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The Hounded Detective.

1 Romance of Southwest Colorsdo.

BY .1. (‘. (,‘UWDRN‘K.

KI'THOR (m “ m'rx'rs max," “THE IMMINlI-Z

Jnc'l'l-x "l‘l \‘ 1-1, " 1-1113, E’l'( ‘.

 

CHAPTER I.
 DARK 5H.\IN)\\' HP “ESTIXY.

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THE NEXT MOMENT THE NOW TRH'MI‘IIANT DETECTIVL M'BL’M; I PON THE \VOMAN ASSASSIN.

 

 

  

   

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eidedly good-looking, and altogether a mag-
nificent specimen of physical manhood and
the accomplished athlete: lie was dark,
with black hair and mustache, and had pierc-
int,r black eyes.
l’lainly clad in a well-titling suit of some
dark. serviceable material. a soft t'elt hatand
*alf boots. and being without jewelry or or
nament of any kind, there was nothing in his
dress to att 'act attention: yet few personsl
Would pass him by without a second glance. ‘
There was something about him which seem- .
ed to command it. .\nd that. something” i
Was his general appepanee. niutely sugars l
tiVe of ease. grace. elegance~in short, C'Very- 
thing bespeaking’ the gentleman. ‘
And stair John lleathcote was. lentle I
|
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.—

u

blood tlowed lll his veins, and he. stood head
and shoulders aboVe “ the common herd ” by
right of birth, education and polished man-
ners. lie was all his appearance indicated,
‘and more. lirav - as a lion, he was a terror j
to his foes; gentle as a woman, he wasadored ‘;
by his friends. lie was l'ainiliarly known as l
“(genteel John."
:John lleatheote was a man whom grim
Destiny had chosen to play a leading 'I'o/(B in
the stern drama of life. As a deteelch with—
out a peer; as an outlaw proscribed and
hounded, yet really innocent of wrong; as :
merciless scourge against crime and crimi-
nals, and yet withal a Very king among men;
his name. was destined soon to find place on
' every tongue. But. he knew nothing yet of
what the inunediate future had in store for
him. The. seal had not. been broken; thehid-
den page was yet unread.

(lenteel .lohn was superintemlentof a mine
in the wild country miles north from Denver,
at a place called Daisy Drift. It was there
that his princely bearing and manly qualities
had won for him the appellation “ Genteel,”
the word expressing in brief everything that
was complimentary.  '
O The mine of: which he had charge was
known as the “Job‘s Find." It. had been i
diseoVerml by one Job Wellertree. and at first i
had home that gentleman's namein full; but i
that being found ‘too unwieldy for every- l
day use, it had been cut down to its present
brevity. 'l‘he mine. was run bv a stock com-
pany, of which one (‘olenel Mark Lyndon
was chief owner and president.

Colonel Lyndon was a man of fifty-five, a
resident of llenver but having a. summercot- ’
tage at Daisy Drift. Ills family consisted of t
his wife and a son and udaughter. Thoson, ;

"Jackson, wasa oung man of twenty-two; t.
the daughter, -'ydia, being three years l
younger. 

 

i
l

John H 'athcotc had fallen in love with
Nydia' Lyndon at; sight. and on her part the
gentle passion, had been reciprocal; and, tin-
ally, John had psked, for herhand in mar-
riage. l'lis request was granted; there had
been a quiet wedding at Daisy Drift; and I
now. alter a two Weeks’ tour, the happy“?
couple were returnng home. ‘

They were stopping over fora day or two
at DenVer, and so. on this ul'terrmon, we find
John II. 'atheote seated in the hoth reading-
ro‘om as described.

His bride,'at the time, was in their room .
entertaining some of her girlhood chums who i
,had called.

lie was scanning the taper idly, as said,
when something arrested lis eye,

it was a brief pamgmph, as followa:

“Hon. Murdock Kinross will arrive at Denver to.
night, and will put up at: the Hotel as usual."

“Honorable, indeed“ he mused. “ A
robber of orphans, and in; the sight of lien-
vcn a murderer, too. To hiscrueltreatment
my poor mother's death was due. It was a
‘ sad day for her and me. when she became. his
wife; Let me," ret him; and I'll remind him
how honorable to is. ”

As he meditated thus the young man's face
took on a hard, stern expression, and the
tire of hatred burned in ,his keen, flushing
eyes. .

, Casting the paper from him. he rose and
began pacing up and down the room with
'nerVous strides. '

“Twenty years ago. when I' was but a
‘ ,child,” he reflected, “my father died. He
' .had confidence in Murdock Kinross and up
ointed him as uardian over me, intrusi-

 

 

g a fortune wit 1 him for me when] should i“

ivzbecome of age. About three years lateri
my mother married the rascal, givin r him '
boon-oi over her own fortune, whit: was‘

(

3'
It

, her husband's hands.

I do nothing.

one of which hurt my poor mother a good
deal more than it hurt me, i was sent. away
to a school where my mother paid for a num-
ber of years‘ tuition in advance. Only for
that i do not knowwhat I might have. be-
come." I

He walked with bowed head, his thoughts
leaving a burningr impression 11pm: his brain
as they passed.

“While l was at Stilleol,"lle continued
musing, “my poor mother died. I after
ward learned that. her death was hastened
by the brutal treatment. she had received at
Soon after her death
he sent. notice to the school \\’ll(l‘(‘ Iwas,
that] was to be turned out as soon as my
termexpirul, it must have galled him to
learn that, l \\':‘s ‘nlitlcd to the years more,

and that all my expenses had been paid in’

full for that time. lie. tried to get the
money back, to cheat me out of even that,
but he was foiled. l served another year
there, when l was passed along [on college
to finish my course. [owe the man boili-
ingwnot hing save the merited hatred [cher—
ish for him. llonorable‘l Yes, he is an
honorable villain. capable of any evil that
will serve him best." ' -

The young man's hands were now clinched.
his brow was knitted in a dark frown, and
hissteps were more quick and nervous than
ever. .
“And he is coming here to this hotel to-
night, is he." he comnumed with himself.
“ i will see him and once, more demand the
fortune he has elieatcd me out of~the for-
tune that '218 left, me by my father. When

came of age, and demanded 'whatI had
been told was mine to have, I was laughed
at. lie had made away with every penny
of it, and by some crook in the law had
placed himself in such a, position that Ieould
Ile. laughed at me, snapped
his fingers in my face, and told me to go to
work and earn my bread, as I need not ex-
pect anything from him. I could do that—-
was doing it then, and-” .

He had passed out to the piazza now, and
at that, point in his reverie he \vasinterrupted.

A soft. white hand slipped under his arm,
and a sureet face looked up into his own.

It was his bride, who, her callers having
gone, had come out upon the-piazza to look
for him where she had left him an hour be-
fore. , v

“ Why, John,” she exclaimed, “ what has
come oVer you»? You look as if you are
angry with the whole world. “'hat can
havelumpencd to make you frow‘n like that?
I am really afraid of you."

lenteel John had stopped in his walk, had
taken the two little hands into his own. and
as he looked down upon the pure, sweet
face of his bride a. smile chased the shadmvs
quickly from his brow and he cheerfully
responded: ‘

“ I am not angry with you, .my' pet; of'

that you may be sure. It is nothing you
need be troubled about, but] will tell you
what mused the. frown. I have told you all
about myself more than once. I have just
noticed in the paper that my adored step-
father is coming here to-niv'rht, and memories
of the past were- in my mind. That is all,_
little one; and nowtlet us go to our room. "

With that he drew her arm through his
own, and led her into the hall, the forced
smile still upon his face. while hers was
sweetly pensive. as though there Was some
thing of fear in her mind. '

As they disappeared from 'Bight a man
stepped into View from aroundthe other
side of the piazza. l '

lie. was a tall man. not badrlooking, and

was well dressed; but his face was distorted
with rage and held an ,e‘xpression of fierce
hatred.
“ Expoy her while vou inn ", John lieath-
eotc!“ to fairly hissed. as he ooked toward
the door through which the happy couple
had' just passed. " Your time is to be short.
for swear you shall not long retain the
prize you snatched from me!"

He crossed the piazza, grating his teeth in
rage as he [unset the door, and going on,
disappeared down the street. ,

T llS man was one Osmond Millfield. ,

He had been J‘ohn Iieathqotc’s rival for
the hand of .Nydia'ilyndon. , . ‘

[to John'ir success .he had laid his own

   

, .
no small one. After I had received numer- l defeat, and now he burned with desire for
ous cuifs at the hands of the wreteh, every :

revenge.

l'nwilling to see that he. could never have
won the lady anyhow, even with John out of
the field. his one thought was to ruin her

happiness. since it had been denied him to'

possess llt‘i‘.

Milliield was a stockholder in the Jobs ,

Find, and a man of considerable wealth and
not a little intlucnce. Ile wasalmut thirty
liveyeal's of age. and was used to having
things pretty much ashe desired.

llis threat was no idle one. He meant
every word he had uttered; and, could (len-

lccl John have lucn aware of it, there were

terrible trials just ahead for him.
lleathcote and his bride passed up to their

room, and John closed the door when they

cntcred.

Scarcely sooner had they entered than,

greatly to Jchn’s surprise. l\'ydia (ovclcd her
ace with her hands and dropped upon a
chair, giving way to a ilood oi teats.

John sprung toher side. instantly, knelt up
on the floor before her and endeavored to
draw her hands away from her face. while he
implored to know the cause. of her sudden
outburst of grief.

“ Nydia! Nydia, dear!" he cried. "What
is it 1’ Tell me what has caused you to weep
like this!"

Ilis tone was full of agony. I

lie could not. imagine what had come so
suddenly to cloud the spirit of his happy
bride. > '

For some time her sobs and tears were his
only answer, but presently she threw her
arms around his neck, presbed her tear-wet.
face to his, and cried:

“ John! I know something terrible is go-
ing to happen! Lam afraid you are going to
be taken away from me! Something heavy
has been upon my it hit ever since we reach
ed Denver. What can it be?”

" Nonsense!" John exclaimed . lightly.
though his face was pale. and a sudden chill
had seized his heart. “ You are tired, per-
haps half ill. and your fears are groundless.
You must rest, and tomorrow you will be
yourself again. There, there, little one,
don‘t cry !" - .

Immediately had come another outburst of
weeping, and in spite oil is best efforts John
found it. impossible to stop the flood. It
Set'llltétl as though the heart of his bride must,
break under the terrific strain, And it. look-
ed so urn-*asonable, too, her weeping; so al-
most foolish that she sltould cry.

Suddenly came a calm, as suddean as had
been the breaking of the storm, on; in mg
her hands upon John’s shoulders and loo 'ing
steadily into his eyes, Ny‘din addressed him
rapidl ' and earnestly, ‘

Amfas her words fell upon his ears John
ll utbeote felt the blood recede from his tace,
and,'strong man as he was, he trembled.

The first dark shadow of a terrible destiny
had fallen upon his life.

i
CHAPTER II. .
TnE In.th ABOUT To FALL,

NEVER, to John, had I\'ydia looked more
beautiful.

He caught her to his breast, showering

kisses upon her pale. tear-wet face.

“ You shall not be taken from mel’ThG
('ried. “ 'l‘hese are only idle, foolish fears,
my little pet." . g.- u ,

Ytt his voice was husky as he uttered the
words. tears dimmed his oWn eyes, rind he
could not shake off the dread apprehensions.

“ i hope not, dear John. I hope not.“ was
the sad, sorrowful response. “ but i imagine
i can feel the icy hand of Death already at
mv heart. I feel thatl inn-—” ‘

 No! no! no!" John interrupted.
are too fair and young tedic? Such ideas
must he banished from your mind, N ’(liiifi
my love.
and health. and—" I

“'But] cannot get rid of the impression,
John.
becomes stronger and heavier each hour. A
heavy sword is hanging by a single thread.
over" our shortlivcd happiness, and I know
it is soon to fall.“" ‘

u I. (“moo—I will not believe it!" John"

cried. “No harm shall come to you, m
darling, I will stand between you and an .I

possible danger that may threaten. to defe. 

“ You I
You are in the. very bloom 0 life ‘

It has taken hold upon me, and it'

  

  
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
  
  
 

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and you must banish the dreadful thought at
once." ‘

“I have tried to do so, John, but I have
tried in vain."

“But, tell me, love, what possible danger
can be threatening you?"

“ Oh! I do not. know: but. I do know it is
hovering oVer me. and its shadow comes
nearer each moment."

“It is impossible, Nydia, impossible.
You are in the very bud of life: full of
health and youthful vigor. Death dare not
approach you. .\nd as to cncmies——"

“ Enemies we have, John, as you know,“
was the quick interruption. “ And it is our
Cnemiesl fear. No, do not ,laugh at. me; I
am terribly in earnest. Something tells mel
shall never see Daisy Drift again." ‘

Gcnteel John tried to force a laugh, to
break the spell which had come ovr-r his
bride's sunny nature, but he miserably fail-
ed.

“ Our enemies," he cogitated; “pray who
are they? I was on the point of saying we
have no- enemies. "

“ But you know we have," Nydia persist-
ed. “Osmond Milllield is your enemy, and
Ifear him greatly. And there is Frances
Cantril, who loved you so madly, and who
threatened -to destroy my happiness if you
married me.”

“\Vc can laugh at. them all,” declared
John. “We have nothing to fear from
them, loved one." ‘

“ I ho . not, oh! I ‘hope not, John; but
Madam ifcdell and her daughter are here, in
this very house; and such a look as Frances
gave me in the hath—it almost made my
heart stop heating.”

The reader is entitled toa word of explana-
tion just here.

Not only had John Heathcotc had a rival,
but N 'dia Lyndon as well.

At )aisy Drift was a summer hotel, grow-
ing rapidly in favor and quite fashionable in
:a small way. ,

At this hotel, about the time when John
Heatheotc had come to Daisy Drift, had ap-
peared one Madam Iredcll and her daughter-

’I‘he daughter’s name was Frances Cantril.
She was achild of her mother’s first mar-
riage, a rather handsome girl, but far too
austere—haughty. - .
She had fallen deeply in love with Genteel

. John at their flrSt meeting, and had begun a

desperate flirtation to draw him to her side;

_ and John with nothing better to engage him,

had lent himself for a time to her wiles.

But she had ' never succeeded in kindling
oue spark of love in his heart." There was
nothing about her to awaken more than ss—
ing interest. llcr mother, John had decided,
was little better than a scheming adventur-
ess, and‘thc daughter promised fair to be.-
come the same.

With the coming to the camp of Nydia
Lyndon, however, a flame of love had burst
forth in John‘s breast at almost his first sight
of her, and all hope that Frances (lantril had
entertained regarding him was immediately
dashed to the ground. This she soon real-
ized; she tried to part him and Nydia; failing
in this, she uttered a terrible threat against
their happiness.

“ You have nothing to fear from any of
them,” John tried to reassure, responding to
the last words of his bride. “They can. do
you no harm here, and to-morrow we will go
on to Daisy Drift.” ’

Could he have foreseen what was 'to fol-
low, not another hour would Nydia have
been allowed to remain in that house.

But, chosan of Destiny for thcrole he must

‘ plav, he could not foresee, much less avert.

The rest of the afternoon was spent in their

room. ’
Bv persistent effort John at. last succeeded
ydiuk thoughts, in some de‘

in diver inf; IV
gree, an s w became more cheerful.

 They had Willie" Served in their room, as
, nmthqr had any desire to meet Millfield, Miss-
' Were'likd)’ to meet \One ofall of them at the

table.
A little while after their supper was over,

_ ‘ some of Nydia’s callers of the afternoon re.
' . =-tumed. with others. and after chatting with

them for awhile John excluser himself and

"Unwent down to the reading-rdom to smoke a
. c1

, r, with the desire still in his mind to
‘  meet his step-father, Hon. Murdock Kin—

 

 

Stopping at the office he looked at the'
register.

fi‘he last name. inscribed thereon was that ‘
of the man he desired to encounter.

Turning from the register he looked around i
the room, and while he looked )lr. Kinross5
came in from the diningroom.

lie was a man of fifty or tln-reabouts, port-
ly, and with a very self-important air. llis
dress was “loud,” he wore a gold chain of
massive links across his Vest, and a huge.
seal adorned the little finger of his left
hand. ‘5

lie. crossed oVer in the. direction of the of— 3'
lice desk, and was almost ,upon John before 5
he reeognircd him.

When their eyes met a slight. pallor was i.
seen for a moment upon the face of the:
I lonorable.

“ 1 see you i'(.-cogni7.e me,” Murdock Kin-
ross,” John addressed him at once.

“Yes, young scalawag," was the loud-
mouthed retort. “ I recognize you. “'hat
do vou want?"

I\inross spoke loudly enough to draw at»
tention, and all who were present turned to
learn what was going on. ‘9

“l want what. is due me, for one thing,
and that first and foremost." was the young
man’s cool retort. “I want justice at your
hands.”

“Bah! I don‘t know what you are talkingr
about!” cried Kinross. “ I owe you nothing;
or if I do, just name the sum and I will dis-
charge the debt here and now."

With that he thrust his hand into his pocket
and drew out some small change, displaying
it so that all might See. It was an insult; it
was intended us'such, and it raised a laugh
at John's expense.

“ Put up your change!” John said, calmly,
and his words Were clear and ringing.
“ What I want is the fortune you robbed me
of—thc fortune that ' 8 left me by my fath-
er, who mistook you or an honest man when
be appointed' you my guardian, intrusting it
to your care. ”

“ You infernal young upstart!” the Hon-
orable cried in rage, “ what. do you mean by
such talk to me? I’ve a notion to twist your
nose for you. W'hat would you be today if
it hadn’t been for‘me? Your fortune, as
you call it, was spent upon you Ion, ago,
and the case has been properly sett ed by
the courts. Get out of my sight, you
whelp!" .

“ on are a liar, sir,” rctorted John, cool—
ly, calmly. “ Never one penny of it have I
received 'in any manner whatever. You 3
even tried to apprmiriatethe little my mother }
had wisely? set apart for my edumtion, as it
.will not be hard for me to prove. To your
brutal treatment her .early death was due,
proof, of which I have. This, gentlemen,”
to the bystanders, “is the Honorable Murv
dock Klnross, robber of—‘J’ ,

With a snarl of rage Kinross sprung for-

ward and dealt John a slap on the cheek,
cutting him short.
. The next instant he would have been sent
flying across ‘thc’ room, but John held back
the blow which his muscles were already
st run if to deliver.

“ho. I'will not strike you,” he fort-ml
himself to say.‘ “ You are an older man than
I. But, bear in. mind, Murdock KinroSs,
that I will never forget, and sooner or later
you shall be broughhtp account for the

 

wrongs you have done me.”

“ Bah! get out of my sight before ‘I strike
you again!" Kinross cried. “You are only
a car, at best. You are a nobody, and you
have no claim upon me. Out of my sight, I
say! The only. moment of ’ respectability
you or your tribe ever knew was whenI
condescended to marry your mother—~—” '

With abound Genteel John was upon him,
his hands at his throat. ‘ u

" You dare to mention her namel” he
cried.
and——" ~ . t

The bystanders interfered, and the young
man was pulled away by force, leaving Kin-
ross‘palc and trembling. r

In a moment John had recovered himself,
ceased to struggle, and was released by those
who had been holding him for the few brief
seconds.

“Thank you. gentlemen, for your inter:
feronoe,” he spoke. “ I might‘have donethe
brute some lasting harm. But, mind you,
Murdock Kinross," shaking his fist at the

 

r tiny was upon them.

“Her blood is upon. your head k

   

 

now badly frightened Honorable, “your day
of reckoningr will come.”

And with that the young man turned and
left the room, not wanting to trust himstlf
longer in the prcsent‘c of this man whom he
hated so heartily-hated with just and suiii-
cient cause.

\l'hcn he had gone and Kinross had recov—
ered himself in a measure, the rascally "lion-
orable ” gave the witnesses to the suit: the
benefit of his Version of the nmtter. Filtiiixlllg

: of John in by no means enviable it‘l'lll:-..

John had gone out to the pial’zia. \k i We be
lighted a cigar and paced up and down for a
time to quiet his nerves.

By the time the cigar was half consumed
he was himself again. and throwing the v eed
away he entered the house and “Hit up to
his room.

Ilis bride‘s callers were about taking thcir
leave. and soon he and Nydia were alone to—
gether.

Nytlia was quite cheerful. now, and en-
gaged John in a sprightly talk thafilasted
till a late hour. It was near midnight before
they thought of sleep.

About the time when they realized how
late it was. and began preparations for retir-
ing, there came a knock at their door.

.lohu opened it, and a call-boy delivered a
tclegl‘am‘ into his hand, greatly to his sur-
prise.

Tearing it open immediately, its contents
surprised him still more.

It was dated or headed “city,” and read
as follows: .

“ I am in town. Come. at onca to the house. Must
see you. Of the greatest importance."

The message was signed Jackson Lyndon,
and closing the door John turned to Nydia
and rod it aloud to her. It puzzled them,
to understand why her brother was in Den-
ver. Nydja; all atremble, urged John to
go at once. Perhaps it Was Jackson who
was threatened with dan er; not herself!

The second shadow 0 that terrible des-

 

CHAPTER III.
GENTEEL JOHN FALSELY ACCUSED.

JOHN made hasty preparations to set
out.

Kissing his bride a tender. goodby, he
started. with a promise to return as quickly
as possible. ‘

Their room was on the second floor, in
the left wing of the hotel, and it was quite a
distance down to the main entrance, through
two balls of considerable length.

Genteei John passed along the first hall at
a lively pace, turned into the second and
hastened on to the stairs, down which he
hurried with light, springy steps, and was
nmring’the bottom when a horrible thing
happened.

He heard a groan, followed by running 

steps; then other and heavier ste )8 as of a
drunken man, just below him. be next
instant a man suiggered into sight, and as
John reached the bottom of the stairs, for he»
had not stopped, the man fell upon the floor
at his feet.

And, that was not all.
horror that the hot life element was spurt- '
ing from a wound in his back, from which
a knife had been dislodged when he tell.
And. and more to his horror Still, he rec-0g.
niz'ed the man. It was his step-father, lion.
Murdock Kinross. with whom he had so re“
cently quarreledl ‘ ' '

Before John could stop, for it had all taken
ilace within a eriod of three seconds, be

ad rwehed the ttom and one foot was ac-'  -.

tually touching the dying1 man,.an('l there for
the moment he stood, all iut mullyzcd with
horr'or. ‘ ' ‘

And almost at the same time the front .1 ‘ i
opened and two men stepped into the hall; '-

one of whom was Osmond Millfield. , 

They. too, stopped short; like, John. for»:

the instant horrified. . . v- I v
‘In almost e, same monient, too, vet a
fraction later, a side door opened, ant sev-
eral men came out from the .oflice, evidently
guests about to retire. ‘
“ Heavens!
ter eitclaimed. t

“ It looks like a murder!” another cchoéd..  ;

“And it is a'rnurder, gentlemen,” 5 he
Osmond Miilfleid, coming. toward them tom
the front door; “ and this man,”
Genteeldohn, "is the murderer!’

 

 

John noted with

What’s this?” one of thé .iatjffl

pointing at- .

 

«at.

   

  
 

 

1, ‘ i for the time being safe.

 . Suspect   

 

John I-Ieathcote quickly realized the (Ian
gerous predicament he was in.
' It was plain that Millfield meant. to swear
against him falsely. catchng at this oppor-
‘ tunity for revenge.

“ You utter a dnmnable lie!" he cried hot-
ly, stepping over the body and facing his ac-
‘cuser “As God is my witness, you speak
a black. a monstrous lie!”

Midfield smiled sneeringl y.

" That bold. blustcring front will not serve

on." he returned "I saw you do the hell-
lsh deed. We opened the door just as you
s'ruck the blow, and as your victim tell you
dropped the knife. '

“ Your words are as false as you are infa-
mous!" cried John.

, " I submit it to my companion, Mr. Spark»
ers," quietly referred Millfleld

“ It is the truth, what you say.” that
worthy promptly supported. " I witnessed
it myself "

Gentcel John felt the blood recede from
his face. and a chilliness seized him. How
was he to disprove this damning evidence?

“And I swear that you lie, both of you!”
he cried. ' {was coming down the stairs
and was near the bottom when this man
staggered and fell where he lies, right in

fronf of me. ’

You 0 ened the door a moment later. By
all that hold sacred. gentlemen, I am in
nocent of this charge." ‘

“It is no use." sneercd Millflcld. “We

- saw you do the deed, and I guess our word
will be taken a ainst ours. I am pretty
confident that mine. wil , anyhow. Gentle-
men, we must arrest this fellow."

The loud talking had attracted others from
the:oflice, and now there were a dozen in the

 

John stepped back, displaying a revolver.

“Iam innocent, gentlemen," he declared
again,  and I shall resist arrest. I warn
you to keep your hands ofl‘ me."

“ Who is the murdered man?" inquired
the night clerk. ‘

The man was lying face downward, and
had now ceased to breathe.

“It looks like the man the accused had
the high words with early in the evening."
was sug ested.

The c erk and another laid hold upon the
dead man and turned the body over, so that
the .face might be seen.

“ So it is, sure enough!" the clerk dxelaim-

" And he made threats against him, if you
remember,” Millfleld recalled.

“I made no threat against his life," cried
John “ I am no murderer, and I warn you
to keep your distance."

“Then who did'do the deed?” asked the
clerk.

f‘I don’t know,” John answered. “I
heard a groan, immediately followed b
Ste 3 running toward the rear of the hal,
an‘ the next moment the man fell at my feet
as I reached the bottom of —the stairs. God
knows I speak the truth.”

“ d we know that you speak slab!”
cried illflcld. "Men,Icharge him with
the murder of Murdock Kinross. Arrest
him at once!" . Y .

Genteel John's eyes flashed, and his revol-
ver came up breast'high.

“Again I declare my innocence, and I
warn you to keep ofl’," he cried. “I am
suddenly called out bya telegram. and must
respond. After that I will return. Stand

. out of my way. "

The door had been left open behind Mill-
“fleid and his companion. and Johmmoved
toward it. ' ,. ‘

“ Stop himl"-cried Millfield. placing him-
self in the way. “If we allow him to get.
out of our hands now.’ it may ive the

_, authorities trouble to find him. Tie must

f not escape. We must capture him at all—"’

John's fist closed his mouth. cuttin short

‘. his words,,and he was sent in lorious y into

‘ a corner, while John cleared t c intervening
' space with a bound. and was gone.

q A few swift-running strides carried him to

,  the end of the piazza, a leap landed himu on‘
-" L I the sidewalk. and in a few moments be

ad
‘ turned a street corner and was out of sight,

He had pulled the door to behind: him on
leaving the hall of the hotel, and two or
three men springing after him at once, all
,Im'nbling for the knob together and hin~

 

 

 

de ring one another greatly; b(y the time they
got. the door open, John had isappcared.

' lies gone!” cried the man Sparkers.
“We must put the police after him as soon
as possible! '

“ l m afraid he's likely to get away now,"
remarked the clerk. “We shouldn't have
ails-Wed him to get out of our hands like
that ” '

“ Don t see how it was to be helped," ob-
served onc. “ I guess none of us wanted to
get shot. See how he upset the man who
did try to stop him. lie was desperate "

" Yes.‘ cried Millf‘urld, who had gathered
himself up and now appeared upon the
piazza; “and don't his action prove his guilt?
lt would be enough, almost, even if we
hadn't witnessed it as we did. That man
must be taken "

Meanwhile John was hastening from the
scene.

Ilis brain was in a whirl, the result of the
retreat horror and excitement.

lie had acted upon the impulse of a mo-
ment, feeling it imperative that he should
obey the summons from Jackson Lyndon.

'10 have submitted to arrest would have
balked his responding to the urgent telegram.
and he knew it must be something of
greatest importance that had led Jackson to
send for him.

But, this awful crime, and the horrible
accusation that had been made against him!—
madc against him falselyl

Had he not, by his actions. added to the
weight of appearances a ainst himself? He
feared soyyet. he woul do the same again
under like circumstances.

But, then, was he in such frightful danger?
He could prove. the telegram 2 e could prove
by Jackson Lyndon why he had been sum-
moned; and would not the truth rise
triumphant? Still the danger of his situation
was not to be underesti ated.

As his mind grew In re calm, the darker
the dilemma rose before him. He had
quarreled with his step-father that evening.
and had uttered threats. Worst of all, two
men averred that the

had struck the blow.

There was but one thing to do. and that
was to submit to arrest and trust the matter
to Providence. Knowing his innocence, he
believed the truth wouid be established and
that he would be cleared of the horrible
char e. To run away would be equivalent
to a mitting himself guilty, in the public
mind. That would never do.

He pressed on. wondering what Jack could
want of him, and thinking of the frightened
bride he had left at the hotel. Would she
hear of this matter before he could get back
again! He hoped not. How would she
stand it when the horrible news was broken
to her? Could it be that this was what had
been preying upon her mind and heart in
premonitory influence? ‘

Making all possible haste, he arrived in
due time at the Lyndon residence.

The house was closed and dark, and there
was not a sign of life anywhere about it.

Truth to tell, Jackson Lyndon was at that
hour sound asleep in the family cottage at
liaisy Drift. He had not been n Denver at
a l!

The message John had received had been
a decoy. A great and terrible blow was soon
to fall, blasting his happiness and changing
forever the. purpose of his life. It was grim
Destiny's decree. \

Unmindful of appearances. John sprung
up the steps and rang .the bell. Of course
there was no response. He rung again and
again. but the result was the same. ,

“ If he has been here he has gone awn
again." John mentally decided. “ Still, I' i
give it one more trial.”

He rattled the. bell once more. 'and waited.
And while he stood there he fancied the
night was growing lighter. The door had
become more plainly Visible.

It must be his imagination, he thought.
But, no; it was growing brighter still; and,
see, his shadow a pears on the side of the
doorway, and— a! the alar of fire is
heard! - _

John wheeled around instantly and looked.
Off in the directiomfrom which he had come
was the crimson glare. ‘

The fire seemed to be further awn than
the hotel, and with a thought for Ny in and

had witnessed the ‘
crime, declaring that 10 was the man who ’

 

down from the stoop and set out on a run.

’ Thoughts of the recent murder and his
own peril were out of mind now, and he was
concerned only for his bride. \Vhaf ifthe
hotel itself were on fire! That thought

seemed no time in reaching the neighborhood
of the hotel.

As he turned the last corner, what was his.
horror to find the hotel all ablaze. with
the angry serpent-tongues of flame darting
forth from almost every window. He paused
not, but with the single thought of rescuing
his bride, hastened on and plunged into the
doomed building.

CHAPTER IV.
DESTINY (‘LAIMS man VICTIM.

THE hotel was a wooden structure, al»
most as dry as tinder, and when the fire
was discovered it was too late to do any.
thing to save the building. “The alarm was
giVen, of course, but it was without hope
that the firemen could do more than protect
adjoining property.

At the time of the discovery most of the
guests of the house were asleep in their
rooms, while those who were awake. were
mostly in the hall where the terrible murder
had been so recently committed. The main
body of the building was speedily Wrapped

almost entirely, eSpceially the left.
From the right wing was a rear stairway,.

guests in the

right had slightly the advan-
tage. The cry 0

fire was sounded as soon

made to arouse the inmates, but the spread
of the flames was so rapid that it was im-
mediately feared that many would be cut
off and lost. Those below, escaped, of course,
{finying the body of the murdered man with
em.
A large crowd had gathered and the ex-

 

how frightened she would be, John sprung"

sccmed to lend wings to his speed, and he-

in flames, cutting off escape from the wings.
but from the left there was none, so the-

as the discovery was made, and every effort.

citemcnt was great when Genteel John made-

his appearance, and he pushed his way to

one who happened to be in his way.

the front without respect or regard for any

Was not the life of his bride at stake?’

‘ Should he pause at such a time as that?
‘ Heaven forbid the thought of personal
dangerl
Forward he plunged. as said, and into the
doomed building from which even the fire--

“That’s the murderer!" some one shouted,.
as he disappeared.
“ Yes, that‘s him!

But he‘s gone to his.

death; he‘ll never come out of that.furnace

H

alive. ~

“If he does we'll have him.”, declared a.

_ l men had withdrawn.

, policeman who had been made aware of ‘the
1‘ terrible tragedy that had taken place.

i “ You‘ll never get anything but his ashes,”
1 averred a fireman. “ The building is going

i to fall in less than another minute; I’m bet- ‘

? ting on it."
And so remark and comment mn.

Genteel John had heard no words save the .

first, which stung him to the quick. ,
1 A murderer-he who had never done harm
. to a fellow being in all his life. so far as he
. knew. A murderer.

The Words rung in his ears as be bounded
3 up the stairs. dashing into the blinding and
suffocating cloud of smoke‘and the scorch-
ing breath of flames. heeding them not.

10 knew the way; turned into the left
wing; dashed along the hall; turned into the
next hall; and still on to the room where he
knew his bride had been. where he hurled
himself against the door without trying it.

The door. gave way with a crash and he
was precipitated into the room headlong, out
of breath and almost ready to fall. (latching
up a chair he shivered one of the windows
with a single blow and thrust his head out to
get another breath, which he must have or
perish. ‘

Iie wasted no time.
lose. All the windows below were pouring-
forth tongues of flame. and the air was sohot
that it was almost blistering his skin. He
sprung to the bed, feeling for the form of his
loved one, but she was not there. He felt

It was empt . He groaned in des air.

 

 

ready made her escape.
v \

There was no time to .

for the chair where he had left her sitting. ’

Then, surdenly. and for the 'rst time,.
came the thought that perhaps she had a1;-

 

‘a.. “on”

    

 

 

 

 

é—mhpc'wia....s 4  m H" Q“ . . r

a  aw.

 

 

 

 

 

7 who“). ' ~

 

 
  

  

._- Th.

1*..1 ,.

 

 

 

 

 

1"? "r iii.- énvfl‘vw )fj‘. #n J

  

  

 

 

   
   
     

 

  
   
   

   
 

  
  

 

  
  

  
   
 
 

   
 
   
  

 
 
 
  
 

 
 

'v
1
‘1

 

The suspect: sport a Daisy Drift. *

    

 

 

If that were so. then he must not delay
:another second or he would never get out alive
himself. He could not live another minute
in such a hell as that.

Taking one more breath at the window he
dashed out into the hall, which was now
lighted by the glare of flames that had lick-
ed through in many places, and started for
the stairs with desperate speed. '

As he turned the bend in the first hall a
breath of cold air fanned his face and part-
ly cl *ared the smoke away, and there in the
,L'lare, leaning against the wall, he saw his
bride, her face pale, her hands clasped, and
despair plainly stamped upon her counte~
mmce.

With a bound he was at her side, grasping
her arm.

“Nydia!” he cried, joyfully.

“ John!"

“Quick, my loVe! Get upon my back! I
will save mu or we will perish here together!
Quick! (lute/r ."’

With the conrmand he dropped upon one
knee in front of her, his back toward her,
taking this means of carrying her in order to
have the free use of his hands and arms.

He did not see what took place in that
critical moment.

A turn in the air brought a furnace blast
from the opposite direction, and feeling a
pair of arms clasped around his neck he rose
and started with his burden in the direction
of the stairs. ‘

He could not know that it was not ’ his

'bride he carried; that at the fatal moment
another person had pushed her aside and had
taken her place. He heard a scream, but he
had heard more than one since entering the
doomed building. He was powerless to
help any one save his bride, and he might
not be able to rescue even her.
, When he came to the staircase. the roar of
the flames was deafening and the intense heat
uvcl'powcr'ing. .\ weaker man might have
\ilt‘t‘lllllllt‘tl there and then, but not So Gen-
ltt‘l John. He had a will of iron, and his
muscles were as muscles of steel. llown he
dashed, right, through the flames, and out
upon the-piazza and to the street before he
fell. And then fall he did, from sheer want
of breath, while a cheer Went up from the
crowd. '

The woman he carried fell with him, of
course, and she was insensible. r

A few moments of time, a few deep breaths
taken, and Gentccl John was able to rise to
his knees, and his first thought being for his

\ bride he .lookml for her.

The Woman whom he had carried out from
the burning hotel lay near him, her face up-
turned toward the sky, the light of the tire
making her features plainly visible and
ghastl in appcamucc.

At. srglrt of her face Genteel John uttered
a cry that was almost a scr am.

.It was not the face of his wife! it “118 nm’:
his bride. the had carried from the 113111053
This woman was Frances Cantril!

 My Godlmhc cried. “This is not. my
‘wrfc! llow carnethis mistake? I had her
In my arms; I know it was she; but now~
God help me, I will save her even yet! 1
will save her or die with her!"

And with his words he made another dash
or the main entrance, w rich was now pour-
ing forth a solid sheet of whitest flames.

“ Back!" cried a fireman.

“ Back! back!" cried others.
death to venture there!”

John heeded them not, but
ly, blindly‘on,.tirmly resolvct
wife or die with her.

Now; he, could see through it all: now he
could understand that scream he. had heard;
now he realized the momentary delay when
he was urging N ydla to make haste in get-
ting upon his shoulders.

This other woman, this daughter of -an

adventuress. had pushed N ydia aside and
taken her place, thus to save her own life at
the cost of a hated rival. It was all too
plain. ,
John would have rushed on to certain
death had it not been for the policeman Who
had made his boast that he would capture
him if he came out of the house alive.

The oiliCer blocked his way with club
unused, commanding him to stop, and laid
.lrold upon him to enforce his command.

,EVen this would have been of no avail,

“It is sure

plunged mad-
to save his

i-

 

ibut; 'while John Was trying to shake this'

 

  

man off others fell upon him, and he was
overpowered in spite of his struggles.
” Heavens! are you human?” the strug-
ling man fiercely demanded.
in that building— Do you understand what I

i
i

say? My wife is in there—my mfe.’ I,

must save her! I must—I will save her! Let

me go, or it will be the worse for you!”
But at that moment the end came.
With a terrible crash and roar the building

collapsed, sending a myriad of sparks sky-

ward, and Gentcel John sunk to the ground ,

utterly overcome, weeping like a chid.

1

Who can describe the scene that followed? ;

Thousands of persons were upon the spot.
and cries and. lamentations Were heard on

every hand from those who believed they,

had lost loved ones in the ruins.

The shouting of the firemen, the pant
ing'of the cngines‘, the roaring of the flames.
the cries of the people, all together went to
make up a scene. of terror and confusion.

And in the midst of it all the grief of this
one stricken nrarr was as merely a drop in the
sea. Vtht had happened was not known
saw to the few who had heard his words
and who now looked upon his grief.

Many had witnessed his brave act in res
Citing the woman from the flames, and all

1 looked for.

supposed it must be some one u itll' and dear i

to, him—no doubt his wifef but few knew
the terrible truth of it all, and no one could
realize it.as he realized it himself.

From that moment Genteel John moved
like one in a dream.

He. was in the apathy of utter despair.

Taken to the police station, charged with
the murder of Murdock Kinross, im risoned
in a cell——-through it all he seemc not to
realize anything.

His mind was all but shattered, with the

a terrible events of the hour of agony through

which he had passed. He recalled Nydia.’s

premonition, and her grief at the thought of ~

being taken from him.

Ilow true her prophec ' had been! Ilow
speedy and awful its fulfillment! Ilow dark
a cloud had settled upon his life when all
had seemed so very bright! '

()n the followingr morning the newspapers
came out with ful and glowing accounts of
everything. ' '

The murder at the hotel; the tire imme-
diately afterward; the arrest of the mur~
derer; the list of the lost; eterythingin true
newspaper style, and news flew rapidly.

Friends of the Lyndons saw the mention

of Colonel Mark's daughter given in the list of '

the dead, and word was sent to Daisy Drift
with all speed possible. Others interested
themselves in John lieatlrcote, and one of the
best lawyers of the day was engaged in his
behalf. ,\

- There was an examination, {he result of
which was to send the.
jail to await trial upon the rength of the
testimony given by Osmond M llfield and his
tool, Joel Sparkers. The. prisoner could only
tell his story. the truth; but in the face. of
the strong, positive 'and .circumstantial
evidence. against him there could be but the
one result. ‘

 

CHAPTER V.
A NEW noes nous.

' Tm; trial of John Ileathcote was a long
and tedious one.

His lawyer, believing fully in his client's
innocence. had put forth every effort to
establish it.

Detectives had been employed, and every
effort made to ferret out the mystery and
bring the . guilty one to account, but all in
vain. Nothing could be discovered that
would throw an ' light upon the matter...

On the other irand, the prosecution had a
complete case. The circumstantial evidence
alone was enough t9 convict, and when it
was backed up with the sworn testimony of
eye-witnesses, it made the chain doubly
strong. The verdict was a foregone conclu-
sron. »

The prisoner had lost the telegram he had
received on that fatal night, and his state-
ment was made so much the weaker. De-
te’etives had visited every telegraph office in
the city, but no record of any such message
was to be found. The rosecution made a
point of that, thus clinching another rivet' in

the terrible chain. The case against the an [

 

 

fortunate man was complete"; I

innocent man to.

 

 

 

as his breathing came hard.

Genteel John could not account for a sin-
gle minute of the time he had been absent
from the hotel. His only witness, the only

“My wife is v person who had seen that fatal telegram,

was dead, and that was his wife. The only
redeeming feature about the whole matter
was the fact that he had returned to the
hotel, but even that the prosecution dis—
torted into a selfish motive. And so, when
the lawyer for the prosecution had done, it
was plain to be seen that he had carried c‘on.
viction.

The last address of the defense was
strong. even stronger than might have been
It shoWed the prisoner‘s past
record without a blemish upon it anywhere.
It. proved the shady reputation of Joe Spark-
ers beyond doubt. And, too, it showed that
()sruond Millfield had been the prisoner‘s rival
for the hand of Nydia Lyndon, and so. natur-
ally, would have no love for the prisoner. lt
showr-d how well lleathcote still retained the
confidence of the sorrowing father and moth-
cr upon whom their daughter's frightful fate
had fallen with such terrible force.

But, in spite of all, the verdict wa_s——guilty.

There were stubborn facts in the case that
would not be (_-ovcred——~tlrat no amount of
argument could cover. The fact that. the
prisoner had hated his step-father, albeit with
good cause; the fact. that he had quarreled
with him only a little time before the deed
was done; the fact that. he had been diScov~
ered, by at least half a dozen witnesses,
standing over the dying man; the fact that.
two of these witnesses swore that they had
seen him strike the blow. Then, too, the
additional points that no blood had been
found further back in the hall than the foot
of the steps, although the prisoner declared
the victim had come staggering from that
direction as he descended the stairs.

It could not be wondered at that the ver~
diet was what it was. -

And, according to such a verdict, there
could be but one sentence, and John Heath-
cote was accordingly sentenced to be hanged.

The use had been one of reatest interest,
owing to the prominence o' the murdered
man and the high standing of the Lyndons,
with whom, being the husband of _ their
daughter, the prisoner‘s name was associated.

Colonel Lyndon and the lawyer fought hard
own after the sentence had been pronounced,
but all to no purpose. There was no suffi-
cient grounds upon which to demand a new
trial, and an appeal to the higher court was
overruled

Genteel John had passed through the try-
ing time with that same dull apathy that had
come upon him at the morneut when the
burning hotel had fallen in, burying beneath
its ruins his fair young bride. He had no
hope, and seemed to care little what his fate
might be. \ _ '

Even when he heard his sentence pro“
nouneed it. Seemed to make no difference? to
him. He had nothing to live for, he had de~
clared, and it. mattered little how soon he
died or in what manner his death came to
him. , ‘ .

It was not-until a week after he had re-
ceived his sentence that he showed any dif~
ference in manner in these respects.

The change came upon him after a visit
had been made to his cell by Colonel Lyndon.

“ You say you have nothing to live for]:
the colonel remarked on that occasion; ” you
have eve *thing to live for, John. "

“ And ydia dead? You do not realize
what you are saying," was the prisoner’s re-
sponse.‘ ,

“ You mistake; I do realize what I am

sayig’g.” .
“ ell, what have I to live for, then?”
' hi and revenge 1’" .- g
‘or a moment a terribleflame burned in
Genteel John‘s eyes,‘and his nostrils dilated

“ To‘make a fight for right and revenge—n

ment, with send smile, he sunk into histor-
mer despair. . ‘
“Why was this not spoken of before 7” he
asked “ Then I might have made a harder
fight at my trial.”
“Impossible. Your defense was all that;
it possibly could be. Your lawyer worked

harder for you than he had ever worked on ‘ A

any case in his life. It was of no use, for
eve thing was against you.”

” hen why mention it. at all, now that  ,-.

isng late?"

.

 

r

I

      

      
   
   
 

l

 
 
      
 

 
   
      
      
     
       
      

The next mo- " ’

 
 

 
    

 

     
 
 
 

 
  
 
 

 
   
   
    

  
 
   
  
  
   
    
  
   
   
  
 
 
  
   
  
   
  
  
   
  
 
 

  

    
 

. will never retake me.

‘ .toned acknovacdgmcnt.

» The woman

Ia Ilipointe ,"

    

 

‘ it i ‘L "y ’ - ‘I ~" ' - '.  .L ’,'.

{'Theil’S'uspeot sport of  Drift.

 

 

“ Is it too late?"
“ Am I not awaiting the day of my execu-
tion‘!"

“You have not been hanged
you? You are alive, are you not?

Gentccl John caurht the colonel's wrist
and looked steadily, in his face to read his
meaning.

“ What do you mean?" he pantcd. “ \Vhat
hope do you hold out to me? Is there the

host of chance that I may escape and live
' or the purpose you have mentioned?”

' “ If there were not I would not have
spoken of it.’:

That keen light flashed forth again in the
prisoner’s eyes, and his face assmned such
an expression as it had never worn before.

“Let me only escape,” he panted. “ Let
me only get free, and I swear that I will
devote m life to hunting down the murderer
and clearing myself of this terrible crime.
And not only that, but I willhave revenge
upon the human devils who placed the rope
around In ' neck." ..

