“L,Eil'!‘1m‘iluil|W“Ilml‘lllfllllllilfl'flll’ I  .. I.    

. Copyrighted. 1395. m nmnm AND ADAMS. liN’rscmcn AH Slocum: mus; MATTE“ H mm wa you Y.. l'osr Orr-mu. August 7. mus.

 

 

NO 8 7 6 Published Every (5 ()4 f1, qublig‘, Ton Cexgta a Copy.  

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W°d“°5d“y‘ as WILLIAM STREET. NEW YORK. $5 00 “ Y9

 

 

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W ’
‘ { .

 p111?"

“  INER' SHARPS
~ 0f 8111311111P Bar. ‘

BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, '
AUTHOR or “.101: anux” .NOVELS, m ,

CHAPTER I.
7- A SLIGHT MISTAKE.
.\  ‘ ,- 1 IT was a bright. May morning; the sun was
" -- ‘ - ‘ ‘ hifiand all nature smiled.
THE MAN LOOKED UP IN AMAZEMENT To 1mm nmsxw CONFRON’I‘ED BY THE 51’0an wn the grail which led along fine Virgin

 

 

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},,:,.‘..vr

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man, mounted upon an extremely sorry-
looking brown broncho.

The appearance of the rider was a strik-
ing one, and would be certain to attract
attentimi anywhere.

He was a young fellow, with a smooth
face, apparently not over two-and-t\vent‘y.

but with a resolute east of features, every ‘1

line of which slichd strength and (le-

‘ 'termimttlon.
 Y He had keen, darleI y eyes, eyes only
 possessed by men who are born to be

 ; leaders of the multitude.
‘ His dark brown hair.’ worn very long,
fell in ringlcts upon his shoulders.
He was oddly attired. Upon his lower
limbs he wore the rough, woolen trousers
common to the men of the section; but,
instead of a coat, he was habited in a
gaudy Mexican Jacket, composed _of black
velveteen, ornamented with a myriad of
golden bell buttons and little bits of gold
lame.
, His hat, ,too, was utterly unlike anything;
' that any one would be apt to adopt.
v It was black in color, wide in brim,
‘ high in crown, and, being very stiti‘, kept
.any position in which he chose to place it.

The rider‘s business would have been
apparent to any of the old residents. He
was a sport-a card sharp, who depended
upon his wits for a living. .

He had left Fort Cameron, on the Upper
Virgin, two hours before.

He Was now beginning to look about
‘ 'him for signs of the next. town, which
was the mining camp 01' Sulphur Bar,
situated at the junction of Sulphur Creek
with the Virgin River.
' p “ I can't be more than a couple of miles
,from the camp," the horseman said. al-
lowxing, the tired broncho' to fall into .a
. Walk. ' , t .
' But he said or thought no more of the
camp, fer, at that moment, from around
,the corner of a giant bowlder, sprang a
huge. hairy ruflian, Whose face you could
- hardly see on account of the hair which
covered it. but, as the aforesaid hair was
bright red in colon/the man looked more
omical than fierce. a ‘  '
' His errand-,rhowever, was not of a com-
. on nature, for in his hand. he held, a
. rusty revolver, which he leveled full 'at
' he breast otthe’ man on the bronchi).

rPull yer hoss! I am ,the.new:toll-

_, this road. 80 must trOuble you
“ rpm. yer bag 'ogt'bones and
e‘alth." . r '

, y‘lifr‘esponded theisport, pleas-

ant-it», s sort of‘thing" was “an
.eve, , _ .bcdurrence. . . “I ,7
, Hie diamounted and preceeded to t hi
,hanli/iln‘flhis' pocket, anda'then,3 or'tli'c.



 

 

  

  
   

   
  

did mot wear
{waist

     

a weapon 'l: belted." to

try,»

 

u;

l l"; , e1 yer poptruns? ‘ ‘ _
“ A; g;.a"‘sp§rt to beta-traveling

gin hard luck Just, no”
lend. ' Fertile last tw

31.9 “a , , . .
way; and: 513.1 was playing w

l ‘ Ithevgreatestfsharpsin' ale“ '  .. 
.. trthose embers at Fortflxamgn'don .

ime, thes't'ootpad noticedv‘that  ‘

allot hens; .v‘v’at does this yet; merit? f
’ ’ And W'at are"

i‘fhé‘oountry withbut  h

 

_  . Gold-Button SpOrt, _

River, in [Southern Utah, ‘eame a youngl myself as a living skeleton than by tak- lye my word I’ll never git mixed up in a

lag care of this yere road."

“ i am sorry. No one can possibly re-
}:ret my lack of cash more than myself.
but” these things will happen this way
sometimes. You cannot expect to keno
every round, and the man who does is a
donkey." .

“ ()1), it‘s all very well for you to talk
‘ in that. way. but 1 am in this world for

money and not for fun, and yer can bet
ye‘r boots l‘m going to git it, too!
I “Yer are ‘ giving this thing to me
straight, ain't yer?" he exclaimed, abrupt-
ly, with a. suspicious look. “Yer hain‘t
got a lot of Wealth hid away somewhat"
in ye‘r clothes, hey?"

“Not much! I reckon that it I wasn't
broke clean down to bedrock you wouldn't
find me traveling about. without any
weapons." -

"That is so—that is the truth. for yer
would be crazy to do it.

“\Va—al! I s’pose I will have. to take
ye'r two dollars; so hand them over."

“Certainly!” responded the sport, pro—
eeediug.r to open his wallet.

1 But the footpad didn‘t get the two dol—
ars.

He was now off his guard. which was
exactly what the sport had been trying to
accomplish.

The two men were about five feet apart.

The sport bent slightly over his wallet,
then he gave a tremendous spring, head
foremost through the air, and the crown
of his head struck the footpad in the
chin with the force of a batteringr ram.

Over backward went the big: hairy
.lfellow as suddenly as if he had been shot,
his head striking: the ground with a con-
cussion which made him see a myriad of
stars. ‘ '

The sport promptly wrested the revolv-
er from the, footpad’s hand and thrust
it into the' folds of the bright-colored
silk sash which ornamented his waist.

Then he got, astride of the. road-agent’s
body and flourished an extremely mus-
cular fist within an inch. of his nose. ’

g It took a ‘few moments for the fallen
man to recover from the. shock, but as
soon as he full realized what had hap-
pened he stn up into the face of his
captor. ‘ ‘ ' ‘

“ Darn my cats if this yereywasn’t the

meanest trick that I ever heered tell on."

what is right. and proper, then ‘2” ,

“, Not by a blamed sight! ,‘ Yer t00k the
meanest kind of an’ advantage of me.
. 'Dmm men I don't believe that yer hev’

token 'both my jaw and‘the: hack of‘
my head,,and~if that is '50, 'W’at’s going
A 0 Mann: of me, I‘dlik‘o toknow?“ ’
' human go into speculations:
expose yourself, to ,3th risks?
coolly“ replied. ' ' v - »

, Athey are,‘l'for, if I had had
M, r ,I..-w'ould.‘have shot you. so
 when you.

one

  

    

 hurt youtbut‘j, as

v  card playing isn’t Worth Tomi

 
 
   
   
 
    
    
  

. l ,

   

2: t ' them: véryt badly,"~indeed.. to
outta-night inismnhnr ’Bar, loans:
no. upon striking. anyfflend a~"-loan.”
‘Gol darn =ye'r,‘measly*'sxm, 7
mono yer meanvbyr'playing'any low-
wn trick like this‘on mes , I : _,
{have a' good-l mind to nily'ou. as full
his aslasicve. {Howlido you ‘s’po‘se
going: to: live, tifxlevery blamed} pl

hatc’dmosolong narrow an: pl

  

 
   

‘, " ot regularly clean‘éd,‘out,be' '
ave a couple, of dollars in my wallet,»

    
  
 

smelt! Thlchwofi”  havemlthofih, .
‘ .p ‘

an; a perfect strangor'therg, I cannot  I

 

blades! '

 .,

 
 
 

cr_huve;-pretty.nen knocked;
“andyerou‘ah o‘b

   
   
   

I'madea'hla
may to -. halal
 a

‘1'!
l

    
  
  

 

, “ Oh,'it doesn't zigreeiwith Your idea of i , I
“00 c'erns, run by the proprietors, are do-

-' good days’ wages, ,someas‘hig-h as ten.

i V i first 'mhldeyour are?
.thatgt'th‘a oddsarc you‘ never;

~ which surprised the gaunt ‘roa‘di‘adventur- ,‘ ‘

ny 33' ,t‘ ';‘ n ‘
g teams- to mete‘nmo
9.

, .wa rightbetorelham: 7‘

' “ Wants the

   
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
   
  

game like this again!“

“Upon my word, it seems to me that
you are playing in worse luck than I am,
and as I never yet struck a man when he
was down I won't strike you.” -

The sport rose to his feet, allowing th
footpad to do likewise. ‘

“I think I shall have to hold on to the
revolver for a while, though, just as a.
measure of precaution, you understand,”
the sport remarked, with a sly twinkle in
his eye.

“ That is all right; I hain't got no 01»
jeetion; and new, sport, since you have
shown ye‘rself to be a clean, white man,
mebbe I’ll be able to do somethingr for
yer. I know everybody in Sulphur Bar,
and can post yer about them. So mebbe
I can git yer some valuable information.”

“It is possible, and I am the kind of
man who pays well for his services."

“Then we will go on together, and,
joining our luck, perhaps it’ Will alter
things for us both."

CHAPTER 11.
IN THE MINING CAMP.

When the sport went to mount his
broneho he came to the conclusion that
the poor beast was too tired to carry him,

“ It would be a shame to ride the horse
in this condition. It will be as much as
he can do to get to the town hilnself.f’

"' Yes, yer want to savo the- boss, for he
~will do for a stake in Sulphur Bat-—not
much, of course, for about all he is good.
for is crows’-bait.” ,

“ I didn't pay anything for him; he was
given to me at Fort Cameron; and as
these bronchus are so deceptive, I made
the mistake of thinking the beast was
better than he is." .

“Wa—al. I am considerable of a boss-
trader, and i reckon i can git five dollars
out or somebody for him.“

Then the two went down the trail. .

" How far is Sulphur Bar?" the sport
asked. ’

“ A little less than two miles." A

“ Is it a booming camp?" ' V '

“ You bet, and the best otthe thing is.
it is one of ose camps whar‘ almost
eve'ybody is ' oingi well.” > _ . '

“ That is a good.report;”v. ~

I “' Yes, the big, anneal-with the machin-
ery, running ten 01"twelve"m‘en',' are turn-'

;in :xout‘big paying-ore; and-the small‘

 
     
     
     
        
      
      
     
       
    
 

 

      
       
     
     
      
       
     
       
       
       
          
       
     
        
   
         
     
     
      
    
   
  
 

      
     
 

     
     

i115 well, too. ,

= 7 Besides, in the mountain gulches there
are pockets and rich plaCes Whar’ men‘
with common, ordinary tools can make

 
 
  
    
      
   
  
 
   
 
 
  

        
  
    
    
 
   
 

 
 
   
  

I

tdollars." . .. . . . .  '
“This-is a yery: encouragingyaocount, ‘
indeed, and in ; snow-dreamy 9.3mm like

 

    
    
   
 

myself ought to do Weill}; ‘
j “Byvthe way, sportfiwat is ye’r han-
, lo?" the big' fellow ‘asked abruptly.
‘_ Mine is'sandy Jones?" ,  . ,
,ad‘v‘Glad to‘ make;.your acquaintance, Mr.
mes,“ said the sport, ln"'-his courtly Way.
and he made the other an elaborate bow.

    
  
   

    
 

      
  
 
  

   
   

 
 
   
 
 
   
      
  
   
    
  

   
   
    

GD, . ft Svnmong my'chums,‘. is v.
.. . . a, .01; port, ,j-on aocountot “the ,
W6 A Jacket‘ls trimmed,» . . ,r .

{Kat the tiller came~,nround'the bend;- -,
"affirm-cad , the temp: sniping  »

:r‘filke widow

Ila—L'H .. ,r .
; itchman, Jake, Hoffman by
“wharf is Only 0119mm a,
eashvge g ‘ ‘

  
 
     

  

hsureiot ‘

gig it “g.

 

 

 " ‘ Lola-Button, Sport". : 

 

 

   

A series of yells that: would have done
credit to a wild Indian, and then forth
from a saloon just in the advance of where
the two were came a red-factd, red-
shirted, big, overgrown specimen of a
miner.

He had his sleeves rolled up above the
elbow, and danced Out into the roadway,
brandishing his arms like windmills.

" llere i am, Mickey iletiinniss, the
everlasting cock of the walk, wow, wow!

"My name is Mickey Metiinniss, d‘ye
mind; but 1 am no Irishman. There was
some crooked Work at the time I was bap-
tized, and I not some other man's handle.

“But that ain't neither here nor there.
I am the champion, and every stranger
that comes to this camp has got to have
a taste of my qualities. So peel off that
‘ar‘ comical monkey jacket an’ gin' me a
chance to wade into yer." -

“ Yes, but see here; I have no quarrel
with you, and I‘m no prize lighter to in-
dulge in a ‘tistieutf match with every man
I meet just for the full of the thing.”

“ Then yer will hev‘ to crawtishl It is
either tight or crawiish. If you hain‘t
got the sand to stand up for a round or
'two and let me hammer yer, then yer
will have to git right down on ye'r knees
in the dust and admit that I am the best
.man you ever saw.”

" Oh, come! come! a performance of
'this kind is altogether out of the question!
I'm not going to kneel in the dust to you
or any other man, and so, by Jove, since
you insist: upon a fight, I‘ll give you one.”

“Aha! that's the kinder talk I like to
‘hear, and I ain't had a chance at a sport
with his long hair and his b‘iled shirt for
:a dog‘s age. ‘

“ Peel off that Jimcrack and lemme hcv‘
.a chance to hammer yer so that ye’;‘ own
brother wouldn’t know yer." ’

“ Wait a hit! As I go through this life
I propose to do things in a business-like
way,” the sport insisted.

McGinniss looked surprised.

“Now then, how much money do you
dare to put up on yourself? This scrap
will be a heap sight more interesting if it
is for a small stake.”

“Darn me if I ever heered of such a
thing aforei" McGinniss declared; “still, I
reckon it ain’t a bad idea, for it Would‘be
considerable satisfaction to take some
:good. hard, solid ducats out of a man be—

‘ sides thrashing him within an inch‘of his
life." i

 

‘ I , *provement over the old style. How much
'1 will you put-up?” ' ‘
 “ I’ll go yer ten

 4 declared.

1-] “Make it twenty?”

 r . “Nary time; ten is my limit”. ‘

.Li , “Well, how are we going to run this

 imam—Marquis of Queensberry—” ‘

‘  “Marki's or 'Queensberry be hanged!"
IMcGinniss roared. “ We’ll have it the good
old-fashioned rough and tumble; no let up

until either one man or t‘other has got

_ enough.” ’ '

u‘

dollars!” thehig fellow

 

 

11 right: that 'Iwiltfsnit‘ men:

 

opponent. - I. I
By this time quite a crowd hadgath»
tiered, attracted by the altercation. a,
« The citizens were not surprised to "see
McGinniss attack the new-comer, tor they
were aware that. when he had a little
liquor on board, he had a craze for tacku
ling strangers. - , t _
The fighters faced each other, andn al-

 

yet he was notylmuch bigger when they
Were compared, Side by side. , ,

“ Now, then, look out. for your apple
. cart, for I‘m going to’smashyer!” McGin—

., _V

      
   

 
 

  

It. was the. old idea; he was bigger than
. the other man. and was going
5 '_ :right down by brute force.
.'«But the sport was. a - scie

 

milk: 5 350er,

 
  
  

 
  
  
 
  
 
 
 

:clples of the manly artxot Self-defense:
coins the. big ’ I

delved him with a straightprlg'ht-hamder,
which“ landing «on ’McGinnis’s 1. chin,

4

.halr;knock,-,hls‘head"otr.l , ..
' , , flopped the rush,

.lars is yours."

“ Oh, yes; to my thinking it’s a big im-’

:a champion tighter.”

Then the sport took off his .hat. re—.

moved his jacket, and sduared,’ 91! at his; lord. and he made arrangements for a

thought the miner was the larger .man,‘
My good shape."
, this yelled, as ’he rushed-at‘hls antagonist. .

to bear him -

one or those who understand 'all the prin-g

blusterer came. at him, he re-‘

 

>- mmbler. basin. 3, tier thwarts no:
,asva‘ ruleeln * ., t‘t
titer

 

before he could recover from the effects

of the stroke. he received a left-hand
blow, which, alighting just over the

heart, doubled him up like a jack-knife.

The crowd yelled; they had never seen
any such work as this since the camp of
Sulphur Bar was founded.

Then followed a third terrific stroke;
the sport delivered a smash between the
eyes. which sent )ictiiuniss over on the
flat of his back. the most astonished man
that Utah had ever seen. .

The bystanders ‘i‘airly howled their de-r
light, for this sort of show was exactly
to their taste.

The sport was quick to improve the ad-
vantage which he had gained.

It was to be. a. rough and tumble tight,
and, in such a contest, in the wild West,
everything goes.

So the stranger in the town sprangr for-
ward and seated himself astride of the
chest of the prostrate man, thus rendering
him eonmletely helpless. ,.

Metiinniss looked up at the brandished
list. which threatened to damage his front-
lspiece.

“ I-Iol' on! hol’ on! W’at in thunder do
you mean by such here work as this?"
the big tough sputtered. " Ain't you gt»
ing to give me no show to tight at all?
Why, I ain’t had a chance to strike a
blow!“ , i

“ )IeGinniss, when I‘ go in to lick a man
I propose to do it as quickly as possible.
You are a whipped man; perhaps you
don’t. know it, but after I pound you for
a few minutes you may come to the con-
clusion that you don't stand any show in
this light." v .

“No show! By the everlasting hills,
the only show I can see is to beham-
mered, and. I. reckon I ain‘t fool enough to
stand thatit‘ I can git out of it.

“I am a licked man, and I’m not so
big a fool as not to know it. The ten dol-

“Ali right!" and Gordon rose to his
feet. when McGinniss slowly, did the
same. =

After he got on his legs, be carefully
1surgeyed the sport, and then shook his
tea . v

“ You are the biggest Iraud otta man
that I ever run across in my borndays.”

CHAPTER III.
"ruin 'SPOIRT SHOWS HIS ’QIIAIJITY.’
“ I reckoned I could pick out a fighting
man every time, but I never would have
selected a dudelike chap such as you for

 

“Ah, yes,” remarked'the sport, as he
put on his hat and jacket, “butthis is ‘a
world of deceptive appearances. {V ‘

“ ‘Things are not ‘always What they seem: V‘
Skimmed milk masquerades as'cream.’ ”

“Mebbe it does; I ain’t posted about‘ ,

milk, nohow; but I do know that ye‘r’ the
best man whoever struck this camp, and,
here’s ye’r ten dollars.” i v - x
“ Much obliged. So
with Sandy,fwent on up to the hotel.‘ .
There Sandy introduced him to they land-t

room, to ,whlch he repaired ‘at'once, 101—.
lowed by Sandy, who had comc‘ytocou-u
sider himself as a. sort. of valet to the
sport. . ' ‘ ‘ "

‘ “ Now, then, old man, I Won't; you to; "

take that hroncho and see what you. can

get for him. ‘ r _ . ,
“Thanks to- this tool miner with his ,
crazy idea that he was a fighter, I'mlr ve
managed to secure a small snake, and ‘I
can get a few more dollars to put to it,.I
will be able, to go ahead tonight in tolera-

‘f Thar’ is nodlsputlng but what yer hcv’
made a mighty good beginning, and it
really looks; as it ye'r luck had changed",
.“It certainly does havctthnt appear-v
once,” thetsport. assented. ‘ , .  "

" Oh. by the way, while you are voyag-
ing about the camp, :iusr keep your eyes

tonight. Ga
.good ' men Wi

oven far any'lrgikerigames that may be on, -

.set ting, no '1lIth:t’W0—‘¢,ént '
m t Y ‘

   

seminal
‘ a

long,” and the sport, :

es, you understand, where“ p

 
  
  
 
 
   
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
   
   
  
 
   
  
 
 
   
   
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
 
  
   
 
  
      
       
    
  
    
     
  
   
     
     
    
      

outsider from whom the cash must come
—~thc man who thinks he plays a better
game of poker than he does. and when a
man makes a mistake, of this kind, he al»
ways has to pay for it."

“ Sart'in! And thar‘s a heap of sieh crit-
ters in the world,“ was Sandy's opinion,
as he departed.

The sport then, sought; the landlord, Jake.
and in the easy way peculiar to him he
requested: "1 want you to do me a favor.”

" Veil. 1 don‘t know ’bout d'ot, und Just
at present I am a leedle short.“

“ Oh, I don't want to borrow any money.
My revolver is out of killer, and i want;
to get the loan of a weapon for to-night.
It must, be a good tool~sate for a man to
trust his life to in an emergency." l -

“ ()h, yas; d‘ot vas all ri'dt,“ the Dutch-
man responded. ”I vas glad to oblige you,
for I but a half a dozen revolvers. You
understand, .\lr. lordon, I vas a very
good-natured mans, and v'eu a gnstomer
comes mil himself along, 11nd says, ‘I‘IOW
goes it, Jake. ole man? I van proke; I hth
a revolver; how Inuch can you let. me ha? ‘
on dot? If I make me a. strike. 1 viii take‘
him up. if I haf’ to the town Jump, you
can sell it and get your money back, dot
vay!‘ ‘ r . . v

“ Now, mine tear trien', Mr. ‘Gordou, '_
der‘s mighty few revolvers, d’ot 1 viii not
go live tollars on.” ‘

“Jake, you are a man with a heart in
your-bosom, and it does me proud to have
the honor of your acquaintance." land with
a deal of politeness the sport. shook hands
With the Dutchman, who did not know ex- ,,
actly what to make of it. Still, he was dew '
cidedly pleased by the action. =

Hoffman took the sport to the closet,’
where he kept the revolvers. . ' .

There Was a pair of niekle—plated weap- 
ons there, really beautiful tools, with all T, ‘
the modern improvements, which the ‘
sport greatly admired. \ r

"' You vas ri‘dt, Mr. Gordon; d‘ot vas do , ‘
finest pair of revolvers d'ot I efler saw,”y 
the Dutchman averred. _ ; ‘* 3

“ You can haf’ d’ose veapons for dwendy .
tollars it’ you should van: to pay dcm.” . * ‘

“ They are certainly cheap enough, am!
perhaps, in a few days, I can see my way '
clear to invest. Just now,'one Vof these
is the tool I would like to borrow."

“D'ot vasall ri’dt," and the Dutchman
handed over the weapon. 7 “Here vas ,.
.blendy of cartridges, too. They often leaf
d'erc cartridge-pelts mit do revolvers." ' 

“ Much ,obliged,” and the sport helped
himself to a. liberal supply of’the. car»,
fridges, after which he. took ‘a seat lnithe
corner ofithe saloon. ‘ , , v.

During the day, in the average mining?
camp. there is no business done lathe bar-
rooms, so there were only a few lounger
in the place. ~ ‘ ' , 

Theday passed slowly away. .V  w
‘ .Late in‘the‘ afternoon Sandy Jones came
in. He had succeeded in selling the bran.
cho for five dollars. . and brought x of
money to the sport. . > ; . 

“ You must be a genius as a horses,
trader." , i ' ’ ' ., “i

“Oh, yes, yer can bet ye’r gimrd one *
that. If any man kin sell a hose, I kin!"

:. r. .

  

  
  

    
 
   
   
   
 

  

       
     
      

   
       

      

  
   
  
  
  
  
   
 

    
   
 
 

  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 

“How ‘are‘ you fixed?" the, sport ind}
cash?" , i
“No, thank yer; much obleeged toyer
of luck. hevlng run across an old patriot i.
mine, SteveD’Brlen. ' ~ ‘
, ' “ He ‘has just come
a‘ca‘bin up on. the hillside. I . p
. “Theregar‘e two bunk p he says-=1
am welcome to share pot-luck with in
‘ “Your are fortunate." .
"4‘,‘Thar"is going to bed
men in the town are in it—the alcnlde,
‘Expressagent, the postmaster, and't
That is instithe. kind '0 3a.
I would be delighted .to 1331a,;
but hman, and get hint to‘lntroduce 
'tdoubtthat he who the trick, 

quired. ' “Don’t, you need a little ‘ot ,thl
.‘all-the’ same, but I hey", struck a, streak‘

' ' toithe‘ campand 

s, and

with times change with me.”
right hére‘to-night in this ho .
'orthreo more people' whoamountao‘so  .
reckon I :will have to speak to-th t‘desu;
 at other were. he "raw

 

 

  

  

 . 4:“  n:

i

4 .

   

 reassures... '

 

 

curious to test the qualities of every
stranger or sharp who comes along.” '

“ I reckon Jake kin work it for yer. So
long," and Sandy departed.

The sport spoke to the landlord about
the matter, and Jake did not think there
would be any trouble in arranging it.

After supper the street of the camp be-
gan to liven up.

There was only one main street to the
town, and that run parallel with the river,
and all the houses fronted on this stream.

The landlord introduced Gordon to the
members of the poker party.

There were Maurice Littlefield, the alt
caldc of the town; Harry Lindley, the Ex-
press agent; Tom Mack, the postmaster;
Moses Oppenheimer, the storekeeper, and
Joe Whiteomb, a gentleman who described
himself as a mining speculator on the
lookout for a good investment.

Gordon had seen too much of life, and
was too good a Judge of men to be fooled
\ 'by' any such statement; he. knew at once

that Whitcomb was a professional gam-

bler, and from the fact that he was mas-
querading as a business man, the sport
» judged that he was a wolf who would
hear watching.

All of the party were glad to make the
acquaintance of the sport, for all had
heard of his victory over the big miner—
a conquest that gives a man astonishing
prestige in the mining camps. .

A little after nine o’clock the poker party

. sat down. -

. It was really a gentleman’s guinea-the
‘. way the members of the co'terie expected
" to run it.

 'It‘wasla twenty-five-cent ante with a
‘ ten—dollar limit, so it was possible for a
player, if he was extra fortunate, to make
- , a good stake without any individual game-
3 star losing heavily. '

' From the beginning the sport kept his
eye on Whitoomb. I I .

As it happened, he sat by his side, so it
was not possible for Whitcomb to do much
of anything without Gordon’s knowledge.

For a couple of hours the «game pro-
ceeded without varying fortunes; no one
could boast of great gains, and the losses
individually were slight. ‘ v ‘

Oppenheimer had suffered more than
anybody else, so when eleven o‘clock came
[he concluded that he had got enough,
cashed inn-his, checks and departed; .

L The postmasteronly lasted fifteen min-
‘ntes more, but the: rest concluded that
they might. as well keep on until midnight,
as that wasthe usual time ,for going to bed. .
'Whitcomb had been: greatly dissatisfied
ith the smallness of the stakes, and the
limit, .for an hour or so, and- had done
me grumbling.  ,

' , gentlemen, as there is just a
co little party—tour of usi—vs‘nppose\we.
change from this baby game tonne worth
 The quarter ante is all right, but
lotus fling the limit wide open,” he sug-
sted. I ,
The aloalgle and the Express agent medi-
rtated for a few moments, and, considering
hat onlythreeuuarters of an hour was
ileft for play, both concluded to go'in'for
it little big play. ‘ ' ,
Alt itthey went. ‘ ',
, Although thevsport had not‘been ap-
.parently particularly lucky, yet in reality
holisd succeeded, in picking up quite “a
manner of little stakesgand ,was abun-
 dollars ahead of the game. '

‘ The first round did not amount to any-
thing, but" in.«the second all the players

 

  

  

  

  

   

  

  

    

     

 

  

largely: , ‘ ‘

Two hundred dollars. was on the table

3v enthe outlawing; ' p

~ ~Whitcomb‘ claimed the stake with four

kings and chase. . ~ ,1
,“You are a. villainous cheati"; the sport

   
 
  

  

  
 

 
  

 

  
  
   
  
 
 
  
 
  

 CHAPTER 1v;   3

memo was worn.

ught good hands, and therefore bct‘

 “Yes,
 diatcly
“ ~.tho'miner to‘the open’mir. .r.

announcement astounded cyst-y-

 

kings you slipped into your lap the last
round when it was your deal, and you
have three cards there now which right-
fully belong to your hand this time.

While the sport had been speaking \Vhit—
comb had quietly put his hand under the
table, seized the three cards, which he
really did have there, and crumpled them
into a little ball.

Then he sprang to his feet, apparently
in a very indignant mood, cast his cards
upon the table, and cried:

" There! that settles it! I will not have
anything more to do with the game! Such
an accusation lets me out immediately.
Good-night, gentlemen t”

And he marched out of the room with
his head high in the air.

“The pot is really yours, alcaldc," the
sport remarked, “for you had the best
cards of all Of us.” '

The alealde had been the heaviest losei‘
in the party, so he was decidedly pleased
with this capture.

It lacked now but a quarter to twelve,
and so the game came to an end.

The members of the party took a part-
ing drink together, and then went,to their
Various homes.

As the sport was proceeding up-stairs to
his room he was intercepted in the entry-
way by the landlord, who, in the most
mysterious manner, drew him into a dark
corner. _

“Mine tear frien’, Mr. Gordon,. let me
told you a leedle somedings. I vas in der
next room and ovorheard all d‘ot fight
apout der two hundred tollars. . H

“You must keep your eyes skinned for
d’at mans VVhitcomb. If he vas not one
bad eggs I do not want a cent. One day
last week he was playing poker mit a ten-
derfoot. He you all der man‘s monish,

, und at der end d'ere was a fearful row, for

(let tender-foot said d’at he vas a cheat.

“ Dey went and into der streed to fight
it and, and he shot dat poor tenderfeets
man so quick as never vas.”

“ I will probably have trouble with him,

(but it's one of those things that will hap~

pen, for a man can’t avoid it, do his est;
but you can rest assured that I will be on
my guard, so that he shall not take any
unfair advantage of me.”

Then they said good-night and parted.

In the solitude of his room Gordon,
counted his gains. He-had one hundred
and twenty-five dollars.

“That is a remarkably good commence,
ment,” he sollloquized.  “I reckon luck has
changed.” ' I

Then he went to bed and slept, as sleeps
the man without cure; until early the next
morning. _ - r

Afth breakfast he bought the pair of

' nickel-plated revolvers, much to Hoffman’s
.Satisfaction, for the landlord regarded the

sport as an extremely good fellow, and
thereforethought he ought to have the
best of everything. 1‘
Gordon went-forth to‘ survey the town,
and it was fully two hours before he got
back to the hotel. ‘ ,
Whitcomb was in the saloon when Gor-
don entered, and Hoffman, who gurus be-
hind the bar, was apprehensive that there
might betrouble. , ‘ I j
Whitoomb contented himself with scowl-
ing at the sport, and immediately ‘quitted
the saloon. ,
Hoffman crane from behind the bar and
whispered‘in the sport’s ear: ‘
“Mlnctear frien’, Mr. Gordon, d'ot mans
means “mischief. He has his revolvers
fixed, and he has a'big knife, too, hidden
away under der Coat.” ‘

I “ Much obliged for your warning, Jake.»

I will keep my eyes open." I l . ,
‘ Garden took a seat in the saloon and
commenced the perusal of a «newspaper,
but had not sat there for more than fifteen
minutes, ,when a young miner madehlsap-
pehranco and came straight to the sport- ’
“ Can I speak a few words with you out-
side?” he asked. ' ' . '
"I. reckon so," and Gordon, imme-
d aside his paper and.

2a. mung the chestnuts
“f 'you'to brin

  

   

p 1 ‘ke

followed ;

“Ah, yes; the champion wiper, I sup-
pose. Trot along back to him and tell
him I‘m coming large as life and twice as
natural."

The minor looked kind of puzzled at. this
odd speech, but he. ducked his head and
hastened away, while the sport followed.
slowly after him.

About a quarter of a mile away, a little
distance beyond the town, where the trail
ran through the open country, no houses
being near, the sport saw Whitcomb sit-
ting on a bowlder.

Gordon came carelessly on until within
revolver range; then he paused.

\Vhitcomb understood the movement, so
drew out his white handkerchief and
waved it as a flag of truce.

Gordon nodded, and came on immedi-
ately.

There was another bowlder, similar to
the one upon which Wliitcomb sat, and he
pointed to it. as the sport came up. ,

“Take a seat. I should like to have a
chance to talk this matter oVer with you,
if you are agreeable."

“I am agreeable," the sport replied, as.
be seated himself on the rock.

" Don’t you consider that you jumped on
me pretty roughly last night when I had
a pot of nvo hundred dollars nicely won,
and you upset the whole business ‘3”

" Yes: but you didn't win the pot in the
right way. We were sitting in a gentle-
man‘s game, and it wasn’t the proper ca—

:ricks.” ,

“Well, I am in the business for the
money there is in it. and after I‘d worked
up a scheme like that, I consider that you
acted in a very unprofessional manner to
break the game up as you did.”

“ It is my rule, when I am playing with
gentlemen, to play like a gentleman. if

each man ready to eat the other up, why,
then everything goes, of course."

“ Now, see here, why can't you be rea.
sonable about this matter? This is a.
booming“ camp; we are the two leading,
sports in it, and we can skin the citizens
out of their eye-teeth if we play our cards
I'iguuy." . , '

,“/You don’t understand the kind of sport
I am. I don’t do business in that way. I
play a square game every time, and' won’t
have anything to do with crooked work
unless I am compelled to measure wits
with a lot of wolves; then, naturally, I
have to meet the men at their own game.
But even then I don’t like to do such
work, and willrnot if I can possibly avoid
i H V t ,

“ Then you will not go in with me '2”.

“ No; there is a homely old phrase which
covers the ground: Let every tub stand
on its o'wn bottom.”

this before many, days are over. You put
a gross insult upon me lastnight, and, by
rights, you and I ought to use our shoot—
in‘g-irons, but I am inclined to be a peace.
able man, and if you don’t trouble me in
the future, why, lwon’t lay up anything
against you on account of last night.” . '
you'll suit me. I never go out of my Way
to trouble any man.” , '. . ‘-
~ Whitcomb rose to ~‘ his feet, evidently
very much dissatisfied with the result; of
the interview,“and Gordon» also rose. 

“Of course, you have placed me in a.
very unpleasant position," Whitcomb re.
marked. ‘
by declaring that it isnot Worth while for

the words of a common'sport.

you, and‘ I hope you will do the same by
’7‘ . i ‘

 

camp.

a, smile of contempt curling his lip. ‘ t. 
“ Thai: is one of thefikind of chap 
« ves sports bad mmespfput lie-ism true
garb—elicits a thief; puregandisl -
“Thdodds are a-‘thousnhd'tq
mm

 

    
     
  
  
 
  

.t’g

 

)er to ring in 'an' cutthroat gambling ‘
I

the players area lot of cutthroat gamblers, .

“All right; but_I think- you will regret "

“Just as ypu please; suit .youmelf, and' ,

‘fBut I shall get out of the scrape *
a man like myself to pay any attention to v
. " Hereafter I‘wlll try to keep away from“ 

'_ A-ntl .Whitcomb marched off toward the; ~‘

Gordon watched him for a few  '

 

   

 

 
        
      
       
       
   
   
   
   
        
 
   
           
 
    
    
   
      
   

 

 
   
        
    
       
     
     
     
    
      
         
   

 

    
       
     
       
     
   
    
 
    
     
   

   
    
    
       
   
 

I;

     
   
      
     
 

  
    
    
   
  
  
  
 

 
 
   
 
 

it

 

 

 

 

 

   
   
 
 

Gold-Button sport.

5

 

CHAPTER V.
AN ARDENT woo-nu.

The sport then consulted a little silver
watch which he drew from the inside
pocket of his jacket.

"it is two hours to dinner, and 1 don‘t
feel like going back and loaiing around
that; hotel, so i reckon l‘d better find a
little nook among these evergreens where
I‘ll be shielded from the sun and can in-
dulge in a siesta.”

it did not take the sport long to find a
sheltered spot, which really seemed to in-
vite a man to repose. ‘

He had a couple of cigars in his pocket,
and as he reclined at full length on the
soft turf, he smoked with a great deal of
enjoyment.

There was something lazy in the air, for
before he came to the. end of his first cigar
the sport was sound asleep.

How long he slept he knew not, but he
was abruptly aroused from his shunbers
by the sound of voices, high in anger.

“If you think you can make a fool of
me you never made a greater mistake in
your life,” cried a harsh male voice.

“ I am not trying to make a fool of you."
was the answer, in singularly sweet fe-
male tones.

“ Oh, yes you are! I can see now that
you don‘t care for me as you used to.
There was a time when I seemed to be all
in all to you, but now there are a dozen
around" you. and you smile upon each and
every one as swoetly as you do upon me."

“But, you don’t understand, Jack! I
am a woman in public life—a singer in the
concert hall, and it is necessary for me to
keep on good terms with the men upon
whom I depend for my money.”

“ Yes, I understand all about that. and I
don't object to your being polite and agree-
able to all of them; but I don’t want you
to neglect me,”

" Oh, Jack, I wouldn’t do that for the.
world. Just think what a good friend
you’ve been to me. ,

“ When father died, without leaving ‘a
penny behind him, remember how you
came to my aid. ,

" You gave him decent, Christian burial,
then told me that you would lend me
money enough to look out for myself un-
til I could find something to do. I

“By accident it came to the knowledge
of Paddy Flynn, who runs the concert
hall, that I was a good singer, and so he
made arrangements for me to perform in
his establishment.

“That gave me' a means of an honest
livelihood, but I esteemed your kind ofler
all the same.”

“ I wish I could be sure that you, re-
garded me with the same feelings now
that you did then. I

“ You gave me a promise to become my
wife, but stipulated to wait for a certain
time out of respect for. your father’s mom-r

ry. , ,

“Now, I think I’ve waited long enough,
and 1 want you to keep that promise, and
marry me right off.” .

"Oh, Jack, father has only been dead
‘two months, and it would not bcproper
for me to wed in so short a time."

“ Florentine, I‘m going to give you five
:minutes to decide about this matter," the
man declared.

And the sport, to his amazement, heard
the click of the. cocking of a revolver.

“ Hello, hellol” Gordon muttered to him-
:self as he rose to a sitting poture.

" I reckon this fellow Jack means mis-
chief. ‘ .

“He is one of those crazy loons who
had just as lief murder the woman he
loves as not.” , I

Then he“ rose noiselessly. 'to his feet,
stepped to the edge of the evergreens, and
pooped through them. ‘

It was a striking looking couple he‘ be-

held. »

The girl was a beautiful blonde of two-
:and-twenty. with wondrous golden hair.
"peach-like complexion, and glorious, great
‘blue eyes. \ . * ~

Her features were clear cut and really

I refined,'while in figure sho,was perfection
1m” . ‘ . - . 5»

.thing, and I can tell you any one had bet-

 

: N Then La Mothe and the

  

The man was a rather short, thick—set
fellow, with dark face, a full black beard
and hair of the same hue.

lie was well dressed, and was apparent—
ly one. of the representative men of the.
t0\\'1].

110 had his revolver out, and was threat
ening the girl with it, while she, seeming-
ly much terrified, shrank from him, re-
clining against a tree-trunk.

“ Yes, l<‘lorentine, I repeat, I am going to
give you five minutes to settle this matter
for good and all.

" 1 want you to get down on your bend—
ed knees and solemnly swear that you will
marry me before this week is out. If you
don‘t I will drive a ball through your
brain!"

As a rule Harry Gordon believed in at-
tending strictly to his own business, and
rarely interfered in matters which did not.
intimately concern him; but on this ocea-
sion he thought it proper to interfere.

There was something about this Jack
which gave him the opinion that he was
an extremely bad egg.

“I reckon he’s the kind of man that
ought to be interfered with on general
principles, anyway," Gordon concluded, as
he stepped through the bushes.

The sport had his revolver in hand, the
hammer up, and had the black-bearded
man covered before the latter was aware
of his presence. ,

“I 'hate to interfere," the sport said, in
a polite way, “but, don’t you think that
you are going a little too far in this mat-
ter?" -‘ l

“ Oh. my Heavens! He. is crazy!" the
girl cried, “or else he would never act like
this." , r

“0h, not exactly crazy—only a crazy
streak. Now, my dear sir, have the kind-
ness to put up that weapon. This little
shooting business isn’t going to take place,
you understand." .

Jack La Mothe, for so the man was
named, stared at the newcomer for a mo~
ment in impotent rage. .

He had recognized him as the new
sport who had come to the. camp on the
previous, day and immediately made a
reputation as a fighter, so was net anxious
to try conclusions with him, particularly
as the thing started in with all the ad-
vantages on the sport's side. .

He sullenly uncooked his revolver,
shoved it back in his holster, but exclaim-
ing fiercely:

“This is no concern of yours, and you've
no right to interfere!” .

“ That is nonsense;" the other retorted.
“You were threatening to murder this
young lady. Do you suppose any man can
stand by and listen to a threat of that
kind without feeling called upon to inter-
fere?" r . r

“But, really, sir, I don’t think he would
harm me,” the girl interposed. “We had ‘
a little trouble; he lost his temper, and
that wa all.” ’ . '

“Maybe so," the sport responded, rather
incredulously; “but, as you know the man ‘
and I don‘t, you ought to 'be a better Judge
than I am.” I

“ I regard. your interference as entirely
uncalled for,” La Mothe exclaimed hotly.
“And I can tell you that I am not the sort
of man to stand that kind of thing. One
of these days I shall call you to an ac-
count." 1,

“‘ That is all right,” Gordon replied,
phlegmaticaily. “I am used to being. called
upon to step up to the captain’s ofllce and
settle. so little things of this kind do not
trouble me at all.”

“ You made a bad break when you in.
curred my enmity,” La Mothe blustered,
“for I am one of- the representative ,men
of the town—a man who amounts to some-

ter have; my friendship than my enmity."

“Well. I reckon I will have ,to worry
along with things as they are.”

“ Florentine, you are not afraid to walk
back with me alone to the camp?" La
Mothe demanded of the girl. . -

“ Certainly not. 'I am much obliged t
you. sir." she said to the sport- 3

“ Don’t mention it." ~ .. r g
as departs

\

 

 

     

  
   

always managed to squeeze out by proving

. ‘fcorrect: that is my handle."

CHAPTER VI.
'IlHE MARSHAL OF THE TOWN.

The sport. watched the pair until they,V
disappeared from. view.

" Say, what is the matter with the air of
this camp? Is there something peculiar
about it which has the property of making
everybody want to light?

"I have not been here many hours,
yet have succeeded in getting two men to
regard me in such a light that 1 don’t
doubt either one Would be glad to wipe
the out."

Gordon shook his head as though great-
ly puzzled by the circumstance.

As he reached the suburbs of the town.
he encountered Sandy Jones, and to him
explained what had occurred, and asked
for information concerning Jack La.
Mothe. r r "

“ The galoot runs a small store, but he 
don't hear the best of reputations. There‘ ”
has been talk ’bout him and a gang of'
hoss thieVes, who hev’ tha’r headquarters
in the mountains .‘bout forty miles north.”

“I am not surprised at'your informa‘
tion, for I knew he was a. bad egg the very
moment I looked at him."

“Besides his store he deals in bosses,
an' has been hauled up with the round
turn three or four times for having stolen
bosses in his possession, but the cuss has '

 

 
   
  
    
    
   
   
 
  
  
  
   
  
   
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
   
   
   
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
   
   
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
   
    
   
  
    
 

that he bought the boss and gave good .
value for him.

“But that is all in my eye, and Betty
Martin. The thing was a fake, fixed up
between him and the rest of the gang".

“A delightful sort of a party,” the sport -
exclaimed; “but he’s Just the sort of fel- ‘ '
low to keep one’s eyes upon, for there is
no telling when he may attempt to strike
a blow in the dark.” ‘

Business was duller than ever that day
in the saloon, for not a soul was in there
with the exception of Jake, the landlord,
when the sport entered. and both of them
were half asleep when. into the apartment
strode a muscular, medium-sized man.
with a fierce face and an aggressive air.

He was well dressed, wearing high cow-.
boy riding boots, which came up over
velveteen pantaloons. His woolen shirt!
was an expensive one, richly ornamented ,
with silk.

A short-skirted black velveteen coat, and
a cream-colored, wide-brimmed slouch hat
completed his costume.

Marching up to the counter, he whacked
his hand upon it with an energy that:
made the glasses dance. “ .

“How are you, Jake, old man? , You:
blamed Dutchman, you are still alive, I
see, making money at the expense of good a
American citizens, when you ought to
have been used to put an addition on t
the graveyard long ago '- '

“ Gimme some whisky!”

The landlord hurried to comply with the
request, smiling at his customer aflably.

“Here you vas, marshal; der best in
der house." ‘ _

The new-comer nearly filled the tum- 7
bier with the potent fluid and tossed it,“
off at a single draught. ’

“ Aha! that’s the rankest p’ison thtit can "
be found in‘Utah!" the man ejaculated.’

“Jake, you cussed old Dutch fraud, the, .
citizens will .take you out some day and .
string you up to’a tall tree for‘selling slchr
bad whisky.”

