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2
The spasms?

The Stranglers of the Silver Slope. .

‘— i

BY JOS. E. BADGER, JR.

 

CHAPTER I.
"rm: swoop OF THE S'i‘RANGLERS.
late an‘ ages! Phwat the divil—”

Barney O'Shea roused out of a dream— '
’iess slumber, starting to a sitting posi-

tion through an instinctive sense of dan- ‘
gun

he taught an indistinct glimpse of a
monng scape. and a half-angry, half-
irignwned cry escaped his lips; but ere
he could do or say more, a nasty blow
crashed against his skull, a heavy weight
came upon his breast, forcing him back—
ward, while an awful vise seemed to sud-
denly close about his throat.

Then—darkness and oblivion!

But the Irish cook and man-of—all-work
owned a. pair of lusty lungs, and, quick—
ly though he was disposed of, his startled
exclamation had at least in part aroused
that peacefully sleeping camp, as sundry
criesand ejaculations only too clearly
proved.

A savage curse was likewise heard;
then a coarse, rough voice was lifted in
vicious authority:

“ Jump ’em, lads! You know your duty;
{10 it—red-hot! "

Until that moment all had been quiet
and peaceful, the little encampment lying
in that secluded valley under the silver
light of the nearly full moon, undis-
turbed by fear of death or premonition
‘of falling evil.

But now—

With short, savage cries and oaths the
raiders sprung to their evil work, each
member doing the part assigned him in
:advance, so far as the keen and watchful
eyes at their leader could ascertain.

He himself stood close to the little
tent within which their most valued prey
had been located, and he it was who took

such swift action a few moments later
when half-clothed men burst forth from
the larger tent, only half awake, if
wholly alarmed.

“ What is it? Who dares—”

“ Lorella—my child! " ,

The tall, gray-halredfman caught sight ‘
of yonder dark, armed shape near thet
shelter of his loved daughter, and heed-
less of his own helpless condition, sprung
that way with a. fierce cry; only to be
brutally beaten down by a reversed re-
volver an instant later.

“ Would ye, fool? Take a lie-down and .
think how—clean work, lads! you know
your duty; do it, curse ye!"

Viciously issued, that command, he
who gave it utterance crouching low and
leaping swiftly aside to foil the fierce
rush made by the younger man coming
from the second tent.

“Out, ye devils! I don’t know who——
take that, curse you! ” cried Allen Kirk-
wood, as he made his half-blinded rush,
steadying himself a bit the timer to cover
that dodging shape with the revolver
which he had grasped at the first alarm.
' Hammer fell and cartridge exploded,
but no harm was done to mortal being
by that shot; for, just then, a couple of
sturdy fellows leaped upon their desig-
‘ nated prey from the rear, bearing him
swiftly to earth, the shock of fall alone
seeming sufficient to place the young
man here de combat.

“Clean work, the bunch 0' ye!” re-
peated their chief, his tones rising clear
above the tumult. “ You all know what
—and so do I! Easy by jerks, my dainty
darling!”

For the tent-flap was pushed aside and
a fair young maiden showed under the
clear moonlight, not even the terror ofl
. such an awakening sumcing to mar her

rare beauty of face ,or figure. .
‘ Cat-like in his activity, the chief oil
the raiders grasped the girl. laughing
aloud at her shrill cry of mingled fear

 

ThiuSpnrkler Sport.

 

and indignation, one arm closing vise-

vlike about her middle, his other hand
, rising to cover the lips which would have i

screamed again as she saw both her fa-
ther and brother so vainly struggling in
the grip of ruthless e emies.

For so it was. .

Martin Kirkwood had drOpped before

’ that brutal blow, heavy enough to have

killed many a stout fellow of half his

, age; but, stung by a father's fury, the

gray head rose again, only to see his son
overwhelmed and to he himself borne
backward under a living weight too great
for any one man to successfully resist.

“ Give him the noose, ye devils! ” fair-
ly screamed the leader. “ Show him how
Jack Ketch works out in this wooden
country! Give the public another sweet
morsel to gag and make holy faces over,
my lads! Do your work as though ye
loved it, but—steady with the youngster,

‘ there! ”

Lorella Kirkwood caught but a por-
tion of this savage speech, but that was
enough to turn her brain dizzy, and
added to the struggles she was so fruit-
lessly making, brought a merciful blank
over her senses for the time being.

One frantic effort to break away, then
her sinews relaxed, her head drooped,
her limbs quivered pitifully, and she lay
a dead weight across that powerful left
arm, captor laughing hoarsely at his
easy victory while mOVing nearer the

. spot where lay old Martin Kirkwood in ,

dire extremity.
The millionaire had fallen to earth

‘ close behind the larger tent, where the

moonlight was intercepted, but that fact
hindered his enemies in no sense. T,wo
lusty fellows were holding his arms out-
stretched as he lay on the broad of his
back, while a. third menu was squat-
ting astride his helpless body, hands
ruthlessly applying the rope of the
strangler!

“ Gasp and wheeze and choke—choke~—-
choke! ” cried the man of the rope, grasp-
ing the two ends and fiercely tugging
away, knee on chest and other foot dig-

ging into the dry dirt for a better bur»

chase. “ Choke and strangle—strangle
like the sheep-k111i cur which ye so
often liken us poor evils to! Choke—
smother—die, ye bloated aristocrat! Die
——die——die!” I V

“ Business before too much pleasure,
old fellow!” spoke up the chief of the
stranglers. .“Hefs all right, Knot the
rope and leave it——-for a token! There
are others who—wha! "

A cry from Allen Kirkwood as he ral-
lied from his downfall, either seeing or
guessing what horrible fatewas befall-
ing his aged parent; but strong hands
were still upon his limbs, and a single
word from their masked master sufficed
to hurry both captive and captors away
beyond sure eye-rangeof that impending
tragedy.

Another’ha‘rsh command caused bonds
and a gag to be applied for the time be-
ing, and then his own particular prize
was left in charge of the same men, the
chief turning back to lead the class
search made in both tents fer plunder.

Here the masked chie’ftain Was head
and front of the movement, tearing up
the cozy furnishings which only one who
never felt the lack or need of money
would think of supplying such an habita-
tion, flashing the light intoevery nook
and cranny, fiercely hoping for a discov-
ery rich enough to amply re ay both toil
and trouble, present as well a proximate.

Here and there, first in the larger tent.
then in the shelter held‘sacred to the use
of Lorella Kirkwood, neglecting no spot.
overlooking no article which .could by
any possibility contain or conceal the
treasure so ardently longed for.

But all efforts proved in vain, so far *

as finding any vast amopnt of either
money or money's worth. went. A‘fairly
fat wall was found in, they‘lower. gar-
ments di carded for thenigh't by Martin

l Kirkwood; __far more. mdn‘ey‘ than any

save a rich'inan wou d" think of carrying
around with him, ye but a' trifle‘in‘com-
parison with the sum ’the’s’e‘ midnight

ya,“ .‘t
, l ..
. w

V.

W

raiders expected to win by their evil ef-
forts.

Something of this truth was shown by
the ugly curses and fierce words let fall
I by the masked leader in that swoop; but
the disagreeable fact remained, and no
searching on their part could alter the
result.

satisfied at length that the treasure
(if any such was within the camp limits)
was hidden past his arts to unearth, the
chief of the stranglers crossed over to
where brother and sister were held cap-
tive, one hand falling heavily upon a.
shoulder as he bent his face close to that
of Allen Kirkwood, seemingly trying to
read the whole truth in that pale visage
ere he put the question.

“ Wheres the camp-chest, younker?
Talk white, or ye’ll pay for it in red.
Now, I’ve got my hand in once more, I’d
just as lieve add you to the list—if not
a little rather!”

Instead of flinching from touch, glare
or voice, Allen Kirkwood made another
desperate effort to burst the bonds which
held him so powerless, fiercest anger an;
deadliest hatred showing in his own face
the while.

“ Bah! you poor fool!” contemptuous-
ly cried the mask, reading something of
all this with keen eyes. “At your best
I’d handle you as a grown man might
play with a puling infant, while now—
look around ye, for a change!

“Each and every one of these sweet-
toothed bulldogs stand ready as eager to
grip throat and drag ye down to the dust.
One sign from my hand and,they'd scat-
ter your fragments to the four winds of
the earth. One nod, and they’d give you
the rope which——

“Where have ye hidden it all away.
curse you? ” with abrupt change of tone
and voice. “Tell me, or—the gold, the
silver, the paper; where it is, fool? ”

Those gloved hands gripped Allen

KirkWood by the shoulders, shaking him

viciously, while those dark eyesylylng
back of the somber mask seemed to take
fire and blaze with avaricious fury.

Poor Lorella gave a frightened cry at
this, and the sound of her sweet voice
appeared to recall the raider chieftain to
his ordinary senses, for he drew back,
hitting his ands fall, and a low, harsh
laugh cross his hidden lips.

“ A cross-roads where two fools met, is
it, younker? All right! That’s a fault
easily mended, and ,I’ll set your precious
clapper at liberty long enough to sing
the song my ears are fairly honing for;
the song of gold; dear gold! ”

With another chuckling laugh in which
lay slight mirth the arch knave flashed
forth a knife, and with its keen edge
touched the knotted thongs which held
the gag in place. then speaking on in
sterner tones:

“ No nonsense now, youn‘g fellow, Turn

' up the dust or I'll turn up your toes.

They’ve got a good bit the start of you.
but I l‘eckon you might catch hp with the
old gent by trying right smart! "

“ Devil—you demon! ” hoarsely panted
Allen Kirkwood, as he spat forth that
gag and' caught his breath afresh.

“ Steady, or I’ll have to-1—"

" I know you—I recognized you at
sight. yau infamous cur! ”

" What’s that? "

“ I’ll have revenge! I’ll hang you—hang
you higher than Haman’s ghost! Oh.
you scoundrel! To think how often—and
father always treated you like an own
son! While 'nowe— "

i A heavy hand, dropped upon a should-

er.“ A vicious shake followed, and the
man in mask spoke even more harshly
than before: .

“"Are you turned crazy, you fool? What
do you mean by such Chatter?”

" That I know you, Ralph Innesi! ”.

‘Lorella gave a choking cry a't thi's
name. andthe mask recoiled as thOugh
involuntarily. Young Kirkwood spoke
on, hotly: I . ,

“ I knew you at sight, Ralph 11mph. in

 

hang’you for this foul outrage, and‘ nev-
er—” . ~

spite of mask and disguise! I swear to I

 

. \.

 

 

 

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" ’ , W .w. ~a—;,-_—~    -"'~ -

 

The Sparkler Sport. ‘

3

 

 

“What name? What do you call me,

fool?”

"By your rightful title, Ralph Innes.
Cousin though you are—”

That gloved hand smote his lips with
brutal force, cutting him short.

 

CHAPTER II.

STItANGLERS AND THEIR LIVING PREY.

The two men fell apart, one recoiling
from the stroke, the other—Who shall
say?

A hoarse, barely articulate cry es-
caped his lips, and in obedience to it
several of the stranglers rushed upon
the young man, throwing him down in
spite of his furious Struggles against
overwhelming odds.

Again Loreiia Kirkwood screamed, and
once again a deft hand smothered the
sound, strong arms hearing her away

from that spot, while a voice spoke close

10 her ear:

“Quiet, you silly child! There’s no
particular harm coming your way un-
less—no harm at all if you play half
white, even! So—maybe the truth can
leak out at your lips? You know where
the old gent carried his stuff, sweet-
ness? "

But that was too much to expect from
one so terribly agitated, and presently
the girl was turned over to a lesser light,
thus leaving the chief of stranglers at
liberty to pursue his fruitless quest for
gold or its equivalent.

No such rich treasure was to be found,
let them search as they might, and at
length they were forced to recognize the
truth.

Again the leader of that raiding band
turned to Allen Kirkwood, pressing him
with fiercely impatient questions, only to
be met after the same fashion; to be
cursed as a worse than ingrate by one

‘ who called him cousin!

Long ere this both tents had been thor-
oughly overhauled by eager searchers,
and though one and all were loth to
abandon the hope of greater profit, word
was finally given for getting under way.

“It's pick foot and travel, my lads! ”
cried the leader, gruflly. “ If we slip up
on our calculations right here, We'll hit
’em so much the heavier next deal.”

“ And the cold meat, boss? "

“ Leave it for the crows and camp-
birds to worry over. No time for senti-

ment or folly now. Get a hustle on and ‘

—look to the younker there. I’ll take

Charge or this—Comm my bunch 0f dainty 3 night," came the swift answer. “ I’m Jack

‘Ketch, the Strangler, neither more nor

sweetness!”

In spite of their struggles brother and
sister were forced away from the spot,
hurried along through the night as
though a fear of detection had suddenly
assailed the raiders.

The poor, terrified girl called upon her
father, begging piteously to be taken

back to him, now thinking him dead,.’

then picturing him as alive* and calling
for her, only ceasing when overtasked
nature gave way in part, leaving her

self in a half—stupor which was hardly
less merciful than complete insensibility.

As for Allen Kirkwood, he fought until
he could struggle no more. He was bound
and gagged, helpless .to fight or to flee,
using his feet merely because reason told
him worse punishment would come if he
forced his captors to actually carry him
over that rough grannd.

That method of traveling did not last
long, for the little company soon reached
the 'spot where their horses had been left
lest the sound of hoofstrokes give prema-
ture alarm to their intended prey.

During their brief pause at this place,
Lorelle Kirkaod was transferred for
safe-keeping to another rnfiian, while the
chief of the stranglers drew nearer to the
brother, his tones soundin‘g cold and
composed as he broke the silence.

‘.‘ Maybe you’ll think me an idiot for
taking it up again; young fellow. but I
never did care to hide my light under an-
other man’s bushel. So—what was it
you called me, back yonder?”

u I

. curely bound as though for a protracted
brain dazed for the time being and her- ' Journey through the night-

i

v
i

 

Again his keen blade came into play,
and once again that name was spoken.

“Ralph Innes. I can’t call you cousin,
as of old, for—oh, you infernal scoun-
drel!” with a sudden burst of fury. “ Turn
me free for just one minute, and 1‘” kill
you like—like you butchered my poor
old daddy—wear uncle, devil of all dev-
ils! ”

“And you really think I am the fel-
low you say? "

“ I know it! I could take my Bible oath
to you among a million such! I knew
you at sight, and now~kill me,you whelp
of Satan! Kill me, even as you mur-
dered my poor old father, or I’ll hunt you
down to the gallows just so surely as
grass grows and water runs! ” ,

“ You’re cracked; badlycracked, younk-
er!” coolly retorted the chief of the'
stranglers. “So far from being Ralph
Innes, I am—listen, my pretty boy with
the vitriolic tongue!

“ I hide behind no man’s back, and ad- '
vertise my deeds as one does who glo- I
ries. in his actions. I am not your cous- .
in; I am not Ralph Innes, nor Ralph any- ‘
body else; I am—Jack Ketch, at your
service, sir! ”

With a low, mocking laugh the strang- }
ler turned away as though in saying this 3
all had been said, paying not the slight-
est attention to the words which Allen
Kirkwood hurled after him.

Then that young man moved over to
where his sister was standing under
guard, still with senses half—benumbed,
yet sufficiently alert to recognize and
welcome Allen with a low, sobbing cry;

Unheeding her broken speech, even if
he heard, Allen burst into fierce denun- .
ciations of their cousin, evidently with
belief still unshaken in his guilt, finally
adding:

“ You saw him? You surely recognized
him, Lorella? Ralph—"

“ No, no, it was not—it surely could not
be my—our Ralph?”

" It surely was, though! And he mur-—- :
oh, if I had the full use of my hands for
just one little minute, even! If I
might—” 1

“Will you cork it up, young fellow?” ;
came a harsh interruption as the man in 1
mask once again turned toward his cap~ f
tives. “ Still.that unru'y clapper of yours, 1
unless you wish me to muzzle it withf
bullet or steel. I never saw such a—
steady, sweetness!”

“ It is not—oh, sir, you are not—say
you are not Ralph?"

“I’d lie if I said I was, Pretty-by-,

i

less. And this sort of chatter makes me
so weary that I’m going to—all aboard! ”

Catching Lorella in his powerful arms,
Jack Ketch swung her deftly upOn horse-
back, nimbly climbing up after her an
instant later.

Again Allen Kirkwood was grasped by
strong hands, swung clear of the ground
and placed in a saddle, there to be se-

He spoke some harsh words, but seem-
ingly the leader had lost all patience for
such, sternly addressing his fellows:

“ Clap a stopper on, there. He’d ought
to be worth more living than dead. but
if he will sing out of tune——kill, if you
can’t cure! ” _

Holding Lorelle. firmly yet lightly the
arch-rufflan rode away through the night,
followed by his fellows, two of whom
paid especial attention to the other liv-
ing prey.

Among the lesser lights in that mid-
night raid, dissatisfaction (if nothing
worse) reigned the while, and after the
trail had lengthened by several miles,
one of their number growlingly spoke:

“If ever I’m caught on another J‘a'nt
like this, you can eat my fat! "

“Augh! what‘s eating yen, now? "

“It's too bloody work for white men.
and that’s flat! It’ll end in a nasty bit 0'
hemp-pullin’, an’ my thrapple isn’t honin'
fer the like 0’ that; no, it. hain’t now,

 

gents! "

l

“ Bah! there always was a yellow
streak in you, Nels Crooks! A cur you
were born, and 21 our you are now!”

“You’re a liar, Pete Peltz! ”

Swiftly came the retort, and to the full
as swift was the answer, in actions rath~
er than in words.

A long arm straightened, a heavy fist
shot forth to land heavily in that half-
turned face, knocking its owner fairly

out of the saddle to hit the ground with '

stunning force.

He who dealt the blow leaped after,
with wild-beast ferocity,
snarling, champing his teeth as a. half-

cursing and '

wild boar vents its rage, jerking knife

from sheath even while in the air.

“ I’ll cut your heart out, Nels Crooks!
I'll paint yellow with red so mighty sud-
den you can't—out of the way, blame ye
all! ”

For a fierce cry from the lips of Jack
Ketch sent several men between the
twain, and they hampered the savage
brute long enough for the chief to push

that way, leaning over in the saddle to .

strike that shggily-bearded face with
gloved hand as he cried, sternly:

“Back, you brute!
to down you for good, Peltz?” ‘

“Better down him, boss! He'll sell
you out, so sure as white isn’t black. I
know Nelson Crooks, and I know—”

“ You’re a liar! An’ I kin frail ye out
like a—let me git at him—jest once’t! ”

Instead, the struggling fellow was
faced by a menacing muzzle, as Jack
Ketch swung that way, revolver in hand,
speaking sternly:

“ You simmer down, old man. I’d hate
to lift your roof, but if I have to do it—
simmer, then.”

Whatever else he might be, Jack Ketch

:v'vas evidently master, so far as these

tough nuts were concerned, and only
surly growls gave evidence that his in-
terference had not entirely quelled the
racket.

Do you want me.

The journey was resumed and pressed‘

at a rapid pace for mile after mile before
another halt was called. But then Jack
Ketch both spoke and acted as though
their night’s work was nearing its end.

" Here we are, lads! You know what
to do now; do it!”

Two-thirds of their number dismount-
ed, turning their nags over to the men
who remained in saddle, and then the
Stranglers broke apart, each man taking
his own way as though their present pur-

l pose was to blind their trail against pos-

sible pursuit.

One of these footmen bore marks of‘a
heavy fist in bruised cheek and discolor-
ing eye, a horny hand lifting now and
again to touch the place as though the
injury, pained him.

He hurried along through the night for
a brief space, then came to a halt, turn-
ing partly around to shake a clenched

fist in that direction with undisguised -

hatred, words falling mutteringly fro
his lips. '

Curses and threats against the ruffian
who had assaulted him, then came other
and even more significant words:

“ Better pull hemp then live sech a
dog's life as this! I’ll tell—only, fer my
pore little gal, I’d blow‘ the gaff on ’em
all! I’d tell the hull bloody story afore
sun could set this blessed day; yes I
would!”

 

CHAPTER III.

s'rsvn SFARLIGHT. THE SPARKLER sroa'r.

It was a bit of gently undulating
ground across which Stephen Starlight
was riding, and as his head came above
the low Crest ahead, he tightened reins
and checked the spirited horse he be-
strode, mustached lips parting with a low
ejaculation.

“ Hello!
business, for a fact! Wonder who and
what—go easy, there! ”

As a rule trees and even lesser vegeta-
tion were precious scarce in that partic—
ular region, but yonder where the ground.

That looks something like

lay lower, not more than a third of a

\ ' U .
- .0,
: ' u,

 

  

4

 

.

' The Sparkler Sport.

 

 

mile in advance of the Sparkler Sport’s

present position, a few wind-bent and;
sun-distorted specimens of cedar found‘

root, and about them he sighted a few
human beings, just then engaged in the
delicious amusement of—

“A necktie party, as I’m a sinner!
Reckon we'll take a look into that mat—
ter, pardner, so—look at that, will ye?”

Sparkler Steve had no partner save his
own good steed, but he had grown accus—
tomed to making a confidant of that
really intelligent creature for lack of a

better partner; and now; as he saw a su— ,

den change take place in the sitution be—

yond, a touch of gleaming spur and quick l

pinch of booted knees sent the animal
springing over that crest, carrying his
master into fair view of the rest of that
little drama.

 

For, with a desperate effort the appar— ‘

ently doomed man had broken away

i from his enemies, knocking one endlong ‘
here, hurling another .brace of lusty fol- ‘

lows sprawling yonder, then running for

dear life away from the looped ropei

which dangled from the stoutest cedar.
A shot or two stung sharply upon the
mountain air, but the fugitive raced on,
ducking and dodging, springing errati-
cally from side to side, the better to foil
his pursuers, for hot in chase came the

'lynchers, now cursing and yelling like

 

\. >‘un W

’ ent defender for the time being, rapidly ‘
.recovering both breath and wits, even

A tire where rough handling and hot rac- .

i

!

veritable fiends.

One against half a dozen and that poor
devil apparently too sorely frightened to
make the best of his briefly won advant-
age, losing ground with each moment

i
i

Strangler, and we can prove it by—you
know it, boys? Didn’t we, then? ”

“You bet we did, then! Caught the
bloody Irisher with the devil’s noose in
his grip, making sure his dirty work was
well done! ”

“ ’Tis an avil loie, yer banner, be the
powers!”

“ ’Tis gospel truth, you flannel-mouthed
Paddy!”

“Augh—gh-h! Don’t ye swally that,
sor, for divil a Paddy is Barney O’Shea,
thin! Oi’m a thrue Yankee, born an’
brid, sor. Be me driss an’ luuks Oi show
it, faith! Paddy to yer ownsilf, ye dir~
thyflscut av a dirthier bogthrotter, he-
go . n

As he fairly howled forth this denial
and defiance combined, Barney O’Shea
drew his tall figure as erect as possible,
hands nervously flirting the swallow-
tails of his rusty-looking coat, doing all
he knew how to rob face and form of the
Emerald Isle touch, but only accentuat—
ing both and adding more “ hair to his
teeth.”

Ordinarily this would have stirred
Stephen Starlight to open mirth, but not
now; he had cause for gravity instead,
and almost harshly spoke:

“ Quiet, one and all! Now, what’s hap-
pened? Who’s been bloody murdered, or
is it all a farce betwixt ye? "

“Poor ould masther Kirkwood, sor—”

“The campers, over yonder—”

“What?” cried Starlight, cheeks pal-
ing a bit, but eyes fairly aglow with
fiercest excitement. “ Surely not—ha!

while strivihg to evade the bullets which I now I remember where I've seen you,

were no longer flying.

Sparkler Steve saw all of this, and saw,
too, how the chasers were separating to
force their prey to a straight line of
flight, feeling too certain of success now
to make further use of their weapons.

A pile of rock in goodly measure
masked his own charge, and his coming
was not noted by any until he fairly
broke cover, lifting his voice in a. clear,
ringing call, which startled the pursuers
even more than it did the luckiess fel-
low in flight for dear life.

“ Steady, all! What do you-all reckon
you’re trying to do down here, anyway?

, I never thought—hello, Perkins!”

“Ride him down, thar, boa-s!” cried
one of those in chase, wildly waving a
hand toward the Sparkler Sport. “Ef

the p’izen critter dodges—trample him.

clean through the airth, thar! ”

“ Howly mother 0’ all the saints! Bad
luck to the lave o’ yez, thin!” panted
the fugitive, falling all over himself,
as he tried to change his course in an in-

stant, clearly mistaking the horseman‘

for another relentless enemy rather than
a friend. “ Oi niver, niver, no Oi niver! "

“ Barney O’Shea, is it?” cried Star-
light, sending his good horse in between
the fugitive and chasers, his right hand

 dropping to his revolver butt as he stern- ,

 

 

1y added: “Hold hard, the lot of ye!.

Show good cause for roping, or I’ll play
ringmaster,‘ by my lonesome! ” 1
Charges and denials came all in a heap,

sion, but that chase has ended now, and
with Sparkler Steve master of the situa-

tion a minute more or less hardly cut ?
‘ any figure.

The fugitive clung closely to his pres-

smoothing down his rather peculiar at-

ing had put it in disorder.

From that tangle of ugly accusations
Starlight made out that this fellow had
been guilty of murder most foul, adding
to that awful crime» the worse fact of be-

Paddy! You were over—murdered, you
say, Perkins? ”

“ Bloody murdered, no less! We just
happened that way, you see, sir, and
when we sighted this blamed Irisher,
rope in his grip, making sure the old
gent was croaked—”

“ That’s a loie be the town-clock, sor!
Oi niver knew how it ahl came to pass,
faith, but some dirthy divil hit me wid a
club phwich wor a mountain foor bigniss,
sure! An’ thin—”

With a sudden stoop and clutch Spark-
ler Steve caught the sorely excited Pat-
lander by arm and hip, giving a mighty
heave which brought the stalwart fellow
fair. y across the withers of his snoreng
steed, holding Barney there with a
giant’s grip as he swiftly spoke to the
other men:

“Come! Show the way over to the
spot, Perkins. If there’s been evil work
going on—you say—the young lady,
boys? ”

“Never sighted her, sir. Just saw
enough to make sure it was ugly work,
then we had to run this rascal down like
a crazy wolf with his tail on fire! ” has—
tily explained Perkins, as he ran along
to keep pace with the now hurrying
horseman.

Sparkler Steve evidently knew where
that raided camp was located, since he
asked no questions on that point, making
all possible haste in that direction, pay-

- . ing not the slightest heed to the splutter-
too badly mixed for ready comprehen-j

l
1
l
l
|
i
i
l
1

ing a member of the thrice-accursed;
Stranglers.

“ Ow—wow! Will yezlmoind that, thin?
'An’ me wan o’ the dacintest o’ lads ye'
foind in a long day’s jarney, sor! An

av me ould mither—”

“ We caught him redhanded, sir,” de- 1

clared one of the prospectors, cutting that
indignant protest short off.

'\_

t .

6

ing cries and panting objurgations let
fall by the unlucky cook and man-of-all-
work.

Thanks to the lay of the ground, to-

‘ gether with the point from which his ap-

proach was made, Starlight came upon
the scene almost without warning, and
gave a sharp Cry as ,he saw, only a few
yards ahead, the shape of a human being
struggling to a sitting posture, though
movements were uncertain and gestures
confused to a degree.

“ Kirkwood—and still living!” cried

the Sport, wrenching up his horse and.

leaping to earth while hastily adding:
“ Look to Barney, will you, fellows? Hold

. him safe until we can get at the bottom

facts.”
The final words were still warm on his

' lips as the Sparkler won the side of that
the loikes av thim thryin’ to’pent the son I gray-haired "victim, and another excla-

!

l
I

mation was given as he saw—wonder of
wonders!
A greasy rope was wound around Mar-

“ He’s a tin Kirkwood’s throat with ends brutally

 

knotted by murderous hands; yet the old
gentleman still lived, still breathed—and
that with no serious difficulty!

“Quick!” cried Sparkler Steve, hand
backing tongue as he called attention to
that strange sight. “Look, all of you,
for it may be important when—see it,
you fellows? ”

A stout stick lay with one end against
shoulder, the other hidden among that
rumpled gray hair. Both turns of the
Strangler’s rope passed around stick as
well as neck, and thus a space was left
for breathing where a casual look would
tell of sure suffocation.

“ Not once in a million times!” de-
clared the Sport as he cut the rope and
drew free that stick. “A lucky accident
——Providence, rather! ”

Martin Kirkwoo‘d made a feeble mo-
tion, lips parting as though to speak; but
only a husky rattle found vent through
that fevered throat.

The next few minutes were spent in ef-
forts for his more perfect restoration,
yet the Sparkler was hardly content to
wait for information so long, flinging
queries and questions at both prospect-
ors and captive.

The former were glib enough in telling
their part of the story, for even now they
felt little doubt that Barney O’Shea de-
served rope rather than reprieve.

They had come down from the higher
grcunds, where weeks had been spent in
prospecting, and that early movement
brought them within eye-range of the
valley-camp shortly after the rising of
the sun.

They quickly saw that something out
of the common must have taken place,
and by quick creeping they drew nigh
enough to make out Barney O’Shea, rope
in hand, bending over the prostrate figure
of another man—Martin Kirkwood, as
they all knew now.

“We saw that much, Mr. Starlight,”
said Perkins, “ but we hadn’t time for
much more. Paddy smoked us, and away
he loped—tail-on-end! ”

“ Whoy w’u’dn’t Oi, thin, sor? ” eager-
ly cut in the cook, face flushed and little
eyes glowing brightly. “ Wid the hid av
me ahl caved in; wid a rope chokin’ the
loife av me ahl out—a. rope, sor, phwich
thim same divils musht hev mishured out

to me, faith, loike they did foor the ould

gintlemon, sor, an’ thin—whin ahl kem
a-howltin’ an’ a-yowltin’ worse nor so
many divils frish cut loose from—ow-
wow! ”

Choked by his emotions, Barney O’Shea
tried to eke his story out with frantic
gestures instead.

Like one whose patience had failed
him, Sparkler Steve made a swift spring
and fierce grip,’ holding the Irishman
helpless in both hands while staring with
eyes ablaze into his rugged countenance.

A half-score moments thus, then Star-
light demanded: _

“ The young lady—Miss Kirkwood—
where is she, you scoundrel? "

“Miss Lorella, is it, sor? ”

“ You know it, O’Shea. Where is she
now? What has happened her? And the
other—her brother, as well? ”

“ Divil a wan 0’ me knows that same,
sor. Oi wor just—~” _

“ Careful, Barney! It’s mighty clean
hands you want to be showing, or else
it’s a mighty sudden grave you’ll be fill-
ing,” sternly warned the Sport, giving
captive a bit of a shake by way of em-
phasis.

“ Better string him up with his own

rope, sir,” gruiiiy cut in Perkins, who ‘

seemingly held scant faith in this son of
the Emerald Isle. “ I reckon you can get
the straight of it from the 01d gent, while
this fellow—it’d tear his thrapple clean
out to tell anything like the naked truth;
yes, it would, now! ”

“ Niver listhen to the loikes av that
dirthy scut, sor; he’s a bloody Orange-
mon, faith, an’ yez know how the loikes
av thim hates us—us clane-brid an’ pure-
blooded Yankees, sor, loike yersilf an’ me

own' mither’s bye—begorra! ”

In spite of his intense. eagerness to

v

P

 

 

 

 

 

< Va.“ V

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.v,‘ ~I-T V  a,”
I -' * yr‘E. vr
-‘«-— V-‘y—fl .

 

The Sparkler Sport.

5

 

 

learn more, Sparkler Steve had to smile
at this bald-faced twist of the truth; but
his grip was broken just then by Barney
O’Shea, who gave a husky sort of cry, at
the same time pointing toward a rapidly
approaching shape, then saying:

“ Ask him, sor! Sure, an’ he kin till a
mointy soight more than anny wan 0’ us
ahl—av he loikes, sor! ”

 

CHAPTER IV.
THE TRAIL OF THE STRANGLERS.

There was no time for asking just
what those hasty words really meant, for
the person indicated was coming at a
dead run, face and actions declaring how
powerfully that sight had excited him.

How long he may have been viewing
both scene and actors from yonder gentle
rise in the ground could only be sur-
mised; but now he paused to ask no ques-
tions, stopped to make no sign of recog—
nition as he rushed directly to the spot
where Martin Kirkwood was leaning fee-
bly against a bowlder near the larger
tent.

“Uncle—dear Uncle Martin!” he ex-
.claimed as he reached that spot, sinking
to his knees by the injured man’s side
even as he flashed a swiftly inquiring
glance around in quest of others.-
“ What’s the matter with you? What has
happened? Where is—Lorella? Where
is my dear cousin, Uncle Martin? ”

“ Gone—devils—gone!” huskily moaned
the stricken millionaire, as he vainly
strove to regain his feet.

“ Gone? ” echoed Ralph Innes, starting
erect and clenching hands as he fairly
glared about the place. “ Surely not——
~gone whither? Gone where? Gone—how
gone, uncle? ”

Sparkler Steve stepped to the front,
one hand going forth to rest lightly upon
a shoulder, eyes full of keen and search-
ing light as they caught those brown
orbs.

“You can’t explain the mystery, Mr.
Innes, of course?” he half-asked, half-
asserted. '

“ I don’t—where are the others? What
has happened, sir? Surely nothing which
-——what does all this mean, I say? "

“You did not spend the night here,
then, sir? ”

“ No; I staid in town. I had business
which—you tell, confound you, since
Kirkwood can’t. What has happened
here? Where is my—Miss Kirkwood—
and her brother, Allen? "

“ That’s precisely what we’re trying all
we know how to get at, Mr. Innes,”
gravely answered Starlight, veiling those
brilliant blue eyes for an instant, as
though hardly ready to let the latest
comer peer too deeply into his secret
thoughts. “If Mr. Kirkwood can’t tell,
and Paddy won’t tell—”

" Where is he? Ha, you rascal! ” strid—
ing across to where the Yankifled Irish-
man was standing under guard. “ If you
know—”

“W’u’dn't Oi be afther tillin’ av it,
thin, sor, widout foorcln’? ”

“ There’s a way of making him chirp !

in tune, sir,” bluntly hinted Nat Perkins.
"‘ I’ve seen many a better man strung up
without a tree to help him do the climb-
ing, too! Shall we—” ‘

“ Wait a bit, old man; time enough for
the hempen finish after all other means
are fairly exhausted. Surely we ought to
be able to get at the rights of this nasty
case between us! And‘ so—cool and
steady wins farther in a day than hot
and hasty! ” .

That was an adage easily spoken, but
practice was found far more diflicult than
theory.

With forced calmness Ralph Innes
backed up the Sparkler Sport in his
questioning, . striving all either man
‘knew to get at the actual facts; but nei-
ther Martin Kirkwood nor Barney O’Shea
seemed able to give them the much-de-
sired clew.

The old gentleman could only sneak of
his sudden rousing from a deep slumber

 

my—just what he could not tell even now. V.

He seemed partially dazed bv the cruel

blow which had laid him out in the first
place, and his later treatment had made
a bad matter far worse.

In spite of his efforts to “ brace up,”
all could see that Mr. Kirkwood was still
far from being out of danger from his
hurts.

But little better success came through
questioning Barney O’Shea, although he
could recall struggling desperately with
numerous armed foemen who seemed
vomited forth by the darkness.

He declared that he caught one scream
as of fright or pain from the lips of his
young mistress, then went dOWn under a
mass of flesh and bones to have the noose
of the Stranglers wound tightly about his
throat.

“ Yez kin see foor your own silves,
faith!” he declared, turning down his
high collar to bare his long neck more
completely. “ Faith, sor, it’s Barney
O’Shea as faals loike he had bin hoong
up as a flitch av bacon foor shmokin’,
thin, begorra! ”

In honest truth there was a red and
swollen welt about his neck which helped
to bear out his statement; and Ralph In-
nes frankly cleared the Irish cook of fur-
ther suspicion.

“ Barney’s all right, gentlemen. I’ll go
his bail so far as any crooked dealings
goes. Only—can’t you tell, O’Shea? Think
how awful much may depend upon our
finding Miss Lorella without further de-
lay! Think what she must suffer if in
such evil clutches, man, dear! ”

“ Av Oi c’u’d save her be takin’ that
same place me own silf, sor, ’tis Barney
O’Shea w’u’d break the blissid nick av
him gittin’ thayer! But phwat more kin a
poor divil do or say? ’Tis me that niver
saw more than jist that, faith! The crack
Oi got ahn the nob 0’ me, begorra! ”

With a fiercely impatient gesture Ralph
Innes turned away from the Irishman, as
though abandoning all hope of gleaning
further information from that source.

” Hunt for a trail, men! ” he cried, set-
ting an example himself while speaking.
“ Every minute wasted like this is only
adding another death to my—to a lady
whom we owe a sacred duty as white
men! Look for sign, and we’ll get there
even yet! ” .

Sparkler Steve tried again to learn some-
thing more definite from the lips of the
sufferer, but Martin Kirkwood lay helpless
for the time being, looking more like one
dying than one on the high-road to re-
covery.

So far as careful manipulation went, no
fracture could be found, although that
scalp was cut and the flesh raised in an
ugly-looking ridge across the skull.

Eager though he surely was to be of
service to the missing young people,
Starlight felt that his first duty was ow-
ing this man, and with an eye to that
end he crossed over to where-Ralph In—
nes was quartering the dry and stony
ground, searching for the trail of the
raiders.

“ The old gentleman isn’t rallying like
he’d ought, ’pears so,” the Sport said, in
guarded tones, meant for the young man
alone. “We’ll have to tote him over to
town, unless—I say, pardner! ”

“ Say it, then.”

“ You’re a relative, I take it? Or am I
wrong in thinking that way? ”

“I’m his nephew, and act as his pri-
vate secretary, as well. I was over in
town last night, sent by him, on his pri-
vate bu iness,” briefly spoke Innes, evi-
dently d eming such an explanation fair-
ly due, if only to fully clear his skirts of
blame for this evil happening.

“ I had an idea that way, although you
and I haven’t met quite as often as the
rest. Somehow you were away when I
happened this way.”

" My time naturally belongs to my em-
ployer, sir,” a bit stiflly uttered Innes,
still searching for sign. “ But you start-
ed to say—what? ” .

“That you’d better go across—lots to
town and fetch medical aid here. Your
uncle needs it, and you are the one best
fitted—4’

 

” Send another man, sir; I’m going to
find and rescue my—look ye here, my
friend,” eyes lifting to meet those keen
blue orbs. “ This is hardly time or place
in which to broach private matters, but
you look like a clean white-man, and so
—just this much, first.

“Miss Kirkwood is missing; no one
seems to know just how or by just what
means. But one thing is fairly certain;
the devils who made this raid belong to
the outfit known in these parts as the
Stranglers.”

“It’s mightily like their work, any-
“ray-n

“And since all this is their work, so
must the rest of it be. While my—sir,
Lorella Kirkwood has been my promised
wife now for almost a year! How can I
think of anything else so long as I feel
she is in such evil clutches? ” .

“ Your promised wife? ”

” Yes; my plighted bride. We were to
be married as soon as this expedition
came to an end. And now—talk to me
about running for the doctor while—I’m

going to follow those devils, though their ;
trail leads me straight through the hot- ;

test pits of Hades, sir! ”

As though nothing mere remained to ‘

be said, Ralph Innes.turned away and
hurried off along the dimly outlined trail
which he felt fairly confident marked the
retreat of the raiders.

Sparkler Steve stood motionless for a
full minute, gazing after the private sec-

retary as he trailed the Stranglers, his '

own face unusually pale and hands
clenched very tightly. .

“My promised wife! ”

How queerly those words rang through
his busy brain the while!

And then the sound of. slow, shuffling

.v.

 

footfalls roused the Sparkler from his ..

musings, and, turning swiftly, Starlight ‘5

faced the Irish cook, one of whose bony f.

fingers raised to cross a pair of wide lips,

eyes winking rapidly as head nodded‘

again and again.

“ Whisht, sor! ” muttered Barney
O’Shea, catching a silver button on that
short jacket of Spanish cut and fashion.
“The two ears av him are two moiles
long, an’ sharper nor a cambric naadle,
faith! Whisht, thin!”

“ You mean—just what, Barney? "

"That yon’ shmooth divil knows a II

moighty soight more than he cares to lit
fall, jist now, be gonies! ”

“ What? You surely can’t suspect Mr. .

Innes of being in cahoots with the Stran—
glers, O’Shea? "
Instead of flatly avowing his belief,

fashion, lips curling and nose twisting
after a comical manner, had the one oh-

,1
'1'
k

Barney shrugged shoulders in significant 

Ii
i

server been free-minded enough to ap-;
preciate such a whimsical exhibition. In— -

stead, Sparkler Steve persisted:

“ What do you know? What do you
suspect, even, O’Shea? "

“ Nothing, sor. Maybe ’tis mesilf as
draamed it ahl, ’thin! Yis, sor Oi
draamed it; jist draamed it, begorra! ”

“ All right, and dream goes, for now.
We'll look deeper into the matter later
on, but for now our first duty is owing to
Mr. Kirkwood. You know the way to
town, or—hold on! Perkins! ” ,

When that individual responded, Star-
light dispatched him for medical aid,
then set the others working at a litter to
bear the. old man to town.