“ You rave said enough," spoke the colo-
no], then. “There are more men than one
who believe you are innocent, and some
step is going to be made to effect your
escape. But, once you have escaped, your
work will be rendered doubly difficult.
Large rewards will be offered "for your re-
capture, you will be hounded to the death,
almost, and nowhere will you be safe."

“I care nothing for that. Only give me
the chance, and I will prove to you and
all the world that I am innocent of that
crime."

“ Well, the chance will probably be yours,
but 1am unable to say just how or when.
Be repared to accept it at any hour, day
or m ht.”

‘ “ will be ready."

“ And, remember, at Daisy Drift you have
an aslylum at anv- time 'ou see fit to take
advantage of it, art, as it is known that I
am friendly disposed toward you, I presume
my house will be watched continually. "

“Let them watch. Once} am free, they
()nly let me have. my
liberty, and I will hard them the grandest.
man hunt, they ever enjoyed. You have
filled me with a hope, Colonel Lyndon; see
to it that it is not dashed to the ground. I
depend upon your help."

And so, as said, from that time a change
came over him. .

Not that he was anything like his former

self; the old smile, had gone, perhaps for-
ever. .
But there was upon his face such a look
of determination, such a grim expression of
fixed resolve, that it was the wonder of all
who saw him. No one guessed what it
.meant.' '

yet, have

. l ' l
5" Some weeks passed; the hope was not

. realized.

He did not lose heart, however. IIe wait-

. 3‘ ed on, and day by day his face became more
 and more set in its look.

.' The lines had hardened, the keen eyes fair-
burned, the jaws had become set and

 1
film in the one-fixod resolve that must shape
. his future-Til he escaped his fate.

One day a visitor was announced, and a
vailed woman entered his cell.

. She sat. down, and as she’did so said, in a
low, impressive tone that he never forgot:

“ "John IIeatheote, I am here to serve you.
Do not ask who I am, whence. I catme.or'
anything whatever about me; listen well to
.What I have to say. ”

" f‘b‘ay on, Madam Mystery." John invited.

“You have well named me," was the sad-
“ I am a mystery
"to you now, and so I must ever remain. I
am here with a purpose, and that purpose is

,’ .to set you free."

She spoke in a very low, impressive tone.

“I have been expecting you," said the
prisoner. ' .
razed at him for a. moment in
silence from be mind her Vilfl.’ ‘

“ Well, lam here, and you are not disap-
ahc made return, presently.
«“ Now, hear my scheme." ,

“ Let me hear it.” . .

“ You are a strong man."

“ I am no weakling, at any rate.” -

an per will. be ,brou ht‘ to
» is“ x g 

 

w -

“The door has to be opened in order for it
to be passed in."

“ Yes "

“Good. 1am going to free your hands,
and when your supper is brought you must
seize the jailer and put him in your place.”

“ There is a good deal of risk about that.”

“ No; scarcely any. He will be in no con-
dition to resist you, for I have attended to
him. You must take his hat and coat, and
immediately pass out with the pitcher in
your hand as if to get water.”

“ lvery man about the place knows me,
tlimlgh,” John objected.

“ No'matter; you will find that no one will
notice you, ’ (lo straight to the water fount
in the yard, fill your pitcher, set. it down,
and at once step into the hall on your right
and go through to the street."

“ And what then?"

“ From that moment everything will de-
pend u ion yourself. I can do no more for
you. his is your only chance; see that you
do not lose it. Now, not a word, for I will
ansWer noeuestions, I am going."

And calling to the turnkey she was let out
of the cell, when she hastened away at once.
Who or what she was, Gentcel John could
not know. I

CHAPTER VI.
ESCAPE or 'run PRISONER.

WHEN the woman had gone, Genteel John
could hardly realize that he had had a visitor
at all. .

It seemed so strange, so unreal, that he
was inclined to believe that he had been
dreaming. That there was such a hope for
escape (lid not seem possible.

There Was proof, however, that he had not
dreamed it—that his visitor had been no
shadowy spirit born of the imagination, for
his hands were free and the galling chains
lay on the floor at his feet.

No; it was all real enough, and he realized
that his friends had not failed him.

“ Colonel Lyndon did not lead me to hope

in vain,” he mused. “ He has kept his word
with me, and now it remains for me to keep
the oath I haVe. taken."
Picking up the cuffs and chains, which he
had dropped to the floor after his ,visiior had
”'one out, he laid them on his wrists and lap
in the manner in which he had been used to
sitting, and waited.

Many times his jailer came to the doorand
looked in, to see that he Was all right, and
no suspicion was aroused. He was found
sitting in his usual position; his hcadlmwed,
and he was disturbed. And so passed the.
afternoon away, and evening came on.

At six o'clock his supper was brought, and
the door was unlocked.

The prisoner being handcuffed and chain-
ed, it was perfectly safe to open the door, for
he could do no harm even if so inclined.

John noticed that on this occasion the man
hadadmggy step and a decidele sleepy
appearance, as he came in, and realized that
the woman had been true to her promise.

“ You look sleepy, Jim,” the prisoner ob-
served.

“ And I am sleep , too,” was the response.
“I'll bet I won’t he out o’ bed long this
night." \ '

“ You ought to keep better hours.”

,“ I Was up late last night, and that’s the

 

fact, but it never used me quite as bad as
i- this More.

There‘s your grub; go into it."

“How about water? I guess the pitcher
is about empty." ’

The warder stepped forward to the corner
where the. )itcher was, and as he stooped to
take it u flentcel John laid hold upon him,
one ham at his throat and the other closing
his mouth. . ‘

“ I don't want to hurt you, Jim,” he said, V
“ but if you make a sound I will. I am go-
ing, out of here. Stop your struggling, and
I’ .let up: if 011 don’t I‘ll choke the wind
out of you. she our choice.”

The fellow was ke‘a childin the hands of
so powerful it man, and he submitted imme-
diately without another effort. ‘

Genteei John relaxed his grip upon his

H throat, and with a quick movement snapped

'the handchfl's upon the fcllow's wrists, et

   
 

.' "‘I can believe that. Very well. Your holdin'grhis mouth‘with one handlthe wh le.
you at 311 E ‘Eisw “gamed, illohirlrproeeeded to gag
' ..» ' " f H', ‘one.

if“, .

 

  

‘ .35: we  the fellow at
’7' Ink, 3:.

_ his mercy, and could proceed without fear of
‘ his calling for help.

Freeing his hands, he made him remove
his coat and vest, and when he had hand<
cuffed him again Genteel John put on the
fellow's garments and hat and was ready to
go out.

“ Don‘t give an alarm, Jim, if you value.
your health,” he final] r warned. “I will
make you repent it i you do. Iain in-
nocent of the crime for which they would
hang me, and I am going to prove it. You
won’t have to stay here long. I'm sorry if I
have hurt you." ' ’

The new prisoner looked at him wonder-
ingly.

Such words as these, coming, from the
lips of a desperate man making a bold stroke
for life and ibcrty, were strange.

Gentecl John took up the pitcher and left
the cell. closing and locking the door after
him, and passed boldly up the corridor,
whistling a popular air which the wardcr
had been in the habit of whistling.

No attention was paid to him, and he-
gained the yard in safety. 5

There be filled the pitcher, and following
the woman's direction to the letter, set it
down and immediately stepped into the hall
on his right and passed through to the
street.

lie was free— reel .

Making no unusual haste, be yet got out
of the neighborhood as speedily as possible,
and when safe for the time being. stopped
to plan his further movements deliberately,
carefully.

‘ It was half an hour after his escape before
his absence was discovered. .

The warden of the prison, missing the-
warder, set out to look for him. with a re-
sult that was to be expected.

Immmediately the alarm was raised, but
the prisoner was by that time out of reach,
and little could .be done. The police were
notified, and every possible;step taken, but.
all invvain. -

glowing headlines.

The murderer, Jolm Ileathcotc. had cs-
caped! A ferocious desperndo was at large,
and no life was safe!

And followed a full account of the man-
her of his escape; how he had almost killed
one of the wardcrs, and so forth, with more
regard to sensational paragraphs than for-
strict facts. *

The one great fact, however, was there:
the man had escaped and was at large, and
the law had not been satisfied. He must be
rctakcn. no matter what the cost or the. hazard.
The people. of the Commonwealth must see
to it that justice was yet meted out to the-
murderer of Murdock Kinross!

And on the same page, too, was another"
great sensation. I.

One of the leading banks of the city had.
been robbed during the night, and a for-
tune in cash taken by the robber. The
nightrwatchman had been overpowered in.
very much the same manner as the warden
at the jail, bein found in the morning bound
and gagged am almost dead, while the Safes:
were wide open and their contents scattered
all over the floor.

Nothing had been taken, so far as known,
but cash, and of that only the paper money. ,
No gold or silver had been touched, being

for easy handling. And taking this fact.
into (onsideration, some logical deductions
were drawn. Had the escaped murderer
had a hand in the robbery? Guilty of so neat
a crime, this lesser one would be as not iin -
to him. Perha a he had robbed the ban
alone and unai ed.

Escaping from the jail as he had, he cer—
tainly no money, and money was as-
necessary for his life. Was he the robber?
paper money, for that would be easy to.
carry and would not hamper his flight.

manner as the warder at the jail, and from
what description he was able to give, the
robber certainly corresponded in appearance
with the escaped murderer. ’

hairs to make points.

 

 

     

  

'1

but few could say, but. the I  w w _

, . l v .
hext mornin g the newspars came out With "

evidently too bulky, or rather, too heavy, _

necessary to his successful flight as air wasv‘,’ "
If so, he had chosen well in taking only the. , " ‘ '

The - g :
watchman had been left in nearly the same  .

And so it went on at some length, spawn-g 1‘ ‘
Whether the papers Were fight or  I. a;

 

        
             
     
       
       
   
       
       
     
   
       
       
         
         
     
       
         
       
     
       
     
       
     
       
       
   
   
     
         
     
       
         
        
  

 
 
       
   
   
         
       
     
        
    
  

  

 

. ..~—..
.~. n‘mm
.. , MCI—w‘

 

 

’ a

 

  

   
  
 
   
  

  

‘ is nothing more than .a guess," was the re-

'- g ad that his escape has been accomplished
' the matter ends for us.

‘ establishing his innocenCe. ’

was, what h

stubborn that the police could not unearth
the robber. '

There was not the slightest clue to work '
upon,‘ and the description of the robber as
given by the watchman would fit any num~
ber of men, It was not, to be relied on. 

The watchman was positive upon one ,
point—that there had been but one man,
a powerful fellow, who had overcome him
with case. Here the newspapers laid strong I
stress, too. The escaped murderer was a ’
powerful fellow, and he certainly had had
no companion. -

The city of Denver Was scoured that day,
but John lIeathcote Was not to be found

He had disappeared as utterly as though
he had never been.

It was on the day following that (‘oloncl
Mark Lyndon entered the office of one of the
noted private detectives of the city.

There he met the lawyer who had defend-
ed Heathcote at his trial, who was in consul-
tation with the detective, and both \vcre
awaiting the arrival of the colonel. 118 cu-
tered in some excitement.

“ What’s this I hear?" he demanded. “ I
0t your summons, and on the way here I
earned that Heathcote has escaped. How

did it come about?"

“Had you nothing to do with it?” asked
the detective. '

“ Not a thing. Wasn't it yourrdoings?
Yours or the lawyer‘s, here ?”

“ Neither of us had an 'thing to do with
it,” was the assurance; an the ’trio !ookcd at‘
one another in something of surprise.

“Then it isplain that he had no help,”
declared the colonel. “ He has seen his op-
portunity and has taken advantage of it.
All the better; we escape the dangerous I
risks we were about to run. ” . ,

“ Yes. it is better so," agreed the lawyer;
“but our friend here says it was out of the I
question, his escaping without help.”

“ Then who in the nameof wonders helped .
him?"

“ I am not prepared to say,” answered the
detective, “ but I do know he had help, and f
undoubtedly it was the woman who visited ‘
him in the afternoon. In fact, I am sure it
was she; but who she was I do not know.”

“ But how could an unknown woman help
him?" - .4

“ Perhaps she was not unknown to him. "

“ Even so, what could she do?"

“ What she did do was evidently a rent
deal. In the first place, she certainly reed
his hands so that he could» grapple with the‘
jailer, and she may also have supplied him
with the means of disguise and escape. . She
was bold, and at the jail she passed herself
oifasthe prisoner’s aunt. "

“He has no aunt, as I know very well,"
declared the colonel. “And who this wo-
man can be, Icannot imagine. Whatis your
opinion?"

This to the detective. '
“ An opinion without proof to back it, sir,

 

i
l
l

spouse.

- “ Well, then, let's hear what your guess is.
You are accustomed to dealing with mys-
teries; your guess ought to be a good one."

“ I have an idea that this mysterious wo-
man may be one who had somethingto do
With the murder, assuming the )risoner to
have been innocent. as you both 0."

“Ha! you may be right. Knowing his
danger, and not wanting that‘he.‘ should suf-
fer for a crime of which he was guiltless, she
took upon herself the risk of aiding him to
escape.” , ‘ .

“ hat is the way it looks to me, gentle-
men." '

“And you may have hit the truth of it,"
a reed the lawyer. “Anyhow, let us be

without our help. We are clear of it. and so
I hope he will not
be retaken, but: that he may be successful in

 

CHAPTER VII.
run nunsrmo can mixnsnnn.

m "Suspect-Sport

Those who held that he was the bank- ;Frances began to lay siege to hisheart im-

 

Tnn escaped murderer was not retaken; .
the bank-robber had not been arrested, the‘
m stcry was still unsolved.

A *ks had asscd, and no one. had heard »
from Gentcel ohn, not even his most inti- l

i" ‘, mate and most trusted friends. Where he ‘ Iredell fixed her eyes upon the, Englishman
“lawnmower: he . and

 

e was doing, no one could say.
' ski?   ‘

I 3 i, . 'v:"iiv‘:’,~i, ':‘!.',.*..~:

      

a Barely

single note had become exceedingly rasping
upon the cars of those who believed him in-
nocent of either crime. '

And those who believed this Were these
who knew him best.

ltcwards had been posted, both for the
capture of the escaped prisoner and for the
arrest of the robber.

These rewards were everywhere.

Five thousand dollars was offered for the
arrest of the murderer, as he was termed,
and a full description of llcathcote was
given.

    

Drift.

' robber, still harped upon that string, and its I

F

E
i

2 fair to rival even Manitou at no far distant

This was signed by an official in higer

standing, and could any
upon Genteel John, ant have been successful
in turning him ox/er to the authorities, the
reward would have been paid.

man have laid hand ‘

Then, too, the same amount was offered 1

by the officials of the bank for the arrest of
the robber who had spoiled them to the ex-
tent of five times that sum. 80, if it were
true that Gentch John and this bank-robber
were one and the same, the successful man
had asnug sum awaiting him.

In the mean time mattch at Daisy Drift

had settled down to an even pace, and while .

no means forgotten,

Gentcel John was br
lac less f l‘L‘( lucntl y men-

his name had come to
tioncd.

The death of their daughter in the hotel
fire at Denver had been a terrible blow to
the Lyndons, and they had by no mcaus rc-
eovered from it. Added to that had been
the disgrace the trial and conviction of Heath—
cotc brought upon them.

The hotel at the pretty camp village was
unusuallyvfull of guests, but the Lyndons
were entirely out of society, of course, and
they were missed greatly at all local events
of a social nature.

At the hotel Were Madam Iredcll and her
daughter, Frances Cantril, the girl whom
(it"nt‘ccl John had saved from the burning
hotel.

llcuthcote had told few the true inward-
ncss of that episode, and only the girl's own
version of it had become current. '

She was in thqhall, as she explainul, try~
ing to grope her way out, and was probably
near the room occupied by Ileathcotc and
his bride, when a man, whom she took to be
a fireman, seized her and. flung her upon his
shoulders and bore her out. She did not
know who 11'. was till,she was told later.

Such had been her explanation, and now
that it had become old it was seldom referred
to. .

With Genteel John branded a murderer
and sentenced to be han red, her love for
him seemed suddenly to rave cooled. and
she could speak of him without any show of
feeling. ,

It can be questioned whether she had any
feclin of'the womanly sort. "

An . no sooner oil with-the old love than
on with the new: The escaped gar-isomer being
forever beyond her reach, an now wholly
undesirable, she had set her snares in another
direction.

Geuteel John had made no mistake in es-
timating her character. Her mother was
an adventurcss, and she was no better. If
she had honestly loved Heathcote, as perhaps
she had so far- as her nature was capable;
that was a thing of the past. Now she was
playing for money and position. -

At the hotel, about this time, was a man
who gave his name as Robert Woonstead.

He was a man of thirty-five or so, of g
address, passany good-looking and rich bc~
yond question. He claimcdtobe an English.
man, and said he had cometo the Lnited
States with the object in view of investing
in mining interests. , ' ,,

At the Daisy Drift Hotel he had made the

acquai ance of Osmond Millfield, a stock?

holder i the Jobs Find, and when his object
was known the Job’s Find wash-ought to
his netice‘ as bei about as cod an invest-
ment ~ as he ceul make. so it came
about that he invested five thousand dollars
in the stock of that concern.

This was/as he said, merely as a starter.
He did not want to go in too deeply till he
understood more about American mines and
American ways. - - 7

When this deal became.known, Madam

    
   
 
  

  

  
  
  

 

 

l

 

 
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
   
  
    
 
  
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
  
  
  
  
    
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
   
   
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
   
    
  
   
  
 
 
      
    
    
    
     
        
        
         
    
    
     
       
 
        
      

 

,: ‘2 Fm;

k”; .~ r. “2,1,. :‘

    

mcdiately.

And their success in that direction was
even better than they had hoped could be
possible. The wealthy Englishman made no
defense whatever, but quickly capitulatcd,
and erc he had been six weeks at the camp
village the engagement was announced.

It is not (if a new and rough mining-camp
we write, it must be borne in mind, hence
the term “camp village." It had been a
camp—was a camp still in some sense of the
term; but it had grown into a pretty and
popular summer resort. and was bidding

dav.

When the engagement was announced
local society was all agog.

Frances t‘aittril lad not been the only one
who had lzccn angling in that direction, and
she was l1)ol£t'(i upon with envy.

('ongratulations, however, were not by
any nit-ans l.:u-k\vard. In fact, the disap-
poirti-d ones, in order to hide their chagrin,
were the foremost and most effusive in ex—
tending them. .

()sinond .llillfield complimented “'oonstead
highly upon his choice, and declared that
American women Were scmnd only to Amcr- '
icau mines.

As he had never married, he was free to
.put it that way if he saw fit, and so he put
it.

Itneed not be said that Millficld and Col-
oncl Lyndon did not speak. . *
Believing thoroughly in the innocence of

John IIcathcote, the colonel knew that he,
Ililllicld, had given false testimony out of -
pure revenge. ’

IIc mignt have been satisfied with statin
the facts as they were, for the circumstantia
evidence had been black enough, but he had '
gone further and sealed the. innocent young ‘
man's fate. v

Provided always that Ileathcote was inno- .
cent, and those who believed thoroughly that
he waswerc few in number. And so believ-
ing, they believed Illillfield to be the liar and
worse that we know him to have been.
Still, they were helpless without proof.

The two, Millticld and Lyndon, had had
one fierce war-of words over the matter, since
that terrible night, and from that moment
had not. spoken. , . l

)lillficld was carrying himself as an up-
right man would, a man who had done his
duty in at trying time without fear or favor,
and he had the support and sympathy of the
mtgority. , '

at. to return: .

Shortly following the announcement of the
engagement between Robert Wmnstcad and
Frances (,‘nntril, had Come the further an-"
nounccmcnt of their wedding, soon to take ’
place there at the hotel in the village. , .

The Englishman had pressed his suit, and
therobeing no good reason for delay, much
less any desire on the part of either the
father or daughter, on the principle of , I
“ many a slip," etc, they had given way to," 
him and preparations were begun at once for
as grand an affair of the kind as could .be ‘
gotten up. ’ .3 ,
“ And so, in society there, and even to acers .'
tain extent at DenVcr also, there was an unpf'.v.',.
,usual stir over the forthcoming event. . , _

The Englishman was lavish with his mane . :x
and no expenscwas spared to make _it ,' .

rcatest event of that or any other kindth'nt .

isy Drift had eVer witnessed. And he: -'

succeeded. . , ;
The day of the wedding came, and Data
‘Drift was filled to overflowing with pe e
from Denver and other“ laces nearer by.
The, abilities of the umble. village ho,
being inadequate to the- occasion, es _ "
‘talent had been brought from the city tapré
pare the grand supper that was to follow the; 3'
ceremony. . , I 1 
‘ The wedding Was to‘ take p ' in theeven
ing at nine, and the supper. sto follow at .
midni ht after the intervenin . timehsd been
spent n dancing. ,It was, er, likely . .
to eclipse anything thathad taken lace that 4
season, even at Denver ‘or famed L anitou. 
Evening came, and finally the looked-fer

hour. ' . .
hand totie  we
retina

   
     
    
    
   
     
        

 
 

 

             
        
    
        

 

 

       
 
 
   
  

 
 
 
 

wo ministers were on

as elaborate] as possible, and the"
were filled With guests. ‘

' Nearly all the cottages in the camp were

ablaze with light, forit being a secrety evens;

cl.-
*.
‘5.

  

    
 

  
 

suspect 815311 or Daisy

   

t, ,J

 

 

 

   
   
    
  
   
   
  
    
     
   
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
    
  
  
  
  
  
 

all society was taking part; but the Lyndon
cottage was as dark as a tomb.

Finally, in the main parlor of the hotel,
the ‘ two ministers took their stand under a
huge floral arch that had been erected, and
the happy couple, with their attendants, en-
tered and drew up before them, and the cere-
mony began. .

i It not only began, but ended, and Robert
VVoonstead and Frances Unntril were pro-
nounced man and wife. v

When the final words had been pro-
nounced, and before the crowd could press
forward to congratulate the couple, there
(nunc an unusual noise upon the hotel
piazza.

It had the sound of heavy steps, but they
Were certainly heavier than any human
could make. It was more like the tread ot' a
horse. And at the same time loud exclama-
tions were heard.

1 These were followed by screams from the
women who were in the hall and the front
part of the room, and while the crowd re-
mained spellbound, wondering what could
be the cause of it all, into the parlor came

‘ a. horse and. rider, to the terror and amaze-
ment of all. '

The rider was clad in black from crown to
toe, and over his face was a black mask. A
cloak of sable hue hung from his shoulders.

The horse, as black as ink, had over it a
heavy black cloth which hung like a pull all
around, secured front and rear, havingthc
appearance, except in color, of the caparison
of medieval times.

Slowly to the front this mysterious rider
rode, thrmlgh the aisle that had been left
open for the bride and groom and their at-
tendants, and scarcely any one moved or
spoke, all being filled with awe at so strange
an apparition at such a time and upon such
an ocmsion. i

Thyme and groom had turned to receive

the co gratulations of their friends and the
assc bled guests, and now, with faces of
_ ashcn hue they stood spellbound before this
x mysterious being.
i The attendants had fallen back, and the
V , ' horseman stopped within a few feet of the
‘ néwl married couple. .
~ “ l obert Woonstead and Frances," the
rider spoke, then, in full, distinct tone, “ let
me be the first to congratulate you upon this
happy (x-casion. Frances, you are to be
envied; while I you, sir, deserve nothing
worse than to be mentencml to spend the re
mainder of your days in the society of this
charming woman.”
Then it was that the liride, the groom,
guests—all took the matter in the light. of a
. joke some friend had taken the Ilberty to
' play upon them.
“ But who hre you ‘2” asked the groom with
a smile of expectancy.
The answer was like a thunderbolt from a
eloudless sky: ‘
“ I am John Ileathcote, better known as
Genteel John, or, as I have chosen to style
~ myself, the Detdctive Outlaw!” -

()llAl’Tlflli VIII.
ONE MYSTERY (TLEARED AWAY.

Wm) can describe such a scene as then on-
sued? I ‘ '.

Women screamed, men exclaimed, and
many sought safety in immediate flight from
the room. ‘ ‘

. The faces of bride and groom took on the

“ hue of death, and the two reverend gentle-

, fimen tried to excel each other in the,eelerity

.1 ‘of their retreat. ..

Now, to both Woonstead and Frances Can-

'tril, came the true significance of the con.

ratulations- this daring man had spoken.

'1ch could understand the hidden meaning

of his words. W

" Not: that they understood it,. each the
’ meaning as it applied tofthe other, but each
' as it applied to seéf. They were soon to see

 it in its fuller light, ‘however.

' ,As he spoke the thrilling words the black
rider’s horse a peared to grow restless, and
wheeling rt y around it hacked to a corner
near which)“ the bridal party had stood, and
there, as he faced the crowd, the rider ap-
peared with a glittering revolver in his

. gram. .‘ ‘ i

 Excitement Were a tame word to express

-' ._  furor. - '~ '

f  There were reporters present, men who

,, had been sent on purpose,to wrlte 1) this

  
 

   

  

 

   

event, and they
oil to paper.

There were detectives in the room, men
who had been waiting at Daisy Drift for
weeks in the hope of catching Gentcel John,
and they were powerless to make a move to
arrest him.

In less time than it has taken to read
these lines the room was half emptied; but
there was 'still a goml crowd present, those
who Were either poWerlcss to move or
had the grit to stand their ground to see
the matter through. There were both classes.

“ Citizens of Daisy Drift," spoke Genteel
John, before the spell was broken, “and
you, reporters, detectives, all; hear what I
have to say: Since. my escape from prison
at Denver I have been upon the trail of the
robberof the liank. I found him weeks
ago, but the desire for personal revenge had
led me to postpone his arrest, or exposure,
till now.”

Robert ‘Woonstcad was still white to the
lips, and his face was bathed in a damp of
perspiration.

He could hardly stand, and had taken hold
of the back of a chair for. support to steady
himself. llis bride had (hfawn apart from
him, her eyes wild with an expectancy of
horror.

“I will now point him out to you, detec-
tives who are eager to achieve fame and
fortune in his capture and my own, and
you can make the arrest. There he stands:
the trembling, cowardly wretch; Radcliffe
Royce, alias Robert Woonstcad, alias a dozen
other names; the husband of at least seVen
deserted wives; a man who has served one
term in State’s Prison; thief, forgcr, and
what not. There he is, and here are all
the proofs. needed to convict him of this
crime.” -

As he spoke, Gentccl John took a packet
from under his cloak and displayed it.

“ It is a lie!" the accused man cried. “ It
is a lie, and 1—” .

“ It is the truth,” the accuser interrupted.
“You will have all the chance needed to
disprove it when you are brought to trial.
Detective Pcarsman.” speaking to one of the
detectives whom he recognized, “ I. will de-
liver this packet to you, and you will find
that it is all I claim for it. I have done my
work well, and there is your man. Do not
allow him to escape you. But, then, no need
for me to say this to you.” ‘

The bride, Frances (lantril, had dropped
upon a chair, where she assumed a pretend-
ed faint. '

Some of the women present advanced to-
ward her, but (ieuteel John waved them
back. He had more to say to them all.

llc had tossed the packet. to the detective,
who had caught it, and who had advanced
close enough to the accused man to pre-
vent his csc: pe should he make such an at‘
tempt. '

“ 1 spoke of a personal vengeance that led
me to postpone this exposure till now,”
the black rider went on. , “ I will now make
plain what that was, and the ,objeet of it.
You all remember the burning of the hotel
at l)c.nVcr. in which my bride lost her life.
Ientered the. burning building to find her;
I did find her, in the midst of the heat,
smoke and flames; [bade her get upon my
shoulders so that I could have free use of
hands and arms as learricd her out; l stoop-
ed to receive her; at that moment this wo-
man—~—this monster, unknown to me, pushed
her back and took her place. and so it came
that I carried her out: instead. of my poor
wife.”

A sob choked him for an instant, but he
quickly resumed:

“I sup )0le it was in

were too excited to put pen-

 

wife .till I saw

her face a ter I had escapct with her, when, '

finding it Was hot, Iwould have rushed back
to certain death for her sake had 1 been
allowed to‘d so. But, [was held, and the
building fcl and my bride was buried be
neath the ruins, And this woman is, in the
sight of Heaven, her murder-em! Can you
wonder that I have taken this chance for
a tithe of revenge, slight and inadequate
though it is? I thought I would allow her
to Wed this than upon whom she was ex-
pending all her aits. You have gained
y0ur ambitiOn, Frances Cantrilw—I know you
can hear me, r-your faint is only asham;
and I~Wi¢h 0t joy. This in some measure
reps syoti r what you have done; in some

measure satisfies the revenge I made oathto
take.”

The masked man looked around the room,
as if new debating his manner of escape.

“One word more, to you, detectives and
reporters,” he said. “ I have no desire to do
any of you harm, and so I warn you not to
attempt to detain me when I am ready to
depart. I am innocent of the crime for
which the law seeks my life, for which it
Would ere this’have hanged me but for my
escape, and I am going to fight for life and
freedom .until I am able to prove to the
world that I did not kill Murdock Kinross.~
And another word to my fees, to those whose
false testimony at my triai would have sent
me to the gallows: I have marked you,
and my vengeance shall yet fall upon you.
There is no escape; nothing but death can
place you beyond my reach. For five pur-
poses only do I live; to prove my innocence
and to wreak vengeance upon those who
dragged me down.” v -

Millfield ' had been in the room, but no.
sooncrhad the. black riderannounecd who he
was than that gentleman beat a hasty retreat
through the nearest window. '

No desire had he to face this man whom
he had so i rrcparably wronged.

But it was not for personal safety alone
that he had hastened out. He meant to cap
ture the . :caped convict if possible.

No sooner out than he gathered men
around him, to whom he made known his
plan, and speedily every door and window
of the room was guarded, the men having
orders to capture the outlaw “dead or alive.

This was no more than might have been
expected, however, and it would have
shown shortsightedness on the part of Gen-
tecl John had he not come prepared for just
that emergency. So he had come, one rea-
son for his riding his horse into the room in
the manner described.

Mounted, he had every advantagemnd his.
horse was one to be trusted in'any emer-
gene . “ I
Having ended what he had to say, the
masked rider took up the rein in his left.
hand, while with his right he presented his
revolver in a threatening manner at the
crowd. _

“ Let no man try to stop me," he warned.
“Let me depart in peace, and all will be
Well. Try to detain me, and there may be
trouble. I know the reward that. is upon my
head is a temptation to you, but the reward
is not worth the risk. 'ow I am going."

He started forward as leisurely as he had
come into the room.

For a moment no one attempted to hinder
him, but when he reached the doorway four
men suddenly blocked his path, each vith a
revolver presented.

.“ Stopl” was the command. “ Another
step, John Heathcote, and you are a dcad'
man!” . ,

“Out. of my way,” was the stern order,
“or there may be more (1 ad men than cue.
I am a desperate man, one not to be trillcd
with.” .

He had not paused, and now his horse was
upon the four.

The women who had remained in the room
were screaming, and' the excitement was
great.

“ Take him!" commanded a voice without.
“Take him! Do not let him escape! Kill
him. or you will lose him!"

The four had stepped back, their revolvers
presented straight at the black rider’s breast,
and once more they commanded him to halt
and surrender; '

As well might the ' have spoken com~
mands to the free wins of Heaven.

“ Fire!" ordered the man in the back-
round, and it was the voice of Osmond
Iillficld. “ Fm!" ‘

The four revolvers spoke at once, the‘
bullets undoubtedly went true to the mark,
but their effect was naught.

With an imprecation of an "or, the detec-
tive outlaw‘urged forward iis horse ata
bound, and with clubbed weapon he knock-
ed the amazed men right and left out of his

wa .

The heavy hoofs thundered once or twin:
in the hall. once only on the piazza as the
noble steed made a leap to the street, and j
with a Laugh of defiance the proscribed m’un
dashed away 11 ‘

 

_‘.,.;   .v ,.
sewn!”  .i‘:'

barked spitefu ly behind him.  ,

 

the vallev, while revolvers. ’~

     

 

 

        
     
   
   
       
     
       

 

      
     
     
         
       
       
       
       
     
   
   
         
   
       
       

 

        
       
     
       
             
    

 

      
   
   
     
       
       
             
       
       
       
     
    
 
  
  
  

 

 

Genteel John was gone.

\Vhat can be said of the scene that follow-'
ed?

To describe it in detail were utterly im-
poSsilde, nor is it necessary.

About the, time when ‘dl attention was
being drawn to (lentuel .5 . ,1 .::1l the men
xvi-o lricl: eui'l'cst ilil'l, ill.‘ accused liolicrt
\‘zoonstead tried to make, his escape by a
rear door. .

llctective l’earsman had an eye upon him,
however, and he, had 'not taken tln‘ce steps
before :1 heavy hand. fell upon his shoulder
and he was brought, to a hall. with the cold
tube of a revolver pressed underhiscar. lie
was willingr to stop, under the pressing
cirt'umstam-es. ‘

l’earsman called to an assistant, who put
handcuth upon the fellow, and he was
rendered helpless.

When the, four in the hall who had been
knocked over so ingloriously had regained
their feet. and ()smond )lilllield 'had some-
what quit-led down, for he had made a great

ado over the ’escape, then the proofs (lenteel ;

Jolm had given Detective l’cnrsman were
looked into.

'l‘hey -\vcrc proofs positive, and the pris-
oner had no loophole for escape. He. could
not deny his identity, and the proof that he

was the man who had robbed the bank could 5

not be gainsayed. The detective outlaw
had done his work exceedingly well, and one
mystery had now been cleared up. Genteel
Jolm was innocent of that one crime, at any
rate. But. the other-—
condemned to die! '

CHAPTER IX.
A NEW muss on THE MATTER.

THE events of that night were not soon
to be forgotten. . I

Never to be forgotten, perhaps, at Daisy
Drift, and certainly never by the persons
who had been most conspicuous.

The reporters spent the rest of the night
in writng descriptive articles of the sensa-
tional order for their papers, while the detec-
tives talked the situation over among them-
selves, explaining to one another why they
had made no effort to arrest Genteel' John.

In some of them it was particularly gall-
int,r that he had escaped, after they had
spent so long .a time waitin at Daisy Drift,
w here they believed he whu (1 come sooner of
later for the purpose of seein r Colonel Lyn-
don. And now that he ha come and was
gone, again; they were accordingly sad.

Somehow some of them felt that they were
out of pocket just five, thousand dollars, ting
amount of the reward that was upon th
outlaw's head.

The “ outlaw " he may be called, since he
was under ban, a price upon his head and a
noose awaiting him in case he should be
caught; outlaw, though innocent of any
crime save that of fighting," for his life.

There was one among the detectives, how-
ever, who had been converted by the events
of that night, and that one was Detective
Pcarsman. lie declared openly his belief
that Gentccl John was inmcent of the mur-
der, and pledged himself to do all in his
power to help him to establish his inno-
cence. ,

The prisoner—the bank-r0bber-—-was taken
to Denver; where the proofs in thehands of
I’earsman convicted him.

There was’no escape, and evorybody had
t acknowledve the superior detective skill
w iieh Genteef John had shown in weavin '
the chain around him, hampered as he had

ecn. ,

[The rascal w s sent to prison foralong’
term of years, Rind about two-thirds of his
stolen riches was restored to the bank.
While as for Frances Cantril, she disappcah
0d fmm sight. together with her mother,
both evidently anxrous to hide their heads
after the disgrace they had met,

Some time went by. i

The next sensation was something entirely
unlookedfor. '

The daily stage between the nearest rail-

road point and Daisy-Drift was held up one ,

afternoon and robbe ,

Ithad a large amount of’money aboard at
the time, money sent to pay off the mine em-
géoyces, and that was the object of the rob-

r . .thhmg e‘lse'was taken or asked for.

at, What. made the .aensation all the

I

For that he was ‘

l rreatcr, the robber was declared to have been
I ‘enteel John.
I Melt were aboard ’who had seen him _on
I the occasion of his visit to the camp on
, that memomble night, and they declared it.
_ was the. same horse and rider again. '
More than that. the robber hail revealed
' his identity, declaringr himself to be the dc»
lective outlaw. (lentecl John. And this
, was the report given by all who Were
I aboard the stage at the time.
, “ Being proscribed and bounded," they
,quoted the robber as having.r said, “lam
' bound to have the name as well as the game.
.'l'he law has made me an outhw, and aft
 outlaw I will be in fact. Let them take me
jif they can. it is my hand against every

‘ man’s band now. ”
And so the news was Spread.

.  _

Colonel Mark Lyndon and his wife were

seated togctln-r in their comfortable cottage
- parlor one evening, where they were usually
to be found at’that hour.

Both were sad and downcast, as they had
j been M'cr since cruel Fate had’ robbed them
1 of their favorite child in so horrible a man—
i ner, and their conversation was concernng
i that. trying time and the events which had
: followed.

' “I am glad you do not believe it," Mrs.
Lyndon remarked.

“ Believe it!" cried the colonel. “ I would
. not believe it if John were to tell me so him—
} self." \
i “But, how is it to be accounted for?
There is no doubting the fact that the stage
.was stopped and the money taken, and we
Icannot doubt the testimony of those who
were aboard respecting the rest.” ’

“ That is all right; but it was not John
Iieatheote. As to accounting for it, I don‘t.
I sim ly say I do not understand it.”

“NIiir do I; though, like you, Iam sure it
was not John.” - ' ‘

“ He has enemies, men who have good

‘ reason to fear him, now, and who Would do
y'anything to remove him from their path."

“ You mean Millfleld, for one."

I “ Yes. ” _

“ How I detest the wretoh!” .

: “And well you may, too. This may be.

i his doings.”
“ In what way do you mean ?"
“ In this way! The robber was certainly
i not Genteel John, so of course it was some
one playing the role for a purpose. And
that purpose, to cast more odium upon
John’s name." I
- “I see it, I see it! They would trample
him "in the mire, now that they have got him
down. "They will suffer yet, I feel it—I
know it! But,‘how strange that John has
never been near us since he escaped from the
custody of the oflicérs! Seems to me he
might ventui'e.” , .
“I have given you my views regarding
that. He knows that our house must be un-
der watch of the detectives, who believe that
wooner or later he will Come here, and who
i are ready to take him at a moment's notice.
I The wait is trying their patience severely,
 bpt there age at least two here that I know
. o ." ’
_ "And of course John must be aware of
their movements. ”
“‘Iie undoubtedly is. See the manner in
" which he worked up that robbery case and
lcleared his name of that charge. He was
- rubbing elbows all the time with the very
’ men who were looking for him most eager

n

 

“ But how will he ever clear himself of the
other crime? Of the terrible charge of mur-
l der that ban 9 over his head?” ,

“ He will ( o it, if no harm comes to him.
I am sure he will do it; he is just that sort
of man. But how—you ask 'rne too.mueh.
We must wait and see how." ' , I - ,

There came-a ring at the hell, or gong, at
the cottage front door. r
to announce a'strangcr.

d “Show him in," directed Colonel Lyn-
on. '

An aged man entered the room. He had
; white hair and heard, was bent with years,
- and sup orted himself with a stout cane.

“ Do address Colonel Mark Lyndon?” he
inquired, on entering.
, “ You do, sir,” wasthe response. “Whom
haw: I theyhonor of receiving?” -
‘ v

 

'your question.

A Servant responded, and soon appeared '

 

“I am 'I-ienry Yardley, sir, from Denver.
I am here regarding that matter of insurance
you are waitiner to hear about."

While he spoke. the old man had taken the
chair that had been proffered, and laid his
hat beside him on the floor. »

“ \Vhy, sir, I know nothingr about : ny
matter of insurance," said the colonel, in a'
tone of much surprise.

The servant had withdrawn. now, and 3 er
steps had ceased to be heard in the hall.

“ I’crhaps you do not," the‘ old man ob-
served, in a lower tone. “That remark was
intended for ether cars.”

The Voice was changed. nbw. :uzd l~<~t:h the
colonel and Mrs. Lyndon looked at thestfan-
aft-r (rtgcrly. ‘

“ .\re \( u .h 1:111"

v

‘ tl.e <olonel demanded.
“ Yes, l am John." was acknowledgml.
“ But. do not ltl your ('Xt‘litlllt'lll betray me.
l have risked much in coming here. Kiep
perfectly Hill“ and let us talk quietly in low
tones."

. v s
“hes. yes: but, where have y u been?
Tel us all '

Where do you keep yourself?
about yourself, John.”

“There is much to tell. Colonel Lyndon,
more than can be told in one brief interview

suchasthismustofnecessitybe. lwillanswer i '

I have been stopping at the
hotel for Several (lays now."

“ At the hotel? At. the hotel here?"

“ Yes. air.”

‘1‘ Good heavens! Are you not aware that. »
men are here eager to take you?"

“ Of course I am, and that is the reason I
have cautioned you to silence, or rather quiet-
ness, now.”

” And who are you at the hotel?”

“ You have heard of Fenton Doyle, the -
sport?"

“Heard of him! As if his name isn‘t well
known here.” , '

“ Well, such is the role I am assuming for
the present—or have been playing. at any
rate. for I amdone with it now. I am here-
for a purpose. you may be sure of that.”

“ You \have been intimate with .Mlllfitltl
and his set of followers.” ' -

“ Exactly; and for a purpose. My point
has been grained, and Fenton Doyle is toturn’
up missing to-rnorrow- morning. Before
leaving the place I,thought it best to come’
and see you once. at all risks.
if you still believe me innocent.”

“We do, my boy; we do, we do."

“ And this stage-robbery business has
found no credence in your mind?” .

“Not so far as you are concerned. “Tet
know you are innocent bf that.
we know the robbe was enuine enough?

“I am glad of t at.
well managed that I was afraid you might
mistrust me. It was not I. but another who.
is taking up my name with a purpose. I
Iwanted you to know this from my own

1118." . . ,

“ It was not necessary; we could not doubt
you.” . . a»
“ I am glad of that. And ndw, for the
first time, I lnNe a chance to thank you"

of the jail, Colonel Lyndon. It was well"
done. and—” t , ~'
“ Heavens! boy, have you not
truth of that?”
“I know that .you sc'nt a woman to help
me out——-” ,. . ‘
“ No, we never did.” , ‘
“ What!” . '
‘1 I say we never did. We
do with your escape." ‘ ,
.“ Is it possible! No; I had not heard any- '

Of course  1

he affair was so C

band i the. . .

1

l wantto see ’

for the manner in which yen helped me out ,‘t‘g’?

had nothing'to ’4 ‘

thing of this; never inquired into it, for 1,: '

sup osed it was your work, somehow." ,

“ ’0; we hadnot begun to act yet,
had only just begun, uponka plan entire! 
different from that one. When youesca " 9.
though, of course there was no need for.
tion on our part.”

“ It. is stran e; strange. Who Was that
woman, Iwon er?” ‘ "

“The lawyer, the detective and I talked 

it over, and the detective came to the con-_
clusion that she was one who had some-‘7
thing to do with the crime, and who helped
you out so than.
cent'l'.” , . y  ,

"'lzhat Was the idea that was just shapin .5
itself in my mind. It must be so, and -
have one more slight clue to work u

I

pon- ' '
.Perhapd it was a woman who ‘killed my

you might not suffer inane I 

 

, 9

‘ ' matter to the public.”

,
:‘

 

 

adored step-father. But, I am handicapped
now, for if she took the risk of saving my
life, I have not the heart to drag her to
justice.” ‘

CHAPTER X.
“MANY A star," are.
THERE was silence for some moments after
at.
All three Were considering the situation
from that point of View. That there was

Each had a weapon in hand, which was
aimed straight at the disguised man’s breast

, and one displayed also a pair of handcuffs.
Genteel John did not stir, but both the
, (‘zolonel and Mrs. Lyndon sprungto their feet,
the latter with a scream, and springng for-
Ward she placed herself between the detec-

’ tives and the hunted man, crying:

some justice in Genteel John's View of it,

could not he denied.

Supposing that woman to have been the 3

slayer of Murdoek Kinross, unwilling that

an innocent person should suffer for her a
crime she had taken upon herself the risk of ‘
; you down like a dog."

setting him free. I

And now, for him to hunt her down and 1

drug her to justice, for the purpose of

establishing his own innocence before the ‘

world——it seemed base selfishness.

’ was out of danger, so long as he ,could keep
out of the hands of the ollleers, and he owed
it to that woman.‘

“is life i

“There is something in that, [agree with '
' awaited my coming out, since the girl was

you.” theeolonel presently spoke, “ but you
at least oWe it to yourself to clear your
name.”

“No, no! You must not take hint-you
shall not take him! We will not givo him
up—«do you hear? “'0 will not give him
u ii”

The detective smiled.

“Thank you, madam,” said one; f‘you,
llavegivo'n us just the proof we wantde

.lolm lleatheote, you are our m‘isoner. If

you resist We have full authority to shoot. _

Poor Mrs. .l._vndon. seeing what she had
done in her excitement, sunk down over-
come.

‘ Genth John rose to his feet, now. with- 
out the least haste or excitement. in his move- "

ments, and said:

“ You might at le‘ast have spared this:
Could you not have;

lady such a shock.

prompt to inform you of my presence

' here ‘f”

“ And that is the only object I have in the .

matter, Colonel Lyndon,” was the response. .

“ It, certainly would hot be for any ove I
had for Murdock Kinross tha
the search.” '
. “I admit that; but this woman may not
have been the guilty one, and in any event
you should not stop until you had satisfied
yourself upon thesc points. You will never
,be satisfied until you have solved them s-

,tery. even though you never reveal tie

“Oh! I have no idea 0f stopplhg in my
task. And then, ‘I-Ieaven forgive me for my

t I carried on '

l
l
l
l
l

I
I

l

“What know you of that?" was demand-

“ I know all about it, and your presence is
no surprise to me; but I did not think you
would intrude into a gentleman’s hodse un-
announced,'as you have.
are not gentlemen.”

“ Our business has no use for etiquette,”

snarled the elder of the two, somewhat;

flushed.
“As is very evidently the case,” was the

‘t cool, irritating rejoinder.

“ Do you surrender, Sir Convict ‘1”
“ I don‘t see what else there is [or me to

’ selfishness! the m story of the fire—the tire do, under the circumstances,” was the easy

[in which poor ydla lost her life!

