copyflilhlé‘d. 1592. by BEADLE up ADAMS. ENTERED As SECUND (31455 MATTER A1- 1m: NEW YHRK. X. Y., Pun HFFICH. Junerls. $88.

Published Every djeudle (f‘ fldams, Qaubh'shers, Ten CentsaCopy. V01 
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2

The Man of Silk.

 

The Mag of Silk;

LITTLE PUSS,
THE PRIDE 0P POSBY'S POCKET.

BY JOS. E. BADGER, JIL,

AUTHOR or “ NOW-WEST NICK,” “ mourn JIM,”
ETCq nrc.

CHAPTER I.
A Nam. P R or sunnnns.

“ Srmnv, thar! ’ ave yourself, Old Rocks!”
And Hungry Derrick tightened the sagging rib-
bone with a. touch that only long ex erience
could attain. “Quit your foolishin’, tell ye!
There ain‘t nothin’ any uglier then your own
shsdder ’ithin a mile 0’ ye, an’ I know it!"

Still the Veteran oil-wheeler crowded the pole,
its muscles quiver' , its nostrils dilatin with
quick, tremulous sniffs, its ears ricke for-
Ward, its lustrous eyes filled w t suspicious
fright. Sharper and truer than uman reason
was its instinct!

Another sidelong plunge that shook the dusty
coach until there came a short, terrified cry
from the interior, and Hungry Derrick shot for-
ward his silk—tipped lash with impatient empha-
sis, although it was skillfully arresz before the
sleek hide of his well—beloved wheeler was dese-

crinted. Sharp rung the cracker, but sharper
st 11—-
Cmck! ,

All in a heap Old Rocks, the veteran wheeler,
went down; sharp and s iteful rung forth the
death-shot, rebounding rom the ruged rocks
be 0nd, multiplied into a score fore the

' ec died away down the narrow valley.

Blanding with that report came the stern com-
man 2

“ own brakes and hold her level, Hungry, or
you hg: to keep that brute company!”

T was not the first time Hungry Derrick
had been “ held u " by road-raiders, and though
his heart was fu to overflowing with grief at
fixeduntimely fate of Old Rocks, be promptly

“ Down brakes it am, an‘ be durned to ye!”

“ Business, lads! You know your duty l”add-
ed the same stern voice from behind the leafy
shelter, ringing out sharper and clearer as the
man and horse forced a passage through the
bushes and entered the coach-trail, one hand

' covering the driver with a heavy revolver,

while its mate menaced the occupants of the
stage. “ I’ve got you lined, mg: and out! It’s
metal I’m after, but blood wb lscare me, if
you will have it that way!” ‘

. Two black-masked men leaped to the heads of
the lead horses, holding them steady with prac-
ticed hands. A third making a ste ping-stone
of the quivering Old Rocks, lea upon the
surviving wheeler, active and suroas a monkey,
steadying the tcl'l‘ifled creatures Another trio
moved so as to command the open window of
the stage-door, each masked figure holding a
Winchester repeater read for.instaut use.

, “ No monkeyiug insi there!” cried the
masked chief, as his keen eyes noted swift
movements through the o n window. “ Let
down the bars, Cu d,an if the pilgrims do
any kl g, ou’ll ve plenty of company on
the r to g ory l” ,

“ Don’t shoot: there’s a lady in here!” came
a s! htly tremolous votes from the interior.

“ hat’s all right. A lady she may remain.
unless you fellowskick  a bobbery; then she’ll

, turn to an angel, ripe or glory! Business is
linsgne%su;ii$,gontlemen of our calling, and—all
r! t .

a lie-met way bill, boss!” ptly re ed
Cupid. the masked outlaw, wi h a nick g ance
through the stage. “ One pettioogt, two men-
_criturll'.” ‘

’ “ Open—up, and'turn them continua! Lively,

w! ’ . ‘
» swung‘ the. door open, reachin inside
lag“ a grasp at the shrinkingg, pale.
wtimu, but the younger male passenger
£11306 his intention, [basittildng olutti of 3:: s

' . half-ca , -sup n8 .
His face wfldg and bloodlzs, but there wzs

‘ . ,atonch of desperation in his dark eyes as they
' met those of the road-agent. .

.“Haudsoif! Don you mthepour child is

‘frlg tenedalmossto i Abuse uses much
as you like, but spare her, st.least1”hemuttsred,
hoarsolty.‘ ' i

Cupi glanced overhis mulch toWsrd the
mounted outlaw. a: though in doubt.

.“I’ll. look after them. Tumble out the old

gen Cupidthutdou’t rack hissged home too
, a first.” ' -

rou ,

“ pare him--m husband!” hysteri, cally

gasped the lady, loose from the

ng man and sp' g k to the sta ,

ughthedowo w ch dbefeeuatal,

‘ w iteohaircdman. “Do not mnhm! He is

ill-she is—my darling!” with a‘ choking sob as
Clipid involuntarily gave way. r

, 1 n aninstsnt one arm was about the neck of

, the old man, and she

.
.vfi :I.,,i

 

alight. As they stood beside the coach, even
the masked rider seemed struck by the picture
thus presented.

Tall and gaunt, with a frame that had once
been powerful and muscular in the extreme, but
now hOWed and bent with the weight of sorrow
far more than of years, Darius A 'mer really
seemed to require the support lent im by that
sli ht almost frail figure. Her slender arm
had slipped from his neck down to his waist.
Her other hand clasped one of his, as though to
lend him courage. And yet, Adine Aymcr
looked more like a child, as the third passenger
hlad called her, than the wife of an old man like
t is.

Slender almost fragile in build, with the
crown of her bonnet hardly rising to the level
of his bent shoulderS' with a small, childish
face, pink and white like that of the child she
seemed; with a babyish month, even now red
and pouting, despite its slight quivering; with
wide-open ages 0 deepest, purest blue, fringed
with long, axen lashes—e es that were ill ed
witha curious blending o defiance, fear and
pleading;

For a rief space the masked rider sat in his
saddle, gazing from face to face, but his dark
eyes lingering longest on that of Adine Aymer.
Like mnnya better man, he seemed to find a
strange fascination in that irlish face.

He flung back his cowled end with an impa-
tient gesture, his voice sounding hard and sneer-
i as he spoke again:

‘Very pretty, on my honor! A delightful
tableau, but—isn’t it a case of swapping ba-
bies?”

The last words were flung at the other pas-
senger, whose dark brows 00an still more,
a

black eyes.

“ Get through your dirty workas soon as you
can, t h it’s precious little you’ll find for
your trou le. And if there’s anythin of the
matnflabout you, spare her further no less in-
su .

“Site the wind in that quarter!” mockinvglty
laughed the outlaw. “ May and December,
ardent June hovering near! Well, such is life
in the Far West!”

“ Brother—dear brother!” faltered Adine,
shrinkiigglback from the gaze of the chief with
a little 'ver. “ Do not auger him, for—.-”

“ For your charmin sake, madam, he may
empty an entire cht onary on my devoted
head, and I’ll only smile sweet] upon him in
return,” cried the outlaw, bow 11 low. “ As

our lbrothergigoi: sactzed, unletess e be
00 is en r ump gamevn a
stake leftiiififis pocget; ghat W0 6. be the last
straw, sure enough i"

“ Eben you won’t—you don’t mean to—

“ To swallow you without salt i” laughed the
road-raider, lightly. “A delicious morsel, no
doubt, but it isn’t my time of day for feeding,
you see!”

He cut his mocking h short, for Adine
apparently did not hear is words. She turned
to Darius Aymer, her arms locked abou his
neck,rber baby face hid in his bosom, so ing,
lau hing, on the ver of b sterics. .

“ t is true—I saw t in h seyesl”she uttered,
brokenly. “It is not so bad. What is a little
money. to your life! And that is safe! You
said that?” turning swiftly toward the masked
rider, smiles and team chasing each other over
her childish face in curious fashion. “ You will
not harm him ? He is so ill—so w ill! You
will spare him, even if we have tosu er!”

“ Can’t be talk for himself!” sharply demand-
ed the masked chief. ‘~ ‘

Something in his tone seemed to sting Darius
A er, for: his tall rose erect. and a
sl ht tinge of color came into his thin, worn

face.
“ What is there to say to such rascals ae-—”
Adine swiftly her little hands over
his thin lips, sobb u like one half distracted,

now implofing her usband to be calm, now
9 masked rider’s forbearance,
herspeOgCh articulate enough for repro-

' “Hr its , “ ht ” im an: named the

mtlaw, wiwag‘avd of " glovzd right hand.

’ “ I only wanted-to see if had a tongue behind

mugs, for I begun to fear we had made a 
e 0

or game.” .
He  to anh. Clark, tht third passenger,

adding: ,. .
“, Quiet the ‘lady, if you know how. This is
win ther monotonbus. She’ll suffernoth-
E: w than the loss of her pin-money. Km
, eye on them, Cupid, and. copper any li
til-lots they may try to play when my back’s

Hewheelsd his horse and glanced 'up at the
driver who was sitting quietly on his seat, both
bandsraiscd above his head in regulation style,
W1! bk ' , was bent upon the now mot on-
less orm 0 his favorite wheel-horse.

‘ ngerous light leaping suddenly into the ‘

treman ly mum Adine, one littlehand I
stretch out ap ly the other clinging to ‘
her husband. ‘ eourlittle all, but spare our

 

“ Still mourning over your lost darling Der-
rick?” mockineg asked the chief. “ I admire ,
your constancy, but time enou b for cutting i

 

was assistingghlm 

out our mourning suit after nsiness-hours. I
lid you can come‘down to a common level?”
’ ., ‘ tmorede ye want I" growled the driv-

x

a
'-

 

  

er, with a sullen glow in his eyes. “ I’m holdin’
up all right, I reckon ?"

“ I want you to bear in mind that I can shoot
a man just as easily as I shot your horse. I
don’t want to waste a bullet on game that iS\
good for neither stomach nor pocket, but if you
will have it that way, I can snuff out your light
without so much as a wink.”

“ It’s toss-up which I’d ruther see shot, me or
my hoss !"

“It can be both i' you insist upon it, llun-

gr I"

‘y‘ Ef it’s all the same to you, boss, I’d ruthcr
live long enough to see you pull hemp,” grinned
the driver.

“ Coming ’round a little, ain’t ye i” lau‘rhcd
the rider. “ All ri ht. Jump down and ook
after our team. Give the boys your guns,,and
hand em out butt first, if you please. Not that
I think you’d try any monkey-work, but I’m op-

ed to throwing temptation in any one’s way.”

“ Sha’n’t I throw the treasure—box at ye,
fu’st l”

“ Don‘t try to be she. i, Hungry; sarcasm
isn’t yourforlc, so to spea ’. Don‘t we all know
you‘re too honest to be trusted with corporation
valuables?”

“A body cain’t always tell,” muttered Der-
rick, unbuckling his belt and tossing it to the
ground. “ You brnng sech a army with ye I
didn‘t know but ye was new to the route,
an’ tuck me fer exprcss, messonger, guards an’
all, rolled up into one package!"

“ Which package will be punched full of
holes if you don‘t rollon that box right lively l"
was the sharp reminder.

Derrick, good enough jud e of human nature
to know when to act instea of talk, promptly
jumggi to the ground, deftly unhooking the
frig ned wheeler and setting it free from its \
dead mate. ‘

“ One of you fellows can keep an eye on Hun-
gry, just to make sure he don’t try to surround ,
and capture the gang while we’re collecting the ‘
fare,” laughed the chief, quitting the saddle for
the first time.

He turned to the three ssengers, who were
sharing) side by side, un er guard. A glance
showed im that the lady had, in part, recover-
ed from her fri ht; that Bush Clark was egrave
and stem - that arius Aymer had “ brac up”
lwicflmderfnlly, standing erect, composed and dig-

“ If you could see beneath this sable covering,
dear madam, you would realize something of
my shame at having to act the part of a robber /
knight. If my blushes do not set my mask afiro !
it isn‘t because they are not hot.”

“ Since we are obliged to listen, may we sit
gown to rest until you are through?” sneered

 

!

 

i»

\

 

lar O

The taunt stung, evidently.

“ I’ll sit you down for good and all, my fine
fellow, unless you put a bridle on that clapper
of yours!” he cried, shat ly. “ It’s an ugly
mug you carry over those road shoulders, and
I’ve half concluded the future maybe smoother
if you are lanted too d to sprout!”

‘ Spare him! He didn mean to oflend you !”

lives !” ,

“ Oh, quit. You make me tired,”drawled the
outlaw, insolsntly, fanning his masked face
with a gloved hand. “ Do you take us for ten-
derfeet, out for an airing? Your little all!
Bless your stars that that same little all is as
much as I know it to be!” ‘

“ There’s my contribution, and may each dol-
lar of it o to buy the rope that issto hang
vou !” paged Clark drawin a thin wallet from
his bosom and casting it at feet of the chief.

“Small favors thankfully received, and lar-
ger ones in proportion,” mockineg rotor-ted the
rascal, but making rip move toward picking up \
the pocket-book. ‘ you prefer the search-

ing Yrocesa. ’7

, ‘ don‘t objeetto it. in this case,sinco you’ll
have onlyvyour lobes for your pains,” was the
cold retort. ‘

“ Time will show.‘ I know there’s heap more
ducats in the partythau such a consumptive
receptacle can accommodate. Perhaps you are
yed, member of the firm?” turning to-

the mono
ward Darius Aymer.
‘f May the curse of a broken-hearted father
upon a dishonored son cling to eve? dollar of
it!” uttered the old man, his tram ling right
hand holding forth a ketbo'ok hot much
more plethoric-lonking t an the one given 11
by Bush Clark. “ With it goes my last hopes— ’ z,
The masked outlaw gave a visible start at the I ’. ,
first sentence. '
“What! you claim me as your son? Bah!"
with an abrupt Chan 9 of voice and manner.
“That won’t wash! n business hours I never
recognize relations. And, right now. I’m busi-
ness clear over my bootrtops. Come down with
the ducats, or out goes your li ht, old man!" i. a:
and he strode forward until is istol-arm
reached the breast of the old man. be heavy
revolver was cocked and a gloved finger res 
on the trigger. The dark eyes behind the sable ,.
mask seemed to flash fire. ' '
“Don’t-don’t murder—” : ‘ ,

 

 

 

 
    

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The Man

fl,” .

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'0‘: Silk. ‘1 L w

 

 

 

 

   

Her voice broke, but Adine caught the muz-
210 of the pistol, her palm closing over the bore.
“'ith a deft motion the chief freed the weapon,
his thumb dropping on the hammer as though
afraid the pistol might be accidentally dlS-
charged.

“’lake her aside, you!” with an ugl look at
Bush Clark. “ I’ve wasted time enoug on her
nonsense. It’s for her sakeI bid you take her
away a bit.” -

“, ‘or his sake, sister!” muttered Clark trying
to obey Without exerting actual force. ‘ Don’t
irritate him more than you can help. He will
soon see for himself that he has little to gain
from us.”

“ You have all my money,” hoarsely muttered
Aymer, again extending the cketbook. “ I
am poor—miserably r! T ough the time
was when 1 had enoug . Time was— Take it,
curse you; ” with sudden energy hurling the wal-
let at the feet of the outlaw, then clasping his
hands tightly behind his back, as though to re-
sist temptation. “Take it and hide it! Only
for her—only for her sake do I give it up!
Were I alone, you should sooner tear my heart
out!

There was something in this outburst that was
beyond all actin . Plaiuly Darius Aymer
meant eve wordie utWred, and, strongly im-
pressed wit hi- manner, the outlaw stoo )ed and
caught up the cketbook, opening it wit hands
that perceptib y trembled. but only to fling it
d0wn with a low oath as he realized its paltry
contents—paltry in his eyes, though of such ap-
parent value in those of its owner.

A few bank-bills, a gold coin or two, a little
silver change' in all, less than fifty dollars,
where the robber looked for thousands!

He said not a word as he picked up the wallet
contributed by young Clark. In silence he 0 n-
ed it to find hardly as much wealth as re-
* \ war ed his search in the other instance. And

f

in silence he tossed both books with their con-
tents over his shoulder to be caught by his
masked followers.

His tones were hard and pitiless as he spoke

a in: .
g‘Iz‘For' the last time, Darius Aymer, I remind

you that this is sober business. I want our

mone . I have stop this stage express y to

et t at money, an have it I will, even if I

ave to take your miserable life with it! Once
more—fork over!”

“ You have it—every dollar. And my bitter-
{ est curse with it!”

4 " That don’t count. I want the money stolen

' from the Merchants’ Bank of —”

“Tell me where it is! Tell me where I can
find it! Show me the wicked—” gasped the old
man, springing forward and clutching the out-
law by the shoulders, his h, face close to
the sable mask, his sunken gray eyes glowing
with an almost insane li ht.

The road-raider shrun back, his armed hand
raised as though to drive his assailant back by
death. With a shriek Adine A or broke from
1 her brother‘s grasp and darted orward, clinging

to the armed hand, brokenly appealing for

 

mere .

“Bypare him—spare my poor husband! He
docs not mean it—he is almost mad! He is not
accountable for what he says!" .

The outlaw flung the old man back, twisting
free from the Woman.

“8693” tearin oi! her rings with trembling
haste. “ Take a -—take everything—onl spare
him! He is all I have left to love! He id not
mean to anger you—he‘will be quiet—for my
sake!” _

“ Have you
sharp demand.

“ Money?” echoed Adine preesin both hands
to her head, a bewildered light snag her e es.
“ I have no money. Why should If He ets
me want ’for nothing-my good, kind, noble

» h sband!’ I

“With a fierce oath the bandit turned "and
signed to his men. They leaped forward-and
grasped the two men, holdin them helpless.

‘\ The chief moved closer to arius Aymer, pay-
ing no further attention to the,woman, who
seemed stunned for the time being.

i “ Two of on search the hearse for the money.

It iseither morbiddenonthem. Gothrough

th ir clothesylads.”

xperienced hands make quick work, and two
minutes later the deed was completed. The

.money for which right or wrong. the brigand

had taken so much trouble, was not to be found.

“Look here. on White-headed idiot!” the
chief uttered, co div and deliberately, yet with

a purpose that could not be mistaken; ‘I know

vou left the last station With that money.

. know it is somewhere Within reach of my hand.
’i know you know where itis I ask you once
more to fork over. or. by the heavens above!
1’]! snuff out your light in a Ill-:13 second!”

- “ I have no money.” deem Aymer,shrink-

i «f in nlittle from that evil 8019, but repehtin :

1 u have no money It, is all gone. Even t e

. .. fpw dollars through which I h red tofind him

’ ...t,o bring the black truth tolls t—toconfound

f We wicked and rim the, innocents-even that

ittle ou havorob moot! Maymy curses-J
3.“ ve you got it?” turning abruptlth
m n m m a ma

got the money, then!” was the

 

 

  

.4 .

 

 

he would read the truth off-hand. “If so give
it up and s are yourself the shame of being
searched. ind the money I will, and if you
force me to treat you rudely, the blame be
yours!”

“ You coward!” grated Clark, his muscles
growing rigid.

“ Gag him if he opens his head again!” stern—
1y ordered the chief to his subordinates. “ And
you,” turning once more to old Aymer, “if you
would spare the feelings of your dainty wife,
bid her shell out the ducats. Come! I’m grow-
ing impatient!”

“It is gone—stolen!” muttered the old man,
almost vacantly.

A gloved hand caught him by the throat. A
revolver was thrust fcrward until the cold steel
dented the skin of his temple. A hard, mercx-
less voice uttered sharply:

“For the last time, shell out!
out goes your light!”

“ hasy, my sweet rascal!” cried a clear, mel-
low voice. “When it comes to snufling, I
reckon here’sa pair of snuffers such as you read
about! And both of them ready to shut down
on your lorious wick!”

Asmct ered curse broke from the outlaw’s
lips as he turned his head, to see two horsemen
covering him with Winchester rifles!

Refuse, and

 

/ CHAPTER II.
A “In, raorscrnnss.

annmo for life!

Fleeing from a sure and frightful death!

Fleeing with limbs that tremble and shiver
beneath his weight. With hot, painful gasps
that seem to scorch the dry throat as the breath
comes and goes—with a frightful throbbing
through the temples, and a mist before his
starting eyeballs—with a growing weakness
against which not even the chilling horror of
death—death by the shameful Effie—death by
hanging, like amiserable, sheep- ' ‘ngcur—can
iongprevail.

h moment is more bitter than an ordi-
nary death. Though his sins were ten old as
many tenfold as black, yet his punishment has
ex ed his deserts.

Something of this flashes across the half-
crased brain of that miserable fugitive as his
unsteady, blinded footsteps bring him in sharp
contact with a rock, the has revolver to
which he had clun through all t ese frightful
miles falling from s hand to the ground.

“ Let ’em do it! Let ’em come!” he gasped,
instinctively clinging to a point of the rock, his
head dr00ping forward until hisforehead struck
sharply against the rough bowlder.

Only a sli ht blow. but suflicient to break the
skin and let oose a little of the hot blood that
filled his veins almost to bursting.

It may have been the smart—sit may have
been the ]sight of his own blood as it dropped on
the rock before him, or it may have been the
shouts t came floating along the broken trail;
it may vb been either or all combined but
with renewed sight, the fugitive recovered his
wen u and resumed his fi' ht.

“ f it was on! dark! ‘ if I could only run
acrost some 0’ the ys! Ef I had my guns,qu
loaded!” ,

Pantingly, hardly distinguishable, came these
and similar sentences, as on he plunged stumbling
over the stones, tripping on roots or tangling
his feet up in an occasional bunch of grass or
weeds—on without a thought of whither his
blind flight was earning him, only feeling that
death was crowding him close.

The mist was turning black before his bulg-
ing 9 eballs, and seen his limbs refused to carry
‘him urther. With a groan, he so ht to turn
and face his foes, but pitched heavily forward
upon his face.

“ Thank God!”

The words burst from his parched lips in al-
most a shriek of joy, for he had fallen intoa

tiny rivulot of cold water that crossed the val- r

1e .

{Vaterl That meant life, strength, renewed
power of flight!

His bloody face was half-buried in the
fa! element as he lped down great mout uls.
His hands dabbl in the water like those'of a
little child at play. For the moment he forgot
all else in quenching his frightful thirst.

Only for the first few moments. however.

He can ht the sounds of his ursuers, shout-
ing alou , evidently in savage g ee, though they
were far too distant for their words to be re-

izable. They had seen. him stagger and
f . No doubt they felt that, after so long a
chase, their reward was almost earned.

_ “ Not it, on cussed devils!” panted the fugi-
tive, lift ng 8 head and luring back over his
shoulder, his trembling right hand mechanically
dropping to his waist. “ I ain’t de t, as
mebbe you’ll discover! On! three on ' es—
my last three c’atridges—huz I’ll send ’em 'ome
fer keeps: Better go a little slow, you blood-
hogndslll” d w b ushin

ne an as r gthe dro ofwater
,from' his face, pushing beck theswpgst-mstted

.with

‘hairthat felhiuredlockspver his e es. Those

' for he tube. And then a wail

 
 

Only too soon he detected them, hastening up
the valley, like himself on foot, like himself ex.
hausted For miles that chase had lasted, on
horseback. Then, with some of their mounts
dead of exhaustion, with others slain or crippled
by the bullets sent back by the fugitive, the
remnant were abandoned when the course of
flight glrew too rugged for hoofed feet. For
miles t e chase had lasted on hot, until the
weaker members had fallen out, until only five
men kept up the chase of that one‘ miserable
wretch. And they were in but little better case,
so killing had been their exert-ions.

A short, rasping laugh broke from the hunted
man’s lips as he saw how unsteady were the
movements of his pursuers.

" Chokin’ like I was! Dyin’ fer a drop 0’ wa—
ter! Como an’ git it, ye bloodhounds—but
you’ve got to fight fer it fu’st !”

His bloodshot eyes glanced hastily around,
taking in each little point of vantage. His
glance rested on two bowlders, side b side,
separated by a fewinches, and over whic grew
a scanty covering of climbers.

“ I kin stand ’em ofl' fer a bit, anyway, an’
that’s the place!" he panted, staggering forward
to the twin r0cks.

A shout came from down the valley. His ene-
mies had caught sight of his figure, and were
increasing their speed.

ing against one of the bowlders, he shook
his revolver menacingly in their direction,
steadying his voice as well as he could.

“ I’ lcall the turn on ou, Mark Toogood, ef
you try tocrowd me any er! Keep off, you
dogs! Iain’t dead it!”

he enemy pause at this defiance, but it was
more to gain a little breath than through fear,
as the fugitive know only too well.

“ The ’11 down me, cuss ’em I” he grated, that
hunted ook returning to his bloodshot eyes once
more. “ Only three ca’tridges—an’ theyi’s five
0’ them! Four, big, tough, nasty men to han’le.
An’ they'll pile on allto oneet. They’ll down
me,”fer keeps—but I’ll take somp of ’em with
me.

A savage glow filling his eyes, he leveled his
pistol down the valley, as though eager to begin
he work of death, but one hand was passed
quickly across his eyes. His lids winked ra—
pidly several times. He  the pistol-butt
tighter, holding his brea until his face turned
purple. Be brou ht his left arm around before
im, bent even th his throat formilrlilgsfi rest
“ cain’t see straight! It all a «(glad
dance atone mye es! An’ my han'trimbles so
hard that I 00111 n’t keep ’a mount’in kivered
long enough to pull tri ger.” .

' ‘ngly the bro en sentences came, and
that wild light deepened in his eyes, and once
more his eyes turned as though to line out the
easiest course" for renewed fiigllilt;l

“The game‘s open, an’the ' it chucked un-
der the table, Red Ber-gum!” now called out one
of the pursuers. leaning against a rock in full
'view. ‘Say when you’re ready fer businem,
an’l’m goin’ fer you make or break!”

, The fugitive saw that all of his pursuers had
halted, and thought of flight was abandoned,
for the moment.

“ I’ll make sure 0’ him, anyway!” he grated
beneath his breath, with a venomous glance to—
ward the bold speaker below. “ Only fer him,
I wouldn’t be here in each a nudging-gable! Onl
fer him—I’ll git even with you, k Toog 1
An’ then it don’t matter so much!”
hiHe cared little, now, how soon death came to

m
foe down to Hades.

“ You won’t git drunk at the wake, anyhow,
Mark Toogood!" he shouted back, hoarsely.
“I’ve chawed a bullet fer you, an’ m hate’d
make it 0 straight, even without aimin 2”

“You vs drop
was, this day. Bergum ; but I’ll have a hand
in your hangin', never you fret!”

‘ It’ll be dead men’s work all round, then!”
defiantly. “I’ll lay you out fu’st, an’ then as
many others as I’ve ot time. But I’ll keep one
bullet for myself. 11 never hang livin’ l”

“ You know you lie when you say it, you
car!” contemptuouslv cried the burly miner.
straightening up. “ You’re too big a coward to
shoot yourself, sn’ too mean for usto
waste a bullet on. The rope’l fit you best—an’
here it is!” . -

He loosened one and of s lasso that
coiled about his middle, shaking it clear of";
person so the hunted man could not fail torecog-
nize the read -made noose. Then——

ye now !” a
Without drawin a weapon, or even attemptr,
ing to avail himse
lelalgri.r-lru'1“)oogood rushed forward, accompanied by
s '4: ws.
The hunted man . leaped
and resting his revolver on one of the bowida's,

em as he saw Mark Toogood
flinching. or faltering.
; A n and again the ma spoke, the bul-
lets m wild of (the aimed at, t
down a man close beside Toogood:

 

 

and zone struck

 sun-mot

of such cover as offend,

hepuuedmml‘mnlkutterasavage moth-i _
come onwithont 3

if only he might first send that one bitter .

better men than I ever‘ 5 _

“Look on ,Red Bergum! We’re oomin’fer~

behind his covert, ‘

i

x

m.” I 4.. -.

 
 
  

 

 

 

.. ing murderer drove all other t o
‘1 their minds.
* head, the comrades dashed on in pursuit.

gtor‘cgvmeto

4:

The Man Of Silk.

 

 

 

to halt, and as the gathered around the fallen

man Red Bergum urled aside the faithless wea-

pon, and with all the mad horror returning, he
roke in fli ht.

“He’s o ! Fetch him back fer me to pull on
the rope l" asped the wounded man, almost
rudely repu sing his comrades.

A brief hesitation. Then the si ht of the flee-
hts from
And with Mark Toog at their

A brief pause at the little brook, just long
enough to swallow a few mouthfuls of water.
Then on with renewed speed and determination.

For full another hour that terrible racelasted,
such is the power iven onejby the fear of death!

There came no 8 outs from the rear now, yet
Red Bergum knew that the avengers Were still
on his track. He did not look back. He could

; not have distinguished face or figure if he had
\ through that frightful red mist. But he knew

the were drawmg nearer, slowly but surely—
wit ahorrible certaint 1

And then—as by mag c his vision was cleared
and he saw a rude stone house before him; saw
an open door, in which stood a fair oung girl,
gazing at him with wide eyes; an seeing so
much, a wild hope leaped into his despairing
soul.

“ Save me!” he gasped, reelln forward, his
hands outstretched. “ For the eve o’ kind
heaven! save me from those—those devils i”

Startled, frightened by his horrible aspect—
for the red blood was once more trickling over
his face, started anew by his frantic flight—the
maiden shrunk back a little. And then, with a
last effort, the hunted man reeled across the
threshold, to fall in a be] less mass at her feet.

Only an instant did 5 e hesitate. Then, as
she saw how helpless was the poor wretch who
had asked her for protection in the nameof holy
heaven—as she heard hoarse, a shouts cpm-
ing from without—she snatched a inchester re-
peater from the hooks over the fireplace and
sprung across the threshold, closing the door he-
hind her.

“ ki” she cried sharply, the rifle raising to
her shoulder with an ease and grace that betoken-
ed long familiarity with that unfeminine wea-

n. ‘Back, or ’ll open fire—and shoot to

' I!”

Mark Toogood was in advance of his com-
rades, and prompt] halted, mechanically throw-

ing u his unarm hands as he replied:
Yam wouldn’t murder your fri’nds, wohld
ye, Miss Puss?”

“ Your—Mark Toogood!” ejaculated the mai-
den in amaze. '

“'What they is left 0’ me, Little Puss,” with
a faint smile as he drop down on a rock
panting so violently that s e could see his broad
chest rise and fall, even at that distance. “ You
needn’t mind the bogs hone sweet,” as his
comrades came u an dro pedv down near him.
“They’re ure go d, thoug they ain’t much fer
manners— ke me! I reckon the ’re ’bout as
nigh played out as men ever git be—an’ all
’long 0’ that p’izen sarpint as you’ve got under
your n Puss l”

“ o is he? What has he done?”

“ Nothin’ wu’th complainin’ of,” with a short,
hard laugh. “Stole some hosses. Killed two
good boys, an’ crippled three more. Of course
we was all wrong, an’ him all right. We hedn’t
no business to try fer to git our property back.
An’ when he leftit—one dead. the others crippled
through pure deviltry—we bed a ri ht to urn
back an’ thank him fer bein’ so in ght kind.
What ef he hed shot ‘down Jim Magill Sech
a large thing didn’t ought to count ag’in’ sech
as hi I” I

A sorely-troubled light came into the fair face
-for Puss Curtis was fair—as she listened.
Then she caught a faint, wing mean from
beyond the closed door. e saw, in imagina—
tion, that helpless wretch lying there in his
blood—heard him appeal to her for aid. in the
name of Heaven.

“You are sure there is no mistake? This

r wretch is the man who—who did all
t?” she asked, her tones wavering, her face

turn ver e.
“Stfigll I k’isg‘tlhe Bible on it, Little Puss?”
“And if I give him up to you, what will you
do with him?’

“Treat him as too good bya hea fer this
airth,” was the prompt and significant re-

use.
sp?‘ You would kill him?”

“ Wh not!” with abrupt flerceness. “ Didn’t
he kill im Ma 1? Didn’t he shoot down Tom
Magatagan? sn’t his trail kivered over with
the blood 0’ honest men—one drop 0’ which is
wu’th ten thousan’ times more then all that ever

a run in his veins? Kill him?. Ef I could, I’d

keep him dyin’ from now tell Christmas!”

His enforced com re gave wayas he re-
called the crimes ‘of he hunted man, and with a
hard, vengeful light glowing in his big blue
eyes Mark Toogood sprung to his feet only to
pause at his second step forward. For the
rifle covered his heart, and over the

came: . ,

“Stop ri ht there, Mark Toogood! Don’t
lie on harm.” . ,

,Littlé’wf’in dullmurprise; unis

x . .

- 1.1. ‘f‘

Mme-ti ‘

    

 

n’t yOu hear me tell all what that dog’s done?
You ain’t standin’ up fer the likes 0’ him f‘”

“ We’ll take him away, miss,” ventured one
of the others. “ We won’t stretch his neck
whar you kin see.”

“ Stand back, I warn you!” with flashing eyes
and stead tones. “He appealed tome in the
name of eaven, and I’ll not give him over to
death such as you threaten, vile criminal though
he may be.”

 

CHAPTER III.
THE MAN or SILK.

“ WISH I may never chaw another bite ef it
ain’t The Man 0’ Silk!"

Shrill and distinct rung out the voice of Hun-
gry Derrick. and with a catlike leap that car-
ried him safe under cover of a big rock lying
alongside the trail, yet leavinglhim in full view
of the startled road-raiders, e hastily added,
his unarmed hands up and open:

“ Never mind me, gents! I’m strlilpped dry,
an’ you’ve got my guns, which you’ need ’em
all an’more, too, e you’re goin’ to meet that
purrin’ critter’s bluff—yes you will, now i”

It was breath wasted. Just then the brigands
had neither thou hts nor looks for the driver.

There was an a most general shrinking back
as Hungry Derrick uttered that peculiar title,
but it might have been from those leveled wea-
pons alone, for t :rri bl y business—like they looked,
and if the nerves of the men who held the wea-
pons were anything like as steady as the clear
voice which sent forth that half-mockin warn-
ing, the long odds which now exi mi ht
melt away before a single shot could be in
return.

Like the rest, the chief lanced quickly in the
direction of that voice, ut his grip on the
throat of the white-haired passenger only tight-
ened, and the muzzle of is revolver pressed
harder against his temple.

“Hold ofl’, you I” he cried, viciously, with a
short shake of his head in the direction of the
two horsemen. “Comes. foot nearer or burn
one grain of powder, and out goes his light for-
ever.

, " Oh, don’t!” and the stranger fanned the air
with his left hand, its mate holding the heavy
Winchester at a steady level unaided. “ For
your own precious sake, do you the holding

ard. I’ll make a holy riddle of you in less
than half a second if you don’t drop that mon-
key-work and skin but for tall timber! You
hear me?”

“ Me, too! Business is business 2” bluntly add-
ed his companion the muzzle of his rifle swaep-
ing back and forth as though endeavoring to
cover them one and all at the same time.

“ You curs!”snarled the masked chief. “ Will
{gu take a bind from two men? Drop them

thi You can do it with a snap-shot, if you
all work together. Read , now! When I say
the word, let ’em have it! ’

He completed the sentence, but that was all.
With a shrill scream, Adine Aymer sprung for-
ward and flung her whole weight against his
arms, at the same time dashing her tiny fists full
into his face.

It was like a little kitten attacking a great
mastifl, but its very unexpectedness possibly
rendered the eflort more successful than even
:2; plucky little woman could have anticipa-

The masked chief staggered back, almost los-
ing his balance, his armed hand flying upward
as the weapon ex loded with the shock, but be-
fore he could st e a blow or take a step to re-
cover his advantage. there came another re rt;
the revolver dropped from his hand, an red
blood spurted through the perforated glow as
the bul et-shattered member dropped helplessly
to his side.

“ Withered drop the hand that is lifted in an-
ger a ainst fair woman!” cried The Man of Silk,
mock gly, throu h the curl of blue smoke.

“ Tallly one for e Baby!” rumbled his huge
compan on, his dee tones mingling with the
sharp report of his l inchester.

The masked outlaw who had been holding
Bush Clark dropped to the ground without cry
or mean.

That warning was enough; all the road nts
suddenly lea into the leaf cover nom
whence they ad ambushed the (1%e, only to re-
appear the next moment, moun and riding
for dear life, with the crippled chief at their
h

“ Picnic! Come on! We’ll run in the whole
angl” shouted the horseman, dashing forward
Elna“ repeater sending out a stream of smoke and
out I
“ Enough is as good as a feast, pard!” cried
The Man of Silk,a touch of the spurs sending his
good horse u even with the other, when one deft
wrench with is small hand on the reins brought
the big horseback on its haunches. ‘ ‘ It’s all right
as long as the surprise is on our side; but six to
two. and those six with the dro , don’t pan out
a] athertoo lovel , now, I te l oui”
“ ey won’t qui runnin unti -”
“ They getteatdg; Well, et’s set ’em a
example y i g before we
live all the onger for it,
I the other, dropping
thathis

 

     

begin. ou’ll
l” l ghtly inter-
is companion’s bri-
wss' won.

t

     
  

 

The road-raiders were already out of sight and
almost out of hearing.

“ Whooray fer The Man 0’ Silk !” cried Hun-
gry Derrick, springing from his covert, flinging
his weather-beaten slouch hat to the round and
breaking out in a fresh spot, his nylimbs
flung 100%?’ about as he set up a fantastic
dance. “ ith a rig-a-jig-jig. (m’ a rig-a—jig-
jig! Who says he ain’t Jest little ole persim-
mons?" '

With a low, mellow laugh, the hero thus cele-
brated, rode forward, 3 ringing lightly to the ,
ground, a smile on his ace as be extended his

and to the delighted driver.

“Hungry, yours truly. If I’d known you
were in ambush, laying or the heathen, I’d have
lain back until a ter you got a square meal. i
Wb didn’t you stick out your sign?’ ;

 

t 1.
. ‘

“ he sight 0’ your sweet face is more’n meat
an’ drink to me, even of I was starvin’,” in-
ned the driver uniting his bony hands in giv-
ing the regulation pump-handle shake. “ Good
Lawd! the way. Curry me down, somebody,
or I’ll hev a fit an’ step in it.” I:

There is no sayin to what extent his feelings ,
would have carried m, only Bush Clark at that I
moment inte d, his face flushed, his dark
mas fairly glowing with pleasure as he uttered

thanks

“Grisly for you my r sister would have

suffe for her mpulsive defense of her hus-

band. Onl for you those demons might have

addedm erto— eh!” _
“ Did I speak?” blandly smiled The Man of i

Silk, as Clark started back the color fading

from his dark face a look of surprise that

might almost be called fear, min into his

eyes. “Beg pardon, I’m sure. di ’t go to

do it—whatever it was.” 
“Pilgrim, Mister Felix Bland, better knowed I.

as The Man o’Silk—two yards wide. an’ every ~ 4

thread made out 0’ double reflned gold ” bowed !

the driver, with a graceful wave of t 9 hand.

“One 0’ my insides, boss. White, I reckon,

though bein’a woman was along, he couldn’t

show his color too brash when we was jumped

python imps. Gents, know each other. An’

A hoarse, inarticulate c cut him short,
drawing all e es toward the usband and wife.

They saw arius tear Adine’s clinging arms.
from about his neck; saw him thrust the little
woman almost rude] from him; saw him star-
ing wildly toward hem, his haggard fhce al-
most convulsed with some .1 ,rong emotion.
And then, with hurried, unstead footsteps,
they saw the old man advance, an heard him

“fit last! ‘My weary search is—at an-

l-‘Iis trembling hands rose to his throat, tear-
ing at his _coilar as though it was suddenly
rown too tight. And then, before an arm could ,
nterpose, he reeled and fell to the and. . .;

“Poor fellow,” muttered Bush lark, spring-
ing forward. “The excitement has been too \ i

much for him, I fear."

Adine knelt where she had fallen when flung
aside by her husband, but her eyes were fasten— ,
ed upon the face of Felix Bland with a gaze that i
was curiously intent; so intent that she seemed ,3
ignorant. of the mishap that had befallen her ’
husband. '?
And Hu Derrick his mouth 0 n, stared ‘
blankly into t e face of The Man of ilk—a face i
that was straiigBer white and hard-set, now. v 
t t ;

 

Andthe ligh t glowed in those brown eyes:
was it terror, or simple su rise? Was it caused
by the strange actions of arius Aymer, or did
it come through meeting this woman with the
babégace?

“ 1: Out, clumsy,” rumbled the deep VOIce 0f
the big man, as he unceremoniously pushed Bus:
Clark aside, kneeling by the side of the falls
man and loosening t e collar about his swollen
throat. “Rush 0 blood tothe head. Nothing I
to fr hten. Bee)”

Wi a touch of scorn he noted the fading \
away of that unhealthrv purple flush, glancing
up into the dark face 0 t e other. .

Dark. and yet pale as though the ip of death
was closing about his heart. And ush Clark
moved slowly back, his jetty e es shifting un-
easily, yet unable to keep away rom that broad,
rug ed countenance.

on don’t look over well yourself,” bluntly
uttered the big man, as he drew a capacious
flask from his pocket, unscrewing the top and
flllin the silver cup from the bottom with
whis y, handing it toward Clark. “Take a
swallow. Have seen better, but it’ll bring the
color back to that pasty face of yours—sure !”

He turned to Darius Aymer, bathing his tem- x
pies with the strong liquor. cool and steady-
nerved seeming to orget the presence of all
others in that humaneduty.

And Bush Clark swallowed the whisky, drop-
ping the cup beside its owner, turning awa to- ,
ward his r, a (See breath that might ve I
been one of intense re ef esca ing his hps. ' i

“It’s nothing serious. r8,” called out the i
big man, glancing over shoulder toward
The Man 0 Silk. ‘Only a fainty-spell. Don’t
look an too rugged, though.” ,

F ix land gave a little start, then strodeforo ’
w , bending over the prostrate man,  '

.. ‘1' z.

.s 4..

 

    

          

   
     

     
 
  

  

 

 

  
  
  
 



 

’ "The  of'Silk.

 

cold and expressionless. Hungry Dei‘rick saw

this, and shook his head slowlyas he glanced to-
ward Adine Aymer.

“ Durn the wimmen, anyhow! You cain’t
trust ’em two inches! To look at her, one’d
take oath she was a. baby, jest beginnin’ to walk
alone; but she’s hit the boss mighty hard—an’ it
wasn’t done this da , nuther !”

Right or wrong, it was none of his affair, and
he turned awa to prepare his crippled team
for the road as st he mi ht.

“ Darius—husband, dar ing!” came a low,
tremulous voice from close beside The Man of
Silk. “ Thank Heaven, you are alive!”

With a low bow, Felix Bland stepped aside,
the movement attracting those babyish blue
eyes for an instant. Had Hungry Derrick been
near enough his hasty conclusion might have
been unsettled, for, brief though the period dur—
ing which the brown eyes and blue met, there
was nothing of recognition in either pair.

“ He is recovering, madam; it is only the nat-
ural reaction,” he said quietly. “ He does not
look very ru ged, and to one from a more civil-
ized negion these road-agents are terrifying fel-

ows.

The sound of his voice seemed to have even

eater powers than theiwhisky so freely used

)y the big man With a start and a shiver
Darius Aymer opened his eyes, staring wildly
into that calm, grave face.

“ At last!” gasped the old man, stru gling to
rise, a strange light chasing the dazegi e res-
sion from his sunken eyes. “ It is you! am
not dreamin , now I” .

“ Darius ear husband!” murmured Adine,
her arms winding about him, striving to lift his
head to her bosom. “ See—all is well! You
are safe, and those dreadful—”

“ Not you—I want him!” gasped Aymer, re-
sisting her gentle efforts, his 8 es still fixed upon
the face 0 The Man of Si k. “ Ali!” and a
groan broke from his livid lips. as a sudden
shivering attacked his gaunt frame. “ He’s
fading away! Hold him fast! He must not es-
ca me now! He must—must—”

The big man tightened his hold upon the suf-
ferer, his bi blue eyes roving swiftly from face
to face, but iggering longest on that of the man
whom he call partner. And as Darius Aymer
sunk back, helpless and swooning once more, he
uttered gravely: 1 ~
“ I reckon dyou’d better step aside a little,
pard. The 01 gent seems to take you for one
of those rascals, he’s so shaken, just now. And
you. too, madam, might—”

' “ He’s my husband!”

“ And his best friend. of course.” With a short
nod. “ But, somehow in these little spells, it’s
the faces of one’s best friends that give the most
trouble. Still, if you prefer—”

“For his sake, sister!” muttered ,Bush Clark,
his sinewy hand closing on Adine’s shoulder.
“ Only until be fully recovers his senses.”

Without a word she obeyed, though the tears
Were rolling freely from her eyes.

Felix Bland, cold and unmoved, also with-
drew, looking to the two horses which had until
now been left without fastening. though they
showed some little fright or uneasiness at the
bloody body of the veteran wheeler.

Tying them beside the road, The Man of Silk
bent over the corpse of the outlaw shot by his
comrade, cutting the strings that held the sable
mask in place. A rough, bearded. sin-marked
countenance was laid bare, but, though Felix
Bland gaveit a long and close scrutiny, there
was nothing in his eyes or face to show that be
had ever seen it before. (thud then, dropping
the mask over the pain-dis orted face, he rose
erect, to realize that his own face was being
scrutinized quite as closely.

It was not a remarkable face, in any 1:.
It might even be termed commonplace, for it
was a face such as one meets every day in the
year, with strong1 features, perhaps. but with
naught about it t at. would attract attention in
a crowd, or awaken interest in even an ardent
student of human nature—a face that matched
well with his figure. since that was of medium
size fairly well put together, but. so far as sim-
ple inspection could determine, gifted with nei-
ther unusual power nor stamina. |

A heavy brown mustache covered the upper
lip and shaded the mouth. His hair was brown,

close-cropped. His eyes, of medium size, were .ed

of the same color, and in no ways remarkable.
His garb was plain, of rough gray cloth.
He wore heavy riding-boots, spurred at the

 heel in Mexican fashion. A leather belt on-

circled his waist, supporting a brace of heavy
revolver and a knife. Just show it was a
second belt, of webbing. the loops tilled full of
fixed ammunition for istols and rifle.

This was the man now far and Wide as
one of the/coolest, nerviest. most reckless char-
acters where one must be brave indeed to rise

\above the common herd. This was the man

whose fame had spread throu hout all the min—
ing country as the bravest of be brave; whose
unruffled can frm‘d in the face of the heaviest
odds, under t e most trying circumstances, had
won for him the significant title of “ The Man
of Silk.”

It was Adina Aymer‘who was so closely re-
' him,andashebeeameaware attain

r

i - ?

 

 

fact Felix Bland saw her break away from Bush
Clark and come forward, her face blushing and
paling alternately, her eyes filled with mingled
curiosity and anger—if one so tender, so baby-
ish might be said to feel anger.

“ ls there anything I can do for on. madam?”
he asked, removing his hat with a w, his tones
soft and gentle.

“ Who are you? What is your name? Why

is he—my poor, dear husband—so frightened of
you i” breathlessly demanded Ad ine, yet shrink-
ing a httle, a half-frightened look in her blue
e es. ‘
y“ My name is Felix Bland. 1 am a rolling-
stone. Was he frightened of me? Of course
since you sa so,” with another bow, and still
blander smi e. “ Then—probably he mistook
me for one of the road-agents.”

" Not that—you know that is not it!” almost
passionately. ‘It is more than that. He re-
cognized your face. as that of one—surely you
are not an enemy?” with a sudden change of
voice and manner, impulsively stepping forward
and clasping his arm with her trembling hands.
“You will not harm him? He is so weak, so
feeble. And—he is all I have on earth to love,
now—him and my brother!”

“They are to be congratulated—I beg your
pardon,” with a little shru of the shoulders, as
Adine shrunk back from is steady gaze. “ I
should not have said that, sincere! as I may
feel it. As for hurting your has and, even
were be my bitterest enemy—and I can number
them by legions—the fact that he has you for
anbad,vocate would render him sacred in my
si t. ’

as there a trace of mockery in his tones?
Adine seemed to think so, for she shrunk back,
her red lips quivering, tears coming to dim the
luster of her eyes. The Man of Silk saw this, and
in quick, earnest tones he added:

" Believe me,madam, I am inearnest. Your
husband has nothing to fear from me. I do not
believe We ever met before this hour. If so, I
have for otten it.”

“ Yet is words—his looks—~” .

“ Were nothing more than fright at those
rough customers, I reckon. As you say, he is
not well. and—” ,

The Man of Silk aused short, as he saw
Darius Aymer on his set and approaching the
s t where the stood. Adine turned at his
g ance, and wit a little cry, almost a sob, she
rushed forward and flung her arms about the
gaunt figure.

“ Thank Heaven! you are well again, dear?
You a e—”

Darius Aymer did not even look at her as his
bony hands caught and removed hers, ushing
\her to one side. His sunken eyes were xed up-
on the calm, plain face of the adventurer.

“ Not now—I must see him I" he muttered,
hoarsely. “Go away—go to your brother-I
must not be hindered now! It is my last chance
—m last feeble hope!”

“ umor him. madam," soft] muttered The
Man of Silk. “ You have my p edge, and may
rest content.” ,

With a sobbing cry, Adine reached up and
drew that haggard face down until her, red
lips hould tone it. With an impatient gesture
the old man thrust her aside so rudely that she
staggered and almost fell. Then be grasped The
Man of Silk by the arm, his voice' harsh but
trembling as he uttered: '

“I must see you—alone! I must talk with
you, for—”

His voice choked and grew unintelligible. Fe.
lix Bland quietly drew one arm through his in
such a manner as to partly support the old man,
saying gravely:

' “ You shall have your wish my dear sir. I
will do for you all I can, thong , to speak plain-
! , I reckon you’ve picked up the wrong man. I
(if) not know you, if we ever met before.”

“Still resentful? You have not forgotten,
then?”

“ I reckon I must,” with a slight smile.

Darius Aymer groaned faintly and leaned
more heavily upon the arm of the adventurer as
they left the spot, passing up the trail fer a lit-
tle distance. Then, as the was hidden
from view and The Man of Silk came to a pause,
his companion suddenly gathered strength, fac-
ing him with desperate energy, his face contort-
infully. ..

“ veme back my good name, on miserable
wretch! Restore me my blackene honor! Un-
do your devilish work, or—or—”

He choked, and would have fallen only for the
read; arm of Bland. I

“ on are trying our feeble powers too so-
verely. my dear sir, ’he said gently, as he led
the old man from the trail to a moss—covered
rock. “Sit down fora few moments and try
to compose yourself.”

f‘ 80 You can dodge me again!” panted Aymer.
With faint fierceness. ‘

“ Shall I swear to remain? Have you a pair

of bracelets hand i” the other laughed, coldly.
“Will you take t is?” handing him a revolver
butt first.

“ Cold and heartless! Cold and heartless 1”
moaned the old man, covering his face with his
hands, his aunt frame shaking convulsively.

Gravely v Man 

     
   

  

  
    
  

 
 
  

formed a bar to their ve

 

til Darius Aymer chose to speak again. The
minutes passed by without any such attempt,
and a frown of impatience was settling over
Felix Bland’s face at the long delay, when the

old man suddenly sprung to his set, crying
hoarsely:
“Justice! Give me back my good name, or

I’ll forget that the same blood flows in our
veins and drag you to your doom without mer-
cy! Free my name from this foul stain, or I’ll
take the law into my own hands!"

With a low cry The Man of Silk stepped back,
throwing up his right band, now grasping a re-
volver, firing the instant it rose to a level.

There came a wild cry, and then a human
form rolled down the rocks into the rough trail
before them!

 

CHAPTER IV.
A LOVER IN THE BREACH.

No signs of womanly weakness or of yielding
in that voice or attitude. Clear and distinct the
one; firm and resolute the other.

“ But, Pretty Puss,” e'aculated Mark Too-
good, recoiling just a trifl . though a more reck-

essman never drew breath, so far as his own
welfare was concerned. “ You don’t under-
stand. You don't ’pear to take in what I told,
ye ’bout that dirty whelp. It ain’t your daddy’s
gal that’d fly up in the face 0’ common jestioe
like this, fer a low—down—”

“ Not in the face of justice, Mark Toogood,
but against murder!”

“ A ‘inst murder—yit you pull a gun to pro-
tect f iat critter? An’ his hands dripping red
with honest blood!” .

“ If he has sinned against the law, let the law
punish him as he deserves, Mark Toogood!”

“ Eye fer eye, an’ tooth fer tooth. It ain’t
like you to go back onto the Good Book. Little
Puss. It ain’t no sech lessons Pose Curtis ever
l’arned, his daughter, I know. f Posey was

M

“If father was here his will should rule, be
my opinion what it might,” was the calm re-
sponse. “ But, he is not here. I do not know
for certain when he will be here. But this I do
know Mark Toogood: This wretched man an.
pealed to me in the name of Imam begging

me to save his life. He fell ac my thresh-
old, and I can hear him moaning and gasping
as he lies helpless. on the floor. Though his

crimes were ten times as black as you have
painted them, I would not give him up to such
a cruel death as you mean to measure out.”

One in a thousand was Little Puss Curtis just
then, her fine, if diminutive figure resting light-
ly on her advanced left foot, her half-bare arms
holding the re ter ready for a raise, a bright
flush coming to her face and a steady glow in
her dark eyes. -

The rude stone cabin, half-hidden beneath
chmbing vines that crossed even the roof : a
background of rocks and bushes and struggling
trees, sloping upward toward the distant moun‘
taiéis, beginning almost from the rear of the
ca in.

Before the door of hewn slabs which still bore
the marks of the pioneer’s ax, a girl, whose de—
m‘eanor was none the less heroic because it was
natural and unstudied, a girl whoseemed scarce-. /
ly in her ’teens. until her face was studied, un- ’
til her perfectlydeveloped figure was noted.
partly disguised as it was by her coarse dress of
calico. But, none who saw her now, standing

rey, could or a moment have doubted
uss Curtis was a woman in soul and cour-

less
that

age.

Short and slight in build, not larger than
many a girl of twelve, Puss Curtis was near!
twenty years of age: a perfect brunette wi
jetty hair that lay in curls about her small head,
its very shortness adding to her youthful ap-
pearance; with great eyes, black and lustrous
as those of a startled fawn; with a skin as soft
and pure as that of an infant, on which the ac-
tion of wind and sun could do no more than
paint a few tiny freckles; with red roses in her
cheeks, and redder, warmer colorin on her
lips; with dimpled chin.'.graceful nec , anda
form that had never known nor felt the need of
artificial bracing or supports, even asits owner
had never known a languid hour or an hour of
sickness since she could remember.

Her dress of print reached not quite to. the
ankle. Over it a “bib-apron” of different
color. Beaded moccasins were on her feet, the
work of her own little hands, as were the gray
woolen hose that rose above them. A narrow,
white collar rimmed the throat, and a scarlet
ribbon was crossed above her forehead; these
latter her only ornaments. ,

Mark Toogood frowned at her words,even
while he could not help smiling at the piqaant
picture thus presented. ‘ '

Bold, unmaidenly, some might have pro-
nounced the girl who paused, armed in defense
of the helpless: not so the four hardy men who
stood at the base of the gentle slo before the
stone cabin; To them a more gorious sight
could not haVe been presented, even though it

ce.
“ Now‘Puss. Pretty Puss!” coaxing]; remand
burly miner.  his heated

‘ K

between the avengers of blood and their help- -

row with 

\

 

 

' me to kill, friends,” broken y uttered the girlt {
i

' out that jestice, Little

v that they kin see him sent over the divide afore Lnstant from the men below.

