier, andi

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‘fifialosinis Ban-

 

 

I
nadbeen hoveringx near the fort all day with
Josh Reeder and 0 rest of the Ravagers the ,
scouts had left with her at the Crater camp. I

The allies of the pair had been in and out of ‘
the fort repeatedly during the day, bringing and
carrying information and orders. |

As to the danger of Mrs. Goggin’s situation,
it had been reduced to a minimum. 5

Not only were all the prisoners and their 1
guards on the lookout to see that no one ap-
proached unseen, but she had established her A
route so well across one of the walls that she
only needed to secure a start of a few seconds to ,
be able to vanish.

“ The tunnel, to be sure, has been discovered
and filled up,"continucd Flnklestone, “ but 'l‘iin
'Wiggins and other anugers are acting as sen- ,
tries, and we shall be able to take a new depur— :
ture. The night‘ll not pass without a change of
scene hereabouts, not without blood and fire!
Uh, they’ll hear from us,” and his eyes gleamed
like live coals. “We shall get out of this
scrape, boys! We shall connect with the
friends outside, thanks to my sister, who can go
and come at will in this darkness. V‘Ve’ll have
.a terrible revenge,tco, upon those scouts and
the colonel l” ‘

He looked out again—~unsubdued and daring-
;y resolute—his face and eyes burning with the
fires of his deadly passions.

“ How I’d like to get that sheriff and his
deputies into my claws l” he continued, looking
:out again at the trio. “ But I’d like to know
what they’re saying and doing.”

“I can cree into the shadow of the house i
.and watch an listen,” offered Mrs. Goggin. |

“Then go.” I

After the withdrawal of Mrs. Goggin, the
watchers continued to observe the scene before
them With increasing interest, although unable
to catch more than an occasional word of the ;
conversation. ‘

Little more was said, however, until Brottle ,
had escorted the justice into the house. I

“ Do you comprehend what that means?” then i
asked Finklestone, with increased eXcitement.

“What does it mean i” demanded Rasher.

“Then go,” and she vanished.

By the time she was well out of sight, the
wa on approached the guard-house and halted
in ront of it. A few moments more, and the
colonel drew near, looking into the guard-house.

“ Are the prisoners asleep, Bardwell?” he de-

‘ manded of one of the guards.

“ They were a moment ago, colonel.”

“ Have they made you any troublei”

“ Not the least, holonel.”

The commandant stepped through the en-
trance, flashing the rays of his lantern around
him, and taking in at glance the various fea-

‘ tures of the scene it revealed.

With one exception, the four prisoners were
extended on the straw covering the floor of
their prison, and appeared to be asleep.

That excption was Finklestone.

He still sat with his back to the great army-
chest, and seemed quietly attentive to all that
was transpiring around him.

“I’ve had curious revelations concerning
you, Finklestone, since I last saw you,” re-
marked the commandant, as he caught the eye
of the prisoner. “Jack Bossy has been cap-
tured, and has told all he knows.”

The prisoner tossed his head With an air of the
most contemptuous indifference.

“I’m not at all interested in what any such
reptile as that may say about me, colonel,” he
declared, in such a ringing and defiant voice
that his fellow- risoners made a pretense of
awakening, realizin that the contrary course

, would be a piece of folly.

“ But the man is dead,” pursued the colonel,
“and what he said was said as his dying con-
fession.”

The prisoner sneered a sin.

“ Let him go for wha he is worth, colone ,”
he gejoined. “Dead or alive, he’s nothing to
me.

“ At an rate, what he said will have a pretty
serious in ueuce upon your destiny,” announced
the commandant. “Im about toconsign you
to the sheriff, who brought Jack here, and he’ll
take you to the jail at the county seat.”

“ Jail or guard-house, Colonel Nayler,” re-

“ It can only mean that the colonel intends to i turned the risoner, “it’s all the same to me.
send us to Duran o!” ' Still, you might give me an inkling of his con-
“But whyi”as ed Jobson. - l fession.”

“ Possibly because of something Bossy has
"said, but more likely because the sheriff happens
to be here.”

“ Will Dutt and his crewd go, too?”

“ That remains to be seen.’

Hillyer groaned dismal] .

“ This is worse than eath,” he muttered.
"‘ Gone in Durango we cannot escape!”

" We’re not there Yet.” said Finklestone ;
with a strange smile, “ and probably never shall
'be ’

“ What! you don’t scare, cap’nl”

“ Not a bit!”

All continued to watch and listen.

At the end of a few minutes the colonel and
:Dimmick were Seen to emerge from the house,
joinin Buffalo Bill,who had remained on the .
veran a, partly to watch for Ben Letts and l
partly to keep an eye on Gaddley and his fellow-
prlsoners. ‘

At this moment Mrs. Goggin stole back to the ,
:; uard-house favored by the fact that the fire in
. rout of it was burning low. She took the risk
of being seen, of course, as she couldn’t do I

 

“ You’ll know it soon enough no doubt,” said
the commandant, sternly. “ ft is enough for
the present to say that his revelations are con-
firmed by what we have learned elsewhere.
He says you are ‘ W hoop-pee ’ and ‘ Bad Medi-
cine’l ’

The prisoner sneered audibly.

“ Give us something newer, ’ he muttered.

“ He says you are plotting with Little Elk and
others to destroy the fort and village,” pursued
the commandant, “and the statement is con-
firmed by the fact that Little Elk is reported to
be at;7 Cinder Butte, having left his reserva-
tion.’

A swift, guilty flush appeared on the pris-
oner’s face.

“ He also says that you havemined this fort,”
added the colonel, watching the prisoner as a.
cat watches a mouse.

The statement was like a thrust from a d -
gar. With all his hardihood. the prisoner 00 d
notlavoid looking as if he had touched a live
con .

“ Are you willing to tell me who you really

«otherwise, but circumstances favored her, the .‘ are?” resumed the colonel.

e as of all present being so busy elsewhere, and l
as e assed unnoticed. ,

“ I can add nothing to what I’ve already told
you, colonel,” answered the prisoner, with a

“ his is horrible, Dorus!” she reported, with [ scornful, cynical gsneer, recovering his equa—

:a voice and mien of genuine terror. _
' the rest are to be sent to Duran 0 on the double I
charge of abducting Mrs. Nay er and assault-

“Sam and . nimiiy.

“Then nothing more need be said,” decided
the commandant. “ Assist him, two of on,”

.i t e sheriff, and you are to go with them 1” . he added, addressing the nearest guards, ‘ and
nElle esturned upon Budd, toseehow he would . place him on the front seat of that wagon!”

~take h s announcement. 1

His face lowed like fire.

The transfer was promptly made, but not

f without the eXchange of several whi rs be-

An awfu delight seemed to surge into his : tween the prisoner and‘his pretended eepers,

"breast.

A chuckle worthy of a demon escaped him.

“ Ha, ha l” he laughed. “ What a nice way
.out of this box! So much for the mountain in
labor! It has indeed brought forth a mouse!”

 

CHAPTER XLIX.
CONSIGNED TO um SHERIFF.
IT was easy for the Ravagers to realize from

and es ecia ly between him and Bardwell, who
seeme to be recognized as their leader.

“ Have you had enough of these irons, Hill-
I yer?” resumed the colonel. “Do you wish to
talk with a view to getting out of the bad box
in which you find yourself? In a word are you
inclined to tell me what you know about the
Ravagers?”

“ I would, colonel, if I knew anything about
them," answered Hillyer, “ but I don’t.”

 

The colonel stood a moment in thought, and .

then addressed similar questions to Dick and

‘the scornful merriment of their leader that he , Stubby, receiving similar answers.

saw a prospect of escape, but they wanted fur-
ther information. _

“Well, cap’n?” queried Hillyer, giving ex-
pression to the general anxiety.

“ We shall beat them at their own game,” he
replied, becoming serious. “Not only is Tooker
and big crowd near at handhbut so also is Josh
Reeder, with Ted Grup la and a host of the
boys—in a word, enoug
and his deputies so quickly as to make their
heads swim!

fore! This menace of going to Durango will 

save us i” _

Drawing Mrs. Goggin to his breast as well as
his irons permitted, Finklestone whispered a
:few words in her ear.

“ I comprehend,” she said.

to chaw that sheriff :

3 “ Think Well upon the subject. all of you,” en-
'oined the Colonel. “ for you must quit this stub-
ornness in the morning, or I will send you all

I before 8. Chi] tribunal. 1 want the information

and evidence which any one of you is in a posi-

tion to give. and I will have it, or you’ll all soon
find yourselves face to face with a very dis-
agreeable future."

“A threatened dog lives long, Colonel Nay-
ler,” returned Dick Rasker, with smiling inso-

There’s nothing to fear, there- . lence.

O
“ And that’s about the substance of what we
a all have to say to you,” declared Stubby J obson.
“ You had better put on an apron and join Zel-
lie in the kitchen. ’
The commandant surveyed the two with stem
reprobation.