If my; reply.
.suspicmn proves true, that the one who” here.”

V'ikilled Kinross was the one who set the fire, It

. would drag him, or her, to justice, even
though my life had been saved twice over.”
. Mrs. Lyndon was in tears now at the men-

 tion of her child’s terrible fate, and the col~

onel had to bite his lips.
“It Would be right, it would
the colonel said hoarsely.
,“Bcsides, I should‘ have escaped any-

be right,”

 how, though of course the/Woman could

. know nothine' about that. But, I am deter

tumbled to sift the thing to the bottom. and

l~when I have learned the truth, then I can

, ' usemydiseretion about what action to take
f “In the case.
x  r “ And-where are you going now ‘2” asked

‘1’ ’

Mrs. Lyndon.
“I am not going far, he sure of that,”

' t was the reply.

“ You prefer not to disclose your plans.”
, , “Yes, since walls are said to have ears,
, and I would not have them become known.”
' ,“Ver well, you are no doubt right. ”
 “Ant , Mrs. Lyndon, a word about one of
‘rlytmr Servants, the one who opened the door

 to me. She is playing into the hands of the

l ,y.

,, detectives who are watching this cottage. ’f
“5“ You cannot mean it!”
, "-.;~“Were it not “so, I would not make the
charge, as you must know. I‘know full
9 Well" the risk I was running in coming here,
but I acco ted it. I wanted to’assure you
in person 0 my innocence in the matter of
 the stage robberyw”
, “ It was not nocesatry.’ .
,lf‘So 1' am well pleased to-know, And
.‘Mw'l‘l will remain no longer, for I haVe no
«doubt but that the information that there
.ié'astranger here has been (named to the de-
'~-tectives, and they may be here sooner than I
think. Poor 'fellowst they are selfishly. blind
«in the matter. Would that more of them
7 »were like Pearsman.” ,
'. “ Yes, would that they were, indeed.”

7

l

l

“I would not have you kill me

’sobbed Mrs. Lyndon, “ it must
not be, it must not be! He is innocent, ‘gen3
tlemen; we know he is imiocent. Spare
him, and let him’ work out the mystery as he
has sworn to do." '

“ And meanwhile rob stages and kill folks,
eh? I guess not. This is unpleasant busi-
ness, madam, and we regret exceedingly that

on should be a witness to it, but business is
msiness with. us. Up with your hands,
John Heat beote. "

“With pleasure,” was the easy response,
and‘ his hands were raised. _

“You infernal seampsl” now exploded
Colonel? Lyndon. “ What do you mean by
coming into my house. without my permis-
sion'?
Soon as you can!" ,

The colonel had been almost choking from
the very first intrusion, and it had taken him
all this time to find some vent for his feel-
ings.

.“ Just one moment, Colonel Lyndon, and
we will retire. We must have our prisoner,
however. We have waited a rood many,
Weary weeks for'tln's chance, am we cannot
allow it to slip.” ‘ ,

“ Well, please cut short the si’spense, then,
and have it done with,” urged Gentecl John.
“ Ever moment but adds to the distress of

“ No, no,’

can see anything. ” ,
Historic was ,irritatin , his words galling.
'He showed not the east excitement, not
the least fear, not,the least degree of any
emotion whatever. lie was as cool as it is
possible for man to be. ,
The elder of the brace of detectives had
now ste ped nearer, keepin s revolver
preset) point blank at the islruised man's
cart, and he now ordered the other to ‘? clap
on the darbies.” ‘ r . '
Forward stepped the yormger, the hand-

 

, oui’fs'ready, a look of keen exnlt‘htion upon

I *‘ Well, I will not ,delay another minute, ‘ his thee.

for I would not have trouble with. the;

(lenteel John allowed him toeomo quite

ofilcers in your house, my best and dearest : near, holding but his wrists as if in perfect

. 6Lfi'iehd5.

God speed the-day when I my v submission to what seemed the inevitable.
’ Double to reward your confidence in me i ‘ At the moment when the man would have

‘ with full and satisfactory proof that I Camus 5 applied the bmcelets, however, one of the

‘ innocent as I claim to be,,and-—" "
- ‘ The door Opened '

. 0 men stepped into the room. "

" Their approach had norbecn'

Mr rooming was

'(let oti -’

Just at that point, and:

heard, and”
a surprise.,.,,They-;Were. otberd

E detective out w's iron-like hands seized his
sleeve and a sudden jerk sent him into a cor-
ner headlong. = ‘

At the some moment the weapon of the

hgesdye: 31393)

I

l .

But, then, all men .

Get out of here, both of you, and as ;:

this lat y, as you must be able to see, if you.

' a transiting 0’. this

sort'that might be httempted, and was quick
to fire.

But, as on the other occasion, the bullets
seemed powerless, and before he could tire.
again (lenteel John‘s fist took him Squarely
between the eyes and he went over like a ten-
pi‘n.

Without. the delay of another second, then,
the outlaw detective sprung to the door and
out, but on the stoop he was confronted by
a dozen men, all armed. , ‘

llis arms shot out with lightning quick—
' ness, one right and the other left, and the
stoop was ‘eleared, while he sprung to the
ground and ran, clearing the fence at a bound,
and with a yell of defiance was off up the
valley. ,
t llullets whistled after him, as before, but
‘ he only laughed at them. ‘
9 Some men started in pursuit, but two or
: three warning shots took some of the arder
out of them and they soon fell back.

Once again had the daring convict entered
; the village, and again had he escaped, laugh-
ing defiance to them all.

(lr at was the chagrin of the defeated de-
1 teetiVes, and many the reasons given for
,' their defeat. '

Next morning the outlaw’s disguise was
found some distance up the valley, but
those who attempted to follow his trail. were
battled. 'It was useless to try to find his
Secret retreat, if he had one. I

And on that morning, too, the camp re-
ceived a double surprise.

During the night the lVells—Fargo Express
office had been robbed, the safe having been
opened as skillfully as had that of the -———
Bank at Denver, and all the contents of any
Value taken.

That was not all. *

0n the door of the safe was this notice:

“ NOTICE.

“ You have given me the name, and I will have the
game as well. I am in for it anyhow, if you can,
catch me, so here’s to a short life and a merry one.

, I x “ Deflantly yours,

' “ gunman

, , . Joan.’ ‘

Such was the double surprise; theem‘pty
safe and that defiant note‘from the robber.

If there had been any doubt before that
Genteel John and the man who had robbed
the stage were not one and the same, it was
settled now. i

There Were barely half a dozen all told,
who belieVed hint innocent after this, and'
onw of the detectives had taken pains to
point out that the handwriting was unmis-
takably that of the escaped murderer. I , .

Besides, had he not been in the camp on: H
i. that night? Had he not attempted thotliv‘ps ~ '
:‘of the men who had tried to take him? He
was a desperate man, and must be dealt with
as such. In a little time the reward offered
‘ for his capture was doubled, and the busi-
‘ness of hunting him down was taken up
with renewed interest-and vigor. He must
needs be wary indeed to elude the bounds
who were on the traek so relentlessly. ‘

 

l

) , CHAPTER XI.
'rnn mos'r‘nanme on neeonn.

THE robbery of the Wellsl‘argo office
brought new blood into the man-hunt, as
mi rht be expected.

,L nneof the best detectives of the com~
pnny were. put upon the ease, andtheir in?
structions were definite. , They Were to mp";
ture John Hjathcoto at all lmzards,regard-'
less of everything. ’

That he was the robber the company held
no doubt. ‘

Those who believed him innocent otthe.

0

case of the Lyndons it Was set down to the
fact that the man had married into the family
and they must bear something of the'burden - v
of disgrace. _ . "
The proof against. the, man had been {too
positive and overwhelming. The evidence
of such a man as Osmond Millfield was
enough without anything more. “is in:
tcgrit y was not to be dmtbted for-a moment. 1 ,
Then, too, the outlaw had acknowledged
hinu'ielf as the robber. a ,
Backing the Acknowledgment. as has been
shown, was the fact that the handwriting;
,as shoWn in the note that had been left Wi t '
the rifled safe, was his beyond any doubt‘;_
Yes, this, Genteel John, as he" had i

l

 

 

murder were only a Very-few, and in the 

  

 

 

 

 

‘ :1

 
 
 

  
 
 
 
  

  

4

- v

,. I '1.
- it.
‘4

 

 

 

I Thei’SuSpeot Sportllofi  

called, was the robber, they held no doubt
upon that score, and he was the man they
'anted.

The Express Company had posted an ad-
ditional reward of two thousand dollars, so,
all together, the priee upon'the hunted mans
head was tw'elve thousand dollars.

No Wonder many a man was eager to take
him. ,

The desire was one thing, however; the
I‘t.‘:tli7.:tliotl of it quite another, as they were.
to learn. .

Presently eame another good and sufficient
cause for a rene\\'ul of interest, if not indeed
of eXeitement in the matter.

The bank mbber, Radcliffe Royce, alias
Robert. Woonstead, had escaped from prison.

How he had eseaped was a mystery to the
prison ollieials.

As om-‘nmvspaper put it, in something of
tilleged humorous phrase, “ In the evening
he was; in the morning he was not."

And that, explained more fully. meant that
he had eseaped during the night. In the
morning the door of his cell was found open,
and he was gone. , ‘

So far as could he noted every other door
and window was secure, but thorough search
proved only too well that the institution had
one inmate less than it had had the night be-
fore.

A rigid investigation was made, but to no
purpose.

Employees simply knewnothing about the

_ matter, further than the apparent fact: and
there was no proof against any ‘of them. v

Those immediatel responsibleswere dis-

missed, bu that (_ll( not solve the mystery

, nor did it mastore the prisoner to the vacant
cell. Radcliffe Royce was numbered among
the missing.

In this case a reward was offered, to the
amount of five hundred dollars as a starter,
and detectives gave their attention to it.

The sheritl' and his deputies took a hand in
the hunt. but no trace of the missing pris-
oner was to he found. He had disappeared
utterly, as utterly as had Jolm lleatheote at
the time of his escape. : .

. Those detectives who were most capable,
and who investigated most closely, arrived

_ at a conclusion which, while it did not throw
.a great deal or light upon the affair, did shed
a little illumination upon it. They set, it
down as a case on a parallel with the escape
of (lenteel John.

There was a woman in the case! I

It was brought out that twodn '5 previous
to his est-ape the bank robber ha had a wo-
man visitor.

Visitors were allowed there only at certain
hours upon certain days, and the woman
having com )lied with all the rules and reg-
ulations, hm been mhnitted.

Her name was given, and she declared her-

. self to be an aunt of the prisoner which
was admitted by the priSoner himself at the
time. There had been nothing out of order
(about the matter.

Nothing was thought of it. until the pris-
oner turned up missing, and not even then
till the detectives began to probe into the
affair. V

The woman had come' to the prison vailed,
and only a few had seen her face at all.

These were unable to describe her to any
efiect.

So stood‘the case.

This case, hoWevcr, was only a trifling
one as compared with ‘the larger, the matte}

i

‘,~,'  » of hunting down (lenteel ‘John and bringing

0

him to ustice.

’ The latter was as much greater, in the
minds of all who were interested in it, as the
rcwa d ' of twelve thousand dollars was
greater’than the reward of five hundred. . It
received attention'in proportion.

The Job‘s Find Mine at Daisy Drift made

‘ a shipment of its output of bullion every
other month. ' ' .- ’

' These shipments were mmle~hy the ‘Vclls

Fargo, and the company was rQSponsible fon'

y the safe delivery of the tmsure at its plat-cl
'of destination. .
.The value of each shipment Was no trifling
sum, for the mine was a rich one and was

' run upon a paying basis, with its ‘own mill

V, son the ground to save all needless expense
‘;‘ . for transportation. * .

' One forenoon the shipment sot out from

the camp in'the usual manner.

'  Angular service monvwas used, having
3 r. .,  V M. 1,  I

  

 

y. .
.qi,

 

la safe securely bolted upon an iron frame,

and in that safe the bullion was locked.
Two men with rifles and other weapons
rod on top of the safe, while thedriver held

a the seat. in front and managed the ribbons.
‘ Then there was another man. as extra, who
l rode beside the driver.

Little, danger that. road-agents would in
terfere with such an eqttipug‘e as that, it. was
thought.

Yet that very thing was destined to hap-
pen on this oeeasiou. nevertheless.

And not only so, but sueeessfully.

There wasone part of the trail between
the village eamp and the railroad 'which
was regarded as especially dangerous, '

llere everything was favorable fora shre-
cesst‘ul raid upon a stage, and it had been
just here that the stage had been held up
and robbed by Genteel . obit—«as the robber
had declared himself to )e, and so most. men '
believed. I

At this point, on their journey the men in
charge of the treasure wagon \vere alert and
vigilant. They held their titles readv for
use at. an instaut’s notiee, and would un~
doubt’edly have made things lively for any
number of robbers who might venture to:
stop them there. '

None were encountered, bmvever, and
the dangerous locality having been laid
safely behind, the men Were less watehiul.

Finally came. a stretch of almost level, I
open country. and here the rifles were laid
down and the messengers brought out their ,
pipes for a quiet smoke. ‘

Robbers were out of the question now.
In fact, there had been little fear of meeting ,
them at all, for what road-agent would dare ,
to attack such a veritable fort on wheels? . I
' The team was jogging along at any easy
gait, the driver and his companion were
sitting with their elbows upon their knees, i
telling yarns, and the messengers behind
were smoking their pipes in peace, when of
a. sudden and without the least warning
something happened. - .

The wheels of the wagon dropped into the
ground to the hubs, and the‘whole concern

 

was brought to a stop with asuddenness
that sent every man of them toppling over, ,
and there they were. 5

The netttest kind of a trap had been laid. '
and they had fallen into it, not through
their own fault, but because it was some-
thing unique, and theyhad no thought of
anytlfing of the sort.

And there came at the same moment the
ringing order.

“Hands up, every man of you, or bite
lead!” ‘ - , ‘

The horses, badlv'frightencd, were rearing
and plunging madly. and the driVer and his
companion, having fallen right under their
heels, were faring badly. , 1

One had 'been' stepped on. and the other
,Ihad received a kick, so that both were. dis~
abled anti pmctically out of the. tight. The
messengers, however,shOWed fight at once,
regardless of all. '

As soon as they Con
their revolvers were out and they
popping away. _

“ Hands up!” name the order once more.
“ Hands up. or you die!” ~

'l‘heorder was not heededt l .

These messengers were brave men, and
their business was to defend the treasure
that had been intri‘sted to their care, even
with their very lives. : '

 

ld recover themselves,
began
l

hle, and then followed a rapid'exehange of
shots on both sides that lasted for some see-
onds. But the result was fatal to thede-
fenders. ’ ' r ,
lFirst one went down, then the other, and l
, the treasure'was at the mercy of the daring
thieves. ,. - , s .- .
And who were they? « I
No sooner had the wagon been brou t to
a stop than half a dozen menohad lea into ‘
sight from behind banks of earth where they
had been in hidin .r , . ‘ . .
Their hidingk‘p on being covered with
grass and bushes, and they having been ly-
ing at full length, their presence had not;
been suspected until, they leapedtup with
their thrillin about. it '. l
And the memos} of, them, the one evi‘ 5
dently the. leader, ori ptatmwas a man clad

t_.....

i

 

 

all in black.) wee ' ‘gi‘arbla‘ck‘... I 'ask overhis 3

fnoeud having ...-. v .

  
  
 

   

  
  

r ready were.

t , f v
Each sprung to c‘over as quickly as possi-g

      

hue hanging from his shoulders. lie was
reeognized instantly- It was no other than
the daring outlaw, Genteel John.

The two messengers having been killed,
the driver and the extra were ready to sur-
render, more than half disabled as they al-

They were, ordered to, stand aside, which,
however, out. was unable to do owing to a
broken leg, so he was dragged out of the

‘ way; and then while one man ‘stood guard
, over them the others gaur their attention to
. the safe.

The man in blaek searched the messengers
fora key, but. none was to be found upon,
them.

Neither of them had a key to the safe. It. ‘
had been loeked at the point of starting. and
was not to he opened by any person until it

‘ reached its destination.

This, ln‘nvever, did not balk the desperate

. fellows.

The horses were unhitehed from the wagw
on and led some distance away, the driver
and his etm‘tpanion Were taken further back.
and powder was brought into play to gain
the desired object. _ ',

There was an explosion that wrecked“ the
wagon, tore. the safe loose from it and depos-
ited it on the ground badly cracked, and the
rest of the work was easy. More powder
was applied, and this time the safe was split
asunder and its golden treasure poured out
upon the ground.

The most. daring robbery on record,‘for

‘ that S( tion, had been committed, and Gen ‘

tcel Jo n was the robber. . Worse, two lives
had been taken, and. the blood of the slain
men was upon his head.

CHAPTER XII. .
UNDER A REIGN OF TERROR. ,
,A SHOUT went up as the yellow wealth
poured out of the safe, and those of the band ’
who were disengaged leaped forward to
gather it up. ' I ‘

Each man had a leathern pouch, which
had the look of having been made purposely
for such Work as this, and each began to fill
his own with eager haste, no attempt at equal
division being made. .

The other two were allowed the same
privilege, presently, and they made a Clean
gathering up of what the first harvesters had
left. The six leather hags'were by no means
filled, but the treasure being hen vy, each had
about all he could conveniently handle.

The chief of the band next addressed the
driver. _ - ' . ~ .

“ You hardly expected a surprise like this, ~
did ypu ?" he remarked.

" Hardly,” was the response, ‘r‘ You’ll
know what to expect, though, if they ever
get you to rights.”

“ Ila, ha! They have been trying it '
good while, and'they don’t seem to be an;
nearer to it'than they were at first. I hold
the best hand, my man.” r t

“ You sartaiuly do this deal. If ye are
done, ls' )osc you'll ‘low me to game up

what’s 1e 1'. and go back to camp. Ybu've ' I
done a bad bnsmcss, and hch killed two_,

mighty good fellows.”

“ It Was their own fault.
gather up the wreck and the dead men and
go back and, tell what’s happened. Give

tell them they‘ll hear from us again. 'I’ve
got. a good band around me now; and
going to make things hum."
W th tint,- the rascal gaven signal“ to his r
men and all made off down tbrou h a shah
low gnllyto the left, leaving the river and. ‘
his helplbss companion to get 'out ~of, theirw
dilemma asbest they might. .  
The poor fellow set to work, and (in 3"
had extricamd and patched up the , Wm
w on, when, putting the dead mans ‘
an helping his companion to a place, he set ,
out upon the return to the village camp; ‘ 
Halted first patched up the road ’when! 
the gratin-trap had been laid, so that no other?
veh le might. come to of in the holes i
.Thc exCitement whi prevailed wh he"
drove into Daisy Drift exceeded all b0 add,

The place went fairly Wildfibouié the  -"

   
 

ous nfiair. , ,. , - v. ,
immediately aforoe of men was organized; I
thoroughly 'eqni ,and scat out. to trail 
the murderers cut-throat‘followemto ' 
their hilt: ‘ ’ v ' -_ , , If:
A. _,_ t. n was“, the Wot-then

Yes, you may 

them thceomplimcqts of Genteel John, and ‘

We, are ’

      
   
 
   
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
  
   
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
   
 
  
  
  
 
  
   
 
 
 
 
  
       
   
 

 

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ThieWSporti‘i   I;

 

 

 

band, a I'ilainsman who knew thoroughly
what, was required and how to conduct the
hunt, and the driycr ot' the treasure wagon
accompanied him. .

The trail was taken up at. the point where
the crime had been done, and was followed
easily enough for a distance of three miles,

Then it abruptly ended on the bank of a
i rchr, and was lost. The ruin“! had waded
i into the river, and the water being deep and
.’ rapid, nothing l'urtln 1' could be discovered.
? But, tin-.mattcr was not given up.

. 'l‘ln-ncxt day was (lcvoletl to exploring‘

l
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I
l
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the banks of the river up and down, on both _
sides, for miles. ‘

It. Was useless. The trail was lost, utterly, ‘
and it was not recovered. It. ended thereon
the bank of the river, and there the hounds
Of the law were balllcd.

The reward offered by the Express (‘om-
pany was increased at once, and a most do
termincd effort was made to take the out[
-laws. Fifteen thousand dollars was the sum
total otTercd for the capture of (.lcntncl .lohn,
' ‘, 1 dead‘ or alive. i .

A Week after that terrible cvcnt thc,daily
stage brought to Daisy Drift some persons
who are to figure in our romance.

It brought strangers every day,‘or nearly
so, and new faces drew but little attention.

One of these persons Was a. woman, one
Who was on the down-hill of life‘s journey.

She wore the curls affected by many old
ladies, and a 'pair of gold-bowed glasses were

' constantly seen upon her nose.

‘ ,At the hotel, where she took one of the

best rooms to be had, she registered zls Mrs.

' 'Rainhard, from Chicago. She was entirely
alone and had little baggage.

Another who had come by the same stage
was unmistakably an Englishman).

He proved it in his manner, in his speech,
and in his dress. EVcrythihg about him
smacked of her Majesty's little island. '

, His name upon the register stood forth as

E. Garnet Poke, of London. He was quiet,

unassuming, by ntrmeans boastful, yet it was

evident ~that he possessed an abundance of
’ the “ wherewith.” '

Thisman‘s baggage consisted of a batter-
ed leather trunk which was pasted and plas—
tered all over with the cheeks and labels at-

.- testing much foreign traVel, ,and which on

.' ' . one end was stamped with the initials E. (1}.

' P. Proof enough that Mr. Poke was just
' What he claimed to be.

And these two, Mrs. Reinhard and Mr.
. Poke, seemed to have no other ob'eet in view
.at Daisy Drift than rest and case for a season.

They spent much of their time on the
piazza of the hotel, and after awhile picked

' up acquaintance, ' ‘ .

About this time came another who was
not a stranger. yet one who, by her reap-
p trance, er ~ated‘ quite a stir, and this Was-
l‘f‘iinces (Jantril. .

Her divorce from the bankrobber had been
announced in the Denver wipers, a divorce
which she had had no trouble in procuring,
undyshe braved it to reappear upon the scene

, ,of her innocent misstcp.
As to the charge made a mind her' by the
mitorious outlaw, that she lad sent his bride
’ to her deathin order to save her own-life by,
usurpin r her place, that she had declared to
. «be utter y false. She stuck to her former

statement regarding the affair, as given .

further back. -

.r Her mother did not accompany her.

2' ‘ She‘ had, so the daughter explained, rc-
.- 3 turned East for the purpose of attending to
’ some business there. Later in the season
’she would join her, Frances, at Daisy Drift.

She had no flower time of it, at first, at
the hotel, where she iad lost mate, for none
other former friends seemml to care to re-
new the acquaintance they had with her,

 I Gradually, however, she regained some foot-'
.in so that. life was a little‘more bearable.

y this time the Englishman, E. Garnet
Poke, had become quite a favorite with the
ladies at the hotel, and Frances worked her.
belt i‘wfor a share of his attentions. ’

,.

 

  
 

, '- ’ He Waste. capital storyteller and his com-

, puny as much sought after, and no after-

. noon gathering/ on the piazza was complete
without him. '

And, after a time, it began to be rumored

, that Frances Cantril was making another

4 ‘conquest.

was not helleVed, however, that the robber

 

. Some‘weeks had slipped by again, as will
v * inferred ' - a _ l, I

  

 

mm

'
During that. time nothing had been heard

3
of (lenteci John and his band, and thedctec- l
l

tives wcrc getting a little weary.

The woods was full of them, to use that
wcll~l<nown phrase; regular, private, ama
tcur, Government and what‘ not. each and
every one them willingg-ay, thirsting——to
earn lame and fortune in the case.

It. was hardly believed that the outlaw

. would ever be heard of again in that. section.

l“or him to show his hcad now would be
the height of folly, for he could not possibly
escape it once sighted.

l'ndoubtcdly he had put distance between

himsclli and the scene of his crimes. at‘lcrthe ‘
daring l‘lxprcss robbery, and would never be ‘
I 3 stages. '
With plenty of wealth, he could begin lil'c r'

heard ol'ae'ain.
h

anew in another land, with all the chances
in l'aVor of his living to a ripe old age, unless
he continued on in his t‘\'ll carccr there, in

which case he would proletbly sooncror later 3
1 showrd kccncr disappointnicnt each time till l

come to grief.

Such ideas were beginning to take root. in
many minds when suddenly one morning
Daisy Dril‘l awoke to the fact that another
visitation had been made.

The hotel had ltccn robbed!

And, as it appuu‘cd upon inVcstigation,
particulat"nttrrtion had been paid to the de‘

Not. one of them but had lost money,
watch, or something, and in each room was
found a note purporting to be from the out-
law, extending his best ccpnplimcnts and
wishing them all success in taking him.

Here was a sensation!

But that was not. all-not the half of it.

It was discovered that the Express office
had again 'been visited, in spite of the fact 5
that now a night Watchman was there 'with
orders to give the alarm at the slightest sus-
picion. .

No such alarm had becnt given, yet when
those in charge of the office went there on ‘
this morning, a little time aftenthe robbery
at the hotel had been discovered, the watch-
man 'as found bound and gaggal and the
safe door wide open. '

And even that was not the worst of it; the ;
watchman was not only bound and gagged, :
but dead. l
A huge knife had been buried to the hilt ‘

l
l
l
l

in his breast.

This time there was no note saying that it
had been the work of Gentecl John, as on >
the other occasion, but, then, it was not
necessary. .

The very fact that Genteel John had been a
there, as the other work at the hotel ,provcd,
was «tough. llere~ was another crime
Chartreil to him. Never in the history of that t
sectihn, had there been such a bloodthirsty ‘
demon at large. '

Osmond Millticld called a meeting to ex-
press thc public indignation,‘ andd'or. the pur-
pose, if possible. of finding some means to
unearth the outlaw. - -

'A recent election. by the way, hiid made
Millticld mayor of the town, and he was
making a stir in every direction possible.

o’l‘he meeting was held, and the mayor
made a stirring speech, urging the people to
action.

They

must arm. he. declared, and form
themselvesfnto a regular committee of Vigil-
antes and s and ready to cope with the out-
laws at a moment's notice. '

There was harle anything in this, since
there had already been formed such a com-
mittee.under the direction of Colonel Lyndon,"
for the purpose of hunting down the frond-
agent and his dcspemdtws.

And. as these had done all they could it
did not seem likely that a larger force could
do more.

Another thing proposed was to have ii. po-
lice force. organized at once to protect the
3mg) against further depredations' of the

m . ~ .

This found favor, and Was acted upon,
twenty men being selected for night duty,
their service to begin that 'Vcry night. it

would dare to come again.

The villi'ige was” practically, under a
reign 'of terror. Many of the summer
boarders declared their intention of getting
away with all haste, but the (hingcr of meet-
ing the robbers on the road deterred them.

- and the \‘igilanles promised full and ample.

‘law band would again interfere with the

l
l
l
tectives stopping there. i
l
l
l the camp could Show.

7 home in the fall in perfect health.

 

Aftern few days,‘however,*the excitement

a".

 

l had set out.
C

CHAPTER .\'lll. ’
sour: NEW Alnuy'.\i.s.

No'r‘mxo more had been seen or heard oi
the outlaw. and public confidence was in a
measure restored.

()nly'a few had kept their word and gone
away. and for those who remained the police

   
   

pl‘oleclion.

The regular stages now carricd two armc-i
guards, one riding on each side of tin
driver. and it has not thought that the out

.lchu and his “ hearse. ‘
Mrs. iainhard. the old lady from (‘hica’go
was showing considerable of interest in the

She was expecting her son, who was not
in the best of health, and the excitement of
a meeting with the desperate men might
prove too much for him.

On hand regularly to meet every stage, silt'

finally the expected one at last arrived, and
son and mcther fell upon each other and

embraced.

'l‘hosc who had heard Mrs. liainhard‘.:.
talk about her Son, were somewhat dis
appointed in him.

She had led them to expect to see a Sipkly.
looking man.

instead, Johnston liainhard was quitc-
hcarty, and but for his palcncss, would
have been pronounced as llcalthy a man as

   
          
      

But, this was nothing mysterious.

He had been tra\'cling,.and his health had
improved wonderfully. '

In fact, at sight of him Mrs. Rainhard ut-
tered some joyous remarks concerning his.
improved appearance. “

And she hoped, by finishing the summer
there there in “(‘olorady," to take her son-
EVcrv-
thing indicated that her hope would be real-
ized. . ». '

Johnston Reinhard was a man of thirty or

      
     
     
       
     
         
 

 

 
          
     

SO

 
   
 

He was of medium height and good prd-
portions, and his! hands, soft and white like
awoman's, showed that he was unuscd to
hard ‘work.

He was well but, plainly dressed. carriul
a cane all the time, and usually had his
broad but pulled low over his brow. He had
a short, full beard trimmed close, and a long
mustache. \

The same stage brought a visitor to Colo—
nel Lyndon. .

It was a man of middle age, a portly gem ‘.
tlcman with a fair and ruddy face, the ideal
of a hearty and prosperous banker or mer-
chant. ‘

As soon as he alighted from the stage he
inquired for the coloncl‘s residence, and it
being pointed out. to him, made his way in
that direction without any further delay.

lie was a stnmgcr at Daisv Drift.

And being a stranger, he immediately fell
under suspicion; as, in fact, did Rainhard,
too.

Since Mrs. Reinhard was known, ll()W(‘V(’T,
having been the're some time. and as she had
been openly looking for her son. the suspi-
cion in his direction was less.

The other party had come unexpected and’
unannounced, and his inquiring l'or (‘olonel
Lyndon led the detectives to think it might
be (lcnteel John in disguise, though-it re-
q'uired a long stretch of imagination. .

Colonel Lyndon’s house had been closely .,
watched, and every comer and goer had to z 3-7
pass, whether he knew it or not. a critical
examination. ‘ . v» 

And these detectives were numerous, as has “5'
been said. ~.

They were of every kind, and from great '
to small in points of ability and experience. '

     
   
        
          
 
 
       
     
       
      
      
       
       

\

        
     
     
       
         
         
     

I.

    
       
 

 
      

The leaders among them, however, could.

be named upon the fingers of one hand, and
that without including the thumb.
' First, perhaps, stood Detective Pcarsman,
i)! whom mention has been made. After
him may‘liemcntioncd in order Detective
Joyce, of the Express company; Detective
Reynold, private; and Detective Playfair,
the same. .

Pt rsman was a Gow-rnnu-nt'nmn. .

“ hat do you think .of him?“asked Joyce
of Pearsman, when the portly gentleman;  ‘
had obtained the information he desired and. 

      
       
       
      

.n

        
     
   
  

  

   

Wm; "pat-,3” ‘

. r
“‘2;

 

 

r

an it“ tier-=4“?

 

arr. my 3.“.  a “
~

K‘
n

=:~“: fiéikrm’

 

 

 

 

 

“ You don’t suspect him, do you?" Pears—
man counter-questimted.

“ Do you?"

“ No. "

“ lint, he's a stranger, and he‘s gone to
Lyndon's."

“That is all right. If you have ever seen
John Ileathcote you must know this man is
not he.”

" But,
guising."

“ Ile couldn't take on from fortyio sixty
pounds of flesh at will5do you suppose he
could?" '

“ Ila! that would be rather difficult,
wouldn‘t it. Iguess you are right. l’cars‘
man. Still he may lie a friend of the out-
Iaw‘s, and by following him we could get at
the other."

“ Possibly; but I hardly think so.”

'“ And why?” .

“ Because. from what we have seen of-
John Ileatheote I take, liim to be a man who ,
would prefer to go it alone'in any and every l
case."

“I See Raynold and l’layfair are lookingg
after him pretty sharp.”

. “Reason enough for us to remain out of
Sight, then." '

“ And let them do the work?"

“Yes; Certainly. If they scare up any
game, then it will he time enough for us to
join in the chase." .

“ Your head is old and hard. l’carsman.”

“ You don‘t give, me crediton that account
respecting my opinion of Genteel John, all
the same.”

“ Your belief that he is innocent?”

“Exactly.” .

‘.‘ How can I? Everything points to his
guilt. And now he, is not only guilty of one
murder, but scveral.’,’ ‘ ' .

“ And you ignore my idea that he is not
the fellow who has been playing the road-
.21'.I'('!1t and robber here? “'cll. nothing but
time will convince you. I suppose.” _

“ I must have. proof before I can believe.”

“ And I hope we‘ll soon have it.”

“What have you iiimle up your mind to
{lo regarding my proposition that We work
together on the case?" \

“I have come to the conclusion that it
would be folly for us to do that. We (nin-
not agree on the leading points, and we.
should certainly differ on the smaller. ”

“ Perhaps you would not want toshare
the tifteen thousand.”

“ There is not that much in it.”

“Not that, much! What do You mean?
That is what the different rewar s foot up,
isn't it?" 0

“True; but here again we differ. Part of
that is for Joint Ileathcote, and the remain-
der of it for the rascal who has been doing
these later crimes." I

Detective. Joyce shook his head.

“Isee it's of no use," he said. "\Ve’ll
have to go it alone. " , '

“You might leagin with Ravnold and
I’Iavfair, however," Pearsman suggested.
“ 'I‘ my are of your mind. I see."

“ The trouble is I don‘t want to work With
them. They are irivate men, you know;
and are too al|~tiret big for me. They think
they know it all.” ’

“My advice would be, to go it alone,”

“ I'll haVe to. " '

"l‘hey were about to part when J we turn-
ed'back to ask.

“ What about the other man, however?"

“Mrs. lhtiiihard'sson?” '

“ Yes."

" What do you think about him'?”

‘5 You can’t argue sixty pounds of extra
’flesli there. ” - , '

“ Can a man, by thought, add one enhit, to
his stature?" l’earsman inquired, in mg“-
merit. ' '

“ Then you think this one is too tall? He
certainly is no ’shorter than John Heath-
cote." l ,

“ He is about an inch and a half taller. ”

“ Then your opinion is plain enough.
You don‘t suspect either one of these men.”

‘EIdon‘t suspect either of them of being
John lleatheote." ~

“Ila! Do you mpan by that to have me
understand that, you do 'suspeet them in‘
some other way ‘2”.

“I don’t mean to have you understand
anvtliin r about it,” was the rejoinder.

the fellow is the deuce at dis-

 

I

 

~“ That is all I care to say; that I do not so;

  

pect either of them of being the true Genteel ;
3 self."

John.”
“ Yet, one of them may be the false.'
“I am not ii'epared to say that.

of it all.”
At that they parted. '
“ No," mused I’earsiuan. “I do not be-
lieve either of these is Gentccl John. I am
sure on that point.

my services to him."
Illeaiiwhile the stranger had gone on to
the Lyndon cottage.

The colonel, Mrs. Lyndon, and their son ,

Jackson were seated on the )iazza at the .
y I

‘ Jack; and besides us I can only mention one,

time.

As the stranger came near. (‘olonel Lyndon :

rose from his chair and Went down to the
gate, to greet him.

“ Why, Judson," he cried,
you?" ~

‘.‘ Alive, colonel, alive,’l was the very
lively resprmse.

They shook hands heartily, and the col-
onel led him to the piazza and introduced
him to his wife and son.

“My old friend, Judson Pathfinder," he
presented him.

The man was made at home, and after some
usual first talk, he said to the‘eolonel:

" \Vell, Mark, I have traveled all the way
from Chicago to learn about this mine you
have been cracking up to me.” _

“ You will find it all' that I have told you,
but whether you will care to invest in it now
or not, is a question.”

“ Why ‘2”

“We are being robbed about as fast as we
can get the precious stufl’ ready for th
market. ’,' , .,

“Robbed? And can’t you puts stop to
that sort of thing? I’ll bet if I had money
invested here I would make short work of
robbers. Wh ' don’t you hire some ood
detective ant hunt them down? Sen for
the Pinkertons.” -

~“T

CHAPTER XIV.
WARNING souxnnn.

“ how are

COLONEL LYNDON smiled in his now sad
wa '.

“I do not think a great deal of your Pink-
ertons," he made response. “They are
fellows trying to live upon the reputation
gained by the original of, that name.”

I“ All the same, you can‘t dqu but they
have done some good work in a good many
cases. At all events, I'd, try 1 em if I had
to deal with robbers who deprived me of my
gold." ' , .

“Judson,” spokethe colonel, “this place
is full of detectives, some of them men of no
ineatvieputations. ” v '

“Then why don’t they make short work
of your robber?" ’

“Because they can’t do it.”

“ Rather because they are not Pi kertons.
I should say. I tell you, Mark, ’hen you
want the best of anything, send to Chicago
for it." o '

They had already” talked about the sad
death of the, coloiiel’s daughte'r, and Path-
finder had expressed his sympathy. Colonel
Lyndon now reverted to that terrible attair,
saying: ‘- .

“ You have read about the trouble of my
son-in-law? It has been in the papers.”

“ Yes. I saw it all."

“ lle. escaped, you know.”

H \‘vs- I;

“ Well. there. is'now a price upon his head,
and these detectiVes here are after him.”

“ You tell me. you believe invhis in-
nocence." ,

' ~“ lle is asinnocent of that murder, Judson,
as you are. John lleatlieote is the soul of
truth and honor," \

“Well, I’m glad’ he escaped, then, if that
is the ease. Perhaps we had better not call
in the Pinkertons, since they would be
pretty likely to hunt him out, and it. might
fare ill withJiim.” , , ' .

“ Do you think him guilty of—”

” Lord bless you, no! But, without the
proof of his innocence, he is better out of
the hands of the law."

“ hiaetly; and it is to prove his innocence
that he is working, in secret. Iexpect to
see him come-to the frontat any time. With

v
)7 A ‘
. , ‘ . .

See f
what Raynold, ’layfair and the others make 
; (lentccl John. and thisoutlaw who is rob-
; bin;r us is operating under that. name. leav-

I should like to know, '
however, where he is, so that I might offer ‘

 

 

all the proofs necessary to vindicate him-

“ I hope so.”
“ lint. there is a terrible cloud hanging
over him. Judson. Ilc was known here as

in;r the impression that lie is John IIeath»
cote. And. worst of all. nearly everybody
believes it." '

“ That's bad." «I

‘ I should say so. I do not know of half-
a dozen persons who really and truly believe
in his innocence.” - ‘ 0

“ Dark enough, certainly."

“ Yes. Ilerc are my wife and I, and
of the detectives here and a lawyer at
Denver. "

“ Then one of the detectives does believe
him innocent, ch?“ .

“ Yes, thoroughly.”

. “Then he’s the man to help your son-in?
law, I should say.” '

“ lie is willing and eager to do that; but,
you see, John is keeping quiet, and no one
can say where he is."

“ Do you not know?”

“I do not.” I

The colonel, then, gave, his friend all the
particulars of the whole afl’air. o .

From that they fell to talking again about
the mines, and in that lay little of interest'to
our romance. ‘

It had been a little time after the arrival
of the stage when a man entered the private
otiice of the mayor of the town, taking a
chair with the ease of a familiar acquaint-
ance.

“ Well, what’s the word?" Millfield asked.

“ Nothing much, yet," answered Sparkers,
for he the caller was. .

“,No signs of the fellow yet, ch ‘2”

“ Not unless he’s mighty well disguised."

“ You noted the man who came by the
stage and went over to Lyndon’s?”

“Yes.”

“ Not John, of course.”

“ Decidedly not. Too big a man for him."

“ When the deuce are we going to get
hold of him, Joel?”

“I give it up. I thought the detectives
would have him long before Lthis, after the
work he has been doing.” '

“ And it begins to dawn upon me that he
is1he best detective of them all. I tell you
there is no safety for us while he is above
ground.”

Mr. Sparkers slightly paled. V_

“I don't know but you are right,” he
said. '

 Still, he cannot do us much harm when
he dare not show himself. He is under.
the worst kind of disadvantage.” '

“That's so. But, 1 wish they could get
lold of him. I know I‘d breathe a good
deal easier.
soul in the whole camp that can be sus-
pected. "

“ You have kept your eyes wide open?"

“ Night and day, almost.”

- “ So have I. ”

“And you can’t. find any one who needs
watching. eh?” . v ,-
“ Not vet. But, I am urging the detec-
tives all I dare, and I hope they will get hold
of him soon.” ‘ I . ..

“ It is not likely he will appearherc again, ‘

‘though. is it?”

  

“ Not as a robber, for the camp is now too
strongly guarded; but he must come if
he wants to work Against us. He can’t fight
from a distance and win anything. Sou
are sure you noted well all the passenger‘b?”
“ Doubly sure.” V

" Well, nothing can be done but wait for
him to move, and then be read to fall upon
him and hand him over to the" angman.’ 4 f
“ That’s the proper thing.” gr,
“ You see, it is hardly possible that he 
{get proof of his innocence, and sowe wait
in re him dead to rightsas soonas we can
lav hands upon him. No one can say who
killed Kinross.” . ' . . ,L. '
“ And the fire did away With ovary
possible clue. ” v . .

“ ixacti . Oh Lwe are on the winning,
side yet, oel, if nothing breaks, and we;
must  well' to it that nothing does break.
Curse him! be robbed me of N ydia‘ Lyndon;
and I swore I would be even with him.’f

“ But it didn't work as you wanted an.”

 

  

Just now there isn’t a single”,

 

 

“ I’m well enough satisfied. I couldn’t
have planned a better sch’eme if I had thought
a month.”

Some one entered just then,-and their talk
had to be cut short. ’

The one who came in was a boy who was
employed about the office :is a sort of handy
Jack at everything. «

He had been to the post-office to await the
sorting of the mail, and now he brought
some letters and papers and laid them on the
mayor's desk. 4 ‘
, )Iilliield began opening them.

,, «Sparkers lighted a cigar and leaned back
in his chair with one of the papers in hand.

Presently he heard an ejaculation from
Millfleld, and looking up, saw him staring
ata letter which he held in hand, his face
pale.

“ What is it?" Sparkers asked.

“ A letter from the very.mau we were
talking albut," was the response.

“ The deuce! What does he say?”

Before replying to that the mayor told the
boy to leave the room so that he might talk
with his visitor in private.

“ He makes a threat, that is what he says,"

. he then informed.
,v “ Where is he?" ,

“ This is from Denver. ”

"“ Well, let's hear it. I guess we can stand

3“ There is not a
w It is: ‘

“ ‘Pmmmnns MILann mi) SPARKERS:-—

“ The end is drawing near. You. who swore away
my life, look well to yourselves. In such a time as
fig: think not, the blow shall fall. I have taken the

1; step. a Gasman Jenn."

i

great deal in it, and here

Spaukers grew white to the, lips as he
listened, and he clutched the arms of his
chair. l . ,

. “That sounds a good deal like grim old

business,” he said, roarsely.

, “,But it’s a shot at long range. ’eo soled

'. ’ Millfield. “It may be only a bluff, to vorry
!‘ '

“ Even thatis bad enough."
, V.“er gives himself away, though. \Ve
know ’he was in Denver the day this was
I posted. That gives us all the proof we want
that he is not here yet.”

“That’s so. As the Indians say. never a
case so bad that there isn’t some good in it
for somebody. It remains now for us to
watch out sharp for strangers, and to take

" no chances with them.” ~
. “, And if we do that we‘ll nab him sooner
‘ or later." . I
' ."How about telling the detectives about"
'Vfllis message?”
, A, ,“It won’t do."
i ‘fWhy not?”
“They would want to see it. ”
f‘ Destroy it, and tell them you did it be-
‘ fore *ou thought.”
V “ hat mightbc done. ,I could then tell
‘ them anything i please» Suppose you step
out and find aynol(i,'(‘)r Pia air.” '
i .“ .You don’t want any of t. le others?"
. "Certainly not I’earsuum, as you know,
‘ aad'I don‘t put much faith in Jo cc."
.' ‘5'“ All right, I’ll hunt them up.’
'3 Bpurkers went ‘out, leaving the mayor to
breed over the matter till his return. It was
an thing but pleasant food for reflection.
’1 I n the tool came back he had the two
- detec ves withhhn. » ‘
‘ ' “What's this Sparkers tells me?” cried
Playfair. “ You have heard from that es-
" (taped convict?” ' , ~ "
. ' Yes, and he was at Denv‘eronly a day
‘  I’m sorry I destroyed the note before I
fight; or I would show it to you. lie
threatens another descent upon "this camp,
andl'want you to look out for him.” ‘,
“And we'll do that," declared Reynold.

"(We have already got our eyes" on the man

who came by the stage today and who went
atonce to Lyndo ’ . It’s not unlikely that
Shela here on Gent el John’s account, and .if

 We mean to know it,.you bet.” ,

‘ CHAPTER XV. ‘

'i i  snsrrcron mam? .msmssnn.
.11 was after supper that the English dude,
'2».Garnet Poke, and Frances Cantril were

looted on the piazza of the otel, talking. '

There was-a rumor abroa‘ that .the woinan
 to make another conquest, and
 ‘ ere'was foundation'for it. Cert"

.ing is for.

 

tain it was that Frances never tried to avoid
Mr. Poke.

“And have you found out yet what the
new building is for?” Mr. Poke asked, to
bridge a break in the conversation. _

“ 0, Mr. Poke, my curiosity has not yet
been gratified,“ was the charming response.
“ Have you been able to learn anything about
it?”

“ Not a thing, Miss Cantril. I have asked
questions enough about it, for your sake,
but no one seems to know what it is to be.
A good many are of one opinion, however.”

“ Indeed." I

“ Yes."

“ And what is that opinion?”

“Why, they think it is going to be a
gambling palace, as you call them here in
America. ” '

“A gambling palace! Surely that will
never be allowod here at Daisy; do you-
imagine it will? That would be terrible.”

“I am sure i don’t know, Miss (lantril.
You Americans reso deueedly odd in evdry-
thing, don't you know, that a fellow never
knows what. to expect next. You are so
very odd, don‘t ye know."_

“But, Daisy Drift is becoming so fash-
ionable, Mr. Poke." .

“And the more fashionable the more the
gambling, I have found it,” was the re-
sponse.

“ You cannot mean that.”