 

CHAPTER V.
DRIFTING TO HIS DOOM.

Oftener smiles than frowns, laughter
than weeping, as any one on friendly
terms with bright-eyed Kittie Crooks
might easily have assured you; but now
the smiles were conspicuous for their ab—
sence, and tears did not seem so very far
away whenever the mountain girl looked
toward the low. self-made bed upon

which the muscular figure of her father.

was then lying stretched.
As a rule. Kittie could tell the hour. if

nn+ d1)» rah—"Ln mnw1y¥no +119 ‘quo_p0rn_

)

 

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v-  ,2
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J

  

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ing of Nelson Crooks, be that early or
late, after the going down of the daily
sun; but the night last past was an ex—
ception. save that she knew his return
must have been unusually late, or rather
early in the morning.

The mountaineer was sleeping heavily,
yet disturbed by dreams or premonitions
of impending danger, since he now and
then muttered a few words or disjointed
sentences, telling of strife and deadly
passions.

Then, too, his hard-lined face bore
marks of violence, such as nothing save
the clenched hand of anger could well
produce; an ugly bruise and semi-circle
of purple skin.

Kittie was busied with her household
duties, though making hardly any sound
while flitting to and fro. So quietly, in—
deed,.that she could catch every stir and
movement from yonder rude couch. And
as often unwonted moisture would come
to her bright black eyes, a quiver to her,
red lips, a little frown of daughterly anx-
iety.

And then, when Nelson Crooks spoke
more clearly, letting fall husky words
which went far toward convicting him-
self of lawless deeds, either as principal
or as accomplice, Kittie dropped her
broom, and clasping hands over her face
(now wet with hot tears), sinking to her
knees by that bed, bowing head to the
faded cover as something of her misery
found vent in trembling speech.

“ Oh, Lord—dear, good, kind Lord!
Don’t let poor old daddy go so awfully
far astray! Stop him while there is yet
time, for he’s all I have left, now, since
mother died.

“ Lord, please make him see how Wick—
ed those ugly men are, and turn him
aside from them before he comes to still
worse. He’s not all bad, dear Lord. He’s
been a good, dear, kind old daddy to me,
and now—save him for his little Kittie,
please, oh, Lord!”

More she said in broken, husky tones.
tears moistening the coverlet as she knelt
beside her surely erring parent, nowly-
ing so still and motionless; much more;
but no need to give a literal record here.
Enough that it was the heartfelt prayer
of a true-hearted and loving daughter to
an all~ruling power.

Lifting her head after in part unload-
ing her burdened spirit, the little mount-
ain beauty—for Kittie Crooks was all of
that—bent again to touch red lips lightly
to that damp forehead, then once more
set about her household duties.

After a. bit Kittie took the wooden
bucket from its three-cornered bench
back of the door, noiselessly passing out-

‘ side after a pail of water from the bub-
bling spring yonder at the base of the
gray rock-pile.

‘ Light though her footfalls surely were,
ears were keen enough to catch them and
mark their progress for a brief space;

, and then, when he knew Kittie had

passed beyond seeing his movements,

Nelson Crooks rose from his couch, shak-

ing his rude garments into something

like order as he stood there in the center
of the room.

- Stepping over to a wall, he bent head
far enough to look at his reflection in a

. cracked mirror fastened against the
whitewashed logs. He took note of
bruise and discoloration, giving a wry
grimace as he saw how plainly that must

i tell of ugly work. He clenched fist and
struck at the marred visage, only check:
ing blow in time to save the glass from
utter annihilation.

“ You ugly houn’-dog, you!” he mut-

.' tered,'huskily. “ You hain’t no man; you
hain’t even the counterfeit of a man! Ef
ye \Was, would ye tote a eye like that,

, ’thout layin’ him as gev it to ye toes-up
to the daisies? Ef ye was, would ye ’low
ary clean, honest, pure white-gal like
Little Kit fer to bu’st the heart of her

out over the likes 0’ ye? Would ye—an‘

I’m a howlin’ liar from headwaters (if I
do,eyther! ”

, Nelson Crooks turned away from the
itell-tale glass, sweeping a hand over his

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Sparki‘? Smitty-

bearded visage to clear and calm it, for
he caught the returning steps of his
daughter just then.

He almost feared to meet those frank,
loving eyes, and that self-consciousness
helped tell Kittie the truth.

For a little she hesitated, fearing to
say or do more; but then, as her father
seemed quieter than usual, softened to a
degree which lent hopes rather than
brought fears, her daughterly love car-
ried the day, and suddenly sinking to her
knees by his chair, Kittie clasped waist
with arms, speaking huskily, implor-
ingly.

Just what words passed her lips the
girl could hardly have told, if asked.
She was pleading with father against
himself. She was trying to waken his
better nature, and—she succeeded!

For some minutes the mountaineer sat
in motionless silence, muscular arms
hanging by his side as though stricken
with paralysis, head bowed until chin
touched bosom, that ugly bruise showing
plainer than ever in contrast with his un-
usually pale face.

It was a hard if silent struggle, but the
love of father for an only child won the
victory, and with an unusual moisture in
his eyes Nelson Crooks lifted a hand to
that curly head, speaking huskily:

“Thar, thar, Kit; you’re takin’ a pow-
erful sight 0’ worry an’ trouble over a
wuthless cuss which hain't o' no manner
0’ use ’cept fer to—”

A pair of moist red lips cut that depre-
traitor?“L speech short, then the girl stood
beside him, an arm hugging his broad
shoulders, rosy cheek touching his tan~
gled hair as she spoke further:

“ Yousha’n’t say that while I’m listen—
ing, daddy, dear.”

“ It’s gospel truth, though, Kit.”

“It is not. Or, if it was true, once, say
that it shall never be true again, daddy,
dear! You will say it, father? With the
good Lord’s help we’ll not only say it,
daddy, but make it come true! ”

“ Ef sayin’ was doin’—” ~

“It’s a beginning, daddy, and you’re
not Nelson Crooks if you ever take up a
thing to leave it unfinished,” swiftly
cried Kittie, handling him as only she
knew how. “Your lightest word goes,
as all the world knows! And so—say it
after me, daddy; say that from this day
on you will begin a new life, turning
aside from all those who—oh, father!
Will you not promise me to do this? "

“ Ef you only knowed what—~”

“ I know that you have been led astray,
father, by wicked men who are not fit for
a white man to associate with,” passion-
ately cried the girl. “ The worst of\them
is Peter Peltz, who is—”

“ Satan blister his hide! ”

“ Amen! If you only knew how—and
I'll tell you, too!” with sudden resolu-
tion. “ Would you like for me to couple
with Peter Peltz, daddy? ”

“ That black-hearted devil? You? I’d
kill you with my own han’s, fust! ” flerce-
ly exploded the mountaineer.

“ If not good enough for daughter, how
can' he be good enough for father? And
he is——worse than you can think, daddy!
He comes here so often when you are
gone; I believe he watches for just that! ”

“ Kittie! ”

“ And only the other day he swore
that—I told him I’d sooner match with
Satan, daddy! He swore that I should
marry him, or else you should pay the
cost, and then—”

“ He did? Pete Peltz? ” hoarsely cried
Crooks, as he rose from his seat in spite
ofxthose clinging arms. “Marry you!
That stranglin’, murderin’ houn’-d0g?
Augh-gh-h! I'll smash the very life out
0’ him like I mought a crazy wolf which
hed—~I’ll bloody murder him, I tell ye,
Kit!”

But Kittie clung to her infuriated par-
ent, begging and pleading, soothing his
mad pansions as only she knew how,
never giving-over until the victory was
fairly won. " i

And so, as the forenoon wore slowly
away, daughterly love prevailed, and the

 

 

 

 

 

repentant mountaineer finally promised
Kittie to break away from his evil asso~
ciations as quickly as possible.

Possibly the girl might not have been,
so insistent had she fully realized what.
those associations were, or what great
peril might attach to such an action as
this. She knew that rumor mane Peter
Peltz a criminal, although as yet no open
charges had been brought against that
man of the mountains. She was ready to
believe all manner of evil against the
ruflian, because he had given her ample
cause for dislike, if not actual hatred.

She knew that her father was wont to
spend hours, both of night and of day-
light, with Peter Peltz and other shady
associates, yet she never looked upon i
him as an actual wrong-doer—-only feared i
lest he might in time be led further
astray by those knaves.

So it was that Nelson Crooks calmed
and reassured Kittie without actually
confessing his evil deeds. He meant all
he promised her, too, though no man liv-
ing could more thoroughly appreciate
the peril which would menace him when
such reformation should become known
to his past comrades.

Nelson Crooks lounged around their
mountain shack for the greater portion
of that day, now chatting with light—
hearted Kittie, now brooding by himself,
letting thoughts and fancies find full
sway.

And then when the afternoon faded
into evening and an early supper was
dispatched, he lit his pipe and slouched
off in the direction of town, having be-
thought himself of sundry trifles which
were needed in their household economy.

Kittie was something loth to see him
go, but feared to object, lest that seem a.
lack of faith in his recent pledges; and
so, knowing that he had taken the first
step along a dangerous trail, but hardly
realizing how surely he was drifting to
his doom, Nelson Crooks picked his wa)r
across to Salvation City.

Once Within those rudely built-up lim—
its, the mountaineer found no lack of’in-
terest, and almost without the waste of a
single breath learned at least a portion
of What had drawn him thither. ,

For to Salvation City Martin Kirkwood
had been conveyed by the Sparkler Sport.
and his allies. met part wav by a man of
medicine picked up by Nat Perkins. And
after a brief investigation the millionaire
was pronounced in a fair way to recov-
ery, his skull having received no material
injury from that dastard blow which laid
him out the night before.

Nelson Crooks asked a few guarded
questions after hearing so much, learning
that Kirkwood was still in town, and
that nothing further had been heard of
the missing brother and sister. Learned,
too, that the outrage Was laid at the door~
of the Silver Slope Stranglers, as might
have been expected after Martin Kirk-
wood’s experience with the noose.

Later on in the night Crooks drifted
apart from his fellows, only giving vent
to his real sentiments when in a fairly
secluded portion of the town, where none
might hear or take inconvenient notes.

“ He cheated the rope, then! ” he mut-
tered, lifting hat and tossing back his
tangled locks for the cool air of night to
play through. “Thank heaven for so
mueh, anyway! And now—shell I? "

He stood in doubt, longing yet fearing.
In his ears that broken prayer by the lips
of his little girl still seemed to echo.

Should he prove himself a man, now?
Should he make good the pledge given
Kittie that day?

“ Shell I blow the gaff? Shell I tell the
hull durn story? VV'hat’d come of it cf 1'
was to—do Jest that? ” he muttered,
wrestling with right and wrong there in
the mingling moonlight and shadow, all
unconscious how near grim death was
creeping his way.

Actually, too! Stealing on velvet-feet
through those shadows, hands gripping
weapons which ; fairly thirsted for this
man’s life. And then-—

A swift leap which covered the little

 

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i"ée‘1‘c.z=?€gi 'fifi" ‘:

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Teaspakler Sport-

 

 

remaining distance; a vicious stroke
which felled Nelson Crooks like one
smitten by lightning; and an instant
later the brief gleam of an ugly blade as
it rose and fell!

 

CHAPTER VI.
A WARNING FROM JACK KETCH.

Salvation City was hardly as saintly as
its title might imply in other regions, yet
it had in goodly part outgrown the “ wild
and woolly ” stage of existence.

True, it owned a fair proportion of
“bad ('1 izcns,” had its share of “ruc-
tions ” a:
reputation lor irregular necktie parties
which were not even to be attributed to
Judge Lynch and his wayside court.

And so, though the hour was growing
rather late for all reputable denizens
whose regular business flourished under
the rays of the diurnal sun, the city was
startled in no small degree by the swift-
echoing fusillade which announced a cer-
tain grim discovery. .

A prostrate figure lying with limbs out—
fiung and breast clotted by purple blood.
A tall, long-haired man standing near
by, revolver turned toward the starlit
heavens and vomiting forth, fire and lead
as nervous forefinger worked the double-
action.

Only a short distance off stood another
couple of men, startled by both discovery
and abrupt alarm.

A lonely portion of the town, but
quickly becoming one of the most popu—
lous as shouts and cries followed that
brisk fusillade, guiding one and all to the

scene of excitement.
“ What is it? Who is it? How came
he so? ”

In swift succession came the eager
queries as men flocked around that cen-
ter, eager to see and be heard, yet still
finding time to listen to the explanations
given by those who had been first to dis-
cover that victim of the night.

“ We was jest moggin’ ’long this yer
way,” splutteringly explained one of the
trio to nobody in particular and every-
body in general, “when Pete he ketched
a sort 0’ glimp’ which som’way didn’t
seem like it orter be jest 80. An’ then—-
quit yer blame’ scrowdgin’ or I’ll—hel-
low, Sparkler! ”

“ That’s all right, J ohnny,” cut in Steve
Starlight, as he brushed past, to bend for
a moment over the body, then, giving a
sharp cry as he drew hack to flash a keen
glance around that gathering crowd.
“ It’s Nels’ Crooks, and—who was first to
find the poor devil? ”

“ Waal, sir, I reckon I was,” avowed a
tall, hairy fellow, coming more to the
front.

“ And you ark”

" Peter Peltz I’m called by them that
know me best, but names don’t cut any
figure right now. I was first to see him;
we were coming this way, heading for
home. I saw something—couldn’t say
just what it was then, but something
made 'me step over here, and then—well,
I just woke up the town the quickest
way I knew how, sir.”

There was no fault to be found with
that explanation, particularly as two oth-
er men were hoth ready and eager to
back up his words.

Until now no actual examination of the
supposed corpse had been made, further
than to identify it with Nelson Crooks,
but now came Dr; Frank Potter, who had
scarcely knelt beside the blood-covered
body ere he gave a short exclamation,
followed by the startling words:

" He’s not dead—yet! Fetch a plank,
or door, some of you loafers, so we can
get him to a fit place for working. Live-
ly, now!”

' Sparkler Sport heard Peter Peltz catch
breath sharply as the man of medicines
made his curt assertion, and as he saw
how those hairy hands turned to knotted
fists, an ugly suspicion‘found birth in his
busy brain.

“‘ You’ll hear watching, my pretty fel-

' n-

mid intervals, with a growing ‘

 

r-r,

 

low!” was his inward comment, but no
word crossed his lips just then.

Dr. Potter knew his business as well as
the best, and worked with cool swiftness,

which right speedily produced a favor- ‘

able result.
The wounded mountaineer gave a shiv-
er, a few spasmodic movements, a low,

i rattling groan; then his eyes opened part

way and his head was lifted far enough
for a half-blind glance around him.

“ Easy, my good man,” kindly warned
the physio? "v slipping a hand un-
der the arched neck to help support the
heavy head. “ You’re doing finely, but
don’t try to overdo it at first.”

“ I don’t~that devil from—oh! ”

“ Who hurt you, Crooks?” asked Pot-
ter, deeming it no harm to make the
most of that awakening. “How came
you this way, my man? ”

“That devil—I wasn’t thinking—I saw
him like—”

Again the mountaineer lifted head to
look around, and as the crowd shifted a
bit, the bright moonlight fell athwart a
certain evil-eyed visage which Crooks in-
stantly recognized. '

With a spasmodic effort he rose to a
sitting posture, although the dangerous
exertion caused the blood to flow more
freely from his cut chest. He gave .e-a
hoarse, hardly articulate cry, as he did so
reaching forth a trembling hand to point
at—

“ Peter Peltz—curse you! ” Crooks
cried with a terrible efiort. “ Murder——
bloody murder! I saw you—don’t let
him—he killed me!”

Those touching elbows with the man
indicated t us fell hastily away, some
with low c s of horror, others mechan-
ically grasping butt of pistol or hilt of
knife, but never a one among them-all
showing any inclination to defend or to
stand up for the accused.

Peter Peltz showed his wolfish teeth in
a half-snarl, but lifted his empty hands
to clearer view as though feeling the
need of a flag of truce. Then he spoke
in his own defense, harshly enough:

“ He’s clear loony, men. I can prove I
never touched him at all.”

“ Devil—lie! ” again panted the wound-
ed mountaineer. “He did—I know—
strangler——curse him!

Then Nelson Crook fell back, utterly
exhausted by those fierce moments, and
Dr. Potter cried out in stern. tones:

“'Fall back, ye idiots! No more of this
unless you’re bent on murdering this
poor devil. And—this way with your
door, gentlemen! ”

Volunteers were hurrying back with
the rude litter at first proposed, and al-
most mechanically the crowd parted for
their admission.

Dr. Potter directed matters, Crooks ly-
ing as one surely dead by now. The
mountaineer was raised from the blood-
,stained ground and gently placed upon
the door, which was then lifted by strong
and willing hands, to be borne away in
accordance with the doctor's wishes.

The Sparkler Sport took time to whis-
per a few words to Dr. Potter, who nod-
ded both comprehension and acqui—
escence; then the seeming corpse was
hurried away toward the main hotel of
Salvation Camp, the Midway.

Starlight had barely whispered those
few words when he felt a firm grip on an
arm, and turned head to recognize dark-
browed Peter Peltz, who spoke with surly
vigor:

i'i‘L’You heard what that poor fool said,
8 . H

“ Crooks, you mean? ”

“ Yes. Of course he didn’t know just
what he did say, but maybe some-of
these pretty ducks might get to brooding
over the fool words, and try to hatch a
sensation out of it. So—you’re a man.
I’m another! ”

“Well, what else?”

“Just this much, sir,” with forced
calmness, as he doffed hat to run curved
fingers through his long locks while
flashing a defiant look over that assem-
bly. " I want you to try me out. I want

I

 

 

you to make me explain so everybody,
_ fools as well as wise men, may know

how mighty little chance there was for
me to play Nels Crooks such dirt, even if
I had wanted to, ever so bad.”

“ All right, Peter; say your say and get
it over with.”

“Let others speak, first. Call Johnny
Beloit and Fred Flachs. I’ve been with
them since noon, and they were in my
company when I first glimpsed what
proved to be poor Crooks. Nowhspeak
up, lads! ”

The two men came to the front. and, if
their tales were true, fairly cleared Peter
Peltz of that damning charge. He could
not possibly have assaulted Nelson
Crooks without their knowledge, since
they had not parted company for even a»
minute since shortly after the noon-hour.

“ That lets you out, then,” quietly de-
cided Starlight, as the accused once more
appealed to him for judgment. “ All the
same, if I were you I’d hold myself well
within sight and reach in case Crooks
should come again when he’s in better
fettle.”

With these words by way of friendly
advice, Sparkler turned away, hurrying

.over to Hotel Midway, whither he knew

the injured mountaineer had been taken.
and under whose roof Martin Kirkwood
had likewise found temporary shelter.

That whisper guided matters thus far,
and, true to his expectations, the Star"
light Sport found Crooks located in his
own chamber, where Dr. Potter met him
with hand raised in warning. r

“ Sh! I was just going to send for yo".
Sport,” was his whispered greeting; “ I
need just such a man when it comes to
patching up this poor devil, you see.”

“Is there any hope for him, do yo=i~
reckon? ” softly breathed Starlight, look.
ing toward the motionless shape stretched
upon his bed.

“ Of course, since he’s still alive. Br‘.
I wanted you for something more the"
that, too,” added the man of medicine, a".
he noiselessly closed the chamber door,
then slipping a hand into his bosom
While speaking further: '

“ I was with Mr. Kirkwood when tn:
alarm broke forth, and—”

“ He’s no worse, surely?” cut in the
Sport, with strong interest.

“ No; better, if anything. Hei was
sleeping soundly, just then, but—do you
see this hit of paper?” at the same time
drawing forth his hand and holding up a
discolored sheet of note—sized paper.

“ What is it?”

“ I’ll show you in a moment. I went in-
yonder to see how Kirkwood was flour-
ishing, and first—off I saw this; pinned?
fast to his breast! ”

“ What! Surely not—from whom? "

“ Jack Ketch, or the signature lies,‘
with a half-laugh as he passed the paper
over to that eager clutCh. “ Short, if not
exactly sweet.”

And so Starlight could see for himself.
Neither date nor address, but merely the
brutally blunt warning—thus:

“ Hold your hand. Wait for a word of
direction from the Stranglers, or both of
your kids shall perish like dogs! Neg-
lect this fair warning and pay full pen—
alty, else my name is not

“ JACK KETCH.”

 

CHAPTER VII.
THE SPARKLER SPORT IMPATIEN'I‘.

Dr. Potter looked on quietly while
Starlight was reading the communica-
tion, not once but twice at least.

“ Is it a hoax, or pure business, do you
think? "

" It reads mighty business-like. any~
way,” admitted the Sport mechanically
refolding the paper, as before. “And_
you found it—where?”

“ Pinned upon Mr. Kirkwood's breast,

‘as he lay sleeping. As for just how it

came there. don’t ask me.”

“ Placed there by some one who took
advantage of the alarm raised over poor
Crooks, no doubt,” suggested the Spark. ,

 

 

 

  

~ I :1: .71 .. L.»3—suv~b.ea~.mmw "0‘ way-“1.1,”..-

.I,

8

ler, brows knitted and eyes those of a

‘ man who was thinking deeply.

" ' “Not exactly. I found the message
 , before the shooting. I said. as much, if
 you remember.”

“That makes it look like a gray horse
of a different color.”

“ As how? ” _

“ Well, where general attention was
if ' turned elsewhere, ’twould be no very dif-
 ficult or dangerous task for a cool-headed

knave to make such a deposit; but be-
fore—that’s diflerent! ”

“ ’Twas done, all the same.”

“And now the next thing is—some-
thing else! Does Kirkwood know of this
warning? ”

“ I don’t think he does. He was still
under the influence of the opiate I ad-

, ministered, although its effect was wear-
ing away. If he had known 0 the note,

would he have left it there? ” t!

“ Hardly.” '

It‘yt,

 
 
 
 
  
 
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
  
  
 
 
    
    
    
    
    
     
    
    
      
     
    
    
    
    
   
   
    
      
        
   
   
     
      
      

from the bed, and the two men turned
uickly in that direction, Dr. Potter say-
g, lowly: -

heavily.”

tor?"

“ Well, that depends on more than my
say-so,” frankly admitted the man of
medicine. “ While breath lasts there’s at
least a fighting chance for recovery, and
this may be one of those modern mir-
acles: Still-J“ ,

“ You think the chances are against
him? ” V,

‘ “Decidedly, from what I have seen.
After a more thorough inspection I can
'tell better. You will lend a hand, Star-
light?”

“ Two of them, doctor.
what to do and how to do it.”

Together they cared for the wounded

' mountaineer as best they were able,

, cleansing and bandaging his ,wounds,

1. both looking grave enough when they

. came to inspect the ugly gash in the

;. bosom-where a keen blade had been
, "i driven.

So far as could be ascertained just then
no fracture of the skull obtained, a1-

- though the torn and contused scalp told

, «  of an awfully brutal blow, dealt by some

'  powerful arm and heavy weapon.

“ You haven’t given him any drug,

, have you, doctor?" Starlight asked, in

 , an aside, during a pause in their labors.

“ No. Why? " ,

“ Thought he looked and breathed that

:me; sort of stupid like."

-‘ “ From the blow‘rhe caught on his

head. I’ll feel like giving thanks if it

’ doesn’t turn worse before it grow: bet-

'ter, too." (

‘ “ Concussion, is it? ” ,

. . "We’ll know if’ it comes to that. Un-

-1 til then, we’ll hope for better results." ,I

" The ’bysician resumed his labors, and

throng it all Nelson, Crooks showed
scant evidence of torture, although he
surely was not entirely lost to conscious-

fiefli M .

- When the work was completed, and the
last. bandage neatly secured, Starlight at-
‘tem‘pted to questionrthe invalid, unable
For to hold his curiosity in check.
Careful!” warned Dr. Potter, grip-
: an arm and drawinghis aid slight-
away from the patient. ,

4:“ But, man dear,"r expostulated the

purifier, "‘ he surely can tell me what I

', 'h't‘o know? 'Twlil benefit himself

, to gs’much as anybody else, don’t you
0" ’. ~ '

  

 

 
 

          
   
    
        
       
       
        
        
     
    
   
     
        
      
      
    
   
 
    
    
     
    
    
   
 
  
   
  
  
  
  
    
    

 
  

   

 
 

   

  

  

 
 

 
 

  

. know—that he’s in no fit condition
‘ chattering, just .now, even granting
, gym-could rouse him up to afull

F—I. Saw~he’s a Strangler! "

m,,the keenest of cars \nd qui kest
commerce: “could ave. a’de
t. intelligible o t onthat.‘ nuskily "tut;
tame-with a gasp,
em menstrual was
learnt ‘ ' how

  

  

  

  
 
 
 

sentence.“ in ,

. ,
I

  
 
  

Just then a stir and a husky groan

“ Poor devil! He’s caught it hard and
“ Not past getting over it, though, docv

Just tell me

 

The Sparkler Sport.

 

“Who hurt you, Crooks?" he asked,
making each word very clear and dis-
tinct. “War it Peter Poltz? ”

“Devil—~I thought—yes, Kittie! I’ll
never——swear off! " . ‘
“Why did Pete Poltz hurt you,

sponse was given, and after a slow,
heavy sigh the wounded mountaineer
seemed to sink back into slumber; or,
was it stupor?

“ No more, just now,” whispered the
doctor, gripping an arm as the Sport
seemed about gently to shake the pros-
trate figure. “ The poor fellow’s chances
are slender enough at best. Don’t make
them even less worth counting.”

Starlight made an impatient gesture,
even as he yielded to that rm grasp.

“ If you only knew how much he might

tell, if he only would! You heard what
he said about the Stranglers? ”
’ “ I know. Still, I can’t stand by and
see one of my patients robbed of his
slight chance for life. You knOW' that,
friend? When he rallies from the shock
I’ll not mind somuch.”

“ But, what if _,he never rallies, as you
call it? ”

“ Then no blame to ourselves! ” came
the retort. “ He is a uman being, like
yburself, Starlight. H has a daughter,
too, who would grieve a’s sorely for his
loss as any other child might for an only
parent.”

“I know all that,” admitted the Sport,
still looking longingly at that pale face,
turned so haggard during the last hour
or two.

“ Then live up to your knowledge, man.
Give him all the chance t re'may be
left, and if he should not p 11 through,
one thing: you’ll have so much the less
to breed ugly thoughts in the dark, here-
after. If you couldn’t save, at least you

vide.”
The Sparkler drew a long breath, let-
ting his fingers unlock as his gaze came

meet those cool eyes. i

tell me, honest: do you think he’s caught
his last sickness? ”

“ Well, that’s re than )I [care to state,
off-hand, Starligh I can safely say this
much: If fatal, We will know it by day-
dawn. If alive and unfevered then, I'll
call his chances even at least”.

“ And if fatal? ”

“He will be sensible toward the last;
and I’ll let you know.» .

“ Too late ,to be of any use, though! ”

“Not so. Unless his case proves the
rare exception, there will 'be aperiod dur-

sibly-——much more so than you could hope
for right now.” ,
“ And you’ll be sure to let me know? ”
“Yes. Now, better go look after Mr.
Kirkwood.

for his own good. That message means
business, unless it’s a flat sell; don’t you
think?” I

The Sport nodded assent; g ving that
pale face a further wistful 1 ok before
turning .to leave the chamber.
 Nelson crooks Jooked far more like a
corpse'than one with a long lease of life
before him, lying on the broad of his
back,, breathing so faintly that his chest
could scarcely be n to stir.

With gentle force Dr. Potter crowded

the door behind him’. '

Thus dismissed, Starlight followed the
hint given him by the physician; passing
over to tho 'chamber Whichflba‘d been
hastily arranged for the reception of the
‘ injured, millionaire, and where Martin
Kirkwood, was 11 w lying, perfectly cen-
scious if some to himself again.

Emmet-the Sparkler\.w:lth a flood of
eager“ question's, risingzmp in- bed and

making as lineage ’hé
 t ' hen/v:

 
    
 
   

 

Crooks?” persisted Starlight; but no re- '

didn’t help him across the Great Di-‘

away from the wounded mountaineer to 3

“I know you are right, doctor, still— ' ‘

ing which he can talk clearly and sen- v

He’s doubtless awake, ere'
this, and may be growing too impatient-

the Sport across the threshold and closed

woma- fairly‘ leave
1  I t

other condition would be open his mouth
to talk or to answer questions.

“I’m not an infant, sir!” protested
Kirkwood, pettishly.

“ Of course not, but you’re far from be-
ing a well 11, Mr. Kirkwood, and if
you‘re to be of any service in this ugly
matter—” '

“It’s that which forces me up, can’t
you see? Those devils—my little girl is
——~oh, why can’t I be a man again!”

“You can best prove your manhood
by patient waiting just now, sir,” grave-
ly urged the Sparkler, though his own
eyes glowed and gleamed with fiercest
impatience the while. “ If everything
is as it now seems—”

“ My little girl! If you could only
know—”

“It's for your daughter’s sake, Mr.
Kirkwood, that I am counseling pa-
tience,” cut in the Sport. “ Any hasty
action now might make matters far
gorseofor Miss Kirkwood; can’t you see

, s r. ” "

“ Those cursed Stranglers! ” 

“ Amen! ”

“ Oh, just to think—can’t anything at
all be done, then? ” groaned the injured
millionaire, great drops of cold sweat
showing upon his temples as white, long—

fingered hands clenched in almost impo-

tent fury.

During this interval Sparkler Steve
had been busily thinking, and now he
produced that written message, briefly
detailing ho‘w it had been found where
so adroitly delivered. '

Those hands trembled so violently that
Kirkwood found it no easy matter to de-
cipher, those crisp sentences; but when
be fairly took in its full purport, impre-
cations crossed his quivering lips, direct-
ed toward the graceless knave whose sig-
nature so brazenly stared him in the face
from that bit of paper.

Starlight waited until the outburst end-
ed, then gravely spoke again, at the same
time securing the note and stowing it
I away in his bosom for future reference
l in case of need.

" This Jack Ketch, as he calls himself,
is head and front of an evil gang which
has cursed this region for more than a

: year past. He never; balks at murder if
that seems the shortest route to success,
and so I am advising caution just now,

I you understand?” a,

l, "Then you really think he means—

1 what do you think, sir?"

“ In a moment, please. If only,your
son was involved, that would he‘different.
He’s a an, and able to plays. man’s
part ln,~a rush and bustle; but Your
daughter—that's different! ‘ 

“ I, for one, knowing what this devil-
ish gang of Stranglers have already been
' guilty of, where far lees wealth was‘at

 

istake, fear to risk too sudden action. ,

’ purely on her account.” . v

“ But we can’t leave the poor child in
the clutches of such demons? ”

“ No? longer than we just have to. of
course," reassured the Sport. “ Past all
doubting, it’s a throwfor big money, in
the way of extorting’ ransom from your
pocket." ~ '

“ I’d gladly pay any sum in reason, if

hold good faith in any such bargain."

why I say, wait! ”

t-o bink of Waiting!" ' I ,
Better that than bring worse upon

your daughter, though, Mr. Kirkwood.

to Miss Kirkwood.
: and then——”.

“ ~ive Jack Ketch a dose ofrhis‘o
fou1,~qulcine! ” fier‘cely asseverat

. I} A

MS ., , . J a
j "~" Kin film.  you-‘mnl":
 ,‘EI-Iangs,  higher ”'

 

I could only be sure the, demons would .r
“ Of course. And that's another ten n ,  I

“ It’s worse than deith by torture even .

We’ll surely hear something more from; ’
the gang. After ’that. we will know-bet-i 
ter how to act. Qur first duty, is owing,“ ,
We’ll save herrfirpt.

. u  ' ‘\' fly." >'

Spailtler, lifting ‘ a clenched \ nan  ‘ 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Sparkler Sport.

  

9

 

 

CHAPTER VIII.
BARNEY O’SHEA PLAYS DETECTIVE.

The Yankified Irish cook had cut a
very slight figure imthe case since reach-
ing Salvation City, although there were
enough of the citizens on the loose whose
curiosity was warm enough to open their
pockets to pay for sundry drinks in hopes
of being rewarded by hearing still more
facts concerning this latest sensation.

Thanks to this, then, Barney put in a
very comfortable afternoon in spite of
his cracked crown and rope-chafed neck.

Although he really had little of im-
portance to tell, thanks to his sudden
overthrow by the Stranglers, O’Shea made
the utmost of that little, nor hesitated
long over tacking sundry fictions to the
facts, rather than give back poor pay
for good liquor.

Not that Barney really grew intoxicat-
ed. He had a marvelous capacity for
hiding “ wet goods ” without “ makin' a
baaste av mesilf” which many an old
soak might have envied. But as the day

fwaned and evening came upon its heels,
\Barney certainly was “ feeling mighty
good ” for an invalid who had been hang-
iing over the grave so recently.

And, almost as a matter of course,
_Barney was among the eager crowd
which hurried to the spot where poor
.Kittie’s father was discovered by Peter
'Peltz in such sad case.

i In place of being dulled or stupefled,
. Barney’s wits seemed quickened and
- brighter than ever, Just then; and when
the heard Crooks mumble something
about Stranglers, and almost charge
‘Peltz with being a member of that vil-
. lainous gang, the keen instinct of a nat-
~ ural born detective appeared to animate
_the cook, and from that moment grim-
browed Peter was a marked man.

After Crooks was lifted upon the door
and carried away to the room hired by
‘the Sparkler, curiosity naturally ran
-high among the citizens, many of them
wondering whether or no this mightn’t
be in fact another daring outrage on the
- part of the Strangler Gang.

Peter Peltz laughed the idea to scorn,
so far as himself was concerned, calling
~ on his comrades to bear him out in his
‘Btory.
it That they did without the slightest
fhesitation, and though both men were
:something the worse for red liquor,
-neither was too “fuddled " to speak the
Ltruth as they knew it.

 Barney O’Shea came to the front, just
.ithen, grinning affably in that frowning
\face as be scanned each lineament, then
i‘giving head a toss and hand a wave of
scorn as he addressed the crowd in gen-
cra :
. “Faith, sors, it’s. intoirely out av the
:q‘uistion, an’ Barney O’Shea’s the bye as
' tills ye that same, begorra! Wan o' thim
sthrangier divils, is it? Augh-yaugh!
G’wan, now! Am Oi wan o’ thim same?
iAv he is, thin Oi am wan o' the bloody
Idivils who b’ate in the bid av me loike—
.augh-yaugh! G’wan, now, wid ye! "
I. Peter Peltz let his hard-set Jaws slack-

\

on pressure, forcing a sneer as he tipped '

-head to one side and curved an open
hand to the right.

" There you have it, gents.

 

An’ this gintlemon—niver a bit av it, an'
it’s Barney O’Shea can make his Boible
davy to that same, faith! " .

Much more the Irishman had to say,
tongue wagging as though oiled for the
occasion;.and while his assertion that he
had taken particular note of every shape,
had coolly scanned every face among the
raiding outfit, was naturally accepted
with a big grain of salt, his positive
assurance that Peter Peltz was guiltless
of acting in with the Stranglers had a
favorable effect on the crowd, so far as
the black—browed mountaineer was con-
cerned.

Naturally, too, Peltz felt kindly toward
the volunteer friend who showed so
much earnestness in his welfare; and be-
fore another hour had rolled along the
corridor of time, a stranger gazing upon
that particular couple would have marked
hem down as lifelong friends.

Peter Peltz had money, and was .not
backward about spending it. He seemed
fond of an occasional glass, and Barney
still had room in his system for a trifle
further irrigation.

The newly-formed chums passed from

'place to place, dropping in at different

saloons, putting a shingle or two on each
house in passing.

A critical observer might have formed
the idea that Peter was trying to make
Barney “good and drunk,” either fur the
purpose of more easily “ shaking" the
fellow, or else—could it be that he was
trying to “ pump ” the Emerald-islander?

That shot strikes closer to the bull's-
eye of truth, and while Peter was play-
ing his part right well, so was Barney
making the most of his opportunity,
sticking close to his detective notion.

As a matter of course, then, neither
schemer won much information or had a
great deal of satisfaction out of their
labors. ,

Still, so cunningly and cautiously did
each one work that neither suspected a
double game. If Peter Peltz Lad even
the shadow of a doubt as to the perfect
faith of the cook, that was banished later
on in the night, when Barney O'Shea
ound another opportunity of standing up
for his noble friend.

At one of the “ all-night houses " into
which the cronies dropped during their
devious perambulations, a husky miner
bluntly declared that he would far rather
take the bare word of Nelson Crooks
than the Bible-oath of Peter Peltz, so far
as the Strangler hint went.

Peltz showed teeth at this, but before
he could fairly take action, Barney
leaped high in air, rattling his heels to~
gether and flirting coat-tails with nerv-
ous hand, alighting squarely between the
men.

“ Whirr-roo! ” he cried, fiercely, as the
miner involuntarily recoiled. “Me fri’nd
is mesiif, so, an’ black is the whoite av

: me two oyes av Barney O’Shea iver swal-

l

lys an insoolt loike that, faith! Whirrr-
roo! Oi am me fri’nd, an' me fri'nd is
mesiif, an’ the couple av us kin bate ahl
bloody the fool' hid av anny dirthy gos-
soon who don’t know anny bitter nor to
—whirrr-roo! ”

The miner recoiled, as stated, but that

i was through surprise rather than fear,

And I i and now his hand dropped toward a

zaever paid a red cent for the davy, either. ‘ weapon, only to stop short as Peter Peltz

3Nels Crooks meant well enough, no
;doubt, but he was clean off his base this
.time. Why would I hurt him. so? "

. “ As a common grudge betwixt mahn
an’ mahn Oi’ve niver a worrud to saY.”
‘ gravely rejoined the Irishman, hat on the

 

cried out, harshly:

“ Steady, you! I've got you lined, Mat-
son, and I’ll blow you through in a holy
second unless—”

“ One at a time, and you’ll last longer,”
growled the miner. “ I'll tend to you,

.xback of his bandaged head, feet widely ; Pete, after I've doped this wild Irish-
planted, one hand flirting his swallow- 3 man, who is—”

'ftails while its mate gesticulated with
’ more or less grace.

“Whirrr-roo!” fairly howled Barney
again, cracking heels. and flirting tails

“ Take it the way 0' that same, gintle- once more, seemingly beside himself with
min, an' it's not foor me to say that this 2 battle fury. “Who’s an Oirishmon, 181th?
gintlemon w'u'dn't hate the divil out av i Is it me, ye dirthy scut av the gutther?
the other gintlemon: but that this gintle- Me? An' me wan o’ the bluest av ahl the
men is wan o’ the sthranglln' divils— i blue-bellied Yankees who hem over the

g‘wan wid ye, faith!

salt wather wid Moses in the boolrushes.

"Wasn't it Barney O’Shea who was i bedad! Augh-yaugh! Av 0i had the imp-

there, begobs?

Wasn’t it me me own ‘ ty hid av the loikes av yees, sor, Oi'd go

. silt, that saane wan an' ah av thim, sure? rint it out fear a drum to bate—loike

 

Oi’ll hate that same impty goord—so Oi
will, thin!"

And Barney seemed bent on putting his
latest threat into actual execution then
and there; but, amid the burst of laugh»
ter to which his whimsical denial gave
birth, friends interfered and speedily
patched up a peace, which was duly rativ
fled across the bar.

Not long after this incident, and find-
ing that nothing was to be extracted
from the Irishman, who by this time
plainly betrayed the result of his heavy
potations, Peltz took his chance to
“shake” Barney, then heading away
from town at a rapid pace, which showed
naught of intoxication on his part.

Little did the burly mountaineer dream
that this move was exactly what O‘Shea
had planned for his taking, and Barney
played his role to perfection.

After drinking with Tom Matson and
all hands swearing eternal peace and
amity, the new chums left that saloon,
and, as they came into the cool, fresh
air, Barney began to act and talk very
drunkenly.

From fierce to maudlin, from war to
love seemed but a single step; and ere
long the cook was trying to embrace
the mountaineer, huskily vowing that he
must—

“ Hoog an’ kiss yees foor yer sisther,
be gobs! "

Then when Peter repulsed him, Barney
dropped down in a limp heap, sobbing
and moaning as though his heart would
break.

For some little time Peltz watched
over Barney, and at last slyly searched
his pockets, finding precious little to
reward his efforts, however.

