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Dominant; 1886. Helium”; At ADAMS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i . . .  . _ _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . .. MAY, 1904.

   
  
  
   
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
      
       

 

 

\_ A
‘ \ M. J. [runs a; (10.. Publishers.
‘{   Published Every ‘ (JAMES SULLXVAN. Puornua'mn). 10 10:3“ RYOOPy'  
I A ' month' 379 Pean Street. New York. $ ' 8' ea‘n '
‘ "" ——_“"" " - “W ' “Han”: " ' ' r . 1 '— ~' “A "_‘*‘-‘ 7 r ‘V: -

 

 

 

_ _, . -____._..____...  . N .V _  Wm _.__._.W._._.x

 

 

 

 

\ O I; a.
J

1

 

 V on,   w   , if: 7'   ‘ I 
:x The Terror fr 111 Headwaters. u ‘ A   1’     ,. .1 , ‘~*“””“‘“"*

BY JOS. E. BADGER, JR,

AUTHOR OF “OLD ’49,” “CAPTAIN CRISP,” “A
ROYAL FLUSH,” “JUMPING JERRY.”
ETC., ma, ETC.

 

y - CHAPTER I.
w . V “mu JUNC’I‘A IN UNO.”

“EMPTY talk is too cheap fer to bewu‘th
much. an’ when You strike a. critter that’s
o—tarnally blowin’ his own bazoo, you kin sot
him down as a nO-good bag 0’ secon’ han’ gas.”

“Them’s my sentiments; meanin’ no ’fense to
present oomp’ny,” the stagealriver intorjected,

2/ with a keen side—glance into the face of his
present companion.

If there was a covert meaning to this speech,
it pwamd unnoticed by the ﬁrst speaker, who
was “ taking a. sight” by the aid of a capacious
ﬂask, which he shortly after paSSed over to Joe

can, whose beat was from Empire City to ,
Good Leather. '  H; 5553 \ ' ,

“ Does ye jestice, too, ," nodded the pas- “ , . . , V , ,
m, politely turning is head m avoid any GIT TBAB. YOU nomumnsl TELL ism THE HOWIERS 0min , AN YARS OUR
,mnee of not-mg how long the knight of the Visrrm' KEERD‘. Becca-ovuu-L'GH-u-oom’

 

 
 

 

 

  

2

Howl,in Jonathan:

’i'
1i
.

 

 

._.__

reins “held his breath." “Of all the botch-
work natur’ ever turned out, a two-legged gas-
bag is the most triﬂin’est an’ 110 ’count.
never yit come "cross one that I didn‘t feel like
takiu’ him by the two cends iin’ rammin’ him
towcther on‘wl soniethin’ bu’sted.”

oe passed back the bottle in grim silence,
though he looked as though he was strongly
tempted to say something. While. free drin
is cheap, it is not always without cost.

A modest man and a truth-lover himself, Joe
Duncan had long since set down this red-headed
passenger of his as the worst case of bare-faced
nicnzlacity and shameless gasconade his long
career had brought him in contact with. That
was bad enough at the best but to have this
audacious liar and blow—hard switch off into a
sermon against the very sins in which he stood
pro-eminent, was even more disgusting.

“The truth is mightier than a 0d cheese,
pard, an’ long‘s I kin keep my rip onto that, I
ain’t afeard to tell the hull word what I think
an’ what I know for to be a fact. An’ them
what don’t like my style kin muster up all thar
fri’nds an‘ ’lations an’ come an‘ see the old man!
An’ 01' they ain’t much more’n a full riy'iment, I
reckon he’ll make it mighty interestin fer ’em,
tool Braggin’ I hate wuss then the Old Bo
hates holy water, but I never was whipped, aii‘
never ’spect to be, nutherl I’m a chief With a
hi h~up C! The king- iin of Fighting Alley! A
hon terror from he waters! An’ Jes’ a little
bit the best man that was ever done up in a hu-
man hide!"

“ Ef they was only a lam post hitched to one
end an’ a glass shade to t e other!” muttered
Duncan, with a sniﬁ’ of supreme disgust.

This was breath spent in vain. If he hoped to
abash the flame-topped braggart, Duncan was
counting without his host. 9 sarcastic shaft
glanced harmlessly from his armor of proof, and
the mighty chief placidly added:

“I wouldn’t tell ye this of it wasn’t writ on
the phizamahog 0’ me so plain a blind man with-
out eyes kin read it upside down. Time was
when I used to travel incog., as ’twere. When
I tried to kiver my light over with a k-meas-
are to keep from blindin’ them as c 'aincod to
look up as I went by. When I done my level
best to pass of! as a. common man. But, that’s
played out, long ago—wuss luck!”

“ Must be monstrous hard—on them as travels ’

with ye!”

“ ’Count 0’ sore eyw—I know it ” was the
frank admission. “But think 0’ me! ' hink o' the
misc 0‘ lookin’ for fun an’ never ﬁndin‘ it! Of
listenin’ to fool’ critters talkin’ ’bout big chiefs
who live ’way off ender, an’ settin‘ out to ﬁnd
’em, only to see t e durned varmints fade au’
fade away bit by bit as ye git closter to thar
stampin’-grounds, ontel the ain’t even a shad-
der left to ﬁght when ye gi clean tharl That’s
whar the hard comes in, honey!”

“ Some men is mighty lucky,” muttered Dun-
can.

“ That’s what!” emphatically nodded the hero.
“ More times than I’ve 0t nails on the two ends
0’ me, I’ve bin fooled Jes’ that way. I cain’t
ﬁnd the chiefs I set out to look up. Whar they

0 is what gits me, but I do know they pull the

ole in after ’em so slick they ain‘t even a smell
left to ide a critter. Fun is my livin’, an’ the
lack 0 it’s makin’ me poor—so poor that ef it
keeps on in the same rut, durned ef I won’t hev
to kiver my pore ribs over with nettiu’ to keep
the bugs out!”

“ Funny I never hear tell 0’ ye afore this,”

(117% tered Joe.

‘ en did your ears go back on ye, honey?”
“ They’re that; neither cut of! nur lugged

up. Though I hen see’d the time when fwould-

nt gry my eyes out of they was missin’ fer a

bit

“ Hough h-ough—ugh—gh-h-oof I”

The red-hen ed nger elevated his glowing
nose toward the c oudless sky and gave vent to
a rolonged, diabolical howl such as is impos-
sible to even faintl portray through the cold
medium of type. t was a crow between the
blood curdlin war-whoopof the red-skin and the
bay of a bl hound on a hot trail, spiced with
the shrill. unearth] notes of a hungry coyote,
and endi with t e savage snort—sniff of a
startled gngliv bear. ,

The iri horses plunged and pranced with
tossing eads and laid-back ears, requiring all
the strength and skill of the veteran driver to
keep them under control. From the interior of
the coach came cries of angry sur rise, min -
ling with words on] partially di in hab a
above the clatter of oofs and rattle 0 Wheels.

“Drop it, durn ye!” grated Duncan, ﬂashing
a single hast lance into the face of his pas—
sen . “Ef .edn’t my han’s full, I’d cut it
Siliconbowitga- Stiddy, my prittysl learn to ped-

ysl
‘zGood Lawd!”eagerly ejaculated the Howler.
‘-‘ Ef that’s all that headers 'e, gi’ me the rib-
bons an’ pitch in! I hain’t h a hat on the ear
for so Ion I cain’t remember how it feels!”

“ You ivel My team!” snorted Duncan,

WE...

“ ’3 they ain’t nobody lookin’, I don‘t
hear. Igain’t the least mite proud,'hone , an‘
I hev soe’d wuss-lookin’ teams—in the‘ Lone-

Joni,” papimy gunned the wandering knight.

.
I I . 1
a , l, v
. 1‘ l V 7 I ~* ‘

 

l

 

 

He overshot his mark if he counted on driving
Joe Duncan to assaulting him then and there.
Joe knew that he drove the neatest team on that
stage line, and this fact was so generally con-
ceded that he could afford to laugh at the in
sinuation contained in those words.

" You kin use your {am-i better in keepin’ that
red gap shet, pard. ou want to do it, too, on-
less on feel like hooﬂn’ it the rest 0’ the way to

Leather. This hearse ain’ta manadgery
wagon l”

“ Ef I show my wisitin’ keerd ag’in will you
chuck me 011‘?” eagerly cried the searcher for
“ fun,” inﬂatin his capacious chest and pucker-
ing up his be ed lips anew, only to be hastily
checked by Joe.

“ Don’t—or they’ll be a mash-up! Ef bosses
ain’t human, they cain’t stan’ cverythin’!“

“An’a chief cain’t ﬁght a boss, wuss luck!
Pity them as drives ’em ain’t got the same
’mount 0’ groper pride an’ sperit! But what’s
the use? f cain’t wake up a shindy, I kin
shot my eyes an’ dream over the past an make
b'lieve I’m ﬁghtin’ ’em all over ag’in. An’ still
I’m Howliu’ Jonathan, the Terror from Head—
waters!” '

“The liowlin’ part ain‘t no lie anyway,”
growled Duncan, sourly.

A thousand times since pulling out of Empire
City, Joe Duncan had cursed the perverse fates
that gave him such a companion for the long
drive. At ﬁrst he cared little, takin Howling
Jonathan for an ordinary specimen 0 the hard-
lookin cases which every mining section turns
out. nder this impression he shared plug and
ﬂask with his ssen r, feeling that it was all
in the line of uty, a in a day’s work; but he
had not counted on such a steady stream of
blowing and gasconade. And beinga modest
man, after his own standard, Joe Duncan
(fggdthat fate had played him a dirty trick m-

A 00d sample of the average “tough” was
this ‘ Howler ’ tothe outward eye. But a little
over the mean hi ht, he was broad-shouldered
and muscular, wi long arms and grim paws
that looked as though t ey might easily p y the
part of blacksmith’s vise at a pinch.

His hair was thick and matted, of a brick-red
hue. His full heard was close cropped, that on
his cheeks and chin bein lainly several months’

rowth shorter than ' s bristling mustache.

is nose was short and curved like the beak of
an eagle glowin redly in the sun and shining
as thoug fresh y varnished. eyes were
small, keen and penetrating, of a clear steel-
gra color.

is garb was rough and ready, consisting of

heavy brown duck trowsers coarse boots and
blue ﬂannel shirt. On his hex-y locks rested a
dingy felt hat which had once been white or
grilbe belt of webbing encircled his waisté
ﬁlled with fixed ammunition for the brace 0
heavy revolvers which rested on each hip. In
addition he carried a long bone-handled knife in
a leathern sheath.

“Then you never beam 0’ me aforo? Never
hear tell 0’ Howlin’ Jonathan, the Terror from
Headwaters?”

“ This is one o’ my “mug? days, ye see,
stranger,” si iﬂcantl grinn the driver, un-
able to hold lick the ing.

Howling J onathan turned a keen glance upon
him, but as a sudden start on the part of his still
frightened leaders called forhis entire atwntion,
J 06 Duncan was not required to encounter that
gaze, nor tomore fully explain his epigrammatic

speech.