‘ ishlnent of that brief tremu ousness, her voice ‘

«i

he, Man of Silk. I I

~
1

 

bis broad—brimmed hat. “ You don’t look at it  to be hurt, even though she shoots every darned
like you ought—so you don’t! Think what the i one 0’ us mind that!”
critter’s done! Stole good bosses, an’ then—” I “ It’s

“ 1 know what he is, Mark Toogood, and—” . the sulky repl .

“The blackest, meanest hellion this side 0’ 3 without handlin
Tophet!” broke in one of the others, with a sud- ‘
den burst of anger.
‘ “ I know that he is weak and suffering—that ‘
he has been hunted to the ver 1'0 of the grave, ,
and suffered a thousand deaths! ’

“ Ef he has, Pretty Puss, it ain’t nothin’ to the } gravely respom ed Toogood.
punishment he hes airned,” gravely declared ; “Smart as the galis, she cain’t look more’n

oo 00d. . one way at once,’ suddenly put in the fourth
“ I know that be trusted in me, begging me to 1 member of the party, who had kept silence un-
protect him. And knowing this, gentlemen, I ? til now, though his keen eyes had not been idle.
ask to know no more. You may drag him out .
of this house, if you will—”

“ We don’t ax no more, Little Puss!” ea erly ,
interposed Toogood, starting forward, on y to I
pause abruptly, flinging back his head as a sharp 3 ark,
report rung out an a bullet whistled close to . “ What’s the matter with slippin’ round the
his ear. i corner an’ jumpin’ the ga , then?”

“Back, Mark Toogood!” cried Puss Curtis, i During this pause Litt e Puss was watching
her practiced hand deftly working the lever that the men below her position, trying to divine
flung out the empty shell and refixed a fresh ' their intentions.
cartridge, never IOWering the weapon or losing voluntarily made a gesture to the more clearly
her steady aim. indicate his scheme, she instinctively divined

“ You wouldn’t kill a fri’nd, Puss?" their purpose, and called out sharply:

The voice that uttered these words was far i “ Don’t try it, I beg of you,gentlemen! Once
from stead , though it was not from rsonal
fear. Mar Toogood feared death as ittle as signs of trickery—if any one of lycpi try to creep
any mortal could. It was the thought of having away to take me by surprise- ’1
his blood on her hands that unmanned him for sure as the sun shines u yonderl”
the instant. “ You see?” growled an Orvis, with an ugly

“ I sent that as a warning, Mark,” and there frown. “ They’s only the one wa .
was the faint echo of a laugh in the maiden’s 1 to run in on her, an’ resk her le !”
voice that brought a hot flush to the bronzed “She means it, every word,” muttered Mark,
face of the burl miner. “ You know I’m good ’ gloomily. “ SheTll shoot to kill, an’ I never see
for a much sma ler mark at double the distance, i a rittier nur a more sart’in shot!”

Only a warning—nay! a prayer, rather!” ‘ I ain’t quite so big a target as you be, but

T e miner lau hed grimly, as he retorted:

“ Durned of
thin’ like a call to ’pentence!” -

“If on would only listen to it, Mark!” cried !
Puss, or face paling and her tones growm i only for a sharp cry which broke from the li s
less steady. “ f you would on] listen an i of their silent comrade. He pointed toward the
obey! I don't want to hurt you— would rath- I stone cabin, his face flushing, his eyes aglow, his
or suffer deathmyself than to fire at you and | voice excited: ' .
those with you with an aim that means death l” ‘ “ Thar’s some one ahead 0’ us i”

“ N ur we ain’t over anxious fer you toshoot , Before they could ask his meaning, it was
any closer, Puss. We ain’t so much a’count, ; made clear to all.
I'm free to own up: but I reckon we’re wu’th a i The figure of a man

“Show how we kin git him

 

gal—threats or no threats— m’s my meat I”
“ I want him just as bad as you do, but that

round? She cain‘t shoot through a stone wall.”
“ The ’s only the front door.
too sma l fer a man to crawl through,” retorted

E

 

blood leaping into the face of the burly miner.

; ain‘t bad enou h to do harm to Little Puss,” r

rung around the corner ‘

l

ed Bergum I’m thinkin’ most of,” was threaten in dead Ofll‘llvefl before this day!” im-

1

i

“ I know you for an honest man.a true friend,
and one whom I never expected to be obliged to

pulsively cried Puss, a faint trembling in her

’ her rough, an’ I’m satisfied. ! tones.
But I don’t back out now, an’poor Tom luyin’ ‘
back thar, dead by his dirt hand! Gal or no I

“ Nur you wouldn’t this day. ef that dirty
whelp of a lied Bergum hcdn’t broke into your
house, I’ritty Puss—oref you hedn’t drawed a
gun to keep him from what he deserves a thou-
sand times over!”

“ Mebbe the gent will listen to reason better,”
suggested one of the party, soothing! y. “ Mel)—
be he’ll take the gel out 0’ the way, leavin’
us to take Red Bergum back to satisfy his

; score '4”

“ What’s the matter with makin’ a sorter sur- :

There was a slight pause, broken by Booth

‘ Barrett:

The winders is g

!

And as the last speaker in— j

more, I don t want to hurt you, but if 1 see any ‘r ste‘aflglzy as fate as he spoke:
o

i

“ The decision rests with Miss Curtis. If she
is willing to surrender this man to you. for such
punishment as you may see fit to inflict, I have
nothing to say against it. You are willing,

E Puss?” he asked, in a lowered tone, glancing

swiftly toward the maiden.
“No—I cannot! I dare not!” she cried, im—
pulsively. “It would seem like murder to mei
be poor wretch is so hel less! And he begged
me to save him—in kind heaven’s name!"
Booth Barrett turned toward the expectant
miners. his face grave and resolute, his voice

u have your answer, entlem 11. Miss

drop him, as . Curtis declines to surrender t is poo devil to

| your tender mercies.”

i

We’ve got  crouched like aWild'beast on the

 

His answer might not have been so agreeable. ’ spo

!

Again Dan Orvis clutched a weapon and

' itslap A ' th stro “30:131ka
mg 9 . gain e n n 0 ar
Toogood restrained him. 8
Grave, cold, almost dignified, he called out:
“We hed her answer, fu’st off. Pritty Puss
ain’t one to change with the wind, like a weath—

I’ll even it up by goin’ ahead 0’ the rest,” with  er-cock. It ain’t her answer we look fer, but
didn’t think it sounded some- a thinly-disguised sneer that brought the hot ‘ yours 1”

“Her answer is mine,” was the quick re—
nse.
“ Wait a bit before swearing to that,” inter-

! posed Mark, who was really anxious to gain his

 

!
i

heap more then that dirty cur Red Bergum. : of the cabin and stood 'eside Little Puss. One ?

Ef he was an hin’ of a white man—of he wasn’t j arm passed partly around her waist, but it was
sech a low own dirty dog, too mean to be i not with the touch of an enemy, and the little
kicked to death bigrasshoppers- it wouldn’t go cry of terror which broke from her paling lips
so rough, gittin’ 3 0t in tryin’ to bring him to ‘ was uickly turned to a sob of joy.
the punishment he deserves. But, to be shot i “ th-tha.nk kind B .
fer him-an’ by you .' That gits us, Little Puss! she sobbed, her resolution failin her for an in-
That Fits us clean down to bedrock an’ back»! stant, the rifle almost dropping rom her trem-
‘in! ’ 7 ! blin hands. _
“ lt would be easier for on to die than for l “ old hard, you fellows!” sharply cried the
new-comer, his left hand coming away to re-

‘ vain. I don’t ask the facts. I simpl

purpose without further strife or bloodshed.

‘ Let me tell ygu jest what the matter is. Let
me give you a i ee 0’ the dirty dog you’re help-
in’ to cheat instice. Let me tell you how many
good boys— ’ ,

“ If you fxist, of course I can’t stop your
talk,”inter ted Booth Barrett. “ But I' warn
you before and that it is all breath spelpt in

now

' that you are making a demand which t is lady

‘ sees fit to resist. That is enough for me.
eaven you have come!” ‘

i

I side
with her, right or wrong.”

“ Durn the chinnin’!” growled Orvis. “ Down
with the critter. It’s got to come to that, any-
way. Why not now i”

‘ Thank you, old fellow,” laughed Booth Bar-
rett, with a half-mocking bow toward the
vengeful speaker. “ i know who I’ll drop first,

at showing no other si s of flinchlng. ‘ inforce his right, a brace of heavy revolvers 3
Keg of you to go away an not force me tosuch I covering the party of avengers as they impul— ’ now.”
ahorrible extremity! (30! Leave this miser- I sively started forward to take advantage of

able wretch to heaven’s justice! If he has I this seeming opportunity.
sinned, so he shall suffer, in God’s own time!" i
, Mark Toogood grew raver, sterner. ’Hisi
mates were frowning an beginnin to inter- ' newing her steady aim at the same moment.
change ugly glances as they nervous y handled I “ I am not alone, now!”

ir weapons. ' Dan Orvis, his thin face passion-flushed,

“ I reckon we’re His 9. ’in’ted tools to kerry crouched for a desperate rush, but the strong
uss,” soberly uttered j
the miner. ‘Ef not—ef we’ve made any mis~ i b
take in that line—it’s too late to begin another !
drift, now. 'l‘nar’s our mates-- ood lads an’
true! Thar’s them that is dea through his
work. Jim Magi]! an’ Tom Ma atagan. Thar
wasn’t no little woman to stan’ a ween them an
his gum-wuss luck! Thar's Dick Damson, an’
Mose Weatherby, an’ Zip Coon, layin’ crippled
an’ helpless, only waitin’ fer him to come back

ack.

“Stiddy, pard!” he muttered, warnin l .
“ lt’saman we’ve got to deal with now. e
be we kin make him listen to reason. Ef

to back me up!”
“ What is it. Puss?" hurriedly asked Booth
Barrett,scarce daring to re

“ Who are they,
nd what does it all mean? Surely they don’t

them. An’ yit you stan’ hack!”
mean to harm you 7”

“ I say it again. Mark Too ,” with a van-
to hang! fie begged me to save his life—and I
couldn t refuse—could I i” murmured Little Puss,
with a quivering lip and an appealing, half-
fri htened look. I

00th Barrett frowned darkly, his bearded
lips compressing tightly as thong to kee back
a reproofwcertain ‘
ting ap novel a lover should
heart. at he was a man, wit a man‘s rea-

rlnging out sternly. “ He appealed to me, and
in my eyes he is human. You maymurdcr him,
but not while I can fire a shot or strike a blow
defense. You may drag him forth to
him,”but not unless you do it over my

body.

Not loud and boasting. T 9 simple truth, ex-
ssed in the plainest of ords. But all the
‘ ' are impressive on that account. because those
wholookcd and listened could see how thor-

ou hlyk‘tlich word was meant.
ar oogood turned to his mates, his brows
contracting, the uneasy light deepening in his

“I say, you." call out Mark Toogood, at

that uncture.

honest eyes. “ hat is it?” bluntly demanded the new-
“ It's at to done, pard,” one of the trio comer. ‘
anal , hasti y. “We cam’t let him slip “Business, chuck-up! Thar’s a dirty dog in

the cabin yender, that’s our meat. We‘re com-
in’ up after him, an’ of you don‘t want to
git hurt in th scramble, I reckon you’d better
pull out while ar’s room.”

“ I’ve seen y 11 before some place, if I’m not
mistaken. 1:,our name is Goodman, or—”

00 .

“Thanks. You look too good to be bullying
a lady after this mad fashion, but appearances
lle, it seems.” .

“ .everyou mlndm name,” doggedly retort-
,ed the sinner. “3:” 5m lady, Little Puss

thro gh our uri , after all this!”

“ She ain’t not in’ but a gal, anyhow!” growl-
ed another.

Upon him Mark Too and turned with an
ominous growl and flas ng gaze, his voice hard
and menacing as he uttered:

“ She’s as nigh a angel as a woman ever gits,
Dan Orvis, an you write this dowrn in our
nog'gln’:‘ef yen hurt one ha‘r 0’ her head, I kill
you. use as the sun is shinin’ over yonder!”
.. “ We cain’t gigmlm ’tliout puttin’ her out o’

   

 

i

I
l

“ Back, I warn you for the last time!” cried ' stranger,” gravely
Little Puss, recovering her composure and re- j “They is three more honest lads cripple fer

1

hand of Mark Toogood caught and jerked him L know. is this: I find

I
.
i
i
l

i

“ I’ll try it omnl'one, ef you're all too skeered ;

I

l
. .

i

i
i
l

l

 

 

“They’s bin two good an’ true men killed
scnce Red Bergum tuck to his heels this time.
added Mark Too .

life—cf they're still livin’. Think it over well
“3’8” “twat”? in
n our ,no onm e” rom tl

retortedy the lover. “ All blesknow, ’01? carg ti

on ie 'n this bu‘ -
ing. I flndthe ownerhidding yfilu keep off, 3%-
der penalty. And finding matters thus, I take
sides With the lady).e And taking sides, be sure
I'll do m level st to make hers come out
ahead, kll ing or no killing.”

“ Wait .until father comes back, Mark Too-
good—wait until then, and I’ll to let him

acids the case,” cried Little , her tone

move his eyes for an , far less resolute than when she was unsup-

porte .
Then, she had only herself to think of. Now,
the man she was fast learning to love above

“ In yonder-a poor wretch they chased here ' all things earthly, was in perilrthroggh the

stand she had taken. And she trem-
blingly, hopefully, for the answsr to her pro-
posa .

How her heart sunk as she saw the miner
slowl shake his head.

“ f it wasn’t fer the boys we left crippled ,

y it was not the un esita- i mebbe dyin’, on the trail ahind us, Puss, 1’
ve his sweet- . jump at the chance, for right well I know Pusey

Curtis wouldn’t never harbor a d lik
Be um when he knowed what blood)? deedslifg

son. .
“ What do they cheerge him with? What—” I cri .r hes done. But fer thar sakes, I cain’t

wait no lon er then it’ll take to d th
out 0’ than"; , ’ mg 0 Whelp
ter you ve gained an entrance ‘
mean,” suggested Barrett. ' yfm
“ In five mmnits we'll make a t for it, stran-
ger,” was the grim response. “ f you don’t
give way—waal, mebbe. you’ll git hurt.” '

CHAPTER V.
A urann IN snaacn or A son.

 

 

‘

unmeawzr-flmwm ‘ v  v

   

 

DARIUS AYMER started back witha of. " 3

horror as The Man of Silk whipped forth h re-
volver, but his fears were needless. The shot,
that came so swiftly was not intended for the
old man. ' ‘
U among the rocks a few yards above --
lev ofthestage-trailamanwas u i    -
tuning to their Words .. ,

     

  
  

I
‘l

5
l
l
i

mmwlfi‘fflm';"fi A  .
.._._..-.._.-.._‘..

sac-wuss» " « '

 

       

.by the hand, shaking it vigorous

i. . A . , 1,.
1

n. -s, L. r 

W The Man of Silk.

A

through the scrubby bushes and weeds. And as you can’t blame me for feeling just a little sus-

the pistol exploded, a Wild yell escaped his lips: picious, even of you, strangers as you are.”

he started to his feet, only to lose his balance
and roll end ever end down the steep to the road

below.
“ Tally one for Feli i” cried the reckless ad- -
venturer, his brown egos roving swiftly Over the l the adventurer as he bowed again, uttering in

slope as though in search of another target, his
wea n thrown back until the silver sight touch-
ed his right shoulder.

Mingling with his cry came other sounds; a
deep, threatenin
“Baby” John

I

l

| 8

roar, rather than shout, as 5
arcus came rushing up the‘

trail to the spot where the discomllted eaves- f
dro )per was lying: and a shrill, wailing shriek '

as dine Aymer followed close in his footste 5.

Baby caught the stru gling man up in is
strong hands, with a mig ty heave raising him
above his head, ready to dash him down to
death or mutilation on the rocky trail as he
thundered:

“ Say the word, pard!”

“ No, no!" pantcd Adine, clasping her hands
about the muscular arm of the enraged giant.
“ Spare him—it is my poor brother l”

“ The devil l" spluttered Baby, instantly low-
?ring his captive until he cou d look into his

ace.

One glance was enough. Dirt-soiled, blood-
marked thou h it was,there could he no mistak-
ing the dark ace of Bush Clark!

“Let me down!” panted the prisoner, writh-
ing to free himself from that mighty grip. “ He
shot me—I’ll get even, if it takes—

“ Brother—dear Bush !"

“ Now I am dumb-foozled l”

Felix Bland,pistol still in hand stepped out
into the road, staring in wide-eyed amazement
at the man Whom his snapshot had brou ht
down from the rocks above. Stared, bms ed
his free hand across his br0wn eyes, to stare
and stare again.

“ Shall I, pard i” muttered Baby, doubtingly.

“ Sure!” was the prompt res use. “ Put im
down before he makes anot er swap—for I
never saw such hn immense place for mixing
babies up as this same! I pulled on one of the

an , and brought down one of ‘the passengers!
%Vel , well l” '

“What was be trying to do up there, any-
how?” suspiciously growled Baby Barcus.
“ You don’t burn powder without a good ex-
cuse.” '

The moment Barcus set Bush Clark free
Adine Aymer claimed him,her slender arms
hampering him so much that he could hardly
have drawn or used a weapon, even should he
make the attom t. The little woman who had
been so sorely ried that» day, who'had under-
gone so much excitement, was sobbing hyster-
ically with her face buried in the bosom of the
dark-faced passenger. -

“I told you it was foolish, dear brother,”
came the barely audible words, broken by those
sobs. “ I knew it was a waste of time, and al-
together unnecessary While—while such good
friends—as these—"

Bush Clark flashed a swift, sidelon
into the grave, doubting face of Baby
answer to that suspicious speech.

“ Isn‘t it plain enough what I was trying!
Watching over Mr. Aymer, as in duty bound—
as I am paid for doing!”

“ And to think I mistook you for one of these
infernal road-agents, skulking around for a
chance to even up!" ejaculated The Man of
Silk, pressing forward and grasping the other

y. “How
luck my gun knew better and—”

“ rother, dear, you are art!” 7 Adine,
who had shrunk back at the a preach of Felix
Bland. “There is blood on yo r fate!"

“Only a scratch, madam,” bowsd The Man
of Silk, his voice soft and musical.

“ No thanks to you, thoughl”grow1edenu3h
Clark, with a vicious side, glance, as one hand
went up to his head, gingerly fingering his

glance
rcus in

sk ll.-
3 Don’t, I beg of you. dear fellow !” pleaded

‘ Bland, smilingly, “Douit hold a grudge for a

have been had you turned out the rascal-
ly 3%; I mistook you for l" .
‘ ou might have been killed, dear brother 5”
“ Only if he deserved it madam,” smoothly
added The Man of Silk. “ i shot to kill if a ras-
cal to miss if an honest man.”

trill like that. Think how much worse it
Waugh

There was a curiously innocent smile in his -

brown eyes as he uttered these words, and the
shadow of a similar smile briefly touched his lips
as Bab Barcus bluntly, ejaculated: '

“ Neither killing nor missing proves—what i”

“ That my nerves are growing a little shaky;
nothiu worse. I assure you i” promptly ex-
plain The Man of Silk. ‘ '

Bush Clark laughed shortly, his face clearing
up like one who meant to make the best of mat-
ters. He faced The Man of Bill: squarely,speak-
ing frankly, quickly: '

‘You’re not to blame, and I’m ashamed at
having held a grudge agelnst you for even a
moment. Yon acted as you thou ht right-3’

“ I alwavs do, dear fellow,”
Bland. bowin . ..
z.“Andlwa§actin on the same

a - Clark. “mt. can» has
i

a
a

   

pie.”
PM ,

ugned Felix

l

 

A meaning glance in the direction of Darius
Aymer
face of I‘elix Bland with a hungry gaze, pointed
his meaning. The smile faded from the face of

an undertone:

“ I comprehend. You thought I meant that
entleman evil?”

Adine Aymer, who had stood hesitating be-
tween her brother and her husband, seeming at

a loss which one most required her care, now .

gave a little laugh that was not entirely free
from hysterical tendencies.

“ Was that it, you silly brother? Why did
gm not trust me more wholly? I could have

1d ou better than that I”

“ told you all I had time for,” was the short

re _ 1v.

8 That you deemed it your duty to keep an
eye 0n—-—him,” lowering her soft tones, With a
covert glance toward the old man, who clearly
noted nothing of what was going on, who had
eyes and thoughts for none save the little man
in a .

‘ Ygu can guess why,” said Bush Clark in
the same guarded tones, turning again to The
Man of Silk. “ Much sorrow and trouble have
shaken his strength, so that he is hardly respon-
sible for w t he does or says. Still, he seemed
to regard {cu as an enemy, and I felt it my
duty to wa h over him, though out of earshot,
to see that he came to no harm at your hands.”

A ain that little h stericallau h.

Eurt his own

“ illy boy! wou d a son
father?’

“ What!” sharply ejaculated Clark, recoiling,
his face sling.

The an 0 Silk turned quickly toward the
little woman, his brown eyes widely opened, his
face full of surprise.

And Baby Barons glanced swiftly from face
to face, his own jaws squaring firmly, his big
eyes beginning? glOWvaidly.

“ You are bert Aymer, the long-lost son
who disa peared so mysteriousl one dark an
stormy n ght— you fri hten me! ’

With almost feveris gayety the little woman
began, only to stop short and shrink back with
a. shiver of fear from that steady, burning
gaze. She tried to laugh, but it was only the
ghost of mirth.

“ You surely are not alluding to me, madam i”
asked Bland, coldly. _

Adine rallied, a slight flush tinging her pale
checks, as one little and dived into a pocket,
brin ing forth a small ckage. She even
laui ed softly as her nimb 8 fingers opened the

no age, extracting a card, which she suddenly
eld up before that cold, stern-set face.

“ Dare you deny it in the face of this pic-
ture?” .

The keenest eyes could not detect the slightest
alteration in t at grave face, as the man in

ray steadily at the card photograph thus

rou t to view. He gazed at he sun-picture
for a few moments, then lif his hand and
gently took itfrom her fingers.

Adine laughed nervously, as she added:

“ I am foolishly superstitious, perhaps, but
something told me that fate wou d bring me
face to face with the original of that icturel
I could not believe them when they eclared
Robert Aymer must be dead, long ears ago!
I felt that he was still in this worl . and see!
my faith was well placed—m instincts are
proven true! You are Robert ymer I”

“ It does favor me a little, come to look at it
closely,” quietly uttered The Man of Silk, tum-
ing to pass the card to Bab Barcus. “ Don’t
you see the ghost of a resemb ance, part1?"

The giant took the pho ph in silence, his
blue eyes roving swiftly. rom living face to
ima 6. And when he spoke, there was a curi-
ous ryness in his tones that drew a quick, cove
ert lance from Clark.

v “ t might be you, sure enough!”

“Might, but it is noti” retorted Bland, de-
°“?‘l‘i"" . . ,

I‘ you say t, s 9 goes, pard, ’ prompt] re-
plied aby Barcus, passing the 'picture geek

again.
Searcer had Felix Bland taken the photo-
ph than it was snatched out of his hand by
arius, Aymer, who uttered a low, hoarse cry
it)? his burning gaze rested on the picthred sem-

ance.

“My boy! My r, wro ed lad!”

There were teamn his ngiice. tears in his
eyes as he gazed down upon the pictured ima .
exidetlssreAffimez sharper, lizarder {illgdiélrto t e

o c ne r eased
The Manof Silkzyme as s e 3911'
c “ gpok at him, and deny your identity—i f you
an

“It is a powerful tem tation ou oflerm
madam,”.smiled Bland bgwing lgw then gs;
mg steadily into herb ue eyes. “ To be your
3011!!” Even that relationship is Well worth lying

or ‘
It might havebeen his tones or his game for
there was nothing: the words ’alone that could
make her shrink. k, flushingsa vividly.

‘3‘ It is. the truth we want most, and if hare
atallhumsn n  mltelv'lggnllfi

e

! mured, rallying with an efl’ort.
5 poor wreck an

whose sunken eyes were riveted on the ?

    

, ‘ '7

“Look at that

let your true heart Speak. Can

It deny him ?” .

“ Couldn’t you make it cousin, or something
like that?” softly uttered The Man of Silk, his
brown eyes looking almost red as they gazed
into her flushing and ing face. “ Son—even
stcp—gon—is so painfu y prosaic! And—so hope-
less!

I “ I don’t understand you, sir!” murmured the

! little woman, shrinking back, something like

, frig'lli‘tl;1 coming into her wide-open eyes.

' ‘ en

‘ level, for blessed if I’ve understood a single

! word you’ve uttered for the past half-hour!”
laughed Bland, all earnestness vanishing in a
broad grin of amusement. '

l “ You miserable wretch!” panted Adine,
angrily.

‘ ‘ Because I can’t pick up a step-mother at a

. moment’s notice ?"

, She turned her back and stood pattin
ground with one little foot after an angry ash-
ion. The Man of Silk watched her, his lips

. curling, a curious light filling his brown eyes.

l Not for long. There was a sudden movement

‘ behind him, and as he turned with the celerity

, of a man whose life has beenpassed amid per-

» ill which called for the promptest action, Darius

[ Aymer drop to his knees before him, his

‘r thin hands c , his ha gard face Wet with

the great tears that c

war . i

“ Robert—poor lad l” he brokenly uttered, his

tones full of a earning sorrow. ‘ For 've me!

I was cruelly rsh, but I was shame ully de-

ceived. I was made to look upon you as un-

grateful—as willfully stubborn and losttc all

Sense of du . I. was even led to believe you

the lowest, asest of criminals. Forgive me,

my poor boy l”

he Man of Silk smiled pityingly as he caught

the clas hands in his, pressing them reassur—

ingly. is voice was soft and musical as he

spoke: H .

“ Of course I forgive you, daddy, if—”

“ Thank Heaven! you no lon r deny me—
gour poor father?” ga

ling like a leaf, yet With sudden hope lighting
up his haggard face. ‘ .

There was no immediate response. The Man
of Silk glanced around him, a rueful smile upon
his face, as though half-begging some one to
come to his aid.

But no one uttered a word. Each it of eyes
was fixed intentlyu n his face, th [curious
intentness. And as e noted this, Felix Bland
threw back his head impatiently, dropping
those thin hands.

“ I'd tell a lie to please you, old man, but if I
did, even my old pard would be read to swear
it no more than tgospel truth. An I’ve sins
enough of my own to answer for, without
shouldering those of a man whom I never met
to mfiknowledge.”

“ en you-you——” ‘ ‘

“ Give me a clew, faint and frail as a gossa-
mer thread, and I’ll run your boy down for
you, unless he’s dead and moldered away in the

ve,” was the quick, earnest res use as The

bling hands in his trong grasp. “I‘ll be all
that a son could be to you, if you wish, until
you learn the whole trut ; but I’ve got to draw
the line at that, for my own sweet sake.”

“ I- don’t—don’t understand,”muttered Darius

of almost horror. ‘ 1

“He means to deny that he is Robert A -
mer,” came the mercilessly clear voibe of t 0
little woman as she came forward and stood be-
side her husband.
ther!” ,

“Your step-son’s father, madam, not mine,”
coldly retorted Bland. I

Darius A er freed his trembling hands and
rose to his eet, his eyes fixed on the face of the
man who denied him. Steadily, unflinchingly
The Man of Silk met his gaze. There was a
again pity in his brown eyes, but nothing

“ Robert—my son!”

“ I have no father,” was the cold response.

“ Robert, have pity l” brokenly uttered the old
man, his gaunt form shiVerin as though sud.
denl exposed toacuttin b . . “ If I wastoo
hars —~and I freely admi it—tho blame was not
all mine. Your mother lied to me, and against
you until—3

“My mother was an angel living,‘ she is an
angel now she’s dead,” was the stern interrup-
tion. “ Not even your white hairs can protect
you, if you dare cast the faintest slur 
her mem . For the last time, I tell you I
have no fa! er!” -.

Felix Bland turned on his heel with the air of
one who feels that no more need be said, but
Darius Aymer caught him by the shoulder, his
grig tfit of a man whose stren h was suddenly

mfi'fg‘m “m’ “Ii mkWiEEST
pra ers an n move
wretched he , will thecnrsgof a ruinednazzt

 

.hav‘e‘ any ectl Must I you'hackto at»,
use your new guy:

E

   

 

the

each other down-

flgn of Silk again caught and be! those tram-l

Aymer, shaking his white head, a pitiful look'
creeping into his eyes—a look of dread, of doubt,!

myow}: hula!- 

you and I are working on the same

the o d man,trem- v

i

- I

“He means to denyhis fao.

‘

r ~..

i

 
    

I

(

tohim. Andas'l’he anotSilkonoo  -‘

i



 
   

 

     

8

The Man loflSilk. ' '

4 .

 

 

Must I give your throat into the hands of the
hangli Robert—my once gay, happy boy!
do not drive me to extremity! Once more I
kneel to on and—”

Felix land flashed a dark glance into the
pale, eager face of Bush Clark, saying sternly:

“ A bit ago you seemed very anxious to watch
over and protect your brother-.in-law. He needs

r our care more than ever, now. . Look after him.

ry to teach him a little sober reason, and learn

him not to run a miserable joke clear into the
ground. will you?”

With a hollow groan, Darius Aymer bowed
his white hairs to the ground as The Man of Silk
turned shar ly away. Both Clark and Adine
knelt beside im, lifting the poor man up.

“ It’s might curious, pard!” muttered Baby
Barcus, covert y watching the hard-set face of
the man in gray as they moved over to where
their horses were tethered. “ I reckon the old
gent must be looney?”

“ About that,” was the terse reply.

“ That picture might have been you, some
years youn er.”

“ Mi ht, ut is not. Baby,” turning sharply
upon t e giant, gazing keenly, almost flercely
into the massive face above him, “spit it out!
You believe I lied to that poor devil!’

“ Say it was all a lie, and I’ll believe you,
pard ” quickly.

“ donsider it said, then. I have no father liv-
ing. I am not that old man’s son. Is that plain
enough for you—a friend?" with a uliar em-

hasis on the titlethat ssed unnoticed as Baby
arcus extended his ig right hand, saying
frank] -

“Pleynty plain—shake,pard! So good. Some
day I’ll ’tell on why I crowded you so close on
this int. ntil that day—”

“ et the matter drop. Hallo, Hungry i" with
an entire change of voice as they drew near the
sta e. “Getting impatient?"

‘ Never a bit. honey!” nned the driver,

pulling away at his pipe. ‘ All the blame goes

on the black-faces, an’ the furder we’re behind
schedule time, the more cusses they‘ll fall heir to

-—see?” -

“ Good enough!” laughed the little man in
gray, falling in with the skinny veteran’s hu-
mor. “ But I reckon We’ve burned enough day-
light for the occasion. Suggfiise we pull out?"

“ I hate to leaVe pore Ol ocks, but I s’pose
he’s too hefty fer us to boost on deck : an’ the in—
sides mou ht kick ef he was chucked in ’long 0’

‘ them!” sig ed Hungry Derrick, with a regret-

f ul glance at his dead favorite. “Time was—”

“ And time is in in a hurry, old fellow,”
lute The an 0 Silk, stripping the sad-
dle from his ownhorse and leading it forward.
“ 012;) the harness on my beasit, and play Old
Roe ” has come back in another hide, can’t

on?

Thus matters were “evened up,” and when
the heavy stage was rolled clear of the dead
horse, its substitute was hitched up alongside
the other wheeler. Then Felix Bland spoke to
Bab Bai-cus:

“ ust tip the wink for the other passen ers,
pard. The ’11 take it with a better grace rom

on, I rec on! Time to pull out for Posey’s
ocket. unless we want to su on wind!”

And two minutes later, wit The Man of Silk
on the box beside him, Hungry Derrick was
sendin the team rattling along the trail lead-
ing to osey‘s Pocket.

 

CHAPTER VI.
A snori- son A uric.

GASPING,,pantin , like one already in the
first throes of deat , Red Ber um saw Little
Puss arm herself and close the oor upon him.
,He heard her sharp challenge without, 'and as he
began to realize that there was at least a chance
for life. the; hope he had long since lost began to
revive in his breast.

He tried to call out encouragement to this
angel of merc . but only a hoarse. rasping
murmur esca his burning throat. He sought
to rise to creep nearer the door, with the wild
hope that his resence would lend her greater
resolution in holding back the even ers of
blood. But his overtasked muscles re used to
obey his will. Utterly worn out with that ter-
rible race against death, he lay in the middle
of the floor. panting, shivering, his heart thump-
ing so wildly that to his distracted ima ation
it seemed to actually shake the stone ca in.

v ‘ He trembled like a leaf as. he caught the
' ‘ sound of Mark T ’5 voice, hurriedly de—
\ tailing his bloody cnmes. He recognized those
black charges as only too true. and a horrible
fear assailed him lest Little Puss should also
recognize and yield to them. If she should—if
the one frail barrier between him and the aven-
gers should givo wa —what hope‘for him?

Even as he held is gasping breath to listen
to her 1y, Red Bergum ifted his madly-
throbbing end to glare about him in search of
, , some weapon with which he might at least die

. fl htiug. But he could distinguish nothing

w'lth certainty. All was whirling about him.
All was distorted and discolored in that mist-
the hue of the blood which he was accused of

sheddin !
  He weight that brave answer-he heard Little

 

 

Puss heroically refuse to stand aside and yield
him to Estice-land the gasping gurgle that es-
caped 's parched Ii 3 was intended for a
prayer. Not to hi h eaven, but to the little
woman who dared efend a poor. hunted-down
wretch like him.

After that, he never doubted her. He knew
that she would never betray his trust, and the
knowledge served to strengthen him. The red
mist began to clear away from before his ach—
ing eyes. His brain throbbed and whirled less
insanely. His heart (gradually resumed its nor-
mal speed, and cease to pound away at his ribs
as though tr ing to reach the light of day.

“ She won t let ’em butcher me!” he gasiped,
lifting his head and turning his face tower the
door, beyond which he could hear Little Puss

leadin with Mark T ood for his worthless
ife. “ he’saangel fres from heaven! She’ll
win ’em over; even sech desp’rit bloodhounds
cain’t hold to murder in them glorious 6 es!
Ef I could on] hev knowed a woman like t at,
mebbe I woul n’t ’a’ turned out so bad! Mebbe
I mought ’a’ b’in—they’re comin’ now!”

It was the sharp explosion as Little Puss sent
a bullet whistling past the ear of Mark Too-
good, as the surest means of convincing him
how thorou hly in earnest Were her words, but
the miserab e wretch felt that his enemies were
daring all in their fierce lust for blood.

He struggled to his knees, but could do no
more. A gaspin
lips as he realize how helpless he was, how un-
able to even lift his voice in defense of his
wretched life.

Like a breath of fresh air to one suffocating,
came the next sounds from Without. The end
was not yeti Little Puss still held the fort.

But, even in his great relief, Red Ber um
knew that this was only a res ite, not a par on.
The shock served to still furt er clear his mud-
dled brain.

“ She’s an angel—but they’re devils, an’ four
to one!” he muttered, claspin his hot, throb-

bing temples with both han s, collecting his ‘

reasoning faculties, stead ing his shattered
nerves as best he could. “ 0t even a angel kin
choke ’em off long! They want blood, an’
the ’1! hev it,too! Ef I only had my guns!
 I” only hed a hate-chance to fight fer my
1 e

His bloodshot eyes roved around the dimeJ
liglhted room, searching for something wit
w ich he might defend himself when the worst
should come. A rifle—a pistol—even a knife
would be better than nothing; he could win a
sudden death with it, and that was far prefer-
able to the rope which Mark Toogood
promised him! , - .

A low, choking cry escaped his lips, though it
was no weapon that extorted the sound. On
the rude hewn table was a wooden bucket, damp
with the water itcontained. And for a moment
Red Bergum forgot the peril of his life in his
intensethirst.

He reached the table, dragging himself u
with his hands. He bent over and thrust
head into the bucket, drinking like a famished
horse, rather than a human being. And then.

nting, sighin with grateful satiety, he stood
bzthing his he and neck with what water was
left after that prolonged draught.

“ It’s makin’ a new man 0’ me!” he muttered,
shakin back the damp locks of red hair, glan-
cing a ut the room with eyes that saw more
clearly than at any time since he was forced to
continue his fli ht on foot, when his stolen
horso fell dead eneath him. “ I kin see now!
Ikin see cl’ar a-plenty to send a bullet home to
your heart, Mark Toogood! Ef I only hed it—
ef I only bed the tools!”

He started away from the table his limbs
trembling and far from steady though his

wers,were gradually comin back to him
after that horrible thirst had 11 appeased.
He searched the little room for weafiins by the
aid of which he mi ht even‘yet be. 8 his ene-
mies. but all he co d find was a long, sharp
butcher-knife. r

“ Better than nothin’ i” he muttered, running
his horny thumb along the keen edge and over
the sharp point. “ It i help to cheat the rope,
but it won’t reach that merciless hound!” With
sudden venom, as he once‘more cau ht the
sound of Mark Toogood’s voice from wit out.

, He turned to the partition which divided the
interior into two parts pushing o n the door,
only to‘ use with his foot on the ividin line.

Into is face came astrangelook of mlngled
awe and reverence. He mechanically lifted one
hand to his brow, as though to removea hat.
He bowed his head, then turned away, drawing
the door to with a slow. gentle movement.

After all, there is a touch of grace in the vil-
est nature. It would have been no easy task,
even in that wild and lawless region, to find an-
other man so utterly worthless, so hopelessly
wicked. as Rcd Bergum. Yet because he saw a
bed, a few garments hanging u , a dainty trifle
lying here and there, he turne away as though
afraid of committing sacrilege should his feet
cross that line.

“ It’s her room—the angel 0’ mercy i” he mut-

tered, with a h lf-frightened glance toward the

door which Ll e Pun stig defended.
syrups.

not wtrthmding

 

Red Bergum fell back until he was sup rted
by the heavy table. He still grasped the utch-
er-knife, but he made no further search for
weapons. There were none in that room, and
he dared not enter the other, even had his life
depended upon so doing.

“ He’d send a bolt 0’ lightnin’ to strike me
dead the fu’st stag!” he muttered, with a shy
glance upward an a little shiver.

He waited and listened, giving a start of
doubt—of stran er-mingled hope and dread—
as he heard the old, manly voice of Booth Bar-
rett added to the other tones without. He crept
toward the closed door and sought for a crack or
crev1ce through which he might catch a glimpse
of the new-comer, but in vain. Once he even
touched the wooden latch as though to open the
door and join his defenders; but he shrunk back
with a shudder.

He heard Booth Barrett half-urging Little
1 Puss to give over her mad resolve.

‘ “ They’d make a rush at l was to show up, an’
he wouldn‘t stan’ in thar way! He’d think more
0’ savin’ her—God bless her!”

 

3 He turned away, glancing half-doubtineg at
I

I

l
J

moan escaped his bleeding j

‘ the small window in the rear wall. Vl ith a

! noiseless step he approached it, gazing forth, but
I With wary caution. What if some of his ene-

mies had stolen to the rear of the cabin? What
if they were lying in wait for him to expose his
face at that very o nin ’i

“ They hain’t—I’ ’a’ earn somethin’ of it
from the angel,” he muttered at length, gazing
breathlessly out along the rough slope which ran
backward from the cabin. “ Ef I was out thar
—they’s cover enough fer a man to crawl away
onseen,” he muttered, licking his lips nervously
as he turned a strained ear toward the front

oor.
He caught the stern warning uttered by Mark
apogood, and his resolve was taken then and

ere.

“ They’ll close in with a rush, afore long! They
won’t be choked off much longer, even by her.
Mellll): I kin git away. It’s a chaince, any-
way

A terribly slim one, even should he succeed in
crowding himself throu h the small window,
for the stone cabin was uilt at a hit where
the ground rose on both sides. as we 1 as in the
rear. No matter in which direction he should
try to steal away, he could not go far without
coming under ran e of his enemies below. Un-
less he was skillfu enough to make the scattered
rocks, the bushes and Struggling trees cover his
movements.

The little window had never been lazed, for
such luxuries are not readily come at in regions
like this. He gras the strong wooden bars
and wrested them rom their places. The heavy
wooden shutter was already swung back and
fastened out of the way. .

He listened for an instant at the door, to hear
Booth Barrett bidding the enemy defiance, claim-
ing the answer of Little Puss as his own, then
he thrust his head throu h the narrow o ening,
struggling- to compress s broad shoulders, to
crow his body through.

In any less great eme hel must have
failed, but he knew that by fli t alone could he
hope for life, and with his clot es in tatters and
his skin broken, scratched .bleedin , he dropped
to the ground under the li e win ow.

he stole silent] away, casting freguent glances
over his shoul ers, keeping the litt e cabin in a
line with his enemies, using such cover as prom-
ised the best results. And with each yard gain-
ed, his hopes ran higher. He was already be-
ginning to laugh with ferocious joy at the

nought of so cleverly cheatin death, when a
Wild yell from the rear sent is blood chilling
back to his heart.

“ Yender he oes! Down him. lads!”

“ Take him a ice—but take him !” thundered
Mark Toogood, leaping forward, forgetting the
leveled weapon before the cabin, seeing only the
fleeing assassin, thinking only of his dead and
cripgled mates and the vengeance he had sworn
on t eir account. _ .

“ Back!” shrieked Little Puss, strivmg to re.
gain the aim which she had lost by this sudden
and 1nnexpected movanent. “ Back, I warn
you! ,

Her rifle exploded, but its lead went hummin
far away through the air. as a strong ha
caught and thrust the muzzle upward,

“ or your dear life, hold!” cried Booth Bar-
rett.

!‘ You—you desert me, Booth?” gasped Little
Puss, releasing her_weapon and shrinking away
from her lover With a look of reproach and
anger mingled. “ I on side with them against—”

he young yuan thrust open the door with a
backward kick, catching the maiden in his
strong arms and whirling her around and into
the cabin, standing before her with his revolver
ready for use as the man-hunters came rushing
up the siege. 1

But if t ey saw him, they heeded him not, just
then. Their sole aim was the ca ture of the fu-
gitive who, his blood chilling att eir hot, v -

ul cries, was struggling up the rough, ‘roc

        

all against him.

 

l‘

,2.

l ' Past the stone cabin they rushed. 

A few moments for catching his breath, then ‘

sl once more running for dear life with the I
033? »‘ ’

 

i}
«i

swimrws'w“ . ’

ax. .... . . W

 

The Man of Silk.

9

 

 

ret giving a great sigh of relief as they vanished
from his sight as he stood in the door.

“ They’re gone—thank Heaven .”

“ After that poor wretch "" sobbed Little Puss,
one hand tightly pressul over her heart, her
face pale as death itself. “ They’ll murder him
--and I swore to protect his life with mine l”

Booth Barrett replaced his weapons, and
caught the trembling maid in his strong arms,
pressing her lovingly to his breast, gently
smoothing her jetty curls, his voice low and
soothing

“ You did your level best, Little Puss! More
than an other woman could or would have
done. it our duty ended when that fellow broke
away from your protection. He has taken his
life in his own hands, now, and whatever hap-

)i‘llS—”
} The sharp crack-crack-crack of firearms cut
his words short. And then Little Puss shivered
anew as a wild, exultant yell came back to their
ears.

“ Down he goes! I said he was my meat!”

It was the vicious voice of Dan Orvis that ut-
tered the exultant words.

“ Et’ ou’ve killed him, I'll kill you!” thunder-
ed Marli Toogood.

“ Killed be durned,” laughed the little miner,
venomously. “ Not at he erries his life whar
other men kerries tharsl I only knocked his
under innin’ crazy, I tell you. Git thar, Eli.
Fu’st and to grip the dirty whelp—fu’st hand
to fit the noose ’round his thrapple.”

\Vresting free from the arms of her lover,
Little Puss sprung to the window through which
Red Bergum had taken fli ht, zing breathless-
ly out at the avengers w o c imbed the slope
with redoubch ener y, Dan Orvis now in ad-
vnnce, eager to win t e terrible privilege named
in his last savage speech.

A frightful prize, indeed'

Yet was suflimcnt to ur e each one of the

uartette on to redoubled e orts, to make them
for the moment insensible to fati e and stiff-
ened muscles. But Dan Orvis, li ter, with less
weight to carry, while his hatred was at least
as intense, won the coveted prize—and nearly
won death at the same time.

Struck down by one of those shots, his right
leg feeling as though it had suddenly dropped
from its socket, Red Bergiim snarling 11 e a
wounded wild beast, flung is bod forward to
meet the attack, striking wick ly with the
long, keen butcher—knife at the heart of his
I 1

cc.

Struck—onl y to fail for with an eel-like twist,
Dan Orvis eluded the blow, then grappled with
the crippk d outlaw, striving to tear the danger-
ous weapon from his iimsp.

The next moment ar Toogood was at the
spot, and his mighty grasp it was that disarmed
Red Bergum; his strong arm that hurled Orvis
a dozen eet away; his voice that thundered:

“ He belongs to the ro , cuss ve. Would you
make me break the oat I tuck over our dead
mates i”

“It was his knife, not mine,” snarled Orvis,
as he spread open the severed clothes and show-
ed a blood gash over his heart. “ Ef you
think I lie, ook at this, Mark Toogood.”

But the burly digger paid no attentionto this.
He was deftly tying the hands of their captive,
giving a deaf ear to the wild ravin that
poured from the frothing lips of the oomed
wretxth.

“ Look up a tree, boys,” he said, his tones
hard and merciless as he rose from over the now
helpless murderer. “ I’d take him back to whar
Zip Coon is waitin’, but we’re too nigh tuckered
out to tote him, an’ he cain’t walk, even of be

)3

would.
“ I’ll ha’nt you all i” gasped Bergum, choking—

lv.

' “ The ghosts o’ the honest lads you butchered
’ll stan’ atween us an’ your spook, Red Ber-
m!” grimly laughed the avenger. “Ef the

Sgn’t—waal, we never feared you livin’, so
don’t guess we‘ll trimble much store you
dead!”

" It’s murder—give me a chance—give me
time—a trial!”

“ You‘re tried an’ condemned, Red Ber-gum,"
was the ic response. “The last witnesses
ag’in’ on r Jim Magill an’ Tom Maxim
Both end—hut tha’r voices is louder than the
livin’. Thcysa guilty. The lads oucrippled,

sa ilty. e an 'lt . Gu lty you hav
livyedg‘hn’ guilty youl'llfi‘ilé l’z

“ hieroy! I’m too wicked—I’m not fit to die!”
moaned the miserable wretch, as the shrill mice
of Dan Orvis came to them:

“ Hyar’s the tree! Made to order, it couldn't
’a‘ bin flttener! Tote him down:yer’, but mind!
I’m to (it the rope ’round his thrapplel"

Unheeding the cries and ravings of the doom-
ed criminal, Mark T cod and his mates stoop-
ed and lifted their vi between them, bear-
in him rapidly down the steep slo to the spot
w ere Dan Orvisca redabout li a one insane
with ferocious delig t.

“ Didn’t I tell ya so?” laughed Orvis, making
a snatch at the rope which Mark Toogood be

an uncolling from his  “ Ain’t that a
dandy gallows? Couldn’t ’a bin better of I
made it myself!” he chuckled, as he inted up
*9 the short, stout end of a dead lim that jut-

 

 

ted out from the trunk, a score feet above their
heads. ,

This was the scene on which Little Puss gazed
with horror in her eyes; and recoiling from the
window with her eyes covered with hands that
trembled, she gasped:

“ Save him! Save that poor wretch, Booth-
if you love me!”

“ If I only could, Puss!” Barrett muttered,
his brows contracting, his face hardened, his
jaws squaring as he glanced out of the opening.

“ You can—you must ! I swore to protect
him-do not make me out a base liar!” panted
Puss, facing him with flashing eyes. “ Are you
a man, as I thought you? Dare you stand here
idl while a human being is murdered before—
I’l save him, or share his fate!”

Before Booth Barrett could divine or frustrate
her purpose, Little Puss turned and darted out
of the room, snatching up her re ating-rifle
from where it la on the ground. cry of hor-
ror broke from er blanched lips as she turned
the corner of the cabin.

Red Ber m was being drawn into the air.

“ Pu arlingl they will kill you, too!”
cried Barrett.

But his voice was drowned by the swift suc-
ceeding reigns as Puss Curtis opened fire with
her repeat 3 rifle.

 

CHAPTER VII.

“ D ‘ :ABY Baaculs nuvnnors.

ON '1' urry yourse f on my account, pardl
I could keep up with ye if you didn’t 0 half as
fast! And as for dropping anchor: rd love
you, Baby! I’d just as eve tramp a hundred or
tw0 miles before supper, and a little liever if
your tastes run in that channel l"

The Man of Silk was speaking, as he trudged
along close to the heels of his big comrade of
the stage affair—a few hours, in fact, after it.

Twilight was rapidly changing into dust, and
already the shadows were making a blur of the
shanties, houses and buildin s composing the
bustling little minin -town own as Posey’s
Pocket, as Felix Blan cast a backward glance
over his shoulder down the slope.

John Barons came to an abrupt halt and
turned about to face his companion. The little
man in gray uttered a short ejaculation, a
mock injured expression comin into his face.

“ You’re not ing to stop 0 short already,
pardi Just as ’d got fairly wound up for a
trip to the h rborean regions or some other
seaport? Do take a little longer tramp, won‘t
you? It isn’t quite four weeks since I sat down
on anything softer than a saddle, or to anything
more fattening than a mouthful of wind—dust
and alkali thrown in without extra charge!
Bab , if you love me keep a-going !”

J ohn Barcus smiled as he listened to this bad-
i 9, but itwas only the ghost of the smile.
Un er the pale light of the recently-risen moon,
blended with the last rays of the hidden sun,
that faint smile seemed far more a ghost of
scorn than a sign of mirth. And something of
this appeared to strike The Man of Silk, for his
gay 11 r vanished, as he added:

‘ Then it is business. not an idle whim-wham
““Istiiogght’ ,errdui’r’ i t1 lied h gian

own , que yrep t e ,t,
seating himse on one of two low rocks resting
side by side. “ Don’t fly out if I’m a little slow
attiigst. Eyerybody can’t have your git-up-an’-
gi n .

“ Glad of it, Baby!” laughed The Man of Silk,
li htly, as be promptly occupied the other seat.
“ aven’t got an inch more than I need for my
own accommodation! Tongue! great and glori-
ous noon to— But I’m interrupting our flood
of tell-a-feller-what-in-blases-you’ riving-at-
anfhow, Baby!”

t seemed a very sluggish flood; for the 1:,
his chin resting between his palms, his e bows
sup on his knees, was staring moodily,
vacantly down at the camp of Posey’s Pocket.

Under their rotection, the stage driven by
Hungry Derric had reached its destination
safely, with its living freight on the box-seat
and inside.

Bush Clark and the Aymers, husband and
wife, left the stage at the Brock House, Bland
and Barcus going on to the postcflice, where
the tri of Hungry Derrick properly ended.

Wi as little “ fuss and feathers” as i-

ble, the story of the outlaw attack and efeat
was told. and as soon as they could do so with-
out actual force, the two heroes of the adven-
ture broke away from the enthusiastic crowd.
Not to eat, drink and repose, as The Man of Silk
seemed to anticipate with delight, for Bab
Barons gravel asked him to take a little wall:
on business of m rtance.
The Man of Si] gazed keenly into the face of
thetbig man as this request was made, but keen-
wit , though he was, he could read no secrets
in that eold. almost stolid face.

Baby Barons led the way out of Posey’s
Pocket, Btrldm, along with legs that quite
measured a yar length. out of town and up the
gradual slope leading to the north, through the
growing shadows of night, in silence, without
even a lance over his shoulders to make sure
he was ing follovved—straight on ma h or
smooth, steep or level, until The Nina 0 Silk
broke out with his ironical speech.

 

And now the big man sat, staring in silence
down at the town below them, yet plainlyrsee-
ing naught of it. So long thus that elix
Bland was not wholly in jest, as he broke out
again:

“ Wake me up when Baby begins to sing,
will out I’ve got a job on tap for the morrow,
and ’d rather tackle it with eyes that ain’t all
gummed up with lack of sleep. Not that I’m hint.
ing at you, pardl” with an airy wave of his‘
hand as the giant turned his face that way withr
a start. “ m
didn’t care a copper if you were to keep silence
for the next forty years! Fact—though you
may tr to believe it an exaggeration l”

Bi rcus leaned forward a little, gazing
kee y into the face of his companion, his own
countenance grave and stem. The Man of Silk
bore this scruth with cool composure.

“ Not so terri le handsome, pard, but good!
good, and honest, and manly, and frank and
easy-tobe-read, eh?” softly laughed Felix
Bland.

“ Are you Robert Aymer?” lele demanded
John Barcus.

“ Am I the man in the moon, why don’t you
ask, Baby 1”

“Are you Robert Aymer?” repeated the big
man, just a little more sharply, his blue eyes
beginning to glow through the loom.

“ The same critter has nippffyou, too, has it,
Baby?” with that same easy ugh that is so ir-
ritating to one who wishes to be earnest and
frank. “ Another county heard from—and it
wants a ticket to the very same station! I’m
going to sell out and put my little all into

nsane Asylum stock!”

“If you are Robert Aymer, the sooner on
pull out of this the better for you, and the t-
ter for me,” gravely added John Barcus, mak-
ing no further attempt to extort an answer to
his uestion. “If you are Robert Aymer, son
of arias Aymer, once from Chicago, this is a
mighty unhealthy location for you! Pull out!
Don’t et the sun shine on you in the morning in
Pose ’9 Pocket. If you do—”

“ nything worse than a little tan or a few
freckles, think!” coolly drawled The Man of
Silk. “ I'm proof against sunstroke, you know.
Got an accident policy in my pocket.”

“ Perhaps I’m a fool for—”

“ Now, pard,” with a piteous tone, one hand
softly caressing the nearest broad shoulder
“ Don’t tell everything tyou know, even if it has
the great advantage 0 being true. Don’t ex-
pose ourself. Suppose some stray wanderer
shoul catch your words and ilaster them all
over Posey’s Pocket! Why, I’d have to lay out
a dozen stiffs before breakfast. For of course I
couldn‘t let it go by that I’d come down to pard-
ing with an idiot, you know.”

‘ I know I’m a fool for warning you,” grave-
ly resumed the big man, showing neither amuse—
ment nor resentment at this prom t catching
up and distortion of his words. “ know you
will sneer at my weakness if you really are
Robert Aymer. But, all the same, I re
that warning: Get out of the way just as quick
as the Lord will let you."

There was an earnestness in this last sentenm
which Felix Bland could not even pretend to
mistake. The smile faded from his face, and a
curious glitter came into his 9 as as they fairly
met those great orbs of steel-b ue.

“ You just talk as though you meant it, Bar-
cus,” he remarked coldly, et with a certain
degree of heat underlying t e words. “If you
are not the fool you’ve half-acknowledged. you
have some good reason for slinging this warn-
ing at my head. Spit it out. won’t you i”

Why not, since I’ve said so much!" with
just the glint of a smile on his massive features.

“ You tell! I never try to guess a riddle,”
with a shrug of the shoulders as he drew back
into an eaSIer position. “ Only, if I might offer
a suggestion. cut it as short as you can, con-
veniently. I’m very tired and awful hungry.”

“ Two years ago, more or less, the Merchantn’
Bank, of Chicago was robbed of a large sum of
mono , under rather peculiar circumstances.”

“ ot a big jump across the line, then?”

Barcus paid no attention to the interruption,
speaking gravely:

“ Those circumstances, when boiled down and
carefully investigated, pointed to the cashier as
the  That cashier was Darius Ay-
mer.