“Indeed, yes, truly. At Long Branch,
and at Saratoga, where I stopped last sea-
son; m first summer in America, you
know; Iywas amazed.” '"
‘ “ Well, we ladies are not allowed to know
much' about sueh things. But, to think
fiat we are to haVe a great gaming establish-
ment right here——— Oh! it will ruin the

lace, Iknew it.will.” ‘

“Here comes Mr. Millficld, perhaps he
has learned something about it."

“ Sure enough, I will stop him and ask.”

Just here a word or two about the build-
ing in question. ,

t was one of the finest structures that had
yet been erected in 'the place, and there was
a mystery about it. ‘

Three stories in height, the up per part had
been set off into suites of rooms on a grander
scale than at the hotel, and more handsomely
furnished. '

The whole of the first floor had been left
in one grand room, and now for somedays
furniture. and fixtures had been arriving by
f rei ghters; and the place was being fitted be-
hind closelLdmrs. .

Naturally e rough there Was much curios-
ity, especially on the part of the female por-
tion of the population.

Who the owuer of the building was, was
yet unknown. A, ',

' He had remained in the background, and
the builder had refused to make known his
name.

When Millfleld came along by the piazza,
Miss Cantril sto ped him.

“ Mr. Millfleldi" she cried,

with curiosity.” I l
“ That is certainly had, Miss Cantril,” was
the response. .
‘ The worthy mayor stopped, lifting his
hat. ' ' '
” Can I be of any use to you?” he asked.
“ Can I satisfy your curiosity in any way,
and so save your life?” '
‘ “ I am dyin to know what thntfnew build:
. Poke has been ti ing to find
out for me, but has failed;—not t trough any
fault of his. but because no one seems. to
know anything about it. ". g ' a
“ Which is very true," attested the Eu lish
dude, adjusting his eyeglass. “ 1‘ coal , not
find anybody who knew anything about it.”
"‘ Well, as it. happens,  am ab 9 to gratify
you,” the mayor averred.- ' , .
“Oh! how spendidl” cried the gushing
Miss Cantril.‘ . ‘ I '
“ It is to be 9.
added. ,
"That is what was hinted at tome,” de-
clared Poke. " Nobody could give me any
facts. however.” '
“Because no‘one had.‘any facts to give,”
saidthe mayor. .“I was informed by mail

“‘I am dying

today that the propri‘etor will be here to ‘
t .

open toJmori‘ow.” , , I
“And are youreally ng to permit such
at; set; ' ‘ help? the ,«young woman

gambling palace,” Millfield'

 

“How can we help it?” asked the mayor
in turn. ' .

“ But, it will be hom‘blel”

“ It is one of those things that mnnot be
helped.”

“ Well. I suppose not. And if it is to be.
respectable, that will be in its favor."

“ 1 think I can safely promise that itwill
be that.”

“ Do you know ,who the owner is?"

“ Yes; his name is James Southway, and
he is from the Southwest country. He has
been in'1)enver for some time,”

“ Do you know him?”

(I  N

“Well, Mayor Millfield, you cannot im-
agine what a relief I feel,” laughing. “ That
building has given us ladies more trouble
than you could guess.”

A few further remarks were exchanged,
and the mayor passed on.

“ So, we are to have a gambling place,
eh?” the youn woman mused. “ Do you
ever gamble, 1i rxPoke‘?” ,

“ You could hardly expect a fellow to be-
tray his own vices, could you?” was the
counter-question.

/ “Isuppose not; and from that I take it
that you are guilty.”

“ Well, I must admit that I have played
more than Was good for. my mind and
pocket,” was the admission. .

“ Then I am. all the more sorry it is epm~
ing here." . ‘

“ You have an interest in my welfare ?”

“ I take interest in the welfare of all my
friends, Mr. I’oke. I am happy to be ablctor
number you among my f riends.”

“'And I am proud of the honor, I assure
on.” i
y Just there they were interrupted by the
coming of Mrs. .Rainhard and her son.

“ I find you in 'our accustomed placcs, I
see,” she said. “ llow me to introduce my
son, Johnston Rainhard.”

The names of the others were mentioned,
and the mother and son took Seats. ‘ ,

“ Well, how do you like Daisy Drift, Mr.
Rainhard?". . . v ‘ I 3

so inquired Frances Cantril.

“ It is a beautiful little place, was the re-
turn, " but] am afraid I shall make my so-
journ ,short. ”

“ Yes? What is the matter?" I

“Mother has been telling me about the
terrible times you have been having with the
outlaws.”

“And I am afraid I have really alarmed
him,” said the fond mother. ‘

“But, the danger is about over now," de~,
elared Frances. “ We are well protected,

If

‘ and it is not liker the fellow will‘cor’ne any

more.” l ' .

“It is to be hoped he won’t, truly," spoke
up Mr. Poke. . '
“Has your mother told you all about the

terrible man?” asked Frances. .

“Yes, audit is truly terrible. I would
not care to meet him. I suppose herewe-
are safe enough. from him, though, since you
have a police force.” I

"‘ Oh. yes, there is no danger, now; and I
guess he will not bother the stages any more,
either.”

Two men came up the steps and advanced
toward them. ‘
They Were the detectives, Raynold and
Playfair,\ and the came straight to where ,
Johnston Reinhar sat. '- ‘ '
“We beg your pardon," spoke Reynold:

" but we must ask you some uestionsfl,‘

The man seemed to turn slig tly pale, and
the noted it. ,

It rs. Reinhard, . too, seemed to grow
alarm‘cd, and even Miss Cautril. But, it was
only natural they should, perhaps, since-
they recognized the men and knew who and ‘
what ‘they were.

“ Very well,
agreed. .

“ We understand you are from Chicago.” ’

“Yes, sir.” - ,

“ You are. a stranger to us, and we hare
orders to find out who and what every -
stran er is. ” 4 _

"-1 ell, you know who I am, do‘ you.
not?” ,

“ Perhaps; but:we are after proof.”

“ What roof do you want?’ ,

“ Anything that will show that you are. P
pflot Genteel, John, the outlaw, or an ally of '

s.”  I g ..

. gentlemen,” Johnston I 

 

 

 

 

 

O

“ Good heavens!” the man gasped, as he
Sprung to his feet.

Mrs. Rainhard, too, sprung up with a
showing of indignation, and faced the detec-
tives. 4,,

“ How could you ever!” she cried. “ You
know he is my son, and that I have been
looking for him for days. How could
you?” ’

“ We are not saying we believe anything
of the kind, madam; but, we must be sure of
every stranger, you know. All “we ask is
some proof against what we have named as
bare possibilities. ”

“ But, it is an insult to us!” cried the
mother. v

“ And I will not submit to it!" cried J ohn-
, ston.

“ You have not been treating others in this
manner,” Mrs. liainhard added.

“ You do not know what we have done,
madam. We investigate very quietly. and
that is the end of it. We came very quietly
to you, and if there has been any excited re-
marks you have made, them.”

“What proof can I offer you?” the son in-
quired. - ‘ h

“Any proof that on, are just what you
claim to be; that is a We ask.” ,

“ Will letters from my mother here satisfy
you? I have several that I have received at
different places.” _ "

“ That will just satisfy the bill, sir.”

“ Then here they are.“ 

 Johnston Rainhard took some letters from
his pocket and picked out three or four which
he handed‘bver‘ for inspection. '-

The detectives looked at them critirnlly,
and finally handed them. back with an air of
much satisfaction.

“That settles it,” the
have troubled you, Mr.
‘ see how it is.” '

“ To think that I should be taken for an
outlaw!” the man exclaimed, indignantly.
But the next instant he laughed, rema 'ing
what a joke his friends would have upon
him if they should hear of it.

said. “Sorry to
iinhard, but. you

_, CHAPTER XVI.
. WHO Is This MAN?

11‘ was by the first ' age, On the following
day, that another hot -come.r arrived at Daisy
Drift. . " ‘ \

He was a man’ about thirty years of hge,
at a guess, good looking, with a mustache
and full heard. the latter parted on the chin.
' Above the medium in height and prepar-
tions, he looked to be an athlete. He was
dark, and his hair, beard and eyes were
black. His eyes were keen and penetrating
in their glance. ' ‘

He was elegantly dressed in the finest
cloth, and wore a big, sparkling stud upon
his shirt front. A handsome ,ehain crossed
his vest, and a cluster diamond ring glit-
tcred upon stinger of‘his left hand. He wore
a silk hat and patent-leather boots.

Nosoonerhad he alighth than he claimed
the attention of all. “ '

He looked'around him in a cool manner,
taking a general surVey of the village camp

' and its citizens.

That done. he entered the hotel in uneasy,
graceful way. '

Inquiring for accommodations for a few

days, he obtained what he sought and regis-
‘ tered his name. ‘ = a
He set it down thus:

“ J anus Soornwsr,
, Daisy Drift.”

, [Having ,done that, he turned away, but.
the landlord, after «glancing at the inscrip.

. V L , .tion, called him bac

‘ “ You have made a mistake, sir," he said.
“I guess not. ” the stranger denied.
“But you have. Here you have set down
Our residence as Daisy Drift. You don‘t
belong here." - t
I“ I beg.your pardon, sir, but I do belon
here. 1 begin 'my citizenship this do. . -»
am roprietor of the Paris Salon, wh eh I
shal open this evening. ” .
, 'f Oh! that's it, hey ’2" ‘
"That is it, sir.” I ‘ .
And‘with that the elegant stnm er lighted
a cigar and turned away. saunte ng out to
the piazza. . ,
, There he took a seat and viewed the sur-
' .mpding‘s while he waited for, the signal to

dinner. Itfwas by the morning stage he had
come.

Daisy Drift had now two stages daily, as
perhaps has been mentioned.

()ther passengers had come by the same
stage, but this was the only one to claim par-
ticular attention.

Shortly after the man had taken his seat
on. the piazza, Joel b‘parkers entered the
oflice of the mayor in something of an ex-
cited manner. ,

“Well?” the mayor asked.

“ Did you see the stage come in?”

“ Yes.” ,

“ Notice the passengers?”

“ No. "

“ Well, he has come.”

There was no one present but. these two,
and the mayor sprung to his feet.

"‘ You mean‘Genteel John?" he demand-
ed.

“ The same.

“ And without disguise? Impossible!”

" Oh! no; he thinks he is disguised, I have
no doubt.”

“'But. on got onto him.”

“ You ct. ”

I “ Well, who and what does he pretend to
)e 2’” , ‘
“ He has registered as James Sout‘hway.”
“ The deuce! Why, that’s the proprietor
,of the Paris Salon.” ,

“ I know it; that’s what he has said. And
he has come to stay, too. He has set down
his home as Daisy Drift.”

“ It can’t be John lieathcote, then.” ,

. "‘ But, I tell you, it is. I think the detec-

1,

firms are onto him, too.”

“ Then the man must be a fool. He must
know it will be sure death to come here and
be taken.” '

5‘ He hasn't been taken yet.”
b “ But, there is every chance that he will
0-,! ,

“ I don‘t know about that.”

“ You don't know about it! Do you sup-
pose one man can stand against this whole
town?"

“ No; but. when he is taken his identity
has got to be proved, you see.”

“ Ha! I see. Then you are of the opinion
that he is relying upon his disguise to save
him, eh?” .

“,Yes.” 

"aWell, it won’t." ' ,

“ He will make a good fight for it, though.
He has not gone to all this pains and expense
for nothing, you can bet."

“Say, are you sure, positively, he 1'8 the
man ‘2” ‘ ,

“ Well, now, that is putting it right down
fine. I can’t Swear to it, of course; and, it

is just that doubt that may carry him '

through, ’? _. ,

, “Then the only thing to be done is to
bring the proof against him, somehow. But,
Iww is it going to b done?”

"‘ We must leave t to the
that." '

“ If they can do it.” ~
“ They are not fools by any means,”

"‘ Nor are .they all as able as they might
b331, ’ I wish We could count Pearsman on our
s1 9..” ‘

“ So do I, but we can’t.” " . ,

“ Still, if your suspicion is correct, we will
not need him, once we have the roof.”

“ How would it do to arrest t e man any-
how, on suspicion?” . . '

“ There is‘the doubtin the way.” ,

" Mi ght'make a mistake, eh i” _-

“ And then he 'eouldmaketit warm for us,

detectives to do~

. if he wanted to." . v
They were silent and thoughtful for some ‘.

moments, considering the matter. It' was
one that puZzled them both. ; , . .
“ I’ll tell ’you‘ one thing,” said Sparkers,
‘presently. a , ' I ‘
'_ “ What is that?”

“ We have got to keep our eyes hp‘en for i

this fellow, considering the letter you: re-

' ceived yesterda .” - . , ' ~
was thinking aboutmyself. '

_ “ Just what
I think I begin to see through the little
scheme, now.”  r . ‘- . " ‘-

uDO you?" > ‘ ' '-
“ Yet.” ‘
“Well, what do you see?”

' " Somebody “is b' in iJohn/"Heathoote
up with money. extrinsic [I193 taken this step

 

and revenge. i" ,

toward beginning    for: right

, f V
i .

‘j  Yes; and beingumye intention,

 

“ What need has he for any one to back
him, after all the bold ro‘bberies he‘lias been
committing?” asked Sparkers. ‘

“ Ha! ha! Well, that’s so; that‘s the way
the camp will look at it when suspicion falls
upon him. And we’ll see to it that suspi-
cion does take a drop in his direction. "

“\Vait till you See the man tojudge for
yourself.”

“01)! I'll do that, but at the same time I
think your opinion is to be trusted.”

“ Mine is only one, however. “'ait till
you hear what the detectives have to say
about it, too. I saw them looking at each
other pretty sharply.”

“ They’ll report— Ila! some one is com-
ing now. Mum.” '

“ Mum it is”. '

_ Steps had been heard, and the door opened
and two of the detectives stepped into the
otlice. '

They were the private detectives, Playfair
and Raynold.

Closing the door after them, they looked
around to note who was present before
speaking. ‘ ,

Seeing only Sparkers, besides the mayor
himself. and mowing he. was trusted by the
mayor, Raynold hastened to announce:

“Well, mayor, we believe we have found
the man."

“ Yes?" -

“Exactly. I guess Sparkers has been tell~
ingyou something about it, hasn’t he ‘3”

“ le has a suspicion.”

“ The stranger?” .

“Yes,” said Sparkers. > 4

“ He is the man, dollarsto cents,” declared,
Playfair. '

“ Have you any proof?” questioned Mill~
field.

i “\Yell, not direct, but we have the evi-
dence of our eyes. He answers to the de- I
seription of Genteelv John." 7

“ So might a good many men.”

“Then you doubt that it is he?" ,

“I must have proof that it is, you know. "

“And that is what we must set atwork
to get for you. We’ll try to work up the
(use, now that we have got something tol
work on.”

“ You see how it is," said llaynold. - “ He
answers Well to the description of Genteel.’ ,
John, ekcept the beard, and he has now been‘ ‘
absent long enough to have grown that,” ‘

" Yes, true.”

, “ Then, the wealth he displays. His rob-
beries account for all that. ”_ v -

“ It's as plain as can be,” agreed Spat-hers.  

“And, if“you remember, this new build-
in g was begun shortly after that big Express -
robbery.” - .

“That’s so,” tried the. mayor. “Boys, II 
believe you tire on theright track. . Bunk,
is a game that you will have to work ,carev \
fully, for ion will have to bring the proof to
bear, yen 'now.” ' , '

‘_‘ Yes, we know that, but we’ll get there.

I think if we allow him to have plenty of
rope he wi tangle himself 11 in it.” ,

. “ Gentee John isa shrew fellow.” ~
h. “ We have tackled that sort of men, before,
t on  .

“ ’ell, what are. you going to do? How.’
will owgo for him?" ‘

“ f the others do not interfere, I, think
we’ll let him show his hand first, and we can.
see what he is 'ngto do himselfj’ .  

- ‘f Not a bad ids-g. . I understand .he is go~
'ing' to open the aria Salon tonight. ‘ And
aslie has‘corresponded some.with me,vI 
have no doubt he, will (all on me shortly-
If he: does, I’ll notlet on“ that he is sue.“
pected.“ - . ,_ ~

- I , CHAPTER XVII.
A oossrnnmfio an. someway ;‘

‘ Maren. Mrthan-was not ,7
He was in (the oflice after dinner "

the'stran’ger dropped in to see him.  t .
Mr. Southway introduced himself, " '

proceeded at once to makevgfiown the obj

go with you concerning

Int ,
_  a! license Inns: pay.” _

t; j a

 

  

 

 

 

 

“ You will be required to pay a lieenso, of
course.” ‘

“ How much?" .

The maon named the sum, and it was not
a modest one.

“ That is pretty  the elegant sport
remarked. “If that is the figure, howeVer,
.no use kicking." .

l “ That is the sum.” .

“ Very well, and here is the money, "

The money was taken and a receipt given,
and the transaction was done.

“ It is my intention to open my place to.
night," said the gambler, then. “ I shall
throw my house open free to everybody the
first evening. ”

“What will cost you sornething.”

"' I' can stand it. Besides, it will adveruse
me. 7) '

“ Yes, I suppose so. By the way, Mr.
Southway, a word of caution to you.”

. “ And what is that? ' ‘

“ Your place must be kept orderly.”

“ I never kept a place yet that was not or-
. derl , sir.” ' .
i ' . “ that is good. You see, sir, we have
quite a fashionable town here, and it is
growing more so every season. )Ve must
protect our good name. ” ‘

“ You need have no fear of me. Inquire
about me at places where I have run similar
concerns, and see what you will hear. The
will all tell you that Royal Jim, as they ca 1
me. keeps a decent place."

“ Where have you been established?”

‘f Well, at Austin. Dallas. Los Anne] 8,
Frisco. and a dozen other places inthe gouth
. and West. Besides, I have presided over

‘ gar’nbliu0r palaces in the East.”

“ Nodbubt you are all right, but I had to
caution you. “('0 will not tolerate anything
that is disorderly, you must understand.”

“ I do understand that, sir. By the way,
drop in and see me this evening when I get
started.” A

“ I’ll do so.” ,

A few words more and Mr. Southway took
his leave. ,

N o sooner had he gone than Joel Sparkers,
Detective Itaynold, and Detective I’layfair,
. appeared from behind a partition.

“Well, what is your opinion?" Sparkers
demanded.

_ “It is divided against itself," was the re-
’ , spouse. . .

“ Then you believe it is he, and yet you
. don't?" said I’layfair., ,

“That is it, sir. This man ' is certainly
dike Heathcote, and yet it' it is Genteel .lohn
he is a perfect actor. Ills eyes met mine
without a sign of recognition or anything

j 1 else. He met. me as a perfect stranger. ”
. “ What else would you ,expcct‘!" asked
' Raynold. ~ ‘

. “ Nothing, of course; yet I did not think
’ any one could play it so we 1.”

' “‘ Frtim what we know about Genteel

‘

w

’v

; it need not surprise us. 7 .
I “But. you noted what he said, about the
"places where he has had gambling palaces.
andthcireferenccs he gave me. What about
; "an that",
_ “ May be a blulf."
, “ Suppose it is not?"
‘1. “Then our.suspicion amounts tr; noth-
u- In I
7 " Unless.” Suggested DetectiVe liaynold,
f"‘the fellow has boudrt up the real James
Soutlnvay's good wil and interest, as it
.were."
 ‘.' Have you ever
‘ . "few?"
M {"1 have heard of a gambler called Royal
' im. "hat is the name this man lays claim

 

heard ’of the man be

   

. ' 0
“Well. be either is or begs not_,~?md it, is
for you man to decide,”- on d the mayor.
, “Keep your'eycs and ears well open. and!
 sooner or later you
‘ its," \
, I“ But, we, Want your opinion, the best you
' can give," persisted layman. “‘We never
.saw this Genteel John ourselves, you know,
while you have. In which direction is ytmr
' 1' opinion inclined to lean? Is your sulpleion
’ stronger than yourdoubtst" I
“ vles, it is." '
—  i , “ Upon what. do you base it, then?”
 ';“,On the appearance of theman’s eyes.
“This *iellow’s eyes are the eye's of Genteer
’mmnh .‘i iiwin ’ ' 1

   

a

 

  
  
   

 

 

 .~ 1 John, and from what We have heard of him, '

will get at the bottom of '
. , -

“Ha! that is something. It is hard for a
man to distguise. his eyes, and’your recog-
nition of them may be all right. , However,
we‘ll watch him well." ,

The two took leave, Sparkers rmnaihing.

"You and l mu talk a little plainer when
aloae," the tool observed. “ You believe,
then, it‘s lleatheote, do you?" .

"Ido. This man is about his age, and
dark. lie is of about the same height and
build. ‘ 'l‘hen, best of all. his eyes."

“ I'm glad you agree with me. Now, the.
Question is, shall we do away with him. and
S0_!‘

“’Sh!" the mayor cautioned. “No such
talk here, Joel. ( , that is not to be thought
of, since my revenge will be so much the
sWeeter to see, him hanged, as he ought to
have been weeks ago."

“ But, for our own Safety~"

“ Don‘t get alarmed. We have begun it,
and we must carry it to the end. You
know. our testimony would have hanged
him, had he not escaped as he did. We
cannot take that back. And, should be dis-
cover the real murderer ol' Kinross, with the
strongest kind of proof, still our sworn evi-
dence would stand in his way.”

" 'l‘hat’s so." _

“ Oh!“ we haVegot him in the worst kind of
way, youbet. lIe is in a bad box. He can-
not clear himself, and as soon as he falls into
the hands of the oilicers he willlhave to
swing.” ,

The rascal laughed over his diabolical
scheme.

“ Well, say, Millfield?"

“ Say on. ”

“ Have you ever been able to get any sus-
picion as to who did kill that man?”

.“ Never." ,

“ A curious thing, was it not?”

“It was,,indeed. [am often inclined to
think Ileathcote reall did do it.”

“Do you know, 1 mac thought the same
thing, and perhaps we Were only helping
Providence when we said we saw him do
it.” -

“ It might be. Anyhow, it does not trou-
ble my conscience much, one waylor the
other.” ’

" Hardly. ”

“ And what about the other men ?"

“ The ones who came by the surge yes-
terday ?”

“ (,ertainly.

“ They are
woman's son sure enough.
banker from (‘hieago who has come here'to

!

not in it. The one is the old

;buy out (lolonel Lyndon."

“ What? Lyndon going to sell out?"
It  U ‘ Y \
“ I ought to have known that and bought

“him up myself.”

“Doubtful whether he wpuhl deal with
you or'not Ile has no low for you, as you
knowf'

“,i'es, curse himl I know it. Ile be-
lieves'lIcatheote was innocent of that mur‘
der, and believing that, he believes you and
l perjnred ourselves."

" But, we know bel,l_er,,don‘t we? Ila, ha,
ha!"

“ To be sure. ,

“ By the way, mayor, I’d like to have. a
hundred dollars on account."

“ Do you think I am made of money. Joel
Sparkers‘!” '

“Well, no, but I know you have got a
good deal more of it than I have, and you

H

,must ante when I call, you know.‘.’

“ But, ,are you aware that you are draining
me to the tune, of two and three hundred
dollars a week r" .‘

“ You hadn't ought to kiek at that. Be
glad it’s no more." .

“ I’ll tell you what is going to happen,
pretty soon, if you keep on as you are going
now." _ a

“ What‘s that?" , I l

“ I‘ll defy you, and cast you oil.”

" Oh, no, you won‘t; I'm not afraid of
that. I backed up what you said that night,
you know." ,

“ And if you try to retract, it will he as
bad for you as for me, and worse. Y6!) and
I have got to come to a definite understand
ing about thismntter, and it may as well he
ri ht here and now.”

. parkers looked a trflle uneasy.

 

 

‘ Perhaps he realized that he had gone a step

i 7

   
 
   

The other is a ‘

 

   

‘ ' ‘

. .
“Well, what sort of understanding?" he
asked.

          
    
  
   
   
  
   
  
  
   
   
  
    
  
   
    
   
   
  
    
   
  
  
   
   
    
   
  
    
 
   
   
  
  
   
  
   
   
  
   
  
    
  
   
    
  
  
   
  
 
 
   
  
  
    
   
  

“ I’ll give you a stated sum per week, to l
hold your tongue and at the same time to aid , i
me further when occasion requires, and at ' 
that you must stop." ‘25: i’; f

“ How much will it be?” i .' 

“ Well. say fifty dollars!”  i

“ I won’t take it."

H Why 2“

“ lt's not enough."

“Nor will I be robbed as I have been.”

“Make it an even hundred, extra above
my pay as your helper. and I'll do it.” "

“ Very Well, a hundred, then. _And it will
be useless for you to ask any more, for you
will not get it.” ’

“But the hundred must begin with this
week, for I must have a hundred down
now." '

“ All right, let it begin now. I'll save
money even so. But. it must also be under-
stood that you are to be ready for any Work
I may lay out for you to do."

“ You'll never find Joel Sparkers behind
the barn when he‘s wanted. you can bet on
it. Let me know when'you want to usa me,
and I'll be on trip. You _keep~your agree
ment and I‘ll do my part."

‘ Milllield paid over‘ the money to his tool,
and Sparkers took his leave. ,

The mayor looked after him with a frown.

“ Go it,“ he said to himself. “ The time
is coming When Ili‘have no further use for
you, and then—”

. CHAPTER XVIII.
° ANOTHER ARRIVAL.

p-q— VJ”. - .

 

 

IN the mean time the other detectives had
been giving attention to the new-comer.

Pcarsman had quiet] noted him, but no
one could tell what his impressiongvas, from
his face. .

Joyce had tried to study Pcarsman in, that
respe It, but had long since given "t up.

Aft the stranger had register and had
retired to the piazza, Joyce approaclwi
Pearsman and asked:

“ Well, what do you think of that part y?"

“ I believe we agreed we could not work
together, did we not?" Pearsan reminded.

“ ()h! hang it, I am\ not asking you to
work it with me; Iam only askingr you what
you think of that man. Do you think it’s
John IIeathcote?” y ‘

“i do not. ” '

“ No!" - .-

“From the surprise you manifest, Itake
iIt lthatv you do think this man is. Genteel
. o in.”

“ Yes, I am inclined to think so".

“ Well, I guess you are not alone in your
opinion. ” , ‘

“ The others have the same idea, you think,
then?” I

“Yes.”

“ But, they are mistaken?”

“I think so.”

“Well, see, here, Pearsman. there’s one
question lwould like to put to you in re-
gard to this fellow.”

“ What is it?" ,

“Can you say positively it. isinot Gentecl
?” \

“'Well, no, I can not. Men in our line
know how very deceptive appearances are
sometimes. " ’ ’.

“ That being the ease. you can‘t blame me
for having an eye on the party.” ’ ' ‘ ‘ ._s x

“ (.‘ertainly not; lam doing that mySeli .

“ On what grounds do you lasethe opinion ‘ “ '
that he is not Heathcote?” . . 7

“ Well, on the ground that Gente‘el John
isa man of hard sense, and he'wonld not I,
come here in a disguise that the merest de- .
tective gosliqg could penetrate."

“ Then you admit there is ground for sus-
pecting the man." ' _

“ If you cast your vote with the amateurs,
yes; otherwise, not. I cannot believe Gen- I
too] John would come here that way."

“, Well, now, Pearsman, I am not an ama-
teur by any rmans,‘ and hold that there is
rood ground fora difference of opinion here.
Iwould like to argue the thing with you."  *

“ Well. go ahear  . f

“It ml ht help us both, you know.” “

“Possigl ." , .

“Well, itwill help me, I know, iflam  '
wrong.‘ We ought to be 1 ble to convince.~i ‘ 
one or the other." ‘ ' " ' c  “

 

 

 

    
         
   
 

 

        
     
 

        
         
       
  
       
  

.9“

« G" t m"; “ i .
 "w" - “‘ tied its;

        

   

  

«than. '0!“

NW. y>rsfififiéflee l~="~“‘<‘4~“

v

 

 

 miss». _.r 4 

~;~;——-—._r “w;
«a .

I 'teel

 

The SuSCt port of Daisy Drift.

. upon my own name, so I may be. pardoned.

“Go ahead then. and convince me that this
man is John Ilenthcote in disguise. It you fail
then I’ll try to convince you that it is not he."

“ I’ll do it. In the first place, this outlaw is as
bold and daring us a f'amisbed tiger. He will—"

“ PardOn m -, Mr. Joyce. This :rings us back
to our difference of opinion. I old that John
Heathcote is innocenth the crimes that have
been laid at hisdonr.“ .

“ That’s so, that’s so. There’s no use our try-
ing to agree up )ll anything in this case. But,
I’ll go on and give you m VleW of it, anyhow,
since I proposed the thing,r and have com-
menced.” .,

“ Yes, let’s hear it all.”

‘ “Well, as I said, he’s bold and daring. He
takes the greatest kind of risks, ani seems to
hold his life cheap. He has maie a good many
rich hauls, and could well afford to put up a
building like the Paris Salon, and furnish it in
a manner worthy a Croesus.” '

“Exactly, from your point of view.”

“Then, the manner in which the building
has been put up, in secret as it were, adds to
the strength of the suspiCion. Why did not
the man come here openly and show himself?
Finally, at the last moment, he has appeared,
under the name of James Southway, but in
everything save his heard he answers well to the
description of John Heathcote.”

“ Is that all you have to offer?"

‘ Seems to me it is enough.”

“ What is the man’s object, admitting that it
be Genteel John?”

“ Well, in the first (place, safety. If he can
pass the ordeal and hol his id ntity out of sight,
he will be safe. Then, the
place like this, ought to be a paying concern."

“ Does that sum it all!"

“ I might stretch a few more points, but I’ll
rest my case at that.”

. “G enough. Now, I’ll gratify you by
givin on my view of the matter, from my
stande nt, and you know what that is, DOW.” .

“ That Gentee John and this highwayman are
not one and the same.”

“ Exactly.”

“ That is understood. Go ahead.”

“ Well, I hold that this new-comer is not Gen-
John, because he has made a display of
wealth impossible for John Heathco , who is
not by any means a rich man. .Then, , he is
running no risks of recapture such as he would
be in danger of were he to undertake a role like
this. Moreover, what could be hope to gain by
such a by-play? His oh‘ect is to hunt down the
murderer of Murdock areas, and so clear him-
self of that charge.”

“ But you must admit that this man answers
well the description.”

“ Yes, so he does; but so would many men—
man hundred of men. There is little in that.”

“ hen you do’not encourage me any in my
suspicion!”

I N 7?

“ And yet, do you know, I think my argument
is stronger than yours.”

‘ Well, you are welcome to think that way.”

“iAre you going to give no attention to the
man?" .

“ Nothing in the way of suspecting that he and
Genteel John are one)?

“Well, see here: You believe Genteel John
and the road-agent are not one and the same;
what about this man’s being the latter?”

“On that point there is a possibility that you
.are right.”

“ Do you think I am right?”

H  )

dl“" nfound-l you, Pedrsman, you are a rid-
e.

“ Not at all, Joyce; I am tr in to m k m -
self as plain to you as I possibly can.” a e y

“ Then perhaps the fault is mine, and I am a
blockhcad.” .

“ I must be stubborn enough not to agree with
you there, either. You have a record which
gives the lie to that.”

“ Well, is there anything we can agree on?”

“ It’seems we have agreed pretty well to dis-
a ree. ’ l

8“ And I guess that is about the only thing we
can agree on here. It is more plain than erer
that we cannot work together. There is no oc-
casion for us .to work against each other,
thou h.” .- .

“ one whatever." .

And so they dropped the subject for the time.

They have not been idly quoted, but with the
purpose of showing how opinion at Daisy Drift
was divided.

, There was one great question, and that—If
John Heathcote was ‘there It the village camp,
in what guise was he concealing his identity?

Since every other personage there had. been
subjected to sevare inspection, and had passed
the ordeal favorably, this new-comer, J a
Southway, had to bear. for a time at any ra ,
the full weight of suspicion. , .

Was he the man? i ‘

Let the reader judge for himself, having seen
the question argued pro and con.

The afternoon stage on that same day brought
another new-comer, but not one who could be
an , of being Genteel John.

It as a wean.

aris Salon, in a'

 

She was young, not a day over twenty-two,
and pretty.

When the stage arrived the suspected sport,
“ Royal Jim,” as he was already called, was the
one to open the door and help her out.

Taking whatever she had to carry, be escorted
her into the hotel.

The crowd leoked after them. and many fol-
lowed t'neni in, having no further interest in the
other passengers.

The sport left the lady in the parlors, and
went to the office to register for her.

She wanted meals only, for the present, he told
the clerk; she would occupy one of the suites of
moms over the Paris Salon.

The name he entered on the register was-—

“Brian DEARBURN,
City of Mexico.”

As usual, the detectives great and small—par-
ticular] the latter, were eager to learn the
name 0 this pretty stranger who was under the
protection of the gambler sport.

And when they did learn it, they thought they
had new grounds for suspecting James South-



The young woman’s appearance had told
them plainly enough that she was an American,
and her name added strength to the belief they
had formed; but, it was here claimed that she
was a nativo of Mexico.

Surely, there was something crooked.

The others “ho had come by the stage were
two Mexican women, as their appearance be-
spoke, and two or three then.

The Mexican women had follOWed Ethel
Dearburn into the hotel, and were plainl her
servints, and thus her claim to citizenship in
Mexico was in some measure borne out.

Two of the' then looked after the baggage that
was set down from the rack, and which was
afterward taken to the Paris Salon.

Later on, Royal Jim conducted the young lady
over to the Paris Salon, where, with her Mem-
can woman ‘attendants, he left her, returning to
the hotel himself. ‘

This as w-comer was the handsomest woman in
the place, by long odds, and it was no wonder
that she was looked upon with eyes of admiration
and envy—envy on the part of the women there
before her.

 

CHAPTER XIX.
A VICTORY HARDLY WON.

E. GARNET Poxa. the English dude, was sit-
ting on the hotel piazza after supper, when
Frances Cantril join him.

It has been said the she lost no opportunity of
enjoying his good com any, and he certainly
made no effort to avoid era.

They had seen the pretty newcomer at the
table, and as Miss Cantril came up to where the
young Englishman sat. she asked:

“ Now, tell me, Mr. Poke, what did you think
of that creature?”

“ Aw—whom dmyou mean i"

“ Why, that hold irl who ate tea with the
princely gambler, to sure."

“ Ohl Why, I assure you, Miss Cantril, I con-
sidered hgr very beautiful indeed. His wife, I
pre e. ,

“ eautitull She?”

“I thought so, truly; but, then, men are such

r judges of what beauty really is, you knew.
ou ladies have so much‘ keener insight.”

“ And I thought men flattered themselves that
they were the best judges in such matters.”

“ Certainly I am not one, then, Miss Cantril.”

“_Yet, by you-- can admission, you have pass-
ed yudgment in this instance. ‘

_‘ No or ; I beg pardon, reallv; not my judg-
ment, Miss Cantril, but my first impression;
that was all."

“And that impression is that this young wo-
man is teautiful, is it?”

“ I thou ht her so, I must confess." s,

“ Well, must agree with you in one thing.”

“ And what is that?” ‘

“ That men are poor judges of woman’s
beauty. Wh , Mr. Poke, considered this
person very p ain indeed.”

“ I am glad to know how little my impressions
are to be relied on, Miss Cantril.”

“, But, she is a coquotte, with oil the sire and
arts of her kind, and loan “see, that‘she has for
the moment dazzled you.” ' ..

“I am glad to know it, Miss Cantril, and
from such good authority, for 1 can be the
better on my guard, should she have any evil
intentions against me, .don’t yin know.”

This was said in all seriousness v- "

The woman was silent a moment before she
re oinegi.d

he a now taken a seat, and was , pared
to defend her position. pr?

“ You almoat lead me to suspect that you are
trying to make a joke at my expense, Mr. Poke,”
she said. , » ‘

“ '1‘ ing to Poke fun at you, as it were, eh P"

So t e young Englishman returned, laugh-

ng \ -

“ And now vou'are so rude as to make a pun.
Really, Mr. Poke, you shock me.” .

“ beg your pardon, Miss Cantril. I was
trying to make no joke, and if I did pun, it was

    

 

 

Bur, you did not express your opinion respecting
the observation I made.”
“ And what was it? I fear I did not catch

' it.”

“Why, I said I supposed the lady was the
uife of the. gentleman u hose protection she
acoepts.”

There was a toss of the head on the part of t

Miss Cantril.

“ Perhaps," she said.

“ You speak as if you doubt it.”

“ She tertainly looks old enough to be his
wife, if it were rot for the paint and powder.”

“ Bless me! Paint and powder!”

“ Yes. Could you not see that?“

“ ’Pon me honor, Miss Cantril, I’ll never trust
my eyes again. I n as admiring the freshness
of her complexion, it was so rare, you know;
and now to be told that it was only art—”

“ And very poor art at that."

“ Well, well, I told you men are the poorest
of judges when woman‘s beauty is the thing to
be judged. But, tell me, what did you think of
her escort?"

“Mr. Southwayl”

H Yes.”

" Oh! I thought him very nice indeed.”

It was her chance to take revenge, perhaps
she thought, and she meant to improve it.

“ Very nicel Good heavens! Miss Cantril,
where can be your taste? , Why, I took him to
be a perfect cad, don’t you know.”

“ You did!”

“ Yes; and I was wonderin how so charm-
ing a creature as the young ady could endure
his society.” ‘

“ Bow stranfifrthat we should look upon them
so diflerently, . Poke. Why, did you not note
the fineness of the gentleman’s attire? How
very well his clothes set on his handsome figure?
And his jeweliiy—”

“Abominab cl Quite out of taste.”

“ Are you taking revenge, Mr. Poke, for what
I said so frankly about the woman i"

“ Can you think I would stoaptothat, Miss
Cantrili No; I am merely giving you my own
impression as freeiy as you gave yours.”

“ And may your judgment not be at fault
here as well as in the other case?”

” It would be unpardouable of me not to ad-
mit it.”

“ Then I am going to insist that you are mis-
taken, sir. I look upon Mr. Southway as a gen-
tleman, and I consider his dress quite in keep-

in _" - I

g‘ With his position? It becomes the gambler
very well, I am towed to admit, Miss Cantril.”

The woman flushed with anger now.

“Do you seek a quarrel with me, Mr. Poke?”

.she warmly demanded.

“ Good ’eavens, nol” was the exclaimed re-
sponse, with the dropping . of an “ h ” in his'
haste. ,

“ Then why do you cross me so persistently?"

“ Bless my soul, Miss Cantril, I was only ex-
pressing my honest opinion. I was not aware
that th s mantras anything to ybu—” .

“ Nor is be, either.

That was snapped out more vengefully than
she had spoken yet.

“wa very unpleasant that we should come
to such an unha my understanding. Permit me
to beg your par on and take the blame to my-
self, Mics Cantril, and we will talk about~somec
thin else.” I _ log ”

“ suppose must accept your ap’o y, sir.

“ You would not hurt me so much as not todo
so, I am sure,” was the humble rejoinder. \

“I am afraid we came very near to having a
quarrel. Mr. Pokc,l’ with a forced smile. “ And
how silly that would have been, when these per-
sots are nothing to us.
heath us sociall '.”

“To be sore,’ agreed the Englishman. “ We

were not speaking of them comparatively, ex~ * 

rcpt! to compare them with each other.”
‘ su
to-night. Shall you attend

“Such was my intention', M Cantril.
—pardon me— somewhat on auto learn what
position the young lady holds in the establish-
me t. ’ ' - ‘

“ You can not mean it, surely,” . 

“ But I do, Miss Cantril. And wh not?"

“You Owe it to our set, Mr. Po e, to 

loaf.”
“ But I can’t, don’t on know? I am asqu
of curiosity as—as-l in l as I can be.” . .

“ We have made up our minds not  

nise‘these persons in any way‘ than

Poke; and as for entering their plac , _ 
think In, ‘

Words could not express it.

“ That is perfectly roper, If
Miss Cantril. For me, t ough, I a tocoine
and go at will, and if your set wi cast me
for so trivial e transgression. so be it.” .

“ How provoking on are!”

“ t intentions y so, I'assure you. I am

break g no engagement that I am aware of it!

so“ I wish I could induce you to remain away." ,

“ Andi! suppose you wuld, if the indmt
were strong enough.”

“It wfllhaVetob'eastrongona!"

“ Very was indeed."

 

 

They are, of course, be». .

pose Mr. Southwa’y will Open bi. pk“,  _

Twas,~

 

,5". ,.

  

 Suspect Sport of Daisy" "

,4 ,,'-,
‘1' .

 

 

 

    
  
   
  
 
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
 

“ Then I have no hope, although I had some-
thing in mind.”

“ What was it you had in mind?”

“ I Would scarcely dare to reveal it, now,
knowing how useless .it would be.”

“Still, if it is something you had in mind be-
fore you learned what my intention is, you
ought to tell me.”

‘ Well, I was going to ask you to escort me
for a walk up the canyon this evening. It will
be moonlight, you know, and—”

“ Say no more. No inducement could possibly
be stronger, Miss Gantril, and I willingly yield
the point.”

The scheming young advontnress, as we well

1 know her to be, smiled when she saw that vic-
tory was hers. I

Her possible rival was distanced for the time
being, at any rate.

Current gossip was not wrong when it hinted
that she was playing to win the wealthy young
En lishman.

e had shown evidences of his wealth since
coming there, and some of his letters, which
chance had permitted her to see, bore a title up-
on which her heart was set.

“ How good of oui” she cried.

“Good to myse f, rather,” was the return.

At that point they were joined by Mrs. Rain-
hard and her son, and the conversation turned.

“I havea favorto ask of you, Mr. Poke,”
Mrs. Rainbard presently remarked.

“ You have only to name it,” was the re-

sponse. ,

“ My son is desirous of witnessing the opening
of the Paris Salon this evening, but.does not
care to go alone, and asI heard you remark
that you were going he would like to go with
you

\ H

008.

" That is my desire,” was the reply.

“ And it was my intention, true enough,” de-

. clared Mr. Poke, “ but a greater inducement

having been offered for tho evening’s pleasure. I
have changed in mind. I am sorry, sir, but
cdnnot help it. owaver, you can easily find
other company.” '

Somethin of a light of satisfaction seemed to
,beam upon rs. Rarnhard’s face, at that.

Whether it meant anything or not does not

appear, yet.

)
Would you go to such a place?” cried Frau-

 

CHAPTER 'XX.
OPENING 'rns: rams SALON.
,DAISY Dam was t‘u.l ol'uxcitement. ‘

_ The opening. of the Paris alon was an event
which had been looked forward to ever since the
character of the place had become known.

Everybody was eager to gt a view of the in-
terior, and, as evathi‘ng was to be free on

- this night, many Were eager to taste the Wares
gt the-elaborate bar. There was a tempting

alt. ,

That, however, was calculated to catch the
common herd.

For the more. fastidious 'ones a bait, of a differ-

. , .ent sort had been provided. A
 And that was, the good-looking young lady

. who had come by the sta e, and who had taken

, up her quarters at the Be on. t

, Nearly all of the young bloods and sports of
the place were eager to see more of her as well

. as to learn what her relation to tho gambler

 sport-really was.

‘ Before the hour for opening come there was a

~zooticrowd in the street before the building,

I made a of miners and laborers chiefly. The

0“bloods and sports, curbing their desire, re-

 mained in tho backzz ound. ,

t v SOuthway, or “ Reyal J in,” was on the plains

of the hots talking with Mayor Millfleld, ,

r “ Inotice your citizens are somewhat eager
forapeep into the new resort,” the gambler

made remark. ,

'i‘Yes; and the are not backward about
showing it, either, was the mayor’s return.

-“I suppose they are orderly fellowsl But,

.’ the camp speaks for that.’
‘4 The are better than the average.”
“'An they look it.” ..

. “ There are two or three really rough custom-
  .here, ' but they are kept pretty well under
""3 mm", a: ' f at tr t I
, suppose ey are eager or e ea have
promised them.” i '

‘ ~ “A good many of them are not willing to

V {rain that.”

“ ‘fWell, the shall have it. I anticipate no
trouble. We vs a way of dealIn with unruly
{customers which they w ll not rel sh, if we find
any such.” I I

It is not likely there will be any trouble. I
w ' speak as) the. men just before you open the
‘ _ and Erepare them for what is required

In. I ops your venture will has sat»
l

 do I, m yor.‘ You have scorched moso
.1??in in the ay 'bf tax, that I must get even
- . can.

: “Couldn‘t help it, you see. Mus‘t‘mako it
high to k -~p out little concerns, which doimore
harm than goo I.” ' ‘

“I Ire. And, rowdthaai [ham  donut
,f on put I e on all a others,
"O‘Brl-hoflold" , g \n‘ " V '

 
 

  

  

   

  

    

    

.7:

f

 

“ Perhaps we can come to some such an agree-
ment as that, Mr. Southway."

“ Never mind calling me mister; just make it
Royalgim, the name that has become so familiar

me.

“ All right, just as you want it."

“ That way.“ good enough.”

“At what hour do you open?”

“Eight o’clock.” -

“ N ot far from that now. I’ll say a word to
the boys."

“It will be just as well, perhaps. And then
I’ll go over and see if everything is in order.”

The mayor drew a' chair to the edge of the
piazza, and mounting it, called the attention of
the cr0wd. ‘

The Paris Salon was on the other side of
the street, not far off, so the mayor was noticed
at once and the crowd listened to what he had

to say.

“Men of Daisy Drift,” the mayor addressed
them, “ I have a few words to say to you.
Thenew place over there is about to be opened,
and I hope you will all observe the rules and
regulations. ’

“ Yer kin bet we wnll do that.”

“ And ther free drinks, too.”

“ I hope the evening will pass without trouble
of any sort. Mr. Southway, or Royal Jim, as he
is known, is a gentleman, and he ex ects to treat
every man of you as a gentleman. hope you’ll
grove to him that you are. He intends to throw

is bar open free to all-”

“ ’Rah fer Rigel Jim l”

“ Hooray! oorayl Hooray!”

“ Yes, free to all, but not to make pigs of
yourselves, of course. There will be one, two,
possibly three drinks to a man, but no more.”

“ That’senongh l”

“ Onl adarn hog would ask for more.”