“That’s all right, ardner ” slowly uttered
Howlin Jonathan. “ o’ll on it acompliment,
an’ leti go at that; leastways ontel your han’s
ain’t quite so full as they be now. I reckon I’ll
see on in Good Leather?”

“III some 0’ the boys don’t rock ye to sleep fer
lettin’ off steam like you did a bit ago, mebbe
you will. I lay over to-morrow thar. ’

The Howler gave a mighty si h that seemed
to fairly lift his person from the x.

“ The b0 3 won’t be thar. They won’t show
up long’s t 6 Terror han out his sign in 
Leather. I know it fer ee ! I kin feel it in

my bones, honey. ey’re tterin’ off for tha’r

holes this very niinuit, or my feelin’s is no _

prophet i” '
“ I ain’t bettin‘ that way. The ‘s some mighty

leather in the gang, now I ll ye, stranger
—-might gzod leather! Ef you stum’le up
ag’inst Ice rg Dave or Ugly Dan, you won’t
need a long-range s yglass or to ace the stuff
the ’re made out o ; onless you’re nimble on the
bee s as on be with the clapper,” nodded Dun-
can, wi a smile. .

“ It takes jest two icebergs to git me down to
fever heat honey, au‘ then I’m ugly enough fer
a, hull rijiment o’ Dan’s,” placidly retorted
Hewling onathau. “ But it a n‘t my luck. I’ve
got dust that whispers I won’t find author the
one nur the other in Good Leather when I git
thar. Ef they don’t run away they’ll hev a ﬁt
or tum'le down an’ break tha’r necks, jest long 0'
my crooked luckl”

‘ Waal, it’s a mighty slow way to git rich,
this drivin’ hearse but reckon I kin scrape to-
‘gether a few (locate that says you cain’t bluff 011'
either Dave or Dan—what any?”

 

The Howler elevated his ruby proboscis With a
sniff of scorn.

“That ain’t my sort, honey. It don’t take-
money to lend me nerve fer fun or flghtin’. It‘s
clean love, that money cain’t pay for nur buy."

“ Talk is cheap, shore enough!” granted Dun~
can, a sin d‘cvoting all his attention toliistcam,
more 1: an ever convinced that Howling Jonathan
was all wind. '

For some little space Jonathan was content to
maintain silence, and Joe Duncan was chuckling
in his sleeve at the ha py thought by use of
which he had. shut o a nuisance. But he
coasted without his host, as he quickly discovo
one .

“ Them two’s the kin pins as runs Good
Leather, I reckon, pard ” uttered Jonathan.
blandly, apparent] none the worse for his de-
cided set-back. “ he high-muck-a-mucks, so to-
speak?” '

“ They keep tha’r end up level, anyhow.”

“’Pcars like I’ve hearn tell of a still hi 1'
toad in the puddle, though,“ thou litfully a
the Howler, rubbing his chin, Ins little eyes
half-closed. “ With a kunnel to his name.
wasn’t it?” '

“ Mallison, you mean, I reckon?”

“ That’s the name—Kunnel Joel Mallison.
Big chief gestpeckilator; high-toned cuss: rolls in
dust an’ f 8 his dogs ducats. That’s him I"

“Could ef he wanted to, anyhow," gruntcd

the driver. “ Rich enough. Ef you want busi- ‘

ness, he’s the one to go to. Ef it‘s fun, pure an‘
unadulterated, 'ou want to hunt up Iceberg
Dave or Ugl an. Wish 'ou Would. I’ve
be??? you tal , an’ I’d mighti y like to  you
ac ’

“ Ef you don‘t, it won’t be fer my fault.” was
the uick retort. “ I beam tell of the sports of
G Leather, an’ I’m come all this way jest fer
to feel 0’ tha’r grain. Ef it ain’t rotten or spoil—
ed in the tannin‘, the camp ’11 jest it up on its
hind-1e an’ yowl with pure delig t to see the
fun! 1m monstrous glad thar’s three of the
chiefs, fer of all things I do ’spise to hev the
odds all onto my own side. Any time I’d rather
hev ’em t’other send to; they’s some credit in
pullin’ oi! a ﬁght when everybody‘s bettin’ the
other we. .”

“ I rec on you‘d better begin with one ata
time, stranger. They’ll last longer, ye know.
Course I don’t mean to hint that you ain’t ekil
to all three, but-”

“Never mind’ 1 ' n’,pard "lau hedJona—
than, light] . “ t a n’t at the fu'st g imp‘ that
everybody in make out the three 0’ us.”

He chuckled anew as Duncan glanced at him
with apuzzled light in his bigrblack eyes.

“ That’s all rig t, hene . ou don’t know me
nigh as well as ou wil store you take your
next trip. It’s owlin’ Jonathan Hebrew that
does the talkin’ fer this crowd, but when it-
comes down to stiddy work on a pure business
basis, then the Hebrew children gits in their
light an’ skientiﬂc tetches. Shadrach, Meshach
and To-bed-we—go! ‘Try and jump on a uni-
COrn!’ Which 18 Latin fer three tied up in one
bundle, or both ends an’ the middle to mick
ag’inst all at oncet !"

“Hea good Joke, I reckon, of a body could
only tel whar the right place to laugh comes
' i mmrted Duncan, giving the enigma up,

sourlly.

“ ever went through gradiwation, I reckon -“
and Jonathan beamed benevolenth on the be.
nightod mortal. “Never mind. You‘ll onder—
stan’ what it means when you see us all mixed
up in a free circus. I reckon ou‘ll think they’s
a thousan’, ’stead 0‘ only the t roe twins!”

“ An’ them all legs, I bet a gold-mine!”

“Which is sarcasm,” laughed the bra art
lightly. “.But I fergive ye, honey. Foo an;
babies an’ ign'ant ple is another crowd that
goes all three in a unch.”

Again there was silence on the box. Joe Dun—
can slow witted, thick tongued,had no retort
ready, and was suddenly brooding over that an-
complimentary speech, the precise pm rt of
which he was as yet unable tocatch, whi e Jona—
than appeared to be admiringthe reall roman—
tic scenery about them. Not for long, however.
His tongue was too active to need or take a pm»
tra‘cted rest, and he broke forth anew:

A prittv route fer road-agents to git in thar
work on! kon you ain’t troubled with ’01!)
as‘bad as they be up—coun ?”

"Rf that’s why you le t up—country then
you ve struck the wrong tlaim, stranger,” ma

i Duncan, but with a sharp glitter in his
ilack eyes. “I never thought the day’d come
when I wanted to see them critters bad, but it
ﬁg}?! I’d givetﬁ good bit or: w}: was headed the

er wa W] a good c un o’ oro aboard——
darned ef'l wouldn’t, now!”

“ ’Feard o’ breakers ahead, eh?” grinned the
Howler. “ Ef you ain’t dcnd sure 0’ your
Liarves,,better let me take the ribbons a hit,

one .’
“ {bu drivel My team?” snorted Duncan, in—
dignant.

“ It is a sort 0’ come—down, that‘s so, honey.
but I’m not proud, as I b’lieve I told ye “are
Mebbe I ootultlllgtan’fsr a bi’tnff I was to am
my eyesu ig an n m a nation r
play. hard‘l”  y 81

‘ You hev driv’, then!"

 

. .n-

 

   

  
 

 

 

 

 

Howling Jonathan.

3

 

 

“ Driv’l Hain’t I? Why, honey, of you was
to see my old team—my sixteen-in-hand, all
heads up an’ tail over the dasher! Ef you could
only see when I was in my glory over— \Vhy,
man, time was when I used to tighten my tires
an’ swell my wheels reg’lar once a da in blood!
In the gore 0’ road agents which run over
when they tried to hold up my hearse! That was
drivin’, now you’re talkin , honey!”

“ Talk, I reckon!” sniffed Joe, in di .

“Now you drivers down this way, ’ve hearn
tell, never do nothin' more’n hold up your dukes
when a agent happens to step out in the trail.
Don’t git mad, pard. I ain’t sayin’ only what
I‘ve hearn sa . It ain’t quite that bad, I do
reckon?” and onathan bent forward to peer in-
tothe face of the driver, his beaming counten-
ance fairly running over with anxiety and sym-
pathy for one vilely slandered. Duncan took it
for earnest and answered:

“ Drivin is drivin’, an a. critter’s wuss then a
fool of he tacks on ﬁghtin’ fer which he ain’t
paid fer to his other duties. Stop? Waal, I only
wish Cap’n Clean—u would jump out on us this
blessed minit! I’d ike to see you chaw ’cm up,
hide an’ taller—so I would!”

“ It would be wu’th secin’, too, ef your eyesight
is good, honey,” was the placid response. “ ’Less
the was adomn or more it Wouldn‘t last long.
I ain’t no hog, but the fa st sight 0’ road-agents
makes me powerful hungry, an’ I hold a heap o’
fodder, them times."

“ No sech luck, oin’ this way, though,” and
Joe Duncan actual y seemed to regret that fact.

‘ “But I tell you what I’ll do! I’ll git you a job

to drive my turn the next treasure-shipment.
You’ll hev solid chawin’, don’t you fergit it,
now!” ,

“You‘re my mutton, honey, ' 't as soon as I
clean out Good
brew nodded resolutely. “ Business fu’st, an’ fun
after. But what makes you so sure this Cap‘n
Clean-up won’t tackle us goin’ in l”

“ He ain t no fool,” was the curt reply. “ He
lets everybody in but when they tries to get out
0’ Good Leather, e talks ' ht sharﬁgtoo!”

The Howler la hed lightly as reached
down and slap
boots.

“ Hobbs he’d change his rule of he only
knowed what I know.’

Joe Duncan followed the nimble hand with
growin curiosity, which was uickly gratiﬁed,
after a ashion, b the red—h passenger.

“ Got a. di’mon mine in that hoes hide, an’ a

national bank in this ’ne? Putt them thar to

keep my paws free fer ﬂghtin’ .an' sech like, of
any road-agents should happen by.”

“ I see ’em now!” grunted Duncan, speaking
ﬁguratively, but his words were caught up by
Jonathan With ludicrous alertness.

“ Whar—whar is they? How many—good
Lawd !"

Then Joe Duncan did laugh, more than ever
convinced that the Howler was far more wind
than sand, for if ever mortal man looked 'unlike
a man-cater, the red-haired nger did Just
then. Not pale, for his comp exion was by far
too highly colored for that; but strongly agi-
tatod and glaring about them as he shrunk be-
hind the burl ﬁgure of the driver, seemingly to
shield himsel from a. bullet!

“ In your mind, rather than your boots, stran-
m” grinned Joe, feeling better leased“ than he

since pulling out of mpire ity that early
morn.

“Thoughtmebbe I’d drapped ’em out in the
road,” muttered Hebrew, hrushin one dirty
sleeve across his brow, siniling sick ily. “ That
would be a pity, fer I meant to bu’st ev bank
in Good Leather wide open before I settl down
to sport as is sport. Good Lawd!" with a sud-
den ﬂashing u as Duncan lau hed anew. “ You
didn’t reckon was skecred? 'ou don’t reckon
I tuck you to mean road~ageuts?" .'