“ The old gentleman of the stage, to-day!"
asked The Man of Silk, his brows arching slight-
ly “ Well, there’s nothing so uncertain as a

cad sure thing, according to the poet, or philo-
sopher, or somebody else. Now, I actually set
that venerable gent down as an escaped lunatic,
but if he had brains enough to get away with
the vault of a bank, all by his lonesome self. I
figpn we’d better alter lunatic to genius.

John Barons gazed at the speaker, something
like a touch of contempt in his face. Only
for a moment was it perceptible: then, as
The Man of Silk uttered that little word of in-
terrogation with a mild perplexity beaming in
his brown eyes, the big man resumed:

“ He was arrested and tried for robbery.
Never mind the details, if, indeed, they are not
familiar to you.” -

beginning to feel as though I '

.m-

«.- .

A.

O

l

L_‘._| .U. u-ara—lmn“-.. “as... n.“ .. ................ ..- - mm“

10

The Man of 8111:.

 

A

 

“ Pla
dear to low, murmured The Man of Silk, With
a lan id wave of his brown hand and a long-
in g ance toward the lights of Posey’s Pocket.
“ 68:13 so impatient to—tackle a good, square

“ At that trial Darius Aymer proved an alibi
which could not be broken down, try as they
might and did. His guilt was morally certain,
but it was im sible to legally prove this. He
either rob the bank-vault himself, or he was
aided in so doing by his Son, Robert Aymer. If
he did not actually steal the money, he lent his
knowledge of the combination and such to his
son.
" Or, if he didn’t do it, he might have done
so had he felt inclined that way. Or, if he did-
n’t feel that way, he’d ought to.”

There was a lazy insolence in tone and manner

' that brought a hot flush to the cheeks of the big

man. His hands clinched tightl ' as they
dropped from sup rting his chin. at he gave
no other signs 0 being stung by that mocking
Speech.

“ Some reasoned after this fashion, but I
firmly believed that Darius Aymer alone was
guilty, or, at least, that he was at the head and
front of the robbery. I believed this until to-
day when he met you I”

“ ,W’hen you turned the problem over adding
it up backward to reach an altogether different
result?” laughed The Man of Silk.

“There was no acting in his emotion when he
saw you. He believed you his son, Robert Ay-
mer. So did his wife. And the picture she
showed might easily have been taken from your
face, several years ago.”

“ I believe we deci ed that question back on
the tra‘ ,” retorted The Man of Silk.
you expressed ourself satisfied. . Now youseem
to hint that lied in denying that shadow.
Next, will you please put your real opinion in-
to words that can be answered plainly, distinct-
lyz and for all time?”

‘I was put on the robbery case and told to
spare no time, no e use in getting at the bot-
tom facts,”resu John Barcus, without no-
ticing those coldly sharp words. “ As I said,
my belief was that the head spirit in the affair
was Aymer . believed that he was

ying a cunnin part, to ward of! suspicion
until he could stea away to some remote quar-
ter where he could enjoy the fruits of his enter-
prise. And for this reason I haveshadowedhim
from that da to this, so adroitly, if I do say it

- myself, that c has not the faintest suspicion of

l

the fact.

. “ I have pledged my fesslonal honor to
bring out the bottom “05:0 I believed that I
could strike the criminal when and wherever I
giuet him with the proofs fairly in my possession,

1,.

“ Your nerve is giving way,” softly uttered
The Man of Silk, as the big man paused,his
Voice growing slightly unsteady.

“ You have tree me white, pard,”earnest-
ly added John Barcus. “ I’d rather arrest a
brother, 1 verily believe! . But if you are Rob-
ert Avmer—if you are the son of Darius Ay-
mer—kee out of my reach from this hour on!
1 mayre eat—professional ride may get the

I

better of the friendship I‘ve earned to feel for .

you—and then I’ll have to run you in l”

" I 1 What a mighty big-little word I”
laug ed The Man of Silk. “ fl was Robert
Aymer, gritty as most bank-r0 hers are, you’d
lose the trail right here—and thus!” as with a

swift motion he covered the big detective with '

a brace of cooked revolvers. “ As a proof that
1 am not the man you take me for—see!”

Deftly the weapons swung around until the
butts were toward John Barons, The Man of
Silk lau hing softly as his brown hands lightly
grasped be polished barrels, with just a trace of
scorn in his voice:

‘\ “ You’re barking up the tree, Baby!
~I’m bad enough when you s the bottle
hard. nodoubt, but I draw the. line at stealing,
even though it be a bank and its wealth. If you
still doubt. take my guns and run me in so
I quick it’ll make my head swim l”

“ Then you are not Robert Aymsrl Not the
thief. first or second?”

“I’m not Robert Aymerl I’m not the rob-
ber! Nor do I believe the old gent is, though
his son may possibly be the criminal. If I was
to back my 0 inion, though, with I’d

rather lay my ucats against~talk of the evil
and you’ll begin to smell brlmstone l”

The Man of Silk quickly drew back his wes-
pons,,slippinr§ them in place with a swift glance
down town the town, where his keen. ever-
watchful eyes had detected the coming of a
man, headed in their direction.

“It looks like Bush Clark, as be now calls
himself!” muttered John Barons, following the
eyes of his companion.

“ And looks don’t always lie, to-day’s events
to the c0ntrary notwithstanding.” laughed Felix
Bland. “ Itis indeed our
hearts! Foo ish fellow!
catch cold in that awkward crease my
warder hand gaVe him! Think of that dainty

 ‘ little angel in mourning! Forbid it. saints l”

 

“Hallo!” called out the dark figure below

“ Then .

' head, his bronsed

 

ntle brother of the 1
, at if he should’
awk- ‘

l

’ ,. so!” laughing a in
them, hesitating, as if fearful of an unpleasant V miners were rug’s‘ly

' !
they are familiar as Gospel writ, my 1 greeting should he venture nearer without warn-
’ ' “ f Mr. Bland is up there, I’ve got a mes- l

ing. 1
sage for him!”
Advance message

with you l” called out
so as to fairly

‘ ‘ Thanks 1’
hurriedly adding: “ By pure luck I ha pened to
catch a glimpse of you coming in this direc-
tion, and when I failed to discover you in town,
I came this way.”

and bring the bearer
The Man of Silk, turning
face the new-comer.

“ On important business, of course? Other- ,
I wise you would hardly dare interrupt a love

feast like ours. But to busmess, if you please,
811‘
Even in the comparative gloom the hot flush

that leaped into the messenger’s face could be '

detected, and he terser rerorted:

“ It is not for my own sake that I intrude on
your privacy, be sure of that, sir! I am sent

y Darius Aymer, to remind you of your
promise to grant him an interview. He Wishes
to see you at once.”

“ You mean as soon as my convenience will
admit, of course. You should improve your re—
cent opportunities better, my dear fellow.
Though you move in greatly elevated circles
from those I last saw you ornamenting, your
manners are still painfully rude and unpol-
ished.” __~_.

CHAPTER VIII.
A GBATEFUL RASCAL.

FOR an instant Booth Barrett stood like one
Bitrlfled staring at Little Puss who was work-

g her Winchester with a frantic rapidity, her
face ghastly pale, though her eyes glow with
a li ht that seemed almost insanity.

“ use, they’ll murder you!” and the lover
spru forward only to see the brave girl drop
her ri e and sink to the ground with a choking

c .

lz’rom up the slope came cries and curses of
mingled surprise and an er, but not a shot had
as et answered that wil fusilade.

ven Mark Toogood had for the time being

forgotten the very existence of the lovers, in his
flsrce thirst for vengeancs on the slayer of his
mates. And his strong hands held the writhing
wretch upon his bound feet while the other
avengers ran away with the slack of the rope,
then slowly, mercilessly drag ed the doomed
criminal from the ground into e air.

He might not have noticed that wild, choking
cry had it not been so swiftly followed by the
rapid shots. As it washehad nottime to turn
his eyes toward the stone cabin before a strange
event occurred. ' A

RedBe umfellheavilyto the ground—Du!
Orvis an his mates tumbled over each other
with yells of angry amassment. v

Accidentu or otherwise, one of Little Puss‘s
bullets had cut the tightly-strained rope! .

And then—

“ Hands up and empty, you curs!”

Mark Toogood whirled swxftly at that sharp,
significant challenge, one hand dropped instinc-
tively to the weapon at his waist. But before
his fingers could close upon pistol-butt or knife—
haft, a sharp report stung out and a bit of lead
tore its wa through his flowin beard, ving
him ast' gtwitch as it carried 0. ice with

it.

“ Hands up, not down you idiot!” added that
stern voice, and now Mark Toogood can ht
sight of the speaker; a men with face hid en
from view b a black mask and hood combined;
with gloved nds clasping twin revolvers, both

.of which bore fully upon his breast.

And even as he saw this much, he saw more.
There seemed to be men in masks, men with pis-
tols and men with rifles, s ringing up every
where, like the fabled crop o dragon s teeth!

“ The dog’s dead, pard. and if you ain’t a big-
gr f 1 than your face any ou‘ll pay the 

r o and let him slide. r on fools l” wi a
vicious snarl as the men with the bullet-severed
rope in their hands stru led to their feet and
seemed abouttodraw the r weapons. “ Must 1
bars for common sense with a gun? Can’t you
see we’ve got you dead to rights? Hands up, or
we file a mineral claim on each and every one of
you in a holy second l”

" They’ve 0t us, lads—give in!” wled
Mark Toog , raising hishands high a . a his
face turning as pale as the
coating of tan would permit; but not through

{We  '
He cast a swift, deadly glance toward Red
Bergum, who was recovering from the shock
of his fall and the hangin combined. If he
could only make sure of t t vile wretch first!
“ A couple of you slip around behind the gen-
tlemen and relieve them of those ugly toys.
Needn’t to dodge if you hear the music open.
You know what fingers will be picking the trig-

gers.’

The masked chief was prompt] .obeyed, and
deft hands relieved the su ris aven ers of
their weapons. strip ing off‘ wits and a! as the
s lest method 0 gaining their ends. And
t en. with a mocking laugh. the outlaw added:

“ Kick their heels from under them. lads, but
pick out soft spots for them to lie down on—
one after another of the

‘ toths ground,fsce

"-i' f .1 

   

said Bush Clark, coming forward, ‘

 

  

downward. “Handle them carefully, boys.
Don’t even hurt their feelings, if you can help
it. Let them see we are gentlemen, if we are
too handsome for the sun to shine upon. And
while you’re about it, just fasten their hands so
the . won’t drop off and get lost.”

\ ith one black mask to each of the miners,
kneeling upon their backs and deftly tying

‘ their hands behind them, Mark Teogood and his

mates groaned and cursed beneath their breath
with impotent an er. If they had been more
on their guard! f they had only killed Red
1filergum when their hands first fastened upon

1111.

‘ ‘ Wonder whatsort of water-haul we’ve made,
anyhow?" distinctly uttered the mask who ap-
peared to be the chief of the party, passing over
to where Red Bergum was striving to raise
himself to a sitting Eosture, but failin in his
efforts, thanks to his aving turned hea down-
hill in falling. “ One of our sort—blessed if it
is, though l” with a snifl’ of dis ust as he caught
sight of the fellow’s face. “ t’s a clear give
away, pardsl Powder wasted for worse than
nothing!"

“ Ain’t it one 0’ our boys?”

“ I’d blow my brains out if I had to say yes!”
was the disgzisted retort, as the chief rudely
stirred Red rgum with his toe. “ Nothin
but a stray chicken or hog-thief, from the sme

of him!”

“ Don’t hang me, boss!” Red Ber m,
huskily. “ I’ve went through wuss then a t on-
san’ deaths a’ready l” '

“ Then one more won’t make any difference,”
with a short laugh. “ If these fellows have any

ood case against you, reckon I’ll turn ’e'm loose

ong enough to finish up the 23b the begun. I
can’t ask any of my friends soil heir hands
with such truck!”

“ Hang him, and then do what you want with
us!” panted Mark Too ood, with vicious energy.
“Soho croaks, I dong keer what comes 0’ me!”

“ Don’t do it—don’t do it !” shivercd Red Ber-
ggm shrinking as far away as the nature of his

ads would admit. “ Or—if I must die the
death of a dog, let me hev time to thank thet
angel—God bless her! She saved me twicet—
she cut me down when I was hangin’an’ chokin’!
I see her shoot—I beam the twan o’ the bullet
as it cut the rope over my head! ive me time
to thank her, an howl”

“ Is that it!” e lated the mask, with 3m

whistle o as his game turn to—
ward the little stone cabin below. ' “ The little
lady' waswastinger ammunition on you, was
she And I all time thought it was for our
benefit—or, rather,‘to|<l>$n the 9 es of these fine
gentlemen to ouramb We , I don’t know,”
in a dubious tone. “ If she’s so friendl to you
ma be she’llnwelcome us with the bus ess en

of rifle.

Mark Toogood lau ed bitterly.

“That won’t wasE, durn £21 All your pre-
tendin’ cain’t rub it out that Bergum is one
0’ our gang, an’tarred with the same stick!”

‘ You are entirel too smart. Mister Man, for
our own good. a a stopper on their jaws,
lids, and never min if we stretch their
muscles a little. They’ll y have time to
get sore,” ly cried the chief, plainly irri-
tated b this b unt accusation.

Roug nd-mdy hands soon gagged the
miners. and while they were thus engaged, the
chief stooped and with a keen knife soon set Red
Bergum at liberty. Either he had grown tired
of playing a part, or else he decided it was of

no use after that blunt speech, for now he spoke

to the almOst—hanged man as a partner in

crime.

“Who was that fellow with the r1, Red?
Any trouble from that quarter, think ”

“ Not onless you try toharm the lady, boss;
an’ then I’d be at your throat even quicker’n he
would!”

1 “ titruck all of a heap, eh?” with a short, ugly
aug .

“She saved m life ” doggedly muttered the
rascal, his bloogshot’ eyes growing dimmer.
“She faced them devils as no man would ’a’
dared to fac'e’cm. She swore the shouldn’t
take me, onless they crawled over er corpus
fu‘st. An’ then-e on see her shoot me down

when I was n’—chokin’ wuss then a do i"

“ Little Puss no slouchf I admit that,” With

a??? laugh. i “ But that allow with her: who
0

“ I hearnmgelr call him Booth,” was the slow,
hesitating y.

“ I thought so. He isn’t satisfied with his
game in town} but must trv to win the Pride of
Poaey’s Pocket as well. Perhaps he ma slip
up on it. ust when he feels most sure 0 suc-
cess at b0 ends.” '

m made no repl to these muttered
words, but there came a red ht into his eyes,
a dogged expression into his ace. By her ac-
tions hat day Puss Curtis had made a friend
who would wade through fire and water for her
sake. Low. degraded, evil though he undoubt-
edly was, Red Bergum could feel grateful.

“ All right, Reddy. my lad,” cried the masked
chief with sudden gayety, turning and lockln
arms with the ragged wretch. “ We’ll stro

down to the palace and Pi! help 6301:  ‘

this angel of yours. She

    
  

'\
w

 he "., -1 'g.,»”;"v“'-" 7;“
=1. vi    4.5? at: .1. was?

 

 

The Man of Silk.

11'

 

 

rest, in serving you, though probably she didn’t
realize that important fact at the time. As for
Booth Barrett-Lucky Barrett o’Sure-to-fill—
maybe he’ll be kind enough to sit the game out
without insisting on taking a hand in. If he
should—well, I’m no slouch on the draw, my-
self.”

The muzzle of a rifle was thrust through the
open window at the rear of the house, and a
sharp, stern voice uttered the challenge:

“ Not too close, my fine fellows, if you please!
There’s room enough and to spare, without your
tres assing on this claim!”

“ lag o’ truce, Lucky Barrett!” carelessly
retorted the man in the mask, flinging up his
free hand, but halting short as he spoke. “ We
don’t want to intrude, but this gentleman swears
he can’t rest easy until he’s had a chance to
thank Miss Curtis for saving his life from those
hot-heads up yonder.”

“ I wish no thanks,” uttered Puss, appearing
.at the window, one hand Bushing aside the wea-
pon her lover held. “W ile I am not sorry I
saved his life, I could almost curse the day that
led him here! My friends up yonder—4f you
are a man, spare their lives!”

“What do you say to that, pard?” turning to
Bergum, who hesitated, his eyes drooping, his
tongue moistening his cracked lips.

Puss Curtis leaned out of the window, her
face flushing brightly as she spoke rapidly,
earnestly:

“ You say you are grateful to me for what I
have done?”

“I’m your dog, miss, from this da on!”im-

ulsively cried the ragged rascal, is voice

oarse and trembling with emotion, his face
filled with an almost slavish idolatry. “ I ain’t
fltten to kiss the dirt your foot leaves a prent
in, but I’d do it gladly! Ef ever the time comes
when I kin, I’ll prove my gratitude. Ef ever
the time comes— ’

“ It has come!” with increased earnestness.
“ Set those poor men at liberty! Give them
their lives, even as I have given you yours! Or
if you are afraid to do that, go away and leave
me to cut their bonds when on have had time
to reach a lace of safety! this, and—”

“ Ef the is willin to do it, I am,” slowly
replied Bergum.

“Let me add my word to hers,” said Booth
Barrett, his face a ring at the window be-
side that of Little uss. “ Don’t stain your
hands with their blood, if only for your own
:sake. You’re no fool, whatever else you may
be. You’re smart enough to know that blood
calls for blood. That if on wipe out Mark Too-
good and his mates, t e whole country will
:spring to arms and never rest until they are
most thoroughly avenged. Let them go, and
‘call it a drawn e!”

The man in t e sable mask laughed, shortly,
.lmzl‘fDmockinglyin k

outyout n youaretakinga gooddeal
for anted, young fellow! To hear you, one
wou d think you were talHng to a set of pro-
fessional butchers, instead of gentlemen out on
a simple lark!"

“ Put it how you will, just so you let them go
free.”

“Do it, and I’ll make them swear to never
trouble you again!” impulsively cried Little
Puss, hope filling her face and making it even
more than ordinarily beautiful.

“Don’t, if you love me!” laughed the road-
egent, with a deprecatory wave of his gloved
hand. “ I wouldn‘t have them choked of! for
all the gold ever taken out of Posey’s Pocket!
It’s fun for us! We grow fat on it. Why, we’d
grow blue-moldy for lack of exercise were you
to swear the bloodhounds off from hunting us !”

Little Puss shrunk back, trembling, her fears
returning at that mocking s h. Booth Bar-
rett grasped his rifle, his voice ringing out hard
and stem:

“ Let them go, and all is well. Refuse—well.
I’ve got them under the muzzle of my rifle, and
I’ll make it mighty hot for all who try to harm
them, or to] them away!”

“ Spare your threats until they’re asked for,
Lucky Barrett,” coldly retorted the road-agent.
“I set those rascals free because the fancy
strikes me not because of anything you sag or
may do. I turn them free, on one condi on:
you and the lady swear that neither one of you
will touch them after we leave. They brought
a rope with a noose in it, and I’ve sworn to send
them back with its mate. Swear this, or I'll
han them one and all right before your eyes!”

‘ ‘ ou’ll let them go alivel”

i “Of course,” with a hard laugh. “I want
them to be a walking sign to their fellows.
Take the oath, or up a tree they climb, he‘d-
first!"

“I swear—for the lady and myself. Now
keep your word l”

The road-agent turned on his heel and strode
back up the hill. accompanied by Red Bergum.
The lovers watched them anxiously. doubting-
ly, drawing a full breath of relief as they saw
the outlaws set the miners’ feet at liberty, then
march them down past the cabin.

“Turn them free here, Why don’t youT’de-
manded Barrett, standing in the front door,
rifle in hand, ready for use should the occasion
.arise.

 

 

“I want them to understand that they will
gain nothing by turning back to you,” coldly !
replied the outlaw, then briefly mentioning the .‘
oath he had exacted from the lovers as the
price of their lives.

Down to the foot of the slope they moved. ‘
Then, with a lariat which one of their number
had provided himself with, by a hasty trip to
their concealed animals, the captives were stood
up and tied in pairs.

The noose was drawn snugly about the throat
of Mark Toogood. Another loop was formed
just far enough from the first to drop neatly ,
over the head of the man who stood at his side. ,
Behind them at a short stride’s distance stood
the other pair, who were ornamented after the
same fashion.

While the chief arranged the nooses with his
own hands, others of the band were tying the
left leg of Mark Toogood to the right leg of his
mate, just below the knees, securing Dan Orvis ,
and his partner after the same fashion. Their
arms were left bound behind them, and the gags 1
still distended their jaws. ‘

“ I reckon that’ll answer!” laughed the road- 
agent, drawing back to view his work with 
head cocked on one side. “ Tell your fellows .
that we had no use for such truck. Bid them 1
send men after us the next time. And just add, i
will you, that the next batch will have a tall I
tree fastened to each and every noose our hands ,
fashion! So-long. gents! Ta,tal”

And they swiftly glided away, vanishing
amid the rocks as the four bound men slowly,
painfully moved away down the valley, Little
Puss gazing after them through her tears of
sympathy, until—

A volley of shots rung out, and with wild
(1311188, the four men went down in a struggling

eap.

 

CHAPTER IX.
A DIB'I‘RACTED PARENT.

NOT in the words alone, but in the tone and
manner of uttering them, lay the sting that
made Bush Clark clinch his fists and grate his
strong teeth.

“ Do you mean to insult me?” he grated, his
voice low and strained.

The Man of Silk stared at him with arched
eyebrows, his bearded lips curling with languid
amusement.

“ What do you take me for, anyhow? One of
those awfully m terious fellows who go about
with a pocketfu of miracles, changing black to
white and green to blue by a simple twist of the
wrist? Insult you, my dear b0 ? Do I look like
one who would attempt the p y impossible?
Now, do I l”

“ It sounded like an insult, but let it pass.
Whatlanswershall I take to Darius Aymer from
your i ?

“As look at the mtter,”hzfly added The
Man of Silk his gaze turned reflectively toward
the sky, where the stars were beginning to
twinkle merrily, despite the light of the moon.
“ From my standpoint, there is a line fence
drawn through the crowd. On one side stand
such as are im rvious to insult, because they
are high beyon its reach. Onthe other,too low
down n the mud and mire for the scorn of .an
honest man to reach them, are those even fur-
ther removed from insult, because they are en-
tirely too mean and contemptible and all that's
vile and loathsome. There’s a moral somewhere
about this, old fellow, if you care to look for it.
I’m too tired to point it out any clearer.”

John Barcus was watching t is little by-play
keenly, intently, holding himself in readiness to
interfere the instant matters began to look too
risk . He could not help seeing how sharply
Bus Clark was stung by that lazy, careless
treatment, and knowing the reputation he had
borne in the long-ago, he expected a passionate
retort, in deeds if not in words alone.

But in this he was mistaken. Perha had the
two men been alone on that slope, wi h no wit-
ness to tell tales afterward, something tragic
might have followed, for Bush Clark was pale
as death, his black eyes were glowing redly, his
voice was harsh and unnatural as he said:

“Maybe I’ll ask on to say that again,and
slower, one of these ays. sir. Just now, as you
know, my hands are bound.”

“ With fem-rs of love, or bracelets of cold
steAel, IhIoratiol” la an

s ort. sneering n h ll of
Bush Clark as he said: 8 pm p.

“ That shows the course your thoughts are
most familiar with, Robert A er l”

“ You don’t know him by thatnamel” s
interposed Barcus, rising to his feet, leaning
ward and gazing intently into that face.

“ Just tit for tat, you know,” with a mockin
bow. “ He calls me out of my name, and I cafi
him—Robert Aymer. See?”

‘ ‘ Plzgiarizing the entle lunatic of the hearse?”
draw] The  of ilk, with a low, soft laugh.
“ Is there nothin original about your clothes,
Horatio, except t e way you spell your name?
Or was it.your name? A name. I know, but-
well, life is too short for wasting recious mo-
ments ovor a trifle of that sort! an a poor
deVil has done the same thing in a fit 0 absent-
mindedness, and without a particle more malice
than—the gentleman of whom I happened to be

.1 .9 ~
i

Y
or-

 

thinking when you chanced to cross my vision,
Mr. Clark,” with a profound bow.

“ You come from Mr. Aymer, I think you
said?” inte Barcus.

“ I did. 6 beg ed me to find the man who
gave the name of elix Bland, and beg him to
call as early aspossible at the hotel. As I am
in his employ, I had to obey, agreeable or not.
I have delivered my message. Good-evening,
to you both!”

‘ Pray don’t be in such a rush, Mr. Clark,”
softly cried The Man of Silk. “There are so
many rocks and bushes lying around loose on
the trail to Posey’s Pocket that I’m actually
afraid I might stumble over you in picking my
way through them—and one of us would come
to grief, to a moral certainty!”

“ Don’t let me keep you, pard,” gravely ut-
tered Baby Barcus. ‘ I’ve said about all I need
to say. You know the sort of cards I hold, and
can use your own judgment about the hint I
gave you.”

“l‘ll Lever jump the game, Baby, because I
don’t have to—see?” was the light response.

“Then you don’t—”

“ See the use in keeping Mr. Clark waiting a
moment longer. I’ll look you up before turning
in, Barons, unless I break my precious neck in
descending this mountain. At your service,
most noble messenger! Be so kind as to lead
the way, Will you? My eyesight is growing
dim, and I’m not sure could pick the right
course quick enough to keep on from tramping
on my heels—and that I do etest!”

“I’ll keep you company to the edge of the
Pocket, anyway,” quickly uttered John Barcus,
his big blue eyes roving swiftly from one face
to the other, as though striving to read what
lay below the surface.

“ Heaven reward you for your delightfulfore-
thought, pard!” murmured The Man of Silk, as
they began the descent. “ I wanted to just
sue a favor, but I was afraid you’d think was
afraid. Of course that is a ridiculous idea. I
don‘t know the meaning of the word. It’s only
that I’ve got a sensation as though somebody
was ramming a knife into my back by horse-
power, and turning the blade with a shaft and
crank likethat of a monster grindstone! Fool-
ishl Yes, but uncomfortable!”

‘_‘ Foolish indeed!" muttered Clark, with a

thinl disguisedsneer.

“ Iy believe I intimated something of the sort,”
smoothly added The Man of Silk. “Don’t be
an echo, dear boy, unlem you can be an echo
with variations and im ements. It’s deci-
dedly low. It’s vulgar. t's bad breeding show-
ing in anworse light. And sometimes it’s dan-

us!

“What’s tinto you youngsters, anyway?”
demanded foohn Barons stopping short and ey-
ing them curiously. “If there‘s anything un-
der this snip-snapping, why don’t you uare off
and have it out without wasting so much reath 1”

“Shall we obli the infant, Mr. Clark!"
blandly asked The an of Silk, smiling broadly,
asth h the s 'on was a far from dis-
agreeabe one to 's mind. “Not to bloody
murder each other, of course. for it would be a
burning shame to make that dain lady go into
mourning for— Was it brother s e ed you,
dear fellow 1”

Bush Clark was white as marble as he re-

“ You are trying to pick a row with me, I
see. Well, I’ll meet you when and where and
how you choose—after you prove Darius Aymer
wrong when he says ou are his son.”

“ I beg of you don t let that faint, far-off tie
restrain your vengeance, dear boy,” laughed The
Man of Silk.

“It’s, not that. But if you are Robert Ay-
mer—

“ Then the lovely Adine will be in step-
mother, you will be my step-uncle, Baby,
here, will hen—what?”

“ Blessed if he won’t be after licking you both
at once if you don’t dry up and come along like
white men,” was the impatient interru on;
but the big detective was not near so can as
he seemed.

Thane was a growing doubt visible in his blue
e es as he covertly scanned the smiling face of

elittle man in y. There was a growing
shade on his b face, that told he was far
from feeling satisfied with his thou hts.

“ That settles it, then,” laughed Man of
Silk, moving on again. “When Bab speaks,
hough I

he rally says something. And
mluck up courage enough to tackle an or-
dinary mortal, I’m not taking any man-moun-
tain in mine, if you please.”

Bush Clark said nothing, but led the way ra-
gidly into town and up to the door of the Brock

ouse. He turned sharply as he heard Baby
Barons check The Man of Silk with a word, and
there was a dark, uneasy frown upon his face
as he watched them by the light which streamed
out of the ofice windows.

“ What I said up yonder goes, pard,”the big
detective muttered in guarded tones. “ I’m a
fool for my pains, whichever way the matter
turns out, but you‘ve treated me white, and I
uteri: W“ “‘3 firm” B... b .

‘ ic waswoyunnecessary, y; 11
thanks, all the same.”

a

; mockin ly replied Bland.

I

12

The Man of Silk.

 

“You know who I am now. You know what
brings me here. I’ve got to rform my sworn

“ I give it up—make your own trump, please.”
murmured Bland, with a shrug of his shoulders,

duty. even if it cuts close to riendship. If you i a half-pitying smile on his face.
‘1

are Robert Aymer, skin out of this in a'

hung!”

“ nd so tell you flatl 'ust where and who to

strike at? Supposing o rt Aymer to be the
ilty one, of course. Wouldn’t that be 'ust a

ittle foolish, Baby? Wouldn’ta game 0 blufl

give more show for a touch at the pot?”half-

“ Sett e that as you please,” coldly. “ I’ve
gone as far as I dare go, and much further than

should, as a sworn officer of the law. Take
my friendly warning, or neglect it. just as you
think best.
blame me.”

“I thank you instead, old fellow," and The
Man of Silk grasped his hand warmly. “None
the less that you are barking along the wrong
trail this bout.
ert Aymer robbed the Merchants‘ Bank of
Chicago. Is that lain enough for you, pard?”

“ Shall I tell r. Aymer you are coming, rr
not?” impatiently interru ted Bush Clark, his
voice hard and di reeab e.

“Coming, Horat o 0’ the Nimble Pen! So.
long, Baby! I beg of you, eat a pound or two
of substantials to stay my poor stomach until
I can surround the rations myself. I’ll starve,
else! Comin , dear Horatio! ’

"Call me ymy name, or not at all, curse
you!” rowled Clark.

“ W ich one of them?” was the swift retort,

as The Man of Silk gained the side of the mes- I

senger, his brown eyes filled with a peculiarly
mocking light, a broad smile u n his face.

“ Wy name is Bush Clark. have no other."

“ hy don’t you advertise for them, then?
Never mind offering a reward. Whoever is un-
lucky enough to pick them up, will gladly get
rid of them without asking for pay!”

“ If you will force a row on me all right!”

“ If it isn’t right, 1’11 make it ri ht; but sleep
on it first, my boy—sleep on it ! And, if
you could manage to decide which one of our
names you’d rather be carved under, may it
would save trouble and mistakes in arrangin
for the funeral. Tombstones come mighty high
in Posey’s Pocket, now I tell on 1”

Low and guarded though t eir tones had been
through all, their words had attracted atten-
tion, several men in the oflice and bar combined,
steppiiég forward with awakened curiosity.
Bush ark saw this, and his right hand dr
ped from his bosom whither it had stolen.
forced a smile, and managed to utter:

“You will have our joke, let it rub what it
may]! All right t eold gentleman is waiting.
Wi you go up to his room at once?”

“ I he exfiacts me there, of course,”<1uietly
replied The an of Silk, fer whatever h s real

u ,itwasnottocometoano nrow
wit the man he mocked so sharply, at then
and there.

Bush Clark passed up the narrow stairs,
pausing to rap at a door.

“Is tyou, Clark?” came a cold, stern voice.
“ Have ou found him? If not, go back, and—”

“ Mr. land is waiting your p easure, sir.”

” Then come in.”

Clark Opened the door motionin Felix Bland
to enter. The Man of Silk obeye , doiflng his
hat as he crossed the threshold , casting a keen and
gmprehensive glance around the small cham-

r.

“ If there is anything more, brother—”

" Nothin save to ta e yourself 03. Shut the
door behin you. If I want you for anything,
I’ll call.”

Cold, hard, very unlike the voice or tones of
the broken-down old man whom he met at the
“holding up ” of the stage, but still the same
being, as T e Man of Silk could see. A par-
ently Darius Aymer had prepared himse f for
this interview, steeling his nerves like one who
feels all depends on that turn of the cards.

He sat beside a small stand, bearing a lighted
lamp and materials for  A chairwas
placed on the opposite side 0 the stand, to
which he motioned The Man of Silk, as he

spoke:

“ Sit down. I thank you for coming so
promptly.”

“Don’t care if I do,” smiled Felix Bland,
slipping into the seat and dropping his hat to
the floor. “ Came in such a hurry that I
forgot to bring m supper with me and my
stomach’s so light need a chair-back to keep
me from toppling over backward.”

Darius Aymer frowned dark! at this fiippant
remark, and a far less acute in ad than that of
the man who sat ite him, could have read
his growing uneasiness. .

“ You can give a thought tosuch silly trifles,
when I am sufferinlir such wretchedness?”

“Well. you see. it’s my stomach.”hesitatsd
Bland, wit a faint smile. “ And naturally one

i is more nearly concerned about his own troubles

than those of an entire stranger. although—”
“You are still obdurate? You persist in
denying your name?” shargly uttered Darius
Aymer,leaning across the ta le, his sunken eyes
lowing vivid ,his face flushing with an r.
‘ Have you no spark of mercy— no touch 0 re-
morse in that wicked heart?"

I

!

 

“ I Wl make one more appeal, though it
seems hopeless. Look at me, and try to recall
my face, my figure. my hairs, as they were when
you fled in the night from my house. Do you
see the chan e’l"

“ Wonder all I could almost believe you
were becoming a youth again—getting into your
second childhood, asit were!” softl uttered The
Man of Silk, his brows arching, his face full of
innocent surprise.

“ And all for you. All on your account, Rob-
ert Aymer,” passioname cried the old man, the

Whatever comes of it, you can’t j great veins swelling on his temples, his face al-

most purple. “Then—I was strong, healthy,
honored and respected throughout the land.
Then I could look any man in the eye, without
flinching. Then I need not hang my head and

I’m not Robert Aymer,if Rob- 1 blush for shame when I heard the name my fa-

thers bore passing the lips of strangers.

“Now—look at me! Old and broken down,

long before my time. My head whitened with
riot and shame. My name a byword for scof-
ers. And all for you—all for you i”

“ You mean all for Robert Aymer, I reckon,”
quietly said Bland.

“ Dare you deny your name to my very face?”
fiercely cried the old man, drawing his gaunt
frame erect, his eyes all aglow. “ Dare ou
look me in the eye and en thata father oes
not know his son? God!" With a deep, shivering

can as his head drooped almost to the table.

‘ That I should have to say it! That I should
have,to claim a vile, unrepentant criminal as a
son!

“Well,it does sound a little tough. that’s a
fact,” was the deliberate response. ‘ You don’t
have to, do you? Then I wouldn’t.”

“You dare to mock me, after all I have suf-
fered—after all I am suffering even yet—on
your account?” grated Darius Aymer, once
more the stern, almost fierce accuser. “Is it
not enough that I am driven from home. an
exile. a wanderer on the face of the earth, with-
out friends, without honor, without a hope—un-
less I can touch your hardened heart or stir your
conscience into making what poor reparation
can be made at this late day Is all this not
enough without your mocking me to my face!"

“ Well, it sounds rather hard, I admit, but
what can I do to help you? I’ve sins enough of
my own committing, without confessing to those

another fellow is responsible for. If I was
real}; your son—”
“ are you deny that you are Robert Aymer,

my criminal son?’

‘ I told you once I was not Robert Aymer. I
repeat that assertion. I have no father living,”
was the cold hard response.

With a oarse. inarticulate cry, Darius
Aymer thrust a revolver almost into the face of
The Man of Silk. his face convulsed with mad
passion and despair. He grated savagely :

“ Confess, or die! Admit that you committed
the crime for which I have to suffer, or son
though you be, I’ll save the han n a job I"

“ A fine-looking inn: what di it cost

Cool, unshaken t e tones. Without fiinching
an atom, without changing a muscle, The Man
of Silk gazed across the deadly weapon into the
purple face of the old man opposite. It was a
marvelous exhibition of nerve, for he must have
seen the lifted hammer. the finger bent around
the trigger,a simple contraction of which would
send the lead crashing through his brain.

But it was a coolness with a purpose, and it
won

Darius Aymer was startled, his overwrought
brain thrown off its balance for an instant.
Long enough for a man like Felix Bland. Long
enough for him to jerk his head out of range,
to reach out and insert his thumb between the
hammer and the cartridge. Then a quick twist
of his steel-like wrist wrenched the dangerous
tool awa , a soft laugh escaping his lips, as he
mid. hal -sneerinfily:

“ Never take t e drop until you‘re ready to
improve it on the very instant, my dear sir!
That's the regulation style among ntlemen
who are really fit to carry guns: pa] and pull,
the two in one time and one motion! See?”

Apparently Darius Aymer did not hear or un-
derstand his terse ex lanation. His face turned
ghastl white but t was not through bodily
fear, t ough The Man of Silk was deftly toying
with the confiscated weapon, illustrating his
little lecture as delivered. He leaned across the
table, his voice husky. pitiful, pleading as a man
might lead for dear life when it hung trembling
in the lance.

“ Robert—son! by the memory of the ha py
past I beg of you to show me mercy! Lift is
crushing weig , t from my life! Do not send me
to the grave in disgrace! I know I wronged
you» bitterly in the past, but I will make amends
—I will beg your pardon on m bended knees if
that will so ten you! Anyth ng, only confess
that on sinned, not I I”

“ nd swear to a lie? Bang for your son?
Isn’t that a little too much to ask, after trying
to murder me? You might coax me, but—”

“How is this for persuasion. then?” cried a
clear musical voice, as a door flew open, reveal-
ing Adine Aymer with a pistol in each hand.

 

i

CHAPTER X.
rossv ccarxs AT THE HELM.

“ IT is murder—murder most foul !”chokingly
cried Little Puss, staggering back and covering
her face with both trembling hands, to shut out
that sight.

Feeling almost as guilty as though she had
with her own hands put this shame and ig-
nominy upon those four men whose only 5m
was that they sought to execute justice on the
guilty, where law there was none save such as

this. she watched Mark Toogood and his mates '

as they passed slowly, painfully down the little
valley, making no effort to secure relief by
even muter soliciting her to break the oath
which the road-agents had extorted. Through
hot, indignant tears she watched them, be in-
ning to doubt the wisdom of the course she ad
soimpulsively taken. She had saveda human
life but was it worth all this?

Worn and jaded, held up so long only by
the mad flames of hatred and a longing for
vengeance, could the reach a place of safety
thus cruelly hamper ? Could they hope to find
succor, such as was denied them here? Would
they not faltrr and fail—go down in despair
to die a dorrible death—to starve, to perish of‘
thirst,to—-

“It is too, too horrible!” she murmured,
trembling like a leaf in the strong arm of her
lover. “It is no sin to break such a vile oath!
I will—”

And as she. started to break away from that
firm, yet lov1ng clasp, that volley of rifle-shots
rung forth, and she saw the four miners go
down in a struggling heap!

A grating curse broke through the tight—
clinched teeth of Booth Barrett as he caught at
the sinking figure of Little Puss, even his ar-
dent love being unable to kee his flashing eyes
from dwelling on that wri ing mass of hu—
manity.

The frown on his face grew blacker as he
heard a wild, mockingnchorus of laughter come
from up the west 'llside—from the point
{whence had sped that treacherous volley of

end.

Little Puss heard it, too, and that sickening
faintness was driven away by a burst of hot in-
dignation. She regained her nee, and one
hand closed on the barrel of the repeating rifle
still held by Booth Barrett.

“The cowardly assassins!” she panted, her
eyes blazing fire, her face white as that of a
corpse, as she struck down the hand which
Booth Barrett instinctivelyethrust out to bar
her passe e. “To shoot t m down like mad
wolves! 0—”

“ What would you do, Puss?” muttered Bar-
rett, as the half-frantic girl sprung outside the
cabin, Winchester in readiness for use. “You
are mad, irll” with a trace of an r in his
‘ hey'll kill us both, and t at won’t
those poor devils in the least! Come
bac ! ’

“ Through me they suffered—only for me
they won! never have been taken by those mer.
ciless fiends! Only for me—”

A sharp report cut short the choking speech
and, with something of the fierceness a wounded
tigress mi ht have displayed in defense of her
threaten cubs, Little Puss turned in that di-
rection, the Winchester leaping instinctively to-
her shoulder.

“ Thar they be!” rung out a stentorian voice
a second later, and another shot stung out from
the rocky sloge above the fallen four. “ Slam
it into ’em! pread out an’ surround the bloody
varmints! Don’t let a domed one git away!
Cut loose and blow ’em to thunder !”

“ Father—it is father!” gasped Little Puss, al--
most dropping the weapon which an instant
later wou have been hurlin its deadly con-
tents up the slope toward the ttle curl of blue
smoke which her keen game had de .

From the opposite slepe—the one from whence
that treacherous volley had been sent at the
helpless miners—came wild oaths and yells of
mingling alarm and rage as a leaden hail came
whistling over the narrow valle , seeming to
confirm the im ression made by at loud and
hearty voice. t seemed asthough at least half
a dozen rifles were vomiting forth their con-

tents!

And Little Puss, turning her weapon in the
same direction, worked trigger and lever as
swiftly as the most expert, though she could

only ess at the'spot where the road-agents
were idin or fleeing).
She co (1 beer t em, and knew that they

were in hasty flight after those first few mo-
ments of surprise, but a dip in the slo hid
them from her view, whether mounte or on

foot.

“ Lively, lads, an’ we’ve got ’em 1” shouted the
as yet unseen marksman on the eastern slope,
punctuating his words with rifle-shots. “ Stop
em ef they try to break through thar, Jim!
Save enough on ’em fer a hanginf—lxse, anyhow 1”

Despite his experience in wild life Booth Bar-
rett seemed wholly at a loss what to do or how
toactin this peculiar emergenc . Little Puss
had rudely spurned him when e would have
checked her impulsive rush. And his wild gaze
shifted quickly from slope to slope, from the!

W

.ruJ-a' ’.*v ~

 

   The M... of Silk.

13

 

 

level ground where the hampered miners lay,
to the face of the maiden Whom he loved: a face
now almost glorious in its wild beauty!

From the eastern slope came a low, mellow
laugh as the rapid flring ceased, and a moment
later a tall, gaunt fl re stepped into view. One
hen the W nchester which hadworked
so ind nstriously, the other an old felt hat, leav-
ing the long, grizzled locks of hair to be tossed
back by the freshening evening breeze.

“ I reckon that’ll do, gal !’ he cried, as he be-
gan descending the hill, still laughing, thou h
his gaze was now turned in the direction of t e
fallen miners. “ I don’t think a gatling gun
could reach them imps by this time! The way
they did git up an’ git! Ef each critter had
jumped astraddle of one 0’ your bullets fer a
ride he couldn’t ’a’ gone much faster !”

He paused abruptly, drop ing down behind a
handy rock as a rifle expll ed and sent its lead
to scatter the gravel behind him.

“Back in the cabin gal!” he cried, sharply,
on] the black muzzle of his re lenished wea n
to he seen as he maneuvered or a shot. “I‘om
“Eight fer—n k ha 1 d b1 d ' i h

'swea n as rpy,an en in wt
the reportgoamfl wild and choking shriekg from
the opposite slope.

Then Booth Barrett seemed to wake up to a
full sense of the situation, and catching Puss up
in his arms, he bore her into the stone cabin,
paying no attention to her struggles and remon-
strances.

Posey Curtis peered out from his cover, a
hard grim smile on his weather-beaten features.

“ see 'em runnin’ like thar shirts was aflre!”
he muttered, as his eyes sought vainly for an-
other animate target. “ I could ’a' tuck oath
they was all gone, too bad skeered to tell one
man from a hull rijiment. One must’a ’stop d,
whether he wanted to or not. fer thar he ays
now, past kickin’ or shootin’ from this time on!
He don’t bother me; it’s the chainee whether or
no they ain’t more on ’em layin’ low fer a pot-
shot at my bi ess!” I

If this tron led him, Posey Curtis did not
show it save in cautious movements. Certainly
it did not render his iron nerves unsteady or
chase the grim, hard smile from his face as he
slowly, deftly stole from rock to bush, from
bush to rock, pausing at each fresh covert to
scan the opposite slope, to nn ask any hidden
foe before a snap-shot could ag n endanger his
life.

" I reckon they wasn‘t but the one,” he mut-
’tered, after several minutes of this maneuvering
without making any discovery. “ Reckon that
fool critter was one I drapped when I let oi? the
old battery at fu’st. Crippled him, mebbe. Rest
too mighty skeered fer to stop an’ pick him up
to help 'em mi away 1”

Although a is wholly satisfied with this ex~
planation, Posey Curtis was too old and experi-
enced a fighter to take anything for granted
when the odds were so heavily in favor of the
road-agents, and though he quickened his pro-

ess own the slope toward the miners, who
still lay in a heap on the level, motionless as
though that treacherous volley 'sad instant]
slain them all, he kept well covered, with h s
rifle ready for a snap-shot on the instant.

At the base of the slope he used for a brief
space, keen] scrutinizing t e int at and
around the alien read-agent. e would have
no further cover in reaching the miners. To cut
their bonds, he must fully expose himself, and
should an of the road~agents stillbe in ambush.
they coul readily pick him off with somer any
risk to themselves.

“I say, you critters layin‘ out tharl” Posey
Curtis ntteredAn tones too low to reach across
the valley and up the other slope, “ you ain’t
all croaked, he ye?”

There came no answer in words, but Posey
saw a head turn slightly and caught sight of a
pair of eyes, very wide open indeedl They were
the eyes of Mark Toogood. and Posey Curtis
gave a glad grunt as be recognised them.

“ Good enough so furl"’he uttered, with an-
other lance up the slope where the dead man
lay. t I reckon the imps is "1981183 out for good.
An way, I‘m goin’ to resk it!"

Vain: a, rapid series of leaps and erratic
bounds he gained the spot where the four‘help-
less miners were lying, drofirmg quickly behind
them. his rifle at his shon er and ready fora
shot as his blazinge es scanned the dangerous
Slope beyond. But t ere came no shotto tell of
an ambush. no sound to tcl! that his daring

- mo .cments were being watched with unfriendly
j eyes. And a low, relieved laugh parted his th n

S.
um Gone to look for last winter’s snows, I
reckon. The Old Boy go with ’em fer luck, say
I !” \

He drew a knife and deftly cut the rape that
hampered the miners. gnid more by the sense
of touch than of sight, for his eyes were even
vet on the lookout for danger. And as he
worked, he muttered:

,“ I know by the look ye give me that you’re
all right, Mark. an’ I hope all the rest kin say
the same, though when them d whel cut
loose an’ you drapped in a heap, won] 't'a’
figs pewterdollar fersll thsbresth that’was

into ye i” ,

   
 
 

 

“I’m alive—all ri ht,” gasped Mark Too—  coming, lI (lioubt if ygn would ever have seen
1 your gir a ive again!

good, as he spat out t e suffocating gag.

“ Mighty glad to hear ye say so, too!” chuck- l

in her anxiety to keep peace Little Puss did

led Posey Curtis, still with his eyes roving over not stop to pick and choose her words, and nat—
the rocks beyond, still with his sinewy right , urall enon b they startled Posey.

hand gripping his faithful Winchester, ready to 3
1

lift and scharge it on a moment’s warning.
“ Them’s your arms, I take it?"

H

at a 1’s b’in goin’ on, anyway? Speak .

i out plain, Puss!” he uttered, glancing swiftly
i from her now flushed face to that of Booth

“ Yes—slash ’em loose!” muttered Too ood, in 1 Barrett. “ I didn’ see but the last eend of it. I

a clearer voice. “Never mind of you
the blood! Cut ’em loose, an’ let me git a whack
at the whelps i”

laughed Posey pl ing his knife solely
sense of touch.) “I

raaly think they’ve got out I

o fetch ketched the sound 0’ shootm’ over this way, an’

l

“ I reckon they’re done whacked out, Eard,” 
y the : show fer it! But go on—out with it, gal!”

made a break as fast as my le could kiver the
ground. Only fer that, meb I wouldn’t ’a’
wasted nigh so much lead with so little meat to

Ordinarily Litt e Puss had a fluent tongue,

0’ your jurisdiction, onless they broke thar 1 but just now she was painfully agitated, and

necks in the hurrythe was in the last glimp’ I
ketched of ’em. on in use your paws?”

H Yes.”

“ Grip my butcher, then, an’ I’ll slide back to
kiver. Wait ontel I Whistle, then cut the rest
loose. They won’t nobody take a pot-shot at
the heap 0’ ye while I’m watchin’, I'll go bail!”

With an agility remarkable in one of his
years, Posey urtis turned and bounded back
to the nearest cover, dropping down behind it,
rifle in readiness for use at the first glimpse of a
foeman. He whistled,and Mark Toogood rapid-
ly plied the knife left with him, muttering:

“How is it, pardsl You ain’t all dead, I
know, but somebody was hit mighty hard, from
the way I was pulled down. Not you, Dingle?”

“ Hev I got any head left onto me Mark?”
faintly asked the man who had been bound to
him. “Did the hull airth fly up an’ knock me
west-end-an’-crookedi Or what I?”

“ Your tongne’s left, anyway, Dingle,” grim-
ly retorted Toogood, in. no mood just then for
idle chatter.

As rapidly as possible he set Dan Orvis and
mate free, then turned toward Pusey Curtis,
sa in :

x on’re running this outfit, Posey; what
comes next?” ‘

“All right with the rest of ’em? That's
hearty l” With an honest fervor, as the response
came simultaneously from the trio.

And this was true, despite that treacherous
volley: for that it was designed to forever put
the avengers oil! the trail was clear enough
from the wound received by Tom Din le, one
bullet tearing along his skull,felling im as
though his brain was pierced, his fall had drawn
the others with him and as their sole hope they
lay still as they fell, lest other and more sure
shots come to complete the dastardly 33b.

“ Up an’ break fer cover, then. on come
here, Mark. I’ll leave a pistol fer you, an’ an-
other one behind the next rock I strike. Let
one feller foller me thar an‘ with three good‘
men armed I reckon we’ll all hunky !”*

“Then the imgs is still layin’low?” growled
Mark Toogood, is eyes fairly blazing with a

thirst for revenge. “ I’d give my life fer a show ‘

to liliekvlen 1h, tli ed b P

c yt eprogramme as on n y osey
Cnrtiss was carried out, and that without a sin-
gle sign of danger or interruption. The three
men were armed. and at a convenient covert
they all came ether. V

“I reckon the imps is gone, sure enough!”
chuckled Posey Curtis, highly elated at accom-
plishing his purpose so easil . “ But when they
git time to count noses an‘ nd they’ve left any-
way one o’ thar pards abind ’em, they’ll be
mightv apt fer to come back a-tearin’ fer
wool!” ‘

b“; I hope so!” grated mark Toogood, his eyes
a aze.

“ So don’t I, too!” with a quick glance toward
the stone cabin, and a thought of his daughter.
“ The furder they run an’ the longer they stay,
the better I’ll think of ’em. But ef they be com-
in’. we’d better git as good ready as we kin.
Come up to the cabin, an’ I’ll flt ye out with
weepons the best I kin. Of course they tuck
your tools?”

As the answer was self-e ident, Posey did not

use to receive it in wor s, but turned toward

he cabin at once. He kept up his cautious
movements, nsin the best cover available, his
rifle ever in res iness for use. Mark T ,
too angry for such prudence. soon rose erect
and strode openly up the slope to the door,
where he was welcomed b Puss.

“ You don’t hold a grn geagainstpae. Mark?”
she asked, blushing painfully, her tones un-
stead , her black eyes dimmed with tears

“ ot ag’in’ yon, Pritty Puss—not ag’in’ you,”
the burly miner muttered, his voice anything
but hearty as he uttered the Words. “You
done what you thcnght was right, I don’t
doubt.”

There was a hard, almost ugly expression on
the fines of Posey Curtis as he came u , pushing
past Mark Toogood and confronting th Bar-

rett, whostood near the rear window, his own '

face pale and hard-set. ,

“ It is on, then, Lucky Barrett?” coldly de~
mended t e owner of the lone cahin. “ I wasn’t
dcarLsure when I fu’st see‘ you from over yen-

er.

“ Father,”intc sed Little Puss, clasping the
sinewy! arm with th her hands and gazing in-
to his ard face with tear-dimmedceyes. “ You
know Mr. Barrett? “Only for him—only for his

I ‘l I

 

  

seeing this, Booth Barrett came to the rescue.

“Like you Mr. Curtis, my notice was at
tracted by shots from here, and in hopes of
fieving of service, I hastened up. I found

iss Curtis standing off those four men at the
muzzle of her rifle. I didn’t sto to ask what
the trouble was about, but ofler her my assiso
tance, just as any gentleman would have done.”

“ It was a poor, fainting wretch who begged
me to save his life. father!” impulsively broke
in Little Puss. “ He staggered into the house
and fell to the floor, almost dead with fatigue
and terror. What could I do, when he b93311
for mercy in the name of heaven? I tri to
save his life, but I would have failed, only for
——only for Mr. Barrett’s coming.”

“We didn’t valie him the sun of a fin er,”
coldly put in Mark Toogood. “ f you h b’in
like him, or ef he'd b’in a dozen, all men, like
us, we‘d ’a’ run in an’ finished Red Bergum or
got wiped out in the tryin‘. I ain’t sayin’
nothin’ ag’inst you, Lucky Barrett “with a '
frown toward that personage. “ lion done jest
what any white man won d ’a’ done with the
same chaince, that wasn’t knowin’ to all Red
Bergum bed carved out in red letters. But it
was Pritty Puss that stood us off, not you i”

From speaker to speaker Posey ' turn-
ed, listening in grim silence to what each had
to offer. When Mark Toogood ceased speak.
ing, he turned to Barrett once more, his voice
cold and hard:

“ Ef you’ve done anlythin’ my little gal thinks
wu’th thanks, play ’ve thanked you double"
over, Lucky Barrett.”

“ I want no thanks. I only—”

“I n’t crowdin’ ’em onto ye, Lucky Bar-
rett,” in the same cold, passionless, but inexora-
ble tones. “ Ef on won’t take ’em, let ’em .
An’ mebbe you be good enon h to go With
’em? You come through the ear: I reckon
you kin manidge to fit out the same wa .”

“ Father!” cried ittle Puss, her flus ed face
turning pale as that of a corpse. “ Father—for
mysake!”

osey Curtis passed one arm around her
trembhng figure, drawing her close to the side
of his person furthest from Booth Barrett, his
other hand pointing to the open door.

“ I will go, since you order me, and since this
is

face pale and hard-set. “But first-will you
gran;- me a brief interview on important busi-
ness

“These men are my friends, an’ I’ve got
nothin’ to say or listen to that I’m ashamed for
them to hear. Ef you hev, than I don’t want
to waste good time a—listenin’ to it,” coldly re~
torted Posey.

“Go, Booth—obey, for my sake!” faltered
Little Puss. clinging with trembliniarms to her
stalwart father, as though fearigg is hot tem-
per would get the upper ha of his self- ,
control.

“You know how sacred are your wishes in
my si ht, Puss,” the young man uttered, his
voice or the first time showingI signs of un-
steadinees. “You know that would walk
through death itself to give you the slightest de-
gree of pleasure—but I can‘t go am: now with-
out saying what 'is on my lips—wit out speak-

ing before these men the words I wishedto speak ’ , *

to your father alone!” _

“ Er you hain’t lost your nickname 0’ Lucky;
I reckon you’d better 1 out in a hurry, l
muttered Pusey Cu s. the big veins start
out (in throat and temples, is face slowly
flushing, his eyes seeming to retreat f

into his head. .
“When I’ve said my say not before, Mr.