Then he faced about and surveyed the
sport, without offering to pay, for his a
drink, nor did the landlord seem to expect:
it, for he put away the bottle andgiaso‘
and returned to his stool. ' '

Gordon had seen so many men of this ,
stamp that he was quick to detect: who;
and what he was. \ ’ " \

In the for Western mining camps _‘
where scenes of disorder frequently occur. ’
it is the custom to put in. one of the worst
men of the town, as marshal to keep order. ~ '
going on the principle of set a thief to,»
catch a thief. ‘ .‘

“How are,,ve?" the marshal said to)
the Sport. “I reckon you are the new:
card sharp that came to the toWn yester
day.‘ ,Your name isGordon ?". , "

maty name umber-ts, Blackmail

  

'3‘” ” r «.l“. . .,r,.‘.«,

l



., [I I I ,. fit  ‘ ,2  :r, '.

I I'Golds-Button‘ Sport.

 

 

 

 
 

crts, and I am the marshal of this yere
town. Jake hero can tell you that I’m one
'of the squarcst white men that ever shook
a pair in the air.

" I run this camp, and you can bet yc’r
life that there don‘t no outside cuss
dare to come in and proclaim that he is a
big chief while I am around.

_“ Then I keep the games in order, and
take mighty good care that no gambling
concern skins its patrons any more than
it ought to.“ -

f‘ The town is fortunate in having such
a' man as yourself to look after its inter-
ests. and I am glad to make your ac-
quaintance, Mr. Marshal.” Gordon said,
‘ with great politeness.

. “. Ah! that reminds me, I‘ve got a lit-

tle business matter to talk over with you.”
and Bill came to where the sport sat and
took a chair-by his side.

He dropped his voice to a confidential
whisper. '

“ I suppose you understand that as mar-
shal of this town I don't get salary
enough to make me break my back carry-
ing it around."

"No, I suppose not,” the, sport replied,
decidedly displeased by this beginning.
which seemed to suggest to him that
something unpleath was coming.

, ‘-“Of course, if a. man‘ attends to his
duties as marshal as they ought to be at-
tended to, he won’t have any time to g
into outside speculations.” , r
f‘I presume not." ' '
v; ’fNoW, 1 hit upon a little scheme. .1
look after all the game‘s, always stand
trendy to afford the’ saloon protection'ln
caseany drunken fellows should come in
and attempt to run the shebang.”

r “Yes, I see.” v '

: “And the saloons, each one of them._
p’ony'up a small sum a week as a reward
for my services." .

The sport nodded.' He knew that this
‘ v sort of thing was customary.

"‘;And then, too, the men‘who make a
{business of gambling generally whack up
with Inch—nothing to amount to anything.
"you understand, just five per cent, when~
iewer they happen to make big winnings." .,
i .11" the thing don‘t pan out well, they-
n’t payaanything.” ' ,

,fl'he sport looked wise, but said nothing.
" ." I'don't s‘pose you'd have any objection
0' gointo this little arrangement?" .

, . ‘ Yes, Than a most decided objection
*tonome to any such terms. ‘

- ‘I "don’t share, my gains ‘r with r'n'ny

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 
 

“‘ It would be‘abig adfiantnge to on to
b it, though; just think how mac ' help
could be to you if you, got in ary trend

9; , . H V.

 
 

 have'always been able to take pretty

  

ain’t going' to throw«*me down ‘80
(Eyes to make it necessary tocall upon
outside parties .10 r’ assistance.” ,y t ‘
‘Oh,‘,it‘sl all rig t; you needn’t-go-into
the thing it youdon’t Want to, of course,,'
 think you’ll come to the conclusion.
merorevyoufve been. in this camp long that
‘rouive made a mistake in' nottstandlng in.

   
  

me. , , . v ..
IfI. ain’t for smart, I qngenerally
or. understand; don't make any mis-

  

.' air-single hair's breadth'to dojyou.
amaze; ., I. "I .‘ z
" rm time .m y come when-things will.
fixed that. MarshalgBill. Roberts-
~‘do. a man aboutlyour. since heap of

~‘If“you“- Were putting up all-rt htyl
would jump at the chance to do it, at if
ithere‘ishh ary cash,.then_ 1’.’ walkstbyron'

'tlter steer x '   _  '1
.Wejccnnot trade, and that’s’all‘there

to it," athe sport said, decidedly“.

 
    
  
  

 
  
    
   
   
  

 

 
 

‘ ca of m self and I reckon this ,‘ ,
Op‘dp ’ re y ’ ‘ town there is a mining propertyknOWn

don’t say that I'm going out of 

.‘marshal rose, evidentiywery‘mueh. ’ .
, 'wm showtime. yogi have}. I

 

‘a pretty bad mans. As long as he vas
keep himself sober he vas not so bad, but
veil he tills himself 11p mit der neck mit
whisky 11nd turns himself loose. as he
calls it, d'cn he vas a holy terror.“

“Well, that's a pleasant. prospect for
me." the sport said, with a laugh. “The
first time he goes on a rampage he will
be apt to go for me."

 

CHAPTER VII.
TIIE MYlS'I‘IvC BAND.

It is night, with a new moon, which
affords ample light.

At the upper end of the valley, high up
on the hillside, is a solitary cabin.

No lights came from it, and yet it was
the point to which a half a dozen people
or more had gone or were going. ,

And, strange circumstance, each man
halted upon the threshold, drew a small
black mask. from his pocket, and affixed
it securely to-hls face.

Then he opened the door and passed
into the house. ‘

Inside the portal he found himself in-a
dark entry. in which was a single door.

At this door the applicant for admission
rapped in a peculiar way.

“How much?" came the inquiry from
the inside of the door.

‘-' All you have got,” the new-comer re-
plied. V

Then the door opened, admitting him
into a small, square apartment.

This man, whose movements we have
described, was the last to arrive. _

And he took the one empty stool in the
room. ‘ ' .

There was no furniture to speak of in
the apartment.

An arm-chair at the end, with a little

desk before it, and three stools on each

side of the arm-chair.

Six men, all masked, sat on the stools,
and'a woman, well proportioned, and ap-
parently young and good-looking. although
she was so closely vailed as to prevent a
view of her face being taken, occupied the

‘ arm-chair.

After the last man took his seat, she
rapped for order with ,a little ivory-
mounted revolver. , ' ‘ v

All paid her earnest attention, .

“Now, then, brothers, we are againvas-
sembled for. business; has any one. hit
upon a scheme'by means of which we can

. make a good stake?” ' .

. t “I think Ivhave," the man on her‘right
volunteered, and with 'an author's priv-

ilege We will reveal the fact that this man‘.

was Jack La 'Mothe. ' * ,
_ “Th'atis cheering intelligence, Brother

,A,” the woman responded; “suppose you

explain." . _ , v r
“ I will; About half a mile south of the

,as the‘Golden Elephant.

“There is something mysterious about
this claim, forxwhen it was first struck it
was reported to be very rich, and, thepar-
ties congratlfloted themselves- upon hav-
ing got hold of-va small bonanza. ‘ "

; \f‘Then she .petered. out, and,.altho_ugh
theowners went to ‘a‘ great-deal of ex!
.pense' iniputting in: new machinery, they
'couldn t make it pay, and everybody con-
‘nected with ‘the ' concern went broke.”

“ Yes, I‘ am award of the history ‘0£ the
minefi.‘ the woman observed. ‘ ‘

“ And/since'th'e original «owners-gave'up ’

iherchave behn‘a dozen; different parties
.«Whmha‘ve tried their handsonit, Wand
each and every one was cleaned out.” 

' " The property

parties with somanyclaims. ; j u  -,

2 “ At first the iaimants were .‘di'sposed‘ to

make ' a‘. hot; fight, . but as time .rwent. on

and the mine seemed .to- be worthless.

 'got'sick‘ ofkthrqwlng good money at-
r_ IV“. ‘ “Hr ‘g

  
   
 

""Bu't'flsomébody  been running.- the
he newline ‘monthsfi’tthe. wom-

mine for t
., who

  

'been way out'of the‘Way.

r has-been "in the hands ‘
-.of.,the law, too; there hava been so man ,4

,
\w.‘

i

“ He has kept it quiet, intending to buy
up the claims.”

“ I see; a smart business operation,"
the woman asserted.

“Now, then, this is the game which I
think We can play.

" We must tind somebody with a claim.
buy it, and then ‘jump’ the mine.

“ Once We are in possession of the prop-
erty it will take years to get us out. un—
less they can raise men enough to whip
us in a pitched battle.”

“Ah, well, that's a game that two can
play.” the woman asserted.

“ I reckon we can raise as many men as
they can, and I think the odds will be
big that. our men will be by far the better
fighters.” .

Then she looked around.

“ Has any one else anything to sug—
gest?" she asked.

“ I think I have a little thing that may
amount to something in time,” the last
man on the left of the woman promptly
replied. ,

“ 10 ahead!"
chief.

“ A new sharp struck the town yester—-
day—a man named Gordon, known as the
Gold-Button Sport, who made big win-
nings on his first night.

“ He's an extra good man. and it looks
to me as if he was one of the chaps who-
will soon be going around with a. large-
amount of money in his clothes.

“ It is my idea that if this happens it.
will pay us well‘to hold him up."

“Yes, undoubtedly; and we' must all
keep our eyes upon him. I

“ Brother A, you go ahead with your
scheme and report progress in three days-

“ That is all. Good-night.” '

The masked ,men departed, one by one,
leaving the Woman in possession of the
apartment.

“So Harry Gordon has at last found
his way to the mining camp where I have
taken up my quarters.

“ At last I shall have an opportunity to
wreak my vengeance upon him.

“He killed the‘ only man I ever loved,
and although I tried for vengeance in the
old time without success, for the man
seems to bear a charmed life, yet it will
not prevent me from striking at him
now.”

commanded the female

her hat,’ vail and outward‘disguises, re-
vealing u plump,.well~formed girl of twen-
ty-flve. . ‘ ' r -
Then, donning another but and a coat,
she went forth into the night.
She'descended the,hillside‘to the town;

to Paddy Flynn’s'concert hall. ~ ,
’ She entered with the air of'one perfectly
familiar with the premises. '
And. no wonder, for she was the princi—
pal'pert‘ormer. ‘ ' » > t
 Daisy Murdock she was called, and she
was one of the best song and dancear~
ti’sts’ that had ever been downin that secs
’tion «of Utah. ‘ . ,
I “.Are'n’t yer atther being a. little late.

prietor, asked. ‘
"‘ No; am I?" 1  ,
\“It’s afther ten, and you are booked to
go on at nine.” i ‘ _  ' "
“‘Ah,‘ yes; I see; my clock; must» have

" But 'these’little“ things

 

passed~through the concert .hall t
dressing-room in the rear. ’

   
 

  

.to the title; for it wastasnloon nd~ guns,—

iblingroom/ofythe‘ or

 
   
    
   
 
   
 

the gaming—house: , . . .
Just Latter the ,
Elttonflport strolled into the pine
7 “mere'msw 3.31.319 305118 .011 this
'in‘gg‘sd he Wash-“musing m If‘b
1p. the town's ‘* ‘ ‘

  
   

 

 
  
 

  

V v

 

He‘nauntered‘mrrtu‘fihem 
when: on; y 

The woman rose to‘ her feet, removed ’ '

and made her way along the main street... v

tonight-Daisy?” Paddy Flynn, the prof . ‘

V will‘happen”
‘sometnnésfl‘andiwith a light laugh .lsahe,‘
0_ er 

Alhough'l’addy Flynn called me place! 
a‘ concert ham-yet it: had’but Etc. claim ‘. 1,

' nry’Western type.
...In. rthe‘rrenrgrohth "apartment was-.21; . .
small, stage, curmined in, and upon: this _
‘three performers aroused the patronsifiofr  ‘y

 

     
       
      
   
   
      
       
      
   
 
     
        
 
 
     
       
    
       
      
     
        
        
     
      
          
        
     
      
        

 

    
       
  
        
   
      
 
      
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
   
   
    
     
  
  
   
   
 
  

 

fwztki‘ r w:. '

. Bantams... ‘

 

  

 

 

 

_ WMW .‘tiéfi‘fl..£alfwfla§d“fiifislub‘;'<

 

 
  

 

 

"him so" nick.

Gold-Button Sport.

7 .

 

 

friendly nods. which had the effect of
making him feel quite at home.

At the extreme end of the bar stood
Marshal Bill Roberts, conversing with a
stoutly-built, ruflianly-looking man.

“ You don‘t mean to say that you‘ve got
through up in the gulch?" the marshal
asked. ’

“ Yes. I am no man‘s slave. When the
boss tried to walk over me I wouldn't
have it. Then We had some words and I
was obliged to pound him within an inch
of his life."

“ You always were a. tighter, Dan."

“Yes, I generally hold my own. and
:now, marshal, i want you to do what you
can for me.

“I am out of: a job, ain't got. much
money. and am open to take anything."

Just then, the marshal happened to turn
and caught sight of Harry Gordon.

“Hello! there’s that blamed sport!" he
exclaimed

" 0b, is he the fellow that knocked out,
MoGinniss?”

“Yes, and he did it so easily that the
camp has jumped to the conclusion that:
he «is a perfect wonder in the fighting
line." .

“I‘m not so sure of that. I never did
have much opinion of that McGinniss as a
fighter.

“ He is a powerful, big fellow, and that
kinder scares his men. '

" I shouldn't be afraid to take him on,
and I reckon this here sport wouldn‘t
have an easy job in getting away with
me. '

The marshal was quick to jump at this
opportunity. . ,

” Dan, I will go yer twonty-five dollars,
just for greens, that you can’t whip this
sport.”

“ I will go you, you bet ye’r life.”

CHAPTER VIII.
. MORE TROUBLE. ‘

The marshal chuckled to himself at the
ease with which he had got the miner to
attack the sport.

“Mind you, Dan,” he said, “there isn’t
a. doubt in my mind but what you can
.get away with him, and, really, I am
throwing away this twonty-ilve dollars.

“But 'then you need the money mighty

 

‘bad, and it will a source of satisfaction

to me to see the man soundly thrashed."

“Oh! have you come in contact with,

him, then ?”‘ ,

“Yes. I made him a certain business
proposition. As marshal of the town, you
know, I can be a heap,,of use to a sport.

“ But he didn't see it, and -Wheu'a man
ain‘t willing to agree to my views I gen:
crally try to get a lick at'him if I can.”

" That is natural, but I reckon I can get
you all the satisfaction that you want."

" We want to arrange the thing, you
know, so that- it won’t appear like a put,-
np job," the marshal cautioned. ‘

“ 0h,‘yes, yes, I understand. Ifll‘iix it
so that it will' seem to be the most nat-.
ural thing in the world. [And I suppose
I’d better tackle him here before: he gets
out.” v ' , .

“ Yes, I reckon so." . . ,

“Keep ye’r eye: on me.” ., I

Then the miner made his way. to the
:faro table, where he. took a Wltion by
the side of the sport. but with his back
half turned to him. i n . I
~ He wasjiooking‘ behind him, as though

' expectingsome one to follow, but afterga

moment wheeled nrbund and banged into
Gordon, , . - ‘ a t ,
“Say! that was a mighty stupid thing
:i'or you tordoi” theminer exclaimed, an-
grily. ' x ' I r ,
“For me'to do?" Gordon echoed, in

.',Hamazement. ~ .“YOu' are .the one who did
'- the moving."

u.Jym’t you givenie anylback talk.” the
miner yelled, ferociously. V i ‘  : I
.“ I don't allow , no livi . - two-Inked

 ‘man to talk-back to me. an ifan'y gli-

hot‘tri‘ewa gumosof thntkind’l will smash
’ at’he will,- never know

» .~

But the sport was full of sand. and,
though he did not admire this sort of
thing, yet he always met: it nntlinehingly.

“I don‘t know you,‘ or anything about
you." the sport said, "but one thini.r is
certain. and that is, you are not going to
bulldoze me."

"Ain't yer going to apologize for run-
11111;: into me?"

“ i didn't run into you, so no apoloi. ' is
necessary."

"Then it‘s tight," and the miner began
to square. off at, the other.

“All right. I am your man."

But at this point l'addy Flynn. with a
big revolver, put in an objection. '

“ I cannot be afther allowing fighting in
here. (it) outside. and there ye can light
all ye like." ,

“ Come on, then," cried the miner;
"come outside and I’ll make a monkey out
of yer."

" Maybe you will, and maybe you
Won't," the sport responded, as he fol-
lowod the other through the doorway.

About eV'erytbmly in the, saloon trooped
after, much to Mr, it‘lynn's disgust.

The moon was high in the heavens, so
there was plenty of light.

The miner cast his but upon the ground
and rolled up his shirt sleeves.

Gordon removed his jacket and hat. and
also rolled up the sleeves of the fancy
white shirt which he wore.

“ You are a regular dude‘, with ye‘r
b‘iled shirt,” the miner sneered.

0“ But insideof five minutes, I‘ll take a
heap of the dude out of yer."

“ Well, if fights are to be won by blow-
ing, you are going to have everything your
oWn way.

“Without any exception, you are‘the
biggest blowhard that i ever met."

"Look out for me, l'm a coming!” the
minor roared.

And then he rushed‘at his’ opponent.

Right and left he struck, With terrific.
force. . « ’

Terrible blows, which would have done
a deal of damage if they had alighted. ,

But Gordon was by far too good a
boxer. far superior to his antagonist, to
allow the other to hit him. -

He hopped back, then to the right, then“
to the left, with all the case and grace of
a dancing-master. , ‘ .

For fully a minute'the miner pursued
the agile sport without succeeding in
catching him. ‘ '

Then in disgust, and pretty well out of
wind, he halted. ‘ " .

“ Yer mean, miserable, dancing-jack!
W’at do yer meaniby acting in this, way?
i“ This is 'a tight and not a foot-race.
Do you s‘pose I’m going to chase you all
over the camp?" '

.“ It’s plain that you don't know much
about boxing, for I have been testing your
qualities, .so as to get'a line as to Mint
kind of a man you are." ‘ v '

“ Whit oo- yer mean by this yere stuff?"

“ Simply‘this. I‘have taken your meas-
ure, and now’ I am going for you.”

when he sprang forward with the fury 101’.
a tiger, and planted a straight right-
hander between the eyes of the miner,
which sent him over on his back immedi-
ate y. ‘ . V t '
' The crowd yelled with delight, .for a
prettier blow no man. there had ever seen
struck. , 
The miner. was on his legs ag‘aini‘at
Hewas muons with rage, and with
murder in his heart, he rushed‘nt his man.
Then followed another foot-race: - t

or‘ dodging the henyy blows of thegother.‘
A couple of mu

almost breathless. ' , _
He was compelled tohalt. . »

'Whelming way..~ . ; , , , .. ‘ . .
couple of terrific blowsiand again
the miner went, down, thistimeyhorne

    

 

  

niggent to fairly knock the it

 

for?
h

Hardly had the words left Gordon’s lips I» i

r and that will have to'satist’yiyoW‘X

The sport seemed to delight in partying" ,

men, and the miner-was ‘

ThenvGordon rushed at him,_‘in his overa ‘

to the earth ,by' a stroke in 'theg‘chefi I r t‘ k: I ’ =' CHAVFFm‘Ix-z 

 Just ,over the heart_.~which'sée

This time it was fully three minutes but
fore the miner was able to get on his
legs again, and when ho rose he was pitif-
ing and blowing like a man who had been ,,
doing a deal of hard Work. .‘

Gordon squared oit' at him. and the. "'-
otlier. seeing only one chance for him to
accomplish anything, made a sudden rush - ,'
and clinched with him. . "4'

He had hopes to be able to do a little
better as a wrestler than as a boxer.

lint he was destined to be disappointed, I“
for after a violent struggle of a few ino-
ments the sport succeeded in getting him.
in a. position t'o- a "cross-butlocks.“ ‘ . , t 1-.

Then up into the air went the heels of ' ‘
the njner. and down he came on the flat
of his back with a force , that almost 
seemed to shake the earth. - r},

Again the crowd yelled their delight. ' "

And it was the universal opinion that
the stranger sharp was a champion of '
phainpions.

For a few moments the fallen man
seemed to be stunned.

And when the bystanders found that he
made no movmnent to get up they haste
ened to his assistance. . ir-

-They helped him to his feet. about as
thoroughly in played-out man as that camp.
had ever seen. *

“Bring me a chair, some 01' yer, won‘t:
yer, for I can‘t stand." ,

The chair was brought and the minor“ .
seated in it. , .- _ - ‘

“I reckon this here thing beats my
time," he muttered, between his long “
breaths. , v. .y ,

“I gin’ in! You are far too good a ma ‘
for me!" , . ' . _

“Are you satisfied?” Gordon inquired. ' i

“Yes, you’d better believe I am, and if g “x.
I ain‘t I ought to be; for I have got their 
wdrst licking that ever a man took in ,
this town." r - _

“ It certainly must be in-dmitted ‘thntk
you haven‘t had much show for your '
money," the sport observed, with a pee
culltir,smile’ on his lipe, 1‘but,you Were.-
the man who brought on the thing; I,
am a permeable fellow. I don"t want to,
fight anybody, but I can't allow myself to,
be walked upon." . . ’ . '

Then the sport resumed hls‘hat and
jacket and went down the street toward:
the hotel. \ . V U

But he went, not alone. - . y. ;1

No, he had a bodyguard of twenty odd f
enthusiastic citizens, each onset whom. 'V
talked at the same tiine','expressing‘Msr
admiration for the skill which theéotlrerr
had displayed. , “ 

So, whemhe entered th \ hotel, top’honest;
Jake’s astonishment, he as accompanied
by a. regular mob. ‘ ’ .. N ,  ,

There was a rush for the bar. ' a;  v‘

“ Mr. Gordon, 1 want you to;drink with; ’
me,” came in a. sort 0! chorus from the lip
of about all ofjthem. t, I 'r,

And each man wildly ’beckoned ,the*
landlord. ’ y _ s '
I '-G0rdon surveyed the crowd 10rd,, ,
mom; thenhe laughed and shook’hisrhead
“Gentlemen, I don’t really kaowwha,
kind of a man you take me tube; baths
there are about twenty of you bowl I
should attempt to take one drink wt
each one of you,-,I should‘have'n pretty .
extensive job onmy hands. , _ ‘

“But I will tell you what I :wliltrd
I'll take one drink with‘thc whole of yo

 

  
   
  
    
  
  
  
  
   
   
  
  
   
    
    
     
   
  
  
  
  
   
  
   
 
   
   
  
    
   
   
     

.]

     
     
      
  
 

 

 
 
 
 

      
  
  

 
 
 
 
  

    
 
  
 
  

 
   
  
   
  

 
   
  

 
 

   
 

   

 
 
   

  

As the crowd couldn’t .force the-spa , 4,
do ought contrary to his wishes, ‘
were obliged to "accept his otter. U.
I And while‘the liquor washeing

 
 
  

    
  
  

 
 
   

 

)sport in the frees: maunerl. ._ ,,
“ You, are the best man the ever
to ,thisaown,  Gordon,” cried one
“ Youfd better believe it!" ejaculat
other... ,- , 7 ‘  ‘
As the sport was a modest than 
didn’t enjoy this sort or thing, so he do.

ported notation in: possible. 1 . f p. ,

  

  

  

   
 
  

      
  
 

      
  
  

 
 
 

 

   
   
 

L;

  
 
 

 
 

 

,  Part1had-iméallervafiel‘

:9?! ’20“. 

 

. ( croW'dgwas‘ 'ild wit
for .11 '

 

nonfat 1

. U“

for the
1118’

.8.

 

 

They set off on their trip. from which
they did not return until dinner time.

After the meal Gordon was standing
by the bar. conversing with the landlord,
when suddenly came the sharp report of a
revolver.

’l‘he Dutchman jumped about a yard,
and even the iron-nerved sport started.

" Mine geotnessi V‘at yos d’ot'.‘ It was
upstairs!" Jake cried.

“ You had better go and see what the
matter is as soon as possible." the sport
 suggested.

. " Look out for the place, Moses," the
" landlord said to his assistant.

The two hurried up-stairs.

From one of the front apartmentson the
second floor came the sound of Weeping
and wailing.

The two men made a hasty entrance.
., - A sad scene met their eyes.

 . In the center of the room. flat on his

‘ back, staring up at the ceiling with sight;
less eyes. lay the body of a young, well-
dressed man.

Blood was pouring from a wound in his
forehead. and a revolver was just beyond
the reach of his right hand.

,Over the body knelt a handsome girl of
twenty. a bionde. neatl'y clad in black.
and she was weeping as if her heart
Would break.

. .» “Mine gootnessi v’at is der meaning of
dot?" the Dutchman questioned.

“My brother has committed suicide.
Rendered desperate by misfortune, he has
taken his own life. It was done in a
moment of despair. and before I could in-
terfere to prevent it."

“ 0h! d‘is vas a bad piece of business,"
the host affirmed. "und, my tear young
iadys. this is no place for you. Mr. Gor-
don, vill you haf’ d’e kindness to put the

_ lady in number nine. und tell mine Vite.

_ aii apout id?”

‘, “Certainly; glad to oblige," the sport
' replied. ‘

" 'She was reluctant to go, but: Gordon
had a persuasive way with him, and at
last she yielded.

«nThe landlord sent at once for the doc-
tor. the coroner, and the undertaker, and
I inside of an hour the coroner's inquest
' , was 011. ‘ ,

. Sulphur Bar had a speedy way of deal-
 ing ,with such cases. ,'

, The pair ,were brother andsister, Wil-
l but and Frances Underwood by name.

' They, had arrived in Sulphur Bar that
morning. coming with the expectation of
.being put in possession of the Golden

Elephant property; but the young man
\found that, in lace of holding the fee

simple of the m e which be supposed he
, ’had purchased, he only possessed one of
the disputed claims, which had been in
., the hands of the law so long.

3' He was almost penniless, for he 'had cal-
' culated upon stepping into a good business
, as‘soonas he arrived at Sulphur Bat-z.

;  The shock of the discovery crazed young.
1 Underwood for the time being. and in his

V

   
     
  
 
   
   
 
  
   
   

  

. other world. v .

” ' --The'coroner's jury had no difficulty in

finding a proper Verdict. and late that at-

ternoon the remains Of the unfortundtc

man were consigned to mother earth.

‘ The sister had borne up well under-the

trying circumstances. and Mrs. Hoffman

remarked toher husband that she was a

very plucky little‘woman. . ' ”
Just before supper Jack La Mothe

  
  

  

  

an interview with Miss Underwood.
The lady went to the parlor and the
landlord escorted the’ visitor to that apart-
ment. i “
 The sport was
heard, the request for the interview.
"1“,Now. then, what is that fellow up to?
Eitvis 'none of my business, of course, but
Ker once ln my life I am curious, and I
w d like to get on to the game. ‘
The girl is a stranger in the town. so
course it is not possible that he can
have. any business with her. , '/
I“Hold on. though! I forgot'about the

  

   
  

  
   

 
  
   
  
  
  

 

thatfhissnake to oh 1:

is going in

  

madness he rushed needlessly into- an- I

called at .the hotel and craved. the favor

in the saloon andover- ,

mine. She’has an interest in know that ‘ ,
hérzbwther is dead, and’the {chances-are  ,w

I Gold-Button Sport.

I Gordon sprang to his feet, a trifle. ex-
cited. .

“If this is the truth, it Would be a
really outrageous performance."

Then he meditated over the matter tor
a few moments.

“ As a rule. 1 keep out of all affairs of
this kind, having all I can do to attend to
my own business, but I reckon i‘ll have to
make an exception this time; this girl
shall not be robbed while I am in the
camp."

The. call to supper interrupted the cur-
rent of the sport‘s thoughts. and when he
cattle out from the meal the landlord
beckoned to him in a mysterious manner
and whispered:

“ You go tip-stairs und make some talk
mit mine. vife.”

" Certainly." v

Never had a man come into the hotel to
whom the landlord had taken such a
fancy as to the sport, and he had intro-
duced Gordon to his better half the second
day of his sojourn—ea privilege he rarely
extended to new customers.

Hoffman conducted the sport to his pri-
vate apartment.

Mrs. Hoffman was a plump little Ger-
man woman. but, as sh had been many
years in this country, s c spoke English
as fluently as a native.

After the caller was seated Mrs. Hoff-
man began.

“.Mr. Gordon, I hope you will pardon
me for troubling you about a matter
which really does not 'concern you at
all, but Jake and I talked the affair over.
and, as far as We can see, there is no—
body else around .who can do anything
with the matter.”

“Ah, yes, I understand. Since the job
suits me I ought to take it, no matter
whether it is any concern of mine or
not. ’

“ It concerns this unfortunate girl.
thrown so suddenly helpless upon the
world," explained the matron.

“ You mean ‘ Miss Underwood?” the
sport .asked.

“Yes; she has a claim to this Golden
Elephant mining property, and, judging
from her statement, her claim is about as
good as any of’ them if there was only
somebody to back it up."~

“ As a rule. when it comes to a fight
over a mine the backing is even more im-
portant that the claim.” the sport ob-
served, shrewdly. ‘

“ Now, the main. reason. M . Gordon,
why I have gone out of my way to speak
to you of this is that I fear a gang of
sWindlers have marked her for their prey.

“A man named Jack La Mothe, who
does not bear the best of reputations,
came to see her this afternoon, saying
that he was the agent of a syndicate
which wanted to buy her interest in the
Go on Elephant property."

“- ram acquainted with this Jack La

who will bear a good deal of watching."

“Of course, the girl was taken com-
pletelyvby surprise, and she has been so
overcome by her brother‘s death that she
was not prepared to pay much attention
to business matters. a

.“ This She explained to the man. but he
was persistent, and, told her that the way
business matters were driven ahead in
towns like Sulphur Bar did not leave
much room for ceremony. . , , ,

" The syndicate was prepared to pay her
a good price for the property. but she
must make up her mind in a day as to
just how much‘she wanted. ~

“Although the girl wasstunned‘by her
great sorrow. 'she‘ had sense enough not
to give him‘a definite answer.

.“ 1p fact; she could not, for she had 'no
more idea of what it is worth than if it
were! situated in the moon.“ ‘

r “ In my opinion. this man will not deal
fairly with her,” the sport affirmed. “He

' is a wolf, pure and 'simp‘ie. going'abOut

I

seeking whom he may devour." I
“‘Wlllyou not undertake her, cause,
Mr! Gordoni?’ the, hostess asked, implor-

 
  
 

 

ponded the sport; im-
“han t; robbed

Mothe, and am. aware that he is a man-

' same time the sport plucked‘the revolver '

 

CHAPTER X.
AFTER INFORMATION.

Miss Underwood, acting on the advice
of her newly-made friends. the honest
Dutchman and his wife, declined to sell
her claim to the Golden Elephant property
to the syndicate represented by Jack La
Mothe, whereat that worthy retreated
from the hotel greatly enraged, for, in. ’.
truth. he had calculated upon the girl’s '
ignorance to secure the claim for a very
small stun of money. »

Meanwhile Harry Gordon proceeded to 3 5;
Examine into the Golden Elephant mat- .f “3
er. ‘ ‘ '

First. he set Sandy at work, explaining
to him that he thought of taking an in-
terest in the claim.

He instructed him to get all the partic-
ulars possible in regard to the property.

“I can easily do that, by pretending
I want to get a. job there. If they take
me on I’ll be all hunky; if they don‘t.
then I'll get a chance to talk to the work-
men, and you can depend upon it that I'll
find out everything worth knowing.”

The sport took an early opportunity for
a visit of inspection to the neighborhood
in which the Golden Elephant mine was 4
situated.

It was about two miles from the camp,
and located in a little valley. through
which ran a streamlct. making its way
from the mountains to the Virgin River.

The sport went up the gulch to the mine
itself, and there had a conversation with
the man in charge—a middle—aged gentle-
man, named Robert Manchester/ :1 very
pleasant, well-informed person. '

From him Gordon received a full his-
ttfi'y of the many vicissitudes of the prop«
e y. . ‘v

“I am only a receiver." Manchester ex-
plained, “put in by the court to see that
the property is taken proper care of un-
til the title is decided upon.

“Under the circumstances, of course, I
have not attempted to do much work-—
only to keep ‘things running. and see
that the more valuable machinery did not
suffer. ‘ ‘

“But it is my opinion that the mine
could be made. to pay if it was run in a.
proper manner.” ‘ .

“Things sometimes turn out in that-
way. Amine which has ruined ninemen '
will, once in a while, make the fortune of
the tenth,” the sport said, as he departed.

On his way back to the hotel Gordon
meditated upon the situation. ‘

f‘As far as I can see, nothing can be
done until the lawsuit is settled,” be. ob-
served. " If thelavt’vjrdecides that she has
any claim, why I 1 do my best to help
her get it.”, .  '
p The hotueward trail ran through abroken
country. covered with evergreens, dwarf
oaks and scrub pines. and just as Gordon
uttered the last word of the sentence a
sharp report of a reVOIVer rang out upon
the clear, stillt air, auddown went the
sport, all in a'hettp, with a groan, while . I
out of a clump of. evergreens sprang a.
dark-bearded, evil-faced ruflian.‘ '

He was poorly dressed,'almost in rags.

In his hand he held a revolver, and a
grin of triumph was on his ugly face.

“I knew I Could do the trick. although
it. wasa long shot, but I reckon there
ain’t many better men around with a re-
volver than I am.’,’ ' . ' ,2‘

Reachng the side of the prostrate man, '
he muttered: ‘ , . 2'

“ Let me see. I will have to carry some! 5
token that 1 have done the trick, accordl 5
ing to the agreement. How would it do
to cut [off half a dozen of, these pretty
gold buttons? It don’t "seem ‘to me that I
could have anything better.” I

Then hewput his pistol in its holster,
drew his bowie-knife, and knelt by the
side of the sport, butbefore he could put
his, hand on a button an astonishing trans- ’
formation was wrought. ,_ ' t . .,

Gordon made a spring for his throat’n'ndi '
bore him over backward... theshock foren 
lug-the. knife from his hand. andnt.‘ the .

 

 

 
 

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from the, belt and cast it

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prisoner, held to the earth beneath the
strong knee of the sport.

“ Blazes!” growled the man, in supreme
disgust. “ I reckon that yer ain't hurted,
arter all.”

“You are right. I am not. As you ob-
served, it was a long shot, and I can tell
you that it would take a revolver cham-
pion to hit his man at such a distance.
As you are not a. champion shot, your bul-
let went wide of the mark."

“Yes, blame. the luck!" the ruflian
growled. “ I don't see how I could possi-
‘bly make so bad a job of it; but, by gel!
you went down as if you lied been
plugged right through the heart,"

“ Yes, it was my little game to have the
thing look like that. I wanted to entice
you within my reach. It was my desire
to make a. prisoner of you, and then force
a confession."

“ You won’t git no confession out of

.me," the Indian averred, sulkily.
" “Now, don’t go to making any boasts,
for you cannot make them good. You are
here, helpless, in my power; you have at-
tempted my life, and so I am perfectly
justified in taking yours."

Then from a secret pocket, in his waist-
coat the sport plucked an eight-inch bowie-
knife, which he waved before the eyes
of the disgusted tough.

“Now, then, do as I say, or with one
blow 1 will drive this weapon up to its
hilt. in your neck and speedily send your
soul to another world to answer there for
its owner’s crimes."

The prisoner took one look up into the
resolute eyes of his cnptor, and then weak-
cued.

" Hol’ on! For Heaven’s sake don‘t be
in a hurry,” he gasped. ~

“Will you give me the information I
desire?"

“Sartin! bet ye'r boots! do yer s’pose
I’m an idgit, to throw my life away for
nothing?” i I

“ You are a wise man to complywith
my demand. Now, then, what is the
meaning of this thing? As you are a
stranger to me, there certainly is no reas-
on why you should attempt my life, so, of
course, some one must have set you on.
Make a clean breast of it and I will let
you go, otherwise I’ll use the knife.”

“That‘s a bargain," the ruflian ex-
claimed, cheerfully, and then proceeded at.
once to his wnfessiou.

“Wal, I hain’t got much to tell, and I
reckon yer won‘t gain much information
out of it. You may be able to pick up a
clew, though, which will put yer on the
right track.”

“ That is my idea; so go ahead.”

~ “I am a stranger in this camp,” the'

man explained; “only arrived last night.
I didn’t bring with me wealth enough to
nstonish anybody in Sulphur Bar; in fact,
1 was pretty' near busted when I got in.
‘ “ I hoofed itall the way down the river,
'so‘it wai after nine when‘I arrived, and,
being a stranger, I went into the first
good-looking saloon I saw, in order to
find‘out how things were running.

“It was Paddy Flynn's concert hall
that I struck—an angel who put up
the drinks like a major. Not only that,
but he said if 1 came gourd in the morn-
in he would git me a o ." i

‘g‘ You were singularly fortunate," the
sport observed. dryly. ‘

“cI reckoned so. i I came out of Flynn 8

lat twelve o’clock, when the concert hall

‘shut up. On the outside a little man.
not much more'n a‘ kid, axed me if I
wanted a job. ‘Yes,’ sod I'. ‘Aré you par-
ticularrwhat you do as long as yer git
mighty well paid for it?" ‘Not a mite,
"says I. ' ‘ '
“Then he explainedhow he wanted a
‘man named Gordon wiped out. ‘ Said he‘d
:give twenty-five dollars" for‘ the job—ten

' in advanceyand fifteen When the trick

iwas worked, and that's all thar’ is tothe

thing. ‘ ‘ I I i I A
-‘“I don’t know the man, nor anything

about him, except'I reckon he is a mighty

big no of yours," n , i . r
,u " hen are you'to seethev party to get

11 icon (301183?“ ' i'
f - ' : Paddy Flynnn, at

   
   

ni ht outside .

  

 

 

temperate ,man. * y ‘

The sport had watched the tough nar-
rowly while he was speaking, eager to de~
tect. signs of treachery, but was satisfied
that he had spoken the truth in what he
related; so, to keep his promise, Gordon
released the tnan and rose to his feet.

“You are free to depart," the sport
said, as he did so.

“Kin I git my weapons?"

“Certainly; I don’t want them. and a
man of your stamp would be helpless
without them.”

The rufl‘ian now arose from the ground,
secured his knife and revolver, and
slouehed away down the trail.

“That. fellow is a human wolf, und
when one like him is killed the world is
better om"

 

CHAPTER XI.
GETTING AT THE TRUTH.

Gordon watched the tramp until he dis-
appeared around the bend in the trail,
then he followed slowly ai‘tcr, keeping a
wary lookout. ahead, lest the tough should
make another attempt upon his life.

Gordon, happening to glance to his right
in the direction 01‘ the foothills, thought
he saw Sandy Jones making his way to
the main trail. ,

The sport‘s face lighted up, for he. had
taken a great liking to Sandy, although he
knew the man was one of the biggest cow-
ards that ever lived, but. he was shrewd
and faithful, and the sport felt sure that
what he said could be relied upon.

Soon Sandy came up. He had ascer—
tained all the particulars in regard to the
Golden Elephant property, but nothing be-
yond what Gordon already knew, with the
exception that the ore which was 'now be
ing turned out was a great deal richer
than the. receiver‘was willing to admit.

'.l‘o Sandy the sport explained the peon-
liar episode through which he had just
passed, whereat the miner was astonished.

“ Why, I didn‘t reckon yer lied a fee in
the town so anxious tor take ye‘r life as
all that."

" Neither did I. It was a complete sur-
prise party to me,‘ and although I captured
the rogue I wasn't able to get much in-
formation out of him.”

“ The thing seems to center about Paddy
Flynn’s concert hall," Sandy observed.

“Yes, and I haven’t had any trouble
there except with that big miner whom I
knocked out.” , ,

“He wouldn’t try a. game ofthis kind,
for he’s not a man of that sort,” Sandy
declared, positively.

“ That is my idea. A man of his stamp
might attempt to kill me himself in a tus-
sle, but he certainly would never go to the
trouble of hiring any one else to do it.” ‘

“Well, I reckon the only way yer kin
git any information about the thing is. for
yer to go to Paddy Flynn‘s and take a
look around. Mebbe you might see some
body thnr’ whose face would give yer a
dew.” \

Not a bad idea, nnd 111 try it. Did
you notice the peculiar description which
the man gave of the party that hired-him
—a. little fellow, like axkld?” ,

“Oh, yes: I tumbled to that right off.
That "pears as if it were a. "woman in
man's. clothes.” 1

“ Yes, it certainly looks like it." .

By this time the hotel was reached;

“ Come down to-night after supper, and
we’ll try‘our luck in the detective line,"

Gordon requested. Then the‘ two ,sepa-r
rated. \

lu‘ the saloon Gordon found a man Walt-
ing to see him—a tally-looking individual,
with features that suggested that he came
from Israel’s ancient race. _ t
His clothes were rather the worse, for
wear, but he had such a brigltt,;almrp

look that no one would have suspected him ‘

to be a man in need of money. ~ .
He greeted the sport in the most otfusive
m‘anner. , v I .
“My dear Mr. Gordon," he exclaimed,

as he‘shook hands with'him warmly. “I,

am truly delighted to make your acquaint-
ance. ‘ Will you have a drink with mel”;
. “I don’t mind a glass crude.”  >

Gordon, like all flint-clan ports, was

 
 

' “but. mitielgootnem, you could not «loans??-

   
  
   
    
  
  
    

~ vo‘rked tw‘o or three times petore.”
_ t I! W

 

   
  
   
  
  
   
  
  
  
   
    
  
   
  
  
 
  
   
   
  
 
  
   
   
 
 
  
   
  
    
   
    
  
    
    
   
   
 
  
    
  
  
   
  
 
    
   
  
   
    
   
 
    
 
     
    
    
  
   
  
     
   
 
     

“My name is Levy—Moses Levy," the
other explained, ‘as he led the way to the
counter.

“Two glasses of ale, Jake," he ordered.

“ I happened to be in the street on the
afternoon when you had the little discus-
sion with Mickey Metlinniss. and I was
amazed by the case with which you han~
died him."

“ Yes, McGinuis was an easy mark,"
Gordon observed, as he sipped his ale.

“Then, .too, 1 was in Paddy Flynn‘s
when you had it out with Dan Black. I
know Dan. and I know that he‘s a mighty
good man.“

“ Yes, I do not doubt that. he could hold
his own with any ordinary individual."

“But he didn‘t stand any chance with
you."

By this time. they had finished their ale
and Levy drew the sport oil‘ into the cor-
ner, where the pair took chairs.

“Now, my dear Mr. Gordon, the idea '
of a gigantic speculation has come into my
mind. it you and I go in together We
can make a barrel of money.”

Gordon looked a little incredulous.

“A few words will explain. i am a
speculator, Used to going.r into all sorts of
enterprises. and, as a rule, they usually
turn out extremely well. 

“ Now, then, you posScss a most wouder- v a {it’s
ful talent as a boxer. I never saw any 
one who could hold a mndlc to you, and I '
don‘t believo there is a man in this town,
big or little, who could get away with

ou.’.' '

“Oh, I don't know about that," the sport
dennu'red. “There are a great many men
in this camp, and some Samson may be‘
among them without any one knowing it." ‘

“I‘d be willing to risk it. Now, then,
this is my scheme:

“ Although you are a champion in the
boxing line, yet no one would take you "to ,
be to look at you, and there‘s where the
monkey part of the game comes in.

“ lucvery camp there is one unit» Who
is regarded by the rest as the champion.
and his friends are willing to back him‘
with their last dollar.

“ Now, we’ll take in these camps, one by, .
one. You can whip the champions, and
 gather in the ducats by the bucket-
HNot much,“ responded the sport, in the

0st decided manner. “I wouldn’t go

to agents of this kind if there was a. ’
million in it. I am no prize-tighte , and
I never have anything to do with a fight. ‘
if I can possibly help it. V v

“ I cannot allow people to walk over me. . c
though, and it' it is either submit to bar "
kicked or fight, I will tight every time."

f‘ Oh, yes. that’s correct, of course.” said '
the other, very much disappointed at the-
prompt rejection of. his offer; ‘fbut. my. '
dear sir, I was led into the error of think» 
ing that boxing was a sort of a trade of
yours on account ,of the number of lights
you have had during the short time you
have been in this camp.” i 
4 “ The number of tights—yes,” the sport”.
exclaimed. with an air which showed that :
he: was greatly annoyed; “the very dent: -
seems, to have been in the air ever since I
struck this camp. I am a ‘qulet man. I
always avoid trouble, but on these 
glans}; was utterly impossible fonme to

050. , _ . t i“

7“ Yes, yes, I see; I am sorryyou can‘t ,
see your way clear. to go into'thiu little "
scheme.‘ Oh,\what a lot of money we;
could have made!" ‘  g. ,-
t Then he invited the sport ‘to Mather! ft
glass of ale. which Gordon declined, and '
the speculator departed. ‘ i i -

\

 

     
      
       
    
  

“V’at wit you did d’at man vanti’i‘thef
landlord asked, as the sport crossed'vtho
saloon on his way to his upstairs apart ,
men. . , ‘ 
6630111011 explained the errand ,ofjwthe/
er. ! I  .
'“ It 11215 a- big‘idea,“ the host 

   
 
 
    
        
      
  

 
 

  

thing mlt d'ot mans. for if you succeeded .
in making Me or three thousand tollar‘s
he vould, some dark night, run or! mit‘ 
tier, cash. D’ot ish der game which he‘ll“

    
  
   
  

   
   
   

, as longas 12m not goingto 
 9 doi- witmhim, it doesn’t not:

    
   

   

,_. m.