“ You said it, stran r,” chuckled Joe, in high
glee, though he had ta 1: all alon that this was
about what the blow-hard woul amount to if
ever caught in a crisis.

“ Thats all right, then,” and the Howler set-
tled back on his seat with a si h of relief. “ I’d
hate to mount e, an’ you wi your han’s full,
but I’d hev to t o it ef—say no more honey,” as
Duncan ceased laughing and frowned as he
turned his bluff face that way. “It was all a
mistake, an’ we ain’t goin’ to quarrel, we ain’t!
on drivers, both 0’ us. Wetsrans, so to
an’ pioneers in the hearse line. An‘ it mought
skeet the insides of we was to come to war right
over thar heads. Know any of ’em, honey?”

“ One; an’ of you’re huntin' up chiefs to con-
quer, mebbc you mought do wum then to take a
sqnar’ look at him, come to think. He’s a bit 0’
pritgogood leather, too, I tell ye!”

“ a name, I s’ l Ef it ain’t too much

honey, wi a bland grin and depre-

mung wave of one grimy w. “ 0 see, I’m a

an’ a pilgrim. don't know many

critters in these parts, an’ I’d hate mightily to
tackle the wrong puason."

“ Which is nine out 0' ten, of I hain’t counted

yeupwrong!”

Jonathan grinned. bowin cordially.
“ You ain one half the (5:01 ye look, honey—
no ain’t, now! It takes you to read a chief

rig , it does! But you put it too low, I

Leather,” an Jonathan He- ,

the top of his capacious 3

‘ reckon, say ninety-nine out of a hunderd.
That comes nigher the notch, but it’s a. mighty

match or the triplets. They’re holy p’izen from
the mint when they gits all 0’ tha’r backs up in
good airnest, they be!”

This was not what Joe meant, but before he
could pick out the words he needed, the Howler
spoke again:

“ I don’t reckon I jest ketched the name, pard.
You said?"

“Frank Spartan,” gruﬂiy muttered the
driver.

“ It’s a ﬁghtin’ name, anyway,” and Hebrew
nodded his gracious approval. “Spar an’ tan
afterwards. I like it, heap good! but does the
j critter ﬁt his name, honey?”

“ Try him an,’ ﬁnd out, you‘d better,” growled
I Duncan, still ruffled in mind and temper. “ I
|wanttobethar to see, Ido! I’mo rnto bet it
i wouldn’t take much sparrin’, but t ’d be tan
, in heaps an’ gobs!”
1 “Not onless he tried to utt on too many
,j frills,” deprecatingl added onathan. “ I’m a.
: holy terror when {git to goin’, but I ain’t the
| sort that jumps on a man that don’t putt him-
} self for’ard a heap. Ef the fcller’s a fri‘nd o’
, ours, 7you needn’t borry trouble on his a’count,
5 oncy. '
I Joe Duncan could stand no more. He was so
é mad that he could not speak quickly but he
facted. He placed his w ip in the socket and
,slippcd one foot on the brake, bunching the
; lines in one hand while with the other he un-
: buttoned his coat, his black eyes all the time
ﬁxed on the grinning face of the red-haired pas-
, sengcr.
! “ Gittin’ hot, pard?” innocently ueried the
Howler. “ Shell I hold the ribbons er ye?”

“ Hot ain’t no name fer it, durn ye!” slowly
'uttered Duncan, his breath coming in short,
hard puffs his face turning whiter than it had
. been seen for many a day, is lips com ressing,
’ his eyes littering as though a ﬁre was indling

behind t em and showing through.
I “It is sorter warmish, aint it?” drawled
1 Jonathan.

“ You’ll ﬁnd it wuss then that. You’ll ﬁnd
it red—hot an’ still a~heatin’ afore I git through
with ye. You’ll ﬁnd that I cain’t stan’ every-
thin’ even of I do drive a hearse fer—”

“The ood Lawd! looky yender!” abruptly
exclaimed Hebrew, all trace of mirth vanish-
mngrom his face as though by magic.

0 need to explain his meaning, for, as he
glanced mechanically in the direction indicated,
straight ahead of them in the road, Joe Duncan
saw something that drove all thoughts of ﬁght-
i from his mind.

t from cover leaped several horsemen, each
one wearing the conventional disguise over his
face, each one with revolvers drawn and ready
for instant use in case of resistance. And sharp,
menacing, peremptory came the two familiar
words:

“Hand; u l” '

“ Cap’n (Jean-up, or I’m a howlin’ liar!”
spluttered Joe Duncan as he threw his weight
on the brake and tugged at the ribbons.

 

CHAFTER II.
rm: HEBREW CHILDREN “arr man!”

CLEARLY eno h these were no amateurs no
new bands at the usiness, for, even as Captain
Clean-up uttered his shar challen , two of the
masked riders caught lead orscs by the
bits, forcmg them back almost on their haunches,
at the same time covering the occupants of the
box seat with ugly-looking revolvers.

Another brace broke cover on the right hand
side of the road, while still a third pair spurred
out into the road, cuttin of! all 'bili of
escape by ﬂight, unless in very ace of ir
weapons. .

“ Hold up, dug-gone ye!” chattered Jonathan,
in a husk whis r, as he drove an elbow into
the ribs 0 the river, whose hands were busy
with his ﬁer wheelers. “ Want to git us all
massacreed, on‘t ye?”

“ Hold up she am, boss!” and instead of show-
ing either fear or vexation, Joe Duncan fair‘lly
laughed aloud in ure delight. “Good Law !
cf you only know how p’izcu glad I be to see
ya jest now!”

“ Mind how you show your joy, old fellow!”
warnineg grated the masked chief, his revol-
ver-m e shifting so as to cover the driVer.
“ You’re too old to play the ass, save at the ex-
pense of your health. You know me, I reckon.”

So hard and merciless the tone that Duncan
dropped the reins in his haste to elevate his
paws. Still he grinned. If his life had depend-
ed on his keeping a sober face, he felt that he
must have forfeited it. It'was rich—the way in
which the Howler drew in his horns and sat
trembling on the box, ducking his ﬁery crest,
wag it from side to side as he strove to
h 0 straight. line drawn between it and

the pistols i b the road ts at the
1.... .. 3‘3.“ x w
Little of the ﬁre-eater there!

“Nigh hungry en h to n ain’t yet” he
muttered barely abooi‘rleghis high: with a. mali~

cious side lance intothe face of his .
“ Grub a-p enty right afore ye, ain’t they!

 

Good Lawd! the most fun I‘ve had. seuce I fu’st

‘ got married!”
tight 3 ueeze of even that one won‘t be a under- ‘

 

A sickly smile crept over the face of Hebrew,
but he ventured no response. He had eyes only
for those ugly niuzzles in front.

“ IIold them level, boys!” cried Captain
Clean-up. apparent! satisﬁed with the prompt
obedience display by the two outside men.
“ If a grain of powder is burned, inside or out.
riddle the hearse and make a clean, sure job of
it!’

“ We’re the lads as kin do it, boss!” chuckled
one of the masks.

“And you, Joe Duncan,” ﬂashing a keen
glance up at the still grinning driver, v. hose un-
usual mirth clearly stirred his suspicions that
all was not right, “want to hurry over our
prayers if there’s any trap set for us. You ll go
down the ﬁrst, dead sure!”

“ Devil 8. trick, boss, only I’m so tickled I
cain’t—ugh I”

A sharp elbow dug into his ribs with a force
that ended the sentence with a grunt, and J ons—
than huskin muttered in his ear:

“ l’ll ha’nt ye from now tell never ef ye give
me awa ' l”

“ So much the better for you and your freight,
old man,” and the road-agent chief uttered a
short, hard laugh as he turned his e we toward
the door of the coach. “ Act wlite, sensible,
and not a hair of your heads shall be harmed;
but cut up rusty, and we‘ll turn that vehicle in-
to a hearse in deadly earnest! It’s Cap Clean—
up who talks, my gentle pilgrims!”

Even more comp etely taken b surprise were
the “insides ” when the stern c allenge of the
road-agent rung out on the clear air, and for a
few moments there was something akin to a
panic among them.

Not a very extensive load, consisting of but
four ssengers, all of whom were bound for
Good ather, either to settle there or from it
take departure in another direction.

Two were average specimens of the minin
genus, or ibly prospectors, since they ha
not precise y the air of regular day laborers, to
say nothing of their riding where fares came so

high).

8 third ssenger was a. tall, thin, sancti-
monious looking sort of man, past middle tag,
with long hair and smooth shaven chaps. 's
suit of rusty broadcloth and limp white tie ser-
ved to mark him as one “of he elect”inthe
minds of his fellow travelers.

The fourth inmate was of a different cgality
as could be seen at a single lance, and yond
a doubt be it was to whom 0e Duncan had al—
luded as Frank Spartan, the sport. -

Tall, athletic, without being at all heavily
built, his graceful ﬁgure well set of! by the neat
business suit of clothes which he, wore, Frank
Spartan might have been taken foramanof
property a “ drummer,” a tourist for pleasure,
or a gambler of the upper. strata.

His face was as handsome as his form was

rfect. Dark, with hair, mustaches and half

rd of raven blackness. With eyes large and
black, full and bright, now losing all traces of
the quiet, almost sleepiness, which had ﬁlled
them until the hard challenge of Captain Clean-
up broke upon his hearing. With long, stra' ht
nose, full red lips, ﬁrm chin' with broad, h
forehead, showmg white an pure as the M
hat was (Huickly pushed back from his brows;
with neat y gloved bands which instinctively
found a braee of revolvers which had, until now,
been unseen if not unsus ted.

“What is it, entlcmen?” he hurriedly yet
calmly uttered, his keen black eyes glancng
swiftly from face to face as the coach came to
an abrupt halt. “ Fight or knuckle? I’m going
with the majority this deal.”

The tall passenger whom the rest had men—
tally set down as some sort of “ gasps] sharp,”
wastoo agitated to make an artic te mag;
The others cast hasty, cautious looks out of
windows before uttering a word, unless the mut—
tered curses which fell mechanical] from their
lips at the ﬁrst alarm may be call such.

“ It‘s a clean give-away, d!” owled one,
hastily pulling a small ro of b ‘s from his
bosom and crowding it into one corner of the

coach. .
“ We’ll hev to pass, I reckon, J immy?”
“ That or be from out, too quick!”
Frank Spartan readily interpreted these ejac-
ulations, and with a short, careless laugh he re—
laced his weapon, knowing that if he fought

6 would be alone in his resustance to the road—
agents. . .

“It’s all in a lifetime and nothing when you
once get used to it, old gentleman,” he said.
lightly, his jetty e es laughing at the oomiml
contortions which he clerical nage went
through with. “You’ll come of! lighter than
the rest of us, no doubt, for Captain Clean‘up
takes all lambs at half~rates.” ‘~‘

There was time for no more. Captain Choir
up was giving his sharp warning as already re-
corded, and now his good horse bore him to the
side of thesta , the grim mantle of a cocked
revolver heral ing his approach and ﬁrst show.
ingthroughthcopeuwin ow. ‘ .