Curtis,” r ded Barrett, his voice steady,
but his face ginning to betray the strong emo-
tions which lay beneath.

Without a word Pusey Curtis turned and g 
freeing his arm of that clinging clasp. he placed
Little Puss, ting. sobbing, half distracted,
into the ban of Mark Toogood.

“ look after the gala minnit, will you. paid!"
he said, with ominous coldness, then firming,
back to Booth Barrett. who faced him firmly. .

“Say your say, an’ put it as short as you _
know how, young man. But think afore yon'
speak. I don’t want to hurt ye unless I’ve got. i'
to. '

Barrett hesitated, but it was only for a single
breath. He felt that he was cuttinz his own
throat. but after what had rinsed he could not '
draw back, even with that great loss stem
him full in the face. . . ' '

“Yonknowwhatl haveto say, but Film

your house,” returned the young man, his .'

 

  
 

' my wife.

IA:

The Man of Silk. V

 

 

it in werds so plain that even your prejudice
can’t distort it, ’he said, keeping his voice well
under control, though the struggle to do so was
I visible enough.
' “ Out with it, sence I‘ve got to listen. Out
with it—an’ short!”

“ I love our daughter. I wish to make her
ask you to give your consent to our
marriage.”

Coldly tersely. Booth Barrett uttered these
words. Then, with arms folded tightly over his
chest, he waited for his answer.

It came right 8 dily, but not in words.
Posey Curtis, a col , grim smile on his weather-
beaten face, took one step forward and his sin-
ewy hands closed upon the young man’s shoul-
ders with a vise-like grip. Ho stared intently
into those bold brown eyes for an instant, then
flung back his head with a toss that sent the

iron-gray hair flyin over his shoulders. His
right hand release its grip, inflng with
steady finger to the open door. is left hand,

seemin ly taking the power of its mate as well,
forced 00th Barrett across the floor and out-

doors.

Mark Toogood made a hasty gesture which
Dan Orvis and another readily interpreted.
They acted promptl ,following the pair out-
side, weapons in han , ready to use them on the
instant should Booth Barrett turn upon his stern

ca r. ,
m there was no occasion for their interfer-
ence Deep as must have been his mortifica-

J ‘ tion,.bitter as must have been his disappoint"

askinapoorfooifromtoptotoew

ment, Booth Barrett made no resistance what-
ever as Posey Curtis forced rather than bore
hull:i company down the slope before the stone
ca n.

Pausing when fairly beyond earshot of those
above, Posey Curtis released the young man,
gain sternly into hi ale, hard-set face. his

use ull of sup ressed slike and bitterness:

“ You know he way you come Luck Bar-
rett. Thar’s the trail to town. Take t, and
don’t you come on this claim ag’in, if you know
what is good medicine.”

“ You talk ,as though I had committed an un-

onable crime.” '

“ Ef you hain’t, it comes too mighty nigh it to
befunny. It’sa insult for any sech critter as

ou tospeak o’ lovein the same breath with an
honest girl. It’s a insult I’ve let go this time,
for her sake, sense she thinks you’ve done her a
sarvioe. But of 'you want to wear gray hairs,
don’t you repeat it. Don’t you ever come
around this claim ag’in until I send for ye.
Don’t you let me know of your ever takin’ he
name 0’ my little gal on your lips thar in t0wn,
’mong your feller-hawks. Ef I do—I’m Posey
Curtis 1”

Booth Barrett listened coldly until the father
ceased speaking. There was a ghost of a smile
on his lips, yet too’ plain for his drooping mus-
tache to entirely conceal from the keen eyes of
the other. It was like flaunting the scarlet ra
- in the face of an angry bull, though this heat 0

'1 x‘ Posev Curtis’s was a white/one.

“ You ta h, do ye?” he said, his voice still
colder, still rder than before. ' “You think
your nickname ’ll stick by ye af’in’ Posey Cur.

is? You think you kin wring 11 some 0 your
dirty tricks, jest as you do when you set out to
th your mark-

* ed keerds an’ your other devil’s ’ventionsl”
,A flush came into the face of the lover at these

i i , words, and his tones were as hot as they were

'9'.
v

 

 

.' ' die strode away.

 

Iwift: ,

n“ “he man who accuses me‘ of foul play is 9.
art
“I say you hev played foul more times then

' ‘you kin count in . a week 1” sharply retorted the

‘ old man, his eyes all. aglow.
“ Then you—are Miss Curtis’s father,” bowed

‘ W Booth Barrett, with a }ow laugh. “ That gives
' : you more license than

Will, grant to any other
man on the face of the footstool!”

“An’ gives you a chaince to crawl out of a
mighty awkward box !” contemptuoust la hed
Poesy, with a toss of his leonine head. “ t it

- ofat that. I don’t want your blood on my

' s. Ef you don’t want it thar. the sooner
you start fer town, the better for us both." ‘

" ‘.‘ All right. I’ll go. But one parting word,”

and Booth Barrett azed firmly, defiantly into

, those black eyes. ‘Unless you ll the love

‘.

7 ‘which Puss bears for me, I’ll win d wear her

* ct.”
(y “ Go. you dirty whelpl” grated Curtis, draw-
.in a revolver nd covering the bold s er.
“ it! or I’ll 'blow your black heart out l’
, “Think you can hit the back of an empty-
' handed man?” laughed the other, turning to
move slowly away in the direction of town.
. “ If so, cut loose.”
And without once glancing over his shoulder,

 

1

CHAPTER xi.
Pom PBEACHES A SERMON.

- FOR the space of a slnglebreath Booth Bar-
: rett’s life hung by a thread frail as ever spider
spam, A revolver covered him, a r was
, the trigger, and there was
. k eyes. Had he s
hounds another irritating

A 3 ‘  g 1 .

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.f0 1800.. .
poksn another word. guitar»: . tab 'stran mob
gesture Had  choc”! %9,wc%’

he afforded even the faintest shadow of an ex-
cuse, Posey Curtis would have wiped out his
hatred and his fears on his daughter’s account
at one and the same time. -

But steadily on walked the gambler from P0-
se ’s Pocket, turning neither to the right nor the
10 t. Without slackening or hurrying his nieas
ured footsteps. Without a backward glance
Pacing on as cool] and as deliberately asthougli
enmity and he hat naught in common.

It was a superb exhibition of nerve, and after
that first brief spasm of r e, Posey Curtis was
forced to admit as much. lowly, deliberately,
his pistol was lowered, and almost despite him-
self the words rose in his throat:

“ I cat'n’t shoot him like I would a dog! I’d
ought to, but I cain’t I”

Then, as though fearing to trust himself fur-
ther, he turned on his heel and slowly moved
back to the little stone cabin.

As Posey reached the door Mark Toogood re-
leaSed Little Puss, whom he had held until now,
sobbing, trembling, fearing the worst. She cast
one glance into the cold, hard-set face of her
father as he entered the room, then sprung to
the open door.

A gasp of intense relief broke from her lungs
as she caught sight of Booth Barrett passing
down the valley. Her worst, most acute fears
were banished by that sight, and with bowed
head, she hurried into her room, closing the
door behind her.

As she passed from view, Mark Too 00d sud-
denly resumed his former hard, venge ul mood,
spea ing hurriedly:

“ You said somethin’ ’bout lendin’ us tools,

Pose 90—” ,
“ ll fit ye out the best I know, tho h I don’t
reckon thar’s any great dan er 0’ t em imps
comin’ back this way for a it. Ef they was
comin’ I’d ’a’ beam from ’em when I was out
jest now.”

Although Red Bergum had failed in his search
for fire-arms while pent up in the stone cabin,
fire-arms there were close at hand. Posey lifted
one of the broad puncheons which formed the
floor, revealing a shallow, dry, box-like ar-
rangement in one corner of the room. From
this he took a couple of Winchester rifles and a
brace of revolvers, all in prime order and each
pirovided with a sufficiencyof fixed ammuni-

on.

“You go mighty well heeled, Pose !” mut-
tered Toogood, as he took one of' e rifles
anéi satisfied himself it was in good working
or er.

“ I’ve got to,” was the short, response, as
Curtis closed the hiding-place an stood erect.
" It wasn’t always as smooth sailin’ in these
diggings as it is now, an’ more‘n once I’ve had
time to thank the lucky stars that made me lay
in 'a stock 0’ tools like them. Why—” ‘

“’Nother time, Pose l” muttered Toogood,‘
turning and striding to he doorway. “ Business
fu’st. Come on, pards. Ef they’s any 0’ them
infarnal black-faces within reac I want to git

a  onto em l”

thout pausing for a response, Mark Too-
good sprung outside, facing the slope from
whence that dastardly volley was discha 'ed.
But not a sound to betray the presence 0 an
enemy accompanied this movement. Only the
grimly silent shape lying at the base of a blood-
sprinkled b0wlder bore evidence that enemies
had ever been near.

“ I don‘t say I’m glad I drapped the critter,”
muttered Posey Curtis, as he paused beside the
fallen road-agent, from whose painocoutortcd

ace Mark Toogood hastily stripped the sable
mask. “ But I ain’t cryin’ any tears over it,
nutherl He tuck his life in his own hands, an’
he was tryin’ his level best for to butcher you
critters. I did u’t shoot at him in poticklar, as I
knows on. I‘d run a long stretch at the top
notch. an’ my narves wasn't uite as stiddy as
they mought’a’ b’in, mebbe. qI jest p’inted this
lvilli‘i.y'!.”iin’ let blizzer, countin’ on gin’ral results,

9 .

“ I'm only wishin’ you’d drapped more 1”
growled Toogood, rising from his examination
with a disappointed scowl. “ I don’t know the
cur. I caint git any clew to the rest 0’ the

gang b his face.” \

One y one his mates declared the same. The
road-agent was a stranger to all.

With weapons ready for an emergency,
though even the most sanguine was about con-
vinced that their search was useless before it
fairly opened the slope was covered by the
miners and their ally. Here and there their
keen eyes noted the bluish splash of bullets on
rock or bowlder, and an occasional dro of
blood told them that every bit of lead h 'not
been spent on insensate objects.

“ You’ve marked one or two o’the critters,
fats-legged or two!” grimly chuckled Mark Too-

8 . -

“ Mighty queer they ain‘rt more of ’em layin’
’round case! ’muttered Dan Orvis,showin his
yell0w teeth after an ugly fashion. “A rag
shot couldn’t well ’a’ missed more of he’d tried
his level best!"

Poesy Curtis ghnced quickly into that thin,

  

 

_'I’d

a, ‘I J ‘

muttered ' I ‘
- \ :cft-‘wasn’t-nofault (,in ' 7,1,.

ed you safe out of a migthy ugly boxi But let:
it go at that. I ain’t in the man-killin’ business
for a livin’.”

‘ They’ve skun out fer kee , I reckon!” rc-
luctantly admitted Mark 00g00d. staring
inoodily at the deep scars left behind by ’iron—
shod hoofs in hasty flight down the second
slope . " We cain’t ketch ’em on foot, with the
long start they’ve got. An’ then thar‘s the
boys—it won’t do to leave ’em alone any
longer.”

Like one afraid to trust himself so near
temptation, Mark Toogood turned abru tly
from the fresh trail, striding down to the one
cabin. ,

Posey Curtis hustled around, collecting such
articles as past experience told him would rove

valuable in such an emergency: food and ink,
soft cloths and bandages.
“ I’d like mi hty well to go with ye lads, to

lend a liclpin’ and, but you kin see how I’m
fixed,” the veteran said, earnestly, while thus
charitabl enga ed. “ I changed in voice as
good as I ow how, but I reckon t em black-
faced imps hes a pritty good idee who done all
that shootin’ now they’ve had time to think it
over an’ made out that they ain’t nobody chas—
in’ of ’em. It won’t make ’em none the milder-
minded to think they skittered off in each a hur-
ry afore only a old man an’ his little gall An"
6 they should git hot enou h to come back fer
to git even—don’t ye see? cain’t run the resk
o’ leavin’ mv little gal all by herself.”

“We don’t ax it, Posey, ’returned Toogood,,
who ap ed to be the only one of the uar—
tette w o intimately knew the veteran. ‘ Ef'
we was takin’ the trail 0’ them critters, it.

ht be different. An’ so would your answer-
be, I reckon!”

“ I ain’t so mighty sure ’bout that, nuther "‘
slowly uttered Posey Curtis, shaking his head,
a ve look filling his eyes. “My tastes nur
gi don’t drift that way Mark.”

“ But they’re thieves an’ bloody killers!
They’re ds 0’ Red Bergum an’ you know
what all e’s done l” hotly cri Toogood.

“I know. I wouldn’t ift a finger to save the
dog, ef his neck was in a 100 an’ that liftin”
could so. his wu’thless life. at huntin’ down
a lot 0’ c tters a body don’t know from a hole
in the ground! That ain’t jest the same, to my
notion!” ' .

They’re tarred with the same stick. They
tuck Bed Ber out of the noose. They
claimed him as ’r pard. They roped us like
sheep-killin’ curs, an’ then tried to slaughter us.
For all them they’ve got to pay—an’ pay in red.

notes tool
Mebbe I’d feel the same way of I was in.
your place, bu ”

‘ Fu’st, we’ve got to look to our mates Red
Bergun dropped, or sech of ’em as is still livin’..
Then ’11 raise a gang big enou to wi the-
gzng of! o the face 0’ the airt l We’l come.

ck her' to take tha’r trail, an’ef you’re a man.
-—ef you re the man I’ve tuck you fer all these

ears, Posey—you’ll take the trail witbus, fer
by that time Idon’t know a pa’r 0’ human eyes
I’d rather truss then yours, the trail '11 be 50.
mi hty coldl You’ll go, Pose i”
rave.y Curtis listened. raver he shook:
his head as Mard Toogood ceased speaking,
awaiting his decision with keen interest.

“ I don’t reckon I will, pard. It ain't my
line. Ef I’m crowdcd,I’ll fl ht the best I know
how, but I cain’t play the b oodhound!”

“ Say the why, an’ done with it!” snarled Dan.
Orvis, showing his teeth viciously. “ I’ve beam
folks as that you wasn’t livin’ out here so
lonely a l fer nothin’l l’ve hearn ’em hint you.
lavas playin’ in with the gang——an’ now I knows.

is! ‘ .

Stern and white-faced, Posev Curtis listened
to the venomoua little rascal, saying not a word,
making not a move until he finished. Then he:
caught Dan Orvis by the shoulders, twistin his
feet from the floor, hearing him to the cor.
through which he tossed him like a,bundle of‘
straW. his voice harsh and strained as he cried :

“ Git u , you foul-mouthed whelp! Git up
an’ say t em words over ag’in to my face!
Bah l” with a scornful laugh as Orvis scrambled
to his feet. one hand brushing the dirt from his
eyes, the other feehng for the heavy revolver-
hanging at his hi . “ That’s my gun you’ve
got, but you don’ti e to use it on a man! See!

’m a big mark. won’t lift a finger to hender'
ye. I won’t tetch _a gunnur knife. But, all the
same, you’re too big a cur to shoot or strike l”

“ Drop it Dan!’ sternly cried Toogood, the
muzzle of his rifle slipping under the arm of the
veteran and staring the infuriated miner full in »
the face. “ Drop it, or I’ll dro ou!”

“ Keep your shirt on, pard,”icily retorted the
little desperado. his rat eyes glitterin venom-
ously,butmaking no eifortto accept t t con--
temptuous dare “I won’t shoot the critter
with hisown n. When I git one o’m own
ag’in, mebbe ’1] come back an’ ax to gizeven
fer the toss he lent me.” ‘

He drew the loaded pistol from his belt. toss—
ing it at the feet of Pose Curtis, then wheeled.
and strode rapidly down e I] .

“pm mighty mm {let w my,” ‘ R

 

i.
3‘.
i.

     

+. awn»... ..  .,

 

, tools in good time. pard. Come on, lads!

_.,‘.\'> 
a

The Man of Silk.

15

 

 

replied Curtis, with all traces of anger vanish-
ing like frost before the warm sun.

But it cuts, all the same! One 0’ my pards,
insultin’ you under your own roof-tree—an’ that
jest after your savin’ his life.”

“ I lied to take the 00d with the bad, Mark,”
laughed Posey, geni . “ I couldn’t save you
an’ leave him, even e I’d knowed the sort 0’
medicine he was. Let it go. It‘ll be all the
same a hundred years from now."

“ An’ you won’t think better of it? You won’t
go with us when we take the trail?” slowly ask-
ed Toogood.

“ Not unless I git a change o’heart afore then.
mate,” with a low, mellow augh that strangely

' softened the hard, weather-beaten face. “ I hate

to refuse a old pard like you, but I’d be lyin’
of I said anythin’ else. I ain‘t a man-hunter. I
cain’t tight onless it’s crowded onto me, or onless
I see my little gal in danger. Then the red
devil comes into me, an’ I let 0 all bolts—be-
ca'se I hev to! I cain’t tell jest ow it comes, or
why it is, but that’s the highest. I’m a devil,
then! But as long as I’m a man, I’ll never go
blood-huntin’, pard or no pard.” ‘

“ Ef ou won‘t, you won’t, an’ that settles it,
Posey, hough your notionsis too mi hty way-up
for me to understand. I’ll see you g t back our
e vs
burnt too much daylight a’ready. ”

Pusey Curtis bore the three men company to
the foot of the slo , in from them there
with renewed go Wishes. e stood watchin
them as they passed down the valley throng
the athering gloom, until the shadows swal-
lowe them up. He still hesitated, thou  he
turned his face toward the cabin where ttle
Pug? was waiting. be h t

s face was very grave, very no _r as e a
length slowl made his way up the mchne and
entered the ouse. He used, gazing at.the
closgi door beyond whic he knew his ido zed
c 11 was hidden, , sorrowing, gerohancehi rly
if silently upbraiding him .f or is cruelty.

“ As of it didn’t come nigh as hard on me as
it kin on her 1” he muttered below his breath.
“ Harder! Fer it’s only a passin’ notion to her
--one that she’ll outgrow in a week, at furderst ! ’

His lips shaped the words, but his heart and
brain repudiated them. He felt that Little
Puss was of far different metal and his next
words came far closer to the mar .

“ I know’d the time’d come when she’d give
her heart away, but I wouldn’t see it afore I
bed to! It’d be bitter luck enough—be hard
enough to let her 0 to the whitest man on
airth! But to hev er take a fancy fer a crit—
ter like Lucky Barrett! That’s the wu’st of all!
An’ I’m sore afraid it’ll prove her death-blow,
too. I’m sore afraid!”

He started as the chamber door swung open
with a tiny creaking sound, and his face turned

is as chalk as he saw Little Puss stand be-

ore him her face tear-stained, her eyes in
her red lips quivering pitifully as she gazed
silently, beseechingly into his face.

“ Father—tell me What you said to—to him
down yonder?” she murmured, brokenly. “I
hope—father, I love him so dearly !”

She sprung into his arms as they Opened, her
little head nestling in his broad bosom. She
was son , but they were not altogether born
of let. he was young. He loved her so

onately. Surely she need not wholly de-
spair of winning him over? And Booth was so

ood, so true, so ve and all that was ador-
able! Even herfa er could not long keep from
loving him.

Silently Posey moved to the door, sitting
down on the threshold, a rifle close to his hand,
holding his daughter upon his lap, just as he
had for years and years. My back to the time
when her mother was removed from them by
cruel death. Silently he waited, his dark eyes
looking at the stars as the came out one by
one, twinkling bflglégg desp to the rising of the
near! full moon. . tly onehnd stroked the
little curly head! ng over his heart. Patient-
ly he Waited unti the low sobbing died away,
until Little Puss gave a 18M “8'1 01' ramming
content.

“Father,” she murmured her toneseget a
little unsteady, but so full of love. mingl with
a uaint, pathetic, coaxing coo that had never
betlore failed her. “ Father, you are so nice
when ouarereal ood!” ,

“I o ye’ll al ays think 80, KlttY'PuSS, "10
matte-re , sadly.

“ I will. if—

“I knowed it, Puss,”he said as she paused,

glitncing Shyly I}; into his weather-beaten face.

knowed that come next. Aslong’s I_let
you hev your own way in everythin’, I’m Jest
ole rsimmonsl”

“ by not!” with a little laugh that was in-
tended to have all her wanted playful audacity,
but which was a lamentable failure. “Who
else have you to spell. daddy!” ’

“ No one, Puss: the good Lord grant I dont
spoil you too much.” _ ,

‘“ Am I so easily spoilt, then!” with a shower
of «kisses, as her warm s clasped 
ch . holding his head the ionless. tt

    
   

   
  

 

mm

is
n »'

 

 

   
  
  
 
 

, ppm“, how ’itimujghLuc (b eitlier that or he’ssoéd hk 10 dd“;—
‘ ,h when ’vo n on: don}! no manever .uc «secha an’, d
m“ "tam.- . schema grungrmseod‘luckl," ,- . ‘ 'r  .. 1"

gled to nerve himself for what he felt must
prove a painful interview.

“How many times !” murmured Puss, shrink-
ing as far away as his embracing arm would
permit, her face turning until it was hidden
from his stead gaze.

” Puss—chil l” he muttered, with an awful
fear tugging at his heart-strings, making his
voice sound strained and unnatural. “ You
ain’t ashamed to look me in thefacel You ain’t
afeard to answer me?”

Instant?y her face was turned toward him,
her eyes g owing vividly and her face flushing
warmly. But Posey Curtis gave a long breath
as he knew that flush was not one born of
shame. '

“ Father, do you know how strange your
words sound. speaking to me, your daughter?”
Little Puss slowly uttered.

“ I didn’t mean ’em that way, Kitty-puss,”
meckly. ,

“ I am not ashamed to anSWer any question
you see fit to ask daddy—why should I be?”

“ But you don‘t answer it, child! How often
hes that feller bin here to see you? How comes
it that he dared to ax me ef he might marry
m y gal—you, Kitty-puss?” with a sniff of indig‘
nation. o

“ Am I so awful ugly and mean and no-’count,
daddy, that no one can fall in—in love with
me!” softly murmured Little Puss, hiding her
face again.

There was a brief silence during which Posey
Curtis stand at the twinkling stars more in-
tently than ever. During which he kept swal-
lowing something that would keep risingin his
throat. During which Little Puss lay onth
arm, trembling, holding her breath, waiting
for the answer which she had so boldly dared.

With a low sigh Posey turned his gaze from
the bri htstars to the gloomy shadows in the
valley low. Somehow they seemed far the
most appropriate, ust now!

“Puss, I’m goin to talk to ye ca’mly an’ so-
berly, an’ I want you to listen to me, as a good

[should listen to the words of a father who
eves her heap more than all the rest 0’ the
world put together. Say you’ll do it, little

3 .

“ Yes—if you don’t say too many hard things
about- Oh, Daddy! he is so very, very dear
tome!” with a sobb ng cry.

"That’s a harder thmg than I ever expected
to bear come from your lips, Puss,” sadly mut-
tered Posey. “ I’d almost ruther hear you say
you was sick unto death l” .

“ I love him! I love him!”

Passionater she uttered these words. A dark.
frown came over the face of the old man, and a
reddish light began to glow in his eyes. It was
worse even than his fears had painted, but he
felt that he had one too far to usenow. The
truth must be to d, and the es torn from the

rchild's e es. Bitter the remed might ‘be
W in the en she would thank him or his cruel
kindness.

“ Listen to me, Puss,” he said, clasping her
(:1er his breast, rocking his bod slightly as
one might seek to soothe a fretful c ild. “ ’ve
got a little story to tell ye that— No I won’t!
You’d see through it in a minnit, an’ the plain
truth is heap the best.

“ That young feller ain’t no flt comp’ny for
you. _Ef you knOWed him as I know him, you’d
turn sick at the very sight 0' him!”

Little Pusslifted her head until their eyes met
despite his effort to hold her close. Her voice
was strained as she asked:

“”You are spealnng of Booth Barrett, fath-
er?

“ That same critter. Puss!”

“ Then one word first,” with almost desperate

calmness. “ I love that man as mother must have
loved you before you married her. Life without
him seems to me worse than death! I love him I
Now, 0 on.”
“ I’m glad they ain’t nobod nigh to hear you
speak so, Puss, ’cept your 0! daddy—an’ our
mother, up yonder!” with a glance town the
twinkling stars. “ It’s bitter enough as it is,
but it’d be heap wuss to hev it go out an’ he
laughed an’ sneered at in town that Lucky
Barrett hes made a fool of Posey Curtis’s gal!

“ sit a bit, hiss.” as the maiden started
back with a low cry that was almost as much
indignation as grief. “ I’m talkin’ now. When
I git ,through you kin say what you feel like
an m .

‘ I know more about this feller then you kin

kl OW, even though you hev tuck a notion that

love him so mighty dearly. I know him

mm A to Ampersand, an’ I’m goin’ to make

you know him jest aswell store I let up. It

may cut deep; but so it leaves a spark 0’ life be

hind that Will be better then to let you run to
ruin like you be now! -'

“ Lucky Barrett’they call him down in town.
Why? Beca’se he wins twenty mes o’ keerds
whar he loses one. Beca’se he in win or lose
Least as,he wants, or est ’cordin’ he thinks it’ll

money in his poc et when the game breaks
up. Beca’se they hadn’t nobody bin sh
enough yit to ketch him playin’ foul, the h it
soul to the 01 “go

       
  
  
 
 

 

    
   
  
  

 

“That’s bad enou h, but that’s wuss to come.
A gambler mought a honest man, the h it’d
be a powerful ti ht squeeze, I reckon! th
Barrett is a drun ard. One 0’ the wu’st sort,
too! One 0’ the kind that soaks himself like a
sponge, day in an’day out. One that gits chuck-
full every day 0’ his life, yit one who never
shows that he’s drunk in his talk or his looks or
his walk. One that nothin’ kin reform. One
that I’d ruther see you dead an’ buried then to
be tied to Z” I

“Is this all you have to bring against Mr. l
Barrett?” asked Little Puss. hertones ominous-
ly steady, her eyes glowing vividly, her face
pale am hard-set.

“ That’s all I kin swear to, but thar’s whispers
that’ll soon grow into open talk. mixin’ him up
with the gang that‘s b’in playin’ read-agent fer
the last six months an’ over." .

“ The same gang that passed by here to-day,
of course!" with a short, hard laugh. “The
same gang that B00th Barrett faced with a rifle
and forced to release the men they were getting
reddyto hang without judge or jury—the men
you call your friends, father!” '

“ The same outflt, no doubt,” quietly.

“ Yet Booth Barrett swore to shoot them down
like dogs if they persisted in carrying out their
Iagreed-s! Is that like being one of their num- .

r

“’Cordin’ as ye look at it child,” gravely.
“Would sech a desp’rit ang loose tha’r grip at
one man’s say-so, onless ey felt bound to mind
what he told ’emi”

“ You hate him so much that you can see
nothing but evil in all he does or says!” passion-
ately cried the girl, freeing herself and standing
erect in the bright moonlight.

“ And you, my r child?" muttered Posey
Curtis, his words ardly intelligible, so power-
ful was his emotion.

“ I love him! I love him, and I am proud to
sa so!” Little Puss exclaimed, impetuously.

“ love him, even as he loves me, with a love . -
that death alone can destroy!”

Past-y Curtis also rose to his feet, his face
showian of growing passion, though he
strove to make his tones calm and stead .

“ You think so now, Puss; but in e
mornin‘l—i’ .

“Then as now! The same at the end of a.
year—a dozen years i”

“ You don’t mean it, Puss. You‘re just tryin’
to fool me!”

‘ ‘ Father,” her voice suddenly wing calmer,
her face paling but seeming the more reso- '
lute for bat, as she touched his arm with, one .
hand, the other lifted above her head. “ I call
on heaven to witness my words.‘ I believe
Booth Barrettto be true and honest as the broad
day I love him, and he loves me. That love
w: lnever die, save with death.” ‘

“.Death it’ll be, then cf ever I ketch that
critter sneakin’ ’nound his place ag’in!” cried
Posey Curtis, losing all control of his hot pas.
sions, and s in rapidly, viciously. “ on
take an-oai . an’ ’11 take another! As God
hears me, I’ll never let you marry that man
while the breath 0’ life is in my body! I‘ll
shoot him down like a prowlin’ wolf ef I ever
ketch him on this claim! An’ ef you think to
run away with him, I’ll—"

“ Stop, father!” cried Puss, her lips quivering,
her proud attitude changing for one of ad
shrinkin from those cruel words. “I of
you .” don ! Don’t kill me by such bitter insults
as—

l.

“ Little Puss!” muttered Posey, clasping her‘
in his arms, pressing her to his heaving bosom,
touching her brow with his quivering lips. “

“ Say that you didn‘t mean it, father!” pant-
ed the maiden. “ Say that you didn’t mean—
didn‘t think I’d ever run away!“ A

“ I hardly know what I did say. little gal,” ,
with a choking laugh, as be smoothed her curly
locks. “What 1 meant to say was I‘d rather
see you dead an’ in your coffin. then to ‘hev you
desert your pore old pap fer sech trash as
Lucky Barrett! That I’d kill him iu’st!” .

“ Father, dearly as I love Booth. I’ll never
marry him without your consent. But thatis
all I can promise. I do love him. I know he .
loves me. I feel that you wrong him in calle »
ii-g him—such dreadful names!” x ‘ ‘
‘ “ E! I prm'e ’em all to you, little gall You’ll
fergit him than 2’” eagerly muttered Posey Cur-
tis, zing wistfully into her dark eyes.

“ on never will Erove them, father l”

“But of I do? f I do prove ’em all!” he,
persisted. . 3 ' Q
“Then— I believe it would kill me!” im- r
petuously cried Little Puss, shiVering, sobbing , 
on histroubled breast. . ' V !

 

CHAPTER XII.
run BANK ROBBERY, as stream. -
COOL and careless thou h he seemed on the
surface, Felix Bland was ardly a man to . ‘
taken completely by surprise, no matter
the circumstances might be. The moment'he

exiteredthe chamber, h‘ keene ,amon other
nts. new the closed car a the h of the
, and almost directly behind Darius AM;
as he sat at the little table. ' ’5 ‘

    

x‘ l,

Thusit was that The Man of Silk! was 

«<4.

     

.04

   
  
   
 
  

 

  

' your executioner i”

r suffer.

' uickl , hungriiy
. 2n theytable as he eaue

 1‘ French fashion, a slight smile curling his lips.

16

The Man of Silk.

 

first motion of the door, and swiftly as it was
flun‘g open to reveal Adine Aymer, pistols in
han , his motions were still more rapid. His
weapon (or the weapon so deftly wrested from
the old man’s hand) covered the o ning and
was in readiness for business before dine could
catch a glim se of him.

She must ave seen this, but she showed no
signs of fear or discomfiture. Perhaps she could
not fully realize the peril she was running.
Perhaps she felt secure in her sex. Be that as
it may, she uttered that mockin speech with
all the confidence of one who he ds the key of
the situation entirelg in her hands.

For a single breat The Man of Silk gazed at
the dainty little Woman—now clad in a li ht,
soft, clinging fabric, her blonde hair fal ing
loose about her shoulders, her lips red and pout-
ing with a smile that seemed quite as much
mirthful as sarcastic—with his revolver cover-
ing her bright, piquant face; then the ugly im-
plement was lowered, with a bow and a land
smile.

“Persuasion’s good, madam, and the pot’s
yours!”

“ Drop it on the table, then-vwith the muzzle
toward yourself, if you please,”a little more
sharply uttered Adine Aymer moving a single
step into the chamber, but still holding her wea—
pons at a level with a nerve and steadiness such
as few would have given her credit for without
oculardenionstration.

“ Drop it is—and strict] according to Ho le,
ma’am,” blandly uttered ' he Man of Silk, p ac-
ing the confiscated pistol on the table before
lfiim,I the butt convenient to Darius Aymer’s

ant .

“ You are wise, and merciful to both—for I’d

hate ever so much to be obliged to enforce my
commands with a brace of bullets,” laughed the
little woman, who was “ coming out”marvel-
ous .
“ f can see that, ma’am,” with a low, peculiar
laugh that brought a slightly deepened tinge to
the smOoth cheeks of the woman, despite her
self-control. “ I can see a chunk of humanity
in one of those eyes, as big as a woodchuck,
balanced in the other by—beg pardon, but
Would you mind moving an inch or two to the
left, so the light can fall a little more clearly on
that exquisite orb of—”

During this brief interchan e of words, Da-
rius Aymer had made no in rruption, 1 ing
back in his chair as he had fallen when The Klan
of Silk disarmed him so adroitly. But now he
started forward, his ghastly countenance tinging
with color, his eyes\ losing something of that
pitiful, haunted look, to give place to anger.

“Silence, you reckless scoiferl” he cried,
hoarsely, his long fingers twitching nervously.
“ls nothin sacred from our infernal sneers?
Aregyou al evil? all re ten beyond redemp-

n

0

“Well, I ex set to find out just how bad I
am before get ing out of this box, unless your
tongue goes back on you; or madam yonder

ts the cramp in her pretty hands fnom hold-
fifg those guns out so lon at a stretch. In the
latter case, maybe you’ll kind enough to put.
the sum total on my tombstone for the benefit
of terity. Am I asking too much, dear-is
it ather, or only uncle you want to be?”

“ Heaven grant that you don’t force me to be

As he. uttered these words, Darius Aymer
caught up the pistol which The Man of Silk
had resigned on command, and nervously lifted
the hammer. A slight exclamation broke from
the paling lips of his wife, who took an im ul-
sive step forward, only to stop short as, elix
Bland said:

“ I don’t want to be too critical, dear madam,
but if your right-hand battery should chance to
go of! just now, I wouldn’t give a cent for the

, old gentleman’s head as a hat-block! You’d

make an adorable widow—so charmingly inno-
cent, and all that—but wouldn’t it look and
sound better if the title came to you throagh
other hands?”

“You scoffing villain!” anted Adina, turn-
ing pale as death herself, )ut lifting her pistol
as she spoke.

“ That looks better,” and Felix Bland nodded
his approval. paying not the slightest attention
to Darius A mer who had him covered with
his pistol. ‘ If it should take a notion to
throw u its sup er only the ceiling] would

our left and a pears to be t eright
enough. t keeps me lined like

one, curiousl
trange, such a. remarkable differ-

.i veteran!

‘ ence in—er did you think to remove the entire

family at one stroke?”

Sharp, almost fierce came those concluding
words, but fore Adine could notice them in
word or d , Darfius Aymer caught at'them

rep ing his weapon again
l across it.

“ At last! You admit it, then, Robert?”

The Man of Silk shruged his shoulders.
flinging out his hands rem the Wrists in

“ Why not, since you are dead-sure you’ve
got the lost chicken? Why persist in denial
when each one but makes you the more de-
termined to have me for your son, whether or

111 own up to being what I never once
 . fie» ,‘ad-‘Wfiafi "

 

 

suspected I was before meetin you, ma be I’ll
hit a grub-depot before my n 8 actual y cave
in on my poor backbone!”

“If not Robert Aymer, how came you with
his face?” sharply demanded Adine Aymer.
“ If not Robert A mer—”

( L 
of his rows and another band gesture.
I solve any more riddles? I beg of on, have
pity! It’s been a solid month since ate any-
thing more substantial than an evening
breeze. If my painful modesty did not forbid
and you had a lightning bu handy I could
show you such an admirab e aSSortment of
ribs and backbones and other anatomical cm'i-
osities as would cause each particular hair of
your delicious little head to out-pork any por-
cupine this side of animal heaven! And yet
you ask me to solve an eni a that even the

'phinx wouldn’t have the c eek to sling at a
poor devil without first fgiving him a bite and
a sup—to sa nothing 0 a dowuy couch for a
few fleeting ours!"

“ Adine,” said Darius Aymer, turniiig his
head and appearing for the first time rc ly to
realize her presence. “ This is no place for you.

to your room, I beg of you.”

c “ For the first time in my life I must refuse
to obey, dear husband, when you speak,” soft]
yet firmly uttered the little woman. “ I wil
not leave you alone with this—this——”

“ W'alkmg sign of starvation, ma’am," bowed
Felix Bland, gravely.

Adine Aymer moved forward with an im-
pulsive sob, dropping her pistols to the floor,
sinking on her knees at the side of the old man,
her slender arms closing about his neck, her
blonds head restin over his heart.

“ You have tri to soften him, but in vain!
You have begged and prayed, only to have him
lau b you to scorn! And worse than that!
On y for my coming, he would have murdered
you! I can swear to that. for——”

“You saw the horrible deed committed,”
laughed The Man of Silk.

“ Silence, you wretched boy!” cried Aymer,
his elyes flashing. ,

“ am afraid to leave on alone with him
dear husband,” softly, rokenlv murmured
Adine, clinging still closer to the old man,whose
arm stole gentle, lovin 1 about her slender
waist. “ Let him go—le go far away from
us, never to appear again, I trust! ' Forget that
he ever was our son—your son?” with a sudden
outburst of ndi nt incredulity as she turned
her face toward elix Bland, her eyes flashin
as she added: “He never was your son!

P would not believe it if an angel should come
down frein the gates of heaven to swear such a

scoffer was your lost boy i"

“ Shake, ma’am!” im vely cried The Man
of Silk leaning?!)er withoutstretched hand,

dear ma am,” with a piteous arching
“ illust

a broad smile ' hting up his plain face until it
looked almost andsome. ‘ Shake it hard !
You’re the first sane person I’ve met since run-
ning’ across this insane asylum! You are—
7

“ Your hand!” with a roud archin of her
slender neck, avivid flas in of her 1 blue
e as as she struck with her t ny clinched t at
h I hand. “Touch your hand in friendship.
The hand that was so recently lifted against
your life, dear Darius!”

A short choking sob cut her impetuousspeech
short, and once more she buried her face in the
breast of her husband.

“ I take it back!” sighed Felix Bland, an ex-
pression of intense resignation chasing the smile
from his face. “I’ll never say it again. If I
ever jump at another conclusion, hope my heels
may break my blessed neck in twenty-seven
distinct pieces!”

“ I maysta ,dearsst?” softly breathed Adina
movin her b onde head just sumcient to rmii
her ha y eyes to reach the face of the 01 man.
“Say I may! For I must! It would be worse
than death, this horrible dread of having you
alone with'such a— a-monsteri"

“ If any delicacy about me keeps him from

antin your request. ma’am, I'hope he’llthrow
flax-over léhe fence without winking twice!" the
little man in gray almost on r Ivinte d.
“Pray takem seat. Nathan , bego vou!
You’re entire y welcome—welcome as rash
honey-dew to a tarnished humming-bird! It’s
no sacrifice on my'part, delightfu as I have
found your society, both! Fact is, I’ve got an
important enga ment to keep, and I’m afraid
itttivilg grow col before I can get a square bite
a ti *

“Keep your seat, sir,”sharply cried Darius
Aymer, as Felix Bland seemed about to abandon
his chair, and the revolver from the table was
once more bearing full upon his broad breast.
“You do not leave this room until you have
made full confession of your crimes. Try it,
and though I mingle my brains with yours the
next moment, I’ll forget the mother who bore
you—I’ll forget all save that youn crimes have
driven me mad l” ,

“ Still that dismal ’tunei" ejaculated The Man
of Silk, sinking back in his seat, his brows
wrinklin his tones growing colder, more mock-
ing. right. ring on your confession,

 

oaeor steers. _ Of course, sincgoiihave every-

thiagdiso m M «mm

  

 

madam, you have it all written out, ready for
mBsignature?”

arms Aymer once more turned to his young
Wife, his voice growing softer, more natural as
he muttered:

“I beg of you to leave us, et. This is no
story fit for your ears to drin in. And the
graceless rascal will only insult you anew. Go
to your room and pray that a father‘s tears
may soften his hard and unrepentant heart.
(i0z little wife—to please me.”

‘ Only if you command me on ril of your
stern displeasure, Darius ” cried dine, rising
to her feet, her beautiful ace owing pale, but
almost hard. “ Is it not time t t you looked on

me as something more than a spoilt child 9.

Have I not earned the ri ht to know all that
troubles you, my husban ? And in this one
particular, especially l”

” You think— ou suspect—”

“I know, has and,” with softened voice, as
one hand caressineg touched his bowed head.
“ I have known from the first that you were
really innocent of this horrible crime. I know
now who is'guilty. And as your Wife—as one
who will try to aid you in bearing up under this
terrible blow—I beg of you to let me remain.”

She did not (pause for an answer, but glided
rapidly to the cor, turning the ke in the lock,
then returning and picking up t e revolvers
which she had dropped upon the floor.

Cold and alien Felix Bland listened and
watched. That mocking smile was gone from
face and eyes. Instead, one would almost swear
he was mentally nerving himself for a. crisis.

There was a change even more remarkable in

Adina Aymer as she drew a chair up to the end
of the narrow table, leaning back so that she
could glance from face to face without turning
her head. Her face was almost devoid of color,
save that her lips showed redder than ever.
And with that gravity seemed to havo come in-
creased age. From a mere child, she became a
woman grown, sharp, shrewd, suspicious. ready
to take advantage 0 the slightest error or slip
on the part of her adversary.
- On her lap lay the twin revolvers, her right
hand clasping one, a finger inside the trigger
guard. And Felix Bland gave just the shadow
of a smile as he saw how true the muzzle cover-
edhis body .

“ Me. I tell this—this gentleman the story of
the pas , as far as I know it, husband?” she ask-
ed, glancing into the haggard face of the old
man. “an can trust me, dear,”she added
as Darius A mer turned a startled, painc
glance tow her. “ I am strong enough for
that—Lam st enough to do anything that
canrelieve you 0 a moment’s pain or trouble.
May I?”

“ If you think it will do any Ignood, but—”

“ If nothin else, it will orphan why we have
troubled Mr. elix Bland—ts t the name, for
this evenin i”

“I thong t you preferred calling me Robert
Aymer, step-mother?” with a short, disagree-
able laugh. “ But I’m not kicking about a
aim is name, when there’s so many nice ones
lay ng around loose. Let it be Felix~Bland,
then. -

‘ ‘ Until you are shamed or forced into acknowl-
edging the right one, Felix Bland snail be the
name then,’ coldly retorted Adine, her eyes
half-closing as she in back in her chair, watch—
in the face of The an of Silk, like one deter-

ned not to lose the faintest chan e or altera-
tion. “And now I’ll try to exp ‘ why we
have troubled our honor so istently.
Though so full 0 wretchedness and sin and in-

titudf, it is a story that can be easily con-

“ Let us be thankful for small mercies!” mur-
mured Bland, meekly.

‘ Two years ago more or lea, Darius Aymer
wascashierinthe erchant’sBank, of Chica ,”
said Adine, her voice cold and almost mono on-
ous as she continued. “ In the whole city there
was not another man more trusted, more hon-
ored—and nevera man drew the breath of life
who better deserved this trust and honor!

“For years he had faithfully filled that re-
sponsible position and during a I this time, not
t e faintest brea of suspic on ever blew in his
direction. His word was better than another
man’s bond. .

“ On a certain Monday—never mind the data
_..When the proper time comes, all this will be
supplied, if you demand particulars—the cit
was startled y a tale of crime. The Merchant s
Bank had been robbed of an 'mmense sum of
money and securities. The wa hman was inur-
dered—his skull beaten in, evidently by a blow
dealt from behind, and his throat was cut from
ear to ear!”

‘ ‘ Decidedl butchery !” murmured Felix Bland,
one hand go ng up to cover a yawn, real or ad-
mirably retended.

“ The y of the murdered man was found
only when one of the clerks opened the bank, at
the usual hour in the morning. Of course he
was frightfully startled, and lost little time in
giving the warning.

“ Officers of the law came, and set dbout in-
ves ‘ ati the matter.

' “T y card the murdered .man
mama decided thathe must have
. . l ‘ I A

.v .2   r.” 1/ 1*  
2* war .  *m'i'xz. h”. n’x

 

' \‘f

4 .

    

 

.‘.-,

 Man of Silk.

.17

 

 

for many hours: robabl y since early the night
before, if not stil longer.

“ They found the bank had been robbed. The
vault was 0 ned, its many fastenings having
apparently n forced or unlocked by skill,
without injuring the mechanism in the least.
The safe inside, where the money and securities
had been deposited, was open, the door bearing
powder marks, as though it had been blown
open after the usual fashion. There were marks
of a drill, and everything to show that- this was
the method of entering.

“ The safe had been thoroughly cleaned out
by those cool and shrewd enough to select the
valuable portion from that which could not be
turned into cash without too great a risk. Ill
money alone, nearly a hundred thousand dollars
were taken! In securities, almost double that
amount was missin .”

“ A royal haul, indeed!" murmured The Man
of Silk, with a faint smile upon his face, and a
curious light iii the brewn eves that never
wavered from the pale face of the little woman.

“ As who should know, better than—”

“Don’t spoil a sto for relation sake, step-
-mother!” laughed Fe ix Bland, with a slight
shrug of his shoulders. “Of course I did the
deed—in your mind i”

“ You confess then, Robert?” gasped Darius
Aymer, faintly.

“.As Robert, I don’t mind, if it will give you
any pleasure. As Felix, I prefer to wait for
further developments before fully committing
in self," was the cool response.

Vith a low, hopeless sigh, the old man sunk
back in his chair, his head drooping, his whole
person the picture of despair.

“While the excitement of the investigation
was at its hight, the chief cashier came in. At
first his presence was hardly noticed and when
it was, and his pale face and trembling form
attracted attention, all was natural] set down
to the same terrible sh0ck each an every one
congdected with the establishment had experi-
enc .

“ The case was immediately placed into the
hands of Pinkerton’s Agency, and before a new
day dawned, Bummer was arrested as one
concerned in the ful crime, if not the sole
operator!” I

“ But it was all a mistake—a frightful mis—
take!” moaned the old man, his trembling hands
going up to his head, pressing his temples as
though to keep them from splitting open.

“ We know—the whole world knows that,

‘ arling!” murmured Adine, as she leaned over

..nd gently touched his haggard cheek With her
red lips. ‘ Even when things looked the blackest,
'no one .who really knew you-no one save those
professional sk ice, the detectives—for an in
stant believed t at you had aught to do with
the murder and robbery.”

“ You are kind to sa so, Adine, but I know
different,” brokenly a ded the poor old man,
shaking his snow-white head. \“ I saw it in the

iapers—l read it in the actions of those whom
I met on the street! Robert l”turnin to The
Man of Silk, with intense yearning in is face
and voice, holding out his quivering hands; only
to sink back again as he saw how cold, how
hard how unmowd was that face.

“ There is no hope i" he muttered barely above
his breath. “ Hard and pitiless' No hope— save
in'death!”

“ There is hope, husband!” cried Adine, her
eyes flashing, her face filling with color as she
passed one arm about his shivering frame. “ 1
tell you to he —-I swear to you that the real
criminal she be unmasked before the whole
world! He shall admit his crime, and thus lift
even the shadow of suspicion from your wreck-
ed life! I tell you this. I say it, and never yet
have I lied to you—my husband!”

“Wake me up when you’re ready to go on
with your little history will you ma am!”
sleepily murmured The  of Silk slipping
further down in his chair. his hands gliding in-
to his pockets, his chin drooping upon 'his
boso

m.

A short, metallic laugh caused him to sudden-
ly resume his former position, winking his
brown eyes rapidly as he stared into the face of
the little woman opposite. _

“Wake on up? Indeed I Will, Felix Bland l”
she cried er face colder and harder than be-
fore. “ No more digressions. Plain, straight
business from this moment on.”

“ So kind—thanks.”

“The detectives told their story, true or false.
They declared that the safe door had been muti-

.

' lated, had been drilled and powder-burnt after

. Ll
gm“
0

  
  

lein o and in the re lar way. And they
’ledgedlteheir professions honor to that effect.

 

such excitement that he never once thought of
his keys. When he did look for them, they were
gone. And a sum of money which he kept in
the same secret drawer was also missing.
Iioulbtless he had been robbed of both money and
t e eys.

“ All the rest of the bank officials produced or
accounted for the keys in their possession.
Only the cashier failed; and failing, he was
committed for trial as the probable criminal.

“The trial was hurried along, for the heavy
loss greatly crippled the bank, and believing
that hey had caught the robber, they hoped to
regain the stolen wealth by convicting him of
the crimg.

“At t e trial, the missing keys told strongly
against the accused. His account was deemed
but a poor excuse to cover his sin. And it was
remembered how agitated he appeared when
first reaching the bank. It was remembered
how he shrunk from the body of the murdered

watchman; a score of trifles which at the time -

passed without comment or notice, were recall-
ed now and made the most of. And when the
prosecution closed their case, odds were heavily
in favor of conviction. So heavy that mutter-
egi threats of lynching were to be heard on all
8 es.

“ The cashier was placed on the stand as the
first witness for the defense, not a little to the
amazement of the court, as well as spectators.
He told his story briefly, and clearly. He said
that his keys must have been stolen by the real
criminal during his absence from home. He
swore that he left home quite early on Sunday
morning, and remained absent until early Mon-
day morning. Only this; he would say no
more, even when cross-examined by the prose-
cution. He refused to sa where he passed all
those hours, during whic the crime was com-
mitted, although his own lawyers urged him to
do so, telling him that unless he did so, he would
surely be condemned.

“When he was told he might sit down, he
obeyed. His lawyers did their best to aid him,
showin that no one had sworn to seeing the
accus during those four-and-twenty hours in
town. But it was a poor chance, and they were
about to give Met in despair, when a note was
passed to the leading counsel. He 0 ned it,
changed color, then caused a name to called;
and a witness for the defense took the stand to
be sworn .

“ That witness swore Darius Aymer passed
the hours when the murder and robbery ust
have been committed, miles away from he
scene of the crime. That witness swore on oath
that Darius Aymer was never out of sight of
that witness for ten minutes during the time he
came, early on Sunday morning, until he de-

, early on Monday morning. That wit-
ness 1 spore to all this. And that witness
w

“ Adine! m darlin l” gasped Darius Aymer,

holding out a {rambling hand as though to check

her further speech. “ e silent! Have you not .

suffered enough on my behalf? Need you ex-

pose yourself to the mocking sneers of this

wretched sinner?”

“_It was all for you my husband !”murmured
Adine, sli ping from er chair. and kneeling at
his side. t e revolvers dropping unheeded to the
floor, her arms about his waist. her face up-
turned, a soft glow in her big blue eyes. ‘ I
did not hesitate then, why should I now? It
was all In the papers, and if this man is indeed
Robert Aymer, he must have seen and read it
when the story oftbe trial was published!”

“I think I remember something about it,”
slowly uttered Felix Bland, his voice calm and
unmoved. “ There was a cry made against this
unexpected Witness, if .I remember a ' ht. It
was said that a WIIG could not bear wi in
favog; of her husband, or something of the
sort

Adine bowed her face from view, but Darius
Aymer drew his gaunt form erect, his arms
claspiifg her tightly, his face filled with strong-
ly contrasting emotions: love, almost adoration
for her; reproach, almost hatred for the man
whom he declared was his son.

“ You deserted me, Robert Aymer! You left
me to bear the penalty of your crime! And
only for this poor angel, I would have suffered
the full penalty of the law for the deed your red
hands committed l” _

“Have I not my reward, darling?" softly
murmured Adine. lifting her blushing. face to
receive the kiss his 1i 3 offered,then taming
again to The Man of ilk.she added rapid] :
“ I was that witness. I swore to all'I ve to
you. and when the prosecution objected, I con-

. “Fwd the Who“: truth! I was not theprisoner’s
ore—they brought two experts in safe and! Wife!

We were not married! We were not

lock making, who more to the same effect. 3 even betrothed lovers!”

And it was on this testimony that Darius Aymer :
was placed under arrest. ' ,
“At the preliminary examination, damaging ;

i Felix Bland.

“Really, a most delightful alibi !” laughed

“Silence, you curl” grated Darius A r.

facts came out and bore heavily against the f “ You sneer at the angel who saved my ll men-

cashier. First, he could not
the rifled safe. He declared hat he had it safe
when he left the bank at four o'clock on Satur-
dw afternoon~ that he placed it safely in his
p vats aural his rooms. as was his custom.

When Monday brought wild rumors of some ter-

msv‘omstthebmkmghadhutenedmmin

a

reduce his key to ' dangered by your crime? Robber—assassin”

 

CHAPTER XIII.
run Basic ROBBERY, as 11‘ occnam.
“ANYTHING to keep sees in the famil .”
coolly uttered The Man 0 Silk, his head a li le
chose side as be viewed the 

 

 

picture made by Adine 'ust then. “A mosu
abominable alibi, then! he worst I ever met
in the whole course of— Eh? Wrong again?
Now I will button up my lip and never utter a
word more without you first put it in plain

rint and tack on an oath that it is pure] inof-

ensive, and guarantee it not to cut in t e eye
nor run down at the heel!”

“Robert—m son—”

“ I am not obert. I am not your son. I
have no father living.”

“ You still persist n den ing our identity ?”

“Now let me do a litt e ta ing, will you?
And do you listen for a change,” bluntly inter-
posed Felix Bland, leaning forward and azing
quickly from face to face as he resumed: ‘ Whe-
ther I acknowledge to being the man you ap-
parently believe me, or whether I deny it, you
are disgruntled just the same. So, as the cost
is the same, from this time on I’m going to stick
to the truth. ”

“ If you only would!” impulsively cried the
old man.

“ I don’t claim to be an angel nor a saint. I
admit that I have assed under more names
than one during my lie. I own to having com-
mi ma an action of which I am heartil
ashamed w enever I have spare time enoug
to take a peekover the past. But of thoso
names, none [gun with Robert. Of those
crimes, if the word suits you better than mis-
takes or peccadilloes, bank robbery is not list-
ed. And though there may be more or less red
stains on my hands, murder never made one of
them. When I have taken life, it was in self-
defense. or in bringing to justice those who had
violated all human law.

“ You can keep on calling me Robert Aymer
if it pleases you. You can accusc me of all the
crimes in the decalogue if that suits your book
best. But I’ll decline the one and deny the
other, as long as I can do so with perfect truth.
Now go on with your rat-killing!”

Fehx Bland resumed his former careless po-
sition, his hands rammed almost to their elbows
in his pockets, his le stretched out at full
length, resting on his eels.

“ t is useless, dear,” murmured Adine, soft-
ly. “Ar ment will not shake him and he is
roofs? st pleading and prayer. Irave him

the ate his obstinacy invites, and his crimes
merit!”

“Mine, or the crimes of the fellow you are
trying to flo over my miserable shoulders?”
(I ly asked e Man of Silk.

arius Aymer hesitated, glancing from one
face to the other, the troubled light in his ayes
deefigning as he looked at the little woman.
To r he spoke, his tones low and full of love
that was almost adoration:

“ I must try all means—I must make one
more attempt to shake his icy nerve, to touch
his callous heart, Adine. But you must not
stay here. Go to your room, and t togeta
little rest. You are looking worn an poorly.”

‘ ‘ We are growing old together, Darius,” with
acooin little laugh.

Felix land smiled with cold contem t as he
heard this, as he saw the white—haired usband
bendto touch that bright, bab 'sh face with his
pallidlips. Plainer than wor sthat smile told
what he thought: a charming little hypocrite; a
dotin old man.

“ on will go, little wife! You will leave us .

together for a time ll”

But Adine shook her head willfully. ,

“ I will not go. I will not leave on alone with.
this man. I have trusted ou ful , entirel -”

“ God knows you have, arlingl’ with an den
fervor.