 I -« 4 

 

 

 

 

 

tcr whether he is ll. rascal or an honest

man."

The sport passed upstairs to his room,
where he. took a nap until supper-time
came. ‘

After the owning repast Gordon lit a
cigar and sat outside on the porch, but

‘ soon was joined by Sandy Jones.

Gordon looked at Sandy in astonishment,
for he had made a radical change in his
appearance. His hair and whiskers had
been trimmed, so he could be no longer
termed .a hairy man. He had on a new
pair of boots and a new hat.

" Hello, hello!“ the sport exclaimed.

“You must have struck a good stake some-
where." , V, .
 f‘Yon bet I did—twenty-five dollars!"
- 1 'Sandy responded, with a grin.
-. “I was up to the Big Injin mine last
’ night, and a cuss that" thought he could
play checkers. Now, sport, I ain’t boast-
ing a bit when I say i am as good a
, checker player as can be scored up in a
day’s journey in a civilized community,
Whar‘ they know what checkers is.

“'VVell, this galoot thought he knew it
all, and so, by handling the. thing careful-
ly, and not allowing the man to see that
he‘was no match for me, I got twenty—
flve dollars out of him before he concluded

was time for him to quit.” -

“ It was a lucky rind for you.”

“ Say, sport, ’bout this yere visit to-night
to Paddy Flynn's shebangl”

"“ What of it?" ,

 . " I put in some time today in and around
ethatlthar': place, and although I wasn’t
able to get hold on anything to amount to
I ythlng, yet I am satisfied that when We
Ego; there we go into an enemy's territory.
Sol reckoned we’d better hev' the support

I a small army at our back." . ‘
Gordon looked surprised. . '

’ 1

 
  
  
 

  

  

  

  

 

  

 

CHAPTER XII. .

IN THE CONCERT HALL.‘
“ Yes, siree, a small army!" ,

9 port laughed. r . .
, surely, Sandy...yon don’t expect
we’re. going down there to fight a pitched
battle?“ ' , f ,

no, it’s not quite so bad as all that,

  

  

I I. u 
ibutv‘I’m satisfied there’s something about
,theatr of that place which makes it un~
wholesome for you.

"Now, then, suppose the two.of us go
ere. Yen are‘all wright'as a lighter, or
course, but an’ybody that knows anything
fabow: me understands that when it comes'
a scrap I am generally among’the miss’i

  

-

  

” My idee is that the parties at Elynn‘s
who have it in for yer won’t be apt: to,

. 18m)
fphow.’ , . - , -, ,
Under such conditions I would have a
1'6 time of it, you think?” - 'r '
gilt That" is Jest what I‘am calculating: so
when I got the thing through my nodule
, went'in to‘see if vI'couldn't.‘ even the
4Mg-an’ ~ ~ . I .
‘ ' “illhe notion was added one,”,the sport

   

on yer sortha't yer won-"t ,hev’i'no
’ .

  

  

have trouble, try to start in with the
y' : tages on your-side." ' V , '3 I,
The idea of the army came tonne,
g fits-iithapp'ens, I am so situatedv'thatt'
. kingit‘any quantityvot galoots,, good
“fighting, men; who will be ‘ glad to lendme

he! ghand." ' i' v ' 
*9, t 113906."! ‘ ‘ r 

You see, sport, I was one' of the round:
hrs of this yere camp. and the reason why
‘ phln’t well fixed now is'becauSetI am one
 those happy-go-lucky fellows who puts
Winnie time in attending to his neighbors'
" ln'bse'than to;his oWnl’ I 
.1 think, you are correct ,
to or Iyyour character, ‘and Ithat is the
mom ,‘w you haven‘t-got a dag}?  r
mou‘bét! If a man- was;sickrin camp ‘
fliers volunteered to take care ottihim'. '
 , although that kind 'of good Samaritan
Whammy hereafter, I'll be blessed

11. doessnow.”  5 "  7 4 V

Winds a melancholy mi .‘3 . 

But that sort of intrigue
x r 

  

    

    
  

  

  
   
   

   

  
   

 

Y quiet little game for your own amuse,

gla’ yer‘much chance for ye’r'llfe—a crowd :

remarked. approvingly; fi‘it you have got -
 ‘tThis', thing was So sudden that all/in the‘

‘ the first ugly man, and they at once made

" six were booted through the door in} the
I , ., W
in your esti~ "

‘ hopping aboutwith his big revolver,,terri-
bly anxious for the safety of,: property, V, :

.  ctheSesix; en; all
mademenhi 

 

Writthtne‘camp. are 11 and.
‘ vethwsarbedr Wit . Bi

the boys to do half as much for ’em as I
kin." ,

Gordon nodded assent.

“ So it warn‘t no trouble for me to raise
the army. 1 jest went to ten good men,
one by one, explained that we Were. going
to drop into Paddy Flynn‘s concert hall to—
night at nine o'clock, and as I had a kind
of a sort of an idee thet that" might be
trouble, they would be conferring a
mighty big favor on me if they could find
it gonveuicnt to be in the saloon at that
time, ready to take a hand in the fun.
Each and every man said he would be
glad to oblige me, and I might depend
upon his being on hand."

“Well, with ten incn at our back, we
ought to be able to hold‘our own easily
enough." the sport remarked.

The two sat on the porch and smoked,
and chatted until nine o‘clock; then they
departed for Paddy Flynn‘s. and once
there, Joined the throng inside. Paddy
Flynn took pains to come from behind the
counter to shake hands with the sport
and express his pleasure in beholding him
in his establishment.

The. tone of the Irishman was a genuine
one, too; he meant what he said. Gordon
was too good a judge of human nature
not to detect this, so it was apparent to
him that if he had/ foes in the concert hall
the boss of the place was not among them.

“ Wouldn’t ye loikc to be afther trying a
little taro, Mr. Gordon?" the Irishman“
asked. "We run a square game here, and
every man can be at'ther depending upon
getting the worth of his money.”

“Yes, I rather think I will try a little
flyernt fao, to pass the time away,” the
sport assented; "but I‘m no fare player,
you understand, Mr. Flynn. ' I make no
pretensions to being an expert or a. high
flyer, who goes around trying to break
faro banks.”

" Yis, I comprehend; ye jest play a nice

ment.” .
, Then the landlord was called away, and
the pair proceeded to the fare table, where
they helped ' themselves to a couple of
chairs and Gordon began to play. , '
'In spite of his disclaimer, no man knew
any more about the. game of faro' than
Harry Gordon—understood it from begin-
ning to end—knew, when the odds were
greatest against the player, and when the
bank stood the least chance”:
- Of course, in} all games of this kind a
deal depends: on luck, and if a man does
not have a fair run of luck. no skill or
trickery will 'availhim. . ‘ i
As it happened, on this particular night.
luck was running slightly against the bank,
and most of‘ the players were winning." V
The sport ,kept on until eleven o’clock.
By that time he was a hundred ahead,
,andbeing satisfied with that, he cashed
in his cheeks- ' . ~
As he rose from his seat he was con-
fronted by a‘bnrly ruflian, who exclaimed:
“Going'toplay the 'baby act and skin
out for fear you‘ll lose what ou’ve' won?"|
’ time 'promptnes’s with w eh Gordon‘s
right hand shot out was astounding, .,
The ‘flst landed full up the colossal,
ose'ot‘therrinfian, and sea him’reeling
cross the room: only the interference of
the‘wall saved-him. from falling. ‘ "

saloon: 'gaped with amazement.
’ Then there came a yell of rage from'
five rough-looking fellows, counterparts of

azsimultaneous rush upon Gordon, but the
“army”, wasonhand. r v , V’
I Sandy’s fighting'nion grabbed. “them,
curred them, choked them, and finally all,
,most'vigorous‘manner. , . .
The work was done in an 'astomshingly:
quick {period of time, and Paddy Flynn,

 
  
  
   
  
 

gotino chance to interfere. ‘ . ,
1. “Well this‘is about the'mos't astonish-
ing thing warmer/happened to me,” the
sport declared. i. “Whattne‘deuce unique-'-

7

  
 

icy-angers. attack main

   

- x

are all strangers to me. I never was
afther seeing one of thim in me place be-
foch’

"It certainly was a carefully planned
game. The men were here in the saloon
for the purpose of attacking me, and they
took advantage of the first opportunity
they could make."

" 0h, yis; nary the taste of a lie in that;
but the game didn't wurk, though; never
did I see six min so nater beaten." ,

Gordon happened to glance around, and
caught sight of Jack La, Mothe scowling at
him a couple of yards away.

“Is this your work, Jack La Mothe?"
Gordon demanded, angrily.

All eyes wercV'now directed upon the
pair.

La Mothe was bothered at being thus
brought to book in presence. of everybody,
and hesitated.

“Oh, come! Speak out, man! Don‘t
hesitate! ’Don‘t attempt to crawiish.
Speak the. truth and shame the devil."

“I don’t know anything about it!” La
Mothe declared, sullenly. “Why should I
seek your life? What reason have I to
desire your death?" .

".None whatever, that I know of, except
that we had a little difficulty out on the
hillside the other day, and you were
pleased to make some threats," Gordon re.-
sponded. .

“ Yes, I know I did,” La Mothe asserted,
frankly. “I was angry at the time, and,
like. most angry men, I made a donkey of
myself, but I can tell you right now, in
presence of all this roomful of people,

' that if you don’t die until you die through

acts of agents of mine, then’ you will live
forever." 3

"Your statement is certainly a satis~

factory one," the sport assented. “I be-
lieve it to be true, for there is no reason
why, you should seek my life."
“New, happening to glance toward the
stage, the sport saw the three performers
who were gr0uped there, watching the
scene going on in front.

There Was the old negro comedian who
played the banjo and told ‘the funny
stories to make the audience laugh: Flor-
entine’ French, the balladist. and Daisy
Murdoch, the serlo-comic and song and
dance. , .

Gordon caught a good view of Murdoch’s
face, and immediately a remembrance shot .
across his mind. ‘ '

“ Hello! there is a fade. I’ve seen before,
and under troublous circumstances,” he
muttered, . ‘~ '

.“ This is a matter which will bear look-
ing into. Oh, have you got a variety
show here? I reckon I’ll have to take it ,
in,” and, Sandy and the “army” follolwing,
all marched doWn and helped themselves
to front seats. , r

CHAPTER XIII. ,

, a FIGHT IN THE NIGHT.
Never was there a performancefiappar-
,ently, more hugely'enjoyedr.‘ i . ' ' .

It only'lasted half an hour. ,,’.l.‘he sport
did not seemingly pay any more‘attentio'n
to 'one ,of the‘ performers than to- the
others. . - v ' ~

Yet in reality he made’ a close study or .
‘thc'song and dance woman, Daisy Mllr—V

 

1

oc .

But, after the‘show, was over, the sport
rose from his seat fully as much in the
dark as when he sat down.  : '-
H‘I have seenvthe womauhefcre," he

muttered, as, with his companions, he pro- ' 

ceeded'to the front of the house, “and‘alw

thoughl cannot place her, ',I am satisfied ' . .

she'has been comiected with-some un-.
pleasant. episode in my life'."   ‘

vThen, e‘idea suddenly‘ycame' to him
that'it would be the proper thing to invite

‘ thewtv‘army'i'IWIid‘ had‘ come- so 'nobly' to

his ,- rescue,» to take ‘something, -so' all
ranged ;up along
Jpst as this emony'

ima'n hurried into the ‘saloOn. r

p f“ Say,” you. .Gordon,~thar’is going to,
trouble when ,you get outsidegtor“ them‘ 7‘
tellers who were kicked out ‘ ,.
'way doyin, the‘stréet, ' d '

 

   

   
 
  

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was. concluded a _ L5

 

    
     
    
      
     
   
   
   
         
     
       
    
         
     
    
   
       
       
          
       
    
 

 
     
       
         
    
      
   

 
            
   
        
         
       

 

    
      
   
       
     
   

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and give thorn a chance at us," Gordon
remarked.

"Ef thar’ is only six of ’cm, we are
strong enough to eat 'em up, body and
boots,” Sandy declared.

" We will not take any unfair advantage,
but will giVe them a good show for their
money." the sport asstu‘ted, as he led ‘the
way out into the open air.

The moon was high in the heavens, and
all objects Were almost as visible as by
daylight.

The six ruiiians were about a hundred
and fifty feet down the. street, hiding be-
hind some empty drygoods boxes,

“ Aren’t you fellows satisfied with what
you have already received," the sport
asked.

“ Not by a blamed sight," retorted the
man who had brought on all the trouble;
“you had your fun in kicking us out of the
saloon, and now we reckon we‘ll havc‘ours
by ,iilling. some of you full ot.‘ bullet
holes.”

"A game two can play at," the sport
rejoined, "and now,'although you did try
to take an unfair advantage of me, yet,
I'm going to give you a square deal.

“ We have twelve men here, just double
the number of your party, and it’ we all
pitch into you the chances are that you
will get pretty badly whipped.”

The ruflians looked at each other. They
hadn‘t any idea that their opponents were

, in such strong force.

In the confusion of the saloon tight there
had been no opportunity for them to note
how many there were of the party Who
had put them out of the concert ball.

This announcement, then, took them
completely by surprise

The sport waited for a moment to allow
his statement to produce due effect; then
he went on: .

“ You want satisfaction?”

" You bet!” responded the ruflian.

‘ “ I am willing to give it to you. I will
take five men, and with them give you all
‘ the tight you want, so come out from be-
hind your boxes and stand up, to the rack
like men." .

“Oh, yes, we kin do that, every time,"
the bad man said. as he. stepped forth into
the middle of the street with his com—
panions. '

Gordon then proceeded to select his five
men, which was no easy job, for none of
the "army" were willing to miss the pic-
nic. = ’ - '

r'l‘he. selection made, Gordon and his
picked five took up their position in-the
middle of the way. '

'Late as was the hour the altercation had
attracted at least a hundred people; who,
from sheltered posts, were prepared to en-
Joy the tight. . . p

“ Now, then, are you ready?’ the sport
called out. , '1 » '

“You bet,y’e“r boots! Come on as soon
as‘yar like, and we will 'wipc yer out!"
was the vain-glorious reply.

" Now, boys, I calculate t
fellows all up' with ’on’e- c urge, for I

‘ . reckon'they arenot the stoutest soldiers

in the world," explained Gordon to his fol~
lowers. , "We wantto start in with a yell
and keep it up. Don’t fire a shot, though,
until I give the word; then let them have,
,.a regular volley. Just remember to aim
low, for in the night a man is always apt
to overshoot his mark.
t" Now, .then, are you ready?”

“Ready!” came from the five, in‘a -

chorus. . _ ..

“ Go for them!” » , I.

' With a series of yells the sport and his
. men rushed forward. V  t »

Th‘ six .rufllans were wondering at the
delay. and, each and every man of them
jumped when this outbreak took place.

“They're trying to scare us. boys, but
don’t ye be frightened,” the leader of the
party warned. “Just hold vye’r fire until
’they git wellwithin range, and then we
. will .plug ’em full’of holes." '

This” was excellent counsel—better could.
not have been given—but it is no easy.

matter to hold six month line, with six
,mor ‘1 charging down upon them, yelling
use, lid, Indians. ' ~ ‘~

   
  
 
  
  

  
  
 

a couple 0

break these '

got the idea that they were within range,
and so opened lire.

»’l‘he attackers paid no attention to the
shots, and it was not until they came with-
in scventy-iive feet that the sport gave the
command "Fire!" ‘

A. regular volley followed. .

Although the range 'as rather a long
one for night work, yet two of the bullets
took effect, and two of the toughs went
down. i

This was quite enough for the others,
for they took to their heels immediately,
fleeing to the right and left and making
their escape behind the houses.

The fight was over, and the bystanders
were disgusted, for this was not the sort
of thing they had calculated upon wit-
messing.

When Gordon and his followers reached
the side of the fallen men they found that
one. of them was the big fellow who had
acted as ehiet‘ of the party; the other was
a small, red-whiskered man. ‘

The. big tough was groaning away at a
great rate, but the red-whiskcrcd man Was
only uttering a series of low sighs.

To the experienced car of Gordon this
was a very bad sign, for it indicated that
the man was hard hit. .

“ Are you wounded?" asked the sport of
the big fellow. ’ I

" Yes: I‘ve got a bullet through my
shoulder. and I reckon the chances are
great that my time in this ‘world is very
short." . ‘

“Oh, not so bad as that, I nape," Gor-
don said, encouragineg. .

“ Have you any friends in the camp who
will take care of you?"

“ Not a soul. I don't know anybody in
this yerc town. I never was here before.
I’m from Maryville; but I hope yen folks
have got charity enough not to let the die

like a dog." .

“ Don't you worry about. that,” the‘sport
answered, immediately. “I will see that
you don't want for anything."

" Part1, ye'r' a clean, white man, and no
mistake," the tough averred, gratefully.

“ But how is it with your pard beret”?
Gordon questioned. “Judging from the
1way he' is breathing he is pretty severely

urt.” ,

“ Yes, he ain‘t acting as if he'd come out
with a scratch." .

An examination of the wound of the red-
whiskered man revealed the fact that he
had got a bullet through the lungs; and as
there was no outward bleeding, Gordon,
who had had a deal of experience with
gunshot wounds, came to the conclusion
that he was mortally wounded“ ~

“We must get a stretcher for, these two

mom/and have them carried to the hotel,” .

Gordon decided. .

It did not take long for the boys to rig
up, two contrivancés ’upon which the"
wounded men could be carried; then the
procession started for the hotel. I

Thesport craved shelter for the Wound-
ed men from the landlord, explaining that
hewould pay all the bills. 2 -

“ Oh, (fat was all righdt! Mine gootness,
v'nt kind of a man do you (ink I vas, my
tear Mr. Gordon? ‘1 would not ‘vrefusc
them a bed of I knew I vas never going to
get a cent for it,” the honest, Dutchman
declared. » ‘ ' ' ‘

The two men were brought into the

hotel ~tindgiven separate beds ln‘a large, ‘m

comfortable room. , , ,
The. doctor had been senior in' haste,

and, happening to be in town, he was able

to come immediately. . ~ « . I .
He was an old, gray-haired, gray-beard;

. ed (ex-army surgeon, .with a bluff, dog-v

matic way. _ I ,

First he examined the big rufllan. .
‘ f‘ The bullet’sin the shoulder just under
the skin; email with any gymption could
cut it out wit 'a penknife, ' and.’thi_s"he
the wounded man, who prote'sted that he
was being murdered. ~ . V . ., 4*

6A .pinsomtch-

nothing mot'e!" ‘ .t ' ' ‘ ‘ ' ‘ ;
patient. ‘ _ _ .. h V
. “Ah! "mists ,a .‘far'mpre -

 

or got "within
1 he mfllans

«proceeded to rlo,,in spite of the howlsofi
“ Poohi, Nonsense!
Then he turned his attentiomto the‘o
The bullet is inthe lungs, a th

 
  

cover why the. men had fought; the core-t

a wanted sixgood men to comedowfl’

if . 

CHATTER XIV.
THIE CORONER TAKES A HAND.

The citizens of the town were consid-
erably excited when they heard the par-
ticulars of the street light.

The big fellow, whose name, by the
way, was Frank ltoberts, was able to be
up and about the. same as if nothing had
happened.

The coroner was called upon to take
charge ot‘ the other. lie was a miner from
Maryville, and ansWercd to the name oh
Lew Walters. '

As soon as the particulars of the. affair
were made known, the coroner issued war-
rants for the arrest of Harry Gordon and
the live men who had been with him in
the street light. >

‘Warrants were also issued for the arrest.
of the other four strmrgers, but no one ex- 5
pected that any of these men would be _.
caught, for all believed they were many
miles away from Sulphur Bar long before
morning came. -

The coroner went ahead with a rush,
characteristic of the way in which he did
business. - ‘ » ‘

First, he identified the man; then the ‘
doctor described how he came to his
death; the minor who had‘brought the 4
challenge to the street light testified in ., ..
regard to that fact; then Roberts related
how he had marshaled his men in the cen—
ter of the street, and described the my,
and how he and his companion had ecn
wounded. ,

Gordon was the next witness. He told
the story of the fight from his standpoint. «

Then followed the other prisoners, one"
after the other, each man telling his own‘.
story. '_

A couple. of bystanders described what
they had seen of the melee.

Then the coroner went into a cross-ex-
amination in order to discover, if possible,
who had fired the fatal bullet. I

Of course, under the circumstances, this
was a clear impossibility. 

There was a volley of shots, fired by sin
men—only one bullet was needed to do'
the killing—~iircd by a single man, or
course; and while it was not possible to
say which man that was, it was equally
impossible to lay the crimic to all six of
them. . ~ . u '
, This problem did not worry the coro-
ner's jury at all. They retired, and dellb-‘
erated for just five minutes; then they re-
turned with a verdict that the man came.
to his death by a bullet fired by some par-
ty unknown. , ‘ 

This let the six prisoners out, and‘they
were discharged. ‘ ' ., r '

During the examination, it will beon
ticed, there was no attempt made, to dis-

    
    
  
   
   
    
    
 
   
   
   
   
     
    
    
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
     
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
   
      

’which he had no right to go. I . .
At the hotel Gordon‘took Roberts aside,
“I reckon you won’t be troubled more

than a week with your wound.”

' “That’s what the doctor says.” . .v ; t
“ Welh; you needn’t trouble yourself
about your bill here; I’ll settle that for

you-"r .. T  -. *

“ nch' obliged," Roberts exclaimed,-

gratefully. “You’re a white man”, clean,

through.” v . ' " _-
“ And now I want: you to tell mewthy.
it was you and your companions attacked.
e." .- - ,. .

- ‘t Why, we .were hired to do, it. 1!,

course,” Roberts . admitted, apparently:

much astonished that there should be 

question on that: point. . , ,
“ Hired by. whom?" ~_ ' , ,
“Blamed et I know." . ‘ r ' v 
“How is that?” ‘ . . .

. " Well, it won't take me but a min

or so to tell yer all about it. ,  
“Up in Maryvllle one‘ night I was a

ousted by a slim little teller who axed in

it I wanted a job that would pay «me at
provided I wasn’t particular 'aboutt,it?-:.=I,
told hun‘that I was just hankering for!

such jobs Then he explained that: h,

ner conSidered this a private matter into

   
 
     

   

   

   

  

   
    

 
 

  
    
    
    

 

  

  

   
     
     
   
  
 
  
   
  

  
 
  
 

 
    
 

  

   

  
   
   

  
 
 

  
   
 

     

   
    
  

   

 
  
  
 
 
   
  

    
 

  
  

orb
to'suiphur Bar. and die a man up.“ 
would give twenty-live donors apiece.» ,_
.{in'ndvanceono manner: the job w ‘

  

  
  
 
   

  
  

 

 r . .
Luce ted. when can 7

  

.yyli.

 

 salsa... 3pm."

 

and explained how you were to he jumped
upon in Paddy Flynn’s concert hall."
¥ “ This doesn’t give a man much of a
, clew to the man who put up the job on me."
- - “It don‘t, for a fact, for I‘only saw the"
fellow for a moment, in a dark corner,
and I’ll be blamed if I think I would be
able to recognize him if I saw him again."

. “ It's mighty unsatisfactory, but, sooner
 V or later, I'll get a slew.“ '
 The sport went outside on the porch and
1‘. sat down and lit a cigar, and while. medi—
 tating over these strange attacks, a well-
dressed young man came up.

“Havo I the pleasure of addressing Mr.
Gordon?"

“ Yes, sir."

“ Mr. Jefferson Parker would like to
 have you call upon him at his store as

soon as convenient.”
' . “Jefferson Parker?” echoed the sport, in
. a tone of inquiry.
v “Yes. he keeps that large, red-front
store up the street,” and the young man
pointed out the establishment.
' “‘ Yes, I see, and that’s Mr. Jefferson
Parker's store?”
“ It is. The largest in the place.”

' “‘ Well, I don’t remember to have ever
'made Mr. Jefferson Parker's acquaint—
ance.“ , ‘ r
“ Oh, no, you never have, and that’s th
reason why he wants you to come. down to

the store." '

»“ Umier the circumstances, then, I
reckon that Mr. Parker had better come
and see me, ,if he wants) to, make my ac-
quaintance,‘for I’m not in the habit of
going about subject to any ,man‘s beck
nd call." ,

The clerk was apparently much puzzled,
and then'his face suddenly lighted up.

"a": ‘ I: comprehend," he exclaimed.
“You do not understand that Mr. J eflerson
Parker is the president of the Lawand
Order League.”

,No; I «was not aware of the fact, as I
m a stranger in your town.” '

‘Ij presume younnderstand now, that
whener.‘ Parker sends for a man he gen-
,m‘ily, comes," the clerk said, with a laugh.
“Maybe so, but here ,is one man that
will not go.”

    
    
  
  
   
 
 
   
 
   
  
   
     
   
    
 
    
   
  
    
   
 

  

  

 
 

Wehment.‘ ' .
, f‘Oh, yes, I do. I don’t know anything

  

~agsinst me.” . .

ins sure41he',will bewery much aston-

  

May . so. -I , don’t knew anything
at that. «This hotel is tiny-headquart—
and any one “who wants to seegme
fusually find me here." , , '

i “rile clerk nodded, and bin-tied away. *' ,-

fiordon' watched him until he entered
"red-front store; . , . 

now, what on. earth'is this Law and
league..iand whyrhas it got utter

  

  

   

t

  

‘ , s attention to a couple of drunken
' ws down. the street, who were midi:
Wolves ridiculous. . " i , 'r - V
"- " gazing upon them, he’ heard his

   
  
  

mil man, with a mil brown bea ,
\' I'dr‘essed,‘ andt‘bearin
. us" shopkeeper. '

any

     
 
 
  
   
   

w fwith you.”

     
  
   
  
  
   

 "the'vsportjrqse to his test.   4
you will come With me to. my room,

 "t—‘will'answer admirably}? :  : v‘
" Siapo'rt led the way to his. apartment,

seated,‘tendered hiinia oi . ‘

 
 
  
   

“y we. are conifer ‘efi'n the spa
j “and you can i K

   

*Ynudon‘t mean it,” fin [profound as— '
bout your Law and Order, League. I .
aren’t run up‘ against it, nor has it run.
'i’ei Well, I will report to'Mr. Parker, and

£113wa man‘ht a fresh-dgar'land‘,

smiledgand tuned to beholdablg, v

~ r’of‘a'
 in t» .i; 'ithere'isnit,anything,‘be
, (31933110!) Parker, and would I
ha 9» the pleasurerot apersonai

' . minimum 1’ am'tat yam caviar. y
 1
hotel, we can converse there as long :
,m‘e" ,. . .. .
'  “chair- for his Visitor, land-{artery

, you: I don’t. mind; responded...
eeer '4 .‘ v‘ V  : 3
also in one; and, helped, himseit-

store-keeper spoke in a tone intended to
he earnest and impressive.

" Yes? Well, I‘ll have to admit that.
you’ve got the best of me,” the sport re-
joined. "I don‘t comprehend what you
are driving at."

“My clerk informed me that when he
told you I was the president of the Law
and Order League it did not seem to make
any impression upon you."

“ No, it did not. .Why should it?”

“ My dear sir, the Law and Order
League is the organization which runs this
town of Sulphur Bar."

“ How do you make that out? Where
do youryalcalde and your marshal come
in?“

“The alcaldc is a very nice fellow, who
makes a fine ligtu'e-head and attends to all
the routine work of his oflice nicely, but in
the event of a grczitcrisis 1 fear he would be
found wanting, and as for the marshal, he
is a man upon whom very little depend:
ence can be placed. As long as he is sober
he is all right, but a very small quantity
of liquor transforms him into a bowling
ruflian." ,

“ I Wonder at the citizens putting such
a man in so responsible an office." ' ,

“Because the rufllan element ruled the
camp until the Law and Order League

arose. , ___._.
CHAPTER XV.
, PLAIN TALK. ’

“ Ah, yes, I begin to comprehend,” Gor-
don asserted. "The Law and Order
League is a secret organization which sets
out to rule the town.” ’

“.Yes, my dear.sir, that is a correct
statement, but, you understand, it is a
power Which is not apparent as long as
chl'ything goes on smoothly.

“ Of course, except in the time of
trouble,‘ when it would not be possible for
‘ the regular oflicers of_the town to handle
the matter, there. would be no reason for
the, existence of a Law and . Order.
League." . V I

The sport nodded, and from the look on
his face it was plain that he didn’t take
much interest in the revelation. \

,“ You are a stranger in Sulphur Bari”?

. “Yes.” .. t ‘ .

. “May I ask if you intend to remain here
for any length of time?” .

“Yes, youmay ask, but that is all the
good it will do you, for I? cannot giye you
any information.” ’ i

“‘ How? Don‘t you know whether you
are going' to stop here or not?” . ‘ .

‘ \“No; for that depends upon circum»
stances entirely beyond 'my. controL. 113
events take ‘a certain courste, the chances
are that-I will remain; if they donut, then
,Ishall he ohiigedto depart.” '

Parker shook his head vin‘ ‘an amazed
way.~ He began to get/the idea that the,
sport was making game or him, and he.
;didn’tlikelt,‘; ' ' W , ‘ ,
gfiSo he ’tried’a freshmen » ‘ 

- “You are agamblerL I~believe?";‘_ , 
; The sport lofked surprised.‘ a * 9 ‘ ‘

f“ Oh," dear, oi ' I am aspeculstor.”

““A speculator in what?’  t i“

‘ -.--“ In anything and everything in which
an honest dollar can be made.“ ' ’

9‘ Chieay in painted pastebo‘ards, I feel;-

'on,'?' Parker declared, with a sneer. ,
" “ Well, I do sometimes flip a. card when;

tter. on hand": ‘the
sport-admitted, «' 7 “ w " ' ~

, "’I have watched  car or withconfi:
'sidarsbie interest-and it str keg me that
:. ouhave contrived-to g‘et ’yOurseirinto a

 

 

  
    
     
 

,‘igreat deal ,ot trouble since coming to this
3; I i I, .',\\ ‘ L v ‘

-. camp.” 1,

> u osryesj; r haweahad :a little- difll ty‘.
.hnt'a “man 'must expect that sort‘ot thug
,in thistlife,.youlknow.i" - ‘ ~
'Were engaged, cost-Is human lite!)
‘“ It 'W'

  

  

mama-,1 had no morefto. downs, ringing;

. when you;

 

you red

. . this has: astray, Zip . which'_ at .

, I an unfortunate thing; and: 
'dsepiy‘regret it ever occurred; youiwhen,
you come right down' tothe truth of the. .

 

by every law, human or divine, I was
justified in using weapons.”

" It was a very unfortunate
Parker persisted, in a solemn way.

“The principal members of the Law and
Order League have been talking the mat-
ter .over with nie,and we have collie to, the
conclusion that you are not going to be a
very desirable citizen.”

“Well, now, I am really sorry to learn
that they have arrived at any such opin'
ion, particularly as I am satisfied it is not
justllied by the facts of the case."

“ My dear sit, the Law and Order
League never stop to argue in an affair of
this kind," Parker informed, a little arro-
gantly.

“Oh, yes, I see; you just settle the mat-
ter off—hand, and let her go,” in a tone of
supreme contempt. ‘

Parker winced, but went on:

“ You are a gambler in reality, although
you profess to be a speculator, but card-
playing is actually what you depend upon
for a living. Now, we men of the Law
and Order League think we’ve got gam-
blers enough already in Sulphur Bar, and
I have been appointed a committee to wait
on you with the suggestion that we think
it will be better, both for yourself and for
the town, it‘ you could find it convenient
to locate somewhere else."

“Couldn‘t think of such a thing for a.
moment,” responded the sport, with a
businesslike air, never betraying the least
Sign of feeling.

," No; I‘m going to settle down here with
you for a while, and unless you have made
up your mind to oii'er some extra induce-
meat, I don‘t think 1 could be persuaded
to get out.” ,

affair,"

Parker was all attention; the speech

aroused his trading instincts.

“ What sort of , an inducement?" he
asked. , .

“Well, if‘you Law and Order fellows
were to club'ln together and raise a‘ purse»
a good-sized purse of, say, five thousand
dollars."' , ~
I “ What a crazy proposition!" Parker ex-
claimed, in a rage. "Such a thing is ut.
terly ridiculous. The citizens wouldnever
listen to it." ~ ~ ‘ - -

“ I know the ante is ratherhigh, and I
think myself the men would be a set of
donkeys to‘ go into it, but under no other
conditions will I leave, thetown until I

get’good and ready to do so.” '

"‘ Have you counted the cost of this re» "

fusal?” the other asked, in an insinuating
way. _ v , ,
“No; for I’m not aware that there is.

any 'cost to it." »

“Ah, but there is, as I‘ll'soon show you;
By refusing to comply with .our sugges—
tion you,ch enemies of master the‘in-

fluential men ‘01 the. town,- and'theynl be

ready, at) they'er first chance, to go for
o . ' ' i - ’

“Aha! There’s the pointif’ thelsport re—

plied. “‘At the very first chance,” and.

Gordon emphasized. every word. “You

:haye to get the chance, ,an'dithat, .I calcu-

late, is Something which you will not he.
abloto do!” ,  ‘ '; ‘. , ’
"Owing to aeombinatlon oi." circum-
stances, the like ,0: which never happened
’to me before, her 'tozany' other worth}.

,man, *I, reckon, II have“ had an extra»;
ambunt of 'trouble since coming to this-‘ '

camp, but there isn't one or the difliculties
'in which I have becomednvolved-in ‘which

it canbe said With truth  I was‘the ag—j

gressor. ‘ V _ ' ;. l ' 3 ., , .
film this last strait,- machine's might be
made,v-but when it is considered thath

had firewall-known citizens as myycomg V  ‘

Deniers. and italwas guiifiy‘L-they We,
guilty. £06.. the Charge  not 1191mm! - ..

1

 
   
 
 
  

» uParker ,wasgpei-plexed. ,Theretwas no- i  ;
‘ hen megaherthei - 

   
  
  

    

 

 
     

 

       
   
     
    
     
     
       
 
         
       
      
 
      
     
    
      
      
    
 
 
   
  
     
     
    
   
    
     
  
   
   
 
   
   
    
 
    
 
 
  
    
 
 
 

 

 

 
  

 

 

  
 

 

 

 

“-40.... .0...” ........-...,. ._ mm...“ ,.. ...-...,_ I

 

 
  

, 13“

 

Gold-Button Sport.

 

that you can't work a game. of this kind.
it you attack me without reason my
friends will rally to my defense."

“Your friends?" the other echoed, in
..-imazenieni. "Why, how can you, a
stranger, have any friends?“

" My dear sir, it is plain that you do not
know the temper of your own citizens. I
have succeeded in knocking out some pret-
2i,,v good men, and a man who can do that
sort .of thing is a champion, you under-
stand, and a champion is never without
friends."

"‘ Possibly that is correct," I‘arker ob-
served, as he rose to depart. “I don‘t
know whether it is or not, so I won‘t say
anything about it. I will say, though,
.that it is my opinion you will find you

have made a great mistake in not accept-

1!

ing our advice.

Then he marched forth.

Gordon indulged in a contemptuous
laugh.

“ Well, I must say, that that follow is
the greatest donkey I’ve run across for
many moons. ,

“ Really, of all the arrogant, overbearing
men that I have encountered lately, he is
the chief."

The sport then descended to the saloon,
where he found Sandy Jones.

Taking him into a corner, be related to
him all the particulars of the interview,
with Parker.

“What is this Law and Order League,
Sandy? Does it amount to anything?"

“ Oh, yes; the. best men in the town are
in it. But I don't think that you need to“
worry. This Parker is a little-too-prevlous
chap, and he and some of the others who

.are inclined to go off at halt-cock got up

(his little game." -

" I don‘t think I shall lie awake nights
thinking of Mr. Parker and his warning.
I always do my best to keep within the
law, and it is very seldom indeed that I
.have any trouble with the regular authori-
lies.

" Of course, if I am in a‘ camp where a
general rising of the citizens takes place,
and they decide that no sport can remain
within the limits of their town, then I
never say a word, but depart with the
rest.

“ But, Sandy, there is something mighty
.strange about this particular warning, and
the more-I think of it the more I am puz-

:zled," Gordon said, reflectively; “it looks to

iue as if some nnderhand'work was at the
bottom of it." . ,
Sandy pondered over the matter for a
few moments, and then,'with a shake of
his big head, remarked: .Y .
“Blame me, sport, if’ I don't believe
you’re right;
.ahind it.”
,“And I will take immediate measures
10 heat that game. They will go for me
on the. first occasion, on the ground that
I am a gambler, but‘ in a couple of hours

I I’ll be working at a job.”

CHAPTER XVI. f
A NEW IDEA.
The two were seated at the far corner of

.the saloon, and, a there’ was little,trade,'

they were able toconverse without dun.
ger of being overheard. ' .

“Going to have a job in two hours,
hey '3" Sandy repeated, within grin. x .

“That‘is my calculation, and if I am
puttingin a good eight or ten hours' work
daily no one has any right to call- me a
gambler if‘I play cards a few hours at
night. See?" ‘ ’

"‘ You are right thar’, by hockey!” Sandy;
“Why, that little game would-

exclaimed.

‘beat theirs all to'pieces! It wouldn’t be

possible for anybody; to say a word.”

“ No, I fancy not. I have come to this
down to stay a while, and I intend to do it
in spite of~-.ll the Law and Order-Leagues
in the world. But now I 'must go and
hunt my Job." the sport'sa‘id, risingxf

“I’ll go with yer, if ,yer,don’t mind,”
offered sandy, "for I have a‘cnrlosity to

:see what you will strike.” p “

2“ Come on!" ‘

. , r 9 , .
 _ \ZThe‘two proceeded to the streetm‘ 

a (so; spyiaea; in regard-to- thefkind or 8.
figs want?" Sandy asked. f ' ‘ ‘

_m at

there is an omery game

 

particular, pm a must be

 

one where the work stops at nightfall, so
as to givo me my evenings to myself."

At this time. the two were in front of a
cobbler's shop, and Sandy, saying he need-
ed a patch on his boot, they wont in.

The cobbler had a good-sized shanty,
and sat in the middle of it, surrounded by
a pile of old boots and slices :1 foot high.

He was a middle-aged inau, with iron-
gray hair and a short heard of the. same
hue.

Being quite bald, he had more the ap-
pearance of a judge than a cobbler.

He was really a superior man. having a
good education and much worldly expe-
rience. .

His name was David Cami.

"How are ye, Dave, old man?" Sandy
saluted, in his usual familiar way. “I
reckon I’ve got a job at eobbling for you
here."

“Well, I reckon, Sandy, my boy, you
will not get it done," the cobbler replied.
"Do you see all this wealth of leather
scattered around? There are twenty-live
men ahead of you; and now, Sandy, my
tulip, what chance do you stand 1‘"

“ Mighty poor, I reckon," the miner ad-
mitted.

“ Ifyou are so driven by work you ought
to get an assistant to help you," the sport
suggested.

“I would be glad to if I could only pick
up such a thing."

“ Why? Are cobblers scarce?"

“ You bet they are? Seal-oer than lions"
teeth!" the old man averred, “and I am
so pushed just now that I'd be willing to
take almost anything in the shape of a
cobbler, no matter if he hadn't had much
experience in the shop."

“ Well, I want a job, and I'd be glad to
try my hand at cobbllng, but I‘ll say to
you, frankly, that I've nevor had any ex-
perience. at all. Still, I am very quick at
picking anything up, and I don't see any
reason why, in the course of a few days,
I could not he of some use to you.“ ,

The old man lay back in his seat and
fairly roared.

“ What, you, Mr. Gordon? The cham-
pion of the town take a seat on a cob-
bler‘s bench?’ ’

“It does seem rather odd, doesn't it?
But I have a good reason for so acting.
There are wheels within wheels, you
know," the sport intimated.

" Oh, yes; I’m aware of that fact.”

“I have. contrived to incur the enmity
of certain men in’ this town who are going,
to make it hot for me if they get the
chance.”

" Yes, I readin understand how a man
who has made the success that you have

will have plenty of foes.”

“When my enemies get ready to work
their game, the main point they will make
against me is that I am a. gambler without
a visible means of occupation. Now, if I

am in here with you, learning the shoe-’-
making trade that accusation ‘wlll not

hold water. See?!" .
“ Yes, I see!” the cobbler assented.

, “ I'm a greenhorn, of course, but I‘ll do
my best to pick up the trade as soonas
sslble.” . r l A

" I will be glad to have you come,- Mr.
Gordon, and I don't doubt that in a week
or two you will learn enoughof the trade
to be of considerable help to me.

“Now, in regard to wages? You. want
to work this thing. right, you know“ It

you are learning the shoemaker’s trade as'
a means of livelihood, you cannot aflordto-

work fornothing." A ; -
' “That is correct." the sport agreed. ' .
I ’Thecobbler rose to his feet and showed
how he had divided the apartment. The
partition in the comm made two rooms
out of. it, twelve by ten eachu 'I‘hefront
one was the shop, and the rear. the living
apartment. ‘ , .- _ .
. In the latter were two comfortable

bunks, a small stove, and a general .assort:

ment of household furniture, such as a
man keeping bachelor’s hall would require.
“You see, :I am, pretty Comfortably situ-

   

     

ated}? the‘cobbler observed, “and I give " r
you toy/word that if you .take.,upyonr
charters with. me you .th not suffer. 7.

  

' ’ “him-I. fancy nonetor you out
flyoustarved-yo to r”

,- 'iiy. “Your curiosity is perfectly'msturalt

-maker replied, .“and I trust to be chiefs;
bi

‘beat my time!"

 

The, cobbler laughed in his hearty. genial
way. »

"1 rather flatter myselt‘ I always man-
age to get enough to eat.

" Well, now, Mr. Gordon, I’ll make this
proposition to you—oi will take you as an
apprentice, give you your bed and board
and two dollars a week for the first
month; for the second I will raise your
wages in proportion to the ability which
you display at the trade."

"The terms are satisfactory, and 1 ac-
cept them," the sport assented. “l‘ll com-
mence with you to-morrow morning. I
will come to-uight, so as to be on hand
early in the morning."

“That will do," the cobbler acquiesced.

Then they shook hands all round. and. ~
the bargain was completed.

   
  
  
   
    
   
  
   
 
  
   
   
   
  
  
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
 
   
  
   
   
  
    
   
   
    
  
     
   
    
   
   
   
  
  
  
   
   
     
   
  
     
  
    
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
    
     
      
  
   
    
   
   
   
   
  
    
  

 

Promptly at seven o'clock on the follow- ,
ing morning the cobbler and his appren-
tice set to work. ~

There was no window curtain, so the j
whole interior of the shop was visible ‘
from the street. ._

The iirst citizen who came along after ,
the men had taken their positions on their
benches noticed the new man.

“ Hello! Old man Camp has got a help-
er! Well, Heavon knows he has needed
one bad enough for a long time.

“ Christopher Columbus!" , ' ‘

The citizen came to a halt as he uttered 4
this exclamation; he had Just caught 8;:
view of the helper's face. . - 1

Could it be possible that this man in a '~
pair of rough pantaloons and a red shirt.
seated on a cobbler's bench, rapping away“
industrioust on the sole of a shoe, was
Harry Gordon, the all-around sport? ' .
tr Abseoond glance showad that it was tho 

rut . '

The citizen quickly hurried to the nears
est saloon to rey'cal the astounding intents
gence. ; .

News of this sort spreads rapidly, and
within fifteen minutes there was a crowd.
of at least thirty people standing in front
of the cobbler’s shop, gaping in at the
workmen. ' ' .

‘They, on. their part, did not pay any eta .
tention to the loungers, but went on with
their evocation Just as if there wasn’t s '
soul in sight. , : A.

Ten minutes more, and there were fifty
people“ and then ‘The Great American
Business Man" took charge of the thing,

“ Appoint a committee of one to go in
and see what this means? I‘ll be your:
committee, if you like." _ .
Hte was appointed by acclamatiom on‘itho
spo . , - . i “
The committee marched into the shop. a

f‘ Good-morning, Mr. Gordon: Your 1
low-citizens on the outside thin" lure lit-e
orally flabbergasted by this newdepnr
of yourn, and have appointed me a 'co
mittee of one ,to find out what it means. .

“ Of coursevwe're aware that it ai’t‘no
business of corn, and if youohoosed, to
boot me out of the shop for {my lmpndence
it; risking I wouldn't have no right weenie
.p a n. ' ‘ t - . ,. ~

" But, Mr. Gordon, it is because, since
coming to this camp, you have made,pr
seine sort of publiccharacter by shown)
that you're the best man of your inches,
that overstepped foot in Sui bur 33H
ison this account that your to ow-citiadn;
take so great an interest in whatever‘yoni,
may do, and we hope you won‘t feel hand
on us for so doing." 2 V .