“That’s all ri ht, captain,” uttered a cool
voi ass lov hand quicklyturnedasideihc
mun of weapon and the smiling faced

. -. s

 , A .Wn‘oﬁr." '.

3.459%

 

«r “=‘fz‘ .   ‘"~ .

.‘5‘

 

4

Howling Jonathan.

 

 

Frank Spartan showed at the opening.
lambs in here, every one of us, and you can
swec the board without a show-down."

“ on, is it i” and there was something like
startled satisfaction in the tones that came from
behind that sable mask.

“At your service, captain," was the light re- "
ply, and Frank bowed with mock ceremony. 1

“Sorry we can’t make it any more interesting

for you and the boys, but I go with the majori—

tyz‘and the said no good."

Lucky or on tool” growled the road-ugenté i

seemingly ed by either the words or the
careless smile; they were so unlike what he was
accustomed to meet when )lying his profession.

“ Think so?" and Frank partan lazin covered
a slight yawn with his daintily gloved hand.
“ Luck it is then, for what you sa goes.”

There was a brief silence, during which the *
eyes of the masked outlaw seemed irobing the '

din y depths of the coach, passing rom figure
to ﬁgure lin erin ly; their faces he could not
see without t rusting his head clear through the
window, and apparently he did not care to
tempt fate too far.

Despite his seeming carelessness, Frank Spar-
tan watched those eyes with growing

newned Captain
mands for toll.

bent on booty.

“ Not a goat on the way-bill, captain, I as-
sure you.” he uttered, blandly. “ Lambs, every
individual of us!” '

Captain Clean-up started back with a grating
oath, his dark eyes glowing as though filled wit
tire, his voice harsh and vindictive:

“There’s one wolf among you, at any rate,
and he’s my meat!"

' “ Be durnod of it’s me or pard Sam, anyhow!” 

quickly cried one of the prospectors.

“ And I’m an humble laborer in the—”

“ Let up, you 1” gran the roadsagent, sharp-
ly. “I‘m doing the talkin for this outﬁt just
now. I know my game’s a rd, and I’ll have
him in his true colors, if I have to flay the last
one of ye! Ste out and form in line, quick
as our pins wil let e! I mean business now,
an out you come, a ive or dead meat. Take
your choxce!”

This was a sharp and disagreeable change, but
the time for ﬂghtin was past.
sides their chief ha the sta eunder their istols,
while the two men at the iwds of the eaders
seemed more than sufﬁcient to prevent the out-
sides from chipping in.

“ Businem it is, captain," quietly uttered
Frank Spartan, as he opened the door and
stepped forth. ‘ You can begin with me, if you
like.

“ You're all right,” was the response, in milder
tones. “ You‘re a bit of a hawk yourself, though
a little choicer in Iyour picking. If I’d known
you were aboard, t ough, I wouldn't have stuck
in precious pate so near the fire!”

hmnk Spartan bowed slightly at the compli-
ment thus conveyed. As a tribute to his prowess,
coming from such a source, it was not to be do
spised.

“ You‘re all right,” repeated the road-a ent,
keenly watching for the comin of the ot ers,
his revolver covering the door. t ouin held with
seeming carelessness. “ You won’t lose a dollar
by us, this round. iVe’re not out after toll—of
the usual sort. W'i’ll you tumble out?”

“ It’s that durned hymn-book whanger!“ came
an angry voice from within the sta e. “ Down

on his hunkers, tanglin‘ us all up With his long =

lai . at you 0!" V
' here came t e sounds of a confused seuﬂie,
followed by the sudden ejeetnient of the tall,
gaunt passenger with much more speed than
grace. He fell sprawling in the. dust at the feet
. cf Captain Clean-up, closely followed by the two
miners.

Captain Cleanup lifted one hand, and as
though in obedience to a signal, the road-agents,
with the exception of those holding the leadin
s an of horses, came up, leaping from their sa -

es and surrounding t 0 passengers.

“ You can step inside again, Spartan,” coldly
uttered the chief, turning to the s rt who was
watching the proceedings with interest. “ I
trust you will act as you are tnrated—white. I’d
hate to hurt on, but if you interfere in this
little game withoutbemg invited, you must take
the consequencos.” ,

“That of course,” was the cool reaponse, as
Frank ste Kid into the stage, drawing the deer
aside until) could have a free and unobstructed
view of what took place outside.

His curiosity was awakened by the curious
manner of the outlaw, and he was eager to see
the outcome of it all. I

There was little time out to waste. Captain
Clean-up dismounted from his horse, and while
his men held the passengers under their weapons,
be closely questioned and still more closely scan-
ned his captives. Each one was searched, but
not for the purpose of robbery, since all articles
taken were prom tly returned. And as each
man was search e was sharp] ordered to
retumtohis lace in the stage. ' t the two
pr ~tors, t en the tall ' man, a savage curse
quie 'ng the steps of the latter.

W,

“ We’re ?

interest, -‘
for this was hard] the fashion in which the re- :

lean-up usuall made his de- ,
It seemed as t ough he was 5
looking for some particular person, rather than j

Four agents be- 1

“ I’ll be the death of him if he sent in a false
report!” came gratin rly from behind that sable
mask. “But he won dn’t dare—-"
“ Thar‘s one more, boss, up yender,” ventured
one of the outlaws, with a nod toward the box
1 seat.
“ They’s heap more ha’r then wool ’bout him,
but it smells more skunky then wolﬁsh, boss!’
chuckled Joe Duncan. as he twisted his body to
give a better View of Howling Jonathan.
And then-
Two )istol-shots sounded almost as one, and
with wi d cries of' agony, the brace of outlaws
holding the leaders fell from their saddles and
left the team free!
The Howler crouched down on the foot—board,
clutching the reins with one hand, pl in the
, long lasli with the other, a Wild, unearthlyﬁiowl
bursting from his lips as the frightened horses
plun Ie( madly forward!
“ Ingh—ough—Jh-h-oof !"
, All with the speed of thought. All so sudden
! that before even koen-witted Captain Clean-up

could suspect mischief, the stage was rolling
| away at t ie full speed of four good steeds, two
9 of his men were writhing in death-agony beside
the trail, that hideous howl was awakin a
thousand weird echoes among the hills, blending
with a shrill, mocking laugh that came over the
top of the stage as a ﬁery head shot up just
long enough to send a bullet hissing on its mis-

! men.
I “Yar’s your wolf, boss!” recklessl yelled
, Jonathan as be discharged the shot, ughing

‘ triumphantly as he saw the road-agent chief
i stagger and almost fall, saved by being caught
! in the arms of one of his men. “A thousan‘
fan 3, an’ every one a foot long, tipped With
1 ran est p‘izen! That’s me—Howliii’ Jonathan,
I the Terror from Headwaters!”
“ Kill him! take him, dead or alive!” grated
! Captain Clean-up, staggering erect and jerking
! forth a revolver, sending bullet after bullet up
, the road, only to see that red head duck under
: cover as the deftly plied whip sent forth- reports
I almost e nailing those of the revolver.
! “ You oe Duncan!” yelled one of the outlaws
as he leaped into the saddle and started in swift
pursuit. “ Kick that cuss oil', or you’ll—“
I “ Look out for your na , Johnny !" cried Frank
I Spartan, thrusting his ared head out at the
‘ window, accmiipanied by a revolver. “He’s
' going to stumble—sure I"
F Stumble the horse did, but it was from the
, effects of a leaden pellet through the brain.

General as the surprise was, Joe Duncan was
the one most wholl taken back. Through the
entire scene he had ecn chuckling griml as he
watched the seeming terror which ﬂlled t . face
and eyes of the red-headed passenger. It was
“nuts” to him, this sudden ap arance of the
road-agents whom the valiant ﬁnathan was to
chew up at a single mouthful, and it was with
an almost savage malice that he has. (1 the call
for Jonathan after the other passengers had
cleared their skirts of suspicion. Not that he
even then suspected the truth. He only thong ht
the braggart would receive a still greater scare,
after which he would be a more :nlent if no
wiser man.

Feebl , uncertainly, he made a move to com-
ply wit the order so savagely died after him,
only to shrink back as Jonat'ian thrust a re.-
volver against his stomach, grating hardly:

“Try it, durn ye! Try it on, an go to keep

them p’izen iin . comp‘ny over the divide!”
! Then came t e clear call from Frank Spartan,
and as a hasty glance showed the Howler the
tumbling road-agent, a wild howl broke from
his ii and he. sprung up on the seat, sending
the sill: Whistling through the air and awuking
the echoes about the ears of the lead horses.

“Slam in the pills, you pard on the lower
deck!” he yelled, with fervor. “ Physic ’cm tell
they can’t tell outside from inside! The old
man’ll keep the ship on a stiddy keel—git up,
you lazy critters!”

Wild, snorting, half-crazed by the u roar, the
shots, the unearthly howls, stung by t 0 cutting
lash, feeling their heads free, the lines lying
along their quivering backs, the four horses
lea ed forward at top speed, the stage bouncmg
ant leaping from side to side, threatenin every
instant to turn over or end for end. Am Wilder
howled the mad reinsnian. Sharper cracked
his whip. Louder rose his peculiar slogan:

“ I’m Howlin’ Jonathan, 9. Terror from Head-
waters!" .

Captain Clean—up gave another savage string
of oaths as he saw iis man fall before the shot
of Frank Spartan, and strove to mount his own
steed, only to throw up his hands with a gas?
ing, gurgling groan. iny .to stagger bac ,
turning half around, falling like a dead man be-
fore any one of ,liis men could make a move to
catch his body. _

And thus it came that pursuit of the stage was
not made by the road-agents. They lacked a
head, and before they could recover sufﬁciently
from the surprise, they realized how worse than
vain would be any chase. '

By that time the stage had covered the gentle
slope. and must be Speeding down! the strep in-
cline from whence the first glim of Good
Leather could he obtained. Even if they could

overtake it, the sound of firearms would bring

 

 

l

 

 

all the town to the rescue, perhaps to follow
them to their death by lead steel or

Until the 810 was and aims!!- of

ursuit seem at an end, Il‘rank Spartan and

's fellow “insides” bore with the mad, neck
less pace as a necessary evil, but when the
divide was fairly crossed and the long, steep
descent was begun, with a quickening rather
than any diminution of pace, the s rt thrust
his head through the window a joltingly

uttered the warning:
Slack up! Do you

“ Duncan, you idiot!
wantto— Ugh!”

A heavy jolt dashed his chin against the ed 0
of the window. almost shivering his teeth,
effectually cuttin short all further speech.

“ You drive! 1y team I” muttered Duncan,
dazed, bewildered, but making an effort to re-
cover the ribbons, only to have his' knuckles
rapped with the whip-stalk.

“ Gee-up, my daisy birds!” yelled the Howler,
usinrr the silk with a dexterity that would have
awakened the envy of a veteran overlander.
“Show your mettle, my pritt 8! It‘s a. man as
is got hold of" ‘e now—a man ii ht from Human-
villc! Houy 4m h-iigh-h-oof.”