 

“ When I came here,” he said, “it was not
my intention to send you to Durango to—night.
But I’ve changed my mind. You shall go with
your leader.”

He sent to Mr. Finch a request for the com-
mitment of the whole party. and then proceeded
to get them into the wagon, which was roomy
enough to receive them all without crowding.

“ And now for those chains and padli icks, Dim-
mick,” added the commandant. “ We’ll fix
them so that their arrival at the jail vrill be a
foregone conclusion, unless thcy are able to fly
away with the wagon.”

The desired articles were quickly forthcoming
from the great army-chest, and all the prison—
ers, including Gaddley, llin;wco:i and Tilkins,
were secured to the body of i no wagon. although
not without many a bitter and malignant sneer
from them, and especially from li‘inklestone.

“There! they’re ready," at length exclaimed
the colonel, ordering Dialnllf'k by a gesture to
drive to the rear door. “Quick, Bardwell,” he
added. “ You are now a corporal in the place
of Dimmick. Take these three men and get
your horses, and fall in as an escort for the
sherifi', returning in due course from Du-
rango!”

“ Yes, colonel.” i

In another minute the wagon had rolled up to
the rear door and the colonel had returned to his
guests and visitors, announcing:

“ Your men are ready, sheriff.”

“ And so are your commitments,” supple-
mented Justice Finch, handing them over. “ Of
course, I don’t need to give the rascals a hear-
ing at present, or even take a look at them.”

“ Good,” commented Sheriff Watrous, arising
and pocketing the commitments. “ I’m sorry
to tear myself away immediately, but I’m sure
you’ll all excuse us, considering the long ride we
have before us.”

“Certainly, sheriff ”rcturned the command-
ant. “ Here are the keys of the padlocks,” of-
lering them, “ and you can return them with
the chains at your convenience.”

He added a brief statement of his reasons for
sending Hillyer and the rest away with their
leader, and his energetic action met with hearty
up roval from Buffalo Bill and the sheriff.

dieus were then uttered, and the sheriff and
his aids went out to the prisoners, just as Bard -
well and his comrades came up as an escort, and
in another minute the little party had vanished
outside of the great gate, the co onel and Mrs.
Nayler, with Buffalo Bill and the justice, sten-
ping out on the lawn to witness the departure.

 

CHAPTER L.
A STARTLING REAPPEARANCE.

“ AND is this all you want of me to-night,
colonel i” asked J ust-ice Finch.

“ All, sir, thank you.”

“ Then I’ll hurry back to Mrs. Finch, as I left
her in quite a flutter in consequence of your
young man’s pressing communication.”

He took leave, Dimmick escorting him to the -

entrance, as usual.

“ Such an infernal state of things l”ejaculated
the colonel, leading the way to the parlor. “ I
ought to go and hang myself l”

“ Why, John!” cried Mrs. Nayler, with a
shocked air.

“It’s true, Neerie,” he growled, motioning
Buffalo Bill to a chair and beginning to walk
agitatedly to and fro. “Think of my being
taken in to such an extent by that infamous im-
poster!”

“I see nothing strange about that, John,”
assured the wife soothingly. “ Nothing is more
common, in this democratic age, than for the
scions of aristocratic and noble h: use: in Europe
to come over here and go into business, get
stranded, or be compelled to earn their living
by manual labor. I can tell you of half a dozen
cases which have come'under my notice!”

She hastened to do so.

“ And even if such were not the real state of
affairs ” she resumed, “you are in no wise to
blame for being deceived by that man, my dear
husband. He’s deception itself—hypocrisy in-
carnate! And then you must remember, he had
real papers and doCUments to lend color and
support to all he said—”

“ Which he stole from the real Budd Finkle-
stone, it now appears,” interrude the com-
mandant. “The fact is made clear by Jack
Boss ’13 revelations. Jack even asserted that the
real udd Finklesrone is a prisoner at. tl; head—
quarters of the Ravagers. But think of the
pits that fraud has dug for me! Think of this
fort beingmined! It’s enoughto drive n eniud !"

“ It‘s a. bad state of thir gs to be sure, John,”
admitted Mrs. Nayler, Wll‘b wifely tact, “but
please remember thar it might be a great deal
worse. The fellow’s baseness has been made
known to us, and he is thoroughly ‘ hived.’as
you were justsaying. Moreover, no grre l. hi rm

as been done here. We’ve neither been swal-
lowed up by the earth nor ‘gone kitong’into
the air! In short, we've found the man out In
good season, and can go quietly to work to re-
pair "all our errors 0 commission and omis—
sion!

 

 

 

 

i
i
l
l
I
!

 

Pu

 

Buffalo Bill’s Ban.

29

 

“ But those mines, Neerie—”

“Jack Bossy may have exaggerated their
importance, in the desire to put you on your
guard," suggested Mrs. Nayler, “and in any
other case we shall be in am le time to escape
all harm from them if you ve them hunted
up tomorrow.”

“ Then you wouldn’t say or do anything about
them to night?”

“ Certainly not,” was the wife’s earnest reply.
“Don’t breathe a word concerning them to any
human being till morning, and then try to get
hold of some one of Finklestone’s allies who re—
mains as yet unsuspected. He must have left
many a dupe within the fort who Will be glad to
purchase immunity by ‘ making a clean breast
of itl At least we may hope sol” .

The colonel reflected intently a couple of min-
utes and then said:

“ it would reallybe a mistake to blurt out
who 5 I know. That villain ma have left some
tool here who would send us ying and make
his escape. For the moment, ’11 confine my
measures to a quiet and secret stroll throng
the fort.”

“ At this hour, John!” asked Mrs. Nayler, in
a flutter. “ Is it necessaryi'f

“ Absolutely, Neerie. I Wish to transfer Dutt
Smile and his friends to the guard-house, and
visit t 0 whole Line of sentries.

“ Then I must beg of you to take Dimmick or
Mr. Cody with you,” pleaded Mrs. Nayler. “ if
you go alone, how easy for some one who has
been under arrest, or has otherwise got soured,
to give youafatal shot or stab. Some sentry
might shoot you,and then claim that he mis-
took on for a Ravager!”

“ ell, well, I’ll take Dimmick to satisfy

on,” said the colonel, etting ready to 0 out.
‘I can‘t very well ta e Mr. Cody,as don’t

.wish to make him too well known to the men, to

say! nothing of exposing him to some ‘shot or
sta i.

“ Besides,” said Buffalo Bill, arising, with a
smile, “ I would like to take a turn outside, and
go as far as Ben’s house. in fact, I’m so uneasy
about Ben’s non-return, and have had such a
good sleep during the day that it would not be
of the least use for me to go to bed at present.”

The colonel reflected a moment, and then pro-
duced the key of the side-door.

“ Here, ta e this,” he said, “ and come in
when you like. You know where your room is.
If you should have anlything to “(y to me, you
kn w where I sleep. comprehen your mood
p0, ‘gmtly. You wish to prowl around a little
on your own account, and come into the house
u-!, -u you get ready, or when Ben returns. I’ll
2;“ e- you the countersign for the night, and
 i’ll be the master of the situation."

 went as far as the entrance with the
so. nit, cxchangin a few further remarks with
lll'll, and then ha 6 him good-night and returned
to irs. Na ler. _ O .

~ Don’t orget to take Dimmick,” she remind-
ed ‘llll.

‘ All right, Neerie. But what if he should be
on i *i. r Finklestone?”

-()h, be isn’tl” ' _

“ 'i‘hat’s my view, too, and that’s why I ve
"'l'(‘l'lOi.ed him to Finklestone’s place," said. the
cos im indant. “ But I’ll watch men and things
bus rifter, you may be certain l”

“ “do, too?” (ineried Mrs. Nayler, playfully,
put ting up her ips to be kissod. . '

“ Perhaps so,‘ returned the colonel, smiling
in spite of himself. “ In any case, the next
‘ baronet’s son’ who turns u here in distress
Will he received in such a sty e as to make him
wish he'd fallen into the hands of the red-skins
l'l.~ . .-:id. Meanwhile, you needn’t sit up for me,
N eerie—”

“ I’d sooner do so, John. It’s not late, and
I’m not at all sleepy. ’

“ W all, have your own way. I won’t be gone

lon .” .

[go consumed about an hour in a survey of the
fort and its occupants, taking a walk through
th 5 soldiers’ barracks, accom _nied by Captain
Greyson and First Sergeant immick, and then
gave his final instructions for the night to these
and other trusted officers, hastening back to his
wife.