Then he arose erect, kicking that limp
mass contemptuoust as he muttered:

” Play me for a sucker, would ye, fool?
Try to pump me? Bah! I’d slit your
wizzen or let an eyelet through your dog’s
carcass if I thought it’d be worth the
bother! As it is—good-night, pardner! "

With a sneering chuckle Peltz turned
away, soon leaving the town behind him,
heading as directly as might be for his

lonely shanty far away in the hills, over '

yonder.

So confident was he that Barney had
succumbed to drink, that he hardly cast
a look rearward, and not one of those
infrequent glances had aught to do with
the Irishman.

Yet scarcely had Peter turned back ere
Barney lifted head, waiting and watching
until he felt it would be fairly safe to
take up the trail.

“ Play yees foor a sucker, is it, thin. ”
chucklingly mocked the amateur detective
as he cautiously shadowed the Strang-
ler. “Faith, thin, av Oi don’t do that
same, me jewel, ’twil he foor lack av
toime an’ opporthunity.

“ Play yees foor a sucker, is it? Ah~
ha! A sucker is moighty poor atin’ av
a body isn’t in sore nade foor toothpicks;
but, ahi the same, a sucker ye bees, an'
me hook is fasht in the gills av ye, too! "

 

CHAPTER IX.
ms: DOOM or ran SLEEPER.

Wholly unsuspicious of that truth,
Peter Peltz pursued his way through the
night, taking the most direct route prac-
ticable for his lonely shack up among the
foothills, now striding on in moody si-
lence, then breaking into chuckle or even
laugh, gesticulating wildly as he thought
over past events.

" Would ye, ye white-livered whelp?
Play double on your betters, is it? Sell
out those who are worth ten millions the
likes o’ Nels Crooks? Lick the hand
that feeds ye, then sneak off to bargain
with the butcher for the lot? Ah-ha!
'twas devil's trickery, and nowl you‘ve
caught the devil’s own medicine to m
for it, my beauty! ' '

Chuckling, like one overflowing with
mirth, the shaggy mountaineer slackenell

 

  

  
    
    
    
  
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
    
   
  
    
  
  

    
    
  
 
 
 

 

Q

other black noightpbegorra!

" ter fhrdug‘li'traillng this rascai‘ down.

'10

......_...- ,

 

 

pace as he came upon a level moonlit
space amidst those rugged strroundings.
' He looked cautiously around On all
sides, bending head to hear the better,
but all ‘that came through instinctive
caution rather than a fear of human
hound upon his hot scent.

Barney O’Shea creptnigh enough to

note this, and to see what followed; not i scratching his head in doubt as he took

so much when put into words. yet amp-
ly sufficient to confirm his belief that to
this wild-eyed knave poor Nelson Crooks
in renii‘ty owed his recent misadventure.

Laughing anew, this grim actor walked
slowly across that illuminated stretch,’
head erect and eyes gazing with mock
reverence at the moon, now sinking low
as the night drew on.

Cwiitly changing identity, he gripped
revolver in one hand and knife in the
0.111“), crouching low and stealing along
with catolike silence, to finally leap for
ward with savage ferocity, striking har
as he came. ‘

Dropping to knees as though upon a
senseless enemy, Peter Peltz shifted
Weapons to drive that long blade deep
into the dry soil, laughing viciously as
he then drew back, rising erect to speak
once more: '

“ Swift payment for dirty doings, my
pretty neighbor! Bear false witness
against your bosom-comrades, eh? Swear

< that the Stranglers—pity ’twas not rope

instead of steel, after all! "

Barney O’Shea shivered a bit as he
looked and listened. one hand mechan-
eically‘fumbling at' the rusty old revolver
which- he had secreted upon his person
before adopting the detective profession.

This bit of grim pantomime drove away
such slight doubts as may have lingered
in his mind, for now he felt fully con-
vinced that to this villain poor Crooks
owed'his hurts.

" The rope is it, faith! Sure, thin, an’

it’s'mesilf ‘w'u’d b'e willin’ to take a
BoibleLdavy yere the dirthy spalpee’n was
wid‘ thim same aavil Still-anglers the bit~
An' av 0i
'don't—ehowld ahn, ye divil! Y'ait ’till
01m a~coomin’,‘ will yees, thin?”
' But, Peter Peltz neither saw nor heard, :
turning awayfrom that improvised stage,
wheréon the downfall of Nelson Crooks
was pictured with rude detail, once- more
moved briskly away toward his moons
taln shack.

' Barney O’Sbea quickly took up the
mo, but never before had he so fully

"realized. the peril‘ attending an expedi- I

tion of this sort. '

That "brief-lived pantomime. allowed“ .
uhim‘onl

too clearlywhat might be ex-
pected ran: this radian in case .a false
,‘st'ep’ or toohasty action‘should warn him
{of unfriendly pursuit. '

And so it came to pass that Barney fell
‘a ,bit further to the rear as tho’night
waned an’d that Journey -'lengthehed,,ol-
though he'still clung to a hope of‘solving.
pt “least a portion of the Strangler mys—-

Not so very long after playing that lit-,
'tle farce, Peter Pelt: drew nigh the
brawling mountainriVer which cut across.
his path, st; kingit ,at a known ford,

' althodgh the 6‘ 'Was scarcely the semb—

lanceu‘h'f a road; other than‘rthe slope,
. which led down to the water’s edge on

«either side .91 the stream-‘ . _.
'. ., There was no bridge, but {none was
seeded A??? do these

.0 steered
.969. shite star scratches

largo}, ‘7
i . r head? here and there. al-

showed

 fetches fair loot-hold for such 3,8 saved

to , cross , over.

 .raer. Ritz eluted estrous. rimming.

show when».an the ca .m of, the 

 

W191! )1 Mt'by the new W985 20',
“got otter as itcdove affrlgjited‘fyjin“

  

V .  3t: ._.’ ~
 ,   f8?"th wi-
v ,_ » ', a t;

_ artiste secretary to waistbanliia 

was in slang}:

i

 

 

The Sparkler Sport.

 

A memory which was to return to him
cre so many hours; a memory which
others might have cause for registering,
too! 1

That pause was but brief, and, moving
on, Peter-Peltz was out of sight before
Barney O’Shea came to the river-side.

There the amateur detective hesitated,

note'of the crossing, so clearly open to
view from the other side!

"‘ Augh-ya'ugh! Hev yees gone ahn, ye ‘
bloody divil, or air yees jist holdin’ over
thayer wid a goon in the two fisths av
yees, waitin’ foor Barney O’Shea to pit
his blissed noggin to the fore? Augh~
yaugh! Bitther bad luck to the lave 0’
ye, annyhow! "

While Barney was debating with him-
self the wisdom of risking a. shot from
ambush, his human quarry was striding
swiftly along, growing more eager the
closer he drew to his lonely habitation. 1

Not that he had the slightest idea of!
what was actually awaiting his coming,
but home was home, and after all he
had been doing of late, the Strangler
felt the need of a rest and quiet sleep.

Half an hour later he came in sight of
his cabin, at comparatiVely close quar-
ters, for its location had been made with
an eye to seclusion.

He gave a start and low cry, for the
glow of light showed plainly through
the one small window, and that told
him ‘the shack must have had at least
one visitor since his departure.

After wasting a few minutes in scout-
ing about to make sure no cunning- trap
was laid for his undoing, Peltz crept
silently up to that window, looking
through the none, too clean glass to see-—

A stalwart, handsome fellow, squatting
on‘a stool before a glowing fireplace, el-
bows on knees and head nodding‘sleepily
the while. ' ’ ' ‘

The ‘Strangler's‘lips shaped themselves
as"though‘ to give a.prolonged whistle,
'but‘no sound issued. Peter instantly rec-
ognized that sleeper; and,~ recognizing
him, the grin of "a veritable fiend curled
those heavily bearded lips. ’ ' " '

satisfying himself'that'he had but one
man to deal with, Peltz tried the door,
and finding it untestened, swung the bar-
rier wide :enough‘to' admit of his bulky
peison. ‘ ' H ' - ‘

Asithe door was pushed to behind him,
it gave a sharp squeak, which startled
the sleeper to his feet, right hand hastily
jerking forth a revolver, while its mate
brushed swiftly across those sleep-heavy

eyes.‘
" Flag 0’ truce, pardner,” called out
the mountaineer, open“ hand to' the trout.
."Ef a teller caln‘t co. 9 into his ‘own
shack fihought gittin' ,dr lied with plum-
bago, why's the wharfore—em“ ‘ *

' ‘j‘Eh? Oh! “I \dldn’twbegyour pardon;
air. I'm sure." hastily emulsified thé’.ln-‘
trader, who iwa‘s‘honedothc’r than Ralph
In‘nes, cousin to the abducted pair,"‘and

die, as well.

"Don't mention it, strangcrlfgogdlal‘
ly cutln the cabin-owner. 1.118 face broad-t
as ,t at menacins‘weap-
bin nabbed tram" é: thinnest a; swiftly
as “has nut infra. area now f‘ Room
ler snoozl‘n‘ cameo” Millie cheap (to in
these yer di in’s.,an.‘"at'§e want .to:'-‘—"
 was I as c i ‘2- 13min. cont wonder,

gpsdmdch in need or fit ‘as
candid! admitted the
3";11511— Owed laugh in

for I never“ ‘fel

I .do rightnow."
10111.18 man. with
tum

“Thor's the bunk, stranger, an'nyen-j
,der’s plenty o’ extry lover to keep-the.
"grimly emu off. Jest bunk in gm" never

“ehemo’heeea'dreritr’ 76's!”  ' ,
gamut 59,, ‘ed‘ hospitality itself.
i’then, and ‘ jRal ‘ ’ ‘lpnesf‘iige‘v‘or ' ulna;
‘fiifitflffiwfijfilc. 35 ‘ ’01 "’dafisér 1030f -‘
his “tr ' ” 2* MU ‘nik .e'w »

   

  

  

 

 

' skin to almost'immediatel“ fall fast

fcéund a length of rope which beémtd ex-
C18 ., ., , . , 
earl-finch that face turned crisp more dia~ _‘ I

f digglytslipufngdue sneer jibe  ‘

stranger, but when thar’s so mighty ‘ 
much talk about—you hed some intrust -
into the matter, I b’lieve? ”

“ The Kirkwood affair, you mean?"

“ An’ the Stranglers—jest so," with a
confirmatory nod as he‘ squatted before
the glowing coals in. the fireplace. “ Seed 1 I
you over to town. Sort o’ kin to them
folks, I’ve hear’n say. Nasty scrape,
shore! " ‘

“ Which will be fltly avenged if mortal
man can bring that to pass, too! " vehe-
mently declared the private secretary,
face flushed and eyes glowing. “ I hoped
to run ’em down, myself, but somehow
I missed their trail ’way off yonder in
the hills, and then—well, I trumped until
I thought I must drop, when I happened
to glimpse this house.” ‘

“ Whar you’re plum welcome, stranger.
An’ now~augh~gh-h! ” with a prolonged

 

I yawn and great stretching of arms and‘

legs. “Hardly wuth while for to bunk
in, a’ter all, is it? An’ yit-blame my >
cats cf 1 don’t feel as of forty winks
w’u’d be wuth—eh?”

Ralph Innes laughed briefly, yawning
himself through contagion.

“ I feel as though a dollar apiece for
those forty winks would be a. mighty
cheap price, to tell the honest truth,
stranger."

Peter Peltz again motioned toward his ’
rude hunk, but‘again 'Ralph-i declined,
having already given that place of rest
a reluctant examination, which proved it
only too well inhabited already.

“I wouldn’t rob you, sir," he hastily
protested. “If I might have a robe 'or
so, Just to lop down here in front of the .
tire—" -

Peltz quickly supplied those modest
wants, and with a sigh of sleepy satisfac-
tion, Innes “ lapped down-"undera bear-

 

 

     
     
    
       
 
  

asleep.

’On his part, Peltz made a show of
“ banking in," but his eyes were never

more free from slumber than when he

lay covertly watching-the victim beside

his-fireplace. ' ' v ‘

'Nfever‘ another stir or movement until
the deep,"regi.‘llar breathing"from that
quarter told of genuine slumber; .then the
strangle: snappy raised himself toe sit-
‘ting’pos'ture, elbows on knees and chin
supported by joined palms, staring lurid-V
l'y’at' yonder sleeper whose lawful doom _
was surelyif slowly being shaped in his .
evil brain; Jpst'th‘en. ' I ‘ ‘ ‘“ , - ._

331$ 1,137" Mt that strong 199° “Piped '
undermi- N0 longer’hu an. but that  ,
02 one possessed or the down . " 1 "  ' l .  '
' Rising to’ his feet, thaStrangler ti - g ' .,
teed over to where, in one corner, a

      
         
       
     
   
    
       
     
   
       
 
   
         
      
    
 
  

fitted to his purp‘c'gse.',and‘fét touch

 
 

helical 1:: ‘eXDresamn! "
L Foot by foot,flalmost»inoh .by inch, the
Strangler crept closeryto his intended vic- ‘ ; 
tim, lips moving its in speech, but 

with no sounds passing through. eyes .
ablaze with a light ‘yhich was scarcely

human. hands unwise fingers curving;
like'talons 'of a‘ b d of prey. A‘  ' 
,, Ralph ,Innes lay quiet) sleeping, "that; 4
glow ,of dfilxs...¢mb§rs t rowipg'a tair'g
light acro‘ssiuis handsome tac‘eql‘l‘eyeii a. . ._ ‘
dream“ ’0? his” impending doom usable! .  

the “sleeper. '

With’gxiarvelqus skill the Strangler f'ell f
to wet-k2 ’crbiiching over-alsi‘uucppscionsx. _ .
ficti’gh, «in readiness to back  
w!“ *bmte’ fares in case _of‘;n,e* gauntlet, VT
 elongate heaps with which-ho *

. i’int'én "éjd‘io stranglethalltof'pptvot 
this‘dh’omed sleeper; "f‘  e   ,  1   ‘
lib-marvelous skill Btggnglgr 2 ~

 i ' this Do ' gently  the sleep-3‘
5£¥r§$ichuifgi§hehbfid deflect»
rage

      
     
 
       
      
         
   
    
       
      
      
       
      
   
  
  
 
 

    
    
  
  
  
  

 
 

     
   
   

  
  

tonne

ha  311%; .
' p 
so“

' ~gifts!" and 'fu'i‘t‘herfun
‘a-sure garmth, 'det'
planners: " ,’ ed '

v ,, 5‘ n ..

      
       

 

 

 .  none too light where thqjads were work-
.  lian whatlf!

  

 
  
    

 

 

CHAPTER X.

JACK KETCH AND HIS PARTNER.

That same night witnessed other
events which call tor mote or less ex-
tended nOLice LUI' a perfect comprehen-
sion of the plot of the Strang‘er Band.

After the temporary (AlVlb'lOll of the
lawless outfit, mainly in order to break
their "trail in case of pursuit being made
before a warning note could check any
such risky effort, the two captives were
hurried on through the night, only rest-
ing when the chief of the raiders felt
they were in reasonably safe quarters,
even if not ‘as yet at the regular ren-
dezvous of the Silver Slope Stranglers.

The day following that raid pa5sed
without event requiring particular notice,
but with the descent of another night,
Jack Ketch appeared to be in anything
save an angelic temper.

Nor was that moodin any wise amend—
ed by the coming of a certain comrade
in crime, fresh from Salvation City (as
he vowed) with a budget of the latest
news.

Later on that same evening, then, Jack
Ketch was drawn a little apart from his
fellows and the two human prizes, faced
by a fellow spirit there in the dim light
of stars and moon, both obscured by the
foliage above the heads of the plotters.

“An infernal botch, just when I felt
assured all was bound to work smoothly
from start to finish!" Jack Ketch was
saying, with savage emphasis.

“ With so much at stake, you had no
right to take anything for granted,"
quite as surlily declared his present
companion. “ I gave you every possible
chance! I smoothed the way until I
couldhave sworn none save fools or
traitors could possibly have failed! ”

“Careful, curse you!” viciously
snarled Jack Ketch, hand on hilt of knife
as he gave warning. “I'm not in the
swcetest of tempers right now, and I’d
just as econ" slit up your ribsas—”

1 “Don’t make a bad matter worse,
aac ,”‘ interrupted his ally, speaking
more placdbly as a matter of self-inter-
est. " Of course I know you didn’t play
false, but still—-—"

" Show me who did, and I’ll kill him or
them by inChes! "

“If I had that same knowledge, my
friend, you'd never have the chance to
punish the recreants," dryly averred his
comrade. “But that some one or more
of the outfit was playing false, is past
all doubting." ’

‘“ Unless—how was it the old man e8-
caped' strangling, did you say?" ‘

““A stick‘was inside'the'noose, hold-

ing the rope: far encugh from‘h'is neck
to leave breathing space." ’ ~ ‘ ’
" Queefi—in‘fem'ally queer! But—could

.it have happened '30? " .

“ By accident, do you mean? "

II Yes.’l I

“ Only an idiot could think it that wax
and I'm still with my head level on
top.” _ . .

7 ““It hardly looks reasonable, for a
fact." ' ’

"‘ It doesn’t begin to be reasonable,
and so 'I say: Some one or" more of your ‘
ontilt' played roots on us both! And
nowwwho h'ad hold of that part of the
 u ’ r I

_ “Peltz. I’d as soon distrust myself
as tosuspect him. Not that he‘s an an-
gel,” with a short, hard chuckle. “ In

anithing save roping oil! a lame duck, I
wouldn't trust Peter-Junker than a crip-

, pie in both arms could fling a prize-ox
by the tail: but-in stranglin‘g‘-—he'd choke
his. wn mother Just for love of seeing

. her ick and turn black in the face! ”

."Who helped him, then-1"" f
"‘-That.1.'m not sopositive about. fTwas

ins; and rum my arr'ns full of—yqu

1, .S‘. The flrl. ,9! course! I? I .
 9119s.: but.you’ve no cause for grow"
  IMMQHB. paatdncr. I! ruggedness
v .mzmiwesu new” ‘ “

f7 3  

     

 

 

vwork to perfection, over yonder?

. turned'_-the trick-forevided it .wasn‘t‘an.

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.1 I t if  ‘xfl
u. ; a  -

rd;

 

  
  

...»-o w- _o—--a-—-——" ~‘-——.-s

“ Yes. The old man is getting well,
they say. And swears to make a holy
spectacle of every one of our blessed
family. Ha! ha! ha! ”

“It’s catching before hanging, luck-
ily,” grimly commented the other knave,
but without joining in that boisterous
laugh.

“ The seed of the tree which is to hold
me by the neck has never matured, old
fellow.”

“Hope not; but life is mighty uncer-
tain out here in this wooden country,
and I’ll not be sorry when I can get
back to civilization once more.”

“Bah! What’s good enough for me,
ought to be good enough for the next
man. And you, old fellow, oughtn’t to
scorn the place where you're making
more good money in a week than you
could pile up in the East in a lifetime! ”

“The game isn’t won yet, remember.”

“Just as good as, though.”

“ Unless the rascals who let Kirkwood
slip should take a notion to sell us
both out! "

“ They’ll never do that.”

“So you say, but how long since you
were just as confident that all would
And
now——Martin Kirkwood all alive and red-
hot for Vengeance! ”

“Was, you mean,” coolly retorted Jack
Ketch. “ I‘m open to lay odds that the
old gent will be cool as a clam before
you lay peepers on him again, ande”

“You mean to lay him out, all the
same?"

“Well, that’s for after consideration,”
diplomatically answered the Chief of the
Stranglers. “Of course, our bargain
holds good, even if the old fellow did
'slip through the noose, but—”

“ No names, man! ’* swiftly warned the
other, hand flying forth to cross those
lips in the darkness. “ So far I’ve kept
my secret, and I want it guarded even

more carefully from now on. You un-
derstand? " ,7 ' ’
“ That’s all right, my friend. I never

meant to call names, so don’t you worry.
Of course, the old bargain stands? ”

“ Why shouldn’t it? ” '

“ For no good reason that I can see.
Let that flea stick by the wall, then.
And now, what else? "

“That infernal Starlight! He’s taken
up this case, and if he sticks to it in the
same humor he’s opened with, it’ll make
a merry old dance all around."

“He's a nasty customer, or all looks
lie,” thoughtfully admitted the head
Strangler; “ I’d‘ rather almost any other
man in the West would chip in on the
other side." ‘

"'A blue pill will lay him out just as
quickly as any ordinary slouch, though,
if rightly planted.” "

" Of course.‘ I’m not taking water. I‘d

croak a round dozen of the same cali-
bre fer the pay I’m cmmting on getting
out of this little jubilee. Only—” .
‘ “ That’s just it: only-you can’t affor
to, take any long chances with a chief
like the Sparkler. Wait for a fair chance
to down him, then make your dose
mighty certain and swift to act!”

"All right. I’ll hold my end 'of the
traces level, never you worry. See that
you keep‘on playing your part as well,
old man." , . ‘

“.Oh, I'll do that for my own sake."
with a low chuckle.

“ See that-you do. Go back to Sal-
vation, and pick up the thread right
where. you dropped it ,before this little
boggle :came into our skoln’. I reckon
that can be straightened, though.”

“‘ It must bei."

“All right, and must he goes. Work,
under cover as much as possible. but-
spare no pains to find out just how the
old man escaped .the noose, and who

“‘3  Wt .01 comes" - . , _
. Such accidents are mighty “gating

man! ” ‘ _ , ‘ w. . ' ’ ‘  _ _  in rail? '
stillulm’t Jim" 3P“?  "‘3 ‘ii’é‘itwe was the i 
“$53M” ‘ . 2 5,110 m

- .__.. ._.-._4;.

l which Jack Ketch evidently deemed aii- 

  

11

“More so than I am of your own,”
name the answer, blunt as it was ready.
“ One of those helping him out with the
rope must have played us dirt. if any
one.”

“ Learn from Peltz just who were help-
ing him, then, and the rest ought to be
easy enough.”

“I will. Now, one word more."

“ Say it.”

“Hold yourself to come or to go at mY‘ .
first call. I’ll manage without you as
long as I can, and the summons may
never reach you. Still, if it should come, »
I‘ll need you mighty bad, and in a heap
hurry, too!”

“ All right. l’ll remember. And if I.
should find out who played the little
joker in this deal? ”

“You surely know what to do with
him? ”

“ Send him over the range? ”

“ Of course. There’s one death due on ,
this score, and if we can’t do any bet-
ter, we’ll pay through Peter in place of
by Paul! ”

“ So mole it be! And now, pardner,’
just what move comes next on our little-
checker-board? "

“ Vt’ait. Time enough for arranging all . ,
that. I’ll make my good will known un‘to 
all concerned in fair time, be assured of
that much.”

“I might work to better advantage if
you posted me in advance, though,” came
the half-impatient suggestion.

Jack Ketch made an off-hand gesture
before replying:

“ That’s all right, I tell you, pardner.
Word will strike you soon enough. Un- r.
til then, just stick to the line already ‘
marked out for your dainty feet to traw-
el. The less you stir around in this mix,
the’less risk you'll run of being smoked:
see. n

“Of course, I’m not kicking on that
score, but—”

"Don’t kick, and your toes will feel
all the more comfortable, old fellow.
Just do your duty, and leave the rest to
me. I’ve got it all on the simmer in” my
brain-pan, and 'twill tnake‘mighty‘ sure
medicine when the sign comes""rlght.
Now—so-long, par-duet!" “

‘With a Curt response the other schemo
er turned away, speedily fading out of
sight in those shadows. ‘ '

Jack Ketch looked after his any for a
brief space, then turned and moved leis-
urer across to where his captives were
in waiting. "

   
     
   
   
   
   
  
  
  
   
   
  
   
 
   
 
  
   
   
    
 

 

 

 

 
  
 
  
   
  
   

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w....

 
 
    

, CHAPTER XI.
xx ms cn‘urcn or ran: STRANGLER.
Although limited in' the same direction.
those captives Were not in“ company now,
nor had they been since the Strangler
came to a permanent halt, torv'reasons

 

-

    
    
  
 

sumcient _
Time and again Lorella Kirkwood had - 
begged to see her brother, but. as often
she met with refusal, though assured
that Allen was in good condition and
faring to; the full as well as herself. ’
Beyond this the poor girl could ,win ' ‘
nothing, and the uncertainty felt on 
account added in no small measure to
her mental torture throughout those long
and trying hours. -  "
If well. why deny them the privilege of.
companionship? » _ “ " v
Apart from this unnecessary severity, 5- ,
Lorella had little to cemolam or. speak- ._ ‘
ingme a prisoner's point of view. Food
and drink had been supplied in Wade"
ance, of more than 7, fair finalityfivghuof
harsh words ’were few. and stai- apa'rt, 
and abuse was nil. ' - , -   ..
still. the young woman showed the];
effects"ot-.,her ordeal.  was seen“
dukened rinse  sheets of‘ 
healthy hue than ordinary. '  -r— . ‘

          
  

  

       
 
          
    
     
         

 

     
   
        
          
   

  

     
 

   

  
    
   

  
    
    

    

     

 

    
 
 
  

   

   
     
 
   

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12

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The§serk19r§p0rt

 

 

 

 

 

 

ally, Jack Ketch moved more briskly,
picking his way through the shadows
to the spot where Allen Kirkwood
was kept in waiting, a word or two fetch-
_ ing a couple of lusty knaves to his as-
, sistance.

led the way over to where Lorella was
sitting in bonds, the guards escorting
 -. another prisoner close at the heels of
i their masked leader.
That prisoner was Allen Kirkwood,
pale-faced, wild—eyed, with his hair all

, rumpled and garments disordered, as

, though fresh from a desperate struggle
5’ ' against long odds. ’
' } He was free to walk, although strong

'bonds pinioned both arms behind his

back, leaving him helpless to harm his
3 enemies, or to assail them save with his
_ tongue. _

Just now the young man was proceed-
ing quietly enough, but the instant he
caught sight of his sister in bonds, Al-
len gave a low, hoarse cry, jerking away
from the hands which tried to check him,
flinging himself violently against the
Strangler‘in front, knocking Jack Ketch
aside like a man of straw, drawing oaths
and curses from each one of the sur-
prised trio. .

" Stop him! Don’t let—take him, ye
hounds!” gasped the chief, seemingly
with the breath nearly knocked out of his
lungs by that sudden impact.

But instead of trying to make his es-
cape by flight, Allen Kirkwood rushed
across to where Lorella was striving to
rise, her trembling lips pronouncing his
name betwixt fear and joy and dread lest
worse should follow this rash outbreak.

Allen stopped by the girl, facing his
enemies as they came with a rush, face
fairly livid, eyes ablaze, voice fiercely
menacing.

“Back, ye curs! I’ll die rather than--
hands off, I say! Kill me if ye like, but
my sister—back, you whelps of, Satan! ”

-“ Steady, lads!" cried Jack Ketch, just
, in‘ time to keep his men from leaping
upon the defiant captive. " He’s all right,
‘so far. He can’t get awaywithout we
~ say as much, and so—go easy you, young

man!” v

" Give me a pistol and I’ll fight the-
bunch of ye! ” pantingly cried the young
- , man, wretling furiously With his bonds.
" GiVe me a knife—a club—the use of my
naked hands, even! on, you cure! If
ever I——” *

. “ You never will at this rate, young
hot-head,” crisply interrupted the Chief
of the Stranglers, standing at ease, feet
-' 4 wide apart and gloved hands lightly on
~ . hips. “ The harder you kick the sharper
viz-Ewiil’be your punishment, remember.”
j» ‘~‘ Why wouldn’t I kick when-look
g here, you scoundrel,” by an evident ef-
"4 fort calming his tones. . “ Iv don'trgive a;

P3 curse for myself, but my sister—3’

6' .»"No, no, both or neither! ” cried Lo-
' relia, desperately.
.. “Quiet, child. And you, fellows, play
, any‘gamexyou like with me, but let her
‘ go free. Say you will and Ill-—”
2 ' “ All right, my pretty fellow. That‘s
 bout what I've brought you together
-' for, don't you know? " cut‘ in the head
.7 ,fit-“r‘a‘xigler; - I

i 13‘ You mean—what?” . I ,
 ,“ Business, with a great big B. Of
course, you can both readily [compre-
5.hen’d that we are not in this line purely
f'through love of excitement. We hold
,tli’a‘tvthe’world owesus all a living, and
 are Willing ‘to 'turn our hands ,to 'most
shiny sort of a job. And swit just hap-
 like this, to begin with:

"‘9 Pretty much. all the world has heard
. ,(rhjo‘f' less of Martin Kirkwood, the
gases, capitalist, financier, dealer- in
 Land bonds and all the rest which
 'mak-‘e'upf one of our marvelous
' '  we.  A -'

l

I.:.~if,.‘r~ a 2 ~

ass-s 

, ,_
.9,
V

   
 
 
  
 
   
 
 
  
  
 
 
  
   
  
   
   
  
  
  
  
    
   
   
    
   
   
   
  
   
 
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
    
 

 

 
 
  
    
   
    
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
  
  

 

 
  

  
  
  
  
   
 

     
  

 

 

  

 
  

 
  

After seeing the last of his nameless

And so, shortly afterward, Jack Ketch,

you a show for your own white ally, by

a bristle if an entire
 for tea a penny! ”

doubt!

it. Understand?”
"I know that you brutally murdered
our poor father, when-J

“Hold hard, pardner!” cut in Jack
Ketch, flinging up a hand as he raised
objection. “Talk straight if you chin
at all. There was no killing done, and
your old dad is now at Salvation City,
very much alive indeed.”

Lorella gave a. choking cry, yet scarce-
ly dared believe these glad tidings, while
Allen seemed even less credulous.

“ That’s all right, though,” assured
Jack Ketch, airily. “You shall see and
be satisfied for yourself, my dear
friends. That is, provided you and I
succeed in coming to amicable terms.
See the point? "

" If father is really living—d! he es-
caped your brutal hands, he will never
rest until this vile outrage is punished
as it deserves.”

“I pity the pair 0’ you if he is fool—
ish enough to make the attempt,” came
the swift retort. “But he’ll never take
such mighty long chances. For one
thing, by this time he’s had a note of
warning from my hand, and will think
many times before acting even once."

" You mean—what do you mean, you
demon?" ,
“That there’s too big a pile at stake
for me’to wasteeven a baby trump.
We counted on making a rich haul over
at your camp when we jumped the out-
fit. Never mind just how it came, but
we had a hint that you toted along a
power of cold cash."

“ A lie, whoever said it. Why should
we, when—"

“Never mind. We’ve found out as
much for ourselves,,and so have made an
important change in the peppergram;
like this:

“ First, it’s been more than two'
months since we’ve made any strike
worth mentioning, and the boys are
growling about the‘fack of small change
for their daily amusements. This show
has proved a fizzle, financially speaking.
“ We are out for the dust, of course.
And if we can’t get it by hook, then we’ll
try a crook instead. Hence, my dear
brother in bonds, we’re going to give

using you as a stalking-horse against
the old gentleman. Understand? ”

“ Put it plainer if you know how.”
“All right, and plainer goes. We’ve
figured the whole situation up, and this.
is the sum total. [It’s worth just twenty-
five thousand dollars to us, counting
blasted hopes, night work, strain on con-
science and all the other little items
which go to make up a whole.”
“Twenty—five-are you crazy, man?”
‘Well, scarcely. That pile may look
a mountain in eyes like ours, but it’s
the merest molehill for Martin Kirk-
wood’s peepers, and he’ll be overjoyed
to get his two blessed kids back at the
price. Don’t you think as much, my
dear friends? ”- . ’
“He’ll pay you in lead, not in gold.
curse you! ” /

“He'll have a double funeral on his
hands if he plays so foolish a card in our
little game,” came the easy retort. “I
give him credit for better judgment than
you seem willing to allow, Mr. Kirkwood.
And so—I proceed.

“ Twenty-five thousand in a lump sum,
or, divided, fifteen thousand for this
charming young lady, and a more modest
ten’ for yourself, dear boy. , Surely that
is moderate enough to please any rea-
sonable party? ” .

“ I’ll never consent to—I’d pay' you_in
cold steel and hot lead, you infernal vil-
lain!” -' ,

“You’re, foolish, dear boy. Just now
you are bankrupt. You couldn’t pay for
porker was selling

“If I live longrenough'a-K ;, -

. 3' arm-«dear Allen!

[our way, we naturally made the most of  tent to help yourself, much less injure

~ another and far better man? ”

I “Give me room to act and I’ll show-3'
“You are showing yourself past rea-
'son, fool!” with a fierce anger which
. formed a startling contrast with his
moderate tone and manner. “Now look
ye here, Allen Kirkwood: business is
business, and just now I’m acting as its
prophet. .

“We’ve got you and your sister. We
can dispose of you both pretty much as
we see fit. Now, why can’t you play
half—way decent, and meet. me on a com-
mon level? ”

Allen laughed, shortly, turning partly
around to more clearly show his ham-.
pered arms.

“An even footing, do you say? Give
me the chance,,then. I’m only one man
against—how many? ”

“Enough to back up my words by
deeds, never you fear.”

“ Yet you are afraid to loom: my hands! .
Oh, what wonderful—”

As though stung to the quick by sneer-
ing tone, Jack Ketch drew knife and
making a swift motion, cut cleanly
through those thongs, Allen Kirkwood
giving a short, sharp cry as he felt his
arms drop free once more.

“ If you make a silly use of the privi-
legs, so much the worse for yourself,”
grimly warned the Chief of the Strang-
lers, putting up his blade and speaking
on in clear, crisp tones:

‘ That common level lays pretty much

tin Kirkwood has the cash to pay for
them. I’ve named our upset price, an
now it’s your turn‘ to come out flat-
footed. J r'
“Will you help $0 a fair understand-
ing, or must we make use of still more“
harsh methods? ” ‘ .
“I’ll never consent to treat with such
infernal villains as you have proved
yourselves—never! ” '
“ The more fool you for feeling that
way,” sternly retorted the man in mask.
“ We might come to an amicable under- ,.
standing without wasting either time or '
temper, but since you can’t see it in that
light, we'll have to do the other thing.”
“What do you mean by that? " r
A brief pause, during which those h’idv
den eyes seemed viewing face of sister
as well as that of her brother; then
Jack Ketch spoke again, in the same
tones:
“Well, I reckon what I’ve got to say
in such a case would sound just a bit
better in male ears than those of a del-
icategirl, don’t you know? So——-come.'
young man: we’ll take a bit of a wal .”
Allen Kirkwood recoiled a trifle, then
as swiftly rallied, clenched hand uplift“
ing and voice sounding fiercely menacing,
as he burst into another flood of curses
and threats, all leveled at the head of
his arch-enemy. i
For a brief space Jack Ketch stood ir-
resolute, then stepped forward to smite

-those lips sharply with his gloved hand.

leaping back lthe next instant with rev
volver flashing into view and flying to 8.

And then he cried out, harshly:
“ Steady, you young fool!
other-bad break and off comes thereof
of your house in a holy hurry!” g t
. , g
i .,

 

CHAPTER. XII.
PLAIN LANGUAGE FROM JACK Km.

Allen Kirkwood recalled from that
stroke, but then half-crouched as though

'to fling himself savagely at {the throat of

his masked enemy, all needless of his .
own peril through so acting.

But Lorelle. cried. out in swift affrigiu,
striving all she knew to rise and fling
herself as a living shield upon the bosom ,

of her toos‘rash brother.

 

 

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knows

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sum

like this. We’Ve got the goods, and Mar- - ‘

level with the heart Of'the Young man": ' '

Make an- ,1 . ,

 

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Don’t—~oh', sir,  "

       

 

 

 

    
      
  

   
    
    
   
   
   
          
    

 

 

  
  
 

  
   
    
 
 

 

..  than.
.V 1,; "V'J‘WQ‘". I’m here.
r ":(hsqshort as you knew how,” surlily mut-
 _1:ered the captive. scoWlins from beneath
, « amt“ brows. ‘at the armed men. who
 wretched and listened so closely.  .,

inclination for the encounter, possibly
because he felt doubly armed in his for-
ty-five and the handy proximity of his
sturdy fellows, more than. one of whom
lingered within easy ear-shot of the trio.

Still, even the most reckless spend-
thrlft would scarcely elect to use a ten-
thousand—dollar target which. a single
shot might make worse than valueless,
when another could be found“ to serve
equally as well.

And so, lowering his weapon with a
change of tone to match, he spoke again:

" That’s good advice, and I’m only too
willing to act upon it. if only your
brother will—come, Kirkwood: play the
man, can’t you? ”

Allen gave a sulky growl instead of
speaking, but his figure slowly rose erect
and his clenched hands relaxed.

Jack Ketch nodded toward Lorella,
laughing softly the while.

“ Your pretty head is the wisest one
of the pair, by far, Miss Kirkwood, and
I reckon it’d be both time and patience
saved to negotiate with you; but I never
change the run of the cards when once
set going, and so I repeat: Come with’
me, Mr. Kirkwood, please.”

“ And if I don’t choose?”

"You’ll come, all the same,” was the
cold retort, as once more the revolver
came into play. “Come with me! Come
alive and sound, or come a cripple! "

If ever mortal man meant pure busi-
ness, Jack Ketch was the individual just
then and there, else all signs lie.

80 Lorella Kirkwood instinctively felt,
and seeing her stubborn brother hesitate,
she cried out, agitatedly:

“Go Allen; go with him and try——for
my sake, if not for your own, dear
brother! ”

A brief suspense, then Kirkwood yield-
ed to the inevitable, growling forth a
sulky submission, which in itself was a
threat of no mean caliber.

Jack Ketch seemed willing enough to
overlook any such trifie, and with a low,
not unmusical laugh he again put up his
revolver, turning away from that spot
while saying:

" After me is good manners, my dear
fallow. Come, please; Irreckon you and
I can finish our little confab better over
this way."

Sulkily enough Allen Kirkwood com-
plied, his movements seeming more
hang-dog by far than those of yonder
arch-schemer. , ‘

- Evidently the young man would be an
ugly customer with half a show for mak-
ing a fight; but that show was 'lacking
here, as even a gleam of reason must
have told him. ‘ ,

Jack Ketch alone might have been dis-
posed of, for Allen was, a‘ well-built fel—
low, and lacked no training as ’a fair
athlete; but he could see‘at least half a
score armed knaves hanging around.
some within easy ear-shot and all inside
of eye-range.

’Jack Ketch never took the trouble'to
glance over-shoulder to see howclosely
his prisoner was following instructions;
but neither did he seem inclined to make
a long .walk of it, halting again while

,visible ‘to Lorena as she sat helplessly”

in bonds at t" «n of yonder big tree.
Allen Kirkwood was close at hand

when the Chief of the Stranglers faced

about, but he made no attempt to “ cut

3  m, rusty,” evidently ‘having at length

unlined how worse than useless it was
t0" idol! «asainst the bricks Where such
T:“80’falj. so good. nldfellnw,” cried thd
- ngler wit hearty good-will in his
tones, ‘what er might be in his heart

 ,4 odds were arrayed 333th mm,

What, is it?  Cut it

Only. for them! 

’* '  a-look around; 
,ylsn’t it? ", he said 

   

rm“ notch laughed hockinin satire,
 . 

   

 

 

The Sparkler Sport.

 

“ Only for those tough nuts, what a glo-
rious picnic you would have; eh, my
hearty? ”

“You’ve said it."

“ And I believe it—just as little as you 

do,” mocked the Chief of the Stranglers.
“You're 3. our at heart, Allen Kirk-

wood, in spite of all your mighty growl f

and bluster. If we were alone here,
merely man to man-—~”

“ I’d tear your throat wide and then
choke it up with your palpitating heart,
curses cover you from crown to sole! ”

So fiercely came this threat that sev-
eral of the Stranglers instinctively started
that way, only to be checked the next
instant by an imperative gesture from
their leader, who added the words:

“Keep your distance, lads. This is
barking, not biting. And, even so, I
reckon my hand is able to guard my
head. So—thanks, and fall back, my
pretty lads!”

“ You owe ’em thanks, right enough,”
growlineg said Kirkwood. “But the
day may come——it shall comel—when I
can settle accounts with you alone. And
then—man nor devil can save you from
paying full penalty! ” .

“ That’s all right, my hearty, if you
can only make it come right. I’m not
losing any flesh through worrying over
the future, though. , And if you are not
all fool, you’ll swallow the rest of your
curses and threats until your own neck
is fairly out of the noose.

‘* This is my little picnic, and you’ve
got to take just what portion is meas-
ured forth, under penalty. And that
penalty is—later on!

“I reckon you’ve figured out pretty
correctly just what manner of sports we
are, by now, but it’ll do no particular
harm to cast a bit more light upon the
subject.

" We heard—~never mind just how, or
through What source-—-”

“I know; that cur, Ralph Innesl”,
fiercely cried Kirkwood, his tones loud
enough. to reach the outlaws, as well as
his sister in bonds.

“ Bah! You’re wild, man,” mockineg
declared Jack Ketch. “But what's the
use? As well him as any other, so let
it go at that if you're feeling any the
better over it.” .