' “An then, there is a very important reason
why you should conduct yoursclvcs like gentle-
men while in the Paris Salon. It is presided
over by a lady. I know you, howevor, boys,
and I know that the reputation of Daisy Drift
irate in your keeping. I need say no more than
t at.

“ That’s what’s ther matter,” cried one.

“We won’t disgracelther town, you kin bet.”

“ Every man of as is a gentleman an’ a
scholar.”

“An’ we’re ready ter give three cheers for
ther Mayor of Daisy Drift.”

“ You bet!”

“Out with ’eml”

“ Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!” '

The mayor lifted his hat and bowed, and step-

down from the chair.

Royal Jim took his place, and, with hat in
hand, su id:

“Citizens of Daisy Drift, I want to assure
you of all your mayor has promised you, and
more. This evening is to be yours, and for the
occasion the Paris Salon is to be yours, too. We
are there only to serve you. We are your
friends. Everybod is welcome.”

That was all, an more cheering greeted the
words.

Royal Jim Went at once our to the new es-
tablishment, while the mayor turned to talk
with those on the piazza. _ '

“ I guess there will be no trouble there, he
observed.

“Not likely,” some one agreed, “ unless that
fellow German comes there full and tries to
run things.” ‘

“ And it he does he will get laid out, that's
all, if I have to do it myself. I have promised
this man protection and he shall have it.”

The man referred to was the local terror.

He was a big man, ugly when drunk, and was
called Gore the Giant.

Powerful of frame and greatjn strength he
was feared, and no man there at the camp had
ever downed him.

He was not noticed in the crowd, and some
one on that piazza ave out the hint that he hail
scenan in one o the saloons drinking pretty

eavx y.

But, he was soo forgotten. . _

Precisely at ei ht o’clock the doors of the new
resort were throwa open, and the crowd poured

n. ,
Greatly to the amazement of the roughs, in-
stead of finding a bare floor their rusty stogies
sunk into the soft pile of a rich carpet, and their
footl'alls made scarcely a sound.
“ Gee. whiz!” one fellow ejaculated. ‘
“ Ain’t et jes’ gorjus l" exclaimed another.
“ Talk ’bout yer ’Rabian Nights—st don’t

oompnarel”
' “ by didn’t they tell us 0‘ this hyar, so‘a we
could ’a cleaned our feet?” -

Every man of them had some remark to offer
and most of them to the point, as the crowd
sum in. ‘

Paris Salon was well worthy the name.

The large room was royally furnished, from
floor to ceiling, with everything of the most
costh sort. ‘

The bar and its fixings. on the right, made up
a work of art in itself, while the chairsand sofas'
o . ositolooked too floater use. 3

, ot a man of the crowd felt stthome. .

Further back weretbe gamingatahles. and at
 _Mngapopew

all“!

   
  
  

; tornader.

platform, stood the young woman queen of the
salon, gorgeously arrayed.  

She looked a queen indeed. ‘ , t,

Standing in a strong light, radiantly beauti- ‘
ful, a smile of welcome was upon her lips.

A little distance away to the right stood Royal
Jim, while several attendants in livery were he: a
and there around.

Behind the queen, on each side of her dais,
stood the two Mexican women, and behind her
was the chief gaming-table of the room, behind
which was a royal chair.

  

When the pr: ssure from behind began to P
abate, as most of the crowd had gained entrance, it
those in front stopped as though in awe of this
vision of loveliness which a nironied them. ; b

It was then that Royal Jim spoke. '.

“Men of Daisy Drift,” he said, “allow me o '
to present you to Queen Ethel, the presiding '1’;
goddess of this establishment. You are her 
guests while here. Her word is law, and to ,,.
her your homage is due. She welcomes you,
one and all, to her domain. She will briefly ad—
dress you.”

“Yes, welcome indeed,” the young woman- ‘ .'
spoke immediately. “ You are my guests to ’
night,.and the best of my establishment is at
your command. There is the bar, free to a]!
n he desire that; here are the gaming-tables for
those who desire to wro the goddess Fortune.
Everything is free to-night, and I call upon you
to enjoy yourselves as best you can.”

She bowed, at that, and retiring lehind the
polished taro-table, sat down on her throne like
chair.

“ You understand,” urged Royal Jim, then,
“ that you are heartily welcome here, and you
must ‘make yourselves at home. Do not be
afraid to touch and handle things; that is what
they are for. For the, tin e being, everything is
yours.”

“ Then blame me of I ain’t goin’ ter take,a gulp
at the bar,” cried one rough fellow.

He advanccd in that direction as bespoke,
afid his words and action broke the spell upon
a I I
There was a general scramble toward the
bar, then, the tw0 men who presided there
:geedily had their hands pretty full serving the

mug. ‘

While this was, going on, others entered.

New Game the elite of the place, the bloods
and sports, and leading them was the mayor,
with whOm came Johnston Rainhard. ‘ -

These evinced no su, rise at the elegance of
the lace, but all did a vance to pay homagetto
the autiful ucen who presided over it, and to
whom Royal im presented them. ‘ «

Thus an hour passed quickly, and all the time i
the assemblage was being augmented by fresh
arrivals, till it srcmed that nearly the whole
population of the town must be there con- . 
gregated. Everybody seemed‘ happy, and the «.T' ,»
Paris Salon was voted a success. ‘

    
     
     
     
       
 

 

 
   
         
       
     
       
     
     
       
     
       
       
       
     
     
       
     
     
           
       
     
     
     
     
     
 

 

     

CHAPTER XXI.
MARKING ran rmsm

EVERYTHING was peaceful, and eveerbdy
was hupp , when suddenly a newcomer et out
a wild yefl that startled every one.

“ Whoop-eel” was the cry._

Everybody looked in the direction of the door.

There was the bad man of the tOwn, Gorman,
or' Giant Gore, as he was i alled; or, as oi'tener—
Gore, the Giant. _ l

He was drunk and in a bad temper, as ,every ..
one who knew him could see at a glance. :‘ .

With his hands on his hips and his feet wide , -
apart, he Was staring Around him in dtunken
amazement, but he was in nowise abashed by
wliaevhle saw. ”

“ mopee, yow-owl was his cry again.

Trouble Was lookedvfor, now, by those who - -
knew the fellow and his moods. 1 

One of the liveried attendants of the place ' ‘ '-"
stepped forward to him and politely requested
him to be quiet.

Giant Gore stepped back, pushed his hat for  
tip from his brow, and replacing his hands on ‘ .’ 1
his [$3, with great drunken gravity demanded: — »

“ all, now, what’s ther matter «1' you!”

“ There’s nothing the matter with me,” was
the quiet rejomder, “ but it you want to remain
in here you mutt mist." ’

“ Whoop-eel W p-eel Waughl You don't.
safiso.” , '

e fellow had yelled more wildly than ever,
and now glared at the attendant defiantly.

No one cue loflel'ed to interfere, yet, and for
two reasons. * ‘

First; no one was eager to tackle the giant;
and next, many wanted to see how it would
come out. ,

The man in the liv laid a hand upon the
giant’s shoulder and jer ed him around facing
the ricor, at the same time ordering:

" Be' "quiet. sir; otherwise you must go out.”

Qore, the Giant, let out another yell, and with 
a sweep of his arm carried the attendant ofl his 1‘
feet and deposited him on the floor. ‘ f

“ An more of ye want'somel" he cried. “ If
ye do, eat come right up hyar and tackle ther

      
   
     
     
       
     
     
       
       
           
         
       
         
         
       
       
     
         
      
   
   
   
     
   
     
         
    
        
     

      
     

   

 

 

raised“ stims, or flies. ‘

B erIam.withm win Illspread 
and I’m readivnter tackle anyghlnggtshat  .

 
 

    

     

      

 

 

 

 

‘witho’it any knowledge of his strength, and had

 

'e Shspft ‘éport of I)

 

any: Drift.

 

 

He gave another yell to, fill up. the measure.

The other attendants had by this time reach-
ed him, and they laid hands upon him together.

Giant Gore stru glad and fought, swearing at
adesperate rate a i the time, and presently, by
his cvermastering strength, had brushed the men
awa from him, sending two more to the floor.

“ hat’s ther matter hyeri" he demanded,
glaring around. “ Ain’t a eiterzeu got no rights
hycr no more? Wull, I reckon he has, ef ther
court—house knows herself, an’ I reckon she do.
Got any more 0’ them ’ar things? Ef ye have,
trot ’em out an’ let me eat ’em.”

“ Sir,” spoke Queen Ethel, standing up in her
place, ” you must observe order here, 0r 1 shall

ave to turn you out.”

“ Wull now, gal, that 'ar thing has been tried
on alread , I reckon,” the fellow declared, with
a drunken swagger. “ And et didn’t ‘work worth
a cent, either.’ ’

“ But it will work next time.
quiet?”

By this time the men in liVery had got them-
selves together, and wire now ready for the
signal to tackle the fellow again. '

‘ I reckon I’ll do jest asI please about et,”
the fellow retorted. ” I don't take sass from no
darn woman, 1 don‘t, an’ you don’t want ter
try ter give me a bit of at, either.”

“ See here, Gil German,” cried Mayor Mill-

Will you keep

, field, “you. must either shut up or get out of

here instantly.” -

“ An' who is goin’ ter put me out?" demanded
the giant.

“ I guess there are enough men here to do it,
if those who have already undertaken it can’t ac-
complish it.”

“ That’s what’s the matter,” agreed one
citinen. ,

“ It will not be necessary to have much
trouble about .it, I uess, sir,” now spoke up
Regal Jim, who had n absent for a moment,
an who now reap ed.

He_strode straight out to where the giant was
holding the floor, dud as he came up to him,
ordered:

“ Now, sir, either you remain quiet, or out
you go. We do not allow any one to raise a
disturbance here, and that seems to be what
you want to do.”

“ Who wants ter do at?”

“ You seem to."

" Wull, I don’t, not a tall. Jest ’case I kem
in hyer an’ let off a whoop 0’ joy ’cause I felt so
good, is that [any reason everbody should jump
on me? I only said— Whoop-es 1”

He gavea loud sample of his yell, and again
looked defiant.

“ I’ll give you half a minute to make up your
mind what you will do, sir,” the master of the

co said with determination. “ Either sit
own or get out.”

Gore the Giant'looked at him from head to;

feet. .
“I am of ther mind at will talio more’n you
ter put me out,” he cried.

“ Which are you going to . do?

nick l”

“ Which be I goin’ ter do? I’m goin’ ter do
jest as I darn please, hyer or anywhere else, an’
don’t you ferget that. I’m a tall chief, lam,
an’ I kin climb ary galoot what I ever tackled
yet, an’- I guess I kin climb you. Waugh I”

Another yell.

The 'crbwd pressed close, but no man attempt-
ed to interfere now.

One reason for their not doing so was that
many of them wanted to see what sort of stuff
the sport was made of, and this was a good
chance to find out. '

They soon learned.

With a leap the polished and diamonded sport
was upon the giant, When, lifting him clear. he
held him over his head and walked with him to

Answer

' the doors.

Loud cheering greeted his performance.

The doors reached, he gave the man a fling
and de sited him in the dirt of the street. '

If thl’sowas a fair sample of the prowess of ghe
gambler sport, Giant Gore had certainly found
his master at last.

That done, the sport walked quietly back into
the saloon, rearranging his slightlydborderal
attire, and smiled as serenely as though nothing
had happened. I

The attendants had fol lowed'him to the door,
where they now took their station.

“That was a splendid feat," complimented
Mayor Milldeld. -

“, Ohl it was nothing,” the sport declared.
“Order must be reserved, you know and that
was only a mild cloning of what will happen
if the foolish fellow persists in annoying us. ,

“ I can well believe that you are capable of
dhaling with him.”

"Or with any one else,” was the declaration,
without any appearance of boating. “ We can
keep order here, I guess.” \

“It looks that way.’

By this time Giant Gore was up, and was bel-

' lowing at the door.
. . He was held at bay, however by the atten-
. dantsthere, who. in spite of the i

act that he had
once overcome them, were powerful fellows.
They had tackled the man in the first instance

 

' gaming-table,

 

 

temporarily come to grief, but they were equal
to the emergency now, and more.

“ Let me in that;, I say,” cried the giant.

“ You cannot come in,” he was informed.
“ You had better, go away.”

“ Let me in, I say, or by ther rip-roarin’ of I
don’t more’n jest demolish things ’round hyar!”

He made a dash, but was met with drawn
weapons, and seeing that the odds :was against
him, and being sober enough to recognize it, he
slunk away.

As he went he made dire threats, however,
whether they were to amount to anything or
not. - '

In the mean time Queen Ethel had opened a
game at her table. I
‘ Such had not been her intention, on this night
she declared, but many urged her to do so, an
she had at last complied with the re nest.

Among the players were Mayor illfield and
his com mons, Johnston Reinhard, and Mr.
Judson athflnder, the guest of Colonel Lyndon.
And besides these there were some of the young
bloods .of the town.

The Lyndons, father and son, were there, but
took no part in anything.

They had come only at the urgent reques of
their guest, for it must not be lost sight of t at
they were in mourning for Nydia.

At first the colonel and Jackson both had re-
fused point blank, but afterward alIOWed them-
selves to be prevailed u n, nines their goin or
not going could in no w assuage their grie .

When their est had taken a place at the
owever, they drew apart from
him, and the more readily since the had no
deeire‘to come in contact with Millliel .

“ Do you think he is treating us right, father?”

Jackson nestioned. '
“Hardy,” was the response. “He is not
what he used to be; far from it. Irepent of

having asked him here.”

“ But, that was purely a business matter.”

“Yet coupled with a friendly invitation “to
stay at our hottage.”

“ Would it not/be right for us to go and leave
him there, since’ae seems to have forgotten us?”

“ I was thinking about that very thing. We
are sad]~ out of place here anyhow, and I feel
pretty h tter against myself for coming at all,
and Nydia dead.”

With the last words his voice was husky, and
Jackson turned abruptly and advanced toward
the door. ,

The colonel was ri ht behind him.

At that moment athiinder glanced up, and
seein them goingfcalled out:

“ i ii not going, colonel?” .

Colonel Lyndon turned and answered With a
nod, not caring to trust himself to speak just
then. '

“Yes we are lgoing,” answered Jackson, bit-
terly. ‘ This is no place for those who mourn,
and you seem to have no further need of our
company.”

With that they went on, and out. ,

“Thunderl” cried their guest. “ I believe
they are in a had over nothing. I will see you
again. Queen Ethel, and finish my play. I must

go and make it right with‘my friends. ’

He quickly settled his account with the bank,
and went out.

Mayor Millfleld and many other interested
witnesses, gazed aiter him. ,

CHAPTER XXII.
srnmemc A SURPRISE.
“WELL, what do you think of my pinion
new!”
The speaker was Detectiva Joyce, an the
person addressed was Detective Pearsman.

“The same as before,” was the response. “ I
see no reason yet to change my opinion regard-
ing the matter.”

They were in the Paris Salon.

The reinark was made while the playing was
going on at the table over which the queen of the
salon presided.

It was after Judson Pathfinder had gone out,
as told at the closing of the preceding chapter,
and the place was asqulet and orderlyas it
and tbeen before the trouble with Gore the

inn . x .

 All the detectives were present, and Joyce
had just moved around where he could speak to
Pearsman. ‘ ‘

“Then you do not see further evi nee that
this ambler sport is Goan John'in 'sguisel”

“ cannot say‘that I do.”

‘ “ Where are your eyes?’

“ In place, I guess.

 

“You area puzzle to me. I «one: and

or-
stand how it is you will not notice things which -

are so very plain to eve

“ There are some
antics.” .

“ And this one!” ‘ ‘

“ You hav ,not said yet to what you refer.”

“ True enough. Well, did you not note the
ag‘i‘hitrv and strength this man possesses?”

as A

body else.”
ings not worthy ;’ of

“And it has bten said that John W'

has unusual athletic powers.”

“80 he has.” . -' - 5

sighs: is itnotprooffurther that thlsishe!"
o. , . i ' ' _ 4. '

  

, heordered. _ i . .f
here. Fall hack.,every man 0! yolk-and m ,

 

  

u Whv?”

“ Can you imagine that John Heathcote would
come here and display the very characteristics
which would give his disguise away i”

“ Might be not thmk his disguisetoo perfect?”

“ If I were to allow myselt to think this man.
is he. i should consider it no disguise at all.”

“ Ha! then there is some excuse for my think-
ing as I do.”

“ None whatever, from my point of view.
From your Own there is the best of ground.”

“ Well, well, I can’t understand you, and will"
not tr to, further.”

“ ot so long as you hold to your present
ideas regarding the case, that is sure.”

“ Are you trying to convert me?"

“ Not at all.”

“ If you are, you will have to advance for
stronger argument than you have yet. But, hal
what’s this?" '

There was a slight commotion across the room
from them.”

Looking, what was their surprise to seek
Detective Rhynold and Detective Playfair in
the act of arresting Royal Jim. . .

Each had a hand on his shoulder, and each
had a revolver presented at his head lll a
dangerous way. ,

“ What means this?”

So the gambler sport asked, quietly.

“ It means that you are arrested on suspicion:
of being the outlaw, Genth John.”

In a moment all was excitement.

Every person had sprung up, and a crowd im—e
mediater gathered around the detectives and
their prisoner.

Queen Ethel left her place in haste and made-
her way to where the prisoner stood, smiling
and confident.

“ This must be a mistake,” she said. - 1

“ It not only must be, but it positively is,” do.
cfared the sport.

“ You will have to prove that,” said Pleyfair.
“ You are our prisoner, and you are warned not.
to resist.”

“ The thing I have least intentional! doing,
gentlemen.”

“ And you are warned, too, to be careful what.
you say, for it will be used ainst you.”

" I have only this to say: hat you are mak-
ing the grandest mistake of your lives, this time.
I am out your robber, gentlemen.”

_ “ Upon what grounds have on made this ar-
rest?” demanded Mayor Millheld, as he pushed
his way to the front, with a great showing of in-~
digestion.

‘ Upon suspicion, sir,” was the answer.

“ How could you suspect this gentleman so

grossly} Upon what grounds are your suspicions ‘

“ We prefer not to answer those questions-
now, mayor,” said Raynold. “That would be
to show our hand before the right time. At the
immination we will set forth our reasons in;
oil.

“ And llwould”request the:a he befimimd at
once gent omen, spoke u ueen e .

“Ashe shall be,’ cried field. , _
“ It is all the same to us," agreed the detec-'
fives. " The sooner the better, perhaps. We. ‘
are ready to show that we had good groundafor

our action.”
" It is to be hoped you had, for you have made
a serious mistake, I am satisfied of that,” Hill-

i’lleld rejoined. ‘

“ What do on think new?” demanded Deteov
tlve Joyce of etective Pearsman. .

“I think they have made asses of Meshes,” '
was the candid reply. ‘ '3’ I

“ But, if they happen to be right,they have
snatched the plum just the same, and we are not-

in It.” I . ,' .

“ Don’t let that trouble you, There will be
an immediate examination, and you will use up
man clear himself all right. It will destroy
your own suspicion against him”;

“Iameager now to see whether it.   “l 

not.” -.
“Count yourself lucky that you are not in
this thing with them.” ‘
6| 
u Eh

ti The 3?? ha til th

was a t cit p sonar on ere was scarcely!

room for them to move. ,V: 
The detectives had few, if any, an a.

the crowd. The royalmanner in w 

Jim had been entertaining had won 

thesuppcrt o‘l' everybody.,aad theyhsd-veosd
him a “chief.” - I g  . ‘ _.   

Millfleld now rung upon ashalr 
ed the crowd to back. '  "

“Make room. boys, make  make 
“There is hardly spans to

 

onegosnd fetchJostioe Brunet atonce. Hr. ,
Samara! shall have ’a hearing as qmcklyagr
Donnie. . 
need not haudculf me, gelatinous,"

In

“You 
the was saying'at the same e to the“;
a e"

 

 

ves.
ca , * -
amomnunsyeuwmmthsndmflhiml” m.

tation would be in jeopardy!"  '- . =

N , . ._

Meanwhfio everybody was talking, and tho' .

. exoiiement was t. . _. , - -, .
' -ked itself around the‘deted. ’- 'v

r

 
 

 

 

 

 

“ldonet mean to attempt toes— 2*?

 
   

  
 

 

" .The

@iispe‘ac sp rt or*"‘:oy 1D  fl: .. 

 

 

“ You are warned not to try to escape, then,”
cautioned Playfair. “ We will find means to
stop on if you do.”

“ ave no fear of that,” was the smiling re-
' 1y. “If you attempt to handcqu me, though,
I) will resist that, for I have never had the
steels on my wrists and never expect to have
them there.’

“ Well, we’ll take your word,” Reynold com-
promised.

The crowd, at the same time, had fallen back,
and more room was made around the prisoner.

“ I am sorry for this thing, Mr. S xuthwny,”
spoke the mayor. “ You may be sure it is some
thing in which I have had no part. But,.you
will be able to clear yourself of this ridiculous
charge, of course.” ' '

“ I certainly hope so, at any rate, mayor. No,
of course you are not to blame in the matter. I
can seethat.” ‘

“ Where will you have the hearing, sir?” asked
Queen Ethel.

" Right here as Well as anywhere,” answered
Millfleld. '

“ Very well, your justice may occupy my seat
here on the dais, and the table can be mdved out
of the way.”

he cal ed to the attendants and ordered the
ta )le removed, and chairs were placed for the
accommodation of the prisoner and others.

Several men had obeyed the mayor’s order
about going for the justice.

There was a buzz of excited ‘ comment in the
room, and everybody was talking with his
elbow neighbor and discussing the merits of the
case. ‘

Royal Jim was as cool and smiling as ever.

He seemed to be the least excited of any person
there present. ‘ a

The peerless Queenl Ethel, too, was cool and

calm in manner, now, though she had exhibited
a trifle of excitement at first. ‘ .

“ This is rather different from what I antici-

‘ 'pated for this even'mg,” the prisoner observed.

“ I should say it must be,” agreed the mayor.

, “ For my part 1 can't see how suspicion has

. fallen upon you.” , ‘

l " Who is this Genteel John? if I m’ay ask.”
“ Is it possible that you have not heard of

Genteel J ohnl” '

“ I have heard of an outlaw with some such
name as that, and these gentlemen arrest ‘me

for an outlaw the say.” , ml. 1, 4
John, or John Heath-

" That is it. nteel
cote, his real name, has been a terror to this
part of the country for smie time. He is a
murderer for whom the allows is waiting.”

“ Then if a case is me. 0 out against me I am
in danger." -

. “ You might be, if they-could prove you to be

John Heathcote: but, how are they to do that?”
“ They seem to know.”

“ We on] suspect, understand,” reminded

' Reynold. ‘ You are arrested on suspicion

Only."

“ That is bad enough. Don’t you think,
though, gentlemen, it would have been better to
have waited till you could make out a sure case
against me?”

“And. let some one slip in ahead of us and
cart ' off. the reward?”

“ . sl that’s where it lies, is it?”

“ We have not been working for fun, he sure
of that.” f

“I suppose not; but, you will have had your
labor for naught.” - '«

‘f That remains for you to prove. If you are
G'enteel Jcfin, none of this bluff work is going
to serve you, be sure of that. If we have made
a mistake we stand ready to take water in’big
doses.” » \ , ‘

pH‘Arrsn XXIII.

UNDER A CLOUD.

THOSE who had gone to bring the justice were
not tardy about it.
In a little while they were back
Jog him with them, having explain
wanted.
' Justice Russet was a man past the prime of
life, with irOn gray hair and heard, and a pair
of green little eyes that were quick and pene-
tra n .
Whgn he'entered the Paris Salon, Mayor Mill-
g fileld ailed him at once;
,- “ ht this way, Justice Russet,” he called
out. ‘ Here is a case requiring your service.”
" AH right, mayor, here I nm,” was the re-
s ones, and the littleman—Russet was consider-
l a l y under the average in size—made his way to
. the front. , "
. « The chief seat on the dais had been reserved

r him.
QWhen he took his place there the chair seemed
~ to swallow him, but it did not swallow his
voice. -
'_' Now, what is required of mailibe asked.
. Although he had been told, he saw fit to have
it explained again in the presence of all.
- , “Well, the case is this, ’ answered the mayor.
“ Mr. Southway has been arrested by these two
detectives on the charge of being Genteel John.

 

again, bring-
what was

the outlaw. and he demands a hearing at once.” ,

“ Ah! Very ‘well, let me hays a jan.”
There was a constable in the crowd, and he

3’

  

 

was told to get a jury togetheras quickly as
possible.

This was speedily done, neither the detectives

nor the prisoner raising anyI objections against
any of the men chosen for that duty.

Presently all was ready.

“ Now,” said the justice, “ I am ready to hear
the case. If the charge is sustained, the prisoner
will be held for trial. If not, he goes free.”

The prisoner rose to speak.

“I accept the situation,” he said. “Let my
accusers present their proofs, after which I will
try to, defend myself. I believe that isthe usual
wa . .

“ That is the way, sir.”

The prisoner sat down, and Detective Raynqld
rose to make the charges.

“ We have made this arrest upon suspicion,”
he said, “ feeling that we were justified in so
doing. We are are not prepared to prove the

man’s identity, perhaps, but we want him held'

till we can do so."

“That is hardly in my line,” said Russet.
“You are doing this upon your own responsi
bility. If you cannot support your charge at
this time, I must order that the prisoner be set

free.” . r
‘ We know that 3 yet we think the sus icions

will warrant you in holding him. W en he
first arrived here we saw that he answered well
the description of Genteel John. Then, We
questioned whether it might not be he. The
outlaw had not been heard of since about the
time the erection of this building was begun. A
good deal of money had been spent here. After

is rich robberies the outlaw was prepared, to
spend money freely if he chose."

“ Your line of argument is not altogether un-
reasonable; but, you have no proof, it appears.”

“ 80 I admitted, sir.”

“Well, have you any further grounds?”

“Yes. “Is have been told that John Heath-
cote was a giant in strength, and this n has
proved himself such in the way he handle Giant

Gore this evening. We want him to prove that
he is not Gsnteel John, and f he cannot dose;
them-We claim the rewards at are offered for,
him. If he can preve it, the: we have no more
to say except to offer a humble apology for our
mistake.” ' .

“ What do you think?” asked Joyce of Pears-

man. . -
,. “I think—Thou fool!” was the' half indig-

nant response.

“And I am of the o inion myself that they
have gone oil’ at half-cocE.”

“ Allowing to their own eagerness not to miss
the reward. They deserve to lose it now.”

“ Ani is that all you have to say?” the justice
had asked. -

“ That is all.”

“ It is a weak case.”

“ Yet it may be a strong one.”

“ By what authority did you make the ar-
rest?” .

“ We are detectives having that power.”

“By what power can you hold this man if I
let him go?”

“Well, It is like this: If we have not suffi-
cient hold 11 n‘himg) warrant you in holding
him we sha i not w: t him held. ’
“ The prisoner has now a chance to speak to
defend himself.” '

Royal Jim rose in his place as calm and cool
a «Vet.

“ I suppose this man Heathcote was well
known to many of your citizens here, at one
time. was he not?" he asked.

“ He was.” answered the justice.

“ Then let those who know him well, step for-
we rd and say whether I am the man or not.”

No one offered to do so.

“ Mayor, you knew him, did you not?”
H Yhs'n ‘ >

“ Tm n you say, for one.” ’ ' .

The mayor stepped up to the man (1de looked
at his face searchingly.

As he did so, a puzzled look came over his
Own.

“ You certainly look like John Heathcote,” he
said, “ but still I do not want to say you are he.”
i "flDon’t be afraid to speak your conviction,
s r. '

“ Let some one else my.”

“ S md for Colonel Lyndon,” some one sug-
gested.

“ N n, we object to that,” spoke up Detective
Reynold, quickly.

“ Why do ye ’hjeckl” ' .

“ Because, he is friendly ti) the outlaw and
would not identify him at any cost and let us
hold him.” , .

“ Then you want only men who will favor
your position?" hinted the prisoner.

" No; we only ask for those who are not pre-
judicei.” . '

“ Well, let them‘come forward.”

Several men wore called, One after another,
and while all said the man leaked'like Heath-
cote no one would as he was the man.

“ Then, would you old me, and perhaps hang
me. just because I happen to look like Genteel
Johni” Royal Jim asked.

“ I think we can hold on till we can bring
further mm.” answered I’layfair.

tort.
person you haVe suspected me of being, I demand
my liberty until you can bring further proof.
At the same time it will giVe me the chance to
bring ample proof as to who and what I am,
and to gather the material for an alibi, if it
comes to that. What is the amount of bail,
Justice Russet?"

“ Smce you are not my prisoner, I have no
hold upon you, sir,” was the reply to the t.

“Then, gentlemen,” to the two detectiws, “ I
demand to know what hold you have upon me.
If you have no better authority to show than
the bare fact that you are detectives, the quicker
you take yomsclves (if the better.”

“There, you see,”raid Penrsman to Joyce,
“ is just where he has got them.”

“ Can’t they hold him, then?”

“ Does it look like it?”

“But, they suspect him, and he has not die-
proved it.”

“They have got to give him the chance to do
so. They fired their gun a little too soon.”

The two detectives, Reynold and Playfnir,
were greatly chagrined, and their faces showed
1

” Well,” said Playfair, “ since the justice here
will not hold you upon our suspicions, you
have the advantage of us. We have to releaso
you; but, We declare our suspicions against you,
and if they are borne out by the facts we want
it understood by all that we were the first to,
pronounce them against you.”

“ Yes, that is understood; and, now, I propose
three rousing hisses for a  of jackass detec-
tives. Who will join mell’

There was a loud shout of approval from al-
most everybody. ' .

The gambler sport gave the signal and the
hisses were loud and long, and it was ended with
'a dismal groan.

“ It serves them right,” spoke Queen Ethel.
"I cannot understand what ever led them to
so mad a conclusion as that Mr. Southway is
the outlaw.” -

“ I guess they can hardly understand it them-
selves,” said Royal Jim. “ Don‘t be in haste to
go, gentlemen; you are still welcome here; we
hold no ill-will against you.” 0
d The abashed detectives were making for the
001's. '
“ We have been plainly shown that we are
not wanted,” snapped Raynold.
“ Could you expect me to submit 'to the
indignity you Iput upon me without in some way
retaliating? ardly.‘ And I did it in the mild-
,est way I could.” ' -
" And you may regret it, if we can bring more
pr00f against you.”
“ Whenever you get the proof, come along. I
shall set to work at once to get together proof
as to who and whatI am.”
“ We’ll see what you can do.”
“ Yrs, you'll see. ’
"l'he two pessegl out and the sport addre
the crowd.
“ This evening has not ssed as pleasantly as
Icould wish.” he said. ‘ You have seen how-
ever, that it has been no fault of mine. ' u the
first place, that bully who came in here to kick
up a muss had to be ejected. I Then came this
stupid farce, if I may call it so. I assure you
gentlemen, that I am not an outlaw, and that I
am not John Heathcote. If there are any
among you who think I am, set to work and
bring en‘your'prmf. The sooner the charge is re-
moved, or proved true, the better I shall like it.
I am placed in a shadow by the charge that has
been made.”
“ But, we don’t believe et all ther name!"
So one man sung out.
“ That’s what we don’tl”.cried another.

ment in many we 8.

“ Well, 1 am g ud you ‘do not believe it, my
friends," Royal Jim accepted. “lassure you
it is not so. I am what I am, bad enough, per-
haps; “butl am no outlaw. And now all re-
sume your pleasures, gentlemen, and perha s
the remainder of the evening can be spent, Wi -
out further drawbacks.”

The enjoyment was not whht it had been,
however.

Men stood around in groups, discussing the
situathm,‘ while those who resumed their games
did so half-heartedly.

In many minds the Seeds of suspicion had
taken root, in spite of the general declaration to
the contrary, and, as Royal Jim himself had
said, he was under a shadow. ‘

 

CHAPTER XXIV.
LOVE-MAKING EXTRAORDINARY.
‘ IN the mean time E. Garnet Poke, the English
dude, had kept his word with Frances Cantril,
and the pair had gone for their walk up the
canyon. ' -
The night was a perfect one, just the sort for
food lovvrs to wander abroad, and the fair
Frances hung upon the arm of the titled young

passion was aflame.
For a time their

 

 

 

“And I hardly think you can,” was the re-

 

us.
'.

“Since you cannot prove me to be the.

And the whole crowd voiced the same ssnti- ‘

.o

Englishman in a way to show that the tender“ ‘_
talk was nothing to \interut '

 

 

    
    

 

 

   

 

 

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,.-_._M..;,.-.I,--._I.

r

 

 *esm  _. , I‘-

XS

(MA ‘g‘ aw u

 

_ The Suspect’iSport of Daisy Drift.

   

 

Finally, when they had gene quite a distance
from the camp they came to a place where an
inviting spot induced them to sit down.

“ Do you think it is safe here, Mr. Poke?”
Frances asked.

“ Really, I do not see why it should not be,”
was the response.

“ I was thinking: of that terrible outlaw.”

“Oh!” and the young man gave a start and
looked about him. “ I guess there is no danger,
Miss Cantril.”

“ I hope not.
tect me.”

“ If I Could do it; for, they tell me this outlaw
is a terrible man, don’t you know.”

“ And so he is, too.”

“Speaking of him, dear Miss Cantrilpleads
me to say something that has been on my mind
for some days now. ’

“ What is it, Mr. Poke?” ,

She asked eagerly, but there was something of
apprehension in her tone.

“ Do you know, I love you, and—”

“Oh! Mr. Pokel"

“ Yes, I love you, and I would make
wife—4’

“ Oh! Mr. Poke! Had We not better be going
back?” making a movn as if about to rise, but
not doing so. -“This—this is so sudden, and—
(ind—4’

“ Yes, I would make you my wif , flu in you
I find those rare qualities which are so seldom
found all together in one person. This has been
my dream, dear Miss Cantril, and—" ‘

“This is $0 sudden, Mr. Poke! I cannot-I
dare not—deny that you are very dear to me,
and—and—"

“ And you would be mine?”

His hand touched hers.

She drop :1 her gaze, but her fingers gave
her answer y a pressure.

“Then my dream would not have boon in
vain,” said Mr. Poke, and he gave a big sigh.
" But, alasl”! '

“ What do on mean?” ,

So cried ranCes, now, in a tone of some

But, then, you are here to pro-

you my

' alarm

\

“ Alas! what might have been can never be,
unless-a”

“ Unless what?”

“ That the story I have heard he falsei”

“And what have you heard? If you were
not pro red, why did you ask mcto be your
wife? but is the obstacle? You have led me
to betray my secret, sir, in a Very unpardonble
manner.’ ‘

“ I did not ask you, dear Miss Cantril. You
did ’pot permit me to finish what I started to
say. _ -,

“ Then what did you start to say?”

“ I meant to say, that I love you and would
makelyilut m h d

ectuosace a ru 11 inthewa."
p “ And what is thastxl)" as p‘ y

“ I’liave been told that you are a divorced wo-
man.

Frances flushed painfully, as the strong moon-
light plainly revealed to the eyes of her compan-

on. .
“ What need that matter, so long as I am free
to marry whom I will?" she demanded.

“ It should not matter, Were I free to follow
my own Will,” was the response to that.

“ And why arexyou out free?”

“ My fortune is-at stake.”

“ Then love must yield sway to fortune ?”

“ A Ibeggar has no business with a wife, Miss
Capgil.” '

‘ ut you are no beggar I sho ld i i .
Of course I know nothing abo’ut it, gammy

“ I should he, were I to wed other than a
spinster.” . ,

“ How strange. I fear I really do not half
understand you.”

“ I don't wonder.”

“ You spoke about the outlaw.”

“ Yes, so I did.”

“ Why l” '

“ Because, the samoperson who infonmd me
that you had been married. also told me you had
had some sort of oscapade with this ' Genml

John.”
h
«it:

“ It is falsei” the woman flashed.

“Then I have been wroagly informed, tb
I placed much confidence in the person who
me these things." ‘

“ Who was that person?"

“ It were treason to tell you that.”

“ Well, tell me what he told yea.”

“I may do that. He told me that you had
imposed upon this. Genteel John at a hotel in
Denver, at the time of a great fire, and had put
yourse in the place of his wife and'so per.
mitte him to carry you out, at the cost of the
life of his wife.” '

“ Ohi how false!” '

“ Then that out of revenge, this man,
Genteel .Iohu, had been instrumental in our
marrying a rascal, a robber, whom he afterward
exposed and sent to prison. You see I have
food for reflection, do you not?”

“And that is the reason on will not now
marry me, after leading me an admission of
my affection for you?” ,

“ No, no; that has no weight with me. I
would not care haw many times over you had

 

wife were it not that an unex:

l

 

stakein the matter.” :

“ Your love must be deep.”

“ I.;>,vo must not'be allowed to run away with i
sense. ‘ , l

“ Suppose I were to say I would wed you f
even thou b you were as poor as a man can be?” .

“ Then would say that your love had run i
away with your sense. No, that is not to be; 
and, it being so, I would still befriend you.” |

“You have not told me how this precious ;
property of yours is to get away from you if i
you wed me.” ,

“ Easily told. It was left_ to me in such a
way that, if I married a widow or divorced
woman, it was to go immediately to the next
hair. My father had bitter hatred for widows
and such. It I marry a spinister it’s all right.”

“That’s a peculiar thing, isn’t it?” I

“ It is just so peculiar that it dashed all my
hopes respecting you. I hoped the story I had
heard was not true." . ,

“ But, Mr. PokcAny marriage was almost as
though it had not been. In the Same minute
that l was pronounced the wife of that rascal
he was arrested and taken away, and I never
fawgiim again. You see it wasalmost meaning-
esr. ,

“ Yes; but it was none the less genuine.”

“ Yes, I am sorry ,to say.”

“And that being the case, there is no use of
my entertaining any fond hopes toward you.”

“ Do you truly love me?”

“ Would I be talking like this did I not?”

i‘f,Then, could the difficulty not be surmount-
e( ‘?‘ How?”

e‘élye could both swear that I had never been
w .

“ I would be required to show the proof of it.”
” That might be done, too.”
“ Yes; but there would be the chance that the
gflg’h would come out, and then where‘would I
e - '

“ Then it is plain that your love for me is not
very stron .”

“ I woulg not dare to put yours tothe test of
poverty.”

“ And you are unwilling to tell me who gave
you $11 this information i”

‘ 1

’u Wh'y r,
z: I would not betray him.” ,
u A friend of yours?"

Let us not speak of him again. Will you
permit me to give you a hint that may lead to
Your happiness, since we can never wed i”

“ I care not what you tell me.”

“ There is another who has regard for you.”

“ I should feel p‘oor indeed had I no more than
one admirer.”

“ Yes, I suppose so: but, this one is one well
worthy your attention, for he is rich.” -

“ Do you think, Mr. Poke, that I am going to
let you go free after the manner in wh ch you
have discarded me, after asking for my hand?”

“ Good heavensi What do on mean to do?”

“ I can sue you, and so spoi you of a part of
that fortune you are so afraid of."

“ You might if you could get at it, but that
you could not do. No, that is not worth your
while. I can show you bigger game.”

“What is it?”

“ You have seen the gentleman who is stopping
at Colonel Lyndon’si” ‘

“ Mr. Pathfinder?” I

(I Yes.”

“ I have.”

“ Well, he has been inquiriniabout you, and
I think you could win him and is immense for-
tune with little effort.”

‘3 That is cool, i must say.”

“ I know it is; but. since I cannot have you, I
can afford to be generous to a rival, when it w ill
be for your own good. What do you say to it?”

“ I was never so insulted in my life, Mr.
Poke l” ‘ ‘

“ I’m sorry for that, seeing that I am trying
to do you a good turn. Marrying him, you-
would be lifted at once to the highest position
societ can offer you, and the past will bedead.”

“ on I it me more and more! Come, as.
cort me back‘to the village immediately, or I go
alone.” .

“ I will escort you, certainly. I fearour walk
. u thought it

i

as not been as pleasurable as

would be. You do not hate me, iss Cantril?”
“ I almost hate you. You have wronged m

I hardly believe the story you have been tellin

me. I do believe you are in love with that thing

at the Pam Salon, the reason for your action

this very nightl” -

CHAPTER XXV.
machine it COHPROHISI. '

Wrrn her words, Frances Cantril turned and
ltalked away in the direction of the distant vil-

29-

Mr. Poke went after her at once. calling out:

“ Really Miss-Cantril, I cannot allow .you to
go alone, don’t ya know. You must rmit me
to escort you back again. I shall insis upon it.”

“ You may follow.” .

“ Very well, if you wish it so‘, but I will fol-
low very close.” '

The woman’s breast was filled with the rancor

 

l

 

man.

It has been hinted that she had been seeking a.
marriage with him, owing to his Wealth and
title. Such had been the case. _

Now her hope was gone, so far as that was
concerned.

Not only so, but she had been put to shame by
this “snob,” as in her mind she termed him.

He could not marry her because she had cnce
been a wife, though a wife in name only.

been divorced, were it not that my fortune is at ‘ of a keen disappointment, and she hated this

He
had brought her disgrace vividly before her, as 5

though taunting her with it.

At any rate, so she felt.

They had not gone a great distance when the
woman suddenly stopped.

She stooped and picked up a folded sheet of
paper that lay in the path, and opened it, utter-
in,c_r an ejaculation of excitement as she did so.

The Englishman was only a step behind her,
and he was at her side immediately. ‘

“ What have you found ?” he asked.

“ it need not trouble you,” she snapped.

“ Oh! it does not trouble ‘ me any, I assure
you.”

Frances was reading the note, which the pa r
was, by the brilliant moonlight which floodfid
the shallow canyon.

It was in these words:

“ mecrs CANTRIL, Munnnanss2—

“Once again y: u have felt the hand of cameo}:
John. Your scheme has been balked. You are an
adventurcss at bu st. You are not worthy the name
of woman.
that of my wife, beware. The hand of vengeance is.
against you.
and happiness.

, " J on» HEATHCME.”

The Englishman seemed to be trying to get a
glim so of it, but she foiled him.

“ his is not intended for your eyes, sir, and
you need not expect to see it.” she said.

She folded the missive and thrust it into-her
pocket.

“ You are pale,” Mr. Poke remarked.

” If I am it is with indignation at your con—7
duct ” she retorted.

“ am sorr .” A.

“ Which I do not believe.”

“ For which I am yet more so .”
“ Do you knew we have been fol owed here?”

No!

II

He spoke the word in an 'exclamation of

in arm.
“ Well, we have, and b a foe of mine.”
“Can it be possible?

protect you.”

“ Ha, ha! Little protection you would be
against this foe.”

' “ Who is he?” .

“Genteel John, the outlaw.” ' -

“ Good ’eavensl” with the loss of an “ h.”

“ How much protection do you think you»
could be against him I" _ .

“Lotus lose no time in getting back, Miss-
Gauthrfl. If the worst comes, I can but die for

on. .

" Would you do that!" .

“ I hepe the occasion will not re uire it.” .

“ Well, that makes me think a ittle less bit-
terly of you, anyhow.”

“ And I am glad to hear you say it. What‘
def; , that terrible fellow say to you, if I may
as

“ There is one thing I want to ask of you, Mr.
Poke.”

‘F And what is that?”

“ If you will answer it, I will then tell you-
wbat you desire to kngw.’ . _ ,

“ Let me hear it before I promise.” '

“ Who told you what yfiu came to know about
m life? I must know w 0 that person was.”

er object was plain.-

'l‘his note from Genteel John declared it had'
been e who had blocked her plans regarding
.ma rage with this Englishman. Learning who-
had told Poke the secrets, she would have a clue

, to Heathcote’s identity.

“ I cannot tell you that,” was the firm an—
swer.
“ But, I insist upon knowing, sir.” >
“That makes no difference, not a bit. I.
aim 1 cannot disclose it.” .
“ ell. was it some person at the village?”
“I cannot disclose anythingegardin it.” ,
“But I tell on I must ow. It really
necessary that
toot mad! against this foe.”
“ W t foe!”

“ Gonteol John.”

“ What, has he to do
who told molthese things!”

“ I will tell
was he who laid the plan for having this
motion brought to sou.”

" Blem me! you cn’tthink that, do you?’

“ I know it to be so.”

" How do you know it!"

You, who saVed your life at the cost of ,

I spare your life. but not your peace-

hen we must hasten I
back, and I insist upon walking at your side to ,

should know, in order to pro- 4

you that, and very plainly;sf It
orb

\

with me, or  ;

“ Because, in this letter, or note, he taunts mo ‘

of haviu been played with by you."
She di not express it right];
“ You wmng me greatly,” t

clared. “ I have told you my fee

you, and you know what I would

a were it.
not that my father’s will is in the way.

 

é Eufllshmander V
toward ‘ -

 

 
 

   

-;':5r’:.“‘i to f '53“:  “6' .‘

 

 

 

  
   
    
  
 
 
    
    
  
 
   
   
 
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
    
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
  
   
   
    
     
      
   
   
    
   
      
   
   
   
   
    
     
       
    
    
      
    
      
       
 

“ I would not marry you, n0w, were you heir
to the British throne.”

“ As I can well believe, for your pride has
been made to suffer, though, it was no fault of
mine.”

“It was brought about by this foeof mine,
this John Heathcote, and if y0u have one spark
of regard for me, and would help me to revenge
myself upon him, you will tell me who your in—
formant was.”

“ Imp asihle!”

“ 1 will rind out, though, in spite of you.”

“ That 1 cannot help, of course. You will
never get it out of me.”

They went on for some time in silence.

“ Presently the Woman stopped short.

“ I have guessed it," she declared.

“ You have guessed what!"

“ Who told you."

“ I hardly think so.”

V “ And I feel sure of it. It was that Mr.

Pathfinder.” , ‘

“ Oh! you are very far wrong, Miss Cantril.”

"But, you mentIOned his name to me, and
since I have luwn thinking it ovar it impressed
itself upon me that it might have been he.”

“Not So at all, I assure you. I simply said he
was my rival, or was likely to become so, since
he is interesting himself in you; and l hinted

, that there would be your golden o portuuity.”
‘ “ Again you insult me! As t ough I need
any one to chums a husband for me.”