“Oh, not at all," the, sport replied. oer»

     
  

      
 
 

   

    
     
      
    
  

   

 
     
  
  
   

      

nder the circumstances, and
3 tion to gratifying it. _ _,  v.
‘“ I have gone in as an apprentice.
Mr£1 Camp here, to learn ‘the cobblet'ld
tra e.” . ‘ >. 
“ You don’t. mean it?” the'citizen (311634,
“ Oh. yes, I mean it; it is the truth;v'='iin
may ask Mr. Camp.” . 
“The statement is correct,". the sh

I‘ve no'o '

  
 

        

  

      
 
  

  
   

    

  

      
      
  

   
    

amonth or two, to make a first-class
bier out of'him!" . .   '
“Wain-I wintbe blamed if. this, don‘t

   
     

   

   
   
 
 

  

. “Theron? really no reason forsnrpr
Gordan'remarked. ‘vaery mare ugh:
a: d ‘haxen‘t onetgand

     

“"‘c‘~‘..1a:s;.a..;' spa... v

 

 

up my mind some time ago to learn a good
trade at the iirst favorable opportunity."
“ Yas, yas, I see!" the citizen said, as he
retreated. ' v
He made his report, but the town
couldn‘t get over its astonishment.

 

 
 
   
    
   
  
 
 
    
   
 

CHAPTER XVII.
A STORMY 'I‘IME.

About the most astonished man in Sul-
phur Bar, when he learned of the new de-
) parture ot' the sport, was the town mar-
Qf ’ shal, Black Bill Roberts. ,
 He wouldn‘t have it, for ‘a cent. Oh,
I mo! No one could fool him with any such
, yarn, and it wasn't until he went and saw
with his own eyes the sport ha‘mmering
(away on the cobbler’s bench that he
yielded belief.

Then his Suspicious were immediately
'mjoused. I
‘ “.He is up to some mighty mean kind of
a trick, you bet your life!” the marshal
declared, as from a convenient distance
he watched the sport working away bus-

 

y. . .

‘,‘ It’s a mighty lucky thing that I‘m in

town, but I am here, and I reckon I’ll be
able to bust up any little game of his be-
fore he kin get Well started on it.
- Then the marshal‘hastened to lay his
auspicious before the alcalde, but that of-
ficer, Maurice Littlefleld, was a sensible,
'1evel.headed American. _

He had met the sport, and, so flattered
himself that he knew as much about him
as any one else ln'the town. '
He laughed at the marshal’s suspicions.
. "/Maybe' he is up to some deep game,
but it strikes me that a man who is put—
ting in from seven in the morning until
six‘ in the evening at a cobbler’s bench
won't V have ,much time for
schemes of any sort. , .

“Haven’t you heard the explanation
{which the sport gives for his going with
Camp?" . ' L
‘ ,“Oh, yas; but I don’t'take no stock in.
it“. ’- That’s only a bluff, put out to shield
his real- purpose. You .jist .mark my
words—he is working some deep, game, and
ltfawill come out one of these days.”

“011, no,” the alcalde declared, a little

patiently.
fellow, one ofthe drive-ahead style, who
finds it impossible to keep quiet. During
he" daytime he hasn’t anything to 'do,
and I, don’t dOubt he spends many lonely
, mg. This cobbling gives him occupa-

   

  

  

  
  

 

 

  

  

   

.‘fSuch tellers as he is spehd their. time
lowing around bar-rooms, waiting for
so 'e-‘one-to hang. ’em up for the drinks."
‘ :rhis Gordon is not a man of that
fitampJf the aloalde observed, perceiving
» militia obServation what a fearful mis-
' option the/marshal had of the sport.
You will find out what ,kind of a man!
ls-before yOu git through with him,”
a; marshal declared, in ,a' mysterious
33' has he took his departure: ‘

  

 
 

diet: He don't think anybody, in the
16‘ knows anything but’ himself, but
the fame, the thing ought; to “be at;
,. o_ ‘ . I I I ‘ ,

 
 
 
 

e‘Law and Order Leaguelv' ‘ 
I'll.’ see old'Parker “at oncei.” ,he.de~l

  

he laid his Melonsrbefore, his 
e in his private omce. ~ ; ,, »

r 1am very gladyou came, Mr.,Mar,shal,
fhe‘alcado is inclined, to be too In; al-
be'r» in’ matters or this kind." ‘r

i That is so, torafact.” y," a '
But,» we have got the~man down in‘
, , k8..and-you can rely upon it we
.~"ll takemre 01mm. ». ' " t- '

    
  

 

   

 
 

A!

  

  

gambler and 'ought not to ‘be, allowed

  
    
 

het‘dges, lay cards, l}, isonly for
It." , “ 0r
" .éownsurport."\f- m .
 Eighty cleveratrlck, tool? h . g .
ism: fellow is ,ehrewdsmgghr;

   
 

 

‘ by‘thk;,new 2am

games or'

“The sport is a peculiar

.story-telllng and cracking jokes-

‘, gum! that alcalde‘ is a natural born:

we marshal hurried to Parker‘s, store,"

i
1,..understand» this cobbler game. - Her
amid that some one willtdeclare he is?

 in the towp.’ i’l‘hen he "can reply,
hosts regular xstrade‘ '

 

stand,“ the head of the Law and Order
League declared, with a mysterious wink.

" You bet your life!” Black Bill replied,
with another wink.

“The leading members of our organ-
ization haVe talked the case of this sport
over, and we have come to the conclusion
that the town would be a great deal more
healthy without his presence.”

” Yes, sir; that's jist what I’ve been
saying right along—eVer since the ga-
loot struck the camp."

“But we can‘t do anything against him
until he commits some overt act, and as I
feel certain he is now on his guard, he
will be very careful what he does.”

“Yes, lie‘is cunning enough."

“Now, Bill, the thing might be worked
in this way.

“If you could findrsome man who had
a grudge against him, and for twenty—live
or thirty dollars would be willing to try
and get square, that would work, I think."

“ I know just the man!" the marshal de-
clared. “ I‘ll take charge of the job.”

And this ended the. interview.

The marshal went on a spree that after-
noon—about the worst one that anybody
had ever seen him on. Old citizens who
wore well acquainted with the man shook
their heads when they saw him march-
ing up and down the street from saloon
to saloon, withhis head high in the air.

Black Bill was one of those peCuliar
men who/never staggered, nomatter how
much liquor he drank. ,

When the proper ‘quantity had been im-
bibed he simply collapsed, and sank into
a drunken slumber.

“ I tell you what it. is,” said one citizen
to=another,.as they watched Bill’s antics.
“if this here thing keeps on there will be
trouble to—night. He has got to the shoot-

, lug stage, when he’d just as soon kill a

man as iookat him."

' “Somebody ought‘ to Itry and get him

home .to lie down and sleep it off,” in‘-

timated the other. , » . ' _
“No use, no use,” responded the first;

“when Black Bill gets in this stage no-

. body can do anything with him.”

Slowly the shades of night descended
upon the town. Lights came out and
the streets began to liven up. . . V

At nine o’clock, Gordon, arrayed in his
usual costume, came out of the shop with
Camp, and, they walked to the hotel in
company. i /

[The saloon was well filled, and a deal of
good-natured fun was poked at'the sport.

He replied inkind, for he understood
there was no malice in it. V i V

There was a jolly little party, downlat‘
the extreme end of the bar, the farthest
from the door, enjoying themselves in

In this group was Sandy Jones, the
sport, Camp, the shoemaker; the postmas-

ter, ,Tom ,Mack, and a couple of miners,

from the Golden Elephantproperty. _
‘ ‘As it happened, there was an'.unusuall-y
lively party in the hotel saloon on this
particular evening. ' ‘

' No one had drunk too much, and every.

one seemed to be laughing; \ ‘ .'

Into ,this peaceful Eden’came the mar-

. shal, full of liquor, arrogant andquarrel'e

, mm a right“.
smart time, I reckon!” the mew-comer

some. I t V ,
“. Hey, you. boyeel,

cried; fi‘but if you Want to haye 'a. rip

rearin time, you hev’ got tog'lt'melnto
it, forgI’m the man w’at kin make things-

hum. .. x r ,\ , g ’

“Mebbe some, of" you gents here dont
know ho I am. . If 30,31 suppose I ought
to int! uoe' myself. I am routing Black

Bill Roberts, and I can whip my weight, in'

Wildcats. 'When I get on, the "war-path
the boys“ make‘has'te ,to clear the, track,

Jest like" as ‘it a locomotive was com- -

r ,ias they know when I git started I am
onifilalWa‘ys-tor blood," and then the mar-

‘51‘31 “timed a» ,warilance- in the middle
‘9fthe’s‘ulobnw ~  . _ _

*EVery eye in'the place; of course; was

    
 
  

' fixed ’11 film,.and.zyet’each.and every .man
"Médfo Pfietfind“:he wasntt looking at him,
"being fearful.

, ‘ ,attm‘qflng he, bi

tteution'
,  :

man’s; ,

shal as bad as this before, but he made :1
strong attempt to appear at his case.

“ Ah! how you vas finding yourself d’is
efening, marshal?" he said. "I hope you
vas pretty well. \"at are you going to
take? A leedle of d‘ot old stuif d'ot goes
so quickly to the righdt spot, d'ot goot
old whisky?"

“Well, I don’t know 'bout ye'r bug-
juice, Jake," Black Bill replied. “The
last time I was here and took a h'ist of
your benzine I reckoned I was poisoned.“

“Ah, yes; d’ot vas a goot joke on me,
marshal." the landlord returned, with a.
forced laugh.

“You are you of dose. kind of men
d’ot can put up such jokes.“

Jake put outfihe whisky and the glass.

Black Bill helped himself to a stiff"
drink and then condescendineg remarked:

“Why, Jake, I reckon you must have
been getting in some. new tire-water, for
this stuff is fit for any gentleman to
drink."

“Yes, I had some fresh barrels come
mid d‘er day,” the landlord informed, un—
blushingly.

In reality it was the same old whisky.

Wiping his mouth with the back of his.
big hand, the marshal looked around the
saloon and at once caught sight of the
sport. A dark look passed over his
swollen face.

“Hullo, you, Gordon! Got back into
ye‘r monkey jacket again, hesn’t yer?
Which do you like best, oobbling shoes in
a red shirt in the daytime or robbing ten-—
derfeet of their ducats by cheating ’em at
cards at night?" ‘

“Don't you dare to call me a cheat?“
cried Gordon, advancing on the marshal
at once. .._.__l.._

CHAPTER XVIII.
A LITTLE FUS‘S.

“W’at's that? Do you dare to talk"
back to me? You mean, miserable, no-ac-
count, two-cent gambler!" the marshal.
roared. , ' -

“See here, marshal, I' don't want to
have any trouble with you, but I give you.
fair warning that I don‘t allow any liv—
ing man to use such language to me as.
you’ve just indulged in.” ,

“ Oh, yer don’t, hey? i What do yer do if
a man takes it in his head to tell yer just.
What he thinks of yer?” Black Bill de—A
manded to know.

“I whale him until he gets some sense
into his head.” .- :

“Mebbe you‘d like to‘whale me?” the
marshal exclaimed, defiantly.

“I most certainly will unless you keep.
a civil tongue in your head."

“,Do you know that I‘ve killed a doten
better men than ‘youare, you two-cent
sport?" .' r .
' “Mebbe you‘lia’vti, but that fact’ don’t;
frighten me at al.” . '

' “Why, for two cents I'd wipe yer out
lnow!” and then up came the right arm of
the marshal. n . , ‘

The hand clutched a cocked revolver.
which no’ one had noticed that he had pos-
sessed, as he had slyly drawn'it, and
held it in‘again‘st the leg Oilhis pantaloons. ‘

:He had, the sport at a decided (disad-
vantage, and was crazy, enough With
liquor to improve the opportunity.

IHe fired point blank at] Gordon’s head,

rind this would-- surely have been the end
of the sport had nota miner in the rear
of the marshal, réluctantto see a man
inur'deredin cold bloodkknocked up his
arm just‘ as he pulled the trigger.
‘ The consequence was,
went'high of the mark. I I - _ .
; The sport jumped for the 'ofloer at once,
knocked him downwand. took away his
Weaponsf (a.  ' " “ “

e

“You ‘are’so\dru,nk.thut youdon’t know » y .

'what you're doingkand ‘fOr that reason I
spar'ei your- life 1"." the. sport exclaimed, as,
he rose: to his. feet. ,» ; ' V‘ I, ' ' ‘
Black 1311! wasrfuriouswand' when he»
gotqon his legs, seemed, inhls large
mor’eliker an animal than aw

       
  

 

  

n \‘ r ‘11,

 
 

 

that, the bullet, V

,tobe g:

    
  
   
  
  

 

 
 

 

 
       
  
   
   
 
    
   
      

        
       

     
 
 
 

 

     
       
    
     
      
      
 
     
       
     
     
 
    
     
     
       
 

 

     
       
 
        
  
       
     
  
     
        
     
    
     
       
      

  
 

Laps, .

7&5
~14

é

 

 

 

'r  o.

 

 

 
     
          
  
 
        
    
    
  
     
    
     
      
      
     

 

" Gold-Button sport.

  

   

 

 

 

An eight-inch bowie-knife was the next
weapon the maddened man produced. and
the sport relieved him of this as quickly
as of the others. ,

By this time Black Bill was like a wild
beast, and he rushed at Gordon. clutch-
ing at his throat as an insane man might.
have done.

The sport promptly knocked him down.
and when he rose, knocked him down
again and again, until finally the in
furiated rutiian got a blow on the, point
of the jaw. which reduced him into in—
sensibility.

“He is game. but he is not in it," was
the sarcastic comment of Sandy Jones.

The \marshal‘s friends carried ,him off
for repairs. for it was evident that he had
got about all the punishment he could
stand. V .

"D‘ot vas d‘e first time (Yet the mar-
shal got on a spree without killing two or
three men before he was over it!" Dutch
Jake declared.

"Yes, such, I believe, is the man’s rep—
utation, but he didn’t get the chance to
kill any one this time," Gordon remarked.

“ You will have to be on the lookout
from this time forth." said one of the cit-
izens to the sport, “for he will have it in
for you and will surely kill you if he
can.”

“That won’t be anything new; the man
has had a grudge against me from the
time i struck the town.

“This thing had to come, some time.
and I‘m only sorry we didn't wind it up
for good and all to-night," Gord u re‘
sponded, regretfully; “but, under th Cir-
cumstances, it; was not possible; the man
was too drunk to make a good fight for his
life. although he was anxious enough to
kill me. I

“ I will not take any unfair advantage.
I expect to be obliged to lay the man out,
and I don‘t wantany one to "have the
shadow of a right.to go around the camp
and declare that I jumped ,on a man
when he wasn’t able to take care of him-
self.” « '

The bystanders agreed that the sport
had the right idea of the thing. I

Then Gordon invited the, crowd to take
a drink with him. and after the drink he
and the shoemaker proceeded ,to their
shanty. ~ _

“I suppose that, after this little affair
to-night, there'ean be but one end; to the
thing. You must’kill the marshal or he
will kill you." a, ' ' I

“‘Iblooks that way/tor 1 was obliged to
give him a fearful thrashing in presence
of everybody, and of course after such an
affront as that he couldn‘t think of bold-
ing his position as marshal of the town
unless he secured ample satisfaction.

“It is an unfortunate affair,” Camp re-
marked. . I .

"Yes, but it could‘not be avoided; it
w‘ s either knuckle to the man, or else:
fig thim. .I can’t knuckle; and I can
fight." ' / c , . _

By this time the'pair had reached their
home, and-atonce retired to rest. _ .

Every man .who passed theshoemakers
shop that night shook his head as he
glanced at it, for \one and all knew iha
there was bloody work ahead. ‘ h . I

——

“ CHAPTER XIX. Y
can MARSHAL seams SATISFACTION.

' Ne’vor was therein more asmnis ed and
disghsted man than the marshal“ when

his friends brought him out of the col-

lapse into which thet‘iron/ fists or the sport

had thrown him. ‘ v _

‘ " Say, boys, w’nt’s theimeani‘ng ofwtlns

'here?” he asked, as he ‘rose to 1a sitting

   
  
     
 

posture. on his bunk. “Did that blamed
galoot {$15 a sport knock me out for good
al "r ‘ , V .r.
He did for a'fact, marshal, and to give
‘you‘ the real" straight article, he did not
have“ much trouble in doing ‘it, either,
the friend responded. I v a .

.. \ “.1 was a fool to trv him on ‘fat'rany:
‘ (such. so . , 
1,18,: and I don’t pretend to. do much. in.

me‘, for of e thatyis his best

i

too, 11 ka. magmas

  

tel Then

i

   

 

The, rough treatment which the marshal
had received had about sobered him up.

. “.1 will git squat" with him, but. i will
not call upon my lists to help me out."

Then the tough and his friends had a
drink, and each went his way.

The marshal proceeded to the res-
taurant and got his breakfast, then to his
room. which was up-stairs.

Then he inspected his revolvers to see
that they were in perfect order, tor after
the marshal had been 'carried off by his
companions. the sport had sent his weap-
ons after him."

“ I reckon these tools are all right. and
a man need not be afraid to trust his life
to the workings of them." the marshal ex-
claimed, in a self-satisfied way.

“This town needs a shake-up, and 1
will give it the biggest kind 'of a one be»
fore ary galoot in the place gits his din-
ner.“ '

The officer leafed about the restaurant
until about ten o'clock; then he came out
and took his way up the street toward the
shoemaker's shop. ‘

There was quite a erbwd around Camp‘s
establishment. as it' all had anticipated a
ruction that, morning.

The marshal walked on until he came
within a hundred feet of the place; then
he marched out into the middle of the
street.

Camp and Gordon were in the shop,
seated on their benches, working away
at their best speed. .

The marshal halted in front of the shop
and about fifty paces from it; then he
whipped out his revolvers.

“Dust out of thar','Cmnpl Lively. now.
for I'm going to kill that galootin the red
shirt in that" with you.” .

Camp did "dust out" lively. The speed
with which he dropped his tools and

racedthrough the door into the rear apart-x

ment was laughable. . l V

Gordon, too, was on his feet in an in—
stant; his tools were‘ dropped fully as
quickly as Camp’s. but in their place
Were two nickel-plated revolvers. _

Thus it happened that both antagonists
commenced firing at the same time.

It was short range; both ,men were
goods ,shots; and theyfired to kill.
"The-"sport was the first tobe hit; he got
a bullet in the fleshy part of the shoul-
der. a trifling wound. v

His first sh t did more damage, the bail
striking the [Xarshal in the chest. '

Roberts staggered, but he was game and
would not give up.

‘ The two men now were firing as fast .

as they could; pull the triggers, {.no‘rdtd

they stop until their weapons were emptied.
‘Then both men were on the ground; in-

capable, apparently, of further battle.-
The citizens came in greatnumbers.
The marshal‘s friends carried him away,

while the good-natured Dutch landlord

has {the sport removed to‘his room in the
0 e . ‘ .\

The doctor was sent for in haste, and}

he stopped at the hotel first. .

Gordon was wounded in three places.
but there was no likelihood that any of
gem would give him any particular, trou-

e. ' ' _ . .

So good a ,report: could not be made or
the marshal. He: had been hit six times.
andthree or the bullets hadpene‘trated
vital places. , , i \' ‘.

“There is no hope for him,” the doctor
announced. “ He may linger on for a. day
or two, and then again he may go at any
moment." ' _‘ ' , -. . .

This news created universal'excltemeut.
and the, men who had-been luckyienough
to witness the light were in great de-
mand.‘ ',' ‘  /‘ ’ . ‘- ~

'Nobody , was “astonished, though. be-
cause G‘ordon had, wiped out the marshal,

for it ‘wusn’t to be expected that an or--
dinnry roman, such asi. Blacki Bill’ was ,

should be able to hold his ownwtth a
changpion of champions like Gordomu ' '
heads. - _ 

“ inherits - going to l)th can ottroublé
come, out or, thischtrair,‘ they declared.

  
 

'rne marshal hado heap 01ft" 3.; 'nd
f-‘l he dies-won; may file ' ' H 9.
_ «theorem set L

  

‘when they came to give him his'break

'. his usual prompiness.

case Would turn out.

. 6!.
have made anything else out o! mime:

. times-tire

far-seeing citizens? "shocks their

  
 

'l‘

« t’xhl‘how you was; my tear rear

 

“ You see, a good many men had a high‘
opinion ot the marshal, although he did
make such a fearful donkey of himself
when he went on a ‘tare.' and at. such a
time was as likely to kill his best friend .
as his worst enemy.“ : '

Owing to the report ot.‘ the doctor. about
evel'ylnftly in the town had got the idea
that the marshal Would die. and one of
the most sincerely sorry men was the .—
head of the Law and Order League. Jef- “
t'erson Parker.

As soon as he learned the particulars of . .
the atl’air. and how badly the officer was ‘
hurt. he hastened to his apartment ton f
condole with him. _

“I had no idea," he said. "that you
would take this game on yourself. I
thought. of course. that you‘d go and find” ,
some teller who made a business of that.
sort of thing." 4

“That is jest w‘at. I intended to def}
the other replied, “but I didn‘t happen to‘
come across anybody, and 1 got on one of ~
my ‘tares,’ met the sport. and Went in to
clean him out instanter, after my usual
fashion when I git going. 1'

" The man was too much for me. and "1.
under thoSe circumstances a teller has v
got to keep at it until he cleans out his " ; {a
man or gits cleaned out himself." ' 

Parker nodded assent. He understood
that) this was the stern code of the Wild .
West. '. v

“Well, I‘m sorry, old man. that you}
came out so badly, but it will‘be better
luck next tithe. , ’

“ As for the sport, you understand thn‘
no matter what happens to you, he is no
going to be allowed to stay in the town.’

Do yer know. that I ain‘t hankering
for the job of hunting him out?" '

“I suppose not." , ‘ ~

“ No, sir; I‘ve got all of this sport that
I want. If there’s any other fool around»
who thinks he an do something wit .
him, he is welcome to try, but no more on
it for me. thank you.” . “

“ I don‘t blamé you. Bill, for you hav
been” roughly Handled," and Parker (1
parted. ‘ v  5  :-

[The doctor's diagnosis was singularly
correct. The sport raplidly got well,whll
the marshal as rapkiy got worse, and

   
    
  
   
  
 
  
  
  
  
   
  
    
   
   
    
   
   
  
  
   
  
   
    
   
     
     
   
  
      
  
    
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
   
    

  

,2

.-

fast one morning the ' found that he be

gone to that land of the hereafter where

the Weary are at rest. . .
Black. Bill "had gone upon his last spree.

r

 

  
  
  
   
  
      
      
  
  
   
        
        
      

-. .7 ’ eHAPTEn Xx.
THE: INQUnsr. \

The death of the marshal crea ed.
great deal of excitement, of course. 3 
The coroner took hold'ot the chute-Wit

Gordon surrendered himself as 'be ‘
concerned in the death. - - . ~
No one had any doubt, as to" how’t'

,It could be easily proven. that the m3:
shal went to Camp‘s shop with revohv
in hand and called upon the shoémak
to get out at the way so that he 2 ”
kill his assistant. . i ' '~ "A

When atman goosin to do a job oft
kind,» to take.the law in his ownpandsh
has no right to complain. it. he gets‘ 7
worstotlitfi ~ .- " 

The coroner’s inquest went ahead“
usual. Gordon was charged with the .
ing or the man, and all the evidence
regard to the case'was presented  "

It was a cone of self-dfiensop
smartestlawyers in the-world-e‘ ‘ '

    

 
 

  
  
  
 
  

  
 

tore the sport was; acqni-tted‘a‘sjsoon
the Jury got hold of the matter?"

  
   

  

of self-protection—of a man on hi

 1:
thresholddetondlng his‘home’ against ~ '

  
 

enemy“ A - .
The sport. received a resale

alter the trial ended. and‘fhe' We
charged.  In fact, he"'tound it hard
.«togehnway from someothls friends
. Whenhhelrcached ther’hotel he ,3 ’
Dutch Jake all smiles; ' -

   

 
 

  

   
  
   
 

 
     
  
 
  

r’ “Nuclei-d endowed. ~
alt: ’ ‘ ‘

Geld-Button Sport.

 

 

und I tells you righdt here, Mr. Gordon. ‘low called Toni Prior, but.  Tom Prior

somebody ought to hate killed d'ot mar-
shal years ago.

"To my own knowledge he has killed,
'righdt in d’is town, eight or ten men—
most of them who vas innocent tender-
foots, doing uod'ing to nobody."

"It's all right. Jake, but I’d just as
liet‘ sonielmdy else would do this sort of
’killiug."

“Yes, I should not care to (lo d'ot sort
of thing inineselt‘."

“It isn‘t a pleasant position. although
the office of sheriff of any leading county
in the East is considered a very valuable
one. and men spend hundreds: of dollars
to get it, yet the sheriff does all the
hanging.“ ‘

“D’ot vas all rid’t.
. I nor would I be one.”
 . At this point a miner came hastily into
 t the saloon, azidby his face one could see

that he brought startling intelligence.

“ Say, boys. the devil's to pay down at
the Golden Elephant property. A gang
Thave Jumped the mine."

“ Oho! This is news, indeed!” the sport
declared. “ Did you learn any of the par-
ticulars? Who is the leader of the party?
And under what pretense have they taken

. .so hold a measure?"

‘ “No, I didn't hear anything but that a
party had seized the property and put
Robert Manchester and his men out."

“The easiest way to get at the truth
will be for me to take a walk down in
‘ that direction and interview the parties
« in control of the mine," the sport sug-
gested.‘

“Yes. d’ot vas so. D’ere vas nothing
like going yourself v’en you vants to find
‘ oud‘ anything.” the landlord rejoined, in
a wise way. ‘ v

The sport set out at: once and proceeded
in a leisurely manner to the little gulch
where the Golden Elephant property was
Animated. ,
 on the way he encountered Robert Man~
rches‘ter. ’ v ‘

“Hello! I hear ou‘ve been having
trouble down at your place," Gordon ac-
costed.  ‘

3"“ Yes; for the present I am out of the
Golden Elephant property, bag and bag-

gefv ‘ v
“ Why, how is that?" ,

“ The mine has been jumped.”
I . “Bywhom?” . V :

. “Jack La Mothe is at the head of the
party, but, of course, as he never would
.be-' able to raise the ducats to pay/theat-
wtack'ingjforce, {suppose he represents a
, syndicate," Manchester explained. “ That
lathe claim he makes, anyway." . '
r- "‘I don’t suppose you anticipated

I vas not a sheriif,

 
  
 
   
 
  
 
 
   
   
   
   
    
   
   
  
  
   
   
  
    

any

  

completeiy'by surprise?" .

“I never was more astonished in my
‘ ire. If'I 'had expected anything of the
'kind‘ I could easily have made arrange.

   

  

mine: with six men a’gainsta hundred.

‘ ,f‘The, mine is'ahthe 'en’dl‘of- a small
gulch, and no way of getting, at it, except
‘through", the entrance totthat gulch.” '

, ‘3 ,understand; a few men, posted *in
tthat entrance could hold a big number at
, land you, 'of course. not, anticipating
nattack, were not on your guard." »

  

 
 

  

:
H

 

  
   

( .‘Pi'éW’r t . , i v . ‘ l

-“ But, I say, Manchester," said the
port, as the idea came to'him. "isn’t it
ather risky ,. business to jump a mine
which is in the hands of a receiver? Isn‘t
tight bucking up against United States
,law and the United StatesGovernment; as
‘ell, with all that that implies?" , I

ersJ', Manchester answered. _i"‘When

1 you come right downto the trutll oilrhe

 
 

  

  

i

  

t’te‘r, but.,when‘ you come ‘to look into
thyme“ of’the case the,goyernment ‘will
 seldom; trouble itself about these‘llt-
the, petty mining troubles. If you happen
do possess a large emanate: political in:
' ' you may be able to, tic-something,

  

  

  
   
  
 
  
  
  

claim  mi: "11a

’ movement of the kind, and so, were taken. .
' _ ‘ing to hold on to the property until a‘

‘ meats by‘means of 'which I could hold the

"‘That is correct, and -‘ so/I 'fell an easy

iaejyou'llfwait a longtime before .
, the Government to do intern

 

in oaths miner:
' \

never owned but one«third of the mine,
this seizing of the whole property in sat-
isfaction of Mr. Tom I’rior's one-third is
One of the cheekicst pieces of business on
record."

"It certainly is; but how is this thing
going to be straightened out?" the sport
asked, rather perplexed.

“I have made a move that will check-
mate all of these sharpers, and settle the
thing in short order, for as soon as
the mine was jumped I sent. Lawyer
Smith over to the court to apply for an
order for the sale of the mine to the high-
est bidder, in open court, and a legal di-
vision of the money which the mine might
bring to the rightful claimants who could
show to the satisfaction of the court that
they were entitled to a share."

The sport laughed.

“That will certainly settle the thing.
but not to the liking, I‘m thinking, of
some of the parties interested.”

“Perhaps not!"

Then the two parted. Manchester going
on toward the camp, and Gordon in the
direction of the gulch.

“I‘ll have one advantage,” the sport
mused. as he went on. “ No one will sus-
pect that I have any interest in the mat-
ter beyond that of pure curiosity. so I'll
probably. be able to learn all about the
affair.”

When he‘ arrived ‘at the mouth of the.
gulch he found that it had been picketed
in regular soldier fashion.

Four men were on guard. and a hundred
yards back were a half a dozen more.

Trees had been felled and a. breastwork
thrown, up at this last point. _

The gulch was only about fifty feet
wide, so 'it had not been any particular
trouble for the holders of the mine to
build the fortification. ,

The sport had a soldier’s eye, and after
glancing over this war-like preparation,
muttered:

“ Egadl with ten men I would engage to
hold this against a couple of hundred."

As be advanced up the gulch the senti-
n‘el stopped him.

. “ Whom do you wish to see?" he asked.

"‘ Well, I don’t know as I want to see
any“ one in particular," the sport replied,
affecting to be greatly astonished; “but, I
say, I don’t understand the meaning of
this sort of thing. What do you mean by
halting me and demanding whom I want
to see?”  , '

“There has been a little trouble in this
gulch. There is a mine'here which is

claimed by half a'dozen parties. v One of. .

the aforesaid has taken. timeby the fore-
lqck and seized upon the claim. We think
we’ve got the best right to it and are go

stronger force puts us out." r

f‘ Yes, I comprehend. I've heard of
such things, but never happened to wit-
ness one before. / . .' '
’ “ You must'ckcuse me for intruding. I
wasn’t aware that there would be any ob‘
jection to ’my looking at the‘ mine, for I
heard, the property was in the market

and I thought, maybe, that it might be a ‘

good investment for me. Ta, tail"

. The sport turned and retracted his steps. .,

As soon as he got a couple of hundred
yards .away,"Jack La Mothe rose from
behind the shelter of some bushes, where
he had been reclining. , , i

“That sport . means, mischief," he ex-
claimed. ' V
just for the sake of lookingatthe proper-
ty." Long, before he left the town the
news of the Jumping, of’the. mine must

‘have been all Over it. v

. “ What'is‘the game?‘ Are they going to
club together and raise a force andL'put
this sport at the head of it, and go in to
flghtfus fertile property?" t.» , ‘ , »,
.Thespeake‘r looked nervous as he made
the suggestion. , t k __ ; . I t I
‘ fi' If. that is the game,1all We can do, is,
"to go in and donut-best to beat 1t.- -

  

 
  
  
 

    
  
  

   

«1' must have rmcre,‘ men 'ore :barrié
desmnd .tnkccareto post. or lookout.
’ ' 'h the‘claim

,T‘N W that W.
and‘ ill, ‘11

“He :didn't come down here,

 

semen; _ . "

Then Jack La Mothe took his way to
Sulphur Bar, and there made a call upon
Jefferson Parker.

It was Jefferson Parker who was the
“syndicate.” It was he who was finding
the money, and who would profit if the
mine turned out to be a great gain.

 

CHAPTER XXI.
’IlHE SPORT IS ASTONI‘SHED.

On that same evening. about nine
o‘clock, Gordon sat on the porch of the
hotel smoking a cigar.

lie was engaged for a little poker party
at ten, to which he was looking forward
with considerable pleasure.

ThOSe who composed it were all jolly
chaps—men possessed of a goodly amountof
this world’s goods, and who could alford
to lose a fair amount of money without
feeling it in the least.

“ To sit down to a poker game with men
of this kind is a positive pleasure," the
sport observed, as he reflected upon the
night‘s enjoyment that was before him.
“I shall have a good time, and stand a fair
chance of making a little money besides.”

Along the street came a slender, well—
dressed young man, flourishing a light
cane.

As soon as he saw the sport he Went
up to the porch and accosted him.

“ Is this Mr. Gordon?"

“Yes; that is my name."

“ I am pleased to have the honor of your
acquaintance," said the new-comer, with a
polite bow.

“ I would be glad to know you, sir," the
sport replied.

“ My name i Richard Thompson. I am
a lawyer by profession, in Judge Abram
Turner’s ofllce.”

“I am pleased to make your acquaint-
ance, Mr. Thompson,” and the two men
shook hands in a ceremonious manner. 2

Then Thompson helped himself to, a.
chair at the sport's side.

“ This is a little business call, Mr. Gor-
don. I have been instructed to see if I

couldn't secure yr“; for 'a client for our

office. . A man of your occupation is bound
to have more or less trouble, and the serv-
ices of a good firm of lawyers would come
in very handy at times."

" Oh, yes, undoubtedly.”

” Of course you understand. Mr. Gordon,

that it isn’t the old judgewho is putting
up'this sort of thing. ‘He would die of
hunger before he would solicit any man to
secure his professional assistance, and‘we
young chaps wouldn't be ‘apt ‘to do it, of
courses?
Gordon looked surprised. "
. f‘ If it isn’t the head of the firm, nor
the clerks. who is it?” . x /
‘iAhemi Ther‘eis a lady in the casel’

“ Oho! is that so?” exclaimed the. sport, '
so astonished as to be betrayed into this

commonplace observation. .

“ She doesn‘t mind your knowing all the
particulars, either.” 3

“That is considerate." ‘ -

“ It is Miss Jennie Turner, 'the éjudga’s _

daughter.” , ,

i “ Yes; I have seen the lady.”
“ And she has taken a great interest in

you. She has watched these trials or

yours, and she doesn’t think that you have

had 'a‘fair chance any time. And she

knows that arfew foes on we jury and the '

clamors of an ignorant. multitude might
cost you'your life." ~ ‘

“That is verytrue,” the‘sport assented. -
f‘ And this law business, you understand,

is not to chat you anything."
flash. now, stop! “What a strange thing

[it is that women will make such mistakes.-

' '7 Now, Thompson. wgfin the lady pro-
posed the schematic y , for you to re-
peat it to me,lwhy didn’t‘you tell her im—

mediately that‘she was making the biggest ~

kind of amistakew i i l .

i :"I am not the‘manto. permit others to

‘ pay nay-bills, audit is.  had made;
such a proposition I, "would, have promptly'L.-:
,ioldthim that bewas

  

have called him to a quick account.
a " Certainl

      
  

1 nt Width. 37 1‘
case mightibe‘ miter it? ' ”
'“‘ , 15 an 

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nsplting‘ m3,'._yandh *

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Gold-Button Sport. ‘

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'1'7

 

 

 

from a woman anyway. You understand
that I do a good deal of card-playing?"

“Yes; so 1 have understood."

“And all men who play cards more or
less are inclined to certain superstitions,
which are no modern idea, but go way
back to the time of the ancient Egyptians.

“Now, one of the. most rock-founded su-
perstitions of the gambler is that it is un-
lucky for him to have much of anything
to do with women."

" It strikes me that i’ve heard something
of this before.” Thompson observed; “but,
surely, it is not possible that you believe
in these things?"

" Yes, I do, for I've seen plenty of in-
stances to prove that there is a deal in
them. A man who takes the chances that
a gambler does is very foolish if he al-
lows himself to give away a. single point.
His whole fortune may sometimes depend
upon the turn of a card.

“How important, then, that he should
do everything in his power to make that
turn a successful one!"

“That is true,” Thompson agreed.

“Yes, sir; I pay all sorts of attention to
superstitions," the sport declared; “and
further, to put it to you fairly and square—
ly, do you know any man who does not
pay more or less attention to supersti-
tlon?”

“Well, I don‘t know about that," the
lawyer demurred, in a reflective way; "I
suppose most men do pay some little at—
tention to_such things."

“ There is no doubt about it,” the sport
avowed. “Let us come right down now,
and make a personal matter of it. Take
yourself, for instance: How do you feel
about commencing anything on a Friday?"

“Aha!” laughed the lawyer; “you are
giving me the strongest superstltltm of the
lot.”

“ Of course; for only the strongest would
aflect a man like yourself.”

“Well, I .m afraid I'll have to admit
that I would not like to commence any-
thing important on that day!“

“ No more would I—no nore would sev—
enty-five per cent. of the world."

“ I think you’re right. At all events, you
have given me some new ideas.” Then the
lawyer nodded and passed on.

The next party to come up the street
was the receiver of the Golden Elephant
mine, Robert Manchester. ‘

I-Ie hesitated for a moment when he
saw the sport, then came to the edge of
the platform and took a. seat upon it
within a yard of Gordon. ‘

5 “I am a rather peculiar old chap, and
often do queer things," he said.

" Now, since the jumping of the mine, I

, have had an opportunity to examine. all
the papers in the case, upon which the
Judge bases his decision, and find that:
Miss Underwood really has more claim to
the property than anybody. else; so the
judge has suggested to me, why doesn't she
raise a force and clean these jumpers out?
It is not likely she‘ would have trouble
with anybody else, and she would be put
.in possession of the property." I,

“‘ Yes; but young women are not always
in a condition to make a. tight of this
kind," the sport suggested. .

“ Just what I told the Judge, and he said
it was a pity, but, under the circum-
stances, lt seemed to him that there would
have to be a light before the. possession of
' the mine could be settled.” '

“ No doubt about the, truth of that," the
sport ssumed. . .

“I told you I was an 0d fellow, and as
I caught sight of your ace to—night a-
.scheme came into my mind by which I
think" we could make fifteen or twenty
thousand dollars apiece." «
‘ " You are the very man I am looking
for," the sport admitted; “so go ahead. ex-
plain the partioulars; but. inind you. I’m
not the kind of man who wants all, or
anything but what is justly mine.” '

"It’s this- Golden ,Elephant business,‘
w , Miss Underwood_has'.the title, but can't
' ’push her, claim. I am'the lawyer, better

acquainted Willi the affair thanany one
else. You are the fighting man ‘who‘ can
take charge of the array% ,, .

1.. «‘fiNosv. if ,We..’tiiree_ go in together,- I

l‘ahink .me Email, _ bigtchnnce to win."A

 

“Undoubtedly. And i’ii take command
of the fighting force. if Miss Underwood is
in it." ___.___

CHAPTER XXII.
RAISING THE Altair.

“ I suppose I would have to take. a two-
fold part in this affair," Manchester re-
marked, "t‘or there will be money needed,
as money is the sinews of war.

“ Now, during the past year. I have
managed to feather my nest pretty Well,
and I can afford to risk a couple of thou-
sand dollars in this enterprise, and I don't
know of anything in sight that looks to me
as promising." r

“ Well, I‘m not particularly well posted,
for I am not a speculator in a regular
way, but it certainly looks to me as if
there was money in this if the mine is a
good one."

Manchester looked around cautiously, so
as to be sure that no one would overhear
his words.

“ The ore is improving by (its and starts,
but gradually improving all the time.“ he
stated.

“in that case. then. it is our game to
raise our army and put these fellows out
as soonLas possible. so as not to give them
a chance to discover just how valuable
the property really is."

“ You have the right idea."

Gordon arose to his feet.

“Come on, then; we'll see whom we can
pick up to-night, for the quicker we go
ahead the better."

The two proceeded up the street, pay-
ing a visit to every popular resort.

Of course, everybody knew the sport,
and everybody wanted him to take a drink
with them, but Gordon smilingly de~
marred .that it wasn't his drinking night,
and reckoned they would have to excuse
him, which every one of them did.

“ It's astonishing how much excusing a
champion can’get, while a common man
would either have to drink or tight, for.
that is a. clause in the code of the Wild
West," Manchester had to remarkhs they
proceeded on thier round.

In thg first saloon the sport ran across
a. coup] of men who looked as if they
would do good service.

“Are you open for a job, boysi”. he
asked. . .

" Yes," the pair replied: “we are getting
close to bedrockhand haln’t struck any-
thing for ten days." , .

“ Well, if you ain't particular a‘bout the
work I can give you a job."

“ We‘re not particular, and I reckOn we
can give a pretty good guess at what it is,
, too. for we’ve heerd aboutthls mine being
lumped. and I ‘s'pose you are raising a
party to rejump the claim?"

“That is what I want to do. I don't
propose to allow these fellows to hold a
property to which they have not the shud-
ow of a right."

“No; I can testify in regard to' that,”
Robert Manchester supplemented. “They
claim to have adeed from Miss Under-
wood and her brother, but I know that the
deed is a forgery, and the young lady had
no more to do with it than woman in the
moon." ‘ I

“Well, I'm glad to hear that,” one of

war I allers like to feel that I am in en the
right side'." '
v “ In this case
ter declared. .

Then the party went on. the two miners
accompanying Manchester and the sport._

With such a man as Gordon at the {head
of the “army” it was not a difficult matter
to secure men, for all the town had confi-
dence that he understood ‘the art of war
and would put up a red-hot tight. '

‘By eleven o‘clock the all-around belliger-
out had secured the men he wanted-«Wen-
‘ty being regarded as the 'proper number.

As each .man was engaged he was sent
tothe shoemaker's shop, and with the last
two recruits wont Gordon and Manchester.
t Afterthe “army” had assembled, Gordon
took a good look at them, and was pleased}
to express his opinion that they could:
whip their weight ~in Wildcats Wit: they
would only ‘ bring themselves to think so.) "

you surely are," Manches-

 

vafix I’

if you only choose to think so. Sail in with
the conviction that the other fellow
doesn‘t stand any chance, and you have
got him," which the majority of the re-
cruits thought was quite true.

“Now, 1 don‘t propose to attack until
about three o‘clock in the morning. when.
as a rule, lnnnan sleep is the deepest.
Then we must creep up on the Sentries in
the good old lndian fashion, surprise, gag
and disarm them. 1 hope to do this with-
out alarming the main camp, and if it can
be accomplished, then the property will be
ours, for we can take all the ‘others in
their beds, and they will have no oppor-
tunity to tight."

All were siu‘e this scheme could not help
succeeding.

At one o‘clock the expedition started on
its way. Through the darkness they stole
like so many walking night spirits, with

counter on their way.

The night was only semi-dark, so they
had plenty of light to see what they were
about.

Considerable timber grew in the neigh-
borhood of the Golden Elephant, and by
using its cover they got quite near the
works without being seen, but Gordon
knew that at the mouth of the gulch a.
sentinel was .posted. ' I

“ This Jack La Mothe is a tolerably
smart fellow, I take it, and may be keen
enough to decide that two men will keep
awake better than one, so I had best pre-
pare to take care of two men."

The sport selecting two of his best fel-
lows, through the trees and bushes the
three at once proceeded, the sport in ad-
vance. bent almost to the level of the
ground. The idea wastto flank the posh
tion of his enemy, and when he carne‘
upon them, a. little to their rear, he discov~
eredr'that there were two of the guards,
and that both of them were sound asleep,
snoring away at a great rate.

“ We’ve got a picnic hero, boys," the"
sport whispered as he stole forward.-

Under the circumstances it was an easy
matter to seize, gag and bind the men
hard and fast. >

This being accomplished, 'the three 're-
Joined the main body. '

the mine. '

The property consisted of a few build-
ings. There was the ore crusher. man
live stamps: the adjoining building, where
the crushed ore went through the amal-

dinlng-room shanty, the office, and the
home of the proprietor, which latter was .
quite a really good structure. . t '

As a rule all these mining 'edtahilsh-
ments are constructed on the same plan,
so. although the sport had never had a
chance to examine the Golden Elephant

ceed.

ern mining-camp, and on this occasion the “
door into the bunk-room happened. to be
open. ‘
The general-in-chief did not
entered, with three men. I
Alsrge kerosene lamp was‘afllxed to the

, “Come, boys, time to get up,"
exclaimed; “h'ist yourselves out of these”
bunks! Lively now! Roll out, tumble out:-
-—any-way to‘get out!” ' ‘
Great was the astonishment of thein-
mates when, opening their eyes, they dip.
covered that they were practicaliy.:pm-;I
oners. ' . , ‘ ' 
There were only five workmen, so, of»
be tthc height of folly.

56

your weapons.
are simply workmen here, and it can't
War as you are concerned!" ’ ’

with a good grace. .

 sport ihen‘went'for Jack La Moths;
'* It was not so easy toget at him, rot-aha

 

"1 self-continence is magnetron. boys,

I I

     
    

r» has hissioorploclwd. but. mating” human

,,

,w .Hr

noiseless steps, and not a soul did they en- '

Then they stole noiselessly forward to ‘

gamator: the bunk house for the men; the,

plant, yet he knew exactly how'to pro- n ‘

Doors are seldom locked, in the far West— ‘

delay, but . j

I wail, and'this lamp Gordon immediately :
the miners said, “for when I go into a tiit- ' ‘ ‘ ‘

the sport ‘

course, for them to odor resistance‘wouid.‘ >
:1 will have to trouble youi to give 
not be alarms ,.‘;
though, for no harm is intended you: you
make any difference who runs the mine as “

This was the truth, as the man knew.,-'.
so they'resigned themselves to their fate .

 
   
   
   
   
  
  
   
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
   
   
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
   
 
 
 
    
  
   
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
  
  
   
   
   
   

   

  Gold-Button Sport. “

 

 

in hiding-places near the house front, Gor—
don took up a position behind a coal shan—
ty about thirty feet from the, residence
door.