“ Every thing seems all right, Neerie,” he rs-
Doried, as the ultimate of is ‘views upon the
situation. “ The next best thin is to get to bed,
as I‘m not half rested from n ght before last,
and shall probably havsa great deal to do to—
morrow.” _

All had become quiet within thfiehouse and
the fort, and the clock in the village'steeple had
struck ten, when a man ascended one of the
walls of the fort by means of a rope—ladder
which had been lowered to him by the sentry on

ut at that int.

d T new-009m?” was Budd Finklestonel

 

CHAPTER LI.
mars u ran “commons.”
Wanna was Ben Leta, and what were he and
Ban Clewson doin i
I A few words wi 1 show.
-ney had bowed their acceptance of the
hideous little dwarf’s invitation, which had

 

been garnished with a smile from his ponderous !
wife, Mrs. Wrexton, and were about to take 1
their places at table with the illassorted couple, 1
when five men burst into the parlor from the
hall and an inner staircase leading to it, and
took the drop on them with revolvers, two of
them giving their united attentions to the
dwarf.

“ Not the least word or movement or you die!”
cried the leader of the new-comers.

“ Sir Hornby Finkiestone!” exclaimed Ben, in
joyful amazement, recognizing the man whose
weapon covered him.

The baronet stared at him as if Spell-bound.

“ Sure enough 1” added Ben.

Whipping some stout cords out of his pocket,
and paying no further heed to Sir Hornhy’s
leveled weapon, he made a gesture to Clew, and
the two hurled themselves at the dwarf, silenc-
ing his attempts to call for assistance, and gag-
ging him and binding him hand and foot.

Seeing this and remaining too horrified to
even scream, rs. Wrexton sunk to the floor in
a deathlike swoon.

“ Good! that rids us of the pair of them!”
cried Ben, with joyous excitement. “And now,
Sir Hornby—”

He was interrupted by a glad cry of surprise
from one of two young adies who had followed
the five men into the apartment, and the next
instant found himself infolded by a pair of
well-rounded arms with as much Vigor as if he
had been a “ long-lost brother 1”

“ Oh, Ben Letts l” came from the fair mani-
festant of these favors. “ How good it is to see
your honest face here at such a moment!”

“ Ah, it’s you, Alice King?” returned Ben, too
stupefied With astonishment to reciprocate be-
fore she had blushingly withdrawn from him.
“This is too deli htfull And this other young
lady, I suppose,’ he added, with a low bow, “ is
Miss Sarah Gafigetti"

Tho oung y n question assented taking'
him wax-me by the hand. . ’

Clew was duly presented to both of them as a
very dear friend. and they greeted him with a
warmth which made him blush to the roots of
his hair. _

“ You know him. young ladies!” demanded
the baronet, who had long since lowered his re-
volver, and been staring at the proceedings of
Ben and Claw With undisguised bewilderment.
“ He’s a friend of yours?”

“ Not merely our friend, Sir Hornby, but of
every one else who is in trouble,” replied Alice
Kin , between smiles and tears—so joyousl ex-
ci . in fact, ,that she found it difiic t to
speak. “Permit me, Sir Hornby. This young
gentleman is the hero of whom we were speak-

in —”

5‘ Ben Letts, do you mean?” interrupted the
baronet.

“ Yes, Sir Hornby-Ben Lettsl”

“ Then what a fool I’ve been to threaten him
with that revolver!” said the baronet, almost
hurling the weapon out of sight into some
mcket, “Forgive. me, sir,” he added, rushing
forward and offering his hand, “ and allow us
all to thank you for so promptly suppressing
thisvfrightful httle ruflian. How. bewildered I
am

. “ But hardly more so, I venture to say, than
is everybody at_the fort, Sir Hornby, at your
very singular disappearance last night or this
morning,” declared Ben, shaking hands heart-

11y.

“ Ah, you know of it!”

“ I was there when Doctor Powlett came to
announce your flight to the colonel,” explained
Ben, “ Why did you leave so secretly?’

‘.‘ Because my son wrote me, in a letter I re-
ceived three weeks a 0, that the false Budd
Finklestone stood big in the confidence 0f
Colonel Nayler, and was running things at the
fort very much in his own fashion-”

The baronet paused a moment, wholly out of
basalt: witgozxgigement.

en , e resumed, “I found myself
robbedo nearly all my cash, bills of exchange,
and 1grivate paperk”
“ “ onsenss,” interrupted Ben, laughlnslyo

Colonel Nayler took charge or them to save
them for ou. You were not in any danger at
the fort, at in the hands of the very best of
friends!”

1:1 111 1” cried the baronet.

p e you In word of honor!”

“Then f have incl'eed been a fool,” regretted
Sir Hornby. “ But there are several things to
be said to excuse and explain my conduct. To
begin With, my son had written me to beWBre
of the Ravagers, and especiall of their 011181.
Are you aware how they c me to the fort,
trgng to capture me?”

‘ $13731? [liedh thin

‘ e . a t ese made me nervous,”
ursued the \baronet. ‘EI’ermlt me to add, in
urther explanation of my flight, that I was la-

boring undera preoccupation far greater than
could have been caused me by theloss of money,
however large the amount. In a word I de-
sired to fly to the rescue of my son, who as so
long been shut up in this accursed ‘ Quad-
rangle,’and who would have died here if it
hadn’t been for the devotion of this charming
young lady. also a prisoner—”

 

e ’11”.

fi

“ He means me, Mr. Letts,” said Alice 15mg,

taking the arm of a splendid young fellow wear

her who had been to lowing the developments

of the scene With an aJl~absorhing if puzzleo in-

terest, “but between him and his son I’m get-

ting ”far mere praise than I deserve, I assure
oul

“ Not a bit, Alice,” assured the young gentle-
man, turning upon her such a glance as a man
never bestows outside of his .cherished and
idolized ideal. “ The best we can say of you is
not half enough.”

“ There! no more of that, Buddington,” ead-
ed Alice King, placing one of her dimpled ands
over his mouth. “ Ben Letts, allow me to intro-
duce you to my betrothed husband, Mr. Bud.-
gin'gton Finklestone, the only son of Sir Hom-

y.

The amazement of Ben Letts at this turn of
affairs was almost as great as his joy.

“Ah, this is the real Budd Finklestone?” he
exclaimed, as he shook the hand of the hand—
some young stranger. “ And not much like his
fraudulent double, I must sayl Good! glorious!
I see that all our troubles are to end as they do
in fairy stories! Do you know why my friend
and I are here, ladies and gentlemen? We
came to efl'ect your release, but only to find
that you have released yourselves l”

“ My father got us out,” said young Finkle-
stone. “ He gained an entrance to our subter-
ranean prison by capturing one of our keepers"
as he came out of a Earivate door and taking his

lace, in which 76 he gave whisky to our
Jailers and got them all drunk, then taking
their keys and opening all our dungeons. These
three gentlemen,” and he indicated the three-
who had entered with his father and himself,
“are John Scott, Mark Wilton, and Peter
Sherwood, who were seized and confined here
out of revenge for the resistance they had hf.-
fered to the raids of these Ravagers.” 0

“And are there no more prisoners hers?”
asked Ben, as he and Clew proceeded to shake
hands with the three last named, and congratu-
late them on the recovery of their liberty.

‘ ‘ None,”answered young Finklestone. ‘ There
have been others here, but one died, another
made his escape, a third was ransomed, and so

11.

“ Then let’s be 01!,” proposed Ben, as a groan.
came from Mrs. Wrexton. “ My friend and I
will not even pause now to take a look at the

lace, as we shall come back here later with a.
y of troops. There are horses on the prem—
ises. I suppose!”

“ Plenty of them, and of the best!” answered
young Finklestone.

“ Then let’s get ten or a dozen of them at the
door and take our departure. This dwarf and
his wife shall go with us.”

This project was not carried out without some
opposition from two men in the stable, but Ben
and Claw promptly suppressed them, and then.
mounted their prisoners and secured them to
their saddles, striking out with their new
lriends at a rapid gait for home and the fort.

 

CHAPTER LII.
HOW HIS FATE ovanroox nnr.

Lic'r us now go back to the false Budd Finkle»
stone, whom we left at the moment he reached;
the top of one of the bastions of the fort.

“ Is it real] you, cap‘ni” whispered the
sentry, as the ister impostor reached the top
of the wall and drew himself up beside him.

11%? °“ mm” 1 a 1

e rec your vo ce an you a so
gave me bur private signal, but—3’

“ But what, Tim 1”

“ How can it be you!”

The new-comer struck a fuse, the flame of
which, as he proceeded to light a cigar,
revealed his features to the son with such
diminctness that no doubt as to his dentity was
possible.

Drawing three additional fuses from his
pocket, he proceeded to strike them in rapid
succeuion, throwin them away after he had.
given them a swift urish.

“ That’s to tell the boys I’ve crossed old Nay-
ler’s ‘dead line’ in safety,” he remarked. “ t
is also to tell the bogs to hold themselves in
readiness for a swift e arturs. You now see.
it’s me, don’t you. Tim ’ .

“ Yes, ca ’n. But what about that sheriff!”

“He an I have changed pine-es, that’s all,”‘
explained Budd. “I was released this side of
theufo’rks by Tooker, with the aid of Bard—
we —-

“ What! are all the boys free again? Gaddley'
and the rest?”