“ You couldn’t make a better choice yourself,
of that I may assure you. He is immensely rich,
and has many of those charming qualities which
you ourself possess.”

“ on are generous to a. rival.”

“ I have told you the reason.”

“ What do you know about this man, since he
is up for discussion?” .

“That he is rich, and that he is here for the
purpose of making a deal with Colonel Lyndon
‘ or the mine.”

“ I infer that he is single.”

Such a woman!

An adVenturess, seeking only a moneyed

, 'ralliancel

“ How could it be a match if he were other-

' wise? And, it is not likely there will be found
,any impediment. as in my case.”

“You speak as though I am thinking about
your absurd proposition, sir. Do you think I
am a Woman without a heart?”

“ Far from it."

“ One would think so. I want toask you, Mr.
Poke, what reparation do you intend to make
for the injury you have done me?" '

“Bless me! as if i am not trying to open the
way for yoo now. Am I not trying to open the
way for you to get a husband who has even more
wealth than I? And one whose means are an.
limited, I might say.” ‘

“i will not be insulted further, sir!”

,. “ What a strange creature a woman is, don‘t

ou know. What reparation would you have
rue m kc?”
1'} (J as you pay me a good sum, sir, I will sue
on. '
“That would he the height of folly, don’t you
. know. That would he to waste time, and your
chances would slip.”
""Y’pu are enough to drive one to tears, a1.-

I’ll tell

*—

l v “If you would only listen to reason.
‘ you what I will do, if you will agree.”
“ What is itl” .

“ I ,will aid you to win this man for your hus-

band.
 'o “Insult added to njury! Sir, you shall pay
,Ine ten thousand dollars. or I sue you.”
" Upon what grounds?" '

“ For breach of promise.

“ Flel I have promised you nothing.”

“I will wear that you have, though, and
overde knows how attentive you have been
to me. on have taken up all my time, to the
exclusion of every one else. i
" “ Was it not rather the other way? You first
' placed yourself in my way, and have retained

the place pretty constantly, to be very all!
about it, since you are so lain with me. ow-
.ever. I will consult my in ormant about it-” ,
gWNo, no, do not do that. We will let ‘it drop
for-the present. We will both let it plainly be
anderstood that all is at an and between us,
“Meyer.”
_ " 1  to that, much asit pains me to give
Jon up. ‘

  
 

 

 

CHAPTER XXV].
run orsrum centurion.

 ! Minx they got back again to the village
camp it was about the time when Royal Jim
was: ejacting Gore, the giant, from the Paris

   
 

 ’9 there poems to be some excitement here. is.

 “83 I observe,” was the response.
- 1“ And I believe I will go in and see what it is all
 when I have seen you safely into the

You are cortainl at liberty togo where yon
Mt, Poke. on may get an opportunity

I‘.

  

  
  
    
  

     
  

  

 

    
 

~ 1 n.
> “Hello!” exclaimed Mr. Poke, at the Si ht,,

to see the fair Miss Mystery; for, you will not i
close your eyes to her, of course.”

“ You are a little rough on a fellow, don’t you I
know Miss Cantril.”

“ Y’ou confessed how much you admired her. ;
Well, here is the hotel, and I will relieve you of i
the burden of my company.” 1

“ How cruel of you, dear Miss. Cantrill If 3
you only knew what it costs me to give you up ,
sol _But, since I may not possess you, do not ,
forget the hint I have let fall.”

“ And how can I ever thank you for such :
tlmughtfulness!”

This with an attempt at keenest sarcasm. ,

They had now come to the steps of the hotel l
piazza, and the woman tripped up them lightly,
Mitt-I'ng the house withcut even saying good-
night. '

The young Englishman smiled as the door
closed after her, and turning, crossed overto the
Paris Salon and entered there.

What was taking place therf) at the time has
already bet-n told.

About the first acquaintance Mr Poke encoun-
tered was Johnston Roiuhard, who had sought
his company earlier in the evening.

“ Ila: how i; this?" Ruinhard greeted.

“ Surprised to see me here, of course.”

“Yes, since you told me you‘were not com-
i .3?

“ Well, you see, 1 am just free from my other
engagement, and seeing some excitement here,
thought I would drop in.”

“ You are late for the fun.”

" So it seems.”

“ This man, Royal Jim as they call him, is the
strongest man I ever saw in my life.”

“ Yes?”

“ He certainly is.
man out of doors?”

“ He had just deposited him in the street as I
came along.” .

” Why,~he lifted him right over his head and
hurled him out like a bag of meal, or something
of the sort.”

“ How much do you think the man weighed 3”

" The one who was thrown out?” .

“ Certainly.”

“ Not a pound less than two hundred.”

“ The proprietor here is no Weakling, then,
tbatflis sure, though the feat is no very great
one. '

“ I never saw it equalai.”

“ I have seen it surpassed.”

“ Possible?”

" Yes, truly. I once saw a strong man take
two other men, heavy fellows both of them,
and hold them out at arm’s length, one in each
hand. And not only that, but he threw them
both through a window, one after the other.”

“ He must have been strong indeed.”

“ Oh! he was. He could lift a thousand
pounds with no more effort than it would re-
quire of me to lift three hundred.”

“ Wonderfuii Who was he?”

“ Really, I have fargotten what they called
him. But,_no matter.‘ This is a splendid place,
is it not?”

" It is elegant.”

“And Mi~s Dearhuru—how beautiful she isl”

“Yes she is beautiful indeed. Her lovely
face will insure the success of the establish-
meat.”

“ No doubt of it. Have you been introduced
to her?” '

“ Yes, and have been playing at the table
with her. My game is there still, and I see
the players are returning.”

“ will go with you."

“ Yes, come on, and I’ll introduce you.”

, So, the excitement over for the time, the
pla or: who had been engaged at the queen’s
tab e returned to the r game.

there was no vacant place, so there was no
chance just then for Mr. Poke to yield to
temptation. but Rainhard introduced hjm to
the queen and he sat down where he could
feast his eyes upon her loveliness if so inclined.

Presently, however, the leaving of Judson

Did you see him throw that

‘Pathfiuder made a vacancy, and the young

Emilishman tookadvantage of it. - , ‘
He played. with no especial showi of skill,

butdid not risk large amounts. H seemed to

have more attention for the queenly dealer than
for the game itself. \

“ You are. not a bold player, Mr. Poke,” the
queen remarked.

“ Not very, Miss Dearburn,” was the re~
spouse. “I-take it for granted that you are a
Luisa.” '

“Yes. sir.” ‘

He might be excused for the question on the,
ground that be was an Englishman, since they
are held to be blunt and outspoken.

It was a question to which many present were
glad to hear the answer. I

“ No. I am not a bold layer, not.understand-
ing the game very well, at if my present luck
continues, I may become bold.”

“Do not play rashly, air, unless you are pre-
pared to Lose.” _

So the woman cautioned him. .

The game went on quietly, the young English-
man winning oftsner than he lost, and so it con-

 

arrow

 

{tinned up ithe‘ interruption caused" by the
m m; ' ' i ' ' i

f.‘

   
 

 

After that excitement, the game at the queen’s

| table was not resumed.

Men stood about in groups discussing the situ-
ation, as said, and only the less important game:
were carried on.

Suspicion had taken root, and for the time
being there was a cloud over the Paris Salon.
Many had declared, h0wever, their belief in the
innocence of the pl'Opl‘IOttl‘ and their confidence
in him.

Shortly after the ending of the h'earingpin
which the justice found no case, Queen Ethel
retired from the salon.

After her going, Mayor Millfleld, J 001 Spark-
ers, Johnston Rainhard, Detective Penrsman
and others, among them the young Englishman,
talked the matter over.

“ It was a mistake,“ of course,” DetectiVe
Pearsman declared.

“That is the way it looks now,”agreed Mill-
field, “but I confess that at first I had a fear
that the fellows were right. - I say a fear, be-
Cuuse this RoyalJim seems such a fine follow
that I would hate to see anything of that sort
come of it. It would be impossible, though, for
any one to pla such a role and keep his nerve
as he did. 0, I agree with you, Pearsman,
that Southway cannot le John Heathcote.”

“And the fellows stand ashamed before the
whole t0wn,” added Jeel Sparkors. “But. it

serves them right, for it was only their greed for .

the reward that made them so hasty."
” That was all.”
“ Can you imagine the fellow would dare to
como hack here again, after what has taken
lace, acc< rding to the stories I hav'e heard of
in)?” asked Johnston Reinhard, of Millfleld.
“ Yes, I believe he would dare,” was the re-

ply, “if he saw a ghost of a chance for getting V

awa again.” . '

" ut, they tell me the camp 13 now policed.”

“ So it is.’

“ Then, if he knows that, I do not think there
IS any danger of his coming. I think he would
be a fool to do so.” ‘

“ He is a Very daredevil, though. You must
know that, if you have heard all of his doings
here. He has robbed and murdered right and
left."

“ You are talking now of the highwaymau,”
put in Pearsman. -

“I am talking about John Heathcote,” was
the retort. “ I hold that he and the outlaw are

One.”

“ I admit that Heatheote is outlawed, and
that there is a price on his head, but I do not
admit that he is the man who has been doing
all these evils.”

“ Have you proof to the contrary ?”

H No.”

“ Then your opinion has little weight with
me. Kn0wing what I know of the scamp, I
speak from positive knowledge.
lieve there is any crime too great for John
Heathcote.” .

“ It will not do for you and me to argue on that
point Mayor Millfleld.”

“ Why not?"

“ We are both too iositive.”

“ I have grounds, sir, while on

“ Let us say no more about t.
since. we cannot agree.”

“ You admit that he murdered Kinross, don’t

on?"

“ it would be to call you a perjurer not to be-
lievo that, air. The law calls him guilty, and I
would not dispute with the law.”

“ Then. if guilty of that, why not of all the
other crimes?” .

“ No reason why not from your point of

have none."
It is better so,

new.”

H While from your own?"

“From mine there may be good reasons.
I will not discuss the matter further at this
time.”

Millfleld was somewhat flushed with rising
anger, but the detective was cool and calm in
manner.

The others were looking on and listening to ,,

the argument.
Box :1] Jim joined them.
“ Disputing over me!" he asked.
J ‘1‘ N3, ’ answered Millfleld, “ but about Genteel
0 ill. '
“Then-’ on accept my statement that I am
not that is low, and that I know nothing about
him?” '
“ Yes, sir.”
“ I am glad you do, for, on my word of honor,
i am not the man. If I look like him that ism
misfortune. I suppr so. But, let me have a litt s
time and I’ll prove to the satisfaction of all who
and what I am.” I '
Bis statement was accepted, since no one
could dispmve it, and lines the met: who had

brought the suspicion upon him could not support .

their charge.

 

CHAPTER XXVII.
A BUSPICION SPOKEN OF.
IT was on the following morning that detec-
tive Pearsman found a se note awaiting

him at the ofth of the hotel when he w
down. - t .;

1:.l ‘. “ '
" 71-h.
.r

i   1"" ‘  ’,
..»¢”§.§g. «.

 

ldo not be.'

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On opening it he Was somewhat surprised.
The signature was that of Genteel John.

“ Who left this note here for me?” he asked of
the clerk.

“ I don’t know,” was the reply.

“ Don’t know?”

“ No, sir.”

“ And how is that?”

“ Because I did not see who left it. I found it
here on the desk, and that is all I know about
it.’
“When did you find it?”

“ This morning when 1 opened up.”

“ Well, it is strange, that’s all.”

“ Something to surprise you?"

“Rather. Did Royal Jim spend the night
here?"

“ I suppose so. He
Guess he is not up yet.”

The detective went out to the piazza, where
he read the note over again, and Several times.

It was like this:

“DETECTIVE Panama:—
“Glad to know yin still helix-ye mo innocent. Do
notbe deceived. Royal Jim and I are fardiiferr-nt

elrsons. Hold no suspicion against him. lam not
id 9.
before ion . You need not search for me, for I
think my lL entity is \i'ell'C'InCi‘alHl. Miss Cantrii is
aware that I am here. She received a communica-
tion from me last night. I am not the murderer and
outlaw who is using my name, as I scazccly need
assure you.

is booked, anyhow.

“Sincerer yours, '
“Joan HEATHCOTE."
“This is remarkable,” the detective said to
himself. “ Were this to fall into the hands of

1 Joyce, he wbuld take it as additional proof that

Royal Jim is the man.

‘ Why?

“ Because he is here at ther‘hotel, and the
Wording of it might be construed as having only

the one object of diverting suspicio from him.
Yesbhe would take it as strong p f, while I do
not. '

He was thoughtful.

“ I will show this to Joyce,” he finally do.
cided. “ That is, minus one little clause, which
I will cut out now.” .

Taking his knife, hecut out the two sentences
referring to Miss Cantril, leaving all the rest of
the note as it was. The piecescnt out he chewed
to Xulp, that he might destroy them utterly.

bout the time he had done that, Joyce up-’

peered.

They greeted as usual,
' “ Well, what is the word?” Joyce asked.

“ Genteel John is in town.”

“ What 1”

The calm statement had the effect of an ex-
ploding bomb upon the unsuspecting Joyce.

“ Just as I tell you.” .

“ How do you know he is herci”

“I have heard from him.”

“ Well, is it Royal Jim?”

“ Hardly.”

“ Who?" .

“ I don’t knOW.”

“But, you said he had communicated with

you.”
“ And that is all."
“ You have not seen him?”
I“ No.” I
“ n yen are no better on’ than you were he-

. «-

fore.”

“ Except that I now know he is here. He
may be a laborer in the mines, or a toamster,
or anything like that. . There is 1 big popula-
tion here, you are aware, and it is impossible
to do with every man as Playfa‘ir and his
partner did with Royal Jim last night.”

“ What had he to say toyou?”

“ I intend to tell on that, or I would not
have told anything about it at all. Here is
the note he left for me."

‘ With that he put the note into Joyce’s handsl
V That detective read it with avidity, but look-
edu with disappointment. * .

“ You have out something out,” he said,

“ Nothing that interferes with the reading as
it is however.”

H but something you did not want me to see.”

“ Yes." .

“Well, it was your. message. Do you know
what I think about in" v . .

“I want to know, and that is one reason why
I have allowed you to see it. Let me have your
opinion of it.”

“I think it is proof further that Royal Jim
and Genteel John are one and the same.”

Pearsman smiled.

3, i y' “ Why do you think that?”-

N Hard] .n k
‘f Well, it strikes me that this ice poor at-
tempt”to divort attention from the gambling

rt.
1REnhAnd you think he himself, bein Genteel
John is the one who left it at the hote for me?”
“ as. He could easily do it.”
' “I admit that; but, you are willi to admit

3 , that Genteel John has shown some a ility as a

detective. I may any unusual ability."

‘ i “ Yes. with a purpoae, he has.”

“Yes, with a purpose._ Very well. Being
mething of a detective himself. is it likely that
, he would do such a thing as this? He would

know it would Only draw all the more attention
upon him.” ,

“ Then you begin to believe as I do?”

“Not a bit; I was only. taking your point of
View for the moment."

“ He has been foolish enough to think other—
wise, anyhow, it seems.”

“ Then you cast your vote with Playfair and
Reynold, do you ?”

“ I believe they were on the right track.”

‘.‘ And that Royal Jim and Genteel John are
one.”

“ How can 1 help believing it?” ~

“I don’t find it hard to think otherwise.
This note is genuine,_Mr. Joyce, and it speaks
the truth. Depend upon it. This is from the
true Genteel John, and he is not Royal Jim,
whoever else be me y be.”

“ Your mind is fixed on that.”

“ Firmly.”

“ Maybe there was additional proof in these
words which you have cut out.”

 

[may put important clues into your hands *

“ No; you have seen all that was worth see-

'n ."

v “ Yet this other was worth cutting out.”

“ Because it gave me a. clue which I would not
, shore with you."

1 “A clue to what?”

, “ Possibly to the identity of Genteel John in
; his present guise.”

“ Hal no wonder you cut it out, then. Now,
that is something definite. If you have some
proof that this Royal Jim is not the outlaw, that
alters the case.”

“I have no proof of that. All I‘say is, that
he is not John Heathcote. You must not lose
sight of the fact that I hold that there are two
Genteel Johns in the field now.”

“ It is useless to talk with you, I see, since we
-can never come to any agreement or understand-

.—

in .”
, 5‘ Which is not my fault, Joyce,” laughing.
“ I have been trying hard enough to convert you
from the error of your way, you know.” '

“The blind trying to lead the blind.”

“ Look at it that way if you please.” ‘

“ I am obliged to. By the way, you have not
mepltzior’ipd this note to any one else, have you i”

o.
“ Do you intend to do so!”
6‘  3

"Good. I will givs more attention to Royal
Jim, while you are looking around on your new
clue whatever it may be.”

“ You are at liberty to make any use on see
fit of the revelation I have made to you. nteel
John is here. and if you can take him you will
do well. As.- for me, I am not work g against
him but for him.” ‘ ‘

“ In the face off the lava?” I d mm

1“ I? the face 0 men, r evi s, an eve ng
e se. a

“ You cannot surely mean to say that you be—
lie’va him innocent altogether, do you?”

“That is just what I «lo beheVe, Joyce.”

“ The deuce] You can‘t mean it.’

“I swear I do.” , .

“ Why, man, that is to say that Osmond Mill-
ileld is nothing more or less than a vile
perjurerl” \ ,

. “I, can’t help that; I have spoken my firm
conviction.”

‘~‘ You are
now." 

‘ fl
' u ’ JOY” ’ .

“ In spite of the difference between us, that

our difference of opinion in regard to this case,

more of a puzzle to me than ever,

now.

“Glad of your good opinion. I feared ou‘
thought me little better than an ass, at our act
meeting.” ' . '

“That was talk." '

.“ So is this.”

“ But, there is a diflerence. I am going to
put you on yourgnard in one direction.”

‘ And what direction is that?" '

“ Do not let Mayor Millfield make a tool of

bear in mind the suspicion I have whispered in
your ears Otcourse yen will not repeat that.
“ Certainly not; but it is hard to understand.
Why, think of his reputation, of his standing—”
“And you, think of what I have said- and
beware. 0 more now; we are interrupted.
Here comes your suspected man.” .. ‘

CHAPTER XXVIII.
‘ 1 BY THE swam BAND. \ r ,
11' was on that same morning that there was
surprise in the Lyndon cottage. ' ‘
The colonel was the first of the family to'rise,
and when he meat down, one of the servants
handed him a sealed note. i
“ Where did you’get this?” the colonel asked.
“ It was on the piazza when I opened the door,
sir,” was the response. ' . .
who left it there?”

“ And on are not aware
“bitty damp. ‘ It has probably been there all

 

H No. 8 r." \

still acknowledge that you are a detective of no .
: .mean’ability and as such I am talking to you

you: that is the point. Look out for him, and ,

The colonel went into the library.

He thought he recognized the hand, and did
not want to open the missive in the presence of
any one.

It was, he believed, frcm Genteel John.

And he was not mistaken. On tearing it open
he read:

   
   
   
   
   
  
 
  
  
   
      
 
  
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
  
    
   
   
  
 
   
   
  
  
  
   
   
    
   
   
 
 
   
  
   
    
  
  
    
   

“MY Iirs'r or Fair-:Niisz— ,

“I am again here at Daisy Drift. I am making

rogrr ss. l‘Jre long the mystery will be cleared.

or the present 1 must remain unknown to you.
You may show this to Jackson. I write more
especially to advisH you not to close your (foal with
Mr. Pathfinder, for awhile. Wait till you hear from
me again. You can put it off. and at 'he same time
(lo-lain him with 3 on. Be blind to his faults. Do
not let him know of this note from me.

“ Yours in secret,
" Jens.”

colonel questioned. “ He tells me to slay clos-
ing with Pathfinder. Why? It puzzles me. And
I am to be blind to his faults. Well, he has
faults, that is true, for he is not like he used to
be some years ago.” \

He paced the floor with the note in his hand.

Busy with his thoughts, the time passed quick-
ly, and the rest of the household were astir be-
fore be reused out of his reverie.

And then it was the entrance of Jackson that
brought him out of his deep day-dream.

“ W bath the matter, father ?” the young man
asked.

“ Close the door, Jack,” was the response. “ I
have something to show you.

The son obeyed, and stepped forward.

“ What is it?” . é

“ This letter.”

" Where did you get it?” ,

“ Susan found it on the piazza this morning."

“ Who is the writer? Is it anonymous?”

« “No; it’s from John.”

“ FrOm John?”

The young man had taken the note from his
father’s hand, and he now opened it with eager
haste.

“ So John is here!” he exclaimed.

“Yes, he is here.”

“ And you do net know in what guise?”

“ I do pot." ‘ . '

" Can it be possible that he and the gambler
-sport are one, as so may seem to suspect?”

“ I have been trying to study that out. I
think not. I have been over the entire village,
in mind, and I cannot fix upon a single person
upon whom my suspicions will fasten.

“ Perhaps he is one of these detectives, playing
that role in order to escape attention.”

“ I think not.” a

it Why gii . .

‘" There are no strangers among them.”

“ They are all strangers to us.” i

“ In one smsc, so they are; but, they were all
here when John was last seen here.” i

“ That is so, come to think of it.”

‘ And i there are no new faces at the mines,
nor can I think of one anywhere towhoin sue— 
picion will cling.”

“Have you thought of that stranger at the
hotel?" -

" Which one?”

“ Johnston Reinhard.”

“ What is the meaning of this, I wotiider?” the

 

      
     
   
 

. “Yes; but it is impossible he can be our  :
John.” > ,
“Why?”

 
    

I V ,

“ No mortal man could take on a disguise that

gold change so completely his eyefychmm
(Z . I

“Not even Genteel John!"

“ Not eyen him.” , 1

“ But, Pearsman has said of him that he is a ‘
great detective, and he ought to be a judge.” ,

“ Nut great enough for that, however. Why,
this man's facets not the same in generalcou-J
tour. There is a difference'not to be mistaken.”

“ Well, I cannot argue against your view, tori ‘
there is little to argue from. But, if not that
man then you name one.”

“ That, I have told you, I cannot do.”

“.And we may as well give it up. than.” , . ‘

“ I think so. He will reveal himself tunnel!“
in good time. It will \be of no use to try to dis-
cover his identity. for he is pinyin to decay. I
the detectives, and he would certain y bsflIe our
search.” . H .3
“ Then, it is i 0t necrssary that {e should know
in i '

“True. l-did (ix-late whether it could 

he and the your: Englishman were one and the
same, but I (led ed against it.”  _  ‘_

“. Certainly. J Thstfls even a wilder 
(my own. As you have said about. Reinhard. W
moi-tel could make such a change in‘hls appear?
once and mldetectionso w if“ r 
. . . ., ’I

      
    

 

    
     
     
     
 

_r I’4

      
     
      
 
 
      
          
 
     
   
         
       
     
      

o

In

      
   
  
  

  

        
 
 
 
 
   
 
   

“You are right. Then, there is his
which we have seen." ‘ -.

',“That‘s so. I had forgotten that. It rem
his initials,w is stamped all over withtshs‘
which attest foreign mul. could not,
be any counterfeiting that." , ' 

“No; the wt likely person is this tfis 
whom meow-nus ,and he is at em‘
timethemonhnllk . .But,letltpam. Whit-

          

         
         
     
 

  

 

 

‘11

was that way. when lion“ in," ‘

    

    

“I think it has been there some time. air. It .

do you think of who. 'he has to say aboutonr
guest from Chicach , ' , . , .
«xi amtrying tothink what to think, if you

    

   

suspect: Sport . of i3 $37.,

4»: Wm _

 

 

can understand any such paradoxical lingo as I
He must‘ have some good reason i robber cannot use them, can he?”

that, father.
for what he advises.”

“ Then your papers must be found. But,vthe

“ He can if he can get them off his hands he-

“ We know John well enough to believe i foreI give the alarm, by simply forging my

that.”

“ And this note is a puzzle as Well as a sur-
‘prise. There is only one thing we can do.”

“ And that is—”

“ To wait and see what will come of it all.”

name to them.”

".Hal then if they are not signed the case is
not so bad. it is not likely a robber dould
succ¢ls~fully imitate your signature, is it?”

“ Maybe not. but I do not feel safe with those

“ Perhaps John will See fit to reveal himself to . papvrs out of my hands.”

us soon,” the colonel observed.

“Perhaps,” agreed the son, “and yet it is'
hardly probable that he will take the risk,
either. To be discovered would be toruin his
plans."

“ That’s so, for, proscribed and hounded as he
is, he coulil no nothingobut fly for his life. If
they capture him before he gets evidence to
clear himself, he will shrely hang.” .

“ And innocently.”

“ Yes, innocently; for we know John Heath-
cote is no murderer.”

‘,‘ Wauld that we had some means of proving
Millfleld false, as he certainly is if our conii-
dehce John is not misplacmi." '

"That will come, he sure of it. John’s first .
move was enough to prove him guiltless. A
guilty man Would have seized the opportunity
to make good h‘s escape out of the country.”

“I agree with on,” said Jackson. “There
is deep mystery' ere, father, and I am eager
to see it cleared away. Poor John! he has suf-
fered.”

“We well know that, by our own suffering.
Poor Nydia l”

They bowed their heads in silence.

“By the way, father,” Jackson next spoke,
" have you ever been able to learn who the
woman was who helped John to escape?”

“Never.” .

“ That was not the least mysterious thing
about the case.” I

“Not by any means. The belief is that it
was tile person who killed Kinross, or who had
some knowledge of it.”

“‘And who would not see an innocent per-
son hang for the crime.” -

“ Perhaps that; though there might have been
some othersconsideration as, well to lead to the

result.” '

“ However that might be, the result was
favorable to J ohn.” ‘

“ Yes,” a eed the colonel. “ And yet, it
would have a better for him could the other
plan have been successful first.”

‘4  r, I

“Because, as we havo seen before, it places
him under some obligation to the woman, and
if he finds she is the guilty one, he will not feel
like dragging h'er'to the gallows since she risked
herself to save him.”

" That is so, but he cannot let that stand in
the way of clearing himself of the crime. The
guilty one ought to suffer.” ,

“Then, too, John has only the one motive
that of clearing himself. He has no thought of
seeking to avenge the death of his hated step-
father. He would be more than human to care
anything for that.”

“ He certainly would.”

It was while they were talking that Mrs. Lyn-
don entered in an excited way.

“ Mark,” she addressed the colonel, “ Mr.
Pathfinder has been robbed.”

“ What?” ' \

The question came from father and son to-
gathers

'"Yes, robbed. But, here he comes himself,
and on will hear it from his own lips.” .

“ t seems impossible,” cried the est, as be
rushed into the room, paleand excl . “Never-
theless, it is the fact. My bill-book, with money
andfiapcrs, is gone. I can’t understand it.”

“ as your room, been entered?” asked the
colonel. - ‘

“ 1 can’t explain it in any other way. The
window was open, you know. ’

“This is strange. It is the first time anything
of the sort has happened in this place. Let’s go
up there and look about.”

. They went lmmedlatel to the room of their.
guest, where he explain where he had put his
» valuables on retiring, and it seemed plain if they
had been taken from that room, the robber had
entered byths window. ‘

——

O , '
CHAPTER XXIX.
._ ANOTHER AND'SIHILAR casu.
11‘ did not take long to convince the colonel

and his'scn that they were not like] to make
an headway with this mystery and ed. ‘
eir gtaest had cutting; been rel'igved of his
moue an papers,“ 9 open ndow su -
- goats! the means by which the robber hagd
med entrance; but that was all
rmine. '

“Suppose we call in Poarsman,” suggested
Jackson. , ‘

“ A good idea,” the colonel agreed. .

“ Capital i” cried the nest. “My pom
must be recovered if pass is, or I am in a
situation.”

“ Were they very valuablel”
mggfiame prepared to close the deal for the

they could

“ Of coursu not. Well, we’ll call Pearsman.”

The detective was Sent for.

“ You want me here, gentlemen?” he asked,
when he entered the cottage.

He oust a sweeping glance about him, as if to'
try to read what was wanted of him before it
was made known. '

“ Yes, we want you,” answered the colonel.
“ We have a case for you.” ' \

“ A case?” ,

“ Yes.”

The colonel then stated briefly what was re-
quired.

“ Let me see the room," the detective request-

They repaired to the room once more, and
Pathfinder told his story again. .

“ The stage is gone,” mused the detective. “ I
was on hand when it left, however, and I can

I am inclined to believe the robber is still here in
the camp.” '

“Then can you find him?” asked the victim,
eagerly.

“‘It maypuzzle mo considerably. You see,
he has left no clue.”

him.

“ Not likely. These rewards do not bring a
rtébber back again when he has once got so ely
o .

“ I’ll'promise he won’t be detained, if he will
only givo up the pore. He may keep the
money, only a map 6 of hundred or so.”

“That is an old bait. It won’t work.”

“ Yet the robber may be a green hand, and
ma fall into it.” . ‘

‘ Nothing of the sort here. Whoever it was
took your money and papers knew what he was
about. But on are doublv sure you had the
pocketbook w en you retired?”

“ I am. -I had it out at the Paris Salon, and
returned it to my inside pocket, where I always
carry it. When I retired I opened it again to
make sure everything was all right.”

“And then you bung "your vest there in the
closet,,the pocketbook in it, eh?:’ ‘

“ Yes, and I can swear to it.”

“ Well, your word is positive enough on that
point, and it follmts that our money was taken
from you in this room. nd the ,window shows
how.’

“ Yes, it seems plain enough.”

“ But it is not so plain who the robber was.”

“ That’s so.” ‘

“ Now, there were, at first, twoways for you
to deal with this thing.” ' ~

“ And what were they i”

“ First, to say nothing about it, but wait and
watch for chance to indicate a suspicion against
some one.”

“ And the other?”

“ Post a reward and work the case openly.”

“ And wh are not these two ways open yet!”
asked the co one]. Y .
g “ Because, if the robber is still here, as I sus-
‘pect, he has seen'me come here and will know
what I have come for. And the more certainly
if he saw that a servant came for me."

“ Then it is narrowed to the last Ian."

“ Yes' but, that may be work with a little
skill. You tell me your watch and other valu—
ables have not be u disturbed.”

“ Nothing but 9 pocketbook.”

“ Then you will'word the placard like this:
‘ A suitah e reward will be given for the return
of the 'watch and chain stolen from me last
night, and no questions asked.’ And to that you
wi 1 sign our name.”

“ But,
want."

“ Put your watch out of sight, and say noth—
ing about the pocketbook. The man who took
that knows you have lost it. It will puzzle him
to know how your watch was taken, for he must
have noticed that it was in your vest when he
took the pocketbook.”

“ That’s so, by Geor e!” ,

“ But, what and wi that serve?” asked Jack
Lyndon? .

- “ I may be able to detect the thief by watching
those who observe the poster.” ,

“ Ha I sea.” ’

“ And is that all that can be done!” asked the
colonel. .

“No, not quite. We, can post-a few trusted
ones, on the sly, to have an eye out for the
pocketbook.” . . '

“ Describe the article, Mr. Pathfinder."

“ Well, it was an old pocketbook, had] worn
,at the corners, and marked on the insi 6 with
K two big initially—J. and P.” -

“The same old pocketbook you used tocarryi”

queried the colonel.
“ Yea the some old one, Mark.”

a \ I

have my watch; it’s the papers I

 

find no suspicion against any of the passengers. 1

“ lint I’ll post a reward, and that may bring '

, mon between

 

r.

“ Then it must he an aged affair by this time,
I should say.”

“ And it is.”

The detective gathered what further points he
could and twk his leave, while the family turned
their attention to breakfast.

Pearsman returned to the hotel.

There he was met by J( yce, on the piazza.

They greeted as usual, when Joyce said:

“Well, here’s another mystery, Pearsman.”

“ antls that?“ Z ~

The Gowrinwnt Detective did not see how
Joyce could have Leard about the matter at the
Lyndon cottage, yet he was in doubt when he
heard the answer to his question.

” Robbery,” the answer was.

“ Where?”

” Here.”

“ In the hotel?”

“ Exactly; though it does not show that it has
been the work of Genteel John this time”

“ \Vho‘s the victim?”

“iMrs. Reinhard.”

“ What's missing!”

“ Money and papers, she claims.”

“ Any clue?”

to N0.”

I’emsman “as thoughtful for a moment. ’ s

Could it be that the same person had commit-
ted both robberies? o

it had that appearance, certainly. The some
articles had been taken in both instances.

“ Anything else taken l” he asked.

“ 0; not even watch and jewelry, which lay
in open sight.” '

.Here, again, the cases Were similar. IVhy
had these two persqhs alone been the only view
tims selected? .

Could it be that there Was something in com-
Mrs. Reinhard and Mr. Path-
finder! They both claimed to be from Chicago.

if so, then had not the thief some especan
object in view when he robbed them of papers?
It did look that Way, and there mi ht be some~
thing in it. He did not mention t e other case
to Joyce.

“ Well, what do you think of it!” J cyce asked
impatiently. .

“ Why, t wouldlook as if there was an es-
pecial object in taking the papers. Did she tell
you what they were?” ‘

“Only in a general way. You look at it the
same as I do. But, there is no clue, not the
slightest. I am at loss where to look.” ~ '

‘- What are you going to do?”

" I am to remain out of si ht, as it were, and

the woman will have the lan lord post a reward
for the recovery of the papers.”

“ And you will 100k. out in a general way for
somebody to suspect, eh i”

“ Yes. ’ .

“ That plan may work. You do not think
this has been the doings of Genteel John, do

“ I‘Io.”

u Why 1”

“ Well, because the game is too small, for one
thin -—

“ That is it, exactly. I am glad we agree upon
one int, at any rate, Joyce. _

“ es, there is some satisfaction in that, sure
enough. i wish' we could only agree upon
other points as well. But, here is a thought for

)

ou.

“ Let’s have it.”

“Do you imagine that this robbery has any-
thin to do with thefact that Genteel John was
here sat night, as his note to you proves?”

“ It may'and it may not.
on it that John Heathcote is not the robber,
thou b.”

“ ut Genteel John may have been?”

“John the False, yea.”

\. '
“Yes; but you just a reed with me that the
h

game was too small for h m.” V -

“ He may have had some pressing reason for
wanting to get hold of papers the woman had in
her possession.”

“And that is to intimate that Mrs. Rainhard
may not be just what she seems, I take it.” v

“ It is possible that she may be anything else.
Since you are interested in her case, you have a
chance for looking around, and if'there is a skele~
ton anywhere, drag it out.” '

“ There are a good many skeletons around
Pearsman. This case seems to be unusuall full
of thgm. The only trouble is, they are in sibl'e
ones.

“ They will appear when John Heathoote has
completed his work.”

CHAPTER XXX.
roan morass AND DUTIFUL son. I

WHEN two offers of reward'appeared about
the same time, for thefts, the curiosity of Daisy
Drift was aroused.

There was much comment'as to who the rob-
ber could have been and many were of the
opinion that Genteel John was around in.

There were man others, however, w 0 took
the opposite view, inking it impossible, since
the outlaw would never bother with game so,
very small.

. Besides these two classes,  was the very, .-  H

You can depend ‘

"r “We wam‘

 

   

 

_

 

The Suspect Sport of Daisy Drift. '7

 

1 R

 

 

 

wary small majority who were firmly of the
-opinion that Genteel John had had nothi to
do with it, even if it had been done by his ou-
ble, or the fellow who was passing under his
name.

These, of course, meant John Heathcote, and
were his friends.

In the case of Mrs. Reinhard there was some-

. thing peculiar, something which she did not

\

I make known to her detective.

Shortly after the reward had been posted her
son visited her room.

He had been requested to do so.

‘6 What’s this I hear?" he greeted. “ That you
have been robbed l" «

“ You need not pretend that you know nothin
about it,” was the cool response. “Just hang
over those papers."

“ Heavens! you don’t think I robbed you!"

“ 1 know you did.”

“Ha, ha, hal Well, you know more than I
know myself, then, that is all.”

“ You have seen me have considerable of
money in my possession, and last evening you
learned” by accident where I kept it and my
‘ pa ers. I

he son looked at the mother with wonder ex-
pressed upon his face.

“ I beg our pardon " he said, “ but I learned
nothing 0 the kind. I was at the Paris Salon
last evening, as you know.”

The woman gave a sarcastic sneer.

“ What does your Word amount to?" she de-
manded. \

“ On my word of honor—”

“Ha, ha, be! That istoo good! Ha, ha, ha!
thy, what honor is there ina man like you?”

“ Well, 1 can’t convince you that way, but
I’ll swear that you are mistaken as to my learn-
ing anythin about the biding- lace .of your

le. Bee des, I didn’t see you t m ht.”

“ You are a fool, or you take me or one,
which is it?” ‘

“ Neither.” ~

“ It is one or the other and I think the latter.
But, you are mistaken it that is your estimate
of me. Perhaps you will tell me you were not
here in this room at half-past ten, and that you
did not receive some money from me for—"

“I do say so,” the man interrupted. “ What
cursed mystery is here,. anyhow? I have re.
ceived no money from you."

“ You lie.”

“ That is right to the point, but you are mis-
taken this time. I do not lie; I swear it."

“Of what value is your oath?”

“Such as it is, I offer it. I can’t do ‘any

better.”

“ You are tryin to play double with me.
\Vhat is the use? on’t you supposel know
when I see yo and when I do not?’

“ You ought to, but if you say I was here last
night at ten-thirty, you are a good deal off.
You have dreamed it. I was not here, and that
is all there is about it.” .

“ Fool! To think you can make me believe
that. Again I demand what you have stolen
from me. If you do not surrender it instantly I
will-4’

“ No you won’t, either. No threats, now, if
you lease.”

" ou are only trying to make me pay you a

second time.”

“I have not been paid for the first time, yet."

“ Fool! Did you not sit right here,” indi-
cating- “ and did I not ,take money from my
packet k. out of that drawer there, and pay
you one hundred dollars?”

“ You did not.”

“ Curse you! I say I did!”

“ I might return your accusation u n you,

' and say you are trying to deal doublew th me to

. you I‘thd

cheat me out of what is due me.”
The woman was wild with re 9.,
"And not satisfied with that,’ shecried, “you

.came back here and robbed me of all.”

\ “ Did you see me do that, too?"

“ No; but it could have been no one else.”

"ch11, it‘certainly was some one else, for I
did not do it.”

The manner of the man was so very earnest
that the Woman stood before him and looked
steadll into his eyes. _

He s the test.

“ Are you speaking the truth?” she demanded.

“ By Satan and his imps,oyes. . It would be of
mine for me to swear by anything higher.”

“ You scarcely know anything higher. No
matter about that, however. Now, if it was not
you who came here, who was it?"

“ How should I know?”

“ Whoever it was, that u had on your
clotthes, and was the very counterpart of your-
se .

" Then it must have been my ghost. When I
came over from the Paris Salon I went at once
to my room, and was not out of it again till this
morning. This is the truth. It is all I can say.”

“ Do you ever walk in your sleep?”

hummer caught mysel at any such tricks as
.t .

" You must have done so last night. I can re-
peat some of your talk to me.”

“ I’d like to hear it."

“Well, you asked me what luck, and I told
ad none yet. You said you had been

   

 

 

on the lookout all the time. Then you asked me
for a hundred. saying you needed it. I gave it
to you, and aftera ew words more you went
out. ’

“ It’s all news to me, anyhow.”

“ I cannot understand it.”

“Nor can I.”

Both were silent for a time.

“By the way," the woman spoke next, “ I
have news for you."

‘And what is that?" ‘

“ Genteel John is here in town.”

” Hui how do you ha pen to know that?”

“No matter how. It i; news to you, then?”

H Yes."

“ It is true, and I have seen proof of it. I can-
not tell you what the proof is just yet, but you
may take my word for it.”

‘ I don‘t know about taking your word for
anything, now.”

“rYVhyl HaVe you not found it reliable, so
far

“ Yes; but when you tell me to my face that I
was here last night, when I know well enou h I
was not, that is enough to make me doubt i ”

“ And I do tell you you were here, you or
your ghost, or—-” ‘

“ Or, what?” demanded the son.

“ Do you think it possible that it can have
been a trick of Genth John’s i”

“ It was a trick of some sort, that is sure.
And, since you ask me this it proves that you
are not so positively certain as you were about
it.

“It is your persistent denial that makes me
doubt, even though 1 ‘am so sure it was you and
no one else.”

“ Is it not just possible you were dreaming!”
“ Pah! no.”

“ Well, I give it u . And now for your ques-
tion. And as for its being a trick of Genteel
John’s, I don’t see how he could impersonate me
close enough for you to deceived. I had
rather believe,you had dreamed it, or that I had
begun to walk in my sleep, as you suggested.",

The door opened just then.

It was Frances Cautril who entered the room.

She stopped short at the sight of Johnston
Reinhard, and restrained the words she had all
but uttered.

“ Your pardon, Mrs. Reinhard ” she said; “ I
thought you were all alone, or I would have
knocked.”

The mother and son both laughed.

“ My dear son and I are as one,” the woman
hastened to say. i “ Do not mind him,’ but come
in at any time when the door is open.

“ But, it was not 0 n.”

“ It was not locke , that was what I meant.”

“ And when I find it locked, then I am to stay
out, eh i”

“ That would be a gentle hint, I should think,”
spoke up the son.

“Well, I will accept it asa hint. But, Mrs.
Reinhard, I have just heard you were robbed
last night. Is it true?”

She was assured on the point, and the
particulars were told.

" How remarkable l" the young woman ex-
claimed. “ But you surely must havo been
dreaming, Mrs. inhard, for what earthly ob-
Ject cbuld your 'own son have in robbing you?
'1 hat is ridiculous, surely.” - ‘

“ It puzzles me, Miss Cantril.” .

“ Well, have you heard that Mr. Lyndon was
robbed last night, too?"

“ Mr. Lyndonl’ 5 ‘

“ Well, rather his guest, Mr. Pathfinder.
Yes, there is a notice up, saying he was robbed
of his watch and chain.” ‘

The woman looked at her son.

“ You did not tell me about this," she said.

“That is so, for it was knocked 'out of me
when you accused me as you did. I meant to
tell on.” I '

“ erhaps you had a hand in that, even if you
did not commit the theft here."

“ No, I had not. What a sweet opinion, you
ham or your son!” _

“Very, indeed, I should think,” added Miss
Cantril.

All three laughed.

“ What do you know about what is thought
of that other theft, then i" ‘

“ Nothing.” answered the son. I

“ They are Very reticent about it," added Miss'
Cantril. ‘ ' ..

There was some further talk, of he very in-
teresting moment, when the young woman took
her leave again.

t was the that. mother and son entered up-
on a diseu on of some length and considerable
importance. Both were earnest, and each was
determined. 1

“ We understand each other. then,” said the
ninther in conclusion. “ We have reason to be-
lieve we have been overreachel by Genteel John.
We must find him out. and then his life must
pay for it all. Do well your part, and your re-
ward is sure.”' ' ».

“ You need have no fear on my account,
adored mother,” was the response.

sunfish—XXIII.
'rna wauxmo SOUNDED.
THE Mayor of busy Unit «as a little later

 

than usual at his allies on this morning of which
we write. ,

He was interested in the robberies which had
taken place, and had been talking with different
individuals concerning them.

His man Sparkers was with him.

“ It is something mysterious,,to say the least,”
the mayor growled.

“ There must be another thief in town, I
should say,” Sparkers offered in the way of ex-
planation.

“ There is one person too many in town, and
that one is Genteel J ohn.”

“ I agree with you there, boss.”

“And it will not be gOod for his health if we
find him out, you can just put that down for a .

act.

“ I have ot it down, hard and fast.”

“ We wil? make him sick. But, the deuce of
it is who is be? What guise is he in?"

“ That is the puzzle.” .

“ It seems strange that none of the boys are
able to get onto him.”

“ He is all that Pearsman has said of him as a
detective. and maybe a good deal more besides.”

Both were silent, having reached the oifice

door.

“ I’ll tell you what it is, Joel,” and the mayor
paused with the he in his hand. “ I begin to
have some fear of t is fellow. If we don’t dump
him he is going to dump us.”

“ He won’t dump me, you can bet on that.”

it Why?»

“ Because, if it comes to a pinch and I find I’m
on the dump, I’ll light out.

“ That might be easy for you, but not for me.
My interests tie me right here, you see. And so
do yourséntoo.”

“ Your hundred a week is here.”

.“ Oh! that could be sent to me just as well.”

“ Not by a big sight. If you want the honey
you have got to take your share of the stings.”

“ Well, we’re crossin’ the bridge ’fore We come
to it, this way. We’ll try to get in our lick first,
and that will tell the tale.”

“ Nothing else will tell the tale, as you express
it, either."

The mayor opened the door, now, and they
went in. .

As they entered. the mayor stooped and picked
up something from the floor, uttering an ex-
clamation as he did so.

“ What is it?” asked Sparkers. ,

“ A letter, I go, and it has been put in un-
der the door."

The mayor took his seat at the desk and pro-
ceeded to Open the missive at once, for it was
addressed to him. i

He had already suspected what it meant, for
he had recognized the handwriting, as the same
as that of a letter which he had received from
Denver, which has been shown in a preceding
chapter.

As he read the letter his face paled.

“ Who’s it from?" asked Sparkers.

" From Genteel J ohn.”

“ Then he is here; sure enough.”

it Yes."

“ What‘s he i”

“ Give attention and I’ll read it to you.”

“ Let ’er g0.” .

The mayor read aloud in a low tone as fol-
lows:

“ Parmesan Minimum——

"Xetaiiule longer, and the blow fails. I have
not forgotten you. Your false th came near cost» ,
ing me my life. and you shells er for it. I am here
near you, and there can be no escape for you. Do
not try it, neither you nor your tool, S arkers. You
are under watch. night and, day. ot only do I
avenge your perjury, but the death of my wife as
well, for only for §ou she would now be alive and
well. 1 ours with undying hatred.

“ JOHN Rumours. ”

“ Whew!” whistled Sparkers.

“ Pretty strong. isn’t it?"

“ I should say so.” .