This'was followud by action, and with
both revolvers the sport opened tire on
La Mothe’s headquarters. '

Four men who Were guarding the house
 . in the rear were instructed to fire from
r , their position, putting their bullets all over
j,‘ the house; the rest were told to go for the
keyhole, and that important point was
shattered for about a foot, in diameter.

_’l‘he door now swung open, exposing the

inner apartment, showing that a. coal-oil
lamp was burning in there, but turned
,down low, so as to afford but little light.
' “ Now, then, Mr. Jack La Mothe, if you
are in command of this Golden Elephant
mine, I would like to speak a few words
with you, it you haven‘t any objection,"
Gordon called out from the coal-box, be—
ing careful to keep \vell under cover.

The answer was a revolver shot, which
‘  ,. passed within six inches of the other‘s

head.
“Oh, come, now, it is bad policy to try

a move of that sort in a game of this

sort, for we are no little gang who have
sneaked in. On the contrary, we‘ve cap—
tured every one of your men, and now
. ,hold the mine as securely as a bug in a
rug; so any idea of yours that you will be
able to get out will only lead to useless
bloodshed.”
“Oh, no, I reckon you are not giving it
to me straight just now”.
“ I reckon We are. How are you off for
.' provisions?" ,
“We’ve got enough to run the mine for
a mont .” i
“ Including water '3" ,

‘ ‘Then there was a dead silence. 4 The
. well was just inside. of the second barri-
1 *cade and in possession of the attacking
« party! ‘»

“ You haven’t got water," Gordon ex-
' claimed, and you can't stand much of. a
, siege on that account. , ,

7 f‘Of course you can stay in thehouse
and hold possession of it, but in the course.
,, I of time we will have you out."

, “ You can bet your life it won‘t be until
-morning is on good and strong.” ,

“Suit yourself in regard to that, and I
will not complain. ,

p “ It will not be/ the first time that this
~ ‘nrmy’ has taken a bunk down in the open
_ fair," Gordon declared, “and thought them-
selves the better for i .’7 ’

CHAPTER ,XXIII.
‘ ,A‘ mNSULTATIoN,
The first thing that Jack La Mothe did,
'wh'enhe got through withhis interview

 
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
 
   
  
 
  
  
 
    
   
 
  
  
   
  
  
  
   
 
  
  
 
   
  
  
    
   
  
  
     
   
      
    
   

 

v

. ,atlt'evlight of the coal-oil lamp, but one of
the miners who had been through this
.ioil‘i’. of thing 'wos wise'enough to prevent
in. ~ .

' .« Hé caught his arm: . ,‘ v

V. “ For Heaven’s sakepman, what are you
« about? Do you want to deliver us bound
hand and foot into their hands?

' “In the darkness they would make a
runh and our hash would be settled.
“The capture of the well did us up 510m
good and all, for without water We can’t
make afigh ” ‘ r "
, ' " All rlgh ,” said Jack.“
' We’ll, have to give up."

.- ' Then-he turned to Gordon.

    

     

    
        
  
 
     
   
     

4

 

  

“ I" suppose"

  

,1 -' this deal, and since we dont stand any
show-for a square fight, we might 8.
Well give up.” , . . ,
“You are correct about-than? Gordon:
returned. “ You standno show at all."

“ Weywill hold on until morning, though,
etorérwe surrender," the besiegedmau

red- ~ .  I r W -
‘fi'All. (right; ,that’ll‘ suit us,” Gordon, 85-
. . . .

   
    

  
  
   
   
  
 
 

med. ,- . .
;. so both parties went in tom e them-
selves comfortable tor the fnlght, and the.
morning 1 ht found ‘the contestantspro-
*pared,_to 9 change positions.  r j . .. _
. "Well,- I didn't get much“ satisfaction.

I" reckon my’syndica‘te has .‘
 to the mine, ,t " '
nod withhis mew

ntwieth the sport, was to prepare to shoot oua V

‘ u “I reckon you've 'got thebest onus on r

‘ or sixty.”

-. . , , 19w fpmentd, had iaughln
at t the thing," Jack-La Mothe‘dedmeid,’ a-” y

 

,}ordou found the house full of provis-
ions, and antler the circumstances did not
hesitate to use them, as it. was common
to do so in such situations.

About nine o‘clock the old receiver of
the mine, Robert Manchester, made his
appearance.

" I thought I would come down and see
how you were, getting along. Of course, I
heard all the particulars of how your
bold dash carried the mine. l'p in the
town they regard it as one of the smartest
things that has ever taken place in the
camp." .

" When a man goes in for a game 02‘
this sort, I believe in making it as red-
hot as possible," the sport-replied. °

“The first thing was to get possession
of the mine. We have got it. The key-
point is really the well down at the
second barricade.

" Now, then, preparations must be made
to have the ‘ght around that well, and
that is just exactly what. I shall do; but
I want you. Manchester, to post the in
regard to all the legal points about this
case, so that we will know precisely how
We stand."

“ I'll do that in a few moments, and
Manchester helped himself to a. chair.

"You see,» the quicker I discover just
what sort of a man I'm going to have
against me, the better I can determine
what kind of a battle I’ve got to give,"

u

'the sport explained.

‘f The property is in the hands of the
law. It will be sold to-morro-w morning,
and whoever buys that property is the
man you‘ve. got to fight." .

“Ah, yes, I see. Then, in reality, we
haven’t got any right to it at all." ,

“None at all; but, as Jack La Mothe
had seized upon a chance to. make, a
thousand dollars or so, .I thought it a

‘ shame that we couldn’t take the trick out

of his hands, particularly as we had more
right to the mine than he had," and the
wily old speculator grinned as he made
the confession. V .

,“ It was a smart piece of business,"ythe
sport remarked, with a laugh. “ We have

.made 8'. thousand or so less expenses, any-

way”. .

“Yes, and the other parties are out a
hundred or two, but you mustn’t specu—
late if you are not prepared to lose
money]? '

" Very true. What is the next move, for
tI don't expect that you've gone into this
thing to stop here.” v

" Oh, no; the mine is Well worth about
twenty thousand dollars. How are you
situated?" ' ' ‘

“Not well enough to go into any, big
speculation of the kind.“

7 “ It, would need about ten thousand dol-
lars.’ * ’

“ I can't raise that."

‘,‘ I can“ The chances are about a thou-

sand to one that no one else in this neigh- l

borhood can put up such an amount‘of
cash." v. ‘
“ From what 'I have seen of\the camp I

should judge- that ten thousand dollars

was a pretty large amount, particularly as
the great majority of the people do not
believe that the property is worth any
such \sum," Gordon’ remarked. v v

“ That’s the point. That’s where I have
)the ‘advantage, being (in the inside ,for so
ong. . I

When ammo is' worth twenty thou-
sand dollars and improving, there.l_s al-

ways the chance that she will. go up to 

thirty or forty ‘thousandrposslmy to fifty

' ,“ Good!"' the snort ejaculated. “If we
[vein it will bringme in a pretty/big thing,
and ,ifw’e lose I can’t be hurt, for much.

“ But,’ 'I say, _
about this. affair-puzzles me, and that is

.

your conduct with this Miss Underwood;

You don't seem to be the~sort ot'man to

‘fall .despemtelyhn love I withi any young

woman}? i

 The receiver p t one wise look; then he

   

caressed F his heard, with this hagd‘ror'h‘

so _ :'- 
'6le air id'IIII have it
’-hit   chit/rue:

wuldgg;

"d

   
   

allow,
 Y

9mm

Manchester,» one *thing', V
nothing will create more

Q ,

 

care for

        
 

to make a big stake out of her. True, I
am running the risk that the lady may not
like me, but I am willing to stand my
luck on that.”

“I don‘t see why she shouldn‘t be will-
ing to become your wife. You are a trifle
older than she. but she is all alone, with—
out a friend in the world to turn to,"
Gordon argued. ‘ «

“I think I can work the game," Man— ' 
Chester responded. ’

“And now in regard to yourself," the
receiver added. “ I don't judge that you «
are the kind of a man to care to be tied ‘zi
down to a mine?", ;“

“ No, I am not," Gordon declared, frank- it
1y. “One man is enough for a little min- ’ i/
iug property like this, to my thinking. '
Give me a few shares of the stock, anti a
certain amount of cash, and I. will be sat-
isiied."

The receiver immediately shook hands
with the sport. 5
“I thank you sincerely for the generos—

ity with which you have acted."

“ Oh! that‘s all right," the sport as—
sured. “I always try to do the square
thing in all business matters."

“Well, I think the business is under-
stood now," the receiver remarked, as he -
rose to depart. “You will not see me
again until after the auction." .

Manchester walked down through the
gulch, accompanied by Gordon. ,

“I will pitch into my defenses here
right away, so you can depend upon my
holding the fort until the legal cere-
monies are over." \

" Yes, you want to keep your eyes open,
the other fellows will be after you, I sur—
misc."

The receiver passed out of the gulch,
and thh a wave of his hand started for
the town.

Gordon watched him for a few minutes.

“ That’s a foxy old chap. What he
don't know about the art of handling
mines is not worth knowing."

Then Gordon returned to supervise the
construction of the barricade running
clear across the gulch, from wall to wall,
so that it would not be possible for any one
on the outside to get to the inside With—
out the knowledge of one of the defend—.
ers. .

_While engaged in this work he received
a message that's, man desired to see him
at the lower picket. ‘ x -: r

Gordon's command was to stop every-
body there, for he did not intend' to allow
any one to see how he was fortifylng the
lower-pass. . - » ' A ..

Upon arriving'at the vidette he found. . " i
the party was the president of the Law -‘ ,' " '
and Order League. I .

“ Ah, my dear Mr. Gordon!” the gentle
man exclaimed, extending his hand, and
shaking the other’s in, the warmest man- .
ner. ’ I » ' i, . ,

“Delighted to see you, Mr. Parker,” re-
turned the sport ' '*
o".l. come on: business? whispered the ‘~
caller hurriedly. “I belong to a syndi—. \
cate. W5 will give you flVe thousand dol-
lars, cash, if you will turn this mine over:
0 us." . . . z . .

“ Couldn’t think or it! ~ It’s in the hands.
of the law, and will be sold at auction to-
morrow, to the highest bidder. Come to
the sale, put up your cash and buy.” ’ ‘

And. the sport turned his back on Park- , '

 

 

x.

“dz-h...» -.:


Jl


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er. 3

 

CHARTER XXIV.
i a. STERN AUG'MQN.» ., ‘ t-
‘Apa-rt fro .thefarrival or a circus, a '
dramatic troupe with'a big" brass band.
01 ‘the .announcementuthat a- couple of,
factions are ‘going‘, to fight their differences
out in the mainstreet of sjthriv'ing camp, ,
excitement than

       
      
  
    
   
 

the calling ofcanmuctlon. , , . r, ._
t. Nor does- itmatter much what the man”
has to 3e11,. forythe moment he announces ..
nn'article-ortwu todispose of to the high.
est bidder. fifty orxa hundred-oi his’rellow:

 
   
 

citizens will respond to the . l r. . .
. “Tall ,oaks- trom H‘tfle'racorns' gro .
From one nrtlclegrowsgtheduett‘g 

‘  epham:

. omen :mominsne Golden
'minzgxwas annouuCodéorsW _

  
  
   
 
 
   

   

 
   
  
 

* a

  

   

 

 

prided themseles upon their lighting abil-
ity.

The sale of the mine was called at ten
o‘clock, but, like all such legal affairs. it
did not get under way until about eleven.

1n the interim. cows. horses, mules and
i i wagons were sold. or rather attempted to
to be sold. the financial conditions being
so bad that nobody wanted to give any-
thingt‘or the animals or things offered.

‘ This made the outsiders mad. and a big
bullwhacker from Fort Benham called
out:

“Have you fellers in Sulphur Bar got
so far ahead of your neighbors that you
think they oughtto give you all their
stuff?”

“ Sulphur Bar is a right smart place." a
cowboy declared, shaking his fist in the
air.

“ ’Tain’t so! It‘s a mighty mean place.
a sheep-man declared; “only fit for a hog
to wallow in."

Then there was a fight—a free for all—
immediately. Whoever started it—who
struck the first blo'W, no one was able to
say. -

The town marshal, with a special corps
i t - of ten men, was on the lookout for just
_ such a rumpus; so the fighters were speed-
: ily separated before they could do each
?‘ other much damage.

“None of that, gentlemen. We won‘t.
have it! If you want to kill each other,
get out of Sulphur Barfi’ ‘

f ‘ The legal sale, which must take place in
 the center of the town, was at once hur-
ried up..

Concisely the proper legal functionary
described the Golden Elephant property,
and solicited a bid.

' “ How much of this bid must be cash?"
Captain Jack La Mothe Asked.

" All of it.” the auctioneer replied.

Whereat the probable bidders looked a
little disappointed. although they did not
regard the property as being worth a big
sum in the condition in which it was.

“ We might as well settle this thing at
once," Manchester said to Gordon, who
stood by his side.’ , _

The sport nodded assent> _

“I will give you twenty thousand dol-
lars cash for the property," the ex-receiver
declared. ‘

The other bidders looked at each other
in disgust. p

“He’s got it' safe enough,” Jack .Ln—
, Mothe remarked to a gang by which he
 i was surrounded. ,. I

' “The mine must be worth a dev1hsh
‘ sight more than we have any idea of, or
else he would never have dared to make
such an offer. - _
The Government officials were unfazed,
for none of them who Were well ac-
quainted with the mine believed it would
 fetch over fifteen thousand.
‘ The auctioneer made the usual bluffs
~ about would any one else give him any
i more than twenty thousand; but nobody.
 apparently, was anxious to do it, and so

 Gold-Button Sport.
I "” :f‘"".__.,e_. ,. . , .1.-.” Mel... .

i dred and fifty to two hundred people. and gun." and as for the sport, he was the man; “but you vant to understand rigiidt.
; as the saloons were liberally, patronized biggest warrior who had ever breathed avay d‘ot if you gome in here und talk
_ % v from the beginning, it seemed likely that the breath of life in this or'any other fried monkeys. 1 viii take a club und tnit it
 ‘» there would be trouble. country. , - break your head as quick as never vas."
,, i This became a certainty when ten men The most delighted people in regard to Both Jake. and his assistant were stout
  from the North. from the Black Giant the affair Were the honest Dutchman, felloWs, and allowed no one to impose on
' L ranch, came down and encountered eight Jake ilotl'man, the landlord of the hotel, them. They had clubs. knives and re--
3 3 men from the Lost Glore mine, who and his wife. ‘ volvers. and knew Well how to use them.
i
, .

 

u

4.1-.» Want; .3. 41:.  .. .. .

*._a'tu£1m.3a..,.i.v :3;

‘ ' .mnmumv,

 

the Gold n Elephant was knocked down
to the Lites Frances Underwood syndi-
cate. ’

This circumstance occasioned an as-
tonishing amount of surprise, for, as the
sister had made no particular move after
the suicide of her discouraged brother it
was generally supposed she had no
money. so she had been accorded but ht-
atle recognition by the denizens of Sulphur
Bar. . ' , . '-

But, prestot chnn ei- Theorphan girl,
friendless and alon in the hotel, ‘now‘
the member of a syndicate able to put up

  

 rs. . ,

‘ ‘ Ah! that was, a signal for it general
qbeisance; .so there were few women
" in Saint: r

a cash payment of twenty [thousand dol-'
la

But who did not consider it,
to call upon her and show her .

 

 astound.  'to‘llbe a “big;

 

 

"Ah. mine tear friend Mr. Gordon! i
knew that you would make der trick v'en
you vent into it." and then. in a myste-
rious way. he beckoned the sport to follow
him into the private room of his wife.

The woman appeared to be equally as
anxious, following in the rear.

" How vas it mit you und der receiver?
You must. get a fair price out of him. eh?"

“ Oh. yes; he has made a fair bargain
with me."

“You understand. my tear friend. the
game this man has played. He is square.
[ s‘pose. it is the duty of every man to
look out for himself. D‘is girl owned d‘ot.
mine; as receiver. he made that discovery.
She was going to be robbed of it by some-
body because she couldn’t put up money
enough herself to save it front der sharks,
and he made up his mind to take. it him-
self. making the thing goot mit his con-
science by marrying her. eh?"

“Well, when you come to think of the
condition of the girl, it wasn't so bad a
deal for her.“ '

“Oh, no; d‘ot vas all right. und she has
probably got as goot a liusbnnd'as (Tot
ave 'age vomans." .

“Yes. I was rather puzzled myself to
know why he was making so strong i
light in behalf of a woman Who lost her
claim to the mine the moment the auction
sale took place!" _

“He has got the thing fixed now so

d’ot he was safe no matter v‘ot turns up;
if the' court declares: thd auction sale all
right, he vas all rigdt; but if tier law states
d‘ot der auction sale was wrong. und it
had no business to sell Miss Underwood‘s
property, then he is all right again, for he
is MiSs Ilnderwood’s husband. Good .ar—
rangements. _ ‘ '
. “Und who better can take. care of a
lady’s property than dcr lady’s husband?"
and thelDutchman chuckled at the suc-
cessful manner in which the scheme had
been worked. . .

“ Exactly, and as evorybody is suited all
round I don’t think any one has a right
to complain, except. maybe, the men who
didn't have cash enough to buy the mine.”

“0h, d‘ot ish all right, too. Nobody,
wanted anybody but Miss Underwood to
have her rights in t‘e mine secured. .NOW,
d’ot is done. and everypody lsh.much
gbliged to you, Mister Gordon. I’m sure of

0t. ' s g .

i‘ Let us celebrate d‘ot victory now in a
schooner of my best beer, eh?”

The sport smilineg assented. . They
descended to the bar-room, took a table
and sat down to enjoy their beenln the
German style. ' . ' ‘ .

They opened the ,beer, pledged them:
selves in the good old Fatherland fashion.
took a bite at'the fried cakes which the

careful German housewife furnished, and

then a long swig of the yellow foaming
liquid. ' ’ ‘

As they reset the glasses upon the table,
an odd sort of a character came into» the’

room, and halted in the center of‘the‘

apartment. h _

He was a young man, dressed as an or-
dinary miner, and. as. neither the sport
nor the landlord had seen him before,
they did not think it necessary to pay any

attention to him.

The young feilow,‘ looking about for a
moment, walked up to the bar and leaned
upon it. , ~ ‘

“V‘at vlll you'hafe?” asked the polite
bartender. ,

“ How would a fried monkey‘go ?”‘ques~’
tionod the miner, with agrln. _ '
~ "A fried , nkey would not go at all.
and-you don’t vant~to come mit my place
andtalk to me mit such nonsense!" cried
the German. ‘ t ‘ w

“ Oh. I don‘t. don’t I?” You're going to '
try’and run the whole town, e '. Dutc’hy?"

responded the miner, inantug I way. 
“No, we don’tuvant‘torun‘ ,
place. but our own,” -

miner, and, uncocking it, shoved the wean.

this hands; “and I would be pleased to

"cos’ the Lord knows I don‘t harbor, no ‘

“the fluid. r

 

      
  
    
 
   
    
  
  
    
   
  
  
   
   
 
  
   
   
  
    
   
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
 
    
  
   
 
  
  
   
   
  
 
    
    
  
   
   
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
   
  
   
 

“()ho! you‘re a cranky sort of a bar-
kecper!" the miner exclaimed. "i didn‘t;
say that i wanted i’ried monkeys. it was
merely a suggestion on my part. such as
might pass from one gen‘leman to an—
other gen’ieman. but i reckon thar‘ ain‘t.
much of a gen‘lenian about you. anyhow.”

“Say! I tells you, mine goot friend,
shust v’at you'd better do.“ and the bar-
tender. leaning over the counter. ad-
dressed the miner in a contidential man-
ner; “shnst you take two or three runs
around der block mii those gentlemen of
yours. und maybe you'll feel better."

“ What’s that? Do you dare to insult
a free—born. white American citizen?" ex—
claimed the miner. flourishing his lists in. ‘
the air.

" I insult any mans v’ot comes around.
me mit fool talk about fried monkeys.
V'at you takes me to be? A double-bar-
rel jackass, eh?"

The miner drew.his revolver innue—
diately. but the young Dutchman had
him “covered” with an enormous club. so
it was plain that before the' customer
could use his weapon, the barkeeper could
knock him senseless. ;

The host and the sport thought it was
about time for them to interfere. Gor-
don seized the miner and Hoffman the.
barkeeper.

 

CHAPTER XXV. ,

' A QUEER ERRAND. . '

“ Now, there isn‘t the. least use of troué‘ '
ble!" Gordon protested. as he deftly re»
moved the revolver from the hand of the

on back in its holster. I

“Yas, yas. Johannes, you must not be
too quick init dcr ‘club. This gentleman
vas a goot—nnturcd mans; he comes to"
hate a social time mit us: he does not .
come to kill either you or 1; hey, is (1’0 ‘
not so?" to the young miner. ‘ f

“ Of course." the young follow assented. ‘
eager to get out of the first-class fight on.

have you three take a drink with me, .3

malice ’gainst nobody." I ,-
The barkeeper pushed forward a bottle,

and three glasses. . w .
“There you are, gents. as goot vhisky' ‘

as you can find .mit all Utah!" ‘ . U
All bowed toeeach other, and swallowed. 1‘ 

“‘ You see. boys, I am one of themost;
peaceable fellers in the world. excepting v
that. maybe, I git a, little too fresh some-.1
times with my fried-monkey business; but:
I am only struck‘that Way once in a” -
while. I came here, on a level piece of ‘
Easiness. I want to see Mr. Harry Gor-‘.

on.” ' ' i -- .
“No trouble about that “ the sport .rc— ' \ ‘
Spohded. That is my halidie." _.  “

“You don’t mean that you‘re the man.
that’s been knocking them round. right."
and left, in this yere camp?" the otherex—
elaimed, in profound astonishment.

-,“I am the man.” i _

‘ “Well, I Wouldn’t have believed it if-
I hadn’t got it straight from you. Why,,
a man to be a champion boxer ought to
be about twice as big as you are: but;
Mr. Gordon, there is nomistake about. ..
your ability in the boxing line.'and no.2
as I want to learn to be a boxer; I have;
come-to you to get a few lessons.“ .  V-
“Go don‘ was taken completely by shr-
prise. He had, during his varied exit-ear.) i
been asked to do almost anything.‘bat.«
never had been requested to set‘np 8923?),
teacher of boxing. ‘ , ‘ ~ _- t  ‘
"‘ Well, I don‘t know about that,”ho
said. "‘I may be able toybox,"yet may
not be cunning enough‘in the manly an:
of self-defense to finstmct'anybody else.
But I 'will‘ do my. best to teach you;»it'.
you really-visit me to do so.“ ni , i.‘
‘ Yes,.I‘do.j~'You-see, there's nice i:
film-"down in extreme the” m ., _

 

     
     
 

      
 
 

  
        
  

  
      
     
  

   
 
  

   
  
   
   

 

  
   
    
       
   
 

 
 
   
 
 
 

   
 

'20

" Growl-Button sport.

 

 

faces at. me, and I know I'm strong
enough and big enough to get away with
them it I only know how to do it. But
when the other tellers have got all the
science, and I haven‘t got any, I don‘t
stand much chance.“

"No, you certainly do not,” lordon re-
plied.

“Well, now, I want the science, and I
can afford to pay a dollar a lesson of but
an hour each if you could put ’em up at
that rate."

a I think I can do it."

, v , “ Und I hate got shust der room to suit

 ‘ you," Hoffman declared. “It’s a large,

light, close shed, this side of the corral.
I had it built for some Englishmen who
were afraid their wagons would be stolen.

1“. I vill show you der place," and the land-
,u ( lord led the way.

‘- , The sight of the three marching down
the street attracted considerable atten-
tion, as Jake noticed.

“Mine gootness, I never thought!" he
exclaimed. “If we three go into this
shed the town will be sure that we go
there to fight, and d'ot vill not do,” so,
assuming his most beaming smile, the
Dutchman said:

“ One or these gentlemen is going to
give the other a boxing lesson, und it you

‘ would like to come und see der fun, you
are quite Welcome.”

9 The crowd came forward on the double
quick, and when all were within the shed,
the host placed himself as a warden be-
side the door. r

“ By the way, I suppose I ‘onght to in-
troduce myself," the new-comer now said
to his teacher. “My. name is Whistler,
and I'm from Virgin City. Folks who
'know me crack me up to be a pretty good
:sort of a chap." . ‘ '

v _ The sport bowed, saying that he was

 :glad to make the acquaintance of Mr.

’ Whistler. .

' “‘ Now, then, come into position.” ,

And the position into which the young
man did» come was absurd in the ex-
treme, iior both hands were out. of line,
and neither one guarded the body. t

t V “ You are ready for an attack, now?’
é'the sport asked. I ‘
~ “Yes, I'm 'on guard." =

r “‘ Well, Mr. Whistler, I’ll show you that
you are not guarded at all, thus: ,,

‘ A “ I make, apparently, a severe stroke at
 your head; up so both of your hands to

." guard, leaving your chest and waist un-

. covered. Out goes my left, which, lighting

gust above your heart. would demoralize

1 ‘ you for a good five minutes.” / v _

'The sport then merely pushed the young

. [many but lt‘was sufficient to send him

. lover on the flat of his back, for he was

{if totally unprepared. for such, an attack. ’

. 'He» raised himself on. his elbow and"

' gazed at the man who. had brought him

' flow so easily. , , y t ,

" Great Scott! Thishere is about "as

" . surprising a thing as I ever run 'up

ll." .  " I
' " ,“ I had no more idea ot'gettlng a blow

 in that direction than of butting up

" 7‘ Against 3- steam engine.”

    
   
  
   
   
 
 
   
   
  
   
     
  
  
    
  
 
   
   
  
 
    

  

   

  

 
 
  

9

3 teaches us surprising things.’ ,  ,
'i 1' I‘ And the sport extended his hand and
\ helped Whistler, to his feet again. ..
 “Will you have any more?" Gordon
, asked politely. . ' . .

 . 5,“.Oh, yes. I’ll. tryvanother'round, al-
l; though I’m-beginning to get the, idea that I
r ,idonit know the least blamed thing about it."

.‘ “.Well, you certainly might have a deal‘
,more knowledge, without being troubled
.to carry it around." ‘ .  - . .r
. ~‘The sport assumed a guard ,again.’ .t
 A “Now, then,'come up to the scratch."
The young~man=did so, but reluctantly. _
,"You’re‘ all right now as’ far, as the
,«cbest ls‘oonc‘erned, but. all‘ wrong as to
fill other parts of the body”; . , i 
“ “Whereiare you goingto ultimothis
timell'rs ye. young fellow asked, at which
’vevcrybody- in the shed roared. . ' . ’- -,
~For answer the sport marred away; as
The fie; then out came ntheright' wristv

,sam’e 38in thei‘fir ' and - i 
left, ande-  ‘7
knocks t. on

 
 

  
  

  

      
  

    
  
  
  
   

  

   
  

 
  
 

’ ,“ That is Just it; the science of boxing '

 

we’ve come,back to Sulphur Bar.

square as square could

_ .“Lch, Just 123i through}? responded-cos
on ‘   , ‘ l, | > ,

CHAPTER XXVI.
THE LESSON.

The stroke was a light one, but as the
man had his heels clumsily placed to-
gether he went over on his back again.

The bystanders chuckled, and the teach-
er hastened to assist the miner to rise, say-
ing as he did so:

“See here, my friend, you don't want
to waste. your time at anything of this
kind, for it is evident you are not in the
game at all. You‘ll never make a boxer;
it isn’t in you; and the only result will be
that you will get punched from the be-
ginning to the end.”

"I believe you‘re right, by hookyi, and
I'm very much obliged to you for letting
me know the truth. There isn‘t any use
of a man getting pounded for nothing."

“D’ot shows d’at your head vas
screwed on rlghdt," the landlord declared.
“A man vas a fool to go into any game
v’cre he vas not going to via," and Hoff-
man led the way to the open air.

The gathering broke up there, and Mr.
Whistler was lost sight of by Hoffman
and Gordon, who, returning to the hotel,
resumed their seats at the table.

“ Well, mine tear friend, you hate
wasted a goot half-hour mit d'ot donkey,
und, come to think of it, he net’er paid you
the dollar, either."

“That’s true, but I'll get my dollar's
worth out of the amount of blowing he
will do in regard to my boxing abilities."

That evening, as Gordon was smoking a
.cigar after supper out on the porch, .Sandy
Jones made his appearance. -

“ How have things been running? I‘ve
been out of town for the last. week or two
with O‘Brien. I've had a job up in Virgin
City, but as the thing is played out tig'wi

il
you come in“ and have a drink? .I’m jest
rolling in money.”

“Thank you, no, Sandy. . I am on the
wait for my accustomed poker party."

“How would you like to try a hand
with me?” asked Sandy. “I don't play so
bad a game if I don't have too much
liquor aboard."

‘f Certainly; it you 'want to, get three or
four more to make it interesting.”

!‘ Oh, I can get them easily enough.
We’ll go in about nine o’clock in the‘room
up—stairs." ‘ ,
“That. will be
acquiesced. , . a . -

Then Sandy sauntered away in search of
the landlord“) make the arrangement,
while Gordon gossiped with his friends as
they came along. ; l I

At nine precisely Sandy J ones, made his
appearance; ' . v y i

“All right.“ I’ve got them all corralled
up-stairs, and I reckon we can have a
pretty lively time.” ' v ,

Jones conducted Gordon to the room,
where it was not necessary to introduce

agreeable,” the sport

him, as he was already acquainted with’

those present, with the exec tion otISteve
O’Brien, Sandy’s friend, 3. lg, muscular;
yellow-haired man, who looked to, be as

There were maurice
calde; Tom Mack, the postmaster, and
Moses Oppenheimer, the Storekeeper. ‘ .,

,It was not a wonder that Sandy got
these last three, for they made it a rule to
play poker with somebody about every
night in the‘year. ‘

It was a, merry,

just enough, 'to' pay him—for poker was his
living, and he, mustwin in order;,to be able
to get alongyi. ,  v w s ,, *t
It was-eleven o’clock when the, party
broke up, and ‘as they were shaking hands
with eachrother; six, men came into the
room—six big'fellows, roughiydrcssed and
h littlethe worse for‘liquor. I . ‘ .
é‘lHello! hello!" exclaimed .the'biggest
one «ofthe lot, :who possessed, a decidedly
ruiiianlyiway. ,I‘V‘You don’t'pean to say,
that ye‘ are through with this, here game,
'are‘liel"... -‘ ‘ ‘ ' M ‘. ~

to he _ ,t."
' come from

blellttlefleld,‘ the all 5

‘ ‘ . ‘ , ' Golden Elephant *mine, and, having done “ ~
happygame, and the,
sport, as usual; came out a trifle ahe‘ad—,

; . 7'," We

«2 bench". a

the biggest kind of a poker game. No
limit! Free to go as you please for every- .
body."

“ If we had known it earlier we might
have cont: in," Gordon said, in his friend
1y way.

“ Why, it ain‘t too late to start a good
game now. There's enough of us, even it
some of the gentsdo wart to go home.”

“ Well, you'll ..ave to excuse me for one,
for I‘ve got all the poker playing I want
tonight, and I‘m going straight home," the :
sport declared. it

“But you're the man we want. You’re 

 

the champion poker player. You‘re the :
teller that‘s been pulling in the wealth, in i
,a quiet way, ever since you‘ struck the 1
camp. and we want a chance to pull some i
of it out of you," the stranger persisted,
in.an ugly mood.

“ That is coming out fair and square
enough, and no mistake, but that's the
way I like men to talk~to come. right out:
with what they mean.

“ If you really want me to join you in
a poker game to—morrow night, without
limit, I'm your man, but not tonight. As
iI have said, I am through for this even-
ng'yv ,

“All right, then; let it be tomorrow
night, sport. I’m mighty anxious to test
your skill in a game of poker," the other
aver-red.

“My name, by the way, is Warwick——
Billy Warwick. I sets myself up to be a.
first-class gambler, and as good a man at
poker as ever sat down to a table in
Utah.”

“ Delighted to make your acquaintance,
Mr. Warwick," Gordon responded, shak-
ing hands with the elaborate formality he
always employed on such occasions.

“Where will we hold the gathering?
Here, in this room?" asked Gordon.

“No my party meet at the regular gam-
bling house, in the center of the village, .
where we have a nice room in the rear of f
the saloon." 1

“ Very well; I will be on hand, and don’t
doubt 'we will have a pleasant evening."

The party then separated, Gordon, the‘
host,» and Sandy Jones proceeding to the
bar-room. ,1

“I’m, afraid you’ll have trouble hetero
you get through with‘ this," Jones ob-
served. ' , .

“Little doubt about that,” Gordon rc-
plied; “the chances are big that this is ,
going to be a fighting poker party.” -‘ .’

“ What sort'ot a chap is this Warwick, 3 .
anyway? ‘Who is he, and what reputa- -‘ '
tion does he bear?” V
‘ “ It ain’t the best in the world,” Sandy
admitted. “He’s a gambler, and has never
done. anything else since coming to the
town. He has been rather inclined to be
ugly, too, on several occasions."

“D’ot vas so," Hoffman supplemented.
“He is very apt to make von jackass of
himself when he gets plenty of liquor on
board. He vas not make his headquarters.
mityme here. Mac O’Hony's Irish. Lion
Hotel suits him more than my place, for
he likes the class of customers he meets .‘ i
there betterif ' ' , ' '

3* Well, l'lll try himon to-morrow night,
and see what, he is made of; for, as I’ve got
into the thing I can’t very wellget out, so ,'
I’ll try 'to puli.through aswell, as I can.” '- '

During tthe next day Gordon occupied
himself in closing up all the stairs of the

.-2,:-s:x‘.ns:.,..._n ,  ... .. .

Mm. woi-mguaa'nmni madam}

 

     
    
   
   
    
    
     
   
   

 

 
    
     
     
         
     
    

this, he called upon .the cobbler to bid , ,-
good-byutorhimx, . ' - . ' ' ‘ ~
-_Camp,was exceedingly sorry to listen to r‘
the Word farewell. , - ‘

   
   
    
 

    

old "fellow, ‘I amsorry‘ to lose"
you, an ‘ Igcan tell you without any flat—
tery, _ that it you'd stayed. * here long r 
enough you‘d’have made a. most excellent 
shoemaker.” : ~ , I  ‘ H ’ t V ~
' “ch5, land don’you know.. it's an odd
thingabout the‘matter: «I really tooan '
fancy to the trade; and some day} may.
be glad enough toucome backagain. ,

" Butyou can understand at present that ~
a man owningnwgood. share-in one’. of it“
‘- best minesin -ihe district, '«Wonld’hekidie
,lou’s to bind wheel; (1 ebbing;

       
       
    
     
   

   
      
     
  
 

  
   

  
 

      
     
 
    
 
   
  
  

     
 

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to get me in, and I don't want you- to for~
get to improve the opportunity."

” You can depend upon my looking after
you,“ the sport assured, heartily.

 

CHAPTER XXVII.
A GANG Oh‘ SHARPS.

Just as the clock struck nine Harry Gor-
don made his appearance in the saloon of
the Irish Lion Ilotel.

He had the usual mediunrsized revolver
at his right side. balanced with a small
bowie at his left waist, but made no spe-
cial show of Weapons, which most gain-
blers exhibit in Wild West camps when
they are in for a heavy game.

The proprietor of the lt'ish Lion Hotel
was a good—natured fellow who did his
best to make things pass off nicely.

He had two “bouncers” to keep order.
and it was but seldom that anybody got
ahead of them.

When Gordon entered the gambler, Billy
\Varwick, greeted him warmly.

“Glad to see you, Mr. Gordon! Allow
me to introduce you to some friends of
mine who will be delighted to make your
acquaintance.

“ Mr. Marcus O'Rourke. This gentleman
is at the stock-yard, and what he doesn't
know about a steer is not worth know-
ing."

The pair exchanged salutations as usual.

“ This is Thomas E. Flanders, who re-
joices in possessing the finest pair of red
whiskers in this district. Hey, Tom?" and
Warwick slapped the other on the back,
who responded with a laugh.

“Mr. Flanders is a master bricklayer,
and has had a hand in the erection of
some of the finest buildings in this camp.”

Flanders shook hands with the sport,
then stepped aside to allow the next to
come up—a nicely-dressed man with an
oily look on him. V

" Mr. Billy W ilson," Warwick remarked,
“who belongs to the great army of specu—
lators, as does also Mr. Harry Leavitt, but
you'll rind th’ém both gentlemen and wor-
thy of confidence.” ‘

" I do not doubt it,” the sport returned,
with a bow which saluted the whole party.

The whole party at once retired to their

' private room, cards were brought. and the
play commenced. «

It was always the sport’s custom to ven-

cover just what kind of skill his oppo-
nents showed, .

sport seemed to win easily—won so stead-
ily that his victims could not understand
how it was that he did so. ‘ .

It is easy enough to understand that it
did not take Gordonlong to get on to all
«thetricks of his opponents, for there really
was not a first-class player in the party.

It was a pleasure to him to watch the
sly operations and dodges of his antago-
nists, and then do the trick ever so much
better. ' ' ‘

Warwick began to get annoyed. Herc

uflve men were pitted, against one, and yet
they had not succeeded in gaining any»
advantage, although they had not neglect-
ed to take every opportunity to catch him
unawares. ' ‘ ..

f‘ My throat is as dry as an ash heap,"
Warwicknt length declared, and as he
spoke he tore the. pack of cards in two
which he had been using, and threw them
into a corner.

“.I don’t like cards figured in that way,

' . anyhow. ,I don’t think they bring luck.” ,

"I rather agree with you myself,” the.

, sport asserted, quietly; “but there are

times when nothing seems to ,bringrluck.

{When it comes tothat I usually am con-
tent to shut my 'eyes and go it blind.”

1 All were dissatisfied with the state of

3  the play, with the exception of the sport!

,' to whom it had been great fun to peat the
thieves at their own game. ’ ' ,
‘ Their cards and signals were. all old-
fashioned, andhe read them as easily as
though they were printed theater hills on
:the wall before him- it > '
drink freely. =,

A dispute then

some flare. ..

 

ture lightly at first, the idea being to dis:

Light as were.the stakes, the all-around.

~ to be able to be present." 5 4 _
. It was plain that the other did not like' i

v The boss gambler at last commenced to
t .‘ _ g . ‘

soon arosé‘over 'ihe‘
,csrdtgtand all were on their). feet at. the‘

 

  

Warwick was the first to get his re-
volver out, but before he could use it he
was promptly knocked down by the Gold—
Button Sport.

This was the signal for a general out-
break, and in the confusion everybody
blazed away at everybody else.

The lights were shot out. and a head-
long rush was made for the doors and win-
dows.

The attention of the town was attracted
by the shooting and the headlong rush
from the saloon, and people poured into
the street to see what had caused the
trouble.

Strange as it would seem, .when it is
considered how many pistol shots had
been tired, but little damage had been
done.

The barkeeper had been wounded in the
side. He had just entered the room with
a round of drinks, when the quarrel be
gan.

Warwick had the tip of one of his ears
shot oil', and held the sport responsible for
this piece of evil doing, but Gordon denied
the shooting.

“ Still, I am willing to be held accounta-
ble for the damage, if you see. lit to have
it so. a

“ I will send a friend up to see you to-
morrow at the hotel," Warwick said to
Gordon, “for I'm going to have satisfac-
tion for this thing if it takes me a year."

“All right. I'm your man, and I had
just as lief put you in a condition for
planting now as any other time."

"Does this fellow really mean busi-
ness?" Gordon asked illoft'man, as they
took their parting drink together, after the
Sport‘s return to his lodgings. .

“ We had a free tight down there upon
our breaking up, and he holds the respons-
ible for the loss of the-tip of his ear.”

“Yes, sport; the big fellow is inclined to
be very ugly when he gets started, and, he
has a bad gang with him; so you will have
to face not one man. but half a dozen.” ‘

“ That is not a pleasant prospect. and I’ll
have tolget some of my acquaintances to-
gcthcr in order to give me a helping“
hand." i

“ D‘ot is der my the man vorks his
game if he can possibly do so. He always
double-banks de other fellow,» so as to start
in mit der advantage. on his side,” the host
*xpiained. _ .

" I‘ll keep my eyes open for him, and
we’ll see if we can’t arrange so that each
one of us shall get a fair show.” ., .

" D’ot vas only der vary it ought to be.”
the landlord observed, as they parted to
retire to bed. ‘v . '

In the.i mornin Gordon arose early, and
after breakfast, repaired to the front
room, ready to receive visitors.

In a short time the man who claimed to
be the leading light of the stock:yard,
O'Rourke, put in an appearance. '

“ I‘m quite delighted to see you, Mr.
Gordon. I come-on behalf of Mr. War-
wick, who is indebted to you for the loss
of his ear last evening, and he wants sat-
isfaction for the same.” '

“In that case I am quite prepared to

give Mr. Warwick all the satisfaction he
requires. What does he want and when
does he .want it?” ,. “
' “ Just now he is down at the main corral
of the town, where there is plenty of room
fer gentlemen whohave reason to be an-
gry with each other to exchange shotsfi,‘

“ Then return,,and give my compliments.
to him, and tell him as soon as I can‘mnke
$6 necessary arrangements I will be with.

m. r ‘ I 4 .

." Necessary arrangements?" echoed the
other, apparently surprised. ' . ‘

, “’Yes. 1 always have some friends, you‘
know, who like to see me go through. these’

.littlehffairs, and when they hear that‘lt'm’ ’,

booked for one they always press a point.

this way of doing business, but as he could-
not help himself it was useless to com—
plain. So, with the remark that Warwick
would. be on hand, he departed. I , ~' y'
A. few minutesafter O'Rourkcleft-Sann
dy Jones came down the street, and ene.

.On that side-and two friends on this side.

commenced, one of them would getln aim. '

‘able to force thething through.

 

    
    

tered. the hotel.  ‘ ,, .
 Hello. old man " he exc' has! .99

s r

den. “i hear that you've got ye'rsclf into
a first-class scrape from what they say up-
town."

" Yes, I expect to have a lively old quar—
rel on my hands, for this fellow seems de-
termined to have my heart's blood. Nothw
ing else will satisfy him. I presume.“

“ Well. he is a toierably good man, but
I don’treckon it needs a cimiiipionof cham-
pions to get away with him," was Sandy‘s
conclusion. _.._....__

CHAPTER. XXVIII.
THE FIGHT.

  
  
  
   
    
   
  
 
    
   
   
 
    
  
  
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
    
  
   
   
  
   
  
    
  
   
  
  
     

“is this corral the usual place for set-
tling such difficulties?"

“ Yes, there‘s plenty of room there, and
no danger of anybody except the princi—
pals getting hurt."

“A Very good idea.
walk up to see the fun?"

“ Oh, yes: I never miss a. game of this-
kind, you can depend upon that,“ Jones
replied. ,

The sport and Jones proceeded up thee
street side by side, but Sandy. upon look—
ing around and seeing that he was the»
only man who accompanied Gordon, took
alarm at once.

"Here, here! This Won’t do!" he ex-
claimed. “Don’t you know that this fob
low is one of the old doubltsbanking bus-i
tlers? Why, sport, he will have live or"
sixmen in the background, all ready to-
jump upon you when you least expect it."

“Don‘t yourbe alarmed about that!"
Gordon replied. "Hoffman made. all the
arrangements in regard to that this morn~
ing. He has got the men and arranged the
trap a denced sight better than I could.”

“It's all right, then. I thought it queer
that an old hand like yourself should Walk . . ‘
blindly into the snare.” . ‘

It was about ten tininutes' walk tome,
great corral, and when the pair reached
it. thtw found forty or- fifty people looting“-
about, all of them well armed, and sc'vcral,’
with rifles in their hands. »

Warwick was seen at the extreme end.
of the corral. He had a pair of revolvers,
one belted to his waist, the other carried in:
his hand. ,

As. soon as he saw Gordon he beckoned
to him with his revolver, and waved his
hand up the road. i

The sport nodded assent, but he took a.
quick glance around in order to see what
game the other could play if be complied
with this request. . , '

.Two or three hundred feet further on the"
trail ended, for all evidence of the town '
vanished. and a little scrubby country bow ‘- .
gang1 through which ran a simple, plain.  l
mu .  g .l .,., ‘

The sport went forward for about a»
hundred yards, then halted ‘ ‘ : t  "

There was plenty of cover for an assas» « '
sin, and the all-aroundsport could not
remove from his mind the impression that. '
if he followed the gambler in amongst the
shrubbery he would speedin be laid low. .

“Oh, no! None of that in mine, thank . ' ‘
you!" he exclaimed. “I‘ll wait here for ,
you. This is a good itiqn; no cover‘to  
add any friend of, nine, and you’ll have: " '
the squarest'kindof'a show. ,‘ v‘ .