Such an uneart ily howl bioke from his lips!
Such a diabolical combination of all that was
hideous and car-splitting!’ Little wonder that
the frightened horses ran as they had never ran
before while the harness was on their backs, even
on the most level of roads!

And this road—steep almost as the roof of a
house, composed entirely of rock, still showing
the wder marks, where a passageway had to
be b asted before a vehicle could pass! With a
slope to the left that might almost be called a
precipice, reaching fully hundred feet below
the road-bed. With a 1'0: wall on the right,
and a bed so narrow in places that while one
wheel almost grazed the rock, the hub of the
ther could almost be said in overhang the
a ) ss!

lwa s the brake and often a rough-drag was
used w ile descending this grade, even by the
best and most skillful of drivers. But now, sit-
ting erect, cne hand gras )ing the four lines, the
other ﬂourishing the whip which sent forth a
volley of pistol-like reports, his head here his
fiery red hair ﬂoating in the breeze raised by
their own swift passage, his vonce tortured into
the most diabolical of yellin howls, the Terror
from Headwaters piloted t stage down the
dizzy slope, seeming bound to hurl all, including
himself, to destruction!

One minute of absolute terror, then Joe Dun-
can made a desperate attempt to regain control
of the team before the end should overtake them.
lVith a gasping curse, he strove tostrike the
mad jehu, only to have his hand knocked down—
to be twisted from his seat and slammed down
on the footboard, where he was held helpless,
powerless by the. full weight of the mad driver
as he stood upon his'back.

And wilder, more unearthly, more hideous
came those howling explosions from the temper-
ed throat of the red- eaded maniac. Swifter
than ever raced the horses now wholly be 'ond
control, forced to run at full speed to kee rom
being crushed by the heavy coach the came
leaping and bounding after them, at times bal-
anced on two wheels, at times with all four
whizzing viciously in the air as the creaking
groaning vehicle made another of its w d
plun es!

“ ar we come, head up an’ tail over the
dasher! Boun’ to it that on schedule time ef it
don't leave us a w ieel, brace or bolt! Howlin’
John is got the ribbons, an' the Hebrew children
says he’s chief! He’s the Terror from Head-
waters, come down to show you critters a
bit o’fnn mixed u with business! Git thar,
you mourners! Te 1 ’em the Howler‘s comin’,
an’ yar’s our visitin’ keerdl Hang laugh-
h-oof!”

Frank Spartan, as soon as he could steady 11“
senses from that savage shock, jerked out a re—
volver and sent a shot through the front top of
thef'mcb. Where he believed the mad driver was
Sitting. Luckily for J 00 Duncan, this was just
when the Howler twisted him from the box and
slammed him on the foot-board, else he would
have suffered instead of the real offender. The
weapon was (‘OCked for a second shot, but it was
not fired. The stage gave a fearful bound, and
Frank caught a glimpse of the rocks far below.
\)’ithout a driver death was certain. Even an
insane pilot was better than none!

“ Good Leather, hold your breath!” elled
the Howler as he ti htened his reins and s ifted
part of his Weight rom the back of Joe Duncan
to the brake handle.

They were nearing the foot of the grade, but
there was a sharp and uglﬂtui’n to make just
before reaching the level. ad thouli,’h he seem-
ed to be, Howling Jonathan knew that with their

resent momentum the stage would surely be
hurled in a direct line .over the barrier of rocks
that lined the outer edge of the curve. and with
a strength and skill hardly to be expected in
one of his caliber, he steadied the plungin
animals, with a gradual strain instead of a mi
den jerk, and held the stage close to the inner
wall, almost grazing it With the swiftly whirl-
ing hub. Pale, breathless, his Jaws fixed, his
muscles rigid, Frank Spartan waited for the

 

 

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a.

 

Howling Jonathan.

5

 

 

result, which he felt could be but one thing:
death or crippled limbs at the best. _

Then—the stage lifted u on the right 8168,
spinning along on two whee s, trembling, creak-
ing groaning as though in aﬂ'ri ht at the utter
destruction which seemed inevita le.

One moment thus, then—Frank Spartan sunk
back with a gasping breath, his 9 ’cs closing, his
heart beatin once more. Stee —nerved as he
was called, [he would never forget those few
brief seconds.

W’ilder, with a trium )hant rin through its
recklessness, rose the hi( eons how ing from the
box seat as the stage ran easily alone the level,
which led up to the town of Good Leather.
Shrill, piercm , then falling to a lugubrious
base that howfaroused all Good Leather, bring~
ing forth old and young alike to solve the mys-
tery; for little human was there in the hideous
smmds. _ .

And drawing himself erect in his seat, squar-
ing his arms after the true rofeSSional style,
How ' Jonathan urged his cam-covered team
along t 6 level, into town, through the broad
street, his keen eyes singlin out the main build-
ing in sigh the front of w ich bore the quaint
sign “ iOUSE."

With his team now well in hand, he drew it
before the hotel with a ﬂourish, grinning broadf
l at the many curious faces turned toward him.

6 was in his element. now. The center of 01*
servation the “ biggest toad in the puddle!”

“ Hough-ougl mg -h—oof.'” came from his
swelling lungs with a suddcnness and power that
caused more than one to clap hands to cars to
deaden the hideous screech. “ I‘m Howling
Jonathan Hebrew, the Terror from Headwaters!
Three in one! Sliadrach, Meshach and To-bed-we
go, the Hebrew children right out o‘ the glowin’
furnace 0’ red hot fire—them’s we-us—anhcomg-
nyl Jest dropped in to see on ferabit. 0
wake e up from your slum DOTS. To rub the
cobwe out 0’ your eyes. To show ye how a
live man looks when he’s chuckofull o‘ fun. To
cbaw up your old chiefs, an’ sot up a new rod
fer ye to kneel down nn’ \vorshi ). How in’
Jonathan ’8 his name, an’ he’s the ' error from
Headwaters!"

 

CHAPTER III.

.. THE \VANDERING MINSTREL.

“ Is that all?”

“A donkey go—cart, a ole man, an' a petti-
cut—ugh!”

in different tones, but each betraying strong
contempt mingled with disgust and disappoint-
ment, came these muttered ejaculations rom a
dense fringe of bushes which overlooked the
little noonday camp on the level beside the tiny
spring that bubbled up from beneath the moss
covered rock, to form a shallow pool and then
creep awav silently until hidden among the
gramprinkled stones and bowlders.

They were rough, shaggnbcarded fellows,

ng weapons at their waists, and looking
rs though they were both able and willing to
make use of the tools, and that without too
clme a scrutiny into the merits of a cause. And
after the one eager glance down at the camp,
their gaze turned toward the man who had in-
terrnpted their social game of cards to lead
them all this wav to inspect a treasure.

A peculiar smile curled his thin lips, and one
long foreﬁnger tapped them lightly.
later he muttered in guarded tones:

“ Listen! What is it you hear, stupid ras-

A moment

calsi"
With zzled looks the two men bent their
heads: t n One of them growled, in a surly un-

dertonc:

“ Ef that ole cuss would only hold his hush a
minnit!" ~

“ It’s a cat—ketched b the tail in a steel-trap
——nn’a powerful sick oe cat, too, I reckon!"
grinned the other fellOw,

“That’s what I brought you here to see and
hear,” added the tall member of the party,
showing his teeth in a half-mocking smile.

His fellows scowled back at him angrily, but
only for a moment, nor did the ' dare utter a
word of what they really felt w ile those inky-
black eyes were fixed upon them, with that smile
before their eyes. If:Ugly Dan Bennison in-
tended this for a joke, a oke it must be.

That preﬁx seemed _rdly appro )riate as
Daniel Bennison stood smiling his white, even
teeth just showing their tips behind his ietty
mustache, the ripe red of his lips forming a

ileasant contrast. Indeed, few who saw him
or the first time would have hesitated for a sec-
ond look before pronouncing him a room rka'oly
handsome man.

Tall, athletic, perfectly proportioned in limb
and body, his face was a ttinsr match, his fea-
tures bein clear—cut and regular, his complex-
ion, thougﬁ tinged with tan. bein remarkablv
pure and clear for a man who ha led the life
comma: report assigned to Ugly Dan—the life
of a ﬁre-eater. gambler and hard drinker.

Of all the “ bad men” who had ever paid
Good Leather the com liment of a prolonged
visit, Dan Bennison, wit bly a Single ex—
ception. was generally set own as the best man
to let alone when in his cups. A master in
we, arts'of handling either piste or knife, he
gamed constantly on the lookout for a chance to

'11

 

bring one or the other into active use. The
slightest excuse was sufficient, and if that
shadowy pretense was lacking when he felt par-
ticularly “rampageous,” Bennison could carve
or perforate the unlucky object of his wrath or
malice with just as great gusto.

Time and again he had proven his utter reck-
lessness and contempt of personal danger, but
fully as often he had been known to strike his
enemies from behind and without the slightest
warning. He might meet a man with a cordial
smile, with one hand clasping his in a hearty
grip, with words of warmest friendship on his
lips, only to drive the steel to his heart or send
a bullet through his brain the next moment.

It was this utter recklessness, this diabo‘ism,
that gave him the name of Ugly Dan and ren-
dered him such a dreaded character in GOod
Leather and its neighborin camps.

Ugly Dan showed his w 'te teeth as he saw
those black looks turn to fawning smiles. He
knew his power, and no man could enjoy it
more. But just now he had a still more im-
portant object in view.

“ Bah! ye blind-eyed moles!” he laughed, soft-
ly, his glittering orbs ﬁxed on the scene below.
‘ That is music ﬁt for the heavenly choir—and
yonder is one of the angels!”

A touch of exaggeration, but not wholly
without foundation in truth.

Near the little spring stood a two-wheeled
cart covered with a dingy, weather-worn can~
vas tilt.
grass that grow quite rankly along the edges of
the tiny stream, wasa long-cam . long-haired
donke , evidently the motive power which had
brought the cart to this spot.

Leaning against one wheel of the. cart, was
an aged man, his bare head covered with milk-
white hair, long and silken, curlin slightly as
it fell over his shoulders and blcn ed with the
patriarchal heard that rippled over his bosom
and even touched his lap as he sat pla 'ing on a
dingy, worn violin. His lids were c oscd, his
head bowed. his thin fingers moving slowly,
and there were team‘s inoistcning his sunken
checks as he drew long, wailing sounds from his
instrument. .

No regular tune. More as though the old
man was trying to express his inner feelings.
And yet, as Ugly Dan muttered, it was music
almost ﬁt for the )heres.

A little to one aide, bending over a small fire
made from dead limbs which had fallen from
the old, lighting-scarred tree over her head,
was a trim, graceful ﬁgure, charming despite
the plain, coarse garb and humble occupation.

A girl, a young woman, rather, who was
evidently a daughter or

was a strong resemblance between them, though
one was bent and bowed by care and sorrow
and years, while the other was lithe and erect,
showing health and strength and vitality in
every move and action.

