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tbllahed Every s Y
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Wednesday.

 

 

 

11‘. 1‘95.

. LXXIi.

 

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Dashing Charlie’s Double.

 

 

(All rights and dramatizations reserved]

‘ UASHING CHARLIE'S DOUBLE:

O i
{III}:(XLI)IIIEEEIIWSlLIHEfLCiI.

A Romance of' the Mountain Marauders
of Nesv Mexico.

 

BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM.

CHAPTER L
THE VOLUNTEER.

“ MY young pard, I am dying.”

“ Not so bad as that, I guess, old friend.”

“ Yes, i feel the sands of life slipping from my

asp, and when a man’s time has come to look

own into his open grave, he should think of
what he has left undone in this world, of some
pleasure he might have brought to others, some
act of atonement he can make for deeds none in
the ast.”

“ ‘ay, old friend, you are ill and blue; but
cheer up, for I have seen the shadow of death
hover over many a man, and yet he came out
into the sunlight of life again; so cheer up,
(and don’t think of making your last camp for
many a long day to come.”

‘* You to k, young pard, as one standing on
the threshold of lifc,while I stand on the thresh-
old of death and look back over a long trail
marked with many a misfortune, many a sor-
row, and here and there a pain that will not slip
out or. my memory.

“ i feel that the future is for me but a few
more days perhaps weeks, and I long to see one
who woul clasp my hands when the life-cords
snap and see me put to rest, one whom I can
ask to forgive me a great wrong done him in the
long ago, and to forget, while I can atone by
my last act.”

“ Can 1 bring that one to you, old man?”

“My God! could you only do so, then my
heart would indeed be glad i"

“ I will do it.”

“ Ahl how rash the promise you make! You
know not what it is on assume to do.”

“I have prom and no man can say that
Charlie Emmett ever broke his word or went
back on a rd in distress.”

“It is w at I have always heard of on, my
young friend; but let me tell you that tween

he one 1 would have you seek and this wild
land in which I am new dying, lies many a long,
weary ride where danger lurks continually
ambush."

“I am a plainsman, old man.”

“ I know it, for who has not heard of Dash-

 

ingdCharlie, the venturesome scout and trusty
l e?

“ But, Charlie I sent six months ago, when I
felt my health failing me, a man true as steel,
to go on this errand for me, and on! one week
gtefnthey found him dead and sea pad on the

es .

“ I know; it was poor Bill Baldy.”

“ Yes, and an old plainsman he was, brave,
lwary and tireless. and yet he failed and was

0st.

“Some two months after I offered a snug
sum to another guide to go on this errand for
me, and he is now a captive among the Co-
manchss.

“I got yet another trusty man to o and
Muello, the Mexican, and his band put  to
death.

"That was three.”

“Yes; but the list does not end there.”

“ More at!” exclaimed Emmett in surprise.

“Yes, t more, for the trail I put them to
follow has been fatal so far to six men.”

_ “It is said that there is luck in odd num-
bers so I volunteer as Number Seven, pardl”

“ Do you dare do it?” was the eager reply. .

“I do dare, certainly. That is my way, you
see!” and Charlie smiled.

“ I have told you the terrible risks to run.”

“ I perfectly understand, pard.”

“ It has been a fatal trail to five men, per-
haps to six, for the sixth is a prisoner to the

Comanches. ,

“But, yet more: it is known that I wish to
send for some one to come here and see me be-
fore I die. ,

“It is also known that I have struck it rich
here in New Mexico, and have hidden away a
handsome fortune in yellow metaL”

“ I have heard as much."

“ Now, if I die, some men that I know hope to
fit my hard-earned fortune, either b forcing
0 secret from me erel die, or by ding

after I am d ”
“ The must be disappointed; that is all."
“ Andyyou volunteer to thwart them!"

“ I do. just the pardl”

" Well, I have eard much of you, Dashing
.Charlie, and they tell wonderful stories of how
you, when a boy of thirteen tracked your
uncle, a plainsman, from your home, where he
went on a visit to your people, to the for 00“-

try far up the Mission 1 Riu r, and that you did

it alone, passing through dangers most deadly

I Fall hardships that a man would have shrunk
rom.

“ I heard it all, and more: how you have
rendered distinguished service as guide. scout
and Indian-fighter.

“Nko, what brought you here to the mines
of New Mexico I do not know; but it was kind
of you to offer to take care of. me in your turn
along with the other boys, and plucky of you to
volunteer to do what other men have lost their
lives in attempting.

“ Do you still mean what you said?”

it I du-H

“ And will make the venture?”

” Why not?”

“Well, just because no man in the mines is
willing to take the chances—that is why.”

“I’ll take all chances.”

“ Against Indians, outlaws, and all else?”

“Against all that I may have to face, be it
I a cohortof imps.”

, “I have oti‘ered any man a horse, saddle,
f bridle ani border outfit complete, with five hun-
, dred dollars in cash if he will do the work.”

“I’ll go for the money alone, for I have a
com )lete outfit.”

“ ' ‘hen I'll make it one thousand in cash.”

“ Good! what am I to do?”

“When can you start?"

“ Within five minutes.”

“That is business; so I too will lose no time
‘ in telling you just what I wish you to do.

“ Come nearer, for I do not care to speak
aloud, as who knows but that some one is watch-
ing us now?”

“ I’ll see.”

With this, the man known as Dashing Charlie
stepped quickly to the door of the cabin, threw
it open, and sprung out into the darkness.

Instantly followed the sound of tramping
feet, a loud cry to halt, and a shot.

A moment after Dashing Charlie returned:

” There was some one there?”

“Sass, with his ear to the crack at the win-

“ You killed him?”

“Oh, no, I did not care to do that; but as he
would not halt I winged him, or in other words
broke his arm, for the moonlight revealed him
distinctly.”

“ Is he there?”

“ Oh, no, he kept on running.”

“Then how do you know you broke his arml”

“I fired at his left arm and 1 never miss,”
was the confident reply of the scout.

CHAPTER II.
DASHING CHARLIE.

FOB some minutes after the oung man re-
turned to the cabin, and made t e remark that
he never missed his aim, the two sat together
in silence.

The scene was a log cabin situated in a val-
ley of New Mexico, in the mining countr .

t was under the shadow of a mounts n, and
its back stood against a clifl.’ in a thicket of
pines, while a swiftly—flowin stream wound
along a few paces in front of t 9 door.

It was a stoutly-built, large cabin, with sev-
eral bunk beds in it, a table, some chairs,
shelves, and a rude clothes press, evidently
home-made.

A large fireplace was in the rear and a fire
of lo a was blazing upon the hearth, giving the
onl fight within, or t was night.

he two occupants of the cabin were seated
before the hearth, one in a rustic easy-chair,
the other upon a bench.

The former was a man of fine resence, with
long iron-gray beard, and hair hat hung in
waving waves down to his belt.

He was dressed in the woolen shirt, buckskin
leggin s and to boots of a miner, while about
hisw stwashsbeltofarms.

 

 

had been that of an athlete, though
emaciated now from long illness.

The other occupant of the cabin stood six
feet high, was slender upright as a soldier and
possessed good broad shoulders, a massive chest
and muscular limbs.

His eyes were blue and piercing, his hair
almost golden and worn long, while his face was
beardleu, bronzed to the bus of a Mexican’s,
and bold, fearless and determined.

He was dressed in buckskin 1 age top-
boots, a silk huntin -shirt, and a jac st of vel-
ve while upon head was a grammme
wit broad brim and encircled by a d made
of silver quarters. .

He had in his belt two revolvers and a bowie
wore a red-silk sash with knotted ends, and
swun to a hook upon his left shoulder was a
coil lariat. '

The old man was known as Matt Markham,
the Miner of Good Luck Canyon, and for years
he had been steadily digging out gold from the
mines and hiding t away, it was said, until he
had a a e fortune.

He had been ogged—watched b day and
night—and his cabin attacked by out aws, all to
discover his gold or force from him the secret of
. where it was hidden: but all to no avail, for so
‘surelyas anyman had alonestartsdtoambush

 

His face was a noble one, and his phytsique lie?’
was

 

the old miner, that certain was Matt Markham
to call in his neighbors to attend a burial at his
expense, for, as he was wont to say also. he fur-
nisth the remains.

If attacked by a band of outlaws, he stood
them off until help came at the sound of the
firing, and thus it went on until the old miner
was dreaded as a terror by all evil-dt ers.

But his had been a wild, adventurous life, and
he had been severely wounded, all of which went '
toward undermining his health, until at last he
broke almost down, and it was said that he had
consumption.

But the old miner held on to life most brave-
ly, and not until he became vury weak did he

ic-ld and allow one of the men from the neigh- ‘
boring mines to stay with him at night in his
lonely cal in.

One night a young man had volunteered for
the duty who had not been long in the mines.

He was known as an Indian-fighter and guide
from the Northern country, and had come to
New Mexico, he said, to try his hand at gold-
digging. ,

He had given his name as Charlie Emmett,
and he was scarcely twenty-one years of age;
but it soon leaked out that he had won fame on
the Northern trails as Dashing Charlie, and
many a strange and wonderful story was told of
the desperate life he had led, his daring deeds
and escapes from death, u lviwh caused men to
saylthat he bore a charmed' 1 in.

e had lived among the red-skins for years,
as a captive, and fought them afterward with a
courage that was never daunted, and until he
became known as the “White Scalp-taker of
the Plains.”

As guide and scout he had led military expe-
ditions into the furthest recesses and most se-
cret haunts of the Sioux, and it was said that
he had a frame of iron, an eye that never
quailed and a nerve that nothing could shake,
while as a horseman he had no superior, and as
a shot his aim was mast sure and sudden death
to a foe. ‘

Such was the man who had,'while seated in
camp one night when the discussion had come
n as to who was to go up and care for .Matt
lifarkham for the next two days and nights,
volunteered to become nurse himself and go up
at once and relieve the man then on duty
there.

Often before, in seeing his cabin, Dashing
Charlie had left m some game, or a fine
string of fish, and in other wa remembered
him, so that when he appea at the lonely
cabin, situated far from any of the others in
the valley, Matt Markham had iven him a
kind] welcome, and the two quickly
talk themselves into a friendship for eac
other that was sincere with both of them.

Thus it was, the first night of his ate. there,
occurred the conversation that opens th s story,
when Dashing Charlie volunteered to go upon
a trail for Matt Markham which had alread

roven fatal to those who had started upon t

ore.

 

CHAPTER III.
m mnna’s s'ronr.

Tnl old miner’s face brightened with the
thought that he was to hava another chance to
send some one on the mission he had before
met with such ill-fortune in attempting through
others.

He seemed to feel, as he looked into the face
of Dashin Charlie Emmett, that he beheld one
who woul dare every danger and conquer suc-

cess.

“ Well, my young friend, I have something to
tell you which will cause me to unfold a bi of
past history.

“ I feel that I can trust you, and I have that
to sayetihat briin 'up w memories I have
suite great rom ng.

“ ’Will you n to my story, friend Char-
“ To all on care to make known to me, Pard
Markham. .

The old miner was silent for some minutes, as

though dwelling in the far bygone.

b said:
gflttgtsae to you that I came of a

family in V nia, and there was never a shad-
ow crossed t e threshold of our home until a
woman’s love came between my brother and
if.

m 3%, Dick Markham and I, were attending
school ether, and we were_as devoted to eac
other as rothers could well be.
' “I was the older and he looked up to me in
man thin .

“ nt atg'last came between us the one who

our lives. .

“ It was at a grand old country home where a
party of a score of oaths and maidens had been
nvited to spend t eChristmas days of enjoy-
m

ant. .

“ The mansion had some fifty rooms in it, was
situated in the midst of a beautiful country and
surrounded b thousands of acres.

“ Rides ves, hunts and fishing excursions
formed t o amusement without, with games,
dancing and flirting within doors. ,

“ The heiress to this home was a youngbgifl of
sixteen, as lovely as maiden could well and

‘ _

f

 

 

w_  Charlié’stoiibl‘e.

3

 

 

though there were many others there, she was
the helle, the beauty, and won all the youths to
love her

“ My brother, Dick Markham, and myself fell
desperately in love with her, but she treated us
both alike, and yet we became rivals. and for
the first time in our lives a shadow came be-
twe: n u=.

“ 'l‘m night after Christmas we were all
1: Wu kenvd by the loud cries of fire, ringing
tnrough the house.

“ The mansion was in flames and burning like
a barn, for it was a wooden structure.

“The young men occupied one wing of the
house and escaped readily, but the young girls
were on the floor above and their rooms were
scattered.

“ When we had all met on the grounds it was
discovered that Beatrice Gibbs was not among
the others. '

“ Her room was at the extreme end of the
south wing, a cozy little chamber which she
oc<~upied alone.

“ At once the cry arose that she was still
sleeping and so must perish, and away darted
my brother into the burning mansion, unheed-
ing the cries of warning to recall him.

“ i also started, but the hot flames drove me
back and nearly suffocated me, for I had to be
dra ged away by others.

“I must have become unconscious, for I re-
membered nothing until a loud shout arose, and
thereI beheld Dick upon the roof, having passed
up through a trap, and in his arms he held
Beatrice Gibbs.

“ He made his way along on the dizzy height
to the end of the wing, where ladders were
placed by willing hands, and down it he came to
the round in safety.

“ eatrice was unhurt, but poor Dick had
passed through flames to reach her and his face
and hands were badly burned, and many sup-

,d that he would not live.

“ But he did live, and more, Beatrice became
his promised Wife, all scarred though his face
and hands were.

“ I became almost a madman when I knew
that I had lost the maiden I loved, and the feel-
ings of Cain filled my heart.

‘ I brooded over my lost love and my brother’s
fortune until I hated him with all the venom of
my nature, and at last it came to me to et rid
of him, for if he was dead Beatrice wo d love

me.

.“ The opportunity offered at last in a shooting
tournament, when, as though by accident, my
rifle went OR and the bullet pierced the breast

of m brother.
“ ut many resent swore that it was not an
accident, that had done it on purpose, and as

it was known that I never spoke to Dick now,
that we were rivals, I was arrested and thrown
into jail. ,

“ My brother, it was said, could not live, and
the people were so infuriated against me, that
the formed a plot to take me by night from the
jailyand hang me.

“ The jailer was warned by Beatrice and two
men Who rode up and told him to intrust me to
their keeping, and so prevent my being banged
by a mob.

“ In his alarm he did so, and once free of the
town Beatrice said to me:

“ ‘ Matthew Markham, you are a free man.

“ ‘ It is your ,brotber’s wish and mine, so go
your way.

‘ Here is a horse for you, and money sent by

our father, so fly for your life, for on will be

nged by the mob, and if not, sho cl Dick die
just ce will bring you to the gallows.

“ ‘ Now 0?

“ Young pard, I did fly for my life, and made

my escape.

‘ I became a wanderer, but though my brother
ct well after lon months of suffering between

fife and death. I red not return toVi nia.

“I led a wild life, for I heard that e had
married Beatrice Gibbs, and that made a des-
perate man of me.

“ At last I bad news from home, of how my
brother had lost his fortune, by lndorsing notes
for others, and with all he could save from
3e wreck had gone to Texas and turned ran-

are.

“A child a little girl, blemed the union of
the two, and Beatrice at in: took ill and died.

“ But before her strength left her she wrote
me a letter, which was sealed and sent to my
addrem, which I had you at Fort Kearney.

“This letter con that which cut deep
into my heart. ,

“ It told me that she had loved me, not my
brother Richard, but when he became red

for lifet h saving her from the burning
gamma, she data-mined, from gratitude,
to

arry him.

“She begged me to reform my evil life, to
seek m brother and I would find a welcome
andto ove her child as once I had told her I
loved her.

“Such was the letter—I have it here—but I
did not obey its summons then, and that was
ten earsago. I

“ ow, with the band of death upon me, I
have determined upon what I shall do. It is a
duty I owe to the iving and to the dead, and

 

you, my young friend, I feel will be the instru-
ment to enable me to carry out my resolva, for
you have promised, have you not?’
“I have and there is my hand upon it, old
man, thatI will keep my pledge, be the dan-
ers to face what they may ” and Dashing
harlie extended his hand to the old miner in a
way that proved that death"alcne should cause
him to break his pledge.

CHAPTER IV.
THE mssxoa‘.

THE manner of Dashing Charlie inspired old
Miner Markham with confidence.

He was not really an old man, having just
crossed the threshold of fifty years; but his dis-
sipated early life, the hardships and sufferings
he had known, had aged him before hi" proper
time.

Dashing Charlie had listened to the old man’s
confession of his wrong-doing with a great deal
of interest. I

If he had sinned, he had suffered deeply. for
it. .
Now, if he could aid him to atone for the past,
he would gladly do so.

“There is one thing I forgot to refer to, in
speaking of th ove of my brother and myself
for beautiful Beatrice Gibbs, and that is of the
cause of the burning of the mansion.

“ It.‘ was not known then how it caught on
fire; but afterward, in a drunken carousal, an-
other lover of Beatrice,.a youth who hated m
brother and myself, hinted that he could teIi
who set it on fire.

“ In fact, he hinted that he had done so, hop-
ing to destroy her for the refusal of his love, and
perhaps my rother and myself also.

“ As there was an old servant and a negro
boy burned to death in the house, this made him
a murderer, and he would have been severely
dealt with had not hisamother otten word of
his confession while under the in uence of liquor
and made him seek safety in flight.

“ Now, his name was Robert Brackett, and I
am convinced that the man in these mines. a
drunken miner known as Racket Rob, is none
other than the youth I then knew, and who set
Bainbridge Hall on fire.

“ This man, Racket Rob, has followed me
closely for years, or has seemed to do so, and is
one who is most anxious re rding the treasure
I have hidden away, while believe that several
times he has been the unknown foe who has at-
tempted my life.

“ n fact, Dashing Charlie, keep our eye on
him, for I do not believe he is the dyrunkard all
suppose him to be, and, really, be may play the
part of a drunken sot for a purpose.”

“ I know him, and will keep an eye upon him,
old pard; but now what is it you wish me to
do? said Dashing Charlie.

“Just thil: goto Texas, to the ranch of my
brother Dick, and tell him that I am dying and
wish him to come to me.

"Tell him that I have amassed 9. ve large
fortune in gold, and eve ounce of it is dden
away in the mountains ere, in a spot known
only to myself.

“ That fortune I intend to give to his daugh-
ter, to the child of Beatrice, and he must come
here and get it—must come to be with me in in
dying hours, to show that he has forgiven men
the past, and will clasp my hand in brotherly
love once more.

“ The others whom I have sent, and who have ,

gone to their doom, have not known my secret
as you do for I have not told it to them.

“ They have only been told to go and bring
my brother here to see me die.

“ You know the truth as it is, and you can so
tell him.

“ You can tell him that I have confessed all
to on, and that Beatrice is to be my heiress,
an it will be to a fortune well worth having.

“ When my brother comes I will tell him all,
and have on do him to the lace."

“But a on] you die before e arrives, for it
is well to look death squarely in the facet" said
Dashing Charlie. '

“ Yes, and I thank you for the suggestion.

“ Yes, that must be faced squarely, and so I
will tell you thatl have here a secret hiding-

lace in this cabin—it is the flat rock in the
gearth there upon which the fire is built.

“ Beneath it, a couple of feet in depth, is an-
other rock, and it covers a small hole in which
you will and a map of the hiding-place of my
treasure, and all particulars.

“ Do you understand!”

"Perfectly, old Lard.”

“ Well, you br g my brother Dick here to
m?.si“‘l.."..“.‘i° 

u s ve pa-ed awa then ou
know where to find the map and pzpers giving
a full description of all my riches and where to
find the l .”

It 

“It is my wish, should I still be alive when
you return, that you remain with me until the
end comes.

“ Will ]you do this?”

It I w“ W

“ You  not regret it, my young friend, I
a-ure you.”
“ I will remain unto the end."

i
y

 

“ And I desire to be buried here in the center
of my cabin.”

“ In your cabin?”

“ Yes, take up eight feet by four of the board
flooring, just in the center of the cabin, and
there dig my grave. -

“ I wish it dug just six feet deep, and when it
is filled in, smooth over the dirt and set my
cabin on fire, with my tools, furniture, and all
there is in it."

“ This is is a strange request, old pard.”

“ It is what I desire nevertheless. and when a
heap of as’ies alone marks the spot wuere I have
lived, died and been buried, my soul will rest in

ace."

“It shall be as you say, sir.” -

“I feel that you will carry out my instruc-

‘ tions fully, Dashing Charlie.”

“ I certainly will, sir.”

“ Nothing must stand in the way of my last
wishes being fulfilled.

“ But now you know what you are to do?"

“ Everything.”

“ And will start to-night?"

“ I do not wish to have you alone here. "

“ It will be better, for you can get a couple of
days’ start before your intention is known.
hence” you can not hit those who would pre-
vent.

“True, and as I have my horse and outfit
here with me, I can leave at once, and until
some one comes up from the camp to relieve
me, it will not be known that I have gone.”

“ That will be the way to win success, for then
no one can ambush you,” responded the old
miner, and half an hour after he wrung the
young scout’s hand hard as he bade him fare-
well and started upon his dangerous mission.

CHAPTER V.
DASBING CHARLIE TAKES rm: raAIL.

I‘Haan was no better mounted or armed man
on the border than was Dashing Carlie Em-
mett.

As he expressed it: " He went loaded for any
game that might come across his path.”

His horse was a roan stallion, vicious as Satan
to all except his master, fleet as a deer and un-
tiring as a bound.

His saddle was a light Mexican tree without
heavy trappings and stirrups, but itlhad saddle-

kets that were capacious, one for clothing,
the other for food.

On one side of the saddle~horn wasa revol-
ver holster, upon the other an ammunition-case.

Then he had an oil-skin coat and leggings, a
l blanket of the same water-pr material,
and a roll containing two woven Mexican
blankets, so that he was ready for any weather
and a long journey at a moment’s notice.

He carried a short repeating-rifle, good at
close and long run e, his belt revolvers, the
large navy-six in e saddle-holster, a bowie-
kni e, hatchet, a lariat and bow and arrows, all
of which he could use dexterously.

When on a long march, and not in a hurry,
Dashing Charlie would walk near] all day or
night, so as to spare his horse, so t t when he
needed good service from the animal he got it.

When he went to the cabin of Matt Markham
to be his nurse for a con is of days, he had gone
ready for a trail, if ca ed 1: n, excepting for
food, and this the miner read' y su plied.

Leaving the cabin he had walk down Good
Luck Canyon, his horse following, until became
toatrail ranching oi! into the mountains to-
ward the north.

Here he sought a good hiding-place for his
horse, and staking him out, returned on foot
toward the mining-camps some five miles from
Markham’s cabin.

There was one cabin perched upon the moun-
tainside to itself, for it was an eighth of a mile
from the cluster of camps, and toward this went
Dash Charlie.

Hedi not approach it by the trail, but flanked
it, and came from the rear. _

A li ht glimmered through certain crevices
in the ogl, and gazin through one of them he
beheld the interior of e cabin.

Two men were there, and one was groaning,
as though in great pain, while the other was
busy with bandages dreming a wound in the
arm of the sufferer.

Droppi down from his cc of observation
51$ up the cabin w , Dashing Charlie

ed around to thedoor and approached with
hea tread while he called out as he did so:
“ o,pard, are ouathome!”
“ Who is there asked a voice from within.
“C’harlie Emmett, pard, and I want to see
you.

The door cautiously opened and Charlie

within.

stelphped

e wounded man was seated at the table. his
arm half bound up, and the other had opened
the door. -

The latterwasaman known in themining-
camps as “ Old Rhubarb,” though he signed
himself as Zekiel Quick, M. D.

He had gene into the mines to dig for gold,
but being a physician found that it paid better
to he his profs-ion, for there was hardly
a ey that he did not have a dozen wound :1
patients to look after, not to speak of tn» cases
of illne- he had to doctor.

 

4,

Dashing Charli

 

“ Ho, Racket Rob, you seem to be in bad
shape, and I am sorry, for I ca=led to ask you to
look after old Miner Markham for me for a
couple of days, as I am going on a hunt.”

The man at first seemed very nervous, when
the scout entered, but his words at once quieted
him and he re lied:

“ Waal, Das ing Charlie, I am in bad shape I
admits, for I dropped my revolver and it went
oil. the bullet tearing through my arm, don’t
"or see.
' I it wasn’t fer that I’d be glad ter give ther
ma man a help of my services. ’

“ Yes, but you need a nurse yourself, and my
advice is for you to keep quiet, for that wound
is an ugly one, isn’t it, Doc i”

“It is, Dashing Charlie. if inflammation and
fever follows; but otherwise it will be all right
in a few weeks.”

“ Well, good-night, pards, and, Rob, I’ll find
some one in the camps to take my place with the
old man.”

With this Dashin Charlie left the cabin, but
not to take the trai down to the camps, as he
had intimated.

Instead, he went around the camps toward

the spot where he had left his horse, while he

muttered to himself after leaving the cabin:

" Just as I supposed from what old Markham
told me, that it was Racket Rob who was
snoo‘pgnfi around.

“ e , I guess he’ll be more careful next
flme.

“ Dro ped his revolver, did he?

“ Wel , [suppose he did. if he had it in his
hand when my bullet struck him.

“I must keep an eye on that same Racket
Rob.”

He found his horse just as he had left him,
and saddling up mounted and rode away on a
trail leading northward. ‘

But the first stream he came to he turned into

i it, and fording down the current held to the

.2

water for nearly an hour. when he rode out and
started down a valley holding northward.

This course he held until dawn, when he went
into camp with the remark: '

“ Now, Comanche, we will go into camp for
a few hours’ rest and breakfast, and if your
namesakes the Comanches capture us, or Muello,
the Mexican, catches us, I will be more than
surprised, for we are not out to be killed or
taken, are we, 01d fellow!”

The horse shook his head knowingly, and soon
after was feeding contentedly wh e the scout
slept the sleep of the just.

 

CHAPTER VI.
a cnasn roa Lira.

in: sun was nearin the horizon someda s
after the departure of ashin Charlie ‘rom t e
cabin of Matt Markham. the iner, ant. m m. s
fell upon a leasant prairie home situated in t 0
Lone Star tatc. '

The house was built of l , as were also the

ious outbuildings near t, yet there was an
of comfort and contentment upon all that the
most luxurious palace could not .

It was a perfect prairie home, situated upon
the banks of a swiftlyflowing stream and in a
park of fine old oak trees.

The prairie across the stream was dotted with
hundreds of cattle, a fine herd of horses, with a

arc] of a score of cowboys grouped here and

e as harden as; driving in their charges
nearer home for the night.

Seated upon the piazza, watching the scene
with considerable interest, though it was by no
means new to them, were two persons.

One wasa man of forty-five or fifty, with a
fine hysique and clad in the garb of a Texas
ranc ero.

Hia- face was badly scarred as were also his
neck and hands, yet withal he was a noble—look-

specimen of manhood, one with a face in
which there was much of kindness and gentle-
nose.

Seated near him was a young girl of sixteen

rhaps, possessing the same deep«blue eyes of

a man, the same golden hair, and in spite of
his scarred face the resemblance between them
dizwed that kindred blood flowed in their
we as.

She wore a buckskin skirt fringed and bead-
ad, a pretty silk blouse waist and a sombrero en-
circled by a old cord. ,

Asilk ass was about her waist, tiny boots

in her feet, and in her hand she held a

g~whip, for she had dismounted but a few

moments before from her horse, which a negro
nad led around to the stables.

" You an that you saw Indian trails over on
the Blue reek bottom, Beatrice?" said her
father, after the maiden had given him a de-
scri tion of her ride.

“ es, father, for they were not the trails of
atra ponies, though the hoofs were unshcd.

“ hen, too, {noticed moccasin-tracks in the
soft round in several places.”

“ know that you— are a glood trailer,
Beatrice, but I hardly think t e red-skins
would venture so near us, after the last recep-
tion we gave them.”

“ I am sure I cannot be mistaken. father.”

" Well, I will send Mustang Waiter and half

if

 

of his men on a scout at once in that derCLiUu,
so call them in, please.”

The maiden arose at this request, revealing a
form perfect in outline and very graceful, and
entering the broad hall of the cabin, soon reap-
peared, bearing in her hand a silver cornet.

IValking to the end of the piazzi overlmking
the stream and the prairie beyomi, she placid
the instrument to her lips and at once l-egan to
blow certain bugle-calls, the notes ringing out
clear, loud and piercing, so as to be heard a
couple of miles away in the stillness of the eve

ning.

Instantly there was a movement among the
cowbo s on the prairie, and while half of them
form in line to drive the cattle in to the bend
of the river, a safe pasturage for the night, the
others came on at a run toward the house.

Across a rustic bridge they thundered, for
the stream was a deep one with steep banks,
and thence on through the gate into the
grounds, where they halted before the piazza.

oiling their broad sombreros litely to
Beatrice Markham as they hal
re larity of soldiers.
hey were a fearless, dashing
men, supers riders, well mounte
ly armed.

Their leader was tall, broad-shouldered and a
handsome, fearless—faced fellow, who had won
fame on the Texas border as a deadly foe and
friend as true as steel.

“ Well, Miss Beatrice, here we are to obey
your call,” he said, in a free-and—essy way
natural to him.

“ Mustang Walter, my daughter has just
come in from a ride over on Blue Creek, and
she reports seeing Indian traces there, so it
would be Well to take a scout over in that direc
tion. I think.”

“ Certainly, sir. for Miss Beatrice is not often
mistaken. though I certainly did n .t ( Xpect any
reds to venture this near to us.

“ We will go at once, and—”

“ 0h, father! sce,therel" suddenly broke in
Beatrice, and she poin'ed far away out over the
prairie.

All gazed at once in the direction indicated
and beheld a horseman coming toward the
ranch at full speed.

He had ridden out of the clump of timber, and
behind him were half a hundred red-skins in
full pursuit.

The horseman halted as they looked, dis
mounted and threw his rifle to his shoulder.

The puffs of smoke were seen as they went
from the muzzle of the repeating-rifle, and three
shots were fired.

A yell broke from the roup of cowboys as
they so" a warrior full rom his horse, while
two iponies went down, hurling their riders
heav y to the ground.

A shower of arrows followed, and the horse-
man was seen to leap into his saddle, and ride
again with all speed toward the ranch.

“Come rile! there is game for us!” cried
Mustang alter, and the c0wboys dashed away
from in front of the piazza, while Mr. Markham
cried to his dau hter:

“ Quick, my c ild, call in the other men with
your bugle! Sound the alarm, for that is a
chase for life that brave fellow is having, and
those Indians we see have others near to aid
them, I am sure.”

And loud and pleading rung the notes of
Beatrice Markham's bugle in answer to her fa-
ther’s ur ent request, for she too realized the
danger o the flying horseman, as well as their
Own, it the gallant cowboys under Mustan
Waiter could not check the charge of the ban
of Comanches rushing headlong down upon the
ranch, and gaining steadily upon the brave man
who was flying for his life.

The imperilled man was Dashing Charlie!

Would the bugle-call to arms save him?
Within sight of his goal, was he to perish and
others with him!

lot of young
and thorough-

_—

CHAPTER VII.
a 32:30 m ran raar.

Rancnnao Manxnau felt a thrill of satis-
faction that he had received at least a few min-
utes’ warning of the comingb danger from
Comanches from the report rought by his
daughter who had seen the traces of red-skins

near.

The bugle-call for Mustang Walter and his
men had sent them between the Indians and the
ranch, when otherwise the on—rushing fee would
have reached there about as soon as could the
cowbo s, and thus have been able to do a great
deal 0 damage were the time of their stay ever
so short.

Having sent Mustang Walter to the rescue of
the pursued horseman Mr. Markham prepared
to lead the other cowboiysto their support as
soon as they should arr ve, and so ordered his
horse, while the half-dozen negro men about the
place also prepared to defend the ranch under
the direction of Beatrice, who was a. real border
girl, full of pluck and spirit. She was a crack-
shot, and perfectly cool in times of trouble and
danger.

Two cowboys had been left to guard the cat-
tle across the narrow neck of the bend, while

7

9’5 Double.

 

 

with the ,

 

the others, eight in number, came on with a
rush to the ranch.

Placing himself at their head, and telling his
daughter to rally and arm all of the servants for
lefense, in case the Indians should haveastill
lar er sup ort in the timber, Mr. Markham
rode rapid y on after Mustang \Valter and his
lime band of always-on hand followers.

A glance showed that the pursued stranger
had dismounted and was running by the side of
his horse, urging him to do his best. I

The Indians were surely gaining, and a rapid
count revealed Sixty in number of the mounted
warrio: s.

The timber from which they had emerged
was quite two miles in their rear, and that cover
might hold more warriors concealed there.

The dismounted horseman at last was seen to
drop down with his horse, disappearing from
si ht in the tall prairie grass, just as a shower
0 arrows had been fired at him.

“ He’s done for, pardsl but we must save his
scalp!” cried Mustang Walter, as he spurred his
mustang forward more rapidly.

" Yas, he’s too game a fellow ter let ther reds
raise his hair,” responded one of the men, and
the ten cowboys with their leader gave vent to
one of their wild war cries as they follovVed their
chief at a more rapid gait.

But, suddenly, there came a shot; then an-
other, and a third.

The puffs of smoke arise from the ground it
seemed, Where the horseman had gone down ; and
as the shots continued, slowly vet steadily, the
Indians were so-en in wave! ; the fierce red riders
appeared to stagger-.1 nd the keen eyes of the
cowboys behel 1 several saddles emptied and
several horsesi .11.

Not a shutcl‘ the new unseen horseman had
failed to find a target either in a human form or
a dumb beasi; I, e stranger, of a trutn, was a
dead shot and n daring man.

Wildly M uS‘wng Walter and his men again
cheered, while lte lndians, feeling that unless
they made a rush 1h: 11‘ ga me WL uld escape them,
prepared for a charge right dowu upon the
dauntless man at bay.

“ N.) v. p ir )8, let our rifles speak as we ride,”
cried Mustang Walter, and with the word the
rifles of the cowboys went to their shoulders and
rapidly rung the shots, making merry yet dead-
ly inusi0.

The lndians were again staggcred; and then,
suddenly. up irom the grass rose the horseman
in their front, his repeating rifle again charged,
and his horse, also, rising, he leaped into the
saddle and boldly lode toward the Conianchesl

The check of the red-skins was complete, but
only for an instant, for wild war-whonps were
heard in their rear and from the timber dashed
a force even larger than that confronting the
dashing c0wboys.

This looked bad for Mustang Walter and his
men, for those in his front now regained cour-
age and began to push forward once more. sure
of sup rt from their friends coming rapidly on
after t em.

But, Mustang Walter did not check his ad-
vance an instant, for he was determined to reach
the brave fellow who yet stood so fearlessly in
the path of his foes.

A lance over his shoulder showed him Mr.
Marlfiiam and eiglht of his men coming on like
the wind. True exans do not count numbers
in a fight for life.

A few more bounds of their horses and Mus-
tan Walter called out:

“ ol pardl Run for usl We will have to
retreat, as there are no more to come.”

“Ay, ay, pardl I am with you as soon as I
give them a farewell!" came back in manly
tones that had not an atom of fear in them.

And then again the deadly repeating-rifle of
Dashing Charlie an to rattle out its leaden
hail, and on! with the last shot did he wheel
his horse an dart away toward Mustang Wal-
ter and his men. .

And not a moment too soon, for the Co-
manches were in easy range now and rushing
on‘lilkgaltornado. f i to

an s, pardl, or your com ng m res-
cue. You saved in scalp. Now fight thgm as
we retreat," cried harlie Emmett, as the read-
er now knows the horseman to be, and he was
reloading his deadly ride as he spoke!

At once Mustang Walter yielded to Dashi
Charlie the command. His orders were obeylelg
_the cowboys retreating after a carefully-aimed
volley had been fired.

The Indians were momentarily checked by the
galling fire, but soon came on once more, while
the band in the rear were fairly flying to their
succor.

The could see that they outnumbered. With
both ands, their foes ten to one, and before
them la a well-stocked ranch, plenty of food
and sea ps by the dozen if they could only be
victorious.

With such a prospect the Comanches were be-
coming desperate, and the cowboys knew they
would have all they could do to hold their own,
with the chances heavily against them of doing

so.

But, on dashed Mr. Markham and his men,
and ere the Indians could reach the four in their
front in a mad rush, and cut them off, the ran-

\

.‘
f
i

1..

 

 

 

._....¥._.

Dashing Charlie’s Double.

 

M

5

 

chero came up and a wild cheer rung out from 1

the lips of all.

A full score of Texans were not to be easily
ridden down; but what could they do with such
odds a ainst them?

Mr.
square was formed and a retreat begun toward
the ranch as soon as a united and deadly-aimed
volley had again checked the advance of the
red-skins.

But the check was only temporary, as the
warriors from the timber were novv near at
hand and it began to look as though the Texans
must die in their tracks, when, suddenly, as the
other body of Comanches dashed up on the run
and joined their comrades, there came unlocked—
for aid from the direction of the ranch.

 

CHAPTER VIII.
A FAIR HEROINE.

THE Comanches with their new doubled and
united force seemed to feel assured of, their prey,
the grim and savage warriors beheld in their
minds' eye a long string of scalps from pale-face
heads, and plunder enough to enrich them, with
hundreds of cattle and ponies to drive back to
their villages with them.

The Markham Ranch was isolated, the nearest
reighbor being miles awai, and the country
thinly settled; therefore t e Comanches were
Well aware that before help could be gathered
from the neighboring ranches it would be dawn,

, and by that time they would be a long way off

on their retreat, with force enough to protect
their rear.

Their retreat amon the fastnesses of the hills
was within a day an night’s slow march, and
the nature of the country would protect them
upon the way.

So it was that the Indians were elated at see-
in success within their very grasp, for they
be ieved that their presence had been unknown,
their coming a surprise, and that no reinforce-
ments for the whites near.

The cowboys seemed to realise just what the
Comanches did, and their faces looked anxious
enough at the thought of what appeared to them
inevitable.

They might retreat to the ranch and make a
stand there, yet the pursuit would be so hot that
they would hardly have time to turn about to
defend the dplace.

If they id manage to stand 03 the Indians
from burning the house itself, and thus save
their lives, and the fair girl, whom they would,
every one of them, give his life to protect, they
could hardl hope to save the out-buildings, the
cattle and t e herd of ponies.

From the ranch they expected no relief. for
there only was Beatrice Markham and seven or
eight negro servants all told, four of the latter
being women. ,

But, as we have stated, Beatrice was a girl of
action and nerve, and she took in the situation
coolly and intelligently.

Turning a spy-glass upon the distant timber
she beheld there a number of Indian horsemen
not visible to the unaided eye, and these would
make an overwhelming force to pit against the
few cowboys under her father.

At once she decided to act upon a plan of her
own and she did it romptly.

“ Ben, ride with al and call in the two
00wa s with the cattle, for they will not stray
far. ‘ell them to bring in with them forty or
fifty ponies, and to come in a hurry.”

Ben darted away upon one of the stable horses,
and then Beatrice turned to the group of negroes
near her.

“Quick, all of youl get some hay and fetch it
here; also some ropes, and I’ll show you what
we will do.”

Rushing into the house, the young girl re-
turned in a short while with her arms full of
clothing, a quantity of which Mr. Markham
ke t on hand for the men.

'Fhis clothing was quickly stuffed with ha ,
sombreros fastened on it, and stake-ropes m e
ready to tie the dummy men thus created upon
the poniemwhen they came.

By the time Beatrice and the servants had
some thirty dummies ready, the two cowboys
rode up with the horses.

“ Quick, boys! there is trouble out upon the
prairie yonder, and we must go to the rescue; so
tie these mock men on the horses. Lively, all of

on .’ .

The cowboys burst into uproarious Ian hter
as they obeyed, and, aided by Beatrice an the
servants, they soon had the horses ready with
their imitation men.

“ Now, Aunt Chloe. you stay and keep house,
foralloftherestofusmustgotomdeaslarge
a show as possible.”

, while

And Beatrice turned to an old n
the other women looked fihast at the thought
of making fl hters out of In.

But Bea ce was in earnest, and the two
women were aided upon the backs of gentle
horses, the negro men and a boy sprung upon
others, and the party was ready.

Beatrice came out of the house with an arm-
ful of weapons for the n , her own rifle

bein slung at her back, and to her belt hung 1

her ugle.

Iarkham at once assumed command. A ‘

E le Cowboy then took a platoon of dummies,
a in! wt running through the hits of each horse'c
brinle. tl‘lli holding them in 11. '. -: ‘v-
m :e in front. with the rest of n» Grinch":-
lievns,” the best of the lot, as far as appearances
w I r.

l‘lacing herself at the head of this remarkable

the prairie.

they looked bona fide enough to intimidate the
Indians.

fight waging, hot and hard, between the small
now united.
possible toward the ranch, fighting the Co~

now, were feeling more and more certain of
their prey.

The defenders were not half a mile away,
and disputing every inch of ground.

“Jusr in time to save them,” cried Beatrice,
as she rode at the head of her remarkable bat-
talion of cowboys, negro men and Women and
“mock men,” and placing her bugle to her lips
she sounded a charge.

It was this shrill and clear bugle-call that had
so surprised the cowboys and startled the red-
skins.

“Bravo! a company of soldiers are coming
to the rescue!” cried Mr. Markham, and the
cowboys regained courage and hope at once, for
they had begun to feel that their cause was a
desperate one, indeed—that they all would have
to ie “ with their boots on,” before many hours
had passed.

 

CHAPTER IX.
ran nnrarar.

Tris: cowboys did not retreat one foot after
seeing that be] was near at hand. They saw,
as they beli- v in the dim light, half a hundred
soldiers coming to their rescue, and with such a
force added to their own, what would they care
for the odds of two to one—the Comanches be-
ing about a hundred and fifty or sixty as they
estimated them.

As for the Indians they did not require to be
halted by the cowboys to come to a standstill,
for they also believed that they saw a company
ot the dread blue-coat rangers coming to the
rescue, and as many more might be flanking, to
get in their rear.

Over the course they had fou ht lay dead and
dying red—skins, and they ha lost heavdy in
ponies until more than a dozen warriors were
dismounted.

These would have to mount behind comrades,
and the dead and dying would have to be pll'lr-
3rd up and carried off, thus hampering their re-

eat.

Even if those in their front were all, they
were strong enough to hold their foes at bay,
and the other ranchers would before long send
out their cowboy fighting forces, so that sure
defeat was upon the Indian band according to
their own reasoning.

With this knowledge they at once began the
retreat, the main force gagged”, while a smaller
one went rapidly on ah to gather up the dead
and dying braves.

Loud rung the bugle-notes as the rescuers
came on, and the cowboys began to press the
redr-tsklns closely, feeling anus-ed of a strong sup-

po .

“Tony, ride ahead with all speed and check
the men. for they really think we have reinforce-
ments, I do believe,’ cried Beatrice, and the
cowboy addressed as Tony darted ahead at full

The cowboys had not esca scathless by
any means, for a number of t em were suffer-
ing from arrow-wounds, two had been killed.
and two-thirds of their horses were rendered
almost useless by their wounds.

As Tony dashed up, however, they were mak-
ing as determined an advance as they could,
{in}: the Indians were in full and rapid re-
rea . -

“I say cap’n, Miss Beatrice says don’t yer go
too far, for we has no force ter back er up."
cried Tony as he drew rein in the midd e of the
part and was greeted With a yell.

" as no force, Tony? Ar’n’t they soldiers?"
demanded Mr. Markham.

“ Npt a photograph of a soldier, cap‘n.”

“ Who t en are t eyl”

f‘ Miss Beatrice is cap’n of the outfit, me and
Dick is lieutenants, and then there is the ni -
gers, women, boy and all except old Aun e
Chloe."

' ‘And the others?” asked Captain Markham
amid a burst of laughter.

“ Is cowboys’ duds stutted with hay and tied
outer ther ponies.”

A burst of terrific laughter came from the
anboys, wounded men and all at this informa-

 

On.
Their dead comrades, their sufl'erings, their
' dangers passed through and the presence of the

l

cavalcade, Beatrice rode out of the yard upon
6

It was just grOwing twilight, which, of
course, was so much the better for the “801- I
diers” she had command of, for at a short dis- j
tance it could not be told what the 7 were. and '

Indians were forgotten, and peal after peel of
laugh'e ‘um’ 3st over the prairie as the men
.‘iifl. 'lri’,‘ Mir slIUdMOu

“Bravo for Miss Dr-‘ntrit‘e the ":‘IN‘I‘ oi err
all!” cried Mustang Walter as ju~t Ihen Beatrice
and her “ outfit” drew near.

She answered the burst of welcome with a
peal on her bugle, and dashing up cried:

“ Oh, father! how happy I am that you have
all escaped.

“ But, did they kill that brave stranger?”

“ No, my child, he is here to speak for himself,
though wounded, I believe; but, I have not yet
had the pleasure of knowing who it is that has

i saved my much, for his coming gave us warn-

Away off upon the prairie they could see the ‘

band of Cowboys and the two bands of red-skins, :

ing just in time," and Captain Markham turned
to the stranger in their midst, who answered:
“ I am known on the Northern border, sir, as

i Charlie Emmett, scout and guide."

The cowboys were retreating as rapidly as 

i
l

manches back as they pressed on. and who. 1

i

 

“ Ah! I have often heard of you, sir! You
are Dishing Charlie! That accounts for that
masterly retri-at before such odds. You did
splendid service, sir!

" My daughter, Mr. Emmett, and these men
are Mustang Walter and his covvhoys."

Dishing Charlie raISed his sombrero politely
to H «trice, and turning to the cowboys ~slid:

“IV: have already become friends. pards, for
I one to you my life. as my horse was too dead
heat to reach the ranch; and I think, miss, we
all Owe to you our present safety.”

“I thought I could make a show of force that
might help, and it seems I fooled you all, too,”
said Beatrice, laughingly.

“ Permit me, sir, to take your daughter’s make-
believe soldiers, and goon after the red-skins,
who must still believe they are pursued.

“ But I will have to b- vrrow a fresh horse from
your outfit, miss,” Dashing Charlie said.

“I will take my unwounded men, and more
of the dummies, and push on, for .you, sir, are
wounded and must return to the ranch with the
captain,” Mustan «Walter remarked, and he
and his men gas upon Dashing C! arlle with
great admiration, for his fame as scout and

ndian-flghter was well kn0wn to them.

“ Yes, that is just it, sir; you must return
with us, while you, Mustang 'alter, can make
a show of pursuit, though do not go too far.”

133mm Markham’s suggestion was at once
ac u n, for Mustang Valter took eight of
his “ gade ” and the best of the “dummies,”
so as to present the appearance of a force over
thirt strong, and pushed on after the now
ra i ly retreating Indians.

he two dead cowboys were thr0wn across the
backs of ponies, and, with the wounded, all
started for the ranch. greatly! the delight of
the negroes, Who were only too g ad to take the
back trail for home. Their terror had been
ludicrously manifest.

CHAPTER X.
nasamo cnanms‘s sronr.

“ As your men are prelt badly used up, sir,
would it not be well to sen a couple of messen-
gers to give the alarm to the other ranchers? for
the Indians should be pressed close to their re-
treat.

 

' So asked Dashing Charlie as the party started i

homeward, and three men were at once die.
patched for fresh horses to spread the alarm
along the line of border ranches, appointing
Captain Markham‘s home as a rallying int.

‘ I thank you for the sungestion, r. Eln-
mett,” said Captain Marklmm as they rode
alon together homeward, the scout upon one
side, Beatrice on the other, and the remainder
followin behind them.

Arriv at the ranch the first cure was taken
of the wounded, and Dashing Charlie having
three arrow-wounds, though they were slight.
was first cared for in spite of his saying they
amounted to nothing.

He then looked to his horse, which had also

been clip several times with arrows, and
rubbing‘t e animal down well he stabled him
cogifo bly and then aided in the care of
at era.

The two dead cowboys were taken to their
quarters and prepared for burial, and the
wourlijded were given pleasant quarters at the
ranc .

The “ guests’ room ” was assigned to Dash
Charlie, and a supper was served all around,
Aunt Chloe having devoted herself to preparing
it, well knowing it would be appreciated.

After supper a courier came from Musta
Walter that the Indians had halted at the foot-
hills. as though to make a fight and“ Captain
Markham said at once that t! e wisdom of
arousing the ranchers was revealed now ftr
they would flank the position and thus deal an-
other blow to the savages.

Then the men n to arrive in twos, threes.
and a few in es of a donen, until by mid-
night half a hundred cowboys from the ranches
had put in an a pearance. -

It was then ecided, as there were plentyol
fresh 'horses on the Markham Ranch, that all
should mount, Captain Markham should he
made captain and a rapid flank movema-nt he

made to cut the Indians off, a few going to the. '

an of Mustang Walter in the front.

. the men mounth animus and M

 

 

 

6 Dashing Charlie’s Double.

 

 

ed oil' at a gallop, pushing their horses hard so
as to strike in the rear of the Indians by dawn.

Dashing Charlie would go alon , though tired
from his long ride from New exico, and all
knew that he was a host in himself.

The horses were not spared and the rear of
the Indian troop was reached just before dawn,
and a complete surprise awaited them for, not
being pressed by a large force they began to
feel their strength and meditate a dash back,
the following night, with a band of picked war-
more.

But, after a short rest the cowboys dashed
into their camps from the rear and their revol—
vers played deadly havoc with the now panic-
stricken red-skins, for Mustang Walter and his
men also pressed forward in the front.

The stampede was complete, hardly a warrior
escaping mounted, so that the dead, wounded
and ponies fell into the hands of the cowboys,
fiaw of whom had been wounded and only two
s am.

“ Thanks to you, Dashing Charlie, We have
given them a lesson they will not soon forget;
put let me add that I think you are a giant in a

ray.’

“ Thank you, Captain Markham, but I (lid no
more than the others, and [congratulate you
upon your success,” was the modest response of
the scout.

Leaving Mustang Walter in command, to
bring the party on home, and the wounded
Indians to be sent after by their comrades, for
one brave had been told to go and report to his
peo le that their companions were not to be
ma eprisoners, Ca tain Markham started home-
ward accompani by Dashing Charlie and a
small escort.

They reached the ranch to a late breakfast,
after which Dashin Charlie sought his room
utterly Worn out an did not put in an appear-
ance a sin until late in the evening.

He ound Captain Markham and Beatrice
seated alone upon the piazza when he came out
of his room, and after greeting him the young
girl went to have his supper prepared.

“ I would not have you called, Mr. Emmett,
for I knew that you were com letely worn out.

“ I trust on are well restedi’

“ Perfect y, sir, I may say, and I needed it,
for 1 am just oi! of a ten days’ trail, the last day
of which was a chase.”

“Indeed! then you had not just struck the
red-skins when we saw you i”

“Oh, no, Captain Markham, for a band of
them had chased me since morning.

“ They had fmsh horses, too, ut, then, m
horse did not care for that and kept well ah

“ As the evening approached I sighted those
in the timber an seeing that they were dis-
covered they stretched out in line to head me
03, and those in in rear did the same. .