“I know what I know,” with dogged

emphasis.

, “ Which is a heap-sight less than you
think you know, simmered down to nah-
ed facts,” chuckled the Chief; of the
Stranglers. “ All right. I don’t kick.
Now, open your ears, my boy.

“ However the word came our way.
We expected to rake in a mighty fat
boodle over at your camp, which will ac-
count for our disappointment when we
failed. And failing-well. that led on to
a complete change of plans, as I’m trying
to make you understand.

“ Now, we want money. Martin Kirk-
wood has got it, in great gobs. He shall
pay cuts fair portion of that wealth by
way of ransom, or else he will be un-
der the painful necessity of starting
afresh in the family business. Under—
stand? ” '

Allah Kirkwood shrugged shoulders.
but made no more definite reply.

“ All right. Yourvoice is hardly hon-
eY-swcet, so 93*"! go for, their face value.
As I hinted, it comes to just this! Ran-
som, or doathb Money. or a’dohble fu-
neral! And who“ a“ this is fairly pre-
sented to theold gentleman, as I mean

it shall be, I reckon there will be a.

speedy understanding arrived at; don't
you think, nardner? " ,

“ If he should refuse? "7 .

“ What’s the 11 Eng time over an
impossibility, man?” '

“If he should decline to meett'your ’ it let. and we wouldn’tth you if you

terms?" persisted ""‘chd.

“ Well. eranting that the old  White. even if you’re notary

would be so crazy as all that comes to,
mu would be supplied faiths anorect-

1338.0, mental 

 
 

13

. —-husband," coolly spoke the Chief of the
Stranglers.

“ You merciless demon!”

“ With or without a regularly ordained

priest to bless that union,” insolently
.went on Jack Ketch, heedless of the
' torture he might thus be inflicting.
“ Honest, old man, I’m dead gone on
Eher shape already, and if my pocket
alone was concerned, I’d jump at the
chance of making such a ten~strikel "

“Careful, you! Don’t go too far, you
imp of hades! ”

“ All right, dear boy. As I was saying,
of course I mean to stick by my word,
having once pledged it. Twenty—five
thousand dollars buys the pair of you,
and not one red cent less. Fifteen takes
the girl alone, but I’ll not sell you with-
out her to keep you company, under-
stand?”

"Go on. Finish, now you’ve begun.
After that——go on, curse you! ”

“Thank you for nothing, dear boy.
Well, my terms have been named. If
my offer is met on the square, well and
good; we finger the simoleons, while
Kirkwood takes his pair of kids. If not:
if father is as bull-headed as his precious
son appears to be, then you’d ought to
be smart enough to cipher out the rest
of it, from what I've said already.”

" And I’d see you sunk to the bottom
of the hottest pit in Tophet first, only
for—” ‘

“ Only for the dainty darling? Just so,"
coolly interrupted Jack Ketch, like a man
who feels he holds the whole game so-
curely in his own hands.

" After that exchange—”

 

“ Will come something else, as a mat—
ter of course. Can’t you let one minute
go to waste without spitting out snarl
or growl, pardner? A sweet old brother-

And yet—blamed if I don’t think‘I’d be
willing to take the bitter for the sweet!
And—lookout, you fool?”

For Allen Kirkwood was
straight at his throat, seemingly bent on
availitging all wrongs and insults by'death
itse . "

l

 

THE PRICE or LIBERTY.
If looks‘ and actions go for aught, Ai—
len Kirkwood meant death to the Strang-
ler Chief then and there; but. the fates
had not so willed.
Jack Ketch scarcely took the trouble
recoil. or to move aside, for his men wer

 

our all- mailers cover;
‘6’“ I .   I :

A slip-noose was flung over the prison—

? er’s head, jerking him back and for'the

moment rendering'him utterly helpless,

Ere he could rally evenrin part,
strong arms were hung about his body,
another rope was passed over both arms
and tightly twisted in place, pinioning

ble. . '
Jack Ketch stood laughing just beyond
reach of the now impotent man, evident-

if only as a fair specimen of. his‘power.
“Can't you ever get a fair notion
through that thick pate of yours without
; having it driven in with a maul? Hero
5' I’m treating you whiter than snow, and
? liberal no end, While you-augh! You.
make me weary, pardner!” ' '

 

" rn tear, your blackheart out to feed
‘A the. dogs!” raged Kirkwood. but lab-‘35.};
nn‘ently so far as‘» doing any  
V r ’-

loss was he in grip-of ropeand clutch bf, 

berm was concerned, so thoroughly helps

men, , ‘ I I
" Come, come. that’s even worse the,
; nonsense, dear son. on‘u'couidn‘t do flu.

couldz-L Sty—simmer down and, alsyghé
1 there’s. s- ,umtt to all things.
(find even ’my stocks; “

iy hugely enjoying the present situation.)

in-Iaw you would make, I don’t think! ~

leaping .' a
i

CHAPTER XIII. i

on the keen alert,_and swifter even than ‘,-'
were the movements of Allen Kirkwood, 
those satellites took action. . 

H

't

those members past making further 'tron- ‘

'1;

\ 1 “an. ,fl-hhfi- "v .
. ‘  I. f I <3”

  
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
  
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
   
     
   
    
      
    
    
     
   
    
     
      
   
    
    
    
     
       
           
         
           
         
    
   
    
    
    
     
       
 
   
     
          
        
 

‘ .

        
       
       
    
      
        
       
       
     
     
         
             
     
     
 
 

 
 
      
       
   
   
    
 

  
  
  
   
 
 
 

      
   
 
 
  
 

  

'14

The Sparkler Sport.

 

 

“No. I reckon he’s beginning to see
things as they are, not as he wishes they
might be. So—cast off, my gallant lad-
dy-bucks! And you, Mr. Kirkwood,

please bear in mind that another such;-

foolish break will just as certainly end

in your getting salivated—for keeps!”
“I’d rather be killed outright than—”
“Well, you shall have your wish in

that respect after another such crazy

break,” crisply cut in the Chief of the1
luridly 1:

Stranglers, with eyes glowing

through the holes in his dark face-cov— -

ering.
which I’ll never repeat, so take heed.”

A wave of that gloved right hand
caused the ropes to fall off and those
who wielded them so deftly to draw
back once more.

Allen Kirkwood gave himself a little
shake, lifting arms as though to make
sure he was entirely free from bonds;
but then he stood in sullen silence, mak-
ing no further effort for revenge.

“That begins to look a bit more like
it,” declared Jack Ketch with a nod of
careless approval. “Oh, granted time
and opportunity, my dear son, and I’d
agree to turn you out even a bit more
than half-way respectable: yes, I just
would, now! "

“Don’t rub it in too deep, you scoun—
drel,” sternly warned the other at this,
hands going~ behind his back, there to
join fingers in tight grip as though. by no
less means could he resist the fierce
temptation to again jump at that mock—
ing demon.

“That’s all right, too, my hearty. I’ll
play white as long as you refraim from
playing the fool. There’s nothing I want
more than to make you see the one
straight and easy path out of the tangle
you’ve fallen into, and that trail opens
up pretty much like this:

“ Your governor has got dead loads of
money. We holfmoney’s worth in two
pretty prize packages. A fair exchange
is no robbery, is it? Good enough! That
ought to be plain a-plenty for a blind
man to read as he runs, and so~—your
arm, pardner.”

" What now?”

“ Well, where’s the sense in making
two bites to a cherry? Why tell a story
twice, when once ought to suffice? And
so—the maiden fair is straining her
charming peepers, over yonder; let’s go

. and in a measure relieve her awful sus-

pense.”

Still mocking, still stinging with every
sentence, no matter how cunningly the
point was veiled; but time had been
given the young man for some sober re-
flection, and he knew that kicking
against the pricks would only add to
rather than lessen the trouble.

Jack Ketch ran a hand through the
arm of his sullen captive, moving back
toward the tree under which Lorella

, Kirkwood was waiting in such painful

suspense, and neither his words nor his
manner betrayed doubt as to the final

‘ outcome.

“ Second thoughts are best, after all,
Pretty-by-night, and so here we are, ready
to take your charming self into the con-
ference. A word from your red lips may

_ save this rather headstrong brother of

 

yours another awkward lesson, too! ”

“ If I can say or do anything to help—
oh, Allen! ” ,

“ It’s all" right, Lorella. Wait. The
day will come when—cut it as short as
you know how, you scoundrel! ”

“ If my terms W810 nalf as long as my
patience, Kirkwood, ’twould never be
told through,” significantly warned the
man in mask. “ As a matter of course,
some little allowance must be made for a
fellow in your present predicament, but——
don't crowd that allowance too ‘mighty
far; don’t do it, now! ”

“ For my sake, brother.” hastily whis-
pered- Lorella, fearing still worse might
follow. “ Oh, Allen. dear; don’t anger
him so much that he may—be patient,
dear, I beg of you! ”

“ That’s fair warning, and one'

 

back his fierce temper by a stern effort,
standing beside his sister with hands
tight-clenched head drooping and brows
corrugated.

“That’s mighty good advice, and if a
fool should neglect it~—well, he’d deserve
pretty much all that was measured forth
to him,” declared the Chief of the Strang-
lers with a nod of grim approval. “Now
~—business is business and empty chin-
chin neVer yet filled the market-basket.

“Briefly summed up, this is how the
case stands at present: We’ve got
something which Martin Kirkwood
wants: he has a pile of what we lack:
what’s the matter with making an equit-
able swap?

“Now, right here you can have mY
idea of the way out of this tangle.

“We’ll hold fast to the more precious
of those two packages, while sending the
other back to the financier, both as sam-
ple of goods and bearer of our latest re-
vised price-list. '

“ To make sure there is no error in the
message, you, Miss Kirkwood, will write
a fair statement to your more or less
honored paternal progenitor, giving him
to understand on just what terms the
bargain may be consummated.”

“ Stop! ” cried Allen, at this juncture.

“ Well, what’s the matter now? ” .

“ You mean to Send one of us to our
father with a message?”

“ That’s what I said, yes.”

“All right. Let my sister go,
then—"

“ Oh, no!” interposed Jack Ketch, with
a. short laugh. “That would be playing
the fool with a vengeance, now wouldn’t
 ’l

“ If you are acting in good faith—”

“ That’s all right, too. Good faith goes,
but a pinch of common sense keeps it
company, you want to bear in mind, my
hearty.”

“I don’t—what are you trying to get

rough you, anyway?” \

"‘ Just this: that so long as we hold
Miss Kirkwood fairly in our grip, we can
expect something like fair dealing on the
other side. With her let loose, and
only you to play security—bah!”

“One so ready to suspect trickery in
others is certainly brooding treachery
himself! ” retorted young Kirkwood,
glowering again.

“ That’s all right, too. It’s our choice,
and the rest of you can only take what
is offered, don’t you see? And so—to
resume!

“Pretty-by—night, here, shall write a
nice little note to the worthy papa,
frankly stating just how the case now
stands. She will tell the unvarnished
truth, for, as a matter of course, I’ll look
over the note before ’tis dispatched to
its destination.

“You will take that note, Mr. Kirk-
wood, and from what slight experience
you have had since falling into the
clutches of the Silver Slope Stranglers, I
imagine you will have slight difficulty in
making papa fairly comprehend the pres-
ent situation.

“ For instance: Should he find any se-
rious difficulty in unlocking his treasure-
box, you can mildly hint how immensely
my noble self admires Miss‘Kirkwood,
and even—-”

“ Careful, you foul-mouthed brute! "

" You have caught my meaning, then?
Good enough! I never did care about
mouthing two words where one would
suflice; so—just paint the. situation in
your most taking colors, and pinch the
worthy old money—bags until he circu-
lates—freely!

“ Here is pen and paper, MissKirk-
wood. Let’s see what sort of use you can
put them to. Remember, though, that
if your task is not satisfactorily per-
formed, 'twill all have to be done over
again.

"Ifyou don't care tohelp. don’t you
hinder, young hothead,”theChi of the
Stranglers added, in grim warn ng to
Kirkwood. “ And, mind you. escape from
here is simply out of the question. Try

and

Again the young man seemed to crush ‘ that on, and you will not only be con-

5

 

vinced, but you will be—silenced for all
time! ”

Leaving the writing materials with
Lorella, and deftly severing the bonds
which confined her arms, Jack Ketch
turned away like one who feels no doubt
as to the swift performance of the task
allotted. .

Brother and sister said nothing for a.
few moments, but then Allen sunk to the
ground beside his sister, speaking with
fierce earnestness:

“ I’d rather die a thousand times over,
than to yield to that scoundrel, ’Ella, but
——oh, Satan roast him by inches! ”

“ Is there no—no method of escape.
then, brother? ”

Allen shook his head in gloomy fashion. ‘

” If there is I can’t see it, and Lord l»
knows I’ve tried hard enough! I’d rather
die than knuckle under to such a villain,
and through such harsh threats, yet—
What else? If we don’t buy him off—-
but I can’t tell you that, ’Ella!”

The strong man partly smothered a
fierce groan, hands clenched so tightly
that they seemed irregular balls of iron.

Sister clung to brother, now, for some-
thing in his looks and manner frightened
the maiden worse than ever. She tried
to ask what he meant, what he was bold-
ing back, but at first without success.

Allen read her wish aright, and know—
ing 'as he did that where so much had
been said, more must follow, he burst
out with the ugly truth.

“ That infernal scoundrel—I’ll kill him
for that, if for nothing else! He says—
he swears that father must pay twenty-
five thousand dollars in hard cash. for us.
’Ella, or else—-—he’ll force you to marry
him and—”

Lorella gave start and cry at this, and
her face flamed hotly at the repulsive
idea.

“Marry him? That awful villain?”
she cried, sharply enough for other ears
to catch. and comprehend. “ I’d die,
first! ”

“ So I told the rascal,
make him understand if—”

Allen Kirkwood broke off abruptly, for .
just then Jack Ketch came striding back,
right hand clenched and shaking in men-
ace as he cried: v

“ That’s enough, young fellow! I
thought you had sense enough. left to
play half-white, but now—”

“ You devil! I’ll make you——”

Kirkwood leaped to his feet like one.
beside himself with fierce rage and in-
tense hatred, but even as he crouched
for a death-leap upon their arch-enemy,
Jack Ketch. flung up a hand and the loop
of a lasso dropped over that head and
those broad shoulders.

A mighty jerk sent Kirkwood to earth,
and the Strangler Chief said:

" Don’t hurt him more than you just.
have to. lads; but we’ve got to treat a
fool according to his own folly. Now—
rengt'on I’ll do the rest of the talking my-
se .” ~ -

and so we’ll

 

CHAPTER XIV.
A show AND A BLOW.

The doom of the sleeper seemed surely
sealed, for Peter Peltz had first made
sure his rope was securely in place, then
sprung upon the chest of his intended
victim, laughing in diabolical glee as his.
hairy hands pulled fiercely at each end
of the greasy rope.

Never in his life had Rath Innes been

more sweetly sleeping, worn and weary m

from. his long tramping 0f the past day
and larger portion of the’night; but nev-
er had he been so rudely awakened!

A mountain’s weight Seemed falling
upon his chest—mighty rocks seemed
crushing, grinding, splintering bones.
and pulping muscles of both his arms——
while balls of greenish fire looked down
into—ha!

’Twas no hideous nightmare, but a.
grim reality!

n“ You devil!” the young man huskin
panted, that closing rope shutting of
the sounds so nearly that they failed to ‘

. pl ‘1
3954  r._
Al.._

 

 

. .m 
4 - 3.3.92“. ms ., .,

Xi;

. .4“...

 

Sf. '
.

  

 

  

i'each even the ears of him who tried to

g e them fierce utterance.

hes strove all he knew how to throw
off at‘awful incubus, but the Strangler
laughed at his efforts, clinging tight to
his pobition, knees on arms, feet grips
ping those quivering thighs, weight of
body all bearing down lip-ill that stom-
ach, while his hairy paws tugged and
strained at~the rope which was meant to
measure forth a lingering, horrible death.

“Choke and strangle! ” howled the as-
sassin, his fa! fairly transformed to
that of a veritable fiend of destruction.
“Fight ior breath, ye son of a sinner!
Sip the mp ye thought to fill to over-
flowing for another and better man!
Choke~smother—gasp and gurgle! Ha»!
ha! ha! Shiver and writhe, but devil
spares ye not! ” '

Already the young man was beginning
to turn purple'fn the face as that double
turn prevented air from passing in or
out. That handsome face was turning
hideous, even so quickly! .

The Strangler saw as much, and with
diabolical malice he slightly lessened his
grip, letting the pliant rope slip a trifle,
thus prolonging the awful feast he had
so carefully prepared for himself.

With. an audible sound a trifle of air
passed that constriction, and then, now
tighter, then looser, only to close once
more, the rope was manipulated by the
demon in human guise, laughing and
croaking the while, viciously enjoying
the torments he was causing.

. ‘é.’

 

 

 

not be held as wholly accountable for
what he was doing?

this! And yet-«
liciously mocked the Strangler, bending
over his almost helpless victim until
face nearly touched face, red eyes glar-
ing Into eyes which were now blurred
and bloodshotten.
"‘A dose of your own infernal medi-
cine, is it? Ha! ha! ha! The trapper
trapped! The fowler caught in his own
net!” -
Ralph Innes made another furious ef-

rflghting as only a strong man can-,flght
for the life which he feels is surely
felted else. ‘ ‘

Heavier pressed that weight. ’1‘
grow that awful noose. Louder still he,
angel of death in his ea , until it
seemed as though the last 0 earth had
surely come to him!

A frantic effort to break away, and
Innes blindly lifted his head until face
touched face. He made a dog-like snap,

_ teeth touching that bulbous nose before
the Strangler could draw his own head
back.

Instinctively those teeth. closed at touch
of flesh, but Peter Peltz jerked away,

.giving a wild bowl of rage and storm
of curses as he felt skin and flesh tear
loose, one hand dropping rope to fly
up and caress that injured member.

 onlyfor this brief reprieve, Ralph In-
nos—might. never hi ve drawn another
conscious breathknev er more have looked
, upon aught of this fair world ; but the
" ' greasy rope slipped again, and for the
 ' first time since that cvful awakening

   
 

 

\:.

(came, the doomed sleeper caught a full
‘ breath. v,
 Still,_ he was greatly weakened even

4' _; I “byuth'atbrief strangulation, and instead
‘ Of fighting for liberty while his enemy
was absorbed in his la‘cerated nose, Ralph
lay- shivering and gasping, brain whirl-
in: in awlld dance and his wits too
:oo pletely upset for rompt action.
f 31pm covered the trangler’g hand as
it clasped over the marred nose, and he
,‘n'lturallyfancied it worse injured than
* " ’flthe" - ' ‘ , i.
" curses he and furious followed that
 f in, and then,» as th’e- young

 
 

   

   
   
   

,- 1 to .ptruC'Sledohge'nigOre, Peg?
‘t areas an,  up fan.- 3
e, ‘

 

'fort to dislodge that crushing burden,j

port, m- «militate,

FESWSPTkla-fiport.

   

15

 

 

“Die, ye devil!” he hoarsely panted,
now the picture of fury. “Choke and
gasp and strangle—strangle»strangle!”

There could have been but one ending
to this, and that must have come right
speedily had the two men been left
alone; but the end was not to come
then, nor thus.

Peter Peltz had eyes, ears, thoughts
only for this now helpless victim, and
hence the light footfalls drawing near
the cabin failed to set him on guard, and
then a pale, scared face showed at the
dingy window in the first rays of the
rising sun.

One wild-eyed look, then the face faded
away, but not to beat a retreat in fear
or in dismay; far from it!

The front door was flung quickly open,
and as Peter Peltz looked in that direc-
tion, a Winchester spoke sharply, and
with a gasping moan the Strangler flung
up his arms, falling over backward like
one dead!

The next instant Kittie Crooks sprung
across the threshold, dropping rifle to
make better use of her strong young
hands.

She gave a low, choking cry as she
saw that purpled face, that protruding
tongue, those glazing eyeballs; then, re-
alizing what hideous work had been g0-

. ing on, she caught at the rope, pulling

Surely he was insane? Surely he could '

One in full possession of his sensesi
would never work such awful deeds as ;

“How do ye like it, yourself?” ma- j

 

 
    

, calm, mm;
exbr'essto 

it away from the bruised throat as her
other hand raised that heavy head a
trifle.

With a gurgling, whistling sound the
pent-up air rushed forth, then more gent-
ly sucked back, Ralph Innes shivering
and moaning the while.

That told Kittie life yet lingered, and
lent fresh strength for the emergency,
she dragged the unconscious man fur-
ther away from his overthrown enemy,
with hasty fingers loosening the clothes
about his neck. I

She saw Peter Peltz lying there like
one dead. She even took note of the red
blood which flowed from a wound just
above his right eye, and at the time
she thought how surely her lead had
followed her mind; for aim she had no
time to take.

That one long breath seemed life
enough, and yet—how awfully still this
man now lay!

Was be dead? Had she come too late
to ch t the strangler of this, his latest

' victi ?

So it really seemed, just then, and with
another sharp catch in her breath, Kit-
tie Crooks bent nearer that face, now
fading out to a more natural color as
the thickened blood receded.

No! Ralph Innes was breathing, though.

.so faintly, so slowly, so much like the

final efforts of exhausted nature that
her fears grew stronger rather than less.

Kittie drew back, flashing a. swift
glance about the room. This was not the
first time she had been inside those
four walls, and ’twas not long ere she
found what she was looking for—the
Wooden bucket of water which stood in
one corner. v .

(Ritchie: “:23 u , lacking any smaller
utensil, Kittie held it high in air, letting
a slender stream of the fairly cool liquid
fal full upon that paling face, hoping
th t the shock would ‘aid the young man
in rallying. 7 ~ _

The result seemed fairly magical, and
far better than thmgiri had dared hope
fer, since but a moment interklnnes gave
a‘ shivering gasp, as a choking man will,
then partly turned his head to escape
that falling stre m! .. V

Kittie quickly - owered the bucket, tak-
ing a fold of her. dress as she ,
to gently wipewajvay the wet, and then
those big ey‘é’s opened to stare in her
face! ~ ' -

“What—I don't—-” huskin muttered
Innes, lips parched and throat painfully
sore and dry. , '

Kittie whastily found a5'cup and gave
Ralph a drink.» ,I'He swallowed mechani-
lobitimxat-berfwith a (1m
own}:ng £th

‘5‘.

    

  

ifFor

“s

“a; 

   
   
  
   
  
  
   
   
   
   
    
  
  
    
  
   
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
   
  
  
  
   
   
   
   
    
   
 

“I never—a devil, then, but—now—an
angel!”

Flushed warmly, the mountain maid
drew back, confused by look even more
than the words, which even her quick
ear hardly made out.

Hardly conscious of what he was do-
ing, or of what had taken place, Innes
tried to restrain that receding face by
lifting a hand, which felt so curiously
heavy and helpless that his confused
wits wandered that way for the moment.

“I don’t—what’s the matter with:—
Hannah? ” he huskily mumbled, striving
to pick up one hand with its mate, yet
failing, as eyes deceived their master.

He seemed so utterly helpless that Kit-
tie rallicd, forgetful of self in another’s
needs, gently touching his damp fore—
head with her cool hand while speak-
ing:

“ You will rally in a few moments, Mr.
Innes, and then—— ”

Ralph gave a start and a low ejacula-
tion, his hand flying up to brush across
his eyes; then his vision cleared like
magic and he cried:

“It is—~surely I know—~Kittie Crooks!”

Again the girl of the mountains
blushed divinely, and again she shrunk
back timidly. '

For the time being neither man nor
maiden gave thought to yonder bullet—
marked strangler, yet Peter Peltz was
far from being harmless. \

Although it looked as though that bul-
let had passed directly through his evil
brain, the mountaineer was lifting that
same head, was opening those blood-
marked eyes, taking savage note of the
maiden and the human prey which he
had so nearly sent over the range!

A feW-moments thus, but only while
his wicked wits were working clear of
the tangle that bit of lead had thrown
them into; then. the Strangler silently 
moved right hand back to the heavy re- ' 
volver which still rested in ‘ holster ' .:
against his hip.

Just as silently he brought the weapon
to the front, meaning to finish. the evil
work so lately begun; but again he was
foiled, for a dark shape came bounding
through the open dour, striking swiftly
with a club.

“Whirr-roo! ye vdivil o’ Howth!’
roared Barney O'Shea.

    
       
     
      
       
       
     
     
      
     
     
    
        
  
     
             
    
     
        
      
     
      

 

 
    

CHAPTER XV.
CHARGES AND COUNTER-CHARGES;

,With a dexterity which told he was
far more at home with stick than with
gun, Barney O’Shea made his stroke, <
deftly knocking that ugly weapon aside , i
just in time to save the life of the unsus-
pecting young man. .

With pistol went hand, and a savage
bowl of mingled pain and fury burst from
the baffled Strangler as blood new fnon
torn skin and sorely bruised knuckles. .

“ Ah-ha, me laddy—buck! " .exulted. the
amateur detective as he followed until”!
vantage won, jerking Peter over upon bk
stomach and then squatting across 
small of his back with far more weight
than courtesy. “ Aisy wid ye, now, an‘
:vuyfies cayn’t be aisy, be aisy as ye kin.
a u M L I

It all took place with such rapidity
that neither man nor woman .3
a chance to act or to aid; but now, "if :
ly rallying from the partial stupor magi '
which close-glazing death had cast hind -
Ralph Innes staggered to his feet. onaf I
hand clearing his misty vision, using”; "
fumbling for. a weapon at his middle. :7 r 

-"‘Wh-E‘ means—who over-1W"; Bur.-- ‘ 
my?\u' ‘ v I I ‘ J V . H i

“ Barney bedad! Av ~itrwor notBamey, ‘
thin, pwhero.,w’u’d “the ,loikes av  _
be ,pwhin—aisy, _, ye . ~squnlnblint dim“  
yees."j .. , ..‘   T  ‘
Pet. Péltz, realizing. that.
swift and were action could;

     
     
      
         
       
   
    
      
      
         
      
        
     
   
         
       
       
     
   
    
    
    
    
   
    
 

    
 
 
 

  
   

  

 

  
  

 

'a ’ tuin Iris dire 01W
rid, . v  » ” 

   
  
  
 
 
 

  

 
 
  
 

 
 
 

    

 

The Spa. kler Sport.

 

 

 

 

3, But Barney was not so readily over—
turned, one hand gripping throat, an-
other tangling fingers in that shaggy
pow, while knees clenched ribs with
pressure almost sufficient to make them
crack.

“ Hold fast—don’t let him escape!"
cried Kittie Crooks, quick to recognize
the peril which would surely follow a
breakaway. “He tried to murder Mr.
Innes, and he is one of them”

A howling roar came from the Strang-
ler, cuttingher hasty speech short. He

-. fought desperately, giving Barney all he

V wanted to do to keep from being shaken

 _ , 3 off that squirming perch.

v- , “fl‘w . a“, - mw‘-’fi

i _ l a

; :‘t . 4 Ralph Innes now recognized the situ-
ation, and picking up the pliant rope
which had so nearly cut short his own
, life, he aided O’Shea in securing the
5‘:- v' arms of the desperado, paying no heed
 , to the howls and cries and curses with
  . which. Peltz strove to scare them both
 ‘ ' away.

Not until the murderer was bound past
the power of helping himself or injur-
ing others did the two men cease. Then
Barney, grinning broadly and tugging
at a loose-lying lock of sandy hair over
an eye, rose erect and saluted the young
lady.

“ Faith, ma’am, 'twas a hurry-coon-in-
widout-knockin', but phwin Oi saw how
that thafe o’ the woorld was toyin’ wid
his goon—"

“ He meant murder! "

“ And I owe you my life, I reckon, Bar-
ney," added Ralph, soberly, hand coming
forth as further acknowledgment.

O’Shea turned hot and red at this, but
he was too honest a fellow to take hand
where heart could not follow, and turned
aside with a painful fit of coughing which
was louder than genuine. ,

Did Innes notice? Did he divine the
cause? If so he made no sign, but turned
toward the mountain maid, holding forth
both hands as he began thanking Kittie
ifor her timely shot.

l “ Only for that I would be a dead man
ere this," he added, brokenly,holding her

1 hands tightly between his own. " I came
, here through pure chance, and never so

much as suspected what an infernal de-
mon Was giving me shelter until-—too
late to help myself!” -
"I know—d was thinking of'my—my
father,” faltered Kittie, Slipping. hands
’away and blushing brighter than ever
as she caught something like a mocking
" laugh from the corner into which Peter
'Peltz had been dragged for the nonce.
‘This started the diflerent explanations,
and Barney came to the front once, more,
telling briskly how he had tracked the
suspect from Salvation City into the
hills, only to lose all trace of him after
crossing the brawling river.
Hopelessly lost as to his own location,
then, O'Shea lay out for the rest of the
night, tired enough to sleep in spite of
 , , hisnatural dread of waking up to find
i ‘ himself swallowed by wild beasts, faith!
' r ““An’ thin, pwhin marning kem widout
annybody callin' me to brickfasht, bedad,
'twas rustle, hustle or go hoongry, ye
'divil! ”, declared the "Irishman, quaintly
vgesticulating. “An' so-an’ so! ’Twas
Jlm Way the nose av me tuck a p’int,
; " has, shmillin' the shmoke av not the!
  supper, an’ thin-ow-wow! Crrrack—ge-
  ,‘hsng! "Pwas an aavil-sOundin' brick-
 sfashtbiil, sure; but pwhin in a. divil‘s
.,  "own counthry loike this, sor, an' ye.
,3" mum. it"s the‘ fool that’s too critical,
 faith, In" Iowan’ that’s theway av it
 nihibegorrai'jn , _ \ ‘ I
,3" ‘ ,5“ Yen chipped in at the ght moment,
~ - hit! man, and I'll not forget \_ in a hurry,
‘  either,’.’ soberiy declared Innes, again of-
" feflng‘his hand. ‘ . ' '
" This  even-more awkward than the

  
  
  
   
  
   
 

.,.

 

    

   Barney was .true‘  his
.: warmlwet a” “mm”

as 19‘ aafiwi‘hv‘m”
is ‘ 

   

‘the noose to

We bow Panda“ him! his
‘ ‘   J- v, V 

rs!

 

come, old fellow! Play white, can’t
you? ”

“ Faith, sor, an' that same’s jist pwhat
Barney O’Shea is thryin’ to do, thin,”
hastily spluttered the cook. “Av Oi
knew jist phwat soort av a hand it wor
ye was afferin’ me, sor, thin—eh? ”

For Kittie Crooks, sorely troubled over
the unusually protracted absence of her
father, had cros5cd over to where the
Strangler was lying in bonds, speaking
hurriedly yet distinctly enough for the
irishman to catch both words and mean-
ng.

“ My father—where is he, Mr. Peltz?
You know; he surely\came over here to
see you, last evening, and now—tell me
where he is?”

“ Where? Nelson Crooks is~——go to the
devil and shake yourself! ” harshly
growled the ruiiian, cutting himself short.

" But my father was-is—tell me, I beg
of you, sir! ”

But the rascal only grinned maliciously
up into that pleading face, making no
response, giving no answer save that
surly sneer.

But Barney O’Shea caught the name,
although he failed to rightly comprehend
the tie of blood, and only thinking how
best to escape the awkward dilemma into
which the gratitude of Ralph Innes had
cast him, blurted forth the news:

“Nilson Chrmks, is it, thin? Sure,
ma’am, that blatherin' blaggaird bloody-
murthered him lasht noight. at—howly
Moses! ” -

For Kittie gave a choking cry, catching
at her throat as she staggered back,
saved from falling only by the swift ac-
tion of Ralph Innes.

Peter Peltz broke into a coarse laugh
as he watched and listened, but for the
moment no one paid him attention.

Poor Kittie seemed stunned by the
blow, although she managed to free her-
self from the young man's clasp, leaning
against the side of the room, sobbing
and panting sorely. ‘

Again Ralph offered assistance, and
again his aid was declined.

He stood for a few moments in irreso-
lution, then turned upon the unlucky
Irishman, gripping an arm with cruel
force while saying, lowly: ,

“ If you are lying, Barney O’Shea, I'll
forget all you've done for me this day
and—the. truth/man! What she t—her
father? ” '

“ Faith, sor, an' 'tis mesilf pwhich
wishes ’twas ahl a loie, thin,” candidly
answered Barney, “ but divil a loie is it
at ahl, sor! He did it; murthered him
loike a dog, bedad! ”  ‘

Innes turned upon the bound Strang-
ler, bending low enough to grip an arm
and give it a fierce shake before speak-
ng.
“ You devil of all devils! Did you do
this? If so—if you’re guilty of butcher-
ing this lady’s father, I'll see that you.
hang for it! Ay! I’ll hang ypu higher
than a summer kiteii"

Instead of flinching or showing fear,
the Strangler bared his wolfish teeth in

an evil grin, then, deliberately spat‘up-“
ward into that white, stern-set face,

above him, laughing harshly as Innes

- draw back with a jerk.

"Bah! Hang me, is it?” he cried,

viciously, face reddening and veins swell-

ing in time with his writhing muscles
as he strove his» utmost to burst or slip
the rope which held him so‘impotent.
“ Better look to your own neck. blow.
hard! Hang me! See that I don't fit
your tin-apple first-off,
then!" 4 "

Barney O’Shea leaned a bit closer at
this, his little eyes. fairly agiow with

interest“, hands. working "as though they

itched to close upbnwwhom?
‘Kittie Crooks. rallied, just then, and

   

waterwardi pale and haggard through

of, yet stii

 
    
   

‘trying to hope in spite of
ammi‘adresd pf! evil. . ,, * .r
H t "1.7 1’“?in fi” 
_.  t it «is: ‘ ‘
  I, , v 

close to the Strangler, speaking with
forced composure:

“My father; tell me the truth, Peter
Peltz! If you have—if he has come to
harm at your hands—J swear by all man-
kind holds sacred that you shall pay the
full penalty of the law! Now—my
father?”

“You heard Paddy, I reckon, didn’t
you? ”

Peter Peltz? ”

“ Over to town—what’s left of him,
then! " came the vicious answer, fol-
lowed by the words: “‘ I' never harmed
him. Barney lied, there. It was the
work of the pale he went back on: the
Stranglers, I reckon!”

Kittie shrunk back as though dealt a.
stinging blow full in the face. Ralph
gently touched her, but again she re-
coiled from his assistance,» and again she
faced that evil knave in bonds.

“ You lie when you say that my father
was one of that evil gang,” the mountain
maid forced her lips to utter with false
composure. “ You dare to accuse him?
You, Peter Peltz? ”

“ And you know that I’m fully Justified
in making that same charge, too, Kittie
Crooks," surlily spoke the Strangler-

Like one who fears worse insult to a
lady, Ralph Innes chipped in, with gentle
force clasping that round waist and
swinging the girl aside and further to
the rear, then taking her place himself,
frowning down upon the conscienceless
villain upon whose brow was the bloody
brand even then.

“ And you betrayed yourself only a few
minutes ago, Peter Peltz,” the private
secretary said, sternly, shaking forefin-
ger over that face the while. " You are

Look!" and he further bared his own
neck where the discolored welts showod
significantly.

“ But—I ask you: where is my father, .

‘

one of that evil gang, past all denial! -

Instead of showing fear, or shrinking. I

the Strangler laughed aloud, his tones
full if not clear, his reddened.eyes glow-
ing savagely the while. ’
“ You laugh now, but later on—-"
" Bah! What about later on? You
dare not say aught, Ralph Innes, for you

are deeper in the mud than I am in the 

mire! 9,’

, but as Innes flashed a glance that
‘ he recoiled a hit, again feigning a

 

co .
‘Ralfih looked back to r- the Strangler,
l speaking sternly: ,

“ You can’t throw me off the right
scent by crying wolf, Peter Peltz. If you,
i are guilty of this latest foul outrage—4
‘ unless you can read your title ciear~I

swear to never give over until your
1 worthless life has paid full penaltY. and
5 then wish you were a cat to die over
i and over again!" i ,
j “ When I pull hemp; you‘ll be climbing
‘ a tree right there, Innes. If the whole
truth of that camp-raid ever comes to

3 light, you’ll hang. too might? Sudden for I ‘

.any sort of use!"

and surging forward he cried: I 

“ Spaake the truth. Ye lyin' divil, yee‘sli
ev’i‘ill me phWat ye maane be that ‘ if?
EWbo sold out‘ me masther, thin; tor
,Piitz?” I , ’ 
i ' M  v- r,”

if

CHAPTER XVI- ,‘ I
I wanna SATAN ssnvsn ms‘owx.

i With fierce earnestness came that ques- “  -.
. tion. and for" the moment he whose lips

l shaped it. had eyes, ears, thoughts only
for the villain in bonds. through whom
"he hoped to solve thatnslr mystery;

‘Peter Pelt: ,ilash'ed eyes from one face - '

. to the other, beard bristling ,as
:he gay 'spfo

   
  

 

amey caught his breath sharply at,

New Barney couldhold in no longeru‘ ’ "‘

.grln'on meeting the  Y
with a courage which did her credit.  burnin gaze {of the young‘man around;
' when near 8059111111? Showed” “919%”?

    
  
   
    

m—l-usyw,'~_\r‘- a, .1..." .3; ..‘ , “N m

 

        
         
        
        
     
      
       
        
      
        
       
     
        
    
     
        
      
        
        
       
          
 
       
            
         
      
       
     
       
      
          
       
     
     
     
           
     
        
   
        
     
         
    
       
     
     
 

 

was a. «5.91%

,  gir‘s‘j’fi

I



   

    

 itself upon his busy brain.

The Sparkler Sport.

  
 

17

 

 

shifting his station so as to cut off fur-

ther communication with his own broad

shoulders, he spoke again:

“Spaake out, yet blatherin’ spalpeen,
thin! Till me: who was at the botthom
av ahl that dirthy worruk, Oi say? ”

Peter Peltz broke into a harsh, brief-

lived laugh. He made one more attempt

to break away from those bonds. Fail—
ing in this, he spoke in savagely distinct
tones:

“Why ask me, when there’s another
here who can tell you so much better,
you lunk-headed Paddy?”

“Ye maane—phwat do yees maane,
thin, ye rashkil? ”

“ I mean Ralph Innes, no less! ”

The owner of that name gave an in-

- voluntary start and seemed on the point
of pushing forward, but Barney still held
the right of way, and persisted in press-
ing that point fairly home.

“Pwhat has Misther Innes to do wid
ahl this, faith? Wasn’t he aff at the
toime,
An' wasn’t he—”

“ Head and spirit of the whole affair, .

and so I’m making my davy! ” viciously
cried the Strangler, throwing all reserve
aside as though he no longer looked for
aid or comfort in that direction. "I
swear that Ralph Innes hired the Strang-
lers to kill the old man and run off the
two youngsters, for the purpose of sell-
ing their lives or their liberty! ”

Kittie Crooks gave a low cry at this
abominable accusation. Barney O’Shea
turned squarely upon the accused, hands
clenched and face all aglow with honest
indignation.

But Ralph Innes himself showed no
fear, no rage, naught save contempt and
scorn, even breaking into a light laugh
as though the charge was too frivolous

, ‘for serious denial. ’-

Not so Barney O’Shea. His suspicions
had turned in that direction from the

‘very first, and this seeming confirmation

only added to their weight. Yet that
hold front held him in check, and he
simply said: /

v “ D’ye hear that, thin, sor? Did ye—
did ye do it, Misther Ralph? "

 “Did I~—no, you fool!” with sudden
heat in face and in temper. “ Only an

idiot would ever think to ask such a
question, and if you—”

- “ Why wouldn’t he try to lie out of it,
Paddy? ” derisively cut in the Strangler,
who plainly Wished to get his two cap-
tors more deeply imbroiled, possibly
thinking that thereby his own chances of
escape would be increased.-

But it .was not to be. Barney lacked
.the hardlhopdrto press his point home,
and Innes apparently thought bare de-
nial sufficient for all purposes, so far as
he himself was concerned. ,

Not so when it“same to the prisoner,
though. Denials hare went for less than
naught, and the young man added
ithreats to promise. - I

“‘ I’ll wring the whole truth out of you,
you scoundrel, though I have to put you
to torture such as would shame an In-
"‘dian! ” he vowed, sternly. “ I'll téke you
over to Salvation, and once there's-4'~

“I never done anything to Dull hemp

L for, while you have! " «

What mann‘e‘r‘of retort might have
come from Ralph Innes will never be

a known, for Kittie Crooks, rallying brave-

. lygfrom the awful shock the unconsid~
cred speech of Barney O’Shea had given
her, again came to the front with ques-
tiOns which Peter Peltz sullenly refused

 a. ‘to answer.