“ And what is going to be done?" '

" What can be done, if we can't find the
cues!" ,

“ That’s the question.”

Both were thoughtful, and a good deal trou-
bled over the matter. a

That there was danger for them they well -
knew, yet they knew not how to guard against '
t. .

“ We can’t do anythi I but wait for him to
show his hand,” declared parkers. * ‘

“ And he dare not' do that, yet. Thismay‘ba --, .

only a bind! game, Sparkers, and only tawdry L

. _ : x -
“ Wants us to do somethin’ that will'give him
a hold upon us, eh, mayor!” ,
“ That’s it.” - . , , ,
“ Well, if he holds his hand in his ket till ‘ v I
we do that, it will grow fast there, ’m think. v

in .” _

fiYouare htitwill. But, is there nowa‘
wecan findou whoheigand do himupl e.
are not safe while he is out of jail.” . ‘

“ I don't know how to go to work at all.”

“ We have been on the watch all the time, it’s
true. and I'll be hanged if we have found any
one to suspect since that letter came from Dm-
ver. That fellow is the deuce.”

  
  

'25 .

 

26

LThe Suspect Sport of Daisy Drift.

 

 

“ You forget Royal Jim.”

“ No, I don’t."

“ But you have given him up eh?"

“Yes, I have made up my mind that he is not
the man.”

Again they were thoughtful.

“ ell, mayor, what is going to be done?”
Sparkers asked.

“ I’ll tell you, Joel.”

“ Well?”

“ We must stand our ground and fight it
out.”

“ Sure.”

“For if we run away that will show a weak
hand. Besides, We are warned not to try it. He
ma)i have men to shoot us down.”

‘ It’s pleasant to think of, I’ll be hanged if it
isn’t.”

“ And the thin we must do,” the mayor
, went on, “is to ma 6 our position as Secure as
possible. We’ll post some of the men, those
we can best trust, and have them on the watch
all the time."

“ They are watching now.”

" You don’t quite understnd me.”

“ Maybe I don’t.”

“I mean, they must act as a sort of body-
guard to me."

“ Oh! I see.”

“ And then it won’t be so easy for Genteel
John to get at me, you see.”

“ I see; but where do I come in?”

“You? you’ll be one of the guard, of course."

“ That is to say, you are the one to be pro-
tected, while I must take the chances, eh?”

” It will be the same for you as for me.”

“ In your mind.”

“ Well, whether it will or not, you are inter—
ested in my welfare to the amount of a bun-
dred a week, and that ought to be worth some.
thin to you.”

“ e won’t quarrel about it.”

They talked on, arranging their plans, which
we need not dwell upon, till at length they
were interrupted by the entrance of the two
detectives, Playfai r and Raynold.

“ Well, what word do you bring?” asked the
mayor.

Both answered together:

“ We have had a surprise.”

“ What was it?”

“ Communications from Genteel John.”

“ The deuce!”

“That is what he is," declared Raynold.

“ What had he to say to you?”

“ Tells us to set our minds at rest regarding
Royal J im.”

‘ That he is not the man, eh?”

“ Exactlrv.”

“ Well, have just heard from him, too. He
is defiant, and threatens all sorts of dire calami-
ties to me and the town.”

“ And what is your opinion about it?”

“ He seems to mean business."

“I mean about his not being Royal Jim.”

“ Why, I think we made a mistake there. I
am inclined to accept his word, as I have just
told Sparkers here.” -

“ Yet it is plain that he is here in the town,
or was here during the night, at any rate.”

“There is no doubting it.”

“ And you say he threatens?”

“ Terribly. He threatens robber , murder,
and everything else that is evil. go undoubt-
edly has a big f0110wing to back him up.”

“ You think so?”

“ Did not his robbery of the Express wagon
provs it?”

“ Yes; but it did not seem likely that he
would Venture here again with his band, when
so many traps have been laid to catch him.”

“I cannot say, of course, but he is a desperate
man and a darin one. He is not the man to
stop at anything. 9 is an outlaw of the worst
sort, and all this talk about his innocence is
both i”

“ Oh! we believe that fast enough.”

“ It has been proved against him in a way
that ought to satisfy any one, and the man who
can think any other way is a fool. Why, to do
so is the same as callin me a perjurer. 1 think
I could make some of t em sweat for it, if I had
a mind to take it u .” ‘

“ Why don’t you?"

“ I question whether it would be worth while
tonotiee them. The truth will come out some
day, and then they will hang their heads.”

CHAPTER XXXIL
a wannrNG IN rm: SALON.

Tun: passed.
In spite of his warnings, Genteel John did not

act.

The detectivss were at loss to account for his
silence and inactivity, for they had expected
him to move immediately.

Nor could they find out who he was.

They had now searched 'the camp over and
over again, and were sitive that there was not
a suspected man with n its borders.

Strangers arrived from time to time, but they
were quickly noted and a decision rendered re-

specting them.

Royal Jim had brought evidence, by this time, ‘

to prove who and what he was, and such proofs
as were not to be doubted.

Who, then, could be Genteel John?

It came to be believed at last that he was not
in the place at all, and that perhaps he had not
been there.

It was known that he had some friends there
and it was thought that maybe one of these had
been acting for him.

Be that as it might, John himself did not ap-

pear.

And it was the boast of Mayor Millfield and
others that he would never dare to show his face
there again.

Many weeks had now slipped by, and the ex-
citement of past events was all over, and the
village camp was going on in its easy and pros-
perous way.

A retros tive glance is necessary 'ust here.

Neither r. Judson Pathfinder nor rs. Rain-
hard had heard anything of the articles that had
been stolen from their rooms on that night, as
has been told in full. Their offer of rewards
was of no use. It brought them nothing.

These two were still there, the one at the Lyn-
don cottage and the other at the hotel with her
son.

Miss Cantril, too, was yet in the village as
was also the young Englishman whom she had
made the effort to win.

Since their last lengthy interview they had
been little to each other.

Beginning with the ncxt day, Miss Cantril had
given Mr. Poke the cold shoulder, and he had
taken it without a murmur.

She had, hOWever. acted upon his advice, and
gad pushed her acquaintance with Mr. Path-

nder.

Of that we have more to say.

The Lyndons wcre still at their cottage, al-
though, had it not been for the note the colonel
had received from Genteel John, he would ere
this have closed with Mr. Pathfinder and moved

away. 1

Daisy Drift was not What it had been to the
family, since the death of the still deeply mourn-
ed daughter.

Pathfinder was still therc, as said, but his pres-
ence had become almost unbearable.

The colonel often declared that he was not the
Pathfinder he had once known him. He had
changed, and for t‘ e worse. His tastes had be-
COme vulgar, and, had it not been for the request
John Heathcote had made, he would ere this
have been sh0wn that he was welcome no longer.

Mayor Millfield had dismissed the body-guard
which, for some time, he had had with him con-
stantly.

He expressed the belief that Genteel John had
disappeared for good and all, and that it was
folly to pay further heed to the threats he had
made.

Some of the detectives had grown weary, and
had taken their leave.

Pearsmnn and JoyCe, however, still held on,
the latter only because the former did, however.

Reynold and Playfair were among those who
had departed. Since their mistake in arresting
Royal Jim, the town had not been a pleasant
abiding-place for them, and, after standing it as
long as they could, they had left.

The Paris Salon was still flourishing. _

I It had token root right at the start, and
had grown in favor immensely.

Queen Ethel was the chief attraction, of
course, and it being now known that she was
heart and fancy free many were her admirers.

Gore. the Giant, had returned just once to get
even with Royal Jim, but he had not made an-
other attempt. The ambler sport had attended
to him so thorough y on that occasion that he
was more than satisfied.

Only a hog would want more, the giant had
declared.

Among the admirers of the queean Ethel
were Johnston Reinhard and E, Garnet Poke.

These had come to be something of rivals,
though to this time there had been no outbreak
between them.

They were frequently at her table, where the
vied with each other far her favor. At suc
times, however, she showed no more favor to
one player than to another.

Not only had the Paris Salon become popular
with the male portion of the people, but with the
female as well. Ladies train the hotel were
present at the games every evening.

The best of order was maintained, and the

ladce was noted for the respectable character it

a .

Among the attendants of this sort were Miss
Cantril and Mrs. Reinhard.

They were there frequently, and not in-
frequently they played.

The plaee provided good music, and that, the
memen declared, was the attraction which drew
t em.

But, in the case of Frances Cantril, it was
whispered that she was there because there she
mat in uently found Mr. Pathfinder.

And 0 these two, as said before, we have
more to say.

Daisy Drift was in something of a suppressed

 

excitement of expectancy, owing to the au-
nouncement of a wedding.

‘i, I, _

'i».

And that wedding was to be that of Miss
Cantril to Pathfinder.

The young adventuress had played well her-
hand, and had won. The ambition of her life
was about to be realised, and that was, marriage
to a rich man.

The preparations had all been quiet] made,
and there was to be nothing of the disp 3’ that
had been made on the occasion of her other
wedding there at Daisy Drift. That was not to
be imitated.

The only extra plan that had been laid was
that the marriage was to take place in the Paris
Salon.

This was done to give everybody a chance to
be present, since this was the largest room in the
camp by long odds.

The local newspaper had been the first to make
the news public, and while it congratulated
both the bride and the groom, it offered a hope:
that this union might be happier in its results
than the other l ad been.

The evening of the wedding was now at hand.

On that morning Pathfinder had taken leave-
of the Lyndon cottage.

The cloud that had been hovering there had
not broken, quite, but it had lowered till its
chilling influence had become unbearable.

The marriage could not he s ken Well of by
the Lyndons, owifig to the unp easant story that
had been told of iss Cantril by Genteel John.
To her, since they had to believe that story, they .
laid the loss of their daughter.

They, of course, would not attend the wed~
ding, nor could their guest hope to introduce

, his bride to them.

Hence, one reason, the separation.

The wedding was to take place early in the
evening, when the bride and groom would re-
ceive their friends for an hour at the salon.

Pathfinder had become in a way popular at
the camp, and as Miss Cantril had lived down
the story concerning herself, the wedding was
an affair of no mean importance in the village-
cam ).

This hour set found the Paris Salon well filled.

The dais usually occupied by Queen Ethel was.
to be the place occupied b the happy couple.

Miss Cantril regretted t at her mother could
not be present, but she had corresponded with
her, she said, and had her approval and blessing
upon her choice.

in the absence of her mother, Mrs. Reinhard
had taken upon herself the office of chaperon.

There had been some difficulty at first about
procuring a minister to perform the ceremony.

Daisy Drift had now two resident preachers,
but both of these had refused to perform the '
service, owin to the fact that it was to take
place in the so on.

This was a place they would in no wise coun-
tenaiice.

The diificulty had been Overcome, though, by
engaging Justice Russet for the occasion.

Queen Ethel had consented to act as bride’s»
maid, while Johnston Reinhard had succeeded in
gaining the post of honor as best man.

This wasowing to the fact, it was believed,
that the young Englishman had been too [low
and had allowed the chance to slip through his
fingers. I

Promptly at the time appomted, the bridal
party filed into the salon and advanced to t'i-o
diiis at the rear to the tune of a wedding march
played by the pianist and other musicians.

When the had reached their places the music
stopped, an at once the justice performed his
part and soon pronounced the two man and

wife.

Then followed the congratulations.

The party retained their places on the dais,
and the crowd pressed forward to shake hands
with them.

With the crowd was one personage who soon
began to attract attention by the peculiarity of
his attire, which looked more like a stage co;—
tume. .

There was, first, a black hat of unusual width
of brim, then a broad, black cape; and unci r
that a black coat that reached nearly to the
floor. He was, altogether, a peculiar man.

Little of his face was to be seen, and the most
prominent thing about it was a great mustache,
waxed and stiff, and standing out for Seven-l
inches on each side. This added even more to
his sta e a earance. -

By theytidig he had reached the front, many
eyes were upon him. and many were the remarks
that were made. -

Detective Pearsman and Detcctive Joyce were
standing together.

“ Who in creation is that!” asked Joyce.

“ I give it up, unless it be Mepliistopheles him-
self.”
“He looks enough like him. But may it not
be Gvnteel John, the outlaw?”

“ Pessihly.”

“ Thunder, man, suppose it is! How can you
take it so quietly?"

“It is nothing to get excited over. If it is.
Genteel John we shall find it out before long.”

“ After he has escaped?"

“l have no desire to hinder his escape, as you
know.”

 

“ Well, I have; and I’ll do it, too, if I can, it
it proves to be he.”

‘ -‘~._, .g. ‘

 

jean __.

4 $wf" A

‘ Lira- . ff...

 

 

 

 

- be sent for, by all means.

The Suspect Sport of Daisy Drift.

2’7

 

CHAPTER XXXIII.
GENTEEL JOHN APPEARS.

BY this time the mysterious stranger had
come near to the bride and gronm, and the two
detectives watched to see what would take

lace.

p In a moment it was his turn tooifer congratu-
lations, and taking the hand of the groom, even
though Pathfinder tried to avoid him, he said,
in a voice loud enough to be heard all over the

room:

“Jerry, allow me to congratulate you upon
Your happy marriage. And you, Mrs. Jerry

omson, may you know nothing but peace and
happine<s the rest of your days. You do not
recognize me, perhaps but you are no stranger
to me, I assure you. This is a union to do you
both proud." .

Pathfinder was trying to draw away, his face
was pale as death itself, but his hand was held
as in a giant’s clutch.

The bride was a picture of distress, disma ,
dread, everything but what she had been on y
one brief moment before.

The room was still, and every eye was upon

hem.

“ What do you mean by this insulzing lan-
guage to me!”

So cried Pathfinder, fiercely.

" I mean what I have said, sir,” was the re-
spouse.

“ But I want you to understand my name is
not Jerry Tomson, but Judson Pathfinder, and I
demand my release at once.”

“ Your name is Jerry Tomson, and you are
personating the man whom you murdered and
robbed some weeks ago between here and
Chicago. You are my prisoner, sirl”

With the words, a pair of handcuffs were
sna ped onto the man‘s wrists.

ith a mean the bride fell in a faint, Royal
Jim catchiu her.

The crow was breathless, almost.

Pathfinder staggered, and there came upon
his forehead a damp of perspiration, while his
face grew even more deathly white than before,
if possible. The charge made against him was
no trifling one.

“ Who—who are you?” the man gasped.

“ I am a detective who has been upon your
track,” was the answer. “Never fear but I
have proofs for the charge I have made.”

“ That you cannot have, for it is false. I am
just what I have laid claim to be: Judson Path-
finder, of Chicago. Send for Colonel Lyndon,
if you doubt me. I am not dead, I assure
you.

“ No; but Judson Pathfinder is. You Jerry
Tomson, murdered him. Let Colonel Dyndin
It is time that you
were exposed, and Iam prepared to do it for
you. It was the fact that you and Mr. Path-
finder looked much alike that led you into the
crime.”

“False, false. And, had you no heart, to
make this charge at such a time as this? See
what you have done to my bride."

“ She has only fainted; that will not kill
her ” was the cold response.

T e crowd was beginning to wakeu out of its

ll.
spa Who and what are you, sir?” demanded the
mayor, sharply, addressing the mysterious de-
t ve. .
He pressed forward as he spoke. _
With a revolver the detective waved him

back.

“ Stand back,” he ordered. “ Do not attempt
to interfere with me or my prisoner, sir. I will
explain all to your satisfact on.”

‘ Be aboutit, then. You have doneadastard-
ly thing, to make the arrest at this time. If
your charge is true, why did you not make the
arrest before this ceremony was performed?”

“"1 am not required to give my reasons to you,

“ Do you know who I am?”

“I believe you are mayor of this place, but
that is nothing to me. I am not answerable to
you for what do. Keep back, now, sir.”

“ What do You think haw?" detective Joyce
had asked of Pearsman.

"I havo reason to believe the man is John
Heathcote,” was the whispered reply.

“ Hal for once you agree With me. 1 am
sure it is he, for this is a repetition of what he
did once before where Miss Cantril was con-
cerned.”

“ Exactly. He has just cause for revenge
against her.”

“ Well, he shall not leave this place if I can
prevent it. Those rewards shall be mine.”

Pearsmau laid a hand heavily upon his
shoulder.

“Don’t forget that I am John Heathcote’s
friend," he said. “ You shall not attempt to de-
tain him.’

“ What! Do on so far forget yourself?"

“ Exactly! on stay here with me, and
do not interfere. The man will have his hands
full as it is, I think. The mayor must suspect
him.” ‘

Pearsmau was the larger man, and able to en-
force his command, and with muttered com-
plaints the younger (lPtt-(‘tlve yielded to him. It
was a bitter pill for him to swallow.

 

This interpolated. l

“ W hatl do you defy me?" the mayor bad '
meanwhile cried in responSe to the last remark
of the unknown detectiVe. “ I’ll have you to
know that 1 rule here, sir!”

“ You do not rule me. Stand back, now,
while I address the people and show the proofs
for the accusation I have made against this res-
cal. After that I will be ready to talk further
with you, if necessary.”

“ I demand to know who you are.”

“ Your demands are nothing to me. You
will learn who [ am all in good time.”

“ You are Genteel John, the outlaw.”

“Others have been similarly accuaed. Do
not hinder me now, but hear what I have to
sag] Stand back, sir!” '

ith that, the man’s revolver came up and
took a bead u on the mayor’s nose, and he
stepped back With somewhat of haste, swearing
as he did so.

“ Citizens of Daisy Drift,” the unknown then
spoke, “ the charge I have made against this
man is true in every particular. His name is
Jerry Tomson, and he is a murderer—the mur-
derer of Judson Pathfinder. He came here with
stolen papers in his possessiOn and imposed
upon Colonel Lyndon.”

“You lie, curse you i” the prisoner hoarser
grated.

“ I speak but the truth,” was the calm re-
'oiuder. “ You were once in the employ of Mr.

athfinder and mi ht have remained there had
you been honest. on were not, and you Were
dismissed. From that moment you soughtre—
venge. YOu were often mistaken for Mr; Path-
finder, aud that circumstance gave you an idea.
You only wanted a good opportunity to usurp
his place, putting him out of the way.

“ With that object in view, men of Daisy
Drift, he studied Mr. Pathfinder closely, and
posted himself thoroughly in everything. He
had secret means of doing this without danger
of detection. He 16 arned of the correspondence
from Colonel Lyndon, and when Mr. Pathfinder
act out to come here he followed him, and, at a
favorable o portunity, murdered him and con-
cealed the liody. Then, secure as be thought,
he came on and passed himself off as Mr. Path-
finder. Now, I have said nothing that I am not
prepared to rove.”

“You can t prove it; I defy you to do 30.”

“Your bluster cannot save you, sir, for I am
sure of my ground. Detective-Joyce, will you
do me the favor to step forward here!”

That gentleman gave a start at the unexpect-
ed call.

He went forward, however, with a whispered
caution from Peursman ringing in his ears.

That caution had been, ii at he must not try,
under any circumstanCes, to detain the daring
man who had thus faced the tigers in their den.

“ Here, sir, is a prisoner for you,” the ,un-
known detective said. “ Yin have hem w‘ait-
ing long enough in vain for Genteel John; take
this prisouer, and take to yourself the honor of
the IIIITE'St."

prefer not to do so ” J o co arle ed.

“ And why i” , y p y

“I had rather wait on, in the hope of sooner
or later laying hands upon the bigger game.”

“ Impossible: y0u can neVer do that.” '

“ You say so.”

“ And I am in position to know something
about it. You will never take Genteel John,
and the sooner you make up your mind to it, the
better. Will you take my prisoner off my
hands?"

” What’s the matter with your kccping him 1”

“ I have other lens, plans n hicl) must not be
broken in upon or anything. I mnst turn the
man over to some one, and if you will not take
him I must look further."

“ Why will you not keep him yourself?”

“ You have 'ust beard. Here, sir, are ample
proofs for all have charged, and I leave it for
you to deal with him.”

“ But, who are you!”

He had thrust some papers into J oyce’s hand,
and had now taken a step backward from where
he had stood. ‘

“ Mayor, will you new step this way!” he
asked. ‘

" I will not,”.snapped Millfield.

He retreated a step, instead.

“ And why not? Surely, you need have noth-
ing to fear from me. Well, no matter; this man
will answer the purpose just as well.”

As he spoke, he caught hold upon Johnston
Reinhard, and holding him in front of him with
the strength of a giant, hacked toward the rear
door, his revolver still to the fore.

It: required but a few steps to cover the dis-
tance.

" N ow,” he called out, “ since you are all eager
to know who I am, I will tell you. I am John
Heathcote, or Genteel John. the Detective Out.
law: but not the robber and murderer who has
been using my name. I bid you good-night.”

Pushing Raiuhard from him, he was gone and
the door was closed before any one could think
of trying to stop him. .

“ After himl’ thundered the mayor, then.

There was a how], and a rush was made for
the rear tl00r. the mayor in the lead, but that

 

door was found locked.

“The other way i” Millfield cried. “He will
escape us yet, if we are not carefull After him!
An additional thousand to the man who takes
him dead or alive!”

The crowd turned, shouting hoarsely, and a
rush was made for the front dOors, those who
had been in the rear beforc having decidedly the
advantage now. Everyman of them, almost,
ea er to be the one to claim the rewards.

hey were out in a brief time, but the man
had disap ared

A frantic figure, hOwever, was rushing down
the street toward the salon, crying aloud as he
came, in a voice of terror.

There was light enough in the street to discern
pretty soon who it was, and it prove-d to be the
young Englishman, E. Garnet Poke, covered.
with dust and much disordered.

“Save me! Save me!" he was crying aloud.
“Do not let ’im carry me off with him! 0h.
gentlemen! Good gentlemcnl Hi ’ave ’ad the

narrowest hescape Hi ever ’ad hin me lifef‘.

Piotect me, Hi beg hof you.”

 

CHAPTER XXXIV.
THE PRINCE OF DBTEC‘IIV‘ES.

“ WHAT’S the matter with you, English--
man!”

So demanded one good citizen, as he caught
hold of Poke by the collar and brought him to]
a sto .

“ Igi ’ave been houtraged l" was the response,
excitedly. “ Hi was never so houtraged hiu.
hall me life!”

His “ aitches” were juggled about regardless-

ly. In his excitement he seemed to lose all
control over that erratic letter. When calm he!
could manage it.
“ What has happened? What's been done to:
el’
y “ Hoh my. hoh my! Hi ’ardly know what his
’appeued! Hi was right ’t-re, coming into this
saloon, when a man rushed hout from the rear
there, grabs me hup. fiings me over ’is back,
hand ’0 says, says, ’e ‘ Hif you ’oller I'll kill you 1”
Hand then ’6 ran with me hup the street till ’e
came to the turn hup there, where ’e drops me
hin the dust hand haway e' goes.”

“ It was Geuteel John l”

~80 several exclaimed at once.

“ Yes, yes; that was the name ’0 said.”

“ And he took ther Britisher on his back sc’s
we wouldn’t fire at him if we got out in time to
draw a head on him.”

“ That was it, sure.”

“ Which way did he go, Englisher?”

“Ilup that way, ‘ir, at the turn there,” in-
dicnting.

With a shout a part of the cro“ d started in
pursuit, but it was then too late to think of over—
taking the fugitive.

They found the big hat he had worn, and the
cloak, and finally they returned with these
tro hies to the salon.

ere the excitement had scarcely abated an .

The larger portion of the crowd had alrea y
re—entered, and everybody was pressing to the
f rent, where the prisoner, his ride, and the
others were standing.

Detective Joy co still had the prisoner in charge,
but seemed to wish himself well out of the un-
pleasant situation.

The bride had recovered from her first faint,
only to go ofif into another on realizing the situ-
ation.

Queen Ethel and some others were attending
her, and much sympathy was expressed.

But, that she deserved little or none of it, we
well enough know.

Detective Pearsman had come forward to
assist Joyce, in the event of assistance being
herded.

“ I can’t understand this," Joyce remarked.

“ Can’t understand what?”

“ le, that Geuteel J o_hn should have chosen
me for this work, unless it was—”

“ Was what?”

“To tie my hands so that I could not make
any attempt to take him.”

“You have guessed it, I believe. He is well

enough posted on everything that takes lace

here, and knows your stand. It was a 0 ever
dod e.” _

“ hepe the crowd will get him.”

“ They will not do it.” /

“ W by?”

“ Can an suppose he would venture here
without ving his plan of retreat well laid
out!”

“ No; but I hope his plan will miscarry, what-
ever it is.” ,

“ What are you oing to do with me?” asked
the prisoner. “ ill you take the word of such
a man against mine?”

“ Mr. Joyce holds the proofs,” reminded Pears-
mau. “I an pose your fate will depend upon
them. Anyt ing I can do to assist you, Joyce?”

“ Yes; take the proofs and examine them.” I

“ Very well, I will do so.” '

Pearsman took the packet and opened it.

The first paper to meet his eye was one ad.
dressed to “ The Public.”

He read it, first to himself and then aloud to
the listening crowd. It was in these words:

   

 

 

     

  

. l

1328' I 

 

2......” '.,

' 1

.V-y, r_

Suspects ’o‘r’i orbais'y    ' * " -- 

. » p—v, W, . fry».

  

 

“ szsss or Dusr Dam:—

“ Once again has my vengeance fallen ugon
Frances Cantrill, the heartless creature who rob ed
me of my wife. The punishment I have inflicted is
not half so great as she deserves. By her evil na-
ture she makes this kind of revenge ssible. You
will realize that I could have made t worse, but I
spare her that. Again she is the wife of ascoun-
drel, et one who is worthy of her. My vengeance
may all upon her yet again, if chance offers. She
deserves death for her crime, but] seek not her
life. GENTEIL Joan, run Gunman.”

“ He is heartlessl” exclaimed Bo a1 Jim.

“Have you heard the story of is wrongs?"
asked Pearsman.

“ Not in full, perhaps.”

" When you have, you will say he is merciful
to make his reven 8 so light as this.”

“ Do you know I have a notion to have you
arrested?" cried the mayor of the camp, the
crowd having now all returned.

“ What for?” asked Pearsman.

” For our openly favoring an outlaw, one.for
whom t e law offers a reward—a man witha
price upon his head.”

" Pray do not give way to your notion,
mayor, is all I have to say to you on that head,”
was the cool rejoinder; and the detective’s eyes
met those of Millfield in a steady look.

“ Well, let’s have the proofs against this man,”
the mayor snarled.

“ You shall have them, sir.”

The proofs were presented in the manner in
which they were contained in the packet, and
nearly an hour was consumed in that way.

Impossible, we find it, to quote them. Let it
suffice to say that they were more than‘ ample
for the purpose, and Jerry Tomson was left
without a single prop to support him in his
usu position.

“ but do you say now?” Pearsman demand-
ed, turning upon him when he had finished the
reading of the last paper.

“ There’s no room for me to say anything,”
was the sullen re use. “ I have to own up to
the corn. But, Ill uare accounts with that
devil of a detective, if get the chance.”

“ Which you will not get,” cried Colonel
Lyndon.

He had been sent for, it will be remembered,
and had responded to the call, Jackson with him.

' The rascal’s bride, now fully recovered from
.her faints, sprung forward and faced her dis-
graced husband like an avengin fury.

“You dog!” she cried. “ by did you so
deceive me? Was it not enough hat I should
have suffered once in this way? Had I not been
sufficiently disgraced? I ought to kill yOu 1”

“Why, I did it to oblige you,” was the re-
sponse, with a grin. “ You .threw yourself at
me, were determined to have me whether or
'llOt, and so I lent myself to your designs. If
Eu have been bitten, blame yourself for it.
. vglad it is no worse than it is. ’

ith a. cry of rage the woman sprung forward
at him, a knife uplifted to take his life.

It was only by the prompt interference of the
detectives that she was balked, and seeing that
she could do him no harm then, she drew away.

“ But I will have revenge,” she muttered. “ I
will kill not only you, dog that on are! but
Genteel John as well! I will show iui what it
costs to persecute a woman ea!”

“You had better not try it," warned Detec-
tive Pearsmnn. “ For your own good I say it.

If you have wrongel him as he says, he is mer-_

ciful to you Witlial. YOu can realize this, if you
pause to think for a moment." ,

“ I have no thought save one,” was the cry.
“ That thought its—«revenge !”

With that, she pushed her way out of the
crowd and almost ran from the salon, and was
not seen again that night.

“ What a man John Heathcote is!” spoke De~
tective Joyce; in commingled wonderment and
admiration.

“ Are you read to agree with me in my esti-
mate of him?” as ed Pearsmsn. '

“ In what res t?”

" That he is not the outlaw who has been do-
ing these deeds of robbery and murder.”

‘ I am. I am canverted now. There are two
Geuteel Johns in the ileld, and the crimes you
have mentioned were committed by the false

glad on see it asI do, at last. He
ought to ho cal ed the Prince of Detectives, in-
stead ‘of a Detective Outlaw. See the manner

V in which he has been at work right among those
who were most eager to capture him, to get
:11??? proofs in the shape he has. It is wonder-

u

_ "He’s a terror, that I admit myself," spoke
the irisoner.

“ V hat do you thnik about it, mayor?” Pears-
man asked.

“ I‘m not ready to make a hero of him _by
any means knowing what I do about him, ’
was the rep y.

“No. nor me, either,” cried his man Spark-

"era.

“ Yet you han’t deny that he has done some
good detective work.”
“No; but it was all in they wa of personal
"vengeance. It was all done that 9 might the
snore bitterly persecute that innocent womam”

“Then you hold her to be innocent?”

 

, the younger man’s retort.

  
 

“ I do and I pity her.”

“ Wei , I cannot say anything about that, one
way or the other. The revenge might have been
made more complete, by a little longer delay in
the expose, as you cannot but admit. ’

“ Look out for some personal end to be gained
by that, t00.”

“ I fail to see where it would come in.”

“ I’ll tell on why it was all done at this
time,” crie Sparkers. “ I don't give that
murderer credit fer anything.”

“ Well, why l"

“ Because it was his best chance to come
here, when the crowd was all in one place and
when the woman's shame could be made most
keenlv felt.”

“ Well, hold to that view if you will; mine
is different. Anyhow, no one will attempt to
say this man is innocent of the crime that has
been charged against him. You cannot say
that.”

“ No; the case is plain.”

“ Tnat being so, he is Detective Joyce’s pris-
oner, and I will lend my aid to see that he does
not escape, but is delivered orer to answer for
his crime.”

“ And here are two more prepared to aid ”
spoke up Jack Lyndon. ‘ “ I mean father and 
The time is drawing near when John Heath-
cote will appear to clear himself of every crime
that has been laid to his account.”

“ Do on mean to call me a perjurer, sir?”
thundered Millileld.

“ I say I believe John Heathcote to be inno-
cent of every charge that has been laid against
him. Make out of it what you please.”

CHAPTER XXXV.
rim GOAL or AMBITION GAINED.

THE Mayor of Daisy Drift faced the young
man, his eyes gleaming wickedly.

Everybody looked for trouble, but men step-
ped between them-at once, and they could not
come together.

By this time all the women had one from the
place sue the queen of the gam ng-table, who
was standing near Refill Jim, an interested wit-
ness to all that was ta ng place.

" Lucky for you that men have come be.
tween,” cried Millfield, after a moment, “for I
was on the point of striking you down to:- your
words. Do you know what you have insinun ted,
sir? That I am a perjurer—a perjurer, sir!”

“And perhaps lucky for you that you were
not allowed the opportunity to do it, sir,” was
“ You and I have
never been friends, and the less so since the evi-
dence you gave at the trial of John Heathcote.
The character of you tool there was well proven
at that time."

Osmond Millfield was white with rage, and he

. made an effort to get at Jackson, and they were

kgt apart. "
‘Have a care!” he hotly cried. “Have a
care! You may have a suit for slander to an-
swer before you are aware of it. I will not
tamely subm t to this.”

The youn man waved his hand disdainfully
and turned awa , and, when Colonel Lyndon
had spoken scath ugly once more to the prisoner,
father and son retired from the place. 4

“ What am you going to do With your prison-
er?” demanded the mayor, turning at once to
ISM detectives, to draw attention 0 something
0 39.

“Take care of him, of course,” answered
Joyce. " You see, there is no doubt in the mat-
te‘l‘; Guntecl John has done his work too wall for
that. We’ll see that the fellow gets what he
deserves.”

“ But, you will have to prove these proofs.”

“ A wiry simple matter to do that.”

“Well, I be 9 it is no fake that will get you
into trouble,t at is all.” - ‘

“It was no fake when Genteel John brought
about the arrest of Radcliffe Royce, on the occu-
slon of Miss Cantril’s former marriage, was it?"

“No; that I admit. He has not re-arrested
that fellow though, I take noticc. Why does he
not do that? wonderful man that lie is.”

“ Perhaps because he has had other work to
do,” spoke up Penrsmnn. “It would not enr-
prise me to see it brought about at any time.”

“I suppose n it. But, your hero had better
take care to himself, for if he is too bold in his
operations he may get caught, and then what?"

“Time en ugh to talk about that when it
comes to peas.”

The excitement had abated in a measure by
this time, and this exchange of remarks was
about the last worthy of record.

Joyce, with Pearsman assisting, took the Drie-
oner away,nnd when they had gone, the Paris
Salon opened to the business of the night as
though nothing of an exciting nature had taken

place.

Mayor Millfleld and his man Sparkers had re-
tired to the mayor’s office.

“ What do you make of all this?" Milliield de-
mended.
/ “ I make of it that we are in danger. that’s

what,” was the reply.

l‘ “ Genteel John is the devil.”
“ He’s own cousin to him. at least.”

 

. 9‘ Where were the police, do you suppose?”

» .. -".i"'  5"?

,. .‘,

   

 

" give it up. Some of them were in the
salonn.’ /

“The very ones who might have taken the
fellow if they had been on their proper posts.”

“ If he didn’t kill them, you mean. I believe
he would have shot d0wn any man who got in
his way.”

" N o doubt of it, in my mind. See the way be
protected himsclf from a shot in the rear by
shouldering that young Britisher.”

“ Ha, ha, ha! That fellow was the Worst
frightened man I ever saw in my life, and that’s
the fact. He couldn‘t get hold of an aitch in too
right lace to save him.”

“ ell, Genteel John has been here, and he
has done another good stroke of work. There is
no denying that.”

“Not a bit. And it caused a reaction in his
favor, if you notice .”

“ I did. Men are beginning to believeas those
two detectives do.”

Both were thoughtful.

“How are we going to trap him!” Millfleld
presently asked.

“You ask me too much, now,” answered lis
tool. “ If I knew, I would not be a great while
about doing it.”

“I feel sorry for that woman, hang me if I
don’t.”

“ Why don’t you mar her?”

“ Do you know, Spar ers, that very thought
has been in my mind. She is just the sort of
com anion I want. But, now it. 3 too late.”
in beri
“Married.”

“ She can get a divorce easily enou h.”

“ No doubt about that, but she wi i be wary
about making another matrimonial venture, I
think.”

“ I don’t quite agree with you.”

h N“ g”

“No. These two blots upon her will make
her a drug on the market, so to say. and she
will be glad "to take any chance that offers.”

“ Well, ’cnnfound your iuipudence, anyhow i”

" Why so?”

“I could have had her for the asking when
she first came here, and she would think her-
self in clover were I to offer now. I want you
to know she would not think it any sacrifice on,
her iart.”

“ or would it be.” .

“ Why. I could have taken her from either of
those other fellows, without any effort at all.
All I would have needed to have done would
have been to say—come, and she would have
accepted.” "

“ Nothing like having a good Opinion of your-
self, boss.”

“ But this is not what interests us just now.
What are we going to do with this Genth
J ohnl”

“ Nothing.”

“ But somethin must be done.”

“Nothing tan e done, if we can’t lay hands
upon him.’ '

“Do you think it possible that he can solve
the mystery of the murder of Murdock Kin-
rose?

“ That is the only danger that threatens us.
If he does that, and can bring the proof to bear,
then we shall be in hot water right away.” '

“ Yes; and so hot it will burn, too.”

“ Not a bit of doubt about it.”

Thoughtful again.

“ Am he would make it a serious job for us,
too,” Mlllfield presently added. i

“ You can bet your life he would, if he got
hold of u .” agreed Sparkers. “ On my part, I
would lig t out at the first alarm.” '

“You would, eh?"

“ You bet.” - '

“And so confess uilty to the charge! That
must not be though of. You shall stand by
me till the last prop is knocked awa . Do you
understand that? My word gas a long ways,
and his proof will have to he of the strongest
kind to upset it. Even if he gets the proof,
my testimony nay back it down and show it
up as a scheme to clear himself upon manu-
factured evidence.”

“ Do you think so?"

“ Of course 1 do. The chances are not one
in a ticnsand that he can salvo the mystery,
anyhowfl’ .

“ It’s a doubtful case, I admit.”

“ You see, it has been solved already, so far
as the law is concerned, and the guilty man is
Genteel John himself.”

" And, should be appear with his proofs, he
would be arrested, an how.”

“Of course.‘
look so bad.‘ smart fellow as he has shown him-
self to be. I guess we need not take alarm.”

“ I don’t like the looks of the camp, though.”

“ What do you mean?”

\‘

I tel you, Joel, it dees not .

‘

“I mean, the change of sentiment toward '

him in the popular mind.”

“ That is one bad feature. The fewer friends
he had here, the better for us. The more he
has, the better his chances.” .

“ Well, more talk will not make it better or
worse, either way. Let’s go over to the hotel

and get it off our minds by mingling with the ' -, ,
crowd there. We will do what we can to keep  ‘

up the suspicion, anyhow.”

 

 
  
   
 
 
    
  
   
   
   
    
   
 
   
  
  
  
  
 

   
  
 
     
  
  
   
 
 

 

  
   
 
    
  
   
  
   
   
  
 
 
   
   
  
 
 
 
 
   
   
  
   
    
 
  
   
 

 

    
   
   
    
   
   
    
      
   
  
 

  

  
   

  

  

  
 

 

 

 

  
  

   
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

A .‘ J.‘

The Suspect Sport of Daisy Drift.

29

 

 

So they left the office and crossed to the hotel.

The remainder of that night passed without
further excitement in the town.

Next morning the mayor investigated into
the lack of vigilance on the part of the police,
and discharged several of the force.

It was shown that the policemen had become
slack in their duties, since nothing had occurred
in so longatime, and those who should have
been on duty near the Paris Salon were inside
to see the wedding.

By the morning stage Detective Joyce went
away with his prisoner, and it need not be said
that the bride of the evening before did not ap-
pear to bid her husband good-by.

Little was seen of her for some days.

She prom tly apBlied for a divorce, through a
lawyer at aisy rift, and in due time it was
granted.

Some weeks had passed, meanwhile, and
Jerry Tomson had been delivered over to the
authorities at Chicago, where the proof against
him had brought his conviction;and now De-
tective Joyce was again at the village camp.

Nothin more had been seen or heard of
Genteel ohn.

He had disappeared again, utterly, and no
one could uess where he was or when he would
again put in an appearance.

Things at Daisy Drift were about the same.

Some of the summer boarders had left the
hotel, but many still remained, among them
Mrs. Rainhard and her son.

Frances Cantril, still holding to her maiden
name, was there also, and it was now the talk
of the camp that she was about to wed Mayor
Millfield.

And there was truth in the report, as was
presently shown when the announcement was
made and a select few were invited to attend a
very quiet wedding at the hotel.

This time the ceremony was without
intanuption, in a very uiet, vate wa , and
Frances Cantril became rs. smond Mi field.
The goal of her ambition had been gained at
last; she found herself the wife of a rich and
respected man.

 

CHAPTER XXXVI.
GINTIEL JOHN IN DEADLY PEBIL.

Smnnm was on the wane, summer people had
nearly all returned to the city, and summer re-
sorts looked deserted.

The season’s boarders at the hotel at Daisy
Drift had nearly all one. Only a dozen or so
remained, among W cm were still Mrs. Rain-
hard and her son.

E. Garnet Puke was still there, likin it so
well, as he declared, that he was loth to save.
He and Johnston Rainhard had struck up quite
a friendship and it did not appear that one
would leave before the other.

Johnston’s health had so far recovered that,
he claimed, he had never felt better in his life,
and it was an open question yet whether or not
he and his mother would remain there all win-
ter. If not there, they certainly would not go
further away than Denver, they declared.

Detectives were still on the lookout for Gen-
teel John. , ,

In spite of the fact that popular opinion had
turned in his favor, to a great extent, he was
still a convicted murderer, and the law wanted
him.

Pearsman and Joyce were there, not somuch
to take any rt against John Heathcote, for
they believed im innocent; but for the purpose
of running down, if possible, the robber and
murderer who had used his name.

Detectives Playfair and Raynold had not been
seen again, but others were there in their stead.
It was believed that sooner or later their man
would appear again at the villa ecam , when
they were determined to have im, end or
alive. That was the way the rewards were
offered—dead or alive.

But, to this time, nothing had been seen or
heard of him.

One night, at a late hour, there came a rap at
the door of the room occupied by Mrs, Run-
hard. .
There was a little delay, and the door we.
opened slightly and the woman peered out to see
who the caller could be at that hour.

A man was there, and he asked:

“ Madam Rainhard i”

“ Yes, sir.” .

“ May Icome in? I have something import-
ant to communicate to you."

“ Who are you sir! What is the nature of
your; business? You are a stranger to me, I
see.’

“Ibear a message from one who would do
you a friendly turn, if you will make it possible
for him to do so,” was the cautious explanation.

The woman looked at him keenly.

There was something of doubt depicted on her
face.

“ Well, you may come in, sir,” she decided,
opening the door wider. “ I cannot expect you
to state your business standing there in the
hall.”

The man entered, the door was closed, and the
woman placing a chair for him, he took a seat.

“ Nov,” she asked, “ who is the person whom
you represent?”

 

“ John Heathcote, madam.”

The woman gave a start.

“ The outlaw!”

“ So called, but a man innocent of wrong.”

“ How know you that? Has he not been
prowd guilty of murder?"

“ Yes; but innocent nevertheless,
know.”

“ How could I know!”

"'Because, you and you alone are the one
gui ty of the murder of Murdock Kinross.” .

The woman recoiled, as though a blow had
been struck her.

“ And you—you—” she gasped.

“ 1 am John Heathcote,madam; I have traced
the crime home to you; I know the whole
story.”

“ But you said you had come here to do me a
friendly turn.”

“ And so I have.”

“ By arresting me, and putting me in the situ-
ation from which you were so fortunate as to
escape?”

“ Not so, for I am not insensible to the fact
that it as to you I owed my escape. All I ask
is proo from you that what I shall charge is
true, and ample time will be given you to get
out of the country before I make the truth
known.”

“”And then men would say you had forged it

as you

:‘Oh, no; I purpose having it done before
good ,yvitnesses, who will attest the genuineness

t.
“ It would do you no good."
U  g"

“ The fact that you allowed me to escape
would tell against you.”

‘ “ Not when I explained my reasons. I would
let the officers hunt for you the same as they
have hunted for me. It would be doing just as
much for you as you did for me at thetime when
you assisted me to escape.”

LI, have been sorry that I ever did help you
on

“ And so have I, madam. But for that, I
would be under no obligations to you, and you
would have been arrested are this.’

“Yes, sorry, I say,” the woman went on,
“after the way on persecuted my daughter,
who loved you tru y and well.”

“ I have dealt very leniently with her, Madam
Iredell, considering the great wrong she did me.
She deserves the same fate as that to which she
doomed my wife on that terrible night.”

“But, her story is believed—that you can ht
her up and bore her out of your own free w ,
whether it was through mistake or not.”

“That stor was a base lie, and you know
it as well as s e knows it.” '

“ Well, no matter. And dyou would ofler
me the same favor that I id for on when
the rope was ready for your neck eh

“Yes. Do what I ask, and I will give you
a chance to escape. Refuse, and on force me
to do the worst, for m own g name must
be cleared, and it shal be cleared. What do
you say i”

“I say this, sir:
listen to your

Not for a moment will I
roposition. I am against you,
deadly and bi rl 'against on. For the mo-
ment when you rought t at first t dis-
grace upon _mydaughter I swore the I would
hatveyour life for it, and this is my Opportu-
Dl y.

She moved her hand and a heavy blow fell
from behind upon the head of the unsuspecting
detective.

He reeled, swaying in the chair, and would
lfiiiive when to the floor had not a hand steadied

m.

It was the hand of Johnston Reinhard, who
had come behind the detective -with all the
silence of a shadow.

“ How was thatr’he asked.

“Fine,” answered the woman. “We will
hasten to secure him, and then wait till’he comes

“ Shall I not finish?”

“ No; I must do that myself. I want to taunt
him before I take his worthless life.”

“ Well, do as you please."

A handy small ro was brought from a near
closet, and while t e woman held the almost
senseless detective up in the chair, the man
bound his arms.

That dene, the rope was passed around the
chair, and they waited for him to recover.

“ We have got him at last.” remarked the
woman.

“ Yes,” agreed the man; “and now to settle
with him for the ”

Gradually the detective recovered from the
blow, and presently had command of himself
once more.

He realized the fix he was in.

“ Why did you not finish the work so well be-
gun?” he asked.

“Because that would not have been revenge
sweet enough,” answered the woman. “ I want
to taunt you."

“ Well, you have me helpless. I was sure you
were alone.”

“ And so I was, till my son came to me through
the 231’s he made a long time ago through that
c ose

 

“ Ha! that was a clever trick.”

“Yes; so clever that you have fallen into our
trap,” spoke the man.

" We have waited patiently for a long time ”
added the woman. “ I was sure you won d
come again, for I had made up my mind it
was you who paid me the visit that night, per-
souating my son.”

“ Yes, it was I. You have not acknowledged

receipt of the money I sent back to you; the ,

money I obtained while playing to carry out my
disguise perfectly.”

“ I received it—”

“ Yes, I know you did; I only speak of it
to show you that I do know it, and that I had
no need of your money, much less any desire
to take or keep it. t was only a part of my
trick.”

“ You did not return the papers, however.”

“No; they were far too valuable to me. By
them I traced out the secret of the mystery—”

“Say no more about that,” a proaching him
menac ugly with a knife. “ y your taking
those gapers I guessed who you were. You, too,
took t 0 papers from Mr. Pathfinder, the papers
that brought about his conviction.”