“ I broke throng those in my front by taking
a ravine, tired as my horse was, which headed
theta off, and thus gained a lead of a quarter of
a m e.

“ But my poor horse was bad beat, and I saw
:hat the ranch was too far of! for me to reach
15.

“ Then on came to my aid, and you know
the rest aptain Markham, and that I owe to
you and your gallant men my life.”

“ As we owe our lives to you, and that my
home is not in ashes new, for had you not
broken through that Indian line they would
have completely surprised us, though Beatrice
reported seeing Indian signs over on Blue Creek.
and I had ordered Mustang Walter and some of
Us cowboys to go of! on a scout.

“ We owe to you, Dashing Charlie, more than

' we can ever repay.”

“ Yes, indeed we do, sir,” and Beatrice came
out of the house just as her father had spoken
and 2: her frank way held out her hand to the
soon

 

CHAPTER XI.
ran memos suconssrun.

Anna enjoying a hearty su per, Dashing
Charlie accompanied the ranc ero and his
do hter again tothe piazza.

'1' at the scout had come upon any business
with him, Captain Markham had not the re-

idee, so he was surprised to hear him

as -.
"Now, Captain Markham, I wish to make

known to you and your daughter the cause of'

my coming to see you.”
“So your visit was really intended for me,

Mr. Emmett!”
“Yee,‘sir, Icame from New Mexico to see
you.”
“ From New Mexico!”

“Yes, from the mines there where there is
one living who sent me to you.”

“Ah! can you mean my unhappy brother
Mefihewi”
h ‘ t, irhe whom I refer to, Captain Mark-
am. ,

" You know poor Matt then!” sadly said the
rsncbero. ‘

“ He sent me to you, sir.” -
' “Indeed! has he met with any misfortune,
may Ieskt If so I will gladlybe of service to

him.
‘f In fact, Mr. Emmett, it would be a great

A " l .'

 

gratification to me if my brother would come
and make his home with us, for I know that he
has been unfortunate and the world has gone
hard with him, while What feeling was engen—
dered between us in the past on my part has
long since been forgotten.”

“ Such sentiments, Captain Markham, are just
what I expected from you after meeting you,”
said the scout.

“ Indeed, I do wish uncle Matt would come
and live with us, Mr. Emmett, for mamma often
spoke to me of him, and I know that he has had
much sorrow in his life, though just what it all
was I never understood.

“Yes, he must come to our home and we will
make him happy," and Beatrice was most earn-
est in what she said.

“ Well, let me tell you both that Miner Matt
Markham is not in misfortune, nor is he in
want, for he has dug a handsome fortune from
the mines.”

“ Indeed I am glad to hear this, for he de-
serves some recompense in his later years for all
that he has suii’ered,” Captain Markham said
heartily. '

” Yes, Captain Markham, he struck it rich
some years ago, and has annually laid aside, or
gather hidden away, a large amount of gold-

ust.

“No more than for his needs has he disposed
of, and none has been sent away to the banks.

“ All he has dug he has put away in a secret
hiding-place until the amount now foots up to a
his: fortune, as I learn from his Own lips.

“ But what is now his cause of suifering is
that he is ill.”

“ Illl then I must seek him at once.

“I do not know, Mr. Emmett, whether you
know aught of Matt’s life or mine, but—”

“I know all, sir, from his own lips, and he
has not spared himself.”

‘hvgen, it is my duty to seek him now that he
is i .

“It was with the purpose of having you re—
turn with me, sir, that I came.”

“ Can this be possible i”

“ It is, sir.”

“ I will go whenever you are ready to re-
turn.”

“I will say tomorrow then, sir.”

“ You will be able i”

“ Yes, sir.”

“You have had a herd ride of it, and—”

“I feel that, sir; but delays are dangerous,
and the trail is one that needs care in traversing
as you will understand when I tell you that I
am the seventh man whom your brother sent
after you."

“ W hat?”

“It is true.”

“ And the others?”

“ Excepting one who has captive among the
Comanches, the others are all - eed.”

“ You amaze me, Dashing Charlie.”

“ It is but the truth, sir.’

“ But what fatality has attended these men!”

“Your brother is known to have hidden his
fortune, and the messengers, it was also known,
were sent to you.

“Comanches lay between here and there in
great numbers for one th , while a band of
road-agents, known as the ounted Marauders,
are commanded by a chief who sought your bro-
ther’s messengers, h0ping that the bore maps
and papers the secret hi ing-place of
the old. \

“ hus have these men fallen.”

“ While ou escaped?”

“ I was hue fortunate, sir, and I trust I can
guide you back to the mines without mishap.”

“Cannot I go too, father!” asked Beatrice,
Who had been an attentive listener to all that
was said.

“ No, no, my child, the trio is too full of dan-
ger for you; but I will accompany my breve

riend here to my unfortunate brother.

” But to Emmett, when did you
leave him?’

" Ten days ago, sir.”

“ He dwells in a mining-camp!”

“ Yes, sir, though his cabin is apart from the

me, Mr.

lar cam ”
‘ In New exicoi"
“ Yes, sir.”

i

“ What was the nature of his illness!”

“ Consum tion."

“ Poor fel ow, then he is doomed.”

“ I fear there is no hope for him, sir, and that
he will last very long I cannot even believe, and
hence [ hasten you upon the return.”

“ I will be ready to-morrow Mr. Emmett,
and I am under the deepest obligations to you
for coming after me, for I can readily realize
all that on risked to get here.

“I vo unteered to take care of Miner Marin
ham in my turn, as we all do, and somehow he
told me of his early life and how he had longled
to have you come to him and be with him in is
last hours.

“Then I said I would come after you and here
l11am,» that is all there is to it, Captain Mark-

am.

“To hear you confess it in your 1110th way
yes; but there is much more. much more, and I
thank you for coming with all my heart; but I
hope I may yet bring Matt back with me.”

, ii i ’

“ Do not encourage any false hope, sir."

“ Ahl it is bad as that then?

“ Well, to-morrow we start.”

And the morrow found them upon their way
. to the cabin of old Miner Matt Markham.

CHAPTER XII.
MUELLO THE MEXICAN.

IN the reCesses of a mountain range in New
Mexico, through Whil'h ran an Overland Stage
trail to the mines, was a haunt which neither
the soldiers from the forts, the Regulator
Rangers nor the scouts had been able to locate.

It was the retreat of a band of outlaws known
far and wide as “Tue Mounted Marauders,” a
band as merciless as death itself. as cunning as
covotes and whose movements were 4.. .iysteri-
ous as the alleged midnight tramping. - {hosts
and spooks.

These Mounted Marauders were sent to
haunt the trails, dashing in upon a stage, or
travelers on fo t or horseback, and also
occasionally 'muking a raid upon the mining-
cam s.

Splendidly mounted, knovving the country as
thoroughly as the Indians, fearless and utterly
reckless, they were to be dreaded by all law-
abidingr men who had sought a home and fortune
in the far West.

It was said that their leader was a Mexican, a
conspir'itor who had sought an asylum in the
United States to save his neck for his crimes in
his own country.

But, not a son] had ever seen him unmasked,
and though he had issued commands in perfect
Spanish. he also had addressed prisoners in just
as pure English. ,

If there was an accent, foreign to either
tongue, it had not been noticed.

The dress of these Marauders was a peculiar
one, and had gained for them the name of the
“ Black Gold-Hunters.”

The chief, when presented to the reader, is
seated in a camp-chair, which is easy and com-
fortable, though it can be folded up in an in-
stant and strapped to a pack-horse.

His camp equipage is of a like kind, for there
is a canvas cot that also can be folded up, a
folding-table as woll, and an “ A ” tent, with a
few cooking utensils.

The whole outfit could be stored away upon
one horse and not weigh over fifty pounds.

The chief is dressed in black, for he wears a
double- breasted, close-fitting frock coat, of
broadcloth, pants to match stuck in top-boots
comin over his knees, and a sable sombrero.

He a so wears a white shirt that is scrupulous-
ly clean, black gauntlet gloves, and a close iiating
black mask which completely conceals every

 

" fen ture of his face.

His hair is Worn long and is jet-black, and so
he stands wholly unknown except to the few
whom he wishes to behold him as he is.

His form is tall and athletic, and about his
waist is a black be t in which are four revol—
vers, one on either p, one on each side, and he
carries no other weapon; but twenty-four shots
to such a man woul be enough for defense or
offense.

The camp of this chief of the “Gold-Hun—
ters” is at the head of a canyon, and below
him are half a dozen tents similar to his own,
though larger.

These are the quarters of his men, and they
,extend across the canyon some distance below
where the chief is located.

The men are also dressed in black, but weer
jackets instead of frock coats, and they are not
masked.

Between their camps and their chief is a fer-
tile stretch of grass, and a small stream, while

not one of which is an inferior animal, and,
stra e to say, all of them are jet- black

' Beagles, bridles and peck-saddles are ranged

in rews ready for instant use. and there is ever)

indication that the gang can break camp and

be on the march in five minutes’ time.

There are some twenty men visible in the
camp, and among them are Americans, Irish,
negroee, Mexicans. end twoChinamen. 9. met.
ley, dangerous, desperate-looking band, taken
altogether.

As the chief sat in his easy camp-chair, he
was engaged in reading a paper, but looked u
(‘uickly as the sound of hoofs echoed through
t e can on.

He g anced down toward the camps and sew
a horseman appear in sight, dash through the
line of tents and come on toward his quarters.

The man was in the costume of the bend,
and, dismounting as he drew rein, approached
his chief and saluted politely. '

“ Well, Saunders, what news have you i” ask-
ed the chief.

_ “ They are on their way to the mines, Captain
Muello, and are about a day behind me, for I
have ridden hard.”

“ Both you and your horse show that much,
Saunders. But, by what trail do they come?"

“ The northern trail, sir."

“ How many of them?"

“Two, sir—~no more.”

“ The scout, Dashing Charlie, and Ranchers
Markham i”

M Y“. sir.”

 

feeding in the space are half a hundred horses, ,

.umen. .n...-~--..~...‘.kw._... w.“ ,,..

.‘s‘ .
.ye__.-_.__-,e-_. .,

,.‘.
.vus'

 

‘Mw-..’%Mw\v\lv4m u. a. r a”...

. ~ u‘i-nujfl» ,.....».‘-.a..a.

 

Dashing Charlie’s Double. , 7

 

 

The chief stretched his hand out to the table,
took up a bu 1e and gave three sharp blasts.

Instantly t e men in the camp came quickly
toward him, ranging themselves in line as they
halted.

“ Men, I wish to say to you that Saunders re—
ports the coming of those I seek to capture.

“They are coming, he says, by the northern
trail, yet there are two others that they can
take from the river, so I wish three of my best
men to go with all speed to the trails, lie in
ambush, and await the coming of these two,
upon the capture of whom depends so much.

“ The one who sees them pass must make a
flank movement and bring me the news with
all haste, so that I can act.

“If we capture them, then I Will pardon the
two men now under sentence of death for allow-
ing Dashing Charlie to escape from the mining-
camps and not giving me timely notice.

“Remember, these two travelers are to be
taken alive, for their death but carries to the
grave with them the secret I would find out—
which is, where old Miner Matt’s treasure is
hidden, for he sent, I am sure, by Dashing
Charlie, papers and maps showing the hiding-
place of the gold.

“ Do you understand, men?”

“ Ay, ay, chief i" came in a chorus of voices.

“Then to your camps and be ready for the
saddle at an iiistant’s notice.”

The men saluted and departed ; three,
who were the next on duty call, rode away to
lie in ambush for the coming of the victims,
Dashing Charlie and Ranchero Markham by
the northern trail.

When they had gone Captain Muello said in a
self-satisfied manner to himself:

“The chance is at last before me to make a
fortune at one stroke, for once I get possession
of that old miner’s gold then will Muello the
Mexican be heard of no more, not even In; his
men, for not a soul knows to-day who 1 am.”

CHAPTER XIII.
onn anUBAItB MAKES A PROFESSIONAL CALL.

OLD Miner Matt Markham looked greatly re-
lieved after he had hidden farewell to Dashing
Charlie, for he had confidence that his mission
would at last he successfully carried out.

“ I believe the brave fellow will pass through
every danger, and bring my brother to me in
safety.

“ Once I have clasped his hand, and heard
from his own lips that I am forgiven, I will be
content to die.

“ It will be a just atonement for me to give to
his and her child the fortune I have striven so
hard to win.

“ Well, the end is not far away now, for this
cough racks my very‘vitals: but hope will build
me u and I w ll live to see my brother—I must
live t at long!

“I will be content to die only then—content
to lay the cares and sorrows of my sinful life in
the grave.”

So mused the old man as he sat alone in his
cabin before the log fire on the hearth.

After a long reverie he arm, threw aside his
garments and lay down to rest.

The morning found him feeling better by far
than for weeks before. He had rallied under
the hope of soon seeing his brother and closing
up his earthlti accounts.

He arose, rew more logs upon the fire, drew
out some glowing coals and cooked his frugal
breakfast.

A trip to the spring near by for water, and
the ate in of his horse out to fresh pastu e
tired him yond his strength and be spent t e
remainder of the dew resting.

In the afternoon tor Zekiel Quick, better
known as Old Rhubarb, visited him, as was his
wont, once a week: but he said that Dashing'
Charlie had ordered him to call daily for awhile,
and also to find some one to spend the night with
his tient. ,

“ o, Pard Doctor, I don‘t wish any one to
come at night, for I am all ri ht and wish to be
alone—alone with my though .”

“ Rather unpleasant company my thoughts
would be for me. I prefer any other associau,"
declared Old Rhubarb grufliy.

“ Well, mine are far from pleasant, but I
hear them as a unishment, Pard Doc.”

“ Now, I don‘ go nosing round to look up any
pfin’ishmenb for myself—I prefer to dodge it

“Yes, in good hnlth; but there will come a
da , Doctor Quick, when you are brought face
to see with your misdeeds of the , as I am
now, and cannot escape them. T en you will
have to think."

“ Maybe so, but if I can make a fortune here,
I can purchase absolution and live a fairly ood
life on my riches for the remainder of my ays
on earth.

“If I ampoor, then I will be a sinner up to
the end, and my prayer will be to die with my
boots on. '

“ But come, Miner Matt, don’t t blue, for it
will do no good. Cheer up, an let me send
some one to stay nights with you, while that
mysterious fellow, Dashing Charlie, is away.” '

“ No, [prefer to be alone; but I will be glad

 

to have you come each day, and I will pay you i

well for your trouble.”

“Not the slightest fear but you will, pard;
but will Dashing Charlie be back soon?”

“ I do not know.”

“ Has he left the mines?”

“ lie is his own master and can and will dons
he pl 8."

“ Well, I’ll drop in each day, though at what
hour ‘I can‘t say, for I’m pretty busy now, with
gunshot wounds among the fighters, and fevers
all around. That fellow Racket Rob managed
to shoot himself-”

“ What! Racket Rob dead i" asked the miner,
in a startled tone.

“ Oh no, no such luck for his enemies; but be
dropped his revolver and shot himself in the
arm.”

A “ When was this?”

“ Last night."

“ Where?”

“ At his cabin.”

“ You are sure?”

“ Well, he came after me to fix him up, and
it was when I was there that Dashing Charlie
came."

“ Dashing Charlie came to Racket Rob‘s
cabin l"

it Yes.”

“ When was this?"

“ Last night.” '

“ What did he go there for?”

“ Well, he said he was going away, and want-
ed Racket Bob to go up and look after you as
nurse.”

“ He said this?”

“ He did.”

“ Strange, very strange.”

“Then, as he could not go, being wounded, as
I said, he asked me to see you daily and be sure
and have some one to look after you.”

“ Strange, very strange,” again muttered the
old miner, and soon after tue doctor took his
leave muttering to himself:

“ Dashing Charlie had some other motive in
coming to Racket Rob’s cabin than to ask him
to look after the old miner.

"Then, too. Racket Rob did not feel me about
that bullet-wound, for it was no accident; he
never shot himself, for the bullet came from be-
hind and ranged downward, not upward; it ran
through, not up the arm. '

“It’s my Opinion Dashing Charley fired that
shot ° but, then, knowing nothing, I can and
will learn more.

“ Old Matt is going to die, that is certain. It
is only a question of time, perhaps only a few
weeks.”

And while Old Rhubarb was riding back to
the camps, Matthew Markham was wondering
what had taken Dashing Charlie upon so strange
an errand as to ask the man, whom he had con-
fessed to Emmett was his foe, to become his
nurse during his absence!

CHAPTER XIV.
AN UNLOOKED roa RETURN.
THE more Matthew Markham ndered over
the mysterious action of Dashing harlie, in go-

 

ing after Racket Rob, the more he was at a loss-

to understand it.

As night came on be reused himself to get his
supper,_bring a pail of water from the s ring,
itake his horse on a fresh pasture e an pre-
pare to pass the long and dreary nig t alone.

He waited until darkness fell, then threw
heavy logs upon the fire and laid down to rest,
at; sleep if it was possible for slumber to come to

111

Thus an hour had passed when he heard hoof-
falls without.

“ Who can that be!” he asked himself, not a
little anxiously.

After a moment of silence a step approached
the door, and aloud knock followed.

“ Well, who is there!”

“ It is me, old gentleman.

“ I had to come back again."

” Ah! is that ou, Charlie!”

u AH, “y, p .n
“ I’ open the door in a minute,” and the old
miner arose, took down the bar and threw open
the door. -

In strode the tall form of Dashing Charlie,
and he threw himself into a seat in the shadow
with the remark:

:Tl’ie light dazzles my eyes, for I have a head-
ac e.

The miner barred the door again, returned to
his cot and asked, sadly:

“ Well, you have given up the trail?”

“ Oh, no i"

“ What then i”

“ Well you see, old man, I concluded that you
(ti‘uigg’t, to post me more than you have on this

‘?What more can I tell you i"

“ Well, it's dangerous work I can tell you,
and I want to get everything own right, so go
over the whole affair for me again.”

“ You mean my instructions?”

“ Of course, for I do not wish to make any

., mistake. ”

“ Nor do I wish you to, my young friend.”
z Then chin it out again, old man, born A to

. \

 

“ You were to go to Texas.”

“Just so.”

“ To the ranch of my brother in the cattle—
grazing country.”

“ Ex ictly, but I did not write the name down,
or the location of his ranch.”

“ i th iught you had it all in your mind.”

“ l «10 no: Wish to trust my memory.”

“ My brother's name is Richard Markham,
and his home is known as R inger‘s Rest Ranch,
for he was captain of the It ‘ngers for some time,
and it is on the s‘rram the cowboys know as
Dead Man’s Run, from the fact that so many
men have lost their lives in it.”

“ I see.

"‘ I‘ll find him.”

“ Ai ll you are to bring him to me, giving him
the papers I handed you for him, for he will
come.”

The scent started and then said in an embar—
rassed wm :

“The truth is, old pard, I hate to confess to
you why 1 came back.”

“ Out w ith it, my young friend?”

“ Well, [ had my coat thrown over my saddle
and the papers in the breast-pocket. While
crossingr a stream t" is morning out dropped the
big envel/pe, am; hi ion- 1 could rescue it away
it went down the stream and whirled over a
cataract."

“ That is bad.”

" S") I came back to tell you I would fix them
all up fur you again and start anew, this time
being more careful.”

“ No, there is no need of that. Just tell my
bro'her to come back with you, and he will do
it, I know-7.”

“ And the papers?”

“ Well, no one will find the package in the
stream. You can simply tell my brother my
condition and bid him come at once to me.”

“ Butter fix up the papers again for me.”

“ No.”

“ I will do it for you.” .

“ Never mind; only do as I ask you.”

The sctwut looked disappointed and still urged,
until he saw the miner: was growing impatient,
when he said:

“ Will, you know best, old pard, and I'll do
as you say. New, l’ll be off.”

“ One minute, Dashing Charlie?”

“ Well?"

“ Why did you go to the cabin of Racket Bob
to ask him to come here and be my nurse?”

“ Well. I hated to leave you alone, part1.”

“ After my telling you what I heard of Racket
Rob, that I believed him to be my worst
enemy ?”

The man hesitated before he replied:

“ Well, 1 had some one to watch him if he
came, and thus-to catch him if he was up to any

deviltry.”
“ Ah, I see; that was it?”
l‘Ya.”
“I am lad I understand it now, for I was

worrieda utit.”

“Don‘t worry, old man, for I’ll see you
through all right: but, let me tell you that I
lost my money where I did the letter, so must
ask you to help me out, as I shall need funds.”

“hCSrtainly; and you shall have all you

“ Shall I get the gold—dust for you?"

“ No for [have money here in my belt.” and
again t e secutlooked disappointed, as the old
miger took from his belt a roll of bills and
sat :

“ Here are three hundred dollars for expenses'
but, how-much did you lose!”

“ A roll of five hundred.”

“ Well, here are two hundred more to make it
up. Now let me beg of you not to delay upon

your trail.”
“ I’ll make all the I can. Goodnight.”
his hand, and Lu next

The scout extend
moment was one.

The miner c osed the door after him and then
lay down again.

‘ Strange that I should have such a change
of feeling against that young scout; but. some—
how, I do not trust him as I did, and I now al-
most despair of ever seeing my brother.

“ He seemed cold, grasping and unsympa-
thetic this time.

“ Well, I can only pray that all will be well.
I car: only hope, and hope is all that keeps me
up.

 

CHAPTER XV.
an a: A DOUBLE?

OLD Miner Markham passed a restless night,
after the departure of the scout. .

He hardly slept at all, and when the day
dawned found himself feeling much eureebled
and feverish.

In the morning the doctor came and at once
noticed his chan ed condition, for he said:

“This won’t o, Miner Matt, for you have
been worrying about something.”

“The truth is. I have. Doc.”

“ Well, out with it, for perhaps I can help

on.

“ I don‘t think so: but as the scout is now well
on his way, I don‘t mind telling you that he
went on a mission for me.”

 

~..

 

8 ’ Dashing Charlie’s Double.

 

 

“ Who did?”

“ The scout.”

“ Wuat scout?”

“ Dashing Charlie.”

(‘  1”

“ I sent him on a mission of greatest impor-
tance to me.”

“ When?”

“ Last night.”

“ To the camps?”

U  no.”

“ Whore then?"

“ To Texas.”

“ Well, he has not gone.”

“ What?"

“ When was he to leave?”

“ He did leave before nine o’clock last night.”

“ He did nothing of the kind.”

“ What do you mean, Doc?”

“ I mean that I saw him at daybreak.”

“ You did?”

“ I did.”

“ Where?”

“ In the camps.”

“ What was he doing there?”

“ Gambling.”

“ Nonsense, for he told me that he never play-
ed cards.”

“ He lied to you.”

i “ I cannot believe it.”

“ Well he did, for I won several hundreds
from him last night.”

“ You did?”

“ I certainly did.”

“At what time?”

“ About ten o’clock it was, when he came into
Poker Paul’s Den of Destiny at the camps and
said he had money to throw to the birds.

" He had been drinking, and as he bantered
me I layed him for big stakes and won all he
had, guess, for he offered to eput up his watch
and a nu also to continue th game; but I re-
fused, an soon after he left the Den of Destiny
and it was then daylight.” .

“Why he told me he never drank.”

“ He lied again, that is all.”

“ Where is he now?” -

“ Sleeping of! his drunk somewhere, I uess.”

The pained look upon the old miner s face
caused the doctor to see that he had committed
an error in saying what he had, for he saw that
it had made him suffer deeply.

So he hastened to add:

“ Well, Pard- Matt. we all of us have our
faults, and now that Dashing Charlie has gone
dead broke, and must have a head on him as big
as a flour-barrel from drinking rum at Poker
Paul’s Den, he will doubtless be glad to take the
trail and is now off on your mission.”

“ I cannot believe it of him now, Doc, and if
he is broke he can never go on that missiOn.

‘ “ Ah, me! again are my ho s blasted.”

‘of course you are willing to pay for my time?"

“ Yes, ifl took it, and trusted you; but now
I will trust no man.

“ I will simpl wait, feeling that I have done
my dut , and w en I feel death close at hand I
Will cal half a dozen of the best men in the
cam 5 about me and tell them my secret, for
sure y they will not all go wrong, they will not
wrongs d in man.”

Doctor ek e1 Quick was not complimented at
the opinion of the miner regarding him, yet
could say nothing.

So he ave him a soothing powder and prom-
isin to nd out for him whether Dashing Char-
lie ad left camp or not, and re rt the next
day, he took his leave, the old in nor ain re-
fusing to allow any one to remain with him
over night.

i Miner Markham spent another day and night
of suffering. both physical and mental. and
longed for the visit of Old Rhubarb the follow-
ing day, when he Would know whether Dashing
Charlie was still in the camps or not.

. Doctor Quick was a very selfish mortal, and
where his own interests were concerned he never
neglected himself. As the miner would not
trust him With his secret, he was determined to
so ingratiate himself into his favor as to be
chosen one of those selected to look after his
aflairs should he feel that he. was dying and
wish to call them together. .

So his first duty had been to look up Dashing
Charlie all through, the camps.

When he came upon his next visit to the old
miner he saw a change in him, that he could
not but note was for t e worse.

“ If he is goin to collapse I must arrange to
be here alone wit him, for at the last he will
be com lled to trust me,” he muttered.

“Di you see him?” eagerly asked the miner
as the doctor entered his cabin.

“No, he has gone.” .

“ Gone where!” ‘

“ Upon your mission, doubtless, for he mount-

 ied his horse at daybreak and rode out of the

camps."
‘ “ his proxies nothigg.”

“ Well, I question the miners and he was
seen at noon bound on the southern trail." .
. “ Ab! then after all he may have gone.”

“ Yes, but I saw man '
Dashi Charlie’s gamb ng and drinking.”
* “ Vile i”

J

“ Trust me, old pard, and I’ 1 do it for you, for ' to

who were surprised at

 

“ They said they had never seen him play
cards or drink before.”

“ What can have come over him?”

“ Well, I met one man who vowed that Dash-
ing Charlie was dead and that it was his spirit
at the Den night before last.”

“ Nonsense l"

” Of course I think so, as a physician; but
then another miner suggested that Dashing
Charlie had a Double.”

“ A Double?” cried the miner, excitedly.

“ Yes, for he swore that Dashing Charlie
wore no ring, and the man I played with

did, while there were other reasons, he said, ‘

for his belief that the scout has a Double.”

The miner grew very uneasy now, and at last
said excitedly:

“ Tell me more.”

“The Double idea seemed to strike others,

and a number of reasons were given for believ- ,
ing that the man in the Den of Destiny the .

other night was not Dashing Charlie.”

“ What do you think, Pard Doc?"

“ I almost doubt the fact myself, though I did
not know the scout well.”

“ And I do doubt it, for I feel convinced now
that Dashing Charlie is as true as steel and that
he has a Double,” said the old miner, im-
pressively.

CHAPTER XVI.
A REPENTANT FOE.

THE days and nights passed away, and Miner
Matt Markham became gradually weaker and
weaker.

He still kept up hope and courage, though
upon one of the Visits of Doctor Quick he was
told that Dashing Charlie had again been in the
mining-camps.

“ It was in this way,” said the doctor.

“ I went into Poker Paul’s Den of Destiny to
risk a few dollars at cards. ,

“ It was storpiing hard, and very few were

there.

“Then, too, it was Sunday night, and there
are a number of our worst men who will stick
to their early training and keep the Sabbath
Day you know.

“ 0 these, too, were absent.

“ Well, I was playing with Ugly Tom—I
guess you know him, for he is the ugliest man
in the mines-fund had just won his last dollar,
when in came a man all muffled up in a storm-
coat.

“ He glanced about the saloon, walked up to
the bar and took a drink, and then came over to
where I sat.

“ ‘ Will tr you again, Old Rhubarb, for I’ve
been staked, he said.

“ Well, Miner Matt, the man was Dashing
Charlie.”

“ Or his Double,” said the miner, in a low

ne.
“ Double nothing! it was Dashing Charlie
himself.”

“ How do you kn0w?” -

“ Well, I chipped in for the game, and so said
to him that it was thought that he was not
Dashing Charlie, but his Double.

“ He laughed at this and replied that he was
Dashing Charlie and no other person, and he
asked me if I did not recall certain incidents
that had happened between us the few times we
had met.”

“ Did you meet Dashing Charlie or his
Double though, doctor?”

“ I do not now believe in his Double."

"‘You are‘convinced that it was the man
himfelf that you played cards with last night?”

‘ am.

“ Well, I am again in the dark,” was the sad
response of the miner, and a silence fell between
them for some minutes.

The doctor was playing his game skillfully
and with cunning.

He knew that the collapse would come soon,
and yet he did not say a word to warn the
miner. ’ .

He however made a visit to him each night
as well as by day, and he gave him something
to strengthen him meanwhile, for he wished to
be on hand when Matt Markham felt that it
was all ovor with him.

If he was there he would be the one to learn
the secret of the dying miner and he alone,
and that meant benefit to himself.

At last he said:

“Wei, I must be off, Miner Matt, but asI
pass near you each night to visit a man up the
valley, I shall always dro in to see how you
are, either goin or com ng; but then I will
make no charge or such visits.”

“ Oh, es, you Wlu, for I am able to pay you,
and wil ladly do so, though I believe I am
beyond he p now.

‘You have been kind to me, Doc, and I
Hog?” forget you; but tell me, how is Racket

o .

“ Oh, he’s comin around all right, though he
just missed losing h s arm.

“ He often asks about vou.”

“ Does he?" was the indifferent reply.

“ Yes, and seems anxious about you; but I
must be off, and as it is now late in the after-
noon I’ll not dr0p in until morning.”

80 Old Rhubarb left the cabin, and his dying

‘ patient lay in his cot watching the sunlight
s fade from the valley, for the door was open to
let in the balmy breeze.
I “ And so fades my life away, so draw the
. shadows over me,” he murmured.
“What am I to believe?” he Wont on, musing
aloud. “ Can it be that this man seen in the
; cam s is Dashing Charlie, or his Double?
v “ ' ‘hat man Quick could hardly be mistaken,
l I should think, after playing a game of cards
l with him.
1‘ “Yet it seems strange that a man with the
3 face of the one who undertook that mis~ion for
me could be thus guilty of going.r back up n a
I dying man, one who would do much for him if
' he accomplished his work.

“ Ali me! here I am dyin without a friend in
the world, far from kindre and all whom my
actions separated me from.

“ I brought my sorrows upon my own head,
so have no one to blame but myylf.

“ So be it, and if I do not soon arrange in af—
fairs, strangers i ill get my riches instead 0 the
one I intend them for.

“Yes, i must delay no longer, but ask the
doctor to—niorrow just what he thinks, just how
long I have to live.

“ He seems kind and disinterested, and I will
let him select the men into whose keeping I
leave my buried treasure, to be given to my
niece, her child and Dick’s.

“It would be too great a temptation to leave
in the hands of one person, but half a dozen
men, surely would not all go wrong, all fail
me.

And so the man mused while the shadows
deepened in the valley, the sunlight growing
fainter and fainter until the hilltops were alone
gilded with golden rays.

These, too, faded away, and the dying man
made an effort to rise, throw wood upon the
expiring embers on the hearth and close the
door for the night. ,

It was an effort, too, for he was becoming
more and more enfeebled each day.

As he arose from his cot and approached the
door. a form suddenly confronted him.

“ Robert Brackettl” cried the miner, starting
back in an rise and dread.

“ Yes, fiatthew Markham, I am Robert
Brackett, once your foe, now your friend, and,
repenting the past. have come to ask you to
forgive me "and Racket Rob steed with bowed,
uncovered head before the amazed miner.

._...——

CHAPTER XVII.
A CONFESSION or SIN.

WhiLii: Ma't Markham lay musing upon his
cot in the solitude and desolation of his cabin,
an watching the moonlight die out of the val-
ley and the shadows deepen, two men were rid-
ing toward his litile home.

They turned off of the trail following the val-

~ ley and seeking a secluded spot among the bills

there dismounted and tied their horses.

Then they advanced on foot up G00“ LUCk
Can on until they reached a spot Where they
won (1 have to cross in full view before the open
door of the cabin.

Here one of them halted and said:

“I will wait here, so you go on alone. When
the door is closed I will come on and be at hand
ready for your call.” .

The < ther now crossed the space. He was not
seen by the miner, and soon after he entered the
door of ‘he cabin just as the sick man was ad-
vancing to close it. ‘

It was Ra :ket R :b, and as he stood there,
after his new repentant words to Miner Mark-
ham, he looked the picture of humiliation and
regret. '

." You have come here to me, to ask me to for-
give. you, Robert Racket?” cried the "liners
gall]ng sudden stren th by the presence of the
flan who had appear like an appariti0n bewa
i in.

“Yes Matt, my old friend, I have come to
you to humble myself before you; but you are
not strong; you look weak and worn; so no
down there on your cot while .I talk to you.

“Come, the night is growing chill, so I will
throw wood on the fire and 010% the door; then
I can talk to you.

“ We were friends, old paid, in the olden
time, and now that you are ill and suffering it
has made me regzet more bitterly than ever the
cruel past, and I brought me to on.”

The words were kindly uttered, t e tone ntlo
and full of sorrOW. Matt Markham ,yiel ed to
him and lay d0wn upon the lounge.

The left arm of R icket Rob was worn in a
sling, but he threw wood on the fire, soon having
a cheery blaze. and then, closing the door, drew
up a chair and sat near the invalid miner.

" Matt, sitting here by you carries me far
back in ears to the time when you drew me
out of t e creek, when we attended Profeuor
Rinear’s school together.

“It would have been better fu- had you left
me to drown that da , for my life has been
more thin '1 blank; 3 has been full of evil
; thoughts and acts.

' “' But, you risked your life to save mine, and
I I did not believe I could ever forget it. Perhaps
I would never have done so had not a woman

 

 

 

‘L‘

 

  

  

 

 

  

 
 
  

~+°““.

‘ though
goon found) that l was gone, and where I went,”

  

 that beheld in in. heart no enmity against

' his troo of cowboys ready at a minu

I ‘ Charlie the guide, and as the pack-animals car-
- had’nqt

 bush?” .

» ‘taln Markham. so they ‘will. not attempt to
.guird’allof them: but beyond the river there

. ‘ :1:ij

,. .

 

; ~ = ’Dés’hiné canines some;

   

 

 

come between us, for I loved Beatrice Gibbs and
that made a demon of me. I felt that both you
and our brother stood in my way.

“ now wish to make to you a confession, for
I have suffered the torments of the damned in
all those years of watching and waiting.

“I wish to confess to you that it was I who
set the mansion on fire the night your brother
saved Beatrice from the flames.

“I wish to confess that l placed in her room
an open bottle of chloroform, to have her inhale
its‘powers and thus be unable to saw herself,

‘ I tlid the same in your room and Dick’s, in-
ten ng that you, too, should perish.”

“ y God l’ groanezl the miner. I

“ I do not wonder that you are horrified, for
it. was the act of a fiend. ‘

“.Having prepared for the death of the girl, .
whom I hated after her refusal of me, and of
you, my rivals—for I felt that one of you would
win her—l set the. house on fire. .

“ It kindled more rapidly “111i anticipated,
and you escaped before i on were fl'ected by the :
drug, and Beatrice was just dazod enough to
prevent her escape, when your brother Dick res-
cued her. ' I

“ You know the result, and that in my drunk- ‘
causes I said enough to cause me to fly for my .
life, for there were two lives lost in the burning ‘
of the mansion. ., I

“ Well, Matt. old friend. I have been a dissi- l

ated vagabond all these years, a fugitive from .
ustice, and only of late have I come to lmy,
senses and etc ped carousmz. ‘

“I gave up iqlmr, and with a clear mind once
more, it came to me how 1 had wronged you,
and as I saw you ill anl in distress, with no owe
near to aid you, and recasletl that I had been the
cause of all your misery. l determined to come
toyou, old friend. t-nuless my “ivkedness. and
beg you to forgive me if it I- y in your heart to
do so. if it is pos-ible that such a crime as mine
can be forgiven.

“ I we me to you, Matt, to ask if I cannot atone
for my past all that lies in.an power by caring
for you in your illness liy trying to cheer you:
up. to restore you to health. l

“ M v life is hrOken, my dissipation has under— 1
mined my health, and it will no: belong before
i am called to lie upon a bed of death, and so it
is I plead to let me serve you.

" Will you do this for me, Matt, for I am, in
tint state now when life is a curse to me, and
glad would I be to end it, to free myself from its ]
torments; but in serving you, in ministering to *
your wants, I will feel contented at least; so do
not say me nay, Matt. « li pard I"

l

. The man stood quivering before the miner as
he spoke, his whole face ‘writhing wi anguish
and his e es turned the old

leadineg u
invalid as 9 add ' him.

And as the va abond uttered the words, he
dropped upon knees'and stretched out hh
hands appealingly.

“ Don, t say me nay, Miner Matt, or you settle
my doom forever I”

‘ i will not say you no , Robert Brackett, for
I will for ve you; i wil trust you, and thank
Heaven I ave fennd one at last in whom I can
place trust,” said the miner impressively.

‘ . CHAPTER XVIII.
LYING IN annosu.

BACK on the trail from Texas went' Dashing
Charlie Emmett, but not alone. With him was
Captain Dick Markham, most anxious indeed to
meet h brother once morssnd to showhlm.

 

Mingthnmtb that; taken in. three hymen, stud
two 0 e w as -an ma .' or
all to make them emffible on the long trail
had been loaded on the animus—Beatrice
superintending the packing, aided by. old Aunt
0 ice.
During his absence Ceptain Markham ordered
Mustang Walter to kee a Couple of his men
constantly on the scout danger. and :3 have

a call
he needed.

should t a I - .
trail the two’men rode, Dashing

Along t

ried all the extra we ht, their own riding-horses
too muchto . . v
The 'camped late and pushed on soil each
mo nnmoking n‘iong stop in the mi dis-of
the day, I) as to divide the marching time with
three rests. ' " l. y _
All in“ they began to near their destination.
and D telling Charlie
watchful. ‘ x . , _
'“ The are Watching torus, I know, air: for,
evaded them on my way to Texas, they

9 said. .

He had told Ca tain Markham hf thelfatc of
the six‘men who before attempted the mis-
sion, and that the Mounted Marauders would
an relr lie in wait for them. _

“ There are a score of trails to the river, Cap-

ate only three trails, and these they will am-

 

 
 

: “If so how are we to get thmgthnietly'
Wthd’nwwo. ' a ‘  ; ~

mg quiet md 1110” I

. trails with my. wen nearer

“ Well, sir, my plan is to match cunning with
cunning. I believe they will simply place a
lookout near the river to see which trail we

take."

“ Well?”

“ There will be nothing to be gained by Muel-
lo in taking his whole band near the stream, for
by doing so he Will leave the other trails un—
guarded on which he might miss his usual

game

“ What will he do, think you i"

“ Leave a guard on each trail near the river,
and haVe him ride with all haste and report
that we have passed. The trails being winning,
he can see us go by, then reach his horse at some
convenient place and go on to report us."

“ And how can we outwit them i”

“ I have not ye-t fully decided, sir, but we will
do it, mark my words.”

“ l have every faith in your doing so, Em~
mett, and I am in your ban 3, so command me,"
answered the ranchero. ' .

They were now approaching the river, and
(Dishing Charlie became as cautious as an In-

n.,

He did not go by the trail to_ the ford. but
diamonnting,'made a flank movement and came
up the bank' then he moved back'and called
to Captain Markham to advance with the
horses. which he did. The river was forded,
and after some deliberation the scout took the
rigfithand trail, the nearest one to the miner’s
on n.

They rode slowly along, Dashing Charlie
keeping the closest watch upon the trail, until
suddenly be halted.

“ We have been seen by the man on the look-
out, and he has gone on to report that we are
coming by this trail. See, here are his tracks,
where he rode in from the timber, and they
showvthat his horse was at once put at a rapid

ace.

“ that will we do now, Charlie?”

t “.]S'i,mply return to the river and take another
rai . ~ ‘

“ And if thatis guarded!”

'“ Then take the third.”

“And should a watch be kept on that one
also?”

“ Dash back with all speed to 'his one, for
the reports from the other trails will be brought
in than, and the chief will be so confused as to
not know just where to lOok fOr us,”

“ But he may guard each one with a heavy
force." ‘-

“ I do not doubt it. if. he does not lose his

‘head on learning that we are coming by three

1 I. a

“ But if he does ard each trail, I know
about where he will is in ambush, and I know
the countr well enough to flank him.

“ If we 0 happen to run upon them, then we
must fight. that is all; but I have a friend here
who will never let me ride into an ambush.”

“ Who do you mean?” ‘ ‘ '
“M horse.” .
-“ A 2” o

“ l-Ie has Elie inshtinct o: a hound as well as a
horses a ty' escarn sax oe a~longwayoif
and as his sign of'it.” ‘2 4

“Ii}deedi" ' . , i
“ d youmot‘notice how uneasy he got be-
fore we came to the got where that man on
the watch turned into e trail!”

"Yes, he turned hirhesd several times
bit at you.”

“ It was

and

sooner; but I was
sepin my eyes on the trail.” ‘
Firema man nudgilch a horls; g;
e an ' r, can tea , as ‘
harlie, I have no feu- of “will,” sayid the ran-
chero, on y. r ' '

cF'——

f CHAPTER XIX.

m: fi““£3.%“cif‘ “lint ' o.
an! no us 0 on
northern trail.” .. ’ ‘ M ’ , e
80 said one of the three men ssnt‘by Chief
uello, theMexicanJo gngrd the trails branch~
ng of! froni the river and ending-into the min.

ing‘ (muggy at _‘ digs-eat pant-.1

n e nor em on as f' asked the
outlaw chief, rising fromth y
he had been} taking a siesta after a heartydin-

.“ Yes, chief.” ' ‘
“ How aI'nany,of them!"  ’ ” .

l

“ Two

. “ Who were they!”
“ One was the scout,'Dashin
other was a man-with a sea .
“Thatis the maul seek, for his face isscar-
red b burns, I have heard. 5 . '
“ ow near were thsyltc out” ’ ‘
“They ,passed within th y feet, sir, and I
could hays iariated one of them.” ; "
“ When was this?”
, ‘f This morning early. sir.”
" And you came on‘at full speed?” ' . ,
“ Yes. sir, I did not spare in horse. as you
see. and they were riding slow y, having two

‘ I

i

,paclbanimals.”

! , f - 3 A
“I am sorry owned 1, so not new the
the (or We

hammock, where

4‘

becausehe angry" atm-not’no .
‘lgicingrhis signals of agar y
' usv

Charlie, andthe .
 9’ I

l

squads audpent to thediflerent trails
leader going to the one on which thd scout ans

 

 
 
  

cguld have captured those men where you saw
t em. ‘

“ Easily, chief.”

“ Well, we have several hours before nightfall
yet, so can readily reach the trail and get into
ambush; but I hardly believe they will come on
to—mght, but go lt‘iO camp.”

“ 1 hey doubtless u ill camp, air for they did
not appear to suspect any danger.”

“ No one can ever tell what that Dashing
Charlie suspe cts," growlen the chief, and then
he he placed his hurls to his lips and blew the
call of “ Boots and Saddle.”

In five minutes the camp was broken up and
the men were ready to m Ive. the pack-animals
being loaded and the men mounted.

Just as they rode down the canyon, Muello at
their head, the sound of flying hoofs came to
their ears and into eight dashed a lzorSeman.

He was splendidly mounted, but his horse was
covered with foam and when he drew rem pant-
ed like a h-~nd-run hOuml, -

The chief recognized the man v\hohaai gone
to take his post upon the miudle trail leading
from the river.

“ Well, Sanchez, what new: have you?”

“ They have possen. sailor.” .

“ Who have shed?"

“ The scout, ashing Charlie, and a pard, with
two led horses. '

“ The man with the scout had a badly-Scarred ‘
face that looked as though he had been burned."

“ You Were upon the middle trail 9”

“ Yes, senor.”

“ When was this?"

“ This morning toward noon.”

“ You are-sure i"

“ Yes, Senor, Chief.”

“ And then!”

“ I rode on here with all speed, senor, for see, ‘

my horse is half-dead.”
“ They were still coming?”
“ Yes, senor.”

, “ Fast?"

“ Very slow."

“ How near to them were you i" ,

“ About twenty feet, senor, for I was in a tree
on the side of the trail.” .

“ Well,’ something turned Dashing Charlie
back from the northern trail and he T‘Tul‘ntd
and teak the middle one, so that is the one we
are to guard. ‘

“ Come, men, we ride toward the middle trail,
and be ready for them.”

Away dashed the chief at a gallop, his men
follov'nng, and for several nilss they race along
at the same rapid pace. . \

But suddenly the chief drew rein, and a warn-
ing signal from him sent the men to 00ver.

Then was heard the rapid clatter of hoof!
approaching. and a moment aft“! there‘ came
into view his horse at full speed, the third man

who had been-sent by the chief to watth one of I 

the trails. ‘ ,

The chief rode out of cover into view, and the
coming horseman drew toa quick bait and as» ,
luted while he said hastily:

“They passed on the southern trail Chief, ' 
Mnello, three hours ago.” \ - " _ v
“ Who did!” '

“ sailing Charlie and a comrade, with two
led ck-horses. sir." ‘ ’

“ ho was the man with him?” '
“ i do not know, chief, but his face and'hands

were badly scarred, it seemed from burns." 5

“ Ah! how did you see so well?"
“I was on a cliff that they beneath,
chief and halted to hten their saddle girths.”

short distance and hal "and the chief addressed ‘
the two horsemen who been stationed on the

other trails. ' _ ’ ’ .
'l‘iieaigbeyed, and when, out of ' earshot the

: I ‘

“Now,sir, what kind of horses did ",,

Charlieand the ranchero ride!”
lug C

"'Dash harliewasmounteduponamahi, k

stallion, sir, the ranchero on a black.”
“ And the led horse's!” ' ' V
~ ,“ Onewss a sorrel the other a, bay! '
“ All ri llt “” and raising his vo'ico,
called out the Mexican:
“ Ho Sanchez, optimism-0;” ‘ . ' V‘ ‘
Sanchez rode m and joined in. comrades“
and he was asked the same qutstiun, and his all.
swer was the same.

The third man was thbnhalled up and except ‘ ,

ing that the tworlders were on the animals the
others had seen led, the use was the same '
the roan and the blink
saddles.

cunning. bald same to outwit me. ,.

that as certain, and, shall at once
all," and the force wasquickly div .in “gel!

ninchrro had been seen last. *

,C'HAP‘TEBXX‘. ,~

a Fl‘nflK movement.  ""

'DMiIFGVCBARL‘IB Mum u to know  Whittt \
emu to eli‘cuuivsint't‘he . .,

he was cholith ’DiE
outlaws. * ‘.

 

 

“ Wan. he is comin by one of on three sills, 
. n .

theoutlav ‘ I

,e_

“You two men s back on the trml, for‘a ' I

.5 5;.
Km, . ' .
“ l n

       
  

“.This'is remarkable, and it shows that  2 ‘_ ”’
ing 0' arlie suspects trouble and is playing   l .

  
    
    

w

 

  
    
  

 
  
  
   
  
   
   
  
  
  
  
  
   
    
   
   
   
  
   
    
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
      
   
    
    
 
   
   
  
   
 
   
     
   
    
          

     
      
     
       
    
     
    
         
     
          
         
       
    

 

10

Dashing Charlie’s Double.

 

 

On each trail he had noted the tracks of a
horseman, and it had come in from the timber,
hills or among the rocks at a point not very
far m where the main road left the river.

This was conclusive proof to him that there
had been a watch upon him at each trail, and
that the sentinel had ridden on with all speed to
inform the chief.

Of course he knew that the three reports
would bewilder the outlaws, and the result of it
would be that each trail would be guarded by a
forcefof the band.

Knowing the country as he did, Dashing
Charlie was cognizant of about where the am—
bushers would he placed, though he could not
know, of course, the exact spot.

Having bewildered the chief by letting him
hear that they were coming by three trails,
Dashing Charlie turned quickly back to the
first one and pressed on hard, not sparing the
horses.

He had determined to take the one he had
first started on as it was nearer, and then its
ru ged nature best suited his plans.

e had decided, too, the spot in his mind
where the ambushers would be stationed, and
even if they were a mile from it either way, it
would be the same for the plan he determined
to carry out.

So the horses were rushed back to the river,
turned into the first trail and pushed on at a
rapid pace.

Upon that trail no man would dare go by
night, it was said, on account of the nature of
the way, which was dan erous in the extreme.

On they rode at a gal 0p until darkness' fell,
and then they had reached the wildest part of
the countrg.

“Now, aptain Markham, we have got to
take chances, and big ones. for our lives, but
not against the outlaws,” said Dashing Charlie.

“ How is that, Emmett?”

“ Well, sir, when I escaped the road-agents
On my way to your home, it was by a flank
movement.

“ I had gone over the trail by daylight, and
decided to venture it by night.

“ I did so, and went through in safety, but
the chances are that all of our horses cannot do
the same.”

“ What is to be done, Dashing Charlie?”

“ Well sir, there is a stream there in the hills
which winds around to the one in the mining-
valley; but it has cataracts and other obstacles
in it which will have to be around and
over, and where by daylight the den or is great,
by night it is of course increased ten old.”

“ ginnd we can flank the outlaws by going this
we

‘ We can.” '

“ I am ready.”

“There is another thingi sir, and that is, if A

we do not make it in the sa dle, as a last resort
we can leave our horses and continue on foot."

“ All right, I am with you, go as you

lease.”

“ If we have to desert the horses, I can
forge back after them in a day or two by day-

ig t.

“ Even if we have to sacrifice them, it would
be better than falling into the outlaws hands.”

“ No, I would never desert my horse, Captain
Markham, unless I was sure to get him again.

“ You saw that in each instance his instinct
was shown when we came upon the trails of
those fellows who were watching us?”

“ Yes, it was wonderful.”

“ He would also warn us, by showing that
there were outlaws near should we go on; but
not knowing how many we would have to face,
we could not dash by, or if we did, it might be
at the sacrifice of your life or mine.

“ Now, sir, here we are at the stream.”

They rode down into a torrent that went
foaming alon between the rocky banks.

The guide ed, and the horses were borne of!
their feet and sent swiftly along down the cur-
rent, Dashing Charlie’s eyes seeming fairly to
pierce the gloom ahead.

That he seemed to do so was shown by his sud-

denly Calling out: -
“ Follow uickly to the ri htl”
Captain arkham obey , and as he led the

two horses followin by a lariat, the also came
close upon the bee s of the anima he rode,
thou h the rear one was swept past, and but for
the lfiie would have gone on down.

“’There is a fall not a hundred feet ahead,

“‘ I 1,1,earit;it was a close call for that rear

orse.

“ For all of us, sir, if I had missed my calcu-
lation,” was the cool re ly of the guide. '

“ How in all this dar ness can you see?”

“ I saw above. sir, for I watch the openings in
the trees, as at the falls and cataracts you notice
the trees grow back from the banks, giving us
clear views of the stars.”

“ You are, indeed, taking chances, Charlie.”

“ It is all we can do.” ~

“ Can we not go along the shore!”

“ There is no trail, sir.”

“ Could we not pick our way?"