. v

‘ 71331510? fancied he saw an opening for

{MS partial amends, and at once
 , . sci . .
f7,  - lflbflle best of intentions he declared
‘that’Neleon,01-ooks had received but
I y’allght‘iadhries; and would hardly know

that might» had happened him in a day
 that [blessed our; but Kittie re-
"raced to put-full. fa h in that assurance.
:fiNO,:‘n°i” the mountain maid said.

to.  w "in: her

   

    
  
  

  
  

Quickly

clane over to Salvation City?

- tions.

 

, same mess; but tom

thank you for it; but I know—I know
that father will never come back home! ”

“ Sure, thin, ma’am—”

“ He would never stay away so long if
he could crawl~~or even be moved,” de-
clared Kittie, her voice growing stronger
with using it, although her pale face and
dark-lined eyes told how seriously she
had suffered through suspense since the
evening before. “ I must go to him,
since he can never—come to—to me! ”

Ralph quickly interposed.

“ You cannot-you must not go alone, ‘

Miss Crooks. We will see you safely to
town, if you can wait for a few moments
longer.”

“I thank you, sir, but I am not afraid.
I know the way well."

“Allow me to insist, dear girl,” urged
Ralph, earnestly. “ We will not hinder
you, but be of assistance, rather. I'm
going to take this rascal back to town,
and if what Barney hints is true—”

That pale face suddenly flushed and

:scent, and up to that time no serious
She turned to leave the cabin, but'
, Strangler.

, position to balk, hanging back when In—

- Kittie sprang past them all, nimbly trip-

those dulled eyes caught a fire which ,

was almost savage in its brilliancy.

Kittie grasped the light Winchester ‘ realizing how worse than useless would
which she had used in such a timely 5 be a BtUbeI‘n fight Where he was 30

manner, even though the small pellet
had glanced from that too-thick skull.
She menaced the Strangler with its muz-
zle, and only for the prompt action taken
by Innes there might have been another
tragedy right then and right there.

“ Patience, Miss Crooks,” the secretary

l

l
i
i
I
i
I

said while leading the maid from cabin .

to clear air without. “ If Peter Peltz
has done your father harm, be sure he
shall be punished to the utmost extent
of the law.”

“ The law? There is no law out here—
for poor people! ”

“ Then I’ll see to his reward myself,”
assured Ralph.

His soothing tones and kindly man-
ner presently wrought the cure be de—

sired, and then Kittie Crooks watched ,

and waited for their further prepara-

At first the Strangler surlily swore
that he would never walk a step in the
directionof town, and for a short time
threats nor arguments could shake that

;cloud of spray and shower of water-

- or for speech, he likewise plunged from

grim resolution; but when Ralph Innes ,

drew a knife and freely made use of its
keen point, the rascal yielded with an
ill grace.

“Let up, curse ye!” he growlineg were film in bonds-

cried, flinching from that smarting spur. ’
“ I’ll go, but—devil scorch me if I don't.

make ye both pay for all this: pay ten-
thousand-fold, too!”

“ Augh-yaugh, thin,” quoth Barney
O’Shea. “ Blatherin' cooms moighty aisy

to yees now, me laddy-buck, but either r

that same divil begins his scoorchin'.

faith, ’tis litthle toime ye’ll hev foor‘

annythin’ woorse thin wigglin’ an'
squarmin’ ahl over the gridoirn, begob! "

Between them the two ' men quickly
prepared their prisoner for taking the
road after submission was won. His
arms remained heund, as a matter of
courSe, but his lower limbs were left at
liberty, since all would have to walk
the miles lying bettveen cabin and town.

During brief interval Barney did some
hurried foraging, fin ing enough. cold
victuals to satisfy his ravenous hunger
to a degree. Since nothing better of-
fered, he could hold out until at Salva-

‘tion again. \
i: Then the little party set forth, taking

the most practicable route, guided by
Kittie, who was perfectly familiar with
that sécuon. thanks to the years she
had spent. in the foothills along with her
father. ~ '-  ,
During that tramp Ralph Innes found
plenty ,of chancesato watch. and weigh
the little maid, and unless his big blue
eyes spoke falsely. he found his 'own
reward in so doing.  f. ,  V “
This" was" not hisuirst‘ me

after a'mess of mountain

  
  

a».
1 g r.
a. . 4.,

 

 

   

 

l

ting  ‘saccess 'in case we rush matters’se

(Kittie, by several. ’Chancejhad brought afiifhm camps}; are.”
them together in assurance. 2  _ é your an  er, sir!” " .~
Ralph-v was out withxhle. ,m‘n mm , .. «r ' :21: I

 

 A w

     
  

chance had led to his seeing her again—-
and still again!

And now, knowing that but for her
hasty shot back yonder at the Strangler’s
cabin, death would have been his portion
past all doubt, the private secretary
gazed upon the maiden with still strong-
er interest.

Their route led to the river ford where
Barney O’Shea had been thrown off the

   
  
   
   
   
         
      
  

trouble had been found in escorting the

 
 
     
  

Peter Peltz looked surly and sullen
enough, but beyond an occasional mut-
tered curse or imprecation, he had moved
along freely and easily enough; but as
that ford was reached, he showed a dis-

   
       
      
       
     
  

nes tried to force him upon the stepping-
stones first of all.

Impatient at even that slight delay,
anxious as she was because of her father,

 
     
      
        
   

ping over the broken current to the fur-
ther shore.
Then Peter Peltz yielded, seemingly

  
    
        
   
      
 

helplessly hampered.

But—was he so helpless?

Those two stout guards hardly found
him so a few moments later, for Peter
gave Barney a savage kick in the stom-
ach which fairly doubled him up, then
shouldered Innes roughly, giving a
hoarse yell of defiant hatred as he
plunged headlong into the deep pool of;
which lay below the ford! ’ v " ’

Kittie gave a shrill cry of warning
as she turned head to see this desperate
stroke for liberty, and she flung up her
Winchester as quickly as possible, pull- 2
ing trigger even before butt could touch’ . 1
her shoulder.

There was no time for more: no time
for aim or calculation: for even then that
burly shape was vanishing amidst a.

  
            
     
        
     
    
      
      

drops.

Ralph. Innes rallied swiftly, but too
late to see more than those circling
waves, but without stopping for thought

    
       
       
  

mm to pool, swimming boldly to the
bend, there looking for the Strangler,
feeling confident that Peter must come
to the surface or drown, since his arms

  
   
       
   
     
  

But he saw no head, heard no 8389'
of drowning wretch, found no sign of his , u ,
prisoner though he waited and searched . ,
long and stubbornly. . ‘

Had the Strangler preferred drowning
to hanging? _

   
     
         
      
  

 

     
  

CHAPTER XVII. ‘. .
A BUSY morn FOR THE SPARKLER.

Together that warning note from Joel: I
Ketch was discussed in all its bearings,
Sparkler Steve taking a far more favor:
able view of the aflair than Martin Kirk-
wood could attain. . <

As a matter of fact the Sport was more 
sanguine by nature, and as he held pre~ 
cious scant faith in the idea one ought 
always to look upon the gloomy sided.“
matters, he feigned rather more than less
confidence that all was bound to turnout,
right in the end. ’

“The sending of this very note is an
evidence of conscious weakness 1
you come .to peep below the surface,”
he declared, briskly. “ It shows-Jack ,
Ketch is afraid of being run to earth be-
fore he’can fully arrange'hls wires; and,
that  . ' _ g ’ 

.“ Yet you advise patience and wait:
ing! " interrupted Kirkwood. with M}.
in tone as it surely. showedvia  
' “That‘s no lie, ihither," equality 

      
    
      
     
        
    
         
      

 
  
  
  
  

W.
.. 4, _

     
    
     
      
   
   
      
   
    
   
 
 
     

 
 
      
  
     

 
    

   
    
 

torted the Sparkler, in no wise Gil-rt
 so adrise,hwt that ‘ -

   

 
 
 
 

  
  

 
 
  
  

  
   
  
  
 
  
 

   
   
 

 
  

 

18

The Sparkler Sport.

 

 

amendment. “ To a man in your circum-
stances a few thousand more or less cuts
but a trifling figure, but a daughter like
Miss Lorena—that’s heap-sight differ-
ent! ”

The old man made a passionate gesture
at this;

“I’d rather live a. beggar to my dying
day than have aught of harm befall my
darling!"

“I know it, sir, and that is precisely
why I advise modest deliberation just
at present. While I hold full faith we
could handle the Stranglers, with Jack
Ketch at their head, harm might easily
come to the young lady while the rest
of us were mixing up in a rough house.
And so——I say wait with what patience
can be mustered, until further word
comes from the fellows across the
board.”

Terribly anxious though he was, Mar-
tin Kirkwood could not deny the force
of this reasoning, and little by little he
calmed, Sparkler Steve staying by him
until that victory was fairly won.

“Since the rascals have opened up
communications, sir, you can feel assured
that no decided steps will be taken on
their side of the table without fair no—
tice to yourself. And so, to leave you
in better fettle for the wind—up, sup-
pose you try for another forty winks?”

Kirkwood protested that sleep was
utterly out of the question so long as
this awful suspense lasted; but the
Sparkler Sport held fairer faith in the
arts of the physician. He humored the
old gentleman, craftily, and then, un-
der cover of fetching a fresh sup of
water, administered another portion of
the sleeping draught without being sus-
pected by the patient.

Half an hour later Martin Kirkwood
was placidly slumbering, apparently
good for the remainder of that eventful
night.

Starlight waited by his bedside until
fully assured that the old gentleman
would not reuse up at his departure, then
rose silently to his feet, a half-smile on
his mustached lip as he gazed upon the
sleeper.

“The face of a hard,’ strong~willed
man!" muttered the Sport, hardly con-
scious of the sounds which crossed his
lips. “The face of one who is unduly
proud of his wealth, his position in life,
his blue blood, his—and I? ”

One hand flew out in swift gesture,
and that smile almost turned to a sneer
as he added:

“I am nearly penniless, living from
hand to mouth, with no family and little
more than a fair record to back me up!
No! I am more than that: heap-sight
more than that, for I am—over head and
ears in love with your fair daughter,
Martin Kirkwood! ”

A curious confession, oddly made, but
no harm was done if no particular good
was accomplished.

The millionaire sleeper was past hear-
ing, just then, and no other ears were
nigh enough to make note of that
avowal. ‘

Laughing softly to himself over his
own impetuous folly, the Sparkler Sport
turned away from the side of the slum-
berer, opening the door and passing out
of the chamber, pausing to listen again
after gently closing the door.

Not a sound came from within, and
satisfied that Martin Kirkwood was dis-
posed of for the remainder of that night,
Starlight moved away in the direction of
his own apartment.

That, as already stated, had been
turned over to the wounded mountaineer,
Nelson Crooks; but the Sport had no im-
mediate intention of going to bed, so the
lack of sleeping accommodations did not
trouble him.

Pausing briefly at the closed door,
Starlight listened until a slight stir with-
in convinced him the man of edicine
.was still on guard, faithfully ca ng for
the injured man.

A cautious tapping at the portal
brought Dr. Potter to the door, and
though his frown faded a bit at sight of

 

 

the Sport, he seemed by no means eager
to grant admission.

“ Just for a minute or so,” whispered
Starlight, deftly slipping past the guard—
ian and flashing a keen look upon the
sick man. “I’ve coaxed the old gentle-
man off into a sound snooze, and now—~
no change, doctor?”

“ No change to speak of; no, sir.”

“But he's no worse, surely? ”

“Nothing to speak of. In fact, since
he’s no worse, it is almost safe to pro-
nounce him better, if you can compre-
hend the seeming paradox.”

Sparkler Steve was gazing wistfully
upon that pale, haggard face, changed
so greatly since the evening before. If
he heard that speech, he paid it no at-
tention, presently speaking, guardedly:

“ He looks plenty strong enough to
talk sensible, doctor! I’d give a finger
for just fifty words from his lips, if he
would—let me take a. ilyer, pardner! ”

“Not now,” almost siernly checked
the physician, hand closing upon an arm
as though he meant to add force to his
denial. “Every minute of this sleep is
worth an ordinary hour. To break in
upon it might make all the difference
between life and death! ”

“ That's hard—mighty hard luck, Doc!
If he might just say a word or two,
even! For right there lies the right cue
to this whole Strangler outfit——I'm will-
ing to lay my life upon it, doctor! ”

But the man of medicine was not to
be stirred from the stand he had taken,
by this or by any other argument the
Sparkler might use. He shook his iron-
gray head resolutely, then said:

“ Can’t help it, Starlight. I'm a doctor, \

first of all, and if my own life hung in
the balance, I'd never allow this poor
devil to be disturbed right now. You
know me, old fellow; and so—no use!”

Sparkler Steve fully realized so mueh,
and drew a long breath which lacked
little of being a sigh. as his gaze came
reluctantly away from the face of the
sleeper. .

“All right,.doctor. I can’t keep on
kicking when you take that tone. But
mind: no matter the hour, or what I may
be doing, let me know Just as soon as
Crooks rouses up. You will promise me
this, honest? ”

“ Yes. Now you’d better go, I reckon.
Good-night—morning, rather! ”

Leaving the sick-chamber, Sparkler
Sport passed to the lower floor, pausing
at the office long enough to direct an-
other chamber to be prepared for his oc-
cupancy on his return, then passed out
under the stars. '

Those broken accusations made by
Nelson Crooks were still ringing through
his busy brain, and he began the quest
for Peter Peltz, meaning to win a more
perfect alibi from that burly knave in
case he should be met up with.

But that meeting did not occur, and
look where he might Sparkler Steve
failed to find the fellow, or to learn any
definite tidings concerning him, beyond
a certain point.

There were not lacking those who
could tell him of the cenvivial pair who
had made the rounds in company, indus-
triously “ shingling ” the greater portion
of the “all-night places” in Salvation;
but no one seemed able to tell him just
whither Peter or Barney had gone,
eventually.

While thus occupied the Sparkler Sport
came in; contact with another fairly
famous character in that section: Vin-
cent Messick, gambler, chief, all-around
sport.

Just now “Vin” seemed on the verge
of one of his “periodicals,” during which
he was mighty apt to prove himself a.
burden to his friends and a terror to his
enemies.

Not that Messick was actually drunken
——when he reached that stage of his " pe-
riodical," ’twas “ wake,\snakes, and hunt
your holes” in hasty earnest: but he
was “‘crooking his elbow ” after an omi-
nous fashion, and his usually reticent
tongue was wagging far more lively
than common.

I

 

He tackled the Sparkler Sport at sight,
volubly denouncing the infernal gang
which. had brought a blight and a curse
upon the country, asking how much
longer decent citizens would meekiy
stand such doings?

“ Why, man, dear, it’s ruin—just ruin-
ing the business interests of Salvation!
Here I’ve been—been trying my level
prettiest to get a game started this six
hours past, and here I am—with nothing
better to do than curse the luck and
pour bad whisky down the red lane! "

“Better play right hand against left,
Messick. Whisky is sure to down you,
no matter what you draw to,” advised
the Sport, soberly.

“Who licensed you to start preaching,

Sport? Better—we'd all better brace up ,‘
and hunt those strangling devils off the ‘

face of the earth! I’m in for just that
sort of game! I’ll go myself, and I’ll pay
wages to another half-dozen, for this
campaign or the war! \Vhoo-up! Who
talks next? ”

Messick whirled on a heel, flashing
eyes over one and all there present, then
speaking on as no other one volunteered:

“I hate ’em—~hate ’em all worse than
I do rank poison! I have said it many a
time, and now I repeat: this gang of
Jack Ketch ought to be run off the face
of the earth, and I’ll tackle the job by
my lonesome if there’s never another
man in all Salvation with enough back—
bone to go me pards!

" For shame, ye cursed curs! To let
such an outfit run the whole country, and
ruin your business, and cover your town
with dirt! For shame on such white-liv-
ered whelps of cowardice! While I—I
alone will make ’em hustle to—to—Who
said take a horn? "

Not the Sparkler Sport, for one, and
he passed out of the saloon while the
others were lining up in front of the
bar.

A half-smile was upon his face, but
there was little mirth in his soft chuckle
as he turned face once more toward the
Midway Hotel. .

“ Methinks he doth protest too loud—
ly! ” crossed those lips, slowly. “ I won-
der if it wouldn’t fetch pay dirt to sink
a shaft through that fool’s memory-box?
And yet—I can hardly think him one of
that outfit, either! ”

While moving toward his hotel, Spark.
lcr Steve dropped in at one or two more
saloons, on the off-chance of hitting off
scent or striking information worth the
trouble; but nothing came ,of these vent-
ures, and he reached the Midway with a,
belief that Peter Peltz had jumped the
town for the present, while Barney—

“Gone back to the camp, I wouldn’t
wonder,” mused the Sport as he passed
on after obtaining the key to his new
room. “He’s an odd genius, is Barney,
but nothing crooked about him, surely!
Can’t say as much for Peter, though!
If there isn’t the shadow of a noose
about his blessed neck, then there’s
something out of whack with my mental
optics: yes!" .

Never once thinking. of possible peril
to himself, and bent only on catching a.
comfortable “ forty winks” before the
new day should grow too old, Sparkler
Steve passed on to his chamber, insert-
ing key, turning it quickly, then push-
ing the door open for his own admit-
tance.

Even as he stepped inside, Starlight
caught a spitting sound, then took note
Of a scattering spark, of fire close in
front Of his breast,

Swift as thought itself he grasped this,
gave a fierce wrench and twist, which
tore the thing free, then hurled it
thmugh window-glass and all—then
came '8. tremendous explosion which
seemed to shake the hotel.

 

CHAPTER XVIII.
_ A ONE-SIDED ARGUMENT.
That heavy fall seemed to take much

of the life out of Allen Kirkwood, and

before he could oifer any actual fight,

 

.. Jun—

1

“  ‘K0‘ln‘u-‘n'w AM». as: msixumzamu’mfi «fl...

 

 

 

 

   
  
 
 

come you must? ”

 word has been spoken, and I never go

»- answer:

, *pay that much, sir, if he knew just how

 com or go into full mourning?” coolly
Bout in the Chlef..o§. the Stranglers.

, ,. ,which I desire you to use pretty much
.  after' this fashion:
,M E’termsmhen set down the sand facts in
 ,z’yourgown words.
. -.:.your worthy, dad all the more forcibly,

. :-,.yop~ understa' d?” l
'  i f“? What “a

The Sparkler Sport.

 

he was placed beyond making serious,

trouble.
Jack Ketch watched the work until it

was complete, at the same time hinder- ;
ing Lorella from making any outcry, his :

gloved touch seemingly paralyzing the
poor child for the moment.

“ You’re a bigger fool than I took you 5
and that’s needless,” ‘

for, youngster,
grimly quoth the Strangler, as Allen was
jerked to his feet and held helpless by
his captors.
to do the crowd full credit, and now——
like this!”

“ You devil! " hoarsely panted the pris-
oner.

“What comes next, boss?” asked one
of the ruflians.

“Run him back where he came from.
See that he don’t make further bother,
but don’t harm him beyond that. He’s
worth money, if he is an idiot of the
rankest stripe!”

Without giving Kirkwood a chance
to say more, the Stranglers hurried him
away from the spot, leaving their chief
with Lorella.

The maiden was trembling like a leaf,
more through fear for her hot-headed
brother than herself, ihowever. Still,
she Was brave enough to hold back her
cries, her sobs, all outward evidence of
that fear, lest such expression still fur-
ther anger Jack Ketch.

The Strangler Chief was ready enough
to talk business, for his part, and when
his fellows had vanished from View with
their stubborn charge, he settled down
near the maiden, like one who means to
settle matters once for all.

“ Failing your brother, Miss Kirkwood,
I reckon you and I will have to do the
preliminary chin-chin. This affair wants
arranging mighty badly, and so—riglit
here you have the nubbin of it all!

“We’ve got you foul. We’ve taken
every trick so far, and hold the rest of
the trumps. You can’t win out, try
though you maY; so—what’s the use?
Why not come down gracefully, since

Lorella murmured something: she
hardly knew just what: but'Jack Ketch
waved his hand as though requesting
silence, and then spoke on:

“ The idea of it runs pretty much like
this, my dear. We need money, while
your father needs his kids. That natu-
rally suggests an exchange, which fetches
us down to bedrock. Now—~lend me thy
ears, sweetness! , I

“Here you are, and we can hold you
against all the men your more or less
worthy daddy could enlist in six months,
Fighting can’t help you away, but hard
cash can win out without wasting so
much. as a cartridge!

“I’m almost ashamed to look you In
the face while mentioning such a petty
figure for such a charming prize, but the

hack on my say-so. That means, t'wenty-
five’thousand ducats pays for both your—"
self and your brother: no more, no
less!”

Lorella. plucked up courage at this,
and in slightly tremulous tones made

“I know—.71 feel sure father would
--—that is«-{' _
“ When he knows that it is 'pay ran-

‘fJust. so! And that forms part of the
peppergram, my dear. ' ,

1.; “I’ve already supplied the materials,
First listen to my

That may impress

I to tell him, sir?" '

“I gave you a fair chance ‘

19

 

] " In that case bodily harm may come

.1 to one or to both, while financial injury
 most assuredly will strike Mr. Kirk—
wood.”

, “ You mean~—I hardly understand you,
isir?” faltered the maiden.

“ Simply this: that an attempt on part
of your father or your friends to rescue
you before the hard cash is paid, will
be met by failure so far as you are con—
cerned, and a raise in the price of ran-
som.

“ Take me with the grain, and I’m soft
‘as silk and smooth as velvet. Brush
me contrary—well, don’t you do it! I‘d
turn beat to your beauty, and then—
good-by! "

For all Jack Ketch spoke with a cer—
tain lightness, Lorella
shrunk away as far as her bonds would
permit; for her ankles still remained
tied, although that keen blade had set
her arms at liberty.

The Strangler saw this, then chuckled
as though amused by the effect of his
thinly masked menace. ‘

I “ Enough on that score, I fancy, Miss
Kirkwood. I'd hate like sin to play you
dirt, but business is business, and my
faith is pledged to my gallant lads, you
understand? Just now I am master,
but if a slip-up in this little specula-
tion should come—chaos!” ’

” I will write-4 will set down all you
tell me, sir,” said Lorella, eager to end
the ordeal as quickly as might be. " Only
—~I hardly comprehend just what it is
you desire me to tell father.”

“ Well, that’s easily remedied, my dear.
Just make him understand that you are
not treated so mighty badly, but that
your future depends entirely upon him—
self—and his hard cash! Mention the
full price, in figures so plain that he
can’t well mistake them.

“When so much is done, I’ll speak
further."

Seeing that her captor meant imme-
diate compliance, Lorella took pen and
paper, writing upon her knee for lack of
a more steady desk.

The first words came slowly and awk-
wardly enough, but then the pen moved
more freely and line after line was, add—
ed to the page, until Jack Ketch flung
up his hands in mock horror. ,

“Go easy, my dear little dumpling!
It isn’t a three-volume novel I ask you
to indite, but a simple note which—let
me see just what you have written, any-
way.” - ,

Before Lorella could divine his inten—
tion, Jack Ketch secured the paper, run-
ning eyes swiftly over those flowing
lines, giving an occasional grunt as he
read.

Whether this meant satisfaction or
disapproval, the girl had no means of
knowing, so she sat in silence through
that reading. ' ‘

“A blind man would know a woman
wrote it,” remarked , the Chief of the
Stranglers, as he handed back the paper.
“ Well, the old gentleman will have time
enough to wade through it all, I reckon,
and he'll be all the carer it comes direct
from. Yourjhands. ' So—go. on, dear! "

" WhAt more shall I write, sir? ”
timidly asked Lorella, in doubt. .

“ Something. like this, please. Add that
only fair dealing is asked forhand that
any attempt to play double, or to trick
us after an exchange, will be met with
worse than defeat. Go on“; littleone.”
Lorella. obeyed, putting the hint into
as compact a form as she knew how,
then reading it to the Strangler.

“ Good enough! With a little more
practice we might set ’up in business,”
model letter-writers——~ah.em-!."I , V

“ There is more to say, sir?" ventur-
ed Lorella. ' "

shivered and 3

~ “Heaps of it. my: angel, and the 'next _

personal checks, no drafts, nothing
which can be played double on. He shall
take this cash to the spot 1 will name
through my messenger. He shall go
there alone, or accompanied only by my
messenger; and if any other person or
persons attempt to chip in, either with
or without his knowledge and consent,
the deal is OK, and I’ll strike him again,
heavier than ever!”

Lorella hesitated to put this into
words, and Jack Ketch gave a vigorous
nod, then said:

“Write it out, Miss Kirkwood, please.
Nothing like having everything under—
stood in advance, you see.”

“ But—I’d rather not—”

“Rather not what?”

Efather, sir?”

Jack Ketch laughed, but there was a.
g false ring to his notes which only served
lto confirm the sudden suspicion which
[had assailed the maiden, and flinging
idcwn the pen, Lorella cried out:

i “ I will not be a party to any such vile
itrick, sir! I’ll never aid in bringing
£fresh trouble upon my poor papa,
i when—”

l “ You say you won’t? Then—all
fright, my stubborn little angel! Sup-
pose we try something else, just for
beans?”

Lifting hand to lips, Jack Ketch
sounded a prolonged whistle, the echoes
of which floated far away through the
night.

After a comparatively brief delay Lo—
rella caught sight of, moving shapes
across yonder in the shadows. Those
shapes quickly emerged into the red glow
from a campfire, and a sharp cry es-
caped her lips.

“ Quiet, you silly! ” muttered the Chief
of the Stranglers, leaning far enough
her way to clap a gloved hand over lips,

was just about to take' shape.

Lorella struggled faintly, but stared
in terror at yonder shapes: one of which
was that of her brother Allen, held pow-
erless in the grip of three athletic
Stranglers, while a fourth stood with.
hand on throat, forcing back head and

looking knife.

Helpless though the young man sure.
ly was, he could use his voice, and just
then cried out hoarsely to his sister:

“Stand firm, 'Ella! Unless——”

" Button him up, boys!” ordered Jack
Ketch, then turning again toward the
terrified maiden to add: ‘

“ Write as I order, girl, or by all the

gods! yonder knife: shall drink dry the

heart of your brother! Speak: will you ~
obey?”

“Don't—I will say what—spam him,
I beseech you, sir! ” quavered the ther—
oughly scared girl, shivering like a leaf
in the storm. ,

“All right- Let'iip on him, lads; I
reekon we’ll get along without further

the writing’s done. Now, my love, here’s
your pen: write! " ‘

~—

cnar'rna xxx. _
JACK amen PUBHES 

\

and feeling that now all would ,
smooth sailing before him, Jack 

memory. ‘ , ,. x . .,

, Whenher pen ceased and shalooked
up as if for further instructions, the
f He gave a curt nod of approval, then.

spoke: ,_   V . r ;.
“You’re ’a jewel: a» "veritable daisy: ,

 

chunk shapes like this: The'exact man-

 

“ “First; make him  understand that
ti; yourself and brother are in sound
iifiyhsalth. -  ., gm? .,_.liable , to

a tuning “as  ~59“!

  

    

  

- mouth.-_ when my messenger gets,there,
but titan“ donoharm‘xto let,  old gem. .;
iguana ‘rstagd. thatrmy  rules

,1 m... .0“ m:   ,, _I

femurs. " assassin iii ‘

,nerpf exchange will be told by word of

t

   

  

dipped in dew-“Miss  I really
regret that I've begun neg t 
youri'r’a‘nsgm; really!" ; ‘-
 5‘}- ' .. I, ‘

  
  

" You are not laying a trap for my:

cutting short the agitated speech which .

face, while above them quivered an ugly- .

trouble, but—just hold him in sight until  I

.Through love for hei- brother, that. 9‘"
brief rebellion was promptly put .doway;=,ix
he 

watched W113 943 the 31"“ .‘thé tram - ‘ w ‘

Chief of the Stranglers took thematic;  y.
reading. what had so far been.“ doing;

   
 
       
   
  
   
  
     
  
   
  
    
    
      
    
              
      
    
   
    
     
        
       
     
       
    
        
       
   
    
    
      
 
        
 
   
          
       
      
 
         
       
       
       
     
    
     
     
     
   

 
 

 
 
    
     
    
      
        
        
     
 
     
    
           
      
      
    
   
     
    
     
   
    
   
    
     
    
   
     
      
       
     
   
   
    
   
      
       
  

‘ .

  
 
    
   
         
     
    
    
   
     
        
       
      
    
    
   
   
      
   
   
 
 
   
  

       
   

  
  
  
 
 
  
   
  
   
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
   
   
    
   
    
     
      
     
 
    
   
    
     
     
     
     
     
       
     
      
      
     
     
     
      
        
      
     
       
       
     
      
     
   
      
        
     
    
    
   
       

 may» m  '

 

.-—O

 .- - r;-

20

while a bunch of angel-food of your big-
ness fairly ready to tumble into the
arms of one who could appreciate you
as none other—hello! ”

Lorella shrunk away with a choking
cry, frightened more by this grim play-
fulness than she had been while threat-
ened by those same hidden lips.

Apparently Allen Kirkwood also
caught the meaning if.not the very
terms, for he wrested himself partially
free from his masked guardians, crying
out menacingly:

‘ “Let up on that, you scoundrell I’ll

,pay you off in hot coin if you even
i dark”

“ Don’t twist a limb off, or snap his
vertebra, gentle lambs," mockingly
called back Jack Ketch, as his fellows
again forced their charge into subjec-
tion. “A body wouldn’t think it, just
to look and listen, but that same con-
trary kid is worth a cool ten thousand
chucks! So—he as mild with him as
he’ll let you. please.” -

So much for the benefit of that young
hotspur, then the Chief of the Stranglers
turned again toward Lorelle, speaking
in altered tones:

" You hardly seem to appreciate a lit-
tle joke, Miss Kirkwood, but let that
D885. BUSiness is good enough for yours
truly, and we’ll finish up what we’ve
fairly started.

“What you’ve indlted is all right as
far as it goes, but there are a few minor
points which may as well be tacked on.
If no room is left for questioning one’s
meaning, so much the less excuse or
kicking up a racket when pay day rolls
around!”

Then, in clear, crisp tones, Jack Ketch
added the items he had in mind, which
were faithfully set down by the maiden.

Another look over the communication,
then the outlaw expressed his full ap-
proval, after which Lorella was directed
to append her name in full, shaping it so
carefully that no question of forgery
might arise.

“ Not that I’m so powerful anxious to
see the last of you, Mis Kirkwood,” he
declared, his voice sounding more ear-
nest than jesting. “So far as my per-
sonal fancy runs, I wouldn’t put on
mourning if you should be elected to
linger here for the rest of your life.

Still',“ business is business; and that runs ,

pretty much like this:

“I want the old gentleman to know
for certain that this note comes directly
from you, and that it means just wlrat is

" ‘here set down in ,black and white.’

“I have tried my best to write as you
directed. sir.”
‘ "1%nd you have succeeded to a marvel,
my ear," declared Jack Ketch.’ “ Still,
there might be a lingering doubt as to
the authorship, don’t you see? And any-
thing like that might cause delay for
further light. Sow-write your name so
daddy can recognize it at a glance,
please.”
Again Lorelle. obeyed, her one wish.
mow being to satisfy this loquacious vil-
lain as perfectly as might be. For Allen
. was still held under the knife, and right
well she knew how hot was his temper,

a

“PP. ram“, 1:7 ‘ My ,’ _” ,

 

_.___TheSparkler'Sp<?£t-

fiercely sullen was his captive. If so,
the fact bothered him but little.

“ Now, my dear boy, it’s you and I for
it,” was his opening, paper in one hand,
while its mate lightly touched one of
those strong shoulders. “Try and act
sensibly for once, even if it should
strike in with fatal effect. The night is
well spent, and there’s nothing like be—
ginning the new day in ship-shape order.
Sabe, kid?”

“What is it you want?” surlily de-
manded Kirkwood.

“ What I’m going to get, never you
worry, old man. And, as a starter, here
you have it, right from the shoulder.

“You shall be my messenger and go-
between, for lack of a better, and
when—"

“ If I refuse? ” .

“ You’ll not refuse, but d5 precisely as
hidden,” came the cool retort. “ You will
hear my ultimatum directly to your fa—
ther, now at Salvation City, and add
any information which this message of
mine may lack.”

“ So you say.”

“ And so I mean. You don’t count for
so mighty much, even if I have placed a
neat little price-tag about your noble
neck; but your sister—” .

“ Look out, curse you!" ‘

“That’s different,” coolly persisted
Jack Ketch, in no wise disturbed by
these fierce interjections. “ When your
father fairly comprehends that her safe-
ty hangs on close compliance with my
terms and conditions, I have little fears
as to his actions.

“The ransom is to be paid in cash;
gold, silver, or bills; no check or draft,
nothing which may be used as an after-
clap, bear in‘ mind.

“ This sum is to be taken to Painted-
Flat; you know the place? ”

Allen nodded, sulkily, and Jack Ketch
spoke on: .

“I thought as much. All right. To
Painted Flat, then.’ Taken by yourself
and Mr. Kirkwood alone, you under-
stand? "

“Why are you so confoundedly par-
ticular, just so the money is turned
overto you?”

“That’s all right, my critical young
friend. Would you take along an army
to witness the exchange?”

“I’d have enough there, to see fair
play, anyway.” , ' 

“I’ll attend to the fair play part,
. thank you, sir. And just hear in mind
that I’m shaping terms and conditions
i for both sides.”

“ It takes two to make a bargain."

“ Not in this case. Only one, and I

‘ am that important individual. I say you
obey. If not—Miss Kirkwood pays the
cost. And that—well, lacking the gold

.we canvhave dead loads of fun! She
would make a mighty dainty prize to be
set “on high in a lottery for my pretty
lads, don’t you reckon? ”

i. There was more in tone than in words,
significant though the latter were, and

~Allen Kirkwood seemed about ‘to hurl

1 himself bodily at the arch-villain, when

the was checked by the muzzle of a re-

! volver staring him fairly in the face.

 

shall .. be paid, of course, but after
that—”

“ Go on, now. you’ve made a. fair be-
ginning,” mocked Jack Ketch.

“After that—look out! I’ll hunt you
down, though you try to hide your evil
head at the bottom of the deepest pit
of Tophet! And when found—sure as
there is a heaven above us both, I’ll nev-
er give over until you have hung like a.
sheep-killing cur!”

Instead of betraying resentment at
this fierce menace, the Chief of the
Stranglers laughed‘ carelessly before
saying:

“Barking dogs seldom bite, and if I’m
safe until you do the deed, I have
mighty little need of life insurance, old
fellow. Now——1isten.

“ I'm going to send you off for Salva-
tion City to'play your part in the wind-
up. See that you make no ugly mis—
takes; or the wind-up will wind up your
life, dead certain!

“Take the cash to Painted Flat as
soon as you can raise it, but go there
alone with the old gentleman. If not——
well, some of us will be where we can
see, if not seen, and anything like foul
play will break off all negotiations-that
minute!

“ Play fair, and there shall come no
boggle on my side of the board. Beauty
goes for booty, and if your dad is con-
tent, reckon we ought to be pretty much
the same.

“ That’s enough, and enough satisfies
a porker, so—fetch the nag, you fel—
lows!" lifting his voice to match his
will. /

Either the Stranglers had been posted
in advance, 0 else they were marvelous-
ly swift to vine a want, for with very
slight delay a horse was brought to the
front, saddled and bridled, and ready for
the road.

With a swift motion Jack Ketch cut
the bonds which held Kirkwood impot-
ent, drawing back a bit as he spoke on:

“A final word or two, my'dearzboy,
which may help confine you to the
straight and narrow path which leads
to—ahem! ' ' .

“ As you can see for yourself, the new
day is just on the point of dawning. By
the time yonder sun shows his forehead,
we’ll be on the move as well.”

“ The move?” echoed Kirkwood.
“ What do You mean by that?” .

“ Merely that we will shift quarters
as soon .as you start for Salvation City,
leaving! no trail behind us. This to
guard against any possible trick on your
part, or that of Kirkwood friends. Un-
derstand? " »

" That you are wasting time and
breath, ‘yes. Wetll do nothing of that
sort until after the exchange is made.
Their—on guard! "

rest may go hang! Now—jump aboard,
pardner." ,’ ‘
Allen Kirkwood acted promptly
enough now, nimbly springing into the
saddle and holding the spirited animal
with a strong band. ,
By that dim gray light his face'sh‘owed

" That’s all right, my hearty. Let us"
once close hooks on the 'ducats and the ‘

unusually pale, but his eyes looked all -..,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

:j  how dimcult to bend his will. 9‘ Steady by Jerks. kid!” 0W9 the J k
 a . ‘ I . .. . aglow as be bent a bit toward ac -
.  " Like one :tu satisfied with the docu- 11183;! fgmlnz- Ire tailing! $11; gm“ Ketch, to hurl a final threat in,“ that
 mom. Jack Ketch turned away, leaving as r Hi you the aw a o .a Tom masked face. ‘ '

i ; Lorena with arm. at liberty for the time :-this forward we'll talk business straight.

  being, apparently forgetting that much. i “Martin Kirkwwd wm 335' my terms entiy deemed enough

 
    
     
     
      
 

But the Chief of the 8111'” lers upper-r 3/
id. to his gloved -. ,4,

      
   
   

or else feeling secure in the watchful-
_, nesg‘of' his lusty knnves.

At a nod from their master, the Strang-
lers forced Allen Kirkwood sway, pass-
ing, beyond eye—range of the anxious

 maiden yonder. . _ ,
" “That will do," said Jack Ketch, when
' scente'st with the move as made. " You

, . » [Viciousl‘yf

5 set down in this paper. but-you can add
i to them at will. Make him see that he
has no option. Show him that square
dealing is absolutely necessary on his
part. for any attempt. to trick or ‘to
, cheat will be met byjbrutelforce.

“ Sure as the sunis creeping ,over the

son' at the first ,hint of cracked play,
‘then turn yonder over to my Stran-
, glen-s folt them gtotreat as their humor
‘ dictates!" U, " '  i ‘

i.

in 'ii'o'tir: pic; Allen ‘t'girkyagct ‘ genus

hills.ydnder; I'll kill both father and'

dough, came these threats;

right hand flew up as c,
sounding stern and peremptory;

“ Careful. Mr. Kirkwood! I've' let you

and now—businessi, u ' ,.
“ Go convey the "message Ive trusted

play white. and to keep all outsiders in
ished; After: that-J

you demonl',’ . . .
,u‘me~him in charge, he has me
other‘horseman‘ cattle to the ,
im’ on his way; anal-you ““
~i “mantra ' —-

 
 

  

 

heck,.haie voice "  I
chin—chin more than enough/for a dozen, ’y A

you, with. Warn Martin Kirkwood to  {I
the dark untitlour little bargain is flu:  '

u: #72. 7,}

rm?!) hunt you down to thejsllov‘fs. -

   
   
   
   
     
   
   
   
  

  

     
 
   
   
   

  
     
 
 
   
     

 

i .

    
    
 
     
     
 
   

 
 
 
  

 

c; \

v 5 r

CHAPTER XX.
GOOD-BY TO PETER PEL'rz.

That daring break for liberty took
Ralph Innes completely by surprise, and
Barney O'Shea was still worse confound-
ed. -
The Irishman was disabled for the time

being by that vicious kick, but his com-
panion acted promptly enough.

One flashing glance over that troubled
pool, then Innes plunged after his pris—
oner, rising to the surface an instant
later, shaking the water from his head
and face while looking around for his
human quarry.

There was nothing to be seen of Peter
Peltz, even when the current and his
own vigorous strokes carried Ralph to
the bend for a. wider view, although so
brief an interval seemed insufficient for
even such a daring knave to make an es-
cape good. -

There were no signs of his having left
the river on either shore, there quite high
rand rocky. If any such effort had been

' made, a wet trail would certainly have

betrayed the fact.

Could it be that Peter was still swim-
ming below the surface, heading down
stream?

There appeared to be no other solution,
and Ralph Innes took precautions to
watch, himself passing further down the
current, eyes on the keen alert.

He knew that 'twould be impossible for
' Pelt: to leave the water at any point be-

low, to which even a man-fish might at-

tain without rising for breath; and yet
{the moments rolled up to minutes with-
;out any such reappearance!

~ For fully ten minutes the secretary
f; maintained his close watch, but nothing

-'\'

Ltcame to reward him, while the vigorous

.' calls from Barney at the ford above
:proved plainly enough that Peter had not
‘tried a double back.

i There was only one other plausible ex-
}planation—that in making his hasty
L plunge, Peter Peltz had struck against
some'sunken rock. breaking neck, fract-

, ~ uring skull, or else knocking him sense-

. less at once.

.; It so, in all probability he now lay

somewhere at the bottom of yonder deep
pool; and, acting upon this belief, Innes
returned, to time and time again dive in
the, pool and grope blindly along its rock-
strewn bottom. ' ,

‘ In vain. If Peter was there, such blind
arching failed,to find his carcass, and

if! ally Ralph gave over.