“ Is it not time that you began to trust me,
then?" shemurxnured, tears dimmin the blue
eyes that d pleadingly up into his. “ Is it
not timet at] all understood why on have
suffered so much? 'hy you, whom know to
be innocent of all wrong, permit the-”

“ You shall stay, Adine,” be interposed, one
hand touching‘her red lips and cutting her im-
petuous speec. short. ‘ on say, it is full
time you knew all—you 3 know all thatI
have kept hidden in my aching breast until
now. And if you suffer, wretched boy i” turn-
ing w th cold severit upon The Man of Silk,
“if you suffer in having the masktorn from the
black past, blame not me—blame your own evil
nature. our own stubborn refusal to make
amends or your sins. at least in part.”

“ Don’t horrovv trouble pn my account, I beg
of on, dear sir!” bowed Felix Bland, with a
smile of meek resignation. “ I’m growing and
to sum-ring. I reckon if it keeps up w
sufieration as it has been rainin on myd ,
head for the past few hours, I’ ‘ actually hub
to feel lost without something of the sort. 8n!-
fer'riii'e 39” more", ed to he justwhat

s ippancy seem
Aymer ded to restore his stre him

stun composure, which he hadl on so unex-

pfctedly meetin this man with the face of hi!‘
n Silk showeth .

g-lost son. Ven The Manof
' at the sudden and complete

which came ever the old sman, and Adine
gently drew hack, resumtiéfieger seat, hereyes '
glowing vividly as she wa and  ‘

“ Your bufloone

hon

i

willnotsave ou,wretohed 
lag boyr’stsralycried eoldmant 3m 

 

 

  

 

   

outs. word! Gone to e lostsi

 "'va ' the old man bowed his head n'l
.  . P81 at 

is

b

The Man of Silk.

 

clutchin tightly as they lay on the table before :

him. “ nly one thing can: your humble sub- 5‘
mission, your full confession, your making what ‘
feeble reparation lies in your power at this dis- ,
taut day.”

“ Anythin short of putting my precious neck ;
in a noose, ear sir.” with a light laugh. “ I
must insist on drawing the line at that.’

“ I admit that you have some excuse for bat- "
ing me,'father though I am,”with a brief falter-
ing, a momentary shaking of his tones, only to
recover as quickly. “ I know now that you suf-
fered much in the days gone by. I know that I ‘
treated on with far more harshness than you '
deserve . I know that I wronged you in word
and deed; but it was not willfully, not through
malice or hatred, as ou believed at the time.

“ Pray don’t ment on it,” with a careless ges-
ture. “ I assure you I’d never have known how
much I suffered in those days had on not men-
tioned it. Strange how one wil forget, is it
not?” smilingly.

“ I cannot forget so easily,” with a shiver.
“ I remember how that artful woman made me
believe she was all that is pure and holy and
loving. I remember how fully I trusted her,

how completely she had me under the spell of
" her charms, her fascinations. ”

“ How stran el history repeats itself,” soft]

murmured Fel x land, Faring through his ha] -
closed lids into the baby sh face of the little wo
man opposite

A faint flush came into htr cheeks, then faded
as swiftly. For one instant her blue eyes flashed
into his, then turned again to the haggard face
of her husband.

He was azing at vacancy, a pained expres~
sion upon is worn features. He started as her
warm hand stole into his. He smiled as he
turned his head to look at her, then, seeming to
recover his mental powers,to gather renewed
stren h from that look, he resumed:

’ “ I is true. and I acknowledge it with abase-
ment. I was the poor fool men called me, when
I picked that woman out of the gutter and mar-
ried her. I was worse than a fool in putting
her in the place left vacant b my first wife

our mother—an angel on ear, , even as I feel
she is an angel in heaven now.”

“Amen,” solemnly uttered Felix Bland, with

. an earnestness that drew a little cry from the

lips of Adine A mer.

“You admit t, then 1”

“I was thinking of my mother, not of Mrs.
A er,” was the cold response.

‘ And you still deny that—”

“ I deny nothing. .l’m waiting to find out
just who and what I am. May that happ dis-
covery be made before unt starvation c aims
me for its own. But ’8 got to hurry up its
cakes—indeed it has, now.” !

'Adine sunk back in her chair, bitin her red
1i impatiently. Was it ever to 9 thus?
vyguld this cool demon never yield? _

“ You know I was rich then,” resumed Darius
Aymer, his tones still cold and even, his face
showing no ray of hope, only a do ged resolu-
tion to carry out the plan he had ormed. “ I
know now what was whispered freely enough
at the time by my friends, that she married me
only for 111 money. And I know now, whsfit I
would not have then, that she set systemati-
cally to work in hopes of driving you away, or
in making me disinherit my only son.

“ She carried out her plans with the skill of a
thoroughly evil Woman. She made me look up-
on you as a hypocrite. as a liar, as a thief, even.
She stole from me, and then fastened the crime
upon you.” ' V

i “ And yet you ask me to receive another step-
mother,‘ murmured The Man of Silk, as Darius
Aymer choked and paused.

f Darius Aymer caught the words, he paid
them no heed. He steadied his voice, and went
on:

“ I charged you with all this. on remember.
You denie , and I might have lieved on, but
for the devilish art of that woman. he held
me chained by her arts, and I was but a puppet
in her hands. She painted you blacker and
blacker, and I mistook your wilrldenials, your
wilder charges against her, as but further proof
of your utter wickedness. And then—may
Heaven forgive me if, as I fear that treatment
drove you utterly to the ba . And then, I

v fl you until the blood stained my hands
a

n vour back i”
, “ Worse and worse,‘and more of it,"muttered
Felix, frowning.

“ But wh 0 on i” with a quaver in his tones,
alofter llg t his sunken eyes. “You know
that followed. ,You know the last black charge
which that vile wretch dared to brin against
you. I believed it then. though I ong since

new how foul] y she lied—on her death-bed she
softened and confessed all her sins. Then I was
tissue with rage, and you know how brutally I i
mica, how I almost killed you outrig tl“

’arts of that flend in human shape!

 

he morning on were ions—gone with-

g t of for so many
long And—God forgive meiI prayed 1
this oath migbtbe your portion as ust m 1
slty for thfistro‘cious crime I believ you i

  

    

“Mama, Only for an m

   

he looked up, tears in his eyes, his voice barely
articulate, as he said:

“Robert, I ask your forgiveness for all I
made you suffer, through the truly infernal
Forgive
me, my son! Forgive me—and in turn I will
forgive you fbr the wrong you have since done

Breathlessly Adine Aymer watched and‘

listened. Her eyes were full of ardent light.
Her red lips were parted as she leaned forward,
gazing into the pale face of the little man in
gray. No one who saw her face then would
ave taken it for that of a gay, careleSS child.

But no one was watching her just then.
Darius Aymer, hope renewed in his aching heart
by the softened light in those brown eyes, was
gazing beseechingly into the face of Felix Bland.

nd he Man of Silk, all trace of levity or
mockery banished, was meeting that gaze as he
gent] uttered:

“I it can do youan good, dear sir, I’ll say
it with all my heart. f you have ever wronged
mez I forgive you.”

‘ Robert! my son!”

But Felix Bland drew back,shakin his head
slowly, decidedl , just the shadow o a frown
coming into his ace, as he said gravely:

“That’s one step further than I can go Mr.

Aymer. I have no father, as I’ve assured you
time and ti me again. ”
' “Then our pretended forgiveness is a lie l”
impetuous y cried the old man, his gaunt ure
drawin erect, his sunken e' es blazing. “ on
still hofii the old rudge! on are determined
to (Snake me suffer or your crime to the bitter
en !

“ Well, I wouldn't at it in ust that ii ht, do
you know,” slowly rawled he Man 0 Silk,
once more the cool, mocking rt. “ Say—I

, decline to accept astep—mother, c arming as she

certainly is l” with a low bow to Adine, whose
face was acurious study just then. “That I
am so stubborn, blame yourself, dear sir,” with
a. little laugh. “You acknowledge making a
terrible mistake once, and 30—"

Darius Aymer caught up the pistol between
itslhem,l covering The an of Silk as he grated

erce y:

“ Dare to utter as much as a hint against my
wife and I’ll end all this wretched trouble by
scattering your brains to the winds!”

“That settles it, my dear sir,” meekly. “I
never argue against a dead sure thing. I’m
dumb.”

“ Make him confess all, or send a bullet
through his skull!” sharply uttered Adine, her
‘voic strained and unnatural.

“ t may come to that in the end,”said Darius
Aymer with a shiver as he drew back, his
armed hand drop ing to the table. “But 1
will keep to the Inc I marked out at first. I
Lvoill ,give you one more chance, you wretched

yl

“ If it’s only half a chance I’ll jump at it like
a bullfrog at a bluebottlel This pu ling guns
and never using them is growing mighty wear-
in on the nerves. I’m not used to it, you see!
i hen I see the drop coming I prepare to flv
over the range. according to the rules made and

rovided for such emergencies. And to have

all that trouble for nothing—well, it wears on a
fellow.”

“ The next time I cover you with a pistol it
will be to shoot,” coldly retorted Darius Aymer.
“Now listen to the true story of that black
crime. I will try and tell it in few words. If I
dwelt on it as I might I’d kill you before half
the story was told.” ’ ‘

“ Put it in shorthand then. 1 of you. I’
be so ashamed to go to glory, an have to as
for a crust of bread as my opening petition.”

“ I was innocent of the double crime,” stead-
ily began Darius Aymer, without noticing the
fl ppant interjeCtion, “yet the testimony that
cleared me was false from heginnin to end!
The true story has never yet been put in words.
On] I and you know jus what hap ened.”

“ ’ray I’d fo otten all about t,” meekly
murmured Blan . “Tell it all from a to iz-
zard. I’ve got a pard down-stairs who’d give a
pretty penny to have the whole story written
out for him.”

“ He may know it when the rest of mankind
sins the knowledge,” was the significant re-
ort. “ thether that will be the whole truth

depends entirely upon the decision you make
when I have finished. If ‘it is as I be e and
pray. he will never know the name of t 6 real
criminal. ‘If it is as I fear—then he can learn
even that name.”

h‘xiort 0’ playin’ both ends against the middle,
9

“Look here, Mr. Bland,” coldly interposed
Adina, clickin the hammer of her weapon as
she spoke. “ on are wasting precious time
with your frivolous interru tions. Keep silence
until you are hidden speaf, or take the conse—
quencesi”

“.I’m awful .hu _ y, but I can’t eat every-
thing. I draw the no at blue pills. and hence-
forth consider me a clam, will on?”

, TheManof Silk closed his lps tightly sink-
fiebocanan chair sndramming ,his hands
, ,,Mw.w 

it’d

    

 

Darius Aymer frowned, but resumed his ac-
count of the robbery:

“ Besides declaring my innocence, almost the
only point of truth brought out in that trial
was the fact of my keys being stolen. They
were stolen, and my money went with them :-
b'ut I knew when they went and in whose posses—
sron.

“ I was living alone, as I had lived ever since
myasince that woman died. I came to Chicago
in hopes of gaining information concerning my
runawa son. I failed to realize that hope, and
though never forgot, in time I grew more con-
tented. Thus it was that I entered into busi-
ness, finally reaching the responsible post 1 held
at the time I speak of.

“ I was sleeping soundly that Saturday night,
when 1 was wakened bya savage grip on my
throat, and I opened my eyes to see a masked.
face bending over me, and a gloved hand hold—
ing a knife at my throat.

I was threatened with instant death in case
I struggled or tried to raise an alarm, and even
in that awful moment I fancied there was some—
thi diml familiar inthe tones that I heard.

“ was ound securely, and one man held a
knife at in breast, while another uestioned
me. The emanded the keys to the k, and
swore if refused, they would kill me. Still I
refused to tell them. And, in the end, they
were found in m desk after a close search.
More than that, t e secret of the safe was also
discovered. ,

“ When the combinationwas changed, shortly
before, I noted it down as a safeguard against a
defective memory.

“But this I did not think of then. M poor
brain was whirling, my heart was f of a
stupefyinfi misery. For during the search, the
mask 0ft 9 head robber dropped off, and by the
light of the lamp, I saw his ace for an instant.
Only an instant, but long enough to recognize
it as that of my wretched son.

“The shock stunned me, and as the robber
turned with a savage oath to see if I had noticed
his misha , my eyes were closed. my head droop—

ing like t t of a man in a swoon. Only for-

that, I doubt if the light of another day would
have shone upon my living face. I believe that

Robert Aymer would hive added parricide to-

his other sins.” .

His voice tremblin and choked, Darius Ay-
mer ceased speaking or a brief space. Adine
watched The Man of Silk keen] , but not a
muscle of his countenance alter . He sat in
perfect silence, as though he wasindeed as dumb
as the clam to which he had likened himself.

“ I was left. bound hand and foot, with a gag
in my mouth,” continued Darius Aymer, speak-
ing rapidly, like one who fears to dwell on the
terrible events of that ni ht. “Hours later I
was discovered by a fr’en , who released me. I'
told him in story, all save naming the man
whose bare face chance had shown me. I
begged him to give the alarm at once, for I
found myself unable to stand upon my feet.

“ Instead he questioned me with what I con-
sidered useless minuteness, but I was not long
left in the dark. He shOwed me how terribly
I would be involved should the bank have been
robbed. He told me what I could now see for
myself, that I would be looked u n as an ac-
complice, if notthe actual thief. y keys were
gone, The combination was learned by the
robbers. through my carelessness. Thus aided,
surely they would take the shortest, surest
method of getting at the cash. And when the
robbery was investigated, what was I to do
when questioned? Who would believe my
stran e story? No one. ,

“ hen satisfied that I fullyuld lieed the
nature of my position, my friend wove out and
satisfied himself, without awaking curiosity,
that the robbery had‘indeed been com leted.
He came back and told me as much. An then
—with the aid of this noble woman,” one hand
Zently, lovingly touchin Adine on the arm as
he resumed, “ we agree to the alibz which I at-
templted to afterward carry out. .

“ i ot just as you heard it from her lips. I
would never have consented to that terrible
sacrifice, for though I did not love her as I do
now—as I did when she stood before that
scoffing crowd and took to herself a mantle of
glorious shame in order to save my life, I was
too much of a man to accept such a bitter
sacrifice!

“Her testimony was false, but it was heroic.
All that time ,I lay hidden in my rooms, broken
down, grieving far more for the sin with which-
my wayward son had overed his soul. than for
my own peril. And those two faithful friends
plottedand planned together to clear me from
the ilt which was not mine!

“ ou know what the verdict was not guilty!
I left courta free man, but I knew that nine out
of every ten there felt I should have been hun
for murder. And, only for you, darling, I wis
I had been”.

“ Not so, husband,” softly miirmured Adine,
ielding to his encircling arm. “The dawn is

eaking. The truth shall come to light, and -
once more you will take your lace at'uonginewz‘ii .~

as loved and honored as o yerei' The

criminal must take our-place. and—7” .w
_Bhebrokeoffwitg sharp org 

«,~

v_ .V q...—

 

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le
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, '_ ,;_',‘: vdvfi-u.irz;.~~1;::

-~Wamm‘~mw~. “mum”..- _ p , g .

 

 

         

The Man of Silk.

19'

 

 

ror and rage. as a clear, metallic click can ht
her ear. She turned to face The Man of Siglk,
who was sitting upright in his chair, smiling
icily over the barrel of a revolver, the dark bore
of which stared her full in the face.

“ I reckon it‘s my turn to do the highfalutin’
just now,” grimly muttered Felix Bland.follow-
in r her shrinking face with that ugly tool.
“ nil l’m going to do it tothequeen’s taste,t00,
bet our precious life, step-mother!”

“ obert! hold your hand !” gasped Darius
Aymer, his own trembling) fingers clutching at
the revolver on the table efore him.

“ Steady, old gentleman,” sharply muttered
the little man in gray, but without turning his
aim a hair’s breadth. “I don’t want to make
you a widower, but I’ll hare to do it in a holy
second if on don’t turn it up! Hands oil“, if you
please! ’ve played clam like a little man, and
now I’m going to talk a little out in meeting.
You listen!”

“ Coward!” gas d Adine, her blue eyes flash-
ing fire, althou lie she still shrunk from that
steady aim. “ ou dare not shoot!”

“ I don’t exactly yearn topull trigger,ma’am,
but i’ll do it in preference to lettin you twist a
noose about my dainty neck. An ’1] certainly
spoil that retty face of ours unless the old
gent keeps is fingers out o the pie. Just tell
him so, will you l’

There was no particular need of this. At the
peril which so unexpectedly threatened the one
whom he loved better than all the world beside,
Darius Avmer was deserted by his fictitious

wers. He trembled like a leaf. He sunk back
in his chair, shivering as in a palsy.

A swift, sidelong glance showed The Man of
Silk as much, and he laughed softly as he spoke
a sin:

g“ He throws up his hand, and the pot lies be-
tween you and me, little fascinator! As you
see. l‘ve got a full band. And you?” ’

“Losenow, but I swear to win in the end!”
with vicious energy.

“You may, but not unless you change our
style of play. I am not the man who r0 bed
the Merchants’ Bank, though I don’t suppose
you’ll take my word for it.”

“ Hardly—against his testimony!” with a
short, hard laugh. “ A father should know his
own child. surely !" i

“ Should, but it seems that rule has its excep- !
tions, as in this case before us,” was the cool
retort. “ I tell ou that I am not the criminal. i
If I am crowdm any further, I may be tempt-
ed to strike back by publishing all I have listened
to this night! I don’t want to do it, for man-
hunting isn’t at all in in line; but I’ll have to
if I’m pressed to the wall. ‘

” I’m going to leave you now. You can dis- '
cuss the matter between yourselves, and decide
what is the wisest course to pursue. If on
want to tackle me again, I’ll not behard to d.
Just whisper in name—Felix Bland, not Rob-
ert Aymer—an I‘ll turn up like a bad penny'

“ One word more. You noticed my big pard,
Baby John Barcusl It may be of interest to
you to know that he is also on the trail of the
man who robbed that bank and killed the
watchman. He accused me of being Robert
Aymer, this evening, but I con-Vincedlhim of
his error. If on like, I’ll send him up to inter-
view you on t e matter. He’s no slouch, if he
does look like one when he takes the notion. If
Eon can prove to his satisfaction that I am

obert Aymer, and the real criminal. he’ll go
for me after a fashion that’ll make your sweet ,
heart fairly slop over with delight !”

“ I don’t want to see him!” muttered the little
woman, turning still ler, if that be possible.
“If I do, I know w era to find him, without
troubling you !” she added, quickly. snappishly.

“ A quick recovery. but not quick enough to—
Eh?” with an assumption of su rise. “ Was I
talking in my dreams? Forget it, I beg of you,
dear madam! I wouldn’t hint for all the world!
And least of all that so charming a creature as
you could have even the ghost of an objection
to meeting a detective !” . .

“ RObert—my son!" faintly muttered Darius
Aymer.

“ May you and him, pure and innocent as
when you drove him out into the wide world .a
homeless wanderer !” gravely littered Fe m
Bland, as he arms and stepped baCkWai‘d t0
the door, still holding Adina Aymer covered
with his revolver. _

He unlocked the door, opened it and Pasfe‘ed
through, ( nickl closing the barrier behind
him. As 6 di so. he sprung llsthY, t9 one ’
side, but the shot which he plainly antic1pated
did not come. And with a low, mocking laugh,
The Man of Silk hastened down the stairs and
out into the night, meeting no one in so deing.
But as he turned the corner of the hotel, enter-
ing the deep shade cast by the buildings crush-
ing blow fell upon his head from behind, and he
sunk to the ground with a moan.

 

CHAPTER XIV. }
a PERSISTENT Lovsn. ,

In true, love-lorn style, Little Puss Curtis
was sitting at her one small window azin out 5

u n the night, too wretched to thin of s eep '
lightly miserable as she thought of the quarrel

between the two men who comprised all the
world in her eyes. To her it seemed perfectly
natural that the face of Posey Curtis, now
angry, now grave, now sad and wistful, should
rise before her mind’s eye quite as often
and fully as distinctly as did that of her lover,
Booth Barrett.

After all he had been so kind, so tender to her
through the long and earnest talk they had that
night on the doorstep: so good and loving in all
save granting her one great longing. And when
he came to realize how shameful y is mind had
been abused—when he came to know dear
BOoth as dear Booth really was—- why, he would
be kind on that one point, as well!

So Little Puss thought, and so she repeated
time and time again just beneath her breath, un-
til at last she really began to believe in the cer-
tainty of this glad reconciliation. Why should
it not be? She loved them both so dearly!

As she listened she could hear the faint sounds
of Posey Curtis‘s breathing in the outer room.
Poor daddy! He was so worn. so weary after
those long tramps .of his! Not even sorrow
could kec him awake.

It had
to that little stone cabin, nearly three years be-
fore this ni ht; brought her back, for dimly,
something 11 a one recalls objects in an almost
forgotten dream she could remember having
lived therewhen but a child. Brought her bac
from Denver where she had passed all the in-
tervenin time at school.

Little uss thought of the home-coming and
how delighted she was when Posey like a fiat
overgrown schoolboy in all save his won us

eiit eness and care for the child he had brought

ome, began giving her lessons in target-shoot-
ing, in hunting and fishing; what he called her
mountain schooling.

And from thinkin r of this, her thoughts roved
still further away, ack over the lifehist<iry
which he had opened before her marveling ears;
not all at once, but in bits and snatches which
gradually fitted into each other like pieces of
a magic uare, to form a perfect whole when
all was co ected.

It would be no easy task to follow her
thoughts and fit them into a shapely chain, but
something of importance may be extracted
from them, since events were brewing which
would be difficult to fully understand without
some such explanation.

Posey Curtis, as h(\ was alone known in min-

, ing circles, cmild date. his gold-hunting experi-

ence back to the earliest craze of ’49. At that
date he was a stout, hale country youth, work-
ing on a farm in Posey county, Indiana, at
starvation wages. He had little education but
he could read, and he eagerly drank in all he
could find concerning that marvelous discovery
of the precious yellow metal in the faraway
land of the setting sun. And then, with his
fortune on his back—a little bundle which one
might almost have crammed into one’s pocket-—
Harve Curtis left the farm to “ make a spoon
or spo a horn!"

Never mind following him through his travels
of that early  Enough that he did not fail
altogether. ' No onest youth could entirely fail,
who had rit and rseverance enough to start
from the issouri iver on foot, wheeling a bar-
row before him, alone, bound for California!
To start alone, to cross the vast desert as it then
was, and to get there! This Harvey Curtis ac-
complished.

The old fever never entirely died out of his
blood, owevcr. He was never fully content to
settle down and live a humdrum life in a sleepy
nei hborhood. He came back from California
wit a snug little sum in his pockets, a hero in
the eyes of those who had prophesied all manner
of misfortunes when he made known his awful
resolution. He had no relatives to keep him
there. and soon he wandered off again. Only to
return, at odd spells, he could not himself have
told 'ust wh ', at first.

W en he id find out, he put his fate to the
touch as bold] as when he set his face toward
the far-away and of gold. And for a number
of years the adventurer settled down, the model
of a perfect husband and husbandman.

That was long(i long years after the gold fever :

hadflrstattacke him , andthere were afew silver
threads to be found among his jetty locks. It
is rare indeed that one ever fully recovers from
such a fever: that one can rest contented after
havm tasted such a. wild, free life; but while
his wi e lived, Curtis secmcd contented enough.

She died, and left a little babe behind her;
the first that had been given unto them. And
then Curtis yielded to the fire which had only
smoldered during this quietinterval. He placed
the infant in good hands, and once more struck
out for the mining re ions: much nearer now
than when he first feltihe Lite of the yellow de-
mon.

Never mind the date. It was before the dis-
covery of the Black Hills treasure: after the
Cherry Creek excitement; before Leadville
sprung up like a mushroom in a night, though
alger was king, and gold was almost out of

a e.

But Curtis—long since “ Posey ” Curtis, from
his fond memories of his native county—was
too old to change his notions, and there was

n so ever since he brought her back :

 

nothing like gold for him: he would as soon
have thought of going on a prospecting trip to
the moon, as of looking for a silver lode.

In the course of time he “ made a strike ” at
his business : that of “ ket—mining.” He
found arich de sit of the precious metal in a
lonely region w ere the feet of white man had
never trod, as it seemed. Day after day, wee}:
after Week, month after month he worked
alone, adding to his store, and still the plat-er
seemed as rich as ever. Then, when the first
snows of winter began to fall, he packed his
mules and struck out for civilization.

In the spring he returned, and with him came
Little Puss, then five years old and past. She
watched him while he built a snug stone cabin
passing the bi ight days in the sun, the cold
nights under the brush hut and kept warm in
his loving arms, upon his broad bosom. And
there they were found, the following spring, by
a arty of prospectors who. by some strange in.
stinct, such as guides a vulture to its quarry,
followed a trail that was no trail, pursued a
clew that none of them could describe, until it
ended here. _

Before the summer was half gone the gold de-
posit was exhausted.

With the rest of the old-hunters, Posey
Curtis and Little Puss d ' ted away from the
valleiy, but not to sta forever. Dearly as he-
, love his little child, osey was wise enough to
: know that he must either give up the wild, free
life that was second nature to him, or else part.
with the laughing little child, for her own good.
And thus, after many a long and secret battle
1 with himself, Posey Curtis took Little Puss to
Denver and left her with the widow of one who
had toiled and suflered, persevered and con-~
quered with him in the gold-hunt. Left her to
be taught all that a girl should learn. Left her
and wandered hack to the now desolauecabin by
the worked-out placer.

It would be a good point from whence to
branch out in nest of another modest bonanza,
andthoughn ' gwasleftof“ Posey’sPocket’
but the little stone cabin—for the season had
been so short that those who joined in the rush
had contented themselves with huts of brush—it
seemed more like home to him than any other
spot on the footstool.

There was another rush some years afterward,
and Posey Curtis was at the bottom of it, though
unwilling] as unwittin ly.

In one 0 his tripsto enver to see his Little
Puss, he chanced to mention a discovery he had
made while prospecting for gold. It was just
when the silver excitement was most extrava-
gant, and as a result, a party of men hastened to
visit the spot. And that visit was the founda—v
tion of the present Posey’s Pocket.

In silent scorn Posey declined to have aught
to do with this new boom. He “ had no uSe for
silver,” he said. A claim was recorded in his
name, and as the “ city ” sprung up, those whom
he had unwittingly guided to fortune. caused
all legal “ assessments ” to be worked out on the
claim, thus holding it sacred in his name, until
he flatly refused to have anything to do with.
't

i .

He brou ht Little Puss back with him one

ring, an they had lived together ever since.

ot a sin le cloud had ever risen between them
until this uckless day.

Although rumor had it that Posey Curtis was
a rich man—some went so far as to declare him
a millionaire miser, who could at any hour place
his hand on the ransom of an empire—he still
spent much of his time in wandering through
t e mountain defiles and ridges, prospecting for

old. And it was from one of these tri s that
I e returned just in time to save t e four
3 miners from a crucl. treacherous death at the
1 hands of the masks who had rescued Red Ber-
. gum from the rope.
i Much of this assed through the busy brain of
. Little Puss as s e sat at her window, looking out
upon the bright, still night. To givea start and
shrink back, though still gazing with wide eyes
across the gentle slope at the dark figure of a
man who was slowly, cautiously drawing nearer
the little stone cabin. Not from fear did she
shrink at first, for the eyes of love are very
keen at times, and she instantly recognized
Booth Barrett, the one whom Posey Curtis had
sworn to shoot down without mercy if he ever
dared to trespass on his claim a sin.

Only on second thoughts di she recall this
threat. When she did, her fluttering heart
seemed to turn to stone within her bosom.

What if her father should awaken? What if
he should discover Booth Barrett, and in the first
heat of passion out his fierce threat?

Shivering, tremb ing, yet unable to do aught,
the poor girl watched the prowler as he slowly
. came nearer, mentally praying that he might
turn away and nchr return—until the skies
were brighter, until her patient love and quiet
suffering had won Posey over to their side.

Silent and ghost-like the lover moved, not a
sound betra ng his movements. Nearer and
nearer, unt Puss could no longer doubt his in-
tenticns, until she knew he was desperately re-
solved to gain speech with her, even at the fit
of death as one of the road-agents.

She saw him draw nearer the little window

 

 

which he knew opened into her room, and fear:

_-. .m. .3“. ...

.‘A .. _...._.

but. ‘. .

huh; «- s

u.

7

 

 

' herfromf

\_  .u m
, amass.” 8

20

The Mari of Silk.

 

 

lent her strength to lean forward and frantical—
ly motion him to flight.

Instead, with a low, glad murmur, he sprung
forward.

“ My love! True-hearted Little Puss,” he
murmured as he reached the side of the cabin
and caught her fluttering hands, pressing them
to his lips, then folding them above his heart,
passionate love lighting up his face until, to

er, terrified though she was, it seemed more
handsome, more noble, than that of a demi od.
“ You were waiting and watching for me. fi’ou
knevé I vzould come.” m h “pad

‘ 0— or my sake, go. 8 e g , turning
her head as she fancied a sound of footsteps
came from the outer room. “He’ll kill you!
Go, if you love me!”

“ If I love you, Little Puss?" murmured
Booth, with true loverly reproach in his tones,
a mournful smile upon his face as he still clas
edthose tremblin hands to his bosom. “IfPI
love on! Have not proved it as man seldom
is ca led upon to prove his love? Think of to-
day. Thin of what I suffered, all for your
sake !” ,

“Father will awaken—he slecps so lightly,”
murmured Puss, half-frantic with fear. ‘ I beg
you will go-some other time—”

“ I never refused your lightest wish before,
Little Puss, but I must refuse you in this,"

avely responded Barrett, his features becom-
ng hard-set and almost stern. “I have come
back to learn the whole truth from your lips,
and thou h death awaits me, I must— ’

“ It wi —it does! He swore to shoot you on

sight if he ever cau ht you near this place

again! Go dear Boot —form .sake!”
“ When have told you all, ttle Puss,” was
the grave, cold reply. “ When on have told

me what he said that has change your love to
bitter hatred, then—”

A low, pained sob parted her lips. Not a
word, but none was needed. That sob told all,
and from gloom to gladuess changed her lover’s

ace.

“ You are true and loving st‘ll, Little Puss! I
can see it in your eyes. You have not entirely
deserted me,then ?”

“ Would I be tremblin for your life if I did
not love you, Booth? o——I implore you! If
father should hear us and—"

“He is tired. He will sleep on. But if you
are so fearful, Little Puss, steal out to me for a
few moments—I must learn all that passedafter
I was drivenaway~driven away like the lowest,
vilest of all criminals."

His tones grew incautiously loud as he re-
called his ignominious repulse, and the poor child
trembled anew with terror. For an instant she
felt almost sorry that she had ever met this
lover of hers.

“ If I could—but I fear he would awaken,”she
murmured, scarce knowing what words she ut-
tered in her extremity.

“ If he should, make some excuse for restless-
ness. Say that you are perishing for a breath
of fro. h air—anything. 'ust so on can come
out to me. If not—then ’1! run t e chances and
we’ll have our little talk out right here.”

Hardly the tone or words of a true lover, but
in her great fear and trembling, Little Puss
failed to notice how stern, how ard were his
tones. She feared lest Posey Curtis should be

awakened, and in the first anger, carry out his

vow. .

“ I dare not attempt it, Booth,” she faltered,
shrinking hack, trying in vain to free her
hangs from his close grasp. “ Do not ask it, I

It is not so risk ,” he urged? “ If he muses
up he will be satis ed with your excuse. Even
i he refuses to let you go out he will sue t
nothing. And then, when he is asleep aga ,I
will come back to say what I must say, here at
your window.” ,

Still the r child hesitated, and still he per-
sisted, un lshe was compelled to grant his
wishes, though so stroneg Winn her better
judgment. And trembl n e one abort to
commit a great crime, ttle Puss made the
venture.

Posey Curtis was lyin on the floor, as was
his custom—he had long  weaned from a
r‘egular bed—and beside him lay his faithful

nchester, ready to be caught up at a mo-

. i ment’s warning.

The door was closed, but a ray of moonlight
came in at the rear window and slow y
tremblingly, she passed around the recumbent

re.
er hand touched the barred door topause as
a low moan broke from the lips of the sleeping
man. Her heart legged into her mouth as he
stirred restlessly. e feared he was awaking,
and in her terror she almost dronpped to the floor;
only the thou ht of a? ll‘c‘xiver a his peril kept
g on g .
Only that one sound, onl that one slight stir-
m- ’22: mains. “alarms-
ow o c was e e
:fish urgings of the man whom he god de-
nounced as unlit to associate with her.
Then-the deed was done! ‘
At the threshold Booth Barrett met Little
around her waist,
g hersas \ bowsd over her,

,.». .i- I _ r«Mitr‘i 1?}  l.‘ I
1‘ I 9' '1." ‘ “i” i ‘I “H- ‘   A." 

 

 

softlfi bidding her have no fear. And now that
the rst step was taken, Little Puss hurried
willingly away from the door, still thinking
mainly of his peril, still fearful for his life.

Away from the stone cabin and down the
slope until the spring that sup lied them with
water was reached. Then Boot Barrett laugh-
ed softly as he said:

“You could not sleep, Little Puss. The ex-
citement of today made you feverish, and you
longed for a drink of fresh water.
natural than to steal out to satisfy your crav-
ing, without alarming your father, worn and
weary as he must be? See! have I not planned
it neatly in case you should be missed before I
can let you go!”

“That must be very soon—in one minute
dear Booth," was the agitated response. “
should not have come at all, only I feared for
your life.
so cruelly.”

“ Cruelly, Little Puss!”

“ It was cruel,” passionately sobbed the half-
distracted girl. “ If your love had been half as
true and unselfish as mine'for you, you would
have listened and obeyed when I implored you
to go away. You would not have forced me to
come out at this time of hi ht, knowing that if
father should awaken and giscover what I have
done’, he would almost kill me in his just an-

er. '

“ Was it so cruel, darling?” with a mournful
cadence that touched her poor heart as 1.0 an-
gry response would have touched it.

‘ I do not mean—I only thou ht—”

Booth Barrett drew Little uss to his side,
bending his head and pressing a kiss 11 n her
smooth brow. Then he released her, rawing
back with folded arms, his voice low and sad.

“ Go back to the house, Little Puss, after say-
ing that you for ive me for my thoughtlessness.
In the morning will come and ask your father
to say before me, what he told on after I went
away today. Good-night, dar ing.”

Little Puss burst into tears, bitter if silent.
Instead of taking advantage of her freedom,
she sunk down on a mossy rock by the spring,
her head bowed, her face hidden in her hands.

What more I

And you ought not to have urged me p

can be. It is true that I have been a little wild
and reckless in my time, but I have never
sinned, have never committed a sin which I
would be ashamed to let you judge. It is true
that I have gambled, but not as a matter of
business; simply to pass away an idle hour. I
have drank. but never to excess. I could ab-
, stain wholly from both drinking and playing,
without the least struggle to wean myself.
This I swear to you, Little Puss!”

“I believe you, dear,” with a soft smile
through her tears. “ I never doubted you, even
when father told me on were so wicked.

, felt’tliat he was mista en. I could not love
one so lost to truth and honor.”

I “ And you do love me, Little Puss? You love

‘ me enough to place a full and perfect trust in

.mel You will not yield to him, even though
he forbids our love? You are mine — all
mine 3’” ~

“ All yours, Booth!” yielding to his ardent
: en‘lblirlace. 1r red 15 1 t

‘ y an e ’he murmu , soty,ye pas-

sionately. 8“When he sees that it is useless to
fight against it—when {in are my wife—"

Little Puss shrunk ck with a short cry

startled, yet hardly comprehending the purport

of his last words. The ghost of a frown passed

over his face, and he spoke quickly almost im-
. periously:

“ You will go with me now, Little Puss, and
when you are my wife, we will come back to
beg our father's lessing. Come!"

a ‘ 00th! on do not mean it!” she gasped,
i with a sud en efl'ort slipping from his grasp,
seeming ready for fli ht.

“ If you love me, Buss, prove it I” he mutter-

ed : riassionately.
I ‘ do love you—I love you better than an
living being on earth, save my father! But
i will never run away with you—how dare on
k it!” she nted, her face pale as death, er
b ack eyes a laze.

“ And this is your love!”

“Listen, Booth,” she said more calmly, but
[ with a dignity that he had never before seen
i her assume. ‘ I love you. I will be your wife,
! if you ask it, when these cloudsarecleared wa .

“ My darling i" passionately murmured Booth, I But until then—until father says I may, I Will

as he sunk to his knees at her side, his arms
gently encircling her waist, his warm lips
uching her curls. “Forgive me once more.

never wed you! I am all he has now. It would
v kill him were I to desert him so shamefully!"
I “ You think only of him !" moodily uttered

I hardly know what words I utter in my grief T the other.

and wretchedness, but I swear that I never

“ this old, and loves me—loves me even more

meant to make you weep. I only thought that mmdly than 1 10” You d0, BOOthy'WV” the

would be the Shortest way out.” 1 gra

ve response. “I swear to never wed an-

Gently he caressed the irl, softly, tender] he . other. but to remain true to you through good

whis
Erie gave way enoug
erent y

“ I ani foolishly weak. I know, Booth but I l of vou!"

Sometimes it i

have endured much since noon.
seems as if I would go wild.”

“And all because of me,” he muttered, a
dark frown wrinkling his brow. “ And yet, as
Heaven hears me, Little Puss, I would give my
life to keep one grain of sorrow from your por- ;
tion.

“Then go away, dear Booth, until a better !
time ” she fainth urged. “ You know my love 1
is still yours. e are both oung. and we can

wait for brighter days. Go, I beg of you. i 8169?, had sprung t0 Littlt

red to her, usin a lover’s arts un her ; and evil report. I swear this; but do not ask
E to permit her to talk co. i me for more. Don’t force me to think you love

yourself more than you love me. Don’t, I beg

Her voice rew unstead as she uttered these
words and ett felt hat all was not yet
lost. the loved him—he knew that. And he
knew that if he mvered she could hardly
hold out against that love and his plead-
in I.

But just at this juncture a sound came to
them from the stone cabin. PoseyCurtis had
awakened, and noticing the door aJar, which he
had fastended so carefull on lying down to
‘s chamber door,

What if father should waken and miss me! He ,‘ only to discover her absence.
!

Would shoot on like a wild wolf.”

“ And wit far less of peril to himself, Little 1
Puss!" with a cold laugh and a darkening:
frown. “As

my character to you. Nay,” with a sudden ac-
cess of tenderness as the maiden shrunk from i
him a trifle at his hardness,“ 1 am not accusing ‘

A wild, agonized cry broke from his li , as
he turned and flung wide the door, g g
about him, half-blinded by the moonlight com-

your father, his life is sacred to , ingafter the interior gloom.
me, no matter how black he may have painted : ‘

Puss! Little Puss! whar beyei What hes
happened i” he cried, his voice harsh and strain-
ed from the awful fear which had assailed him,
as that hasty glance showed him the unruflled

him in aspirit of bitterness or reven e, darling. ;  in his daughter’s chamber. “ Speak my
I know how jealous he is of ion, an can readi- 1 child! What be ye 3”

1y understand that he won]
my little failings.”

make the most of I .
' 1 springing bac in terror as

" Go—go if on love me !”§zosped Little Puss,

th Barrett step-

“ He Will learn to know you better ere long, ; ped closer to her under the bushes. “ if he sees
Booth.” I you here, he will kill you! And kill me, think-

“ I trust so ” with a low laugh that was not
all mirth. “

hat did he tell you Little Puss? i

ng me faithless! Go. I beg of you !”
‘ Little Puss, I say!” cried the half-distracted

It is to learn this that brought me here at such 3 father. " God of heaven! hes she run off with

aghostl hour, thou h I had only the faintest

htipeso gaining an terview with your sweet I
se

“ I could not sleep, and so—” ’

“ And so kind Fate favored me, for which she
is entitled to my heartfelt thanks! But you do
not answer me, little rl; what did our father
tell you about mei hat reasons (id he give
for treatin me so harshly? Surely he had
reasons, rig tor wrong? It was not simply to
degrade me in your eyes?"

' He was so angry. he said more than he
meant, no doubt.” she faltered, shrinking from
the hard task set her.

“ Hardly worsethan he said to me. I reckon!”
with another hard, disagreeable laugh. “ He
char ed me with being a scoundrel in general,
and ad he not been your father— But he was,
and is. Let it go at that, then!

“ You need not answer my uestion, little
girl, if lysine on. I can make a guess at
what he d. an though I give him credit for
believing all he told you. I swear to you by yon-
der stars—by my love for you, Little Puss, and
more sacred oat
,thatlamasmyyourloveasany ereman

  

   

  

. whiff} :‘W
     ‘

"_ ."‘.-‘9 {.‘w '3' I J .
,wl. ,. .1, . ,- ,,‘I.
.' & a. ‘ ‘ e  " ‘w-‘(i "‘(V'.">;"-;"

mortal man never u ered!— .

.. ’ V ., ,.

r M . l. .
Ir;’=,-', g-..*"'.A*;1§’>‘,) “a .,
his) -‘ ,t'zfi‘ M, gd‘fiht. k1<1¥ Ps9  .3»!

: that hell-hound?”

“Coming, father!” cried the maiden, spring-
ing out- into the moonlight and running up the
i slope. “ I could not sleep—I felt feverish, and
‘ my throat was so parched, I wanted a drink of
; fresh water,” she hurriedly addrd. scarce know-
. ing what she said in her dread lest Posey dis-
‘ cover the truth. “ I feel better now i”

“ An’ so do I, Little Puss,” he muttere , clasp-
ing her to his bosom with passionate fervor. ‘ I
| hed a horrible dream! But it ain’t true!

wouldn’t run away from pore old daddy!"

CHAPTER XV.
wrrH UNMASKID racns.

Ir the expected shot did not follow The Man

. of Silk through the door of Darius Aymer’s
I chamber, it was not alto ether the fault of the
l little woman. She snatc ed up one of the pis-
tols which, in a foolishly sentimental moment,
she had suffered to slip from her grasp, and her

5 dainty forefinger was crooking around the tri -

i

 

,ger when a trembling hand closed over t e g

i muzzle and bore it to one side.

father. “Givehimonemore , _ I
f‘ " ’38-}...

 

You

“Spare him, Adina", huskily muttered the '

 

      

 

a

The Man of Silk.

21

 

chance. He will yield—he cannot see his poor,  unison with her voice. “At first it was tire— 1
some enough, I admit, but then—it is something 3

white—haired father suffer such torments, with-
out——without—”

His voice choked and his head sunk upon the
table.
could bear in his present weak state.

Adine yielded, perhaps more because she felt

l

! poor old man.
That terrible ordeal was more than he 3

l

l'ow improbable it was that a blind shot through -
that barrier would strike down her mocking ,

enemy, than through the mercy her husban
besought her to show. She dropped her wea-
pon, and bent her care to his restoration, actulg
romptly and composedly, like one who h
ong since grown familiar with such duties.

A touching picture it would have made to an
onlmker who was ignorant of their actual _re-
lationship. A helpless father and a loving
daughter. Or the relationship might have been
one degree more remote to contrast her youth,
her daintily-blooming health, With his white
hairs, bowed and trembling figure, husky voxce
and alsied tongue. .

“ e was hard—hard and bitter,”_ muttered
the father, his love not yet wholly extinguished,
his hope still faint] flickering. “ But he suffer-
ed so much in the ays when that scheming wo—
man held me under her spells. I was so harsh
and merciless to him then. I drove him out in-
to the cold and cruel world, a homeless wander-
er, to live or die, to fight his way without a
dollar to help him. Of course he would feel
hard against us, remembering all this. But it
will not last—it will not last. He was proud
and high-spirited, but Robert was loving and
easy to forgive in those days. He’ll remember
—he’ll soften as he thinks over what I’ve said—
he’ll come back in the morning to say that he’ll
make amends. Robert will come, Adine. I
know that—my God! if I did not know it, I
would wish to die before the dawn of another
day,” he added, with a sobbing, choking gasp. '

Sentence by sentence these words fell from 
lips while Adina was caring for him. Not in
connected order as they find record here, but fit-
fiilly, irregularly, broken by her soft murmur-
in , b his own weakness of body and mind.

IVitIi a patience rare as it was skillful and
tender, Adine Aymer ' until the old
man was stowed away in bed, much more com-
posed and hopeful than would have been deemed
possible to any one who did not know how se-
verely his brain had suifered of late days. And
then, promising not to be long absent..sl_ie put
out the light and left the chamber,. lidin _si-
lently, rapidly along the narrow corn or w ch
separated the two rows of chambers, pausing at
the further and to rap in a peculiar fashion upon
the closed door.

“ Is it you, little girli"came a guarded whis-

r through the keyhole, after a brief spell of
impatient waiting on her rt.

“ Open, Bush,” was her impatient response.

The door opened, and she quickly slipped
throu h the aperture the instant it was wide
enoug to permit her passe e.

“Close and bar, Bush. rop {gar handker-
chief over the knob. There may spies about
this cursed hole,” she grated, in tones and looks
vastly different from the dainty. shrinking lady
we have so far seen. _

Clark obeyed her, then turned and gained her
side as she sunk down on the edge of the bed,
his eyes flashing, his dark face full of poorly
hidden uneasiness as he asked:

“ What is it, girl? How did it come out?
Good or bad i”

“ You tell,” with a short metallic laugh, deep
wrinkles coming to mar the smoothness of her
fair brow.

“ I saw him come out of the room and some-
thing in his actions made me think e ex ted
a shot, or some such matter. How was it ’ per-
sisted Bush Clark, a ring of impatience in his

ice.
vo“ If you had only lent him one,” grated Adina,
shakin her tightly-clinched hands in the direc-
tion 0 the corridor. “ And yet,” with an
abrupt transition which told how stronglyshe
had been tried during the past two hours, " I do
not know. Perhaps; tliiltil'e’zt L110? t’xfiioney in let,

the u en 0 e rope.
“will: 33:10am devil—The Man of Silk, as
the call him?”

“yDo you know, Bush, I _ to believe that,
afterfa , vase have lflieepJJar on the wrong
trail rom very rs .

“ You mean i” the dark-faced man hesitated.

“ That it may have been nothing but the
truth Darius A mer told us at the time. I be-
gin to believe tafitnhe never had a finger in the

b , after . .
I‘0“b1$oriyii~iense!” with an ugly emphasis. ” Are
you oin crazy, girl?”

“ is set im down as a cunning rascal from the
very outset," Adine muttered, almost as much
to herself as for the benefit of her present com-
panion. “ I felt that he was playing a bold yet
crafty game for a mi hty big stake. If I had-
n’t, would I have so the part I did at the trial
and before it?”

“ Or after, why don’t you add?” snapped Bush
Clark, with an ugly show of teeth. ‘ hat has
been by far the Ihgirdest”a.nd most disagreeable

rt of the ob anc .
pa“ I’m not:i so. certaiiyi, of tbat,_Bush,” and the
'ace of the little woman perceptiny softened in

 

l

i called her—he would hardly have rec

 

 

to be loved as wholly as I am loved by that
It is no sli ht thing to feel that
to one person in the worgd at least, I am pure
and innocent, more like an angel to be revered

l

It may be that he was led into this mad act.
for Adine Elmer knew that only by some such
tic could she hope to ever secure the vast sum
stolen from the Merchants’ Bank. If so, the
snare was daintin hidden, and only after long
persuasion did the weeping girl 'ield to the

and worshiped, than a woman to be cursed and | grateful man. And then, as his W' e, Adine be-

beaten when the fit strikes one.
that goes, old boy,” with a short, disagreeable
laugh at the end.

Bush Clark rolled up his eyes in mock horror.

“ Ye gods and little fishes! Coney Kate sigh-
ing for septuagenarian worship, and wantin to
be an angell Somebody knock me down wit a
feather before I faint! Oh—my I”

“ Don’t try a game you never can learn,
Bush,” with a low, reckless laugh in sharp con-
trast to her last mood. “ You can handle a
sandbag much better than a rapier; you know
better how to curse and bluster than to utter
sarcastic compliments. Stick to your line, and
you’ll get fewer trips and tumbles, old boy I”

“ And you, Kate?” with a half-threatening
echo in his veice. “ You are not going to jump

' the track at this late stage of the game?”

“ Not any old fellow. I went in to win, and
I’ll stay with you till the last card is played.
But it’s beginning to look mighty bilious, now
you hear my gentle voice whisper! Mighty

ilious, old pard ”

If Darius A mer could have heard her utter
those words! f he could have gazed into the
face of the little woman—angel as he so ofm
1
her as his gentle, loving, babyish little wi el

Indeed, she had been playin a part—a €811?
that reached back for near {It ree years: ack
beyond the robbery of the erchants’ Bank of
Chicago. And never a woman in all the world
who could have played such a role more suc-
cessfully, up to the hour when she first met
The Man of Silk at the sta e robbery.

Coney Kate! A name we 1 known among the
criminals of the Eastern cities although the
police had never fairly spotted the dainty little
dealer in counterfeit money, and her fair face
had not as yet been added to the Rogues’ Gal-

ler .

’IYrouble threatening in New York, where the
gang with which she was connected had been
operating pretty extensively, Coney Kate and
t e man who was now her com anion shook
the dust of the Metro lis from t eir feet and
alighted in Chicago. ey lived in modest re-
tirement, until an accident threw the little
woman in contact with Darius Aymer.

It was nothing more than a fatherly—grand-
fatherly might be even better—interest the
cashier took in the fairy-like stranger at first,
and there it would have ended, only for the
position he held.

That evening Coney Kate ha pened to men-
tion the chance encounter to er companion,
who instantly recognized the cashier from her
description. From that chance mention grew
much that has been recorded in these columns.

Bush Clark, by which name we now know
him, was a criminal born and bred, but he
lacked the cool courage and fearlessness which
should 0 with the other qualities he possessed,
and wit out which no man can long succeed in
crime. He knew that he was already “ spot-

You know how 1

ted "by more than one detective, althougKili1 as_
e ew

yet he had kept his sins well cloaked. H

that in time he must be caught in the act if he
continued in active operation, and thus he
longed for a chance to make a fortune at a sin-
gle stroke: then he would “ retire.”

He fancied he saw his longed-for opportunity
in this meeting with Darius Aymer, and Coney
Kate was uite willin to fall in with his plan
as soonas e divulg it.

The cashier was to be trapped and if he could
not be used as awillin tool, ewasto bebe-
trayed, drugged if need , and then left to suf-
fer the pen t rightfully due them. All but
the minor data is were arranged when the blow
fell—dealt by another band.

It was true that Bush Clark discovered Darius
Aymer, bound and gagged, just as the robbers
had left him, but he to t that this was onlya
part of the can game which the cashier had
elected to play. Ven while warning Aymer of
the ril he ran, Clark f it that the cashier was
by ar the guiltiest man n that robbery.

It was difficult to reconcile this opinion with
the facts that soon came out: to understand
why the keys should still be. missing, instead of
having been restored to his keeping after their
aid was utilized: but new bands often make
bunglin work, and this must be another in-
stance 0 that well-known fact.

Believing that Darius Aymer would eventually
come in for at least an equal share of the plun-
der, it was easy enough for Bush Clark to induce
Coney. Kate—res Adine Elmer—to play the
pathetic herome who so stirred the court with

or great self-sacrifice, rather than permit an
innooent man to suffer. ‘

It was a double stroke, and both proved com-
plete successes. Darius Aymer was cleaned b
her evidence. and feelin that the cor litt e
woman had blasted her c aracter for its by her
heroic lie, the old man begged herto marryhim,
and thus silence the tongues of scandal as far as
possible.

/

 

gan the game in earnest.

Only to suffer defeat thus far. Not one single
clew had she ained to the stolen treasure, until
this night. p to the moment of their meeting
with The Man of Silk, and the recognition of
him by Darius Aymer, all her cunning arts, all
her specious hints, availed nothing. She ob—
stinatel refused to regard him as an innocent
man. he could not have made such a miserable
mistake.

She had long since learned that there was a
skeleton in her husband’s closet, though only
from his restless mutterings in his sleep. She
knew that he had a son, but living or dead she
could only surmise. When she asked him 0 the
past, Darius Aymer either answered evasively,

or not at all.

She ed to discover the icture of Rob-
ert Aymer, taken just before is flight from
home, years before, and when Darius Aymer
began that apparently aimless wandering
through the minin regions, she carried the
picture with her. he more than half-believed
this unnamed son was connected with the rob-
bery, but only as an agent, not as principal.

Both she and her “ brother ” were too shrewd.
They credited the old man with too great a por-
tion of their own craft, and refused to recog—
nize the siniple truth, even when it stared them
in the face, every day for nearl three years.

More than a score of times ad Bush Clark
grown hotly impatient at the long delay, and
urged his confederate to openly tax her hus-
band with the robbery, and force him to tell
where the treasure was hidden. If not through
simple ment, then they must use harsher
means. ey had worked long and faithfully
for the prize, and it was hi h time they began
to engox the fruits of their la rs.

Bu dine Aymer steadily counseled patience.
She felt that the were being shadowed wherever-
the went. Al ough she could brin no proof
pos tive of her suspicions, she felt tha the great
robber had not at been dropped by the bounds

of the w. An so the time on without.
any positive action being taken.
3 he listened, Bush Clark frowned darkly.

Ever suspicious, he ended by beginning to sus-
pect this all of his.

“ For bot of us—or only for me, Kate!” he
slowl demanded.

“ hat do you mean by that?” with widely—
opened eyes. “ We are in the same boat. What
comes to one, comes to both, don’t it?”

“ That was the bargain, but—~”

Adine leaned forward and gazed steadily into
his dark eyes, her own filling with a strangely
mixed light. Her tones were low and earnest as
she spoke again:

‘ ‘ on are not beginning to doubt me, Horace,
after all I have done at your bidding?”

“ You boasted just now that you rather liked
it!” with a scowl.

“ Better for me if I could l” with sudden pas-
sion. ‘ ‘ Better for me if I was half—way deserv-
ing of the love he lavishes on me. But I am.
no , as no man knows better than on, Horace
Miller. While he worships me— e poor old
fool!” with a touch of pitying sadness coming
into her voice, the hard lines on her face grow-
ing softer. “ While he worships me as little
short of an angel, I am deceiving him every
da , every hour of the day. For you, Horace!
A gr ou, and you know it.”

“ , ou must admit it‘s mighty little love
the old 1 lot shows me ” was the snappin re-
tort. “ He treats me ike a dog—only t to
fetch and . And you, Kate——”

“ Have ast harder part to plag dear Hor-
ace,” as she drop at his feet an leaned her
head inst his side, with a wearied, heart-sick
air. “ ut is it not worth it!” with another sud—

den Chan 9, s ringing to her feet, her hands.

clinched, er ace all aglow. “ Think of the
mongy—think of our life when the prize is fairly
won

“ Will it everbe won? Three ears, and not
one step nearer the end than at rst. It looks
mighty like a sell, Kate i”

‘ There you’re 'way off, Horace!” laughed
the little woman, sinking into her former posi-
tion on the e of the narrow bed. “ We’re so
near the end 1; I can catch a glimmer of the
yellow stakes, Horace!”

“What do you mean? What have you dis-
00vered since we last met ?”

It was his turn to move forward and grasp

her hands, nfi breathlessly into her smilin
face: sm g t en, only to turn grave an
steady a moment later.

“Enough to feel sure that we‘ve been hark-
ing on the wrong track from the ve first, Hor-
ace! Enough to convince me that arius Ay-
mer no more had a hand in robbing that bank
than on or I," she slowly replied.