“You notice that I‘ve got two friends '7

Do you care to

.“Now, then, if you have four friends to
meet them, they are prepared to come up ’.. ‘
to the scratch right lively.” .' -. . . '

Warwick appeared extremely surprised," ‘ 11“
for- he did have four men ,back in? the;
bushes, and expected that. after thought-E;

  

  

shot at the sport without any one being
able to detect where it came from.  " ‘
His game had been detected. so that put.
.an end to that artful dodge. ‘   f i“
There were too many people who would.
be witnesses to the light for him; to 

,..
V “There is some-mistake; I den’t want
anybody else- to fight my battles,” he!
cried, and with the' words he Whipped out.
his liv'tevoiver and took deliberate aim at the» ,:.
spo._.m  4 . 
Gordon had his weapons ready. ‘ They A
(were ssifwocking. and no trouble to ham ' ‘

regent  revolvers. r ‘

\

   

  

  

     
    
  
 
  
  

   

  

 

   
   

  

   

 

 

' " shamanism '

 

   
   
   
   
  
  
   
   
   
  
   
   
 
   
    
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
  

Both the men missed fire. It wasn long
distance even for extraordiriary shots.

" Come on! Another hitch!” Gordon ex-
claimed; "You can’t expect to hit every
time."

Warwick was an excellent shot, and it
was his intention to advance at every tire

, until he got the other well within range.

r This the next few steps seemed to have

 . accomplished, and, taking earet‘ul aim, he
tired.

But the shot was a failure.

" Oho! I can't do anything until I am
Ichty feet nearer in!" he growled, and
again started forward.

The sport now,did likewise, and then,
with Wonderful quickness, up Went his
revolver arm, a tongue of flame shot forth, 1
and Warwick went down, with a bullet in
his shoulder. ‘

That shot convinced him that he had,
,got all the fighting he wanted, and when
he was, carried by his friends oil? the field
he told them that he was satisfied.

Warwick had a bunk up on the hillside
with three more sporting men, and when
the party reached there some of them ex-
preSsed‘ surprise at his want of success.

“Well; I don’t know exactly what to
make of it myself,".W'ai-wiek declared;
“but, somehow, I did not seem able to
catch on at any turn.

, "' Then there suddenly flashed across my
. mind the 'stories I‘d heard of this man‘s

wonderful skill as a marksman, and,

thinks l——-here I might as well‘slide out
before I get peppered all up.

' “ But l‘will get square with the fellow

before he leaves the town, though; he is '
‘ one of the kind of men whom a man like
myself cannot afford to deal ,‘with openly
and aboveboard. ’ l l

“ I must watch my opportunity to strike
. him in the dark. He must never be al-
lowedrany chance for his are, or else I
stand no show for mine. ’ .

“ I will fix up a job so’ complete that it
cannot fail to snare him, notmatter, how“
carefully he'may been the watch!" ,

The others declared their belief tha
Warwick could do this, for they knew that
,he Was an adept when it came to tricky 4
plans. ’ , ‘ ‘ - .

,Harry Gordon went at once to his head-
‘_:quarters at the hotel, and was greeted on
, ‘the‘stoop by German Jake, who waited
,1here’1anxiously to see how the affair had
gone. I . I
, “All right,"- exclaimed the sport, tram
Quite a distance down, the road, holding
. ‘uphis hands'to show that he had. not been'
injured: ' . ' . .

iit‘Aha!‘ D‘ot vas gootl" cried the land-
‘Jord,’ rubbing his hands briskly together.
‘fI 'vasasglad' of that as though Fhad re

/

   

 

  

  

ceiveda hundred-dollar bill; , . .
‘f You are one of der, right kind of mans,
fund v'en\you settle mit der town, I am
«anxious ‘for you to get ahead." ‘  ,.
‘ "' know that peoplexin my line of bush
ncss are not, generally looked upon with
Jams, but since I have become mixed up‘
with are Golden Elephant [mine I don‘t.
flunk any one. has a right to Complain or
me": .  
:fl‘f’No, I'reckon not; but we‘ll shortnucer- 1
 ‘bout‘d’ot, as we, hate or meeting of der r
hoard fo-morrow night.” , , "’ . .. ,

, when they separated. [Hoffman entered
the hotel, while the. sportproceeded down
‘3.) road to the Golden Elephant , ,fl __ j _‘
' verything had been doing finely. The}

madcauons'had been strengthened and.
unarmedupatrol was keptconstantly on,
guard;- , , "‘ xx? v; ,
Jae at once sought, outer. Manchester?
 ogether they proceeded» to, the, 01-,
'Let 'me "see.  I’ve got .to sign these
 that winds up' my connection
w th the Golden. Elephant
aches't’er nodded arise~ ,u ‘ l, ‘
papers were speedilyprodunedg a
affixed‘vhis signature to than; ‘-
here,"that settles may. Hereafter 1.11,;
to cement myseld with themleasanté

tivé of r drawinggny hare ,o ’the

   

  

    

  
 
  

  
 
  
 

    
 
 
  
   
 
  

 
  
   
 
 
   

wen;

reverts-3" n: ,

cent. for a couple of years at least, judg~
ing by the ore in sight."

" I hope  Good-by. Take good care
of yourself," and Gordon took his way to
the town. ._.___

CHAPTER XXIX.
A NOVEL PROPOSITION.

The sun was beginning to droop in the
heavens.

The sport went leisurely along, musing
over his new fortune, when he was aroused
by a man hopping into the trail about a
hundred yards ahead of him, revolver in
hand.

Gordon's revolvers were out in a sec-
ond, and quickly he flashed his eyes around
him, for, as he instantly suspected, danger
was there.

Six men surrounded the sport.

He had fallen into a trap. -

Each man of the six had his face cov-
ered with a [loose black mask.

As soon as Gordon discovered the nature
of his surroundingsasix against one—he
replaced the hammers of his revolvers and
shoVed the weapons back into their hol-
sters. .

“ Gentlemen, I reckon you have got me
this time." I

“ Yes, I reckon we have. But you have
been pretty lucky, and I don’t think you
have any reason to complain. You‘ll have
to come with us for a little business," and
the speaker pointed up the road as he
spoke. l :

“ I am agreeable.” ,

The man in the mask started, and Gor-
don followed in his rear, with the others
trooping in behind him.

When the summit of the hill was
reached the party left the trail, striking
into’ a small path which led devvn through
a broken country to the southwest. '
_ In five minutes they came to a natural
.corral among the pines, where seven
horses waited for them. '

[On these they mounted, and rode off at
a brisk pace, still heading for the south-
west. . , .

In half an hot'ir they pulled rein before

large, old-fashioned ranch, situated in a
grove of pines. .

' No one, but a, lunatic wouldever haue
donated a ranch in such an out-ofothe-way
place.  ' I I ‘
w It was a. beautiful spot after you got ’to
it, had some good grass, and could boast
of most agnificent,water. -
V In fac ,' one little/stream. ran right from
under the cabin itself, but it was solonely,
so far off 'from everything, that no man
stood any. chanceto make anything out
or it‘running it as a regular ranch”, .
:When they dismounted, the leader, who

i

'2

. was a tall, muscular fellow,,with' a black

beard, which the sport surmisedwas false,

approached himand said: , ’
‘ Gordon, I want to have a little Quiet

.talk with you.” ‘ i I 

. “(All-right. I am at your service.”

I“ We will_‘wa1k‘over to the edge of the

grove, where'we will be pecure from obseré

ration," and they started on! together.

, “ By the Way, it'san awkward thing,’.‘

said the masked many “to converse within.

1min gh
. A b  t
cheerily

,When

 ‘Jiin it is,”. theisport replied.
:the’ pair reached the. edge “obtheV

the grassyknolls that were‘almost as Soft
,asaveluet. g V I' ‘ W w ,4 _‘
, .“Hcre care now" exclaimed the man
lathe m ‘ -, ‘fiand can discuss our little,
scheme of, battle with common dignity as.
'_,tWo 'prime ministers in, their gilded, pal.
a ,,._ , ,. ,.  .

'4 “It scheme of battle; chi”: Gordbn re-
rented; ~‘ ' ' ' ' ' 
: tYeg‘  I
(to. yoml‘aned it
mine-business!“ i _ l »_
*- Gordon . sat upright: and
,emingly} eartyllaughu
“ 0310. this ‘ 1an

  

‘t’sl'WHat'I'm going to propose‘-

  

    
 
 
 
 
   

i

 

 new hae- ..
‘ 'u 1-..spiri-t3‘

 
 

,gradually approached and were now 

man withouta name, so you. can call me ‘

pines. they found» seats torthemselves on. _

13" this Golden Elephant. "

H Yes-H,

“ But that involves another jumping of
the mine.”

“ Exactly.”

“ Which won't be an easy thing to do."

“No, 01' course not. If it had been an
easy thing a man like yourself would not
have been wantec ."

“ I'm very much obliged to you for the
compliment, but I don't know as I’m anx-
ious for the job."

f “Why, you accomplished the task he-
ore."

“ Yes; but under different circumstances.
Thf mine had never been properly forti-
fiet .”

“ Oh, you can do the same thing again,”
was urged, in a careless way.
~ “Maybe I can, maybe I can’t——and
won‘t.

" But I say, this Golden Elephant business
beats me entirely. , Here you people talk
about taking another man’s property and
using another man‘s ore, just as if it was
your own. Do you think it right to take
the law into your own hands, seize mines
to which you have. not the shadow of a
claim, just the same as the road-agent in
thevmiddle of a trail bids his man stand
up and deliver? ‘

“But, go ahead with your explanation;
let me see. what the chances are, and I'll
give you an answer mighty soon".

“Well, it is this way: Manchester, the
foxy old lawyer, has worked his scheme
mighty fine, but everybody knows that he
has robbed somebody. ' I don’t know ex-
actly whom, for that particular mine is one
whose title seems to have got lost, and no-
body know who owns the thing.

“But I’ve gota title on which I am
going ahead, owned by the man who is
on the next property.

“ He is going to claim’that the surveyo
who laid out the lines made a mistak
and did not give him within a hundred
flee; of the claim to which he was enti-

e . ‘-

“ I have bought that claim, which cov-
ers a certain part of the Golden Elephant
gulch. If it comes in on the lower part it.
‘will be apt to hit the well, and whoever
hits the well practically owns that prop-
er y. * '

‘f N ow, then, what do you say? Will you
go in with us, and-so bounce the bouncer?”

 

 

;

    
 

 

 
 
       
     
      

  

 

/

A .

   

\

     

1 CHAPTER XXX.
A. REVELATION AND A NEW CUSTOMER.

“But, stop a moment, I had forgotten,”
continued'the sport’s captor; “I haven’t '
introduced you to‘ the members of our ‘
party yet, to show you how strong a
force we can collect and the character of.
those concerned. ~ . , - _ '

“ I .shall be glad to make their acduaint—
ance,7’ the sport observed, as he looked
around on the masked men,. who had

     
    
      
   
       
     
        
    

seated in the immediate neighborhood.
“This gentleman. has the honor of be- ‘
ing the alcalde otpthe'town.”

rrhe. alcalde prose; bowed, took on" his
as the sport. re-t

      
     
 

,niask, and laughed,
turned the sanitation. 1 ;
“Tom Mack, postmaster, a. gentleman.’ ‘
.Whom, I believe... younlready'knowfl '_ -,  ' ~
" Both laughed and‘bowedt. . _ v ~
“Doctor. Anderson. ‘aEverybody knows
:the doctor, of course." , . - v v
The doctor smiled as. he‘vremoved his i
{nee cowering and bowed’tmGordon.’ . , h ‘ .
:" “A.nd,,last;..though’ not; least, I hope» '.
myself. Jenni-Soul’arkerl’ ‘ f * . .. l
l “ Thesetwolgentlemen- here ar‘ejrlends ""
oflminé. tram the, East, EughMuntgomery ‘
and Gldwn'lBedford,‘ who haven few thous ,
sand dollarsyvhicb theywant, to invest,
and they camevto‘ the conclusion thatsomo .
mining-momma!) 9f;,thlslzklnd womd be, .
‘ _ ‘ ymmgttney; could put It. '

. .a

neorgacaethousana norm

Cur thousand dollars; and 
=to .pni:~1it.iato a' syndicate. teach-
 Ele ‘. ,

     
 
 

  
   
     
          
  
   

 
   
   
    
   
   
  
 

  
   
 
     
 

      
  
  
 
 

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possession or the

 

 

 

 

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' .rjrtlgtniujiJ-“fs, 2‘, ‘, ,/ 

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under these circumstances, why in the
world can‘t we do something?"

“ The principal reason is that the mine
has been so carefully fortified. In the

next place, if you depend upon me, I.

have scruples against going into this
second attack."

" ()h, but. that is foolish!" Parker pro-
tested, in his smooth, oily way.

“ The property is practically without an
owner. Manchester may claitn the owner-
ship for his syndicate; the courts may
award it to him, and he may be in pos-
session; but, for all that, he does not
really own it any more than I do, and I
think I am perfectly justiiied in having
my try for it.

“We will make you a fair offer, Mr.
Gordon. We will raise thirty thousand
dollars for war expenses and allow you to
have the control of the entire sum, in
Conjunction with myself. You shall enlist
the army; no man will be engaged except:
subject to your approval.

“ All the details ot’ the. attack and siege.
shall be subject to you." “

" You have made me a flattering propo-
sition, truly, and you must givcine time to
think it over."

“That is reasonable enough," the lead-
er assented. looking round upon his “as-
sociates.

They all nodded, for the proposition
seemed to be a reasonable one to them.

“ Very Well, gentlemen; I'll meet you at
any time you say to-morrow, and give

5 you an answer.”

"\Vell, say this same time to-morrow.
We will drop in and see you at your ho-
tel; that, will be the proper place and way
to consider wltat really is a common bus-
iness proposition.”

As they all rose to depart, Parker sup-
plemented: . . I

“And, by the way, Gordon, this is on
the strict quiet, you know; not a word

about a syndicate with black masks and
bronchos. That's a little episode that we
threw in for our own amusement." ,

“ Oh, yes. I will be careful, of course.
I understand how a man's thoughts run
to a little fun of that kind."

The party passed the time away with
jokes and laughter as they} journeyed
back to Sulphur Bar, 'all in the best oi
spirits. /
_‘Gordon got his supper as usual, and
made his way to his accustomed place on
the porch, where he waited for ‘fcustome
crs." ._ _ .
The sport, however, had hardly made

his appearance when Hoffman came hur-
rying up, full of excitement.

Two coaches had arrived, and the hotel-
keeper had been busy receiving the guests.

“Oh, mine friend, I think . you" Will
hook one magnit‘i ent fishvto-nighti the
landlord exclaime . v

“ He is an Englishman, who calls him-
self Lord Johmas Tom, or Lord Tom
Johmas, or something of d’ot sort.

“ You know, mine tear friend, how these
Englishmen talk. They run their words
all in together so a man cannot make
head or tail of what they say; but he is a
great poker player. He began to, talk

' about playing poker before he got off the
09%.; played poker before he was ten
years old, hesays. He will ‘get up in the
middle of the night, now, any time. to

ker." ‘ I
may p0 Then it may not be safe for

“Indeed? . I
me to have anything to do With this

Briton. He may play poker soywell as to
be able to clean me out.”

at v’en they come to face'the scratch
they do not produce der fish in der pan. 1

“ Oh, I’ll try
man came to
try on.” "

Gordon was
As: soon as he made
the stranger he turned the conversation tc
.poker playing, finally remarking:

“ If it isn’t too late for you I wouldn’t

, 1 “Some of dfose tellers are goof talkers.
,1)

this ,town yet that I didn’t

correct 'in regard” to this.

 

. I 1‘ mindthaving a little game right off."

“Certainly not: I would be delighted]?

7am on, or course. Never at

thehcquaintance of,

 

.‘ you take ‘the cake hero in Sulphur-QB” tor

we can be as comfortable as bugs
rugs."

“That will suit me exactly," the other
exclaimed.

The two procneded tip-stairs, and a jolly
gatne the two had.

It was a purely “gentlt-unen‘s game,"
with no suggestion of cheating or foul
play of any kind.

But for all that, when they stopped
playing at. the end of a couple of hours,
the sport was fully titty dollars ahead.

“My goodness!" Lord John had to ex-
claim. “ I've been making a. tour of this
blooming country for nearly two years,
and I must admit that I never was fur-
nished with as good a game of poker as
you have dished up for me to-night."

“ But now good-night! Hope to see you
again!" and he proceeded to his assigned
night. quarters.

Gordon was about. going to his own
room, when iii came the landlord.

“ Beer, eh, my tear friend. Mr. Gordon?
Come and havo a glass of beer init me
iirst nnd I vill dell you somedings which
you ought to know.” _

The sport seated and the beer before
them, Hofiman asked:

“ How did you come out with this boast-
er to-night" ’

“About fifty dollars aheat ."

“ Aha! that is good! But now I tells you
that there are two men keeping a secret
watch on you." ‘

CHAPTER XXXI.

THE wmtiKINt} DELEGATES” EXIT.

“Two men watching me?" the sport re-
pelliQd.

“Yes, mine goot friend, utid they’re
the worst looking pair of chaps d’ot I
ever saw,“ the hotel-keeper declared.

“I noticed them in the early part of
the evening—law that they were watch-
ing you. and so I made up my mind to
keep my eyes on them.

“When you started to go up mit' der
town, I got little Jakey, who is der smart~
est boy as never vas, to follow on you.
11nd he followod mitout anybody knowing
anything about it, clear back to nty place.

“D’ese ‘two mans are vatching for a
chance to kill you."

“ All they Wi}nt$i5 a favorable opportun-
ity, I suppose?" the sport remarked:

“Yes, d'ot vas it; d‘ey vant a chance
for themselves to get off, und v‘en such! a
chance as d’at comes along d’ey vill be
certain to strike at you.” - t

“This is a mighty disagreeable bit of
news—the idea of a man being obliged to

in

 

‘ go around the town with thc\kn0wledge

that there are twomen in the background
waiting for an opportunity to kill him
on the first convenient occasion.”

“Yas, mine gootness; it vus not pleas-
ant!” ' , v 4 ,

"' I'll put a stop to it to-morrow, or else I
ain’t the man I think ‘I am.”

And with this, declaration the sport
went off to his bed. _

He was up bright and early in tlie'morn.
ing, according to his custom, ate at good
and hearty breakfast, then went up to his
room and recharged all his weapons.

It was about nine o’clock when hetcame
down-stairs. ‘

He found the landlord standing at'one
of the corner windows of the bar-moan
so as to command a complete view of the
town. ‘ ‘ ~ . r -

“ Come here; mine friend, und I viii
show you your two men. Do you see
those four men over there trading for a
mule?’{ ' ‘

H Yes}! ’ I

»“'D’ot tall, lanky fellow, mit so bad a
pair or 'pantuloons ~und shirt,_und d,er hat
v‘at is no goot at all to anybody." ‘ v -

“ He is a pretty, tough-looking cus
tomer. I‘ wouldn’t give a, nickel tor a
dozen like him." the sport declared. ‘ v

“I should think not, ~Der more one had
of such trash as d’ott, the vors'e he vould
‘be off. ’ ' . t ‘

“ Yell, he is you of them." , - ' '

. »“It.you can show me another one any
where near as bad I’ll have to admit that

 

tough-looking customers." “~

 

1.“); can show you R, ‘70:sz . .

   

,put a stop to it, so I. intend topmke you‘

.to attack me." ‘, .
», ‘Andfthooport emphasized his remap
levelinghthe pistol; ‘ . ’ - “

: V .‘ t

 

immediately," the landlord declared, in
his emphatic way. " Just turn your eye
a lllllltll't‘tl feet. up der street; look at tier
mans sitting on tler box.“

'l‘here, indeed, sat a tough, with red hair
and red whiskers. and who Wore more dis
lapldat:ed elothes titan the other.

".I give it up; that. teller is worse than
the first."

“ D‘ot is v‘at I told yeti. V'at you Fink,
I keep a hotel ten years for nothing?

" You put der man before me and I tell
you pretty mighty quick what he is."

“ And you think these two follows in-
tend to lay me out?"

"Oh, yes: 1’ do not think there is a
doubt of it. They have two new re-
volvers apiece, and i‘elloWs of d'ot statin
voiiid net’er be able to get. such veapons
as dose mitout dey vere had for some bad
purpose." .

" [‘11 give them a chance for their bird's-
egging within the next few hours, and
with such wolves I seldom have any mer—
cy.“ the sport. declared.

" Of course not. \"y should you? Such
rascal tl’ey should be killed mitout mercy.

“Mein Himmel! Do you suppose d'ot
if I vas in your place I vould hesitate for
a moment to treat such villains just as it'.
d‘ey vas vild volves froth der prairie?”

"That's correct, I reckon. Now I‘ll go
out and see if I can't. have some fun with
these fellows." and the sport started for
the street. ' ‘

Hoffman looked after him, and nodded
in the most Confident. manner.

He- had so much faith in. }ordt)n that
he was sure he, could hold his own with
a dozen such toughs. _ . I

The sport walked tip the street. with
his gaze fixed neither to the right nor
left, but straight ahead, as though inedi-
rating upon some important object.

The two tramps soon fell in behind,
one keeping well behind the other.

They passed through the town, out or
the town. and then along the trail leading
to the north. .

The arrangement was done so skillfully
that nobody took any notice of it. ,’

Gordon passed through the rough coun-
try where the evergreens and cedars were;
and the tramps quickean their pace. ,

But the sport had also quickened his,
and the'result was that the pair were as-
tonished when Gordon jumped out from
behind an evergreen clump and “held
them up” with two revolvers.

“Now, then, my gentle doves, I‘ll trouble
you to shell out your weapons as fast as
you are able.” '  _ ' ,

“W’at in the world do you mean by ,
this?” asked the first man, who answered, '
to the name of Billy Back; “you surely!-
don”t expect to get any wealth outlet 1
me.’ .. L ‘ -

“‘Nor out of me," chimed in his comma
panion, Charley Cossions. ~ - .

The second man hadndded his weapons-
to the neat pile made by the first. ‘

They \vert six elegant Weapons, four rec
volve'is an two bbwie-knives. ‘ I

" Now, then. I want you to march tent
feet and sit down." i - 3 ‘
. ‘f W‘nt unearth do you want us to play». ‘ , ,
a game of that kind for?" Billy demanded. ~,

“Never mind talking: do it!” and a
flourish of the revolvers gave emphasis
to the command. .  .. .

The pair concluded it was best to .obey.‘
and whil they did so the sport gathered
the wen ons into a cotton bag which ho
had brought'with him. '  j

The tramps were more and more a'stonz‘ '
fished. ' ' it.‘ . 

“‘ Now, then, I’m coming. right down to i-
busincss. I have got th dead wood on” 
you, and if you don’t sp ak the truth I, s”
will kill you with as little mercy as thalish‘
you were ‘a pair of wolves." - I "

 

w~'l‘he tramps looked ,at each other" in"?

great alarm, for they well understoodhoi'
would be as good as his word. t . a _t 

“,I am gettingtired of‘heing attacked \ ,.
from every other “bush, and I propose to n

tell me who it is-‘thot is setting you on .;

 

N  en

 

. , . i
when it that has on

 

 

  
 
  

'24

” "Gold-Button sport.

 

 

ploycd you to kill me?” Gordon de-
manded.

“ I don‘t suppose you’ll believe us, but
I'll be blamed if I’m able to tell you,” an-
swered one.

The sport looked at the pair and shook
his head; he thought they were guying him.

"It is the inuth, and l‘ll tell you just
how it is. I got out of a Job the day be-
fore yesterday and happened to men-.
tion in Paddy Flynn’s concert hall that I

I was out: of work, and I didn‘t know
when I‘d get. another stroke to do to
get whisky and grab.

“That night, about ten o’clock, a little,
weeney fellow, pretty poorly dressed,
touched me on the arm and got me to go

_ outside with him.
 " ‘If you're ripe for a job and ain‘t par—
 ticular what it is, I think I can get you
"9"" one.’ v .
- . " “ ‘All right; I’m your man,’ ” I said.
. . “Then the cuss explained that he had
it in for you, and wanted you laid out in

a quiet way.

“I saw that the job could not be done
by one man, or at least not by such a man
as I! am, for i ain’t reckoning to get my
neck stretched without some chance for
my life; so I told him that I wouldn‘t
try it without a partner.”

, “And he assented to the partner?” the
sport asked. . _

“ Oh, yes; he admitted that the job
would be a difficult one, and that I
could not have too much help."

“ How much did he think the thing was
worth?” Gordon asked.

V “ He left that a good deal to mes—said
the thing ought to becovered by a sliding
, scale—that it might be worth more and it

might be worth less.” i

“He had confidence that I wouldn’t
stick him, and we could settle the price
after the thing was done.” ‘

"And you Were to have mutual conti-
dcnce in him, too?” , ' ,
 p“ Exactly so; that seemed necessary.
j And we were to have two new revolvers

and a new bowie-knife apiece," the man
explained. “which were promptly ‘_fur-
* nished. .' ~’

    
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
   
  
  
    
  
  
    
  
   
  
  
   
  
  
 

(we could wait. until we got the right
> , chance to strike a dead sure blow at you."
 “.‘Well, there is no mistaking the. fact
that this party was .‘in it’ bigger than a
twolf.”_the sport remarked. ’
",‘Yes; it was understood that money
was no object; all that was wanted was
tgaat you should be done for in dead'sure
v . ) ._ I x

V The sport laughed in a sardonic- way. , ,
,‘f‘I am anxiousto know who engineered
Jthe; thing. butit is plain that thelchief
 was running enough. to fix matters-
 so that his toolslcould not betray him,”
 his revolver moved 'menacingly. _
1 , "‘ But we are to meet him for a’ final set.
tlcmeu outside of addy Flynn’s‘on the
night of your death, ’one explained. l
‘ ,f‘ on, he is! Then that will do’. I will
‘ry.to. keep that appointhaeut.‘ V A
, ‘Now, my dear cut-throats, it has 00‘-
c fled to me that the walking is exceed-
, ugly good .to the North, and you had‘bet-
3’,th start- in that; direction.” ,. '
,‘l‘he tramps‘,were on‘ their
aiding

,. their way in a. twi . .j!’  .
 *Gordon followed closely at their heels.

  

  

  

feet, and on

  
   
  

"good"! .the sport remarked. ; “
ever to beseen, either one of ya ,in Sub.
gnu: ,Bar again. during the period of your
natural life, or I shall kill you on sight
Without’mercy.” *~ “ ~ . ,  , ,.
‘ You bet yer sweet life ‘I don’t want“
no inore of yer blamed town» I have
g tenet! out ofinhout a year‘s

 
 

  
  

  
 
  

n ', ‘t’l‘hevsame winner-the
The“ spartacame-to a halt, and=watched
,Jthem‘ until they disappeared‘in» the 
‘aancé. Now, then, ‘1 must look-after. this
 party that: haunts {ruddy
5mm" tent." n ,  . 3" ' y'li 

  

    
     
 
   
  

‘4 ; WORKING IN nrssnmn
VA: shearer; west «shit,

   
  

, ‘,‘:A.lso ten dollars for expenses, so that . ,

{Understand that this thing is :tor .

other echoed: '

' =,, Flynn

ever undertook. These rascals are not to
see the villains who hired them to kill me
until after the job is done. I

“ So as long as I remain in the place I
don’t stand much chance to get a view of
their countenances.

“The fellows will not hang around the
concert hall for the sake of getting news,
for the death of a man like myself will
travel quickly.

“ So they will know enough to keep
away from the dangerous locality until
the deed is done.

“ Therefore, there’s no use for me to
loltcr in the neighborhood."

By this time. the sport had reached the
hotel and found Sandy Jones awaiting

m.

' “ he got some news for yer,” informed
Sandy.

“ Come off into the corner here,” said the
sport, as he led the way to the end of the
porch, where were a. couple of chairs, and
these the pair took.

“. I've been putting in a good day’s work,
up at Paddy Flynn's concert hall,” Sandy
explained. “I ran across an old friend
who had got a good job up there, and of
course nothing would do but I must stay
with him for awhile.”

“ Natural, under, the circumstances,"
Gordon observed.

“ l'm one. of the handy chaps about a.
place, you know, who makes himself use-
ful, and at the end of an hour the entire
force at Paddy Flynn's were ready to
swear by me, and I was perfectly wel—
cometo come there whenever I wanted an
evening‘s amusement.

"Of course, while I washeiping these
fellows with their work, they talked, and
sometimes talked carelessly, and so I soon
arrived at the conclusion that there are
,two of the performers who do not hear
you any good—Will.” 1

“ I am not surprised. ' I hate had some
‘such suspicion myself for quite a time."

" The two I mean belong to a little sort

,of club. that meets in a cabin up on the
hillside.
which they want to keep quiet among
themselves]? Sandy explained. -
‘.‘.It is one of those places; you under-
stand," he continued, "where, if they once
get a man in, and get. him started into
playing, they generally contrive to get all
his money before he escapes.”

“ It would be a good scheme formic,
Sandy, to disguise myself as a, tenderfoot
and secure an entrance into the cabin.
Possibly I might be-able'to pull off a good
trick. What say?” i '1 _ ‘ A ,

“I should not be surprised]? Jones as-
sented. “I don’t believe, there’ll be a
doubt "about their ,lettlng me in, and,
through me; you can probably get in with-
. out any trouble}! ; ‘

'- “ And now here’s another scheme we can
.work,” intimated the sport.
admission, all r1ght;.we can have the an-
mouncement made, coming from the lower
. town, that Ii have been killed.”
. This struck Sandy as, being a most ex-
cellent idea. E f ‘ ' ,
.“ ‘That is, a splendid notion,l' he declared.
' “.Yes, we must get some. good men who
will tell. the stery, so that no one will doubt
it; then these games who. are working in'
theiddnrk, Will 0‘ pretty sure to come for-
Awa ." " '" ' -
"‘“Wecan but try,it,’,' Sandy concluded.
I “.Yes, we can but try it on, but I fancy
its go'ingtohe a‘very hard job,” and the
sportarose.. 1‘ ,  v
. “ Will you come. in and have some‘supi
per with me'i‘.‘ ' ' ‘

" After the meal Jones. took a seat on the
.a"tmmp disguises...  . i t . v ,
. Through the aid of the’ landlord he had
no dlmculty in, getting this.
. sandy'vtookone look at

eshook hishead‘.  u r
:' ‘.‘ See here; I, never-ecan
‘ the ' camp/with ,yomi * No one would ever
L” looks

 

 
 
   
   

’s' estuary»
All ' 1'

 

 

I think it is a gambling club,

“If 'we gain I

, .‘.‘ Don‘t-carol! I dol'ljSandy assented. 5 ’
piazza,"whi’ie Gordon wentofrto‘ hunt up.

his parchment
.walk. through "
tine again-I :1!!! meet you pt‘l’sddy‘ h

He had not wasted his time, ho'wever,
for he had kept a close watch upon all
who entered the place.

He had discovered that there were five
people who were on intimate terms—a
little band of sharks, some of whose mem—
bers went down the town and enticed vic-
tims to the concert hall, where the other
two robbed them.

And one of this band of sharks was a
woman disguised as a man!

“ That’s the small, lean fellow, who has
been putting up the money so cheerfully
to encompass my death,” the sport de~
cided.

Another discovery Gordon made—that
he was got up entirely too roughly, for-
everybody looked upon him with suspi--
cxon.

“I must change this a little, for it is
my game not to attract any attention.”

So the sport retired into the darkness
and divested himself of his outward coVr
cring of rags. ‘

Then he was dressed in the common.
miner fashionuboots, breeches, and flani
nel shirt, and a small slouch hat. As he
returned to the circle of light which came
from the tent, he encountered Sandy
Jones, and the two entered the place in
company.

T516 sport explained what he had discov-
ere .

“ Does that indicate that the boss of the-
concert hall has anything to do with the»
attacks on you?" Jones asked. ',

‘ “Oh, no, he has nothing to do with it.
The woman is one of the performers here;
one of the men likewise, and they are
ulsling this place as a convenience, that is
a I” I
The pair remained in the place for half
an hour, but did not succeed in picking
up any more information.

“The trap to-morrow night may catch.
some one,” the sport declared. . ’

CHAPTER XXxIII.
AN scum BUSINESS MAN.‘ ‘

As already stated, theyGolden Elephant
property had no office in Sulphur Bar; all
its business was transacted on" its own
premises. -' r .,

,Aware of this fact, Gordon got a bron-
cho and rode out to the mine, to find
an important change—mama“, at the en--
trance, by the main trail, there had been
constructed a substantial little office. .

In this office now sat Manchester, en-r
gaged at his books and papers.

The sport rode up, dismounted, fastened
the broncho, and, entering the little room,
at once made known the object of his call.

“I thought I had ‘got all t ong’h with
the Golden Elephant,” he anno oed, “but
some-men in Sulphur Bar would like me
still to take aninterestin it.” ‘ '

Manchester looked puzzled)

“Well, you have an interest in it now,
as far as owning shares in the stock goes.”

“Ah, yes; but these parties are anxious,
to have me take a very much greaterin-
terest in it than that.”  ; r '

v, “ I can’t for the life of me see- how they r
are going to work it.” ., ,

, “ I’ll come out frankly and tell you the -
 sch  m. '  . s...

‘ ere redo it esn ,phur
Bar who think you’ve got no right to this,
n1 ne. ’ ' ‘ ‘

 

“the dawyerwlanghed. g“A1teri a syndicate.

hasn't any" rl

case of amine like this, where e'ore‘is'

 
 
 
  

 " .

coursefilGox-don assented: ‘ffibutr “chest: :par- ‘
ties have” fished. up;a.;title;which they are 
. malignancies). the-auction sale and all the
testy'sog-theitiden lis'that» the 
acclimate V
regard to whatbhas‘beenvidona.”  u I

“Well. upon my word.  much this
rthebcutestiipiodoostrich w “hut
' ' manage:

    

 
   

 

“on, yhsr-that‘is‘alvvalys enemy," and I e ' ‘
has, fought and won a place. there a1,» 
gways plenty ready gto‘ declare‘ that it: ,
ght toitgparticularly in the r~

(rich‘WIthitroe gold, and it is and say mat» -
ter tolturn~ it intor'cash almostvimmadi‘r -.

, 'l . ,‘ .' t
“That’s ‘ther‘secret off the“ thing, jot" 

,, directly to them without my 
i ‘i ‘

 

 

 

 

 
       
       
 

 

      
        
       
    
      
     
        
         
 
      
     
 
     
   
    
     
         
      
  
 
 
 
   

, .

 ::~.“‘»*¢“o4§c;¢“- - 
4 ‘1» ‘

 

 

 

play. They know very well that, in a
legal light, they stand no chance."

" Then there's only one other move for
them to try," Manchester observed, with
a sideway glance at the sport's face.

" The way by which you got possession.
and the way the man ahead of you got
hold of the property,“ Gordon announced.

“ But, thanks to the eiiiciont manner in
which you planned the new defenses, i
don‘t think anybody will try that game
again."

" Well, i had an idea of that kind my-
.self, but there are people in Sulphur Bar
who think diil’erently, and they are will-
ing to put up thirty thousand dollars to
back their opinion.” -

Manchester looked surprised and in-
credulous.

“ Oh, 1 mean it; it is the truth. I wouldn‘t
come here to bother you with any cock
and bull story.

“The fact of the matter is,” the Gold-
Button Sport continued, with a smile.
"these parties have a. notion that my aid
is very essential to the success of their
scheme, and so they were anxious to get
me to. go into it."

Manchester looked annoyed.

“But, I say, old fellow, 1 don’t think
that's the square kind of thing, is it?"

He did not answer to this, but remarked:

“I suppose the game is to ofl'er you
money enough to cover all your invest-
ments and a large bonus besides." ‘

“ Yes, that is their proposition; but I told
them frankly that I did not think it pos-
sible for any body of men to capture that
mine, either by surprise or by attack.

“Of course, by a siegeot a month or
two the work might be done, but then,
that would give time for the Government
to interfere, which would upset all their
calculations.” 1

“ You have certainly arrived at a correct
conclusion," Manchester acknowledged.

“Come out and take a look over the
place and see for yourself how strongly
you have made the defenses."

The sport did so, and at the conclusion
of the tour had to admit that he did not
think it possible for the works to be cap-
tured by an attackingforcenumbering fully
five hundred men.

“ It was rather odd, your coming direct,
to me about this matter,” the old lawyer
stated.

“Oh, wen, that is my way of doing
things. I’m under no bonds for good be-
havior to them, that is certain,- and if I
explain the situation to you that is also my
way of doing business—doing it to please
.m self on see.” i

‘3: Well? take care of yourself, Manches-
ter," he added; “I’ll be oil. I reckon our
property is not in any particular danger.
and the caller mounted his broncho and
. rted for the town. , I
8tThe trail was, as we have stated, a
lonely one, and, the sport encountered few
travelers on the way, but, at a turn of the
road, where the little clumps of timber
appeared, a surprise awaited him.

As he came. around the turn three men
, ran r u )on him. . I ”
Sp’l‘hefie 1was no “hold up ye'r_ hands!
business, but the assailants. seized him
without warning, dragged him from the
.saddle, removed his wfiapons, and bound
his wrists ti htl toge er.

Then theyg'carbried him a good half-mile
back from the trail, so that any shouts for
assistance would not be heard.‘

‘It was a nice grassy spot in which his
cat tors de osited their prisoner.

The threg were powerful-looking fellows,
roughly dressed, and thoroughly armed.

Having deposited the sport under the

-ever'ree , they tobk seats around him.
Eaten anniveycd the other with curiosity.
“Well, we've succeeded.- in doing’ the

trick this time without any trouble, the

leader observed, with real satisfaction. ‘
“This here gentleman ain’t no slouch,
you know, but is Harry Gordon, the Gold-

Button Sport, Who bears the reputation of

- being the best. alleamunder there is in this

"11 district. , ‘ , i _
 now‘ we have got him, the. big
‘ M M  aria
'  , s ._

Inng hand-angithing to brag1 enigm—
’ ' se

  

_a E

 

.tions

  

tbet

 

 

Gold-Button Sport. .
third man passing peaceably by, uncon.
scious ot' danger, ain't much of a trick,"
the sport observed.

" it's the biggest kind of a trick for any
man to capture you, that‘s my opinion,"
the other averred.

" Much obliged for the compliment, but
i‘d a heap sight rather you‘d applied it to
somebixiy else," was the retort.

" it‘s very difficult, sometimes, to exact-
ly suit everybody in this world," the road-
ruiiian returned, with the air of a philoso-
pher, “but i always calculate to work my
own plan when l have to.

" Now, sport..I’ll tell ye—this is jist how
it stands," the fellow explained. “Here
be three of us who have always been con.
sidered pretty good ones. suddenly lost
our jobs, and, blame the luck, not a thing
could we find to do. So I jist had to
hatch up some scheme to make some
ducats. See?"

“ That was natural, under the circula-
stances," Gordon admitted.

“The plan I hit on was as simple as A
B C. We would come to some. town like
Sulphur Bar, search out a man who had
plenty of the ready, then watch our op-
portunity to pounce down upon that same
individual and carry him off for ransom."

“Oh, that‘s the riiile, is it?" exclaimed
the prisoner. "And about how much do
you consider me’ worth at auction sale?”

“ Your presence and company'is worth
just about two hundred dollars to us, Mis-
ter Sport,” asserted the spokesman. “Two
hundred, and not a dollar less.

“Now, then, you must write a note to
your banker at Sulphur Bar, relating all
the circumstances of this little drop down,
and tell him that it is necessary that two
hundred dollars in cash be sent before you
can be released."

lordon, as we have discovered, was one
of those who made the best of all situa-
and circumstances—who never
fought fate with a club when a hand-
shake would be. better.

He was in a trap, and he saw no way
to get out but by acceding to the ruflian’s
demands.

“ Well, boys, you’ve got me foul, that is
certain, and the easiest way for me to get
out of the scrape is to put up the money."

" You are hitting the bull‘s~eye this
time,” the leader declared. .

“As it happens, I've my check-book
with me, so we can fix the business right

So he. proceeded to till in a check fol.
two hundred dollars payable to the order
of Jake Hoffman; then, at the outlaw’s
request, he wrote, with pen, link, and pa-
per, with which they had come provided
for that very purpose, a letter to Hoffman
explaining what had taken place, and in-
structing him how to proceed, so as to
fully protect the messenger from annoy-
ance or detention. \ '

It may seem strange to the reader to
hear the sport‘s bankers spokenof, but it
must be borne in mind that, during his so-
journ at Sulphur Bar, Gordon had accu-
mulated over thirty thousand, dollars,
thanks chiefly to his lucky deal in the
Golden Elephant property. . '

These matters having been arranged to
the. road-pads’ satisfaction, one of the
three started immediately for the IOW’II,’ on
the sport’s broncho. ' ' _

“You‘ll have to spend the night Lander
9. tree with us; but, with plenty bf good

.whisky. and lots to eat, you won't suffer,”

 

the leader of the/roadmaidcrs explained.
CHAPTER xxxrv. '

GOLDEN i'I‘ILEPHAN’I‘ “'ILL NOT DOWN.

The transaction between Harry Gordon
and the road-pads was carried out with
scrupulous business exaction. The mone '
was paid by Hoffman and'no questions
asked; the captive was set free, none the;
worse for his experience. 1

'He rode back to town the next day in
good spirits. I , .

“ It vas a great game," the Dutchman
observed. “They von dot two hundred
as easy as roiling d'e log off."-  »

“Oh, it’s all right!” the sport asserted...
“The‘rlflle was verywell worked, but you

 
  

 

i, can't be worked came second
time " ‘ v 

“ The only thing that vill put: a stop to
d‘ot business," the landlord uverred, “vill
be d'ot some men viii hold d'em up mit a
rope one ov these days."

Gordon assented. and then wont down
the, street to the oifice of Jefferson Parker.

“ Mr. Parker, I‘ve been looking into this
thing," he said, as he took the chair which
the other eagerly placed for him. “ I
don't really see any chance to make any
money out of it."

Parker was disappointed.

"My dear sir, have you made a care-
ful examination?"

“Yes, very careful. As I was to risk
my life if I went into it, you can depend
itipon it I spared no pains in my examina-

ion.

“That mine cannot be taken by less
than a thousand men; in fact, I don't be-
lieve that number could overcome the de—,. '
fenders until they had practically starved‘
them out, for the water supply now is all-
right and cannot be got at."

“ Strange that other experts who have
been through two or three affairs of this
kind should decide to the contrary,"
Parker urged.

“I can‘t help what the other fellows
say, and really, you know, I ought to be
on the other side. It doesn't seem to be
the square thing for me to Join in with you
against those now in possession."

“ My dear sir," responded Parker, in.
his ‘oiliest way, “you are allowing senti-
ment to come in contact with business, r
and you should never permit ‘ the two
things to come together."

“ Possibly not, but I usually do. In
this case, however, it is a strict business
procedure, I assure you.

“The men who now attack the Golden 9
Elephant mine stand a chance of fifty to
one of losing their lives in the attempt,
and I’m not anxious for any blood-letting
of that sort, thank you."

The sport took his departure, leaving
behind him a very wrathy and disap-
pointed man. ‘

Twenty paces down the street he eno
countered Robert Manchester. »

“Just the man I want'to see!“ Man-
chester exclaimed, as he grasped Gordon
by the shoulder. .

“Well, here I am. What is on the
carpet now '2”

“Let us go into the hotel and get a.
private room, for I’ve a pretty serious
matter of business to talk over with you.”

“ I'm agreeable.” ‘ ‘ v  _ "
The pair were soon seated in one of the ‘
little private parlors of Jake’s hotel, ‘en-~
Joying their cigars. \  ' ,

“It is really true," Manchester began; ,
“these tellers do intend to raise an army't
ahd try to Jump the Golden Elephant;
in ne. ’ I , . ‘

“If they had any sense they ought to
know, after making a single examination
of the mine: that any attack “POD ‘1?»

 

’would be followed by a fearful amount

of bloodshed.” , v:

“ Yes, but that fact don't :count, for. -
they are not going to be the ones to ate
tack the mine."

“That is true, it is the
sufier." ‘ '
“ It would be just pie for a lot of worth-

less fellows to agree to accept four or five
dollars a day and their feed; but when it -
comes to facing the music of Winchester 3

tools that will '

.flfles at short range they Will not be in,
t I! Y "

I" Well, now,_ Gordon. I want tozasls

, you," and Manchester arose as he spoke ~

and commenced pacing up and‘downlthe;
room, “what ‘evil fortune is it that at~
tends this Golden Elephant mine? From.-
theiime the claim was struck it has been,
one perpetual source of dispute and blood. j
shed. Does fatality mark the mine."  
“ It really looks like it.” Gordon an: 
swered, thoughtfully, “and. too," he '
added. “it really looks' as if there was a

curse not only about the mine. but about -

 

the town so far as I am' concerned. for
when I first struck it fight was in the 1
air. It seemed as if every third man.
wanted to tackle me, and it was a long"
time before things seemed to get down to;

Gordon, am  to hold onxtd. .

  

a“ normal. conditiOn.” y

   
  

 

 

 

1

‘26

mine until I get my money out of it," Man-

chester declared, with grave determina—

tion, stopping suddenly in front of tho

i- sport. " I will raise an army of five good

' men. and I want you to head it.”

“Well, i don‘t know as I've got any ob-
jection. I will be high priced, you know!"
, “I want all high-priced men, each and
 - every one, whom I know I can depend
“I'm 3 upon."

' ' “I can get them—men who are better
worth ten dollars a day than ordinary
men are worth two," the sport averred.

“I don't suppose. Harry, you quite un-
dertstand the way I feel about this thing.
I am not superstitious, but it is my belief
that there is a fatality attacluxl to the
mine which brings bloodshed, and I‘m go-
ing to get quit of the property if I can get
my money back.