In the shade of‘ the tree, and warmed by her
work, she had cast oﬂ’ the broad-brimmed hat
of straw as superﬂuous, leaving her head no
covered, her rosy face fully exposed to view,
though she little suspected the proximity of
spies.

Her hair, thick and luxuriant, done up in
twin braids that reached below her waist, after
the quaint fashion more often seen in past years
than at present, was too light to be. called gold-
en, too lI‘i ht and soft and silken for even an
enemy to rand itas tow. Her cheeks, plump
and smooth, were rosy, their natural co or be-
ings. little [lightened by the heat cast out by
the crackling sticks over which she bent, cook-
ing dinner for herself and her father. Ber
large eyes were bright and eloquent, blue as the
sky overhead. Her lips, temptin 1y arched,
were red and moist, parted just so meat to af-
ford a glimpse of the small, even teeth, white as
milk. Her neck was encircled by a white ’ker-

chief, crossed over the bosom and the ends tuck- ,

ed beneath her rdle: but this did not disguise
the neatly roun ed contour of her shoulders and
bosom. '

Her arms were bare. to the elbow, white and

To one side, greedin plucking up the .

. anddaughter to the :_
ininstrel. Despite the di erence in age there'

 

 

l
x
l

 

!
g

rounded, her hands small and shapely, though e

tanned by exposure to the hot sun. Her dress,
of stout woolen, was short enough to display a
pair of neatly turned ankles, ending in small
feet hidden in stout shoes.

" lt’s them you menu, then?” suddenly uttered
one of the men with a look of surprise toward
Ugly Dan. “ rnzy Dutch an‘ his gal?"

“\Yhat else?” sharply retorted the fire-eater.
” VVbat do you know of them, anyway?"

.The lesser rufﬂan shrugged his shoulders
slightly.

. “ Nothin' much, boss; only that they go traip-
sin’ ‘round the kontry huniju’ for somethin’ they
cain’t scan to never find. They must make a
witty good thing of it. t00. I’ve sce'd ’cm play
an, mug in a crowd. when nigh a hatful of dust
an‘ducats would pay ’em fer the show.”

They’d ought to be pay enough fer cleanin‘
up, down thar, then!" muttered the other fel-
low, a covetous light coming into his dull eyes.

Ugl Dan laughed softly. but his bright eyes
were red on the trim ﬁgure bending over the

re.
“ It will pay, if you want to make the rims.

 

Those wanderin minstrels are. usually well ﬁx.
ed. no matter how miserably they dress and
how eloquently they plead for aid to keep them
from starving.”

“We’ll bounce them of you say so, boss!" "

greedily added the ruﬂian.

His mate was less impulsive. rising hi her and
peering keenly around as though searc ing for
something more. Ugly Dan noticed this, and
muttered sharle:

“What is it, lister?”

“Waal, I didn’t know." hesitated the fellow,
rubbing his bristling chin. “When you see
them critters, you gin’al] ‘ see ’nother not fur
oﬂ’. They do say Frank partan is dead gone
on the little 1.

A vicious ight leaped into the eyes of Ugly

an.

“ Is that it? High~toned Frank, eh?”

Blister nodded assent.

“ That settles it, then. You two can have the
lucre and I’ll take the 'rl for my share of the
plunder. High-toned rank? 1 wish he was
there, now—l d bus the beauty before his very
9 'es! ‘

“ Rutlier you then me, boss!" grinned Blister.

Ugly Dan ﬂung out one hand with a careless
gesture, but there was something in his voice as

e spoke that belied his words. He hated the
dashing sport, but he could not scorn him as
much as he wished.

" He‘s nobody‘s grandfather, and I’ve got it
in for the cuss if we ever meet. I’ll make him
yel like a cur—mind that!”

“ That settles him, then " nodded Blister.
though there was a peculiar ight in his averted
eyes that might have brought down on his head
a speedy punishment had it been seen by U ly
Dan. “how fer them critters down ye er,
boss. Is it a real clean-up, or jest fer fun?”

" Use your own ileasurc about that,” was the
prompt reply “ m satisﬁed to have some fun
with the gir , and care noihin for their boards.
supposing they have any. 'l‘a 'e or leave, as you
choose."

He. said no more, but broke cover and strode
down the sloic leading to the little encamp—
ment, liftin is but and smiling brightly as the.
girl, startle by the sound of a 100sened stone,
glanced up from the simple meal she was just
takin from the fire.

“ iy, Miss Brown! what a delightful sur—
cchse me, please,” and Ugly Dan checked him-
self with an air of vexed confusion, like one just
discovering his mistake. “Really, I thought I
had chanced u )on old and tried friends!”

At the soun of his voice, the old man ceased
playing, and rose to his feet. Though his face
was turned toward the speaker, though his full
blue eyes were wide open, there was semething
in both that told he could see nothing, that he
was blind.

“ What is it, child? “rho comes? He knows
you Amelia?”

“1N0, father, a stranger ” was the low, quick
response as the girl moved back until the out-
stretched hand touched her shoulder.

There was a faint accent .rceptible in both
tones that spoke of a lan beyond the seas,
though a long residence in America had nearly
obliterated this. I , ,

“ A stranger, but a friend, my dear sir,” add-
ed Ugly Dan in his softest tones, his handsome
face lit up b a bright. frank-seeming smile that
was meant or the daughter alone. “I caught
a glim of your charming daughter. 0 I did
not wait to make sure, but—if I am intruding,
Iwill o.”

“It is free country here, my friend: free for
you as free for us,” replied the wandering min—
strel with a grave dignit that well become his
snowy locks and patriarc a1 appearance. “Be.
welcome, sir, to what we can give. Amelia,
child, the meal is ready to eat—not?”

“ Thanks. but we have already eaten.”quick-

r uttered Ugly Dan, as he caught a shade of
(.cubt ﬂitting over the rrsy face. “ Soheartily.
too; I am sorry. It is not often one in these
wilds has an opportunity to taste meat dressed
by such fair hands.”

He bowed to Amelia, hoping he had made a
point, but her downcast eyes refused to appro-
priate the compliment, and the old man‘s voice
wasl a little harder and more cold as he spoke in
re v:

R It is compliments you speak, sir. That is
not nod for poor girls. You will excuse if I
say, cep them by yourself? It is not. angry
ihntI am, at all, only that is the law I makes
when we grow poor and ice ve our old home far
behind, looking for—for our poor boy!"

Ugly Dan was more taken aback than he
would have been by angrith speech, and a puz-
zlcd look came into his dark eyes as he saw the
old man falter, saw the girl draw his thin hand
cm‘essingly to her bosom, then gently wipe away
the sudden tears that came into his sightless
eyes. He made no replzéefor he knew not what
to say. If it hadn’t .n for an uneasy, im-
patient movement on the part of his companions,
ie might even have given over the unholv
thoughts which had brought him to this little
cam .

Hg turned toward Blister. with a dark frown.
making an imperious gesture, both of which
were hidden from the girl.

, 3' ,hﬁ‘igd < 

 

 

6

Howling Jonathan.

 

 

“ ’Melie, you can ask the gentleman!” mutter-
ed the old man, in tones that trembled strange-
ly. “He may know. It is a chance, and we
mustn’t miss a single one, child—not even the
faintest!"

“Soon, father' when we have eaten. It was .
an earl breakfast, you know, and you are l
faint. know ” and she playfully ta ped his
lips with one ittle hand, laughing or him,
thou b there were tears in her eyes which he
coul not see. “You are so contrary that I
must be a spoiled child to keep you at all good.
And I say eat, now !”

The old man yielded to her pretty imperious-
ness, and she seated him carefully in the shade
of the tree, giving him food and hovering about
him as a young mother might look after her
ﬁrst child, eating nothing at all until his hunger
was satisﬁed, though she protested she was prov-
in herselfa very inton. '

Ileg Dan'watc ed all this from a little dis-
tance, through the smoke of his cigar. His
handsome face was grave and hard set, but
there was a glitter ill his black eyes that kept
his men well in sub 'ection.

“The devil in him is wakin’ up, sure!” mut~
tered Blister to his mate in guarded tones.
“ Them fools’ll hev a beneﬁt afore long, now
you want to listen to my sermon, pard l”

“ Long ’8 he sticks to the dry-goods, I won’t

’le,” was the satisﬁed response.

But almost as often as the rested on the pret-
ty, ros face, did the eyes 0 U ly Dan wander
to the ined, care-worn face of t e father. And
as often did a puzzled li 'ht come into them,
makin them glow and g itter, drawingvdeep
lines of thought betw0en his jettv brows. here
had he seen a face like that? What was it that
so werfully attracted him, yet ﬁlled his heart
wi a vicious hatred?

Try as he might, he could not solve the riddle.

e old man finished eating, and as Amelia
took his late, his hand drew her down until he
coald whisper in her car. She hesitated fora
moment, glancing swiftly from face to face of
the three strangers, then bent 10w and breathed
a few quick words. lVith a' sigh, the old man
took up his violin and gently touched its strings
as his sightless eyes turned toward Ugly Dan
and his men.

“ My friends, you will bear with an old man?
This is my way to give back thanks for what we
have., It is my prayer, for that is all the re-
ligion I know. It‘ nloosic is not your liking, that
makes me sorry.”

“Don’t make us feel that we are intrntlin",
my dear sir,” smmthly uttered Ugly Dan. “ ll e
are passionately fond of music, but if our pres-
ence is a restraint on you, we will go away. ’

-“No, no, not yet—you go away not yet!”
eaﬂly cried the old man, his face strongly agi-
ta

“ Not unless you wish it, my dear sir.”

“ I do not so wish—I wish you to stop. There
is something I have to ask you, before you may
go away. Something I hope you can tell, to
make our hearts leap—’Melio!”

His voice broke and choked, and the name ,
of his child was uttered .Wlill an effort. She i
hurried to his side, her little hands caressing 3
him and her face bowed until it rested against 1
his snowy hair.

“ You will excoosc him, gentlemen,” she
uttered hurriedly. “Ho ha; suffered so much
sorrow—so much pain and trouble! He will be
better in a little. Not, father?”

“Bettcr- when we find our boy, ’Meliel”
muttered the old man, his tones low, his voice
like that of a wearicd child. “ It is so long
to Wait—so far—so weary wqu, this waiting,
this longing. this not ﬂziding—ach/ that is the
worst of all ‘

“ If we can do anything to—"

Ugly Dan paused short as Amelia waived her
ban .

“ it. may be—but not now. He is too much
excited, ou  Father, you play a little now.
That ea In you, that clear your _ r brain.
S ‘22! the stranger wait to listen. fat er.”

" Ach .' the time was!” muttered the old min-
strel, lifting his head with a itiful pride, as a
faint flush crept into his thin ace. “ The time
was ,when many thousand waited just for this,
like you, my goot friends!"

He dr -w the violin to his breast with a loving
gesture. then touched bow to strings, invoking
a sound. low and wailing, yet incxpressibly
sweet and sad.