“ Hardly by daylight, sir, never by night.

“ This stream deep and swift, and Nature
hasdone well for us in giving us at each cata-

/

/

 

ract and fall, a wide, low bank, which enables
us to ride around them.

“ I think we can make it all right; but we
niust give the horses a good rest at each halting-
p ace.”

“ Are there many of these falls and cata-
racts?” '

“ Fully a dozen, Captain Markham, which we
have to ride around in our flank movement.

“ The stream is our only way now, sir, and

there is no retracing our course,” was the re- 1

sponse of Dashing Charlie, and his manner was
calm, his vorce unmoved by the dangers they
had to face.

 

CHAPTER.XXI.
A CLOSE CALL.

THAT the horses felt the strain upon them, in
the swimming and dan er, was sh0wn by the
unw1llingness of all but )ashing Charlie’s well-
trained animal to enter the stream again.

But once more they did so and down the cur-
rent 1hey sWe t, the trees overlapping above
them over the narrow stream, causing a dark-
ness that was intense there in that wild gorge.

Another time the stream widened, the stars
were visible and the guide headed for the shore,
this time on the left bank.

They reached it more readily than before, and
the ride around the cataract'was a long one of
over half a mile.

Then they came to rug ed, impassable rocks
once more, and so took to t e water again.

So it went on, now and then a close call being
made of being swept by the landing.

Once it was Dashing Charlie himself, then
gzptain Markham, and several times each the
1 horses.

But the guide at last said:

“One more landing is before us and it is the
last, and, I may add,.the most dangerous.

“ Then we stick to the land, and if the way is
too rugged we can leave the horses and go
afoot.”

“ I follow your lead, Dashing Charlie, would
follow it any where,” was the confident response
of the ranchero.

As though conscious that the worst struggle
was before them, the horses hung back from en-
tering the stream again, even the splendid ani-
mal of the ide requiring urging.

It was a ong swim this time, the current was
wilder, the bends in the stream sharper and
more f uent, and at times they were hurled
along wit a terrible s .

At last light began to show in the rifts over-
head, the stream widened the trees were further
back from the shore, and Dashing Charlie called
out sharply:

“ We land on the left bank.

“ Now head for it i”

His own horse was struggling with the swift-
li-flowing current, and swimming toward the
s ore. ~

But the animal ridden by Captain Markham
could make no headway.

“ Throw me the end of the lariats of the led

horses.

“ Quick! or you are lost!” cried Dashing
Charlie.

There were coils in the ranchero’s hands, and
be obeyed.

Charlie caught them skillfully, and then came
the cry:

‘;"Quickl spring from your horse and let him

0

This the ranchero did, gaining momentum
from rising in the saddle to do so.

Away was whirled his horse and the other
two swept around nick, he (1 by Dashing
Charlie, who held the ariats, for his own animal
now had a firm footing.

“ Catch hold of the rear horse and hold for
your lifel

“ I must let the other horse go i” cried Dashing
Charlie.

The ranchero tried to catch at the mane of the
animal as he was being swept away, but missed
it, and succeeded in catching him by the tail.

Then by him swept the other horse after his

own.

But Dashing Charlie urged his own horse
hard, and he reached more solid footing, and
dragged the other animal after him, and which
also gained a foothold. .

Instantly Dashing Charlie threw himself
from his saddle, and his strong grasp was upon
the arm of the ranchero.

“ I have m footin now, thanks to .you,
Charlie,” cri Captain arkham, as he sta ger-
ed ashore, and the fate that he had so bare y es-
caped was shown by a wild, almost human cry
from the two horses as they were hurled intothe
cataract, and that went over the falls not a
hundred feet away.

“ Poor fellows; at better that they should go
than ourselves by far,” said Dashing Charlie.

“ Yes, and i missed sharing their ate only by

the closest of calls.
“You saved my life. Dashin Charlie for
would ve

had I not sprung from my horse,
gone, and had you not ta en the head-lines, it
would have been the same.

“ Yes, that was the closest call of my life, by

lo odds.’ v
I‘l‘gWell, we have two horses left,  as we ‘

\. . ‘
.\ , ,

. y .. ,gw _ r. «P1,.

, will have to walk now, it will make no difler—
; once that you have no saddle.
I “ In fact, I fear we will have to desert the
1 horses; but we will not if it can be possibly
I helped.”

After quite a long rest they started on the
1 way, which was very rugged and unsafe foot-
- in .
i They led the horses and but‘slow progress was
‘ made, as an hour passed and they had gone but
a couple of miles.
1 But by going cautiously they at last managed
to reach the end of the wild canyon and come
out into the valley. ’

“ That saved us ten miles at least, coming by
way of the stream, and we have flanked the
outlaws completely,” said Dashing Charlie, as
they came out into an open space, revealing a
broad valley'before them.

“ Well, that is a triumph indeed,” answered
thecranchero. '

“It is just eleven o’clock, and some three
miles from here is your brother’s cabin.

“ We “ ill,mount now, and a rapid gallop will
warm the horses up after their chilling in the
cold waters. ,

“ You take my saddle and I’ll rig up a
blanket for myself, for I am used to rid ng any
we .

But this Captain Markham wéuld not hear
to, so a blanket was made to serve as his saddle,
and mounting, they rode on across the valley at
a lively pace, a 'distant light here and there
breaking into view to show where was the
home of some miner.

CHAPTER XXII.
GIVEN rm: SLIP.

CHIEF MUELLO, the Mexican, soon had his
men stationed alon the different trails, leading
into the mining val ey.

Each trail ran through a wild country, gener-
ally following ranges and valleys in the moun-
tains, and it was 11 21 these that the outlaws
carried on their law ess work at different times.

Knowing the cOuntry perfectly they could
cross from trail to trail, and by keeping in the
mountains elude all pursuit.

They had no camp that was known other
than a daily or nightly one, the chief preferring
to live in tents the year through and by keeping
a number of extra horses load them with the
baggage of his camp.

.ln t is way he was much harder to find, or
pursue, than had he had a regular retreat or
stronghold, for it was a case of ‘ here to-day and
gone to-morrow ” with him.

When he set his three bands divided u n the
trails, after what his men had said of ashjng
Charlie’s coming by each trail, he had kept
with himself the pack-horses and camp equi-

e.

e had taken 'too the trail upon which the
guide had started. but had branched oi! from to
go back to the first one.

This trail he knew could readily befollowed
by night, the second one not an eas one
to pursue in the darkness, w ile the thi was
most dangerous, except in broad dayli ht.

Thinking that Dashing Charlie, ha ng made
a blind of going the other ways, would stick to
the last one, holding on through the night, he
went on this one himself to lace his ambush.

A good camp .was foun for his men, and
with eight of his best outlaws at his back he sat
down on the trail to await the coming of the
two men whom he so longed to get into his
power.

His men were ordered not to harm the riders
but to kill their horses and-lasso the guide and
the ranchero. They were stationed at
points for the carrying out of this order and
then all bein in readiness there was nothing to
do but to we t. '

Tlhtis they did through the long hours of the

hi

The dawn comin it was decided that the men
hlad camped for t e night and would soon be
a ong. ’

So the outlaws remained in position still.

There had no word come from the other am.
bushers on the next trails and this roved tn“
the two men had not 810118 0 Where.

The trails were some Ii! mile! apart at the
points where the ambluhers were stationed
and entered the mining valley with a stretch of
country between the southern and northern
roads of twent)“five mile“-

the chief began to fee that the victims had in
some way eluded him.

He at once dispatched couriers to the other
two bands, telling them to move alon the trails
back to the river noting well the men t.

His own force was set going and at last came
to when the guide had turned back, for the
tracks were pltimy Visible. Pushing rapidly on
the party came out where the three trails
branched off from the river and the trio of bands
met there.

The compared notes with the result of dis-
oove 111 that Dashing Charlie had taken the
trail be ad originally started upon. I

This they followed at a gallop up to the point
where the guide had turned from the trail.

The tracks showed well that the four horses

 

The day we! PM” 01! toward noon before

 

 

 

 

i  do .w. stave»...—

»'<‘ I newsstanw

Dashing Charlie’s Double.

121

 

 

had entered the stream, and the outlaws stood
aghast, for they well knew the dangers of that
wild torrent.

“‘ He has gone to his death, chief,” said one.

“ Not Dashing Charlie, for he is not a man to
commit suicide.

“ N 0, he knows what he is about, and we
must follow him afoot.

“ Go into camp here, men, and ten of you
folio w me.

They obeyed and the party struggled on over
the rocks.

it was desperately hard work, climbing and
falling, staggering and slipping; but at last they
came to the spot where Dashing Charlie had
made his first landing.

But the shores were a solid rock there and
even the best trailers with the Outlaw captain
could find there no trace of a trail.

“ Well, they have either landed here, or have
ggiief over that fall, that is certain,” said the
c is .

It was no use to struggle on further, but the
chief would not give it up until he had made a
more thorough search.

So they went on to the next landing, and still
no trace was visible from across the stream, and
no man had the temerity to Swim across to ex-
amine more closely.

Bick then to their horses they went, arriving
utterlv worn out and just as darkness fell.

They had then to 0 into camp and await the
dawn, for the chic and all were completely
tagged out by their night’s loss of rest and day
of hard toil.

With the dawn of the following day, Muello,
the Mexican, started for the high mountain
ranges again with his whole outfit.

He had his favorite camping-places, and
thither he went.

“ N ow, men, that follow, Dashing Charlie, has
given us the slip.

“ If he has then the men I have sentenced to
death must die.

“ Now I go to see if he has reached the min-
lug-camps, for if so the fortune has been lost to
us which we have worked so hard to get.”

With this for his men to ponder over, Mnello
mounted his horse, and rode away in the twi-
light to play the spy himself in the mining-
camps.

CHAPTER XXIII.
man LONG YEARS.

I WILL now return to the scene in the cabin of
the dying miner, when Racket Rob threw him-
self upon his knees before Matthew Markham,
and implored him not to drive him from him, to
trust him.

He had wronged the miner bitterly in the

st. and had been his foe still in the mines; but

att Markham could not e otherwise'than
that a man who had sought or veness for his
sins, confessed freel his wrong 0 , would be
sincere, and the has one to trust un er the cir-
stances.

He was peculiarly situated, was the miner.

A verty rich man, with all of his hard-earned
gold hi den away, surrounded by foes who
sought to rob him of it, and in ad ng condition,
it was hard indeed for him to now whom to
trust in these his last moments. .

His mind tortured by the story brought to
him about Dashing Charlie and driven to be
suspicious of every one, he ew not what to

0.

Then, too, he was drawn to Robert Brackett
from the fact that they had been boys together
in the long ago. -

He was in that condition, with the sands of
life running fast away, that he cOuld forgive
his worst foe, when that foe carried his memory
back to the days of childhood, recalling the
scenes and faces of the paste

Could Robert Bracke t fail him again, could
he be treacherous to him, a dying man, especial-

lgwhen he would be so well cared for in a
" u

ancial way, for Matt Markham intended to
peg the man well for his services.

0 it was that he forgave him and expressed
joy in the thought that he had at last found a
man whom he could trust.

“I am he. py now, Robert, for I now know
that if one sent on a nil-ion fails me, you will
be here to carry out my last wishes, my last
commands.”

“ As I would the d ng request of m mother,
Matt, for I, too, am ppy in hgving n for.
given b you. '

“ I w h to atone for the past by doing some
deed of cod for you, so let me stay near you
find 7ten erly care for you as long as you may

ve

“ I will, Robert; but it will not be very long
that I shall trouble you.”

“ Don’t speak so old friend.”

" I mean it for i know it.

“ Let me tell you that I am swiftly slipping
out of life. ‘

“ But let me not delagLn telliiiguyon that I
have made my niece, trice kham, my
heiress.” .

“ Her child!”

“ Yes. Robert, the daughter of our old love,
wh J..‘l my brother Dick won and wedded.

 

“ It was better so, perha s, for he saved her
from the flames that night n—”

“ Don’t speak of that awful night, please,
Matt.”

“ For 've me, I will not again.

“ But eatrice is dead—”

H  a”

“ Oh yes, she died in Texas, where my brother
went and built up a home for himself as a ran-
chero.

“ He dwells there now, he and his little Bea-
trice.

“This is all I know; but I have written my
will leaving all to her, to little Beatrice, and I

'sent one to my brother’s home to ask him to

come to me here, to be with me in my dying
hours.”

“ But will he come?”

“ Heaven only knows if he will get my mes-
sage; but you are here to carry out my wishes.”

“ I will, I will.”

“ To see that Beatrice gets my fortune.”

“ But have you any fortune, iatt, for I never
believed that you had ever dug more than a
living out of your mine?"

“ Oh, yes, much more, much more, for I have
hidden away a very large fortune, or it seems so
to me now.”

“ Some thousands, doubtless?”

“ Many, many thousands.”

“ Indeed i”

“ Y' s, for though I have no way of knowing
the exact amount, I can uess pretty well that it
will be a fortune of near y,or quite two hundred
thousand dollars in gold that I will leave my
niece.

Rackett Rob almost sprung from his chair at
this, and to hide his emotion rose and threw an-
other log of wood upon the fire, while he said in
a quiet way:

“ She deserves it all, for she is her child and
Dick’s, whom I so wrangled.

“ But I had no idea, att, that you had be-
come a man of riches.”

“ Yes, I struck it rich.”

“ gou did indeed, old pard, and I congratulate

ou.

“ Not me, for I can never enjoy a dollar of it,
my friend, only in that I can give it to my
niece.

“ But let me tell you that I wish you to carry
out my glans, should the last moment arrive
and my rather not be here, my memenger hav-

ing gone astray.”

‘ will do a l in my power, Matt.”

“ I feel that, and let me tell you, Robert, for
the sake of our old friendship and of yourself.
for I wish you to become a different man, I
will leave to (you a nice little sum, as much as
ten thousand ollars, to set you square with the
world, and—”

“Oh, Matti”

“ I mean it, for that 'sum will enable you to
lead a diflerent career, to begin life anew.”

“ I will, I will!”

“ You will have to be the executor of my will,
so can take your share out of the gold I leave,
and the balance my mom must have.” -

“She shall, I pied e you in word, Matt, so
now tell me where flnd t is hidden gold-
mine, for—— Ba! who is there?”

A knock resounded at the door of the cabin,
and white and trembling Racket Rob sprung to
his feet, while distinctly came the words:

“ Ho, Pard Markham, open your door, for I
have returned, and come not alone.”

 

CHAPTER .XXIV.
MISSING.

Tn voice that run out she ly in the air,
when the miner call feeb! to now who was
there, was that of Dashing C lie Emmett.

It was after midnight, and the hours that had

were unnoticed by the miner, who had

11 dwelling in the past from the memories re-

called by the coming to him there, in his lonely
home, of Robert Brackett.

He had been soaocustomed to wearing away
the long hours of the night alone, that time had
not been counted.

The miner fairly quivered with excitement at
the sound of the guide’s voice.

What did it mean! Had he really gone on
b s migoge,  weragignwogfi: lthat he was not
a one, i re to vin brou ht
Richard Markhagi with him! 8 8

He had been almost content with his mee
Robert Brackett, and a short while more woul
have divulged the secret he held of his hidden
treasure, for it had come to Matthew Markham
that he was simply hanging on to life from hope
deferred, hope to e(yet accomplish his last act on
earth as he wish .

Now, as he heard that voice, he trembled with
sugnessed feeling and could utter no word.

is tongue clove to the roof of his month.

And there stood Racket Rob the very picture
of despair.

He seemed like one dealt a stunning blow.

His eyes were startin , his form
as with a chill and his ace wasas livid as a

cogase.

e appeared without the power to move and
stood gazing toward the miner-with a pitiful
look upon his face.

 

At last as a tender knock came he sprung
toward the miner and cried:

“ Matt, for God’s sake do not trust that man!

“ It is not Dashing Charlie but his Double 1”

“ Ha! say you so?” cried the miner with sud-
den energy.

“ Yes, it is his Double.”

“ The Double of Dashing Charlie he is, i f he
is alone.”

“ What do you mean!” gasped Racket Rob.

" He is Dashing Charlie himself if he is not
alone.”

“ Who is with him?”

“ Mv brother Dick.”

Racket Rob groaned and staggered back,
while again came a knock and louder than be-
fore followed by the words:

“ Come, old pard, wake up and let us in, for I
am back from Texas and your brother is with
me.”

“ Quick! open the door, Rob, for it is Dashing
Charlie, and he brings my brother with him.

“ Quick! open the door for i have not the
strength.”

R-icket Rob sprung toward the door and
grasped an ax that stood there.

A strange light gleamed in his eyes as he
turned them upon the dying miner and than

upon the door.
But he shook his head, let 0, the handle of the
ex and then s10wl unbarr the door.

The wind blew it open, hiding him behind it,
and in strode Dashing Charlie.

He strode directly toward the cot of the
miner, and as he did so, in through the open door
came Richard Markham.

“ See, my old friend, I am back again and
your brother is with me,” said the scout.

The miner gave a cry of de ht and stretched
forth his bands which Dick arkham at once
grasped while he dropped on his knees by the
side of the cot.

“My poor Matt, you are indeed ill, and glad
am I that I came to you.

“ But I am all wet so you must not touch me,
nor shall I stani so near you " said Richard
Markham in a voice that was full of emotion.

“ I will see to the horses, Captain Markham,
and 13”!) my return we will have some supper,”
said ashing Charlie as he turned to go.

But a cr from Richard Markham caused him
to stop su denly.

" See! he is gasping}! my God! he has a hem-
orrhage,” he said as e saw the red current of
life force its way throu h his lips.

“ I am forgiven, Dic , my brother?” came in
faint tones.

“ All, everything and gladly,” was the an—

swer.

"Thank God! but let me tell you that Be-
atrice, your child, is m heir-en, and one thou-
sand goes to our nob e friend here whom I
doubted and ask forgiveness of him, for he has
a Double.”

“ I a Double!”

“ Yes, he was here after you left, saying that
he had lost the papers I gave him.

“My dying eyes tell me now that it was not
you, but your Double.

“ And Robert Bracket is there—see! he came
tomewitha lieonhis iips,for I seeall now,I
read his false heartas it is--see, he is there be-
hind the door, and but for your comin he would
have known all; I would have trus him with
my secret, for he sought forgiveness of me and
l forgave him, even as you now forgive me,
Dick, my brother.”

The miner spoke with great difficulty, the
blood oozing from between is lips the while.

But his ev word was distinctly heard by
his brother the scout, and Dashing Charlie,
at the mention of Racket Rob’s name, sprung
toward the door.

It was still open, and glancing behind it the
guide saw that there was no one there.

‘APoor fellow! his mind is wandering,” he
sai .

“No, no, he is there! he is there! no! he has
gone, for he fled at sight of you.”

Out of the door bounded Dashing Charlie in
pursuit, while Richard Markham turning again -
{a his brother found him slipping rapidly out of

e.

 

CHAPTER XXV.
TH] DIAD XINIB.

As the scout disap through the 2&1:
door, out into the dar em, he drew it to r
him, and at once sought to accustom his eyes to
the change from the bright light within.

I-Ie listened attentively the while and it seamed
to him that he heard rapidly retreating steps.

He ca ht the on from whence came
2%.” and started 01! like a deer in pur-

But a rapid run of several hundred yards
brought him to a bait, and he listened.

He heard no sound ave t e song of the
wind among the glues and the ripple o a run-
nin stream near y.

“ t is useless to search further now, and I
may be needed up at the cabin.

“Yes, I will go after Old Rhubarb. to seeif
he cannot help the poorman, give him afew
msuonger lease on life to be with his bro-

t

. .

12

Dashing Charlie’s Double.

 

 

So saying Dashing Charlie returned rapidly
to the cabin.

There stood the horses where he had hitched
them, and he was about to stake them out in
the little pastureground near the cabin when
he thought that he would need his own animal
to go after Old Rhubarb, so he once more en-
tered the humble mountain dwelling.

There was no sound in the cabin as he softly
Opened the door save a deep sob from the lips of
a strong man,

There knelt Richard Markham, his arms
grown out over the prostrate form of his bro-

er.

As he heard the step behind him he turned,
arose and said softly;

‘~‘ He has gone.”

H  an

"Yes, he breathed his last five minutes ago. ”

“ It is better so, for he was a great sufferer.”

“ I am sure of it, mentally and physically.”

“ Peace to his memory.”

“ Amen l”

Then the scout stepped forward and gently
folded the hands upon the breast and drew over
the upturned face a blanket.

“Did you see Robert Brackett?” asked Rich-
ard Markham in a whisper.

“ No, I hardly believe he was here.”

“Yes he was, for Matt told me enough to

p e that, and I am sure he was playing some

_ ld game at the last to get the better of my
rather.”
i‘Inonly wish that I_ could have caught him

ere,

“ So do I, for I feel rerengeful toward Robert
 ’

“See! this is his work, and this,” and the

yanchero pointed to his disfigured face and

.9.

‘

hands. . . .
“And then too he tiok human life in setting
that house on fire, sought to let my wife perish
in the flames, as well as poor Matt and myself.
“ Yes, I feel revengeful t0ward Robert Brack-
l1
“ Well, he must steer clear of us while here;
but did your brother tell you aught of his
wishes?”

“ He said that he made my daughter his heir~ 4:

ass, that you knew where to find some papers,
and that his wish was to be buried here in the
center of his cabin, which was then to beset on
fire and burned to the ground.”

“So he told me.”

“ I shall do as he wished.”

“ Oh, yes, it would not be just to him to do
otherwise.

“ Now when shall you bury him i”

“ On the morrow; but now let us seek rest.”

"You must have some supper first, for we
both need food as well as rest.”

The scout then led the horses away and staked
them out, and having prepared some sup er the
two men wra ped themselves in their ankets
to seek a few ours of repose“

The sun was shining brightly when they
awoke, and after cookin breakfast they began
ations for the bu al of the minor.

“ I suppose I must let the miners know, Cap-
tain Markham, for many of them thought a
good deal of your brother.”

" Do in all things as you deem best, Dashing
Charlie.”

“ And ma I ask if your brother told you
about the hi rig-place 0 his treasure?"

" He said when I buried him here in the cabin
the secret would be known.”

“ Well, sir, there will be a large sum. from
what he said tome, enough to load several ck-
niules, and in carrying it to where you des e to
have it, let me say that you will require a ard
of men, half a dozen or more, whom. I ha bet—
ter pick out from among the miners.”

" Certainly, for those outlaws will an rely
make an attack on us.”

" Without doubt, sir.”

“ And you will still be my guide and defender
back to my home, Dashing Charlie!"

“ If you so wish, sir.” I

“ With all my heart I wish it, Emmett, and I
will see that you are well rewarded, though well
‘I know you do not act from any desire for re-
compense.”

“No indeed, sir, for I may as well tell you
now that I am in Government pay, and am here
I a special mission, sent by the commanding
08°33.- at Fort Blank; but this is a secret.”

, “1 shall hold your confidence inviolate, Dash-
ing Charlie. _

‘ But now let me ask you to go to the camps
and make all preparations for mv brother’s
burial, inviting t e miners to attend if you deem
best, and selecting the man you jud e to be the
most fitting ones toact as guards to t is tremre
on the way home, and as many as you think

ri ht.
q‘ Also purchase pack~mules, and do in all
thin as your judgment dictates.
. “ will keep watch here until your return.”
After some further conversation together,
Dashing Charlie went out, mounted his horse
and rode away upon the trail to the mining-
camps, considerably impressed by all that had
tak n place. "

 

:ppgoach the cabin, for he knew not whom to
me .

Hardly had he been gone half an hour when w

a visitor rode up to the miner’s cabin.

CHAPTER XXVI.
Tswanran.

WHEN he beheld Dashing Charlie and the ran-
chero enter Matt Markham’s cabin, Racket Rob
was in mortal terror for his life.

The moment that they passed on toward the
cot where lay the dying man, unseen by them,
he darted out of the door and sprung away in
the do rkness.

At first his legs almost gave way under him,
and he fairly reeled from fright. expecting a
shot in the back from the unerring revolver of
the scout.

But as he got away from the bright light, he
gained courage and ran with increased 3 .

He kept up his ce for some time, until he
heard his name cal ed from behind.

“ Ho, Racket Rob, don’t be a fool!

“ No one is after you but me, and I am not
fleet enough to overtake you.”

Then the man stopped short with the re-
mark : 1"“ -

“ It is you, is it?”

H Yes.”

It was the same man who had gone with him
toward the miner’s cabin some hours before,
and who had said he would want without, to be
on hand if needed.

in his fright the vagabond had forgotten
really that he had a confe crate near.

When Racket Rob, however, had darted out
of the cabin, the oily went away, too, like the
wind, feeling very confident that it would be
safest to make his escape, too,

“ Well. D00. “’8 all up will as howl” parted
Racket Ron. ‘

“.S) I gnawed when i saw those two men
arrive an recognized tine as Dashing Charlie,
curse him.” ,

“ Yes, a thont’dhd curses upon him, for he has
ruined us for life,” hissed Racket Rob.

f‘ What/do you mean?"

“ I mean that we lose a quarter of a million
dollars, that is all.”

“ Not yet, for Providence helps those who help
themselves.”

“ Well, I played my ame to win and won.”

“ You palavered so ong that they came and
headed you off.”

“ What could I do?”

“Get his secret, call me in and let' the end
come quick, then hide thesecret about the mine

. until we could get away with the gold.

“ That was our compact.”

“ I know it Doc.”

“ But you dilly-dallied until you lost all."

“ Not so fast, Doc, for I don’t want to be
blamed when I hain’t done anything.”

{‘That is just it, you have done nothing to
w n.

“ I did; but come, this is no place for us, so
let us get our horses and go to your cabin.”

“ No, we’ll go to yours. ’

“ All right.‘

They were soon mounted and as they rode
alon the vagabond said:

“ficw, I layed my cards well, for I even
wept tears o repentance.

‘ I tell you it was grand, and in acting got a
forgiveness from Matt Markham or me.

“ it took a long time to bring him around, for
I had to go slow, had to be mighty cautious, and
when at last I got him to trust me wholly, I had
it all my way.

“ He was just beginning to talk of his treasure,
and to tell me he wished me to carry out his
last wishes, when that knock came on the door.

“I declare it fairly froze my heart’s blood,
Doc, for I saw in my very grasp nearly a
quarter of a million in money.”

it B“ 1’

“That’s what he said he had in clean yellow
metal.”

“ I don’t believe it.”

“ He was dyin , Doc, and there is an un-
written law whic says a dying man cannot

“ It's a lie to say so, for I know of dying men
who have lied for revenge. to save the honor of
some loved ouefies, for a score of reasons.”

“Well, Matt arkham had no call to lie.”

“ He said he had nearly a quarter of a
million?”

“He did.” .

“Then the more fool you for letting it slip
through our fingers.” ,

“I con d not help it, Doc; but he told me he
would put all in my keeping for his heire.”

“ Who!”

“His niece, who is his brother’s child, and
living in Texas. .

“ It was the brother whom Dashing Charlie
brought with him.”

“ he deuce talze him 2

“Oh! if you had only been quicker in what
'you did.”

“1 did all that I could, and I could have done
no more.

“ When they came I opened the door and

, Before going be warned Captain Markham to I crouched behind it.
keep well on the alert for any visitor that might

 . >. _' i,

“ I saw that Matt Markham suspected me, and

{It came across my mind and into my heart to kill.
im.‘

“ Why did you not do it?” ,

“ in the first place I forgot, when I had the
intention, my wounded arm.

“ It was my wish to kill Matt Markham, then
open the door and let the tw0 men have it as
they came it.

“ But I knew that Dashing Charlie might not
first enter, and that he was as quick as a cat in
his movements.

“My hand was upon the handle of an ax to
do the work, when I knew I was hampered by
my Wounded arm, and I thus shrunk back out
of sight and when they entered darted out of
the door.

“ You kn« .w the rest.”

“ Yes, and a bad rest it i9.”

" I could do no more.” «a -

“No, 1 do not think you could, now I hear all
the §irc"umstances; but did those men see you?”

0.

“Then go to bed when you reach your cabin
and I’ll say you are very ill, that the miner was
raving in delirium in Saying you were there.

_ “ I’ll go to the cabin in he morning, for there
is no suspicion against me. and I’ll plan to get
that fortune yet for us, Rob."

“ I am With you in anything, Doc.”

“ I believe you.

“ W e were thwarted by circumstances beyond
our control, Racket Rob, but we will yet win,
mark my words on it. my pard.”

“ I have faith in you, Don," was t' e answer,
as the two dismounted before the cabin of

Racket hob.

CHAPTER XXV”.
THE TRAITOR oocron.

THE visitor who outerold the cabin of the dead-
miner, Matt Markham, wasnn indivndual known
to the reader, though int i et describe d.

lie wore blue glassvs with gold frames, under
the plea that his 0) es w're weak, and nu one
hall seen him when he was not as Close shaven
as a priest.

His sandy hair was worn long and be load an
ecclesiastical, sanctimonious lol 4: about him that
gave one who could read human nature w eil the
idea that he was a wolf in lamb’s wool.

He dressed in a suit of gray homespun, had
his pants stuck in his boots and under his sack
coat he wore a belt of arms, though no one had
ever gotten a glimpse of them.

A black sombrero with brim pulled down
sheltered his head, and altogether he was an .~
oddvlooking genius.

Such was Doctor Quick, or Old Rhubarb, and
he was coining money out of the miners.

He was an alarmist in all cases where he was .
called in, keeping his patient in bed as long as .

ible. and always made the unfortunate vic-
tim believe he was desperately ill, or wounded, .
as the case might be, and then show that his
great skill alone saved him from death.

But candidly speaking Doctor Quick was a
good surgeon and excellent physician, withal he
was a grand rascal with it.

He went to the cabin of the dead hiiner the ~-
next morning, and was met by Captain Mark-

 

ham.

“ Ah! a stranger here?" he said raising his
eyebrows with pretended surprise. '~

“ 1 am Richard Markham, sir, the brother of
Miner Matt Markham who lies dead there."

“ Dead! my patient dead?”

“ You are his physician. then, sir?”

“ I was, and most deeply attached did I be- 7
come to him.

“ Dead, poor, poor pard.

“This was sudden, very sudden, and unex--
pocted,” and the doctor walked up to the cot, ‘
drew back the blanket and gazed at the face of ‘
the dead man, while in a professional way he
placed his flu or upon the pulse and leant his
ear to listen i there was any fluttering of the

heart.

“It should not be- unexpected to you. Sir, if
you were his physician, for a man will as was
my brother might be expected to die at any
moment.”

“ True, air, but: had 80 hoped he would /
lin er for some 0 1“ ~'

‘gYou see we became the buy 01' friends,” and
the doctor wiped a tear from his eyes.

“ But I must not yield to my emotions. sir, I'
who see death in it! W013? shape every day,

H A110: me. In den 81" to introduce myself.

u 1 3m Zakiel uick, M. D.”

“ I am gladto meet you. Doctor Quick, and to
thank you for your kindness to m brother.

“ These medicines testify how ard you have
tried to relieve his sufferings, and to aid him.

“ But allwasof no avail.”

“ or no avail, air; but may I ask when you

rrived?”
a “ During the night, sir.”

H Well, I am glad you are here, for your bro—l
ther did not trust those about him and said to
min only yesterday:

“ Q'ili‘k. my vary dear friend,’saidbe; ‘Quick,
[am by no means a poor man. and what 1 have
[desire to have to mv niece, who lives in Texas.

“ ‘ I sent a messenger there to her 11. n .r, hut it

 

50031“ has ham)“ 8‘)“. 01' has men killLd, so I.

 

 

 

o a amn......

 

 

.y . as...“-

w.» .4.¢,

Dashissphaeiie’s Double-

 

wish to leave in your hands for my niece, all
that I possess, and you are to see that she gets it.

“ ‘ Pay my burial expenses, my dear pard. and
take out your own account, which at two visits
every twenty~four hours, day and night, for
many months, must be quite a large sum.

“ ‘ But I do not begrudge it to you, Quick, not
I, for you have earned it.

“ ‘ W hen you have taken your money, every
dollar then goes to my niece; but I will tell you
all about it when you come to-morrOw.’

“ So he said, my dear sir, and now I have come
to find him dead.

8‘ lt is so sad, such a blow to me.

“ But are you alone, Mr. Markham?”

“ I came with the guide whom my brother
sent after me, sir.

“ His name is Dashing Charlie. and he has now
gone to the camps to make known to the miners
that my brother is dead.”

“ Ah, indeed,” and Doctor Quick looked dis-
ap inted.

hen he said:

“ I am sorry I did not come back last night,
but I was detained at the bedside of a man
named Racket Rob.

“ A worthless fellow he is, but I never neglect
any one whom I can serve, Mr. Markham, rich
or r.

‘ He got a pistol-shot some time o, and he
has a very high fever, so I could not save him
to return to your brother last night.

“ I am very, very sorry.”

“ Do not reproach yourself, sir, for you could
have been of no service to him, as he was too
far gone.

“ But you say that this man you call Racket
Rob is very ills”

“Yes, sir, the result of fever following a gun-
shot wound, you know.”

“Has he not been away from his cabin of
late?"

“ N ot for days, sir, not for days.”

“ Could it not be possible that he left without
ycur knowledge, Doctor Quick!”

“ N o, my dear air, for he is raving in delirium,
and has a ver high fever.

“ It is a c ance if I pull him through or
not.”

“ Then my poor brother’s mind was wander-
ing, for he said to me that this man Racket Rob
was here last night.

“ He is a man whom we both knew in the ion
ago, and perhaps it is well that he is ill, for I
Waulrl n it wish him to cross my path again."

“ Well. sir, you may look upon him as a man
with a slight chance against death and poor
Matt’s mind was wandering to say that he had
seen him here; it was going back to memories of
the pasi— Oh! here come some of the miners
new,” and a party of miners were seen coming
up the trail to the cabin.

CHAPTER XXVIII.
A DANGEROUS RUMOR.
Tris ranchero glanced out of the cabin door.

 

at the words of the doctor, and behe‘d a crowd

of a dozen or more miners.

The were coming up the trail to the cabin, to
atten the burial of Miner Matt Markham, hav-
ing been notified of his death by Dashing
Charlie.

A great deal of interest attached to the lone
miner’s burial, for he was known to gold
in large quantities, and then all he a desire to
see this stranger who came as his brother. ~

Man felt dee disappointment that there was
any he r to pu m an appearance, for it was
hoped that there would be a game of grab for
the spoils.

But the guide had ridden through the town,
telling the men to assemble at Miner Matt’s
cabin, or those who wished to see him laid in the
grave, and nearly all had at once laid aside their

icks and shovels and started for the isolated
ome in Good Luck Canyon.

Having made a few purchases at the store,
Dashing Charlie started on his way back to the
cabin.

He had meta number of miners Who had seen
this Double of his, and quietly leaned from
them all the information he co (1 regarding

in.

That they believed that it was he whom they
had seen he saw at a lance, and so understood
how much like him h s Double was.

Returning to the cabin, Dashin Charlie found
athered t ere several hund miners, all of
hem discussing very openly Miner Matt’s sud-

den takin ed, the money he had left, and the
arrival of is brother.

That many regarded the ranchero as a fraud
there was no denying.

Some one there was who had gone through
the crowd. making known that the Texan was
not Matt’s brother, and it was furthermore
hinted that Dashing Charlie had not gone to
the Lone Star State after Richard Markham.

It was said that he had been seen in the camps

only a short while before, and so could not have,

gone to Texas.

It was asserted that the talk about Dashing
Charlie having a Double was all nonsense.

That the man seen in the camps, playing
cards at Poker Paul's Den of Destiny, was none
other than Dashing Charlie himself, and that

the claim that he had brought the brother of
Matt M arknam to the cabin was false.
The man he had brought with him was a con-

' summate Il‘aua, one who held no claim upon the

 

property of Matt Markham.

lt was but a plot f or Dashing Charlie and his
confederate to get the miner’s gold.

This ought not to be, and the good miners Of
th 5 community should see to it that there was
no fraud perpetrated.

Who was Dashing Charlie, anyway?

He pretended to be a miner. and yet who had
ever seen him work in a mine?

He had no visible means of livelihood, and this
went far to prove that he was a crook.

Such was the talk about the cabin when Dash-
in Charlie returned.

ho had spread these hints against the guide
no one could exactly tell; but they were seed
sown in geod ground and were not long in bring-
ing forth bitter fruit against Richard Markham
as well as Dashing Charlie.

In that wild community it was a dangerous
thing for any man to be suspected of a crime.

Many there were criminals themselves, and
hence more prone to wish to see others punished
for wrong-doing.

Captain Markham and Old Rhubarb had pre-
pared the body of the dead miner for burial.

He had been dressed in his best suit, his som-
brero placed upon his head, and his pick and
shovel laid by his side.

The miners had come into the cabin with un-
c0vered heads, and gazed upon the calm face of
the dead.

Then they had gone out and asked where his
gold was, and who knew about it.

When Dashing Charlie at last came in sight
he was accompanied by the storekeeper the
blacksmith, landlord of the tavern, Poker Paul,
and several others of the dignitaries of the
camps, all mounted.

It did not take a second glance of Dashing
Charlie’s at the assembled miners to see that
something was going wrong.

He hitched his horse, carried his purchases in-
to the cabin and spoke to Captain Markham in
a low tone.

He had seen angry glances cast upon him as
he came through the crowd and could not under-
stand them.

“ I am back again,ca|ptain. and I got a roll of
heav canvas to wrap t e body in.”

“ hat will do, for I hardly supposed a coffin
could be obtained,” answered the ranchero.

Then the guide said:

“ It seems that something has gone wrong.

“ Do you know what it is?“

“ The doctor here says that the men are great-
ly incensed against you and I.”

“ Indeed! and for what reason?"

" Let the doctor explain ”

“ Out with it, Dec,” and Dashing Charlie

i z

“ Well, it’s all nonsense, of course, Dashing
Charlie, but ou know what a border crowd is
when arou , and they swear that you have not
been to Texas, that you only pretended to go,
and got Mr. Markham here to ’join you in a
fraud to get poor old Matt‘s old. ’

“ Is this true, Quick!" an Dashi Charlie’s
eyes flashed dangerously as he ask the ques-
tion, while he glanced quickly over the crowd,
new under suppressed excitement.

“ It is, Dashing Charlie, all true, for the men
say you could not be here in the camps and in
Texas too, and that Mr. Markham is not Matt
Markham’s brother, only a pal of yours who
pretends to be.”

“ Ah! this is the situation, is it?

“ Well, it must be met face to face and in a
manner that will admit of no dispute," and
Dashing Charlie stepped to the door of the cabin
and faced the now excited crowd of miners.

 

CHAPTER XXIX.
a naao ar BAY.

Tunas was a deathlike silence when Dashing
Charlie faced the crowd of miners standing out-
side the cabin of Matt Markham. ,

it was an impressive scene, for he gased into
the faces of over three thousand men, many of
them desperate characters.

Behind him in the cabin on his cot lay the dead
form of the miner.

There at his side stood the ranchero, with Dr.
Quick in the background.

“ Men,” and Dashing Charlie’s voice was as
clear as bugle-notes—‘ men, I believe that you
all here know me.

“ At least you know that I am called Dashing
Charlie Emmett, that I am a scent and guide,
and came to these camps to pick up an honest

“P%"’d ‘t

' e oesn knowan oodof cu Dash
Charlie,” cried a voice. y g y ’ 'mg
heal! started, and hands dropped upon revolver-

But, instead of showing resentment. Dashing
Charlie asked, with a pineasant smile:

“ Do you know any d of me, Pete Parkerf"

“I does." . {

“ Well, let me say just this to you, that I will
give you a c to prove your words, and if

 

V 13

you” don’t do it, then you have it out with
me.

“ I’m agreeable.”

“ NOW, what do you knew against In“, Pets
Parker ?”

“ I knows you has plotted to rob old Matt
Markham of his gold.’

“ You lie, and you have to prove what you
say: but it is just this charge, to d me by Doctor
Quick, that l have decided to refute.” ‘

“ Yer can’t deny it!” cried several voices.

“ Then I can for him, for I am Matt Mark-
ham’s brother,” and Richard Markham stepped
before the miners.

“It hain’t so!”

“ You is a pard !”

“ You is Dashing Charlie’s ccnfed in ther leetle
game 0’ rob l”

“ Yer can’t blqu us. old Scar Face.”

“ And Dashing Charlie can’t blufl' us neither.”

Such were the cries that arose from .he crowd;
but, though Richard Markham’s face paied, he
remained perfectly calm.

As for Dashing Charlie he still faced the crowd
and said:

“ Men, be reasonable and hear what I have to

as .

X Then judge according to facts.”

“Hear him i” came in a i umber of voices,aad
when silence was restored the scout said:

“ New, men, 1 have just this to say:

“I came to these camps and there are men
who know me, and knew me before I came here,
so i need no further proof than to say that I am
a scout, guide and Indian-fighter, at present on
the lookout to try and strike it rich in mining.

“ The man whose dead body lies behind me. I
came to nurse one night, and he asked me to go
upon a mission for him.

“ I accepted the ofier and went.

“Tnat mission was to go to Texas and bring
back with me Richard Markham the brother of
the dead miner.

“ He runs a ranch in Texas, his daughter was
Matt Markham’s heir. and I went after him, be-
ing successful where six others had failed, five
of them losin their lives in the attempt.

“ I found aptain Richard Markham upon his
ranch, and he returned with me, we arriv
‘iiast 11111th a short while before Matt Markham‘s

eat .

“ We dod ed the Mountain Marauders under
Murello the exican, who was lying in ambush
for us, and arrivsd in safety.

“ To-day I went tothe mines to call you to-

ether to the burial, and now it is said that I
ve plotted to get Matt Markham’s money.

“ It is false, and the man who says so is a liar
and knows it.

“ I have no more to say, except that, after
the burial of Miner Markham, I am ready to
hold myself responsible to any man who con-
siders himself insulted by my words.”

There were a number who cheered the words
of D nshing Charlie; but Others hissed and
groaned, and P -te Parker called out:

“See here, Dashing Charlie, will you answer
some questions t) clear yourself!”

“ Yes, if other than you desire it."

“ Answer!" came in a roar. '

“ What would )ou know, Pete Parker?”

“ How many days were you going to Texas!"

H Ten.”

“ How long did you stay there?”

“ Three days.”

" How many days was yer coming back!"

“ Ten.”

“ That’s twenty-three.”

“ According to my arithmetic, yes.”

“And yet ten days ago and a week ago you
were in the camps.

::  f .” r ”

ave the proo .

“ Give it.”

“ Men, I want them as seen Dashing Charlie ‘
in the campsa week and ten days ago to step
out in front here.”

Fullv fifty men obeyed.

“ Whar was it you seen him?”

“ At Poker Paul's Den 0’ Destiny,” cried a
number of voices. _

“ Does yer deny that testimony, Dashing
Charlie?"

It I do."

Hisses and groans greeted this assertion, fol-
lOwed by cheers.

“Men, I know what Pete Parker is driving
at, and he may be honest in it, and he may not,‘
for he is not a man I would trust under any cir-
cumstances.

“ But i know, from a number I have talked
with, that, since I left, a man has appeared in
the camps pretending to be me.

“ New, whoever he is. I prenounce him to be
a fraud, for I have not been here for over three
weeks ” and Dishing Charlie looked furl“!
into the faces of the crode

CHAPTER XXX.
THE TESTIMONY.
Winn Dashing Churlie heard the

of the miners that they had seen him within
the past few days, when he'had just mid he
had been gone over three weeks. he of course \
undentood that some man was playing a bold
game against him for some reason.

 

14

Who this man was, he could not surmise.

He was not one to be met with every day,
and he knew that few men resembled him.

This one, however, who was playing his
Double, was certainly strangely like him in
face, form and voice, or all those who had seen
him spoke false] for a reason of their own.

If seen in the on of Destiny then Poker Paul
must know him, and so Dashing Charlie appeal-
ed to the gambler and saloonkeeper.

“ Did you see this man, Poker Paul, who pro-
fessed to be me?”

“ I did, Charlie.” -

“And you thought that I was the one you
saw?"

‘ I did think so, Dashing Charlie; but if you
say it was not on I am not the man to doubt
your word, for know you to be square as they
make ’em.”

Some near groaned and Poker Paul added
quickly:

" I’ve heard dying men give sounds like that,
pards.” '

It was a significant remark and silence fol-
lowed the words.

Poker Paul was a man of peace, if peace was
to be the game played, but those who had
brought on a war with him had had reason to
regret it, for he was a deadly hand at close
quarters.

"Did you think you saw me too. Bent Rem-
senl" and Dashing Charlie turned to the store-
keeper of the camps.

“That was my idee, Charlie, for you come
inter my lay-out and made a few purchases,
telling me to slate ’em ag’in’ yer.”

“ And you did so?”

“You bet, for your credit is good at my
shanty.”

“Then this man must indeed have been my
may image,” and Dashing Charlie wore a puz~

“Jig; ask ther Doc, Old Rhubarb there, if he
wasn’t, for he played keerds with yer,” the
blacksmith said.

“ You saw him 100?”

“ Well, he come to my shop, got his horse
shod all round’, and told me to hang it up until
another time.

“ Which you did!”

“ I did for a fact.”

“ And this man's horse, what kind of
mal did he ride!”

A l were very quiet now, for the roan stallion
of Dashing Charlie was well known to every
man in camp, the only horse he had with him.

“ Waai, Dashing Charlie, that’s just it,” said
Iron Ike the blacksmith, in a puzzled way.

“ Wha is just it, Iron Ike?”

“ About that home.”

“ Was it in horse?”

“ VXaai, if e were he -hev changed consider-

an ani-

“ What do you mean i”

“ I means that when I have shod your horse
you had to be right there to protect me all the
time from him.” -

“ And this horse?”

“ Was a roan stallion, too, but gentle as a

lamb.

“I asked you what had come over him, for
he didn’t look quite ther same.”

“ You asked my Double, you mean!”

“ W aal, yas.”

“ And what was the answer!” -

“ He said as how he had tamed him down."

“ The doctor ought to have his say,” said Pete
Parker.

“ Yas, give old Rhubarb a chance,” others
called out.

' “ Doctor Quick, may I ask if you too saw my
Double some weeks ago in the maps?”

The doctor seemed glad to be led upon for
his testimony —

He stepped quicklyn out of the cabin, and
wheeling, aced Dash g Charlie, while he said
.in a measured tone:

“I saw a man whom I believe was you—you,
Dashing Charlie.”

:zy‘vmg: ”

en ys ago. ,

“ Where!”

“ At the Den.” -

“ Ten days ago!"

“ Yes. and a week ago,too.”

:: At nger Paul’s?”

“ Did you talk with him 1”

“ Yes I talked with you.”

“ With me?”

“ 80 1 take it.”

“ Well!” \

“ We had a game other each time.”
“ Indeed!” we ‘

u sure.”

“ Who won!”

“ l believed that I did.”

“ You believed that you did i"

“ 80 I said.” A

“ And did you noti”

“ I won the game.”

‘° And got your mone i”

“» I got what I though was money.”

“ How is that?"

“ Well, all I got 1's counterfeit.”

" Witt? #0 we mean .by Pin". Doctor Quick 1"

 

 

“ I mean that you paid me in counterfeit bills
the amount of my winnings.”

A perfect howl went up at this from the min-
ers, and seeing his advantage, Old Rhubarb
drew from his pocket a roll of crisp bank-notes,
and said:

“Here is the wad, and those as know good
money can examine this for themselves, for 1
say it is no good."

ully a hundred men :rushed forward to ex-
amine the bills, but the doctor quickly replaced
them in his pocket with the cunning remark:

“No, [don’t wish it to get into circulation,

rds, here in the camps, for it's against the

aw, so go slow all of you.”

The crowd looked disappointed, for many of
the would-be examiners would have clung on to
what they got their hands upon beyond all
doubt. '

“ You know genuine money, Poker Paul, and
so do you, Remsen, and Iron Ike, so just say if
that which the doctor has is counterfeit,” said
Dashing Charlie.

"The three men looked at the bills handed them
by Old Rhubarb, and after awhile each one
gave it as his opinion that the money was coun-
terfeit.

“ I told you so, Dashing Charlie and I expect
you to make it good to me right 0 , for there is
a severe penalty hanging over the crime of
passing it,” said Old Rhubarb, with great

dignity.

 

CHAPTER XXXI.
AN ABSENT WITNESS.

THERE was not the slightest doubt but that
matters were going decidedly against Dashing
Charlie.

if against the scout, then also against his
friend the ranchero. r

In that lawless community it was a very dan-
gerous thing to be caught in the commission of
a crime.

What motive had any man for playing the
Double of Dashin Charlie?

W hat man ha been seen in the camps that
could do so?

These were the questions which men in that
crowd asked each other.

On the other hand, men had every reason to
believe that the scout sought, as they did, to get
a slice at the old miner’s gold.

Many a plot had been arranged to do so, and
all had failed.

Now the scout came to the front with the clev-
erest scheme of all, that the miner had sent him
after his brother, and he had brought him back
with him.

Admitting that he was gone over three weeks,
be yet had been seen in the camps within ten
days, [1811 bou ht things at a store and had them
charged, had ad his horse shed on credit, had
played cards twice with Old Rhubard, and paid

is losses in counterfeit money.

Certainly all this looked very black for Dash-
ing Charlie.

Accordingly it was very black for Richard
Markham.

Many who had believed in Dashing Charlie
began to desert him after hearing the testimony
of octor Quick.

Captain Markham, who had felt confidence
at first in Old Rhubarb, now began to dread
that he was playing some deep game for 4 his
interests.

Peter Parker was very urgent in wishing to
push matters against Dashing Charlie, and it
needed now but a spark to cause a conflagra-
tion to break out. ,

“ Well, Pard Dashing Charlie, fraud and
counterfeiter, what have you to say now for

ourselfl” cried Peter Parker, in an exultant

ne.

“I would like to say a few words,” said
Richard Markham, stepping forward, and tak-
ing his stand in the doorway by the side of
Dashin Charlie. ,

“ We , listen to ther stranger!”

“ Give him a show!”

“ Shout what yer has ter say 1”

Like cries were heard u n every side, and
removing his hat, Captain arkham said in a

man}? my:

“ y f ends, the dead form lying upon the
cot here is my brother, for my name is Richard
Markham, and my home is in Texas.

“I had lost sight of my brother for years,
and believed that he was dead; but thirteen
days agol was seated upon the lane of my
home, when a horseman, pursu by Indians,
came in sight.

“ I rallied my cowboys and went to the res-
cue, and we had a hot fight of it, but beat them
at! eventually.

“That brave horseman was my friend Em-
mett, here by my side, and who is known as
Dashing Charlie.

“ He came to me from my dying brother, ask-
ing me to come to him.

“ Here is the letter he wrote me.”

He handed over the letter which the Double
of Dashing Charlie had said was lost in the
stream. ‘

“Ex -mine that for yourseivrs, you who knOw
my brother’s writing. w bile I go on to say that

J

~.a,  -;. ».-..;.. ..' .,..

 

Dashing Charlie’s Double.

Matt Markham was seized with a hemorrhage
soon alter our arrival and died in my arms.