“ en who did get the plunder?”

“ His son, Robert Aymer l”

“ You don’t mean it, Kate!”

“It is Gospel truth—if you can understand

.w

«tr-7w.-

.-.-.-—4—._.. .— .-..-..a-... a. ...A

..,.~ rm..-—.._...‘--.

 

,. “You shall judge for

What have you found out?” ‘

22

 

' The Man» of Silk.

 

:

that,” with a fleeting smile at the idea the term
brou ht before her mind.

“ hen why didn’t he blow the gaff i Because
he was in cahoots with the boy, of course,” an-
swerin his own question before Adine could do
so. “ nd you think that this devil—this Felix
Bland as he calls himself now—is that son?”

“ I know it!” nodding her head positively.

ourself,” s e added,
rapidly but clearly sketching all that transpired
in the chamber further along the narrow corri-
~dor.

In silence Bush Clark listened, gnawing his
thumbnail, his brow corrugated, his black eyes
filled with a reddish glow. He seemed to be
weighing her every word as she spoke and when
her narrative came to an end he spoke deliber-

atel :

"(it does begin to have that look, Kate, I must
con ss. I’m sorry, too for that man is a ver
different fellow to hand e from old Aymer! He s
mighty bad medicine, now I tell you i” l

‘ You know something about him, then? You
have met him before this day, Horace?” slowly
asked the little woman.

“ And you, Kate?" swiftly demanded her ac—
complicc. “Somehow I fancied he and you
were”not total strangers when you met to-
:da 1

‘ylf we ever met, it must have been long a o,
Horace,” was the cold response, a shade com
into her eyes at his evident suspicion. “ There
is something strangely familiar about his eyes,
butI have tried in vain to place him. I begin
"to believe it is only his strong resemblance to
this picture ” tapping her bosom witbone hand.
“ I have 100 ed at it so often, have studied it so
carefully, ever since i first be an to suspect
‘who it was Aymer wished to fin .”

Bush Clark shrugged his shoulders sli htly.

“ Wish I could banish my fears as ! I
know him as an internally dangerous customer:
as one who was once if he is not now, acting as
a bloodhound of the law! The narrowestescape
«of m life came through that same demon!”

" ou owe him a grudge, then!” "

“One that I’ll pay with interest, if ever
schance oflers !”

“ Then you’ve got a double incentive to work
swift and sure, for I know that The Man of Silk
is none other than Robert A er, the son of
the old man, and the real ro ber of the Mer-
-chant’s Bank! If we can get him foul, ht
pine ‘ will bring out the whole truth. e
me. be\ he demon you call him, but under the
-. he’ll prove no more than a common man.
He’ll disgor 0, rather than suffer on as we can
.and will 9 him sufler. Don’t you see?”

“What you mean but not how it is to be

abr‘oufiht about,” dubiously.

is not our first trip to the mines,
Horace? I thong t so ” with a nod and a laugh
:as his face answered or question. “It may
take time, but surely you can discover some 'of
our old acquaintances in whom you can trust.
f not, money will buy tools anywhere; and
mo we have in plenty, thanks to The Man
of S kl” with another light laugh.

“Those rascals would have found it, cun~
'ningly though you concealed the 0-- es!”
laughed the man. “ We owe him thanks or so
much, an way!”

“ And he money he saved shall be his ruin
Ho ce. You can do it.
wi sudden emphasis. “ We’ves nttoo much
time to lose the prize now! He it, or can
tell us where to find it. Do our work well
and we’ll go back to the old e, to ettin all
thee; miserable years. It is worzfi it, or-
ace ’

“Not the old life, but the old relation, you
mean? Yes—for that I’d tra a dozen fellows
worse than this demon of k!” with vicious
£110 e ’
“ e said something about that big mate of
Said he was a detective and on the
trail of the real robber, Horace. , c you think
he was lying, or telling the truth! Will we

' have to arrange for him, also?” .

‘,‘ He talked straight there, a
the man, frowning darkly. “ g fellow
is a bloodhound, sure enough! I knew him
when we first met. and I more than half believe
he knew me as well.”

“He has no hold over you!" with sharp anx-

ilet .

‘yNone that I know of. I’d .be glad to see
him if it Was only the thief we wanted. He’d
ca hold with a grip of steel at the first hint;
but there’s the money! I’ll set some one to
keeping an eye out for the fellow, and if he
threatens trouble, his trail will and right here
in P ’s Pocket!” .

“Pic your shadow carefullmhen, for un-
less in eyes deceive me more t they -
Iy do, t will take steel muscles to handle that
big fellow lout though he seemed when at the
stage-halting. He’s only a baby in name, or I
mlu my sue-I!” .

“I know what he is, and will act acoordi -
1y. And, do you know, Kate, we’re migh y
~Emkyin making this discovery right now and

ere I’ - I

“ What do you mean? More than your words
.muld indicate on the face of them, I know!

we ” owled
hatybi gr

You must do ltl’l,

 

   
 

.1 r F”! ,
.. A.“ .-..

A

I

“The very men who will help us in this job,
without asking one dollar for pay, or a single
question as to our motives!” was the rapid
response. “They’ll do it for revenge. To get
even with the men who killed one of their
mates, and crippled their captain l"

Adine Aymer gazed into his exultant face
with glowing eyes.

“Good for our side, Horace! The game is
won before it is fairly begun! Set your new
allies at work. Put them on the trail without
the loss of a minute more than you can avoid.
Tell them to take The Man of Silk to a secure
spot, and then notify us. And more—we must
take Darius Aymer to the same spot! The rob-
ber lies between those two men, and by ju-
dicntotli’s pinching we’ll soon get at the bottom
no 5

 

CHAPTER XVI.
Panscmsmo FOR AN ENEMY.

“THOUSAND curses blister them! will they
never come? Have they gone to sleep on the
way? Drunk or sober, said bring him here.”

At least a portion of the curses invoked Were
particularized by the same angry 1i 5, as the
wounded road-agent strode feverish y to and
fro in the dim light, nursing the hand that had
been shattered by the bullet of Felix Bland, the
little man in ray. And had one-half of that
portion actua ycome to pass, those laggards
would have cast the martys of old far, far into
the shade.

To and fro, his bandaged right hand clasped
tenderly in his uncrippled member and held be-
fore him in such a manner as to lessen the flow
of blood to the injured parts as much as possible.
To and fro, the pain being too great for quiet
waiting, now cursing the delay in his messen-

rs, t en emptying the vials of his wrath on

t e head of the man whose snapshot left him a
cri is for life.
0 sable mask was gone, now and the oil
lamp which burned on t e rude slab table cast a
dim light through its smoky chimney u
face and form of the road-agent, as we
surroundings.

These were anything but gorgeous- only the
slab table b way of furniture; w , ceiling
and floor to h, uneven rock; one of the
countless dens, ra er than caverns with which
the mountainranges are honeycombed.

Not a had-lookin fellow; this road-agent,
when his face was or a few seconds at a time
free from pain and sav rage. Not handsome,
in the general accepts on of the word. Too
hard and ru a face for that. But a face
that would‘ in a crowd.” Atrim,mus-
cular figure, with quick, lithe movements.

As soon as it was certain pursuit was not
being made, after their u defeat at
the stage-halting, the chief halted and rmit-
ted his hand to be dressed temporan y, the
flow of blood being soprofuee as to cause him
no little uneasiness for the result, unless some
such precaution was taken. As yet, he did not
suffer much with the inj . He knew the
member was badly shattered, at it was so be-
numbed b the shock, that several hours passed
by before e really be an to feel the wound.

Before that time be ad sent a number of his
men without their masks and in a urely un-
offic al manner, to Pesey’s Potket or the ex-
press pug“ of brin ng back with them one

‘Doc ’ nderson, w 0 had gained a wide-
spread :eiputation among the miners as “mighty
good in icine ” to take after a free fi ht or an
accident—provided he was sober enoug to know
what his hands were doing.

“Drunk or sober, I to d them,” snarled the
road-agent, his face growing white with a fresh
8 am of sin. “ In a hur . too. The curs!

o theyt k I’m to be sli‘g ted, just because
my term is near an end! Do they—well, what
is it?” he sharply demanded, as he wheeled to
confront a man who used doubtingly just at
the edge of light. “ ave the come ’ ,

“They’ve Igot back, boss: ut—"stammered
the fellow s rinking very much as though he
felt like taking

nthe
ashis

to his heels insta'nter.

“ No‘ without what they went for?” grated
the chief, fiercely. “Not without bringing him
back with them If they have—"

“They’ve fetched him, but—it ain’t the right

one!”

For a single breath the road—agent stood
silent motionless, staring at. the speaker, as
thong trying to solve the riddle. It may have
been this very doubt. or the sudden hope of re-
lief itself that caused his wound tocease in-
ing him, but the lull came most opportune y for
thereluctant messenger. Instea of curses the
chief laughed short] as be seated himeel on
one of the rocks besi e the table.

“ Send them in here, with whoever they

brought. Lively!” ‘
“ ain’t so mi hty bad as I thought, but
durned of I’m com n’back to introduce em—not

any I” muttered the envoy, scuttlin away
tiliIrou h the loom to enter another an larger
0 am r.

“ ou're to show up. he says, mates,
an’ in . a hurry, too! Shake, a ore you fade out
3; gm sight ag’in, pards!” with a lugubrious

5' ’Tain’t so bad as all that, Rickettsi” mutter-

, .

. L ,
m? i: 'e'.’ 'x”? ‘3' ‘ ' ' V ‘ '
 ~ 33.; . “3% . :8 'sl‘r-v‘u‘?‘ W"

 

   

‘ ' : I . 1
v. 7' . . " f" - ‘
2&7.»- s n.  . 3.1:: . »

ed the man he addressed, his weather-beaten
countenance turning fairly green as he spoke.

“ Mebbe it mou ht bewuss, but durned ef I
kin see jest how! f it was me—which love nur
money couldn’t hire me to be it—I’d 'est shove
ltlie gritter in fu’st, an’ let him take 0 the cuss,

l e.

“ Free my hands, and I’ll beard the monster
for you, gentlemen,” the captive uttered in a
low, smooth tone. “Haven t the ghost of an
idea what it is, or what it’s like; but l’m willing
to do almost anything to accommodate a friend,
and ou’ve treated me so delightfully sweet—”

“ old {our clapper, or we’ll hold it for you I”
growled t e other.

“Use, a pair of tongs, then, or you’ll be
mighty apt to get your fingers nipped in the
trying,” laughu the prisoner. “ As for your
high and mighty monster. I’ll throw him a sop
in the shape of a man! You can follow when
youl think he’s gluttcd his frenzy on yours

ru !

l ith a swift stride he passed from the cham-
ber into the narrow passage, before a hand
could be lifted to prevent his action. And it
was his face and fl re—thc face and figure of
Felix Bland, The an of Silk—that the road-
e nt chief looked upon first.

or a few moments in open-'awed amaze-
ment. Then, as reCognition fia ed upon his
brain, a hoarse, choking] growl of malignant
rage rose in his throat as e snatched a revolver
from his belt with his sound hand, cocking and
throwing it up to a level.

“ You—you bloodhound I”

“ That’s the worst I ever saw!” scornfuIIy ut-
tered The Man of Silk, as he cocked his head a
little on one side in criticism. “ Can’t you do
better than that, stranger! Don’t grip so tight;
try and believe your arm isn’ta pump-handle;
let your wrist come up limber, with a touch of
grace to it, mn’t you? If not— et down and
take a rest on the edge of the tab e. I'd rather
like to be-a patriarch, than be shot in such a
slovenly manner—I would, for a blushing

fact!”
A little forced, perha but robably nothing
less would have check that toned shot as

the road-agent recognised the man to whose
skill he owed his cri led hand. Even as it was,
the life of the litt e man in gray hungml‘ifyV a
thread for a briefnsgece. Had he film: an
atom—had he utte a ord in pleadin or ex-
Boemlation—a bullet would have sped h

is brain before the words could have cooled on

hisli .

waged, he moved forward, still with that
smile of contemptuous, almost pitying criticism
on his face.

“You are decidedly rusty, m friend, for a
man who lives bythe pistol. y don’t you

ractice more—or else stick to your right hand!

,hl had an accident, have your’asthough for
the first time noticing the bloody bandage.
“ How did that ha pen!"

From the gloom hind The Man of Silk came
muttered exclamations of wonder and surprise
at his sublime impudence, and asoft laugh part-
ed his lips as he added:

“ reminds me, old fellow: ri heelers
seemed to fear on were ready wi ' sharpened
tushesto snap t eir heads off for fetching the
wron customer, and I volunteered to come on
ahea to take the curseofi'. If you must shoot,
let me shut in eyes first; I’d die of mortifica-
tibn if Ihad look at myself being sent over
the range in such an inartistic fashig”

“ Come forward, you skulking d l” grated
the chief, his black eyes flashing redly, but the
revolver dropping from his hand to lie upon the
table. “ Soc Mickett, I ea !”

“ Here, boss!” uttered e fellow, striding
forward with dogfg‘ed mien.

“I sent you a rDocSanderson; you have
brou ht him, of course?” c0133 demanded the
chie , showing his teeth vicio . ,

“ I could ’a sworn it, onto! we fetched that
durned critter into the light!” with a savage
side 0 at Felix Bland.

“ sent for Doc Sanderson to dress my hand.
Instead, you bring me the fellow who sent a
bullet through it. How doeethis happen!”

“This way. We looked for Doc, but they
told us he was gone to his room at the tavern.
We went thar, an’jest as we did, a man come
outdoors, an’ we tuck him fer Doc. We didn’t
ketch a fa’r sight at his face, but of you'll bear
that in mind,'an’look at his shape an’ gin’ral
make-up . mobbe you’ll see it wasn’t each a
turrible hlu er’,’ after all! They’re like as two

s in one '

“Fine-loo fellow, that Doc Sanderson
then: must remember to ask for him, when
go back to Poeey’s Pocket,”murmured Felix
Bland.

The chief uttered a short, hard laugh.

“Wigs; on go back! Look at that.curse

on t” s E his bloody-bandaged hand before

is face wit savage vehemence. “ Look at
that, and then say how much chance there is of
your ever seeing Posey’s Pocket again! Crip-
pled—crippled or life! And by your hand!”.

“Then you’re the gentlemen I had to re
over the knuckles to—day. are youP’exrlaimeg
The Man of Silk, his brows arch
“Reallyldidn’t recognise 'ou un

\..*,“

  

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23

 

 

meat. It does make a diflerence, don’t it, with
or without a mask?” _

“ Crippled—but you’ll never live to laugh
over it, curse you!‘ with a half-stifled groan of
pain as a she twinge shot through the injured
member. “ I’rll take it out of your bide as man
was never avenged before! I’ll torture you un—
til vou pray for death as the sweetest boon for—
tunh can give you! I’ll—”

“ Send a fever into that wound such as may
be difficult to cool unless you moderate our

)assions, my dear fellow,” gravely utte Fe-

ix Bland, drawing a little closer. looking at
the injured member with an eye that might al-
most be called professional. “ Of course it
makes little difference to me, seeing you have
my future all mapped out, but if I might adV'lse
—shrlll I?”

“ What are you driving at?” growled the out-
law, sullenly. , _

Like the rest of the ang, who were looking on
and listening, he was fieginmng to be disagree-
ably impressed by this marvelous nerve. Could
it be that there was a trap closing upon them?
Could it be that this bound man really felt that
he held the ke to the situation?

If not, won] he be so internally cool in the
very face of death? . _ .

“ Nothing more mysterious than giving you
a bit of friendly advice as amends for rapping
your knuckles so harshly,” was the cool reply.

‘ You 're goirg the surest'way tolose your hand,
if not arm. ou‘re heating up your blood by
storming at me, and if you don’t look a litt 6
out I’ll have company across the divide."

“ Once more, what are you trying to et at!”

“That the sooner you place yoursel under
the care of a doctor or surgeon, if one is to be
found in this wooden country, the better your
chances for coming off without losing hand and
arm, if not life. Send your fellows back to
Posey’s Pocket to brin the simon pure Doc. Or,
if you might them 1' the big mistake they
have , o o .

“ And ouzthivnk this will give you a reprieve!
Bah!” wi a hard, venomous laugh, “ that is
too a l"

“ ill ht, if you think so,” was the careless
retort. ‘ can stand itaslong as you I dare
say. I only thou ht that if I was to suffer until
your hand got we , it’d save time and trouble
if on took the wisest and safest course.” .

ith a glance about him The Man of Silk
selected a stone not far from the table at which
the wounded road-agent still set and quietly
seated himself, unobtrusive! yet keenl watch-
ing the face of the man on e other si e of the
ta Is

It was pale and pain-marked. D
stood over his tem lee, and be c
wounded hand with left fingers, pla ly suf-
fering no slight amount of a on . ‘

“Its worse than I th t, itwill heal
all right enou h, even without cal aid,” he
muttered, wit a ecowl at Felix d. “If
thew stupid rascals had not made "such anin-
fernal blunder—”

“ You would not have the exquisite pleasure
of m com n .

“ gm gig: {hey did mistake you for Doc!"
with vicious energy. “ I will drown the pain
by torturing you. I'll forget my in ury in he-

of sweat

,tening’to your groans and plea 'ngs for
‘1

M

. thatis why

me

“ I ll make ’em loud and pathetic, even if I
have to pretend, for your ial accommoda-
tion,”coolly retorted The an of Silk. “I’m
one of the most accommodatin fellows you
ever met in a year’s journey, if do say so my-
:self. And then—J Owe you that much,” with
another glance at the bandaged hand.

“More than you can ever pay off, curse

on!”

3 “ Not more than I can. but more than you
will robabl permit, you mean,”pointedly ut-
ters the pr soner.

“Another of your crazy enigmasf” snarled

-a cut.
thg rTol‘iigungdiluted truth, dear air.” with a bland
smile. ” l’m not the follow you sent for, nor
do I tote around a diploma authorizing me to
cut and carve, stuff and deplete my fellow-
«citiaens; but. for all thatrl’ could check that—
but what’s the use talking

“You could check what!” demanded the
wounded outlaw.

“Set my hands free, and letme feel of your
pulse. then—" .

“You would hunt for it in my throat—I see
it in our eyes!”flercel laughed themed-agent.
“Ba ! do you think «am such an idiot? Do
you think you can cheat me into ving you a
sharp and speed death in laceo the torture
I’ve sworn to in lot? You on’t know me. ‘

“Nor ou me.” was the cold response. ‘I
tell you am sorry for the pain you are under-
going, since it comes of my work. I am not
sorry for ii the shot, mind you. That was
donate save t e life of a lady whom youwas
threatening with death, I would fire t ,
without sto plug for a second thought: but I
w id send t thro h our brain instead.”

on ug y

“Better hmeg-:1fthziiiéfighrough my good right

” t a -e roan.
“P353311” nion,” wit a grave nod. “And
advised you as I have. I would

 

not give your death, under those circumstances,
a second thought; but I can feel for you as it
now stands. know that you will never have a
gvood hand again—I know what wicked work a

inchester can do, you see. And I know that
you will fare still worse, unless you use more
precaution.”

“ You would even patch me u if I permitted.
no doubt?” sneered the inju man, incredu-
lously.

“ ou wouldn’t believe me were I to say so,
on oath.”

“ No more than you mean what you only dare
insinuate.” .

“ Ask those fellows what they found on my
person when the went through in garments,
out yonder,” col( ly uttered The ll an of Silk.
“Only after they discovered their mistake in
identit ,”with. a slight smile as his keen eyes
noted t e black frown that SWept acrossthe facc
of the road-agent chief. “Had Ibecn the re-
douhtable Dcc Sanderson. my little personal-
ties would have been sacred, no doubt.

“ We jest thou ht mebbe it’d be best to s’arch
him fer conceal weepons, boss,"muttcrcd Seek
Mickett. fldgeting uneasily.

Plainly this burly ruflian, as well as his fel-
lows, stood in wholesome awe of his chief. The
Man of Silk reached this. conclusion. and the
swxft gleam that entered and fled from his eyes
told how far from unpleasant that discovery
was. ‘

“ No matter what your thoughts were; you
know you were violating one of our strictest
rules in daring to search a prisoner without my
orders without my presence,” sternly uttered
the chief. “Because I’m crippled is no excuse
for our conduct.”

“ e ’lowed to ’count fer everythin’ when we
got a chance.” -

“ That chance comes right now! Place every
article you took from the prisoner on the table
before me. And you,”with a glance toward The
Man of Silk, " will please inform me if any-
thing, no matter h0w small or insignificant, is
omittod or forgotten.”

Sock Kickett and his mates came forward
and 0 ed. Besides some money and the wee-
pons ta en from their captive, there was a
small case of morocco leather, flat and to

in an inner ket. On this the eye 0 the
cap ve rested wi a quick gleam, and then, as
the men fell back again, he spoke quietly:

“All accounted or,catain as far asmy
memory goes. Certainly t ere is nothing of im-
portance missin ,.”

“ Ve well. on can fall back, men.” turn-
in to t e outlaws, with cold tones. “ I’ll settle
w th you hereafter."

“ Don’t bear down a single ounce on mg -
count, I of you,” uttered The Man of ilk,
with a fain smi e. “ What’s the use of being a
Knight of Free-fingers, if those fin rs are not

tted to stick to the little tri es they may

d in an odd pocket? One might as well be‘ a

ll

“l'll settle with them. Just now, I want to
settle with you. What was your ob ect in ask-
ing for these things?" demanded e chief, his
tones cold and unrestrained, but with a faint

t of curiosity I beneath.

“ Sin myhande are other seoccupied,ma
I trouble you to open that little pocket-case;
blandly uttered The Man of Silk. .

The road-agent quickly complied, revealing
half a dozen small bottles, some containing pow-
der, others filled with liquid. Just such a case
and just such bottles as a disciple of homeop~
ath might carry.‘

“ hat next? demanded the road-agent, with
agowlgd of discgeuitent. m

e expec somet n entire] different

from gals, as his swift alteraéon of eoiyintenance

“ A little honest talk with you, first. I
chipped into your little game to;day simply be-
cause I saw a lady in trouble, not because I
held particular dge a net you or our
soft. f had heldt tgru gs, you would ve
dropped with a bullet throng your brain, and
there would have been more of your fellow: to
keep on company.”

“ a stopped behind, curse on!”

“ That was not my work, bug lies at the dour
of Baby John Barons. It coma in his line, see-
ing he is a detective by profession.”

And on his partner!”

“ For t exdey and trip, not one foot forth? "
was the prompt reply. ‘ But let that for e
present. I merely say this muchtoexp ' why

am anxious to make terms with you."

“The reason is simple, surely!” with a hard,
vicious laugh. “ You don’t fancy the little pic-
ture I drew for you a bit ago.” ‘

“ If on only knew it, in dear fellow, you
are ng‘your level best to ite your own nose
03in  h igié‘li; knowdyil'mt are half-mad with
pa,’su man e ouhoe ourown
row. As it ls—listen: y y I

“ One of those little bottles, emptied into wa-
ter, the water used to keep your bandages wet,
will still all pain like his c; will drive out the
growl fever, and perm t your wound to has!
as it w never heal while you continue to feed
the foyer with your mad fury as you are doing
now.

 

“Which bottle?” sullenly, suspiciously de—
manded the outlaw.

“ Set my hands at liberty. and I’ll show you.
More—1’11 promise ou a surprise such as you
little dream of now! ’

The road- agent laughed shortly, sneeringly,
as he said:

“ Not a doubt of it, my crafty Man of Silk!
You‘re too tough a fellow to handle, for that!
You’d have your fingers at my throat the—”

“You fool!” with a sharp contempt. “If
you still doubt make the trial yourself. Emp—
tfiy the center bottle in water and wet your

urt.’

For a brief space the outlaw hesitated, still
doubting. But as a fresh twinge shot through
his hand, he growled:

h “It, can’t well be worse—I‘ll try it, any-
ow!”

Anticipatin this decision, Sock Mickett had
water readyt at instant, and in another min-
ute the wounded hand was being wet with the
mixture. Scarcely had the water touched the
torn flesh, than a low exclamation broke from
the lips of the in 'ured man.

, “ all did I is to you?” coldly asked The
MauIOi  v E part 1 r

“ s s emagic. ve iceo painis
gone! Only for my eyes, could almost take
oath I hadn’t been hurt at all!” cried the road—
glg'ienlt.lspringing to his feet with a face glowing

t y.

“ on't play the fool on the opposite tack,
then,” was the laughing retort. ‘ Sit down—
 you would rather set your benefactor at

“Not et-don’t be in such a hurry, old fel-
low,” th a hard, ugly laugh as he returned
to his seat. “The in is gone, but it may
come back. And t are is the crippled hand
still! I hardly think I’ll set you free, just

“AsIhardlye tedyouwould Iamnot
so bndl disa immuieuy said aux, with
a pecu r ' e, as hewatched the outlaw re-
new the medicine. “ If you can believe me, I
don’t think you need waste any more of that

precious . It has done its work, already!”
A strange, bewildered ht was ing into
the eyes of the outlaw. is flushed was

turnin pale~not white, but with a sickl
greenifii . His 11 tened. He haiyf
startedfrom latest,” to dropback m
clutching at his wonn with his
one.
Té‘eWhat lies the mating: kW’hat does mg m
pain coming 0 again—no!
thousand times worse! It is different! .What
does it mean! What trick have you played on
me you demon!”

The Man of Silk rose and peered down at the
little pocket-case, then drew his fl rigidly
erect, looking at the suflerer wi eyes that
glowed like balls of living lire, his voice hard
and merciless:

“ That on took the wrong bottle, my dear
fellow! hat you’ve bathed your hand in dead-
ly poison!”

 

CHAPTER XVII.
DRIVING a awn smears.

THOSE terrible words seemed to stupefyths
wounded outlaw for a few moments, durin
which he stared with droopin jaw and
eyes at the darin being who t as pronounced
hiédgom.‘d23nd uring thgfclfirief he g
g cm enin painw thri ed t o
hiscrippled right and. M

“ You lie!" he gas , his words hardly ar-
ticulate. “ You th to scare me into 
you free, by—ha! ha! be! it is a rare joke!
failed evcn you l My hand—”

He faltered, tinfiehis teeth sav ly, 
King the inju men] rsojtightly th Mel

and that the blood was started'to
afresh. His face turned fairly purple, but all in
vain. A can that was almosta mm broke
through h s foam-tinged lips. _ "

“ You played with a ti r, and complain be-
cause you feel his claws ” mockineg laughed
The Man of Silk, half-turning, so as to b all
of the band beneath his range of vision. ‘ on
swore to torture me until I prayed for death—
and even while the words were flesh on your
lips. death comes to you! Death beside which
“firmsm’sdm are “wt”-
un on or _ e a you ave
“raises”... ,9” a... -

wn , vs as y
Mickett. “We

grated Book
'1! skin him alive an’ rub him
over with darned ‘isen! Gome— U h!”
plun f to lirrespthe boun man,
but was metan ha f-way by Felix Bland.
A deer-likelea in the air, and both heck
were dashed fu intothe face of the burly ruf-
mm,hu _ him in a bhedinfiseanselessmas
acmssthe c mber. Oat-like, Man of Silk
alighted safely upon-his feet, his brown eyes
seegsing to emit electric sparks, his voice hard
an managing:
“ Call 0 your hounds, chief, unlessyou sun-
ly wish to seal your fate. They’ve , t to kill
me before they hamper-me anv furt erthan I
am now,and if I go under. the knowledge of the
antidoteto thatpoisoa perishes with me! Chem
—e.nd in a mighty hurry!” I

 

 

' to death inch by! inch, tJoint b

‘Silkuttered

I from now on

me!”
‘ ' “They can near me,too,”wldly interposed

24

The Man of" Silk.

 

 

The road-agent was half distracted with
agony, but he managed to understand these
words, and motioned his men back.

h  Back! He must tell—oh‘ this is worse than

c l’

“ A simple foretaste, my dear fellow,” lau h—'

ed The Man of Silk, as he saw the outlaws all
back, still obedient to their leader. “ Nothing
to what will come as the poison begins to eat its
way toward your heart. Only a priming to
what it will be when it begins to creep and crawl
through each vein slowly but surely turning all
toucoryruption; when you feel and see your—
se -

“ Mercy, you demon !” gasped the suifering
wretch, forgetting his threats, forgetting his
power of life or death over this mocking pris-
oner. “ Save me! Give me omething to kill
this horrible pain, before it drives me mad! For
the love of—

“ Nothin while I am kept bound like a thief,”
was the col , even response.

The sufferer lifted his hand, making a sign
that was understood by his fellows. In silence
one advanced and touched his knife to the stout
thongs which held the hands of The Man of Silk
powerless behind him, beating a retreat with a
celerity that was fairly ludicrous under the cir-
cumstances.

“ Now—save me! Heal—~kill this infernal—”

A fresh spasm cut his broken speech short.
He leaned over the rude table, groaning, gasp-
ing, the icture of ony the most intense. A
low mu ring came mm the gloomy shade in—
to which the outlaws had retired but The Man
of Silk paid them no attention. I-Ie stood beside
the wretch Whom he had so adroitl deceived,
rubbing his hands and wrists, the cker to re-
store the interrupted circulation.

Then he em tied a second bottle into the wa-
ter stirring i with the muzzle of the revolver
which he picked up from the table. The com-

ggund and foamed sending u little lo-
les of water like spray in the lamp ht; t en
ceased and remained as clear as at rst. He

deftly tfloured a small quantity of the mixture
over e bandaged hand, degite the a onized
writhings of the sufferer. e step back,
restorin his weapons to their proper laces,
though t ey were still ready for swift use in case
of need, laughilng softly as the wounded road-
a gt gauge]: den start, catching hisbreeth
aq c .

“Gone! Ygu ave saved me from madness!”
he panted sinking back on his seat, trembling
likes lea . .r -

“The pain has gone, but the ipoison still re-
mainsfiand has not lost one rt cle of its viru-
lence coldly uttered The of Silk. “For
two hours—gfiossibly three, but no more—you
will fancy is well. You will feel no u,
but the poison is getting in its work, al V the
same.

“You lie! you are trying to frighten me

ain.

“qrhe little man ' in gray laughed coldly, con-
temgtuously.

I“ hat only comes from your li s.
heart you know better. You see am armed,
my hands at libert . With them bound, I got
awa with you, an one of your brag ruilians.
Wi them free and, armed, I can make it
mighty lively for the rest of the gang if I
choose. But I don’t. As I told you at the

mp—oif, I have no particular grudge inst
you fellows. I am not a man-hunter. ma
notberich, but I’m too rich to look for h -

money.

“ I would have acted on the square with you.
badyounottriedtogetthebestof mein every
manner. You were resolved to butcher me,
whether or no and so I had to play a double on
you in self4i ease.

“I can save your life, if I choose but I’ll
never do it with s revolver-murals looking into
my face. I’ll never do it with the point of a
bowie pricking the skin over my heart. I’ll
save your life as a free man, or ou’ll go down

fiiint; and each
succeedingbglour will ouble at all that
has ore it, in agony, in horrible tor-

tare

Coldly.almost1dthout emphasis’l‘he Man of
these sentences, standing before his
trembling victim like one who holds the key to
thesitua on in his own hands. And extrava-
t as his words ma appear in cold type not
one within sound of is voice but believed ev-
syllable he uttered. How could the doubt,

:{er what they had already witnessed

‘51 feel no pain— on have killed it!”
“Scotched, not ‘ed. you should say,”with
a bland smile. “ Nothin likebeing precise in
such matters, :13 dear ellow. In two hours
lbegin to feel the teeth of the
serpent hi e anew. And when you do feel it,
willbeteutimesworsethanan We:

are experienced thus far. All be
which would have been spread over this inter-
val will come out at a leap. Think' of it, will

our . .
y“‘But you’ll not be alive to laugh at in
agony. curse you! I’ll see to that, and rig
awav! Men. you are therei You can hear

In your

!

 

 

The Man of Silk. “ If I am killed—and there‘ll
be a sweet little picnic before I pass in my
cheeky—nothing alive can save your life.
Come!” with the rst si 11 of impatience he had
thus far exhibited.

‘ Be sensible. I’ll save

your life, whether it is worth the trouble or

not, for a consideration.”

“Do you think I’ll trust you again?” with
vicious energy.

“ Bah! if I am living when those pains come
back, you’ll go down on your knees to beg as a
favor what you now throw away as a ift.

Don’t be a bigger idiot than nature planne in

your making. Turn me out of this den, and I
swear to giVe you the antidote to the poison

that, even now, is eating its way surely toward 
i lug-place or set the bloodhounds on our track!”

your heart!”

“ To set the bloodhounds onto us!” came a
surl growl from out the shadow where the
roa -agents were ranged in eager listening.

!
g
“ Is that where the shoe pinches tightest?” l mental ru

with a low laugh. “Well, that’s easy reme-
died. Do 1 look to you like a man who would
hunt up a lie when the truth serves better?”

“You lied to me, curse you!” snarled the
wounded chief.

‘ prompt respo
[ tidote,and that within an hour after I have .
' given it, there will not be an atom of poison in
‘ your body, arms or hand, save that bred from

i
perate fight for vengeance; fight for life it could
scarcely be called, with the odds so heavily
against him.

“Swear that you will not try to down me
when outside and away from the men! Swear
that you will give me the antidote—~swear that

; it will not be another devilish trick like you

played me before!" muttered the road-agent,
fears overcoming his longing for revenge.

“ I give you my oath to that effect,” was the
use. “ I swear to give you the an—

your natural wickedness,” with a low laugh.
“ Swear that you will never betray this hid—

have already passed my word to that ef—

: feet but I repeat the oath if it will do you an

00( or hasten your decision. I hold no sent —
e against you hawks of the moun—

tains. ou ave never harmed me to speak of:

l, a lump on the back of the head, that will be
gcured the moment I
, again ”

breathe the fresh air
“I’ll trust you ” slowly added the chief, ris-

“ Simply because you declined to listen to or i ing to his feet, ifping his injured hand into

entertain the truth; and I expressly barred out

j the sling provided

or it. “ If you play me false

allsuch necessities, just now. If you had lis- ! the boys will bring you to account.”

tened to me, and accepted the apology I made,
{fan would not be in such a nasty box just now.

on refused to listen, and fared all the worse. '
Some men would be mortal! offended at such ,

treatment, and sullenly dec ine to have an -
thin more to do with such a bear; but I’m t e
swee t-dispositioned man in seventeen coun-
ties. I can’t bear to see a fellow-being sufler.

“ Bet we will, boss I"

“If on whisper a word that can give us
away hey’ll learn of it in tune to cheat the
bloodhoundS' and then the earth will not be bi
enough to hide on from their knives or pistols
You understan i”

“That you are losin

. . .,.
was the cold retort. “ precwus nme— GS!

member that am

l’ngeljust aching to cure you up. But, unfortu- ! not to ive ou the antidote until we are at a
na

, circumstances will not allow me to do i

sol‘w thout a reward. ~

reasons le istauce from this den; and not then
if we are followed too close by any of these on-

- I
You fellows think I’ll set the bloodhounds ' tle birds of prey. And bear in mind the, in

of the law on dyour track if I am permitted to ‘

on on, my own feet, but I’ll take I
any oath you may dictate to never reveal b I
‘ voice harsh and unnatural with conflicting
r a word that can betray this .
guide or direct]

go out of this

word, hint or sign where or what you are. I’ 1
never whi
place of hiding. I’ll never
your enemies here. Why?

“ First,
don’t run that way. Second

I am not a man-hunter. My tastes !
: no longer ago ‘

two hours, at the outside, your pains will come
back with a jump.”
“ You are witnesses, lads,” said the chief, his

emotions.

It was hard to give over his lon
venge, when his prey was fairly in is grasp.
But—that frightfu agony! Anythin was pre-
ferable to another such attack! An worse—

-for re-

than this evening, I was flatly charged with could that be?
0

being a crimina
price worth a fortune. I am accused 0 being a
murderer and a bank robber.

“ It was a case of mistaken identity, of

11 whose head is placed a I

Be shivered like a leaf in the wind at the bare ,

doubt. .
“Come, then,” he muttered, with his sound
hand touching the arm of the man who had

course, and I said as much. I was only half ; faced them all down.

believed. Baby John Barcus warned me tol
run for it, if I was the man he wanted; pard- 1

“ At your service, my dear fellow!” laughed
The Man of Silk, moving toward the whispering

ship made him give the warning, but that gang of road-agents.

wouldn’t let him go any further, if he proved
me the man he believed. Duty would override
friendship, and he’d have to run me in.

“Now you see this httle scrape bothers me.

His left nd held one drawn and cocked, ready
to fire 0 the instant should what he more than
half expected take place: should a knife be driv-

His right hand wasresting on a pistol-butt.

If I don’t get back to Posey’s Pocket before an- ,‘ en viciously in quest of his heart as he entered
other ni ht, I’ll be set down as the actual crim- | the gloom and came within arm’s length of the

inal. I’ be branded as a coward and aliar. '

I’m neither. If you push me to the edge, you’ll
be convinced 0 that, for I’ll make my teeth
meet in the flesh wherever I fasten y grip.
I’m not yearning for the test, but 111 do m
level bee to make it interesting for you all f
you crowd me into it.

“ This much for the crowd in general: now
for you in particular,”as he turned once more
toward the wounded chief. “ Iswear to you that

on are doomed to suffer a death athousand
imes more horrible than on can imagine, even
after what you have un ergone with that poi-
soned hurt. ' I swear to you that I am the only
man living or within reach, who can save you
man that death. I swear to you that the anti-
do is notto be found among those vials,” point-
ing to the little pocket-case.
Now I give you in termsrand they are
these: Your men will nd aside, and permit
metopasswithout liftin a hand to interfere.
You will guide me out 0 this den. and to a safe
distance beyond the entrance, until I can gain
an idea of the ground around me. Then my
hands can keep my head, and on can 0.”
“To die like a dog,” gra the out w, sus—
iciously. “This is only another of your in-
ernal tricks.”

“You are hardl
blandlymsmiled The an of Silk. “ If I didn’t
knowt t you were little better than a med-
mandust now, I might resent your painfully
frank language. As it is,I pessitb , with a
sim le warning to guard your tongue .tter for
the uture.

“ ou know my terms now. Accept or re-
ject them, but don’t decide too hastily, for all
of our sakes. Weigh the cost before you speak!”

There was a brief silence.

In the gloom, be and the circle of light cast
out by the lamp, t e road-agents whispered to-
getherhurried . ‘

At the table, s face pale and damp with the
dews of t in and doubts for the future sat
the chic , s
of the manwho stood before him with folded

arms.

And cold, stern, his face seemingly hard as
marble, The Man of Silk waited for the decision
that was to send him out into the world, a free
agent once more, or else plunge him into a des-
T‘ol‘  _V  i" la, 

polite, my dear fellow,” 1

vingtoreadthetruthin the ace ‘

 

 

.
' r '1 ’v I x .  . 'u. ‘
. t l. -.. 4.! x «1.: rash”
  -.,’.» ,A4,’- -"\.’ . t..-,_,.r.v‘)- 4»st
’e‘mw “is: . i l y “he-firm at t \3_:,.'..~’.,'l¢.ev it»: g “3‘ ,w 

outlaws.

He hardly dared hope they would let him pass
without some such attempt at removinme'gie
who threatened their destruction in g

their secrets. ~

But no such attem t was made. Either they
trusted to his pledg word, or else they feared
to rob their chief of this last chance for escaping
a frightful death. ’

The men ve way before them, and when the
outer chain r was gained they separated, form-
ing tw’o ranks through which the chief led his
master without a word on either rt. Until
the chamber was crossed; then The fian of Silk
turned and uttered gravely: ~

“ I repeat my pledge to you, boys. I’ll not be-
tray you. I’ll not try to get nearer even than I
am now; provided you let it drop at the same
point. But don’t try to follow too closely, for
your captain’s sake! I’ve got eyes all over me
in a case of this sort. I’ll spat ou sure as death
if you try to follow until I’ve octored the chief
to drop me with bullet or steel. He’ll be the

worst sufferer in this case, but all of you won’t I

get off soot-free. Just bear this in mind, will
you—it may save us all some trouble.”

I“; I warn you, too, lads,” sternly muttered the
c e .

Without another word he led the way through
a narrow cleft in the face of the cliff, emerging
into the moonlighted night.

“ Strike out toward Posey’s Pocket, will york
until I can sort 0’ get the lay of the ground
muttered The Man of Silk, casting swift, keen
glances around him as though striving to
“ lace himself.”

Elalf an hour later they paused, The Man of
Silk saying:

” You have done your part, and I’ll do mine
as faithfully. You were never poisoned, save in
your imagination.”

“ Give me the antidote,” ted the chief, his
hand gripping that m or arm with some-
thin of terror. “ Don’t leave me to die so—”

“ y the grave of m sainted mother! I swear
that you were deceiv clear through I" 
ly replied the other. " Notto save my 0 life
would I doom another to such a fri htful death.

Thatdru was innocent enou h in
ing the  of your fev hard 1%  .
have faded away of itself, long ere this,  " .

, r 3f “3-1

    
  

)
.\

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  
 

‘

other stufl hastened its action. You are not
poisoned. You are in no danger of death, if you
take ordinary care of yourself. I swear this by
that oath—an oath I would not violate, more
than I would violate the grave in which those
sacred bones are lying.”

Despite his terror, the road-agent could not
doubt the perfect truth of the words he now
heard. A groan broke from his lips, but it was
one of impotent fur . It was bitter indeed to
be thus hoodwinke . To lose his prey, even
when it was fairly within his .grasp. An ,
worse than all, to lose it thus. To be so vilely
tricked.

In his savgge mortification, he forgot his par-
tially cripp] condition, forgot all save his re—
newed thirst for revenge; and whipping out a
long knife, he struck viciously at t e heart of
his enemy. I

Only to have his wrist fall into an iron grip.
To have the weapon twisted from his hand and
flung far away. To befiung himself a dozen
yards off, reeling and staggerin , saved only
from falling in a half-paralyzed eap by bring-
ing up in a pair of arms that closed around
him in a hug that a grizzly bear might have en-

yied.
, “ You, Baby!”ejaculated The Man of Silk”

discovering and recognizing the big detective

as his eyes followed his baffled foe.

“I reckon it is, Felix,” was the cool response,
as Baby John Barcus strode forward with the
half-senseless road-agent in his arms.

“ I left you back in Posev’s Pocket, and-”

“ You find me here,”with a low laugh. “ Say
I took a stroll out in the moonlig t for my
health, and let it go at that.”

“ I might make a closer guess, but as you say,
let it go at that. And I reckon we’d better be
going ourselves, unless we want to find a hor-
nets’ nest buzzing about our ears with stingers
out and poisoned."

“ This fellow goes too. I want to ask him a
few questions.”

CHAPTER XVIII.
. roa BEAUTY AND BOOTY.

IT is night once more, and thou h the moon
has not yet risen high enough to c ear the tree-
crested hills to the east of the little cabin
wherein Posey Curtis and Little Puss live,
there is light sufficient to reveal moving ob-
jects on the slope behind the house.

An irregular shadow slowly moves across the
white rocks, without sound to call attention to
its movements. It pauses when the tree is
reached on which Red Bergum came so near
paying in full the penalt of his crimes. It
passes into the shade cast y that tree, and is
apparently swallowed up by it; for minutes
creep by and the moving shadow is seen no
more. .

,Another dark, indistinct shade goes silently
dowu the slope, pausing at this bowlder or be-‘
side yonder us , but again movinm until it,
too, is swallowed up by a larger 5
by the cabin itself. . .

Swallowed up, but not extinguished. No
lon r a shadow, but a man! _

e crouched down beneath the little window
at the rear of the cabin, through which Red

ow, cast

Ber had forced his way in hopes of escap-
ing in the avengers of blood.-
he bars which that desperate fugitive had

'wrenched out Were replaced by others, stronger.
more firmly set. The wooden shutter was not
closed, or the n ht was calm and still, and

withou this 0 n ng for ventilation, it would
bags been pafifully oppressive in the little

The s y crouched beneath this window, hold-
ing his reath as he strained his h , lis-
tening for some sound to (is his judgment.

For a time he was baifi All within seemed

, as still as the night without. One could almost

, ing, the spy

 

believe the cabin deserted: But then—a low,
quavering sound: a half-sigh, half-snore!

With eyes gleaming like phosphorescent
globes, the spy slowly lifted his head until he
could game in at the Window. Not Without
more than one hesitation, more than one
shrinking back with a shiver of dread, as the
thought of a man glancing over the barrel of
rifle or revolver and waiting onl until his face
should come above the level of t e Window-sill.
struck him. But the work had to be done, and
as another fgiz snore came through the open—

ereot and cast a sWift, compre-
hensive glance through the window.

He saw Posey Curtis lying on the floor, only
a few feet from the front door, peacefully sleep-
ing. his faithful rifle within easy grasp of his
right hand. No other human figure met his
searchng gaze, and when satisfied that Posey
had no visitors, the spy sunk down and crept
around to the‘other window, where he went
through the same cautious maneuvers.

Here, as there. the s y could I just make out a
slumberin being, in t is case lying upon a bed.
And then e turned and glided silently back to
the tree under whicgi themlfarger shadow had
vanished some little ime ore.

“Well: what is it?” muttered a deep,hoarse

oiceasthespyhalted.

 

, . .1... ..... -4....., 4 .n,
h, 1'5‘v R“ 4 , .51... ._'_ . ._ ‘\ l
- I

, for time is flying.”
Skinny instantly stole away, 'quickly Vanish-'

 

  

 The  61* Silk.

“ They’re thar, both snoozin’."

“Then the job’s good as done i” with an ex-
ultant laugh.

“ All 'cept the doin’ of it, boss,” dryly chipped
in the spy.

“ What do ou mean by that?” was the sharp
demand. “ hat’s easier than to shove Skinny
through the hole, and let him give the scoundrel
a tap on the pate as he opens the do’orto the
rest of us?”

“ Red lied, or else the critter’s putt the bars
up ag’in. A kid two year old couldn’t git
through the winder now, ’less he went in sec-
tions. We mought bu’st ’em out, but I’d ruther
be upa tree lookin’ on then any closter. Posey’s
got his gun right in his grip, of he is fast asleep,
an’ he’d make it mighty interestin’, I reckon l”

A grating curse hissed through the clinched
teeth of the mask who seemed to be the leader
of the little band.

“ Can you see the old fool from the window?”

“ He’s layin' on the floor, snorin’ away ten
mile a-hour !”

“Could on make out if the front door was
barred? ut of course it was!” answering the
question for himself, with an angry gesture.

“ I couldn’t make out fer sart’in, but I
wouldn’t mind goin’ odds onto it. The old coon
ain’t ni b so big a fool as he looks, an’ I reckon
qe’ll loo fer us to come back to git even.”

“ If it was only the girl!” muttered the leader,
moodily

“ It’ be too easy!” chimed in the spy, who
was seemingly a rivileged character, since he
alone had shar the interchange with the
masked chief.

“ It’s risky shooting in the dark, but I don’t
see how we can get at it in any other way.
Pose wouldn’t bite to a decoy—think?”

“ ot a nibble, boss!" was the prompt re-
sponse. “Ef he was to bite, it’d be a hull
mouthful, an’ with his gun. An’ let him git
oncet fa’rly waked up an’ knowin’ to us bein’
’round, an’ he’d hold the fort ag’in’twicet our
crowd—Posey would! He’s mi hty bad medi-
cine, now I tell ye!”emphatical y muttered the
spy, shaking his head gravely. ‘

‘ Why not lay low till day, then downhim as
he sticks his head out for a sniff of daylight?”
suggreeted one of the party.

‘ hat might answer if it was only a snatch
and break-awa to the hills; but that’s not the
programme. e‘Ve got to twist the truth out
of the old fellow, right on the spot, to make
sure. It won’t be an over-easy job at the best,
and may take time. B day, who’ll uarantee
us from interruption? hat infernal ark Too-
good is stirring Posey’s Pocket up with a red
hot rod, swearing to wipe the family from off
the face of the earth! If he gets up his crowd,
maybe he’ll come here in hopes of striking our
trail. If he comes, why not in the morning?
Cumse the crooked luCk, anyway!”

“.Boss,”lnterposed one of the band who had
maintained silence throughout, n0w liftin him—
self from his careless, loungin attitude ide
a bowlder. “E! I mought ta e a little scoot
down yender, mehbe I kin fetch back better
word t en Dowdy did.” ~

“ Ef you do, it 11 be a lie!” snapped the offend-

s y.

“h‘er I won’t look at it from jest the same
p’int, ye see,” eiiuably added the little road-
ageut. “ Mind, say mebbe !" '

‘f What have you got in your head now,
Skim) *?”

“I’ ruther not tell, boss, ontel I've tuck a
good look down yender,” was the quietres use.
“Mebbe I’m as big a fool as Dowdv r is
thinkin’ me. Mebbe it cain’t be worked the way
it hits me now, Ef it cain’t, they’ll be time a-
plenéy fer lookin’ up another openin’.”

“ limb out, then,” with a doubting echo in
“ Make as much

his voice. haste as you an,

ing from view, keenly as his comrades watched
his movements. In silence they waited the
result, the chief standing alone with arms
folded across his chest, gazing moodil down
at the lone cabin, his men with beings close
together, discussing the work before them in
guarded whispers. . ‘ :

They were not kept long in suspense. As si-
lently as he had stolen away, Skinny returned
to the shade of the tree.

h‘fWell?” impatiently demanded the masked
e 1e . .

“ It .kin be done, I’m pritty sure, boss,” was
the met response. ‘

“ cat couldn’t slip through that winder!”
sue the spy.

“ ur a cat couldn’t 't in the wayI’ve spot-
ted, ef th‘ar was a coo in‘iire goin’ on in the
fire lace.” laughed Skinny.

“ own the chimney?” ejaculated the chief.
“ pain you, tmakei it i"

‘ don min tr ‘it on of ou’ll romise
to kiver me boss.” yin ’ y / p

“ Out with it, then, and in a hurry.” -

“From the bigness as looked at from the
ground, I reckon a body of my bigness mought
slide down the hole ’thont bein’ ,boss,”
with a soft chuckle. " But meb I’m fooled.
Mebbe I’d stick in the hole, an’ hov to kick up
now enough in gittiii’up

' \

  
  

 

 
 

orjdown‘ torouiitup

25

Posey. Ef I should—weal, right thar’s whar I
want your help, ye see.” ‘

“ How? Don’t waste time in making me
guess, confound you,” angrily snapped the irri-
table chief.

“Give me your word you’ll kee Posey kiv~
ered, from the winder. Say you’l drop him
with a bullet if I must him out in tryin’, an’ I’ll
make the rifile, boss.”

The chief maintained silence for a few mo-
ments, as though carefully weighing the
matter before deciding. Then he spoke, de-
cisive] :

“I’l do it. We’ve got to get in, some way.
If you can slip downchimney and o n the
door for a rush, without rousing the o (1 man,
the rest will be easy work. If you alarm him,
I’ll bring him down from the window, crippled
if I can do it without too much risk to you.
The rest of the beys Will be at the door, to break
it down if they hear me burn powder. If I have
to kill the old fool, we must twist the truth out
of Little Puss, boss or no boss.”

“ That’s all I ax, an’ I‘m ready as soon as the
rest kin git in persition,” promptly answered
Skinn , stripping off his belt of arms, his boots
and a1 extra clothing, only retaining a long and
venomous-looking knife.

“ You know your part, lads,” continued the
chief himself looking to his revolvers. “ Get a
log if on can without too much loss of time; if
not, ta e a heavy rock and be ready to use it
the best you know how if I have‘ to burn pow-
der. When the game o¢ns, it wants mighty
swift and truegela ing. on understand?”

There could at one answer to this

/

ques-
tion, and that answer came prom tly, unani-
mously. Then Skinny glided silent y down the
slope accompanied by the chief, the rest of the
band veering slightly to the right to pass
around the cabin on the end where there was
no window. '

All proceeded in perfect silence from this, on,
for not a man engaged in the evil work” but
fully realized the peril that would be theirs
should Posey Curtis rouse to a full knowledge of
their presence before all was in readiness to take
him foul.

Side by side the chief and Skinny peered in
at the window, assuring the selves that Posey
still lay unconscious on the oor. They could
hear his steady breathing. They could 'ust dis-
tinguish the rifle that in ready to his and in
case of an alarm. Au then, knowi their
mates were ready for their part of the Job, the
twain noiselessly moved around to the end of
the cabin where stood the huge chimney.

Skinny lifted one bare foot, and with it in the
strong of the chief he deftly reached the
low roof. ot a sound betrayed his movements
as he crept up to where he could peer down the
chimne . In breathless suspense the mask
watch him, chokin back a growl of satisfac—
tion as Skinny wav his hand in triumph. .

The hole waslarge enough to admit his dimin-
utive, skeleton-like figure. ‘

The chief glided back to the window,smother-
igg the click of his pistol by holding back the
t gger until the hammer was raised. Then,
with one hand thrust through the bars, cover-
ing the recumbent figure With his weapon, he
waited for the next move. ‘

This was not long delayed. A faint sound 

came to his ears: so faint and indistinct that
had he not been listening with all his powers it
would have passed without notice. Or, if heard,
and he had not already known the cause, he
could not have placed it. \ '

Then, silent as a ghost, he saw the dark
of Skinny steal out from the fire-place, ‘
near the middle of the floor to cast a loo in his
direction. A slight movement of the armedhand
reassured the sneak, and Skinny stole foot by’
foot toward the door.

He dared not attempt to step directly over
the slumbering giant, so he had to make a little

.détour, passing around his feet, one hand clutch.

ing his knife, ready for use in case the sl
should rouse and leap upon him. Past the feet,
around to the door! ‘

“ He’ll make it!” muttered the chief, beneath
his breath, as he watched the movements of his
fellow, his eyes glowing redly through the twin
aperturesin his sable mask. “ He’s worth his
weight in gold! He’s got the bar—he’s good as
won— Ha !”

Skinny reached the door and placed the knife
betwixt his teeth as both hands grasped the
strong, heavy wooden bar which ormed the

main fastening to the door. Slowly, steadily,  

cautiously he raised one end of the bar from
its resting-place, his gleaming eyes fixed on the
face of the sleeper. Alread the victory
won, when; with a sharp 0 ing and clatter, an
overlooked chain fell from its astening.

With a sharp, angry cry, Posey Curtis -
up, onlyto fall again as a pistol exploded. And

at the same instant Skinny jerked the bar tree, ’

bringing it down with crushing force full on the
unprotected head of the gold- tori
“ Down with the door!” yel ed e chief, run-

ning around the cabin in hot haste. his words
min ling with a loud crashing noise as the"
rmcf-agen s lurled their massive

 

if v. , ,y . 4

. mm. '
mstthe r. ~ _ .
«Ellswopen, knocking Skinny fairlyinto thg ,

l

a"

 

 
    
  

'26

. ~  ';'
hf“ (VI

The Man ‘of Silk.

l

l

 

grasp of the old man, whose fingers instantly
closed on his neck with a terrible grip, despite
his own dazed and crip led condition.

Mingling with the wi d uproar came the shrill
scream of a girl. and as the chief leaped in at
the door, he saw Little Puss fling open her door,
a vision in white!