, “Let these fellows put up twenty—five
thousand dollars cash, or good property
that I can turn into cash, and they can
make a trade with me. That will be the
easiest way for them to get the Golden
Elephant mine.”

.___._. v

CHAPTER XXXV.
PLAYING POSSUM.,

, The night came on which Harry Gordon
= had resolved to promulgate the report of
his death. He had arranged with Jake,
the hotel-keeper, to fix the job up in good
shape, while he, disguised as a miner,
waited at the concert hall.

He had had no trouble in identifying
Daisy Murdoch as having been connected
, {with some past event of his life, but as she
. evidently had been carefully disguised at
that time, it was not possible for him to
come right down to the particulars.

At about eleven O’clock a half a dozen
fellows came up the main street, talking
very loudly, and making considerable
noise. ‘

. _ People hastened to learn what-was the
: trouble, when it was proclaimed that the
‘ champion of champions was dead. ’ 1 ,

He had been assassinated by some rascals
who had- fired at ‘him from the dark, at-
Itacking him from the rear; and not giv-
ing’him any chance for his life. ' ,
1"Great. was the discussion which this
owe provoked—great the number of
inks ordered, and‘great the speculation
as to what would be the fortune: of the
Golden'1 Elephant mine, now ",t at the
dare-devil sport was out of the way- . '

Proceeding on the scheme 'he had
“formed, Gordon paid his attention-to the
bars and. the drinkers. ‘He would there
‘be able, he decided, to spot the rogues
who he was sure were at the bottom of
éall'the'deviltry.‘ A ‘ f r -:

After .a while an. under-sized, mean-
ookingi young man, dressed like a miner,
 into the concert hall, and ina few
minutes the sport made‘ up his mind that
.olaisv‘was' the song and» dance woman,
DaisLMmdthh; in disguise. '1 ’ ‘ a I
’. fin: is the boss who’hasbeen trying
‘ killed; but she won?t‘thnve,to
. cash to-night, for each one of

 

 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
   
  
  
  
 
   
 
  
 

   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
  
   
 
   
  
 

  

 
 
  
 

   
 
 
  
  
  
   
    
 
   
  
  

  
   
  
 
 
 
  
   
 

sans’

as though Satan was' after them all.
 woman played, her part

   
 
 
 
 

throne judgment, and the spot-teams

  

' the conclusion that he could not‘vhave
d a much. more dangerous 109.. '. I‘ 5
. t has bacon rare picce‘of luck for
come out, a

bathed every blow . yet, ‘1 donf‘t‘ sse'
immunity for, me to getgin a, at

.can't prove thatl'she, hired these fel-
_ to killmey T-hat is‘notpossible; so
~be’st‘clwaiceis to go back and tryand,
evidence from the old time." .- » ‘

 
  
 
 
 

  
     
   
 
  
   
   
 
 
   
    
 
 
 

 tedaai; the resultiof his night‘s}
, t decided touch! a council otywar
 with the’German and hiswtfe, ',..
, man, wasjust closing up"his estab-
',,t as the sport‘camie int...- , V  g,
finallyymokitheir- beer to

  

,three
hen lasso
.1}! ,‘

making, tracks frbm Sulphur-

head, but, although, ,1-

to't'herhot‘eL much‘f

resonance v ti

' Gold-Button Sport.

money there; get‘ them to look upon you
as a regular customer, und then the
chances are that you may pick up some
information."

“That was the plan of action that I
had decided on," Gordon remarked.

“ It. is a difficult ease, seeing that the
lapse of years has dulled your memory,"
Mrs. Hoffman observed. '

‘fI got Sandy Jones to look into the
afi'air, with the idea that he might be able
to discover something,” Gordon informed
them.

“ Oh, no!” Hoffman protested; “d‘ot
Jones chap vas not d'e man for such
business at all. Efferybody knows him,
und he would not be able to do you any
good; but d’ot leedle game v’at I put up
mit you vill york, I think.” ‘

The following day Gordon had plenty of
work to occupy his time in organizing the
army which was to defend the Golden
Elephant mine.

‘The appearance of the sport, by the
way, at the breakfast‘table, on that par-
ticular day, created the greatest excite-
ment. .

The report of his death had spread far
and wide, and it had been currently be-
lievcd.

.Owing to‘the fact that he had assumed
the disguise of a tramp, nobody had seen
him around town, and consequently all
took it for granted that he had really been
assassinated. ‘

His reappearance then provoked pro-
found astonishment.

He laughed at the-questions put to him
in regard to the matter. . .

“Yes, some rapscaliions did try to get a
shot at. me in: the dark. but they did not
succeed, and I don’t think any of them
will ever try it again.” '

The sport remained in the office of the
. Golden Elephant mine and the applicants
for admission to the army came to him-
Ithere. .

He was very particular as to his choice,
but byxthree o’clock he had secured,his
force. ,

Then he returned to, the hotel, where he
remained until after'supper.

At eight o’clock he again donned his
tramp’s disguise, seemed to his‘person a

for the saloon, where he found Sandy
Jones waiting~for himn. . ' ‘
’Together they made the rounds, and
the heart of the tramp gave a great jump
when down in an obscure corner he saw,
Seated at a table, a well-dressed miner
with a iong’dark beard and a woman with
a long vail——the very game he sought!
, The man ’ was called , Hugo Clark.
,TWelve' years; before. he had been em-
ployed in a big commission house in Don-

same establishment. I ; .

Strange to say, Gordon at once recog-_
nized her now, cloaked‘and vailed though
she was, vwhen'h‘e had] failed to identify
,her in the' disguise of Daisy Murdoch. ’ ,

Immediately a livelyepisodegcameto the
sport’s ‘memory;.he had caughtfthe woman
and {her husband and. Clark robbing the
‘safe of the commission heuscred-handed.

 [All three' attacked him with the- ferocity

,oritigers- i Murdoch he had killed out-
right; then' he supposedly received his own
deathwound, and it was,'in truth,many
‘ a day before he Was himselfagain.” I
Two other, clerks who‘had {rushed in
bad been‘killed in thought. .. x - ‘ V "
, There;ch the two much
lnals. ,   _«  g t, ,
' Gordon, , do his-Way to the street.“

  

‘oidfaccouutfiand also the new one 'which:
she? been 'endeavorlng to; run up?

 

got polices . taut, proceedinmojfiieto-
tel resume.st normal garb, 1- v.1  ,yg,
»‘Asuth'e “ichief’Vas cnefof these who do,-

 
   
 
 

   
 

.no trouble: in ,findingihiimhu'-  , , v
' Thegwnrrants were'procured, thevdep
‘ .‘ Just about midn
ORT'theh’ 1‘ y I

 

complete arsenal of weapons, and started ,

remand the woman, also, had. been in‘the .

wanted-crim- I

“and away hejhurried‘to hunt up’the chief '

lighted to night:th dayythelre was;

£st

7. ,7 7._ , . W _. 5...... ,...r. v Y

of his presence was Gordon's exclama.
tion:

“It’s a good many years, Hugo Clark,
but the crime lies at your door all the:
same.”

The man looked up in amazement, to
find himself covered by the Weapon of
the sport.

Then the chief got in his fine work and“
in a twinkling handcuffed the man and
woman together. Then he hm'ried them:
to the door, getting them out of the
place before one—twentieth of the people
in it knew what had occurred.

The moment he got them into the open
air he fairly ran them around the house
to the back door, and in at that portal.

It is a risky thing to arrest a woman in
a Western saloon after nine o’clock at
night, no matter what she has done, for
there are always plenty of men with just
enough liquor on board to want to in-
terfere.

The, woman was desperate, too; and
when she found herself back in the house
she manifested an intention of raising an
alarm.

The chief clapped his little short rcw
volver to her ear.

“Utter a single sound and it will be
the last that you will ever give out in this
world."

The woman was cowed by the threat '

“For Heaven’s sake don’t fire! I will
not speak!"

“ You are wise,” the chief said.

CHAPTER XXXVI.
THE CHASE BY NIGHT. ‘

Some few of the crowd had followed the
chief to the back door” of the’ building,
but as there was no light there, no-
sounds, they came to the conclusion that
they had made a mistake, and hurried to
the front again. .

The chief’s programme had not worked
exactly according to rule, for a covered
wagon, with a good two-horse team, was
due at the back of the saloon at the same.
time that he was at the front. .

It was only a few minutes late, though,
and when it arrived, the chief, the cap-
tives and the sport got on board and were
speedily driven away. . _

When the wagon neared the hotel iii
halted to allow the sport to dismount,
and then went straight on to the countyi
seat,» where the prisoners were deposited
in the jail.

Right here letrus add: '

Both, Clark and the woman were con;
victed, and received a sentence of tWenty
years in State’s prison, at hard labor.

 

It did not take long forthe sport to get"
to sleepthat night, forhe was pretty well.
tired out, after the many events of the

day. -.

o’clock; then he, was suddenly awakened:
by. rude handsseizinghim, and he found,

Then alight was lit. There were two

'men in the room, masked, and“ disguised

beyond recognition. 4
‘ They searched the' ,
inched, and the apartment: in meanest
thorough manner. ‘ l v 7- ~ -: t
A rich haul lthey secured.  "
The sport was one of those carelessmen

found.
ad gained entrance to the apartments.

 
    
 
 

don-made;
‘bonds.wnich~boun_d him. ,‘I . a, _, , , , . .
Minis, he was'noti, blei todo,rbut, shot:

the first  . proved ‘tooimuch for, 7 the

   

 
 
 

 

He slept soundly imm about three “ '.

« himself bound hand and foot, and gagged. “'

sport’s clothes, and“ "

whp'carried a great deal .of money'around‘I
him, 5‘3'  ‘ "

may ynv‘é' hundred r dollars" the rascals  
and. bent left by'gthe window, by ,1.

, gleam/of w ich, ands short ladder, they-fig“
 “,Herc‘s a. chance for .me to square’lthat ' t

The moment the robbers ran-eureka”; 
slant-like east-ts. to break the,

 
   
   
   
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

' Gold-Button Sport. ’

27

 

 

 

Just half a dozen yells Gordon gave, so
as to post the people around as to what
had occurred, and then the alacrity with
which he proceeded to get into his clothes
was wonderful.

All he took was boots, breeches, shirt
and hat, with his holster of Weapons, and
dropping from the window to the ground,
é ,‘ he ran to the corral, got his broneho,
which was an unusually speedy little
horse. and soon was following in the
, chase.

7 Unfortunately for the robbers, it was a
i bright night.

‘ Objects for a considerable distance could
plainly be discerned, and so they were
not able to take refuge in the darkness.

Pursuit had followed so quickly that
the thief-takers were on the track of the
fugitives before they had gone half a.
mile.

"This is the toughest kind of luck," the
big robber observed, as he glanced over
.his shoulder, upon reaching the foot-hills.
“After collaring the stuff so beautifully,
to have to ride away with half the town
yelping at our heels like a lot of curs, is
just beastly luck.”

The thieves rode straight on, and hav-
ing extra. good horses, had the satisfac—
tion, at the end of an hour, ,of seeing
that they had drawn well away from the
bulk of their pursuers, less than ten of
whom were at that time sticking tightly
to the trail.

In another half hour it was safe [to say
that not more than three or four would
'be in the pursuing force, butpfour good
‘3“ - . men they would be.
I A distance of only about a quarter of a
. mile now separated the parties, and a
l _ broken country, with a hard, steady, con-
” stunt rise in it, confronted them.

The fugitives shook their heads. Their
horses were beginning to play out, and it
was certain they could not go more than
a. mile farther.

“I tell you what it is, pardpwe are in
for it. We’ve got to stop and tight this
gang, for we can’t run away from them; so
let’s turn into this clump of evergreens.
It is big enough to cover both our beasts
and ourselves,”

“ That is a good idea."

The two headed for the trees,
five minutes disappeared.

“ Hello!” exclaimed Gordon, as he noted
the disappearance; “we have run our men
to earth!, Now we’ve got them. Well

 

 

and in

light comes we’ll fight them.”

CHAPTER XXXVII.
l HUNTED DOWN.

That picketing was done so thoroughly
that when morning came it found the
game and the hunters on the alert, Within
calling distance of each other,

11 e.
0f“I.’EiIS;$ rdogyou find yourselves utter
your night’s ride?” Gordon called out,
as the big robber put innn upmarance,

. ii! to arley. - .
aq“ Well? I’m rather stiff and sore, for s.

fa'fz‘tlliihnt is your programme?” the chief
robber asked. “Do you expectvto get us

no matter what the cost?”
“Well, .now that we have run you to

  

go,” Gordon declared. ~ "
: ‘5 We occupy a strong position, here,
i“! ' the chief'robber announced, and you
 can’t dislodge us without losing some
' lives.” : s
-x “ Oh, not at all. Weshall just wait for
‘I  reinforcements with Winchesters; then
' ' we’ll has you, dead or alive, just as you
" .wish,” Gordon assured, confidently.
‘ no use'standing out against Winches-
'33s. ,The all-around-sport,had got in his
. 'worka ain. - v , ; w: i '- I
" .“Wegmight as .well chuck the’ thing up
now aslater on; the. scheme is’ a complete
allure. We‘ve got the cash, but they ve
'got‘us.” muttered the, \big ,rnihan;“thep
to his companionphoa'sked, 
is, u .whefn, '
' ~ i try and a'kick. a
hem.

 
 
 
 
  

 
 

  

just picket that piece of timber and when.

yet just out,

earth, we certainly don’t intend to let you

your runlup"

how We feel about the matter," the little
rascal added, "for I’m anxious to get out
of this as soon as I can." '

The chief robber, whose name was Bill
Shepard, stepped from the Wei-greens
and waved a white handkerchief, whet-eat
Gordon ansWered by a like signal.

“ I reckon, Mr. Gordon, that we will
have to surrender. You‘ve got the bulge
on us, so We owns up beat.”

“ You are, quite correct about that," the
sport replied; “We‘ve got a dead pull on
you.”

It did not take many minutes to arrange
the matter, and the surrender Was made.

Gordon got. back his money, intact, just
as the robbers had seized it. The rascals
were deprived of their weapons, and all
were soon mounted, and rode away for
Sulphur Bar.

Once there the radians were placed in
charge of the chief of police, who at once
put them “in durance vile."

It was short durauC/e vile, however, in
that local lock-up, for both men were
quickly convicted, and got five years each
in the State‘s prison.

The sport's admirers were now so num-
erous that they really made life irksome
to him. so he took refuge in the office of
the Golden Elephant in sheer self-defense.

Once. within the “works,” ,Manchester
informed the commander of his army:

“They have succeeded in engaging all
their forces for attacking us, and may put
in an appearance at any momentJ’

"Then it is time for me to take com—
mand of my forces, I suppose," observed
Gordon, in a matteref-tact way.

Returning to the Bar the Gold-Button
Sport quickly gave the signal to Sandy to
gather his recruits and' when the com-
mander-in-chief, an hourlater, put in an
appearance at the mouth of the gulch he
was received by a delighted force. ‘

“They have been skirmishing in the
neighborhood already, captain,” one of the
men, Steve O‘Brien by name, and Sandy
Jon'es’s particular friend, remarked.

O’Brien had “enlisted for the campaign,”
and was easily the best man the sport
had. ' ~ v

“ Not anywhere nearat hand, you under-
stand, captain, but. a. couple of miles out.

“Well, Stephen, We’ll just keep our
good eyes wide open and not let them
come any sharp dodge on us here at the
gulch mouth,” announced the leader.

“ You just bet your moccasins We’ll do

 

suranc'c; .

CHAPTER XXXVIII.
THE miY DISPLAY THEIR muons.
Both Gordon and O'Brien being equipped
with excellent field-glasses, they command-
ed a complete view of the surrounding
country. V . ‘ \-
“ Do you notice that dark clump of tim-
ber about three miles at?" asked Steve. .
The sport nodded,

camp, and take me for a wolverene it they

tude of war." ‘ - _
“,Is that possible, and Gordon glanced
through his glass. .,
“ByJove, you are correct! They are
marching along the slope.”

asked. .

Gordon was watching them,
through the glass. . i r I \
4“ By 'Jovei O’Brien, :they do [:1th 10
pa us a visit 2". the sport announced.

(3 .- i . i , .-
The approaching force came steadily on.
' ., “These fellows must be crazy,” Ger:

try a game of this kind we o'an pick them
on! one by one Without the least trouble.
They, are l ‘ .

want to slaughter them in coldplood".
_ Gordon tied his. handk
‘ muzzle of his. Winch i;
from theriiioni -‘
"I-“Halt' eli’h 

3 an 

 

    
   

  

 

that same!" was the plucky fellow’s as-

“That is where the enemy ‘have thpir:
ain’t coming out now, in all the full atti-fl-

" Can it be possible they mean to van-'2
lure an attack in broad daylight?” O’Brien

intently .

he'alarm was'at once given. and soon
the ten recruits; with, the sportat their
head, Were posted at the mouthvlofltho.

That of course decided it. ,There‘ would ' gut h,

'don observed. “Why, if theylntend to’

now withinrange. but I! don‘t,
-' looked a. 'uzzled,
orchieti¢oH¥mB ., deal ed}! 1’ ,
'l‘me “‘1 r059? Wile  “#011116; :then you can

 

   
  
   
   
  
   
    
   
   
  
   
  
  
   
  
   
  
   
   
 
 
 
 
   
  
  
 
 
  
   
   

farther we will open tire on you. We shall
shoot to kill!"

The “enemy” retreated at once, in ludi-
crous disorder, greatly to the amusement
of the defenders.

“A nice set of galoots to send out to- 
fight for a mine,” said Steve, with su-
preme contempt.

For the next half hour the scene was
entertaining.

The attackers, now under cover, popped
away at intervals, but what on earth they
Were hanging at no one could say.

“ What the deuce do they mean by giv-
ing battle after this fashion?" the sport
finally exclaimed. ‘

“Upon my life, I can't understand,"
O‘Brien observed.

Then, to the surprise of the Golden Elm.
phant men, the assailants retired from the
field, marching along the side of the hill
toward their camp.

The sport and O‘Brien looked at each
other in amazement. .

Then the latter said:

“There must be some trick about this
matter. Jack La Mothe is not much of» a.
leader, but he surely knows better than to
make such a perfect tool of himself."

“Yes, I should imagine so,” the sport;
replied. “The only thing we can do is to
keep quiet and wait for them to develop,
their plans." ‘ . '

That night was too dark for the besiegé
ers to risk an attack, and both the cue»
mics slept in peace and quiet. leaving the '
thunder-s of war to another day.

CHAPTER XXXlX. -
OUR FRIEND Tim ENGLISBMAN.
But now to recur to one of the early per—
sonages of this veracious story—Lord John 3
Thomas, the Englishman, who had cut‘ ‘
quite a figure around town, having letters '
at introduction to various prominent par- .
es. , . :
With Jefferson Parker‘ and Jack La"
Mothe he was particularly intimate-4n
fact, he had come to Sulphur Bar'cxpressa
ly to see them, and, it may now'heasaid,’
was the “syndicate” who Was trying to'
jump the Golden Elephant mine. i w 
La Mothe and Parker, happening to
meet him at Virgin City, had represontcd -
what a splendid chance there was for a. , "
speculation. so the Briton had been snared, "
and agreed to put up fli'tzcen thousand dol—
lars, which he promptly did, seven thou‘
sand in cash, and eight thousand more in
thirty days.’ ‘ * "
This done, the preparations for war took..-
shape and progressed up to the time new
under consideration. ‘ , ' »
I “ Well, how goes everything, don’t xye 
know?” asked the investor. as he entered.
[the office where Jefferson Parker and Jack,‘
'La Mothe satin consultation. '
“ Very nicely indeed," Parker suavely' .
assured; “help yourself to a chair, my dear‘
fellow, and a ’cignr?" t “‘
“Thanks, awfully, don't care'if I do,” "
Lord John replied, as he helped“ himself to ~ "
a weed and then tilted hack in an ethos.
chair. f v , . '5
.“ We commenced operations yesterdayfl',
Parker explained-‘ “The men are on the
spokagdhdritl’llngthaks commenced." s  . "m
n e oys u ever welltoit‘too '
Jag; 15.1mm addgd. y. i- . " ~
u . . say, in ear fellows," averted!
the Englishmany‘you, are working this
game in a 'blarsted. queer way, don‘t you:
know? I thought you intended: to jam '
this property—that is. to jump upon an’ '
seize i-t ‘nnawares, when the other fellow:
weren't, expecting the jump, and I
couldn't show flgbt.”' > ‘ ‘t ,
, Parker and La. Motho both. Shook théir
(he?%s. i  .“ ' l ‘ Vi 
f on co ’t werk an attack of it
kind in this case,” Parker assured. "-“Tho
mine is too strongly fortified for ,tha ‘
our plan is to take it by a. trick, justythe
same? ' ' r  i" 
“Ah, yes, I 9, my dear’boyy'f the, ,
glishman seém d, to acquiesce; butzilie

 

     
   
     
      
      
        
     
   
    
   
   
   
   
   
   
    
    
     
  

 
    
 

   
 

 
  
    
   
   
      
      
      

       
 

   
         

v
V

   
   
       
       
    
      

     
  

  
  
     

      
    
    
        
     
 
   

 
 
     
  

  
 

 
  
 
 
 
  

  

        
   
   
  
 

   

“Suppose. m get horses. ride down an

  
 
 

    
     

   

  
  

new

  

gain
11y:

    
 

‘ /

.28 1'

I Gold-Button Sport.

 

 

 

At this Jack La Mothe arose. “You
wait here, and I’ll bring the horses around
in short order," and off he went.

In ten minutes Jack was at the door
with the animals, and all three were rid-
ing along the lower part of the gigantic
hill which stretched in such an easy trend
. to that strange rift in the face of nature
i,‘ , in which the Golden Elephant property
‘i was situated.

In due time the camp up in the range
was reached, and the Englishman was
receivedxwith all honors by the “army,”
which was just sitting down to the noon—
-4lay meal. The Englishman was invited to
join in the "feed," which proved to be a
beef stew in frontier style, with plenty of
coffee.

After the meal cigars were produced,
.and the Englishman announced that, to his
thinking, this was about as jolly a picnic,
don’t you know? as he had assisted at in
.some time.

At two o’clock the “army” was mustered

 

 

 
  
 
   
     
  
 
 
   
   
  
  
  
 
    
 
  
      
 
 
      
        
 
       
      
    
   
   
   
    
       
         
       
          
        
     
         
             
     
    
      
     
 
  

vceeded to go through exactly the same per-
formance which they had on the previous

.day.

V. ThevGolden Elephant men‘ were so dis~
gusted with this procedure that they did
not deign to fire a shot in return.

“ Those fellows up there don’t seem to
think much of your men down here,” Lord
.John remarked, astonished at the indiffer—
ence shown by the defenders.

“ They don’t understand what we are up
to, and so are puzzled. This is all part
»of our little game to win the fight without
much bloodshed.”

" We will fool them with this sort of

_ business for four or five days, and then,
when they least expect it, try a. trick
which will hoist them completely out of
the mine." .

, “ By Jove! that will be dolly, now, won’t
it, don't you know? What is the nature of
the operation.” 1 , .

“Really, I’d be delighted to tell you all

1 , to secrecy, andso am not ‘able' to do so.
' In mm or three days you will know all
xabout it, though.” *- . -

The easygoing Briton was perfectly con-
tent with this assurance, so he marched,
back with the “troops” to the camp,.had
an, impromptu supper there with them;
v then. with Jefferson Parker and Jack La
.Mothe, returned to Sulphur Bar.

Ofcourse this sort of thing down at the
Golden Elephant gulch could not go on
. 'vgitihout the people of the Bar being aware

o t. ”

  

Their mystification was great, but Parke
‘«er and Jack simply laughed at their ques-
‘:_tion_s and made no explanation. *

 

, A LITTLE UXEASY; ' ‘
V 'Lord John Thomas had had a badmlght.

» He lmd not been able to find a single per-l
‘ “.son who was a good poker-player. .
, The, Englishman ‘did not play for the

snake of winning money,’ but because he
enjoyed the beauties of the game. v- ‘ ,
1- And when'lt came to sitting down and
V playing forrhours with men who could not
{play it was slmply,disgusting.
, he lord worried it loutwuntil twelve;
‘ o’clock, then he went to bed. ~ ' “
*' Another thing, too, which contributed to
Lord Thomas’s annoyance—his man-serv-
v ant. John Smith, was absent. The lord
r and John were, like ’two inseparale
, Wherever you found one you might be
;  sure the other was not far off. -. '

There had been some trouble about his‘
,. uggage, and he Was obliged to send Smith,
back to attend to it. ‘
 “Thank goodness! he'll

 
 

  
  

  

  

[be here for

    
     
    
       
 
  
    
  
   
 

: he walked down the street to the office of
Jefferson ‘Parker. “ l _ .

'He stepped into the Express. oflice on
rtheway and got a parcel. \
" The eyes of both Parker and La Mothe,
snatched when they notioedthe package. ‘

  
  
  

    
  
 

  
  
 
 

329;?" Lord John Thomas observed- 

 

  

and, led by Captain Jack La Moths, pro-‘

V . the particulars, my lord, but I am sworn 1

lunch, though,”yLord Thomasobserved, as .

~“Now we can settle thisfuflair right.

curities made over in the regular fashion,
then Captain Jack La Mothe suggested
that they take a drink or two to celebrate
the completion of the. enterprise. .

When the three lined up against the bar
the Englishman, who was decidedly out of
sorts, observed:

“This is, of course, the completion of
our partnership, but not of the enterprise.
That will not be completed until we have
possession of the deuced mine, don't you
know?”

“Don’t you worry yourself about that in
the least,” J elI'erson Parker observed,
tapping the Englishman familiarly on the
back.

“ Two days more gives us the mine, the
richest bit of ore for a. thousand miles."

“ Well, I certainly hope so, my dear
boy.” -

“ Two days, remember; only two days;
that is not long to wait, particularly when
a man knows that, at the end of that time,
he will have an enormous fortune in his
grasp.” -

Parker had a very plausible way with
him, and so succeeded in satisfying the
Englishman.

They had another bottle of ale, and
then parted, Lord Thomas proceeding to
his hotel.

In front of it he encountered John Smith
just getting out of the stage coach. -
Great was the delight of the English‘
1112111. '

“ Hi, you! You ought to have been back
here a couple of days ago!” Lord Thomas
exclaimed.

“Couldn’t help it, me lufd. They got
away with the blarsted luggage, hand I
’a‘d‘ awful work to get hit,” the man ex-
plained. ‘ ' ‘

He was a short, stocky little English-
man, with short-cut, red hair, and red
side whiskers. . .

“ Come upstairs to the room. I’m afraid
I’ve got myself into a fearful hole.” .

“ Oh, well, well! Nothing can be so bad
that it can’t be worse, me lu’,d," John
Smith remarked, as he followed his mas-
ter up the stairs. ’

Lord'Thomas rang for beer and
immediately;

To illustrate the peculiar relations ex-
isting between these two men, we shall
have to give a'few words of explanation.

The two had been master and man for
thirty years. The Iu’d had the utmost
faith in the judgment of the valet—in fact,‘
as a rule, more faith in his judgment than
in his own. ' . r

“Now, then, you know about this Gold-
en Elephant business ?” -

“ Yesgme lu’d, hand I thought itnwouid
turn out to ,bc a good hinvestment.” . a

“ I have just paid over the last cash, but

tobacco,

I I paid it against my better judgment,

don’t you know '1”
r “ Well, ’ow is that, me lu’di”. I

“They are not carrying out the scheme
the way they started in.’.’ '

Lord Thomas then explained the change
which had been made. ‘ ' , _

' “ Oh, no, that was not according to Gun-
ter at all, me lu’d.” ,

My lord then told about the’ drilling of’
the “troops.” , “

“I. don’t like the looks of that sort of«
thing at all. It appears to me like a
‘plant,’ the valet declared, with a shake
of the. head. i » . ,

, “ We’ll get horses and take a look at the
fbl‘ooming‘ thing". Lord Thomas decided.

, “ Thechances‘ are a thousand to one

that in ten minutes’ time you will be able

. tq discover whether it’s agame. to do me
out of my moneylor‘mot.” , = ‘.

,An'hour later and the pair gazed up
Elliefilong green. hill_=at the well-fortified
e , , .

“It’s'a plant, me laid,” the valet ex-
claimed, in deep disgust "‘No army of
men could take that box, if the men in—
side were‘on the, alert, don't you know i”

v. “ But they don't intend to attack it from

‘this quarter: This here business ,is Just
to keep them, occupieduwhiie the-real at-
tack comes over the to‘p'of tlie'big hills.”\.
_ , While Lord Thbmas was a Wellainforgned‘

 

       
 

 

‘ an‘ n regard to Ordinary/mattersLyet
it " e to 's‘oldierin'ghe; .‘W\ she’d

~turned out-to be, a bad egg, don’
" ‘ \-, ‘ v_ 2

     
   

“ Bosh l" exclaimed the valet. “It would
take an army with balloons, don’t you
know? to do anything of that kind. I’m
afraid that you are done out of your cash,
me lu’d."

“ 011, well, that’s only a flea-bite, and I
think it will not keep us from getting
home to England, don’t you know?”

The two then rode off.

“ I‘m astonished that Parker should play
such a game on me, for we have had 4
many a deal together which has turned
out profitably to both of us."

“ Well, me lu’d, when a big temptation
comes in a. man’s way sometimes he can’t
resist it."

“That’s very true, John Smith.”

The Englishman rode on for a good half-
hour in silence. ,

It was evident that he had been hard
hit, and did not like it.

“ By Jove!" he exclaimed, suddenly, “do
you know that I’m not going to submit to
be robbed in this barehanded way? I
never struck anything like this in America.
in all my life; no, sir! I will hunt these
fellows up and demand an immediate ex—
planatidn."

“I would, me lu’d. That is the only
way to act in a case of this kind. By
George, me lu’d, the ’ole thing is hout-
rageous from beginning to end, and the
honly' way to do is to put the screws (in
as soon as possible.”

“You can depend upon my doing so,
John Smith.”

The two men rode direct to Jefferson
Parker’s office, but found no one in.

The office did not have anioflice boy, so
there was nobody to give information.

John Smith inquired of the neighbors
on both sides of the way, but nointelli-
genes could be gained. . _
_ Then Lord John Thomas went to the
bank where he knew Parker had done
business. 4 ‘i

Everything was all right there. as- far as 1,. i
the bank people knew. He still kept his ' 9 ‘
account there, with a small balance in his
favor.

“ He has probably been called from his
office on business, and you’ll find him
there on your return.” _

“Oh, no, I won’tfind him, don’t you
know? He is a blarsted rascal, and he
has absquatulated, as you Americans say,
with fifteenthousand dollars of my cash,
and when you come to look into his re-
cord, it is ray-opinion you Will find that
both Jefferson Parker and Captain Jack ‘
La Mothe have gone to eternal smash’."

It did not take long rfor this report to cir-
culate about town, and it did not take long
either for the keen Sulphur ,Barites to dis-
cover. thst the two men had indeed been
specgillating wildly during the past three
mon s. ‘ r

 

 

 

CHAPTER XLI.
THE. ENGLISHMAN IS ROUSED. ‘

Jefierson barker and Jack La Mothe
were both broke, and they had seized upon
the chance to possess themselves of Lord
John Thomas's fifteen thousand dollars. ,

Alcouple of thousand dollars paid for .
the “army” businessvand other incidentals,
which gave them a chance to get away
with thirteen thousand dollars clean cash.

The, Englishman became more and more
enraged as time passed.

, “ By Jove! v Those fellows have not got
somu‘ch the start. I wonder ifit wouldn’t
be possible to hunt them down ‘2"

John Smith ~meditated for a moment.

“ I do not see any reason why we can’t -
do it, me lu’d, provided we spend plenty ‘
of money.” r < ' . ,

“ Moneyrdoesn’t come into the questions
at all,” the Englishman declared. “Let us '
go tothe stables at once." And to the
stables the two'hurrled. / \

The‘ proprietor, a genial man, recein
'thetEnglishman with politeness. .

I "‘Oh, yes; Mr. Parker (kept his horses -
here, but they went out, I think, at nine- _‘

this morning.” v V - V .
that Parker has

,“Have .you heard
HOW?!) .

.  Yes, it. doesn’t take

at “f—thetowntoget
fort ' f

  

.l- , .
long for,

 

 

my.“ ~_. _...--.. . .

t . 
, L. . .
N 433.... w . , ~ , .. '

 

V}
i
'n

 

 

  

.usmwmvv, _ .V I »-..-

him," the landlord exclaimed.

_ way, and there is no “certainty, either, that

; ,your own vay.”

so anxioustocatch the fellows-that I did
7 - I s ' 

with me for a couple of years, and we
have always got on nicely together."

“ Under those circumstances, then, it is
natural for you to speak well of him, but,
I‘m hot with rage, don‘t you know '1 on ac-
count of the way he‘s got away with my
little cash, and I don't propose to submit
to be robbed in this way, either, without
making an attempt to revenge thyself."

" That is natural," the stable-keeper to
marked.

“ I'm going to give pursuit."

The other shook his head.

“ I'm afraid he has got so great a start
that it will not be possible for you to ac—
complish anything.

“ You see, their game will be to drive in
an indirect way to some railroad station,
dispose of their team there, and take the
train, and the iron horse will soon carry
them beyond reach."

"How about the. wire?" Lord John
Thomas suggested. “You must remember,
my dear fellow, that the telegraph beats
the railroad all hollow, as you Americans

ut it.”
p“That’s true. enough. But have you
taken into consideration the fact that they
have o'ver six hours” start—yes, over ten,
and it they have used the time to good
advantage, and the chances are. a hun-
dred to one that old sharps like these two
men haven't made any mistake about it,
they are now far beyond your reach.“

"By Jove, I‘ll have a try for it, any-
way." the Englishman declared.

“ I’ll get a team and drive to the. near-
est railroad station. It may be possible
that with their confidence in their great
start, they will go straight on ahead, don t
you know?" . } .

“All right, sir. I’ll give you the best
the stable aflfords,” and he hurried away
to execute his commission.

"I’ll give this mill-headed Englishman
exactly what he callsfor, but he dont
stand one chance in a hundred to w1n a
game in playing against such men as Jef-
ferson Parker and Jack La Mothe.”

He had ordered the team sent to the
hotel, and when it arrived there the Eu—
glishman proceeded to pack it With a
choice selection of firearms.

From Hoffman he had procured the
route and the necessary information.

Honest Jake had not hesitated to tell
him that he was going on a wild-goose
chase of wide dimensions. , _

“ You are going. to the nearest station.
How do you know they go there? You
cannot tell anything about it.

“I have lived in Sulphur Bar for a
number of years, and have known both
those men. They are sharps, and you do.
not stand a chance to catch them.”

But the Englishman went ahead Just the
same. _

In due time master and man reached the
railroad station. ‘

About eVerybody‘ there know Jefferson
Parker and Jack La Mothe, and were very
much surprised to learn that they had
gone to smash. '

“But, had anybody seen the two men
recently?” i n

“ No; not for a month. .

" They hadn’t taken a train that morn-
in ‘2” .

5 Oh, no; nor for a. week prev10us."‘ _

Being thus bathed, Lord John and his
man mounted their wagon and started on
thei return tri .

"I’m afraid pthe fellows have planned
the game too shrewdly for me.”

 XLII.
A GOOD MAN. ,

The Englishman drove up to the hotel
with a look or extreme disgust upon his
face. ~ .

" Aha! my dear friend, you did not get

 

“No; both the men were well, out of the

they went that way." \
“Did I not tell you that before you
started? But you were determined to hate
.“ Yes, yes; It will have to admit that I
Was headstrong. don't you know? I was

   

 

I.  :i  ,, _,

“Hello, hello! that is mighty bold tails? I Gordon and O‘Brien sat at the edge of

said a tall, wiry—looking man of forty—five
or thereabouts, who leaned against a pillar
of the. porch picking his teeth with a
straw. He was dressed in a commonplace
walking-suit, smoothly shaven. but had
that peculiar look about him‘ which seemed
to say that- he was used to the stirring ad-
ventures of flood and field in the far
Western mountain region.

“ But I mean it, every word of it, don‘t
you know? my dear fellow. There's a
Couple of men who have. got away with
thousands of my dollars, and I’m anxious
to hunt them down so as to get some satis-
faction out of them.”

“Well, I don’t blame you."

“And I‘m willing to throw some good
money after bad to accomplish the cap-
ture of the, pair."

“ There‘s a chance that it can be done,
but not in the way in which you were
going to work."

The Englishman took a good look at the
speaker. There was something about the.
man which indicated that he knew what
he was talking about.

“ I have nad some, experience in this sort
of thing," the stranger continued, “and so
don't go into it like a greenhorn.

“But I‘d better introduce myself, so
you‘ll know something about me. i

“ My name is William Jackson, but, out
on the frontier hyar among the boyees
he got the name of Hickory Bill Jack-
son, or, more commonly, Hickory Bill.

“ I can recommend Mr. Jackson as be-
ing a first-class mountain man, a shot who
has killed more Indians and bad men than
he has fingers and toes," the landlord
afiirmed.

"i am delighted to meet Mr. Jackson,
don‘t you know ‘3" and the Englishman
shook hands warmly. ‘ ‘

And there was nothing dishonest lti' this
declaration either, for Lord John Thomas
had a high admiration for all such pecu-
liarities. ' ’

“ Now, then, my lord. the only way to
capture birds like these is to chase them
after their own fashion.

“ The double team was a blind. 'It was
abandoned a few miles out—then saddle
horses were taken." t

“ Ah, yes, of course, I seci". Lord John
exclaimed.

“A trick or that sort would completqu
throw the. pursuers 011 the track.

" So you see, my lend, the, only way to
chase these fellows is to go on horseback.”

“Will you come with me?" Lord John
Thomas asked, abruptly. “You shall have

'mand of the party.” -

“Yes, I will go with you; and, as to
terms, I reckon we won‘t quarrel ,with re-
gard to them; but we require four good
horses and the proper weapons and am-
munition, though I reckon we’re all fixed,
as far as that goes.”

tee to capture these fellows, or even to get
on their track, for they may have laid out

couldn‘t trail ’cm.’.’ ‘ ,
“Do your best; ithat’s all leak of any
man,” Lord John deolarcd.‘
Old Hickory at once set to work. He
, mounted his horse and made a wide circle
around Sulphur Bar, commencing at about
a ten-mile circle and increasing: ~ . ‘
He found where the pair had abandoned
the wagon and taken horses, and then,
sold the horses at the railroad station and
taken the train. , -
Hickory Bill‘returned and made his're-
port. _ r' y 1 ,
" We‘ll give it up as a bad job,"jsaid,thc
Englishman. “Come and have .a drink
with me." »\ ., \

CHAPTER XLIII. _’ -
A GREAT CONVULSION OF NATURE.
It is now five [days since Jack‘Lgt Mothe
made his appearance with his. troops in
the neighborhood or the Golden Elephant
mine. ' c
It was about one o'clock in the after-

 

“through with the , noon-day meal;
were now hard at work‘ in the mine

 

sch new we 

 

again. ' 3 . _

 

your own terms and take complete com-.

“ Now, mind ye, my lord, 'I don’t guaran-H

so good a flight that the smartest tracker

noon; the Golden Elephantapeoplehad f0; _.

 

the gulch in one of the rifle-pitst

“ Do you know, O’Brien, that the longer
this keeps on the more disgusted I be.-
come?" the sport declared.

“I don’t blame you. There is nothing
particularly pleasant in sitting up here
and watching this fellow drill his troops
two or three miles oi ."

“If I didn‘t give Jack La Mollie credit.
for being a great deal smarter than I
really think he is, I would soon put a stop
to this bird's-egging."

“How would you do it?" O‘Brien asked.

“ By pitching into him. I would rush my
men down the hill and at him in a. style
that would b\ apt to astonlsh the weak
nerves of himself and his fighting men.”

“ I‘ve perfect confidence, you know, that
eight or ten of my men here can thrash
his entire force.”

“I agree with you there, for his men
seem to me to be nothing but more trash.”

“ That‘s the opinion I have of. them, but:
the deuce of. the thing is that this may be
all a trick, designed to get me away from
the. mine, and he‘s got a growl—sized body'
of horsemen concealed somewhere ready
to make a dash on the fortifications the
moment I am out of the way.“

“Yes, there might be danger of his put—
ting up a Job of that kind.”

“ It will not do, you know, to'allow the
enemy to get in bctWeen me and my head~
quarters." '

,“No; although you could wheel around ‘

and take them in the rear."

“Yes, but a strong body would be apt
to make it decidedly uncomfortable for
me." '

Just at this moment the “army” of Jack
La Mothe made its appearance, marching
along the hillside. ‘

.The sport and O‘Brien watched them in
Silence, until they came to their accus-

tomed drilling spot, right opposite 0,9,1 

Golden Elephant mine. v .

They were down a bill, so to speak. but L

the ascent of the bill was a Very gradual 7 * “

(i110. .

The Gold-Button Sport watChed the one—
my go through their movements for about
ten minutes, and then, smiting his right
hand smartly upon his thigh, he cried:

“ By Jove! I will take a whirl into those
chaps just for fun; and it any mounted
force attempts to cut me off from the,
mine, I will go bail that I'll make it more
lively for them than they do for me. .

“ I will stop work in the mine and put
the workmen, Well armed, in charge of
the well; they will be able to hold-“it
against any ordinary attacking force until
I get back, if this is a snare.” ,

x In the gulch Gordon made his defenses
as secure as possible; then be assembled
his ten aids. ‘ . .: »

“Boys, I‘m getting a. little tired of this
monkey business, on the part of the other
fellows down: the hill there. They come
out, march up and down, apparently all
ready for a fight, and then. the first thing,
you know, they march oft.

“ Now, it’s possible this performance
may be a trick to get me to attack them
and leave the mine unguarded.”

“ I reckon, from the way you've got the
thing protected, that a hundred men.
couldn’t do much,” O‘Brien observed.

‘Well, I am going to be Just green

enough to go for those fellows and drive ‘\
- them out otthis section or the country.”

The news was unexpected, but not at all

unwelcome. and the men answered within,

traveled clear across the country and
reached the ears of the jumpers. x

They looked up the hill in surprise, pin. ,,

as the Golden Elephant men were up'in

the ginoh, they were concealed from >V19We, .
Not for long, though. for the sport. havé ’

ing sem- that all was in readiness. led

them forth, crossed the trail, hoist the"

head, on the right, and then, with their
Winchestch ready,
scent of the bid
The men at the
pleter by surprise.

  

,1 ..
Jack; La Mothe warrior present, as no? ‘
1’ nhad been called away: by business, and;

Would’hot be at the camp that day.
i tithe in command hadcharge'm

they began the do»

bottom were‘taken comb, '.

 
  

30

Gold Button Sport.

 

the operations. He was a red-bearded
Irishman, Colonel Michael MeCasey by
name, who claimed to be a soldier of tort-
une, and to have served in :1 dozen dif—
ferent armies.
“()hol What is the m’auiug of that?"
lie exclaimed. “ Is it possible the sphul—
_‘ pegns are thinking of coming to attack
' 11s."
The men. were resting between two por—
tions of the drill.
“ Begoh! we‘d only make one mouthful
’ of that handful!" and the. colonel flour-
ished his saber with a war-like air.
“They are coming, right on, colonel,"
said one of the men, who knew something
about fighting. '
. “Them things in their hands are, Win-
 chester rifles, and it won’t take ’em long
‘ to get within range, so if you mean to
A: fight, colonel, you had better line out
,your men.”
I It was evident that the colonel was un-
 easy; it was plain that nine out of every
” ten of the men were uneasy, and that.
though there were only ten men opposed
to their twenty, they had no stomach for
a fight. ,

Suddenly Gordon halted his force; up‘
‘Went the Winchesters, and they took de-
liberate aim at the twenty men below.

This was enough for Jack La Mothe’s
army. ~

They fired a scattering velloy of shots

1 Without waiting for orders from the Irish
colonel. ,

The sport and his men replied, but .they
were not yet within range, so no harm
was done to either side.

But Jack La Mothe’s “army” had get-
ten enough.

They broke and ran in all directions.

When the attacking “army” took to-their

  

 

‘lwhlch they. did. the besieged flredn vol-
ley at them and yelled in utter derision.

Word was sent into the mine to the
workmen, for all to come out and see the
attackers run away. ’

Every soul in the gulch was gathered on
.-'the edge of the road, yelling at the top of
.‘their lungs. ‘

Then came a slight convulsive tremor of
“the earth.

‘All the Californians knew, what that
meant. It was an earthquake! ‘

3‘ .Iu alarm they dropped to their knees.
. y when they looked around the Golden
 Elephant gulch was no more. ‘
i The‘ convulsion of nature had closed it
' imp. The man-trap had vanished!

, THE END. '

 
  

 

 
 

I  Nnx'r Dim} LIBRARY, NUMBER 877. p
 in heads, in Bead-Shut ,
  Sport at Prickly Peer Chip.