“ But he lived long enough to tell us that he
had been visited by a man claiming to be Dash—
ing Charlie, and who sought to get certain
papers from him.

" He told me, too, that my daughter was to be
his heir, and that in good time I would find his
hidden old.

“ My rother also said that there was one in
these mines who had known us in the long-ago
in old Virginia, and more he could not say, for
his life faded away.

“This is the truth, my friends, and the man
who has represented himself to you as Dashing
Charlie Emmett is a fraud.”

The words of Richard Markham made a good
impression, but Peter Parker at once called
out:

“ Can you prove that you be the brother of
Matt Markham ?"

“ If the man to whom I referred was here he
could testify to my identity, even though we are
not friends but foes.” '

“ Who is he?”

“ Robert Brackett is his name, but you call
him Racket Rob.”

“Racket Rob is very ill and delirious,” cried
the doctor suddenly.

“ I seen him yesterday, and he only had his
arm in a sling,” said one.

“ Yes, he was at ther store yesterday evening
late," the storekeeper said.

Captain Markham glanced quickly at Old
Rhubarb, and said sternly:

“ This does not agree with your story, sir.”

“ I tell you he is ill, has a high fever and is out
of his mind.”

“ i insist that you brin Racket Rob here,
Sick or well,” said Richard glarkham.

“ And I demand it, as both Captain Markham
anti myself are the accused,” sternly sum Dash-
in r Charlie.

sI‘he doctor urged hard against it, but there
were cries of fair play and at last Poker Paul
End Remsen said tziey would go after Racket

ob.

Old Rhubarb insisted upon going, tan, but
Dashin Charlie pushed him bacx into the cabin
and 82115:

“This is my funeral n0w, Old Rhubarb, but
it will be ours if you attempt to leave this
cabin untily this case is decided for or against
this gentleman and myself.”

CHAPTER XXXII.
a FALSE WITNESS.

THERE were shouts for and against Dashing
Charlie, at his bold act in silencmg the doctor,
but no one attempted to interfere, as it was a
foregone conclusion in all minds that the scout
and ranchero were wholly at the mercy of the
crowd, when they decided to act.

80 they waited in patience, and well was it
for the accused that there was no liquor near, or
there Iwould have been trouble precipitated very

uick .
q Having cowed the doctor by his-sudden act,
Dashing Charlie had very quickly dismissed him
with the remark:

“I believe you now to be a wolf in shee ’s
clothing, Old Rhubarb, and a toothless woi is
not dan rous.” .

“ You 11 pay for this, Dashing Charlie," hissed
the doctor.

“Yes, and others will pay for it, too,” was
the significant answer, and Dashing Charlie
{laid something in a low tone to Captain Mark-

am.

The latter moved toward the rear of the cab-
in, taking the doctor’s belt of arms with him,
and the latter said:

“éA’h, you intend to prepare for a fight, do
you .

He was about to call out to the guard, when
Dashing Charlie faced him.

What he saw in the face of the scout fairly
terrified him, while he heard the low uttered
"95%: speak rd k i

oudgreto awo ,ormaeasgn,
until I give you permission. and I’ll send a bul-
let into your heart. ”

The fri mined man of medicine shrunk back
in silent ear, and though he saw Richard Mark~
ham ether up his own was
Matt arkham. Ind Place t em on one side of
the door, bemade no remark.

It was evident that the scout meant to fight if
driven to it, and With his own, the ranchero’s,
the doctor’s and the two rifles and four revol-
vers found in the cabin. he could make a very
desperateoombst of it before he was overpower-
ed himself, while Captain Markham looked to
91%‘Itaubarb like a man to also be an ugly foe
n 0. -

One :3ng Eton Poker Paul and Rem-
sen re . s were accom ’
Racket Rob. y pm“ by

 

The latter looked white and scared, in fact -

mi ht well be taken for a sick man.
u; then his arm was in a sling from his
wound.
Fever he had none, and his delirium was not
"lideimt Rack R0 '
n ac at b had intend
the dector’s instructions, but 933:?  12:;

us and those of -

 

 

 

 

.‘t..§.

  

 

 

 

 

Dashing Charlie’s Double.

15

 

very uickly given him to understand that he 3
needed all of his wits and was only wanted to
identify a man.

He was greeted with a yell as he approached,
and Pete Parker at once called out:

“ Pard Rob, we has a man here for you ter tell
us who he is.”

He was taken to the door of the cabin, and .
Richard Markham stepped into view and their
eyes met.

“ Robert Brackett, who am I?”

Racket Rob’s face had turned a shade more
pallid, and he had winced at sight of his old foe,
while he looked strangely nervous.

Dashing Charlie was watching him with the
eye of a hawk, and failed to see Doctor Quick

azin out of the door through the space between
fiimse f and Richard Markham.

The doctor however had gotten a chance, seen
by only a few, to shake his head.

This si nal was interpreted correctly by
Brackett ob, who said in a voice that he
meant to be firm:

“ How does I know, pard l"

“ You know me?”

“No, I does not," and the man assumed the
crude dialect of the border.

“ You do not knew me, Robert Brackett?”

“ You is away off, pard, for I hain’t Robert
Brackett."

“ Then you refuse to identify me?”

“ 1 don’t know yer.”

“ My life, and the life of this brave young
mam, may depend upon my recognition by

on.

“Your life?”

“ Yes, for I have told these men that Mat-
thew Markham lying dead there was my bro
t er.

“I kn0w we were rivals in early manhood,
Robert Brackett, and that we became bitter
foes; but I did not believe you would refuse to
recognize me whom you know in your heart to
be Richard Markham.”

“I does refuse, for I doesn’t know yer.”

“ You do not know me, man?

“ Look at this hideously-scarred face, these
burned hands of mine, and tell me that you do
not know your own fiendish Work! for your act
of murder caused them.

“ I tell you, men, that this man is a fugitive
from justice, one who sought the life of a young
'girl and of my dead brother lying there and my-
self.

“ I saved the girl at the risk of my life—see
these hideous, accursed scars—and she became
my wife, while this creature, this wretch in the
form of a man, fled to save his neck from the
hangman’s clutch, fied because others perished
in that burning dwelling, and he would have
suffered for his crime. a

“ Out upon you, Robert Brackett, for I would
not save my ife by the recognition of such as

on.

The ranchero had worked himself up into a
fever of indignation, and his bitter words of do.
nunciation made an impression upon many pres-

ent.

But the spirit of deviltry was strong in the
hearts of four-fifths of those gathered there, and
8Pater Parker struck the ey-note when he

d O
“ Pards, he has not been identified, and it's in
order ter h him. and Dashing Charlie for ther
crime 0’ robb ther old miner of his gold.”

 

CHAPTER XXXIII.
ran Dacron TAKES ran Lsan.

I'r certainl looked ve bad for Dashing"
Charlie and lchard Mark .

The scene was a strange and thrilling one, for
there within the cabin lay the dead miner, while
those who had the right to lay him peacefully in
his grave and claim hat which w his, werqto
hunted to death by a greedy mob ed on by a
few cut-throats. _

There were a few of the better men in the
crowd who still held trust in the scout, and had
been won over by the words of the rancher-o.

But they were hopeless] in the minority, and
were wondering what con (1 be done to save the
two unfortunate men.

Taking advan e of the words of Peter
Parker, and the I that followed, while men

were reparin to act Doctor Quick suddenly
gar-ms out of ihe door, at the imminent risk of
e.

He had seen Dash
the ranchero and te

Charlie turn to speak to
him to prepare for the

worst.

So he took nick advan of the chance to
escape, and l e an arrow e shot out of the
door and around the cabin corner.

A wild yell and laughter followed his escape,
while Dashing Charlie muttered somet very
like an oath at his negligence that had owed

 

Old Rhubarb to get away;

Doctor Quick new h power in that com-
munity. ’

He was well aware that he was the only one '
to call upon for aches and illness, wounds and
bruises.

He felt certain that he would have been pro- .
Eagtedi, even though in the power of Dashing
I at Q.

It would not do to let him be hurt or killed,
on any account.

So he had decided in his own mind, while he
arranged for a clever scheme of his own.

He had not been heard, and he must be.

So he took up position out of sight of Dash-
ing Charlie and the ranchero, and called out
loudIly:

“ ” old on, pards, for I have something to

As thou b they expected to bear words of
wisdom fa i from his ips, the crowd looked to—
ward him and the excitement ceased at once.

“ Pards, you know me?"

It was apparent that they all did, from the
cheer he received.

“Thanks, kind thanks for this expression of
your sincere esteem, my friends.”

Another cheer, and Old Rhubarb b0wed with
uncovered head, the act showing extreme bald-
ness on the to of his cranium.

“ My frien 3, what I have to say will not de—
tain on long.

“ ou know me as a ractitioner among you
for several years, and do not believe there is
one of you who will say aught against the honor
of Old Rhubard, as you affectionately nickname
me.

“ Not a word," came with a howl.

“ Now, my friends, I have been the hysician
in attendance upon poor old Miner Iarkham
for long months.

“I tried to save him, but consumption is a
disease you all kn0w that claims its victims
without mercy.

" So I did what I could to cheer him up in his
latter days.

“ He appreciated this, and having heard that
his messenger, sent to his brother in Texas, had
failed him. l-e told me that he wished to leave in
my keepin the disposition of his property.

“My bilII was to take out, and also repay
myself for the services rendered in disposing of
his gold as he directed.

“ l was to also hold out a sum to give to the
poor and needy in the camps, and to treat the
boys three times all round.

,“ Then I was to take the remainder in gold
dust to his heiress, Miss Markham, of Texas.

“ My friends, he was to give me further par-
ticulars this morning, for I was compelled to go
upon my round of duty.

” But 10, when I returned to-day I discovered
here that person you see in that cabin—”

P “ {And whom you don’t see, Doc,” cried Parker
au .

“ And I don’t wish to, as I am unarmed.

“ But he claimed to be the brother of Matt
Markham, ,and told me that Dashing Charlie
had uided him here from Texas.

“ ow mark his words, that one whom we
know was here in the camps a week ago, payi
his gambling debts with counterfeit money, h
guided him here from Texas.

” Now. my friends, the situation is just this:
that I, Zekiel Quick M. D., is the appointed
executor of the late lamented Matthew Mark-
ham, miner, and will carry out his behests as
directed. ' .

“Also, that this man,‘ Dashing Charlie, and
his confederate in guilt, came here to at pos-
session of that fortune, and to do soiy foul
means.

“ These men are now under the shelter of the
roof that holds the dead body of their victim,
and I need only say that justice should be dealt
out with unsparing hand.

“ Punishment for their crime I leave in your
hands, ahd I know that you will not hesitate to
visit upon them a doom commensurate with the
sin they sought to commit.

“ Pards, all, I leave these two men in your
hands, and I know that justice will be done. "

The doctor bowed low as he uttered the last
Words, and with a howl of rage the crowd
whipped out their revolvers and moved toward
the cabin.

 

CHAPTER XXXIV.
AGAINST Tasman: onus.

“ BACK, evor man of you!"

There was a ng in the voice of Dashing Char-
lie which there was no mistaking.

He meant to stand at bay, to fi ht it out
against those who meant to attack m and the
"fichiiio' Ch 1 i h

as ng ariem t besus tedof in
gorge: Matt afarkhamgs gold,hbumr altl) tm his
a r was nown, or euou of it to rin the

band of miners to a halt. 8 ~ g ‘

He was known as a dead shot, a man who
would use his gun if necessary and one who had
nerve under the most trying circumstances.

Here he was standing in the open door of a
log cabin which could resist the bullets of their
rifles, if turned against it.

The door was a double one and massive, the
shutters were likewise as strong and it would
take a cannon—ball to penetrate the heavy l

Then too he was known to be thorough y
armed, and to have as well the won as belong-
ing to Matt Markham, and the er always
was well an plied. '

As for t e'l‘oxan he too looked like one to
fight to the bitter end, so Ihat though the two

 

might be overpowered, the miners knew that
some of their number would be killed.

The had formed no other plan than to hang
both ashing Charlie and the ranchero.

That done they would bury the miner and
then see about his gold, it being thought that
the doctor had a strong leaning of ri vht on his
side, as he seemed to tell a ver ght story
as to Miner Matt’s wishes rega ing it.

When Dashing Charlie saw that a fight was
inevitable, he made up his mind to put two men
out of it with his first shots, if he got the
chance.

The two thus selected for the distinction were
Old Rhubarb and Peter Parker.

“Get the guns ready, captain, haul the table
close up to the door and havo the bar ready to
put up as soon as l have let them feel the weight
of my guns," said Dashing Charlie.

“ But surely [ am to aid you, Charlie?"

“ Not in the shooting, sir, for the door is hard-
ly wide enough for both of us.

“ Then too you must live to go back to your
daughter, while I have no claims upon me.”

“That shall not be. Emmett, for we live or
die together in this fight. See! they are pressing
forward!”

Then it was that Dashing Charlie uttered the
words that open this chapter.

He had a revolv1r in each hand and stood
with his foot upon the threshold, his weapons
cm-ked, his fingers touching the triggers.

Then by his si e, as neaer as he could get,
i as Captain Markham, and the two stood with
revols ers ready.

The men halt«d at the ringing, determined
command, and Pete Parker called out:

“ Well, what is it?

“ Talk quick 1”

“ I wish no dealing with you. Peter Parker,
except at revolver-range; but I desire to say
this to others in that crowd, and that is, as they
doubt me, to place a guard over the cabin, hold
me risoner and let 0! bars go with Captain
Mar ham to Texas and see if all is not as I have
stated.

“ If it is not, then you have me in your power
and can hang then as well as now.”

“ It won’t do, pards,” yelled the doctor.

“ No, it’s some trick he has thought of to es—
cape us.” Peter Parker cried.

‘ Well, I have offered you fair terms, so as
Eon refuse, now come on and do your worst,”

ashing Charlie said in a determined way.

“ Hold on, pards, and let us offer terms," cried
Poker Paul, anxious to avoid bloodshed and be-
ing really much attached to the scout.

‘ What terms do you offer?" asked Remsen,
and others chimed in.

“ Well, any that Dashing Charlie and his
friend give up the gold and be allowed to leave
the cab n, and the camps.”

A number of voices cried out in favor of this
proposition.

But the doctor’s influence, aided by Peter
Parker, soon squelched it. .

“ We must hang 'em fu’st, pards, and try ’em
mtg-wards, as ther doctor says,” Peter Parker
on .

The men cheered this sentiment, and PlDbOld‘
sued by it, Peter Parker s rung to the front as
leader, while Doctor Quic Wisely kept in the

background.
“ ome, ards, string him up!” cried Peter
Parker, a he held in his left hand a lariat al-

ready secured for the work.

But they were the last words the man ever
uttered, asa sharp re ort rung out from the
cabin door and Peter arker dropped his length,
a bullet in his brain. ,

At the same instant Captain Markham fired,
and his bullet found a target in another of the
miners who had been loudly in favor of hang-
ing the two men.

A dosen shots followed then in re id' suc-
cesion, but the two men at bay ha sprung
back into the darkness of the cabin, having
 the heavy oak table up on eni as a

lo .

it caught half a dozen bullets while firing
rapidly yet with deadly aim, t e two men
brought down human game with each crack of
their revolvers, and several forms were piled up
in the doorway.

From such afire the miners in front shrunk
away, and quickly a lane was opened where
the range from the door placed them in deadly
danger.

“Come on, you cowards, for there are but
two of us!” shouted Dashing Charlie, his blood
:2; hot, his nature aroused to defiance and

on. .

CHAPTER XXXV. ,
BOYS In sum
THAT the invitation of Dashing Charlie would
have been accepted, by the desperate spirits con-
fronting him, when there were a hundred to one
against him and his comrade, seemed highly
probable. '
But Poker Paul, Remsen and others began to
call a halt, to see if their throwing their force
against the others, and in favor of Dashing
Charlie, might not bring about a truce or com~
promise.
Hastin callinga few men about him, Poker

 

 

16 A ' ' DashingCharlie’s Double.

 

 

Paul was about to urge a parley, when another
rush was made for the cabin.

A volley of revolver-bullets rattled into the
door before the rush, but they did no damage,
as both Dashing Charlie and the ranchero were
out of range.

But their weapons rattled out death-shots
rapidly, and other forms piled up the doorway.

But there were men crowding behind them
now, those who would not be beaten off by twa
men, and they would have gained an entrance
beyond all doubt but for the rapid clatter of
hoofs in their rear and a warning ory from their
comrades off on the edge of the crowd.

“ Soldiers! soldiers l’

The cry was heard on a hundred lips, and up
to the scene dashed an officer and twenty
troo )ers.

“ old! what means this?” came inavoice like
a bugle. '

And a young officer spurred between the
crowd and the cabin, his men following
quickly.

“ Halt! front!" rngdg out his orders, and they
were promptly obey .

The men too had their sabers drawn, and they
were ready to face more miners than were in
their front if their young commander gave the
command.

He Was a dashing-looking, handsome fellow of
twenty—five, wearing the shoulder-straps of a
flrg; lieutenant of cflavalr . b h

e Posessed a ne p ysique, sat is orse
splen idly, and his manly face showed that he
had “ chipped in” upon his own responsibility
and had the nerve to carry his intention
through.

“ Back, men! for if you crowd, I will ride you
down!

“Speak, one of you, and say what this
means?"

“ It means, captain, that we have cornered in

the cabin a ir of men who tried to rob a dead
ininier, an then objected to being hanged
or t.

“ S.) we just made a rush to string them up,
and they showed fight."

“ I should think they did, from the looks of
the cro of dead men around," said the officer,
dryly, in answer to Doctor Quick, who had been
the one to reply to him.

“ Permit me to explain, Lieutenant Gibbs,”
said a voice behind the officer.

And turning in his saddle, he beheld Dashing
Charlie standing in the cabin door, a revolver in
each hand.

“ What! Dashing Charlie Emmett?” cried the
officer, in amazement.

“ Yes, Lieutenant Gibbs, and I must thank
you for your timely arrival, for you saved this
gentleman and myself from being hanged.”

“ There is surely some mistake here, Dashing
Charlie,” cried the lieutenant, as be grasped the
hand of the scout warmly litiitgreeting.

“ These men have not ce nly been attacking

you?

“ hey have, sir, and this gentleman also,
whom permit me to present to you as Captain
Markham, a Texan ranchero.”

The officer bowed and then turned his gaze
upon the crowd of miners, anumber of whom
had slunk awayl at his coming, their guilty con-
sciences not a owing them to face an army
officer.

“Men, you have made a bad blunder in this
attack on Dashing Charlie Emmett and his
friend, for I will vouch for them on the scont’s
say-so.”

‘ You know this man then, sir as Dashin
Charlie Emmett. the scmti" asked Poker Pan .

“ I certainly do.”

“ You are sure there is no mistakel”

“ None.”

“ I am very glad to hear you say so, sir, for
though I did not doubt him, and some others of
us here, it did look black against him according
to circumstantial evidence.”

“ What is it all abOut, Emmett!” asked the
officer. ‘

“ I can explain, sir, in a few words.”

and Dashing Charlie did so, adding in the
en :

“ It seems, sir, that some one here in the camps,
during my absence after Captain Markham, has
beeanlaying mv Double.”

“ our Double!”

“ Yes, sir.”

“ That is strange, for we had our Double at
the fort a month or so ago, an many believed
him to be you, for he so claimed to be.

“ But then your letter came to Colonel Buck—
ner, by the courier who had left you the very
day this Double of yours was in camp, so that
showed him to be a rand. -

“ I tried to ovorhaul him, for I am sure he is
some outlaw who resembles you who was trying
to at information about train-movin .

‘ So your Double has been here toog‘

“ Yes, air, and as he was here a week a ,
when I was in Texas, the boys said I was a fraud.
and so wanted to hang me as a fraud, and Cap-
tain Markham also.”

" They did not seem to find it easy workf" an
the officer glanced at the half a dozen bodies
piled up in and aboat the door.

“ We defended ourselves as best we could.”

 

“That is all right, Dashing Charlie; but are
there not some of those men wounded?”

“ No, sir, for we shot to kill.”

“ Yes, I know your style; but I will go into
camp here, for it is a good place I notice. ’

Then turning to the miners, who were most of
them rather uneasy at the turn affairs had
taken, he said in a voice all heard:

“ Men, I am Frederic Gibbs, lieutenant on the
staff of Colonel Buckner, commandant of Fort
Blank, and I am responsible for Dashing Charlie
and his friend.

“ I suppose you think you did right, but be
more particular next time before you attempt
to hang men without proof.

“ Now go to your camps, and let this matter
drop, for if you press it I shall take a hand in
it, and I know you do not wish to fight your
G0vernment’s troo .”

The man] wor s of the young officer were
well receiv by the miners, who at once began
to disperse, many of them calling out to Dash-
ing Charlie not to have any hard feelings against
them.

And thus the Boys in Blue won the day.

CHAPTER XXXVI.
AFTER THE BATTLE.

THE miners left the cabin of Matt Markham
feeling very much as though they had made
fools of themselves.

A terrible tragedy, the lynching of two inno-
cent men, had ve nearly happened there, and
but for the arrive of Lieutenant Gibbs and his
men would have occurred.

He had come hat in time to save Dashing
Charlie the ranc ero and others, who would
havde fallen before the two men were overpow-
ere .

As it was, half a dozen dead men had been
carried off by their miner comrades, by order
of the lieutenant, to find burial in the cemetery
of the camps, known as the “Ghosts Outfit.”

Of course there were many who held a grudge
against Dashing Charlie for killing these men,
thlongh they ha brought their death upon them-
so ves.

They had gone off, growling and threatening,
33111 flying to say that Dashing Charlie had no

0“ l 0.

But the majority now admitted that they were
wrong, and were glad that matters had turned
out as they had.

Of course the were disappointed about the
hidden gold of iner Matt Markham, that they
could get no “ finger in the pie.”

But, with his brother there to take charge,
there was nothing for them to do.

The doctor had deserted the scene very early
after the arrival of the Boys in Blue.‘

He seemed not to wish to face the sharp-eyed
young officer, so had slipped away without at-
tracting any more attention than was neces-

sa .

lills companion had been Racket Rob and
they went off together with their tongues busy,
for they would not admit that they had lost the

ame.
8 “You did well, Racket Rob, in denying as
you did, and but for the fact that the blue-coats
arrived, we would have had matters go our
way.

“ But we have not lost the genie yet, by any
means.”

“ We don’t hold a single trump card now,
Doc, that I can see.”

“ Well, you are wrong, for the gold has not
yet gagged Texas."

“ It is a long trail to follow, and it will be car-
ried on pack-mules, you know."

“ With those blue-cents to guard it.”

“ Not they; for the Government is not guard-
ing private gold with its soldiers.” ‘

“ hey’ll hire a lar e nerd, then.”

“ Hardly over hal a ozen or so.”

“ And we areibut two.”

“ Yes; but we can get together a dosen fel-
lows. if we wish, an that gold will simply
change owners.”

“ I am with you, Doc, and you are a dandy,”
was the eager reply.

And the two continued on their way, the doc-
tor remarking, slllly: '

“ That fellow arkham gave rayon a terrible
lashing about your past career ket Bob."

The man made no reply, and the doctor con-
tinned:

“ l sup what he said was true. about you
seating t e house on fire to burn up the out-

“ Well, it may be, and may not be, for we all
have edema in our life we'do not make known
even you Due, for I saw that the coming of
those soldiers scared you almost into fits.

“ Were you ever a surgeon in the army,
Doe?” I ‘-

The face of the doctor had become white, his
lips quiverizf, his hand htened upon the rein
and trembl , while his eet shook so that he
could not keep them in their stirrups.

It was ve plain that a chord of the past had
been touch with the doctor which frightened
him great

i . .
“ We will not discuss the past, sir,” he said. in
a voice hardly audible. -

 

“ All right, Doc, for I am more than willing,
as we both are in hiding from justice," and
Racket Rob laughed in a peculiar way, which
the doctor did not appear to like.

The others of the crowd meanwhile were filing
back to the camps bearing the dead with them,
ant? but three of the number had remained at the
ca in.

These were Poker Paul, the landlord of the
Den of Destiny, Iron Ike, the blacksmith, and
Remsen.

These had stepped up to Dashing Charlie and
the ranchero, congratulating them upon their
escape, and as they were known to have shown
friendship for them, their kind wishes were ap-
preciat .

The soldiers went into camp back in the little
valley where Matt Markham had kept his horse,
and were soon cooking their noonday meal,
while Poker Paul and the others offered their
services in digging the grave for the dead.
miner.

According to the last request of Miner Mark-
ham, the grave was dug in the center of the
cabin, and as they went down several feet
through the hard ground, the spade blows gave
back a hollow sound.

The officer, Dashing Charlie, a trio of soldiers
who aided in di ging the grave stood around
watching the wori as Poker Paul, Iron Ike and
Remsen relieved the three Boys in Blue from
time to time.

Captain Markham stood apart by the body of
his brother, which had been closely enveloped in
the canvas brought by the scout from the
cam s.

“ ow hollow the ground seems beneath here,”
said Lieutenant Fre Gibbs. '

No one could account for it, and as deeper and
deeper went the spades, the more and more hol-
low became the sound. ‘

CHAPTER XXXVII.
A srammne nxscovnar.
“ CAPTAIN Maaxaau, come here please.”
It was Dashing Charlie who called the ranch-
ero from the side of his dead brother in one end
of the large cabin to the grave they were dig-

gingw
“ ell, Dashing Charlie!” -

“ We have dug d0wn, sir, seven feet, as the
sound the spades made caused us to go deeper
than we otherwise would have done.

“ We have now struck boards.”

“ Indeed! What does it mean i"

“ I suggested that it is the hiding-place of your
brother s gold.

“ It ma be, for he was most anxious to have
us bury h m here, and I recall now that he said
his burial would reveal a secret.

“ Dig on, men, please, and let us solve the
mystery."

' his was soon done and the men found a space
covered with boards.

The shape of the grave was altered and i‘was
seen that the boards had been placed in posit10n
from beneath, not from the cabin, and the dirt
then filled in.

After awhile the boards were rem0ved and a
tunnel-like way was revealed, endin at the
grave and running of! toward the h' l behind
the cabin.

But the removal of the boards also showed a
cotlln lying in the bottom of the tunnel. '

The tunnel-way led from the rave back un-
der the cabin, and the coffin fill the space dug
out.

It was a large ooflln, and had upon it a cover
divided in three pieces, heavy and crudely made
yet strong.

Raising one of these pieces a startling sight
met the eye, for the coffin was filled with gold
nuggets, dust and grains of the precious metal.

An exclamation of surprise and admiration
arose from all around the grave.

“ Here indeed is a fortune!" cried the lieuten-

ant.

“ All of a quarter of a million dollars in gold,”
was Poker Paul’s comment. _

“ Your brother did no: exaggerate his riches,
Captain Markham,” said Dash 11 Charlie.

‘ It is indeed a fortune to save my little
daughter.

“ Poor, dead Matt! I would that he could have
lived to enjoy‘ it, to spend many years of happi-
nes with us, and the ranchero turned away.

" While the grave is 0. Captain Mark-
ham, it would be well to to low up the tunnel,
for the entrance was made to this place from
without,” the lieutenant said.

“ Yes.hth° “11:91:; 0' “Jill‘s; one, simpl en-
]uged ere an ere y iner Mark am,
an tile end bonded up to prevent a disastrous
C‘VO- n.

1" The:i :gnnel htss an exit, and I will folow
it, an e scou sprun own into the rave
without hesitation. g g

A lantern found in the cabin was if hted and
handed to him, and with it he sts through
the tunnel in a stooping posture.

It was some five feet 1!. height by three in
breadth, and on the scout went until he had
gone more than three hundred feet. the tunnel
widenin as he went until it ended in a cavern
of onngi are his else.

But there seemed no exit to the cavern.

 

 

Dashing Charlie’s Double. / 1’?

 

 

 

Carefully Dashing Charlie examined the sides,
but all was a wall of rock.

The cavern terminated in a space the else of
a small room, then stretched away into the nar-
row tunnel running under the cabin a hundred
yards a way.

Then Dashing Charlie closely examined the
fi0or1ng. '

6|  y?

The exclamation showed that he had made a
discovery.

Almost at his feet was a trapdoor.

This he raised, one end resting against the
wall of the cavern.

The trap was of boards in an irregular size.

These boards were heavy and Solid, and fit-
ted into crevices in the rocks, for when raised
an aperture was visible looking down into a
cave below.

The bottom part of these boards had been
most ingeniousl y covered with rocks, cemented
together and made to so closely resemble the
roof of the cave that when the trap was down
and nicely fitted in place, there seemed no break
in the ceiling of the lower cavern.

It was a most clever blind, and the scout
dropped d0wn into the lower cave.

He found that he could not touch the roof by
a couple of feet when standing on tiptoe.

The opening to the upper cavern was of
courses natural one, and had been discovered
by the miner, who had first used the cave below
as a home.

It was some thirty feet by ten in size, and the
ceiling ra'n ten feet in height.

There were some worn-out tools, a box and a
barrel, with an old cot in the lower cave, that
was all—ap arently left there as worthless

But, by p acing the box upon the cot, the bar-
rel upon the box. the scout could readily draw
himself up into the cavern above.

He stood there and lowered the trap into place,
and then replacing the cot, box and barrel,went
out of the cave.

It opened upon the valley through which ran
the stream fed by springs.

Making a circuit, he appeared before those in
the cabin.

 

CHAPTER XXXVIII.
OF KINDRED TIIS.

Brroas'leaving the cavern, Dashing Charlie
left- all as he had found it and then made his
way around to the cabin.

All were anxiously awaiting some report
from him and looking down into the cavernous
o ning when he suddenly appeared in the door
0 the cabin.

“ So you found a way out, Dashing Charlie?”

” Yes Lieutenant Gibbs; but let us first bury
the dead miner, and then investigate the discov-

.917 l have made.”

“ Yes, it is better so.
“ New, to remove this gold and pack it.”
“ Here are canvas bags already made—I

found them upon my brother’s cot,” said Cap-
tain Markham.

The gold was cked in the bags by the sol-
diers, and then ied up securely by the officer,
when they were placed to one side.

The body of the dead miner WHB then placed
in the coffin. the lid nailed down, and Lieutenant

Gibbs repeated, in his rich, impressive voice, the
service for the dead.

Then the earth, placed on blankets as it was
removed from the grave, was laced and the

top smoothed over after being pac ed down hard,
so that it would not settle.

“ You know that we were to burn the cabin,
Dashing Charlie.”

“ Yes, but it will be well enough to do that,
air, at the last moment when we start away.”

“ True, that will be best.

“ Now let me thank you all for your very

reat kindness to me, for it has been to my poor

' brother.

" ieutenant Gibbs, I also desire to express to
you my appreciation of the service rendered by
you and your men, for you saved our lives I feel
assured.’

“ I was in luck to happen thro h the camps.

“l was on a scout and conclu ed to take a
look in at the miners, for it has a very good
effect it the had element in the mining coun-
tryto s ow them that soldiers are Within call
sometimes, and hearing the firing as I was fol--
lowing the trail I hastened to the cabin, for I
knew that revolver-practice in this country
meant deadly work.”

“ You were just in the nick of time too, lieu-
tenant, as I can vouch for,” said Dashing Char-
lie, while Captain Markham asked:

“Lieutenant, on bear the name of my wife,
for she was a ibbs—Beatrice Gibbs, of Vir-

nia.”

“Indeed! I am from Ms land but had rela-
tive! in Virginia, my use e owning Berkeley
Manor in the Shenandoah Valley, a rand old
estate that was dsstro ed by fire an or rather
- ic circumstan have heard, for I was a
me boy then and, y the way, a cousin of my
father marri a man our name.

“ Cousin Beatrice was or name, and I recall
her as a very beautiful girl of seventeen the only
time I ever saw her. ,

‘ Sue no my second cousin."

 

“ And she was my wife, Lieutenant Gibbs.

"‘ I am happy indeed to meet you, and I recall
n0w that my wife had a young cousin who went
to West Point and graduated with the highest

1

his grand courage, his heroism, in entering a
guruing mansion and saving the life of Beatrice
ibbs.
She, though loving his brother, when she saw

honor, afterward entering the cavalry: but I , and felt all that he had suffered for her, had be-
have been so isolated ot’ late years, such a her- : come his wife. »

mit in my Texas home since the death of your
cousin Beatrice, that I
family completely.”

He had asked her for her love the very night

have lost sight of the i of the fire, and had been refused.

She, knowing that Matthew Markham loved

" It is a pleasure, Captain Markham, for me to her also, had determined to await the declara-
meet you, sir, and far more to heme Sclth 1‘ tion that must come from him.

on.

“ But are you aware that your wife has a half-
brother in the army?"

“ I know that she had a half-brother, Gabriel
Buckner, who was a noble—hearted, but wild
young fellow who killed his best friend in a
duel about a lady whom both loved.

“ If I recall aright Buckner was not to blame,
but he left home, and it was said enlisted in the
army, and his cousin never knew what had be
Come of him."

“ It will give me pleasure sir, to make known
to you that he was not to blame in the cause of
the duel he fought, and twice spared his rival’s
life; but at the third fire demanded killed him.

“ He enlisted as a private soldier, and in one
year rose by merit to a sergeant’s rank.

“ The next year he saved the life of his
wounded captain, tied him to the back of his
horse and sent the animal away at a run for
abs camps, while he remained behind as a sacri-

ce.

“ But he stood off the Indians until help came,
and the captain said he would either have him
dismissed the service for making a deserter of
him in the presence of the enemy, or have him
made a lieutenant.

“ It was hard work then to get a man from the
ranks a commission, but while the matter was
under discussion, Sergeant Buckner again dis.
tinguished himself. and that won him the rank
of a second lieutenant.

“Since then he has risen a rank every three

cars, until now he is colonel commanding Fort

lank and this detachment, and I have the
honor of being an aide on his stud, and a better
commander, nobler and squarer man I never
knew; in fact, all the ladies at the fort are in
love with him, and he is the ideal of his men.
Eh, Sergeant Gallagher?” and the lieutenant
turned to the sergeant of the detachment.

“ Yes, sur, he is thet same, and the bist man
as ever threw leg over a horse— is, sur, beg-
gin’ (four pardon, the colonel is a ther bein’ a
dan y,” earnestly responded the sergeant.

“ I am lad to hear such a ood reportof him,
for my w to loved him most early.

“ He would be more than pleased to have you
visit him, Captain Markham, so suppose you
return with me.

“ It will be a pleasant break for you.”

“ I should like to, but—"

“ Oh, go, captain- for if you’ll trust me, I’ll
stay here and guard your fortune until your re-

rn

"Trust you! Why, Charlie Emmett, I would '

trust no man more."

“ Then, go! for it will take some days to hunt
up your horses, get pack-mules and saddles, and
the men to serve as guards.”

‘t‘gow far is it from here to the fort, lieuten-
an

“ We can 'make it in forty-eight hours, sir,
easy riding.”

“ Then I will return with you, if there is any
way of my getting back."

‘ "The colonel w' 1 send youback under escort,

“ Then I will go, and in our hands, Das
Charlie, I leave the arran of matters here.
to“ ’here is a bill to pay that rascally doc-

I'—

“ I'd rather pay him in lead than gold,”
growled Dashing Charlie.

“ Well, gold it will have to be this time; and
there is an account at the store and elsewhere, I
believe.

“Square them up, get the mules and horses
necessary, also the men and the provisions for
ah; tgip, and expect me back within a week‘s

e

“ All will be ready, sir, by the time you re-
tu‘rnégo that you canusltart at oniig.” d .
course ou w o as e an ca tain
of Bhehtiutfigg’: 8 Eu p
as rlie lanced in
the lieuttila‘nant. g a mum wny “

Then he said:

“No, sir; I will be compelled to remain here,
for I am on duty in the mmingcamps, my gold-
d ‘ being but a blind. -

will, however, send a guide with you,
and o myself be 0nd the ngsr-llne of Musllo,
the exican, an his men.” -

“ I ask no more,” laid the ranchero.
“gadgoiiofipletgf hczuabafter he rode awa by

an nan bs at
had of pen. the head 0 the

CHAPTER XXXIX.
ar roar BLANK.

THE scars upon his face neck and hands.
made Ca tain Dick Markham very sensitive.
He cou d not exylain that they were marks of

I

 

Then, when she saw the man suffering agonies

l
‘ through his heroism, she had gone to him deter-

mined to sacrifice herself for him.

She had told him she would take back her re-
fusal, that she would become his wife.

He refused to allow the sacrifice, to bind her
to one disfigured as he was; but at last he yield-
ed and the result is known.

When be buried his devoted wife, Richard
Markham felt at first that he had laid his heart
in the grave with her.

He had soon however found that there was
much to live for in the love of his beautiful little
daughter, and as time went bv he became happy
in her devoted affection for him.

He had employed for her the best of gover-
nesses, and teaching her himself, for he was a
finely educated man, at the age of seventeen
Beatrice was a finished young lady.

In addition to her being a fine scholar, and
musician, she was a born prairie girl, could ride
a wild mustang, shoot a rifle or revolver unerr-
ingly, throw a lasso or IOlluW a trail.

Then came Dashing Charlie to the pretty prai-
rie home of Ranger’s Best, with the incidents
following in rapid succession which go to make
up this story.

Having found in Lieutenant Fred Gibbs a
kinsman of his daughter, and through him the
man who had been a most devoted brother to his
wife, Captain Markham was anxious to meet
him and know the two more thoroughly.

He knew that he was all his daughter had to
cling to, and, in case he was taken from her,
there was no one upon whom he could depend to
become her guardian.

As they rode on toward the fort together,
Lieutenant Gibbs told his newly-found relative
that Colonel Buckner had won fortune as well
as fame.

He had invested his small earnings in some
property to help out a friend, and right there

ad a city sprung up, until his purchase of a
couple of thousand dollars had reached in value
as many hundred thousand.

“ Three years ago, when I first came West as
a lieutenant, Ca tain Markham, Colonel Buck-
ner asked me if had any money to invest.

“I told him I was starting in life with my
sword, my commission. a complete outfit, and
some dozen hundred dollars.

“ So he advised me to invest the money in
some property, and I did so according to his
directions.

“ The result is that I have now a property up-
on which I am paying taxes at a valuation of
twenty thousan dollars; so you see I am quite ,
well off for a second lieutenant.”

Thus the two tied the time in conversa-
tion as they rode on toward the fort.

The evenin of the second day they came in
sight of Fort lank.

it was located on a heavily-timbered hill, oom-
manding a fine view of the surrounding country
for mi] and there were a number of cowboys
seen on e plains, guarding the large herds of
Government cattle grazing near.
t:thtiere lwere several hundred tlJigrses also, and

e ort ad the ap ce 0 ing a very ex-
tensiva cattle-ram?“

There was a stockade-wall around it, and the
quarters were of logs.

The, officers’ quarters were a rt upon a
natural park, the center being a e parade

round. .

A saw-mill upon the river had furnished lum-
ber in plenty and all being whitewashed, there
wasan air of neatness resting upon the whole
place which marked the commanderasa man
of ability and discipline.

A light battery, a battalion of infantry and a
couple of companies of cavalry comprised the
military force, while there were sevsral army
stores, a wagon-train, a station,
scout, guides, cowboys and ere-on by the
dozen, to make up a settlement 0 some twelve
hundred souls.

Fort Blank was Colonel Markham’s headquar-
ters post, but his command extended a long way
up and down the border, several other posts and
outposts bein included in it.

iAl's afiedlltt e squad of icavalrymen casne in
s t e nssparadswas nprogrem,an Cap-‘
ta n Markham on with couiderable inter-
est and admira on.

He marked the nldisrly form of the colonel
facing his soldiers, and noted the stern, but
kindly face, with the iron-gray mustache and

hair.

Then he was led by Lieutenant Gibbs to his
quarters, and a moment after stood face to face
with the handsomeJdistinguished-looking soldier
who had risen from the ranks to a colonelcy,
winning fame and fortune by his daring, splen-
did career.

 

18

Dashing Charlie’s Double.

 

CHAPTER XL.
ran RETURN.
AND you are Richard Markham, of whom I
have heard so much!
“Well, indeed I am glad to meet you, you
who raved my sweet sister’s life, you who were
her husband, for though but a half-sister cf

mine, I knew no difference in my devotion to 3

her.

“ We must be brothers, Richard Markham.”

Such was the warm welcome given by Gabriel
Buckner to Captain Markham, who felt in his
heart how sincere it was.

“ Well, this wild young kinsman of mine is
always running off in what he is pleased to call

scouting eépeditions, and though I have to do .3
it

him the or to say that he renders most valu- ‘
able service, I must say that on this one he has
certame done me a great favor.

When we talked to Richard Markham they 3
forgot his scarred face in the man, and he at
once became a favorite with all who met him at
the fort, for Colonel Buckner gave a dinner in
his honor. .

After four days‘ stay as the guest of the colo- ;
nel, Richard Markham started upon his return, 
Lieutenant Gibbs requesting to command the ,
escort back to the valley mines, where they I
were to join Dashing Charlie.

When Captain Markham said farewell to 001- ;
onel Buckner be grasped his hand and remark- i
ed, with deep feeling

“ Remember if aught happens to me, I shall
leave my child to your care.”

“ I will be a father to her, Richard, though I
sincerely trust that it will be many along day ,
before you pass away,” was the answer.

“ It may, and it may not; but remember your

romise.”

“ I will not forget.”

Thus they parted, and the march back to the
valley mines was begun.

It was the evening of the second day when
they came in sight of the lone cabin of the dead
miner.

Dashing Charlie was seated in front of the
door smoking his pipe, but greeted them with a
wave of his hat as they drew near.

The lieutenant ordered the thirty soldiers into
camp in the valley, and with Captain Markham
joined the scout.

“ I am glad to see on back in safety. Captain
Markham, for the ountaiu Marauders robbed
the coach on the Santa Fe Trail two nights ago,
and also made a raid upon several miners’ cabins
not far from here.

“ I suppose they thought you had carried your
gold with you to the fort, taking advantage of
going with the soldiers, or they would doubtless
have paid me a visit.”

“ it is well for them they did not, Dashin
Charlie, for they would have otten lead instea
of gold, I am sure,” said the ieutenant, with a

ugh.
“ I would have iven them the best reception
in my power, sir; ut did on not see an y traces

of them in the mountains, or you came through .-

their range?”

“ My guide said that there had been parties
of horsemen along just before us, but if they 1
meditated an ambush they concluded we were a

i ever to live in my heart, and the memory of
those who love on.”
He brushed rom his eyes the tears that had
gathered there, and turning, left the cabin.
i Without he found the lieutenant and Dashing
Charlie watching the pre arations of the soldier
‘ cook for the evening mea .
The sun was going down beneath the horizon
i of mountains far away, and the shadows were
? creeping Over the valley; but the clouds were
sing away from the long-suffering heart of
ichard Markham.

CHAPTER XLI.
THE WRONG HORSE.

WHEN left alone by Captain Markham and
the soldiers, who had gone to the fort, Dashing
Charlie set to work to arrange against a sur-
prise and trouble.

Poker Paul offered to remain with him, say-
ing that his clerk could run the Den of Destiny
a; well as he could, and Iron Ike made a like
0 er.

But Dashing Charlie declined their kind offer
with thanks, and added that he did not expect
any trouble, and as for the gold, he would be
res nsible for its safety.

he moment he was left alone he made his

way, with two bags at a time, to the secret
cavern and put it safely awn y.

Replacing the trap as he had found it, Dash-

 

; ing Charlie returned to his cabin, reloaded all

the weapons found there and arranged for re-
:istance if there should be an attack made upon
im.
He had asked Poker Paul to tell Doctor
(21le that he wished to see him, to pay of! the
debt owed him by Markham, the miner, for

, professional services, and also to send any one

else who held a claim against the dead man in
the camps, to come with their bills.
To pay them he had kept out a certain

‘ amount of gold, and hidden it away in the

cabin.

Having cooked his supper, he leaked to his
and Captain Markham’s horses, for the ran-
chero had ridden the animal belonging to his
brotiher, as his own was just off from a long
trial .

Then he retired to the cabin, as night had
come on, and throwing some logs upon the fire,
sat down to meditate.

The fact that half a dozen men had died there
in the door that day, most of them by his hand,
and that the red stains were in full view of
where he sat, did not seem to disturb his con-
science in the least.

Nor did it trouble him in the least that be-
neath his feet, almost, lay the cold form of the

» old miner. who had, as he was doing then, sat

in that same chair, night after night, for long
ears.
y He smoked his ipe, and was as serene as a
May morn, also un isturbed by the thought that
he was the sole guardian of near] a quarter of
a million in go] , gold which ha caused much
anxiety, bickering and longing in the mining
settlement, and which had nearly cost him his
life that day
And as he sat there in meditation, pulling
away at his ipe, he was startled by a loud snort

too strong for them.  from the litt e valley back of the cabin.

“ But here is an ofllcial paper for you, Charlie,
from the colonel.”

“ Ah! Comanche scents ,danger, and is warn-
i in me,” he said.

3; Thank you, sir, and pardon me until I read ' e arose and went to the door imd listened,

l

‘ though he dared not open it with the bright tire-

The official paper was along one, and Dashing ‘ light within.

Charlie read i
joined the lieutenant and Ca tain Markham.
The latter had one into t ecabin, and stood
gazing at the spot th which rested the form
of his brother.
Memories of the bitter past flooded upon him
as he stood there, and he mused aloud:
“ The early years began with sorrow and tem-

pest.

“It divided you, Dick from me, and though
you sought my life, I believe it was in a moment
when you knew not what you did.

“ I, thr h Beatrice, saved you from im-

risonment, rom, as we then believed, the -
ows, for no one thought I could live, woun ed

as was.
“ Deformed by my burns, I yet won that dear I

woman who became my wife, and left me an
image of herself to love when dying—our beau-
tiful child.
“Your brother, Beatrice, the noble Gabriel,
made a name for himself, anda fugitiVe
too, in his early life, has become a man whom I
love as my own brother.

“ And you, r Matt, 1 ing here beneath my
feet, I gladly orgave, an was happy in being
near you at the end. -

“And to my child you left your hard-earned
fortune, won ’mid deadly dangers and hard-
ships untold, a farm. so many sought to rob

you of.

“ Well, the clouds have gone by, and Iremem-
/’ bar you now only with pleasure at our reunion,
that I was able to give you a moment of joy in
your last moments on earth.

“ What is before me, Dick, my brother, God
only knows; but until the end will I remember
this spot, this grave beneath the arches of your .
page, unmarked by stone as you requested, but

twice through before he again I

a1 1 lion, shakin

' A few moments of silence passed, and then
came another snort, an angry neigh, and imme-
diately following was heard a wild, unearthly
scream in a man's voice.
i “ Ah! Comanche has caught some 0.
“ I must go to aid the 00d horse.’
So saying, he quickly uug a blanket before
I the tire, shuttin out the light, and open-
ing the doorpart y, dodged on into the dark-
ness,’revolver in hand.
| As he did so he heard the rapid clatter of
} beefs down the trail. and a moment after up to
I the cabin door gallo the splendid roan stal-
someth ng in his mouth.
“ Ah, g horse, you failed them, did you!
' “ Horse-thieves, were they, and they got the
“0% animal that time.
i “ anks, I’ll relieve you of this piece of gar-
‘ meat you have taken from our foe.
“ Good horse! now go back and enjoy our
rest and rass, for I must not expose mysel to a
‘ stray bu at, as I am ton imDOrtant a non to-
} ht to take chances of a shot in the ark.
‘ Go, good horse,” and caressing the animal
; aifectionstely for a moment, the scout sent him
' trotting back to his pasture. for he nevsr staked
, him out ex t upon rarest occasions. the horse
no more thin ing of leaving his master than a
. dot: would have done.
’ Quickly re-enteriu the cabin and barring the
. door, Dashing Char] e tOok down the blanket
from the tire and looked at the piece of garment
. he held in his hand.

 

“ I’ll see if I can match this piece of shirt in
the camps to-morrow.

“ Perhaps I can follow the trail, for it was
made after the dew fell.

“ I can try it at least.”

Folding the rag he put it carefully away in his
pocket and soon after nnrolled his blankets and
threw himself down on the cot to sleep.

He drop oil’ into slumber as quick] as an
infant, an though seemingto sleep deep yarose
on the instant as the deep hoot of an owl was
heard not far away.

“Ah! Owl or outlaw, I wonder?

“ I’ll wait to hear it a second time.”

Soon again came the boot, and instantly he
lay down again With the simple remark:

“ There are feathers on that bird.”

Again he slept soundly hut awakened with a
start when the yelp of coyotes was heard out-
side.

He listened a moment and said:

“They scent the blood on the ground.

“ They are all right.”

Again he slept and not until the dawn came
did he arouse himself.

Then he sprung up from the cot and was ready
for what the day had in store for him, be it what
it might.

 

CHAPTER XLTi.
DASHING CHARLIE nssus saws FROM POKER

PAUL.
Dasnme CHARLIE was cautious, as all imive
men are.
He did not venture out of the cabin. oven in
the daylight, until he had reconnoiiei- ii L'H‘Ollgh

the “ peep-holes,” Whii-h Miner M» rs. l‘iiLu uni
wisely put in his cabin when he built it.

The scout knew how easy it would be for a
foe in ambush to pick him off as he stepped out,
of the door of the cabin.

Hence he was cautious.

He then gave a long, peculiar whistle and it
was promptly answered by a neigh, followel by
clattering hoofs.

Then Comanche trotted up to the door.

“ It’s all right, old horse, is it?”

The stallion nodded in a knowing way, and
Dashing Charlie stepped out of the door.

No danger lurked near, so he threw wood 0'!
the fire, and taking a bucket went to the Spring
for fresh water.

He saw in the pasture the horse of Captain
Markham dragging his stake-rope.

“Ah! that was pulled up, was that stake.

“You saw him do it, Comanche, so went to
the rescue.

“ That was right.

“ Now to look for trails.”

The scout spent half an hour searching the
ground, found a trail for the prairies and fol-
lowed it.

It led past the cabin down to where it joined
another one.

“ Some one waited here on horseback for the
horse-thief to return.

“ Then both of them fled empty-handed.

“Now to get breakfast, and then tor a ride
into the camps.”

As soon as he had eaten his breakfast, and he
enjoyed it with all the nest of a strong, hungry
man, Dashing Charlie called for Comanche,
threw his saddle and bridle on, locked the cabin
door and rode away. ‘

He readin followed the trail, in spte of the
numerous others.

It led toward the mining camps, but branched
of! at the first cabin and went to a mountain

ur.
8p“ 1’” go to the camps first, for I know where
that trail leads," he muttered.

He reached the camps soon. which c"nsisted
of several hundred cabins spread out in each
side of a narrow valley for a Couple of miles or
more.

In the most convenient spot was a tavern or
two, several gambling and liquor saloons, the
blacksmith-sho of Iron Ike, and a store of con-
siderable m tude.

One of thflost conspicuous places that went
to make up Mining City. or Vallev Mines City,
as it was also called, was Poker Paul’s Den of
Destiny.