“That-— on hear, my friends! It was the
net that he d them fast, while I ﬁlled their souls
with moosie! Just a little quiver—just rile
string made to speak! But it was enough. The
big crowd was mine own captive then. I made !
them laugh, 1 made them cry, I ﬁlled their souls .
with Joy everlasting! 1— es, ’Melie. Oxcooso
me, my friends. I am 01 and growing silly,
you see. I will play, not talk—ach!” , ,

And play he did. such music as one seldom
hears in this every-day world of ours. Words
cannot begin to describe the marvelous sounds
he drew from that smoky-looking box of wood,
but something may be. .lPSSPd from the fact

 

that even Blister and cm Wacker sat open-
mouthed, speechless spell-bound, captives to his !
wondrous art. An Uglv Dan had to lower his !
Magolashed lids to keep down the moisture that

came into his eyes with a persistency that rapid
winking failed to keep them clear.

And when the music died away in a low, weird
wail, the three rufﬂans drew in their breath
gaspingly, their eyes aVoiding each other, as
though ashamed to betray the only pure emotion
they had known for many a long year.

“You sling a mighty ively elbow, boss!" at
length uttered Blister feeling im lled to say
something, but at a sad loss for fitting words.

“ Be durned of it wouldn‘t make a sick kitten
dance!” sup )lemented Tom Wanker. “ Lays
’way over a nd-organ, it does, now!”

- “ So?" and the minstrel laughed soft] ,
amused by the novel compliments, for such 6
knew were intended.

Ugly Dan alone was silent, though he saw
Amelia glancing shyly in his direction. That
old query was perplexing him: when and where
had he met a face like this? Like, yet unlike.
He could hardly explain what he meant, even in
his own mind.

“ It is my way to pray,” softly muttered the
old man, his face upturned his sightless eyes
seemingly fixed on the bright blue sk above.
“ It is my one poor hope of ﬁnding imn-my
boy! He was so fond of moosic! He would
stand and listen while I pla ed, long a o——so
long ago it seems to me! Ac 1 if it coul on]
be a dream—to wake from it, me! But no— t
is too sure a fact! 'Melie!”

“ Yes, father," and the girl glided to his side,
one hand gently touching the upturned face.

“ ’Melie—it is time, not? I bet played. It is
enough, eh?”

“ Yes, father, I will ask the gentlemen about
our poor lost boy. But you must remember that
this is, oh! such a big country! So wide! So
big a wa s between two little places! 80 great,
you mig t hide all the world in one little hollow,
and nevor know it was there! And one poor boy
——so small with this big world, though our all-—
i t is so easy that man men can say nothing of
him when we ask. on will remember, my
father?” ' l

“ Yes, ’Melie,” with a faint sigh. “ I know—I
will remember. But some day we will find our
Franz. God is good. 'Ho will not always turn
his face away—not always, I think, ’Mclio?”

She had to turn her face away from that piti-
ful look, blind though those eyes were, that
seemed to beg a favorable ansWer. Her own
eyes were almost blinded, or she might have no-
ticed how pale Ugly Dan grew as he heard that
name; might have seem how suddenly he avert—
cd his face, while one stroxrr hand mechanically
sought and gripped a istols utt.

“ Some day, yes, fat ler, we will learn all,” she
brokenly uttered, then clearing her voice with
an evident effort, she added:

“' It is this my poor father wishes, gentlemen.
Ills son he is looking for. Hehopcs that may-
be you have met him. This is his picture, when
he was a few years oungel' than now. And his
name, it is Franz oskau.”

She held out a card photograph toward Blis-
ter, who chanced to be the one nearest her, and
as he took it from her hand, she ste ped back
once more to the side of her father, w ose sight-
loss eyes seemed to be reading every change on
the face of the rutlian.

“ A rlo'ht smart-lookin’ chap, miss, but I cain’t
call his Iface to mind jest now. Wish’t I could,
for your sake, but it won’t do no good to lie
about it.”

“ Nur this 'coon, nuther,” chimed in Tom
Wacker, shaking his shaggy pate with grave em-
phasis. “ Nuthcr the face nur the name hits
lne wu’th a cent. Mcbhe the boss kin make a bet-
ter riﬂ‘le?" ,

Slowly Ugly Dan extended his hand for the
photogra h, his face hard-set, his eyes glittering
cvilly. e knew now what had been haunting
him, without a glance at the pictured face, but
still he took it and gazed at it long and close] .

Abright, boyish face, yet with much of am y

manhood in it, too. A face that bore a certain
resemblance to that of the old man who was so
eagerly listening for a word from those thin,
tig' ltly-comprcssed lips. .
“ He is gone so long, dear man.” came trem-
hlingly from hislips. “ I but miss him so much!
I cannot hear why he is not come back home
long time ago! It is all black—all nothing—all
pain and grief and weary hunting! Ac}: 1 mein
(lot ! if you can only say that is him—that is
one I know—that is a man yet alive! It Would
be so cw; for you to say, so much for me, for
‘Mclic, his sister, to hear! it would make me
crazy-glad, I think—if the joy did not kill me
quite!”

“I am not sure—I am foggy in the wits,”
slowly muttered Ugly Dull, his glittering orbs
still ﬁxed on the picture. “It is a face—l

,

' think I have seen it, sometime—but where?”

“‘Melie! it is coming! the time we look so
long time after! Franz is living! He will
come home to us—mein Got! my poor heart!”

"Mercy—tell him, if you know!” almost
ﬁercely muttered the girl. supporting the old
man in her arms as he seemed almost faint-
mg.

Those black eyes ﬂasher! into her pale face,
and with such a strange light in their depths as
caused her to shrink back, trembling.

" My Wits. are clouded, somehow, and then .

 

!

 

music only can clear them. If your father
would only play a little for—” '

“ Play? It is so ’Melie! I knew Franz come
back to us throng the dear moosic! He was
so fond, always! Yes, yes, I will play—play
’bti’l my arms dr.0p off! It is for him—for my

I.

o agitated that he could hardly hold violin
or bow, the poor old man awoke the echoes,
tears rolling down his cheeks until his snow
heard was wet with them. And with a devi -
ish light in his eyes, Ugly Dan watched him,
watched the girl, showing his white teeth in a
vicious smile that fairly frightened his two
hardened tools.

He can ht the frightened look which
ﬁlled Ame ia’s eyes, and lowered his own.
smoothing his countenance with an effort. He
was not yet ready to cast aside his mask entine-

y.

“80! the music is driving awa the mists!
Faster, old man! It is coming, am almost
sure»! Let me look at the ictnre once more—
ha! I know—bah! it has ed again!" he mut-
tered, casting the photograph violently to the
ground.

Amelia sprung forward and can ht it up, res
treating hastily as Ugl Dan exten ed one hand
as though to ras ) her y the arm. He laughed
softly, then a d ;

“Still faster old man! Play somethin
quick and devilish! 1 am on a hot trail!
can almost catch what you want! Ha! I have
it now! I can almost swear— Why do you stop
playing?” he snarled, fiercely.

“’Melie! he knows—the good, kind gentle—
man knows! He will tell us where we can
ﬁnd our ﬁne boy! ’Melie help me give thanks to
the goot Got for this b easing! .4011! my r
tongue is so thick! Help me, ’Melie—pray ﬁt
it is so to be for us all I”

The poor man fell to his knees, his cl
hands elevated, but his voice was choked with
sobs and gaier of overwhelmin'r joy.

And U ly an stood with foi’ded arms watch-
ing him, is eyes aglow, his thin lips curling
With a satanic glee!

CHAPTER IV.
UGLY DAN CLAIMS HIS PRICE.

FOR a brief space he forgot himself, suffering
his real disposition to show forth in that glitter
ing of his eyes, in that devilish smile, in the wolf-
ish baring of his teeth. Until that hour, he had
never met. these people, but for all that he hated
the white-haired old man with an intensity such
as can ﬁnd birth in only a nature utterly de-
praved, wholly without mercy or a single gener-
ous sentiment.

Had there been even the faintest spark of
either in his composition, he must have been
touched by the spectacle thus presented, must
have been driven from the utterly devﬂish
course which be had mapped out since hearing
the nameof Franz Moskau.

Rough, brutal. evil and crime-stained though
they were, both Tom Whacker and Blister were
in a measure affected, and drew aside with a. dc,

ree of sheepiness such as they did not often
gee]. Somehow those tears of mingled joy and
gratitude, with that husky, broken voice, stirred
up long buried sensibilities, and for the time te—
ing they forgot their schemes of plunder.

“It is so, Melie! He knows, this good, kind
gentleman sentb pityin heaven to tell us of
our Franz! He nows— 0 will tell us how to
ﬁnd our boy! ’Melie~—think! The moosic it was
that brings him to us back again! The moosic
—and this noble sir-ach!” and the poor man.
his face streaming wet with tears, kneeling with
clasped hands, his voice breaking afmsh, turned
once more toward the heartless villain. “ It is
so little the weak old tongue can say, while the
poor heart swells up so big and jumps sohard in

he throat! So )1' and weak it sounds, but we

thank you, ’Melle and I! It is so long we have
been looking! And now—it is foolish, not! that
I cry so silly?"

He tried to laugh, but it was a ghastly mirth,
and his child touched those poor. quivering lips
with one hand, herself pale and shrinking from
before that hanei’ul gaze.

“Was it that I talk too much, ’Melie! It is
hard to know the right Way when the poor
heart is full over so many times! Franz-—
Franz—that is the name it sings and cries and
laughs all the time! A_nd this ind, noblestran-

er—I must thank him one time more, that

e hrin s the good news to a pocr old father! If
I coul see his fine face! If I could only-—
’Melie, child, why sneaks be nothing! Surely
my old, silly tongue has not mad awaken?"

Amelia glanced toward U ly Dan, and the
vague, uneasy doubts and. cars which that
cruel smile had awakened in her m, “are
deepened and strengthened by what she saw.
There was little of‘klndness or of sympathy in
those ’ lowing blvck orbs. Yet she dared not

ak er fears. . e old man was so terribly
agitated with his new-found hopes, that she
feared death would follow a too abrupt awaken-
in

 

2- .

“ He is waiting for on to calmer .t. tamer,"
she muttered, smocthi’hg the milk-white hair as
though it covered the head of a, babe. “H.
thinks it is not good, so much excitement

 

s“;
.ulx- m

3- v“.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Howling Jonathan

7

 

 

for you. And then—he said it was cloudy in
his memory --it is just possible, father. that he
may think what is not so———that it may not be
our bov ”

She was trying to break the blow which in- ;

stinct told her was impending, but it was in
vain. Her words only frightened the poor _old
man, without in the least weakening his faith.
And as Ugly Dan saw this, his thin lips curled
back from his white teeth more than ever like
a wolf. '

“ And you, fair lady?” he softly breathed, his
voice all deference, while his e es were held
and lawless. “ You have no wor of thanks for
'the news I can give? Not one word?”