“ Every manof them,” replied Budd. “ Tooker
had an anvil and hammer ready for our irons,
with cold chisels and everything neosuary, to
say nothing of ks s. Watrous and his deputies
are now in our ands—there! not a hundred
rodsaway—bound and gagged and chained to
the wagon l”

“ Good!” commented the sentry. “ You’ll
take him to the ‘ Quadrangle,’ I hope, and diet
him on bread and water?”

“Orohnanwwmememdbtth2wolm

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‘30

Buffalo sings...

 

 

"interview him,” suggested Budd, with terrible
malignancy. “ I have not yet decided. I’m
here now to get the colonel and the colonel's
wife. Also these infernal scouts. I’m going to
make a clean sweep!”

“ And then the old fort goes kitingi”

‘ ‘ Exactly!
be out of it first, including Dutt Smiley.”

As he finished speaking. he leaned over the
edge of the wall, and called softly:

“' You can come up, boys.”

A slight noise succeeded. as of some one

macending in contact with the wall, and the next
mstant a man appeared at the top of the wall
oeside the ca tain.

He was fol owed by others in rapid succession
until a dozen men had joined Budd and stood
awaiting his orders.

They were all so well hidden by the darkness
of that wild, blustering night that no one could

have seen them at a distance of six yards.

“ You are disguised,Josh?” queried Budd.

“ Yes—as a captain.”

“ And your men have knapsacksl”

“Just as you ordered, ca n.”

“ Then go to the guard- curse and fetch Dutt
Smiley and the rest here. Cook and Brower
are in charge of them, and will give you every
assistance possible. You needn’t take any pains
to avoid being seen. Proceed boldly. It will
be supposed that you are acting by the colonel’s
orders and that the prisoners are being moved
again. They know we’re coming for them.
There’s nothing to explain. Pick them up and

vanish!”

“But what if they should be chained to the
’ wall or floor ?”

“ They’re not!”

“ But I thought they were in a casematei”

“ No. They ve been moved since the sheriff
:and I started on our little ride.”

Josh and his men vanished.

In three minutes he and they were back again,
brinlging four manacled figuru.

“ ‘ve got ’em,” he re rted..

“ Then take them to hat anvil and knock off
'their irons, re rtin to Tooker. Cook and
‘Brower are wit you

u Yes, in.”

“ That ieves old Nayler of any further care
of Ravagers,” commented Budd, with smiling
sarcasm. " Vanish, all!”

The helpless men were lowered from the has-
tion with scarcely a sound, so well were their
irons handl .

Budd remained silent.

His first measure was to draw up the re -
ladder and detach it from a ring in the end 0 a
stick which had been driven out of sight into
the earth covering the bastion, and which thus
attested that this sort of ladder, like this sort
of proceeding, had become a regular fixture of
,the fort. ‘

Teen he dropped the ladder outside the wall.

“ take it awav,” he said.

Waitin until all sounds from Josh and his
'party ha ceased, Finklestone gave utterance to
.alow, strange sound, which would have passed
equally well for the cry of some insect, reptile,
vor hir .

This sound was evidently a well-known secret
signal of Budd to his men, and it appeared to he
directed to some particular man, for a dark fig-
ure soon appeared beside him.

“It’s me, cap’n—Ted,” announced the new-
comer.

“ Good ” was the response, in a tone of joy
:and relie . “Is your wagon at the gate?”

“ That is to say,as near to it as is safe. With-
.in a dozen rods, Perhaps.”

“ Then come!’

Budd drew the arm of the new-comer within
"his own and moved away, saying:

“I’m determined to have those arties, Ted,
and am going to use strategy. hat’s why I
'take only you with me."

“ But what sort of strategy?”

“ I’ll soon tell you 1”

Nothin more was said until the couple had
reached t e side-door of the colonel’s house.

“ We have of course reached here unseen,
Ted,” whis red Finklestone. “ So much for
.being familiar with every foot of the place."

“ Exactly.”

“ And now to understand what we are about,
Ted,” resumed Finklestone, in a guarded tone.
“ During the last few days, comprehending that
.m stay here would soon be ended, I have made
alf neceSSary arrangements for just such a job
as I now repose to execute. ”

“Just ow, Budd?”

“Why, I’ve loosened the rods in the cellar
window, so that I can readily enter from that
point,” explained Finklestone. “I’ve tampered
with the fastenings of two of the windows on
the first floor, and loosened a board under the
sofa in the colonel‘s reception-room, thus making
a second route possible. I have procured keys
to all the doors, and unscrewed the hinges of at
lea :5 two of them. leaving them in such shape
man a sin 1e wrench will give me admittance.
In a word, the house is as open as a sieve to
me!”

“How r ice 1” breathed his companion. V

"And that isn’t all.” continued Finklestone.
“I have a certain bottle and sponge with me,

as . .

,, In. . w ..- >

But of course all the boys are to ;

 

and am going to chloroform the colonel and his
1wifg, as also those scouts, beginning with N ay-
er.

“ I see.”

“ All are evidentl asleep. What I want of
you is to seize Mrs. ayler, if she should appear
while I am dealing with her husband. (.hoke
her to insensibility if necessary.”

“ But suppose the place should get too hot to
hold us?”

“ It won’t. But in case of any such accident,
we’ll run for it, gaining the Wagon. VVe’l! now
enter. Take my left hand, and simply yield to
my guidance. But first take olT your boots, as
l’m doing.”

The COUple were soon ready, and Budd pro-
duced a. key and unlocked the door, then leading
the way into the house in silence.

“ It’s rather a bold thing to do,”wl'.ispered his
com anion.

“ es, but sure! You have that knife I sug-
gested?”

“Well, strike home, if I give you the word!
If we can’t get away with them, we will at least
do the other thing! Comprehend?”

“ Perfectly.”

“ Then come.”

He drew his companion along the hall, with
that ease and silence which could come only
from long familiarity, and in a few moments
more the couple were in the colonel’s bedroom.

“ Here we are!” cried Budd’s companion.

Two doors opened, allowin several 'lights to
flash ugon the scene, and Bu d found himself in
the mi st of twenty armed men, several of whom
covered him with their revolvers!

He had met his fate!

CHAPTER LIII.
THE END or ran Game.

Tm: prisoner stood as if paralyzed, unable to
move or speak.

His eyes stared without seeing.

The man he had supposed to be Ted Grupple
was the first object of his recognition, and
turned out to be Buffalo Bill!

Next he recognized Colonel Nayler, who was
seated immediately in front of him.

B this time the commandant spoke.

“ ot the least move, Budd,” he ordered.

“ Of course not,” responded the risoner.

TWO men advanced and bound is hands he-
hind him, seating him in a chair.

Then his ankles were ironed, so that he could
not have walked a step, even if supported by
each arm.

“ W ho has given me way, colonel?” he do-
manded, as white as a sheet, and with a voice
of indescribable consternation.

“ Me,” answered a voice.

Budd looked at the speaker.

“Ted?” he Iasped.

“ Yes, Ted. ’av0wed the traitor, with angry
scorn and bitterness.

“ And why?”

“ Because of that sister. She has engaged her-
self to seven of us,” and he waved his hand
around, “and we’ve tired of being her dupes,
since she has promised herself to Ringwood. ’

Budd stared at the envenomed speaker a long
time in silence.

Then a stir in the parlor fixed his attention.

“ She’s better now,” said a voice, which he
recognized as Mrs. N ayler’s.

“ Yes, she’s recovering.”

This last speaker was Zellie.

The came a groan.

“ W 0’s there?” asked Budd, with a horrible
suspicion revealing itself on his face.

‘ Your sister,” answered the colonel. “ Ted
thou ht the least he could do to get square
with or was to give her into mdy hands!”

“The villain! Dollie has ha nothing what
ever to do with my afl'airs—”

The commandant interrupted him with an
impatient gesture.

‘ You needn't as a word on that head,
Budd,” he said. “ a know enough about her
to make her finish her days within four walls.
As to you— But I need not I k of your fu—
ture! Your own . conscience w i! tell you what
you have to expect I”

“ Are you there, Dorus?” called his sister.

" Naturally—after the way in which We have
managed our affairs,” answered Budd ungra-
ciously. “ Your seven promised husbands are
here, too l”

Another groan came from the parlor.

“ You needn’t eak to me in that way,
Dorus,” then said rs. Goggin. “ You told me
to wheedle as many of them as I could, and all
of them as much as I could. I’ve only obeyed
your orders!”

The colonel interfered.

“ There‘s no need of these mutual recrimin-
ations, Budd,” he said. “Let’s get down toa
few hard facts, and then you’ll go to the guard-
house, preparatory tc ":akin a new start for
Durango in the morning. 0 begin with, I
have captured all the Ravagers who have been
associated with you since you came nere as an
enlisted man !”

 

 

‘—

“ Well, some of them are free again—Dutt
Smiley, for instance!”

“ Not much,” returned the colonel.

“ Didn’t I just send him out of the fort in the
hands of Josh Reeder?”