This was a large shanty, and a gambling~
saloon pure and simple. _

It was never closed day or night or Sunday,
for Poker Paul had  and night men to run
his games for him, and e was wont to divide his
own time up so as to be on hand in the mornings
and the first part of the nights,

so Poker Paul was on hand when Dashing
Charlie rode up, dismounted and entered.

“ Ho, pard, glad to see you," he called out,
cheerily.

The scout had met a dossn or more men he
recognized as having been in the crowd against
him on the day before, but had been greeted in
a friendly way byjthem as he came along.

" Did you tell octor Quick I wished to have
him see me to-day, Poker Paul?" asked Dashing

“ It is a pieceof a woolen shirt, and torn from " Char

the breast, for hereon two of the buttons in ‘

' front.

E “ You gave him a severe nip, Comanche, i'll

‘ bot high on it. and he was only too sled to set
away.

rr‘m...
I' ‘ . ‘

lie.
“No. I did not.”

“ I asked you to do so.”

“True. but as (you saw Old Rhubarb here
last night ’yoursel , I concluded you would let
him know.

.Vé

 

 

l

~r=

«ea

Dashing Charlie’s Double.

19’

 

 

I
“I saw Old Rhubarb here last night?” said
Da‘sgirng ’Charlie, in amazement.
‘ es.

“ Last night.”

" At what time?"

“ Twelve o’clock.”

“ Are you dreaming, Paul!”

H No.”

“ You say that I was here last night?”

“ Of course I do.”

(I I was not.”

“ Come, Charlie, no monkey business with
me."

“ I say I was not here.”

“ Last night!”

(I Yes.”

“ I sa you were.”

“ See ere, Poker Paul, my Double must be
abroad again, for I did not leave the cabin of
Matt Markham last night.”

“ The deuce you say I"

“ I mean it.”

“ Then it was your Double.”

“ He was here?”

“ He was.”

“ You saw him?”

“ I did.”

“ And mistook him for me?”

“ I did.”

“ Did you talk wish him?"

it yres.n

“ And supposed it was me?"

“ I never had the slightest doubt of it, Dash-‘

ing Charlie.”

“ And others saw him!"

“Sure.”

“ Who else?”

“Well, Torment, my clerk.”

“ Who else?"
i “ 91d Rhubarb was here when you came
11—

“ You mean my Diuble?”

“ Yes, if you say so.”

“ Well, I do; but then i”

“I laughed as I caught a view of Old Rhu-
barb’s face when he saw you—your Double, I

mean.

“ He looked badly scared, but you nodded to
him pleasantly, took a drink, got Remsen to go
to the store with (you to get something you
wished to buy, an stopped and had a word
With Old Rhubarb.”

“ And all believed it was me?”

“ All who saw your Double, yes.”

“ Remsen went to the store with him?”

N Yes.”

“ Did he come back i”

“ Who!”

“My Double."

“ No, but Remsen did, and he said you made
considerable of a purchase.”

“ Well, Poker Paul, I have no reason to doubt
you, and so I say 1 must find this Double of
mine.

“ Did he’pay for the drink he got?”

“ Yes, and treated others.”

“ Let me see the mone .” _

Poker Paul got the bill and Dashing Charlie
said romptly:

“ his is a counterfeit.

~“ Now come with me to see Remsen and Doc-
tor Quick.”

 

CHAPTER XLIII.
THI CUUNTIRFEITIR.
THE starekeeper at Valley Camps called out
to Dashing Charlie as he enterdd with Poker

I Paul:

“ Ho, DashingICharlie. glad to see you in the
cam s again th morning.

“ hat can I do for you!”

I: was a lax time at the store, in fact the
camps were never livelg‘in the morning unless
it was a holiday or Sun y. ‘

" When do you remember seeing me last, Rem-
sen P’iasked the scout. ,

“ Why last night of course. ’

“ Was I here last night, Pard Remsen t"

“ by, Charlie, were you drunk?"

“ No. ’ .

“ Well, I noticed that you had had a grop,
but I didn’t think you were so bad as that.

“ As what!” ”

“ Not to remember you were here.

“ I do not remember it." _

“ Why You got me to come over with you
from the Den, .and made a number of pur-
chases.”

“ Dld I pay you for them?”

“ No, I slated them as you asked me to do.”

“ How much was the bill!”

The man turned to his book and answered:

“ Ammunition, grocerie a pair of blankets,
pairiof boots and hat—in a l sixty dollars.”

“ t is a pity I did not pay you for them.”

“ Well, on bad the money but said you had
other use or it last ni ht.”

“ How do you know had the money?”

“I changed a hundred-dollar bill for you.”

“ Have you the hill!”

‘6 Yes.”

“ Please to let me see it.”

Remeen got the note, while Poker Paul looked
on with interest.

“ Remseni”

 

“ Yes, Dashing Charlie.”

“This bill is a counterfeit.”

“ What! up to the game the doctor accused
you of, Charlie?”

“ What then i”

“ I did not give you the bill.”

“ You certainly did.” ‘

“ No, for I was not away from the cabin of
Matt, the Miner, last night. "

“ Can it be that your Double was abroad
again i"

“ It would seem so, and I wish you to take
good note of me‘ now, some peculiarity about
me, so as to be sure next time you see me that it
is not in Double.”

“ 1’11 0 it.”

“ As will I,” added Poker Paul.

“ Now, Remsen, you have been swindled but
I will either have my Double pay you back
some day, or satisfy you that you are avenged.”

, “ Do it, and I’ll call it square.”

“ Now let me ask you if you have sold a shirt
to any one this morning?”

“ Well, yes, I sold one to Old Rhubarb.”

“ Ah! what kind was it?”

“ A blue, double—breasted flannel shirt.”

“"Yes, and do you recall who you sold this one
to?

As he spoke, Dashing Charlie pulled out the i R

piece of shirt he had taken from his horse.

“ Let me see, it is hard to tell, for they are
all so much alike, but—”

“ Well?”

“ I remember these two buttons.”

“ You remember them?”

“ Yes, as I only had half a dozen on a card
like them.”

“ You know who bought them?”

is Yes."

“ Who was it?”

“ Racket Rob.”

“ Indeed?”

“ Yes, he took a fancy to them and bought
them.” “

“ And he has bought shirts from you?”

it Oh' yes.”

“ Thank you,” and then Dashing Charlie be-
gan to examine the counterfeit one-hundred-
dollar bill again.

" You gave the change for this, Remseni

(( Yes.”

“ I will give you good money for it.”

“ I am more than wiging." d

The money was pai over, an turning to
Poker Paul, Dashing Charlie said: ‘

b “ See here! the ink 'is hardly dry on this

ill.”

“ You are right.”

“ It rubs, as you notice.

“ The paper is an excellent imitation, and the
counterfeit of the die nearly perfect.

” It is a very dangerous counterfeit bill,Poker
Paul." -

“ How did your Double get it?”

“ Don‘t give a hint of it, please, and I’ll ask
Remsen to keep dark also; ut that fellow has

his press here somewhere and makes this money.” '

“ It must be so.”

“ It is so, and there is no better place than in
the mines to pass it, for the miners never notice
their money. -

“ But I must find out who this dangerous
Double of mine is."

“ Call on me, Dashing Charlie, if I can be of
any aid.” .
“ Thank you, Paul; but new I must be 01!.”

.“ Where are you going!”

“ To make a professional call upon Old Rhu-
barb and Racket Rob."

“ Better go slow; but, shall I go with you?”

“ No, thanks! I will go alone.”

And he did so.

 

CHAPTER XLIV.
PAYING orr OLD scours.

Docron qucx had his quarters in about the
most convenient iocalilt-y for the good of all the
miners, as far as seen ng his professional ser-
vices were concerned. -

His cabin was a large one. havin four rooms
in it and it was situated upon a at the base
of w ch five trails met.

It was on aspur of a range, and the cabin
commanded an extensive view down the valley
and upon each side.

The doctor was wont to “ put on airs,” for he
had in his rooms on shelves several skulls, and
suspended from a joist was a skeleton of a man
who had been hanged and whose bones he had

and mounted.

There were books on medicine, and bottles
with Latin labels, so that the avera e miner
a: deeply imWessed by a glance into quar-

He had two Chinese servants, whole “We hilt
was back of what the doctor we! P101“ed to 03“
his “ mansion."

There was his stable, and he ke t half I. do“!!!

horses as could he found in the mines.

as Igood
he_doctor was not “at home ” when Dashing
Charlie called.
“ Gone see muchee. sickee man maybe climbee
goldee stair,” said one of the Ceiestisls.

But who was likely to “ climb the golden
stairs,” the doctor or the man he had gone to
selzilthe heathen Chinese did not make exactly
p I

An appropriate view from the doctor’s cabin.
and in close proximity to it, was the “ Ghosts’
La out ” or cemetery.

i be men killed the morning before had been
buried at sunset the previous evenin , as Dash-
ing Cnarlie saw their graves as he ri e by.

‘ Well, it would have been me six feet under
ground if they had had their way," he said, as be

e on.

His destination now was to the cabin of Rack-
et Rob.

He had an idea that Racket Rob was the sick
man whom the doctor had gone to see, though
the Chinese servant did not know.

Racket Rob’s home was a hut in the mountain
wilds, about a mile from the doctor’s. ~

It was a desolate place, and he lived there all
alone, that is when he was not drunk in the
camps or beating his meals out of some of the
miners.

He was supposed to work a mine, but he only
did so when his credit became worthless and he
was driven to it. Whenever he got money he
paid his debts and with the balance went upon
a protracted racket, hence his name of Racket
ob.

The timber grew thick in the rear of Racket
Rob’s cabin, and the trail led right up into the
mountain fastnesses.

As he rode up to the cabin, Dashing Charlie
saw the doctor’s horse. staked out near, with his
saddle on and the bridle hanging upon the born.

The sorry-looking beast that Racket Rob
claimed the ownership of was staked out in the
valley, and apparently content with the sparse
food he got there.

Leaving his own animal out of sight, Dashin
Charlie made a rapid flank movement, an
gauching the cabin suddenly appeared in the

oor.

There lay Racket Rob upon his bunk, and his
shirt was off, his broad breast exposed, and upon
the chest was a bad-looking gash and bruise.

His left arm was free of bandages, and the
bullet-wound was visible.

and bandages, engaged in dressing his wounds
when Dashing Charlie appeared.
. ‘;,Good-morning, par 5, I concluded to drop

The darkening of the doorway and the words
were the first intimation the two had of the
presence of a visitor.
viRacket Rob groaned and shrunk back from

ew.

The doctor had taken of! his belt of arms, for
hebtliad again armed himself, and it lay upon the
ta e.

“ The devil !” ejaculated the doctor savagely.

“Oh, no, Charlie Emmett, and at your ser—
vice. pards,” was thesmiling reply.

“I take it you want to see Racket Rob, by
your coming here, so I will go,” said the doctor
uneasily. ,

“ Oh, no, I called to see you both—you will
remain, doctor, forI desire to see ou partic-
ularly; but you do not need your pistols, so let
them remain where they are. '

“Ah! not hurt again, are you, Racket Rob?
Why} that looks like an ugly wound."

“ as; that cussed horse of mine kicked me,"
growled the man.

“Indeed! now, I would say that looked more.
like the bite of a horse than a kick.

“ What do you say, Doc!”

“ It‘s a kick.”

‘ I didn’t think, from the'looks of our horse,
that be had the energyto get his eels up so
high, Racket Rob.”

‘ Waal, he did."

“ Now, my horse is a kicker, and a biter, too.

“See here, he bit this piece out of a man’s
shirt last night that came to steal Mr. Mark-
ham’s horse—yes, here is the shirt he tore it
from, and I see you have the new one the doc—
tornbought you at Remsen’s all ready to put
on. .

Dashing Charlie took up the old shirt as he
spoke, with the tear in it, and matched the hole
with the piece he had bro ht with him.

The doctor was silent an uneasy, and Racket
tIflob looked like a man crushed by some terrible

ow.

Dashing Charlie was smiling and as cool as an
icicle as he went on to say:

“ I came to payoff some old scores, pards, and
we will get down to business without dehy.”

CHAPTER XLV. '
'rns: rsanar.

In moving about the room, Dashing Charliei
had gotten between the men and the table upon.
which lay his belt-of-srms.

! Seating himself coolly upon the table and face
! ing the two villains, he said:

' “Now, see here, pards, I wish you to take
heed of what I sav.

” Although arms captured in war, Doc. are
the spoils of the victor, I have brought yours
back to you. and with them will uiye ) on a piece
of advice gratis, and that is to never attempt to
 them upon me.

 

The doctor was bending over him with lint- ,

 

 
 

2O

“ I see that you have other weapons here, so I
offer the same advice regarding them.

“ Now, as I am talking to you, let me say also
that I have instructions to pa you your bill for
services rendered to the late atthew Markham,
:miner.

“ How much is it?”

“ I made in all one hundred and fifty visits.”

“ At how much a visit?”

“ Five dollais."

"‘ Well?”

“‘ Then I supplied medicines, and, altogether,
for remaining all night a number of times, it is
just one thousand dollars.”

“ Modest, very; but I would not dispute the
bill if it was a true one."

“ Sir l"

“ Don t get indignant because I have trapped
you in a. lie, for I have Remsen’s visit for medio
cines, so you furnished nothing.

“ You remained one night, when it stormed,
all night at the cabin, to benefit yourself, that is
all

“ As to the number of visits,” and Dashing
Charlie took a note-book from his DUCKGt.
“ You made just thirty-three by night and
seventy by day.

“ Your hill, Doctor Quick, amounts therefore
to just four hundred and forty-nine dollars, you
having multiplied it by two, or made it out
when you were drunk, so that you an w double—
'you are used to set-in; doubles, you knoW."

” Iieave the money, then, at Remsen’s for

e
“ No, I shall be at Matt Markham’s cabin this
afternoon, so come after it.”

“ I a u too busy.”

“ Then you Will lose it."

“ I’ll semi for it.” .

“ Corne, don’t be a coward as well as a villain,
for if I ‘ i-hed to do you any harm, I have you
.now wholi y at my mercy.

” Come for the money and I’ll pay it to you,
and if \ on are afraid to come alone, bring any
one with you that you please.”

“ I'll come.”

“ Come by day, let me suggest, and not by
night, as you did last night."

“ I came last night?"

“ O i, yes, along with Racket Rob.

“ You hitched yourhorses some distance from
the cabin, and-—’

“ It 13 not so. "’

“ It n u lie.”

“ I can foll0w a trail, gentlemen, begging the
pardon of those who are gentlemen for calling
you so.

“ I know tracks when I see them, and if any-
thing more was wanting, sir, I have this piece
to match what is torn from Racket Rob‘s shirt.

“ My horse is as good as a watch-dog.

“ You were discovered, and how you escaped
’with- Iut his killing you I do not know.

“ Better nut try it again, Racket Rob, you
and the Doc, for I knew of our visit when it
occurred, but left Comanche drive you off.

“ Now, Doc, you better patch Racket Rob up
again, for he needs'it.

“ The wound I gave him is healing, I see.”

“bThe wound you gave me!" cried Racket

.3
“Yes, for I shot you in the arm as you ran
:awa from Matt Markham’s cabin.”
“ was not there.”
“ Oh, yes you were, for I came over here the
same night and found the doctor here patching

you up.

“ You lied about the way you got the wound,
but I know.”

" it is not so.”

Dashing Charlie laughed.

He seemed to enjoy the discomflture of the
two men.

Then he said:

“ You both tried to hang me esterday, and
Captain Richard Markham as we l.

‘ To hang a man by the dead body of his bro—
ther whom you were r ing to rob.

“Now you, Racket b, swore falsely When
, on said that you did not know Richard Mark-

am, for you remember him but too well as he
has good cause to remember you. -

“ also knew that you were snooping around
the cabin for no good last night, trging to get a
shot at me and find that hidden oi .

" You are determined to get t and will plot
to do so; but I warn you that if I catch you at
any funny business I will see that you are
stretched up with a rope ten minutes after, for
' I can hang you both.

“ Mark my words, I said, hang you both.”

“ You have no proof that I ever did a wrong
act,” pviuipously said the doctor. -

" Haven‘t If

M No In .

“ Well, just force me to spring a trap on you,
doctor, and see.

“ Men of your skill, for I admit that you
know your business thoroughlyhgon‘s hide in

mining-camps away from t ir families,
'when—”
“My famil 1” the doctor.

“So I sai , an mean it, and I might {give
, on further proof that I know you are a ugi-

ve from justice if I wished.

“ You are useful here in the mines, you are

0

making a fortune by easy work, so be content,
and don’t try to get rich suddenly by robbing a
dead man.

“ Now I have threatened you both, so beware,
for I mean all that I have said.

“ Call, Dec, and get your monefii and call
soon. for I am squaring up Matt arkham’s
accounts with the world according to his writ—
ten instructions.

“ Good-day, gentlemen," and Dashing Charlie
walked out of the cabin.

The doctor/made a half effort to seize his re-
volvers. but saw an eye glancing over the shoul-
der of the scout, so re'rained, and soon after
they heard the clatter or boots as Dashing Char-
lie rode down the trail to the camps.

 

CHAPTER. XLVI.

DISAPPOINTED 0UTLAVVS——AN UNHEEDED WARN-
ING.

DASBING CHARLIE returned leisurely to the
cam p‘.

He seemed well satisfied with his visit, and
stopped at the tavern and had dinner with Poker
Paul and Renisen.

They told him others who had seen his Double
the night before, and gave him their opinion of
the result of the battle at the miner’s cabin the
day before.

here who say the men you killed should be
aven ed.

“ hen there are a number of men who believe
still that you are playing this double racket
yourself,” said Poker Paul.

“ And there is considerable feeling against me
then i”

“ Yes, so you must be more than careful.”

“ Yes, there are a number who still want old
Matt’s gold, and they will give you trouble if
they can," Remsen said.

“ Well, they'll not get the miner’s gold, they
may be sure of that; but, Remsen, I wish to give
you an order for provisions to put up, and you
can deliver them to Rifle Ben when they are
read .”

“ ll right, Dashing Charlie, when will you
want them?”

“ Have them ready and I’ll send Rifle Ben for
them when they are needed.”

“ All right.”

“ Now have you any pack-mules?”

“ Yes. some fine ones.”

“Well, I will need half a dozen, with pack-
saddles also.” .

“ I’ll have them for on.”

“ ive me your bill or all, and I’ll pay it any
time.”

“ I have no fear of you, Charlie.”

“Yes; but this is not my picnic.”

“ You do the paying, though."

“ Yes, for another.

“ Now I believe there is nothing else, so I’ll be
off, only, if you see my Double again, catch him
for me— N i, let me do that, upon second
thought, for 1 Wish the fun of it. '

And, tin-outing himself upon his horse, Dash—
ingICharlie rode out cf the camps.

e did not take the t’lll to the miner’s cabin
but rode on up the valley toward a group of
cabins where half a. hundred miners had located
their homes.

Before one of these cabins he halted, and a
man came forth to meet him.

Hi was a man of hercuiean build. dressed in
buckskin, even to his moccasins, and wore on
his head a wildcat-skin hat, the tail hanging
down his back.

He had a belt-of-arms about his waist, and
amigh at home, carried his rifle swung to his

c .

In fact, he was never seen without it, and so
had gained the name of Rifle Ben.

His face was heavily bearded, his hair very
long, but there was manliness and courage in
every feature, and he had a smile as sweet as a
woman’s though eyes that flashed like a tiger’s
in anger. '

The man smiled in his pleasant way as he saw
who his visitor was, and said:

“glad to see you, Dashing Charlie—come for
me

“ Not yet, Rifle Ben; I only came to say that
I wish you to go to Remsen s the fourth ni ht
from this and get the provisions he has tune or

me.

“ Also half a dozen pack-mules and saddles.

“ Go late, so as to get them from his rear door
after closing time, and bring them to the cabin
of Matt Markham.

“ I will be waitin for on there.”

“ I’ll be on hand, ash ng Charlie,on time.”

“ And the other men, Rifle Ben?”

“ They are loaflng now, as I am, waiting or-
den.”

“ Four of them I want.” , 

“ I have ’em ready whenyou need them.”

“ When you bring the provisions and mules to
the cabin, then be ready to come with your men
at a moment’s notice.”

“ Count on me, Dashing Charlie,” was the an—
swer.

 

And the scout rode on his way once more.
He now turned into the trail, leading to-

s

1
“They do not blame you, Dashing Charlie, '0
after all; but there are some crooked fellows ‘

 

Dashing Charlie’s Double.

ward the miner's cabin, as he was anxious ii»).
to remain away too long.

He had no idea that the gold could ever be
found,from his own experience in putting it
away.

Still he wished to” keep near the cabin to be
on band should anything turn up of a disagree-
able nature. ,

As he drew near the cabinihe saw something
white sticking upon the‘d'oor'.

Drawing nearer, he discovered it to be _a
placard, but he rode on b and put his horse in
the valley where the animal belonging to Cap-
tain Markham was feeding.

“ Well, you are safe, old fellow, whoever has
been here to call in my absence,” he said, as he
led the horses to water.

Then he made his way rapidly toward the
cabin, and stopcped before the door while he
gazed at the car thereon.

1t was a. sheet of white paper, stuck on with
wooden pegs.

Upon it was written, in a bold hand and in
red ink, as follows:

“ DOOMEDI
“ Dashing Charlie is hereby warned that his doom
is sealed.
" Night and day he will be shadowed. and at the
right time the blow wiil be struck that lays him

w.
“ Would he save his life let him leavo the mining
country within three days, for his purpose in com-
ing here is known.
“ Let him heed this warning. the first, the last, or
suffer the terrible consequences.
' Maximo run MIXICAN. "

Dashing Charlie’s face flushed as he read
this, and from between his set teeth me the
words:

“ A threatened man is long-lived.

“ I heed no warnings. and remain.

“ I did hope to return to Texas with Captain
Markham, but now I shall remain here.

“ I will burn the cabin as poor old Markham re-
quested should be done over his grave, but the
cave over yonder is good enough for me, and
here I shall stay.”

CHAPTER XLVII.
rim BORDER many.

WHEN Muello, the Mexican, discovered that
Dashing Charlie had foiled him, that he had
slipped throu h his lines with Richard Mark-
ham, it will remembered that he sent his
men to a retreat while he rode on toward the

camp.

He half thought that if the two men had at.
tempted to flank his ambush by ing down the
stream that they had lost their fies.

He therefore was anxious to know, and if so,
the chances were still in his favor of securing
the gold of Matt Markham.

He 9would :not yield this up for a t deal,
:9 matter what the danger and hards ip before

III].
So he rode on his way toward the valley

cam .
Hg. seemed to know his way well, for he found
no difllculty in following the trail.
At length he left the beaten track and rode
on up the mountain, turning squarely OR to the

right.

A ride of half a mile brought him to a cabin
situated in a small clearing.

It was a small but, not over ei ht feet s uare,
hit; a stone chimney, and was uiit against a
c i .

The view in his front was an extensive one,
looking as it did directly down upon the valley
camps.

Before the door of the hut sat a man with long
iron—gray beard and hair.

He was known as Hunter Dave, and from dig-
ging no gold out of the mines, had taken to

unting, selling game to the miners who had no
time to hunt themselvea

He had a surly face and looked like anything
but a boon com on.

“ Well, cap’n ’ he said with a growl, though
he arose and saluted as the outlaw chief rode up
to his door. ‘

“ What news have you, Dave?" asked the
chief, unmindful of his salute.

“ N othin’, onless it be that old Markham i.

1?

sad.

“ Deadi" cried the chief in a ed way. ;

“ Yas, I seen a man two hours ago as said he
heard he was dead. “PM”

“ Well I will soon know about it, for I am
goin to he camps.”

“ or has heerd tell 0’ thet pitcher, cap’ni”

“ You mean the itcher that was taken once
too often to the we if”

“Thet same.”

" Well, you draw the conclusion that I will go
once too 0 ten to the camps?”

“ I does.”

“ It may be so, Dave, but I must take the
chances, so get out my rig for me and I’ll put it
on.

The man entered the cabin and soon returned
with an old saddle and bridle, which he put on
one or two somewhat sorry-looking horses in the
rear of his home.

Then the chief entered, and half an Vour After

i

“o

 

ct?

 

(t?

 

Dashing Charliels DOuble.

21

 

 

a man came out who bore no resemblance what-
ever to him.

It was apparently a man with a heavy iron-
gray beard and long hair.

He Had a bump upon his rounded shoulders,
wore an old blue blanket coat, slouch hat much
tattered. and corduroy pants patched here and
there, the ends being stuck in a pair of heavy
rawhide boots.

He had a pair of iron-rimmed spectacles, and
a dirty silk handkerchief was tied about his neck
as though he was cold.

His hands were dirtobegrimed, and he looked
like a perfect border tramp.

He carried an old rifle anda pair of antiquated
revolvers, in addition to which he had an lndian
scalping-knife and hatchet.

Upon the back of his saddle was a roll of blan-
ket and a canvas—bag for provisions, and alto-
{other man, horse and outfit were most sorry-
ooking indeed.

- How do i strike you now, Dave?” he said, as
i - wunted his horse.

' U 1, you’ll do, cap‘n, if some fellow don’t see
through yer rig some day.”

“ l‘ll risk it. '

“ When will you be back ag’in, Cap?”

“Look for me at any time, and don’t leave
until I return.”

“I wishes yer’d fetch me a leetle provisions
back with yer, cap’n, for I is about out 0’ grub.”

"Always begging, Dave, you are; but I won’t
for et you.’

ith this the man rode away on his darin
visit into the mining valley, for, disgui
though he was, he ran great risks from the
many keen-eyed men there.

His disguise, however, was rfect, for the
straggling, bushy, unkempt Wig of iron-gray
hair which he wore completely concealed the fact
that his heard was false, aided also by the silk
muffler about his neck.

Then, too, the hump on his back looked natu-
ral, and altogether he looked like acreature to
commiserate.

Down toward the valley he rode, and as he
neared the camps he suddenly came upon Dash-
ing Charle riding in the same direction.

“ Hell 1, ramp Tomi I have not seen you for
a week of Sundays.” called out the soout, as he
caught sight of the man who was known as
Tramp Tom and the Border Tramp.

Who he was no one appeared to know, but at
regular intervals he would come to the mines
and always as a beggar. while it is needless to
say that he' as regularly received financial aid
from the miners.

“No; I has been on my rounds of the mines,
Dashing Charlie, a-working hard.”

“ I agree with you, for it is hard work tohave
nothing to do but to eat 'sleep and roam about;
but here is my quota, Tramp Tom, for I know
you are bu’sted.”

And the scout handed him a two-dollar bill.

“ Dead broke, Charlie dear, as I allus is.

“ Yer see, I is a peramhulatin’ missionary for
the Salvation Army, and has ter send my col'
lectifins to themI fr thgr heathen, ’ceptin’ a
sma percentage oops.

“ Yes, a healthy missionary you are, Tramp
Tom; but Idon’t believe there is any harm in

you.

“ Good-by. for I must go on, and that is not
exactly a race-horse you are mounted on.”

“ Not exactly, Charlie; but he’ll git thar all
that same of yer gives him time.

“ I’ll see yer later, Charlie—

“ Day-day,” and the man waved his hand to
the scout as the latter hastened on toward the
am I
Tut: mission of Dashing Charlie to the camps
has already been seen, in is visit toPoker Paul,
Remsen, the doctor and Racket Rob, after
which he returned to the cabin of Matt Mark-
ham to find the placard upon the door, threaten-
ing him with an unknown doom.

Had the scout seen the Border Tramp turn
back, after he galloped on ahead he would have
known the one who placed that placard there.

But he held not a suspicion against the seem-
ing old vagabond.

CHAPTER XLVIiI.
ran nonnn. TEAM? ON A TRAIL.

WHEN Dsshmg Charlie had passed on, the
outlaw who was playing so well the part of a
Border Tramp, rode on after him for a short
distance. . .

Then he wheeled and rode back On the trail
the scout had come.

“So he did foil me after all, did slip through
my fingers?

“ Well, he brought the miner’s brother with
him, and that means that he will take the for-
tune back to Texas with him,

“ So be it, for it will suit my dplans the better.

” And old Matt Markham is , is he! -

" Died in bed after all! . ~ _

" Well he has mined many achance to die
with his mom on.

" He has escaped all my plotting. _

“ I could have killed him a score of times. yes,
had he had that many lives; but with his death
thesecret would have gone with him of where
his gold was buried. I

“ the old miner always had a little gift of

\\

 

gold for Tom the Border Tramp, so I will go by
and give a call, pretending I do not know he is
dead.

“ Maybe after all he is not.

“Some one will be there, though, and .can;

give me full particulars.
“ Then I can go to the camps, rake in a little

one else the danger in keeping the gold of the
dead miner in such close prommity to the
Mountain Marauders.

He also knew that the greattst care must be‘
resorted to in getting the treamire away from

‘ the mines.

Cash and more news, for my ,spy there must .

have news for me of some kind.’

And so musing the man rode on alon
trail which Dashing Charlie had come.
him to the cabin of the dead miner.

“ All seems deserted there,” he muttered.

But up to the d00r he rode, dismounted and
hailed.

No answer came.

He hailed again.

The result was the same.

“ Gone, certain,” he said, and hitching his
horse, he began to look about him.

“ Ah ! hundreds of tracks here.

“ Then he is dead, and the miners have been
to his funeral.

“ What does that mean!

“ The door is all stained with blood, and see
how the 10 3 here are filled with bullets.

“ There 8 been hot work here I am sure.

“ The old miner died‘. with his boots on, af-
ter all, I judge, or appearances here are deceiv-

ng.

“ Let me see what it was all about—if I can.”

He moved about slowly and thoughtfully, but
after some time shook his head as though the
reading of the si n was beyond him, splendid
plainsman though e was.

“ Where is his brother, I wonder?

“ The door is locked, that is certain , but I
must find out by a trip to the camps.

“ That man’s gold I will not lose.

the
t led

“ He is dead, his place is deserted, and I have ‘

to strike a trail to solve the mystery.
1 “ #h! there is a horse staked out in the val-
ey.

He went quickly down toward the home of
Captain Markham and examined closely.

‘ Well, this is a fine animal , and his being
staked outthere proves that some one is coming

bac .

“ Dialling Charlie had just come from here,
he was going to the camps, and he will return,
that is certain. I

“ I will also 0 to the camps, as econ as I have
taken acloser ook about. now that there is no
one here to observe me.

“ This trail leads somewhere.”

It led him to the deserted cave, and he glanced
curiously about him.

“ I guess this was the old man’s home until he
built his cabin,” he muttered, little dreaming
that the coveted gold he sought was within a
few feet of his head.

But there was nothing to indicate the cave
ova-head, and so he retraced his way to the
ca n.

Then he took from his pocket a sheet of
a small bottle of ink and a pen. "per,

Seati himself upon a bench, he wrote the
Discard t at the reader knows of, and, cutting
some pegs of wood, stuck it upon the door.

Then he took great ins to obliterate his own
and the hoOf-tracks 0 his horse.

He at last acoom lished this, and mounting
{fir down on the trail, rode on toward the min-

cam

e di not care to meet Dashing Charlie again,
so made his wa by another trail, passing in do-
ing so the and. of Rifle Ben, who gave him a
few dol in charity. *

As he rode on, he espied Dashing Chum 00'”
{fig along the very trail he had taken to avoid

m.

Quickly he sought cover, and remained there
until Dashin Charlie by.

“ How 5y I coul pick him off.

“ But I dare not.

“NO. I must hide my time; and all things
come to those who wait.” ‘

When Dashing Charlie had passed by on his
We to see Rifle Ben, and not suspecting a foe
lur ed so near, the Border Tramp again mount-
ed his horse and rode on.

He made his way straight to the tavern and
put up his horse in the stable, while he asked for
arToginhal idld vin hi

‘ 0 Way! otthe an or gi gt a
much to charity ingtaking care, as he believed,
0‘ 8 poor vagabond, a homeless wretch hasten-
!”8 onto the grave, and one who did not often
"n u on his kindness.

hat n ht feund Tom, the Border Tramp, in
the Den 0 Destiny, watching the gambling and
00min! in for a present from any miner who
'0'] a  stake.
. It was midnight when he left the Den of Des-
tm 9 3nd, $01113 to the stable, mOunted his horse
an“ rode away muttering to himself:

YOU. have found out all I wish to know;

and now to .
Tens.” caPture that gold on its wayto

CHAPTER XLIX.
PAVING Tait WAY.
This return of Captain Richard Markham to
the cabin or his brother was welcomed by "10
scout with pleasure.

He understood more thoroughly than did “‘3

 

There were a number of the more lawless of
the men in the mines who would be only too
glad of a chance to get hold of the gold under
an g pretext whatever.

att Markham had been the most successful
miner of them all, and he had held aloof from
the others.

He had sought no favors, mingled with none
of them and had been very silent about the gold.
he was getting.

He did not drink or gamble, and hence with
many he was disliked.

His brother was a stranger, and he came to.
take the gold away from the mines, so was at
once unpopular.

Then his coming had caused bloodshed and
so altogether the miners felt bitterly toward one
they unjustly regarded.” a man who «-me to-
dvprive them of gold which they held no claim,
on whatsoever.

in addition to this feeling of ugliness on the
p'irt of the miners, Dashing Charlie knew that
the Mountain Marauders would be far more
anxious than ever to get hold of the rich prize.

His experience in going to Texas and return-
ing, had shown him how closely on the watch
the outlaws were for the treasure.

The placard on the cabin door dooming' him to
an unknown fate told him that they were about,
and he was well aWare that they had su-iesin.
the camps who would report all the movements
of those who were to guard the treasure.

Muello the Marauder was a dangerous man.
a skillful commander, and had a good force of
men ready to obey his bidding, and that all of
them were in the Vicinity of the trails going
southward, recent occurrences had proven.

So it was that under these circumstanies, all
things considered, Dashing Charlie was most
anxious to have the captain return from the
fort and depart with his treasure.

\Vhen the rant-hero did arrive, and under a
strong escort, at whose head was Lieuteth
Gibbs, Dashing Charlie felt that the removal of
the treasure was an easy matter. for he sup-
posed the soldiers would be a guard.

But a few words dissipated this idea, and the
scout knew that the young officer must obey
ghe orders given him and return at once to the
ort.

That night in the cabin the affair was talked"
over between the scout, the officer and the ran--
chero. ,

The young lieutenant would have given much-
to have gone as the escort of the ranchero, but
001 hid not do so without proper authority, yet
sai :

"i will make a scout through the range and
see if I cannot scatter or scare these tutlaws so
that on can follow unmoleeted.”

“ thank you, lieutenant, but Dashing Chm
lie has secured for me a most competent gukie, ,
with four good men besides, so there will be sin
of us, and I hardly believe that the outlaws.
would dare attack that many.”

“ Oh yes, Muelio will dare do anything to
gain his ends, Captain Markham, and I would
be lad to get a force double the number you
wilf have, only there are so few men who would
take the trail whom you can trust, as your es-
cort might prove 3' our robbers.”

f‘ Yes, there is danger of that,” the lieutenant

said.

“ Well, I must take the chances at any rate,
for I am anxious to get k home, as my
daughter will be most anxious about my long
stay, for we will be able to only make short
journeys each day on the return.’

“ I can vouch for Rifle Ben, Captain Mark-
ham, and the men you will have, and I did
think it would be well to start back with the
lieutenant and thus make the show that the
military was to you.”

“ The very thing and I’ll stretch a point and
go as far as I possiny can,” announced the oili-
oer.

“ No, I will not ask that, lieutenant," remark-
ed Captain Markham; “ i know that tLere is a
special review and drills called at the fort, and
you’ll just have time to return for them, while
it is necessary for you to be there.

“ No, we will start together and that will give
the idea thatI am to havn an escort, so I will
antici te no further trouble."

'ng Charlie sat silently for a moment, lost
in deep thought.

At last he said:

“I think that l have a plan that maybea
good one.” ,

“ Out with it, Charlie,” said Lieutenant
Gibbs.

“ Yes, we are open to all good suggestions,
Emmett,” the ranchero remarked, and he
added:

“ i know that you are full of them too.”

“ Now I know this Mexican Muello to be a
very cunning man, and he would suspect the
blind regarding the soldier esciirt l mu sure,

; and follow With his force to Strike wb- n you bid

left the outfit, lieutenant.”

\

 

22

Dashing Charlie’s Double.

 

 

“ Very true.”

“ Now my plan is to outwit him by cunning,
for we can send a few men with the soldiers,
having ack-mules and all, and they. being light,
can pus rapidly ahead, make a flank movement
and regain the camps, while you, captain, can
lie in hiding here with your party, and, after
the others have gone I will guide you on your
wa by the lower trail.”

‘ The very thing,” cried the officer and ranch-
ero together.

“Dashing Charlie, you are a trump,” added
Lieutenant Gibbs. __

CHAPTER L.
THE scours RUSE.

HAVING hit upon a plan to elude the outlaws
with the gold train, it was talked over carefully,
and Dashing Charlie made some valuable sug-
gestions.

“ ln the first place, Captain Markham, though
it will be more expensive by a few hundred dol-
lars, it will be safest.”

“ The expense is nothing, Dashing Charlie,
eyen if it were thousands, for the situation is a
peculiar one.

“ Here is a fortune of little less, I believe, than
a quarter of a million dollars, laid aside by my
brother in the very heart of a land where every
man’s hand seems to be raised to grasp it by foul

means.
“ He has willed it to my daughter, and it has

to be moved.cost it ever so much, and taken

in safety to the bank in Texas.

“ Now it will not do to take any big risks,
with Muello and his men watching us like
hawks, so just suggest your plan and I am
read to ac uiesce.

“ hen, Captain Markham, I will do away
with the idea of economy, which I was working
on for you, and tell you just what my ideas
are.’

“ Do so please.”

“Now I can go to Rifle Ben’s to-night and
hue him get a good man to start at once for
Texas as a messenger, you sending b him a
letter to your daughter to dis tch ustang
Walter and about a dozen of is cowboys to
meet you at Cliff Can on, as you will have other
dangers to face, you now, after you get out of
reach of the outlaws.”

“ Very true.”
1mzelli‘hlis courierdrfiust pgsh ahgzd withkallgggs

ecan,an ave t ecow s ma 9
time back to the Cliff Canyon. y

“ This will give you a su port, something to

ush forward to in case of an r, and which a

as would not expect you to flu .”

“ The very thing, Dashing Charlie, so start a
glood man and pay him his price,” said the ran-
0 cm.

“Of course on do not care for the best of
men in this lind of going with Lieutenant
Gibbs; but the leader must know the truth, the
others suspecting that they have the gold
along.”

“ A good idea.”

“ And the leader must resemble you, Captain
Markham, as much as possible, and have four
men with him.” '

“ Can it be arranged tonight think you,
Dashin Charlie, for must start back to-mor-
row.” t elieutenant said.

u Yes, “1..”

“ But the k-mulesi”

“ I did no know how many would be needed,
to go light, so Remsen has enough for use.

‘ I can send those needed for the blind here in
the morning. the others coming tomorrow night
under Rifle Ben.

“ We, the captain and I, can lie in hiding here
until Rifle Ben comes with his men and the
mules, and we can load up at night and slip
away.”

“ ut about the cabin, Dashing Charlie?”

“ It must be set on fire when the soldiers leave
and the pretended gold-train.”

“ You are right, so I leave all in your hands,”
was the ranchero’s answer.

Dashing Charlie soon after mounted his horse
and was about to ride away', when he saw three
horsemen approachin .

He at once waited or them.

One was Doctor Quick, and the other two he

ned as two of the worst desperadoes in
the mines, and the boon friends of Peter Parker,
who had led the attack against him and thereby
lost his life at the hands of the scout.

The scout called out to Captain Markham and
Lieutenant Gibbs to remain out of sight, and
as the doctor rode up with the others, he re-
marked:

“ Well, Doc, come for your pay, have you!”

“I have, and I want all that is due ms, and
at once." .

“ Every dollar due you shall be paid, not a
cent more or less.”

“ I told you how many visits I had made, and
medicines had furnished.” ~

“ Yes, and lied, for I had a spy on your move-
ments and know the exact number, for Matt
Markham kept a tally also of each visit.

“ As for t e medicines, there is not a bottle

hers‘5 that has not the label of the store pasted
on 1 . \
" Your bill is four hundred and ninety-nine

1' dollars, just, and that sum I will pay you at
once ”

“ I’ve got to have the thousand, Dashing

. Charlie.”

“ How are you going to get it?"

“ I’ll get it. ’

“ Not from me, for I will not consent to have
you rob Matt Markham’s heir."

” Do you refuse to pay it?”

“ I do, and let me say just here, Old Rhubarb,
that you cannot play any game of bluif with

me.

“I know why you brought these two men

with you, but it will not work, for I am not to

be frightened, and I advise you to take our

money and go, carr ing your paid hire ings

with you, for you w I surely regret it if you do
1’

“ Who will cause me to regret it?”

“ I will.”

“ See here, Dashing Charlie, you is gittin'too
cheeky to live in these parts,” said one of the
men with the doctor.

“ So says I, for he needs his claws clipped,”
the other remarked.

“ Well, as I wish no trouble I’ll show my
hand, Doc——

“ Lieutenant Gibbs l”

“ Ay, ay, Dashing Charlie,” and the young
oflicer appeared in the door of the cabin.

" It may be necessary to call upon you for
aid, so will you please give a signal with your
bugle?"

Lieutenant Gibbs was his own bugler and he
was about to place the bugle to his lips when the
doctor called out:

“ Never mind, Dashing Charlie, there is no
need 0’ soldiers coming, for I’ll take the pay you
offer and go.
bl“ ,I am a man of peace and want no trou-

e.

 

CHAPTER LI.
THE ARRANGEMENT.

Dasmc CHARLIE broke out into hearty
laughter at the sudden change of the doctor
from his attitude from war to peace. -

“ You are very wise, Doc.

“ You have a great head upon your shoulders,
I admit.

“ But you should have known at first that a
game of blufl' does not win with me.

“ Now if you had looked down the can on
yonder, you would have seen a camp of cava -
men and saved yourself a world of trouble and a
square back-down.

“ Captain Markham l”

H Ya."

The ranchero appeared in the door.

“ Please pay th s Sawbones just four hundred
and ninety-nine dollars, the exact amount of his
exorbitant bill against your brother.

“ His bill I cut down about half, for he sought
to rob you.”

“ Here they are, Dashin Charlie,” and the
ranchero handed over the bl s.

“ Now, Doe, I want you to understand that
Captain Markham starts tomorrow with his
treasure, and the lieutenant here and his men
start with him, so just mention it around; if you
or your pals expect to at that gold there will
surely be a mistake mag ."

“ he wants the gold ?"

“ You do, but you have not the courage to try
and get it.

“ Now I do not go, so expect to see me around
the camps for some time yet. ”

“ I don’t want to see you,” growled the
doctor. -

“ No, but you ma some time; now don’t you
think that you an your two d rate pards
had better levant, or Lieutenant bbs may be
tempted to take you to the fort with him as
kee eel”

T is was hint enough and the doctor quickly
wheeled his horse an rode away accompanied
by his pards.

The doctor was mad clean through. for he
had missed forcing his whole bill from Dashing
Charlie, had not precipitated trouble to kill him
as he had hoped to do. and'more, discovered that
he must give up all idea of capturing the gold if
the soldiers were going as an escort.

When the three men had departed Lieutenant
Gibbs remarked:

“ Well, Charlie, Eon have a way of managing
these fellows that remarkable.

“ You must fight the Devil with fire, lieuten-
ant, it is said,” was the lau hing response, and
the scout rode away upon is mission to visit
Rifle Ben. '

He found the miner at home and said to him
quickly: }

“See, here Ben, I have-"concocted a plan, to
get that gold in safetyto Texas and you must
aid me in it.”

“Just command me, Dashing Charlie, in all
that I can do.”

“ Do you know a man who knows the trails
between here and Texas, has a good horse‘nd is
a fearless follow 1”

“ I do.”

“ Who is he?”

“ Texas Charlie.”

“ Ah, yes, I know of him.”

“ He is a good one.”

 

 

“ So I have heard; but where is he!”

“ At his lay-out.”

“ How far from here!”

“ About a mile.”

“ Well, hereis a letter and it is fully addressed,
so start him with it at once and tell him not to
spare his horse, for he can get a fine one in re-
turn at the other end of his trail.”

at Yes. i,

“ Tell him to come back with the men he goes
after and leave them at Clifl’ Canyon.”

“ I understand.”

“ Now, can you get me five more men to-
night?”

‘ W hat for?”

“ As an escort.”

“ I will not vouch for more than one of
them.”

“ It makes no difl’erence; but I want them to
go to Remsen’s, get four mules there, with pro-
visions for a long trail, and to-morrow go on to
Matt Markham’s cabin."

“ For the gold!”

“ Not they, but to make believe, only they
must not know the difl’erence.

“ If you can rig one of these fellows up tolook
like me, and another to appear to be, at a casual
glance, Captain Markham, so much the better.

“They are to start with the soldiers now at
the cabin, but will be left by them when the
cavalry branch oi! to go to the fort, and your
leader Oi the party must be instructed to push
on With all speed for several days, and then, by
a flank movement, return to the camps here. ”

“ I don’t just catch your plan, Dashing
Charlie.” .

“You will when I tell you to come to-morrow
night with your men. one by one, and your ack-
mules, to the cabin of Matt Markham, and will
join you there with Captain Markham, and
have the old ready for you.”

“ Ahl see now how it is.

“ We are to be the real escorti”

H Y..."

“ That’s a plot of your getting up I’ll swear.”

“ Well I had something todo with it.”

“ And uello will make Rome howl when he
catches up with the gang and finds they have
no gold.”

“ If he catches them, yes; but they must not
be ca ht, if possible to avoid it.”

“ If uello did get away with some of them,
it would be no loss; but the leader will be a
good fellow, and I trust he will get through all
right." O

‘ Then on understand what is to be done?”

“ Exact y.”

“ Well, here is the money to pay the courier
to the Markham Ranch, and the leader of this
other band for himself and men.

“ Now, when can you start?”

“Within five minutes.”

“ And you might send me a line by the man
who comes to-morrow with his squad and pack-
mulss to the cabin, telling me if Texas Charlie
got 011' all right.”

“ I’ll do it, Dashing Charlie, and I’ll be on
time to-morrow night.

“ I know that. Good-night!” and Dashing
Charlie started upon his retnm to the miners
cabin. .

CHAPTER LII.
a FALSE START.

IT was late when Dashing Charlie returned to
the cabin.

But he found the lieutenant and Richard
Markham awaiting him and anxious to know
the result of his mission.

“ It is all arranged, for Rifle Ben has gotten
Texas Charlie off before this with your letter,Cap-
tain Markham, and he’sa manto go there with all
Speed, so the cowboys under their chief, Mus-
tang Waltsr, will be there at the Cliff Canyon
some time before you can get there.”

“ That is good. ‘

“ But the others?”

“ Rifle Ben was to then get five men for the
pretended escort, and they come here tomorrow

mm the camps with the pack-mules; but only
the leader is to be in the secret that theyare not
to carr the old and we will make up some
canvas- gs o rocks for them early in the morn-

in .19 »

The three laughed over the cheat, and soon
after retired for the light-

But they were up bright and early, and when
hm- Dmdy Nick and his men arrived, they
found all in readiness for them.

Dandy Nick brought a note from Rifle Ben
that Texas Charlie had started soon after he saw
him, and that all else was arran ed.

Dashing Charlie saw also that andy Nick at
a distance might be mistaken for himself, while
Rifle Ben had rigged up one of the men to re-
semble somewhat he ranchero.

The men seemed to be very proud of their po-
sition as escort for the gold, and put the bags of
rocks in the pack-saddles with the air of men
who felt every bit of their importance.

The mules were fair animals, and when all was
ready Dashin Charlie said, aloud, so that the
men all heard 1m:

“ You understand your orders, Dandy Nic
:0 push on after the soldiers leave you with

 

 

 

‘33“?3‘éfi.

Dashing Charlie’s Double.

23

 

 

“ The ca tain and I will go by another trail
todraw 0 some of theoutlaws in pursuit of us;
but we will join the gold-train in good time.

" Now, are on ready?”

” All ready, ’ said Dandy Nick.

“ My men are waiting, Captain Markham,”
and Lieutenant Gibbs rode up to the group.

Richard Markham hesitated.

It was hard for him to apply the torch to his
brother’s home and leave but a monument of
ashes over his grave.

The others saw his feeling and Dashing Char-
lie said:

“ Shall I set the cabin on fire, sir?"

“ I wish that you would do it, Dashing Char-
lie, for I cannot.”

The scout at once looked in the cabin, to see
that nothing was there that they cared to have
removed, and then built the fire that was to set
it ablaze.

The door was locked then and handing the
large key to the ranchero, Dashing Charlie
sai :

“ Present this ke to' your daughter, please,
Captain Markham, rom me.”

‘ I will gladly do so, Charlie.”

Then the flames began to kindle, and as they
:ciiéinted higher and higher, Dashing Charlie

“ We must seek our hiding-place now.”

So farewells were said to Lieutenant Gibbs
Dandy Nick and the soldiers, and the command
started on its way.

For a few moments Dashing Charlie and Rich-
ard Markham stood, regarding the burning cabin,
and then they hastened away to their horses
waiting down the valley.

The scout led the wa at a gallo and soon
came to a deep canyon t ugh whicfi wound a

stream.

Into this they turned and continued on until
they found a retreat most secure.

“ Now here we can hide until night, when we
will return to the cabin to await for Rifle Ben
and his men,” the scout said.

The ranchero seemed deeply impressed by the
hum of the cabinpfor it was a shock to him
to see it burn dawn over the grave, though it
alas carrying out the dying request of his bro-

er.

“ You think many will come to the fire, Dash-
ing Charlie!"

Oh, yes, the miners will see the blaze and
smoke'and run to the scene, it only from curi-
osity for it is generally known that your bro-
ther wished his cabin burned down over him."

“ And they will believe that the gold has been
removed?” '

“ Without doubt, sir, and Muello’s ies will
report the fact to him, and if Dandy ick and
his men do not push along they will get into
trouble, sure.”

“ Did it strike you that the escort under
Dandy Nick might themselves conclude to take
the gold ?”

Dashiu Charlie ve a l whistle.

“ No, I ad not hought 0 that; but what a
row there will be if they do turn traitor and
find out how they have been sold,” and the
thought was most amusing to the scout, whose
hearty laughter was contagious as the ranchero
also joined in the morriment.

CHAPTER Llll.
rm: Gar slime or ran: (mans.

As Dashin C arlie had redicted, the smoke
was a signs far and wi e that the cabin of
Matt Markham the dead miner was aflre.

The flames burned fiercely, sending 11 vol-
ume?! smoke high in air, and far up an down
the v [lay it was seen by the miners.‘

One by one and in crowds they fiockedto the

scene.

Most of them, if not all, knew that it had
been the last wish of the dead miner to have
his home burned over his grave.

But the burning of the cabin down over the

ve of its former owner was something now
the miners and they flocked to see it.

His cabin had been broken into time and
again when he was away, and every foot about
it searched diligently, but all with no result.