“ From Jerry Tomson, you mean; yes.”

“You have played well, but you have been
Overreached at last. Fool you were that you
did not take the chance I cflered you and make
good our escape.”

“ ith the crime upon me! Not so. My
purpose was to solve that mystery and clear my—
self of the charge. And, I have done it. I sup-
pose you will hand me over to the olicers and
claim the rewards that are offered for me.”

“ That was my determination, but, curse you,
iyou have made that impossible, by what you

now.

“Then what will you do?

“ Kill you, here, this hour!”

The words were fairly hissed in his face, and
the threatening knife was brandished before his

e es.

y“ That will be a bad thing for you to do, for-
the proof will be all against you“ and you can-
not hope to sees the penalty.

“ There you in take. We have it all planned.
Curse you! we have waited for this very time:
well knowing that sooner or later you w ul .
fall into our tra .”

“And you e advantzfe of me, when I
came as a friend with o y friendly intent.
Very well, make sureof me for if you do not
I swear that you shall both be brought to what
you richly deserve.”

“ Never fear but that I will make sure work '

of it,” the woman gloated. “If you have any-
thing more to say, say it quick, for I am going
to strike.”

“ There is one question I would ask.”

“ Ask it.”

“ Did you set fire to that hotel?”

“ Yes- as I now tell on without fear.”

“As s I known that sooner,
I would not ave come here to show you mercy.
If 1 "escape you now, no mercy need you ex—

“You shall not escape; you die—now !”

The steel-nerved detective made no answer,
but tugged violently at his bonds, making the
chair creak terribly in his efforts. He did not
dare call for help, for that would only bring
enemies upon him; yet, evidently, that was
what was feared, for the woman rushed sud-
denly u n him, lifted the knife, and struck the
deadly low.

CHAPTER XXXVII.
A cmvsn GUESS CRIATIS ALARM.

GINTEEL J can had taken a risk, and one that
mi ht have cost him his life.

thas nowbeen shown first MW
of Chiago, and Madam Iredell. the mother of
Frances Cantril, were one and the same.

And, too, it has been shown that Genteel John
accused her of the murder of Murdock Kinross.
Patiently had he worked, and at last the secret
of the myster was all plan to him.

Still, he not forgotten that this woman had
once risked her life to save his, and he was not
insensible of the obli ation he owed her. He
would do the same avor for her, if he could;
that was, if she would 've him that proof posi-
tive that would clenr im. _

So, as said, he had taken a risk, and that risk
had proved inst him.

He had w into a trap that had been laid
for him, and was now in the power of two of his
worst enemies.

The woman, as we have seen, had repented of
ever having served him at all, and was now hun-
gry to take the life she had once saved. That
she did not succeed was no fault of hers. .

The blow she struck had been a savage one in-
deed, and it would surely have been fatal had it
struck where she had intended it should.

The prisoner, however, had been tugging and
straining at his bends, and justwhen he saw the
blow coming he forced his chair back and thus
escaped the keen blade which otherwise must
have cut his heart in twain.

As it was, what might have proved his death
roved instead his salvation, as if the hand 0
rovidence were in it.

The blade struck not lib body, but the cords

 

1',

 

 

30

The Suéect' Short df’fiaiéy nah; 

 

which bound him to the chair, and they were

severed instantly and he was free—free to de- l
' tectives have gi've it up.”

fend himself against his foes.

As soon as he realized what had happened,
and he realized it instantly, the sport sprung to
his feet, at the same time grasping a revolver
by its barrel, and before the man he had to 0p—
pose could know what was cominga blow from
the revolver butt had laid him out on the floor.

The next moment the now triumphant detec—
tive sprung upon the woman assassin, and his
hand quickly covered her mouth to prevent any
Outcry.

“ You would have killed me!” he hoarson
whiSpered. “ Would have killed me, and I here
for the purpose of offering you a chance for
your life—murderess that you are! No mercy
will I show you now.”

The woman struggled, but she was as nothing
in the grasp of the athlete.

In a few moments she Was bound and gagged

effectually, and then the same was done with I
the insensible man who had been playing the ,
‘ anything, but I took notice of it to-day, and

role of son to her.
“There,” the detective said, “the tables are
turned.

that were made against me, and which came
near bringing me to the gallows.”
The woman’s eyes flashed, and it was plain

that she would have retorted hotly had she been 1‘
l maybe this Mrs. Reinhard was her mother,

able to speak.

“I would have shown you mercy," Heathcote
added, “ for you did a good turn for me, but
now you have closed that door against yourself.
The gallows awaits you. And as for you,” turn-
ing upon the man, who was just recovering con-
sciousness, “ you shall be returned to the prison
from which this woman helped you to escape,
Radcliffe Joyce."

The detective was in a disguise, and his hat
3had not been dislodged from his head. It was
that which had lessened the severity of the blow
he had received, which otherwise mi ht have
been serious enough, if not indeed fatal?

Arranging What had been disordered about
himself and the room, he made doubly sure that
his prisoners were well secured, and prepared to
leave them there for the present.

When ready to go, he said:

“ Now, make yourselves as comfortable as
{Ion can till my :return. I shall not belong gone.

on cannot escape; I will take the precaution to
.lock the door and take the key with me.”

He opened the door, looked cautiously out,
and finding the way clear, went out and secured
the dOor after him.

On the following morning there wasasen-
'sation at the hotel. ‘

Mrs. Rainhard and herlson Johnston had mys-
teriously disappeared, leaving all their effects
.in their rooms.

The landlord was somewhat interested, as
their board had run in arrears, although that
previously, had iven him no concern, for he had
found them go pay.

The rooms were in perfect order, the beds had
not been slept in, and there was nothing to ex-
plain the mystery of their sudden disappearance.

heir absence had been noted at a late hour in
the morning.

Inquiry brought little if any light upon the
question.

The young Englishman, whose room was near
theirs,said he had heard voices in Mrs. Rainbard’s
room at a late hour.

Other persons were questioned, especially the
’ licemen who had been on duty near the hotel,

at nothing was to be learned about the absent
nests. It did not appear how they could have
eft the place without being seen by somebody.

Finally, the landlord made the discovery of
the hole which had been make, from one room
to the other through the cl0set, and this aroused
suspicions of more than usual import. Why
had that hole been made! \Vere these persons
what they had pretended to be? Could it be
that Johnston Rainhard had been Genteel John,
the outlaw?

Upon this discovery being made known, the
detectives took active interest in the matter and
earnest and diligent search. was begun.

The result was fruitless, however; The miss-
ing ones were not to be found, nor any trace
of them.

There was certainly much mystery here.

Who and what had the couple real] been!
Why had they gone away so unexpect ly and
so mysteriously? How had they departed so
secretly that no one had seen them go!
where had they gone to!

Questions none could answer.

The detectives had now made a thorough
search of the rooms and the effects of the miss-
ingl ones, but nothing was found to throw any
l'g t upon the mystery.

Inquiry was made at all the neighbori
cam s and towns, and along all the roads 1 -
ing rom Daisy Drift, but not a word of infor-
mation was to be gleaned and the mystery was
a mystery indeed—a. sort of nine-days’ wonder
as it were.

Some days passed.

“ It beats the deuce,” growled Mayor Mill-
fleld, speaking to his man Spat-ken.

Success is mine, and now I shall soon ,
be able to clear mys+~lf of the terrible charges .

And'

 

“ More than that,” the tool declared. “ It
beats the biggest throw in the box. The de-

“ I know they have. They are stumped.”

“ Canit be possible that the man was Gen-
teel John, after all?”

“You know better, Joel. We decided that
question long ago. The two were not of the
same size and shape.”

“I know that, but from what we know of
Genteel John’s ability as a detective, I am
ready to believe he could appear in any shape,
almost.”

“But, he could not do the impossible. No;
whoever else the man was, he was not John
Heathcote, positively.”

“And you can’t offer any solution to the
mystery, eh?”

“ Not the slightest, as I have told you twenty
times ever. It gets ahead of me entirely.”

“Have you noticed one thing, boss?”

“ What’s that?"

“ l’ll tell you, though it may not amount to

the thought struck me. Have you noticed the
interest your wife seems to take in the affair?”

Milliield scowled, as though his man was ven-
turing too far.

“I know wamen are naturally curious,”
Sparkers added, ‘- but your wife seems to be a
little more than curious. It has struck me that
Madam What do you think about
that?"

“Thunder!” ejaculated the mayor. “Why
did 1 not think of that long ago? That is the
person the woman always reminded me of, but

could never place her right. That hits the
nail on the head, Joel.”

“ And your wife never told you?”

“No; but, as you say, that explains her in-
terest in the affair. It is certain that she had
no knowledge of the intended departure.”

“ Funny your wife could not trust you enough
totake you into her confidence, for you knew
who and what her mother was. There has
been a deep game going on here, boss, as sure
as you live.”

“I see it, now. But, I’ll have the rest of it,
n0w that you have put me on the right track.
I’ll go and See my wife at Once.”

“And you want to find out who that man
was, while‘ you are about it.”

“ Never fear but I’ll do it.” ,

Millfleld left the oflice in haste, and Sparkers
sat down to await his return.

At the end of half an hour he was back again,
and his face wore a dark and troubled expres-
sion.

“ Well, was I right!” Sparkers demanded.

“ Inks, you were, and there is the dickens to

“ What is that?”

“ I suspect that Genteel John has been at the
bottom of it all.”

“ What makes you think that?”

“ Guess who the man was who was with Mad-
am Iredell.”

“ Give it up.”

“ It was Radcliffe Royce.”

“ The escaped con victl"

“Exactly. And it looks as though John
Heathcote has nabbed him again. Look out for
another sensation."

“ But what in creation was he doing here with
your respected mamma-in-law? What was the
meaning of that hole through the wall from one
room to the other?”

“ That was what uzzled me, but I have ot it
all now. Madam redell hated Genteel ohn,
after the dastardly trick he served my wife, and
knowing that Royce would be his bitterest foe,
contrived to get him out of prison to help her in
hunting John down for revenge.”

“ Mystery—thicker, faster, and more of it. Is
it possible that Royce is the man who killed Kin-
rose?”

“Possibly; my wife does not know. Madam
Iredell seemed to have a hold upon him of some
sort.

“Then, in the name of wonders, who and
what is Genteel John? How has he managed to
enter this t0wn and getaway again, with two
prisoners, without being sscii?’

“ There is only one way that I can explain it.”

“And how is that?"

“ He has been gaining friends and sympa-
thizers here, and maybe they have helped him.”

“ Ten to one you are ri ht, boss. And, if
Royce did kill Kinroas, an Genteel John has
got the. proof of it, where are we? Isn’t it
about time we shook the dust of this place off
our boots?”

lredell.

 

CHAPTER XX‘XVIII.
rm: UNEXPECTED nurse's.

THI time when the conversation was taking
place between the mayor and Sparkers was
about the close of the day, and the evening stage
was momentarily expected to arrive.

Even while Sparkers was speaking the rumble
of the stage was heard, and without waiting to
make any response than, the mayor dismissed
the subject for the moment and went out.

 

His man followed him.

The stage had just drawn up at the hotel, and
as the driver flung down the lines, he cried:

“ Wull, citizens, I fetch ye ‘news this hyer
time, you bet.” ,

“ News? What is it?”

“"i‘he outlaw, Genteel John, has been ketch-
ed.’

“ Hear that!” exclaimed: Millfield, turning to
his man. “ We are interested in this”,

He. made haste to cross the street.

“ VVhat’s that you say, driver?” he demanded.
“ Genteel John arrested?”

“ That’s what I said. I heerd about et jest as
I was pullin’ out. He was arrested to-day at
Denver.”

“ Are you sure the report is true? Sure there
is no mistake about it?”

“ Wull, I can’t swear to st, but I got at
straight ;enough. Somethin’ was said about a
woman an’ a man bringin’ him to the jail and
handin’ him over.”

That was enough. It was not needed that
further particulars be given, for the mayor and
his man, and the detectives, understood it;
Elle latter not quite so fully as the mayor, per-

aps.

“ Good l” cried Millfield. “ Boys, does not
this account for the missing couple from the ho-
tel here?”

The crowd understood, then, and a cheer went

u .

pMillfield went back to his office, followed by
Sparkers, and as soon as they had closed the
door they shook hands. ,

“ How is that for high!” the mayor de-
manded.

“ That’s bully l” was the response. “Now a
fellow can draw a full breath once more.”

“And he will hang this time, sure enou h.
They have nipped him, sure. We were looking
at the matter from the wrong side, it seems.”

“ Ha, ha, ha! Yes, we thought Genteel John
had gobbled them, when it was right the other
way. Oh, this is too good, this is! Now we can
attend the Englisher’s blow-out tonight without
any fear of Heathcote.”

The “ blow-out” referred to was to be an
event of no mean importance, locally.

E. Garnet Poke, the young Englishman, had
announced his departure from Dais Drift. and
on this night was to give a farewe l entertain-
ment to his friends in the Paris Salon.

He had become quite popular, in a wav, and
his invitations had gone forth the day before to
a ready and appreciative circle.

He had bought the privilege of the salon for
the occasion, and it was expected that he would
give an entertainment in style worthy a prince.
All the elite of the camp, men and women, had
accepted.

This was even so of Colonel and Mrs. Lyndon,
and their son, though their acceptance was the
cause of some Comment, for they were in mourn-
ing. The young Englishman had become quite
intimate with the family, however, and as the
affair was to be a quiet one, there was some ex-
cuse for them.

Besides, the Paris Salon had grown in favor.
Its character was by this time well-established,
and it was known as a respectable place, as
such resorts go. As it was the largest hall in
the village, it had been used several times since
its opening for similar purposes.

The news of the arrest of the escaped murderer
and dreaded outlaw had created a good deal of
excitement. and even when the time for the re—
ception came it hardly abated any.

At the time appointed, Mr. Poke was on hand
to receive his friends. .

The bar had been closed for the occasion, as
had also the games, and the room was like a
salon in fact.

Within an hour after the opening, orrather,
the time appointed for the reception, all the
guests Were there, and in truth nearly the whole
population of the camp as well.

be rough element was represented, of course,
but the place had long since shown its teeth
against such fellows as “Giant Gore,” and it
was easy to maintain order. They were order-
ly now, and Mr. Poke did not slight them in his
recognition of his many friends. ‘

Finally some one, nobody could say just who
had done it, Called for the young Englishman to
address the assembly.

That request was immediately seconded in
various parts of the room, and presentl there
was a general clamor for a speech. othing
short of that would satisfy.

At length Mr. Poke yielded, and mounting a
table—the strong faro table on the dais at the
end of the hall—he waved the crowd to silence,
and when the hum of voicas died away, said:

“Ladies and Gentlemen: You invite me to
address you, and I will begin by saying that is
what I most desire to do at this time. I have
something of vital importance to sayto you,
one and all. It was for this very pur e, and

for it only, that you were invited ere this
evening.”

Needless to say the crowd was silent enough
nOW.
“ The time for my unmasking is at hand,” the
speaker went on, his words filling the greater
part of his hearers with amazement.

“ I must

 

i
A,
l

“"‘ 4" vzs tyne."

 

‘weepons drawn, ready to defend him.

as:

 

The Suspect Sport of Daisy Drift.

31

 

 

‘tell you that I am not what I appear; that I am

not what I have pretended to be all these weeks;
but, that I am John Heathcote, the man upon
Whose head a price has been set—for a crime of
which I am not guilty.”

l

While he spoke he had removed his disguise, ;
and there was the face of John Heathcote, un- ‘

niistakably recognized by all who had known

him.

The excitement that prevailed then can hardly i

be describe l.
wronged man cheered, others uttered exclama-
tions of amazement, and others still recoileu With
faces blanched.

Among the latter were Mr. and Mrs. Osmond
Mlllfield and Joel Sparkers.

Those who had been true to the 9

Others, the detectives who had not been let j
into the secret, pressed forward as though to ;

make sure of their man.

“Do not get excited, I beg,” the outlawed de-
tective said, calmly. “ Those who are my foes
cannot harm me, and those who are my friends
need have no alarm on my account. Those who
would arrest me Will have no occasion to do so
now, for I have at last solved the mystery of the
murder of Murdde Kiiiross, and the murderer
is my prisoner. I stand before you an innocent
man, citizens of Daisy Drift.”

Joel Sparkers had turned away, and was
warming his way toward the rear door.

His purpose was to seek personal safety, but
when he opened the door there was a man to
meet him, and a pair of handcuffs were snapped
upon his wrists.

“ Let me go, let me go!” he pleaded, calling
aloud in the agony of his fears. “ I will own up
to it, if you will only let me go! It was a lie,
what we told; but the boss at me up to it!"

At the same time, Millfle d and his wife were
moving toward the front doors, but they were
stopped and Millfleld too was handcuffed, while
his wife sunk down upon a chair overcome with

this last blow from the man she had wronged. I

Little pity she deserved.

“ You will recognize that it is my inning, this
time," the cool detective said when these arrests
had been accomplished. “ You see the fate of
the perjurers who would have sworn away my
life. They shall suffer the full penalty for their
crime. And now, by your leave, I will tell my
story in full.”

Quietly, men had moved to positions around
the table upon which the outlaWed detective
stood, and they now faced the multitude with
And
amOng them were Detective Pearsman, Detec-
tive Joyce, Colonel Lyndon, Jackson, Royal
Jim and also Queen Ethel and others. At other
places about the room, too, armed men Were
seen stationed.

“ My story is well known to you, to the time
of my escape from jail. That escape was accom-
plished by a woman, then unknown to me, and
she it was who had killed my step-father. Un-
willmg to see me die for her crime was her reason
partly for aiding me to escape, and I felt grate-
ful to her accordingly. But, a later attempt
upon my life. after I had discovered her Secret
when 1 would have given her a chance, turns
me bitterly against her, and the law must take
its Course with her. .

“ And that woman, people of Daisy Drift, was
the one who has been known to you here as
Madam Ire-dell, but later as Mrs. Reinhard of
Chicago.”

The hum of excited comment drowned his
voice for some moments.

“ Yes, she it was,” the wronged man present-
ly went on. “And the man with her, who pass-
ed for her son, was no other than Radcliffe
Boyce, or Robert Woonstead, as he was once
known to you here, and whom I sent to prison
for the bank robbery at Denver. I have them
both prisoners, and the proof I have brought to
bear against the murderess is not to be doubted.
But, I anticipate. When I first came here 1 was
known among you as Fe'nton Doyle, a sport.
After the first move I made I had to adopt a new
disguise, and the one in which you have knmvn
me best was this which I have just removed. It
was a good one. lboug-ht the outfit, trunk and all,
of an Englishman who was stranded at Denver,
and whose name was Elgar G. Prentiss. A11 I
needed in adopting a name was to select one to
fit the initials on the trunk. and I would be rea—
sonably safe. How the trick worked, you have
seen.”

Cheers were given. The crowd was on his
side now, almost to a man.

“ You will recognize the difficulty under which
I labored,” Genteel John Went on. “ I had to
keep out of the hands of sharp detectives, and at
the same time had to be among them, and had
to take the aggressive all the time in order to
push forWarJ my own plans. It was no easy
task, but I have at last brought it to a success-
ful ending. And, not only have I solved the

' myster of the murder. but I have solvbd also the

secret of the false Genteel John, the robber,
murderer, and what not, who operated under my
name in order that the blame for his misdeeds
might fall upon me. And there he stands, Os-
mond Millfleld, as vile and black-hearted a rascal
as ever lived. Oh,,do not deny it; I have the
proofs, you wretchl”

The crowd could hardly contain itself longer.

 

‘ from which they took leave one by one miles

 

The excitement was at highest pitch, and the |
cheering was wild. ‘
“Yes, he it was; most of the band have been
arrested and some of them have made clean con-
i'essions of the whole matter. At the time of
their mysterious disappearance at the bank of
the river, they escaped by getting upon a huge .
raft that had been made for the purpose, and

down the river. It was a clever scheme, but it
has bet u ferretcd out at last and they shall pay
for it all. At the time of the robbery of the
Express ()llice here, the watchman no doubt saw i
and recognized Millfield as the robber, and in '
order to still his tongue the rascal had to kill 3
him then and there. But, I wander about in 2
my recital, as I see. I am no lam yer, how-
ever, so allowance must be made. I will return
to the murder of Kiiii‘Oss and show the woman’s
motive.”

He paused a menu-at for breath, but the
rougher portion of the audience urged him to
proceed wlth his narrative. All were eager to
hear the rest of the particulars.

CHAPTER XXXIX.
CONCLUSION.

“I MUST beg your indulgence and take a new
start,” Genteel John said, when he spoke again.
“Perhaps by so doing I shall be the better
able to keep my narrative in hand and not let
it run away with me, as I have been doing.
I will make plain some of the obscure ints in
the string of eVents of that terrible nig t of the
fire in the hotel in Denver.

“In the first place, it will be remembered that
here Osmond Millfield was my rival for the hand
at Nydia Lyndon—poor Nydiai while Frances
Cantril was her foe on account of love for me,
——such love as such a creature can feel. Both
had vowed vengeance against us, and when,
upon our arrival at Denver on our way here,
on that fatal occasion, we found them at the
hotel, we were anything but easy in mind.
But, you have read mi-st of this in the press.

“That night Millfield, with his tool Sparkers,
hatched a scheme to decoy me out from the
hotel while they stole my bride and made off
with her. A part of their scheme was the de-
coy message that was sent to me purporting
to be from Jackson Lyndon, and which. un-
thinkingly, I set out so promptly to answer.
But, the event of the murder upset that plan,
yet at the same time gave them one which was
even more to their evil liking. Just as Kin-
ross fell dying at the foot of the stairs, and just
as I stop with my foot almost against him,
Millfield opened the front door and he and
Sparkers entered.

“ Then it was the hell-born suggestion came to
him and he accused me of the crime, saying he
had seem me strike the blow. And, as you
know, everything was black against me. I had
quarreled with the murdered man; I was in
haste to go out; I told them the reason for my
haste, but afterward when that telegram could
not he produced, nor any trace of it be found, it
was set down as a deliberate lie; and,all {taken
together, I was a doomed man. But I shall
stand clear at last, and right shall triumph over

WI‘OD
u

 

in murder? You see I am not ,holding to
the events in order. “'ell, Madam lredell had
been imposed upon by Murdock Kinross, and
greatly wronged by him. On the strength of his
lying promises to her he had got control ofa
conSiderable fortune, and at last cast her off.
Finding there was nothing to be gained, she re-
solved to take his life, and laid her plans to doit.
She knew of him coming to Denver, and took up
quarters at the hotel to be ready for him. On
that fatal night she lured him to a dimly-lighted
lower: room at the end of the hall on the first

, florvr, and there struck him the deadly blow. She

retreated at once, and believing him to be still
in. the mom, set fire to the house to hide her
crime. All of this I am prepared to prove, by
proofs and confessions together.

“You now have the main features of the mat- i
ter. It would be impossible, almost, for me to
go into the details of my work on the case; how
I have followed the clues from point to point,
steadily, earnestly, with the one thought of 1
working for right and revenge ever in mind to .
urge, me on. How I have been helped by those
who believed in my innocence in spite of appear-
ances. How I haVe been befriended and helped
to escape at times when. the bounds of the law
almost had their hands upon me. {HOW Provi-
dence itself has seemed to aid me at times when
all looked dark and I was almost in despair.
Nor must Il‘orget, now, to introduce Mr. South-
Way and his peerless wife, who so generously
offered their services to me, for the purpose of
decoying, if possible, the false Genteel John into
a trap that t ey might capture him and so take
at least that burden from my shoulders. Let
me introduce them nOW.”

And he did so, mentioning them by their true
names—names that had become familiar in de—
tective annals throughout the land.

‘All the minor points vou will readily un-
derstand,” he resumed. “ When I escaped from
you here on the night of Jerry Tomson’s arrest,

t was an easy matter for me to throw of! my
disguise and return to you as the Englishman,

 

 

with the story of having been roughly handled
by Genteel John. On the first occasion, too
when I seemed to be proof against bullets, I
had taken the precaution to put on a shirt of
mail, expecting that I should be fired upon.
It saved my life. What more can 1 say? If
there are detectives here who feel inclined to
arrest me now, let me say to them that it will
not be worth their while to do so; the reward
would not be paid, for I am going to Denver
anyhow to give myself up. am sure of my
ground, and my release is certain. My prison-
ers will now be brought in, in the charge of
detectives from Denver, together with my law-
yer, who is here.”

A signal was given, and the prisoners were
brought in, under guard of two detectives.

Their disguises had been removed, and they
stood forth confessed, shame-laced enough.
They did not deny the charge made against
them.

“ But, what of ther story that Genteel John
had been arrested at Denwr?” asked the driver
of the stage, he having been the one to bring
that rs port to the Camp, as we have shown.

“That, sir,” spoke up I-leathcote’s lawyer,
“was a trick to disarm all suspicion here, and
to lead the rascals to feel secure for the time
being, so that tl‘is disclosure might fall upon
them with all the greater force. The report
was false, of course.”

Many other trifling oints, which it were idle
to set forth, were exp ained away, and Genteel
John was the hero of the hour.

Needless to say, he was not arrested.

The reception which he had set out to give as
the young Englishman, was turned into a
grand ovation for him by the people of the
camp, who, to a man, welcomed him in a hearty
way, expressing their shame at having for a
moment doubted him.

All the prisoners were well guarded during
the night, and on the following morning the
party set off for Denver.

 

John Heathcote was promptly discharged,
when his proofs were presented, and the guilty
one, and those who had sworn falsely against
him, were held to answer for their crimes.

The newspapers, which before had been so
ready to condemn, were now effusive in their
praise of the man who, fighting against such
terrible odds, had yet cleared himself and
brought the crime home to the guilty party;
and those who had remained true to him from
the beginning were duly hcnored.

Eventually, Osmond Millfield, Joel Sparkers,
and the others of the outlaw band paid the full
penalty for their evil deeds. Madam Iredell,
however, escaped, death coming to her relief
before the fatal day fixed for her execution. It
was believed that poiSon had been conveyed to
her in some manner by her daughter. As for
her, she disappeared and was never seen again.

In conclusion would that we might say John
Heathcote’s bride had in some manner escaped
the flames on that terrible night of fire, but im-
possible. Her premonition of death had been a
warning only too true. She perished; and so
the life of her sorr0wing husband was wholly
changed. He was a detective by destiny. He
could not, he declared, settle down to any quiet
business life, but must have excitement or die.
So, with a liking for the calling into which he
had been forCed, he entered the lists as a scourge
against crime and criminals, and ere long the
name of “ Genteel John” had become a terror to
evil-duets of every stripe.

THE END.

Beadle’s [he library.

BY LEON LE‘VIS.

 

; 699 The Cowboy Couriers. .
‘ 686 The. Oaths-Wing Detectives.

(524 The Submarine Detective: or, The Water Ghouls.
484 (‘nptaiii Ready, the Red Ransonmr.

4sl The Silent Detective: or, The. Bogus Nephew.
45b The Demon Steer.

428 The Flying Glim; or, The Island Lure.

BY OLL COOMES.

619 Kit Bandy 8; Co , the Border Detectives.

HR One-Armed Alf. the Giant Hunter.

137 Long Beard. the Giant Spy.

9!) The Giant Rificman: or. Wild Camp Life.

51 P.0d Rob. the Boy Road-Agent.

48 idaho Tom, the. Young Outlaw of Silverland.*
46 13 uric-Knife, Ben, the Nor’wrst Hunter.

44 Old Dan Ruckhaek, the Great Extarminator
43 Dakota Dan. the Reckless Ranger.

7 Death‘Notch, the Destroyer.

BY COLONEL BELLE SARA.

106 Shamus O’Brien, the. Rould'Boy of Glingal.
87 The Scarlet Captain: rr. Prisoner of the Tower.
53 Silver Sam; or, The Mystery of Deadwood City.

A new imze (Irery ll'cdnesday.

Beadlc’s Dime Library is for sale by all
Newsdealers, ten cents per copy, or sent by mail on
receipt of twelve cents each.

BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHEIS,
98 William Street, New York.

 

  

 

,653Las50Kin ’3 Le

.599 The Dead Shot Nine: 01'. My Pards

” 117B

 

 



 

Published Every Wednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Ten Cents. No Double Numbers.

   
 

 

 

BY COL. PREN'I‘ISS INGRAHAM.

704 Invisible lvan, the Wizard Detective.

685 The Red-skin Sea Rowr.

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.
640 The Rovilr’s Ret ibution.

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 r‘uccaneers.

610 The Red Flag Rover; or,White Wings of the Deep.
605 The Shadow Silver Ship.

600 The Silver Ship; or, The Sea Scouts of ‘76.

593 The Sea Rebel; or. Red Rovers 01' the Revolution.
587 Conrad, the Sailor Spy; or. True Hearts of ’76.
581 The Outlawed Ski per; or, The Gantlet Runner.
560 The Man from exico.

553 Mark Monte. the Mutineer; or, The Branded Brig.
546 The Doomed Whaler: or. The Life Wreck.

540 The Fleet Scourge; or, The Sea Wings of Salem.
530 The Savages of the Sea.

524 The Sea Chaser; or. The Pirate Noble.

516 Chatard, the Dead-Shot Duelist.

510 El Moro, the Corsair Commodore.

493 e Scouts of the a.

489 e Pirate Hunter; or. The Ocean Rivals.

482 Ocean Tramps- or. The Desperadoes of the Deep.
476 Bob Brent.the Buccaneer; or. the Red Sea Raider.
469 The Lieutenant Detective: or. the Fugitive Sailor.
457 The Sea Insurgent: or. The Conspirator Son.

446 Ocean Ogre. the Outcast Corsair.

435 The One-Armed Buccaneer. ,
480 The Fatal Frigate; or, Rivals in Love and War.
425 The Sea Sword; or. The Ocean Rivals.

418 The Sea Siren; or. The Fugitive Privateer.

899 The New Monte Cristo.

893 The Convict Caption.

388 The Giant Buccaneer; or, The Wrecker Witch.
377 Afloat hnd Ashore: or. The Corsair Conspirator.
873 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.
846 Ocean Guerrillas; or, Phantom Midshipman.

841 The Sea Desperado.

3‘16 The Magic Ship' 01-, Sandy Hook Freebooters.
825 The Gentleman irate; or. The Casco Hermite.
318 The lndisn Buccaneer: or. The Red Rovers.

so: The Phantom Pirate; or, The Water Wolves.

281 The Sea Owl; or. The Lady Captain of the Gulf.
259 Cutlass and Cross; or. the Ghouls of the Sea.
255 Tim Pirate Priest; or. The Gambler‘s Da hter.
246 can Helen, the Amazon of the Ovarian .

235 Lightning the Man of Chance.

281 The Kid Glove Miner: or. The Magic Doctor.
224 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 ot the Sea.

205 The Gambler Pirate; or, Lady1 of the Lagoon.
1% The Skeleton Schooner; or T c Skimmer.

' 184 the Ocean Vampire; or. The Castle Heiress.

181 The Scarlet Schooner: or. The Sea Nemesis.

177 Don Diablo, the Planter-Corsair.

172 Bla'ck Pirate: .or. The Golden Fetters M ry.
162 The Mad Mariner: or. Dishonored and isowned
155 The Corsair Queen: or, The Gypsies of the Sea.
147 Gold Spur, the Gentleman from Texas.

139 Fire Eye; or. The Bride of a Buccaneer.
184 Darke Dan, the Colored Detective.

1% Bucks in Sam. the Texas Trailer.

1 The Chevalier Corsair; or. The Heritage.

121 The Sea Cadet; or The Rover of the Rinoletts.
116 Black Plume; or. The Sorceress of Hell Gate.
109 Captain Kyd. the Kins ot the Black Flag.
104 Montezuma. the Merciless.

1t Merle, the Mutineer; or. The Red Anchor Brand.
9-. 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.

nonssno BILL novnns.
By Colonel Prentiss “graham.

750 Buffalo Bill’s Big Four.
748 Buffalo Bill's Flush Hand. ‘
7'49 Buffalo Bill's Blind; or, The Masked Driver.
735 Buffalo Bill and His Merry Men. .
731 Buffalo Bill‘s Beagles; or Silk LassoSam.
727 Buflalo Bill's Body Gus. .

Buffalo Bill on the Wur- th.
716 Buffalo Bill‘s Scout Shst owers.
710 Buflalo Bill Baifled; or. The Deserter Desperado.

697 Buffalo Bill‘s Buckskin Brotherhood

691 Huftslo Bill's Blind Trail; or. %ustang Mad ..
667 Buffalo Bill’s Snoop; or, The ng of the nos.
658 The Cowboy Clan; or. The Ti ress of Texas.

6; or. Buc Taylor in Texas.
649 Buflalo Bi ’s Chis of Cowbo s; or. Buck Taylor
644 Buflalo Bill's Bonanza; or. ver Circle Knights.
886 Buffalo Bill’s Grl ; or. Oath Bound to Custer.
am Bull'an Bill's Pie go: or. The League of Three.
189 Wild Bill‘s Gold Trail; or, The Desperate Dozen.
175 Wild Bill’s Trump Card: or, The Indian Heiress.
168 Wild Bill. the Pistol Dead Shot.

. By Bufl‘nlo Bill.
689 The Gold King; onMontebello. the M flcent.
of t e Plains.
414 Red Renard. the Indian Detective.
401 One-Armed Ford; or. Borderland Retribution.

- an The Wizard Brothers: or, White Beavsr‘s Trail.

394 White Beaver. the Exile of the Platte.

819 Wild Bill. the Whirlwind of the West.

304 Texas Jack. the Prairie Rattler.

918 The PI , im Sharp: or. The Soldier‘s Sweetheart.
88 Gold Bu etSport; or, K hts of the Overland.
58 Death-Trailer. the Chief o Scouts.

By Loon Lewis, Ned Buntllno, etc.
682 Buifalo Bill‘s Secret Service Trail. ,
899 Buffalo Bill‘s Darin Role; or Daredeath Dick.
517 Buflalo Bill's First rail; or, The Express Rider.
“8 Mr til or M  m... . .
ao 's‘ snge 'or on y.
92. also Bill, the Buckskin sing.

 

BY JOSEPH E. BADGER. JR.

744 che stakes Sam, the Silver Sport.
720 The ecret Six; or, 03d Halcyon.
712 The Man of Silk. '
705 Bantam Bob. the Beauty from Butte.
693 Kent Kasson, the Preacher Sport.
683 Bob Breeze, the Rounder Detective.
675 Steel Snrry, the Sport from Sunrise.
668 Solemn Saul’s Luck Streak.
661 The Gi‘lr'l‘llel‘e Sharp.
651 Silveriip Steve, the Sky Scraper from Sisklyou.
645 Gopher Gabe, the Unseen Detective.
636 Dandy Darling, Detective.
627 Mossback MOSP, the Mouniaineer.
617 The Grip Sack Sharp's Even up.
597 Big Bandy, the Brigadier of Brimstone Butte.
588 Sandy Sands, the Sharp from Snap City.
576 Silver-Tongued Sid: or, (iii Sack Sharp’s Sweep.
564 The GripSack Sharp; or he Seraphs of Sodom.
555 Grip-Sack Sid. the Samp e Sport.
547 The Buried Detective: or, Saul‘s Six Sensations.
541 Major Magnet, the Man of Nerve.
535 Dandy Dutch. the Decorator from Dead-Lift.
527 Dandy Andy, theDiamond Detective.
514 Gabe Gunn, the Grizzlxifrom Ginseng.
504 Solemn Saul. the Sad an from San Saba.
495 Rattlepate Rob; or, The Roundhead’s Reprisal. i
488 The Thoro nbred Sport.
474 Dadd Den -Eye, the Despot of Dew Drop.
466 Old ugh and Ready, the 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.
438 Laughing Leo; or. Sam‘s Dandy Pard.
426 The Ghost Detective: or. The Secret Service Spy.
416 Monte Jim. the Black Sheep of Bismarck.
409 Rob Roy Ranch: or, The Imps of Pan Handle.
403 The Nameless Sport.
895 Deadly Aim. the Duke of Derrln ers.
387 D.ll‘k DUT. the Ishmael of the ills.
879 Howling- onathan. the Terror from Headwaters.
872 Ca tain Crisp. the Man with a Record.
367 A‘ yal Flush: or. Dan Brown‘s Big Game.
360 Jumping Jerry, the Gamecock from Sundown.
355 Storm Steve. the Mad Athlete.
351 Nor’ est Nick. the Border Detective.
845 Masked Mark. the Mounted Detective.
339 Spread Eagle Sam. the Hercules Hide Hunter.
331 Chis Charley. the Gold Nugget Sport.
824 Old orked Ligh thins. the Solitary.
817 Frank Lightfoot. the Miner Detective.
802 Faro Saul. the Handsome Hercules.
292 Moire Homer, the Boss Roustabout.
288 Pistol Johnny; or, One Man in a Thousand.
283 Sleek Sam, the Devil of the Mines.
257 Death Tra Di , ngs: or, A Man 'Way Back.
249 Elephant cm. 0 Duranko.
£41 Spitfire Saul. King of the Bustiers.
283 The Old Boy of Tombstone.
1201 Pirate of the Placers; or. J in‘s Death Hunt.
197 Revolver Rob: or, The Belle 0 Nugget Camp.
1w Old ‘49; or. The Amazon of Arizona. '
170 Sweet William. the Trapper Detective.
165 Joaquin. the Terrible
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 Geom; or. The Five Outlaw Brothers.
71 Captain 0001 Blade: or. Mississippi Man Shark.
67 The Boy J ockey: or, Honesty vs. Crookedness.
64 Double-Sight, the Death Shot.
50 Jack Rabbit, the Prairie S rt.
47 Pacific Pete, the Prince 0 the Revolver.
45 Old Bull s-E e, the Lightnin Shot.
40 Long-Hairs Pards; or. The arters of the Plains.
30 Gospel George: or, Fiery Fred. the Outlaw.
28 Three-fingered J ack, the Road-Agent.

BY J. c. oownnrcx.

696 Ducats Dion, the Nabob Sport Detective.

612 Sheriff Stillwood, the Regulator of Raspberry.
598 The Dominic Detective. .

591 Duke Daniels, the Society Detective.

580 Shadowing a Shadow.

565 Prince Paul. the Postman Detective.

557 The Mountain Graybeards' or, Riddles’ Riddle.
519 Old Riddles, the Rock or _

499 Twilight Charlie, the ad port. ,

478 Gilbert of Gotham. the Steel-arm Detective.
452 Rainbow Rob, the Tulip from Texas. _

436 Kentucky Jean. the S rt from Yellow Pine.
422 Blue Grass Burt. the old Star Detective.

390 The Giant Cupid: or Ci‘buta John‘s Jubilee.

'1. BY LIEUT. A. K. SIMS.

7% Teamster Tom. the Boomer Detective.

709 Lodestone Lem, the Chum ion of Chestnut Burr.
695 Singer Sam, the P rim etective.

688 River Bustiers; or P Detective from ‘Way Back
673 Stuttering Sam, the Whitest S urt of Santa Fe.
666 Old Adamant, the Man of 

618 Kansas Karl, the Detective King. .

552 Prince Primrose, the Flower of the Flock.
528 Huckleberry, the Foot-Hills Detective.

mt nanonn paras.

742 Detective Burr Among the New York Thugs.
734 Detective Barr‘s Foil; or. A Woman’s Strategy.
728 Detective Burr. the Headquarters Special.

713 Detective Burt’s Spirit Chase.

706 Detective Barr‘s Seven Clues. ‘

698 Thad Burr the Invincible: or,‘ The ‘L ” Clue.
690 The Matchless Detective. V

63) XX, the Fatal Clew: or. Burr's Master Case.

BY MAJOR DANGERFIELD BUBB.

448 Hark Kenton the Traitor.
188 The Phanto Mazeppa: or. The Hyena.
156 Velvet Face he Border Bravo.

ALBERT W. AIKEN'S NOVELS.

Dick Talbot Series.

741 Dick Talbot’s Close Call.
737 Dicx Talbot in A iache Land.
733 Dick Talbot. the such King.
729 Dick Talbot‘s CleanOut.
72') Dick Talbot in No Man’s Camp.
381 Dick Talbot in the Rockies: or. Injun Dick.
354 Dick Talbot: ox, The Brand of Crimson Cross.
349 Dick. the Gentleman Road-Agent.
107 Dick Talbot, of Cinnabar.
93 Dick Talbot. King of the Road.
41 lJick Talbot in Utah: or, Gold Dan.
38 Dick Talbot’s Iron Grip; or. 'The Velvet Hand.
36 Dick Talbot; or. The Death~Shot of Shasta.
% Dick Talbot at the Mines: or. Kentuck. the Sport
34 Dick ’l‘nlbot‘s Foe; or. Rocky Mountain Rob.
33 Dick Talbot at White Pine; or, Overland Kit.

Alken’s Fresh of Frisco Series.

660 The Fresh in Montana‘ or, Blake's Full Hand.
652 The Fresh’s Rustic at Painted City.
647 The Fresh at Santa F0; or, The Stranger Sh" rp
556 Fresh. the Sport: or. The Big Racket at Slide Out
537 Fresh A ainst the Fiefd: or. Blake. the Lion.
529 The Fres of Fl'lSCO in New York.
497 The Fresh in Texas; or. ThA’Escobcdo Millions.
461 The Fresh of Frisco on the Rio Grande.
173 The Fresh in Arizona; or, California John.
97 The Fresh in Big Walnut Camp; or. Bronze Jack
77 The Fresh 01’ Frisco.

Alkan’s Joe Phcnix‘ Series.

7% Joe Phenix’s Siren; yr, The Woman Hawkshaw.

700 Joe Phenix’s Unkn wn; or. Crushing the Crooks

681 Joe Phenix's 8 his or. The Actress Detective

637 Joe Phenix in ‘razy Camp.

632Joe Phenix’s Master Search.

628 Joe Phenix’s Combin ; cr,the Dandy Consp'rator

620 Joe Phenix’s Silent Six.

601 Joe Phenix’s Shadow; or.the DetectiVe‘s Monitor

419 Joe Phenix., the King of Detectives.

391 Joe Phenix’s Still Hunt. '

161 Joe Phenix‘s Great Man Hunt.

112 Joe Phrnix. Private Detective; or, The League.
79 Joe Phenix . the Police Spy.

Alken’s Miscellaneous Novels.

717 Captain Pat McGowan, the Greencoat Detective.
674 Uncle Sun Up. the Born Detective.
670 The htwelght Detective.
665 The F sco Detective; or, The Golden Gate Find.
613 Keen Bill , the Sport.
607 Old Be e the “Hard Case " Detective.
594 Fire Face, the Silver King’s Foe. I ,
586 The Silver Sharp Detective.
577 Tom, of California; or, Detective’s Shadow Act.
570 The Actress Detective; or, The Invisible Hand.
562 Lone Hand. the Shadow.
520 The Lone Hand on the Caddo.
490 The Lone Hand in Texas.
475 Chin Chin, the Chinese Detective.
465 The Actor Detective.
440 The High Home of the Pacific.
42! The Lone Hand; or. The Red River Recreants.
408 Doc Grin, the Vendetta of Death. .
881 The Gy y Gentleman: or. Nick Fox. Detective-
376 Black .ards: on. The Rio Grande High Horse.
870‘ The Dusky Detective: or.,Pursued to the End.
363 Crowningshield. the Detective -
820 The Genteei Spotter; or The‘N. Y. Night Hawk-
252 The Wall Street Blood; or. The Telegra h Girl.
an The Double Detective: or.The Midnight ystery.
196 La Marmosct. the Letscxive Queen.
130 Captain Volcano or. The Man of Red Revolvers.
101 The Man from New York.
91 The Winning Car: or. The Innkee r’s Daughter.
84 Hunted Down: or. The League 0 Three.
81 The Human Tiger: or. A Heart of Fire.
75 Gentleman George: or. Parlor. Prison and Street.
7:: The Phantom Hand : or. The 5th Avenue Heiress.
63 The Winged Whale: or. The Red Rupert ot 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 eon.
42 The California Detective: or, The Who es of NY.
31 The New York Shar ; or. TheFlash of Lightning-
27 The Spotter Detect ve: or. Girls of New York. ,

' LATEST AND NEW ISSUES.

745 Joe Phenix's Mad Case: or, The Doomed Syn-
dicate. By Albert W. Aiken.

746 The Dragoon Detective; cr..A Man of Destiny.
By Dr. Frank Powell. -“ White Beaver."

747 Double-voice Dan’s Double Disguise; or. Broad-
wa Bob, the Rounder. B Wm. G. Patten.
748 Ar zona Charlie, the Cree '-shot Detective: 01',

Diamond Dick's Desperate Wipe-out. By Col.
Prentiss Ingraham.
749 Joe Phenix‘s Big Bulge; or, The Cracksman
Baron in New York. By Albert W. Aiken.
750 But!th Bill’s Big Four. B Col. P. Ingraham.
751 The Dark Lantern Detec vs; or The Puzzle of
N umber Nine. By Capt. Howard Holmes. _
752 The Sus Sport of Daisy Drift; or, The
Detective. By J. C. Cowdrick.

Hound . _
753 glideon’s Grip at Babylon Bar' or. The Man With
a .

Iron or. By Albert W. Aiken
754 'i he Ian in Texas; or. Dangerfield the
Doctor Detective. By Joseph E. Badger, r. '
755 WildCPSte. the Bronoho~Buster Detective. By
. . 's.
756 Old Burks, the Madison Square Detective. By
757 g'fi'gfiiiimhwm s can Ingram
u a o ‘s c. ' . .
Ready April %. y
758 gihe Wizard King Detective. By Mt. A. K.‘
ms.
Ready May 3.
A new issue every Wednesday.

Boadle’s .Dlmo Library is for sale
Newsdealers. ten cents per Co or sent by
race t of twelve cents each.

all
ion,

 

142 Cs tain Crimson, the Man of the Iron Face.
1173115310 Bill’s Strange Part1; or, Dashing Dandy.

\

Publ ers. 98 William street, New York.

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