.. BY JOHN w. OSBON.“

  

 

 

. , BY 1. w. oonox.
. n. m .i a: r ‘
' O In 'BII".:i'ill.gi:l idiot.
v . "W‘Wfihh‘ www- .. .. '
L 0 p . .
5 om, o. win-n 1.33.... “Wu”
Loot-oi or, Tho Kym-7 mu blood

on
a 9?: 0‘7‘: Boy Plot tor
flu“. 13-an 3.3-, tho Troll ii“
not won

  

    

  

 
  
 

troi. i
hurt I) ’o 0 . up]
It M‘II’I lufihfllykh mm." “a

yr BUOKIKIN onimuonoui. o. nun)"

ll Radio“ coo or am‘ on. W.
noon 3 or, ho A'nl’l'oilhomgo. I "

ammo... am... ...,
0'
ho son-go on or, inu’. aw. nan. ii";
Kit-who's. oraw on or. Tho Toronhlo 0??“
[30¢ 0; or mun-amoral».
o r  WWW”; out.
- o z or; niprimhiimw u. i is. "7‘
Ich Bullion or. n. llogooi Ion Pug-My.

  
 

  

0 ohm.

   

   

  
 

heels in the utterly ridiculous manner in

f; Beadie’s' Haif-Dim’elihrary. ; :

remem-
19.

 

 

BY OLL 000M155.

997 Kld Bnndy’o Brigade in Arizona.

146 Kli- Dulldy, Dfllrciiva; or, Silver Star, the Boy Knight.
10m Kit linndy In Texas; or. Tho Young Must-rigor.
20“ Kim liunily’o Catch; or, The liov Herruiei.

4” Kit. llnndy'u Right Bower; nr,Bnhy Sam,the Boy Giant
444 Kit. llandy'h swoop; or, Links Buckskin. the Centaur.
478 Kit Brandy's Slick Scheme; or,0|d Tom Rattler.
661 Kit liundy'o Deilvernnee; or, iiunner Run.

630 Kit. linlllly’u Ford; or, Duunileol Dun. tho Freelunce.
791 Kit. Dandy Ruttled or,'l‘he Ininntiiiunt.

795 Kit llnnily in Red filing or, The Young Whirlwind.
799 Kit llundy'n Bit Rut-tie: or, Saddle Kink Sun.
804 Kit. lliiruly’n Brigade] or, Dan, the Mountain Guide.

153 Jack Drew. the Nemesis; or, Eagiu Kit. the Bo Damon.
133 Jack Drew’n Drop; or, Little Hurricane, the y Copuin.
803 Jack Drew in Deadwood; or, Pro-paci- Pole.

97 Keen Knife on Guard; 0r. Antelope Ahe,ihe Boy Guido.
81 Keen-Knife. the Prince oi'ihe l‘rniriol.

5 Vagabond Joe. ihu Young Wondering Jaw.
18 The Dumb Spy. .
41 Imuo Jot-k. the Young hiiutnngar.
58 The Border Kin-ii or.'I‘he Secret Foo.
71 Delaware Dick. I a Young Ranger Spy. ,
74 lluwk-e e "an the Young Trip or Ranger.
88 Rollo“; .3 Bo l n on or,Tlie eireu.
184 E lire Hiloi. Rel. , lh- y Riflenmu.
148 Fear-Face SBlli. the Silent Hunter.
178 Did Solitary. the Hermit Trapper.
' ‘ixor Tom. the Tum Terror.
234 ulnohln Dir-k; or, Trapper Tom’o Cutie.
.imle fldfire, the Young Prairie Nomad.
983 i‘he l‘nroon De lei-live; or The Little Ranger.
48 The D'Iguloed Guide; or, ili‘ilni Raven, the Room.

 

‘fllili Dare-Devil Dun, the Young Prairie Ranger.

 

979 Mink-Ill" Mike, the Boy sharpshooter.
290 Little Foxfire, the Be Snv; or, Old Cnlah Arhncklo.
800 The HR Demon; or, niiiboii, the Runzor.
8H4 Width in: Joe, lho Boy Runehuro.

409 llereuleni NY, Dick, the Buy Ranger.

417 Wehl'oot More, the Truup Detective.

457 Wingedi’oot Fred; or, Old Polar Soul.
468 Tamorae Tom, the Big 'i'vlppur Boy.

48!) fltonewoil Bob, the Boy Tronm.

66$ lilnndering Blflil, the Hermit Boy Troppor.
662 Don Barr, the Plain: Freelance.

670 Norway Nell, the Big Boy Mountaineer.
778 Ill hluud linrry. the Wiurd Riflemuu.
833 P0 '01' look, the Detective Sport.

BY ononon 0. JENKB.

486 Git Thar owney the Unknown.

493 Git. Thar lbwney’o Pledire.

518 The Demon Dot-tor; or, Domihniui, the Kid Dotoctivo.
581 Double-curve Dan, the Pitcher Del-active.

98 glut!» the Singer Detective; or Owney in a New Role.

on he Pitt-her Detective’o run; or, Donlo Double Ploy.
10 The ocean Detective: or.’i'he LnntCruloe om... Biuk Door. 1
31. The Pitcher Dotsotive’o Toughest Tunic.

so Larr the Thoroughbred; or, eaten on Every Side.
79 iron land. the Charmed Dem-live

54 Uncle Sam’s Detective in Chicago.

BY WM. G. PATTEN.

9 i Violet Van iho Valvoi. Sport; or, The Jubilee oi Jocklown
lg n I Victory or, The Juper City Cloon Oui-
ilo t and Dairy, the my Porno.
i'io t Vane’o Vow; or. T oCrntty Doiociivu'n Omit.
flo et Vuue’o Von canoe; or. The Wipe-Out.
'ioiet Vune’o Vcr lot; or, The Gums oi Collin City.
Halet Vane. lhe Venirll uiil Vldocq'. or, S vi. vo. Sport.
Vlolet Vane: the Vohquio Ni. or. The Lite ironic.
'ioleh Vane o Violent Or, The Fiery Hood oithe.
'ho Dismal-41 Sport. 1 or. Tho Double You oi Bed Rock.
‘ flyover ; or, Five in Ono.

'8‘. Dioro the W“ from Deny".
bid onhohell, tho Rongor Detective.
ron Fern the Man oi Fire; or, Among the Vulturel.
‘he Boy’frnmp Detectives or,Tho Doublo GripWitueoo
Diurnal uve’l Dandy Pol-d; or,'rheCineioCapt.Giow
Bound no! Franklin Young Amateur Detective

lid Vulc‘m the Lou-Benn Rider.-
0 d Minory tho Mun from Mioooliri.
Olelr-Grit 0n], tho Never-Sny-Dio Detective.
Sar- ‘Sherldnn, the Secret Service Spocioi.
Cowboy Steve the Ranch Mount.
Nobby NB}. tho Tonderlool Detectivo.
silfil'fil' Stoke’o Double Deal.
Spot. r Bob in New hark.
Spotter Bob’o Bowery Bucket.

BY COLONEL DELLE SARA.

I08 The Lion affine Sell or, Tho Voiiod Lady.
186 Cool Demand: or. Tho Goinhior’u Big Guno.

BY CAPTAIN FRED. WHITTAKEB.

15 The loo-Ont: or, Tho Witch of Dorion.
'0 The Dumb Pflr$oh Tho Dogo'o bought".
48 Dick Durlln . t o only.an Rider. i
in: n . '1. e." i  “err-me": ..
0 war ll‘iefl or o o o
1 The Loni 0.: ll oi. Silppor 1:»: coir-'53... a”
tho

u:oo¢§gee§*
S
D
..
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vegema

who:
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asses.

l

Doe Boy Bo chino: or. 'l'ho Brothm of tho Plum

0 n3, hhor oi lho Dino. M“
49 Mile ' one tho Animal King: or. Round iho World.

oTlfior snort or 'i'ho Loopooitholnnclo. -
“1 Block bk. iiio MOI dor. .
.95 California Joo’o Wu

BY CAPT. J. l'. 0. ADAMI.‘ ‘

3C "recon Sol or Nick MMOI'I‘BO .
on Glow]! r h. lam. shot oilbo win!"

iii a i- .
u Imaging? 3.4.33. 11.. v.1 oi M.

 

r

A d . b Sec t it Y ‘ m

33 afar. go In?=r:1?h'oflr:onhgrloiu ll.“ $134.. /

El lgghll I; o. tho Tmor oi the Pruirio. - .
u: or. . air-'55.? W“ "elem"...

* n I or, o
m L "at?" ' ....‘ "h 1. 'ii't'mrsi':
'- 07 I I II o

ho “only King: oi. Tho Hum moan-nit,

in; mop. Eu. 1:; run. it. o. It.
won or Tho. Bueconoor of tho my;
er or.A ow Woil
00M“! Kit; or, in Iiyotory oi loam Point.
.‘ BY JACK FARRAO’DT. ‘ “
on x in. cm in, n Wilciioitho '
no 737 o.- oorooii-ui ithi‘ho 3o: sup... ’9‘
in human w. Aim. . .
n .
A‘: RWREfior.ho Forumoo oio lowly Girl.
Gin . lho Oloni'i'nspfir. i P “I. .
, .
at. A w. Mimi-"ind Tropl in on»...

 

“1 w or
one ‘ .m mm m... . '
«o Kaufman. .i‘i'ai‘fl’mm. "" °" W“ ,

3! Tool muomosrfl. ‘ .l w .
0 col 001 iii Ho] Dmuv . ‘
o o 3.. i cation“... ft" m. or, n: Cowboy’o mi...

BY T-‘J. PLANAGAN. ‘ "

909 min v ‘ . .
5 £0 gha Pirate Catcher ,

‘ I to! .
9 B Elna'TIvo impure!” Ivor, zi‘ho Corooir-Chuor’o Fir-i

~ Bram.  Timur. o. A. ‘

I’moopyfir‘ooolhyfidlnruolpOolflgoouQQ

 

BY CHARLES MORRIS.

l 18 Will Some", the Boy Detective.
29 Phil llnrd , the Boo: Boy.
26 Picayune ’ele; or, Nicodemus, the Dog vetoed".
] 30 Detective Dick: or, The Hero in MI.
42 ll-ndoouie llurry, the Boothinck Detective.
l 47 “'Iii Wildlre, this Thoroughbred.
] 59 Black Henri. Will Wildfire o Rocer.
57 Mike Merry the Harbor Police Boy.
62 Will Wildi‘lre in tiln Woodo.
“5 Billy Baggage, the Railrond 8?.
70 A ’i‘rulnr Curd; or, Will wild re Wino ond Loooo~
74 Bob Rooks“; or. Mysteries of Now York.
79 Bob Roe ketti the Bonk Runner.
88 The llldi on Inml or, Will Wildflre’o Revongo.
87 Ered liu ynrd, tlnr lie Boot Boy; or. The Smmioro.‘
89 Bob Roe «an: or. Driven to lhe Wall.
96 shadowed or, Bah Rockatt’o Fight for Life.
06 llurk l’iiu , the Tiger King.
13 Dashing Drive. the Dandy Detective.
20 ‘om Tnnnr; or, The K Dick Sheep oi tho Flock.
295 Burn Charcoal the Premium Duly.
35 Shadow Sam. the Moo-anger Boy.
Shenandoah Bill and Hi: Gout.
hkoih Boy in Chltl o.
oi Troll.

 

' ‘he Two “ Bloods ”3 or
5)! Dick Dani-away; or, A D
83 "he Young Shin-poi oi. RDiiiciiiliK Mlko’o
74 . oily Jim; the Detective Av irentice.
89 . olly Jim I Job; or. The aim Detective.

98 The Water-Hound; or,Tiiu hung Thoroughbred.

05 Ilaohnwny, ol’an-vtn: nr, A Wis-tern Lad in Quukor City.
394 Ralph Really. the Houl Boy Dotoctlvo.

841 Tony Thor-no. the Vagabond Dal-active.

858 The Reporter-Detective; or, Fred Fiyer'o Blirurd.
867 W hie-Awake Joel or. A Boy oi'tho 'l'iruan.

879 Larry. the Leveleri or. The Blood- oi the Boulovord.
403 Firefly Jack. the River-RM. Detective.

498 The Lost. Fin er; or,’i‘h.~. Entrupped Cuhiar.

428 Fred Flyer I a Reporter Detective.

432 Invincible Lorain. the Plnliorlon Ferret.

456 Bill Brick, the Jolly Vagabond.

468 Wl e-Awake Jerry, Detective: or Entomhod Allvo.
479 Detective Dod e; or, The leiory of quk Hourly.

488 “'ild Dlek Rm- '2“ or, How He Fnughi for Honor.

501 llooto, the Boy Fireman i or, 'i'no Shnrp {or the shupor.
him The Secret herviee Boy Detective.

590 Jlmm the Kill or. A Lamb Anunz Wolveo.

627 Tom rneo oi rknnonoi onThv Wulfln tho Fold-
655 l'luuky Paul, the Boy Speeulntor.

687 Roi) and Burn, the Doin Detectival.

109 The Curb-tone Detective; or. Harry Hole'l Bic Boot.
757 "coercive. Frunk'o Sweep-stair“.

869 Ned Norman. the Gamin roker.

881 ’l‘iirke Billy, tho Shine—'em-up Dawniiva.

917 Flash ilflhlllinfl‘, the Mountain Moocol.

 

 

BY JOSEPH E. BADGER. JR.

9 Yellow-lone Jack: or, The Tn r.

48 Black John the Rood-Agent; or, no Outlow'l 3mm.

65 Hurricane fill]: or. Mustang Slim and Bio Ford.
119 Multan Sum or,’l'ho King oiiho Ploino.
186 Ni ht- uwk it; or, Tho Douxhlor of tho Roach.
144 Dir nty Lance the Boy Snort.
151 l‘nlthar Paul; or,Dulnty Lonco to the Rose“.
160 The Black Giant: or, Doiniy Lanuin Ioopnrdy.
168 Deadly Dth or, Fighting Fire with Fin.
184 The Boy Trailer" or, Dnin iy Lona on tho Wor-Polli.
208 The Do Paulo; or. Doiniy Lance Unmuh.
Ill Crooks Cale, the Cniibnn of Coluiiol City.
810 The Banana. Wolf; ¥r,1‘ho Bountiful buoy.
819 The Blank Rider; or, he Hono-Thlovn’uquo.
.85 on] Double Flat. or. Tho Strum Guido ,
855 The King of the com: or. Daniol Boono I Loni’l‘roil.
‘49 RI Fox. lho Bordor Bo Domlivo. ,
“mish- lhn. the o Trailer.

‘ Dnn’o 3000!] Trail.

“Mr-in Dnn’o Dollie Stretch.
0 ( Crazy, the Mn Without a Hood.
708 l. ght-llonrt Lute’o Leguo .
718 LiFlIt-llea rt. 1 utes’o Iiot rail.

7E8 8 Var t e

729 Sliver , the Ho i-Blood; or, The Border Barrio oi Boy.
789 Elly... the Emilie; or, The Bordor Beoglo’l Tall.

74 v... . .u n the Friendly; or, The Border Beqio'o Boy Ford

BY 0. DUNNING CLARK.

l 5 O i P l r The Bi) 3 of tho Mount-inn.
ago fighting: finish. or. in“... of n. Block Bhoroof. ,

IIDOELLANEOU! AUTHORS.
4 The Wild-lions Ila-tern. 3y Cori. mono Roll on
Muriel Whittaker.

d l o fl!- on Enrich-noon
1: huifize'ii:fi.veii. a n... Swill. '

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘ 14 Aladdin; or,’i‘h- Wondo ulLomrz. i

Oruooe. (iii illultrot

18 Dlndbul the Sailor. ill- Bovoii Vo .
I. Tho Boo Serpent: on'i'ho Boy Robin-3.67m. By Jon

Levin. i _
00 Bloodhound or Tho Rod Pinio- of tho
.8. gilrerihon...; B. W. Plorco . ,

88 B own: or Tho Arono Qnm. B 1‘ than.

'8 fisi‘i'%mom 30"” 'ii'an’ Twrc’fl': A c 1....
. 0| 0?. I B If I on . ’ ‘- . u

g; a 0’ ov'oro ohm mmmo'ilho Iii-him

 

I o
99 Kathi flood. tho Guillowod loll: or,'l'ho Morry Mon oi Croon-
woo . 3 Prof. Gildoroloovo. v
[05 old n-‘e‘ tho Rum; or, 'l'ho crow Cousin. By Cupid:
‘2

io n Mod nu-ém .- n.c.n.in...i. hum“...
in gilt”. lilo Ton-i o'r.'l‘ii. Young crimp... I, a...“
to: $32.. Prlvnmrx.or,'l‘ho Flaw-Stronghold. I",
148 Imp Ludo, ‘i'iio Advoniiml of o “loadin- loy. By J.

.87  Diwali. . 0!. Tho anon Rumor oi tho Yol-
lmm . I C. L Lilli.

. Dy ldword .
I 1'! Poor-nun Mun NIinrk
ogo i‘rh o roulod m

or. the do! or,Dovy crook m
on 33%;; 53:33.4 rum or.‘l'ho uni oi iii. an.
on Siftfi'ré‘é‘ti‘.‘ Livon m m hodvllio. Iy u..-
ols 33.495133“: or. A. nqvmgii on “fond”.

i ii in .
on whliiifi. in": non" an-n. lam now

vono. By Nod Inllliio. ..
I .05 Elly-rm “on tho mink vo. Sly A. f. m
4 “I . on r. Bon'o Dani-Io ouch. fi Ill-u.
iii: memfl ."rim Tum a: cola-.1 in...

ii in... . .
: nihgigmwh i, thi'lggflglnh'or. By no. Winthrop.
go J... o my.“ in. Throo minor... Ir
Harv J. fem-o. r
I'l'hoo fluke. Dyldvlnlrookom
o' .i o. M 1.... IyDovidDrnid.
«so .mfi'i'“u'~"..2.'.§':'v' but? “'3 Could Carlton.
I .o
7.1 5.3..“ Mono “I‘m-mo, mmi;lor,mmm;u

one. in... By win 1. M km mm. o! m

imaboo. ,
Don mun. ohofiono iron Down.
or

U. !. Semi Foul Conn. ,, __.
rim W C. 11. Tri .
Sit ms: t“ r N do?! as: .. g . .

“qrfiliglfilflov.

s idiom?“ fl"Minn. :9 n i
Q 0 I O. -
021'  6:;"0, ofl-éot'o- PIV‘Iport.
'o .
i ii! ‘8 I Ch .‘W ll
 giiiy Br "an; thognhm 83:0“; :: Jacobo..-
‘iiy King Koooo. “ , , r

by Lemon...

9-“ int r
em Lou's Road.

_‘ W" ANoonouoEvoryTIodoy. ‘I .
Thonolfl-Dluomnryhhr-loM-lll‘oodooflho
v ' .‘ ’nnuwmmuu-‘PAW I ,
‘ ,, ,2  ..., "Wink-fmrlowtorh.

~' -. r a ' V: »

   

  

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urn-hi

   
 

 

 

 

   
     
   
           
      
      
        
       
    
     
       
     
     
     
   
     
  

     
   
    
     
     

      
    
     
    
      
 
       
     
  
      
       
         
      
      
           
            
      
   

 

 

 

 

     
      
      
 
        
    
   
     
 
 

 

'316 Ocean Guerrillas; or.

. e
M The Three Frigates; or.

an; LY
33; Till Devil ‘ r
5 0 ' ‘
has The Flyging ‘ °r’ he 5‘5“
an The Mad

1 310% 8:10am Plunger; or; The Unkno

; '90 Double Death; or. The Spy of Wyoming.
 '10 TheIrlsh Captain. A Tale, of: Foam.-
'  0r. TheScourgeofthelndlep.‘ ,

BEADLE’SarIMErIlBRARY; ' ‘

Publzslwd Every Wednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Ten Cents. No Double Numbers.

 

Lg

 

BY COL. PRENTISS INGRAI‘IAM. ’

805 The Last of the Pirates; or. Doom Driven.

801 The Water Wolves‘ Detective; or. Trapping the
Grave Ghouls. .

791 The Coast-Raider‘s Death-Chase.

7418 Arizona Charlie. the Crack-shot Detective.

704 Invisible Ivan, the Wizard Detective.

685 The Red-skin Sea Rover.

679 Reveilo. the Pirate CruiSer; or. The Rival Rovers

672 The Red Rapier 5 or, The Sea Rover‘s Bride.

662 The Jew Detective; or, The Beautiful Convict.

658 The Cowho Clan; or. The Tigress of Texas.

653 Lasso King s League; or. Buck Taylor in Texas.

610 The Rowr s Retribution.

635 The Eli-Buccaneer; or, The Stigma of Sin.

630 The Sea Thief ' ,

525 Red Wings; or. The Gold Seekers of the Bahamas.

615 The Three Buccaneers.

610 The Red Flag Rover; or,White Wings of the Deep.

§05 The Shadow Silver Ship.

600 The Silver Ship: or, The Sea. Scouts of ’76.

59:5 The Sea Rebel; or, Red Rovers of the Revolution.

587 Conrad. the Sailor Spy; or. True Hearts of ‘76.

.581 The Outlawed Skipper; or. The Gantlet Runner.

560 The Man from Mexico.

558 Mark Monte, the Mutineer; or, The Branded Brig.

516 The Doomed Whaler: or. The Life Wreck.

1540 The Fleet Scourge; or, The Sea Wings of Salem.

530 The Savages of the Sea.

5% The Sea Chaser; or. The Pirate Noble.

616 Chatard. the Dead-Shot Duelist. 1

510 El Moro, the Corsair Commodore.

493 The Scouts of the Sea.

489 The Pirate Hunter; or. The Ocean Rivals.

482 Ocean Tramps ' or. The Desperadoes of the Deep.

476 Bob Brent.the Buccaneer; or. the Red Sea Raider.

469 The Lieutenant Detective; or, the Fugitive Sailor.

457 The Sea Insurgent: or. The Conspirator Son.

446 Ocean Ogre, the Outcast Corsair.

435 The One-Armed Buccaneer.

439 The Fatal Frigate; or, Rivals in Love and War.

423 The Sea Sword; or. The Goo in Rivals.

418 The Sea Siren: or. The Fugitive Privateer.

399 The New Monte Cristo.

3393 The Convict Caption. ‘ ,

$88 The Giant Buccaneer: or. The Wrecker Witch.

 Afloat and Ashore: or. The Corsair Conspirator.

§l_3 Sailor of Fortune: or. The Barnegat Buccaneer.

dbl) The Coast Corsair: or. The Siren of the Sea.

364 The Sea Fugitive; or. The Queen of the Coast.

Phantom Midshipman.
341 The Sea Desperado,

3'36 The Magic Snip' or, Sandy Hook Freebooters.
325 The Gentleman irate: or. The Casco Hermite.
818 The Indian Buccaneer: or. The Red Rovers.
30? 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 The Pirate Priest; or. The Gambler’s Da ter.
246 ueen Helen, the Amazon of the Ovarian .
23") ed Lightning the Man of Chance.
231 The Kid Glove Miner: or. The Magic Doctor.
224 Black Beard. the Buccamer.
220 The Specter Yacht; or, A Brether's Crime.
216 The Corsair Planter; or. Driven to Doom.
210 Buccaneer Bess. the Lioness of the Sea.
7205 The Gambler Pirate; or. Lady of the Lagoon.
198 The Skeleton Schooner; or. The Skimmer.
164 The Ocean Vampire; or. The Castle Heiress.
181 The Scarlet Schooner: or. The Sea Nemesis.
177 Don Diahio, the Planter-Corsair.
172 Black Plrate:_ or. The Golden Fetters M story.
162 The Mad manner: or. Dishonored and isovmed
“.155 The Corsair Queen: or, The Gypsies or the Sea.
147 Gold Spur, the Gentleman from Texas.
189 Fire Eye: 01;. The Bride of a Buccaneer. .
‘84 Darke Dan. the Colored Detective. ’
I Bucks n Sam. the Texas Trailer.
B The Chevalier Corsair; or. The Heritage:
ti The Sea Cadet; or The Rover of the 3' lot".
16 Black Plume; or. The Sorceress of Hui ate.
)9 Captain Kyd, the King of the Black Flag.
‘91 Montezuma. the Merciless. ’ .
I Merl a. the Mutineer; or. The Red AnchorBrand.
A iance. the Buccaneer.
I The 1Pirate Prince; or. The Queen of theIsle.
l The Jretan Rover; or. Zuieikah the Beautiful.
I The Dare Devil; or, The Winged Sea Witch.

 

as can. FRED. warships“.

614 The Showman Detective;'or. The Mad Magician.
609 The Texas Tramp; or. Solid Saul. i
445 Journe man John. the Champion.
41% Lar ke. the Man of Iron.
406 Old op Hicks. Showman.
878 John Armstrong, Mechanic.
m The Whitest Man in the Mines.
810 The Marshal of Satanstown; or. The Lane.
808 Tour-Notch Tom, the Cowboy Outlaw. _
«905 0 the Maveric -Huntor. \
son Th Lost Corvette: or. Biakeley‘s Last Cruise.
Old Ironsidee‘ Revenge.
9217 The Saucy Jane. Privateer. .
€72 Seth Slocum. Railroad Surveyor.
965 Old Double-Sword; or. Pilots and Pirates.

k- or.The Queen of the Nihilists.
Ike' or.’l‘he Secret of the Fortitude.

HDutchman at 10'. d th 
215 Parson Jim..King’oglt‘heh80 a m e

e o'lthlzlgdwmnfineh of 
n -or e not the .
dddnirusie'u. ‘ ; .

ofthe'l‘raur I' H I
115 The Save Head- TE (30qu secret.
ms TheDuko of numbfiil. . ° mfl°~
98 The Rock Rider; for. The Spirit ofthe Sierra. .

 

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'31 i‘ b,‘ L. I"

 
 

BY WM. G. PAT’I‘EN.

795 Old Nigiit«Hawk, the Crook Shadower.

768 The Prince of New York Crooks.

756 Old Burke, the Madison Square Detective.
747 Double-voice Dan‘s Double Disguise.

715 Double-Voice Dan on Deck.

702 Double-Voice Dan, the Always-omDeck Detective
696 DoubleVoice Dan, the Go-it-Aloue Detective.
689 The Sparkler Sharp.

6761 Hurricane Hui. the Cowboy Hotspur.

66!! Old True Blue. the Trusty.

663 The Giant S )ort; or, Sold to Satan.

U58 Old Plug gly. the Rough and Ready.

618 Gold Glove Gid the Man of Grit.

641 Aztec Jack. the Desert Nomad.

(til Colonel Cool. the Santa Fe Sharp.

602 Ca tain Nameless. the Mountain Mystery.
571 Oh Dismal. the Run e Detective.

545 Hustler Harry, the Cowboy Sport.

BY CAPTAIN HOIVARD HOLMES.

803 The Bogus Broker’s Right Bower.

788 The Night-Hawk Detective.

779 Silk Ribbon‘s Crush-out.

766 Detective Zach, the Broadway Spotter.

751 The Dark Lantern Detective.

7‘36 The Never-Fail Detective.

724 Captain Hercules. the Strong Arm Detective.
711 Dan Damon, the Gilt-Edge Detective.

701 Silver Steve, the Branded Sport.

694 Gideon Grip. the Secret Shadower.

684 Velvet Van. the Mystery Shadower.

675 The Dude Desperado

671 Jason Clew, the SilkJianded Ferret.

664 Monk More], the Man-Hunter.

651 Sal SShinx, the Ferret Detective.

612 Red ard and Yellow.

608 Silent Sam the Shadow Sphinx.

592 Ca tain Siciflhe Shasta Ferret.

579 01 Cormorant. the Bowery Shadow.

569 Captain Cobra. the Hooded Mystery.

559 Danton. the Shadow Sharp. .V

550 Silk Hand. the Mohave Ferret.

i543 The Magnate Detective.

5‘52 J aclr Javert. the Independent, Detective.

523 Reynard of Red Jack: or, The Lost Detective.
512 Captain Velvet‘s Big Stake.

505 Phil Fox. the Genteei Spotter.

496 Richard Redfire. the'Two Worlds' Detective.

487 Sunshine Sam. a Chip of the Old Block.

480 Hawkspear. the Man with a Secret.

4198 Coldgrip in Deadwood. I *

4130 Captain Coidgrip. the Detective.

453 Captain Coldirli'fi's Long Trail.

447 Volcano. the ‘ 500 Spy.

411 The Calitornia Sharp. _

434 Lucifer Lynx. the Wonder Detective.

421 Father Ferret. the Frisco Shadow. ‘ ‘

413 Captain Coldgrip in New York.

40'? Captain Coidgrip‘s Nerve: 01'. In un Nick.

400 Captain Coldgrip: or. The New ork Spotter.
3913 The Lost Bonanza: or. The Boot of Silent Hound.
382 The Bonanza Band: or. Dread Don of Cool Clan.
374 Major Blister. the S rt of Two Cities. . ‘

3115 Keen Kennard. the haste Shadow.

1352 The Dee rate Dozen.

847 Denver uke. the Man with “ Sand.”

310 Cool Conrad. the Dakota Detective.

385 Flash Dan. the Nabob: or. Blades of Bowie Bar.
321 California Claude. the Lone it.
291 Broadcloth Burt. the Denver andy.

2'78 Hercules Goidspur. the Man of the Velvet Hand.

BY J. C. COWDBICK.
759 The Sue ct S rt- 01' Daisy Drift.
626 Ducats ion. 1; e Nabob Sport Detective.
612 Sherid’ Stillwood, the Regulator of Raspberry,
598 The Dominic Detective.
591 Duke Daniels. the Society Detective.
580 Shadowing a adow. . ,
565 Prince Paul, the Postman Detective.
557 The untain Grayheards' or. Riddlee‘ Riddle.
519 Old iddies. 'the Ranker .
4119 Twilight Charlie, the Sport. .
478 Gilbert of Gotham. the Steel-agn‘DeMoflve.
452 Rainbow Bob, the Tulip from exas.
486 Kentucky J ean. the s rt from Yellow Pine.
42% Blue Grass Burt. the old Star Detective.
390 The Giant Cupid: or Cihuta John‘s Jubilee.

BY GEORGE C. JENKS.
772 Ca in Gordan, the Twister Detective.
755 W d Pete. the Bronoho-Buster Detective.
756 Fearless Sam the Grand Combination Detective.
719 Boston Bob; the §port Detective.
572'Jauntv Joe, the ockey Detective.
5154 Mad Sharp, the Rustler. .
538 Rube Rocket. the Tent Detective. .
586 Death-Grip, the Tenderfoot Detective.
507 The Drummer Detective. -
439 The lent Horseman/
ass Si enemye. the Pacific Detective.

BY J. W. OSBON.

‘75!) The Sport from St. Louis.
518 Royal Richard. the Thoroughbred.

‘mr anon Lawn. ,
797 Pistol Tommy. the Miner Slit . '
785 The Down—East Detective in evade.
778 Buffalo Bill‘s Ban: or. Cody to them
099 The Cowho¥voouriora :-
686 The On-the- iii Detectives. ~ . '
624 The Submarine etfiidvei'or, The Water Ghouls.
2:14 %ptsaiilnlfies<ely.tha nsoiner. N ‘
e e teetive: or Bogus ephow.
456 The Demon Steer. 1” e
498 The Flying Glim; or.The bloodline.
1!" DR. NOEL IIUNBAB.
730 Duke Despard. e Gambler Duelist.
604.The Detective'in Rags: or. The '
500 The Tune-Heart Pards. ; , .
BY n‘n. Pun NR POWELL. 1'
74s The Dragoon plateaus: or ‘A moor
158TheDoomedDoaen. k .‘ .

\

         
 

 

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GrimShedqwei‘. .

BY NED BUN'I‘LINE.

657 Long Tom. the Privateer.
683 The Sea S xv.
621 The Red Ilrivuteer; or. The Midshipman Rover.

' 5‘31 Fire Feather. the Buccaneer King. ‘»

517 Bufiaio Bill‘s First Trail.

861 Tombstone Dick,» the Train Pilot.

270 Andros, the Rover; or. The Pirate‘s Daughter.

1212 Saul Sabberday. the Idiot S y.

111 The Smuggler Captain; or, ‘iie Skippcr's Crime.
61 Captain Seawaif. the Privateer.
23 Tile Red Warrior; or The Comanche Lover. '.
18 The Sea Bandit; or, The Queen of the Isle. ‘.
16 The White Wizard; or. The Seminole Prophet.
l-l Tiiayendanegea,the Scourgewr. The War-Eagle.

BY JACKSON KNOK—“ 01d Hawk.”

7’78 The Butler Detective' . Old Grip’l Grip.
I770 The Showman Detective.
762 Old Grip. the Detective.
'74“ Captain Clow, the Fighting Detective. « .2.
732 The Hurricane Detective. 5
64:1 Castieinaine. the Silent Sitter. - ,v .
611i Maguiis. the Weird Detective.

6011 The Drop Detective.

595 Welihorn. the Upper Crust Detective.

582 J orain. the Detective Expert.

574 Old Falcon’s Double. .
561 The Thug Kiiig' or. The Falcon Detective's Foe. :
541! Falcmibrid re. tlie Sphinx Detective.

531i Old Falcon s Foe: or. The Detective‘s Swell Job.
515 Short-Stop Mn‘e. the Diamond Field Detective. [
509 Old Falcon. t is Thunderbolt Detectiye.

501 S ringsteel Steve. the Retired Detective.

494 T in Detective‘s S y.

48:5 Rowiock. the Bar or Detective.

477 Dead-arm Brandt.

4117 Mainwaring. the Salamander.

462 The Circus Detective.

451 Grioiock. the Rocket Detective.

444 The Magic Detective: or, The Hidaen Hand.

424 Hawk ei-on‘s De uty.

386 Hawk Heron. the alcon Detective.

BY PHILIP S. WARNE.

802 Dan Dirk King of No Man‘s Land.
5813 Captain dan', the Cattle King.
56‘? Captain Midnight. the Man 0 Craft.
5-14 The Back to Back Pards.
522 The Chain ion Three.
502 Bareback iuck, the Centaur of the Plainl.
4733 Six Foot Si: or. The Man to “ Tie To."
431 California Kit. the Always on Hand.
404 Silver Sid; or. A “ Daisy " Blufl.
880 Tiger Dick's Pied ; or, The Golden Serpent.
359 Yellow Jack. the estizo.
338 Jack Sands. the Boss of the Town. '
299 Three of a Kind; or Dick, Despard and theSpon.
280 Tiger Dick’s Lone and. 1
251 Tiger Dick vs. Iron Des rd. ,
an Old Hard Read; or. W rlwind and his Man.
171 Tiger Dick. the Man of the Iron Heart. '
114 The Gentleman from Pike.

80 A Man of Nerve; or. Caliban the Dwarf.

54 Always on Band; or. The Foot-Hills Sport.

29 Tiger Dick. Faro Kin ; or. The Cashier‘s Crime.

4 The Kidnapper; or. he Northwest Shanghai.
l A Hard Crowd; or. Gentleman Sam's Slater.

BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID.

an The White Squaw.

284 The Hunter’s Feast.

238 The Maroon. A Tale of Voodoo and Obeah. ,

219 The Wild Huntress' or. The uatter.

218 The War Trail: or. The Hunt of eWild'I-Iorlo.“ ‘

208 The White Chief. A Romance of Mexico. .

300 The Rifle Rangers: or. AdventuresinMexi _ .
74 The Captain of the Rifles: or, The  3
68 The Specter Barque. A Tale of the .Pa 0. -
55 The Scalp Hunters. A Romance of the Plain].
12 The Death-Shot: or. Tracked to Death. .

8 The Headless Horseman. .  I. .

  
  
  
   
  
   
 
  
 
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
  
  
 
   
   
  
  
   
  
    
   
  
 
 
   
   
   
   
     
      
       
         
             
    

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Misonnnaunous. ‘ _
566 The Dauntleu‘ Deteclive; or. The Dodging
Avenger. Tom W. .Kiggé

mini: (Kaegnfio t t; or. The lit for Two Lim .
. . 0 . i

534 Groin Mountain Joe: or The Countertelter’l
Cave; . By Marmaduke e . H .

306 The Telegraph Detective. y George H. Morse ..
B58 Bag: Brfimanéhfir'tfhe King 0: Straight Flush
v o n . ‘ * . .l _
350 Flash Falcon. Societ Detective. By W. .1. 001311.,
,312 Kinkfoot Karl. the ountain Scourge. By Moi»

‘ 2" Ti" emmigé Cutter B J D Conro ' '
. e . - . . .

. as: 315.cle 5:631, the Prairie llyhunderhoit. yByyltiol.‘ H

o s . _ u ,

190 The Three Guardsmen. 13 Alexander Dumas;

1N'00nmbtgmnwct. By rot. Gildersleeve. _' A].

 
       
    

    
 
  

 
 

  

   
       

  

166 Owlet her Prl By S R. Urban.
152 Captain Ironnerve
146 The Doctor Detective.

144 The Hunchback of Notre
140 The Three Spaniards. B?
133 Bed the Rover. Wi list
195 The locksmith Out aw.

110 The Silent Rifleman. By H. W. Ber ~ ‘

I A 102 The Masked Band. doom L. Aiken. '

' 78 Re Mysterious S y. y Arthur M. GM.
76 e een'sMn steers. B WA ..,
58 The lining Trap . Byuoip .J. V

W wake. the fishbor as. I?! .

Rim
Sara 0

 
       
        
        
   
 
      
     
  
 
  
  

 
 
  

  
  

  

.1 And . s.
o wuaoiz Bob. By’Edward 1.. Wheeler

. . 4 m mu. m mam. f . v
NB diei- gargantuan” kgcggi;
. 00D 1‘
negate! twelve 1” D “DDS & AD
,ru , berths. ;

   

  
 
 

   
  

a street. New york.

  
 
 
  

 

      

 

f Bufialo Bill novels in w Beadle’s flime library, 

 

 

874 Buffalo Bill's Buckskin Braves; or, The Card
Queen‘s Last Game. By Col. P. Ingraham.

869 Buffalo Bill‘s RoadvAgent Round-up; or,The Mys-
terious Masked Man in Black. By P. Ingraham.

863 Buffalo Bill’s Death-Charm; or, The Man With
the Scar. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

857 Buffalo Bill’s Royal Flush: or, The Pony Rider’s
Death-Run. By 001. Prentiss lngraham.

851 Buffalo Bill's Double Dilemma; or, The Great
Scout’s Big Three. By Col. P. Ingrahnm

845 Buffalo Bill‘s Redskin Ruse: or. Texas Jack‘s
Death-Shot. By Col. Prentiss Ingrnham.

" 839 The Ranch King Dead-Shot; or. Texas Jack’s
Proxy. By Buffalo Bill.

880 Buffalo Bill's Boys in Blue; or, The Brimstone
Band‘s Blot—out. By Col. P. Ingraliam.

8936 Buflalo Bill’s SharpShooters; or, The Surgeon
Scout to the Rescue. By Col. P. Ingraham.

 

765 Buffalo Bill's Dozen; or, Silk Ribbon Sam. By
Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

761 Buffalo Bill‘s Mascot; or, The Death Valley
Victim No. 13. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

757 Buffalo Bill’s Double; or. The Desperado Detec-
tive. By 00]. Prentiss Ingraham.

750 Buffalo Bill’s Big Four; or, Custer's Shadow.
By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

743 Buffalo Bill’s Flush Band; or, Texas Jack’s
Bravos. By Col. Prentiss Ingraliam.

739 Buffalo Bill's Blind; or. The Masked Driver of
Death’s Canyon. By Col. Prentiss lngraham.

735 Buffalo Bill and His Merry Men: or. The Robin
Hood Rivals. By Col. Prentiss Ingrahem.

731 Buffalo Bill’s Beagles; or. Silk Lasso Sam. By
Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

7% Buffalo Bill’s Body Guard; or, The Still Hunt of
the Hills. By Col. Prentiss Ingrahnm.

722 Buffalo Bill on the War Path; or, Silk Lasso
Sam. the Will-o'-thersp. By Col. P. Ingmham.

 

517 Buffalo Bill's First Trail. By Ned Buntline

414 Red Renard, the Indian Detective; or, The Gold
Buzzards of Colorado. By Buffalo Bill.

401 The One-Armed Pard. By Buflalo Bill.

397 The Wizard Brothers; or, White Beaver‘s Trail.
By Buflalo Bill.

394 White Beaver. the Exile oi' the Platte; or. A
Wronged Man's Red Trail. By Buifalo Bill.

362 Buffalo Bill’s Grip; or, Oath-bound to Custer.
By 00]. Prentiss Ingraham. 7

329 Buffalo Bill's Pledge; or, The League of Three
By Col. P. Ingraham.

319 Wild Bill, the Whirlwind of the West.
falo Bill.

304 Texas Jack. the Prairie Rattler; or, The Queen
of the Wild Riders. By Buffalo Bill.

213 The Pilgrim Sharp; or. The Soldier‘s Sweetheart:
Bv Buffalo Bill. Government Scout and Guide. ‘

189 Wild Bill‘s Gold Trail; or, The Dc perate Dozen
By Col. P. Ingrahsm

By Buf-

 

 

 

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. sea Russia Bill's Best Bower: or. Montebello the Gold
King. By 001. Prentiss Ingrshsm‘.
820 White Beaver'l Btill‘fiunt; or. The Miner Ma-
rsuder‘s Deathg'l'mk. By Buflslo Bill.

’ 816 Buflalo Bill’s [Red Trail: or. The Boadflider
Renegade’s Run-Down. By Col. P. Ingzaham.

‘ 312 Bnflalo Bill‘s Desth-Knoll:‘ or, The Red Band
Rider’s of the Rockies. By 001. P.1ngraham.

son Wild nun, the Wild West‘Dnellst;. or. The Girl
Mascot of Moonlight Mine. By sumo 3.11.

800 Wild Bill, the Dead-Center Shot; or. Rio Grande
Ralph, the Cowboy Chief. By Buflalo Bill.

794 Buflalo Bill‘s Winhing Band: or, The Masked
Woman of the/Colorado Canyon! By Ingroham.

787 Buffalo/Bill’s Dead Shot; or. The Skeleton Scout,
o: the Oolor'do.’ By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

781 Bulfalo Bill’s Brand: or. The Brimstone Brother-
hood. By 001. Prentiss Ingraham. ( '

777 Buffalo Bill‘s Spy-Shadow»; or. The Masked

. Men at Grand Canyon. By COL/P. mgr-sham. .

' ~, 773 sumo Bill’s Ban; or, Cody to the Rescue. By

‘ ‘Leon Lewis. , I
769 mimic Bill's Sweepstake; or,"rhe Wipe-out at
but Chance. By Col. Prentiss Ingroha'm.

 

BUFFALO BILL.

716 Buffalo Bill’s Scout Shadovrers; or. Emerald Ed
of Devil's Acre. By Col. Prentiss Ingrahem.

710 Buflalo Bill Baffled; or. The Deserter {Desper-
ado‘s Defiance. By 001. P. Ingrahm,

w: Burran Bill’s' Buckskin Brotherhood; or: Open
ins Up a. Lost Trail. By Col. P. Ingrnham.

691 Buffalo Bill's Blind Trail; or. The Daughter of
the Regiment. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. .

682 Buflnlo Bill’s Secret service Trail. By Major
Dangerfield Burr. ,

667 Buffalo Bill‘s Swoop: or, the King pf the Mines.
'By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. ' ‘
658 The Cowboy Olen; or, The Tigress of Texas.
. By Colonel Prentiss Inga-sham.
653 The Ilnsso King‘s league; or. The Tigers of
Texas. By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham.
“9 Buck Taylor, the Saddle King. sumo Bill’s
Chief of Scouts. By 001. P. Ingrahani.
644 Buflalo Bill’s'Bonansa: or. The Knights of the
nailver Circle- By Col. P. Ingraham‘. ‘
689 The Gold King; or, Montebello. the Magnificent.
By Buffalo Bill. ' .
629 Buflalo Bill's Daring Role: or. Dsredsath Dick
‘ King of the Cowboys. By Leon Lewis. ,
[599 The Dead Shot Nine: or, My Pads of the Plains.

 

'

175 Win Bill’s min Caul' or The Indian Heiress.
By Col. Prentiss ’ .‘ V

168 WilaB the Pistol Dead-Show or Dog; .Don'l
Bonnet?" By Col. mm mohair). “

158 Buffalo Bill Chief of Scouts;
Dozen. By r. Frank Powell.

117 Buttan 3111’: Stran Pard' .Dash Dandy. ,
rho Hotspur o: the By Major D. .
92 Buffalo Bill. the Buckskin King; or the Amazon
7 of the West. By Major Danger-solderin-

88 Gold Bullet S ' or the Knights of the Over.
land. By Winn!

52 Death Trailer, the Chief of Seouts‘ or, Life and
. Love in oFrontler-Fort. By But 0 Bill.

urn‘sr  raw muss. r

875 Tm l theRaoe-Trnck Ju ' or The Man-
' ' frongxbk Inn inNow York. will. Ii. Manning“

876 Gold 3mm Sport‘ or The Minor Eh: of Sul-
phur Bar. 'Py Allies-th. Aiken. m

877 cool Creedomhe Deal-Shot; or. The White Sport
at Prickly Pear Camp. By John W. Osbon. n

878 Dauntless Dick Knight of the Deck' or 9
Cruise of the eel; Winn By Burke Broader-d.
. A new tom every Weanuday.

Mo’s Dune Library is for sale by all
iewsdeolers. ten cents,per copy, or sent by up“ D
receipt of twelve com-each. BEAM! t, M, v ,
Publishers. 98 Willinm stashflorlYork. , , r

i

or. The Doomea