Now his cabin was going up in flames and
the miners felt anxious to see What was hair:
done with the id, how it was being mrri
aWay, and in w t quantity and by w om they
wished to know.

So the clans gathered, from the scattered
bivouacs, the valley camps, the single houses and
the miners, all making their wa toward the
central point of interest, poorMs Markham’s

 

.burnin house.
The man to arrive almost was Hunter
Dave.

He looked with deep interest at the cabin in
flames, rode over to where the soldiers had been
encamped, examined the trails all about and
then started 03 at a sweeplizfi gallop, right on
the track of the party who art.

He soon reached a high range, which com-
manded a view of the valley trail for several

miles. ,
What he saw caused him to sa :
“ There goes the gold, and e soldiers are

ing it.
“ But they will not go far, oh nol

 

“United States soldiers don’t guard any but
Government old.

“ But the c ief must know this, and I’ll take
the short cut through the mountains.”

And away sped Hunter Dave at the full speed
of his horse.

The next to come upon the scene were Doctor
Quick and Racket Rob, but they reached there
hardly a minute ahead of a group of excited
miners.

R“h What does it mean, Doc i" whispered Racket

o .

“ It means that the Texan carried out his
brother’s wishes, burned the shanty, and has
got the soldiers to guard his gold on its way to
the banks."

“ Then that settles it for us!”

“ I am not so sure.”

" What do you mean by that, Doc, for it
looks done for us from my observation?”

“ I have just six men engaged to take the
trail and you and I make eight. ’

“ Against twenty-odd soldiers and a guard of
miners."

“ See here, the miners would not be taken
alon if the soldiers were to go all the way.”

“ hat’s so.”

“ They will go slow, for soldiers always do, so
we can overtake them.

“I can send one of the men ahead to scout
out the situation, and when the soldiers leave
them, then we can catch lip—see!”

“ Doc. you are a trump. ’

“ So you are with me?”

_“ I am, for with the rise in view I won’t
mind my arm and the ire of that infernal
horse.”

“ Then keep your eyes skinned and see what
you can discover in the way of signs.”

“ I’ll do it, Doc.”

And so the two walked about looking for
“ si ns,” caught every word that was of interest
to t em from the gut ering clans, and soon after
slipped quietly away, convinced that they stood
a good chance of getting the gold after all, for
the doctor had notified his men to meet that
gait at Racket Rob’s cabin ready for a long

 

CHAPTER LIV.
ox rm: war.

TEE miners gathered about Matt Markham’s
burning cabin with the deepest interest,
Thegbtglked over the situation in all its de-
tails, ussed the battle held there some days
before between themselves and Dashin Charlie
argued the pros and cons of the IE“ and
many of them decided that the were glad that
the bone of contention, the go] of Matt Mug-
ham. was at last removed beyond the limits of
the Valley Mines. '

There were hundreds of them there, and
many were the stories told of the dead miner,
which led to talks of Dashing Charlie‘s daring
and his fisterious motive for dwelling in the
Valley es, when he certainly got but little
money out of it.

Little did any of them dream that they were
within a hundred yards of the much-coveted
gold, and that not two miles away were the
ranchero and Dashing Charlie.

Poker Paul was there, also Remsen, and Rifle
Ben put in an appearance as the last log sunk
down into the bed of coals.

Strongly built of heavy l , l e, for it had
“:31 rooms, the cabin had ,urn for a long
w e.

The furniture had been piled up in the center,
over the grave, and there was a heap of burn-
inicoals, a fiery monument over the dead.

t last interest waned and the miners began
to (limp away, one by one returning to their
wor .

Toward noon all had disappeared except two
hard-faced individuals who out long les and
began to poke about in the embers, oping to
flu something of value, perhaps a chunk of
gold forgotten by the old miner and the hidin -
Rhee of which was unknown to Richard Marg-

am or Dashing Charlie.

But as they poked about in the hot coals,
there came a distant crack of a rifle and the
chug of a bullet in the hot embers.

T 0 men started and dropped their long

es.

As they did so another crack was heard
a bullet passed between them and knocked
Splat-ls about in too close proximity to be PIW‘

H
“.1131? that  us," cried one.
it."

“ If I c’u only find ther aloot thet—”

But he did not finish the 8sentence for a third
shot came, the bullet cutting close to the heads
of both men.

11'” they went like race-horses down the hill
sag. soon disappeared from sight.

h “my ran away from over on the hill from
w once had come the shots, a hearty laugh was
1103”. followed by the words:

.. L°°k “ “10m 30. captain."

Yet. the! m lpflntsrs and no mistake,” was

and
the

. the answer.

‘ .

 

“ Well, I knew they were just the two to camp
there until the ashes cooled and then silt it
through their fingers, so I gave them the hint.”

“ And the took it.”

Dashing harlie laughed again and then said:

“ Now let us return to our horses, for by the
time we have had supper and gotten to the cav-
ern, it will be k.

“ And your men will arrive soon after?”

“ Yes, sir.”

The two then returned from the spur from
where they had been in hiding watching the
gathering of the miners, and reaching the can-
yon cooked sugper and then, just at sunset,
started for the urned cabin.

The horses were staked out in the valley, and
then the scout led the way to the cavern, which
Ca tain Markham had not yet visited.

ashing Charlie had a lantern, and it revealed
the ingenious trap hiding the opening in the
rocky roof.

The bags of gold were lowered one by one,
and carried to a point not far from the cabin,
the scout doing the work while the ranchero
stood guard.

Then the two sat down to await the coming of
Rifle Ben, all being left at the cavern as before.

It was not very long before through the dark-
ness a horseman was seen riding up toward the
cabin.

The coals still glowed brightly, shedding
light about for some distance, and as the horse—
man drew near it, Dashing Charlie called out:

“ Ho, Ben I”

“ Yes, Dashing Charlie."

The miner rode toward them, and as be dis-
mounted Dashing Charlie said:

“ Captain Markham, I wish to introduce to
you my friend, Rifle Ben, a man to tie to every
time, and who, had he been at the fight here
the other day, would have stood by us to the
end. ”

The ranchero greeted the miner cordially, and
then Dashing Charlie asked about the men.

“ They are coming by separate trails, air, and
each one brings a pack-mule.

“I brought two and hitched them dawn the
hill yonder, for I thought it best to be can-
tious.” '

Before long the men began to arrive, and as
they came up the gold-bags were securely
packed in the saddles, the provisions and
camping-traps being already strapped on at the
store

“ Now, Rifle Ben, we are read , and as I go
with you for some, distance, I w' lact as guide
until you take charge,” and Dashing Charlie
rode to the front, Captain Markham joined him,
and the gold-train moved slowly away forever
from the home of the dead miner.

CHAPTER LV.
'rns PLOTTERS r03 GOLD.

Doc'ron QUICK was a man of resources, and
of courage if he saw any great gain to be made
by a display of his pluck.

What had driven him, a man of really great
talent, a fugitive to the frontier, he kept to him-
self; but havingbegun to make money, the greed -
for golr‘iadbecamet:l than}:l   and he
registe' a men vow a e wo possess
the riches of Matt Markham.

So it was that he made a boon 00mpanion of
another villain. Racket Rob and then e
in his service half a dozen others, all of them of
the worst kind of desperado stripe.

These men were born scam , he knew, and
that they would cut his throat or the gold to be
gotten he did not doubt: so be en them
with a certain view which will appear ter on.

They were employed for so much down in
cash and a promised 11 percentage in the
gold to be gotten.

Racket Bob was nominally a partner on half
shares with the doctor, but, whether Old Rhu-
barb took this view of the case will also be
shown later.

He saw for himaelf riches to be gained by one
fell swoop, and. as for the means used to gain
his ldd'he would care nothing once it was in
his

After leaving the burning cabin. Doctor Quick
made his way with Racket Rob back to his
home.

Then Racket Rob was told to at) to certain
cabins and make a certain sign wi chalk on the
door of each. .

This was the doctor's signal to his men that
they were wanted at midnight at his home, and
to come prepared for a long trail.

Racket Rob was then told to make his pre-
parations for leaving home, perhaps forever.

Old Rhubarb began his arrangemeub then for
an unlimited stay.

Hehad senthis earningsas he got them toa
bank, so had a handsome account to draw

again”.

But he had kept about him always a buckskin
belt in which were a few hundred in ready
money for a rain day.

The doctor tol his two Chinese servants that
he was going to the fort to get some medicines,
and forgot to pay them their wages in case he
should never return.

One of the Celestials made a sag-don of this
kind,butherecognisedthsfsctt t itwas not

 

 
 

24

Dashing Charlie’s Double.

 

 

received with favor when the doctor knocked , diers had come as an escort for the gold, and

him down, with the remark:

they had lighted out after setting fire to the

“ You would hoodoo my trip if you could, you I cabin.

salmon-colored nigger. ”

“I heard also that Dashing Charlie had se-

Racket Rob did not take long, meanwhile, to ‘ cured some men as guards, and this led me to

pack up.

He came to the doctor’s for supper, assured of

a cod meal from st experience.
star, the men gan to arrive, until six had
put in an appearance.

Then they mounted and started upon their
way, the doctor leading, with Racket Rob by
his side.

They flanked the camps, and pushing on at a
rapid gait came out in the range at dawn some
I wenty miles from the cabin of Matt Mark-
ham.

" I knew I was right,” said the doctor, as he
saw the trail of the soldiers escorting the gold-
train.

“ We are about eighteen hours behind them,"
said Racket Rob.

“ No, we are twenty miles on our journey, and
they hardly made over thirty up to dark last
ni ht.

15‘ By night we will be close on their trail."

The doctor’s prophecy proved the correct one,
for when they camped that night they knew
that the gold-train was not very far ahead of
them.

They had, at noon, discovered the camp of the
party, and from there there were tWo trails.

One of these was left by the soldiers, and
branched oil’ to the left.

“ I told you so, Racket Rob, the soldiers
have gone to the fort, the gold-train has gone
on to Te xiis.

“We are after the gold-train, and it is not
very far ahead.”

Such was the comment of the. doctor, and that
night when they camped, the best guide of the
lot was sent ahead to locate the camp of those
they were in pursuit of.

It was late when he returned, and his report
was quickly made.

The party were under the guidance of Dandv
Dick he said, and he had counted four men be-
Sides.

Of course two of these were Dashing Charlie
and the Texan.

The camp was well chosen, but could be got-
ten close to without trouble, a volley would kill
the guards and the gold-train would be at their
mercy.

Such was the report of the scout sent to recon-
noiter, and the doctor and all at once became
greatly excited.

“ How far are they from here?” asked the doc-

tor.

“ About five miles.”

“ Then we can get there and be in position to
attack before dawn!"

“ Yes, sir.”

The order was given then to move, and an
hour before dawn the doctor and his men were
in position and ready for the attack.

CHAPTER LVI.
:10st run KARAUDEB srnIKls ml TRAIL.

WHEN Hunter Dave left the scene of the min-
ing cabin, he made his wa ra idl along the
trail left by the soldiers an or ten t Fred
Gibbs, and the supposed treasure train.

He did not spare spur, and arrived in the
mountain range before sunset, he havin
branched off bya trail which he knew woul
lead him to the retreat of the Outlaw chief
Muello.

In truth Hunter Dave was a spy of the Moun-
tain Marauders in the valley camps, and he now
knew that he was the bearer of important
news.

He knew well the line of retreats where the
Marauders of the mines were generally found,
and he only hoped to discover the chief in the
first one he came to.

In this however, he was mistaken.

The chief was not in his favorite retreat.

So he went to the next one, but with a like

 

‘ result.
The third he reached about midnight, and that,

too was empty.

The trail from there was too rough to 03
night, and besides his horse was v
hence he was forced to rest until daylig t.

Butas soon as he could see to travel he was
again in the saddle and he pushed on as rapidly
as the nature of the trail would admit of.

The sun was an hour high when at last he
found the Marauders. -

They were in a retreat which the chief seldom
went to. .

The chief was at breakfast, but quickly gave
it u to talk with his faithful spy.

untes- Dave told his story very understand-

ingly and Muello, the Mexican, listened with
deepest attention.

“As scan as you came back sir, from the
camps, and got out of your duds as a tramp, I
left to see what I could pick up in the way of

awe. ,
“ I couldn’t get a clew that was good for any-

thing until I saw Matt Markham‘s cabin on

re.
"Th'n I shot for them as fast as I could,
and it did not take me long to learn that sel-

i

. diers a short way, and from «here go on alone.

 

believe they would be only escorted by the sol-

“I pushed off at once on the trail and came
on to the retreats to catch you, but missed you
all along until I got here.”

“You have done well, Hunter Dave: but I
had my men on each trail on the watch,and
just now bad word from one that the soldiers
had branched of! to the fort, and the gold-train
was pushing for the trail toward Texas, so i
gave orders just now to be ready to start.

“You can remain in camp with the outfit,
and”rest, for I shall only take eight men with
me.

“ You know the force?”

“ Oh yes; there were twenty soldiers, about,
and Dashing Charlie, the ranchero, and three
or four others, in the gold-train; but we won’t

I have to fight the soldiers.”

f “ fiou are sure, sir, they have gone to the
or ‘

“ Oh yes; but it was after dark when my man
saw them pass.”

“ And he followed them i”

“ He is a cunning fellow, and instead of do-
ing as many would have done, come right on
and report, he knew that if they were taking
the gold to the fort they would branch of: not
far from where he then was, and so he went to

see.

“ They divided there, the soldiers holding on,
the old-train going south.

“ hen he came to tell me.”

“ You think you can catch them, sir?”

“ Oh yes.”

“ They have a lon start.”

“True, but it is a ong trail to Texas, Hunter
Dave.”

“ To Texas?"

U Yes.”

“ Would you go that far ?"

“ I shall track that gold to the bank in which
it is placed for safe-keeping, ,I‘lunter Dave, but
what I get it,” was the determined response of
the Marauder of the Mines.

Hunter Dave seemed delighted at this deter-
mination upon the part of the chief, and having
told him to return to his duty as spy at the
Valley Camps, Muello the Mexican mounted
his horse and placing himself at the head of his
men, rode out of the retreat.

He knew the trail the gold-train was follow-
ing, and so pushed on across a range to cut oil’
a number of miles, his perfect knowledge of the
country enabling him to do so easily.

Toward evening he came into the track run-
ning southward and, as he had expected, feund
that the gold‘train had passed.

“ We are on the right track,” he said, grimly,
turning to his men.

“ Now that gold is ours!"

CHAPTER LVII.
DOG EAT DOG.

WITH the outfit of Doctor Quick, and the
outlaws of Muello, the Mexican, upon the trail
of the gold-train, it looked very much as though
the party commanded by'Dandy Nick were in
vei'y bad shape.

hey had gone on from the cabin of the dead
miner under escort of Lieutenant Fred Gibbs,
as is known; but that officer was compelled to
return to the fort and hence branched oi! when
he came to the trail he had to take.

He bade Dandy Nick ood-by with a few
words of warning, though 0 smiled to himself
as he rode on at the thought that the loss of
that outfit would perhaps be a great benefit to
mankind, the guide excepted.

“ If Muello d0es catch them I would give a
month’s pay to see his face and hear him swear
when he sees the rocks in those pack-saddles

“ It will be as good as a comedy, and I real-
ly regret I cannot be an eyewitness of the
scene. ’

So saying he went on his way, while Dandy
Nick, the guide, led his men by the trail which
would bring them around the range to the
river-ford, whence they could strike southward.

Remembering his orders to press on pretty
well, Dandy Nick did so, and when they went
into camp or the night they had made a good
journey thus far.

As he rode along, Dandy Nick had noticed,
without appearing to do so, that there was some-
thing up with the men.

He was aware that the “treasure” he was
guarding was simply the value of the mules and
pack‘saddles.

He had been let into the secret, though not
one of his men suspected that there was a trick
in the affair, they being simply made use of
and paid to circumvent the outlaws, and save
the real treasure'from ca ture.

The more he watched h s men the more Dandy
Nick became convinced that something was go-
ing wrong.

He felt that those whom he was in command
of were a very bad lot of citizms, men who had
migrated from their former homes for the good
of their fellowcitizens. '

I

 

They Were desperadoes in fact, and Dandy
Nick new that they were plotting to get that
gold and take his life to do so, feeling assured
that they could not get him to join them in the
robbery.

So t e guide determined to counterplot to
save himself, for the rocks could take care of
themselves.

He soon began to play sick, and at last said
that he was so ill they must camp early.

This they did, and he went ( if to a secluded
spot and made up his bed, telling the men not to
disturb him on any account.

From this point of vantage he watched the
men get supper, and, unnoticed by them, slipped
out from his blankets, left them in the shape of
a human form, and stepped around to where his
horse was staked out.

He drew the animal a safe distance away,
hitched him, and crept back to await develop-
ments.

The whole gang Were seated around the camp-
fire, the guard having taken advantage of his
being sick to desert his post, or perhaps not
caring with the prospect before him of very soon
being a rich man.

Until late in the night they sat there, and that
they were quarreling among themselves Dandy
Nick could see. '

At last one of the worst of the lot called out:

“ Well, i have won it, and I don’t care, so
here gors, though I does say he’s a pretty clever
fellovV.”

With this he turned his ride over to the
blankets of Dan ly Nick and fired.

Again he fired, this time with a revolver, and

again.

“ That does for Dandy Nick, and this hain’t to
be no case 0‘ long divisnon. .

“No, two is enough ter share this gold, me
and you, Kausa<, so let ’em have it.”

With this, to the amazement of all but one of
the party he turned his revolver upon a man
near him and opened fire.

Theone he had addressed as Kansas, a tall,
raw-boned fell.)W, sprung for shelter behind a
tree and cried:

“ I’m with you, pardl

“ Let ’em have it and we gits all."

Though taken by surprise at this act of

treachery, the other men drew their weapons

and returned the fire.

Instantly a dee rate duel with revolvers
at close range to owed and the rattle of the
shots made the timber ring.

Down went one man, still firing, and the ring-
leader was next to fall, number three following
him vqy quickly

In a coupleo minutes Kansas was the only
man left standing, and he was sheltered bya

tree.

But he had been twice all htly wounded.

As he saw his last comrsdge go down he gave a
win whoop and said:

“ It’s no division, for I ts it all.”

He watched the others owly for a while, and
seein no movement left the shelter of the tree
whic had served him so well.

He walked first to one, then the other, and as
he saw that all were dead, or dying, he gave
another whoop of joy, jumped up into the air;i

“cracking his heels together with delight, an

said in a tone full of exultation:

“ I gits it alll I is a millionsirel

“ Bully for old Kansas!”

But as he spoke there came the rattle of fire-
arms and the man dropped dead in his tracks.

CHAPTER LVIII.
OTHER. GOLD-HUNTERS.

FROM his place of observation in the timber
Dandy Nick had been an observer of all that
had taken lace around the cam fire.

He saw t fight was waging, ut looked cool-

on.
y“ I hope they’ll fi ht it out like the Kilkenny
cats,” he said, quiet y.

When the ringleader went down he was re-
joiced and as he saw that Kansas alone remain-
ednlieumummdh him th k sade

‘ ‘ en'o seeng Open OW- es
and then f’ll’ get the mules to take back. " ,

But, as Dandy Nick was congratulating him-
self upon the result of the fight and planning
to save the mules at last, there came from the
other side of the cam a volley of shots.

The camp fire was urmng brightly, and the
guide saw Kansas go down.

He saw, too, a number of men rushing toward
the camp. and he at Once decided that his strong
point would he to take flight.

~‘ The Marauders of the Mines!” he said, as he
saw fully half a dozen forms in the arc of the
firelight.

And be bounded away like a deer to where he
had left his horse.

“ I only Wish I dared stay and see them open

the gulls.

“ ut I do not dare to do so.

“ No; Muello is not on this trail without a
1ar e force, and my trail will be seen and taken
at avlight; so 1 will light out.

“ There is no reason why they should decamp
for these mountains are all alike to them; but
must go; only 1 would like to see and hear them
when they see the prize they have captured.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 

“ Oh! but they’ll paint the rocks and kill the
- foliage hereabout with brimstone.”

So Dandy Nick mounted his horse and rode
away.

He was very cautious, for he knew well what
the Mountain Marauders Were, and he did not
wish to run upon any of them.

“ Well, I feel relieved,” he mused, as he rode

along.
“ f Muello is here, then he will not be on the
lower trail, and so the gold train will get through
allri ht, and, if any man can save it, Dashing
Char ie can do it.

“ But, then. Rifle Ben is the guide.

“ Well, he’s a gold one, none better.

“Wonder if I had not better strike south,
' g  head them off and j in the outfit on its way to
 Texas, for Dashing Charlie don’t 0, and an-
other man won’t be in the way, ’11 swear to

t at.

“ Yes, I‘ll do that and tell the boys the fate
of my outfit, h0w it was dog eat dog, a free-to-
all race, and the devil take the hindmost.

“I’m only sorryI cannot ive them an ac-
count of how the Marauders li ed the rocks.

“ Now to head off the gold outfit, and I am
sorry I could not save the mules.”

So Dandy N ick rode on his way through the
night. to join Rifle Ben’s party, while back at
the camp of the traitors there was a strange
scene being enacted.

 
 

$6“ a; .3» g

.g .. g i. ’
vv a... ,l manawve. i »<..M.¢,‘,

 

,(suovxnsri- "1' r“ 'v

Kansas with a volley were not the Marauders,
as Dandy Nick bad surmised and naturally so,
‘,  for he knew of no other gold-hunters in the field
, " just then. a

i  They were the party under the doctor, who
, had developed into quite an experienced cap-
taig, aided by his disabled lieutenant, Racket

- ~t we... .v

They had moved upon the camp of the sup-
posed gold-train, guided by the scout who had
discovered the camp.

Arriving near the camp and in sight of the
fire, they had dismounted and leavin the
horses with Racket Rob on account of, h s be-
‘iing injured, they pressed on eagerly under the

octor. .

Racket Rob did not object to this move, as he
felt sure that there would be a hot fight be.
tween the force under the doctor and the des-

radoes of the gold-train, and he had not been
l: luck of late and would be very apt to catch a
bullet he was sure. .

80, though remonstrating. he did not remon-
strata loud enough for it to have any effect, and
t he accordingly remained in the rear wl‘th the
f , , h

 

nrses..
As the doctor and his men reached a point

thing was wrong.

*, It was the scene in which the ringleader arose
and fired u u what be supposed was the sleep-
in form 0 Dandy Nick. a

Then followed the revolver duel.

, “ Good! oodl it saves us trouble forthem to
kill each ot or, so let them fight it out,” shouted
the doctor. '

At last he gave the order to run in, and all of
his men took a shot at Kansas, whose triumph
was quick] ended. . .1

Though ey had seen him fall, and supposed
him to be the last of the band, the doctor ad
vanced with caution. ‘

Bgtghen the real;i had :3? scantebgd behalf
thee fiuardsyngarou an w e
pack-sad esdpiled up near. they were al seized
 hthe gol fever, and nearly went maid with

t. , > .
hen their 10 had been thghtly, tempered
dewn, the doctor to look about him‘with
. . considerable curl.
4'? ,“ Pards, where is

“highs the Texan’si" added ketRob who
had comeup tothe campwhsn ye sawa was

 

.
3,”.


‘ freeways 

 

safe. 4

u is sol Well, they are absent for some
, mgr:in that was why the guards fought for
 the old. I ‘
' “ ‘ me, we must get away Ind ride hard,

too. \ .

'  " “Saddleu ,menl”

”  . , The men :anted tosso the 90m. hilt (the 500'
- ‘ : tor. warned them of the danger of delaying
‘. 2; j , there, in the country of the Marauders, so they
.'{  i hastened‘to obey, and in a few moments were
14' E dashing along at afast rate, driving the rock-
   ‘ laden mules with them. ,

I ’ oaarrsa LIX.
ran nocron runs a “le harm.”
As they rode along in the darknem, the doctor
and Racket Rob were side by side.
,v - Thelatter had oometoadmirethe doctorasa,
. ve great man. : , ‘
‘ ' .  gistrlum h in capturing the gold-train as he
' A ‘5 - had, made in feel almost awa'of oneso great.
 ‘ 5 r The more the doctor thought of the fact tha
’ > .. , ‘ the bodies of the ranchero and Dashing Charlie
gore not gou ‘in the camp among theothers,
" more e as «
'1 ' ‘ £1. ’ it over and over, andiuvited the
‘ m WMaudthaomsrsinsolv‘
.‘ing the mystery. V - l -

 

 

 

 

 

The men who had brought down the exultant .

nearer the camp, they discovered that some- ,

uniting Gui-ne'- body!” he,

“I cannot understand it at all,” he said, im-
pressively.

Neither could an of the rest of them, for they
certainly suppose; that Dashing Charlie and
Richard Mar ham had gone With the gold

train.

“ Well, Racket Rob, we have won,” said the
doctor, in an exultant tone.

“ You have wan, Doc, for we would have had
nothing except for you. ’ -

“Well, Rob, what do you think is best to be
done with our gold?”

“I would say, light out from the camps and
live like gentlemen.”

“ In a foreign land, yes, for America is not a
healthy place for me.”

“ Nor for me.”

“ Well, we will go to Cuba, say, or to Eu-
rope."

“ Say Europe.”

“ lt is a go; but n0w about these men.”

“ Yes, Doc.”

“ I believe that seeing the treachery of those
gold-train guards, they may kill us.”

“Oh, Lord!”

“ It is a surmise, of course, but I fear so.”

“ I hope not.”

“ So do I.” ,

.“ What is to be done?”
. “Self-preservation is the first law of nature,
Robert."

“ Yes, Doc." .

Now, these men will doubtless plot against
us, knowing that we get the lion’s, they the
lamh’s share of this gold."

u Yes, yes.” .

“.A counterplot is always fair, and so I say
we must thwart them.”

“ How can we!”

“ Leave that to me, for I can do it.”

“ You are a wonderful man, Doc, a wonder,
in fact."

“ Thanks.” . .
“ 1 mean it.” ,
“ Thanks awfully.”

“ But what makes you suspect these men?”
“ Many things.”
“ I have seen nothing.”
“ It is too dark to see.”
“ Y‘Vell, do as you deem best, for I am with
011.
y “ Good!
“ Now to business.” ,
H Yes.” ~
“ You see, if we get rid of these men, we will
not have to pay them the promised money.”
“ And that goes to us?” ‘
H es.”
. “ Xud then?” - ’
“ We can play peddlers, loading our ,horses
and mules with anything. and thus reach some
pia‘ceywhgre we can dispose of our gold.” _

“ And sell the animals.”
“ All goes.” . . ,
“ Yes, they will bring us,considerable, and
mono is what we want.

. ‘1“! “es, gold, dear, lovely, beautiful, yellow
“0 . l ,

“ Iamgladtoseeyousoenthusiastic.' ,

“ But see, day is breaking, and we will then
see where we can make Ifor the unfrequented
parts of the mountain.” ' - \

“ That is so and then I am anxious
h0w on can  rid of'these men." .

" ithout he’sli‘ghtest difficulty, as you will,
discover.” was the reply, in a tone that made
Racket Rob shudder, hardened man of crime
that he was. 1' - .

Until the sun. was several hours high did the
aoctor lead his men on, and than only a m
:3“ was made for food, and rest for the

Pressing on again until after noon, the doctor
seemed to at last have Manda place where

and

00808

gggeemed himself safe, want at,once into
p.‘ .
The was well chosen. and the country

surroun n seemed vet to have been trodden
by the footgof man. n9 '

It was at the boss of a: loft spur, and upon' '

the banks of a stream, where

ln‘t shape of a horseshoe. I
‘ are we camp, men” said the doctor,and

he seemed in the best of human, to

git Racket Rob, who" was nervous at what {was

erewasa band

“ Now, m,

thereis ~ .
“an. no danger here. npt even from red

‘i‘Then. $00. I have a‘bottle of something I ‘
in which to drink .22] our fortun for we a?!
"331633211013 . men, and plenty of it.
Kb". 9 “sum.” , - . eprovisions now,.for we must

In ltekof the doctor‘s genial manner to

“Yonuréane‘m t andh' .sowe
31,1“qu supper, ’d Wit...-

men
humhr in chain,
He saw them’wh

gan to feel sure thatthé mm’ ‘Mhzf J”-

 

lv‘ 3 = 

. 1m H!
W! W9" '0 tin ,sz'lisohl f, andthatth
not he longiifmaklnsoinio more. ‘ 9’ 
The animation .was great-for- than

 

1:5

stake the horses but well, a. ‘

Rob. thought he notio‘edsn iieg

 

 

the gold which they only expected a small share
of, when only the lives of Dr. Quick and Racket
Rob stood in the way.

And what were human lives to those desperate
men?

Certainly not as much as were the lives of
their horses.

But the doctor seemed to feel also that the
men were ready for an outbreak, and he kept
close to the camp-fire and urged on the cooking
of the meal, which was to be a late dinner and
early supper.

A last the men were called up by the doctor
for their drink in honor of their success. »

“ Hold out your tin cups, pards,” said the
man of medicine, with a smile.

This order was of course obeyed with great
alacrity.

Then the doctor gave a generous drink all
around—so generous, in fact, that he left but a
smell quantit for himself.

‘ Never mind me, boys, for I have plenty
more. .

“ See, I have a small flask left, and I'll try a
pull at that.” \

He took the “ pul ,” and the men drank their
liquor with a gusto that showed perfect enjoy-
ment in the act.

“ Now, pards, we’ll have our feast,” said the
doctor, and all sat down to the meal. ,

But the doctor was sudden! taken very ill,
and as he staggered to his b ankets the men

at him with wonder at the sudden attack,
not hearing his muttered words:

“Now i will play a lone hand in this game,
for I hold all the trumps."

—-

.CHAPTER LX.
A our; THAT 'rwo can PLAY.

Docron stiun QUICK ‘nad snowu great wis-
dom in withdrawing from the circle round the
camp-fire as he did. - , .’

He had simpl “played ’possum,’ for he was
not in the least i l. " .

But he had been lty of a crime which he
did not intend shou d catch him within revol-
ver-range if he was suspected.

So he had countedth illness to a wonder-
ful de ree, deceiving every man around the
camp- re with him. -

He had retired to this blankets, as had the '
cunning Dandy Nick of the other gold-hunting
band, but not. with as praiseworthy a motive.

Reaching his blankets be had dodged away
in .the thick brush.’ and from a safe '
watched ings . «

He did not have viary long to wait, for one of
the men suddenly fell forward upon his face.

Two started to aid him andthey were power-
less to do so. - _

Then one man sprung to his feet and cried

out: .
“givy God, sl I feel so i” .
“ e have n poisoned i” cried another.
“ The doctor has done it!” _
“ Hewanted all the gold for himself!”
“ Where is he?" " ’
“Kill him!" ‘ ' I
These cries went the rounds rapidly. . .
But each “voice had mafia fainter, and the
menwhohadurgedthe gofthedootorhld' '
not been able to carry out their threat. _ x  
The staggered forward only to fall 
will: on; lledi by {I '
en’ on re n agony t e
while loud curses, prayers admits 
It was an; a ing scene, one nevervto fob _ ‘
get. and yett eperpetratorof the crimestood “
apartand gazed grhnily upontheanguish,man—  ,,
v .g. .

taiandphysical,ofh . i -
‘Hewastoo ,toseemsndieto,

\

shrink from witnessing it now,-even‘though his ' ‘ '3‘

last long  _

“If poison failswith  ‘fimdm'  
molvercan finishtheworin, - r  .
“Somoof them die hard‘ .andff   2,.

maleodldpnt‘taemoutof »
vs. * ,

 

 

 

 

26

Dashing Charlie’s Double.

 

“ Bah! how careless I was to allow any proofs
to be found, for it drove me to desertion to save
my neck.

“ Well, that is over now. Erastus Enders,
M. D., Surgeon of the Seventeenth Infantry, is
dead, forever dead, while Zekiel Quick, surgeon
of the mines, having made a fortune, must now
hide himself under another name and live a life
of luxury in a foreign land.

_“ This wig I wear, this pair of spectacles, will
have to go, and then I will come out as a man
among men once more. .

“ Now to see if my victims still have a spark
of life left.

“ Then to behold my gold, and next will I
bury it until I can go and get men to come here
and guard It to safety for me.

“ And I’ll get honest men, too, not such cattle
as those,” and he pointed in a contemptuous way
t0ward his victims.

Revolver in hand, he then moved forward,
and bending over the last one whom he had
seen show any signs of life, he placed his fingers
gently Iith the pulse.

“ Dea l

“ That settles it with all.

“ Now to enjoy my supper, then for a glance
at my gold, and afterward for a good ni ht’s
rest, for this stream will carry these dea re—
minders of death for from my camp, and 1 wish
no disturbing fancies this night to destroy my
sweet and peaceful slumbers.”

The man then coolly unbuckled his belt of
arms and sat down to eat his dinner.

He had no fear of dead bodies; the living only
had he to dread.

And as he sat there, behind him rose one of
those forms be supposed to be dead.

His actiOns were noiseless, and he held in his
hand a revolver.

Nearer a d nearer he crept, until the muzzle
almost touc ed the doctor’s neck.

His belt of arms did not lie within his reach,
and he had no suspicion of harm.

“ Now to see my goldl" he said, in a pompous
tone, and he rose as he spoke, to turn and gaze
into the muzzle of a revolver.

He nearly sprung back into the fire, but the
man and his revolver quickly followed.

The doctor was as white-faced as the dead
about him, his teeth chattered, his eyes rolled in
frenzy, and he could utter no word.

But the man who now held him in his power
spoke, and what he said was straight to the

point.

“ You played a lone hand, Doc, but the game
was one two could pla at, and so I chipped in
just for sociability’s sa e.”

CHAPTER LXI.
A COMPROMISE.

'rns doctor was so thoroughly frightened .

that he had not the power of answering the
words addressed to him by the man who had
turned the tables so cleverly upon him.

So, after waiting for him to s k and receiv-
ing no reply, his persecutor sai :

‘ You may not be able to talk, Doc, or draw
a weapon, but you can hear, and you shall hear

me.

“ What caused me to~suspect one I looked
u n as such a great man, I do not know; but
a the last minute I had a feeling, come over me
todoubt on.

“You now that I have been a drunkard
that I could never resist takin a drink, so i
deserve a great deal of credit or my forbear-
ance to-night.

“You gave me a most generous drink, and
the fragrance of that liquor filled my nostrils
and went to my heart.

“I could hardly resist quelling the delicious
draught, for I longed to do so.

“ ut-the still small voice of warning bade me
not do so, and I resisted.

“ I tipped that tin cup up, but not a drop of
it went between my lips.

“I shut my teeth firmly and the liquor
rounded my mouth, yet did not enter it, not a

dro .
° “el‘hen I saw you playtill and I laughed all to

m if, for I saw your 1 tie game.
‘80 I tumbled over with pretended cramps,
and—eapired.

“‘Just think of that.

“ But if 1 did not, all the others did, for they
died from the deadly poison you put in that
bottle of liquor.

“ You are a very wonderful man to stand of!
there as you did and watch your victims die in
untold nies.

“ 1 y admire you more than ever, I real-
ly baggn to fairl love you.

“ us regar in you, I wish to make terms
with you, to come a compromis'e.

“ I am wounded, and not very strong, so you
can help me.

“ I will take on in on half-shares, only do
not expect to ga n the mastery of me again, for
you cannot do so. _

“ I will carry your was. as, and you will
have to do the work, for em master now,
your master.

“ Now say, Doc, if you wish to compromise.
or will you force me to kill

on
During this long speech ’of Becket Bob, the

  

 

goltitor had regained his wonted composure
u y. '

A smile had come upon his face, and he now
said in his natural voice:

“ My dear Robert, I have for you now an un-
bounded respect, and I will gladly make terms
with you.

“ _I hated to kill you, too, but the truth was I
had an idea. that ou were in with the boys
aigainst me, so I inc uded you in my list of vic-
t ms.

“ Now I think we can work together, are no-
cessary for each other’s future success and hap-
piness in this life.

“ What is the compromise you wish to
make?”

“ That you serve me well for half a share of
my gold.”

“ l accept with pleasure."

“Then I will place temptation out of your
wa by bundling up all these weapons together
an putting them in a pack-saddle out of your
reach.

“ I shall also throw into the stream there
your medicines, and then, with a revolver ready
always to kill you, I will trust you.”

“ Thank you for your confidence, Robert; but
now get those hateful weapons out of my sight,
throw my medicines into the drink, and then
let us gloat our eyes upon your gold.”

Racket Rob did as he had said with the fire-
arms aud medicines, and then he went toward
the pack~saddles, for he, too, was eager to feast
his eyes upon the gold.

The doctor with his strong arms began to un-
do the pack-saddles, then a canvas bag was
token out and opened, and then, as the contents
were emptied out upon a blanket, both men
uttered a wild scream, like that of infuriated
wild beasts.

Another sack was opened, and with like re-
sult. ‘ '

The men glared at each other, unable to utter
a word.

But suddenly upon their ears came the rapid
clatter of hoofs, and into view around the
mountain spur a number of horsemen dashed
into sight.

“ Muello and his Marauders!

“ We are lost!” cried Racket Rob, and the
two men seemed rooted to the spot.

CHAPTER LXII.
ran DISCOVERY.

Tm: camp of the two men had not been yet
seen by the coming horsemen, though they had
been discovered by the doctor and Racket Rob.

Both had realized that they had been cleverly
outwitted, cheated out of their prize, and they
felt that it was Dashing Charlie who had done

t.

“ That accursed scout’s not being with the
gold-train is now explained,” cried the doctor,
in despair.

“ Come, don’t be a fool, but-fly while we yet
have time, for our horses are there, and we can
escape out of si ht before the Marauders reach
this camp,” sai Racket Rob.

This brought the doctor to his senses, and he
ran like a deer down the slope, followed by his
fellow villain. ‘

Their horses were quickly saddled, and, spring-
ing upon their backs. theuashed awa into the
timber several minutes fore the arauders
had reached their camp.

The Marauders were following the trail of the
gold-train, and they were led by their chief.

He had struck the trail of Dandy Nick’s men,
had come upon the camp where the men lay
dead saw the other trail coming in there, sup-
posed the gold-train had been ca tured, and
pressed on to take the precious meta away from
the captors. .

He had no idea of coming upon the camp so
soon, and was almost in the midst of the horses
before he disc0vered them.

Revolvers were whipped out. a warning cry
was given, and the Mountain Marauders were
ready for a fight.

But no one fired upon them, and then they
discovered that the forms they saw were men,
not sleeping, but cold in death.

“ What does this mean i” cried the chief.

The men could not answer his question, and
so he sought to solve the mystery for himself.

“ I think I understand it.

“ The men with the gold-train fought for the
treasure, and others came on and got it.

“ Those others were miners, who sought to
head off- the gold, for_here are faces I recog-

se.

“ But what has happened to them?”

“ They hear no wounds, chief.”

“Then there has been foul play of another
kind— Hal there are the pack-mules, yes, and
there are the pack-saddles of gold 1”

A ell broke from the lips of the outlaws at
this iscovery, and all made a rush for the
Eek-saddles, ranged in a perfect circle around a

They saw the blanket containing rocks, and
the two emp

They then re open the other bags, one by

e.

4|

1”
All of the bags soon lay empty upon the

5., . _ ’\,. l, .
..4 ,: -‘.-\-.. _-i xx”. I

 

grolIimd, and the blanket'was piled high with
me s.

Such a howl of disappointment, rage and
amazement as went up then from every ip was
never heard in those wilds before.‘

The chief, as well as his men, was maddened,
nearly frenzied with rage.

It was some time before they could become
calm enough to talk it over.

At last they arrived at a very close guess of
the situation, and believing that those who had
murdered the others had retired upon finding
what they had sinned so deeply to gain, they
made no effort to follow them.

The first to regain his composure, the chief
soon decided upon a plan of action.

He would send two of his men back to his
band with the horses, pack-mules and traps,
while he with six others would strike for a
lower trail and continue the search for the
golden treasure.

“ This is the work of Dashing Charlie,” said
the chief. “ He played a bold and clever ruse
and deceived all of us, for he is now going to-
ward Texas with that treasure.

“ I will cross every trail and strike his, for
he cannot, great as he is, cover it up.

“He has not a large force, I am sure; but,
large or small, I shall follow him and fight for
that gold.

“ Oh! that I should be so deceived, so out-
generaled by that man whom I hate so bitterly
and haVe such cause to fear.

“ But we will meet yet, meet on this trail and
measure strength over the gold I covet so, the
gold that has cost so many lives, been such a
curse to many.

“ Now, men, get to work, for we must be on
the traill” .

The men promptly obeyed their my terious
masked Chief, and two of the number were de-
tached to carry the horses and mules captured
back to the main portion of the band.

Having had a short rest, Muello started on the
trail, going back the way he had come, until he
reached the trail he had left on following the
doctor’s p -rty.

Along this they went, turning to the left and
pressing on late into the night when they reach-
ed the river. .

Here they went into camp for the remainder
of the night, for near them the three trails cen-
tered at the river ford.

“ To-morrow will tell the story whether they
have passed or not,” said the chief, as he threw
himself uptn his blanket to sleep.

With the coming of light he arose, and
springing u n his horse, while his men pre-
pared break ast, rode down to the ford.

He was gone about half an hour, and when
he returned, his face was radiant, while he
said:

“ They have crossed men, and only last night,
just before our arrival here.

“ Within half an hour we will be upon their
trail, and the gold shall be ours."

CHAPTER LXlII.
ran covnrnb GOLD.

WITH Hunter Dave warning Muello, the
Mexican, of what was being done with the gold,
as he supposed, the Marauders of the Mines on
the trail of the party who did not have ii, Dr
Quick adding crime to crime to get possession of
the coveted treasure, which the suppOsed guards.
'had fought among themselves to capture, the
real train of pack-mules bearing old Mart Mark-
ham‘s fortune was going serenely along on
its way under the guidance 0-.' Dashing
Charlie, who knew a secret way in which he

 

could get through the mountains, thus avoiding,

any of the sentinels of the outlaw chief that
mi ht be on the watch for them.

his path was not suspected by any one, but
Dashing Charlie had seen that it was possible to
carry horses that way. '

He had therefore gotten among his purchases
at the store in the camps a block and tackle,
with plenty of rope that would be useful. .

So when he led the way from the trail, Just as
nightfall, and turned up this path over the
ran e, Rifie Ben called out:

“ old on, Dashing Charlie. this path leads
only to the top of the range, when you have got
to go plumb among the Marauders. ’

‘ I can get over, Rifle Ben, without
or down the range trail ” was the

use.

“ Have you wings!”

“ Not exactly.”

“ It can’t be done then, for there is a cliff, or
bluff, for miles, running from fifty to a hundred
feetin hel ht. Ind a men can only get down it

in places.

‘ I know it well, Rifle Ben, out we will go over
all the same.”

Rifle Ben shook his head dubiouslyl.) .

He had good confidence in Dash g Charlie,
but this time he considered him “ away off."

“,You are bitin of! more than you can chew,
Dashing Charlie,’ said Rifle Ben.

As for Captain Markham, he said not a word,
su ~h great confidence had he in the scout‘s ability
to extricate himself from dangers and predig-i.
ments. "

The top of the range was reached, but instead

oing up
dent re-

 

   

 

Dashing Charlie’s Double. 2'7

 

 

of turning to the right or left, Dashing Charlie
crossed the trail and headed for the bluff, the
others following him in Indian file, and with
more or less confidence in his ability to be suc-
cessful or fail.

At last Dashing Charlie came out upon the
bluff, just where several large pine trees grew
near it in the valley below, their tops rising some
twenty or thirty feet above.

One of these had been struck by lightning, and
the torn limbs stuck up in the air not fifteen feet
from the cliff. .

“ Now how can anvthing but a bird get down
there, Charlie?” said Rifle Ben, half provoked at

what he considered the stubbornness of the scout. ,

“1’” show you that we are birds, Ben,” was
the laughing reply.

“ Now, pards,” he added, “ Get out those two
lanterns and that block and tackle from the pack
on the. gray mule.”

Taking h’is lariat he cast it over one of the
illlliIS of the pine tree and several drew hard up-
on it to see that it was fast.

Then he asked for a saw from the pack and
the ropes, and told Ben to saw several stout
saplings for him some ten and fifteen feet in
length.

This was done and Dashing Charlie swung out
on the lariat, gaining a footing in the tree.

He carried a rope end With him, and one of
the men also swin ing out to a lodging in the
tree, they climt upward some twenty feet,
drew the saplings up after them and made them
secure in the crotches of the limbs.

This done the block and tackle were drawn up
and made fast.

The next thing was to get from a pack a
leather harness the scout had made while at the
cabin waiting, and into this half-a-dozen pack-
saddles were placed and lowered.

The rest of the things went next time along
with a man, and ropes were connected to steady
the load from below and also from the clifl’.

Then the smallest horse of the lot was put into
the harness and lowered slowly, the man below
with one on the cliff steadying him the while.

One by one they went over, all being blind—
folded except the roan stallion of Dashing Charlie
who took matters as coolly as did his master.

Then the scout swung out into the tree again,
unfastened the block and tackle and lowered

. himself by a rope doubled over a limb to the

valley belOW.

In less than two hours the work had been
done, a ride of twenty miles saved, and the
party were on their way to the river ford by
the southern trail.

Bi avoiding certain dangerous localities in
flan ing them, the gold-carriers were delayed
considerably. .

But the ford was reached the following night,
and after crossing, the party went into camp for
a few hours.

It was here that Dashing Charlie was to leave
them, feeling sure that they had eluded the
Mountain Marauders and were comparatively
safe, as in a couple of da 9 more they would
reach Cliff Canyon where ustang Walter and
his cowboys would be awaiting them.

“ I give in, Dashing Charlie, every time now,
for you kn0w it all. you know it all,” Rifle Ben
had said, admiringly, as they sat down to sup-
per that night around the camp-fire.

“ I thank' you, Rifle Ben; but I have very
much to learn— Ohi did you hear that?"

All listened, but no one seemed to catch any
sound away from camp.

“ There is a horse coming along the trail at a
gallop. '

“ I will head him off.”

And Dashing Charlie went rapidly to the bot-
tom of the hill along which ran the trail leading
southward.

He had just time to take pmition behind atree
when a horseman came along and halted quickly
at the stern command:

“ Draw rein, stranger, and say who and what

you are 1”

CHAPTER LXIV.
~ or ran . GOLD-CABBIIRS’ rascx.

Tn horseman who came to such a sudden
halt, at the stern command of Dashing Charlie,
called out in KNEE” to the challenge: .

“All 0. K., hing Charlie. I halt every
time when on my the wo ”

“ Dandy ickl

“ Every time.”

“Come to camp and tell ulwhat has hap-

ed." .

“ I was on our trail, Dashing Charlie, to see
if I could not of some service to your outfit,”
and as the young miner lpoke they reached the

camgflre. .
“ andy Nick I" cried Rifle Ben, in surprise.
“ It’s me, and no mistake, ”
“ Where is your outfit?”
“ Gone to everlasting. amen.”
“ What do you mean?"
“ ipod out, chips handed in, and grave


“Come, Dand Nick, tell ul what has hap-
pened 1" said D ing Charlie.

"I’ll tell you as soon as I can, and talking
makes me hungry, seeing as I levanted without
any food. ‘

 

 

   

“ You see, it did not take me long to discover
that those men with me meant to get a fortune,
if the pack-saddles held it, and I was to be done
awa with and the gold divided.

“ played ’possum, to catch them, went to
my blankets, left them and got my horse out of
the corral, and—”

“ Left the outfit?”

“ Not until I saw them till my blankets full of
holes, then fight a revolver duel among them-
selves, and. when Kansas alone survived, sud-
denly a volley came, and the outlaws rushed in,
or I suppose‘they were the Marauders, for I did
not wait to see.

, “ There were seven or eight of them, and I
levanted, leaving them‘ my dead friends, the
mules, rocks, and the outfit entire.”

“ You were wise.”

“ I have a great head, Dashing Charlie, for
looking out for Number One.

“ 1 concluded, as my gang was wiped out, and
I have shed no tears over the sad occurrence
thus far, that i would come on after you and
join you all, while I thought it best to report
what had happened.

“ The mules I would have saved, had not the
outlaws chipped in.

“ Now i am astray, and to let.”

For some time they talked over the affair, as
told by Dandy Nick, and it was decided to push
right on as fast as possible, as the outlaws would
surely follow on after the gold-carriers when
they discovered how they had been outwitted
by the rock-carriers.

Dandy Nick was ladly taken on with the out-
fit, by Captain Mar ham,while Dashing Charlie
said (but he must return, and would he lad if a
man would go with him as far as the ord for
then it could be seen if the outlaws were fol ow-
ing the gold-carriers, and the courier could give
them warning of their coming.

This was considered the best course to pursue,
and before leaving, Dashing Charlie walked
apart with Captain Markham and said:

“ I feel that you can take Dandy Nick and
Rifle Ben wholly into your confidence, so if the
courier overtakes you with the information“ that
the outlaws are pursuing, do on three seek a
hiding-place for that gold, as t will be easy to
come back with your cowboys and get it.”

“I will do as you suggest, Charlie, for I will
take no chances.

“ Without the gold to retard us, we can escape
the outlaws or beat them off.

“ I am glad that you pro it.

“ Now, my good friend, must say farewell to
you, and were you in brother I could not re-
gard on with more 8 action.

“ on have done everything for me, and I
would return it if you would only allow it; but
you refuse to take anything.”

“ Except what you paid me, sir, on your bro-
ther’s account—that most liberally recompenaed
me, and I will take no more.”

“Well, if the world goes hard with you, re-

member that you have a home with me and
mine.
“ Somehow I have a feeling that we will’never
meet a gain, and should we not do so, remember,
my friend, that you have my deepest gratitude
to the last—now good-by.”

Thus they parted. Dashing Charlie and Rich-
ard Markham, who had so strangely met.

Dandy Nick had volunteered to 0 back with
Dashing Charlie to the ford, and as e was given
a fresh horse, farewells were said and the two
turned back on the trail while the gold-carriers
pushed rapidly on their wa southward.

amping for the remain or of the night near
the ford the two men had not gone toslecp when
the;' heard the sounds of hoofs.

‘ There come the outlaws now, Dandy Nick,
so saddle up and be ready while I o and recon-
nmter,”said Dashing Charlie, and sweat away
on foot. ‘

In half an hour he came back and said:

“ They are the outlaws, Dand Nick,and they
have gone into camp. perhaps or the n lit, to
ride with all speed after the outfit and to them
to push on for their lives. ,

‘ Say to Captain Markham that he had beat
follow my advice about the gold, for then he
will be able to fight or run.”

“ All right, Dashing Charlie.”

“ And also say tha I will try and check the
gitla’wa with a few shots, to detain them all I

n.

“ Alone?”

H 0b, a.”

“ Go ow.”

“My good horse can gall away from their
best runners, and I would i e a close look at
them.”

“ Not too close remember; but I am off, and
luck to you.”

With this Dandy Nick mounted and rode awa
after the gold-carriers, while Dashing Charl c
took 11 a position where he could ambush the
Marau era and also have good running space
if crowded.