“ Not at all. Josh himself is a prisoner. The
men you took to be Josh and his aides were a.
dozen of my most trusted men under Captain
Gra son.”

“ ut Sam and Hank—”

“ Are both in my hands!”

“And Tooker—’

“ He is now in a casemate, with all his tribe !”

“ Then the sheriff-4’

“ Oh yes! Watrous and his deputies are ‘
safe. ook behind!”

Budd obeyed, and shuddered with horrors.
he found the sheriff and his deputies among his:
captors. I

“ Oh, that I could again have those mines at ‘
my disposal!” he groaned. “ I’d soon fix yrm !” -

“ Well, that can never be!” proclaimed the
commandant, sternly. “ Ted has told us where
those mines are located, and they have received
due attention. All trace of them has been re-
moved, and all danger from that source is
averted!”

“ It cannot be! So soon!”

“ Yes, it can, and I’ll show you how,” replied
the colonel. ” Buffalo Bill went out of the
fort, just after you left with the sheriff, and
was met by Ted, who opened the sluice-ways of
his confessions. Within five minutes thereafter
I was duly eniightened,and my orders had been
issued to all my officers and men, almost three
hundred in number, and we all hastened to do
our duty! Need I say more? You’ve reached
the end of your game!

At this moment a strange Tra-li—lee-too rung
out sonorcusly from just outside of the great

to, and Buffalo Bill sprung to his feet with a

ush of excitement.

“ There’s Ben!” he cried. “ Ben in all his
glory and triumph! that be one of the old sig—
nals of a splendid victor !”

“ Indeed!” returned t e colonel, gaining his
feet. “Then let me throw a little light on the
subject.”

He ran to the door and touched the gong
suspended there, when a grand illumination ap-
peared on the top of an adjacent bastion, pre-
cisely as on revious occasions.

And wha ascene did it reveal as the great
gate opened!

“ The baronet i” cried Cody.

” Alice King and Sarah Gannett l” exclaimed
another.

“Oh, horror!” came frdm a window which
Zellie had raised. “ Look, Dorus! They’ve
captured Wrexton and mother!"

 

There is no need to linger upon what hap-
pened, further.

The reception of Ben Letts was an ovation of
fort and village, and he only wished that Ben
Clewson had come with him to have his share of
it, and that Esther could have been there to re-
joice with him.

Dome and Dollie were soon confronted with
their mother and the dwarf, and out of that con—
fronting came accusations and admissions that
would have almost sufiiced to send them all It)
the gallows.

They were all landed in prison in due course
—the false Finklestone going for life on several
charges, one of which was of highway robbery,
and covered the crime he had committed against
young Finklestone, in robbing him, and thus se-
curing a foundation for the career he had run
in his name.

An expedition was made to the ‘ ‘ Quadrangle,”
resulting in the discovery of a cave under the
Wrexton house, and also in the recovery of
many loads of valuables, after which the whole
hamlet was given overto destruction, it being
devastated with fire and gunpowder until the
very configuration of the soil could be no longer
recognized.

Buffalo Bill remained the guest of Colonel
Nayler and his wife a few days, or long enough
to attend the wedding of Ben Letts and Esther
Clewson; then he rode away as quietly as he
had come, giving his attention to new spheres
of action and the new duties that it was destined
he should assume.

As to the considerable body of Ravagers who
had fallen into Nay ler’s hands, some of them,
like Ted Grupple, were treated with due consid-
eration, but the most of them received such se-
vere punishment as to break up and disperse all
who had ever had anything to do with them, so
that within a. few months after the scenes we
have related their exploits had almost passed
out of notice.

\

TH] IND.

.. _- .-n.. __ _ _.nfl n~‘__.,n, _. _~_ n__._ _._. . .

 

 

 

 

 

BEADLE’SrDIMEruBRARY’.

BY COL. PBEN'I‘ISS INGRAIIAM.

748 Arizona Charlie the Crack-shot Detective.
704 Invisible lvan. the Wizard Detective.
685 The Red-skin Sea Rover.
679 Revello, the Pirate Cruiser; or. The Rival Rovers
672 The Red Ra ier; or, The Sea Rover’s Bride.
5152 The Jew De -ctive; or, The Beautiful Convict.
658 The Cowbe Clan; or, The 'l‘igress of Texas.
653 Lasso Ki ‘8 League;or, Buck Taylor in Texas.
640 The Rovl-r s Ret. ibution.
835 The Ex-Buccaneer; or, The Stigma of Sin.
630 The Sea Thief
625 Red Wings; or, The Gold Seekers of the Bahamas.
615 The Three uuccaneers.
610 The Red Flag Rover; or,White Wings of the Deep.
605 The Shadow Silver Ship.
600 The Silver Ship; or, The Sea Scouts of '76.
593 The Sea Rebel: or. Red Rovers of the RevolutiOn.
597 Conrad. the Sailor Spy; or. True Hearts of ‘76.
'581 The Outlawed Skipper; or, The Gantlet Runner.
560 The Men from Mexico.
553 Mark Monte, the Mutineer; or. The Branded Brig.
546 The Doomed Whaler: or. The Life Wreck.
540 The Fleet Scou e; or, The Bee Wings of Salem.
530 The Savages of e Sea.
524 The Sea Chaser; or. The Pirate Noble.
516 Chatard. the Dead~Shot Duelist.
510 El Moro, the Corsair Commodore.
493 The Scouts of the Sea.
489 The Pirate Hunter; or. The Ocean Rivals.
482 Ocean Tramps' or, The Desperadoes of the Deep.
476 Bob Brent.the Buccaneer; or. the Red Sea Raider.
469 The Lieutenant Detective: or, the Fugitive Sailor,
457 The Sea Insurgent: or. The Conspirator Son.
«6 Ocean Ogre. the Outcast Corsair.
435 The One-Armed Buccaneer.
480 The Fatal Frigate; or, Rivals in Love and War.
425 The Sea Sword; or. The Ocean Rivals.
418 The Sea Siren: or. The Fugitive Privateer.
899 The New Monte Cristo.
.398 The Convict Captian.
3% The Giant Buccaneer: or. The Wrecker Witch.
377 Afloat and Ashore: or. The Corsair Conspirator.
875 Sailor of Fortune: or. The Barnegat Buccaneer.
369 The Coast Corsair: or. The Siren of the See.
804 The Sea Fugitive; or. The Queen of the Coast.
846 Ocean Guernllas; or. Phantom Midshipman.
341 The Sea Desperado. '
836 The Magic Snip- or. Sandy Hook Freebooters.
325 The Gentleman rate; or. The Casco Hermitl.
818 The Indian liuccaneer: or. The Red Rovers.
807 The Phantom Pirate; or, The Water Wolves.
ml The Sea Owl; or. The Lady Captain of the Gulf.
259 Cutlass and Cross; or, the Ghouls of the Sea.
250 The Pirate Priest; or. The Gambler's Dau hter.
 ueen Helen, the Amazon of the Overlap .
230 1 Lightning the Man of Chance.
2'31 The Kid Glove Miner: or. The Magic Doctor.
224 Black Beard. the Buccaneer.
can The Specter Yacht; or, A Brother's Crime.
210 The Corsair Planter; or. Driven to Doom.
210 Buccaneer Bess. the Lioness of the Sea.
905 The Gambler Pirate; or, Lady of the Lagoon.
198 The Skeleton Schooner; or The Skimmer.
164 The Ocean Vampire; or, The (hetle Heiress.
181 The Scarlet Schooner: or. The Sea Nemesis.
177 Don Diablo. the Planter-Corsair.
172 Black Pirate: or. The Golden Fetters M ry.
162 The Mad Mariner: or. Dishonored and isowned
155 The Coi'sair Queen: or, The Gypsies of the See.
147 Gold Spur. the Gentleman from Texas.
139 Fire Eye: or. Thu Bride of a Buccaneer.
lili Darke Dan, the Colored Detective.
131 Bucks in Sam. the Texas Trailer.
12% The Chevalier Corsair: or. The Heritage.
121 The Sea Cadet; or, The Rover of the Rigoletts.
116 Black Plume; or. The Sorceress of Hell Gate.
109 Captain Kyd. the King of the Black Flag.
104 Montezuma. the Merciless.
108 Merle, the Mutinecr; or. The Red Anchor Brand.
94 lance. the Buccaneer.
N The Pirate Prince; or. The Queen of the Isle.
85 The Cretan Rover; or. Zuleikah the Beautiful.
2 The Dare Devil; or. The Winged Sea Witch.
BUFFALO BILL NOVELS.
By Colonel Prentiss lngrahem.
765 Buffalo Bill‘s Dozen; or Silk Ribbon Sam.
761 Male Bill's Maseot. '
757 Buffalo Bill's Double.
750 Buffalo Bill’s Big Four.
748 Buffalo Bill's Flush Hand.
739 Buffalo Bill‘s Blind: or. The Masked Driver.
735 Buflalo Bill and His Merry Men.
731 Buffalo Bill's Beag'es; or Silk LassoSarn.
727 Buffalo Bill's Body Gus .
7‘22 Buffalo Bill on the War- ath.
716 Buffalo Bill's Scout owns
710 Butalo Bill Baffled; or, The Deserter Desperado.
097 Buflalo Bill‘s Buckskin Brotherhood.
091 Bu alo Bill’s Blind Trail; or. MustangM .
667 Bu alo Bill's Swoop' or. The King of the M nee.
649 Buffalo Bill‘s Chief o Cowbo s; or. Buck Taylor
on Buffalo Bill's Bonanza; or. S ver Circle Knights.
Buffalo Bill's Grl ; or. Oath Bound to Custer.
829 Buffalo Bill’s Ple ge: or. The League of Three.
189 Wild Bill‘s Gold Trail; or. The Desperate Donn.
175 Wild Bill‘s Trump Card: or, The Indian Heiress.
106 Wild Bill, the Pistol Dead Shot.