I Not a harmless one, however. Even her sud-
, den awaking did not drive the teachin s of P0-
. . ‘ sey Curtis from her brain, and she instlnctively
 . I caught up the revolver which was her constant
:1. ‘ companion, by night as by
saw the masked men flock into the cabin, she
flung up her hand and began to Work the trig-
ger, sending her lead in rapid succession into
the mass. Only to have the weapon twisted
from her hand as the masked chief leaped for-
Ward and grappled with her, hearing her back
against the bed as he thundered:

“ Alivehmke him alive, you demons!”
y, In vain Little Puss struggled to free herself,
L " thinkin only of her father. In vain she strove
to cry a end for help, though help was so ter-
ribly far away! T at fierce grip upon her
throat smothered her shrieks. The heavy
weight pressing her backward on the bed was
, far too much for her powers to contend with.
=_‘ And a few seconds later the sheet was wrapped
-. /, about her head and face so tightly as to almost
suffocate her. Then her arms were twisted be-
hind her, and a sharp click told that handcuffs
were looked upon her wrists.

“ How is it out there lads?” cried the chief,

r .4.

,u-xw e v
, t J
-u‘ {fix .

 

3215* 1.5543

 

 ,. panting from his struggie to master the maiden.
 “Got hm)? Alive f”

:5: ,1 ‘ “Yes, we’ve got him!” came a husky voice.
£35,, “ He’ssgot Skinny, too!”

.:.l"':}., Sati ed that ittle Puss was beyond giving

   
  
  
   
  
  
   
 
 
 
  
    
    
  
 
 
    
  
   
   
 
  
  
   
 
   
 
     
 
 

. any further trouble, for a time at least, the
j ‘ chief hurried out into the other room. He saw

that of Pose Curtis, motionless, his hands fas-
‘ tened behiu him with irons, two men still
graspin fihis ankles.

Nota loodless victory, though!

The spy looked up from his examining Skin.
ny, his face white and blood-marked. hough
so crippled, Posey had made his mark. Skinny
was dead, his throat crushed and torn, looking
asthough a panther had been trying its teet
thereon! '

Another mask la still in death, blood soak-
ing through his sab a disguise, a bullet through
his‘brain. Another lay groaning and gasping

r in the corner, where he had reeled as Little
, Puss shot him through the lungs. Gasping, but
not for long. Before the chief could gain his
side, his head drooped and his body rolled over,

a corpse. r

v A grating curse passed throu h the clinched

. teeth of the leader as he c0un up the coat of
' that brief struggle.
“He’ll have to pay the penalty, curse him!”

" the snarled, stooping and rollin the giant over
so as to look into his face., “ ou fools!” he
s . ‘ cried, viciously,flashing a burning glare around
" the room as he saw ‘how ale, how cor se-like

Posey/ was. ‘ “ You’ve lled him! who
thrown away our chances of gaining the big
bonanza!”

‘f I don’t reckon he’s crooked boss,” ventured
one of the masks, and perhaps it was fortunate
' for him that just then Posey Curtis opened his
* . eyes with a feeble struggle to free himself.

. ’ “ 00d enough 1” laughed the chief, with
ferocious glee as he saw this sudden rebuttal to

A (the charge made. “ Look to him bo s! Nurse
him back to sense and reason while look after

- 3 the little beauty in yonder! freckon we’ll come

. ' out top 0’ the heap, after all!"

' Despite her ironed hands, Little Puss had
, . to free her face of its covering, and as

‘ the 'ef entered, she \was just rising to her

, feet. ‘ He quickly gained her side, speaking

swift. .
-“ Uhless you want to drive your father crazy,
' girl, hold your ton e for a little! He’s in a
mighty ha way as t is, but-”
i . ‘ Let me go to him!” gas d Little Puss, for-
,_ getting all save the peril of he parent she loved
. sodearly. , \ .
1 _~ ' _“Justas you are, little one?” with‘a shearing
? lau that pointed his words. “ Look here,
: this is pure business. We don’t mean to
either you or Posey any more than we can
, ‘ half;i All we wantis his money, and when that
,, g) ’ is our hands. yOu both can go free as air.
'- "I Now, if you love the old man, you’ll do your
1 level bfstto'talk (him into forking over. He‘s
“ "hurt— don’t deny that. He needs your care,
J » if he is to get over it all right. And if you
sWear by all you hold holy no to try on any of
 your tricks—there’s two dead men out yonder
,. ,now,.thanks to your shooting—I’ll let you go to
(him. Your answer?”
= ," 1 promise—I swear— only let me go to him!”

W Puss. . -
‘ If you break that oath, his will be the pun-
iahment,” adroitly threatened the outlaw, as be
unlocked the handcuffs and freed her am.
“We can’t hurt you as a woman, but we can
take it out of your dad. And take it out we
. ' twill! Do you follow me?”
“ gswmr-only let me go to him l”
.“ ll on a dress, then. Patton
, sly! We’ve gotta t
’\ I S > . ‘ p.
h

   

 
  
  

    
   
  

onto!

   

day. And as she , q
‘ sound of those shots. Keep within call,though,”

several forms lying on the floor. Among them .

.hevin’ to borry a tongue to say it all, or some

 

your shoes,

fore long, but we can’t go without taking his
secret store with us. ress and come out.
Em ty-handed, mind you, unless you want to
be t e death 0’ the old fellow!”

Satisfied that the poor girl was sufficiently
warned, the chief turned and left the little
chamber. He found Posey Curtis propped up
in one corner of the room, ale ant weak, but 1
with a defiant scowl upon is weather-beaten !
features.

“ Two of you fellows go out and take a look ,
around. Some prowler may have caught the l

be rapidly uttered, then turned to Posey Cur-
tis, sa ing harshly:

“ e’ve got you two; new we want your
wealth, old codger!”

CHAPTER XIX.
LUCKY BARRETT on ms MUSCLE.

“ THAT’S all right for them as thinks so, pard,
but when the sa -so comes to me, I’m throwin’
up my hands an huntin’ my hole. Not that I’m
skeered, mind ye: I kin fetcha doctor‘s stiffitick
to show I was vaxinated ag’in’ that when I
wasn’t higher’n the hopes of a critter with
seven-spot-high, an’ straights barred out. Not
that I‘m skecred: but I’m too tired to take any
sech intrust into the frolic; I want to bunk in
earl , an’ stop tbar late.”

“ hen you think—”

“ Too much trouble. pard. I know .7 So'll you
when it comes, but don’t let me pull ye away.
Stay an’ see it out. Write my name an’ address
on a keerd an’ pm it to your buzzum. Then, ef
you should git layed out in the frolic the
mpurners’ll know whar to fetch you fer plant-
in l'

“ But I don’t see—”

“ Of course ye don’t see, or I wouldn’t be here
chinnin’ till yit! From seein’ to feelin’ is the
shortest step I know, an’ I’m oin’ to git out o’
the wilderness afore then. on kin stay an’
mebbe you‘ll come through on your own legs.
Ef ye do, you’ll know a heap more’n e do now,
’bout some things! Fer one, you’ll now that
when Lucky Barrett mixes up whisky an’
keerds, with a white-faced wrostlin’ ’round like
he’s showin’ up this eve, it means heaps 0’ fun
for them as kin tell of it in the mornin’ without

 

other bands to make the ’propriate motions!
So long, pard! I’m gittin’ too mortal sleepy fer
to linger any lon er. Sleepy-with-a-p-y-py,
mind ye ; not skccre I"

Sleepy Billy Goodnight ambled away with an
eye over his shoulder until safely out of the
saloon, leaving his recent acquaintance to fur-
tivel watch the movements of a fairly good-
look ng fellow with brown eyes and brown
beard, mentally on the fence as to which would
be the wisest course to ursue in case his pard’s
predictions should come true: to plunge under
the handiest table, or make a break for the

cor?

Slee y Billy was not the only person who
notic and commented on the sudden change
which had come over the usually quiet, steel—
nerved sport, Lucky Barrett. Some said they
first noticed the change quite early in the day:
others that it was only after Mark Toogood and
his mates began to actively beat up recruits for
the war-path ; and that was hardly before the
setting of the sun on the day succeeding the
little matinee at Posey Curtis‘s cabin. when
Little Pusssu tained her right to the proud title
of “Pride’o; Posey’s Pocket” by ‘standing
of! ” four good men with her little gun.

Not that any particular odium was fiun u n
Booth Barrett for the rt he had played in t t
affair; if anything, e stood higher in the
estimation of the citizens ‘than before; but if he
was not worked up about it in some manner,
why was he so altered? Why taking the war-
Eath? Why going about with a big chip on

is shoulder, his actions and looks, plainer
than mere words, asking som‘ebody to knock it

off?

If the had known where and how, Booth
Barrett ad passed the greater portion of the
past night, the enigma might have been solved
with far less trouble and certainty; but so well ,
had the young ripen played his part that not a
single soul in Osey's ocket so much as sus-
pected him of being Little Puss’s lover.

For all, Lucky Barrett made no bluster, no
flash parade, t on b it was so generally con-
ced that he was ‘ on his muscle” that even-
my. He passed from saloon to saloon, from

ming-house to gamin -house, drinking and
nviting others to drin at the former. and
dropping more or less money at the tables in the
otherglaces. The more he drank. the cooler he
seome to grow. Only his face turned whiter,
his brown eyes brighter, his smile more icy.

Only once did he gives. slow to his possible
incentive. It was when, some person spokeof.
the efforts of Mark Toogood in raising a crowd
to hunt down Bed Bergum and his mates.

“ I’d hate to try to catch the turn on that
combination,” he said, with a short, it: laugo.
“ One little girl stood of! the four: one ittle rat
would make her climb a tree ; \Red Bergum is a

' er. and he had half a score more in his
" r ' at the kennel. behind them, and
._ V the herd” 

l. ., .,

  
 
    
  

 

l
Too 03d must muster in before he can tackle
the ay-out! And you say Mark is about as good
as they make ’em. If so, his recruits can’t be
any heavier metal. Make your bets, gentle-
men. I’m keepin bank on this little game!
Patriotism is goo< enough in its way, but du-
cats weigh heavier in one’s pocket. And I’ll
cover almost any reasonable odds that Mark
don’t ketch a clam!”

This was all that Lucky Barrett had to say
against Mark Toogood, but that was enough to
show which way the wind blew, and there did
not lack busy-bodies to carry the word to the
burly miner.

“ Tell Lucky Barrett not to crow too mighty
loud, will you i” growled the miner, with slow
emphasis. " I ain t holdin’an_v pertick’largrudlge
ag’mst him for what he done est’day. e
backed up Little Puss. jest as I’ ’a’ done my
own self with the same chaince. He showed
grit, but who wouldn’t, knowin’ that nobody’d
make a break, long‘s the little gal stood ‘ in the
gate?’ It was rit, but sca’cel the sort to
brag ovcr. Tell im I said so. ell him to but-
ton up his lip, fer he ain’t at Posey’s cabin now,
but in Posey’s Pocket!” ,

The message was duly delivered, and Lucky
Barrett showed his white teeth in an icy smile.
He made no reply; perhaps he preferred deliver—
in it in rson.

ark oagood was busy enough that same
evening. He and hls mates had carried aid to
their wounded fellows. Those alive on their go-
ing over the back-trail, were conveyed to l’osey’s
Pocket,where they were used as an eloquent
argument in favor of a war of extermination
a ainst Red Bergum and his allies. The story
0 that tragic raco was told time and time
a ain. The virtues of Jim Magill and Tom

agatagan were chanted with tongues that ,,

never tired, to'those who had known the unfor~'
tunates in life, as well as those who had never
heard of the men before.

Posey’s Pocket was not a 6 place, though‘
quite a marvel of bustle an activity both
in a purely business way, and for un iluted
sport after businem hours. Both Lucky Bar-
rett and Mark Toogood, the latter in compahy
with his three pards, circulated through the
town with but brief halts, yet something seems
ed to keep them from coming in actual contact
until quite a late hour.

“ That’s what says they ain’t goin’ to be jest a
thunder-gust, with a cl’ar sk trorn in’ close on:
to its heels,” shrewdly ut leep Billy
Goodnight, shaking his shaggy head an edging
toward the door. " Slow to git thar, long to
stay. It’s airly yit, but somehow that’s a
mighty heap o’ dust gittin’ into the two eyes 0’»
me. kon it’s time I was lookin’ out fer my
bunk. 'A whirlygust 0’ that sort is wuss then
morphine, lodlum, parrygorick an’ Chime-smoke
to me—it is so ."’ I

Sleepy Billy was not the only one who seemed
to expect something out of the ordinary course
of events, and at least two others kept a close if
covert watch over the movements of Lucky
Barrett, following him from place to place,
though not always together, or always crossing
the same threshold.

These two were The Man of Silk and Bab
John Barons, whohad not been seen in Posey 8
Pocket that day until almost evening. Where
they had' been, or how passed the intervening
hours, none knew save themselves, though there
were at least two persons in town who would
have iven considerable to find out.

“I on’t stick up for an idiot pard,”mutter*
ed the giant on one occasion as thetwain linger-
ed in the shadows outside a saloon in which
Lucky Barrett was making the heart of the
owner glad by his lavish expenditure of old.
“I sometimes think I can see through a be e in
a millstone just as well as the next; but I’m up
a stump now. Whatsort of game is it you want
to play? You want that fellow with the roll
beard, but if you want him bad .why don’t you
give him the grip?” '

“ Don’t 310 over, Baby,” was the laughing

response. “ on‘t/stick so close to the shop.
Don’t forget that a fellow out of the profession
can keep an e 'e on another, without meaning to
twist a rope a at his neck. Don’t forget that
a man can have more friends than one; even if
thatnone is as big and capable as Baby John Bar—
cns. ’
“ If it’s pure friendship, Ii reckon you’d show
it better by asking that young sport to take a
walk with you.” nyly muttered t detective.
” The atmosphere is unhealthy, an he’s doing
his level host to make it st' 1 more binding.
Dollars to cents that he gets a beautiful head put
on him before the crack 0’ da .” '

“ Not if we can hinder, Ba y ” was the nick
response. “ Ilove that youngster as thong he
was a twin brother. And if I don’t care to turn
the weight of his fist against my head. I’m go-
ing to see that he comes through this. little
racket withoutdoing or reapivinglany serious
damage.” '

“I’m with you of course. [Just tip me the  v.
h on want .   

wink, and sort 0’ s adow out the line
me to follow. I’ll do what I can, par .” I ,
Lucky Barrett ke t on his way, apparently
wholly ignorant of he suppressed: e‘ - . ; ~
histmunialoondnotwn- vigg ‘

 

   

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2!.‘1:“‘-‘:..'2 M“ x .

 
 
   

 

 

      
         
          
           
          
     

  
     
  

   

  
     
   
  

      
   
  

   
 
    

    
     
 
    
  
     

 

      
 
  

  
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

L ahotout, and. stricken fair!

- ’.\. u,» v - .,  A  f ,. I .,..,.  ...
' I 71¢: . ,.i. a “he. 5... .y ‘.'v:‘ ~ ‘ A "I ‘v ”’ I, : - f v. .
, 2, .

I "The M... of Silk. " I '27

 

 

If he saw, be neither heeded nor gave a sign of
pleasure or dislike. He poured d0wn the poison,
and poured out the gold, always with that cold,
dangerous smile, a ways with that glittering
devil in his brown eyes.

If Little Puss could have seen him then!

All he drank seemed to have not the slightest
effect upon him, unless it was to make his face
still whiter, his eyes largt r and more brilliant.
It certainlv did not affect his legs nor his
tongue. T 6 one bore him as uprightly, as
lithely as ever, the other seemed even more
smooth and nimble than usual.

At “ The thcl of Fortune ” came his first
gause of any length. This was “ the " gain-

ling hell of Poscy’s Pocket, and the only one in ,

town where the " limit” was ever suspended to
accommodate a heavy better on request.

Lucky Barrett dropped a few coms on the
painted “ lay-out ” with the same unusual care-
lessness that had marked his movements thus
far; but, contrary to his former experience, his
wa ers won. Then the old fever, which never
out ely deserts a born gambler, sprung up into
full low, and he sat down in one of the chairs
prov1ded for betters. ‘ . .

“That’s the first color I’ve hit for a week,
Johnny,” he said, with a soft laugh, his brown
eyes beaming brightly acrossthe table. “ Reck-
on this is good enough for me. You’ll let down
the bars for an old customer. I suppose?”

“Our capital is our limit, to you, Lucky,”
was the prompt response.

“ Never mind figuring it up, Johnny. I’ll see
what it amounts to in an hour or so,” laughed
Barrett, with practiced hand placing his bets.
“ Let the game go on, Johnny! I’ve got a mas-
cot up each sleeve, and a luckostone under my
tongue! Sorry for you, but business is bum-
ness, you know!"

“ You’ll lend a wipe to dry our tears when
the bank’s empty, and that’s consolation enough
for a swine!” smiled the dealer. as he began to
slip the cards from the bright box.

‘ He’s fixed. until his pouch is emptied,” mutr
tered Baby John Barons, in an undertone.

“ Unless— I knew it must come!”breathed
The Man of Silk,‘with a swift frown, as he
caught the bluff tones 0f Mark Too 00d sudden-
ly breaking out in the saloon in rent of the
building. I

At the same moment a peculiar change came
over the face of the smiling gambler. The
smile vanished, and a sudden hardness came
into his voice as he pushed back his chair,
sweeping down the as yet undecxded bets.

“Johnny, I crawfish! Got an engagement.
See on later!"

“ ’11 be here, Lucky,” was the calm r use
than h the white, rin odecked hand 3 ‘p
swift y beneath the tab 0 to sp a double-
:ction revolver that lay on a li a shelf before

im.

But his suspicion was misdirected. Lucky
Barrett did not glance toward him as he pOcket-
ed his gold. His eyes were turned toward the
saloon, though the heavy curtains which fell
over the archwa between the two rooms con-
cealed all bevon from view. And the gambler
strode swiftly to the curtains, sweeping them
aside and passing through, close upon the heels
of a big and a little man. .

“ You haven’t ed me to enlist under
banner of b , Mark Toogood,” smil
gambler, facing the burliminer.

“ I’m pickin’ my men, ucky Barrett, an’ you
ain’t the sort I’ve got anyuse fer,” was the
growling retort.‘

“ Didn’t relish the taste you got yesterday, I
su ose? ' _

ark Toogood flushed hotly then turned as
pale as his coating of tan and sunburn would
rmit. His voice was hoarse and unnatural as

e Spoke again, one stumpy forefinger quivering
before that white faCe.

“ Don‘t crowd me too close, Luc Barrett!
I’m not my own man. {est now. . You nowthat,
or you wouldn’t brust e up so might piertl Un-
til I git Red Ber m an’ his fe lcr imps, I
'cain't lick anyboryelse on my own acount.
But don’t crowd me too hard. I _’
woman here fer to hide you behind her petti-
cuts, now 1’"

“ Else you ould crow far louder and fiercer,
Mark Toogood'. ! You were mighty brave then—

our
the

in words! You are mighty brave new—in your.

own mind !" coldly sniiled the gambler.

White and stem the burly miner stood before
the gambler. his form trembling With sup-
pressed rage,hisvoice hardlyaarticulate ashe said :

“ You hearn me an my
oath to my butche pards. You hearn me say
I couldn’t mix up in a row with anybody out
side 0’ that pestiferous gang ontel I’d wiped, out
the black score that’s writ down ag’m am.
You hearn me say all this. or you wouldn’t dare

k them words, Lucky Barrett!”

“Dare?” with an icy smile. “ You are not

nearly big enough to measure my daring, Mark
You are—” ‘

. could follow a rigth

Swifter than the eye ed bkzween the 8336
T ' act! was hurl way across,

k- °3§w ' quivering, bleeding mass of ha-

i

They ain‘t no :

n’s was bound by'a,

Tfiooghite man ——nn’ you’re a dirtycoiward !" '

 

l

!

  

 

slow and sullen actions that mutely protested
against showing even such scant mercy to the
cause of their comrades’ death. The handcuffs
were removed, and Little Puss choked back her
sobs as she tenderly examined the broken arm.

“If there is a spark of manhood about you,
give me time to bandage this terrible hurt,” she
cried, chokingly, as the masked outlaw uttered
an impatient ejaculation. “He will bleed to
death. See how white his poor face is getting!
Daddy—poor poor daddy! ’

“ It‘ll be slobber, slobber, chin, chin, from now
till plum daylight!” sourly muttered Dowdy,
falling back with suppressed disgust in every
move.

The masked chief caught at the hint thus con~j
veyed. his tones growing hard and metallic as
he spoke rapidly:

“ If that happens, it will be through his and;
3 your obstiuacy, Little Puss. You know what
‘ we‘ve come here for; the gold out of Posey’s

Pocket. Point that out, an we’ll leave you to
slobber over each other all your sweet fancies
desire. Give it up, Posey, and the sooner your
arm will be put in fix for taking our trail to get
even. If not—well, you’ll hear your daint lit-
tle kitten begin to squall ‘in the jaws o my'
patent bulldogs. ”

“Touch her, an’ I’ll kill you!” grated Pomy,
livid with fury, as he caught Little Puss with
his sound arm and drew her into the corner,

I

More than ever was the eye at fault. Men '
yelled and cursed, leaping forward or back, as
fear or revenge actuated them. Pistols were
drawn and discharged. Knives flashed in the '
lamplight.

Only for an instant. Then the lights went out
with a crash and tinkle-of breaking glass, cast-
ing all into intense darkness.

There was a moment’s silence.
instant.

Then the reports of firearms blended with the
clash of steel, the oathsand curses of infuriated
men. Then the red glare of burning powder
lit up the frightful melee with fitful flashes,
showing nearly a score of men mixed in one
mass, striking, shooting, struggling like veri-
table demons, gone mad !

There were groans and screams of agony as
bullet or steel touched a virizo spot. But this
only seemed to, urge the infuriated beings to
still more desperate deeds. i

Then, high above the mad uproar came a sin- i
gle voice:

“ Loose your grip, you—”

The curtains were torn down, lettin
flood of light. The mass separated, but
Barrett was not to be seen!

, CHAPTER XX.
n1: MIGHT HAVE BEEN woasn.

Posnv CURTIS looked up at the covered face,

owling:

“ Take it an’ git. durn ye! I only wish they
was enough to drink the lot 0’ ye dead with the
jim-jams!” v ,

“ We’ll run that risk and never flinch, old
fellow!” laughed the mask, his eyes flashing
with double luster at this unexpected answer.
“ Where is the wealth, Pose ’4 Out with it!
Bear in mind that the less trou 16 you give us,
the less trouble we’ll give on!”

“In my pocket—whare so? Think I tote it in
a gunnysack ’4’”

“Thar it is, boss: not enough to dizzy one
sound head!” indignantly muttered one of the
road-a ents, holding out a din hand in the
palm 0 which gleamed a few ye ow and white

I] \

Only a single

in a
ucky

 

His feet were bound together. He was unarmed.
But there was a ferocity inhis glowing e that
made the man in the mask involuntari y recoil
filialwélfeet, one hand dropping to the pistols in

' t.

It might have fared hard with the bold vet-1
eran, only for the startling interruption which
came just then. -

A sharp cry—several shots, fired in rapid sue-‘-
cession—a man staggering in through the door,
to )3 as he fell headlong:

‘ Vi e didn’t see—too late—” I

A burst of blood from his perforated lungs
checked the words, and before the road-agents
could fairly realize what had ha ned, a dark
form plunged across the thresho , twin spouts
of fire shooting ahead of him, a husky voice cry-

out:
‘ Dodge little an 1! La low an’ kee kiv-T
cred the bést—” Se y p

i .

“ It’s all I’ve got: what more kin you ax?”
snapped the veteran gold-hunter, his eyes aglow.
“ Ef it ain’t enough, knock off these bracelets
an’thou h I hain tthe use 0’ but one hand 1’! g
fight ye er the balance. One, two—or the hull ;
caboodle, of no leas’ll do 1” ‘_‘ You. 303d Bergum!” snarled the startled

“ Father— 1-, dear dadd l” , chief, whipping forth a revolver and trying to

Partially ressed, Little uss stopped short l cover tins unexpected assailant.
as she stepped from her chamber into the light- I _ I .
ed room, her voice breaking as she saw Posey ! Of Its intended mark. he chief sunk in a heap
bound and bleeding, yet defying his enemies T underacrushmg blow. Posey dealt it—ham-
with all the old fire. red. crippled though he was, Pusey dealt the

The masked chief turned quick] at the sound  10W- , V ,
of her voice, and though she ma 9 an effort to , _ Even as the alarm first broke forth. he caught
elude his grasp, caught her by the arm and led i Sight 0‘ , the but"; bar lying Where Skinny
her forward, checking her as she was about to I dropped It after 161 m ,
drop to her knees beside the wounded veteran, self forward} theflEWI‘QD grasped the bar with,
speaking sharply, stormy; ' 1 his left hand, whirling it around as he , nod

“ Remember you’re not all there is, to this 1 his knees bringing“ down upon the hea of the
little game, Posey Curtis. I’d hate terribly to : masked ciu _
lll treat a youn lady as nice and dainty as our i arm. nerved by desperation and a flerée languag-
Little Puss; bu if we can’t get at your voice § for revenge. Just in time to Save the 1i 6
any other we. we’ll have to tV what pinching ; Red Bergum from that bullet at least.
her Will do. on sabe, Posey ,, _ l The force-of that blow threw Posey Curtis

“You blackfaced demon!” ted the old ; f0rward_ll D his face, and “We P1158, fear-i
man, starting forward, only to c‘checked by : ful for his 'fe, flung herself upon his back in,—
his dagghter, as she wrested her arm free and 3 ploring him to he still, to submit to the
dro i) on her knees beside him. ' medio—

“ giddy—dear, daddy!” she sobbed, tears fill-
ing) her eyes as they almost choked her voice.
“ _ 0 not auger him—«for my sake!” , , I

“ And Wiser words wore never uttered, Posey,” I hoarse. ChOking VOice through the thiCk 8111035-
laughed the road-a ent,standing before his cap-  A man sunk on his knees by her ‘side, his.

 

E And then— '

mind you! Right there you strike the he note. 3
We know you’re too gritty to be readily right- I
ened. We know- you’re too much of a miser to v

ing, vet fearm , to touch her sacred person.
face bent over er strained and haggard. with--

that Little Puss is as the apple of your eye, and ‘ of his enemies—the face of Red Ber-gum. ' l
we count on her to fetch you ’round." “ Let up, Puss !” paan Posey, hoarsely. “ It’s.
“Hurt her, an’ I’ll hunt yo off 0’ the face 0’ , them or us, now! It’s lick or be tortured
the airth!” grated Curtis, his\ sunken eyes then—”
gleaming like coals of living fire. ‘ _ .
, “ Ghosts don’t count, nowadays, P y,” chuckled Red Bergum. sinking back, one hand-
was the sueerin response. “If We have to r— , slipping up to his left breastas though some—
ture the little y,*th‘rough your infernal ob- . thing was the matter With hi8 11M ‘
stinacy, I reckon you’ll have to take our trail as 3 past

take it up alive!” ,
_“ He will tell, only give him time,” murmured
Little Puss, glancing up at that masked face,
her own pale as death. .
“ There isn’t much time to waste. Bring him
to terms in a ho] hurry, or we’ll have to put
on the noose-twitc in good-earnest.”

" He is shot—see! how it bleeds!” panted Puss,
her little hands rod with blood that flowed from
the bunetchattered ri ht arm. “ He will die if "

.you keep him thus. I: me free his arms—02.!
it is iron leéand be dying! For shame, you cow- ’ comprehend wlmt had really , . -
ards!” . ' his mad fury he had never once! btof an

“ I reckon .you might as well take 08 the , ally, such as this. He thought the shots 

bracelets for a hit, Dowdy,” said the chief, after i aimedatllimself- That he must
agriegheaimtEEuQ-m ig fool as he is, 1123mm .  to win or ($1, to the M

n oseyw :cutn rustyas , as e uelmoken M mains.

his girl is safe in our 8115).” Fizee his handsfiiut

lehve his hoofs' ham .
w 8 W I‘ ' ‘L 1 ’im

the sake o’ the angel as stood thehoun’s off when

; Little Puss! All fer you I”

, something was rising up in his throat to clog ,
organs of speech. ainter, slower, as he sunk.‘
back like one suddenly overtaken by fatigue,

 

Withasharpejac ' on Pose

Curtis pushed
Little Puss aside. glaring about ‘

withaba‘

 

     

 

gscene. .. ,.  i -
  , ,hgureof the wisdom his;

 

4

of, with all the power of a muscular .

.v- a

“Little angel! say you ain’t hurt!”camea 7:

“They won’t pester ye no more, pardiu- ‘:

They’re "

any more deviltry, I reckon. An’ it was, H
a ghost if you take it at all certainly you’ll never  me that done iii—fer your sake. little angel! Fer "

fight, the  

partly behind him as be half started to his feet.‘ .
His right arm‘ dangled helplessly at his side, .,

The weapon explodedi'but the lead fiew wide ,

i

4.

they wanted to-—to stretch my neck! Fer you; :‘

his handstillpmssin a ainsthis side. .  ,3

the lamp gave 1' ht sufficient for him to  -- 

I .

g him, and throwinghim—L -‘ '

Even as she spoke the wild tumult died away:  s I.
I.)
tives with arms to ded. “ It’s all for her sake, i bloody hands clasped together as though 1 - " 

quivering lips. The face of the fainting wretch 'A. 
be easily scared out of your gold. But we know l whom she had interfered to save from the rope. .

l His voice grew thickeryhoarser, as thing: 

wilder-ed air. Until that moment he failed It:  ,

   

 28

I r

r

The Man at Silk; .  '

 

 

head in a growing 1 of blood. Beiyond him

lay Dowdy, curl up in a heap, st 1 quiver-
ing like a beheaded serpent, but as harmless.
And there—not one of the road-agents kept their
feet!

It seemed a miracle!

“ Waal, that gits me !” :rculated Posey, with

a long-drawn breath, si ing back upon his
fi,‘ bound feet, staring half~dazed into the blood-
i stained face of the man before him.

Little Puss was scarcely less astonished, but
she had forethought enough to spring to her feet
3 , and close the door, dropping the blood-marked

bar into its sockets, t en crossing over and

swinging to the heavy oaken shutter at the win-

 dow in the rear. Then, catching u the repeat-

. ing-rifle which had dropped from osey’s grasp

" as Skinny turned upon him with the bar, she
sprung back to her father.

Red Bergum watched her movements, a faint

smile upon his haggard face. He shook his

' ‘. head and spoke, not without more than one ef-
-‘. 3' fort:
' ~ ' “ They ain’t any more, Little Puss. I counted
’em. T ey’re past any more deviltry. Au’ I
ain’t sorry, though—they was pards. They
didn’t ought to—an angel, like—” .'
“He’s got it— ot it hard, too,” exclaimed
Posey, forgetting is bound ankles in his excite-
ment as he saw the speaker reel, then sink over
'sideways, his eyes still fixed upon Little Puss.

" “ Help~ugh l”
5 He fell forward as he tried to sprin to his
~ ' feet. A sharp cr escaped his 1i 3 as a orrible

twinge of pain 5 0t through h s broken arm,
. p . sendin a red blur over all objects in the room.
9:. /And t enehis senses left him for the time

bein . '

, When Posey Curtis recovered his senses, he
was lying on the floor in his daughter’s bedroom,
his head sup rted by a pillow, his right arm
bandaged an fastened to a rude splint. Little

' Puss had dragged him from the midst of the

._ ’ dead, but her strength was insufficient to place

L; ' . his heavy weight upon the bed. Her hands had
 , cared for his art as best she knew how. And
 this done, she was kneelin at his side, her hot
23" ' tears bathing his haggard ace.

 ‘ “He’s ot it—hard,” muttered Posey, his
 brain ta ng up the broken thread mechanical-
 . ly. “ W bar is he, Puss? The man—that fit?”

 “ Daddy—dear daddy l”sohbed the poor, child,
 . her overtasked powers giving way entirely.
.f -, 5" “‘I thoaiight—you looked so—dead.” '

5, " v , “De be durned!” almost angrily ejaculated
the tough old man, as he sat up, his eyes begin-
ningtoshow somethin of their usual fire and
animation. “Nothin’ ut a clip,on the bead
an’ a hole through—ugh I”.

An incautious movement sent a thrill of pain
through his injured limb, and Little Puss shiv-
ered anew as she tenderly sought to assist him
back to the pillow.

"You are awfully hurt, daddy. You will
kill yourself. Please lie down, and try to sleep.
'Oh! if I could only 0 to town for a doctor!”

/ “You’ve doctore me hea plenty, Kitty-
puss,” was the res use, as osey resisted her

 .‘ efforts, and rose 3 owly, carefully to his feet.

' r, , I “See! he must ’a’flt. An’ I didn’t see nothiu’
of it at all I was so hot. Whar is he, Puss?
_ You hain’t left him all alone this long?”

’ g “ I don’t know—I could see and think only of

  you, daddy.”

‘ , Posey flung open the door, to utter a low cry
.. has he saw a head feeny lift up in the lamplight,
' ,Ilnfilyto fall back with a low, faint sigh of dis-

. appointment. And to catch a husky voice)

.  ' “‘I thought it was—the angel. But I done it.

 ,= We safe. Ef he don’t come- ef I ain’t croaked
~ 'afore I kin tell.” .

g  '* ‘“ It ain’t high so bad as that. stranger?” softly

* "muttered Posey, as he stepped over the motion-

' r lesshod of the masked chief, kneeling at the

.4" filial-far, Berguui. “Hit, mebbe, but not hit

80 ,
-, “ l’ye got it—bad l” with a faint smile as the
f, F sunken eyes opened to look up into that grave,
kindly face. “ But—1 saved her!”

“ An’ she’ll save you, too! Puss! Puss, I

f u I” l
“ 7": ‘ ‘ zDon't—«too ugly—for her!" asped.Red Ber.
'. gum, with a glance around t e room. “No
good—I’m oiu . Don't bother—her!”
“The w isky, Puss!” sharply cried Posey
payin no heed to the feeble remonstrauce of
he iufu

 

   

7.

red man. ‘
I. V But even as he spoke, he knew that there was
r , ' little if any hope for this man who had dared
» .aud done so much for them. His sound hand
gently Opened the blood-soaked clothes, and his
experienced eye told him that he was lookin
- , upon mortal injuries. Only a miracle coul
’ save the life of this outcast:
But he persisted. He gave the poor wretch
4-...  whisky; then, aided by ittle Puss, whom hiis
*  V sharp words had restored to comparative calm-
 ness, be bound up the wounds, Séverai in all,
and any one of which seemed quite sufficient to
3' let Out a life. . .
.wi After that remonstrance, Red Bergum lay si-
ieizit. quiescent. There was a faint smile upon
face, and his eyes never once wandered from

   

' the face or figure of Little Puss. Whenever her
“soft hands touched his flesh. he shivered', but it
“use with pleasum, not pain. , . .

 i 4,." 'r 
 an. i kh‘fif‘mu'}.

    

 

Bad as he was, he mi ht have been worse.
Many his crimes, and re his hands with life-
blood of rsons who had never done him
wrong. is sins were long since past counting,
and up to the hour when he fell at the feet of
Little PuSS, begging her to save his life, in the
name of Heaven, he had been no better than a
treacherous wild beast, preying on his fellows,
without so much as an honest drop of blood in
his veins.

But that hour changed him more than one
would believe possible.

“ You’ll make a live of it yit!” heartily utter-
ed Posey, when he had done all that lay in his
limited )ower for the poor fellow.

“No won’t,” smiled Red Bergum, still fol-
lowing Little Puss with his strangely softened
eyes. “I know I’ve got it right whar I live.
But I don’t keci‘ so mighty much. I reckon ef
I croak now, it won’t go so hard with me as it
would ef I lived on to fergit what she’s taught
me! Mebbe I’d fergit—mebbe I’d go back like
I was afore! It’s best to git oil.’ the hooks ri ht
now. She’ll think 0’ me as a critter who died
doin’ a good act, auywa !”

" VVe’ll nurse you back to life, and never let
you recall the black and bitter past,” softly ut-
tered Little Puss.

tied Bergum shook his head, with a faint sigh.

“ It’s the whisky that’s holdin’ me up, an’ it’ll
let me drop all of a heap afore long. An’ that
-— Tell her to go in the other room,” he whis-
fired to Posey. “ I’ve got somethiu’ you must

ow. It’d hurt her too bad! Ax her—I cain’t
do it! It’s like blottiu’ out the sun!”

There was a strange earnestness in his face
that induced Posey to obey without questioning
his motive. Little Puss turned very pale, as
though with a premonition of coming sorrow,
but she obeyed without a murmur, entering her
chamber and closing the door behind her.

The eyes of the dying man followed her until
she vanished,then he turned to Posey Curtis
motioning for the whisky flask. He swallowed
a little, then spoke rapidly, like one fearful of
his powers.

“ L beam ’em tellin’ what was goin’ on, but

‘too late to stop ’em or to git here fu’st. I reck-
on they doubted ef I’d let it go on without
trouble, from her savin’ me, that time— an’ they
was rightl”

“You done more’n any two men could ’a’
done, and we’ll never find words to thank you
enough, pard,” softly uttered Posey.

“ It was fer her—thar’s heap wuss back then
you know,” huskin added Red Bergum, his
voice beginning to fail him. “Look out fer
Lucky Barrett! Shoot him at sight, or he’ll—”

Pesey held the whiskyto the failing man’s
lips, trembling with dread lest death should
come before all was told. But Red Bergum
rallied, and though his words came in gasps,
broken and disconnected, his meaningflwas plain
enough to the man who so breat essly lis-
tene .

He swore that Booth Barrett was really the
lead of the gan of outlaws who had recentlfi
begun brisk wor near Posey’s Pocket, althoug
it was not often he put on the sable mask and
took the lead in person. That he left to his
picked men, saying that he could work to better
advantage wit bare face in Posey’s Pocket. It
was one of these nien who led the attack on the
sta e : another who headed the gang that rescued
Re Bergum from Mark Toogood and mates.
And it was his covert signs that bade the road-
agents attempt to murder the bound miners,
afterward.

He swore that Lucky Barrett sent this band
to the lone cabin with orders to abduct Little
Puss, whom he swore to marry, with or against
her will. He bade them torture Posey until he
confessed where his gold was hidden, and when
that was in their possession, to kill him.

“ When I diskivered what wasu , I set out to
do the best I knowed,” added (1 Bergum,
faintly. “ I come here. I see them two out-
side, jest as they see me. I shot one dead,an’
winged the other but not afore he plugged me
clean through. Then—you know! It was fer
her—all er her I Don’t let—watch Lucky Bar-
rett! e’s a born devil! He’ll kill her—his
touch is p’izen! Watc ~save—whar is she? Ef
Icould on] see—on! hear—”

Posey led Little Puss from her room, and
she knelt beside the dying man, his cold and
clammy hand clasped in hers. A faint smile
crept over his haggard, death-lined counte-
nance“ A soft light came into his sunken eyes.
They Were fixed upon her face until the lids
'sIl‘gwly ‘ drooped. Opened—drooped again.

en— \

With a spasmodic strength. Red Bergum
lifted his head and touched his lips to her hand,
his face flushing as his head fell back, his gasp-
ing voice faintly uttering:

“ I couldn’t—help—God bless—”

With a grave voice Posey tone up and drew
Little Puss to him:

“ He’s gone! If! he lived like a wild beast, his
death was that of a man! Pray fer his soul,
Little Puss! .Pray fer his soul as you never
Era gigabyte! He saved you from wuss then

M .

And in that instant ttle Puss knew the ter-
fl  r‘ "" m l ‘ w, i

‘aa‘ ’
. ‘

 

 

CHAPTER XXI.
THE LOSS OF A BEARD.

THE instant the lights went out in obedience
to the swift strokes of Felix Bland, Baby John
Barcus fastened his mighty grip on Lucky Bar—
rett, twistin that worthy from his feet as
though hand ing an infant, swinging him out
of the melee, hampering his arms With a force
that would not be denied. It was the voice of
Booth Barrett that rose above the tumult, only
to be cut short as muscular fingers closed about
his throat.

Brief as was the pause which fell over the eu—
raged crowd, it was long enough for the big de-
tective to reach the door with his burden, and
The Man of Silk trod close at his heels. And
then, as the mad row was renewed, the two men
with their captive went running out of the rin—
cipal street dodgin alon in the sha ows,
avoiding all those w om t e wild alarm had
started toward the scene.

“ Don’t quite slip his wind, pard!” muttered
The Man of Silk as their pace slackeued, now
that they were out of danger of running into
those drawn toward the 'heel of Fortune.
“ I’ve got his tools, so he can’t kick up much of
a row, even if you do let him catch a morsel of
wind once an hour or so.”

Baby Barcus was spared the trouble of an-
swering b Booth Barrett himself. Just then he
threw all 's were into an effort to free him-
self, and as t e big detective had to not only
bold but carry him, the attempt came very
near succeeding. Possibly it would have been
successful enough to admit of the captive’s
raising an alarm by shoutin aloud, only for a
deft tap behind the ear cut him by Felix
Bland. . ‘

“Looks pretty low down, slugging a man
when he’s held by another, don’t it, pard?” he
muttered, with a faint smile that showed in the
moonlight. “ Kick myself for that, by and by.
Had to do it, though! Tell you why presently.
And here we are! So good !’

As he spoke The Man of Silk paused before a
small, rickety-looking shanty which had been ’
without a tenant since its former owner shifted
to more comfortable quarters not quite so far
out of town. The shanty had been en aged that
same evening and was now about to put to

use.

Baby Barcus followed his partner into the
shanty, holding the inanimate form of Liicky
Barrett in his arms until The Man of Silk closed

, and barred the door then lit a light.

“ Spread your load out en the table, Baby,”
coolly uttered Bland, a peculiar smile playing
about his lips and reflected from his eyes. “I
trust he hasn’t croaked in ood earnest, but it’s
just as well to catch 91d ime by the topknot,
and it’ll save trouble in the end. Dump him—
so ! Now you take a seat and sit down. while I
make the corpus presentable, will you?”

“ He isn’t dead!” '

“Well, I’m open to bet that he’ll wish he was
dead, when he begins to realize just what is in
the wind ; and that amounts to pretty much the
same thing. Don’t be so mighty particular
about trifles, Baby.” ,

The big detective dropped into achair, watch-
ing his companion with nterestede es. Despite
himself, his face would betray the eep curiosity
he felt at that strange proceeding; but he said
new; a word after tha laughing, mocking re-

roo . ,'
p. For a few moments The Man of Silk bent over
the figure on the table, holding the lamp so it
cast its light full upon the white face. He
seemed to be reading each line, mark and
wrinkle thereon. And though Baby Barcus
tried to guess whether this search roved satis-
factor or displeasing, he was no w it the wiser
when elix Bland put the lamp on ashelf and
set to work with nimble fingers.

A pair of bright handcuffs were snapped
around the insenSible gambler’s wrists as t ey
lay upon his“ body. A strong rope was looped
around his ankles, the ends separated and pass-
ed under the table, up over his body, then
knotted firmly through the link connecting the
irons on his hands. Another then passed
around his middle, to becrossed over is chest
and knotted. A third—this time a flexible
leather strap, with buckle and tongue—was
carefully fitted over the forehead, crossing and
then buckled around the table-legs, holding the
gambler’s head as helpless, as motionless, as the
rest of his pemon._ . 2

And then, bathin his face with strong whis-
ky, The Man of 81] took a position where the
first light of returning consciousness would fall
upon his own face. A low, mellow whistle came
through his lips._ There was a brilliant light in
his brown eyes tnat told Bab Barons this was
something more than a simp 6 trick: that un-
derneath all lay a Wellodeveloped purpose.

What could it all mean? .

He was not kept much longer in suspense,
With a gasping, gurgling moan, and a shiver
that shook his frame from top to toe, Lucky
Barrett opened his, eyes, making an efl’ort to
spring to is feet, his brain apparently going
back to the fi ht at the Wheel of Fortune.

“ Don’t exc to yourself, in dear boy."softly, ,
soothing uttered Felix  ding eye; .‘

i hen
until his\ sent off View of all else for
_ ~ . , .w ,r w. « v

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

The Man, of 

29

 

 

.a-r

stant, and naturally drawing the aze of his
captive after him as he resumed is former
erect mition. “ Take life calm and moderate.
Avoi extremes. Ra e makes the blood rush
to the brain, and men ave been known to drop
down dead in consequence. Fear clo 8 up the
heart in much the same manner, an —excuse
me! I fear your position is not of the most
comfortable?"

As the gambler appeared to recognize that
smilin face, he made another desperate effort
to spring up and prepare for the worst. Only
to utter a low, ating curse of stupid amaze-
ment as he foun himself incapable of moving
a limb—of even turning his head a single de-

ee.
gr“ You devil!” he gasped, laring up into that
smiling face, his eyes wil y protruding, the
great veins swelling on his throat and tem les.

‘ What does this mean? Who are you? W ere
am I?”

“It means pure business, Lucky Barrett,”

romptly re lied The Man of Silk as his right
hand mov forward and hovered above the
captive’s mouth, holding a gag. “It means
that unless on can curb your abominabl hot
temper I’ll ave to make on a gift of this de-
lightful little ornament. t means that the less
you use your tongue, the better for our case
when it comes before the Supreme court; be-
cause, according to the laws and regulations
made and provi ed to fit just such emergencies
as this, I warn you that whatever you say or
admit will be brought forward in evidence-—
ahem!”

“ If this is a jest, it's an infernally stupid one i”
growled the gambler, his eyes glowing redly as
they stared at the bland face above him. “A
dear one for you, if ever 1 get my hands free
8. am.‘

g“ Thanks for the warning, considerate sir,”
with a low bow. “ But to go back: one thing
at a time, and first come, first served, with ques-
tions as with customers, it is the rule of this

sho .

“pWho am It An unworthy member of a glo-
rious profession, whose aim is to improve on
nature by encouraging her where she is right,
and removing her mistakes when she falls into
error. In one word a barber. And this is my
establishment. And you are a customer. And
you are reclining on my latest patent, a chair
which, for comfort safety, and fast—holding,
has no equal in all the wide world.”

“ Are you crazy?” muttered Lucky Barrett,
with a shiver.

“ Haven’t got time to discuss that question
just at present, dear sir,” with a brisk air as he
pulled a drawer out from under the tab 6 and
took from it several articles which made the
eyes of Baby Barcus open more widely than
ever. “ Business awful pressing. Got a call to
shave the Honorable Darius Aymer and dress
the hair of his lady, Adine Elmer, once Coney
Kate—eh 1” with an innocent glance toward the
big detective. “ Anything wrong‘ with you,

ard?”
p Baby Barcus shook his head ne ativel , but
his gaze grew more intense than be ore. nless
he was widely mistaken,he began to catch the
drift of this eccentric proceeding. . .

The Man of Silk clicked .a bright pair. of
shears before the eyes of his captive, smiling
blandly as he added:

“ Keep perfectly still, my dear sir. I would-
n’t hurt you for a fortune bi ger than was ever
taken from the vaults of nk or—did you
speak?” bending closer over the gambler, gaz-
ing mockingl into his eyes. .

“ You devi l” muttered Lucky Barrett, strain-
ing every muscle in an effort to burst his bonds;
but they were by far too adroitly applied for
that, and The Man of Silk made notthe sli htest
attem t to check him, b_ri ing the keen s ears
into ay, deftly snip-snipp g 01! the rich full

ar .
be“ Great mistake, your wearing all this super-
fluous hair, my dear sir,” he urred, while work;
ing nimbly. “Hides your ne and intelligent
features] Do you know i” in a low, confidential
whisper H I begin to see that you marvelous]
resemblé the test financier I ever heard 9 !
Gentleman w 0 made more than half a million
in less than an hour, one night about three years
ago! Created quite a sensatlon, too! One envi-
ous fellow even felt it so much  in the morn-
ing he was found dead—knocked his brains out,
and then slit his throat from ear to ear, in order

Re-mark-a-ble,
sir!”

Baby Barcus half-started to his feet but
sunk back again as The Man of Silk  a
swift glance toward him. His face was white
and hard-set, his eyes glowing like orbs of pol-
ished steel. But he uttered never a word, wait-
in and listening with bated breath.

The Man of Silk dropped his shears and
snatched up a cup and brush, briskly stirring
up a lather as be iToke:

“ Env is a sad ailing isn’t it! Only for this
wonderfivil financier—I recall his name  a
moment—that poor devil might now be ahve,
keeping his family—wife and five kids. I believe
——from starving n a poor-house. Only for him,

.D us A er would not now be a
hghiggls, Mmdemr. Only for him,

to make the job a certain one!

 

 

there wouldn’t be any delicious pussy-cat of a
step-mother to run around the country claiming
other mothers’ sons. Beg pardon—opened your
mouth just in time to getthe hole in the way.
Sorry—awfully. But won’t hurt. Always use
the purest and best of soaps—ask‘ Don’t-bear
clam Siddalls if I exaggerate in the least.”

Rapidly the brush flew, every time Lucky
Barrett opened his mouth to utter a curse or
denial slipping into the cavity with its any—
thing but savory compound. And sweetly as
the artist spoke, soft and mellow as were his
tones, there was a glitter in his brown eyes that
warned the gambler this was more than a mad
lfreak. Warned him to go slow, lest worse fol-

ow.

“I beg of you to hold perfectly still, my dear
sir,” purred The Man of Silk flourishing a
bright razor before the eyes of his helpless vic-
tim. “ Can shave a butterfly on the wing with-
out raisin a feather, as a rule, but—ever go on
a tear? ver try to get away with a treble lead
in one trip? Then you know how the old thing
works,” with a si of relief. “Hope I won’t
hurt you much, at if my hand should slip?
Be di sting to lose a nose or an ear, wouldn’t
it? ake a man wish he was on a platform
with a hole in it and a rope around his neck to
kee him from dropping clear through while
ad ressing an audience, wouldn’t it! Never
for ive myself—does the razor pull!”

ardened though a goodly number of years
in criminal-hunting had made him, used as he
was to scenes of positive torture, the big detec-
tive shivered as he looked and listened. He
knew now what The Man of Silk had shadowed
Lucky Barrett so carefully for. He knew now
what his object was. He felt that at last the
real author of that sensational robbery and
murder was found. But still he felt sorry for
the uilty wretch.

“ e’s a born demon, or else he has some ter-
rible wrong to avenge,” he muttered beneath
his breath as he gazed at that white, smiling
face, outward] so bland and leasant.

Deftly The an of Silk plied the razor, his
tongue running as nimbly as the shining steel
and cutting far more keenly; Never a wo
did the gambler utter until elix Bland dro
ped the tool and with a bit of sponge soft?-
wiped oif his face, then drew back a little, wit
his head cooked on one side, gain at the won-
derful alteration his loss of a had made.

“Never saw anything more remarkable in
all my life!” he murmured, softly, rolling up
his brown eyes in affected ecstasy. “ Lovelyas
a maiden‘s first dream of love, I assure you,
Robert Aymer !”

She and incisive came that name, and as it

sedrhis lips, The Man of Silk suddenly leaned

orward, glaring into the face of his helpless

captive, like one who seeks to read a mute con-
fession there.

But Lucky Barrett only laughed, hard and
viciously as e said:

“You lie if you say that is my name! As
for this outrage, if ou are at all in love
with life better comp ete your work by draw-
ing that bit of steel across my throat; for if
I ever get a hand free, I’ll kill you like a cow-
ardly cur!”

“As you murdered the watchman in th
Merchants’ Bank, Robert A er?” '

“ Another lie as— Bah!” with a scornful
sneer. “ I’m a fool for noticing your mad rav-
ings. If you are not crazy, then what’s the use
of insane asylums?”

“ It’s nota question of asylums,Robert Aymer,
but of a scaffold and a hangman at work, with
you as the subject,” retorted The Man of Silk,

or the first time exhibiting signs of rancor or
hatred. “ You have run a long course, but the
end is close at hand—the end of a rope. You
have left the innocent to suffer shame and sus-
picion and misery through all these years. You
ave brought the gray hairs of Darius Aymer
to the ver verge of the grave—you have bowed
his prou heart down in the mire— ou have
murdered him even more brutally t an you
murdered that poor watchman who tried to de-
fend his trust against midnight thieves: he died
at once, while Darius Aymer has suffered a
thousand times worse than death each day of all
these three ears! Yet, bitter] as he suflered,
he could no speak the word t at would clear
him of all guilt in the eyes of the law! He
could not bring himself to denounce the real
criminal—because Robert Aymer wash-7 son 1”

“Which I am not!” viciously grated the

prisoner. “ I am not Robert Aymer. I am not
hat old fool’s son. I never killed a watchman
nor did I rob a bank. I am Booth Barrett, an
your master, if you dare to let me free for one
minute by the watch!”

The Man of Silk made no immediate re 1y to
this fierce outburst. He beckoned to t e bi
detective, catching his hand as he rose an
came forward, pointing at the face where only
a pair of mustaches remained of the full beard

in‘which the gambler had taken so much pride. '

You have not forgotten the icture that
woman declared was a counterfeig of Robert
Aymer, baby,” be said, coldly. “Recall it as
you azekupon that face, and then tell me what
you n

“That—by heavens!” with a sudden start as

‘-.

he lanced rapidly from the face of the captive-
to giat of the captor. “ You are perfect dupli-
cates! Face, eyes, figure and all!”

“Then I denounce him as the real Robert
A er!” cried Barrett.

he Man of Silk laughed shortly, hardly, as
hes ke again:

“ here’s one wa to decide the identity of
the babies, most luckily! It’s a wise child that
knows its own father, but I reckon Darius
Aymer can pick out his son, with the choice
narrowed dowu to us two.”

CHAPTER XXII.
TURN DOWN THE LIGHTS.

“ HE will come, Adine? It is not another
cruel jest?”

“ It is past the hour, and you see there is
nothing of him yet! I never behaved in him—I
believe in him still less now! If he is Robert
Aymer, and your son, he is none the less a liar
and a thief l”

S ely hard and harsh the tones sounded,
coming rom those red lips. Harder and harsh—
er than Darius Aymer had ever known them to
utter before. And had he not been so power-
fully agitated,he mi ht well have doubted whe-
ther that voice, that ard-set, haggard face, be-
lon to his dainty little babyish wife.

ey were seated in the bare, oomfortless
“ parlor” on the ground floor of the Brock
House: Darius Aymer, Adine and Bush Clark.
Each one was er than ordinary, and each
one looked as t on h an important crisis was
at hand: one whic at least tWo of the trio
would gladly have postponed until they could
consult together.

Less than an hour before, Bush Clark first
noticed some rather odd thin s taking place at
and about the hotel. John us ap ntly
had taken matters in charge and w on he.
Clark. attempted to leave the uilding, he was
politely but y hidden wait a bit; that his
company was ur ently required in the parlor,
where business 0 great importance was soon to
betransacted. And an open note was slipped
into his hand, with a request that he deliver it
to Darius Aymer.