 

CHAPTER LXV.
ovanraxnx.
BACK to the “' Gold Outfit.” as the men call-
ed the mule train of Captain Markham, went
Dandy Nick. .

>.... 3;": A. a 4-

 

.;.,, .., .... 47., 4. ca... , ._ ...

The sun rose some time before he came in
si ht of them, fast as he had traveled.

e at once reported to Captain Markham and
Rifle Ben what discovery had been made at the
ford b_v Dashing Charlie, and made known what
the scout had suggested regarding the gold.

“ See’here, captain, you and Rifle en take
the mules and go on ahead, leaving me behind
With the men.

“ Two are enough to know the secret of where
the gold is to be buried, and by putting a few
stones in the packs the men won’t suspect you
have buried the gold, and it is just right that
they should know nothing about it, for traitors
are frequent in these parts.

" Now, {ifle l’ien knows this country well,
and he can show you where the gold can be hid-
den, and we can follow slowly and nobody be
the wiser.

“ Then, if the Marauders overtake us, and
wipe us out, well and good.”

This advice of Dandy Nick was considered by
Rifle Ben the best thing to be done.

So Captain Markham and the guide pushed on
with the pack-mules, leaving the men to follow
sIOle under Dandy Nick, presumably to check
the pursuit of the Marauders.

The mule outfit was pushed rapidly on by
Rifle Ben, who, at the ford of a small stream,
turned into the water.

It was girth deep to the horses, but they were
rushed along for a quart r of a mile where the
stream ran around a cliff of rocks.

Here the guide got oil? on the rocks, climbed
up the face of the cliff, lariat in hand, and one
by one drew up the pack-saddles of gold.

“I know this spot well, and there is a hole
yonder in those bushes that will hold the gold,
and a few stones thrown in will hide it thor-
oughly.

‘ l camped there once while hiding from In-
dians, and there is but one way to get upon that
point of rocks, as you see, Captain Markham,
and that is from the stream.”

The gold was soon safely hidden, and the two
men descended, spKrung into their saddles, and
led the mules bac up the stream to the ford,
leaving no sign that they had left the trail at
any point.

Then they pressed on u very rapidly, for
the men under Dandy . ick were not far
away.

So they ushed on to a camp, and were later
joined by e men, who had seen nothing of the
outlaws. '

Aflfter supper Dandy Nick rode back upon the

He was anxious to discover if the outlaws were
still pushing on.

his had every reason to believe that they were
for he knew well the determined nature 0 '
Muello, the Mexican.

With a quarter of a million dollars as a prize-
to be gained, there was no doubt but that the.
outlaw chief would move Heaven and earth, if
in his power to do so, to get it.

That he felt he was on the right trail at last.
there was no doubt in the mind of Dandv Nick,
for the persistent chief had pushed on to triumph
in the end, as the past exgerience of the young
miner bad'discovered for imself.

That Dashing Charlie had been able to more
than check the outlaws at the ford Dandy Nick
could not believe.

“ Dashin Charlie can do a great deal, but he
canéiot chec those outlaws on the trail of this
go] .

“ He was foolish to attempt it, and I only hope
no harm has befallen him. .

“ Muello, the Mexican may have been checked
for awhile but not for a long while, certainly.

“ Well, I am more than glad that Rifle Ben
and Captain Markham got the gold hidden
away, for, if the Mountain Maraudtrs do over-
take and attack us, we can, if hard-pressed, run
for it and let them have the gold-train with the
pack-saddles full of rock.

“ Hal hal hal I would like a photograph of‘
Muello, the Mexican, if he did ca ture the.
mules, and discover how he has been one for.

“ Now I must go slow, for I don’t wish to run
upon any ambush, and I have several times had
an  of late that I was not long for this
wor . . .

“ Now I have seen no traccof where Rifle Ben
and Captain Markham left the trail with that
gold, and if I cannot find their trail, then the.
outlaws cannot. ‘

“ They have hidden it away securely, that in
certain, and it would be forever loat should.-
those two who alone know the secret be killed.

“ Now, good horse, we will go slow, for if the
outlaws are coming on after the gold train, they
cannot be far away now.

“ I’ll just take a look over the trail when I.
reach ondcr ridge, for I can get a good View!

3”
there. - '

Thus musing, he had ridden on for miles, and
now he rode more rapidly toward the ridge.
ahead of him, for from that point he could no.
for several miles over the trai .

He had urged his horse to greater speed, for
he did not care to be seen, and was just. about
to halt and dismount and peer 0\ er slot) the

trail, when a volley of half a doaen ,reVo vc'“

 
 

- ....._, , .J: "
‘-‘ used

is

     

i

  

.28

_. . D3931ng Charlie’s Double.

 

 

shots were heard at short range, and Dandy
Nick reeled, clutched at the air, and as his horse
wheeled suddenly fell to the ground.

 

CHAPTER LXVI.
AMBUSHED AND AMBCSHERS.

THE chief was certainly h-t upOn the gold
trail, for he had determined it should not slip
through his hands.

The more he considered the situation, the more
he felt assured of snort-3°.

He reviewed all :h L had occurred, and could
not but give Dashing Coal-lie credit for having
played a very bold and cunning game against
11m.

As he rode along, he mused aloud in this
Wise:

“ Now I am not the only one who is hunting
Old Miner Mark ham’s gt lid.

“ He had a right to will it to whom herleased,
but I havea right '0 capture it if [can

“ He could not have gotto-n a more cunning
and brave man to hi-lp him on his trail than is
Dashing Charlie.

“ He came near checking my advance back
at the ford, too, for really I suppo~el be had
more men to back him up, or that his whole
party was there.

“ f be had had his force then, I fear it would
have kept the gold out of my hands, and that is
an alternative that must not hap

“ He WHR bold indeed to stan
and open fire upon us when alone.

“ Yes, and he got one of m
brought down a horse as well, and
was that I had extra animals.

“ Well. there will come a day of reckoning
between i) wining (‘harlie and the Mountain
Marauders, if he prevents me from getting this

n.
in our track

men, and
ortunate it

gold, and bitter indeed shall the reckoning be -

for him.

“He has been the worst foe we have had,
and I behave he is simply staying at the mining-
camps to watch my men, and is not really a
miner.

“ He held too good a position at the fort as

the chief of scouts to give it up at a Chan-‘e of :

finding gold in Valley Camps, and ‘-.though tne
soldiers think he has turned miner, I th-nk
Callonel Buckner and the scout understand each
0 er.

“ Now there is another riddle for me to solve,
and that is as to who this Double is of the
scout.

“ At first I thought it might be one of my
membrind yet that was soon proven to be im-

1 e.

“ He is an able counterfeiter, too for I have
seen some of his s money, and I would like
to have him with me, for the bills he turns out
will ass everywhere as good.

“ hl an idea strikes me that, after all,
this counterfeiter may be Dashing Charlie him-
se .

“ Yes, it is lble that he has no Double,
faind may be p aying the game for his own bene-

t.

“ Why should he not be dishonest as well as
the rest of us!

“ Yes, be me have left the fort for this pur-
pose, instead 0 to mine, may have captured this
counterfeit money and determined to use it for
his own 

“I shal see to this, if I do not get the gold
for if that falls into my hands, then I shall bid
farewell to these scenes and dangers.

“ Ahl my advance scout has made some dis-
covery.”

The discovery of a si nal from a ridge ahead
caused the outlaiw chie to stop his musings and
ride on rapidly.

As he ascended a ridge, the summit of which
was covered with pines of small growth and
rocks..he was met by one of his men who said:

“ A horseman is approaching. chief."

“ Is it the scout, Dashing Charlie, who ran
away from us at the ford i” '

“ No, chief, I do not know him.”

“ Is he following the trail!”

“ Yes, sir.”

“Comin toward us!"

“ Yes, 0 ief.”

“ Then be ready to ambush him.”

The chief accordingly gave an order to his
men to dismount and take up positions among
the rocks. .

This they did, and the! were soon in ition
with their Weapons rea y for use, all ut one
man who was left to hold the horses back down
the ridgm

Peering from among the rocks, the outlaw
:3?!” saw a horseman slowly approaching the

29.

He was nearly half a mile distant, and turn-
ing his glass upon him he recognized a miner
he had befan seen.

“Yes, he is the man who went as guide of
the train that fooled me.

“All right he is my game now,” and the
chief smiled grimly in anticipation of soon hav-
ing a victim. ‘

Nearer and nearer the horseman came, and
as he dr-tw close to the base of the ridge he
suddenly uiokenrd his pace

Up the ill he came at. o'canter, wholly un-

, mindful of the ambush of death into which he
was riding.

Nearer and nearer he drew until suddenly it

flashed across the mind of the outlaw chief that
he should have allowed the horseman to ride
into a trap and capture, not kill, him, for the
latter could be dune at any time after he was a
prisoner.
, it was too late, though, then, for his men were
scattered about among the rocks. and to call to
them vi but he wished would but be to alarm the
stranger also.

But he could only hope that the man would
iiot be killed by the tire of the ambushed out-
aws.

Another moment and a sharp report rung out
from behind a rv ck nearest to the horseman.

instantly he drew rein and his revolvers were
in his hands to fight to the death, for he was
wounded.

But other shots followed the first one and the
horseman fell dead from his saddle, his body
pierced by several bullets.

CHAPTER LXVli.
FAITHFUL [INTO DEATH.
Tm: horseman who had thus ridden upon his
l death, at the hands of the cruel Mountain
i Murauders, was, as the reader has doubtless
d‘Iiscovered, the unfortunate young :niner Dandy
C I li'k.
He had not reached the ridge in time to save
l himself, though half an hour sooner he would
have done *0.

Could he have reached the summit of the
rooks while the outlaws were oil on the plain. as
he was when they discovered him, then his Own
life would not have been the f< rfeit and perhaps
the lives of others warned by his return, for the
gold carriers Could have, in their turn, am-
bushed the Mountain Marauders.

But a cruel destiny led poor Dandy Nick into
the death trap.

The shot of :he outlnw nearest to him had cut
throth his arm. and he had tried to stand and
tight. oXpecring only one. man to deal With.

But there came a discharge of another rifle,
foil-med bl 0th.-rs, and wounded desperately
the young miner had fallen from his saddle,
while his horse was caught with a lariat as he
wheeled to dash away.

Though fatally wounded, as he knew himself
to be. Dandy Nick did not yield to his foes, for
he had one arm that he could raise, though the
ithnr lay helpless under him, the bone broken
by a bullet.

Then, too, his bod was pierced by a couple of
bullets, another ha cut through his neck, and
his remaining arm also had a wound in it,
though still he could use it.

He tried to stagger to his feet, but in vain,
and so. lying prostrate as he was, he opened fire
upon the foes that were rushing upon him.

But his eyes were dimmed by the anguish of
death creeping over him, and his aim was un-

 

 

 

9.

The chief had rushed upon him most eagerly,
anxious to ask him before he died all that he
would know of the gold-carriers.

He wrenched from his weakening arm the re-
volver, and asked:

“ Now, sir, a w0rd with you i”

“ Be quick, then, for I am dying."

“ A blind man could see that.”

“ Why did you kill me?”

“Because I decided when too lets not to do

7,

 You are Muello, the Mexican?”
“The'outlaw chief of the Mountain Marau-
3)

“I am.”
“ You are an infamous monster, and some day
y0u will be hanged and I will be avenged."
“ Silence! and hear mel”
“ Well?"
“ You were with Markham’s gold-carriers!”
H I was.”
‘ “It was guided by Dashing.Charliei”
“ It is."

“ He is not with it now?"
“ How do you know!”
“ We have seen him.” ‘
dA h! then you found him in your path at the
for i"
“Yes: and killed him.”
g“ It is not so.”
“ How do you know l’
“ Dashing Charlie is not to be killed by such as
011. .
y “ He has a nobler destiny than to be shot
down by you and your cut-throats of the trail.”
“You have just left the Gold Train 1" '
“ A long way back.”
“ Where are they i" a
“ Safe.”
" i know that they are not.”
“ Well, you press on and you’ll find the same
fate as mine.” *
“ I have men enough to wipe them out.”
“ Not since Mustang Walter and his cowboys
of the Markham Ranch have joined them.”
“Great God! is this so?”
“ Go and find out."
.“1 w‘ll." ‘
" With my dying l-reail. 1 date you do so.”

 

 

“Well, I’ll go, and I’ll leave you here to die
and then to fall a victim to the coyotes and buz-
zards, if they do not attack you before life leaves
your body.”

“ They will have to hurry up, for I am almost
gone.”

“ You may live an hour yet.”

“ If I thought so, I would ask you to do me a
favor.” .

“ What is that?”

“ To send a bullet through my heart or brain,
for the choice I leave to you, and put me out of
the intense anguish I suffer.”

“ You are a plucky fellow, Dandy Nick, and I
have half a mind to oblige you.”

“ It may be one act in your guilty life that de-
serves credit, if you will do so."

“ I will not be guilty of one good act. so will
leave yiu here to die alone, and for the coyotes
to sing a l‘tquiHn in your ears to soothe your
last dying moments.”

“ You are even Worse than I thought it possi-
ble for you to be, Muello, the vaican, and
mark my words, when you come to die, and I
believe (you will be spared for the rope, you will
think 0 this my dying hour, and regret it.”

A harsh lau h was the i >nly r ‘ply oi the outlaw
chief, who cal ed to one of his men to rob the
dying miner of all he had of value about him,
and then, mounting his horse, rode away with-
out another word.

His men leaped into their saddles, and, with a
shuddering glance at the dying miner, followed
their terrible leader.

But one man hesitated, halted, and then dis-
mounted. '

He hitched his horse and ran back amon the
rocks to where the dying miner lay, and ing
his canteen, handed it to him.

“ It is liquor, rd, good brandy, and may
kill the in a lit e—take it, for you are more
than we come.”

“ God bless you, my friend. Give me one
swallow, that is all.”

“ Won’t you take more?" »

“ No—good-by, and God bless you, for you at
least have a heart.”

And the outlaw hastened on after his com-
rades, the last words of the dying man ringing
in his ears.

As he glanced back from the plain he saw the
form half-rise and fall back, and he knew that
Dandy Nick w -s out of all pain—that death had
ended his suiferings.

1n the mean time, the chief had ridden
slowly along the trail after the gold-carriers.

What Dandy Nick had told him had worried
him greatly, for if Ca tain Markham had been
joine by Mustang alter and his cowboys,
then he would surely stand no chance of captur-
ing the treasure, to get which he had sinned so

deeply.
' At set the thought came to him that it could

not be, that the cowboys had not come that far
tomeet the Gold Train, though they mightdoso
further on, and nearer the ranch.

The more he thought it over the more con-
vinced he was that Dashing Nick “ as only trying
to frighten him back, so as to save the gold.

He had admired the pluck of the dying miner
immensely, and yet this was all, for in his heart,
callous as it was, there was not -an atom of
mercy or pity for him or any one.

“ l was a me] to believe him, and l have lost
valuable time by doing so, for it has delayed
me.’

Then, raising his voice, he called out:

“ Come on, men, for that Gold Train is not far
ahead of us, and we must have it 1”

And then the anibushers of poor Dandy Nick
rode rapidly, feeling assured that they were
close upon the gold-carriers who, with Dandy
Nick out between them and danger, felt no anx-
iety, and so the tired men had thrown themselves
down to rest.

After a.ride of some miles the glimmer of the
cam fires of the gold carriers caught the egos
of t e pursuing outlaws, and with a yell t ey
dashed into the camp of those whom they had
pursued so relentlessly. .

Muello knew this time there was no mistake
for he knew the horseman at the ford who had
dropped one of his men from his saddle with a
rifle shot was Dashing Charlie, and Dandy Nick
had just left their camp, so there was no mistake
this time he was sure. ,

The tracks of Dashin Charlie showed the chief
that he had come bac on the trail, sohe had
left the gold‘carriers, as he had behaved, in

safet far alon on their way.
“ es, there no mistake this time," he mut-
tered.

“ Show no mercy. men!” shouted Muello, the
Mexican, and as far as lay in their power the
ouitl:wl were determined to obey their savage
ch e .

 

CHAPTER LXVIII.
A FATAL WOUND.

. Taxas CHARLIE, the courier, carried his‘let-
ter in safety to the Markham Ranch and gave it
to Beatrice. the rancher‘s daughter.

Th - result was that several hours later a
dosen cowbo s set 03 for the rendezvous at Cliff
(avarivon, an at their head rode Mustang

We

 

 

 

 

1‘.

 

 

Dashing Charlie’s Double.

29

 

But these were not all, for Texas Charlie re-
turned with them, while there went along none
other than B-Aatrice Markham.

No one could dissuade her from doing so, and
everythin was accordingly done to make her
comfortab e upon the journey.

“ I am impelled to go, Mustan Walter, from
a presentiment I have had that will never see
m father again alive,” she had said.

The cowboys pressed as rapidly on as they
thought it proper, with Beatrice alon , and in
several days arrived at the appoin rendez-
vous.

No one was there to meet them, but Texas
Chharlie said that it was too soon to expect
t em.

As a couple of days gassed and they did not
arrive, Beatrice urged exas Charlie to go on
with several of the men and see if aught could
be found of the old-carriers, while she remained
in camp with ustang Walter and the rest of
the men as a guard.

Upon the evening of the third day Texas
Charlie was seen coming.

A glance was sufficient to show something had
happened, for they were dismounted, their horses
being led, while they were bearing a burden be-
tween them.

“ M poor father! you are wounded,” and
Beatrice knelt by her father's side.

“ If I can get home I think all will be well,”
was the faint reply.

At once they started upon the return, the gal-
lant cowboys dividing their lime in carrying
the wounded ranchero, while one of the men was
sent after the ranch ambulance to come and
meet them.

It was a journey of a week, but at last the
ambulance was met, and the wounded ranchero
soon after found himself in his own hOme.

His story Was then told, for he rallied quickly,
of how the camp had been attacked by Muel o
and his outlaw hand, and his guide, Rifle Ben,
had fallen at the first fire.

Others had been shot down, some escaping,
and he had been wounded but managed to get
away in the darkness.

He had ridden on until able to ride no for
ther ' and then had been-overtaken the next
day y the Marauders who had discovered the
secret of the gold being hidden before the camp
had been attacked.

Refusin to tell where it was he had been shot
again an left for dead, and there remained
until found by Texas Charlie and his men.

Such was his story, and as Beatrice heard it
she began to feel that her father could never
recover.

At his request she wrote a letter to Colonel
Buckner of Fort Blank, asking him to keep his
promise and become her guardian, if her father
should die.

Back came the answer in time, that she should
be as his own daughter.

But it ca me too late for the dying ranchero to
hear it, for he had away one night as

ently as falling asleep, and Beatrice was alone
fa the world. .

Again she wrote to Colonel Buckner, and a
couple of months after her father’s death, Lieu-
tenant Fred Gibbs with a cavalr escort arrived
at Markham Ranch, and ha ha orders to con-
duct her to her new home at Fort Blank, for
an affectionate letter from Colonel Buckner,
brought by the young officer, told her that she
would be vergg‘ear to her new-found kindred.

As soon as trice could settle up the aflairs
at the ranch which was left under the char
of Mustang Walter, she started for Fort Blan ,
where, after many adventures on the trail, she
arrived in safety to find the warmest of wel-
comes awaiting her from all.

She soon learned to love her new-found uncle
most dearly, and more, she found that the lien-
tenant, whom she first regarded as a friend,
then as a cousin, had become dearer to her than
all else in the world, and what was better still,
Fred Gibbs held the same deep regard for her,
and which could, and did, end but in one way—a
wedding at Fort Blank, to the great sorrow of
the man young officers who had also fallen in
love wit the beautifll glrl. Who , , in
addinon to her beauty and noble nature the
fortune in gold which had been left her by Matt
Markham the miner, and eventually iven to
her throu h the exertions of Colonel uckner
who sent ashing Charlie to hunt up the m
are which had cost so many lives to hold pos-
session of.

_—-

CHAPTER LXIX.
CONCLUSION.

Anna his brush with the outlaws at theford,
when they were made to feel his deadly aim at
long range, Dashing Charlie outran their best
horses readily, with his splendid roan and mak-
ing a flank movement calne around to the
mountain trail again leading to the Valley

Camps.

He took n his narters in the cavern first oc-
cupied by att arkham, and made himself
comforts le there, for he had a duty to perform

which was kept a secret from all saVing Colonel
Buckner at the fort, where Dashing Charlie
held the position of snout.

This duty which he had been sent upon was to

 

hunt down a band of counterfeiters who were
>upp0srd to have their retreat in some of the
mining-camps, and were floiiiiing the country
with bogus hank-notes by disposing of them
among the miners.

it was a long and difficult trail to follow, but
Dashing Charlie played the detective well, and
at last ran the counterfeiters to their den.

.To his amazement he disco ered in the chin
counterfeiter a man Whose features and build
were such that he could readily m ike up so asto
resemble him as closely as a twin brother. .

And this was the man who had impersonated
Dashing Charlie so well as to make old Matt
Markham, the miner, believe his story that he
had lost his papers given him and returned for
others.

Well were it for the miner, and for his beauti-
ful heiress, Beatrice, that he did not ive an-
other letter to the pretended scout, or 11 him
any secret that would give him a clew of how
to get possession of the gold he had worked so
ion and hard to get.

T e trail after the counterfeiter. his Double,
was a hard road to travel, like it is said the
“ Road to Jordan” is; but Dashing Charlie,
like a bound on the scent, never gave it up, and
in the end had the satisfaction and revenge
of seeing Graydon Donaldson as his Double was
known, brought to the end he so richly dc-
served.

Nor Was this the only satisfaction that the
scout enjoyed, for while engaged in trailing the
counterfeiter, who had cast his destinies with
Muello the Mexican, Dashing Charlie tracked
the Mountain Marauders to thvir den, and be-
came the rescuer oi Lieutenant Fred Gibbs, who
had been taken prisoner b Mu ello the Mexican,
who held him in the belie the t he knew where
the Markham gold was hidden and that he could
force from him the secret, under fear of being
put to death by torture.

.Though Muello the Mexican, and several of
his men, escaped death and capture at the hands
of the soldiers led to attack their camps, the
balance of the band were utterly wiped out of
eXistence, the Marauders of the Mountains be-
mgV remembered only as a terror of past days.

_hough the mysterious masked chief still re- .’
mained a. mystery to those who had known and
dreaded him, the silent scout who had driven
him from the trai s of New Mexico won great

raise, _and by this deed, added to many others, i

as written his name on the page of history as '
one of the famous Heroes of the Plains.

THE END.

 

Beadle's Hall-Dime library.

BY BUCKBKIN DAM (Major Bun. B. lllllo)

.84 (Did Rocky s "llo cos; or, Bonito, inc Horse-Breaker
.40 Giant George; or. he Ans’lof the Range.
 *EIIE‘II. Juteklz or Gilant Georgsés Pard.
c aran u no doc or lantGoo ' Re
set the Stnnge Port! or, tiin’. Bon’l Don't? :innt'..m
 leer-wrong. fez-woo: or, ThorTazntuls nf‘l'aos.
roepn a to a oor h d dWhi
BU. Frlo [fl-:4]: or, The Tonkawag’s Trust. u a PM“
lltlng Trio; or Rattloanshe, the Tonkawsy.
oli: or, Big-Foot Wallace to the Front.
851 The Ranch Raiders or, The Siege of Fort Pargslory.
304 Snap-shot, the Roy anger.
375 Chlotu, the Creek; or The Three Thunderbolts.
ssi llandorn inn; or. m. lrnnir to n... mm.
89 Romeo and the Reds; or,1‘he Beleagnerod Ranch.
‘04 Little Lariat; or Pecan Pete's Big Rampage.
gr  I'll.” rti""'iimm"'0i in k I... page.
e ‘ rec ‘ra out or d is on th
 iii-r   vii. .° '
a . e on. gr: or. s loo 0 lhsls.
684 Cliche Carl. the Chico Giant

 

BY CHARLES mourns.

"8 Will Soc-era, the Boy Detective.
 :zril Hardy, the Boss my. h
' ('Iyune ’ete; or, . codsmns, i is Do mum"
180 Detective BIL-kt or, The Hero in Rags. K
148 Handsome Harry, the Bombliwli Detective.
l4? “' Ill Wlldil re, the Thoroughbred.
lb“ “luck "ell. Will Wildfire s Rat-gr.
15? MIkc lorry lhv Harbor Police Boy.
1132 W Ill “'lldlre In the Woods.
105 Billy Bag sage. the Railroad Bo '.
70 A 'l‘rnlnl “rd; or, Will “'lllllfl‘r Wins in") 1.0....
4 Bob "01' Iron; or, Mystcrlos 0! New Yuri.
9 lo!) 0(- set the Bank Runner.
8: flhe‘flllldl on sand fir, Will Wildfire's Revenge.
re a yor , tie a t y‘ «r. The Smu
Hi. Bob Roe kett; or. Driven to the Wall. “k...
9“ llhadowed or, Bob Rockett's Fight for Life.
Dark l’nu . the Tiger King.
213 ll‘uhlng Rave, the Dandy Detective.
820 [om 'l‘.nnor or, The B sch Sheep ol the Flock.
82a Sum Chan-nu the Premium Darky.
D215 fi‘llndow Sum. the Messenger Boy.
.49 '1 Inc Two “ Bloods ”; or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang.
I63 Rick Dash-way: or, A Dakota Boy in Chicago.
(II-'1 ho, \ oung Sharper or, Rollieklng Mike's Hot Trail.
824 Jolly .llinz the Detective Av renlire.
289 Jolly Jim a Job; or, The oun-z therilvc.
298 he Water-lloundt or, The Young Thoroughbred.
302 Ila-huway. of Dakota: "r, A \\'n~lern Lad in Quasar City.
8. Ralph Ready, the Hotel Bov Deter-[I'm '
84 Tony Thorne. the Vagabond Drlffl‘llvt.
858 The Reporter-lbotcctlvet or, Fwd Flyer's Bllzssrd.
86? W Ids-Awake Joe: or, A Buy ni lhe lines.
879 Larry. the Leveler; or. The lllomll oi the Boulevard.
408 Firefly Jack. the River-Rat lieu-dive.
423 The Lost Finger; or, The Entrapped Cashier.
428 Fred Flyer. t e Reporter Detscilw.
432 lnvlnclllle Logan. the Pinkerton Ferret.
456 "Ill ’ “rich, the Jolly Vagabond.

 

 

 

466 “'h c-Awnke Jeri-v, Uriel-live; or, Entombed Allvs.‘
479 D‘s-tor“ \‘4: "0d 0: or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty.
4"“ \\ "ll hit-l." Illu- rt.

Mil "00th the Boy Fireman : or. Too Sharp for lhe Sharper.
mm ’I'lu- fioi-rot ‘orvico. Boy Detective.

596 .Ilunn ' the Kld or, A Lainh Among Wolves.

“27 Tom {rune of rknnsna: or. The Woll’in the Fold.
655 l’lnoky Paul, the Roy h‘poonlator.

66? Roll and Sam. the Duh-y brim-lives.

709 The (‘nrhslone "elm-tho: or, l‘..irry Hale’s Big Beat.
75’? [Detective Frank’s Sweep-stakes.

l

y

B \' "Ll. ('miM us.

is Vagabond Joe. the Young Wandering Jew.
18 The Dumb Spy.
2? Ann-lope Abe, the Boy (snail.
8 Kt‘elr-knlf'c, line l'l’lln'r til the l’vairins.

4| I‘M—I0 Jflck. illn‘ Yl-llliy \luslmigo-r.
5K The Border Klluz: or The Si'i'l’r“. Foe.

7| IN-lunuu'c Dirk. Hi» i m,- ll--i..er Spy.
4 Iluwh-el'o ilui-ri lliv Young 'l‘iuH-er Roger.
Hallo, the ll") llungrr. .
I34 Sui-(- Shot 5(‘1Ii,lh- llo) liillriimn.
148 Sour-l" iii-e haul. U c Si em Honor
146 run-r ‘9ur, ll-r I'm Knight.

5)

up
A
K

3

3 I'luult' Klt. llir lo)‘ l‘.»mor-. f
ltilfi Lllllc i r-xnn. llr Young Mustangsr
l .‘i 0ch .‘olllul‘y. llir llr‘rlllll Trapper.
1H2 Liule Hurricane. in. lio)‘ (mum...
202 Pros-wool Pole: oi, l'l-e Young Hollow Hunters.
20$ 'I'lu- lloy Hon-ulna: l-r. '1 lu- Prairie '1 ramps-
94 Tiger Tom, the Term Terra.
228 "ii-lulu: l.|i'l.: or, 'l r'll-lbrr 'l’oiii’s ('nrtle.

22" Llllll‘ “‘llllllrr, lllr‘ Y ling l'vairie Nirnmd.

33‘ The Parson Ils-tu-iiu-: or, 1 he Lillie- Ranger.
243 The I’llflllllwl (Hilde; or, \\ il-l Raven, lllr Ranger.
260 Dare-lle\ ll "all, llic Young l'rfllrir Ranger.

272 .“IIIL-Il‘lll “Ike, “4‘ 110) Sllarpliooler.
290 Little Foxfire, ii-e l‘my Srw.
800 The HR ' Demon; oi, lmlnholt, ilw Ranger.

8"} “‘lllp-klllfl J00, llle llin’ Rulwlivro.
409 Hercule-x: wr, Dirk, thr- Boy Rang-r.
4| 7 \Vcllfiuli Mono, llh‘ 'l‘riunp l)n'lei'll\‘t‘-

422 “ab ‘ Nuns. llll' llu) Giant ol lllv Yellow-stone.

4T4 L"! I: lhlll-k-hln. Hie Young l'miric (‘entanu
5? “'lligmli'oot Fri-d; «tr. Hill l'olai Saul.

463 'l'nmnrnv '| our. ihv- iiig Trill-ref Roy.

4:8 (Hal l‘olu Ihslcler, Ilw lied {in-r Epidemic-
N2 Nitrite-Wu” Boll, ll... I!o_\' 'l romn.

5"2 “hindering Ila-ill, lln- “Mn-it lioyTrappcr.

{in-)2 "on Ilnrr, the Marina l‘lwlmu'n.

6‘“ 0M Klt Bandy“- Dellvel'nm-o.
6?" Norway \i-ln, llll‘ Big Boy Mountaineer.
650 Ibuunilom- Dun llle l-‘-m-lanci-. or Old Kit Bandy in Arcadi;

R" (‘0l.. A. l“. "0LT.
’99 "luck "In-kakln: or_'l’lie Masked )lnn of Death Canyon.
419 Kenneth, the Knife-King.
48.3 Litt’ie nghii'oot. the Hint of in. whom,
.28 The Dandy Fpori; u ,Thu King Pin (‘oiispirat r.
“78 Ralph chwood. ll... Lightnink Expva thective.
65H Ilemllluhl Ilnrry'u llnlll.
1'27 "(-millghi Ilnrry‘a Kiri-n.
759 Ill-lulllglit llurry‘u Ilerilslgr.

RY MAJflR HEN ll\ ll. fi'l‘illlllARD. [ix-Scout.

306 Neck-Tie N's-(l: or, The Dug-Hut l'srds.

'46 His lcr liuplmol: or.'l‘h.- Swurilsnien . 17.30th

891 KT‘RHIHVQ KII. iiu- handy “in” lam...

89H Kid-Glove KI! and Paul: or, ‘I lielinhl King.

406 TI“- \liul Mun-Hunter: --r. Hm ‘4 -du. Gulch Mystery.
505 Powell’s I’nrd: or, 1‘lla")llc'-Al'lntnl Giant.

RY FREDERICK DE“ )CY
813 (‘llnnrron Jar-L, llw King-Pin ol'Ritlr-Shuis.
47H 'l‘ungemund, ili-- Desi-rt ileuctlve.
542 The Canyon Pal-(ls.

RY ARTIII'R C. GRISSOM.

440 Little Foxfoot, llir Gold Bowie Kid.
55% The Sure-Slim I’nrdn.
021 Truthi‘ul James, the ‘ Pi'cooliar" Man.

RY ALBERT “'. AIKER.
11 The Two “Qtrt'thoni or, The Fortunes oi a Bowery Girl.
76 Abe Colt. th. Crow-Killer.
7” Sol (iln er, the Giant Tm may.
.88 Joe "no ofAIIgeln nm Illa Boy Pal-d.
447 New York Nat. A Tale of Tricks and Traps in Goth...
458 N ew En land Nick: or. Thr Fortunes oi a Fondling.
434 .Vllnlsle . lok, thr Cirrus Prince.
498 Tune Tell. tnc Aria-mi Sport.
510 (‘ool Colorado, the Hall-Breed Detective.
518 Cool Colorado in New York.

Rh GEORGE C. JEN-KB.

436 Git Thar (lwncy the Unknown.

493 Ml 'l‘liar 0wney’s Pledge.

5T3 TIN- lion-on llovtor.

5R] Double-Curve Dan. the Pitcher Detective.

59H Fl-.i~. l'lr‘ Singer Detective.

608 Tim l’itr-lier IDeh-vtlve’l Foil; or, Dan’s Double Plhy.
616 The ‘.("‘lll| Detective: or. The LulCruiae oi the Black Bean
681 The I’iii-hor lleieclh’c’s Toughest Tussle;

786 Larry the Thoroughbred; or, Beaten on Every Side.

I!" CAPT. J. l". C. ADAMS.

‘4 ()regon Sol: or Nick “'hiil‘les's y Spy.
‘6 le-Ey the Great Shotof the est.
5‘ N“ llase . the Bot Trapper.
‘6 Nick “’hlflea’s pet 3 or, in The \‘alla of Death.
00 The “'hite Indian; or, The Scout on. e Yellowstone.
70 "Id 1 ’a Cabin: or, The Greenhorn in the Woods.
81 Lightl It Jo. the Terror ol the Prairie.
85 Buck Huekra- ; or, Bess, the Female Tn per,
.47 Old Grluly and Ills Petal or. The Wll Huntran.
“I ht-houla Ll,ng or, Osceola, the Flrebrand.
“f T c Lost Ills-terns or The Underground Camp.
.88 The Body King s or, The Human Thunderbolt.

BY RODGER STARBUCK.

.5 The Boy Captain; or, The Pirate’s Daughter.
lld The Black Schooner; or. Jib Junk. the Old Tar.
I510 The Golden llor roon : or, Lest Among the Floss.
or, 0 ii Skinfllnl. the Desth-ShndOw. ‘
:54 Big “or: I e. the llill Tramp; or, The Odd Part.

0] Phantom house.

.70 Breaker Ben. the Reef-Runner.

I!" CAPTAIN FRED. “'IIlTTAKl'Jl.

15 The flog-C.“ or. The Witch of Danen.

.9 The nil-I P e $013 The Dogs:- Drugmsr.

48 "Ink IDorllug. t a any Express Rider.
150 Lhnce and 3 or. The Children of the Chem.
154 The Sword Ills-tern; or, The Land oiths ll. hantlida‘
159 The Lost (‘a to“: or, Slilmnr Jabol Con-'- raise.
.00 The Boy I oalnu or. The Drop on at tho Pinned lung
.14 “'olfgolg, ths Robber of the Rhino.
I49 ‘Ilo Romor the Animal King: or, Round the World.
I“ The T r Tar-er: or, The League of the Jungle.
“1 "lot-I 20k. the Demon Rider.
3.5 Collforlia Joo's “'ar Troll.

BY EDWARII “Wait”.
I“? AM “on, the Steamboat Bo .
I99 Fullherwelght the Boy Champion oithe Mnshingun. .
.38 “sort Alf or, l’callierwolghl Among the Outlaws. r
.8. The 'll'ypo hawthei or, “'saul. the Boy 'l‘ramp.
.95 Purloasl Phil; or. The Klng anuartsville.
II I The Rovln Sport; "r, The Priin of Chuckslnch Camp.
8” Nos-o, the Ticks-the: or, Kit Ken ‘on's Vendetta.
m Clip the Canonical-tr ov.Th- ontana Vigian

|

BY EDR'ARII S. ELLIS.
6 Bill Mddol, Trap r.
8 both Jonrox or, T c Cuptlvol oftiu- Frontier.
ll Nat Todd: or. The F'ste ol n... Sioux Captive.
Is The Frontier Angel.
08 The Boy MIDI-rs: or. The Enchanted island.
1'82 The ligated Hunter: or, Thv Strauss Horseman.
.54 The llnlf-llloml: i-r, Tl)" Panther ofths Plains.
T] The Huge "unler «r. The Sm") Prairie Man.
A New’ hern- rlvory Tuesday.
The Haltlnme hungry is for sale hv all newsdr. lets, five
“It yo! wry, or sent by mail on receipt oi nzx cents «or:
  '\ llAhll. T'nhl'J. or“.
9H Vi Iliuer~ bun-t. tot-w York

 

 

 

BEADLE’SrHALF-DIMEcLIBRARY.

 

 

 

B Y

i Deadwood
20 Deadwood
28 Deadwood
85 Deadwood
49 Deadwood
49 Deadwood
6? Deadwood
78 Deadwood
77 Deadwood

100 Dead wood
104 Dead wood
10” Deadwood
129 Deadwood
13" Deadwood
141D Deadwood
156 iDeBii'oiHl
Iii") Deadwood
201 Deadwood
205 Deadwood
217 Deadwood
921 Deadwood
332 Hold-Dani
$68 Deadwood
.68 Deadwood
309 Deadwood
82] Deadwood
'47 Deadwood
851 Deadwood
362 Deadwood
405 Deadwood
410 Deadwood
421 Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
459 Deadwood
465 Deadwood
471 Deadwood
476 Deadwood
4191 Deadwood
491 Deadwood
Dead wood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
629 Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
56'! Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood

(SID Deadwood i

61!! Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
67$ Deadwood
078 Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
104 Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
Deadwood
782 Deadwood
Deadwood
799 Deadwood
797 Deadwood
SD! Deadwood
80? Deadwood
81. Deadwood
81“ Deadwood
899 Deadwood
888 Deadwood
884 Deadwood
840 Deadwood
845 Deadwood
853 Deadwood
85R Deadwood
883 Deadwood

 

 

 

9| 6 Deadwood

9.3 Deadwood l
wood

984 Dead

940 Deadwood
94d Deadwood
951 Deadwood
95? Deadwood
965 Deadwood
9?! Deadwood

EDIVARD L. \VIIEELEB.

Deadwood Dick Novels.

IDIck, [hr Prim-c oi the Rand.
Dick‘n Defiance: or, i'uuhiv Daggers.
Dick in Dinguinc; Ur. Burial; lion
Dick in "in (Yantlc.
Ichk'n lionunza: n , inc Phantom Miner.
[Dick III Danger; Ail',(llll‘illl llli.
lchl.‘a i‘laxlen: M, The Parris oi Fir-mi Bar.
Dick on Deck: A r.<‘ulnmitv .‘ unnthu Heroine
IDIi-k'n int-ll .\cli :Ir.(‘nrdurw, Charlie.
Dick In Lcaih ilie.
iDIck'n I’('\ ice: or, The Double (Irma Sign.
Dick an Dctectixc.
Dick'n Double: or. 'l‘hi» lergnn's Gulch Ghoot.
Dick‘n Home Dane; or, Bimini: iiiii.
iDI('i\"il iiig‘ .‘l rilu" or, A (Juiueni'iinld.
Dick" oi ID. ailwuo x or, The Picked i'nrty.
Ichk‘n Dream: hr, The Riv:.ln oi the Rand.
lDiok‘a \i'nrd: or. 'i'hc liiai‘k lliii’n Jezclml.
Dick‘n "not": or, (‘aimniianno'a Adventure.
Dick'n Dead iD( al.
Dick'n llealh-l’laul.
Dick. A linumnrr (If liough- and Toughl,
Dick’a Divide: hr, The Spirit of Swamp Lake.
Dick‘n Death 'i‘raii.
lDick'a Deal: or, The Gold Brick nl Oregon.
Dick‘n Dozen; or. The Fakir ni Phantom Fiat:
Dick'n Ducal.” nr, Days in the Di gin”.
Dick flcntenced; er.’l‘no Terrible gondetta.
Dick‘n i‘laim.
Dick In Dead ('liy.
Dick’n Diamondn.
Dick in New York: or, A "Cute Cm."
Dick’n iDnntz nr,’l'hc Chained Hand.
nick, Jim: wr, 'l‘ln- Crimson Crescent Sin.
lDiek, Jr.’n, Defiance.
Dick, Jr.’n Full "and.
Dick, Jr.’n, Big Bound-Up.
Dick Jr.’n Bucket at (‘lalm 10.
Dick, Jr.’n ('orral; or, Ronni-n Bill.
Dick, Jr.’n. Do: Detective.
Dick. Jr.. in Deadwood.
Dick, Jr.’n. Compact.
Dick Jr.’n. Inheritance.
Dick, Jr.’n le Ingn.
Dick, Jr.’n. De i‘verance.
Dick r.‘n l’rotegee.
Dick. Jr.’n, Three.
Dick, Jr.'n, Danger Ducka.
Dle . Jr.’-. Death llunt.
Dick, an, In Texan.
Dick, Jr., the Wild Wen Vidoq
Dick, Jr.. on "In nettle.
Dick. Jr., In Gotham.
Dick, Jr., in Bonton.
Dick, Jr., In Philadelphia.

' r., In Chicago.
Dick. Jr.. A oat.
Dick. or" in Denver.
Dick. Jr.'-, Decree.
Dick Jr., in Beclaebub’o Basin.
Dick, Jr., at (‘one inland.
Dick, Jr.'n. Leadv le Lay.
Dick, Jr., in Detroit.
Dick, Jr. In Cincinnati.
r., In Nevada.
Dick, Jr., in No Man’n Land.
Dick, Jr., After the Queer.
In liufl'aio.
Dick, J r.’n. Chane Acronn the Continent
chk, Jr., Among: the smugglers
Dick, Jr.’n lnnuranceCane.
Dick, a.-.. link in the Mlneo.
Dick, Jr., In Durango: or, “Gathered in."
Dick, Jr)! Discovery; or. Found a Fortune.
Dick. Jr.’n. Dannie. ,

I.
.‘
.

k, Jr.’n. Dollarn.
Die '. Jr.. at Danger Divide.
k. Jr.’n, Drop.

Dick, Jr., at Jack-Pot.
Jr., in San Francisco.
Dick, Jr.'n iltiil ilunt.
Dick, Jr.‘n rDominoeo.
Dick, Jr.’n, lDInKuIIe.

r.’l. Douhio Deal
Dick Jr.’n. Deathwatch.
Dick, .Ir. , Doublet.
Dick. Jr.’n, Deathblow.
Dick, .Dr.’-. Denpefiate Strait-

v
I

Dick, Jr.'n, .one an .
Dick, Jr.’n Dei'eat.
Dick, Jr.’n, lenurreciioa.

Dick. Jr.’n Dark D
Dick Jr., De ed.
Dick, Jr.’n, Double Device.
Dick, Jr'.n, Ink-operate Volt-re.
Dick, Jr.‘n, Diamond Dice.
Dick Jr.’n, iloyai Flu-h.
Dick, Jr.’n Head-elf.

Dick, Jr.’n, Bival.

Dick, Jr.’n, Boom.

Dick, J r. ’n, Scoop.

Dick, Jr.’n, Prox .

Dick, Jr.’n, Cluie

Dick, Jr.'n, III h "one.

Dick Jr., at l evil’n Gul‘.
Dick, Jr.’n, Deathollole "Iltifi
iDIc , r.’n Bomb-hell.

Dic , Jr., in Mexico.

ch . Jr’n Decoy Duck.

Dick, Jr. in Silver Pocket.
Dick. Jr.’n, Dead-Sure Gil-6.
Dick, Jr.’n, Double Drive.
Dick, Jr.’o. radc-. ark.

III.

 

Dick, .Ir.. at Flunh Plato.
Dick. Jr.’n, Fluke-u .
Dick. .Ir.’n, Double rop,
Dick, Jr.'n, Bight Bower.
Dick, Jr.’n. Ten-Strike.
Dick, Jr.’n, Gold-Dust.
Dick, Jr.'n. (D

BY WILLIA“ ii. EYSTEB.

l
a o Faro ran

:0 Dandy Darket or. The Tip-n oi High Pine.

k a or, Dandy Dnrko’o Go-Dowa Paul.

18 The Bustier Rogue-Catcher.

888 Poker Pete’n ' Double Dod

851 The Tie-

5:.
To floort ; or, High ustllng nt Sinners’ Plot.

888 Blonte Saul, the Sport.
901 Diamond Da vc. the Gilt~Edge Shooter,
:1» Orack-flhot Dalsy’n Drop,

in Velvet; or , Bil Burk’n filufl.

ii he 8 rt
’45 Billy Bird's Bonanza: or The Rook-Ravanl' Root-Out.

90' Flip-Fla

Fred at Hard an

9 ID The GI (I r ~§hadower or, Cl k’ Cl Sh .
933 Banty in w ’ " ' n" m

lly's

onanlai or. The Bosr-Tsmer’s Disguise

 

 

80 lioncbnd Doll; or, Nuguo-i Ned, thc KniL'hl.

K4 lie-chad lioi» on Iland: Hr. iliii. lhr Hiri Miner.
83‘ iio-elnul Iiob‘n liearpcarauce: Hr. i'lminumlrh Phil.
121 lionebud iioll'n i‘ha lei-ire: Ur. (‘mnnnwn (‘hip.

37? Denver Doll. the ih-tm iivc Qlll'l‘ll: ur, 'i‘in- Yunkvo's Surround
29H Denver Doll'n \ ictory; or. him]: un-l i‘rm-niwn-s.
9N5 Dclner Doll’n iDci-oy; or. Litw lliil'n mum“.

i .96 [Denver Doll’n iDrIl‘i ; or. The itmui Queen.

new Yrcka dial. the Gold-Halliercr: or. 'i‘hu Lilo Lottery.
87$ Yreka Jlln’n I’rlzc: 0". 'l in: “Mix-w r i \"akv [flu '
385 Yreka Jlln'n Joker or, 'l'in- Rivals 01 RM Nine.

85'!) Yreka .llm'n New Dole: ~1.i‘:i<-y:ieiicn.

894 Yreka Jim ol’ ana Dam.

902D Fritz, the Bnuml-iioy llelei‘llt'e: nr. ihui ln'v‘iii' Game,

2“! Fri”. [0 llle Frinli; or. The Ventrilnquiui iiuntor

24D h‘icrra Flam. lin Frunll-‘r l'errvt: nr. A Snow's Devotion.
24H Merra .‘am'n Hecrct: or, The llimniv lwmlnriun.

253 Hlerra flan-'n i’ardt or, in» Alluci Hi Big \"iutn.

25K Mcrra h‘anl‘n Seven; or, The Stnicn Bride.

83-8 Kangaroo Kit; or. The Mysterious Miner.

‘89 kangaroo Kit’! Iiackei; or. ’i‘iuv i‘rilh- mi Played-Out.
39 Death-Face. ih-tw'iiw; or. l.ii'~- in New York.

(ill The liov Detective: or, i.‘ -|.i iliiiw. llle Sllfllvrllioiur.
9D “'illch- "yr tin- Drlcl‘live: or. Arnhn and Angels.

11: Gilt-Edged iDicL. u... s .v n moon...

iiu'r Contain Ferret. til" Lew York Detective.

iii! New York Nell, zin- liny-ilil‘i Detective.
226 The A rab Dclccth e: --r. Slumzrr, the iluy Sharp.
991 Turk the Boy Ferrel.
32:! Kelley, lllckcv .\‘ (‘o.. iile lh-turtiwn of Philadelphia.
343 ii anhali‘an M kc, thn ilowery ih'trt'tive.
401D “'rlnklcn, thi- NighiWVatl‘h Detective.
41“ "lull "ill Harry. the Mann Hail Detective.
4*" Sam Main-idea. lile Delmar-Dov Detective.
‘84 Jim Beak and i’al. Private Detectives.
26 l'lovell Iiooi‘, the iiuii'uiu Damon: or. The Border l'uiturel.
82 Bob “'ooll'; or. The iliri inani‘Shnt.
45 Did Avalanche: 0r. “'ilri Edna, the Girl Brigand.
58 Jim Bludnoe. Jr., the iloy Phenix.
“I “upkhorn "ill; or. The Rad Rifle Team.
92 (lanada i‘bct; or, Oiii Anaconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp.
1'3 Jack iloyle the Young Smeuiatnr.
185 Bonanza liili, Miner; or Madam Mt‘atery, the Forger.
188 Boul- Bob the King of Booth ackn.
141 llolid .‘am, the lim- Romi-Agont: ur. Thc Branded Brown.
177 Nobb Nick ofNevada: or, The Sierra. Smunpn.
"51 “'ild rank ihc Buvlmkln Bravo; or. Lady Lily’s Love.
936 Apollo llill, the Trail Tornado: or. Rmuiy Km...
.40 Cyclone Kit, tiw Young Gladintnr. nr. Tim Locked Valley.
.78 Jumbo Joe, Iin- Iloy Patrol: or. The Riv-ll Helm.
.99 A No. l, the Dashing Toll-Taker.
308 'idza Jane, the ‘1‘iri Miner: or. the. lmn-Norvod Snort.
380 Little “pg-bat...“ or, 'l'he Doml Face of anxurnvillo.
858 FIrnt-C III Fred, ihe Gem irulll Gopher.
873 NIDDOID Ned; or. The SN‘Yet oi' Slnh City.
:2. Cool Kit, the Kirz «l Kidn; or, A Viilnin's Vengeance.
8 Santa Fe Sal, tho Sluher; or. A Son‘q Yenze‘mee.
“C Malnkin Sam. the Sparklor: or The Tribunal of Ten.
913 Kit Keith. t 0 Revenue Spotter.
92D) Hol Sharpe, the New York Night-Hawk.
948 Did llayneod Among Bunco Men.

BY J. (l. (liDWlDBiOK.

‘90 Broadway Billy. tho Bootbiack Bravo.

514 Broadway Billy’n Boodle; or, Clearing nStranlo Case

580 ru-dwny Billy’n ‘Dinlkilty."

lroadway Bill ‘n Death Racket.

iroadway Bil y’n flurprlne Party.

005 irondway Billy; or, The Boy thectivo’o Bi: lnnllw.

roadway Billy’n Dead Act: “n'i‘lw MIR“? 0‘5"".

roadway Billy Abroad; or, Tin. Bootbiack in Frisco.

roadway Billy’a lie“; or,Bcntlnz Son Francisco’oll‘inut.

lroadway Billy In Clover.

iroadway Billy in Texan; or, The River Rmtien.

708 Broadway Billy’n Brand.

111 Broadway Billy at Santa Fe; or, The Clover Deni.

7.0 'iroadway Billy’n D'ull "and: or, The Gamin Detail".

785 Wroadway illlly’n Iluninenn.

788 Broadway Billy‘n Curiou- Cane.

758 Broadway Billy in Denver.

76. Broadway lillly’n Bargain; or, The Three Detective.

769 Broadway Billy, illo- Retriever Detective.

775 Broadway liiii.v’-I Fhadow Chane.

188 Broadway Billy'n Beagle-s or The Trio'n Que-i.

786 Broadway Billy’s Team: or, Tim Combine’s Big Pull.

790 Broadway Dllly’u Brigade: or. The Dead Alive.

790 Broadway llilly‘n Queer Bequent.

800 Broadway Billy llaled.

805 Broadway llilly’n ill nal Scoop.

Slit Broadway Billy's “' pe (Dot.