Bv Bull‘an Bill.
639 Buffalo Bill's Gold King.
599 The Dead Shot Nine: 01'. My Pards of the Plains.
414 Red Renard. the Indian Detective.
401 One-Armed Part1; or. Borderland Retribution.
897 The Wizard Brothers: or. White Be-aver's Trail. 
894 White Beaver. the Exile of the Platte.
319 Wild Bill. the Whirlwind of the West.
804 Texas Jeck. the Prairie Rattler.
943 The Pll rim Sharp: or. The Soldier‘s Sweetheart.
83 Gold Bu let Sport: or. Knights of the Overland.
52 Death-Trailer. the Chief of Scouts.

"v Leon lmwis, Ned Buntllne, etc.
682 Buffalo Bill’s Secret. Service Trail.
629 Buffalo Bill‘s Darin Rale; or Daredeath Dick.
517 Buffalo Bill‘s First rail; or. The Express Rider.
159 Buffalo Bill, Chief of Scouts.
117 Bufth Bill 11 Strange Ford: or, Dashing Dandy.
92 Buffalo Bill. the Buckskin King.

 

BY JOSEPH E. BADGER. JR.

744 Swee takes Sam, the Silver Sport.
720 The ecret Six‘ or. O'd Halcyon.
712 The Man of Si! .
705 Bantam Bob. the Beaut from Butte.
693 Kent Kasson, the Prvnc or Sport.
683 Bob Breeze, the Rounder Detective.
675 Steel Surry, the Sport from Sunrise.
668 Solemn Saul‘s Luck Streak.
661 The GetrThere Sharp.
651 Silvertip Steve, the Sky Scraper from Siskiyou.
645 Gopher Gabe, the Unseen Detective.
636 Dandy Darling, Detective.
627 Mosshack Mose, the Mountaineer.
617 The Grip Sack Sharp's Even up.
597 Big Bandy, the Brigadier of Brimstone Butte.
588 Sandy <ands. the Sharp from Snap City.
576 Si Iver-Tongued Sid: or. Grip Sack Sharp‘s Sweep.
56 The Grip-Sn ck Shag}: or. The Seraphs of Sodom.
555 Grip-Sack Sid. the mple Sport.
547 The Buried Detective; or. Saul’s Six Sensations.
541 Major Magnet, the Man of Nerve.
585 Dandy Dutch. the Decorator from Dead-Lift.
524' Dandy Andy. the Diamond Detective.
514 Gabe Gunn. the Grizzlv from Ginseng.
504 Solemn Saul. the Sad Man from San Saba.
495 Rattlepate Rob; or. The Roundhead’s Reprise].
4&5 The Thorcu nbred Sport.
474 Dadd Dea -Eye. the Despot of Dew Drop.
466 Old ugh and Ready, the Sage of Sundown.
458 Dutch Dan. the Pilgrim from Spitsenberg.
450 The Rustler Detective.
443 A Cool Band; or. Pistol Johnny's Picnic.
438 Oklahoma Nick.
43') Laughing Leo; 0r. Sam's Dandy Perd.
4.96 The Ghost Detective: or. The Secret Service Spy.
416 Monte Jim. the Black Sheep of Bismarck.
409 Rob Roy Ranch: or. The imps of Pan Handle.
403 The Nameless Sport.
395 Degdly Aim, the Duke of Derringers.
387 Dark bury. the Ishmael of the Hills.
879 Howling onathfln. the Terror from Headwaters.
372 Captain Crisp. the Man with a Record.
367 A Royal Flush: or. Dan Brown's Big Game.
860 J umpinlr Jerry, the Gamecock from Sundown.
355 Stormv Steve. the Mad Athlete.
851 Nor‘ West Nick. the Border Detective.
845 Masked Mark. the Mounted Detective.
839 Spread Eula 36m. the Hercules Hide Hunter.
831 Chis Charley. the Gold Nugget Sport.
821 Old orked Lightning. the Solitary.
817 Frank Lighttoot. tne Miner Detective.
802 Faro Saul. the Handsome Hercules.
292 Moke Homer. the Boss Roustaboutt-
M Pistol Johnny; or. One Man in a Thousand.
83 Sleek Sam. the Devil of the Mines.
957 Death Tra Di 111%: or, A Man 'Wl! M
249 Elephant cm. 0 rango.
s41 Spitfire Saul. King of the Bustiers.
233 The Old Boy of Tombstone,
201 Pirate of the Piacers: or. J0 in's Death Hunt.
197 Revolver Rob: 01'. The Belle 0 Nugget Camp.
180 Old ‘49- or. The Amazon of Arimna.
170 Sweet m. the Trapper Detective.
165 Joaquin. the Terrible
1°: J “m. 9" Ski“%““‘- -
4 unox om. 6 iii! (3me
127 53‘ Scott. the Masked iner.
119 Alabama J or. The Yum Mamfiunwn
105 Dan Brown 0 manner; or, The Detective,
88 B12 George: or. The Five Outlaw Brothers.
71 Captain Cool Blade: or. Mississippi Man Shark.
67 The Boy Jockey; 0r. Honesty vs. Crookednosl.
64 DOUbl“-Slght, the Death Shop,
50 Jack Rabbit. the Prairie Sport,
47 Pacific Pete. the Prince of the Revolver. ,
45 on Bull s-E e. the Lirhtmn Shot.
40 Long-Ham Pards: or. The arters of the Plains.
30 Gospel Georgi? 01‘- Fler! Fred. the Outlaw.
N Three-Fingered J“ the Road-Agent.

BY J. C. COWDRICK.

626 Ducats Dion, the Nabob Sport Detective.

612 Sheriff Stillwood. the Regulator of Raspberri-
598 The Dominic Detective.

591 Duke Daniels. the 300M? Detective.

580 Shadowing a Shadow.

565 Prince Paul._the Postman Detective.

557 The Mountain Graybeards- or, Riddles' Riddle-
519 Old Riddles. the Rock n er

499 Twilight Charlie, the 5d pom

473 Gilbert of Gotham. the Steel-arm Detective.
452 Rainbow Rub. the 'hlllp from Texas.

436 Kentucky Jean. the S rt from Yellow Pine.
422 Blue Grass Burt. the old Star Detective.

890 The Giant Cupid: or Cibuta John‘s Jubilee.

BY LIEUT. A. K. IIMI.

723 )l‘eemster Tom. the Boomer Detective.
709'Lodestone Lem, the Champion of Chestnut Burr.
095 Singer Sam. t1)" Pilznm Detective.

688 River Bustiers; or. the Detective from 'Way Back
678 Stuttering Sam. the Whitest S rt of Santa Fe.
666 Old Adamant, the Man ofRoc . '

618 kaneas Keri, the Detective King.

552 Prince Primrose. 5 Flower of the Flock.
use Huckleberry. the Foot-Hills Detective.

in HAROLD Puma.

742 Detective Burr Among the New York Thug!-
734 Detective Burt's Foll' or. A Woman's Strawo
728 Detective Burr. the Headquarters Special-

718 Detective Burr's Spirit Chase.

706 Detective Bu rr‘s Seven Clues.

698 Thad Burr. the Invincible: or, The “L ” Clue-
690 The Matchless Detective. ,

680 11, the Fatal Clew; or. Burr'a Master Case.

BY MAJOR DANGERFIELD Dunn.

1482 ghflliarlfenton. Ititle Traitor.

e antom azep a: or. The H one. i
156 Velvet, FaceY the Borger Bravo. y
142 Captain Crimson. the Man of the Iron Face. ‘
117 Buffalo Bill’s Strange Pard; or, Dashing Dandy.

 

Publist Every Wednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Ten Cents. No Double Numbers.

ALBERT W. AIKEN’S NOVELS.