Bush Clark was no fool. He saw that the bi
detective had taken possession of the hotel, an
that he had a goodly force of armed men on
dut , who looked as though the would rather
pre er a little row, as a means 0 enlivening the
Biomedings. And taking the note, he turned

ck, to read its contents before dehvery.
That did not take long. A few lines merely;
stating that at a certain hour that morning,
Felix land would have the pleasure of calling
on Mr. and Mrs. Aymer, With important tid-
ings of their long-lost son, Robert. The bearer
of the note Mr. Clark, was also expected to be
present on t at occasion.
“ The game’s up, I reckon!” muttered Clark,
to Adine.
“ We’ll fight it out!” was the quick use.
“ Our hands are clean, even if the worst comes;
thfiy can’t hurt us!”
ardl had that sharp denunciation passed
the red ips of the little woman, when the door
opened and John Barcus entered, followed by
two men, each with a strong hand upon his
shoulder, and irons about his wrists. Barcus
stepped aside, the ards halted, ranging the
two prisoners direct y before the startled trio.
Little marvel that ejaculations of surprise.
almost awe, broke from their lips as they stared
at the two captives. Face. figure, color, dress
and all exactly alike! Two Felix Blands! Two
Men of Silk!
“ Can you pick out your son, Robert Aymer,
from these two men, Mr. Aymer?” asked the
big detective, keenly watching the faces of the
startled trio. “ If you can, pray oblige me by
so doing.’
Instead of replyin , the old manshivered and
shrunk back, cove ng his face with his trem-
blin hands. Terribly as he had suffered, now
i that e saw his son, the real criminal, in irons
he could not utter the words that might send
him to the scaifold. After all, he was his son!
With a rapid motion one of the twain fiung
aside his irons and stepped forward, leaving the
other still under arrest. As he did so the door
opened again and a man with his right hand in
a sling ped across the threshold, shrinking
'justa tri e as the man underguardfiashed a
’ swift. fierce lance toward him.
‘ ‘ Marion inston, you can point out the man
who has been uerading as Booth Barrett?"
cold] asked John arcus.
, “ tis the man "pointing with his sound
i hand to the man un er ard. “ I can swearto
, his identity, despite his oss oi' beard, for I have
; known him a number of years. I have seen

him thousands of times when he were no beard;
i when he looked as he does now.”
! “ You knew him three years ago, then!” asked
' The Man of Silk.
I 3 I did.”

i

” F331 kpew him while in Chicago?
1 “ You remember the robbery of the Mer-
chants’ Bank 1”

 

 

, “I had ought to remember it,” with a slight
‘ faltering of voice. “ I was there. I took
in that robbery. I saw the watchman ' ”

\

30

The Man of Silk.

 

 

“ And the man who killed him?”

The witness slowly lifted his hand until it
pointed direct at the white face of the prisoner.
And his voice was cold and distinct as he an-
SWercd the question in words as well:

“ There he stands, as I hope for mercy in the
future! I swear that he planned the robbery;
that he led us to the house of the cashier; that
he found the keys and opened the bank vault;
that he knocked the watchman down with a
billy, from behind, and, to make all certain, cut
his threat from ear to ear!”

“ Spare hini——mercy!” gasped Darius Aymer,
sinking upon his knees almost at the feet of the
accused. “ Mercy! he is my boy—my poor,
poor boy! Oh, Robert—”

With a grating curse the risoner drew back
his foot and aimed a brutal ick at the sobbing
old man; and only the quick hand of The Man
of Silk foiled his purpose. One thrust sent the
wretch reelin backward, and then the old man
was lifted to is feet. Strong arms encircled
his trembling form. A bright, yet grave face
looked into his. And a clear, mellow voice ut-
tered:

“ ‘atherl will you forgive your willful son?
May I come back to your heart and try to make
amends for all that you have suffered? Can
you forgive me for denying you so often? I feel
that you Will when I have explained the reasons
for so acting! Father ?”

“ Robert—my boy i” gasped the old man,
drawing back his head until he could aze into
that laughing, yet tear-stained face: on y for an
instant: then his last doubts were solved, and
with a glad, chokin cry he murmured: “ At
last—and innocent— less God i” ..

 

If a complete record were kept of all that was
said that bright morning, it would double the
length of the story I set out to tell. Much
must be left to the intelligence of the kindly
reader, but the main points may be briefly
bunched together.

“The Man of Silk” was indeed Robert Ay-
mer, though he had not worn the last name
since his flight from home, years before. Still
he had never forgotten father nor home, an
though for a time he lost track of his move-
ments, he heard of the tragedy in Chicago. and
at once set about solving the mystery which he
could not but feel enveloped the affair.

For obvious reasons he kept his identity a
secret while working on the case and as his
sus icions were directed toward Coney Kate
an Horace Miller as the real criminals, he
avoided his father, and when circumstances did
throw them together, he denied his identity lest
the guilty ones take the alarm and flight at the
same time.

Until that interview with Darius Aymer and
Adine, he believed the false brother and sister
were the criminals; until that day he did not
even dream that suspicion rested u n his shoul-
ders. Butras Darius Aymer told t e real story
of the robbery, a flash of light came into his
brain, and he felt that at last the mystery was
as ood as solved.

ore than once while circulating amen the
criminal class, working 11 a case against iller
and Cone Kate he had een mistaken for one
Varley ahn, whom he soon discovered to be a
criminal of note, “wanted” for more crimes
than one. And the better to perfect his plans,
he had accepted the title, and found it a pass-
port through many an ugly den.

This memory came back to him as he listened
to the story told by Darius Aymer, and only for
the presence of Adine, whom he still suspected
of being engaged in the Slot, he would have ad-
mitted his identity, and enounced the probable
sinner. As it was, he meant to find Booth Bar-
rett and arrest him as the criminal, whcnhe
was stunned and carried to the road-agents'
den, in mistake for Dr. Sanderson.

It will be remembered that when he forced
the cri pled chief to escort him to safety, Baby
John arcus claimed the outlaw, sayin that
he wanted alittle talk with him. And nrin
that talk, The Man of Silk found out that Boot
Barrett was the head of the outlaw an .
And when Barcus was throu h Wituh‘fis in m-
sition, he took it up, alone wit the law. 0
promised him immunity and freedom if he spoke
the whole truth ; then pressed him hard and per-
sistentl , finally learning all that has been sha-
dowed orth here.

This accounts for the persistent manner in
which Lucky Barrett was shadowed on that
evening, when he departed so far from his
usual manner—a cunning scheme to enable him
to prove an alibi when the murder of Posey
Curtis and the abduction of Little Puss was dis-
covered.

That was another scheme which the crippled
outlaw fully explained. Lucky Barrett believed,
with many another, that Posey Curtis had an
immense fortune concealed somewhere, the re-
sult of his prospecting. for it was public prop-
erty that Posey had taken a fortune out of his
“Pocket” before it was invaded by others. He
first sought to sin this by marrying Little
Fuss. but when s e refused to elope with him,
vowing that she would never be his without her
father’s consent. he plotted to have the old man
“removed from his path. If possible, the gold

 

was to be discovered throu h torture. If that
failed, Pose was to be ki ed, and Little Puss
taken to a esignated spot, where Lucky Bar-
rett was to rescue her, at the “ great peril of
his life 1” Then she would be easily won, and
the treasure with her.

 

While this complicated skein was being un-
tangled, Posey Curtis and Little Puss came into
town, seeking a surgeon for the broken arm.
The story of the attack and rescue spread like
wildfire, and was not long in reaching the ears
of The Man of Silk and John Barcus. After a
hast consultation they decided that Posey
shou d be told all, and at once visited him for
that purpose, brt only to discover that he knew
all they could tell him on that point, thanks to
Red Bergum.

They briefly gave him to understand that
Lucky Barrett would never trouble him again,
then took their departure.

That evening Darius Aymer missed Adine,
and gently, tender] , his son told him all, con—
cealing nothing. e told him that Coney Kate
was a wife when she married him—that the pre-
tended “ brother” was in reality her husband—-
thather “ heroic sacrifice ” on the witness-stand
was but part of their cunning scheme to get
hold of the money stolen from the Merchants’
Bank, believing him the prime mover in that
crime.

He told him how John Barcus. recognizin
the pair as criminals, and suspecting them 0
having a finger in that robbery, had eaves-
dro ped their private talk after the interview
with “ The Man of Silk,” noting down in short-
hand their very words. These notes, fully
written out, Robert Aymer now read to the old
man.

In silence Darius Aymer listened, shivering
now and then as the utter heartlessness of the
woman Whom he had called his wife was made
clear. His head bowed and tears fell from his
eyes as he heard how viciously she had advo-
cated his being taken to a secure spot where his
secret could be wrung from him by torture.
But then, as the reading ended, he looked
across to his son, smiling through his tears, say-

ing:

‘ ‘ Let her 0, Robert. She hasbeen as my wife,
and guiltyt ough she may be, our hands must
never drag her to djustice. Let her go. Yester-
day the loss woul have slain me, but now—my
son has come back to me! Come back from
worse than the grave !”

 

It was in obedience to a whis red hint from
Robert Aymer that Coney ate and Horace
Miller “skipped out” without sto ping to bid
Darius Aymer a last fond adieu! nd as tl‘ifiy
disap red from Posey’s Pocket, so theyf e
out 0 this record.

Varley Kahn seeing that further denial could
not save him, threw off the mask he had assum-
ed, and bent all his mind to escaping from the
grip of the bi detective; but in vain. He was
safely guarde back to the scene of his crime,
and by the aid of his former comrade, was con-
denéned to pay the full penaltydue his atrocious
dee .

This he did, in time, but none of the stolen
money was ever recovered. After his trial and
sentence, he made full confession, stating that
his share of the plunder—the lion’s share—had
been lost at different gaming-tables.

The trial and confession full cleared Darius
Aymer of even a suspicion o guilt. And as
Robert Aymer took the stand, telling how that
marvelous resemblance had led the father to
suspect his son, there were few who dared sneer
at the course the cashier had pursued.

Darius Aymer was offered more than one
lucrative ition, but he declined them all.
And with ‘ The Man of Silk,”he went back to
the old home, to pass the remainder of his days.

Posey Curtis recovered quickly from his
hurts, and Little Puss found consolation in nurs-
ing him. For some days Posey kept Secret
what had been revealed to him; but, one still,
bright evening as they sat together in the door-
way of the little stone cabin, Puss softly told
him the story of that night interview with
Booth Barrett.

“ I lied to you then, daddy. for I feared vou
would kill him if you found out the truth. And
I loved him—then!”

Posey Curtis gave a start, leanin back his
head until he could gaze full into the ace of the
girl. She did not shrink from his eyes, though
there were tears in her dark orbs as she met
them. Tears, but a faint smile on her face and
quivering lips.

“ Apd now, Kitty-puss? You—bless God fer
that.

The one sound arm did duty for two, and for
a few moments there was silence between father
and child—a silence too happy for speech.

Then. slowly, with many a break, with some
tears but more smiles, the whole sto was told.
Little Puss shivered and turned p e at times
as she learned how evil had been the ast of the
man who had captivated her first in den fancy.
but she bore it far better than Posey had dared
to hope.

“ It was not love—I know that now, dadd .”
the murmured, her curly head resting on

g x:

 

 

shoulder, her tear-dimmed eyes gazing over to
the as yet unmarked grave where Red Bergnm
rested. “It was a. fascination such as they
saya snake can exercise over a bird. But, it
seemed ve real while it lasted! Until that
night—unti I knelt alone in my room. with you
out here, listening to that poor man.”

“ “'e owe him more than I thought. then,”
murmured the old man. with a grateiul lance
toward the grave. “I wonder at be news
what mighty good he’s done you an’mc, Little
Puss?”

“God knows,” was the soft, reverent re-

use.

“ An’ so shell mankind ef the kin read plain
writin’ on stone, Little Russ. I¥art o’the gold
he saved us is fer a stone to mark his grave.
N o matter how he lived ; he died A MAN !”

THE END.

Beadle’s Half-Dime library.

BY JOSEPH E. BADGER. JR.

I Yellowstone Jack; or, The Tulip".
48 "luck John the Read-Agent; or, is Outluw'u Retro“.
65 Ilurrluanc fun; or, Mustang Sam and His Pad.

no Must-II Suns er,The King oi'the Plains.

186 Night-l uwk I‘d“; or, The Daughter of the Ranch.

144 llulnty Llnce the Boy Sport.

161 Panther Paul: or, Dainty Lnnre to the Rescue.

160 The "luck (Hunt: or, Dnllll)’ Lnnrc in Jeopardy.

16" Deadly Dunh; or, Fighting Fin with Fire.

184 The Boy Trailers; or, Dninly Lance on the War-Path.
208 The Bo ’urdu; or. Dainty Lance Uninuku.

.11 Crooke (Yule, the Cnlibnn of Celestial City.

810 The llarrunou “'oll'; or, The Beautiful Decoy.

819 The “lack Rlder: or, The lione-Thieveu’ Lune.

885 old Double Flat or, The Strunxo Guide

.55 The King ol'lhr 'omlu: or. Daniel Boou’l LustTnll.
‘49 Kit Fox. the Border 80v Detective.

625 ('hlm-upln Dan, the Roy Trailer.

677 Chincupln Dan's Second Troll.

6"“ ChIm-upln Ilun’u Home Stretch.

69" 0M Crazy. the Mn Wlilmut n Head.

703 Light-“curt Lute’u League .

718 Ll ht-Ileurt Lute'u Lust rull.

728 Iii verb all e. the Shoshone.

729 Sliver." -- c, the Half-Blood; or, The Border Beagle It Buy.
789 fillverb ad c, the Hostile.

748 Bllru b - a, the Friendly; or, The Border Beagle's Boy Pad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

BY BUCKSKIN IAI (Hole! Sun. 8. Hull.)

.84 Old Rocky's “ Bo ecu or, Bonito. the Hamlin-kn.
.4. (Hunt George; or, he Anu’l of the Bufie.
ITS Arluon. Junk; or Giant George's Ford.
.97 The Turuntulu of Tnoull or, GiuntGeom’s Revenge.
.07 The Stroll” Purdt or, ittie Ben’s Death Hunt.
813 Ker-who. . Ker-whee or, The Tarantula off-on.
fl? Creeping Cut. the Cull o; onTheRed andWhltehsdu.
‘8. Into Fred t or, The Tonkaway’u Trust.
I44 The F httn‘ Trio: or. Rattlesnake, the Teak-away.
“9 Wild elf; or, Big‘Foot Wallace to the Front.
:& :{he “stuck guise" of. The Siege of Fort Purgatory.
In 0 o uncut.
sure... t.“ Greek: or The Three Thunderbolts.
can under. min or. ruo li'vuuk to 0.. Front.
8” Romeo and the Reds: or, The Be
‘04 Ht". Lori-t; or Pecan Pete's Big Rampage.
‘14 The Bully from Denver.
at The Three Trullent or, Old Rocky on the loam
m In" Blllt or The Lynx ofthe Imus.
455 Little Lone tor x 0'. The Bell- of the Cibclo.
“4 Cache Girl. the Chico Giant.

BY RO0ER BTARBUOK.

.5 The Boy Cuptulnt or, The Pirate’s Daughter.
114 The Bluek Schooner: or, Jib Junk. the Old Ta.
859 The Golden "or out; or, heat Among the Floss.
848 l'lrc-IIeole or. 0 d Skinfllnt, the Death-Shadow.
854 Ill. Ilorn I e. the lllll Trump; or, The Odd Path.
.61 The Phantom gilt-house.
870 Breaker Ben. the Reef-Runner.

 

IIMELLAN nous AUTIOBI.

4 The Wild-"one lluntero. By Capt. lone Iota and
Frederick Whittaker.
0 Adv sutures of“ Baron lunch-noel.
l. Gul‘lver'u Travels. By Dan Swift.
1‘ Aladdln; or, The Wonderful Lamp.
1. "ohm-on Crusoe. (91 illustrations.)
18 Sludhud the Gallon. His Seven Vi)qu
90 also} Sen Serpent: or, The Boy Rob neon Crusoe. 3, Jun
W I.
as The ocean Bloodhound; or, The Red Pirates of the
Cnrribees. By S. . Pierce.
86 The “0, Clown: or, The Arena Queen. By 1' Anal.
3! Ned “'ylde, the Boy Scout. By Tom Jack.
51 The Boy Rifle-t or. The Under and Camp. By A. C.Ironu.
95 The Rival Rovers; or, The reebooten of the Mississippi.
By Lieut.~Col. Haultino.
98 llobln flood. the Outlawed luv); or.1‘he Merry Men of Gluco-
wood. I! Prof. Gllduniuve.
10‘ "Id Kuhn, the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive. By Captain
Humian Holmes. -
119 The Mad "outer; or, 1 he Cave of Death. By Burton Bone.
1.4 Tlpvy. the Toxunt onThe/Young Champion. )7 Goon.

09.0“.
1.8 The Young Privateer: or. The Pirate’s Stronghold. Dy
Hurry Cuven lull.
148 Sharp Bug's her, The Adventures or a Madison Icy. I] J.
luau r at n.
at Dusky Dune“. Tn per: or, The Green Ranger of the Tel-

 

lowstone. By Edward n.
.61 For us Feurnuulht the New Y irk Boy. Be 9. L. Aiken.
.66 K1! ur. the Guide; 'll,DlV, Crockett’s rooked Tull.

By Ensign C. 1'). Warren.

.08 Red Claw the One-Eyed Trill)": 0'. The Held at the C“.
By Captain omstock.

O17 Peacock Pete. the Lively Led Mm Leudvflle. Dy Her
tenant Alfred Theme. ,

.38 The Sky lletcotlvol 0': A Boy In!“ for Llfe undue-es.
B Meier Mickey Inc.

350 R’ed Ralph. the River Rover; or,1'lu W I.
venue. By Ned Bani-lino-

‘65 “ultlmore Ben the Bootbisck Detective. By A. P. I“

814 Gold-“nut Tom or. Ben I Donhl- Much. B 0 ll. Issue.

876 Cullfornlu Joe’s First Troll. Dy Ce ouel Then.

0 er Mommy.

‘1. “I Iy "ombuhcll, the Cliff Climber. By 1. B. Winthrop.

‘7‘ The Black Ship. By John 8 Warner.

‘84 Comanche Dick and Illu Tim 11"“le ’1
Hon" J. Thomas.

58. The Cowho Duke. By ldwtu Brooke Ion-u.

55' Ariel the At iote. By David Druid.

58‘ WI“ Waters, tie Bov Ferret. Bv H.lntou.

08. The Dead Detectives Double. By Ger-ll Carlton.

721 Muvcrlek Mose, tne Arlsons Detective; or, The Winnie]
[Trims Pull. By “'Ili Liuenbee.

746 ulet Jack, the Secret Service Spy; or,Teo Much for Red

ury. By Dan Dunning, (oi the Secret Service Corps).

A New Issue Every Tueeduy.

fl. nglfJn-g lergry is for sale by all newsdealau, In
“bps: copy, or sent by mall on receipt of In cents each.
BEADLE AND ADAIS, Publlshcre.
98 William Street, New York.

. i, 

.,»

l. V ‘ v.»
v: .-.. .1

r /=..;..,‘1.

 

 

.
Was...»- “a,

4‘

 

ix- .

‘d‘ “is-u-

   
     
 

 

‘—

. 830 Tiger Dick's

bH

‘ *mflhe True-Heart
I " . ' .

    

BEA

‘ 'f"

I .l

4'.  ugy ;

Pubhshed Every Wednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Ten Cents. No Double Numbers.

 

 

 

BY WILLIAM R. EYSTER.

The Rival Rovers.

Double-Cinch Dan. the Sport With a Charm.
Mr. Jackson, the Gent- from Jaybird.
Gilt-Edge J ohnni": or. Roldan and His Rovers.
Luckv Lester’s one Hand.
Old Handcart‘s Big Dump,
6'13 The All Around Sports.
613 Desert Alf, the Man With the Cougar.
500 Gentle Jack, the High Roller from Humbug.
Seven Shot Stew. the Sport with a Smile.

The Dude Detective.
Hurrah Harry. the High Horse from Halcyon.
Belshazzar Brick, the Bailiff of Blue Blazes.
511 Oregon. the Sport WithaScnr.
5'35 Fresh Frank. the Derringer Daisy.
5031 The Dude from Denver.
41“ Pinnacle Pete; or. The Fool from Way Back.
4.3:) )lu'or Sunshine, the Man of Three Lives.

~. llulr Trig er Tom of Red Bend.
r102 Snapshot am; or. The Angels’ Flat Racket.
396‘The Pi er Detective; or, The Gilt Edge Gang.
375 Royal eo e, the ThrBe in One.
356 Three Han some Sports or, The Combination.
341 Double Shot Dave 0 the Left Hand.
37:3 Derringer Dick. the Man with the Drop.
300 A Sport in Spectacles; or. Bad Time at Bunco.
268 Magic Mike. the Man of Frills.
22‘.) Captain Cutsleeve; or, The Little Sport.
211 The Two Cool Sports; or, Gertie of the Gulch.
19:2 The L' htning S ort.
182 Hands p; or, e Knights of the Canyon.
160 Soft Hand. Sharp: or, Th»- Man with the Sand.
115 Pistol Pards; or, The Silent Sport from Cinnabar

BY CAPT. FRED. “'HITTAKER. ‘1

611 The Showman Detective; or, The Mad Magician.
609 The Texas Tramp; or, Solid Saul.
41:) J ourne man John. the Champion.
412 Lari; ke. the Man of Iron.
406 Old op Hicks, Showman.
378 John Armstrong, Mechanic.
826 The Whitest Man in the Mines.
310 The Marshal of Satanstoml; or. The League.
308 To Notch Tom, the Cowbo Outlaw.
295 01 Cross-Eye, the Maverlc -Hunter.
290 The Lost Corvette: or, Blakeley’s Last Cruise.
264 The Three Frigates; or. Old Ironsides’ Revenge.
277 The Saucy Jane, Privateer.
272 Seth Slocum. Railroad Surveyor.
215 Old Double-Sword; or. Pilots and Pirates. .
25‘s A Yankee k' or,The Queen of the Nihilists.
241 Alligator Ike: or. he Secret of the Everglade.
242 The Fog Devil; or, The Ski r of the Flash.
230 The Flying Dutchman of 1 .
226 The Mad Hussars; or. The 0‘s and the Mac’s.
215 Parson Jim, King of the Cowboys.
211 Colonel Plunger; or, The Unknown Sport.
206 OneE e. the Cannoneer.
193 The in Red; or, The Ghost of the Old Guard.
187 The Death‘s Head Cuirassiers.
174 The Phantom Knights.
159 Red Rudiger, the Archer. ‘
132 Nemo. King of the Tram .
115 The Severed Head; or, T1: Castle Coucy Secret.
105 The Duke of Diamonds.

93 The Rock Rider; or. The Spirit of the Slam.

96 Double Death; or. The Sagy of Wyoming.

69 The Irish Ca tain. A T e of Fontenoy.

65 The Red Ra ah; or, The Scourge of the Indies.

707
647
67 i‘

av...
F9-

5th
53%
M i

i

89 The Russian Spy; or. The Starry Cross Brothers. _

'BY OLL GOODIES.

619 Kit Bandy & Co , the Border Detectives.
14$ One-Armed Alf. the Giant Hunter.
137 Long Beard. the Giant Sp‘yy.
99 The Giant Rifleman: or. lid Camp Life.
51 Red Rob, the Boy Road-Agent.
48 Idaho Tom. the Young Outlaw of Silverland.
46 B mus-Knife Ben, the Nor‘west Hunter.
44 Old Dan Rackhack. the Great Extarininator
43 Dakota Dan. the Reckless Ranger.
7 Death-Notch. the Destroyer.

BY PHILIP S. WARNE.

58% Captain Adair. the Cattle King.
567 Captain Midnight. the Man of Craft.
514 The Back to Back Pards.
522 The Champion Three.
502 Bareback Buck, the Centaur of the Plains.
472 Six Foot Si; or, The Man to “ Tie To."
431 California Kit, the Always in Hand.
401 Silver Sid; or A “ Daisy ‘1 Bluff.
led of or, The Golden Serpent.
359 Yellow Jack, the 6812110.
338 Jack Sands. the Boss of the Town.
299 Three of a Kind; or Dick. DeSpard and the Spon.
$0 Tiger Dick’s Lone and.
251 Tiger Dick vs. Iron Des d.
297 Old H Head: or. \ lrlwlnd and his Mare. \
1‘1 TISGrDick. the Man of the Iron Heart.
111 The Gentleman from Pike.
so A Man of News or, Caliban the Dwart.
54 MW” on Hand; or. The Foot-Hills Sport. ‘

29 Tiger Dick. Faro Kin ; or, The Cashier's Crime-

-1 The Kidnapper: or, h Northwest Sh hai.
1 A Hard Crowd; or. Gelltleman Sam‘s $135....

I
BY LEON LlWISo
699 The Cowbongourlei-s. .
686 The On-the- in Detectives. » '
The Submarine active: or, The Water Ghouls.

4n %”%5“~.'§°8d¥é§$° Bed mm“

\ e e e vs: or, .
456 The Demon Steer. The 3.00” Nephew
428 The Flying Glim; or, The Island Lure.

BY PROF. J. 11. INGRAIIAM.’
816 Lafitte's Lieutenant: or. Child 1.
213:; #gtg; olr. T61: Paifirate of gale glut.” s“.
l urg ar n' or. e l
118 The Sea Slipper? or, e Lreebo‘gtggsgm
BYOB. NOEL DUNDAB.‘
604 The Detective 1113528; or. The Grim Shadmf.

 

.l

,_ ,1

 

 

 

 

     
  

BY CAPTAIN H0‘VARD HOLMES.

711 Dan Damon. the Gilt-Edge. Detective.
701 Silver Steve, the Branded Sport.
69-1 Gideon Grip, the Seclet Shadower.
684 Velvet Van. the Mystery Shadowor.
67% The Dude Desperado
671 Jason Clew, the Silk-Handed Ferret.
661 Monk Morel, the Man-Hun or.
651 S01 S. hinx. the Ferret Detective.
612 Red ard and Yellow,
608 Silent Sam the. Shadow Sphinx.
592 Captain Sid. the Shasta Ferretx
579 Oil Cormorant. the Bowery Shadow.
569 Captain Cobra. the Hooded Mystery.
559 Danton, the Shadow Sharp.
550 Silk Hand, the Mohav» Ferret.
543 The Magnate Detective.
5'12 Jack Javert. the Independent Detective.
5‘53 Reynnrd of Red Jack: or, The Lost Detective.
512 Captain Velvet’s Big Stake.
505 Phil Fox. theGenteel Spotter.
496 Richard Redflre, the Two Worlds' Detective.
48? Sunshine Sam, a Chip of the Old Block.
480 Hawkspear. the Man with a Secret.
4'58 Coldgrip in Deadwood.
460 Captain Coldgrlp. the Detective.
4533 Captain Coldir‘ip‘s Long Trail.
447 VOIcano. the sco Spy.
411 The California Sharp.
434 Lucifer Lynx, the Wonder Detective.
421 Father Ferret. the Frisco Shadow. ‘
413 Captain Coldgrip in New York.
407 Captain Coldgrlp‘s Nerve; or. In un Nick.
400 Captain Coldgrip: or. The New ork Spotter.
392 The Lost Bonanza: or, The Boot of Silent Hound.
382 The Bonanza Band: or. Dread Don of Cool Clan.
874 Major Blister. the S rt of Two Cities.
365 Keen Kennard. the hasta Shadow.
2 The Des rate Dozen.
347 Denver uke. the Man with “ Sand."
840 Cool Conrad. the Dakota Detective.
335 Flash Dan. the Nabob: or. Blades of Bowie Bar.
321 California Claude, the Lone Bandit.
294 Broadcloth Burt. the Denver Dandy.
278 Hercules Goldspur, the Man of the Velvet Hand.

BY WM. G. PATTEN.

715kDouble.Volco Dan on Deck.

702 Double-Voice Dan, the Always-on-Dehk Detective
696 Double-Voice Dan, the Go-It Alone Detective.
669 The Sparkler Sharp.

670 Hurricane Hal. the Cowboy Hotspur.

669 Old True Blue. the Trust .

668 The Giant S ort; or, Sol to Satan.

656 Old Plug gl , the Rough and Ready.

618 Gold Glove Id the Man of Grit.

641 Aztec Jack, the amt Nomad. .

631 Colonel Cool. the Santa Fe Sharp.

602 Caytain Nameless. the Mount/sin Mystery.

571 CI Dismal. the Ran e Detective.

545 Hustler Harry, the

BY CAPTAIN MARK WiLTON.

owboy Sport.

823 Hotspur Hugh; or. The Banded Brothers. ‘

811 Heavy Hand: or, The Marked Men.

305 Silver- lated Sol, the Montana Rover.

291 Horses 0c Hank. the Man of Big Luck.

285 Lightnln Bolt. the Canyon'Terror.

276 Texas Ch oh the Southwest Detective.

271 Stoneflst, of Big Nwt Bend.

206 Leopard Luke. the fig ot Horse-Thieves.
an goo-Armed Abe, the unchback Destroyer.
258 ullet Head the Colorado Bravo.

so Barranca Bill the Revolver Champgm

237 Lon -Haired ax; or, The Black 0.
227 Buc shot Ben, the Man-Hunter of Ida lo. '

223 Canyon Dave, the Man of the Mountain. .

219 The Socrpion Brothers; or. Mad Tom’s Mission
202 Cactus Jack. the Giant Guide. n
194 Don Sombrero. the California Road Gent.

176 Lady Jaguar. the Robber Queen.

BY SAM 8. HALL— “ Buck-kin Sam.”

511 Point Pete. the Prairie Patrol.
371 Gold Butt s; or, The Up Range Pards
858 The. Prmc of Pan Out.’
312 Blanca Bill, the Mustang Monarch.
328 King Kent: or, The Bandits of the Bason.

323 The Crimson Coyotes; or, Nita, the Nemesis
309 Raybold, the Battling Ranger.

301 Bowlder Bill; or, The Man from Taos. l .
293Stampede Steve: or, The Doom of the Double.
287 Dandy Dave and his Horse, ‘White Stocking.
282 The Merciless Marauders; or. Carl’s Revenge.
273 Mountain Mose. the Gorge Outlaw. ,
269 The Bayou Bravo"; or. The Terrible Trail.
264 The Crooked Three. ’ . 4
256 Double Dan. the bastard or. The Pirates.
250‘ The Rough Riders; or, Sliarp Eye, the Scourge.
214 Merciless Mart. the Man Tiger of Missouri.
239 The Terrible TI'lO' or. The Angelrof the Army.
25 Rocky Mountain Al; or. The Wall of the Range.
221 Desperato'DukE the Guadaloupe “ Galoot.”
217_The Serpent of El Paso; or, Frontier Frank.

212 The Brazos Tigers; or, Me Minute Men.

204 Big Foot Wallace, the King of the Lariat.

199 Diamond Dick, the Dandy from Denver. .

195 The Lone Star Gambler: or. M ollafs Maid.
191 The Terrible Tonkawav; or. old ocky’s Pal-dc
186 The Black Bravo: or, The Tonkaway’s Triumph.
178 Dark Dashwood, the Des rate.

90 Wild Will, the Mad Ranc ero. -‘

3 Kit Carson, Jr, the Crack Shot. /

an 001.. THOMAS H. Mpns'rnnr.

832 Spring-Heel Jack: or, The Masked Mystery.

262 Fighting Tom. the Terror of the Toughs.

216 Champion Sam; or, Th Monarchs of the Show.

169 Corporal Cannon. the an of Forty Duels , ‘

157 Mourad, the Mameluke; or, The Three Sword

150 “it“fims Ki fth 8 rd
u o ravo. ngo e we men.

148 The Czar’s S

1% The Demon.

881ml: Wflst,‘the‘8w0rdmaster.. ’  

    

iLY‘

1

:or,TheNih st 9. " '1
uelist: or. Them Steel.”

_ 444 The Magic Detective: or, The Hidden Hand. 5 'i‘ V 1

 

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BY NED BUNTLINE.

657 Long Tom. the Privateer. ..
633 The Sea S y.
621 The Red rivateer; or. The Midshipman Rover.
594 Fire Feather. the Buccaneer King.
517 Buffalo Bill‘s First Trail.
Tombstone Dick. the Train Pilot.
270 Andros. the Rover; or. The Pirate‘s Daughter.
2:2 Saul Sabberday. the Idiot Spy.
The Smuggler Captain: or, The Skipper’s Crime.
61 Captain Seawaif. the Privateer.
2: The Red Warrior; or. The Comanche Lover. r
18 The Sea Bandit; or, The Queen of the Isle.
'16 The White Wizard; or. The Seminole Prophet.
14 Thayendanegea, the Scourge;or. The War-Eagle.

BY EDWARD \VILLETT.

Flush Fred. the River Sharp.
368 The Canyon King; or. a Price on his Head.
318 Dan Dillon. King of Crosscut.
:‘ 1 Old Gabe. the Mountain Tram . .
327 Terrapin Dick, the Wildwood etective.
815 Flush Fred's Double: or, The Squatters’ League.
Hemlock Hank, Tough and True.
298 Lv'lgger Lem: or. Life in the Pine Woods.
289 Flush Fred‘s Full Hand.
274 Flush Fred. the Mississippi Sport.
248 Montana Nat, the Lion 0 Last Chance Camp..
232 Bill the Blizzard; or. Red Jack‘s Crime.
209 Buck Farley. the Bonanza Prince.
129 Mississippi Mose; or, a Strong Man '3 Sacrifice.
DY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID.
$7 The White Squaw,
2&1 The Hunter’s Feast.
m The Maroon. A Tale of Voodoo and Obeah. . ,
219 The Wild Huntress' or. The Squatter. ' ,
213 The War Trail: or, he Hunt of the Wild Horse.
208 The White Chief. A Romance of Mexico.
200 The Ride Ran ers; or. Adventures in Mexico.
74 The Captain 0 the Rifles: or, The Lake ueen. \
66 The Specter Barque. A Tale of the Pac' c;
55 The Seal Hunters. A Romance of the Plains.
12 The Deat -Shot: or. Tracked to Death.
6 The Headless Horseman.

BY HAROLD PAYNE. ..
713 Detective Burr's Spirit Chase. 
706 Detective Burr's Seven Clues. :
698 Thad Burr, the Invincible.
690 The Matchless Detective.
60) XX, the Fatal Claw.

BY COLONEL BELLE SARA. V 5.

106 Shamus O'Brien, the“ Bould Boy of Glingal. - -'\ 
87 The Scarlet Cap ' or. Prisoner of the Tower. '
58 Silver Sam; or, he tery 01' Deadwood City.

BY JACKSON KNOX-“ Old Hawk.”

643 Castlemallne. the Silent Sifter. ‘
616 Magnus. the Weird Detective.

606 The Drop Detective. . , ,
595 Wellborn. the Upper Crust Detective. -‘
582 Joram. the DetectiveExpert. '

574 Old Falcon’s Double. '

561 The Thug King° or, The Falcon Detectivo's Foe

548 Falconbridge. t e Sphinx Detective.

536 Old Falcon 3 Foe; or. The Detective' Swell Job.

515 Short~Stop Ma 9. the Diamond Fiel Detective.

509 Old Falcon. t e Thunderbolt Detecth '~
501 S ringstecl Steve. the Retired Detecti
494 T e Detective‘s S y. -

485 Rowlock. the Bar r Detective.

477 Deadwarm 8 not. .
467 Mainwaring. he Salamander. ‘ ' » ‘ ~
462 The Circus Detective. .
451 Grinlock. the Rocket Detective.

8.,

424 Hawk Heron‘s Deputy.
386 Hawk Heron. the Falcon Detective.

MISCELL INEOUS. » ‘7 ’
566 The Dauntless Detecdve: or, The Dmghtdr’ . -'
Avenger. Bv TomW. King. ; : ‘ 
542 The Ocean Drift; or, The Fight for TWO Lives. ,
By A. F. Holt. _ ' ‘1’“
534 Green Mountain Joe: or, The Counterfelter’l‘
Cave. v Marmaduke Dey. . _ ;
518  ' ard, the Thoroughbred. By J. W.1 v; '

s n.

410 Sarah Brown. Detective. Bv K. F. Hill. .' K

366 The Telegraph Detective. By George H. Morse. f .

853 Bart Brennan: or, The King of Straight Flush. ‘ - .
Bv John Cuthlrert. - x '2'.

350 Flash Falcon. Society Detective. By W. J. Cobb.  - \

812 Kinkfoot Karl, the Mountain Scourge. By Max», 

rls Redwing. »

275 The Smuggler. Cutter. BIyJ. D. Conroy. _' I
261 BljxlCRYSradm, the Prairie hunderbolt. By Coke

. o a s. , , .
190 The Three Guardsmen. Bv Alexander
179 Conrad, the Convict. By Prof. Gildersleeve.
166 Owlet. the. Rubber Prince. Bv S. R Urban.
153 The Doomed Dozen. By Dr. Fl: Powell
152 Captain Ironnerve the Counterf ter Chief
146 The Dector Detective. Bv Georg: be
144 The Hunchback of Notre Dame. y

133 Rod . By W am Carleton.
125 The Blacksmith Outlaw. By H. Ainmrth."
110 The Silent Rifletnan. By B. W. Herbert. ‘

    

  
  
  
  
    
   
     
    
 
    
 
     
   
  
   
   
 
  

  

102 The ad Band. By George L. Aiken.
78 The Mysterious S y. By Arth r M. G
76 The son‘s Mus eteers.‘ Bv Gear
68 The ting Trapper. By

    
  

00 Wide Awake. the Bonsai-king. r.
82 B‘ho of Yale: or, The Sci-apes of
11 Mids ipman Easy. ByCa taln Marryut... '
10 Vldooq, the. French Police py. By him.
9 ndy Andy. By Samuel Lover. , ‘ " ‘
6 is Bob. By Edward 1.. Wheeler.-
' A new law may Wednesday.
Ban on Dlmo Library/Is tor ma
flowed era. ten cents pencopghornfltbx "

rec of twelve cents each. A ‘ ‘
“mam” William street, New  __

1‘.

  

   
 
 
  

  
   
  

     
   
 
 

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.1.

 

  

 
      

  

   
    
  
  

  
     

     

 470 The

 

 

* T BEADLE’S*DIME*EBRA

i

RY.

Publtshed Every Wednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Ten Cents. No Double Numbers.

 

 

BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR.

698 Kent Kasson, the Preacher Sport.
6&3 Bob Breeze, the Rounder Detective.
675 Steel Surry, the SpOrt from Sunrise.
668 Solemn Saul‘s Luck Streak.

661 The Get-There Sharp.

651 Silvertip Steve, the Sky‘ Scraper from Siskiyou.

645 Gopher Gabe, the Unseen Detective.

636 Dandy Darling, Detective.

627 Mossbaok Mose, the Mountaineer.

617 The Gri Sack Sharp's Even u ).

597 Big Ban y, the Brigadier of B mstone Butte.
588 Sandy Sands, the Sharp from Snap1City.

576 Silver-Tonsgued Sid; or, Gri Sack S
564 The Grip- ack Sharp; or
555 Grip-Sack Sid, the Sump e Sport.

547 The Buried Detective; or, Sanl’s Six Sensations.
541 Major Magnet, the Man of Nerve.

535 Dandy Dutoh. the Decorator from Dead-Lift.
587 Dandy Andy, the Diamond Detective.

514 Gabe Gunn, the Grizzl from Ginseng.

504 Solemn Saul. the Bad an from San Saba.

495 Rattlepate Rob; or, The Roundhead's Reprisal.

488 The Thoro hbred Sport. '
474 Dadd -Eye, the Des t of Dew Drop.
466 Old ugh and Ready, t 0 Sage of Sundown.

458 Dutch Dan. the Pilgrim from Spitzenberg.
450 The Rustler Detective.
443 A Cool Hand; or, Pistol Johnny’s Picnic.
438 Oklahoma Nick.
433 Laughing Leo; or. Sam’s Dandy Pard.
4% 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.
40:: The Nameless Sport.
‘ 395 Dead] Aim, the Duke of Derrin ers.
887 Dark or}, the Ishmael of the ills.
879 Bowling onathan, the Terror from Headwaters.
879 Ca tain Crisp. the Man with a. Record.
867 A yal Flush: or, Dan Brown's Big
880 Jumpi Jerry, the Gamecock from
855 Storm teve. the Mad Athlete.
851 Nor‘ est Nick. the Border Detective.
845 Masked Mark. the Mounted Detective.
889 Spread Eagle Sam. the Hercules Hide Hunter.
881 Chis Charley. the Gold Nug et Sport.
324 Old orked Lightning. the Sol tary.
317 Frank Lightfoot. the Miner Detective.
1112 Faro Saul. the Handsome Hercules.
292 Moke Homer, the Boss Roustabout.
2% Pistol Johnny; or. One Man in a Thousand.
$8 Sleek Sam, the Devil of the Mines.
257 Death Tra Digging; or. A Man ‘Way Back.
249 Elephant cm. 0 uran o.
241 Spitfire Saul. King of the ustlers.
288 The Old lloy of Tombstone.
m1 Pirate of the Pincers: or. .10 uin‘s Death Hunt.
197 Revolver Rob: or, The Belle 0 Nugget Camp.
180 Old ‘49; or. The Amazon of Arizona.
170 Street William, the Trapper Detectin
165 Joaquin. the Terrible
1 154 Joaquin, the Saddle King.
141 uinox Tom. the Bull of Red Rock.
127 So Scott, the Masked iner.
119 Alabama Joe: Or. The Yazoo Man-Hunters.
105 Dan Brown of DenVer: or. The Detective.
88 Big George; or. The Five Outlaw Brothers.
71 Captain Cool Blade: or. Mississippi Man Shark.
67 The Boy Jockey: or, Honesty vs. Crookedness.
64 Double-Sight, the Death Shot.
50 Jack Rabbit, the Prairie Sport.
47 Pacific Pete, the Prince of the Revolver.
45 Old Bull'sl-gyemhe Lightnin Shot.
- 40 Long-Hal Pards; or. The arters of the Plains.
80 Gospel George; or, Fiery Fred, the Outlaw.
28 Three-Fingered Jack, the Road-Agent.

‘ BY WILLIAM H. MANNING.

892 Dead-Shot Paul, the Deep-Ran e Ex iorer.
655 Strawberry Sam the Man wit the irthmark.
646 Dark John, the Grim Guard.
638 Murdock. the Dread Detective.
623 'pa erous Dave the Never-Beaten Detective.
on Alka i Abe the Game Chicken from Texas.
596 Rustler Ruhe' the Round-Up Detective.
55 Dan Dixon's Double. '
575 Steady Hand, the Na eon of Detectives.
563 Wyoming Zeke, the Ho ur of Honey suckle.
551 Garry Kean, the wit Backbone.
589 Old Doubledark. the W1 Detective.
581 SaddleChief Kit, the rie Centaur.
581 Paradise Sam, the Nor'-West Pilot.
518 Texas Tartar, the Man With Nine Lives,
506 Uncle Honest. the Peacemaker of Hornr-ts‘ Nest.
4% Central Pacific Paul. the Hall Train Spy.
‘ 499 Border, Bullet, the Prairie Sharpshooter.
486 Kansas Kitten. the Northwest Detective.
479 Gladiator Gabe, the Samson of Sassajack.
Duke of Dakota. ._
Gold Gauntlet. the Gulch Gladiator.
455 Yank Yellowbird, the Tall Hustler of the Hills.
449 Bluff Burke. Kingtof the Rockies.
ild West Walt, he Mountain Veteran.
Duke: or The Man of Two Lives.
vals of Montana Mill.
rt-
, the Brigadier o uck Basin.
Dic Turpin, tgetoLeadville Lion.
297 Colorado Rube. the :1 Arm of Ho
{[9 The Gold Dragoon, or. ornia Bl

’ BY J. c. cownn‘lcx.

~ ,_ M Ducats Dion, the Nabob Sport Detective.

q' 61! Sheriff Stfllwood, the Regulator of Raspberry.
as The Dominic Detective.

' .591 Duke Daniels. the Society Detective.
an Shadowing a Shadow. ,
585 Prince Paul. the Postman Detective.

557 The Mountain Graybeards' or. Riddles' Biddle.
, l ,519 Old Riddles. the Roc r \
 m t Charlie, the port.

I , 478 Gilbert of Gotham, the Steel-arm Detective.

a Bainnmbow Bob. the Tulip from T

ame.
undown.

l‘.
hounds

\

exas.
a” cky Jean. the S rt from Yellow Pine.

a Grass Burt. the. old Star Detective.
The Giant Cupid; or Olbuta John‘s Jubilee.

  

arp’s Sweep.
he Seraphs of Sodom.

.12 The Skeleton Schooner;

 

   

BY COL. PREN'I‘ISS INGRAHAM.

685 The Red-skin Sea Rover.

679 Revello, the Pirate Cruiser; or. The Rival Rovers
672 The Red Rapier; or, The Sea Rover’s Bride.

662 The Jew Detective; or, The Beautiful Convict.
658 The Cowboy Clan; or, The Tigress of Texas.

653 The Lasso King’s League. A companion Story .

to " Buck Taylor, the Saddle King.’
649 Buck Taylor. the Saddle King.
640 The Rovrr's Retribution.
635 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 nuccaneers. 1‘
610 The Red Flag Rever; or,White Wings of the Deep. ,
605 The Shadow Silver Ship. '
600 The Silver Ship: or, The Sea SCOuts of ’76. V
593 The Sea Rebel; or. Red Rovers of the Revolution. 3
587 Conrad. the Sailor Spy; or. True Hearts of ’76. 1
581 The Outlawed Ski per; or, The Gantlet Runner.
560 The Man from exico. ‘
553 Mark Monte, the Mutineer; or, The Branded Brig.
516 The Doomed Whaler: or. The Life Wreck. '
540 The Fleet Scourge; or, The SeaWings of Salem.
580 The Sav es of the Sea.
524 The Sea haser; 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.

‘ Ocean Tramps' or, The Desperadoes of the Deep.
47!: Bob Brent,the uccaneer; or. the Red Sea Raider.
469 The Lieutenant Detective; or. the Fugitive Sailo’r.
457 The Sea Insurgent: or. The Conspirator Son.

446 Ocean Ogre, the Outcast Corsair.

435 The One-Armed Buccaneer.

430 The Fatal Frigate; or, Rivals in Love and War.
4% The Sea Sword; or. The Ocean Rivals.

418 The Sea Siren: or. The Fugitive Privateer.

399 The New Monte Cristo.

398 The Convict Captian.

888 The Giant Buccaneer; or, The Wrecker Witch.
377 Afloat and Ashore: or. The Corsair Conspirator.
878 Sailor of Fortune: or. The Barnegat Buccaneer.
369 The Coast Corsair: or. The Siren of the Sea.

364 The Sea Fugitive; or, The Queen of the Coast.
346 Ocean Guerrillas; or, Phantom Midshipman.

841 The Sea Desperado.

336 The Magic Snip' or. Sandy Hook Freebooters.
325 The Gentleman irate; or. The Casco Hermits.
318 The Indian Buccaneer: or. The Red Rovers.

am The Phantom Pirate; or, The Water Wolves.

an The Sea Owl: or. The Lady Captain of the Gulf.
259 Cutlass and Cross; or, the Ghouls of the Sea.
255 The Pirate Priest; or. The Gambler’s Dau htor.
246 ueen Helen, the Amazon of the Overlan .

285 Lightning the Man of Chance.
231 The Kid Glove Miner: or. The Magic Doctor.
221 Black Beard. the Buccaneer.
220 The Specter Yacht; or, A Brother's Crime.
216 The Corsair Planter: or, Driven ‘to Doom.
210 Buccaneer Bess. the Lioness of the Sea.
205 The Gambler Pirate; or, Lady of the Lagoon.
or The Skimmer.
l'he Ocean Vampire; or. The Castle Heiress.

181 The Scarlet Schooner: or. The Sea Nemesis.

177 Don Diablo, the Planter-Corsair.

172 Black Pirate: or. The Golden Fetters M stery.
162 The Mad Mariner: or, Dishonorell and isowned
155 The Corsair Queen: or, The Gypsies of the Sea.
147 Gold Spur, the Gentleman from Texas.

189 Fire Eye; or, The Bride of a Buccaneer.

184 Darke Dan, the Colored Detective.

131 Bucks in Sam, the Texas Trailer.

128 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 Kin of the Black Flag.

104 Montezuma. the Mere less.
103 Merle, the Mutineer; or. The Red Anchor Brand.
94 Freelance. the Buccaneer.

89 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.
Numbers ‘ are from the pen of 311']an Bill.

691 Buffalo Bill’s Blind Trail.
682 Buflalo Bill’s Secret Service Trail.

667 Buffalo Bill‘s Swoop;‘or, The King of the Mines.
644 Buffalo Bill‘s Bonanza.

.689 The Gold King; or, Montebello. the Magnificent.
629 Daredeath Dick' or, Buffalo Bill’s Da n Role.

two The Dead Shot Nine- or My Pards of the lains ,
517 Buffalo Bill's First 1*... .

I'414 Red Renard. the Indian Detective.

‘401 OneArmed Pard; or, Borderland Retribution.

.397 The Wizard Brothers: or, White Beavers Trail.

‘394 White Beaver. the Exile of the Platte.

362 Buffalo Bill's Grip; or Oath Bound to Custer.
329 The e of Three: or. Buaalo Bill’s Pledge.

.319 Wild Bi . the Whirlwind of the West. .

'804 Texas Jack. the Prairie Rattler. .

.943 The P1 in Shag): or, The Soldier s Sweetheart
189 Wild 8 l’s Gold rail; or, The rate Dozen
175 Wild Bill’s Trump Card: or, The indian Heiress
168 Wild Bill, the Pistol Dead Shot.

158 The Doomed Dozen; or. Buffalo Bill, Chief of

Scouts.
117 Buffalo Bill‘s Strange Paul.
92 Buffalo Bill. the Buckskin King.
'83 Gold Bullet Sport; or, Kn ht of the Overland.
‘52 Death-Trailer. the Chief o Scouts.

 

BY mam. A. x. anus.

688 The River Bustiers.
873 Stuttering Sam, the Whitest Sport of Santa 3‘6.
668 Old Adamant. the Man of Rock.

618 kansas Karl, the Detective King.

556 Prince Primrose, the Flower of the Flock.
5” Wherry. the roothills Detective.

 

  

(‘1_‘\_i,J U ‘l)‘

 

“I a:

‘ 674 Uncle Sun Up. the Born Detective.
l

  

BY ALBERT W. AIKEN.
681 Joe Plienix’s Specials.

670 The Lightweight Detective.

The Frisco Detective; or, The Golden Gate Find.

660 The Fresh in Montana.

652 Jackson Blake. the Bouncer Detective.

647 The Fresh of Frisco at Santa Fe.

637 Joe Phenix in Crazy Camp.

632 Joe Phenix‘s Master Search.

628 Joe Phenix‘s Combin°.

6‘ Joe Phenix’s Silent Six.

61 Keen Billy, the Sport. /
607 Old Benzine, the “ Hard Case " Detective.
601 Joe Phenix‘s Shadow.

594 Fire Face, the Silver King‘s Foe.

' 586 The Silver Sharp Detective.

577 Tom of California.

‘ 570 The Actress Detective; or. The Invisible Hand
j 562 Lone Hand. the Shadbw.

556 Fresh, the Sport-Chevalier.
587 Blake, the Mountain Lion.

1 529 The Fresh in New York.

520 The Lone Hand on the Caddo.

497 The Fresh in Texas.

490 The Lone Hand in Texas.

475 Chin Chin, the Chinese Detective.

465 The Actor Detective.

461 The Frjesh on the Rio Grande.

440 The High Home of the Pacific.

425 The Lone Hand; or, The Red River Recreants.
419 The Bat of the Battery ; or. Joe Phenix, Detective.
408 Doc Grip, the Vendetta of Death.

891 Kate Scott, the Decoy Detective.

384 injun Dick, Detective: or. Tracked to New York.
381 The Gygzy Gentleman; or. Nick Fox. Detective.
376 Black ards: or. The Rio Grande H h Horse.
870 The Dusky Detective: or. Pursued to 6 End.
368 Crowningshieid. the Detective

354 Ricnard: or The Crimson Cross Brand.

349 Iron-Hearted Di¢ k. the Gentieman Road-Agent.
320 The Genteel Spotter; or The N. Y. Night Hawk.
$2 The Wall Street Blood; or. The Tele ranh Girl.
son The Double Detecti e: or,The Midnig t Mystery.
196 La Marmoset. the etective Queen.

173 California John. the Pacific Thoroughbred.

161 The Wolvesof New York; or. Joe Phenix's Hunt.
130 Captain VOIcano or. The Man of Red Revolvers.
112 Joe Phenix. Private Detective.

107 Richard Talbot. of Cinnabar.

101 The Man from New York.

97 Bronze J ack, the California Thoroughbred.

98 Captain Dick Talbot. King of the Road.

91 The Winning Oar: or. The Innkee r’s Daughter.
84 Hunted Down: or, The League 0 Three.
81 The Human Tiger: or. A Heart of Fire.

79 Joe Phenix. the Police Sp .

77 The Fresh of Frisco; or. e Heiress.

75 Gentleman George: or, Par-1m. Prison and Street.

I

7:! The Phantom Hand; or. The 5th Avenue Heiress. I

63 The Winged Whale: or. The Red Rupert of Gulf.
59 The Man from Texas; or, The Arkansas Outlaw.
56 The Indian Mazeppa; or, Madman of the Plains.
49 The Wolf Demon; or. The Kanawha een.

42 The California Detective: or, The Wire es of NY.
41 Gold Dan: or, The White Sav e of Salt Lake.
38 Velvet Hand; or. Injun Dick’s ron Grip.

36 Injun Dick; or, The Death-Shot of Shasta.

35 Kentuck. the S rt: or, Dick Talbot of the Mines
34 Rock Mounts n Rob, the California Outlaw.

33 Over and Kit; or, The Id 1 of the Pine.

81 The New York Sher ; or. e Flash of lightning.
27 The Spotter Detect ve: or. Girls of New ork.

LATEST AND NEW 13311118.
694 Gideon Grip, the Secret Shadower. By Captain

Howard Holmes.
695 Singer sdn. the Pi m Detective; or, Behind
Lieut. A K Sims

Masked Batteries. . . .

696 Double-Voice Dan, t e Go-it Alone Detective.
By Wm. G. Patten.

697 Buffalo Bill's Buckskin Brotherhood; or, Open-
ing Up a Lost Trail. By 001. Prentiss Ingraham.

698 Thad Burr, the Invincible; or, Tracking the
“ L " Clew. By Harold Payne.

699 The Cowbo Couriers; or, The Bustiers of the
Big Horn. Leon Lewis.

700 Joe Phenix‘s annown; or, Crushing the Crook
Combination. By Aibert W. en.

701 Silver Steve, the Branded Sport. By Captain.
Howard Holmes.

702 Double-Voice Dan the Always-on-Deck Detec-
tive. By Wm. G. tten. ‘:

708 Spokane Saul. the Samaritan Su : or, The
Double Twist at CamgvSahara. By ,.H.Manning.

704 Invisible lvan. the isard Detective; or The
Secrets of the Cells. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

705 Bantam Bob. the Beauty from Butte; or, The
Steer Buccaneers. By Joe. E. Ba r. Jr.

706 Detective Burr’s Seven Clues. By arold Payne.

707 The Rival Rovers. By Wm. R- Eyfiter- /

708 Joe Phenix's Siren. By Albert W. Aiken.

709 Lodestom Lem, the Champion of Chestnut Burr.
By Lieut. A. K. Sims.

710 Buflalo Bin Baffied' or The Desertor Desperado’s
Defiance. By 001. ‘P. ingraham.

711 D D mon, the Gilt~Ed . Detective: or The
Myrslter; of Madeline Miggs‘feBy Capt. H: Holmes.

712 The Man of Silk. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.

713 Detective Burr's Spirit Chase. By Hamid Payne.

714 Gabe Gall. the Gambolier from Great Hum ;or,

Corraling Half the Town. By W. H. n ...
Ready June 29.
715 Double-Voice Dan on Deck' . Doping the D10
mond Prince. By Wm. G. Patten.
Ready July 6.

A new locus every Wednesday.

Beadle’s Dime Library is for sale by all
Newsdealers. ten cents per copy, or sent by mail on
receipt of twelve cents cam '

We “a the-Mm...

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