815 Broadway Billy'- Bank Racket.

88! Broadway Blily’n Iufl'.

826 Broadway Billy AIIIDIF .Dcrney Than

D438 Broadway Biliy’n Boil .

lliiiD Broadway Billy‘n Bit Boom.

844 Broadway Billy’n Big Bulge.

849 Broadway Billy'n .100 mm Fnap.

856 Broadway llilly'n Blln : or, The Boolblack Stownwny.

862 Broadway Billy in London.

Sill-I Broadway Dilly fihadown London Slumn.

874 Broadway llllly'n French Game.

880 Broadway Billy and tho Bomb-Throwero.

989 Bicycle Bob’n llot iii-orch.

I." sliver-Mg... tho Man oi Myrtoi’)’; or. The Golden Rays.

IGID Shanta, the old Kim” or, Iorfioron Your Dead.

“0 The Detoctive’n A prenticet or, A Boy Without. None.
Cibuta Jonnt 'Ir. ell-Hot Timu at Auto Bar.

“9 fiandy Pam, tho Strut Scout.

‘0? Dinco Dan. the Daisy Dude.

.00 liedii hfiriillipil the Prince nlthr Road.

ill-i The linglneer Detective; or, Rodllght Ralph’l Bosch.

‘48 Mart, the Night Ix rm Detective.

‘71 Air-idle Luke t e Younx Engineer: or. The Doubio Gun

5” The Boy Pinkerton; or, Runninz the Rum-ls Out.

«15 l‘luhting "arr «h» (mm of Chained Cyclone.

G40 Bareback Bet , the Centaur of the Circle.

“4 T newriter Tilly, the Merchant’s Word.

059 oonlight Morgan tho" Pinch-st "Man oi A!“ lot.

8N7 Battery “oh. the Dock Detective.

“04 Arizona Dick’n “I c-Dut.

900 Jumpinl Jack’n ubliee.

900 Safety Ham, the Cyeio Sport.

91. Train Boy Trint'n Bot Ila-tie,

918 The Tramp Dock-Bo .

9.4 m. Boot-I‘Bob, thc i‘ire-Laddie.

980 Ila-tier Ralph. the Boy flpotter.

mm The Ex-Newntoy Deiective’n Chan.

94! The Bowling Green Detective‘n Drop.

944 l‘owboy Charlie’n Double.

94‘? The Bowery W reg-tier; or. The liutcher-Boy’n Backer.

958 Paddy‘n Trump Card; or. Silver Sallie, the Girl Sport.

900 The Broadway “port: or, Fiver Fri-d'u Cloor Cm.

lid? .1000 Reward; or. The Rlvnl Reporters’ Sleok Scoop.

D18 Bantam Billy the Corker-Ferret.

978 i'lucky Pat. tile Ftreet-Boy Detective.

BY “'51. l’EBBY BRIDWN.

950 Brooklyn Boh‘n Ballet 0!, Dmier Dni’s Dinmnnd Snap.
IN"! The Halbllde Fpotteri or, Turning Down the ill] Throo
974 (Did Sant’n Dark Deal; or, Miner Mat‘l Iron Grip.‘

 

 

i

 

J

 

BYFFA LID Bll.l. N 0 V ELH.

 

’ BY con. PRENTISS lNGRAFiAM.

DEN Bull'an iiiil'n Lil-ind Throwers.

it?” Bull'an lilil‘n Fighting Five.

97.. Bull'an lilll'n iiiiilh‘iiilll.

96" Bull'an Bill‘n liunh Ride: Hr. Sure-Shot. the High-Flyw-
913 I Bull'an llill'n Deco) : iii. The Arizmm (frnrk Shut.
955 Bull'an Iiill’n Mach )n-(‘hane.

D48 "Illian lllll'n Snap-S int: nr‘ Wild Kid'u 'l‘cxnn Tniiy
942 Bull'an lilll‘n 'i‘oiurh ’i‘un-le.

936 linli’alo lilll‘n iloy May-col: or. Joe Jarvis’ livid-up.
929 Bulfan Bill‘s l‘rack-nhot Paul.

650 Buffalo Blil‘n Bo) Paul: W. lillltrl'liy “my.

Bill Binon iiill. the Prince oi the. ltnlna.

322 iilnon iilll'n fine: or. mm. the 13mm Sport.

BY BI'FFALO BI LL.

8 Kantian King; nr, The kmi Right Hand.
19 The Phantom h‘ 3-: ur. ihr i'iiu~tnfthe Prairie.
55 Deadly-Eye. the Hilhunwu Sm ut. or, The Banded Brotherhood
0" Border liobin llood: or, The l‘rnirio- Rover.
‘58 Fancy l“rank oi’ i‘oioraao: or, The 'l‘rapper’l TruIL

BV CAPT. ALFRED ll. TAYLOR, 11. S. A.

ll” iiuflalo lilllv, the lioy ilnllwhnckor.
194 Buflalo iiill‘ll lietz i-r, The Gambler Guide.

BY T. .l. FLANAGAN.
90D Nildnhipman Dare, the Pirate Catcher.
925 'l he I oun Cowboy Captain.
983 The Two giiiinhipllll‘n; (-r, The (:nrsnir—(‘imaer’s First
i‘ruiw.
949 The Three Lieutenanln
959 The Mani-oi Mlddy; 4W,- The Fnur Comnmniiorn.
966 Fighting Jack Hllubrick
9’32 l‘ [gluing Jack'n Middlen; or, Dandy Dick’s Duh.

BY ClDiADNEi. PRENTIBS iNGliAIlAM.

SD88 New York Nat'n Dro : or, Ex-Ferret Syken’ lioid Game
926 New York Nat and t le 'i’raitor Ferret.

920 New \ ork .‘iat Trapped.

914 New York hat‘n 'lhree of a Kind.

9074 New York Nat‘n Double.

909 New York Nat’n In Colorado.

896 hew York Nat in Gold Nugget Camp.

339 New York Nat’n Deadly Deal.

' w York Nat'n Crook-Chane.

8?? New York Nat'n Trump ford.

DWI New York Nat and the i-‘rave Ghouln.

£65 New York Nat’n Manked Mali-cot.

859 New York Nat. the Gamin DtLCCtlve.

Doom’n Kidnapper knock-(Dot.

Doom’s Ten Strike.

Doom’n Flush lland.

Doom’n Death-Grip; or, The Detective by Dootiny.
Doom’n Dentiny; or, The River Blacklol’l Terror.
Dick :Doom; or. 'i he Sharps nnd Shark. oi New York.

Doom in Bontoni or, A Mn: 0! hlnny Links.

Doom In Chicago. V

Doom in the “ ild “out.

Doom’n Clean Sweep; or, l'ivo Unkl in s Clue.
Doom’n Death i‘lue.

' Doom’n Diamond Deal.

Dick Doom’n Girl Mancot.

Doom’n Shadow iluat.

Dlek 'Doom’n Big lloul.

Danhlna (‘harllex or The Krntnrky'l'cnderhot’s First Trail.
75;“ Dal-hing (‘hnrllc’n Denliny: or, Tho chfiido’l C'Pllw'
Dar-hing ('horlie‘n Pawnee l’ard.

Dan-hing (‘harlie, tho Renrner.

v
F
r

 

‘ ‘97 liillek Taylor, Kin: oi tin- Cowboy;

787 iiiuck Taylor. the ('nmam‘ho's Cn iivo.

748 Back Ta low: [3qu nr.’l'hei’. Rldorloitho Rio Grouch.

600 Pawnee Ill, the Prairie Shadowor.

713 Pawnee Bill: or, Cnri, the Mad Cowboy.

719 l’awnee Blll’n Pledge: or,'l‘ho Cowhoy‘sDoom.

725 Pawnee Bill: nr. Daring Dick.

“99 itedl‘ern’n Curioun Cane: 0!, The Rival Sharpe.

691 (edi’ern at Devil’n Ranch or, The Sharp from Tun.

70. filedi’ern’n ilixh Ilandx My. “‘0 JICBW

707 .iledfern‘a L.ai Trail: or. The Red ixrmbrenoRan‘ou.
And Fifty Dthero.

BY LIEUT. A. K. SIMS.

589 Tom-Oat and Ford: or. The Dead Set at Silver City.
6” Tom-Cat’n Triad; or. Thv Alinir at Tombstone.

681 Tom Cat'n Terrible Tank: or The CowhoyDeioctivo.
688 Tom-Cat’n Triumph; or. Blsck Dan'n (ho-at Combine.
‘40 Captain Caotan the Chaparral Fork; 0Y,JOIil’l Ten Strike
568 The Dandy of Dodge: or, antilnw tor Millions.

570 The Silver Sport; or. Josh Peppermint] Jubilee.

588 filfiol Sol, the Mn With a flhadow

001 Ila p ' llann, thv Dutch Yldnci]: nr,HolTlmeni Round-Up
Gil Bil a Barnacle, the Detective Horculel.

048 Gowho aid, the Cattle-Ronni Detective.

657 Warhliilg “'Illiam the Mountain Mountebnnk.

«no Jolly Jeremiah, the Plslns Detective.

070i ii nal Sam, the Lookout Scout.

GRID Bile, the Gypny flpy: or, The Muterv oi Two Lino.
695D Ilmpie film, the Rmncho Buntan or. For Big Stnhn.

712 The Menmerini floor" or, The Mystllod Miro.
788 Toltec Tom, the hind Prospector.

T45 Kannan Jim, the Cross—Cut Detective.

76H Marmaduke, the Mustnn'or Detoctlvo.

778 The Buntler of Rolling Stone.

T35 Lone "and Joe, the Committoo of o.

801 Kent Kirby, the Him-Kicker iron Killhuck.

88. The Doctor Detective in Texan.

it?! Two Showman Dciectiven in Colorado.

987 The Texan Firebrand 0?. 3'1" 3m? I Snip-Shot
961 The Tra-p’n Trumo- ridi-

NEW ISSUES.
998 The Cadet-Detectivc’n Bot Din-tie; or, Three Wui.
Point Romano. By H. M Boynion.
994 Biii)‘ Bowern' fltreet Scouts; or, Raiding the Rolling
By Ilork. By Jo «no.
995 Balan Bill’n Drop; or, bond-Shot Nod , tho Knnus Kid.
Col. P. lnpnham.
rier Dcteciivuin Colorado or B k,“
996  gig-glam By Jon. E. Badger. ‘ ' “e I

"ws'r ISSUED.

illloatwa ' of Montana or. Stool. Shnr Nam.
"0 flied... n, m. diam... ‘ "

 

991 Two Duden from Dan-ed Camp; or, The One-Armed
Boss of Shakedown. By T. (i. linrbaugh.
or, SM

99. Doadwood Dirk, Jr., at Gold Dani;
Hmry’n Blind By I. L. “'hooler.

A New [nae Every Taeoday.

Tho llalf-IDI-o Lib a i an all would...
“panhoruntby  "untoldreoolomh. h

BIADLE Alb AIDAII. Pahiioh'o.
a wall.- street, low York.

 

- ~fi—

w Tap-

 

_. _...._.._._.....w._-..... h- .. _-_--.- _
. «Ha.- .

3

 

 

 

 

 

BEADLE’S*DIME* IBRARY.

Publzshed Every lValnesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Ten Cents. No Double Numbers.

 

 

BY JOSEPH E. BADGER. JR.

870 High—Water Mark; or, Silver-Tip Sid.
862 Riata Rob, the Ran 0 Chain )ion.
855 The C vwhov Chief s Sure-S 0t.
848 The Rival Red-Hat Sports.
837 Curly Kid. the Cheyenne Sport.
824 The Set. Hand Detective.
815 The Soft Hand‘s Clutch.
809 Din Dunn. the Soft-Hand Sport,
796’I‘ue Frisco Di-ti-ctlve‘s Thug-Tangle.
789 Sam Cary. the River Sp rt.
780 The Dead Sport‘s Double,
’77 Prince John. Dctective S vein],
763 Dandy Don, the Denver Mgu-cfiive.
754 ‘l he Man floin Texas; or, Dangerfield,

Doctor Di-tvctivc.
744 Sweepstakes Sam, the Silver Sport.
720 The Secret Six: 01‘, Old Halcyon.
71" The Man of Silk.
705 lantaiu lloh. ter Beauty from Butte.
093 Kent K’ISSHII, the Preacher Sport.
(583
67?)

s—-

the

l"

Boll Brc-ezn, ilio Rounder Detective,
Steel Surry, the Sport frvm Sunrise.

668 Solemn Saul‘s Luck Strt ak.
661 The Get-There Sharp.

Silverti’p Stwc, the Sky Scraper from Siskiyou.
Gopher Gabe, the UllSt‘ell Detective.

Dandy Darling, Detective.

Mosshack Mess, the Mountaineer.

The, Gri 'Sack Sharp‘s Even 11p.

Big Bam y, the Brigadier of Brimstone Butte,
Sandy Sands. the Sharp from Snap City_
Silver-Tongued Sid; or, Grip Sack Sharps SW...“
The GITP'SECk Slurp; 01‘. The Seraphs ol' Sodom.
Grip-Sack Sid. the Sample Sport.

1 he. Buried Detective; 0r. Saul’s Six Sensations.
Major Magnet, the Man of Nerve.

535 Dandy Dutch. the Decorator from Dead-Lift.
527 Dandy Andy, the Diamond Detective.

514 Gabe Guun. the Griul from Ginseng.

501 Solemn Saul. the Sad {Ian from San Saba.

495 Rattlepate Rob; or, The Roundhead‘s Reprisal.
488 The Thor ughbred Sport.

Daddy Dead-Eye, the Desmt of Dew Drop.

.466 Oid Rough and Ready, the Sage qt Sundown.
458 Dutch Dan. the Pilgrim from Spitzeuberg.

450 The Rustler Detective.

443 A Cool Hand: or. Pistol Johnny‘s Picnic.

438 Oklahoma Nick.

433 Laughing Leo; or. Sam‘s Dandy Pard.

426 The Ghost Detective: or. The Secret Service Spy.
416 Monte Jim. the Black Sheep of Bismarck.

409 Rob Roy Ranch: or, The imps 01' Pan Handle.
403 The Nameless Sport.

395 Deadly Aim, the Duke of Derringers.

387 1) tr]: Durg. the Ishmael of the Hills.

379 Howling Jonathan, the Terror from rE‘Iieadwaters.

547
54

‘3
fl

' 372 (7a tain Crisp. the Man with 9. R800

367 A yal Flush: or. Dan Brown's Big Game
360 Jumping Jerry, the Gamecock from Sundown.
355 Storm Steve. the Mad Athlete.
851 Nor‘ est Nick. the Border Detective.
345 Masked Mark. the Mounted Detective.
339 Spread Eagle Sam. the Hercules Hide Hunter.
331 Chis Charley. the Gold Nugget Sport.
324 Old orked Lightning. the Solitary.
317 Frank Lightloot. the Minor Detective.
302 Faro Saul. the Handsome Hercules.
292 Moke Homer. the Boss Roustabout.
286 Pistol Johnny; or. One Man in a Thousand.
283 Sleek Sam. the Devil of the Mines.
257 Death Trap Diggings: or. A Man ‘Wsy Back.
249 Elephant Tom. 01! Durango.
' 241 Spitfire Saul. King of the Rustlers.
233 The Old Boy-of Tombstone.
201 Pirate of the Pincers: or. J0a€}uin‘s Death Hunt.
197 Revolver Rob: or, The Belle 0 Nugget Camp.
180 Old ‘49; or. The Amazon of Arizona.
170 Sweet William, the Trapper Detective.
165 Joaquin. the Terrible
154 Joaquin, the Saddle Kin .
141 uinox Tom. the Bull ' 1 Red Rock.
127 So Scott, the Masked iner.
119 Alabama Joe: or. The Yazoo Man-Hunters.
105 Dan Brown of Denver: or. The Detective.
88 Big George: or. The Five Outlaw Brothers.
71 Captain 0001 Blade: or. Mississippi Man Shark.
67 The Boy Jockey; or, Honesty vs. Crookedness. -
84 Double—Sight, the Death Shot.
‘9 Jack Rabbit. the Prairie Sport.
" Pacific Pete. the Prince 0 the Revolver.
S Old Bull's-Eve, the Lightnin Shot.
9 Long-Haired Pards: or‘. The artors of the Plains.
1) Gospel Georgi“ or‘, Fiery Fred the Outlaw.
28 Three-fingered Jack, the Rood-Agent.

BY WM. G. PATTEN.

-E e. the Thug’s Terror.

gig £1130 ght<Hawk, the Crook Shadower.
768 The Prin 'e of New York Crooks.
756 Old Burke, the Madison Square Detective.
 gouge-{701? [Buds  Disguiss.

on e- o co an on '.
702 Double-Voice Dan, the Always-on-Deck Detective
696 Double-Voice Dan, the Go-it Alone Detective
689 The Sparkler Sharp.

boy Hotspur.

   
   
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 

676 Hurricane Hal. the Cow
669 Old True Blue, the T

The Giant S ort; or

Old Plug gly. in
648 Gold Glove Old 1
641 Aztec Jack. the
631 Colonel Cool.the S '
602 Cs tain Nameless.
671 01 Dismal. the Rat ‘
545 Hustler Harry, the o y

BY DB. FRANK POWELL.
m The Dragoon Detective; or. A Man of Destiny
"8 The Doomed boson.

BY COLONEL BELLE SARA.
1m Shsmus O'Brien, the Bould Boy of Glingsl.

8? The Scarlet Cs tour or. Prisoner of the Tower.
as Silver 80m: orPTbe ‘umory of Deadwood City.

   

 

BY ‘VILLIAIVI B. EYSTER.

867 The Frisco Sport.

852 The Stranger S )ort‘s Shake-up.

828 Kirk King. the ilan from Kirby.

818 Gentleman Dave. the Dead Game Sport.

783 Thu King-Pin Tramp.

767 The Sport of biIVi-r Bend

Uncle, lleili'ock’s Big Bounce.

The Rival Rovers.

Double Cinch Dan. the Spr rt With a Charm.
)lr. Jackmm, the Gent from Jayhirtl.

(lilt-lcnlze Johnny: or, Roldan and His Rovers.
Lucky Li-st ‘r’s Lone Hand.

Hill Hawk-art's Dig Dump.

l‘lie All Around Sports.

I)i‘S.‘[‘ Alf. the Man With the Cougar.
(lei)tloJac«. the High Roller from Humbug.
Seven Shot Steve. the Sport wiiha Smile.

l‘he Dude Detective.

Hurrah Harry. the Hi h Horse from Halcyon.
549 l’lcls‘iuzzur ilrick. the JailltT of Blue Blazes.
533 Oregon. the Sport With a Scar.

525 Fri-sh Frank. thi- Derringer Daisy.

503 The Dude from DenVer.

47' Pinnacle Pl‘irt‘; or. The Fool from Way Back.
459 Ma or Sunshine, the Man of Three Lives.

4‘29 iIalr Trigger Toni of Rvd iii-nil.

40-1 Snapshot Sam; or. Tl») Angels’ Flat, Racket.
396 The Piper Detectivv: or. The Gilt Edge Gang.
37.") Royal Gem‘ 0, the Turin: ill One.

356 Thre Ham some Sports: or. The Combination.
344 Double Shot Dave of the Iii-ft Hand.

333 Derringer Dick. the Man with the Drop.

300 A Sport in Spectacles: or. Bad Time at Bunco.
208 Magic Mike; ‘he Man of Frills.

2239 Captain Cutslc—eve: or. The Little Sport.

214 The Two Cool Sports; or, Gertie of the Gulch.
192 The Lightning S urt.

182 Hands Up; or. T is Knights of the Canyon.

160 Soft Hand. Sharp: or, The Man with the Sand.
145 Pistol Pards; or, The Silent Sport from Cinnabar

BY MAJOR DANGERFIELD BUBR.

448 Hark Kenton. the Traitor.

188 The Phantom Mazeppa: or. The Hyena.

156 Velvet Face, the Border Bravo.

142 Captain Crimson, the Man of the Iron Face.

117 Buffalo Bill’s Strange Pard; or, Dashing Dandy.

BY LEON LE“’IS.

797 Pistol Tommy. the Miner Sharp.

785 PM Down-East Detective in Nevada.

773 Buflalo Bill's Ban; or, Cody to the Rescue.

699 The Cowboy Couriers.

686 The On-the-Wing Detectives.

624 The Submarine Detective: or. The WaterGhouls.
484 Captain Ready. thede Ransomer.

481 The Silent Detective; or, The Bogus Nephew.
456 The Demon Steer.

428 The Flying Glim: or, The Island Lure.

BY BURKE BRENTFOBD.

866 Spray Sprite, the Sea Witch.
84 T 16 Sea Sweeper.

BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID.

so? The White Squaw.
234 The Hunter‘s Feast.
228 The Maroon. A Tale of Voodoo and Obeah.
21% The Wild Huntress‘ or. The uatter.
213 The War Trail: or, he Hunt of he Wild Horse.
208 The White Chief. A Romance of Mexico. -
200 The Rifle Ran ers; or. Adventures in Mexico.
74 The Captain 0 the Rifles: or, The Lake ueen.
66 The Specter Barque. A Tale of the Fuel 0.
55 The Scalp Hunters. A Romance of the Plains.
12 The Death-Shot: or. Tracked to Death.
8 The Headless Horseman.

BY JACKSON KNOX—“ Old Hawk.”

838 Old Grips Still Hunt.

827 Detective Walden’s Web.

778 The Butler Detective- or. Old Grip‘s Grip.

770 The Showman Detect vs.

762 Old Grip, the Detective. '

740 Captain Clew, the Fighting Detective.

732 The Hurricane Detective.

643 Castlemaiue, the Silent Sifter.

616 Magnus. the Weird Detective.

606 The Drop Detective.

595 \Vellbom, the Upper Crust Detective.

582 J cram. the Detective Expert.

574 Old Falcou’s Double.

561 The Thug King- or. The Falcon Detective's Foe.
546 Falconbrldge. t e Sphinx Detective.

536 Old Falcon 5 Foe: or. The Dotective‘s Swpll Job.
515 Short-Stop Ms'e. the Diamond Field Detective.
509 01 Falcon. t e Thunderbolt Detective.

501 Sgrlngsteel Steve. the Retired
494 T e Detective's 81g).
486 Rowlock. the Bar r Detective.

477 Dead-arm Brandt.

467 Mainwaring. the Salamander.

462 The Circus Detective.

451 Griplock. the Rocket Detective.

444 The Magic Detective: or, The Hidden Hand.
424 Hawk Heron’s Deg‘uty.

886 Hawk Heron. the slcon Detective. ,

BY nnwsnn WILLETT.

483 Flush Fred. the River Sha .

368 The Canyon King: or. a do on his Read.

348 Dan Dillon. King of Crosscu't.

387 Old Gabe the Mountain Trams.

32': Terrapin ‘chk. the Wild wood etectlve.

815 Flush Fred‘s Double: or. The Squatters‘ League.
303 Hemlock Hank, Tough and True.

298 Logger Lem: or. Life in the Pine Woods.

289 Flush Fred's Full Hand.

274 Flush Fred. the Mlssisslp 1 Sport.

248 Montana Nat. the Lion 0 Last Chance Camp.
222 Bill the Blizzard; or. Red Jack's Crime.

209 Buck Far-lo . the Bonanza Prince.

12! Mississippi ose; or. a. Strong Man's Sacrifice.

x!
H
a

7i )7
ii“?
677
659
650
631
6‘;
603
590
578
568
558

v
(u

I:

Detective.

 

BY COL. PBENTISS INGBAHAM.

854 The Ocean Gipsv.

831 The Wild Steer Riders; or, Texas J ack‘s Terrors.

819 The Rival Monte L‘l'istos.

805 The L-isi of the Pirates; or. Do m Driven.

801 The \Vater Wolves’ Detective; or, Trapping the
Grave Ghouls.

791 Thu Coast-Raiders Death-Chase.

718 Arizona Charlie. the Crack-shot Detective.

704 Invisiole lvan. the Wizard Detective.

685 The Red-Skin 51-21 anor.

679 Rl‘VitlIO, the Pirate Cruiser; or. The Rival Rovers

672 he Rt'ii Rapier: or, The Sea Rover’s Bride.

662 ’l‘l-e Jew intuitive: or; The Beautiful Convict.

658 The Cowh .y Clan: or, l'he' 'l‘igress of Texas.

6.33 Lasso King‘s Lvaguemr. Buck Taylor in Texas.

640 Tue Rm‘ r‘s Rt't ibution.

635 The ExBucv-aneer; or. The Stigma of Sin.

630 The Sea 'llliii-f

62: Red Wings; or. The Gold Seekers of the Bahamas.

015 The Tim-o I 1|(‘CflllOi‘l‘S.

610 The Red Flag Rover ; or, White Wings of the Deep.

605 The Shadow Silver Ship.

000 The Silver Ship; (:r, The Sea Scouts of ’76.

593 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.

560’1‘ue Man from Mexico.

553 Mark Monte, the Mutiueer; or. The Branded Brig.

516 Tl") Doomed Whaler: or. The Life Wreck.

510 The Fleet Scourge; or. The Sea Wings of Salem.

5'30 The Savages of the Sea.

524 The Sea Chaser: or. The Pirate Noble.

516 Chatard, the D. ail-Shot Duelist.

510 El Moro, the Corsair Commodore.

- 493 The Scouts of the Sea.

489 The Pirate Hu ntnr; or. The Ocean Rivals.
482 Ocean Tramps ; or, The Desperadoes of the Deep.
476 iiob Brent, the Buccaneer: or. the Red Sea Raider.
469 The Lieutenant Detect ivv: or. the Fugitive Sailor.
457 The Sea Insurgent: or. The Conspirator Son.
446 Ocean Ogre. the Outcast Corsair.
43‘) The One-Armed Buccaneer.
430 The Fatal Frigate; or, Rivals in Love and War.
425 The Sea Sword; or. The Ocean Rivals.
418 The Sea Siren: or. The Fugitive Pris‘teer.
399 The New Monte Cristo.
393 The Convict Caption.
.388 The Giant Buccaneer: or, The WreCIrrr Witch.
377 Afloat and Ashore: or. The Corsair L'onspirstor.
373 Sailor of Fortune: or. The Barnegat Buccaneer.
369 The Coast Corsair: or. The Siren of tho Sea.
364 The Sea Fugitive; or. The Queen of the Coast.
346 Ocean Guerrillas; or. Phantom Midshipman.
341 The S a Desperado.
336 The Magic Shlp' or. Sandy Hook Freeboeters.
325 The Gentleman Pirate ; or. The Casco Hermit;
318 The Indian lsuccaneer: or. The Red Rovers.
307 The Phantom Pirate; or, The Water Wolves.
281 The Sea Owl: or. The Lady Captain of the 0111’
259 Cutlass and Cross; or, the Ghouls of the Sea.
255 The Pirate Priest; or. The Gambler’s Dau hter.
m ueen Helen. the Amazon of the Overlan .
235 Lightning the Man of Chance.
231 The Kid Glove Miner: or. The Magic Doctor.
224 Black Board. the. Bu ccsneer.
220 The Specter Yacht; or, A Brother‘s Crime.
216 The Corsair Planter: or, Driven to Doom.
210 Buccaneer Bess. the Lioness of the Sea.
315 The Gambler Pirate; or, Lady of the Lagoon. -
1% The Skeleton Schooner: or. The Skimmer.
189 rue Ocean Vampire; or. The Castle Heiress.
184 The Scarlet Schooner : or. The Sea Nemesis.
181 Don Diablo. the Planter-Corsair. '
177 Black Pirate: or. The Golden Fetters M stery.
172 The Mad Mariner: or, Dishonored and isownod
168 The Corsair Queen: or, TheGypslPs of the Sea.
147 Gold Spur. the Gentleman from Texas.

139 Fire Eye: or. The Bride of a Buccaneer.

134 Darke Dan. the Colored Detective.

131 Bucks 'in Sam. the Texas Trailer.

1% The Chevalier Corsair; or. The Heritage.

121 The Sea. Cadet; or The Rover of the Rigolem
116 Black Plume: or. e Sorceress of Hell Gate.
109 Captain Kyd. the King of the Black Flag.

104 Montezuma. the Merciless.

103 Merle, the Mntineer: or. The Red Anchoerl

94 Freelance. the Buccaneer.

89 The Pirate Prince; or. The Queen of the Isle.

85 The Cretan Rover: or. Zuleikah the Beautiful.

2 The Dare Devil; or, The Winged Sea Witch.

BY DB. NOEL DUNBAB.

858 Number One the Dead-set Detective.

850 The Planter Detective.

730 Duke Despsrd, the Gambler Duelist.

604 The Detective in Rags; or, The Grim 811mm.
500 The True-Heart Pards. ‘

BY J. C. COWDBICK.

752 The Su t S rt of Daisy Drift.

am Ducsts Dion, t e Nabob Sport Detective.

612 Sheriff Stillwood, the Regulator of Raspberry.
5% The Dominic Detective.

591 Duke Daniels. the Society Detective.

5&1 Shadowing a. Shadow.

565 Prince Paul, the Postman Detective.

557 The Mountain Graybesrds; or, Riddles‘ Riddle.
519 Old Riddles. the Rock er

499 Twilight Charlie, the ad port.

478 Gilbert of Gotham. the Steel-arm Detective.
452 Rainbow Bob, the Tulip from Texas.

436 Kentuckyflesn. the S rt from Yellow Pine.
422 Blue Burt. the old Star Detective.

390 The Giant Cupid: or Cibuts John’s Jubilee.

a new lame every Wednesday.

Beadle" Dime Library is for sale by ‘
Newsdeslsrs, ten cents per oopy. or sent by mail -
receipt of twelve cents each.

3mm: AND ADAMS, Pam

 

' aluminum-.11" van. ‘

Was-m.

.“w..

 

138" i

1667

. l ’
. ~. . r

d at the Uniform Price of Ten Cents. No Double Numbers.

 

 

 

 

 

—— ~— .. . -.. _.._.__

BUFll'A Lo BILL novans.

By Colonel PrelitiM-i lugrallam.

927 Buthth Bill’s Bluff; or, Du kf.’ Dick the Snort.
921 Buffalo Bill's Quandary: or. Velvet Bill's Vow.
913 Buffalo Billand the Surgeon-Scrum.
90‘.) Buffalo Bill‘s Leanne: or. Red Butterfly.
904 Buffalo Bill’s Tangled Trail.
900 Buffalo Bill‘s Rough Riders.
1395 Buffalo Bill‘s Secret Ally.
800 Buffalo Bill‘s LiferStake.
882 The Three Bills: Buffalo Bill Wild Bill and Band-
box Bill; or. The Bravo in Broadcloth.
874 Buffalo v~ili‘s Buckskin Braves.
869 Buffalo Bill's Road-Agent Round-up.
863 Buffalo Bill‘s Dee. h Charm.
857 Buffalo Bill's ani Flush. ~
851 Buffalo Uiii'Q loiible Dilemma.
845 Buffalo Bill‘s Redskin Ruse.
830 Buffalo Ilill‘s rims in Blue.
826 Buffalo Bill‘s Shur iShooters.
8232 Buffalo ilill‘s Best ,wei‘.
816' Buffalo Bi l‘s Red Trail.
812 Buffalo Bill‘s Death-Kneli.
’29 Buffalo Bill‘s Winning Hand.
Buffalo Bill's Dead Shot.
Buffalo Bill's Brand.
Buffalo Bill‘s Spy shadowor.
. Buffalo Bill‘s Sweepstnki‘.
B .f‘t’alo Bill‘s him-1.: or. Silk Ribbon Sam.
illinllo Bill‘s Mascot.
luffan Rifle Double. -
liffulo iill's Ply Fviirzor. ("usier‘s Shadow.
Buffalo Bill's Flush Hand.
Buffalo Bill H ifimd: or. The Masked Driver.
v Buffalo Bill 2 iid H's Murry lit-n.
Buffalo Bill‘s: Beagle-xi: or, Silk Lasso Sam.
" Buffalo ll’ili‘s i’odv (iuard.
Bufme Bill on the W r—path.
Buffalo lliil‘s Scout Shadowei's.
Buffalo Bill Bath. (1: or. Tlit‘ liesurter De~=perado.
Buffalo Bill's Buckskin Brotherhood. 
.iuflalo Bi l’s Illind Trail; i.r. Mustang‘Madge.
Buffalo Bi l'i-i Swoop; ol‘. 'l‘iie Kingoi’ the Mines.
.658 The Cowh v Clan: or. The 'l llfl‘t'SS of Texas.
 Lass.) King‘s" l.-~::l:ue: or. Buck Taylor in Texas.
649 Buffalo Bill‘s Cliiei’wf Cowboys: or. Buck Tayiu
644 Buffalo Bill‘s l'i"l at za ; or 5i ver (Troll-Knights.
36" Buffan Bill‘s Grip: or (lain Bound to (‘iis'tuin
. Buffalo Bill’s Pledge: or. The League of Three.
189 ii iid Bill‘s Gold Trail; or. The Desperate Dozen.
175 Wild Bill‘s 'l‘ruinp t‘ard: or. The lndian Heiress.

on

‘168 Wild Bill, the Pistol Dead Shot.
‘ .

By llull'alo Bill.

889 The Ranch King DeathShot.

on) White Hoover’s Still Hunt.

807 Wild Bill. the Wild Went Duelist.

800 Wild Bill. the I). ad-C‘enier Shot. I

£39 Buffalo Bill's Gold King. ~

699 The Dead Sh 0t Mine: or. My Pards of the Plains.

414 Red Renard. the indian Detective.

401 One-Armed Pam; or. Borderland Retribution.

897 The Wizard Brothers: or. White Beavers Trail.

094 White Beaver. the Exile of the Platte. '.

819 Wild Bill. the Whirlwind of the West.

00¢ Texas Jack. the Prairie Rattler.

1143 The Pilgrim Sharp: or. The Soldier's Sweetheart.
88 Gold BulletSoort: or. Knights of the Overland.

we Death-Trailer. the Chief of Scimts.

in! Bonn bowls. Ned nuntlllle, into.

Y i “778 Buffalo Bill‘s'Ban; or. Cody to tile Rescue.

’ 7 92 Buffalo Bill. the Buckskin.

889 Buflslo Bill‘sfiecr t Service Trai.

089 Buffth Bill's Dari Role; or. Daredenth Dick.

517 Buffalo Bill's First. rail; ‘ . The Express Rider.

158 Buffalo Bill. Chief 4 f Scou s. .

117 Buflalo ,Bill a Strnnze Pardlé‘or, Dashing Dandy.
use

5 ‘ v i
II-Y II  PRYNE

The from Mexico in New York. ’

The -Pin Shark: or. Thad Barr’s Ten Strike.
The Tenderloin B Four ‘
The anker City L on.
Tracked to Chicago.
The Policy Broker‘s Blind.

The sco Sharper”: Cool Hand.

The reinp‘Shndower‘g Booker.

The sham S ttcr's Slirmd Scheme.
The rest Gold-Dth Sharpen. . ,
Detective Burt-'3 Luna lc Wiineu , ,

.'

§§§§§2§§§

r , f m The Wall Street answer’s Snap.

n

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, ,

Go

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J

1.9:.
rI

Thad urr‘s Don Drop.
, : Detective Burr Amongihe New YofioThugs. .
mu Detective Burt‘s Foil- or A ‘3 «men‘s Strategy.
on Detectln Burnthe lie quarters Special.

lectlve But-fags irit Chose.

m tective Burt‘s we» omen. .
W Burr the Invincible; or, The “L ” Che.
g e Matchless Detective. i

H. the Fatal Claw: or, Burl-‘3 lute‘ Case.

In man-r. A. K. mi.

Sam’s Double.
g he Six- ot' Spot . » ‘
The stranger Sport in Spokane. ‘ ,
‘83 Tire 8min; Detectiw‘s Colorado Claw.
mom Spangled S on Shadow”. ' i ,
848 the Crrlcwnt i. ty sport. I ‘
mflid-Gule'n Block Game. -
804 IT- erKing Pin of the Leadville Lions.
783 'Cliiv'asd Charlie's Diamond Haul. '~
, , Ohio-uni Chart e. the t‘olumhiaii Detective. ‘
‘7 The "l izur K ng Detective; ‘
M Ti'ilniti‘l‘ T m. the Boomer Defective ‘
709 Mil-stone Lem. the Chain inn pf. Ghee nut Burr.
M Singer Sum thr- l’il rr‘lin i-tetlfive.
lfii Blvrr Bustiers; 0r. i i» iietvuctiva from ’Way Ba ok
on Stuttering Sam. the Who at. Sp ,rt .. {Bantu Fa.
WOld Ari-a ant, the Man ofBook. ,‘
Gt-ritmiami rnrl, the' Detective King. ~ All
i lmrose. the Flower of the Flock. .
. the lf-oot-Hllln Dekctlv  i .v

i

Published Every Wednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sol

. 888 Nightshade in New

in: CAPTAIN “(HVARD HOLMES.

912 (lonteel Joe's Lone Hand;
90*; The Train Detective.
896 Kent Keen, the Croxok-Crushefi
' “TR.
679 Falcon Fl 'nn, the Flash Detective.
871 The Croo ' Cashier.
859 (flew-Hawk Keene‘s Right Bower.
81” Hiram Hawk, the Harlem Detective.
Sill Major Bullion Boss of the Tigers.
831 Sh :dowing the London Detective.
817 l’ill‘Tl Vein-t. the Prince of Spottelfl.
803 The ilogm Broker’s Right Bower.
738 The N :ht-H 1k thec ire.
779 Silk Ribbons (‘r sh-out.
766 Detective Ziu'il, the Broadway Spotter.
751 File Dark Lantern llet ctire.
736 The Never—le I) lective. «
724 Captain Hercules. the Ftrcnp: Arm Detective.
711 Dan Damon, the Gilt—Edue Detective.
~ Silvt-r Stew, the Branded Sport.
694 (iideon Grip, the Sectet Shadowr‘r.
ti‘H Velvet Van. the Mystery Shadoww.
67-4 The Dude Desperado
671 Jason (flew, the Silk-Wanded Ferret.
tilli )loiik Morel, the Man-Hun er.
651 So] S hunt, the Feriet Detective.
6i? Red ard and Yellow.
608 Silent Sam the- Shadow Sphinx.
5i- Captain Sit .,.t1.e Shasta Ferret.
579 Old Cormorant ti e Bowery Shadow.
5t (‘aptahi (‘nhi-a. the flooded Mystery.
559 Danton. the Shadow Sharp.
550 Silk Hand. t e Mohave Ferret.
M3 The. Biaziiate Detective.
532 Jae < Javrrt. the independent Detective.
5;: Keyword, of Red .‘lm k: or. The Lost Detective
51‘: (‘ziptain Velvet‘x‘ Bil: Stake
505 Phil li'ox. tlieUeiiteol Spotter.
496 Richard Retiflri'. the Tim Worldn’ Detective
48? HilllSilillt' Sum. a Chip oi' the Old Block.
450 Hawk pour the Man with a Secret.
:1 R t‘oldgrtp in Dealhvood.
460 (‘apta'ni Coiilil'l‘lp. the Dt‘teclive
4.” Captain (‘oldgzrip‘s Lori: Trail.
447 V0 com. the Frisco Spy,
441 The Calibrnia Sharp.
i534 Lucifer Lynx. the miller Detective.
421 Father Ft rret. the Frisco Shadow.
iitl (‘llllll-llll (wide-rip in New York.’
407 Captain Coldgrip’s Nerve: ornln'un Nick.
400 (‘nptain Coldgrip: or. The New on]: Spotter.
392 The Lost i‘onanza: or. The Boot of Sile tHound.
382 Th!- Bonanza Band: or. Dread Don of 001 Clan.
374 Major Blister. the Sport of Two Cities.
365 Keen Kennard. the Shasta Shadow.
35': The Des vet‘ate D-vziln. -
347 llenvur )uke. the Man With “ Send."
340 Cool Cmrad. the Dakota Detective. .,
335 Flash Dan. t e Naboh: or. Blades of Bowie Bar.
321 California Cl title. the Lone Ba mlit.
294 Broadcloth Burt. the Denver Dandy.
278 Hercules Goldspur. the Man of the Velvet Hand.

In! WILLIAM H. MANNING.

920 The Montana. Miner in New limit.

008 The Doomsday-Den Detective:

899 The Don k~Quick De'ecflve.

893 Yellow id of Dark Divide.

no The Expert Detectist Shake-up.

875 Trap]? m; thé Race Track Judge.

86! The olloe Special‘s Dilemma.

84' The Genteel Sliarper‘s Combine

841 Graydou‘s Dnuhle Deni.

838 The Sport Dete-ctive‘s Grill:

823 gm Athlete Sport ‘Ahou- own.

808 :heCrook-De recove’s Pull.

790 Piuu r—Pete. the Race Track Detective. ,,

782 Rove. Rock, the Round-up Detective.

774 Steve Start. the Dock Dett ctlve. '

784 The New York Shara! Shadower. -

738 Detectlve Ciaxton. e Recm‘d Brooke;i

7M Gabe Gall. the Gambolier from Grunt nmp.

708 Spokane Saul. the Samaritan Bus

692 Dead-Shot Paul. the DeepRnn e

655 Strawberry Sam. the Man wit the

616 Dark John, the Grim Guard. .

638 Murdock. the Dread Detecthg. ,

023 Dang-trons Dave. the Never- eaten Detective.

611 Altall It the Game .(‘-| icken from Tem.
Rustler Ru : the BoundUp Detective.

~ Dan Dixon’s Double. -

«qStoady Hand. t e Napoleon of Detectives
568 Wyomin Zeke-at e Hots ur of. Honeysuckle.
not-9:116“ can the Man “it Backbone. .

539 Old ~ 11 ledark. the Wfiy Detective. ’ \
1581 Saddle-Chief Kit. the Prairie Centaur.

5731 Paradise Sam. the Nor’M’est Pilot. . l

518 Texas Tartnrtthe . on With e Lives.

506 Uncle Honest. the react-maker of ornvts‘ Nest.

498 Central, Pacific. Paul: the Mail Train Spy.

4922 Border Bullet. fiche ' ' sharpshooter.

486 Kansas Kitten. the Northwest Detective.

479 Gladiator 1- tho Samson of Barnum,
470Thelgilre'o! ‘ithtmy ’ ,“ 4 “ ,‘.
463 lzl. matietsthe Gulchfillmi‘iatorM ‘2
359 RrukBYei‘izoww, thegfll moral} of the Hills.

[1 ill‘ a. "‘0  . ‘
442 Wil West Walt. the contain Veteran.
W Deep Duke: 0 .vfl‘he an of Two Lives.
he Rivals of. ontnna Mill , . '

41!. at Heart. the Detentive S . \ .

405 out Raldv the Brindii r 0 Buck Basin.

3% Will‘l‘llcir rill‘plllvf'nfl Len ville on.

297 Colorado Rube. thi- Stronz Arm . otspur.
279 The Gold Dragoon.~ or, California Bloodhound.

glorer.
irthmnrlt.

 

. In. J  moon. . ’
on (ham, rim-aw, rm- mxldy Sport. v
on Si nut" Bum. iii» Spfirkir'r, ‘
r m Cnolfl'wh; a1. Ima {that

l

Imll‘lnigiportifmnrs' Louie. o

.1 LBER'I‘ W. AIKEN‘S NIH’ELS.
i . Dick Talbot Series.
Dick 'Tal’ot‘s Close Call.
Dic Tulhot ill Apache l and.
Dick Talbot. the Ranc' King.
. lliuk Talbot”; Clear-Out.
Dick Ta hot in No M n‘s Camp.
ll-ck_'i"aihot ill the Rockies: or. iiijun Dick.
Dick T I ot: or. The Brand of Crimson bros .
' . flick. the til-iitit-iiian ROalhAgenlv.
” iiit‘K Talbot. of (Si! nabar.
' Dick Talbot. King of the Road.
trick Talbot iii l'tal : or. Gold Dan.
hick Tuibot‘s Iron Grin; or. ' he Velvet Hand.
' Dick Talbot: or. The De: th Shot of Shasta.
Dick Talbot at the Mines: or. Kentuck the Sport.
DI('k 'l‘ lliot‘s Fee: or. Rocky Mountain Rob. ~
' Dick Talliot at WM e fine: or Ovo rland Kit.
Alkeu’ Fri till 0 I rim‘o .‘crlrn.

.. Fresh, the Race-True? ti
1.
“.i.

rt,

The Fresh in ,‘ltliiill‘ :11 ' - l'vv‘s Full Hand.

I 652 T e Fresh‘s Rolli- a' 1 let City.

E ‘ " The Fresh at Sant~ i‘i : i 1‘. " il f‘il‘alillf" Sh PP.
Fresh. the, Sport; or. '2 lie i i; I—farl—‘et iit Side Out.
Fl‘ex‘ii Agxiilhl inc. Hi- ii; t'l' Blake. tilt‘ Lion.

. The Fresh of Fri-co in New Y( N!
Til" Fresh in Ti xas: (1- Th F; (-1 lln-(lo )lilliona.
The Fresh of Frisco on the Rio (jruiide.
he Frwh in Arizona; or. California John.
The l'r sh in Mr xii o; or. Captain Voicatm.
” The Fresh in Big Walnut (fairp; or Bronze Jack
The Fresh of Frisco. .
ilk-tum Joe Pllenlx Serifm.‘
The Female Barber Di teciiv ; or. Ji't“ Phenix in

‘ Silver City.

799 Joe l’henixh‘ Great Blue Diam nd Case; or. The
Ne“ York Sporl at Long Branch.

. 793 Joe l’heiiix’i-i Decwy: or, The Max: of Three.

1 760 Joe Pheiiix‘s Lone Hand. .1

‘ 749 Joe Ph nix‘s Bil. Bulge.
745 Jwe l’lienix's Nat Cane. \ l -
708 Joe l’lieiii’x'.~= Hr: r: or, The Woman Hawks! aw.
700 Joe Phenixh Unknown: or. Crushing: the Crooks

' (391 Joe Plu-uix‘s Specials; or. The Actress Detective

1 1337 Joe Pueiiix ii: t'i'tiz; Camp.

. 61-12 .Irx- Phenix’s Taster Search.

62.“ Joe Phenix‘s (‘l Illi‘ln : l',tliel‘niidy (‘onsp rator

iiL’ii Joe i’heiii‘x’s Silei.t Six.

6m Joe Phetiix‘s rhrtioirwr.” e Detei-tive‘s Monitor

419' Joe Phenix., the Kim: of Detectivi 5.

PM Joe l’henix‘s Still Iliiiit.

Jill Joe Phenix‘s (treat Man Hunt.

112 oe Phenix, Private Detective; or. The League.

’79 0e Phenix . the Police Spy. ‘
Aiken'u MiscellaneOUs Novels.

936 Old Sunflowlvr. the Silent Sinitcr.

92‘: Old Sunflower. the Hayseed Dt-Irctive.

Will The l-lotz-l Swei  arr; v r. The Siren Shadower.

89-2 The (ioniitry‘nian Directive.-

876 Gold Button S .n't: or, Th Miner Sharps»

842 'l‘eton Torn t t- Half-l 1 0d. '
835 The KimPin Di fpctive. . L '

814 The New Yorker/Airtime Texas Sports. ’ i ’
775 King Dandy. the Silver Spor'. . i - '
75‘} ide un’s Gri at I‘ahylon l at. . i , ' ‘
> 717 spam Pat cGowen. tie Greenmat Detective.
£633 Irincifd  Uphtg fig? Detective.

' 'he weigte ve.,.‘ - 4

" 665 'I‘viexFr‘isoo Detective; or, The Golden Gate Find.
618 Keen Billy, the Sport. ' ‘
6m Old Rentine *tho “ Hard Case ” Detective.

, 594 Fire Face, the Silver King's Foe. -
W‘The Silver Sh arp Detectrve. ;
577 Tom. ofteniif l ruin; or, Detectives Shadow Act.
570 The Actress Detective: or: The Invisible Band.
562 Lone Hand. the Shadow. . .

520 The [one Han on the Cnddo.

490 The Lone Hand n Texas.

4’75 Ciun Chin. the Chinese Detective.

465 The-Actor Detective.

440 The High Hor e of the Pacific. I "

425 The Lone Hand; or. The Red River Recreants.

408 Doc Grip. the V» ndetta. of Dhnh.

as) The Gr y Gen tlenui: c r. Molt Fox. Detective

876 Black wards: oi 'ihe Bil (nude Elah’florse

370 The Dusky. Detective: or fizrmdto the Inc.

863 Crowningghieid. thr Detective I m  ,

R20 Tho- ilenteel 5pc tter: or Ti 9 N. I. fillings/fir.

252 The all Street i 1000' or. Tl-  oirl.
B t

i

y;

sin The. Double Detecm-eziomiw ystrrv.
105 La Mariuoset. the Letrct we are: -
101 The Man from NewYor . . " ' '
91 The Whmiszar: or. minutes?" 1' Daughter-
84 Hunt «l Down: or.;’l’he Ikllme- Three.
8] The Sum” Tiger: or. A Heal! of hr. . ‘
75 Gentleman George: or. Path 3; Prison nd btreet.
7-3 The Phunmflwi: or. The tb Avenue Heiress.
68 The. Winged Whale: or. The Red Rupert of Gulf.
59 Th.» Man from Tenn: or. T1 e Arkansas Outlaw.
56 The Indian Manama: immoral: n of the Plains.
‘9 in,» Wolf Demon: or. .The- kahaVii'll ore-en.
49 The gnlifwla Detective: 01‘. Ti e Wi' cl er o: N.Y.
. ew rk Sharp: 0r.'l'iie Flashi turn. my
ive: or. Girls of New Yams

. suns. A .
93 Gull-h; or WI 6...
. By Wm. . cunning.
rim or, The shadowed
Albert. W. Aiken.
Wild West DetectiVe; or,
flood BvCol.P.‘Inginham.
‘ . the Sport ELLM‘ZP; or, The
Taker a Tangle By Joe. E Badger. -.
~ ’ JUST WSU’BD. ‘- .
92“ Old Sohersi'lea. the. Detective of Ft. Louhi; or.
The Crook-Le time Lay-Out. By J. E. Fa ' r.
929 Gentleman George,‘ tl‘o- Showan 51 0' :or,
’ Spotter Sp ntrlm’ Scoop. ‘Py Ca'fat. Fl. 01mm.
930 Dashing Charlie. in or, be old Miner’s
fly COL P. ing .
.i new tum every We madam
Bruno‘s m...» Idliraryrisfor rule "v all
ieralera. ten oen ‘per ropv. or Eleni by ma
“law: two! 9- cemn each
illlap skeet,

984‘
‘ Twin
I

i . Len-cy-
l
L.

11911;.

1 on ‘
Fill/LE & ADAMS. .
0 .’ '

-.«.:W~...% .V; M: .,_ ‘

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