Dick Talbot Series.

if Dick Talbot‘s Close Call.
"37 Dick Talbot in Apache Land.
1:3 Dick Talbot. the Ranch King.
3.? Dick Talbot‘s Clean-Out.
72) Dick Ta lot in No Man’s Camp. -
384 Dick Talbot in the Rockies; or. lnjun Dick.
354 Dick Talbot: 01, The Brand of Crimson Cross.
349 Dick. the Gentleman Road-Agent.
107 Dick Talbot. of Cinnabar.
93 Dick Talbot. Kink of the Road.
41 nick Talbot in Utah: or, Gold Dan.
38 Dick Talbot’s lron Grip; or. The Velvet Hand.
36 Dick Talbot; or. The Death-Shot of Shasta.
85 Dick Talbot at the Mines: or, Kentuck. the Sport.
34 Dick 'l"=lbot’s Foe; or. Rocky Mountain Rob.
33 Dick Talbot at White Pine; or. Overland Kit.
Alken’s Fresh 01‘ Frisco Series.
6M The Fresh in Montana' or, Blake‘s Full Hand.
652 The Fresh‘s Rustic at ainted City.
647 The Fresh at Santa Fe; or Thv- Stranger Sharp.
556 Fresh. the Sport: or. The Big Racket at Slide Out.
53.” Fresh Wins: the Me d: or. Blake. the Lion.
529 The Free of Frisco in New York.
497 The Fresh in Texas; or. The Escobedo Millions.
461 The Fresh of Frisco on the Rio Grande.
173 7 he Fresh in Arizona; or, California John.
130 The Fresh in Mexico; or. Captain Volcano.
97 The Fresh in Big Walnut Camp; or. Bronte Jet
77 The Fresh of Frisco.

Alla-ms Joe Phenlx Series.
749 Joe Phcnix‘s Big Bulge.
745 Joe Phenix’s Mad Case.
7% Joe Phenix’s Siren; or, The Woman Hawkshaw.
700 Joe Phenix’s Unknown; or. Crushing the Crooks
681 Joe Phenix‘s S als' or. The Actress Detective
637 Joe Phenix in ‘razy amp.
632 Joe Phenix‘s Master Search.
6% Joe Phenix‘s Com bin ;»r.the Dandy Conspiretor
6‘20 Joe Phenix’s Silent Six.

601 Joe Phenix’s Shadow ; or.the Detective's Monitor

419 Joe Phenlx., the King of Detectives.
391 Joe Phenix‘s Still Hunt.
16; bloc genix‘sPGreat hgicn Hunt. Th m
11 0e emx, rivate motive or e
79 Joe Phenix. the Police Spy. ' ’

Alken’s Miscellaneous Novels.
717 Captain Pat McGowen, the Greencoat Detective.
674 Uncle Sun Up, the Born Detective.
670 The Lightweight Detective. '
665 ’l‘ he Frisco Detective; or. The Golden Gate Find.
613 Keen Billy, the Sport.
607 Old Benzine the “Hard Case " Detective.
51“ Fire Face, t e Silver King‘s Foe.
586 The Silver Sharp Detective.
577 Tom, of California; or, Detective's Shadow Act.
570 The Actress Detective; or. The Invisible Hand.
562 Lone Hand. the Shadow.
520 The Lone Hand on the Ceddo.
490 The Lone Hand in Texas.
475 Chin Chin, the Chinese Detective.
465 The Actor Detective.
440 The High Hone of the Pacific.
424 The Lone Hand; or. The Red River Recreants.
408 Doc Grip. the Vendetta of Death.
881 The Gy )sy Gentleman: or, Niel: Fox. Detective
370 Black Beards; 01. The Rio Grande High Horse.
1370 The Duskv Detective: or. Pursued to the Inc. ,
853 Crowningshield. the Detective
320 The Gelltr‘el Spotter; or The N. Y. Night Hawk.
25-1 The Wall Slrcet l'lOOd; or. The Telegram Girl.
203 The Double Detective: or.’l‘he Mid night Mystery.
196 La Marmoser. the Detective Queen.
101 The Man from New York.
91 The Winning Car: or. The Innkee r’s Daughtc.
84 Hunted Down: or. The League 0 Three.
81 The Human Tiger: 01'. A Heart of Fire.
75 Gentleman GeOrge: or. Parlor. Prison and Street.
7:! The Phantom Hand: or, The 5th Avenue Heiress.
68 The Winged Whale: or. The Red Rupert at Gulf.
59 The Man from Texas; or, Tine Arkansas Outlaw.
55 The Indian Mazeppa: or, Madman of the Plains.
49 The Wolf Demon; or. The Kauawha Queen. V
42 The California Detective; or, The Witches of NY.
81 The New York She ; or. The Flash of htning.
17 The Spotter Detect. vs: 01‘. Girls of New ork.

LATEST AND NEW ISSUES.

752 The Sn ct Sport of Daisy Drift; or, The
Hound Detective. By J. C. Cowdnck

758 Gideon's Grip at Babylon Bar: or The Men With
the Iron Dagger. By Albert w. Aiken.

754 'ihe Man from Texas; or. Dangerfield the
Doctor Detective. By Joseph E. Badger, r.

755 Wild Puts the Broncho-Buster Detective. By

. C. Jenks.
756 Old Burke, the Madison Square Detective. By
Wm. G. Patten.
757 Bumlo Bill‘s Double. By 001. P. In raham
758 The Wizard King Detective. By me 31mg.
759 The Sport from St. Louis. By J. W. Osbo , ,
760 Joe Phenix's Lone Hand. By Albert W. Aiken.
761 Buff. lo Bill’s Mascot. By Col. P. Iagrebam.
762 Old Grl , the Detective. By Jackson Knox.
7'63 Dandy grip, the Denver Detective. By Joe. I.

Badger, Jr.
764 {Inc Nico York Sharp’s Shedower. By Wm- R
app pg.
765 Buffalo Bill's Dozen. B 001. P. I
766 Detective Zach the roadway potter. 3!
Capt. Howard Holmes. _
767 The Sport of Silver Bend. By Wm. B. lyster.
768 The Prince of New York Crooks. B! ram?“-
769 Buffalo Bill’s Sweepslake. By 001. Ufl‘h‘m-
770 The Showman Dute Live. By Jack-w! K110!-
771 Prince John. Detective Special. By J . 11. Ball er.
772 Cs tain Garden, the Twister Detective. B!

C. en .
173 Buffalo Bill's Ban: or, The Greet Scout to the
Rescue. By Leon Lewis.
4 m tum my Wednesday.
lBeeecl‘llc'ts ernc Idler-.r) is tort vmhglal
ewsd em. ten cents per cop 0r sen y
t of twelve cents each. BBADLE & ADAMS.

mei
. Pub hers. 5 William street, New York.

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I Dime Library" series, from the Hon. W. F.

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I 667 Buffalo Bill’s chop; or, The King of the
Mines. n

  
0‘ «g

BEADLE’SakDIMEiéIlBRARY“.

Published Every Wednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Ten Cents. No Double Numbers.

Buffalo Bill Novels.

Bufalo Bill stories, always popular. are
now more in. demand than ever. His old fame
as scout, guide, Indian fighter, hunter, army
arm-ant and government agent in Secret Ser-
vice, has been greatly enhanced by h is career in
Europe; and «now, in Chicago, he is the one
“representative American" that all Ameri-
80 the romances in “Beadle’e

 

cans admire.

Cody’s own pen, drawn from the erperiences of
his own life in the West, and the brilliant
stories from the pens of Col. Prentiss Ingra-
ham, Leon Lewis, .llIIleI' Dangerfield Barr,
U. S. 21., and Dr. Frank Powell—in all of
which Bufalo Bill is the principal character——
are so much called for that dealers generally
find it necessary to carry the “Bufalo Bill
.Nocele," in full line. All are admirable and
deserve their wide popularity.—Newsdealer’s
Bulletin.

 

773 Buffalo Bill’s Ban: or, Cody to the
Rescue. By Leon Lewis.

769 Buffalo Bill’s Sweepstake; or, The
Wipe-out at Last Chance. By Col.
Prentiss Ingraham.

765 Buflalo Bill’s Dozen; or, Silk-Rib-
bon Sam. By 001. P. Ingraham.

761 Buffalo Bill’s Mascot: or, The Death
Valley Victim No. 13. By Col. P.
Ingrsham.

757 Buffalo Bill’s Double; or The Des-

rado Detective. By Col. Prentiss
ngraham.

750 Buffalo Bill’s Big Four; or, Custer’s
Shadow. By Col. P. Ingraham.

743 Buffalo Bill’s Flush Hand ' or, Texas
Jack’s Bravos. By Col. P. lngraham.

739 Buffalo Bill’s Blind; or, The Masked
Driver of Death’s Canyon. By Col.
P. Ingraham.

735 Bufl‘alo Bill and His Merry Men;
or, The Robin Hood Rivals. By
Col. P. lngraham.

731 Buffalo Bill’s Beagles; or, Silk Lasso
Sam. By Col. P. Ingraham.

727 Buffalo Bill’s Bod -guard; or, The
Still Hunt of the ills. By Col. P.
Ingraham.

722 Buffalo Bill on the War-path‘ or,
Silk Lasso Sam, the Will-o’-the-Wisp
of the Trails. By Col. P. Ingraham.

716 Buffalo Bill’s Scout Shadowers; or,
Emerald Ed of Devil’s Acre. By
001. P. Ingraham.

710 Buffalo Bill Baflled' or, The Do-
serter Desperado’s Defiance. By
Col. P. Ingraham.

697 Buffalo Bill’s Buckskin Brotherhood; or,
Opening Up a Lost Trail. By Col. Prentiss
Ingraham. .

691 Bufialo Bill’s Blind Trail' or, Mustang
Madge, the Daughter of the Begiment. By
Col. . Ingraham.

682 Buffalo Bill’s Secret Service Trail; or The
Mysterious Fae: By Maj. Dangerfield urr.

By Col. P. graham.