{q If only himself had been concerned,

jdoubtless he would have persisted long-

.-er,.for there was a liberal sprinkling of
~the bulldog in his composition; but Kit-

 ‘ .tie Crooks was worrying sadly ever her

father, and rather than permit her to
complete that trip alone, Innes would
opt his own quest short.

 s t Then, too, he declared his own anxiety

~to take more profitable action concerning
.‘ his cOusin, his promised bride.
“ So far I’ve been of no use at all," he
confesaed, rather moodlly, as he came
‘back from the cover under shelter of

V' ' which he had as well as possible wrung

out. his wet garments. “I thought I

I " .:might be able to trail those demons

“home, but I failed—«failed most wretched-
II
‘ Barney O’Shea turned face aside and

 lifted, a hand to mask a cough which hard-
-. ~ ly seemed to be geuine.

. Kittie said nothing in words, although

*her paling cheeks and fluttering breath
', :might have told tales to a very close ob-
i ~‘server.

. Just then Ralph Innes was staring at

  new silent pool where Peter Peltz

 strangely vanished from their
ken all in a moment. '
,“Cooddby, Peter! Satan grant you
enchaepose as your actions in this life
so richly merit! " grimly spoke the young
then turning away. to offer a help-
 to the minimal!) maid.
an

n

 

  

 

I
i
l

i
i

extrusions it not. hurryingalpthe ,ruom-beaeath that roof. I  «
ii" once more on * their‘yaygto 2

i

The Sparkler Sport.

Kittie was too deeply agitated by what 
she knew and what she feared. Barney 2
preferred to watch and study this fair- 
seeming man, whom he felt nearly con- ,
vinced was rotten to the bone, while ,
Ralph Innes had,ample food to occupy ;
his brain. ‘

The journey was by no means a short
one; yet the route was not so very diffi—
cult for foot—passengers, and the trio
made remarkably good time, without at
all overtasking their physical powers.

As a rule, Kittie Crooks led the way,
and where a girl led, strong men could
hardly lag far behind.

The poor girl was in a fever of appre-
hension, for she knew her father must
be seriously injured when he failed to
return home, after what had passed be—
tween them.

Seeing this, Ralph tried to relieve her
killing suspense, drawing further assur-
ance from Barney’s lips that Nelson
Crooks was only slightly hurt; but all
such efforts were in vain.

“ You mean ,Well, sir,” the mountain
girl said, trying to steady her tones
bravely enough, but only in part succeed-
ing. ° “I thank you—thank you both,
from the bottom of my heart. But—I
know! ”

What more could be said? Nothing.
And so the trio hurried on toward Sal-
vation City, each one thinking more or
less deeply the while.

Kittie caught breath sharply as she
caught her first glimpse of the town, ly-
ing yonder on the level. It seemed just
the same as ever, although the sad
change which had come to her surely
ought to have wrought a like diflerence
yonder. .

She started ahead almost in a run, and
Barney took chance to let drop a warn-
ing whisper for Ralph Innes:

“‘ Faith, sor, ’tw'u’d be a divil av a
sthroke av she was lit roon full abuts
the carpse av her ould mon, begorra!
Don’t yees think, sor——"

Ralph Innes was thinking pretty much
the same thing, and once again he strove
to advise and guide the mountain maid;
in vain.

“I know what you fear, sir,” Kittie
said, looking him full in the eyes with
her own revered orbs the while. “ I must
hasten to daddy. If he still lives—"

“ He surely does!"

“ He will need me all the more, then,
sir,” quietly said Kittie, with just the
ghost of a smile flickering into and out
of her pale face. “ If not, if he has—is—
oh, daddy, daddy! "

Her forced composure gave way, and
for a few minutes found vent in passion-
ate tears.» Innes gently supported her
trembling frame, but wisely held his
peace, knowing that this would event-
ually result in good.

And so it proved to be.

Her overstrained nerves seemed re-
lieved and calmedby tears, and present-
ly Kittie was able to proceed, now stead-
ier than ever, better able to meet and
bear up under what fate might have in
store. , , ,

The day was yet young when the trio
entered SalvatiomCity, and they were
fortunate in reaching the Hotel Midway
without encountering any.~ one who in-
convenienced them in the least degree—
a fact for which Ralph Innes was grate~
ful enough, Judging from his face and the
long breath which he drew when the ho-
tel was fairly reached;

He gave a start and little exclamation
as he took note of an ugly rent in one
side of the building, between e first
floor and second story, where tha infer-
nal machine had expended its force with-
out material injury to mortal being, luck-
ily enough.

 

Kittie hurried to the front 
having thoughts only for. her father,
knowing from

  

 
   

 

 Shawn's- me . ,
chestedrbr Dr.- Potter in  at

       

Barney’s,lips that the ln-  , V
jur‘e'd mountaineer had been taken to... , gigegigs-on.- «m
t. at flittiqu shimmy Immi-

21

“ Wait, Kittie,” he said, quickly, as his
hands clasped hers. “You can’t go up
like this, you know! ”

“ Father is—-isn’t—oh, doctor! ” panted
the poor girl, vainly fighting for compos-
ure even as she tried to utter words
which stuck so tightly in her throat.

“ Mr. Crooks is alive, and doing to the
full as well as can be expected,” assured

" Dr. Potter, his honest eyes frankly meet-

ing her gaze. “But he must not be agi-
tated, you know. Be brave, else I'll have
to bar you from his chamber, together
with all others, little woman.”

One burning look, then Kittie drew a
long, free breath. She read the glad
truth there, and now that the worst was
past, she gathered her nerveI and spoke in
calm, even tones:

“ I will, doctor. Only take me to
father. He needs me; I know he needs
me, sir.”

“ You will obey orders, then? ” with a
keen gaze in turn. “I see that you will,
Kittie, so come. You can go there, but.
none others, as yet.”

This with a half-nod toward Innes and
O’Shea, who had drawn near in curiosity
or warm friendship.

Neither man tried to force his com-
pany upon him, however, and without
further delay Dr. Potter conducted Kit-
tie to the chamber resigned to Nelson
Cro’oks for the time being. '

The injured man was sleeping when
they entered, looking very pale and hag-
gard; so much so, that poor Kittie had to
bite her lips sharply to keep from crying
out in grief at the awful alteration.

Then, without stir or sound, those
heavy lids, lifted, and Crooks gazed
straight into the face of his only child,
kneeling there at his bedside:

Kittie forced a smile as she gently
kissed his forehead, but Crooks showed
no surprise at her presence. He smiled
faintly in recognition, then looked past
and beyond that fair head, like one seek-
ing sight of yet another person.

Dr. Potter stepped forward, quietlm

asking what was wanted, and then Neb‘

son Crooks spoke, his voice low but
steady, and tones clear:

“I want—I was only waitin’ fer my
gal.
please, will ye, Doc?"

“ All right, Crooks. I’ll send for him
after a bit. Just now you’d better lie
quiet and not try to talk too much, don't
you know.” '

“ I ‘want—~now! ” with a touch of irri-
tation in his tones. “ Talkin’ cain’t hurt
like holdin’ in~—this yer way, nohow!
want him; jest him, ye mind, Doc? ”

“ Mr. Starlight, is it, Crook‘s?"

“ Yes. He’s white; clean white from A
to Ampersand! An’ jest now that's the
sort I need—need mighty bad, too!"

“ If he can come—4' I

“ He must come! I need him—bad! I
want help sech as he kin give, an’ I need
it turribly hard, too! Fetch him, Doc, of
ye’re a man yerself! ”

 

CHAPTER XXI.
BARNEY O’SHEA MAKES ANOTHER 3mm

Thanks to his ’swift action, the Spark- ,

ler Sport had escaped all injury from the
infernal machine ,which had, past a
doubt, been intended for his destruction
or disability.

The devilish contrivance had been at- ,

tached to the door in such a manner that
the mere act of opening that barrier
would start the cunning mechanism, and
had Starlight delayed even an instant,
the results must have been disastrous to

himself. 5 x, _«
Instead, only the outside‘rof the Hotel

Midway suffered, while the machine it»

self was utterly destroyed. thus lawns

Now—send fer , Sparkler Sport, ‘

I

    
  
  
         
   
      
     
        
        
    
       
            
       
   
       
        
    
      
   
        
   

     
       
       
   
     
     
       
    
        
 
 
    
   
      
      
      
       
           
     
   
   
   
   
       
   

\

l

  
    
      
   
   
      
     
     

i

        
       
 
     
      
     
  

  

\.

 
 
  

 

no possibl clue to the 'dynamiter. 
“Whoev it was, did his nasty _ -.
in a h

," decided the Bparkéeng I
be. assigned

  
 

 

ad

 

The Sparkler Sport.

 

 

 

 

thought, the’Sport hardly attempted to
reply. Doubtless this was but another
act of the Strangler Gang, and he let it
pass for that.

Still, the incident drove all thought of
catching “forty winks” from his head,
since it was nearly broad-day when the

brief—lived excitement blew over, and in 3

place of'sleeping, Starlight devoted his
care and attention to Martin Kirkwood.
He was with the capitalist, now pretty
well himself once more, when Kittie
Crooks and her double escort reached
town; but he heard no sound which.
might enlighten him as to that arrival,
rid hence failed to put in an appearance
the sick-chamber, as he otherwise
might have done.

For his part, Barney O’Shea showed.

far greater resentment at being rejected
by Dr. Potter than did Ralph Innes, and
so powerful was the cook’s curiosity that
he shortly afterward crept silently into
the hotel and up-stairs, little by little
drawing nearer that closed door behind
which even then might be transpiring so
much. of burning interest to this amateur
detective. v

And so it chanced that Barney was
pitched upon by Dr. Potter as the ban—
diest fellow around to carry word to the
Sparkler Sport.

Although greatly against his better
judgment, the man of medicine could no
longer resist the urgent plea of Nelson
Crooks, and was starting forth in search
of Stephen. Starlight, when his eyes
alighted upon. Barney O’Shea.

A very few .words told the delighted
camp-cook what was wanted, and with a
hint as.to the quarter in which he would
be the most likely to find the gentleman
needed, Barney scufiled away in haste.

At—his rap, Sparkler Steve opened the
door, and with a low ejaculation Barney
slipped inside, grinning all over his face
at sightoof his employer, dressed and sit-
ting up, looking very unlike a corpse.

“ Lorena—you have neWS? ” cried
Kirkwood. eagerly. mistaking that look,
quite naturally.

“Niver a news, sor—bad luck to me-
silf foor havin’ to say that same, faith! ”
reluctantly replied the Irishman. “ ’Tis
you that’s wanted, Misther Sparrkle. The
docther says that divil av a Cr-rooks-——
ow-wow! but he’s got a moighty nate lit-
,thle glrrul av his own, begorra! ”

" Talk a string, Barney, if you never
did before in your life,” sternly spoke
the Sport, gripping an arm as further re-
minder. “ What about Crooks and the
doctor? ”

“ He sint me foor you, sor; tail-on-end
in a hoory, faith! Sid Oi was to fltch
yees wid me av 01 had to play ye‘ was a
pig in a poke, sure! An’ the girrul was
insoide, thayre, wid ahl av her—” '

“ His daughter? Has she come? ”

“ I’ll go with you, Mr. Starlight," said
Martin Kirkwood. rising to his feet and
reaching toward the cane which stood
against the head of his bed. " It may be
possible that this Crooks can tell some-
thing more concerning the Stranglers,
and that is—"

"‘No; s‘or; jist the wan, sor; an' that
same’s this gintlemon. sor! ” Barney hur-
riedly ‘Spluttered, clutching an arm as
though he would fairly drag the Sport
out of that chamber.

And then, in a husky whisper, the
campl-cook'added for Starlight's sole ben-
eflt:

“Don’t lit him folly yees, sor! Sure,
an’. it's ahl a. divil av a mix, but on me

 

H...

sowl' ’tis Barney O’Shea faals did-sure;

that his OWn 'sisther's son is the woorst
av the whole haape, begorra! ”

‘ If the Sparkler had been wholly in ig-
norance as to the suspic’ions‘entertainéd

‘by the Irishman, this confused whisper,

might well have puzzled rather than
given him fresh light: but, as it was,"he
caught the right one; 'a'nd‘pro‘mp'tly acted
upon it. -- H '  - -

 deft push sent Barney outside the
chamber; then he turned to lift a check-
liig‘hand, speaking gravely: "

" "" EXcuse‘me‘, Mr. Kirkwood, but I must

ask you to remain here for the present.
Dr. Potter sent for me alone. Should
you come, too, Crooks might be fright—
ened and refuse to open his lips. You
comprehend? ”

The old gentleman felt disappointed,
and his face plainly betrayed as much;
but he had grown fairly collected by this
time, and accepted the situation with fair
grace.

“ If there is anything you ought to
know, sir, be sure I’ll keep you posted,”
added the Sport, then leaving the cham-
ber to answer that summons.

Barney O’Shea kept close at his heels,
and was only kept from entering in Star—
light’s company by the prompt action of
Dr. Potter, who not only barred the way,
but shoved the camp—cook bodily back
while blandly speaking:

“ That’s all right, Paddy. Many thanks
until you’re better paid.”

” But, sot-w”

“ Butter not, my dear fellow," smiling—
ly punned the man of medicine, as he
withdrew his head and shoulders, then
closed the door squarely in that mortified
face.

Barney muttered something which
could hardly have been a blessing or a
prayer, then bent over until—

The door quickly swung partly open,
Dr; Potter showing in the crack, smiling
maliciously as O’Shea jumped away with
awkward celerity.

“Dropped something, didn’t you, Pad—
dy? Well, pick it up while I’m looking
at you, please, for I’m constitutionally
nervous and should I happen to hear any-
body or anything astir near this keyhole
—-well, do you know, it’s rather more
than even odds I shoot? ”

“Yis, sor—no, ser—divil a wan 0’ me,
sor~ow—wow!” spluttered Barney, beat-
ing a retreat in utter confusion, without
stopping to hunt further for what he
might have dropped there.

Barney passed down-stairs, nervously
restless. He saw Ralph Innes just en-
tering the dining-room, evidently to
await the delayed breakfast which he had
now ordered.

But burning curiosity proved too strong
for the amateur detective to long resist,
and, while doubting the man of medi-
cine and his “ patent pill machine,”
O’Shea soon after crept back up-stairs,
tiptoeing toward that door beyond which
he felt firmly assured such momentous
revelations were even then coming to
light. '

A shot through the panel would prove
awkward enough, but just then Barney
was willing to run his chances for the
sake of learning just how far his suspi-
cions were founded upon truth; and not
for an instant did he doubt that such
information was lying in yonder, pro-
vided he could only get at it.

And so first, with eye to keyhole, (baffled
by the key remaining in lock,) then with.
car substituted, the camp—cook listened
with bated breath, at first showing dis-
appointment on his eager face.

But then, as Nelson Crooks spoke fur-
ther, that expression changed to one of
fierce delight, and Barney glued his ear
to the keyhole in hiseagerne’ss not to
lose even one syllable of—

He knew it! From the very outset he
knew that Ra‘"h Innes was at the bot—
tom of this foul outrage!

Then, when physical faintness caused
the wounded“ mountaineer to break short
off, Barney rose erect and stole away as
noiselessly as lay in his power.

For one thing, he had heard quite
enough to confirm his‘belief in the guilt
of 'the private secretary. For another,
he knew not how soon Dr. Potter might
take action, either by turning knob or
picking trigger for a shot through the
door itself! " . ‘

“Ah-ha. ye murtherin’ divil, yees!"
muttered Barney D’Shea, as he reached

l the head of'the stairs and paused there

to take a hasty look at his big revolver
before venturing'further. “‘Bloind the
oyes'av ahl yeesloike, faith, but niver a
bloind will yees bloind thim av Barney

 

O’Shea, bedad! Ah-ha, thin! Wait ahn-
til the hoorn av desthruction blows, me
jewel, an’ it’s Barney O’Shea will foor-
nish the wind foor that saame foine jig,
begorra! ”

Satisfied that his rather antiquated
weapon (of the obsolete ball-and-cap pat-
tern) would not fail him when called
upon, Barney hastily made his way down
stairs on business bent, his face ruddy
with tingling blood. his little eyes glow-
ing as though backed by living fire.

Feeling firmly convinced that Ralph
Innes was guilty past all question, the
camp-cook determined to bring matters
to a head without further waste of time.

Barney felt fairly certain he would
find his intended prey still at the table
in the long dining-room, and so turned
his steps in that direction, right hand on
pistol—butt, .but awkwardly disguising
his warlike intentions, lest he be barred
by others ere he could fairly get in his
fine work.

Nothing happened to bar his passage,
however, and as he opened the door lead—
ing from the hallway to the dining-
room, Barney caught sight of Ralph
Innes still at table, though now leaning
back in his chair like one whose healthy
appetite had been fairly satisfied for the
time being.

Only one sleepy-looking waiter was in
the room, as a swift glance assured the
camp-cook, and then Barney drew hi '5
weapon to cover his man, at the same
time calling forth in stern tones:

“ Howld up yer hands, ye divil, or Oi‘ll
blow yees t’roughl Faith, an’ ’tis Bar-
ney O’Shea hes got yees loined—au-gh-
yaugh!”

Ralph Innes turned swiftly at that ad-
dress, giving a sharp ejaculation as he
saw what he was doing; but ere he could
take furtheraction a cry escaped Bar-
ney, and the revolver barked savagely!

CHAPTER XXII.
NELSON CROOKS BEGINS A CONFESSION.
When the Sparkler Sport slipped in-
side the door of the chamber where the

wounded mountaineer was lying, he
glanced first at the bed, to see that its

present occupant was seemingly asleep.=

Then he removed his hat, bowing si-
lently to Kittie Crooks, whom he knew
fairly well by sight, although their ac-
quaintance had been but little more than
passing.

Kittie responded in kind, then Dr. Pot-
ter spoke in professionally modulated
tones:

“ He insisted on sending for you, Mr.
Starlight, although I could have wished
him more strength for 111%”

A stir upon the bed drew all eyes that
way, and then Nelson crooks feebly lift-
ed his head the better to see what was
going on. _ .

instantly Kittie lent him the needed
support, in a whisper telling him the
gentleman asked for bad just arrived.

“I want—here! "

“ What can I do for you, Mr. Crooks? ”
gently asked the Sport, moving nearer
the bed and touching one of' those un-
usually cold hands as it lay outside the
cover.

“ I want—where is he? "

" Whom do you wish to see? ”

“I thought—he isn’t—the stick saved
him, sir?” ' p

A ray of light seemed to flash across
one perplexing mystery, but Starlight
felt this was no moment in which to talk.
about comparative trifles, and so asked,
instea :

“ Is it Mr. Kirkwood you wish to see,‘

sir? If 80—”

Just then it was that Dr. Potter sprung
his little trap so adroitly upnn Barney
O'Shea, resulting in that worthy's hasty
retreat to lower regions. And so it came
to pass that, after a few more words, the
Sparkler Sport comprehended what the
invalid really wished. ' r
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lderstandingly. “ I’ll go fetch Mr. Kirk-
wood. I know he will be willing to come,
if only because—"

“I want to tell—all! ”

As bearer of this message, Starlight
left the chamber and hurried back to
where he had left the capitalist, quickly
making known the reason for his return-
ing so much sooner than anticipated.

“He’s in a. bad way, I’m afraid,” the

Sparkler took occasion to say by way of
caution. “I’m pretty sure he knows
something well worth listening to, but—
treat him as leniently as you can, I beg.”

“ If he is one of those demons~”

“ Give him a living show, at least,”
urged Starlight. “If not for himself, be-
cause of his daughter, who is suffering
far more than her father ever can."

Seeing that he would save time by giv-
ingway, if only in seeming, Martin Kirk-
wood gave the desired promise; then the
two men left that chamber to hasten
across to the other, where Dr. Potter was
on watch to admit them as quietly as
might be.

Deeming it wisest to do the first talk-
ing himself, the Sparkler pushed ahead
of ,his companion, bending over the
wounded man, face and voice full of sym~
pathy which was a tonic in themselves.

, But Kittie Crooks was equally prompt
to act, and almost before Martin Kirk-
wood could fairly take in his surround-
ings, the girl caught one of his hands in
hers, pressing it feverishly while mur—
muring, huskily:

“0h, sir, spare him! Bear with him
kindly, if you can, for he is all I have
left me—all I have to love or to care for!
If you hope for mercy when your own
time comes, Mr.’ Kirkwood, show pity
here and now!" ’ r

“ I don’t—+what is it-—that 18—”

The old gentleman hardly knew just
‘what he was trying to say, and Kittie
!never knew what words did cross his

98- '
“Pity him, sir! Daddy means to do
right—he will makeall the amends which
lie in his power. He‘never thOught what
«he was led astray by evil men, but
now—oh, sir, do not bear too hardly
upon him!”

Just then Nelson Crooks called out her
name, and, bending her head low enough
to drop a trembling kiss upon the hand
she‘held, Kittie turned to the bedside,
kneeling there with one hand slipped be-
.neath that head, to comfort or to assist
as best she might. ~ ~

This change permitted the wounded
mountaineer to see Martin KerWOod,
and that he had caught his daughter's
plea was made evident by his first words,
feeble~soundin8‘. yet clear. and distinctly
pronounced. " A '

" That's Jest what I’m wantin' to do,
sir; make each amends as I kin fer play-

in' wuss than the fool—wuss than an
fool! ” ' '
 Sparkier stepped further aside, at the
same time deftly gripping a hand in sig-
nihcantreminder, lest the hot—tempered
"Old gentleman permit his feelings to
carry away his cooler judgment.

‘  Mr. I'Kirkwood nodded slightly, but
v looked at Kittie instead of at the Sport.
‘ - What might have been denied the father

 2 might be granted such a daughter as this.

.fi "Cut it short as you can, Crooks,”

 warned the physician;-but the injured

men shook his head impatiently, saying:

- “‘0? me more 0' that stuff, doctor. No

. i use: _I'm'g’wine to say the hull blamed

 _- thing. so make it as easy‘fer me——ef
@oasy ye kin! "‘ ' '

H '  Seemingly against his better judgment,

‘ .' _ Dr. Potter yielded, ‘Iadministering a

‘ .vdraught which was but a few minutes in.
 :‘produci 'the desired effect. . ' ‘
 Kittie old the glass which contained

fz‘the potion. Her' “hand tenderly wiped:
intone lips _after. And her“ great “eyes
ntle to Martin Kirkwood-for

~ mercy, for  inr hergso're

shared ~5with Kittie, his daughter! I ,His

 

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of the weak will which had yielded to
evil example, if not evil advice.

He frankly admitted his wrong-doing.
He declared his perfect readiness to
stand the full penalty of his deeds. But
then his voice grew softer, his haggard
face milder, his words less steady as he
put in a plea for~not himself, but his
little girl!

“ ’Tain’t so mighty much matter what
comes to me; I hain’t wuth worryiu’ over;
but thar’s my gal—good es ever drawed
the breath 0’ life, ef it is a wuthless ole
cuss as says so!”

“Daddy—don’t talk so, dear daddy!”
murmured Kittie, laying her soft cheek
against his rough beard, while hot tears
blinded her eyes.

“ You hesh, honey. I’m got to say jest
that, or I don’t say what mo’ these gents
is wantin’ so mighty bad to hear of; yes,
how, I be! "

“Let your father say what he wishes,
Miss Crooks,” whispered Martin Kirk-
wood, in tones marvelously gentle for
him.

“Thar, thar, honey,” muttered the
mountaineer. “ You jest hold hesh, Kit—
tie, or they’ll done shet ye outside whar
you cain’t see nur hear. An’ so I’m tell-
in’ of ye, gents, all: ’Tain’t fer me, but
fer her, jest fer her, that I'm axin' fa-
vors.

 She hain’t never tuck no part in
these yer dirty jobs. She’s done all ary
gal knowed how fer to make her mis’-
able ole pap walk a chalk; but he was
sech a fool
jest couldn’t, now!

“Time an’ time all over ag’in, Kittie
hyar wouidscold an’ pray fer meT-why,
gents, hope may die of it wasn't her
prayin’ over thar to our shack, when she
reckoned I was sleepin’ like a wet log——-”

“ Father—don’t! "

“ You hesh, honey! An’ she a-prayin’
to the good Lord that her mis'able ole
cuss of a daddy mought come to see the
dirty ways he was a-tromplin' into, an’
then—4’

Again Kittie tried to check her father,
but, while giving her a kiss in turn, Nel-
son Crooks pushed her face far enough
aside to speak on:

“ An’ me all the time wide-awake with,
the two eyes 0’ me shet! "An’ then—-
waal, gents, that was the turnin’ p’int,
for me. I swore into the mind 0’ me,
then, that I'd come over yer t0" Salvation
an’ blow the hull pesky thing! I swore
I’d break off with them cussed Strang-
lers—4’ ‘ ' .
In spite of himself, Martin Kirkwood

ward 'with eyes all'aglow, to say sternly:
“ The stranglers? Then you did take
part in the foul outrage which lost me
my daughter, my son? "

“I did, more fool me,” doggedly con-
fessed the wounded mountaineer, his lids
drooping as though he could not bear to
meet‘those fiery eyes. “ I won't tell no
mo' lies over it, sir. An’ ef that’s ’nOugh
0’ his left fer to pay out, hyar I am, ready
fer” to take what comes a’ter sech work.
Pay me off, of it takes hide and taller,
too, sir!” _

With a catch in her breath which was
almost a. sob, Kittie crooks turned ,that
’way, do arred from rising erect by that
living weight upon her hand and wrist,
yet losing nothing In dignity through
that, as she spoke ,to all, yet'to Martin
Kirkwood alone. .

" Father spoke of pity, of sympathy, of
aid and comfort forjme. his only liying
child, gentlemen. ' Now-listen to his
daughter, please! i  . - ‘

“ Whatever punishment may be meas-
ured forth to Nelson Crooks must he

fate shall be mine, for good orevili‘ And g
trike, but through
first! n» . -

much as teammabut with

  
 

gave an exclamation at this, leaning for- i

face; for Kittie was more than pretty
just then.

A brief silence; then it was broken by
Nelson Crooks.

“Thar hain’t so mighty much more to
say, sir, but what they is-it runs pretty
much like this yer.

“I never rightly knowed jest how
nasty bad the game was, ontel I’d waded
in clean past the breathin’ lips 0’ me.
Then it was swim or swaller, an’—-—waal,
I done the best I knowed how.”

“You were with. the gang that raided
my camp, then?” asked Martin Kirk—
wood, with forced composure; not so
much for sake of the man, as for his
daughter.

“ Yes. I was thar. I never knowed—
but I done said that much afo’, didn’t I,
sir? ”

” Yes, but-—you helped do the evil
work, all the same!”

The wounded man roused up a bit
more at this, huskily saying:

“Yes, I done lent a helpin‘ hand, sir,

‘ but—fer why? How did you miss gittin’

that he couldn’t-no, heE

i

_,it. But I’m tryin' to tell the

. ’ail_,,thls; yet, what-more i

now—strike, if , you can find it mum; -
hearts, gentlemen—s

  

 

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choked over the range? Jest so; an’ I was
the critter as resked his own life fer
you: I put that stick inside the noose!”

 

CHAPTER XXIII.
WHO WAS THE PRIME MOI/ER?

Not one of those present anticipated
such a statement as this, and of them
all Martin Kirkwood showed the great-
est degree of surprise.

“You did that?” he asked, quickly,
moving a bit nearer the bed. “ I thought
—then it wasn’t an accident? ”

“’Twas the best I knowed how, jest
then, an’ that was pore enough,” said the
Wounded mountaineer, head moving rest-
lessly in spite of that loving support.

“,It Saved a life; for that be thank-
ful,” gravely cut" in the Sparkler sport.

“I am thankful,” declared Martin
Kirkwood, his tone softening a hit as
he spoke on; " but I’d feel far more
grateful if the same assistance could
I “am
old and played out. I countfor nothing,
while they .are—” ’

He broke off, feeling that he was per-
mitting his emotions to win the upper
hand, bearingin "mind the pledge Star-
light had extracted from mm before en-

, tering' that chamber.

.For reasons of , his own the sport
wished to encourage the man, and main-
ly for that reason he spoke again:

""Twa's a “brave action, any way. Mr.
Crooks. If those demons h’a‘d 89-13th
as suspected you, 'tw‘ould have cost'yo'ur

i

life as well.” .
“I' know. I was thinkin’ that sum
way my own self.” muttered Nelson 4 .
Crooks. “An’—~thar was Kittie, hyn's'!"
"‘ Never mind me, Daddy," seemingly
whispered the girl, lightly passing r a‘
damp cloth-over his fevered browse. ‘
' “An' that was 'the’ way it all” come
'round, sirs. Before heaven I never
knowed ’twas who to besech dirt; never
knowed thar was ary wuss into is all
then fleet a slap-dash in an’ out xfer
boodle, They lied to inc—lied “Isabella’-
dogs. ' , 2'
“ Mind ye, gen-ts; I hain't sayin’ or an
this jest to help-my ownselt onto! a
nasty hobble. .I’ve hatched my dose-I
kin take what-all comes ferthe rest of. _

straight way

to it all; at I die for it " ,_ '
DraPottAer fnowned anxiously, shaking
his head as he looked on. Kismet. X
sional instinct was sadly outraged a y 7.;
, “will”? 497' < -_ 1
Nelson iCIWJ‘S'tmEd {danced to leak
interns Kirkde mom strangely inf the.
facaspeakinggon in clearer mustangs; :e . .

er tones: ~ . _, r   ‘ .
“You know the trust of 3%,ng this

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ly declared the injured mountaineer.
“ They wasn’t no harm comin’ thar way,
but you—the rope! ”

“ That was part of the game,

, Crooks?” asked Starlight.
\ , “ Sure! An’ yit—gospel truthl—I never
knowed ontcl we was right thar in full
sight 0‘ the camp! An’ then—what could
ary one pore devil do? Thar was them
tetchin’ shoulders with me ‘which’d shore
jab a knife ’twixt the short ribs 0’ me
at the fust kick!

“ One of ’em was Pete Peltz; you know
him, gents? An’ he ’rtwas who let it out,
Inst—off; help me Moses of I don’t reck-
on he was lookin’ fer me to kick over
the tugs right then! An’ his knife ready
for to clap a stopper on of I did! ”

Martin Kirkwood looked just a bit
puzzled by all this, and even Sparkler
Steve seemed to take it as more raving
than sober truth, since he spoke again,
half-doubtingly:

“ How so, Crooks? Surely the raid was
made for plunder alone?"

 A faint smile came into that haggard

’3 face, only to fade again as quickly. His

' ’ head moved from side to side to empha-
size his reply:

“ Not so, sir: ’twas murder, pure an'
simple!"

“Afiterward, yes, but surely not at
the send-off? "

" From the jump-off. I know-now! I
didn’t think it, then. Ef I had—but
whar’s the no talkin’ ? I played dog to
start with, an' I bed to run on for a dog‘s
finish—like this! ”

Again did Dr. Patter interpose, urging
his patient, to let the matter drop right
where it was for the present, since he

" . ,1 could work no good, and was surely in-
g,’ juring his own chances for ultimate re-

“: ‘ covery. I
. , Kittie ventured to add a whisper to
the same effect, but the result was the

‘ same. Nelson Crooks had set for him-
’ , - self a task, and would not rest easy un-

‘ til the goal was fairly won.

“ I'm stronger then ye reckon, Doc,"
.he declared, forcing a smile which cer-
tainly failed to fetch answer in kind
from those who heard and saw. 5“ It takes
a powerful sight 0’ sickness to down a

dog, an’ this one is so tough—J
Kittie" checked his bitter mockery with
/ her trembling lips, but as soon as she
moved again, her father spoke on: I

“ That wasipritty. nigh the way it all
come ’round, gents; we crup up to whar
 we bed the hull 'rangement kivered,
z. _ then word was passed how we wanted to

 wind ’er all up. .An’ then—that was the
 .1 fuel; I knoWed fer shore ’twas ary md’
‘ —~ , then a raid fer boodle!” '

," Who gave the orders, Crooks?”

, . asked the Sparkler Sport, deeming it.
a 'high time to expedite matters, if only
for the injured man’s sake. “ Who, and

4 why?” , r

A half-covert glance toward Martin

: .Kirkwood, then Kittie’s father spoke on,

more hurriedly: _.

. “Wait a mite, of ye kin, sir. Fast—-
7 ;why ,I didn’t do more then I did. I
 wanted to, but—how could I? Thar was
' I * them as held me kivered, an’ I knowed so
 ‘ much ’thout ary tellin".. An’ so—-waal,

/  we downed you, sir, whar the tent sort

0’ made a darkness, an” then—d jest run
_ ’ the resk, an’ she come out on top! "
   ~".It was the deed of a' brave man, let
 , 4;. who will say, ought against the rest of
I ‘1 "it." earnestly declared Starlight, I" I
'~ 'l’li’elped‘ release ,MrfiKirkwood' from that
‘ :  I saw just how it was arranged.
if vase while I then believed the stick came
 _.'through a'luckyraccident, I know its be-
 ; Jug these-surely saved his life,"

" v.,.-....‘.Kittie' gave a subdued sob at this. Nel~
L ' caravans breath, face betraying
.  or tel of the while. ,
 “i. f “it moutbt,~buta1,,couldnit be

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The Sparkler Sport.

have been spared you, I verily believe,”
declared Starlight.

“Yes, I know. I couldn’t sw’ar to him
of my own eyesight, but I know he
downed me,” muttered the mountaineer.

So far Martin Kirkwood had acted
with wonderful repression for 'a man of
his imperious will and fiery temper. This
came in part through the promise won
in advance by Starlight Steve, but even
more because he had been so strongly
and so favorably impressed by this man’s
daughter.

But now he gave way, pouring forth
a flood of questions which demanded
answers without evasion, and to some
of which even the Sparkler Sport gave
an uneasy frown, holding the suspicions
he did.

If the whole truth was to be told now,
how would it affect this old man? Would
he believe, or would he denounce the
speaker as a liar?

" I know, sir,” said Crooks, his voice a
bit less even. “It's your right to' hev
the hull yarn spread out afore ye, but—”

“ Go on, please. Tell me the rest. Who
bade you strangle me and—my chil-
dren? ”

“ No, no, not them! ” quickly amended
the wounded criminal, shaking his head
to add emphasis to the denial. “ Jest you.
An’ the cook. The rope fer you two,‘ an’
we was to make mighty shore work of it
all! An' then we was to ketch an’ tote
off the rest; the gal, an’ her brother.”

“ You'sre sure? That was the plan to
be carried out? "

“ Yes. Jest that-a—away, sir. Strangle
you two, an’ tote off the young critters
fer furder ’structions," promptly and de-
cidedly repeated Nelson Crooks.

“ Why? ” persisted Kirkwood, evident-
ly bent on probing the matter to the very
bottom.

Crooks hesitated, like one hardly know-
ing the safest way out of an awkward
corner. Then he said, slowly, signifi-

“ Waal, now, I hadn’t so turrible share
as to jest why, sir, but at you was to
ax who-" v

“ What do you mean by that? Surely
you‘cannot—J’ - .

The Sparkler Sport was swifter to
catch that veiled meaning, and in clear
tones spoke again.

“Go on, Crooks. You have said too
much not to finish. Who was it at the
bottom of this ugly affair, please? ”

“Yes; tell me that—if you- really

   

a... i #7

,But you admit‘ having beendeceived as to

 

know!” added Kirkwood.

“'Waal, sir, it’s not so easy to talk 0’
sech things, but—-thar was one 0’ your
Own party at the bottom of it all! ”

“ What? ” ejaculated the millionaire,
giving a Start and passing a :hand quick-
ly across'his face as he gazed wideeyed
at the mountaineer. “ You surely can’t
mean~what is it you do mean, any-
way? ” , I

“Jest what I’m tryin' to tell ye, sir,” 1
said Crooks, earnestly. " Ef I knowed—
what I’m thinkin’ is mighty nigh true—
ef I knowed this yer :was to be my death-
bed, slr, I’d say it jest like this: , .

‘ “ The hull job was planned an’ ’ranged
for by somebody who was with your own

party. He stuck out fer you to be roped, '

an’ he said for the “others to be tuck
like—-” \

“ Impossible!" ,

“ But gospel truth, all the same,” de-
clared Crooks, doggedly, shoving away
his daughter as, Kittie strove to calm
him. “ Ef not, why would I be addin’ to
my own trouble jest fer sayin’ so? ”

" But-one Of our party?” muttered
the old man, bewilderedly. '

“ Shore as you’re“standin’ right that,
sir! Iknow. I hated to say it, fer I
knowed how mighty tough it’d come
ye, but—it's
gospeltruth, all mesquite.” _ v
. "One ore—Why, man!. There was only
Lorelle, Allen. Ralph—J ‘

9,95 ,

i the mud? ” 

, about. «I’dsooner think that way than ~ '

speaking, but he‘ shook his headlldoggedly, f 

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fi—

“He's the man who hired you; killed
an’ the kids stole oil', sir!”

    
    
  
  
  
  
    
   
 
   
   
 
  
    
   
   
 
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
       
         
   
   
       
     
       
       
 

/

 

CHAPTER XXIV.
FACING AN UGLY CHARGE.

This astoniShing assertion had in good- ’I
ly measure been anticipated by all pres-
ent, with the single exception of Martin
Kirkwood, although all of them were not.
ready to place full credence in the dam-
ning charge. '

The old gentleman was half-stunned,
and showed as much, but the Sparkler
Sport shook his head decidedly, and Kit-
tie gave a low protest, even while bowing
her head to lay her hot cheek against the
face of her father.

“ No, no, daddy! Don’t say that! It is
not—it surely must be a cruel mistake,
for Mr. Innes could never—” -

“ Who else could it ’a’ bin, then?” al-
most angrily asked the mountaineer, that
tinge of color in his haggard face only
too plainly betraying how serious a drain
was being placed upon his remnant of vi-
tality. '

Dr. Potter would have interfered, but ~
Starlight checked him with a. strong
hand, saying sternly:
_ “ Not now, doctor. After this the mat—
ter can’t be put over. It must be proven, _
one way or the other. You can see that s
much, surely? ” "i '

“Yes, only-«it’s killing the man by ‘ ‘
inches!” '

“And it’s damning another man by
rods! We’ll hurry it over as fast as pos- .
sible, but—you can’t chip in- here, dec-
tor.” ‘

So much, then the Sparkler Sport came
more to the front, taking a’feverish hand
within‘his own, speaking gravely, sober—.
ly, kindly. _

“Of course, we all know you believe
just what you’ve been saying, Mr. Crooks,
but surely there is a sad mistake being
made?” ,,

“ The maker isn't me, then, sir," quick-
ly retonted the mountaineer. ‘

“ Not willfully, of course. None of us
would for a moment believe that of you.

 

      
   
     
     
     
       
   
 

it

the real object of that said, and so—”
“What I know, I know, all the same.”
“ Did you see or hear Ralph 'Innes
make any such bargain with the Chief of
the Stranglers, sir? ” .
Crooks was less ready with an answer
but then it came. ‘ . . ,
“Weal, (not jest that way, sir, but I ; -' 
done hear’n the boys talkin’ it all over ,i L
when the job was jobbed. An’ so—«whp _ --
else could it ’a’ bin, sir? For that ’twas
one o’ the outfit, is too mighty plain
fer denyin’!" ‘ ,
“ Unless it was just talk with a pup
pose,” shrewdly guessed the Sparkler
Sport. " Merely to throw you all off Uh
right scent.” ‘ 
“ Why so? Wasn’t we all alike over in

 
     
     
       
       
       
       
          

"t

 

          
       
     
       
     
     
       
     
         
 

“ Yes. but there may have been-reasons‘, ,
which you fellows knew nothing at an. _ ., _

to believe Mr. Innes would play so vile a . , 
Kittie flashed a grateful look toward
the speaker,,and Martin Kirkwood caught ,- ,7
a hand to press it,warmly. ,'  ’.

“ I thank you, sir, in the name of myfl
dead sister. I couldn’t believe anything *. 4
like that of her boy. And yet—-it‘s black... 
——all a. bitter black mystery which ie-' A "
nearly murdering me!” . x  

Nelson Crooks looked and listhned; .‘
showing a degree of vitality which fairly ‘
amazed his physician: . I > .

fie said nothing. while the others were , .

 
     
      
 
 
  

 
 
 
  

as those eyes came his way once moral». ,
,"I hain’t no object to win in
ary sech, gents, but I cain’t help WY 
to it. ’I'har wasn’t no foolishini 
in  

  
 
   
    
  
   
  
 
  

      

no it ,‘cert m
w A 

 

 

"T

 

him

“A s
‘ \

 

Jan-i}; “

 

 

 

.0

 mus. v '-

a”...

 

The Sparkler Sport.

25

 

 

without first letting him make a defense,
Mr. Crooks? ” asked the Sport.

“No. But—”

“All right! Mr. Innes has returned,
and I reckon I can find him by looking.
I’ll fetch him up here, where both sides
of the story can be heard. Better clear
up everything as we jog along; don’t
you think so, Mr. Kirkwood? ”

“ Yes, yes; find Ralph and bring him
here. I can’t think—and yet, if it should
prove to be so! ”

“It shortly will,
Crooks.

" “ Daddy, dear,” murmured Kittie, kiss—
ing those too impetuous lips once more.
“ I know you believe it all, but—~I hope
and trust there is some cruel mistake!
Mr. Innes would never—”

“You done hesh, honey. What you
know ’bout that feller? ”

Starlight did not linger to hear more,
but, leaving the chamber, ran lightly
down stairs, turning as by instinct to-
ward the dining room, from whence just
then issued harsh notes; those of Barney
O’Shea, as he covered the astonished
secretary with a rusty forty-five!

There was no time for delay, and
Sparkler Steve sprung forward on the in-
stant, grasping Barney’s arm and forc-
ing his hand upward, just as his revolv-
er barked: to waste its lead on the ceil-
ing above.

“Quiet, you ass! Steady, Innes! ” cried
Starlight, all in a breath, at the same
time “giving the foot ” to Barney, trip-
ping him up and fetching him to the
floor with a crash.

“ Is the fellow drunk, or only crazy? ”
cried Ralph, coming that way ‘in haste,
while the startled waiter ducked below
one of the tables, taking thought of his
own safety first of all.

Barney was too nearly breathless to re-
ply or to deny, and Sparkler Sport first
looked (to disarming t'he camp-cook, lest

then! ” declared

‘ he make still worse use of his tools. After

that he said briskly:

“It’s all a mistake, of course. Barney

ouldn’t hurt a fly if he knew it, and as
for you—I say, Johnny Hash-slinger! ”

The waiter lifted his head warily, but

‘ then emerged from his place of refuge on
seeing the absence of ball or blade.

“Just a joke; you can tell ’em how
’twas,” added the Sport, as a crumpled
rbill flew across to where the waiter was
now standing. “ An accident to wind up
with, but nobody hurt. And—Barney? ”

“Yis, sor. Oi niver—divil a bit did Oi
iver, sor! ” spluttered O’Shea, thoroughly
bewildered by that heavy fall. ,

“ Of course you never. How could you?
And now, Barney, take a. walk in the
open air. Go cool off a. bit. Don’t hurry
back. We will try to worry along With-
out you for—well, call it until supper
time, unless a messenger comes after you
before that. Understand? ”

At least the crestfallen detective
obeyed, making no answer to the many
questions with which he was pelted while
making his way to the exit. And the
Sparkler Sport easily turned asxde cu-
riosity by declaring that no trouble had
arisen; merely the dropping of an old
gun from an imperfect scabbard—noth-
ing worse.

Then he moved away toward the upper

1 regions, Innes following in obedience to
a signal, which he quickly understood.

Neither man spoke until they reached
the upper landing, and were safe from
being overheard. Then Ralph asked:

“ What is it, Mr. Starlight? Something
has gone wrong again? ” '

“ Nothing more than can be made right
again, unless I’m widely off my base. I’d
say more, but others might think me tak-
ing an unfair advantage. So—you under-
stand ? ”

Possibly the secretary turned a trifle
mler, but if so, there was no other
change to be noted, and his tones were
even and clear as he spoke in turn:

“I fancy I do. All right. I ask no
favors, least of all such as you are no
hinting at, Mr. Starlight.” -~

 

“I’d feel ’twas an insult to myseli
fully as much as to you, sir.”

“ Thanks. Which way now, please?”

“My old room. You’ll find it pretty
full, but it’s like an omnibus in that re—
spect—room for another”

Sparkler Steve seemed trying to make
light of the matter, but Ralph Innes
failed to respond in like manner. He
surely felt it was earnest enough, and his
face showed cold and grave as he entered
that chamber.

A keen, brief—lived gaze, then Martin
Kirkwood extended a hand. Ralph drew
back a bit, shaking his head, soberly.

“ Not right now, sir. Later on, if you
will, but for now: What am I wanted for,
p] e? n

“ 0 look at part 0’ your dirty work ”
harshly cried Nelson Crooks, starting up
in bed, but as quickly replaced by his
daughter.

“ My work, Mr. Crooks? Surely you
can’t think that I harmed you, like this?
I was not near town when—"

“Ef not by your own hand, then it
come through your dirty doin’s,” persist—
ed the mountaineer. “ Shorer you cain’t
deny that? ”

“ I can and I do. How did I ever injure
you, please? ”

“By settin’ them devils on to Jump the
camp, over yender. You know you done
jest that, don’t ye? ”

" I? Never. Are you going crazy, man
alive? ”

If acting, this was letter-perfect. But
Crooks remained unshaken in his belief,
putting his charges in still plainer speech,
declaring that Ralph Innes, and he alone,
was at the bottom of all this sore trouble.

“ You done hired the camp jumped.
You said fer the old gent to be strangled,
’long of the cook to make it more bindin’.
You swore ’em all .to make a clean job,
an’ to tote off the younger ’uns. an’ me;
look at me, now, will ye?

“ All this comes 0’ my gittin’ mixed
up with them devils, an’ takin’ part in
the raid planned by you. This—-this is
my pay fer it all.”

Nelson Crooks pushed Kittie aside as
she strove to calm him, raising up in
bed and spreading his arms widely, nod-
ding his head as though to the more sure-
ly call attention to the reddened band-
ages over his partly exposed chest.

With a low cry of vexed apprehension.
Dr. Potter pushed to the bedside, and be-
tween them Crooks was lowered to his
pillow once more.

Ralph Innes showed no particular emo-
tion at this fierce outburst, but that may
have been because his nerves had been
braced from the outset, and his face al-
ready as pale as it well could be.

Still, those fierce words had their ef-
fect, and that was deepened as the
wounded man again cried out:

“ Ef I die fer my part, cuss you, share
13' You ought to pull hemp fer yours,
Ralph Innes.” .

“ And hang he shall, unless he can
show cleaner hands than I think” came
a stern voice from the then opening door
of that chamber. '

 

CHAPTER XXV.
HARD WORDS To SWALLow_

Allen Kirkwood out very little time
to waste after leaving the temporary
camp of the Stranglers, and it was he
who urged the accompanying outlaw for-
ward, rather than the contrary.

There were not many words lavished
between messenger and escdrt, and none
at all which require record in this con-
nection, at least while the earlier por-
tion of that journey lasted.

The burly ruflian detailed by Jack
Ketch to keep the young man company,
apparently considered himself simply a,
sort of check upon Kirkwood to prevent
his sneaking back to play spy upon the
Stranglers, as well as to guide him to Sal-
vation City by the most practicable route.

It was still quite early in the morning
when the two men came to where their

 

lfirst glimpse of Salvation might be
caught, and not until then was rein
drawn for a halt.

“Mebbe it don’t call fer ary sech,

stranger,” said the escort in gruff tones,
a detaining hand upon the nearest arm
of his present companion. “Mebbe the
boss done said it all to ye. But, aryhow,
I’m tellin’ ye jest so much: Play clean
white from this time on, or you’ll shore
ketdh heap sight the wust of it all.”

“ Of course I’ll play white, as you call
it,” surlily retorted the messenger, shak-
ing off that touch as though he deemed
it poisonous. “ Why wouldn’t I, then? ”

“ Why is they sech blame fools let live
on, boss?”

“ You’d ought to know, if any one.”

“ That’s all right, stranger, ef ye only
think so. But I’ll keep on sayin’ what I
sot out fer to chin-chin, wnicn comes
pritty much like this yer way:

“The boss done giv’ you a job to git
over. Thar’s the place it’s got to take
start from, nur you don’t need tellin'
who or wihar to look at fust. But don’t
you let one thing slip the memory of ye——-
which is that thar’ll be plenty o’ mighty
keen eyes takin’ note 0’ all ye do an'
say, with jest as shore han.’s layin’ back
of ’em, ready fer to put the kibosh on
both you an’ the tricks you may be
big fool ’nough fer to reckon ye kin
set up onto the boss or the rest 0’ us;
savvy that? ”

“ I’d be as big a liar as you seem to be
ass, Johnny, if I told you I loved either
yourself or your precious outfit, or that
I don’t mean to play even for all of this
nasty work,” retorted Kirkwood, showing
his teeth in a queer sort of half—smile,
half-frown, staring the while into the
masked face, as though seeking some
clew by which to identify his escort in
the time to come.

“That goes without saying, but until
this exchange is fairly effected, I’ll work
as hard for that end as Jack Ketch him-
self could do. After that—well, that’s
another story.”

Without pausing for reply or retort,
Allen Kirkwood sent his horse forward
at a rapid pace, now bent on reaching
Salvation City as quickly as possible.

The clatter of boots caused him to look
around, a few minutes later, but. the
horse so recently ridden by the Strangler,
and which now came to its mate with a.
little whimper, was unburdened; both
man and saddle had disappeared.

For a little while Allen felt thoroughly
puzzled by this, but then he concluded
that the horses must belong at or near
Salvation, and recognition of stolen prop.
erty might be conducive to throat-fever!

The young man took hint from this ex-
ample, thinking it wisest to keep on the
safe side, and as soon as he was fairly
at the edge of Salvation City, he dis-
mounted, turning the animai- loose with
its mate, trusting them to find their way
to their regular quarters unaided, should
his shrew-d suspicions prove founded on
fact.

This done, he hastened as directly as
possible to the Midway Hotel, feeling as-
sured that he could find a clew there,
even if he failed to meet with his father,
there domiciled.

During their stay in camp over in yon-
der cosy valley, each member of the
party had paid more or less frequent

Ivisits to the mining town, hence Allen

experienced no difficulty at all in locating
the hotel.

As he turned the corner, coming fairly
upou the hotel, Allen smothered a little
cry, for there, in front of the building,
stood a figure which had not its counter—
part in all that region; the Shape of Bar-
ney O’Shea, the Yankified Irish camp-
cook.

Recognition was mutual, and with a
broad grin chasing away his dark scowl,
Barney came shambling up, both hands
extended in a hearty greeting.

“ Aug‘h-yaugh! ’Tis a soight foor sore
oyes, thin, M-asther Allinl- An’ divil a.
glad was Oi iver so glad in the whole
loife av me befoor—an’ that’s no loie,

 

 

26

The Sparkler Sport.

 

 

 

nayther! Ow—wow! ’Tis yersilf, thin,
Masther Allin? ”

“Don’t that feel like it, Barney? ” half-
laughed the young man, as his fingers
closed in a grip which caused those bony
digits to crack and snap in every join-t.

At any other time Barney might well
lhave let forth a howl of pain and cry
for mercy, but just now his excitement
was far too great for any heed .to be paid
seeming trifles, and so he spluttere-d on:

“Faith, sor, an’ ’tis the iligant good-
luck that brings ye hayer the marnin’,
thin! An’ that murtherin’ divil blatherin’
’em ahl over wid his dirthy loies! An’
the ould masther takin’ it ahl in foor
truth an’ gospel by the pick—ow—wow! ”

“ Who is it, Barney? ” harshly demand-
ed Allen, gripping an arm and giving it
an "ugly shake. “ Not—surely not Ralph
Innes? ”

“Thot same, sor!
moozle wid loies! An’ him—”

“Talk a string, you infernal ass!”
harshly commanded young Kirkwood,
eyes all aglow with a dangerous light.
“Where are they, and what’s going on?
Boil it down, but don’t leave anything
out which—talk, you fool!”

This Barney did, as well as he could,
and from a mass of chaff Kirkwood ex-
tracted at least a few sound kernels.

O’Shea held a hot grudge against both
Innes and Starlight, and one who aid
not know the camp-cook pretty accu-
rately, might have found a. serious diffi—
culty in judging just which one of the two
parties denounced was the greater crim-
inal.

Among the rest Allen learned that a
sort of seance was even then being held
in the Midway, and fearing .to lose more
time, he shook Barney off, entering the
hotel and running swiftly upstairs.

It seemed a matter of instinct rather
than reason or of previous information,
for Allen made no mistake in the room,
pausing without that closed door barely
long enough to catch the correct cue,
then flinging the barrier wide to cross
the threshold as he sternly cried out:

“And hang he shall, unless he can
show cleaner hands than I think!”

A greater surprise could scarcely have
sprung upon the company there as-
sembled, and for a brief space all was
confusion.

Martin Kirkwood lost his forced com-
posure, catching the hands of his son
and asking after Lorella, for the first few
moments believing that the Stranglers
had lost their valuable prey through a.
miraculous escape.

Allen quickly banished this glad fancy,
however, and there was a dangerous glow
in his black eyes as they fixed upon the
pale face of his cousin, the private sec-
retary.

Again he said, harshly:

“Yes, you infernal scoundrel! Show
clean hands, or I’ll run you up a. tree
without the trouble of using your feet in
climbing! I’ll hang you, just so sure as
grass grows and waters run! ”

“ By what right do you use such lan-
guage, Cousin Allen?” began Ralph, in
expostulation; but the other young man
swiftly cut his speech short.

“ Drop that, you cur! You’re no relative
of mine. You’re no kin to the Kirkwood
family so long as your record is black as
midnight! "

A hot flush came into that handsome
face, and the secretary put both hands
behind his back, as though fighting
against a. hot temptation to make a far
different use of them.

“ What have you to say against my
record, Allen? As heaven hears my
.words, I’ve never committed an uc’t
which could rightly call forth such terms
as you’ve made use of, just now.”

“Do you deny having—bah! ” with
clenched hand flying out in a passionate
gesture. “Where’s the u e? You’d deny
it all; a. man who could join in such an
atmcicus plot wouldn’t make
over a. lie more or less!”

Hard words to swallow, surely!

Ralph Innes was a man, whatever his

An’ him full to the

a boggle

faults might be. Those wards cut him
deeply, and that scornful tone Stung to
the very quick.

“I have never lied to you or to yours,

,Allen Kirkwood,” he forced himself to

‘ utter with outward composure.

 

“ If you
have any charges to bring, why not do so
as one gentleman to another, who is—”

“Gentleman? You?” mocked Kirk—
wood, laughing derisively for a few sec-
onds, then speaking further with fierce
emphasis: “ That’s enough, Ralph Innes.
I have charges to make, and I'll fetch
them to the front in the proper time and
place. Until then—listen, you villain!

“Until you can prove those charges
false in toto, you can’t associate with
my father. Until then, keep out of our
sight and company. Do you understand
that much? ”

Martin Kirkwood would have spoken,
but Allen thrust the old gentleman back,
checking whatever Speech he might oth-
erwise have made.

As this appeared to be a purely family
affair, none of the rest deemed it advisa—
ble to interfere, although the Sparkler
Sport stoodby, keen eyes flashing from
face to face, taking mental notes which
might prove of use later on in the game.

Ralph Innes kept his temper in admira~
ble check, only his unusually pale face
and his strained tones betraying how
difiicult he found the task. And then he
spoke in reply: ,

“So be it, Allen. Still, the day will
surely come when you’ll feel sorry for
all this. The time shall come when— 

“Is that meant for a threat, Ralph
Innes? ” ,

“ No. A prediction. Uncle,” turning
toward Martin Kirkwood and speaking
in softened tones, “I never loved you
better than right now, nor was I ever
more eager to serve you, or yours. At a
single word I would give my very life to-
ai-d Lorella or——”

“ Never mind your worthless life, Ralph
Innes,” rudely interrupted his cousin,
stepping between. “ Give us your room
instead!”

 

CHAPTER XXVI.
THE FRIENDS IN COUNCIL.

Ralph Innes hesitated for a little, an
almost yearninglight in his brown eyes
as they rested upon the agitated counte-
nance of his uncle; but no Word was
spoken such as he longed to hear, and
with a long breath which was very near-
ly a sigh, he spoke again:

“All right. I’ll go, now, rather than
mix in a quarrel where death may be
knocking at the door.”

“See that it don’t knock at your por-
tal: with a noosed rope in his fist!"
almost brutally spoke the younger Kirk-
wood, whose enmity appeared to grow
with the food it fed upon.

At another time he might have found
his hands full, for that was anything
save a loving look which the secretary
flashed his way; but in silence Innes
passed over to the doorway, pausing
there for a brief look backward.

If he expected or hoped for word of
comfort or 01. kindly parting, he was
disappointed. Only Allenspoke, and his
words were a thinly veiled menace.

“It’s a mighty unhealthy season for
traveling, Ralph Innes. If you are med-
itating a sudden Jaunt, don't say that I
‘uever told you! "

Without a word of reply, the accused
man turned and passed out of sight, pay-
ing no heed whatever to Barney O’Shea,
who was only held in check by a whole-
some fear for his own bones. Only for
that the camp-cook would surely have
crowded much nearer the front, where he
might see as well as hear.

While all this was going on, Dr. Potter
was devoting his care and attention to
the wounded mountaineer. upon whose

already over-tasked powers this excite- ,

ment was bearing heavily.
As Ralph Innes passed away. those

-more ne'arlv interested in learning all

that could be told anent the Stranglers

i

 

 

and their nefarious schemes, naturally
turned again to that quarter, eager to
pick up the thread dropped at the com-
ing of Allen Kirkwood.

Nelson Crooks seemed willing enough
to talk on, but the man of medicine
flatly refused to permit any such thing.

“No more, gentlemen; not another
word, unless you fire me bodily out of
the room and house,” was his firm de-
cision. “As a doctor 1 forbid further
chatter. It would be little less than
suicidal for Mr. Crooks.”

“ Ef I’m ready to take the resk, doc? "
huskily muttered the man thus named;
but Dr. Potter slipped a hand over those
lips, while sayin'g:

“If you are, I’m not. Will you go
quietly, gentleman, or must I call for
assistance in clearing this chamber?”

“ Ifyou put it like that doctor—”

“ Precisely like that, Mr. Starlight.
Will you take the hint? ”

“Without the kick? Of course,” with
a faint smile, at the same time turning
toward Kittie and her father, to add:
“ Be good to yourselves, friends. Try
to chirk him up, little woman. And
you, Crooks: make all haste to get back
your strength, for—well, we want you to
help us do the cheering over the grand
round-up, don’t you see?"

But the wounded mountaineer shook
his head, gloomily, at this.

“I’m hopin’ ye’ll git thar, sport, but

fer me-I’m done ketched my last sick-_

ness, an’ then——”

Kittie closed those lips with her own,
and so they left them; her curly head
hiding his, her arms lovingly lending
support’.

Once outside the sick-chamber, Martin
Kirkwood caught an arm of his son, re-
peating the question which had remained
unanswered in so many words during
the recent excitement between the cous-
lnS. .

“ Lorella; where is she, Allen? ” '

“ Alive and well, so far as that goes,
father. Only——of course she must be—
but this isn’t 'the best place in the world
to talk over such matters in. Where
shall we go, to be by ourselves?”

“I have a room which—this way.”

Martin Kirkwood hastened on in ad-
vance, Allen close behind him, with the
Sparkier Sport coolly fetching, up the
rear.

Reaching his chamber, the old gentle-
man turned the knob and opened the
door, followed by his son; but as Star-
light likewise entered, Allen gave a dark
frown and bent a look of strong suspi—
cion upon the intruder.

“I don't—Allen!” began his father,
and the young man turned that way,
quickly, to hear the further words:
“Where is Lorella? Show her to me,
boy! Where is she, I say? ”

“ Not just yet, father. She is safe and
sound, though those devils still hold fast
to her, and—”

“Still a prisoner? Then—how came
you here, boy?” demanded the million-
aire, almost“ harshly, as he caught an
arm in his strong grip. '

Allen hesitated, once more turning a
look as of suspicion upon the Sparkler
Sport, who quietly spoke up:

“ If I’m at all in the way, gentlemen,
I’ll take myself out of it. Don’t be at
all bashful about making known the
truth, I beg of you." .,

“No, no!” cried Martin Kirkwood,
hastily, face fully backing up his words
as they “came in swift succession.
“You’ve played the part of a true and
trusty friend so far, Mr. Sparkler. Add
to the debt I already owe you, for,
heaven knows, we still need just such
aid and advice as you best know how to
offer. You will remain, friend?”

“ With pleasure, since you put it that
way. Unless~perhaps your son has
some objection, though?” i

“Not if my father is satisfied and
wishes your company,” promptly. an-
swered Allen for himself. I

 This point settled, the chamber door

was closed and the key turned in its
, l . ,

‘l ‘.  -£ , I'
. __-*' ., , .~’ "

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“itself.

 

 

 

lock; then the trio of friends settled
down to sober business.

Martin Kirkwood looked as he surely
felt—deeply dejected as he realized how
little had been won in the desperate
game then being played.

Sparkler Steve was more inclined to
listen than to assume the lead just now,
so Allen Kirkwood had the stage pretty
nearly to himself.

He cut the preliminaries as short as he
Well could, curtly telling how the double
abduction had been contrived, and what
experience had come their way since that
audacious raid.

Like one desirous of lightening a pa-
rent’s burden as much as possible, he re-
peated the assurance won from the lips
of the sister that Lorella had met with
no real insult, had received no bodily in-
jury, and was but little the worse for her
unusual experience save through natural
anxiety born of her being in 'bonds and
away from her beloved parent.

“Thank God for that, at least!” fer-
vently ejaculated the :old gentleman,
drawing a long breath of relief and then
showing a keener interest in what still
remained to be told.

“ How did you manage to escape, then,
Allen?” he asked.

The young man shrugged his shou'd:.rs
as his mustached lip took a slight curl,
but then made answer, as briefly as pos—
sible s ating the actual facts of the case.

“ The head-devil—Jack Ketch he calls
himself—turned me loose with a 'string
attached. Sent me to make known his
terms, which you will find pretty fully
set down in this paper.”

Martin Kirkwood took the note, but
his hands trembled and his eyes seemed
unusually misty as he put on his gla:—ses.
And then, after a low whisper, the
Sparkler Sport tock the paper and dis-
tinctly read aloud all it contained, from
address to signature.

“It’s a heaVy sum, or would be to any
common mortal,” was his comment as he
completed that reading. “Still, it’s a
mighty low figure to stand as expressing
the full value of Miss Kirkwaod! ”

“I’d give ten times as much rather
than have harm befall my little girl!"
impulsively cried‘the father, tears falling
as he took the paper and bent his head
over that clearly traced signature.

Allen gave a low growl at this, frown-
ing darkly the while.

“ It isn’t so much the amount, as it is
the manner, don’t you know! ”

“ Well, one hardly looks for silk-glove
handling when one comes in con‘act with
such gentry," quietly observed the Spark-
ler Sport.

“ That isn’t what I mean, either. It’s
the cash I'm worrying over. A check, or
a draft, even, might be managed all right;
but when it comes to gathering twenty-
five thousand dollars in coin or in bills,
’way out here in the wilderness—~that's
different! ”

“What is it, Allen? ” asked his father, I

lifting/his eyes from the lines his daugh-
ter had timed,

“ Give me“ the note, father," at the
same time taking possession of it with-
out awaiting fu‘ll permission. “ That
blinds your eyes, if not your wits, daddy,
and just now we need all the help there
is going.”

“ I am ready, son; what is it, first? "

“ About this ransom, father.”

“ I’ll pay it. Ten-fold if necessary! "

"I knew you would, father,” with a,

little nod of approval. “ But the money
isn’t all; we’ve got to hustle for the cash
Jack Ketch—Satan build his bed!
—declares thathe’ll take nothing but the
clear cash, and that’s going to puzzle us.
I’m thinking.” ‘

“ One mement," cut in the Sparkler
Sport, nodding to the son, but looking at
the father. “ You will pay this ransom.
then, without disputing the figures, Mr.
Kirkwood ? ”

“ Yes.
nothing. to me in comparison with my

, daughter, sir! ”

“ As a matter of course. Well, then, as

at

Money or money's worth is.

Thasparklerfisart-

27

 

for the cash itself, I reckon that can be
managed.”

“How so, pray?” asked Allen, a bit
roughly as to manner.

“Well, Salvation City is far from being
moribund, and in a mining town like this
there is a good deal of the pure stuff in
circulation. I can say (without boast-
ing) that my word goes with a majority
of the citizens here, and so—with your
personal check as security, Mr. Kirkwood
—the cash can be raised with no partic-
ular difficulty.”

“ How long a time will
though?” asked Allen.

“Tcn hnurs attheoutfldefl

“ is tllhi so?” with an echo of pleas-
urable surprise. “Faith, then, you’re a
Knight); good friend to hold council with,

fr. Starlight! ”

“ Don’t mention it. Your father’s note
or check is good as a government bond,
and with either to back me up, I’ll an~
swer for the cash. But, how is it to be
delivered, and how is Miss Kirkwood to
be released? ”

Allen shrugged his shoulders a bit be—
fore replying.

“Well, that’s another tough morsel to
swallow, I’m afraid!"

it take,

 

CHAPTER XXVII.
ARRANGING FOR THE RANSOM.

“ What do you mean by that, my son? ”

“Well, sir, this infernal scoundrel who
signs himself Jack Ketch not only set his
price, but named his own conditions
from start to finish.”

" To which we will agree without quib-
bling,” quickly declared Martin Kirk-
wood. “Nothing in the shape of money
shall stand between my little girl and
hervliberty; you surely know that, Al-
en. ”

” If paying the ransom was all,” with
another shrug of the shoulders.

“What do you mean?”

 You heard what he had Lorella write
about Paying over the money, father?
Well, he added more to me, in person,
so that no room might be left for mis-
takes. And that little—”

“ Go on! ”

“You and I are to take the money to .

the rendezvous, you understand? No
other person can go along, either in our
Company or following as our safeguard.
NOW. do you begin to see what bothers
me, father? ”

“ You think—you fear the fellow means
to play us false? " asked the elder Kirk-
wood, after a brief pause as for consid-
eration.

_ “ Well, there is rather more than a fair
chance for something of the sort. Still,
since those are his terms—" .

“ What do you think of it, Mr. Star-
light?” asked the millionaire, looking
toward the Sparkler Sport, as though
just reminded of his presence by sDeCial
invitation.

“ Looks mightily as though the condi-
tion covers a trick of s me description,”
frankly owned the spot . “ You say he
i made an especial point of that, Mr. Kirk-

wood? ” -

“ Yes,” admitted Allen, thoughtfully.

“ Of course, he had a very plausible rea-

son for so doing—to guard himself

against cunning trickery on our side of
i the board, he declared. And—it may be

so. ” .
‘ “ That, of course. Naturally enough,
i you would be feeling a bit sore under the
collar after such usage.

 

ing his dearly beloved daughter from
rude captivity by paying our a few of his
many thousands; but now—the whole af-
fair seemed to take on a vastly different
light.

His really remarkable nerve seemed to
forsake him all at once, and his tall
frame fell to shivering as one under a
sudden chill.

Allen broke in quickly, either dropping
or hiding his own doubts for sake of his
father’s peace’.

“ Of course, ’tis just as well to take all
these minor points into consideration
while dealing with such ugly devils; still,
I hardly think any such double-play will
be attempted.”

“It might, though. And once caught
in such a trap, with all three of you held
fast by such an audacious knave—" ’

“ What? "

“Well, sir,” with a half smile, half-
frown as he met the eager e) es of the old
gentleman; “in a case like that, I reckon
’twould make the bank account of even a
millionaire look mighty sick before the
end of negotiations was fairly reached!”

Allen made a passionate gesture at
this, his lips curling away far enough to
grant a brief glimpse of his teeth. Then
he spoke, crisply:

“ I hinted pretty plainly at something
like that, myself, but only met with a de-
nial. What more could I do then? Wha
more can we do now? '

“Certainly, we can’t afford to waste
time while Lorella is held at the full
mercy of such infernal rascals? ”

“ No, no!” exclaimed the maiden‘s fa:
ther, his voice all a-tremble with strong
feeling. “ I’d run the risk and take what
comes, rather than prolong her trials
even by a single hour! ’

“ It wouldn’t help Miss Kirkwood any
for both father and brother to join her
in captivity, though, do you reckon, Mr.
Kirkwood? ”

“But it might add to her danger were
we to balk at a purely imaginary peril,
though,” as quickly spoke the younger
Kirkwood. “What else can we do than
to accept the conditions imposed, after
all? "

“Guard against any lack of faith 0
the part of our enemies,” the Sparkler
Sport replied, his face and tones betray-
ing a more than ordinary interest in this
affair.

“As how, pray?”

“Yes, Mr. Starlight," from the father,
with a poorly hidden eagerness. “Tell
us what to do, please! Show us how-—
the dear child must be saved, remember,
no matter what comes to the rest of us.
Lorella first of all! First of all, I say! ”

“Well, gentlemen, it surely ought to be

‘ possible to take such precautions against

Still, to a man '

up a tree the shoe would seem a better v

|
1 fit for the other foot! ” .

i “Pray explain yourself, Mr. Starlight.”
I “Well, if you meet his terms, what’s

? to hinder this sweet Jack Ketch from.

playing you both foul, Mr. Kirkwood?”
“As how? ”

foul play as to insure fair dealing by the ‘
enemy,” deliberately said the Sparkler
Sport. “ With a picked lot of good
men—”

Allen Kirkwood flung up a checking
hand at this, bluntly speaking: '

“Drop that, if you please, Mr. Star-
light. I’ve particular warning against
any such play as that, and the risk would
be too great—far too great to justify us
in taking any such step.”

“ But, say you were kept in blissful ig-
norance of the fact? " suggested the
Sparkler, with a faint smile. -

“That wouldn’t help matters in the
least, and without you promise to hold
back entirely, sir, we’ll stop talking over
the matter right now and right here.”

Allen Kirkwood spoke with almost
harsh positivity, and his father seemed
surprised, if not hurt, by such apparent
rudeness to a guest of his own inviting.

“ Allen, surely you don’t stop to count

your words? ”

“ By taking both ransom money and.

I the bearers, of course! ”
| Martin Kirkwood stared at the speaker
: with eyes wider than usual, but then the
‘full purport of those words seemed to
. burst upon his brain and give him a se-
{ vere shock.

Until now he had thought only of sav-

“ I’m counting the consequence of fly-
ing in the face of the grim warning given
me by Jack Ketch, rather, father,” came
the swift, reply. “He swore that we
couldn’t make a move without his full
knowledge and comprehension. He
swore by good and by evil that if we; in
any way, shape, or manner veered to
either side of his instructions, ’twould be

4

 

 

 

 

The Sparkler Sport.

 

 

a sign for breaking off all negotiations,
and in place of rescuing Lorella, we
would be turning her over to the Strang-
lers for—a plaything! ”

A low, husky cry escaped the father at
this grim threat, and he shivered anew
with fear—not for himself, but for his
best-beloved child.

“ That’s just the way it stands,” added

Allen, in milder tones. “ No man living
would better like to fool those infernal
hounds, but for now we can’t afford to
run any long chances. Afterward—but
that is another story! ”
‘ The Sparkler Sport seemed duly im-
Ypressed with the serious condition of af-
fairs as thus outlined; yet his first idea
was not. entirely banished.

“ That condition may mean good or
evil; may be merely to protect himself
against treachery on your part, or may
cover an infernal scheme to secure the
cash even while holding the prize, and
adding to it a couple of others.”

“ We’ll go fully armed, of course, and
with eyes opened to possible trickery—
well, ’twill be no walkover for Jack
Ketch! ” \

“That is well enough, far as it goes;
but why not go further? I’ll agree to
have a picked force so located that their
very existence shall never be so much
as suspected by the Stranglers so long as
play is fair. After—well, if playing foul,
they’ll be caught in their own snare.”

But now Martin Kirkwood was the one
to object, positively, almost harshly.

For himself and son, ’twas very little
matter; for Lorella ’twas everything.
And where he might have argued against

the younger, Sparkler Steve quietly
bowed submission to the elder Kirkwood.

“ Very well, gentlemen; I’m only a low
private in this little campaign, and
haven’t a word to offer further. Only-if
there should happen to be anything at all
I can do, let me know-—as a favor.”

“You can aid us in raising the cash,
which, after all, seems to be the main
point just now,” declared Allen, with a
fleeting smile. “After that is gathered
together, father and I will have to do the
rest.”

‘4 “When did you agree to meet this
Jack Ketch, if it’s a fair question?"
asked the sport, quietly.

“As quickly as the ransom could be

 

provided for—to-morrow, if possible.
Why?”
“ Merely wished to know. And the

place of meeting is—”

But here Allen hesitated, looking keen-
ly, almost suspiciously, into that strong
face for several seconds before speaking
at all.

“ First, sir, give me your word of honor
to keep the place secret from all others.
Will you do this much? ”

“ If you ask it—yes,” was the ready re-
sponse. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“Well, I didn’t know but what you
thought of playing a card or two on your
own hook, and so—never mind! I can
trust you, since father has gone your bail.
And so-ever hear of a place called the
Painted Flat, Mr. Starlight? ”

“ Yes. I know the place. A better one
could hardly be picked out for such an
exchange, either; always granting that
both sides of the bargain made were in
fair earnest. If not—”

“We’ve got to play fair. We couldn’t
afford to do otherwise, if only for L0-
rella’s sake. ’Twould surely be fatal to
her hopes of freedom were we to try a
double—can’t you see that, sir?”

“But, if Ralph Innes be playing the
role you seem so confident of,” suggested
the Sparkler Sport, “ surely he’d see no
harm came her way?”

Allen Kirkwood frowned blackly, his
clenched hand smiting the air savagely

as he said: i
“ I know! That devil is at the bottom
of it all! He’s scheming, but in this case

I really believe the tool ill smarter than
the master.
done, but—never mind for now. Your
check—book, father! We’ve got to get
down to business without more delay.”

 

Innes hires the dirty work.

 

“ Wait—let me see where I can rustle
the cash first,” said the sport, rising to
his feet.

 

CHAPTER XXVIII.

THE STRANGLER‘S SURPRISE PARTY.

Stephen Starlight out very little time
to waste so far as he himself was con—
cerned, and in the course of a very few
hours gave the two Kirkwoods, father
and son, fair proof that he spoke well
inside of the limits when he declared
his ability to rustle up the cold cash
with no better collateral than his bare
word, backed by the millionaire.’s check-
book.

True, those checks were “ good as
gold,” and would pass current for such
in any financial center; but Salvation
City was hardly within those magic
bounds, and lacking the sport’s indorse—
ment, the slips of paper would have cut
but an ignominious figure.

Still, twenty-five thousand dollars in
clean cash is a large sum of money, and
even with the Sparkler afoot it took
both time and patience to make the col-
lection, although the day was not nearly
spent when the full amount was fairly
pledged.

Still, the collection itself was not fin-
ished until high noon of the day follow-
ing.

Then Sparkler Steve handed over the
amount, for the most part in bank-
notes, with a couple of bags containing
eagles and double-eagles to fill out the
tally.

Starlight refused to hearken to thanks
from father or from vson, soberly saying
before withdawing:

“Wait until the day is older, my good
friends. -Maybe I’m doing you injury in
place of good; maybe this will only dip
you deeper into the worry instead of
pulling you all out of it!”

“We’ll hope for better things, at
least,” declared Allen.

“ Either way you are fully secured, Mr.
Starlight,” declared Martin Kirkwood,
grasping those hands and pressing them
cordially, while tear-moist eyes looked
gratefully into those keen blue eyes.
“My checks will be honored at once,
and then—”

“I’m not thinking of the money, sir,"
quickly,” almost roughly, cried the sport,
wresting his hands free and turning
abruptly away, paying no ‘heed to the
call which was sent after him.

Evidently his feelings were keenly
stung, since the time for starting with
the ransom money camegand passed
without aught more being seen of
Stephen Starlight. Mr. Kirkwood felt
this keenly, but there was no time to
waste, and Allen impatiently urged his
father to action.

“It’ll be all right after he’s had time
to think it all over, father,” he gave
assurance, as they set forth upon their
hazardous mission, moving so quietly as
to attract little or no attention their
way. “If not—well, should his fears
prove well founded, one thing: we'll
hardly come back to hear him croak, ‘I
told ye so!’ ”

Through all those financial negotia-
tions the real secret had been carefully
kept by the Sparkler Sport, and few if
any 'of the citizens now to be seen astir
on those streets had even the faintest
suspicion of the purpose which took
father and son abroad that fair after-
noon. ..

This was all the better, considering
what grim point Jack Ketch made of
secrecy concerning the transfer of booty
for beauty, yet Martin Kirkwood shiv-
ered a bit as he fairly left the town.
looking back to see never a friendly
face or hand giving them good luck!

Allen Kirkwood acted feverishly eager
to get it all over with, and it was well
enough that the old gentleman bad
sound legs and good muscles to back
them up, for the next hour or more was
a busy one for them both.

Only waiting to make sure they were
not .being followed or watched by any

 

curious citizens, Allen Kirkwood picked
his course as directly as the lay of the
ground would permit, for the spot local-
ly known as Painted Flat, from its curi-
ously contrasted rocks of a round dozen
hues, here running in regular layers,
yonder broken into bits and blots of
bright or dull color, yet all of sufficient
contrast and oddity to fully merit the
appellation bestowed upon that valley.
For valley it was, almost circular in
shape, surrounded on all sides by fairly
high hills, rough, rocky, and broken,
with here and there a narrow defile
leading into or out of the sunken plateau.
For such it might well be termed. It
was level to a marvel, considering its
surroundings, and, unlike the vast ma-
jority of vallies, was almost barren, so
far as green vegetation was concerned.
Lifted high above all surroundings,
’twould- ha‘r‘fp been a great mesa, and
natural encdsgh; lying thus, ’twas a nat-

, ural curiosity.

It took some little time to scale those
rough and broken rocks for a first
glimpse of the Painted Flat, and more
than once the old gentleman was obliged
to pause for breath. The last time of
doing so,_ he looked back, and far away
he caught a glimpse of Salvation City
itself.

At another time, with less vital inter-
ests at stake, he might have enjoyed
studying the scenery; but now he thought
only of reaching their journe-y’s end as
quickly as possible.

If only—but he would not give way
to such ugly doubts! ‘

Side by side father and son surmount-
ed that natural barrier, then flashed
eager looks over the vari-hued valley
lying stretched before their eyes, each
one looking for some sign or token of the
Stranglers.

Nothing which looked like human life
was visible, however, and Martin Kirk-
wood was about to express at least a
portion of his doubts, When he gave a
sharp ejaculation, gripping an arm of
his son tightly as he pointed toward a
portion of that rocky ridge at no great
distance from their present position.

“Look, Allen! Something is—who is
it, yonder? ”

Allen gripped revolver with nervous
hand, but then drew a long breath of
evident relief as be both saw and rec-
ognized that object. ,

“A bear, father,” he said, as that ob-
ject came out into fairer view. “ Look-
ing for worms or mice, I reckon. It’ll
not bother us if we don’t interefere with
it; never fear.”

“I wasn’t—I thought it might be one
of those—the Stranglers, as they call
themselves. Now—I don’t see anything
of them! ”

Allen laughed. shortly, yet with a de-
gree of nervousness perceptible which
he would have been the last to admit
was possible.

“Hardly, father! Jack Ketch is no
fool, whatever else he may be called.
He’ll never show his ugly mug so 'long
as there is a possible doubt of our play-
ing a square game.”

“Then you think—”

“That his eyes are watching us this
very moment: yes!" with dogged em-
phasis. “His, and doubtless those of
enough other knaves to kick all the fat
into the fire if we were so rash as to
ring in a cold deck. I wish it was all
well over with, daddy! ”

“ We’ll play our part through to the
end, Allen, and then we will have nahght
to blame ourselves with should aught go
wrong,”
woo-d, again moving forward.

“Where were you to meet the fellow,
son? ”‘

“Down yonder, near the center of the
valley.” answered Allen, casting another
look toward yonder prowling bear; but
“ Old Eph ” paid them no attention, leis—
urely turning over the stones with his
armed paws in quest of his beloved
“ small deer.”

Together the two men carried the.

bravely spoke the elder Kirk- ,

 

 

Kw
\

hmem~h

. an:

 

 

 

 

 

k”
\

 

 

; time again!

.l} “ What do you mean,
‘ not Allen? ”

The Sparkle 513°”;

 

 

ransom money down into the valley and
out to the center of the flat, without see-
ing augnt of the enemy, and then, just
when son as well as father appeared to
dread failure on the part of Jack Ketch
and his Stranglers, the surprise was
sprung.

Here and there, all around the two
ransom—bearers, flat stones which had
covered each an armed man, Were flung
up and aside, then the rush was made,

‘ amid yells and cries of savage mockery
and triumph combined.

Martin Kirkwood was made an easy.I
prey, for the amazing surprise appeared »

to paralyze him for the moment, but

Allen showed fierce fight, jerking re-

volver and firing a couple of shots ere

. he could be fairly tackled by the enemy,
Jack Ketch at their head.

To all seeming the young man went

i, down with senses if not life itself fairly

\knocked out of him, so lusty was the

’arm which dealt the finishing blow; but

:for the moment Martin Kirkwood gave

j no thought to his son or to himself: all
3- was for Lorella!