649 Buok Taylor, the Saddle King. Buflalo
Bill’s Chief of Scouts. By Col. P. Ingraham.

644 Buffalo Bill’s Bonanza' or. The Knights of
the Silver Circle. By Col. P. Ingraham.

639 The Gold Kin ; 'or, Montebello, the Mag-
nificent. By nifalo Bill.

629 Buffalo Bill's Daring Rele; or, Daredeath
Dick. King of the Cowboys. By Leon Lewis.

599 The Dead Shot Nine' or, My Pards of the
Plains. By Bufl'alo Bill.

517 Buffalo Bill’s First Trail; or. Will Cody, the
R my Express Rider. By Ned Buntline.

414 Red Renard, the Indian Detective; or, The
Gold Buzzards of Colorado. By Buffalo Bill.

401 The One-Arm Pnrd: or. Rod Retribution
in Borderland. By Buffalo Bill.

397 The Wizard Brothers; or, White Beaver’s
Trail. By Buffalo Bill.

394 White Beaver the Exile of the Platte: or,

BUFFALO BILL’S CAREER.

THE career of Buifalo Bill has been, in all
respects, remarkable. Probably no living man
has seen more life in its most romantic and
startling phases, or had a wider range of ac-
quaintance or has more interested the public in
his personal qualities and character.

Coming out of the Wild West when what is
now farms, ranches and cattle ranges was the
feeding-ground of the buffalo, the home of the
untamed Indian, and the haunt of the outlaw—
he is,‘,literally, a Child of the Plains—the Knight
of the Border—the typical Man of the West.

In early boyhood ‘

 

is father was murdered in
the so-called “ Kansas war,” when ruflians over-
run Eastern Kansas, and murder, pillage and
violence held wild riot. It was then the boy so
asserted himself that before he was fifteen years
of age, Billy Cody was noted for his nerve, and
for his readiness for any dangerous service.

From One daring or arduous rformance to
another he so progressed in pa lic estimation
that when he was eighteen years old he was
known from the Missouri to the Red River of
Texas as one of the best shots, most ex crt horse-
men, most successful hunters, most da ng scouts,
most skilled Indian fighters, most sagacious
guides, and most fearless Pony Express carrier
in all the land.

In such a life the romance writer finds ready-
made material; in such a career, acts, and facts,
and actualitics are but to be reproduced in nar-

 

 

BUFFALO BILL.

rative to make a story full of the wildest. 1‘96!!-
est, most varied interest. Here is a hero who is
'10 thh no fiction; and American literature
has found in him such a character as gives to
it an originality, a virility, that lifts it at once
to a new plane.

With his later career the public is familiar.
His great WILD W nsr Snow has made his name,
in Europe and America, a household word; and
now, in Chicago, he will give a crowning glory
to his fame by his wonderful Wild West Exhibi-
tion, and illustrating in his person, to the assem-
bled millions. the true type of a Representative
American Citizm.

It has been the good fortune and the exceed-
ing pleasure of the publishers of this series to
place before readers a considerable number of
stories of the Wild West, from the pens of
writers of national fame, in which Buffalo Bill
is the central figure, and in which many of his
plains pards are amiated with him—largely
real episodes in his strange and exciting life.

It has also been our special good ortune to
obtain from Mr. Cody’s own hand aconsiderable
number of romances of wilderness life—of army
life, of Indian life, of mountain and mining
life, of life on the ranges-4n all of which we
have what is, unquestionably, some of the most
unique, interesting and stirring works in Ameri~
can romance literature.

What they are, the agpended list will indicate;
and in commending t em to the notice of all
whose interest in the Wild West has been quick-
ened by this can“ REALISTIC axrosrrlon,
we provide for them a further pleasure, for

 

éflBVronged Man’s Red Trail. By Buffalo

.. a» ... .. l ..,.I.a. ....- “dawns.

      

   
  

   

‘ which, wears sure, they will thank us.

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as.— '1 sows-d "new

 

362 Buffalo Bill’s Grip; 0r, Oath-bound to Custer.
By Col. Prentiss ngraham.

32‘.) Buffalo Bill’s Pledge; or, The League of
Three. By Col. Prentiss Ingruham.

319 Wild Bill, the Whirlwind of theWest.
Buffalo Bill.

364 Texas Jack, the Prairie Rattler: or, The
Queen of the Wild Riders. By Buffalo Bill.

243 The Pilgrim Sharp; or, The Soldier’s Sweet-
heart. By Buffalo Bill.

189 Wild Bill‘s Gold Trail; or, The Desperate
Down. A Romance of Buffalo Bill’s Old
Pard. By Colonel Prentiss Ingrahani.

175 W'ild Bill’s Trump Card; or, The Indian
Heiress. By Col. rentiss Ingraham.

168 Wild Bill, the Pistol Dead-Shot. By Col.
Prentiss Ingraham.

158 Buffalo Bill, Chief of Scouts; or, The Doomed.
Dozen. By Dr. Frank Powell.

117 Buffalo Bill’s Strange Ford: or, Dashing
Dandy. the Hotspur of the Hills. By Major
Dangerfield Burr.

92 Buffalo Bill, the Buckskin King; or, The
Amazon of the West. By Major Danger-
field Burr.

83 Gold Bullet Sport; or, The Knights of the
Overland. By Buffalo Bill.

52 Death Trailer, the Chief of Scouts: or, Life
and Love in a Frontier Fort. By Buffalo Bill.

latest and New Issues.

747 Double-voice Dan’s Double Disguise;
or, Broadway Bob, the Rounder.
By Wm. G. Patten.
748 Arizona Charlie, the Creek‘shot
‘ Detective; or, Diamond Dick’s Des-
perate Wipe-out. By Col. Prentiss
ngraham.

By

 

Cracksman Baron in New York.

By Albert W. Aiken.

750 Buffalo Bill’s Big Four.
Ingraham.

751 The Dark Lantern Detective; or,
The Puzzle of Number Nine. By
Captain Howard Holmes.

752 The Suspfct Sport of Daisy Drift;
or, The ounded Detective. By J.
C. Cowdrick.

753 Gideon Grip at Babylon Bar; or,
The Man ith the Iron Dagger.
By Albert W. Aiken.

754 The Man from Texas; or, Danger-
field, the Doctor Detective. By
J 03. E. Badger, Jr.

755 Wild Pete, the Broncho-Buster
Detective. By Geo. C. Jenks.

By Col. P.

By Wm. G. Patten.
By Col. P-

Detective.

757 Buffalo Bill’s Double.
Ingraham.

758 The Wizard King Detective.
Lieut. A. K. Sims.

759 The Sport from St. Louis. By J.
W. Osbon.

760 Joe Phenix’s Lone Hand. By A. W. Aiken.

761 Bufl'alo Bill’s Mascot. By Col. P. Ingraham.

762 Old Grip, the Detective. By J. Knox.

763 Dandy Don. the Denver Detective. By Jos.
E. Badger. Jr. '

764 The New York Sharp’s Shadowsr. By Wm.
H. Mannin . .

765 Buffalo Bi ’s Dozen; or, Silk Ribbon Sam-
By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

766 Detective Zach the Broadway Spotter. By
Capt. Howard Holmes.

By

767 The Sport of Silver Bend. By William
R. Eyster.
768 The rince of New York Crooks. By Wm.

G. Patten.

769 Buffalo Bill's Sweepstake. By Col. Prentiss.
Ingraham.

770 The Showman Detective. By Jackson Knox.

771 Prince John, Detective Special. By Joseph
E. Badger, Jr.

772 Captain Cordon, the Twister Detective. By-
Geo. C. J enks.

773 Buffalo Bill’s Ban;or, Cody to the Rescue.
By Leon Lewis.

774 Steve Starr, the Dock Detective. By Wm.
H. Manning.

775 King Dandy, the Silver Sport. By Albert.
W. iken.

A New Issue Every Week.

annm’s Dnut LIBRARY is for sale by all
Newsdealers, ten cents per copy, or sent by mum
on receipt of twelve cents each.

BEADLE AND ADAMS. PUBLISHERS.

 

      

98 William Street, New York.

749 JOe Phenix’s Big Bulge; or, The ,

756 Old Burke, the Madison Square

   

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