How true the forebodings which he
ihad so stubbornly banished, time and
All false—all foul!

And so, when Jack Ketch came up in

. front of the now bound man, Martin

,Kirkwood burst forth in fierce denun-

' ciations of such vile treachery.

The Chief of the Stranglers laughed
at such impotent fury, and even when
the younger man shOWed signs of regain-
ing consciousness, and was again upon
his feet, with a couple of stalwart

SStranglers holding lfaast to his arms,
awhile curses hot and heavy were poured
‘forth upon the villain who had played
; Iudh a treacherous game, still Jack Ketch
- laughed.

4 “See that he don't do worse than
fehin-chin, lads,” was his only remark
‘drawn forth by Allen’s flood of fury;
'tnen he turned agalln to the elder Kirk-
~.wood, speaking with a cold sneer in his
gvoice:

“ Why, you poor, blind idiot! Talk
'about treacherous dealing on my part,
-}will you? Howl because I haven’t done
- Just as the actual bargain ran? Bah! If
,I had stuck to the contract, where would
'lyou be right now? ”

“My child—my poor little girl! Oh,
i you devil of devils! Tell me just what—”
‘ With a. swift movement Jack Ketch
‘strulck hand over those lips, cutting
-short that speech, then swiftly saying
.‘ere Mr. Kirkwood could speak further:

I “Tell you, is it? Ay, I’ll tell you——
Bjust this much: if I hadn’t broken away
from the bargain made with your pre-
"cious son, yonder, where would you be
~‘th‘is minute? Dead, you fool! For—he
‘hired 'me to play this trick to your death,
"Martin Kirkwood! ”
, A hoarse cry burst from lips of Allen
:Kirkwood at this monstrous charge, but
'he seemed actually deprived of. physical
)strength by those words, standing help-
9 less in the Stranglers’ grip, trembling
“ like a leaf.
.' Martin Kirkwood looked from mask to
that ghastly pale face, seemingly at a
,loss to comprehend just what was being

. revealed.
sir? Surely——

“I mean that only for my playing
;false, as you term it, you’d be a corpse
‘this holy second! ” repeated Jack Ketch,
isternly. “Your son offered us this very
‘lump of money for killing his father:
:yourself, no less! ” .
‘ A brief pause, during which Martin
fKirkwood seemed fairly petrified, but

then he broke loose, leaping upon and
knocking Jack Ketch down.

“ You lying demon! I’ll kill you for

that foul lie! ” he cried, hotly.

 

CHAPTER XXIX.
THE STRANGLER’S DOUBLE CROSS.
It was the act of a man turned fairly
wild by what he deemed an unparalleled
insult, and for the moment Martin Kirk-

u.

[wood seemed gifted with supernatural
[ powers.

Lusty knave though he was, Jack
Ketch went down before the old gentle-
man like an inmnt before a giant, too
utterly surprised to make even a show
of defense.

But then his fellows jumped to the

* rescue, downing the millionaire to the
I full as s‘wiftly, if not quite so harshly.
{ Allen Kirkwood likewise set up a
estuggle, striving all he knew how to
‘ break free from his guardians, but in
vain. The feet were promptly knocked
from under him, and he struck the stony
ground with a force which fairly drove
the breath out of his body.

With stout cords which had been pro-
vided with an eye to this very end, arms
were bound securely, and that without
Inflicting serious injury upon either of
the prisoners.

This one point seemed uppermost in
the mind of Jack Ketch, for he had
scarcely measured his length before the
father’s fierce blow, than he yelled to
his fellows to take, not slay or harm.

All passpd with remarkable rapidity,
and almost before full notes could have
been taken by a disinterested spectator,
the work was over, the two men bound
past working further harm to their ene-
mY, and Jack Ketch was upon his feet,
revolver drawn, overlooking the whole
affair.

“Get a hustle on, you fellows! ” he
harshly ordered, mask still hiding his
features from inspection. “We’ve got
both boodle and men, now we want to
climb out 0’ this in a holy hurry!”

Allen cursed, Martin strove to question,
but brutal blows silenced them both, and
then they were hurried away over the
Painted Flat, heading for one of the
narrow deflles which marked that side
of the valley opposite the distant town of
Salvation.

Keen eyes were constantly on the alert
against possible foul play on the part of
the Kirkwood pair, but nothing more
alarming than a gray-coated hear was
within eye-range, placldly searching for
worms up near that rocky crest.

“ Heap o’ mighty good meat gwine to
Waste over yender, boss,” one' of the
Stranglers ventured to say; but Jack
Ketch did not see fit to act favorably
upon the hint.

“You let the bear alone, Dan, and it’ll
not bite you. Lively, all! We’ve got too
much worth right here to throw away
even the ghost of a chance. Lively—for
the horses, now! ”

Utterly helpless, the two prisoners were
hurr1ed along, Allen sullenly furious, his
father growing dejected as he began ‘20
fa1rly realize how terribly disastrous
their venture was panning out.

For himself he cared nothing, for Allen
but little more. They were strong men,
and able to bear up against all that might
befall; but Lorella! That was, oh, so
different!

What awful fate would be hers, now
that Jack Ketch had successfully played
"his double game of treachery? And as
he asked himself this question, his mind
was haunted by the answer given by
Allen: turned over to be the mock and
sport of those pitiless demons, the
Stranglers of the Silver Slope!

Stung to the heart by such crushing
fears, Martin Kirkwood again and again
strove to get word from the lips of the
leader, but at most he only won evasions
or ugly curses.

Just then Jack Ketch was bent on gain-
ing the spot where their animals had
been left while the ambuscade was in
waiting, acting as though he feared some
equally cunning effort to turn the tables,
eyes always on the rove to guard against
possible surprise

Nothing of the kind took place, and
the Painted Flat was fairly crossed with-
out aught which even hinted at trickery
on the part of the friends to the Kirk-
woods.

Diving into one of the narrow cracks
which led deviously through that crater-

 

 

____. In "I" 

!

 

 

29

like wall of bare rocks to fairly open
country beyond, Jack Ketch hurried his
men on with their captives, never halting
or slackening pace until the tethered
horses were fairly won.

“Good enough!” was his hearty ex-
clamation at this. “ Hoist ’em up, there,
lads; it’s hustle takes the cake, and
we’re playing for the entire bakery right
now!”

Again did Martin Kirkwood venture a
question as to his daughter, and now the
Chief of the Stranglers found time in
which to give him at least the semblance
of an answer.

“The young lady is all right, my ven-
erable gudgeon, so don’t worry. I’m tak-
ing you to her side as directly as possi-
ble. After that meeting; well, that’s a
different thing! "

“You’ve got the ransom money, and
now—”

“We mean to keep it, of course. That
merely pays us for the work already
done. Afterwards—”

“ Don’t talk to the hound, father,”
harshly cut in the younger Kirkwood.
“You’ll get nothing better than foulest
lies from him, so—what is the use wast-
ing breath? ”

Jack Ketch made no effort to check
this far from complimentary speech, and
even chuckled in seeming amusement
as the young man ceased.

“You’re another, Allen, my boy!” he
cried, seemingly with reckless amuse-
ment. “ Lies? No, no, my innocent lad.
I’m going to ladle out truth in huge
gobs for the old gentleman, although
I’m not so certain you’ll enjoy the feast
overly much.”

“ You devil! I’ll pay you of! for all this
some day! " -

“ Indeed? Then I reckon I might bet-
ter get in my pretty work right now, so

you can be cipher-ing out just how large

a sum you really owe me. ‘So—you called
me a traitor, back yonder, Mr. Kirk-
wood," he added.

A brief pause, during which Allen!
forced a harsh laugh, like one who strove
to counteract evil in advance; then the
outlaw spoke on:

“ I’m not denying that I played just a
bit crooked, sir, but this much I can and
do claim: if I hadn’t done just so, you
would be turning cold this holy minute,
and your soul would know—what the
rest of us are fully aware of—that your
murder lay at the door of—Allen Kirk—
wood, your hopeful son, yonder! "

Martin Kirkwood shrunk and shivered
before these pitilessly clear tones, but
Allen laughed again, then fell to cursing
the man who so devilishly strove to
add to one crime another even more
diabolical. ‘

“You couldn’t tell the naked truth if
your very life depended upon it,” he
cried, fiercely, wrestling with his bonds
as only a man thoroughly desperate can
do. “Why would I attempt such an in-
fernal trick, you our? ”

“ That‘s just what I’m coming to, Mr.
Kirkwood,” added the Chief of the
Stranglers, paying no heed to the young—
er prisoner. “Of course it hits you
mighty hard, coming so near to where

you live, but the truth is gospel, and I’ll ,

make you see the whole pretty trick
before I’m clean through with you.

“ It’s been a set-up job from start to
finish, and Allen Kirkwood has done the

,chief engineering. He hired us to jump

your camp, and promised us a cool ten
thousand-s chucks to begin with, if we’d
croak you: murder you, to speak with
the bark on!” , .

“A lie—all an infernal lie! ” hoarsely
cried Allen. .

“ Put a muzzle on that calf, fellows,"
coldly commanded Jack Ketch, throwing
up a hand as he turned head that way.

Blindly obeying, the Stranglers sur-
rounded the prisoner, some holding him
helpless, while others applied a heavy
muflier, which served all purposes of a
gag, while being far more easily ad-
justed.

This done, the little cavalcade resumed

r

 

 

‘ were getting there with all feet!”

‘3‘

 

30

The Sparkler Sport.

 

 

im progress, and again Jack Ketch as-
sailed the ears of the elder Kirkwood
with what purported, rightly or wrong—
fully, to bee blunt confession of unpar—
alleled wickedness.

“It’s gospel truth, old gentleman;
Allen is an old-time pal, who has led a.
double life for more years than you could
guess, back east. He hunted me up,
out here, and made his proposition: to?
dump you for good and all, then to get
shut of his sister, when, as a matter of
course he would come in for all your
wealth.

“ Easy enough, with all the chances
your whim of camping-out gave him,
don’t you see? But—well, I agreed to
play my part in the pretty little game
precisely as set down by Allen, but—
somehow it occurred to me that there
ought to be bigger money in the layout.
and, anyhow, the black-hearted deVii
didn’t ought to win such a nasty game! .

“ Mind you, Kirkwood; everything was i
played up in high G, so far as Allen was 1
concerned. And, though you did Slipi
through the noose over yonder, by what a

l
l
|
I

still looks mightily like a miracle to me, ,
up to that very hour I played strictly.
according to Hoyle!

“ Then—well, what’s the use drawing it ‘
out so long? That happening first led
me to thinking more carefully, and the
result is—just like this! I'd cheat the
son, and take the father alive in place of
leaving him an ugly corpse, as I was
hired to do!"

Martin Kirkwood listened through all,
but the very magnitude of the crime
thus brutally outlined, proved its own
antidote. He could not give it full cre-
dence, and so declared.

“A lie: it’s all a foul lie, to put the
cap-sheaf on your devilish doings!” he
cried, sternly.

Jack Ketch shrugged shoulders like,
one careless as to what another might
think, then spoke again:

" All right, my covey! Keep on think-
ing that way until I show you proofs
which even a father can’t refuse to rec-
ognize. Until then—lively, all! Time we

After this but few words were wasted,
even the voluble-tongued Jack Ketch de-
clining to enter into argument or con-
versation with his elder captive.

For several hours longer that journey
was pressed as rapidly as the nature of
the ground to be crossed would permit;
but at the end of that period, the Chief
of the Stranglers rose in his stirrups, to .
cry out:

Good enough! We’re getting there,
my handsome friends! And then—well,
after the Kirkwood family is fairly as-
sembled, we’ll decide just what comes
next: death, marriage, liberty; Which?"

Jack Ketch broke 01! with a laugh
which certainly was not the most agree-
able sound in all the world, at least to
father and son.

 

 

CHAPTER XXX.
THE SPARKLER SPORT AT WORK.

Jack Ketch might have fared better in
the end if he had listened with a more
obliging ear to the half-hinted wish of
his fellow. yonder in the valley known as
the Painted Flat.

Not that bruin would have made such
choice eating as the Strangler inferred,
but its killing certainly would {have bene-
fited that lawless outfit far more than any
one thing they could have accomplished
that day.

For. while the skin was genuine
enough, and perfect from nose to stumpy
Itail, save for the slit Which ran "along the
belly, its contents were scarcely such as
a well-regulated bear-hide covers in life.

Certainly no bear could have been more
innocently occupied befcxe, during, and
after the coming upon the scene of the
Kirkwoods. father and son: but that act-
ing was purely such, for inside that shag-
gy hide the Sparkler Sport was adroitly
carrying out the audacious scheme which
his fertile brain had studied up after his

\

being denied the privilege of playing a
more open part in that affair of booty
for beauty.

Starlight was more than half convinced
that the Chief of :the Stranglers contem-
plated trickery when Allen Kirkwood
told of the rigid conditions imposed by

r «the outlaw; and so he determined to do
i all that lay in his power to foil the arch—

villain.

Denied the liberty of acting in the open,
he took steps accordingly. under cover
of night conveying the bear-hide from
town to the vicinity of the Painted Flat,
there leaving it securely hidden until his
return.

In order to be first upon the scene,
Sparkler Steve pretended to take offense
at the manner of the millionaire, then
left town unobserved in ample time to
get everything in readiness for playing

5 his part.

How that part was played has been

i seen clearly enough for all purposes, al-

though a few words more may not come
amiss.

While afraid to venture into the open,
lest his natural awkwardness betray his
attempted deception to the enemy, Spark-
ler Sport was ready and more than will-
ing to chip in if he saw even a half-
chance of saving the Kirkwoods and foil-
ing the Stranglers, in case his worst sus-
picions should prove correct.

Naturally enough, however, Starlight
expected the enemy to come into sight
from one of those crooked defiles, in
which case he would have ample time in
which to determ‘ne whether or no it
would be advisabl to play a bold hand.

That cunning ambush surprised him
to the full as much as it did his friends,
and the capture followed so swiftly that
he had.no time to take a hand in, even if
he had deemed such action advisable.

This he did not, for Lorella was absent,
and her safety, her freedom, was para-
mount.

Thanks to that ambush being laid in
the very centre of the colored valley,
the Stranglers were a long revolver-shot
from the nearest rocks, and so, even if he
had thought it best, Sparkler Steve could
hardly have chipped in when Jack Ketch
went down before the indignant father,

without fully advertising his coming to,

the tough nuts there engaged. .

As already shown, that struggle was
brief-lived, and then even the ghost of
a chance was lost for the time being.

When the Stranglers finally started off
with their captives, the disguised Sport
watched them, taking especial note of
the defile toward whiCh they were mov-
ing, at the same time picking his own
way among those thick-lying rocks
toward the crest nearest Salvation City.

All this without the appearance of
haste which might, in suspicious eyes,
fetch awkward attention that way, yet
making such good time that he was cross-
ing the crest even as the Stranglers en-
tered that defile.

Then, producing from inside his hairy

covering a bright scarlet handkerchief,
Sparkler Steve quickly fastened it upon
a stick already prepared, planting the
miniature flag where it could be distinct-
ly seen from afar: exactly what the sport
desired!
' " Lively, now: " Starlight muttered as
he rose up to cast off his covering, so
far as head and face were concerned,
shading eyes as he gazed eagerly in the
direction of Salvation City like one fully
expecting an answer to that brilliant sig-
nal. “Come! Ye can’t come any too
soon for me, my b ave lads!”

A few moments later his keen eyes
caught sight of an answering signal, far
away in the direction of the town, and
giving a long breath of relief, the sport
replaced the hairy mask, turning again in
the direction of the Painted Flat.

“ Pity to lose time, but better keep on
the safe side a bit longer, I reckon!” was
his muttered comment as he again re-
sumed his posture of bruin, and shambled

i

 

awkwardly over the rise and down to the
level below.

He headed direct for the narrow pass
through which the Stranglers picked
their way with their captives, making
as rapid progress as possible under the
conditions.

Although he hardly looked for such a
thing, the Sparkler Sport knew it was
barely possible that Jack Ketch had left
a guard at the mouth of the defile, to
make sure no enemy was following.

Treacherous himself, what more like-
ly than that he should suspect others of
being equally tricky?

As matters turned out, this was a use-
less precaution on the part of the sport,
but while he regretted the loss of time
(for he might have covered the same dis-
tance in less than half the time as a man)
he could not fairly blame himself.

First making sure there were no spies
hidden nigh that point, the sport quick—
ly set up a signal which would be readily
seen from yonder crest, thus marking the
pass to be taken by his men who were
already in brisk motion as he felt fully
assured.

This done, Starlight cast off his dis—
guise for good and all, stowing it away
in a rocky crevice from whence it might
be recovered later on in case all went
well with his risky plans.

Then the bold fellow pressed on
through the defile, tucking under his belt
a number of white strips of cloth which
were to be used for blazing the trail, to
enable his men to follow at speed and
so the more readily overtake their leader.

This was not the first time Starlight
had played scout, and difficult though, the
nature of the ground made that :ask right
now, by exercising his keen judgment a
little in conjunction with his eyes, he
foun little trouble in reaching the spot
where the Stranglers had left their ani-
mals to await the result of that cunning
ambuscade. _

After .this it proved far more easy trail-
ing, thanks to boots of horses rather than
to feet of men, and leaving yet another
of his little signal-flags, Sparkler Steve
pressed on at a good round rate.

Thanks to the broken country through
which the Stranglers were obliged to re-
treat, an active man on foot cauld very
well keep pace with a mounted party, and
until he won his first glimpse of the gang,
Starlight did even better: he gained lit—
.tle by little upon the enemy, only slack-
ening up in his efforts when fairly and
surely hanging near their rear.

Apparently Jack Ketch had no fears of
being tracked, since he took no precau-
tions against followess. Douhtless he
felt safe in the conditions insisted upon
as an important part of the ransOm pay-
ment. ,

Be that as it may, Sparkler Steve found

’ it fairly easy work trailing the enemy

after once coming in fair distance, and
so, too, aided by the little white flags
which were placed at each turn or ob—
scure part of the trail, did the men whom
the sport counted upon to back him up
in the work yet remaining to be done.

Little by little they gained upon their
leader, and before the sun was fairly hid-
ing itself behind the hills toward 'the
west, the little.squad of “solid men"
were greeting their chief.

Picked men. one and all, chosen by
Starlight with an eye single to hot work
against possible odds in case his sus-
picions of foul play were founded upon
fact.

Outwardly conforming to the condi-
tions made by Allen Kirkwood, the sport
did more work than merely securing the
cold cash requisite for a fair exchange of
Lorella for ransom. yet so carefully cov-

ering his movements that not even the

men he enlisted fer the campaign knew
just what was to be done, or whom their
weapons were to be turned against.

, They knew nothing whatever concern-
ing that proposed ransom, and only knew
that they were to keep close watch upon

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yonder rocky rise, to immediately move
in case a red flag should show itself in
that quarter.

When they joined the Sparkler Sport.
they were scarcely better posted as to,
facts, although they might naturally sus- ;

pect; their faces betrayed curiosity, but
their tongues said naught until Sparkler
himself set the example.

By this time there was no reason why ‘

they should be kept longer in ignorance,
and so Starlight frankly informed his
men just what was in the wind, and just
what he counted on their doing after he
had set them a fair example.

Not a single dissenting voice was raised
when he made those facts known. Not
one of that selected band but was eager
to close in a death-lock with Jack Ketch
and his band of Stranglers.

Steadily, cautiously yet boldly, the
picked band tracked the lawless outfit
fairly to their rendezvous, growing a bit
impatient as the sun was lost to view
and :the shades of night began to set-
tle over the earth once more.

If that chase was prolonged, there was
serious risk of losing the trail in the
deepening darkness, and that delay might
be fatal to their hopes of rescuing the
Kirkwood family: for Sparkler Steve felt
firmly convinced the father and son were
now being conducted directly to where
the sister and daughter lay a captive.

Hence it was with great relief that,
from all signs, the rescuing party felt
fairly assured that the end was nigh, the
rendezvous close at hand; and one and all
of the party prepared for the dangerous
work which yet remained to be done.

They were net granted a great deal of
time in which to make those prepara-
tions, either, for it' seemed scarcely possi-
ble that the Stranglers had fairly en-
tered camp, era the moment for action
came. ‘

Loud shouts and fierce cries gave the
signal, and Starlight cried:

“ Come, lads! That means business,
80~up and at 'em, red-hot! ”

 

CHAPTER xxxr.
JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME.

There were other absentees from Salva-
tion City on this eventful day, and at
least two of them were heading for the
same point where the Stranglers had ren—
dezvoused after dispatching Allen Kirk-
wood with terms and conditions for the
ransom of Lorella.

Those two were man and woman, both
015 whom held a strong interest in the
affairs of the Kirkwoods, as will be re-
cognized when their names are given.

Contrary to the traditional rule, the
young woman was acting as guide,
though it. called for no urging to keep the
man close at hand, and the lead was per-
mit-ted merely because of her better
knowledge.

That young woman Was Kittie Crooks,
the young man was Ralph Innes, and
their destination was the very point

- where Lorella Kirkwood was held in cap-

a

“flat? by the grim guard placed over her
by Jack Ketch in person before he started
out to bag his other living game.

Kittie had been first to propose that
venture. watching her chance and quick-
‘Y enlisting the iservices of the private
“cratary when and where no other curi-

' one are Or ear might take awkward note.

It was mainly because her wounded
and helpless father desired it, she has-
tened to make the young man under-
stand. She dared not trust the other

~~ Partiesdnlterested, and so—

Ralph Innes only too gladly welcomed
the chance. '
, _ “ I’d do anything in reason to clear my
record, so feully besmirch'ed by Allen

‘ Kirkwood,” Ralph: gave assurance. “Only

‘ err; f

s-d’d rather pull the hemp I’m, threatened
 an  on risk your me or lib-
is‘s ‘Croo siff. , , I

_ At any other time this earnestness
(might have brought a blush of pleasure

t

4

to those cheeks, but not now: Kittie felt
that the world itself was pretty much

i the same as dead to her.

So, quickly, gravely, earnestly she
spoke on, telling how her company must
be endured, since she could show but
hardly describe the cunningly hidden
spot where it was almost certain Miss
Kirkwood was now awaiting rescue.

“It’s for Daddy: all for father,” she
added, voice breaking a bit in spite of
her tensely-strung nerves. “ If you will
not help—"

“I will, and give you a thousand thanks
in the bargain!” declared Innes, with
strong sincerity unless his face and eyes
:told lies.

In order to gain the distant rendezvous
in time for arranging their plans before
the coming of night, and to make certain
Lorella was really held captive there,
the adventurers had to leave Salvation
City quite early in the day.

This they contrived .to do without call-
ing particular attention their way, save
that Ralph found Barney O’Shea. still
dogging him, though keeping at a fairly
safe distance.

A little quick maneuvering threw the
camp-cook off the scent long enough for
their purpose, and then Innes hastened
to the hills, there to join his fair guide,
Kittie Crooks.

Together they picked their way deeper
into the hills, crossing the little river
where Peter Peltz had given them the
slip so recklessly, pressing on and on
without tiring in their eagerness to make
a fair rec0rd which might help the public
to a more just estimate of their merits.

And so, some little time before the
sun dipped behind the western rocks,
Kittie and Ralph- won a position from
whence they might learn for certain
whether or no their hopes were well-
founded; whether Lorella Kirkwood
was indeed held a. prisoner here, awaiting
the result of Jack Ketch’s double play at
Painted Flat.

Cautious scouting finally convinced
Innes that such was indeed the case, al-
though as yet he could only make a vague
guess as to how many of the Stranglers
were here at the retreat.

Then he made known the decision long
since arrived at in his mind:

“ You have done your part, Miss
Crooks, and now must wait for me to do
mine. I’ll go in yonder, alone-—-”

“ I am going, too, Mr. Innes."

“ No. You must wait here. I mean it,
my dear girl," .he said firmly, as he saw
signs of rebellion. “ With you in danger,
I’d lose all of my nerve. I. would be
“thinking and caring for you, rather than
of or for my cousin. So—I go in yonder
alone, member.”

A sl flush crept into Kittie’s face as
Ralph spoke thus, his strong hands hold-
ing hers captive”. Those brown eyes said
far more than lips as yet dared utter,
and—well, after all, Kittie was a woman,
and if she read the glad truth, why not?

And so, not daring wait until the night
had fairly fallen, although by doing so

4116 would have a friendly screen to his

movements, Ralph Innes looked to his
weapons, then as cautiously as might he
began his perilous venture.

Fortunately there was no lack of nat-
ural cover, and, making the best possi-
ble use of this, the young man was not so
very long in winning a position from.
whence he could peer forth upon a small }
and rude hut made of boughs and. leafy-
brush—a temporary expedient, and anal
which had not existed long, as the?
scarcely faded leaves assured him. I

In front of this hut, squatting close to
the opening which might be closed by. a
flap of blanket, now flung to one side and
upward, squatted a burly shape which
looked strangely familiar to Ralph at
first glance. and which, only a few sec-
Onds later he recognized as none other:
than the Strangler, Peter Peltz!

Staring with wide ey’es, scarcely able
to credit their evidence, the young man

31

soon learned enough to convince himself
that Lorella Kirkwood must be inside
yonder shanty, and then he cautiously.
withdrew, making a circuit until he could
approach the shelter from the rear.

So far, Ralph had failed to see or hear
aught of other enemies, but even while he
was debating whether or no ’twould be
advisable to make an open attack upon
the Strangler, he heard other sounds
which warned him of odds too heavy for
chancing.

He crept up to the rear of the hut with-
out attracting attention his way, and
then looked and listened, using ears while
seeking an aperture among those half-
dry leaves by means of which he might
learn for certain just who was within the
rude shelter.

“ I fooled the idiot and his fancy girl! ”
the Strangler was saying, in coarse,
harsh tones. “ While he searched for me,
on top as well as under the surface, I was
lying snugly under the bank, laughing at
his efforts. .

“Laughing, and yet—cursing as well!
Do you ask why? Because I had marked
him as my own! Because he even then
bore upon his throat the red brand of the
Strangler! Because—ah-h-h! How I
hated him then; how I hate him now! ”

“Why should you hate him so bitter-
ly?” asked a softer voice, which Ralph
instantly recognized for that of his fair
cousin. “ Surely Mr. Innes never worked
you harm or injury, sir? ”

“Did he not? Was it nothing that he
slipped through my clutches even after
the death-touch was painted upon his
throat? Was it naught that he—ah-h-h!
That throat of yours, my lady! How love-

 

. ly it looks now as you—ha! ha! ha!

“Why do you shrink away and breathe
so rapidly, darling? Why do you cringe
and shiver as though—I wonder—fool!
What made him leave me here to be
tempted like—tempted of the devil! Ha!
ha! ha!”

Lorella was not the only one trembling
at those suddenly altered tones, for
Ralph recalled his own hideous usage
yonder in this strangling demon’s mount-
ain home, and now—surely he would not
dare—-

“ Strangle—choke and strangle! ” cried
Peter Peltz. his voice growing fairly dev-
ilish as he sprung to his feet and swiftly
unwound a pliable rope from about his
middle. “I’ll caress that dainty neck
until it turns—ha! "

For Ralph Innes, daring wait no long-
er, came around the but with a dash,
leaping straight at the Strangler, striking
with reversed pistol, hoping thus to dis-
pose of Peltz without noise sufficient to
call the other outlaws to that spot.

Peter dodged, his foot slipping and
fetching him to earth, but he was up as
quickly, flashing forth an ugly-looking
knife and leaping to meet his adversary,
eyes ablaze and face that of a veritable
fiend. '

The two men came together with a
shock, then wrestled for a few secOnds,
falling in a confused heap to earth.

A wild, hoarse yell told of painful
death, and Ralph tore himself free to see
only the haft of the Strangler’s knife;
the blade was buried in his bosom, and
already death was claiming its evil prey!

Then came angry cries, followed by
still others from beyond.

CHAPTER XXXII.
THE LAST or rap STRANGLERS.

These were the sounds which told the
Sparkler Sport he had no time to waste
if he hoped to make a clean sweep in that
quarter.

“ Come, lads! ” he cried, setting the
good example himself and rushingfor-
ward through those deepening shadows.

No doubt it was fortunate for himself

I and allies that the ,whole attention of

Jack Ketch and party was taken up by-
what was going on in their front, for that.

   

 

 

 

 

32

 

Thew Sparkler - Sport.

  

 

 

gave the rescuers time and chance to
fairly close in before their coming was so
much as suspected.

For a few moments matters looked
very squally for Ralph Innes, even after
so luckily disposing of the Strangler, Pe-
ter Peltz.

“Quick!” cried Kittie Crooks, spring—
ing actively to his side, revolver drawn
and ready for service. “They are com—

ing! Save Miss Kirkwood and leave me
to—«back, ye demons! Back, or I’ll shoot
-—to kill! ”

Several guards were coming with a.
rush, and, though they hesitated at sight
of armed enemies, ’twas for but a mo-
ment or two; then charging on with sav~
age oaths and vicious yells.

No time then for flight! To turn back
now would almost surely mean death
from the rear. And so two pistols be-
gan to bark, and Kittie fought shoulder
to shoulder with Ralph in defense of L0-
rella.

For a few minutes matters were very
lively in that quarter, bullets flying reck-
lessly, steel a—flash, blood flowing here
and there, while grim death was reaping
a dread harvest.

The Sparkler Sport closed in with a
. vengeance, shooting straight and striking
hard, knowing that under circumstances
like these the “ only good Strangler was
a dead Strangler.”

The weight of numbers was in their fa-
, vor, but twilight seemed to at least
' double the ranks of their assailants, and
so the Stranglers fought at a disadvan-
tage. Then, too, they lost their leader
early in the fight, he going down before
Allen Kirkwood, who had in some as yet
unexplained manner burst or slipped his
bonds.

Then the cry of victory mingled with
other cries for quarter, and the Sparkler
Sport quickly brought forth order from
seeming chaos.

Before this time father and daughter
were together, one laughing and 'sobbing
in the same breath, the other silent in his
great relief and thankfulness.

Fires were quickly kindled, and by the
ruddy glow thus afforded stock was taken
and the results summed up. ‘ ,

He who had figured as Jack Ketch was
dead, slain with his own knife, guided by
the vengeful hand of Allen Kirkwood,
that black mask still covering his face
from view.

When it was removed, the features Of a
notorious “ bad man " called Mack Han-
son were reWealed, and one portion of the
Strangler mystery was cleared away for
all .time.

Another came to light when, among
those of the enemy mortally wounded,
Vincent Messick, the Salvation City
sport and gambler, was found.

Meanwhile explanations among the liv—
ing and unharmed were in order, and,
thanks to Lorella giving her evidence in
their favor, both Kittie and Ralph stood
clear of suspicion which might otherwise
have proved awkward, being found in
’ such evil company. ~

Even now' Allen Kirkwood, but little
the worSe for his death-grapple with
“ Jack Ketch,” viewed his cousin savage—
ly, and if left to himself might have
added another killing to his red record
that night.

Harshly enough he ordered Innes to
stand aside, nor disgrace his blood rela-

 

tives by contact while his record re-.

mained uncleared.
“ And, without you can clear it, here’s
. fair warning that I’ll send you up a tree,
or, failing that, kill you with my own
.hand! Even now I hold you guilty; even
7 now I believe you were at the bottom of
all this crime and; scheming, Ralph

I ’A‘Innesi”

But the mystery was not to endure
mien longer, for the. Sparkler Sport,
,ho ding =‘a notioncf. his ‘own, took time
send opportunity to question Vin Messick
it!  widgets, then“ called use more
~rwlr W!

,v ‘.. .(

       
    

 

n ,‘learning the, whole,

  

truth to the side of [the mortally injured
gambler.

For Messick had indeed turned his last
trump, and by playing upon his holy hor-
ror (which is entertained by so many of
the craft) of “dying with his boots on,”
Sparkler Steve induced him to make a
full and free confession.

No need of entering fully into that con-
fession, since so much of what Messick
told has already been shadowed forth in
:these pages. Enough th'a't he fully exon—
erated both Ralph Innes and Allen Kirk—
wood of wrong-doing or treacherous plot—
ting in connection with the Stranglers.

Messick himself had planned the bold
game, easily interesting Mack Hanson
and his reckless gang by pledging them
gold galore in case all should work
smoothly.

The attempt to kill Martin Kirkwood
by the strangler’s rope was genuine, Mes-
sick reasoning that such, savage work
would surely cow the imperious will of
the son, and so make the ultimate fleec—
ing all the more easy to accomplish. '

Messick, too, suggested throwing suspi-
cion upon the private secretary as a
shield to his own participation; but it
was “Jack Ketch” who suggested black-
ening the fame of the son in the father’s
eyes, later on.

Knowing now what stern metal they
had to deal with, and knowing how mer-
cilessly they would be hunted'down in
case either or both of the male Kirk—
woods should escape their élutches with
life, it was determined to work one
against the other, “ bleed” the million-
aire as much as possible, then—end all
by a double or even a triple slaying!

Only a man who knew his death was
certain could or would have made such a
full and damning confession; but it was
well that it should be thus; with less pos-
itive proof. ugly suspicions might have
lingered long and rankled sore. As it
was, Allen Kirkwood frankly owned his
mistake, and the cousins were cousins
once more!

It was fated that the tie of relationship
should never be changed, never drawn
closer.

Although Lorella and Ralph were
promised in marriage, neither had been
“dead in love,” nor did either now re—
gard the other with even so faint a pas—
Sion.

Ralph had tumbled “ over head and

 

1 670 The Li htw eight Detective.

ears in love ” with the girl of the mount- '

ains, despite her unfortunate associa—
tions, and now that Kittie hung her head
in grief for her erring father, Ralph felt
that he must stick all the closer to his
love; and so he did!

And Lorella?

Well, of course, she wouldn’ own as
much, even in the most secret, pths of
her heart, but it was none the less a fact;
she had found a master in the man of ad—
venture, Stephen Starlight, the Sparkler
Sport.

‘ 376

Their eyes met as their hands came to- i
gether after that rescue was fairly as-'

sured. Few words were spoken, and none

at' all which savored aught of love or ;
love-making; yet the glad (truth was clear ,
to both man and maid, and the Sparkler §
was well content to bide his time for the i

rest. ,

The dead Stranglers were buried where

they fell, the wounded and the, prisoners
were taken across to Salvation City,
there to meet with the reward best suited
to their recent actions. And so they may
be left.
, Nelson crooks expressed great relief
when the news was broken to him, and
he evidently felt that he had made some
slight . amends for his past mistakes.
Still, his hurts proved too serious for re-
covery, and, after a'few weeks of suffer-
ing, the mountaineer died, a far better
man than he had lived! '

It was a heavy blow to Kittie, but she g Nevada-lore. team
was not lent alone in the world, after all. 1 W 1"“
Ralph begged for her hand, even as he;
held her heart, and when Nelson Crooks '  I» ,

4

 

‘ 1000 Buffalo Bill’s Grim Guard. By,Co

l

'25? The Wall Street lzlood; or. The Telegraph Cir

  
    
   
  
  
    
 
   
   
  
    
  
   
 
  
    
   
  
   
  
  
  
   
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
  
  
   
   
   
   
  
  
   
  
  
   
   
  
   
     
   
        
       
  
   
   
  
  
   
 
     
   
 

asked Kittie to let him see her a wife ere 
she was left an orphan, Kittie finally con- ’
sented.

Martin Kirkwood gave awry the bride,
and Lorella, with Starlight. was brides-
maid——if such terms are admissible in
connection with such a sad anl quiet
wedding. ‘

Later on a far more “ brilliant affair ”
was recorded in all the papers, and the
main ones concerned were—but why re-
peat?

Enough that, at latest accounts, the
“ Sparkler Sport” had calmed down as a
husband and father, and of one thing you
may rest assured: he will never teach his
sons to follow in his earlier footsteps!

Tim l‘\'ll. \

Beadle’s Dime Library.

ALBERT W. AIKEN’S NOVELS.
Dick Talbot Series. ‘

991 Dick Talbot at the Mines: or, Kentuck. the Sport.

988 Rocky Mountain Rob _
976 Overland Kit; 01', The ldyl of White Pine. . v
741 Dick 1‘aihot‘s Close Call. ' ' '
737 Dick Talbot in A ache Land.

733 Dick Talbot. the nch King.

729 Dick Talbot‘s Clean-Out.

72.3 Dick Talbot in No Man’s Camp. .

854 Dick Talbot: 01, The Brand of Crimson Orc— 
36 Dick Talbot; or, The Death~Shot of Shasta. l ‘9'

' Aiken’u Fresh or Frisco Series. . -265 -

825 Fresh, the Race-Track Sport.

660 The Fresh in Montana: or, Blake's Full Band.

652 The Fresh’s Rustic at l‘ainted City. “ ' x.

647 The Fresh at Santa Fe; or The Stranger 811% f

556.th. the Sport: or, The Big Racket at Slide V A

537 Fresh Against the Field: or. Blake. the Lion.

497 The Fresh in Texas; or. The Escobedo Millions. i

461 The Fresh 0! Frisco on the Rio Grande. ‘.
97 The Fresh in Big Walnut Camp; or. Bronze Jack 1;

Aiken’e Mlle ellaneons Novels.

9&1 The All-Around Athlete.

940 Captain Jack, the Scalpel-

906 The Hawks and Wolves of New York
932 Detective Gordon's Grip.

9% Old Sunflower, the Silent Smiter.

933 Old Sunflower. the Hayseed Detective.
901 The Hotel Swell-Sharp; or, TheStren

892 The Country man Detective.

876 Gold Button 8 rt; or The MlnerShIfll.
842 Town Tom. t 0 Half- cod. I

885 The King-Pin Detective.

814 The New Yorker Among Texas Sports.
775 King Dandy, the Silver Sport. r ,
753 Gideon’s Grigfat Babylon Bar.
717 Captain Pat cGowen. the Greencoat Dem... i
674 Uncle Sun Up, the Born Detective. ‘

 

665 The sec Detective; or, The Golden Gate ml.

613 Keen Billy, the Sport. '

607 Old Benzine the “ Hard Case " Detective.

594 Fire Face, the Silver King's Foe.

586 The Silver Sharp Detective. i ‘ g x

577 Tom, of Calif ornia; or, Detective’s Shadow 'e .,

570 The Actress lDetective: or, The Invisible Han '

562 Lone Hand. the Shadow. ’ g .

520 The Lone Hand on the Caddo. . 

490 The Lone Hand in Texas. .

Chin Chin, the Chinese Detective.

The Actor Detective. \ x

» The High Her-e of the Pacific.

421 The Lone Hand; or. The Red River Recreams.

408 Doc Grip, the Vendetta of Death. 3,

381 The (33’ my Gen tlemnn: or. hick Fox. Detective
Black Beards: 01. The Rio Grande High Hem. - l

370 The Dusky Detective: or. Pursued to the End. 

363 Crowningshield, the Detective . . .

3220 Th.- Gentcel Spotter: or The N. Y. Night Hawlis: ..

5%:

203 The Double Detective: or,'l‘he Midnight flyeterv. ;
190 La Marmoset, the Letectlve Queen.
101 The Man from New York. ~ - -.
91 The Winning Oar: or. ‘he lnnkee r’s Daughter. - ,
84 Hunted Down: or, The Lvag'ue 0 Three. ' I, ,
81 The Human Tiger: or. A Heart of Fire. , ,
75 Gentleman George: or. Parlor. Prison and Street.
72 The Phantom Hand: or, The 5th Avenue Ben-ea. ,
56 The Indian Mazeppa: or, Madman of the Plalulgr .
49 The Wolf Demon: or. The Kanawha eon. " I
42 The California Detective: or, The Witc wot NIX
31 The New York Sharp: or, The Flash of A htnin‘.
ll? 'l‘he Spotter Detective: or. Girls of New ork.

NEW ISSUES.

  
 

1. [BMW '
1001 The Brand-Burners of Cimarroh. By John h

Osbon.
1(1):! Silver Cit Sam. By Joe. E. Bad er. ' .. ‘.
1003 GVgld D1213: or, Dick Talbot in Uta By “he”,
. Ai en , .  s
1004 Buflalo Bill‘s Death Deal. Bvl Col. Ingrohom.
100's Foot-Hills Frank. By Joe. E. Badger. 
1006 The Sea Cadet. By Col. P. Ingrabam.

JUST ISSUED.

996 in un Dick. the Shasta Dead Shot, Alt .“
997 ago...) an, the Sport mm 
.109. E. ger Jr. ' v »
9“! Captain Seawall, Privateer. By
099 The Velvet Band or The Iron
Albert 0V. lkon. -

     
  
   
 
 
  

mam‘
onva
Dick. By . ' i"
‘umm \W .
m DIME LIBBABYBIM ‘,
rcogymrsontu
LE ADA“.
muslin!“ l 

if

 

      
 
  
  

    
   
 

   

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