“ Yes, yes—words plent l” eagerl ejaculated
the old man, as he reach one ban and grasp-
ed Amelia by the arm. “She says not much
because her heart is over-full; but she will thank
yon—ach! so man times over will her thanks
come! 13 it not. ‘ elie?” _

It was doubly hard for the poor girl. Fear—
in , she scarcely knew what, with suspicions
w ich she could not deﬁne, with doubts born of
a look, to give thanks for what she felt in her
heart ,was to rove a curse instead of the bless-
ing the blint man believed. Yet she must, on
make the helplesa father suﬁ'er what she was
suffering now.

She hardly knew what words passed her lips.
She dared not look up lest she again encounter
that glittering, evil gaze. She spoke until her
voice choked, then stood in breathler waiting,
trembling, sick at heart, fearing—what?

“And now—it is not too soon to ask for the
kind sir to s ak the glad news?” tremblineg
ventured the blind man.

“Thanks are cheap, and cost nothing more
than a little breath, of which we all have so
much," slowly uttered Ugly Dan—ugly indeed,
with that hard, merciless, mocking look in his
black eyes! '

A pained look came into the face of the blind
man as he listened, and his clasped hands low-
cred. It was notaspeech such as he expected
from the lips of one whom, until then, he had

rded as but little lower than an angel of
lig t. It smacked of the earth earthy, and
none the less signiﬁcant from being so vame.

“ It is poor wanderers that on see, myIriend,
but what we have is yours. t is Franz that is
so dear to us, and money is nothing worth.
Take it all—take everything, just so you say the
place where we can ﬁnd our poor lost boy!
Melie?” and be turned his si htless eves toward
the girl; “is it not g that rapeak like
this?”

There came no immediate answer, though her
li . rted and her throat worked convulsively.
S 0 new new that her suspicions were not
without foundation, even while she strove to
banish them. _

U ly Dan was watchin her, as a hungry
hawi watches a bird of w ich it feels sure in
good time. .

“Yes Amelia, what have you tesay? Will
{you make no sacriﬁce? W'ill you pay nothing

. for the glad news of the loat boy i”

“Yes, yes!" eagerly cried the blind man, ris-
ing to his feet and With trembling hands empty-
in his pockets of both gold and silver com.
“' elie will y too! It is for her brother—
for our dear ranz! ’Melie is good child. Ach !
Yea,so 00d! But it is Franz that was born
ﬁrst an be but been goneso many long car!"

With all her fears, with all her doubts, melia
was a true child of Vaterlaiid, and with uick
ﬁngers she caught up the coin which fell 'rom
the trembling rasp of the blind man, casting a
deﬁant glance ward the two lesser ruflians as
they instinctively started forward to reap their
anticipated harvest.

Ugly Dan laughed shortly, and this feminine
trait gave him still greater assurance, if that

could be. He fancied that there was a love of '

monfefy for money‘s sake, in that action.

“ e was a mighty good he , and that‘s the
fact, father,” he said,w1th an a ectation of blunt
limrtmess cunning enou h to deceive‘one with
clearer and calmer wits t an those of the blind
man. “ It is worth a neat sum to ﬁnd him
again, and when you do you will never feel the
need of money again. e will be rich—he. will
smother you in gold, if you wish it i”

“ Gold—poof !” and the old man ﬂung out one
thin hand With a gesture of contempt. “It is
not money—it is Franz I want most! ’

“ Just my case, but I’ll take the ducats, every
time," laughed the ruﬁlan. “I wouldn’t think
of such a thing, but I am terribly poor. I have
hardly a rag to my back, and not a red cent in
my clothes I cxpect we would have starved to

death, only for this lucky meeting.”

Tom Wacker and Blister covered their beard-

.ed lips the better to smother the chuckles which l
rose in their throats at this unblushing lie. |

What a facetious fellow Ugly Dan was, tobe-
sure!”

“ it is a pity that so good a man should come
to erty like that," uttered the blind man,
wit genuine pity in face and voice. “ I wish it
«was more that we can give, for your sake, my
friend. but it is not gold we hunt for, my child
and me. 1 We take only such aim we may need,
to mrry us along to hunt still new places over
for our poor boy. “'0 take. no mine until that

‘ is gone. Then we haf to crush our poor pride
down and make believe we give plenty back in
ply, though it is only moosic and thanks—
thanks from the sore hearts that grow so faint
and weary, so homesick, so—ach .' the goot Got
knows!”

“ And the sweet little Amelia?” added Ugly
Dan, his voice soft and almost purring as he
turned again toward the maiden. “ She is will-
ing to pay, also? She is slow to say as much,
thou h.’

“ ‘ ie is young, goot friend,” hastilyinterposed
the old man, eager to please this exacting
stranger. "She is modest and words do not
come so quick, so ens to irls, then. ’Meliel
like me, you say this is not ing worth, just so
we ﬁnd our poor boy i”

“I would give all—life, even!” impulsively
cried the irl.

“Now {hat is heart ,” quickly uttered Ugl
Dan. “ You give us a 1 your money. You will
add the donkey and cart, too?”

“That, too, if you like” said the old man.
“What use for it now? To walk is good health.
To sleep—bah! our hearts are warm enough for
cover! Is it not so, ’Meliel”

“ Whatever you say, father ” was the low re-
sponse. “ But the stranger has not told us
where Franz is, yet. ”

“That is no hurry, my child,” quickly uttered
the blind man, with a nervous, de recatory look
in his face as it turned toward e rascal who
was hugely enjoyin his devilish little farce.
“She is so young, an the young think it hard
to wait. They but not patience like old people-—
no. Now me—--I am patient. I can wait. It is
so long time that Franz went awa , a little more
is not matter much. Ach, yes, can wait. I
am cool and com —eee!” and he stretched
out his trembling ads in pitiful conﬁrmation.

“ It is a bargain, then?” persisted Ugly Dan.
“ You give up everything, and Amelia—”

“ ’Melie pa too—’Melie is goot child !”

“You wil y, and she will y," laughed
Ugly Dan, wit an evil light in is jetty orbs.
“That is enough, and I am satisﬁed.”

“And Franz, goot sir? It is time now to ask
that—not?"

“The you fellow—let me see!” and the vil~
lain Seemed .o be reflecting, his brows wrink-
ling, but with his eyes gloating over the fair
face and perfect ﬁ re of Amelia Moskau.

“You said you new him!” she cried, an in~
dignant ﬂash ﬁlling her full blue eyes, twin
spots of color leaping into her smooth cheeks.

“ ’Melie, patience—it is only a little longer,
and we but so long waited already,” nervously
muttered the blind man, fearful lest the stranger
be angered by any undue impatience.

So much depended upon his speech! Poor
Herman Moskau! It was a truly devilish jest,
and ,heavy will fall thelblow when it comes.

“ The card looked familiar, but it is so easy to
be mistaken in a face,” was the calm retort. “ I
gliInkit is the man you are looking for. He was

“Like a soldier—so !” and the blind man drew
l his still athletic ﬁ re proudly erect, making the
I, military salute. ‘ So! it was a ﬁgure to make
5 ﬁllwith joy the eyes of a recruitin ofﬁcer. That
' was like my boy. So, ’Melie? Is it not that?"

“ Like you, father, only younger.” ‘

“Yes, younger, and more handsome in the
face. That was long time ago, before my eyes
grew tired of looking on sorrow and trouble,

,fore I turned blin . So long—yet I can see
his face yet! He was my only son, you see, my
gemd friend and that makes a difference, may-

,"_ he added, with a pitiful smile, disarming
criticism. ,

“Tall is right,” nodded Ugly Dan. “The
man I knew was light complexioned with blue
0 es and yellow hair. Hair much t e color of
t liS on the head of his charming sister,” and he
tried to touch the shining head, only to be
’ baffled by a swift motion.

“ It is so, ’Mclic," laughed Herman Moskau, a

bright smile lighting up his lined features.
‘ “Like yours—only a little brighter and more
5 soft, not?”
l In every word he betrayed the passionate love
j which he felt for the miming son in quest of
| whom he had wandered so many weary miles.
And, true-hearted girl! Amelia heartily agreed
with him in everything that brought herself
into comparison With the lost one.

“ I won’t say that, for it would be perjury the
, most rank ” laughed Ugly Dan, takin a mali-
9‘ cious delight in retracting the scene t ough his

more matter-o -fact fellows were shifting un-
! casil , showing their growing impatience as

' open v as they dared. “For a man, he was

 

|
l
l
I!

good-lookmg enough, but Amelia is more than
charming—she is without an equal in all the
rosebud garden of girls!”
“A goot girl, yes—but Franz, he was mine
i own boy 1”
“And you are naturally in a hurry to learn
1 all about him. That’s all right. I don’t blame
« you, for n ﬁne fellow he J's—or was when I last
met him.”

“ And that was not long! not far away, dear
friend?" eagerly uttered the old man, his poor.
trembling ﬁngers tightly clasped together to
still theirq‘uivering, his ace full of loving im-
patience; . .

 

“ Only a little bit, compared with a lifetime.

Not many steps, compared with a trip to the
moon.”
“ ’Melie—my head is so bumbuzz! I can’t
make the words out straight come,”mnt1ered
Herman Moskau, with' a pained look, as his
hand reached out in nest of his loving guide.

“ My poor father!” rokenly muttered the l,
ﬂashing an indignant lance toward the ' 6:5
rascal. “He is laug ing at usl He is a
man—”

“ ’Melie hush! It is some fun of the child‘s,
kind gent eman,” he hurriedly added, turning
his wan face toward Ugly Dan, forcing a smile
that was more pitiful than tears could have been.
“She is so excited so crazy-mad with joy at
hearing of her brother, you see. It is not for
you to mind—this little foolishn my f riend."

“ Don‘t worry on my account, I g of ,”
laughed the rascal. ‘I rather like it, 'or it
shows she has spirit—the more credit tohim who
brin s her into the traces!”

’ “ 'Fhen you do know? It was not a lifetime—
ach! I knew the goot Got would not be so
cruel I”

There was a brief silence, during which U y
Dan took a quick look around, nodding s ly
as his e es rested for a moment on the impatient
faces 0 his two comrades in evil.

"Yes, I knew Franz Moskau. I knew him
well—better, perhaps, than any livinglmperson,
with the exception of yourself and c rming
dau hter.”

“ on hear, ’Melie? It was a goot friend he
has been, this nice man! He knew our Franz—-
loved him, like a brother! Ach! main Got I”

“You may well say that, old fellow,” with a
she hard laugh. “1 know he never had a
frien who ever stuck to him closer than I did,
if I do say it in self. And if his span could have
been lengthen to a round thousand years. I
know he would never have forgotten me. He
will tell you as much himself, when you ﬁnd him,
I'll warrant.” '

“ Find him—is it so, ’Melie?” faintly muttered
the blind man, his limbs trembling so violently
as to almost sink beneath him.

“ If you know—if you are not playing a cruel
joke on two poor helpless creatures, you will tell
us where to ﬁnd Franz,” uttered the maiden,
slowly, ﬁrmly, forcing herself to meet that evil

gaze.

U gly Dan made a covert gesture, which Tom
'Wacker promptly interpreted, sayin :

“ Ef it’s wu’th payin’ for, it won dn’t do no
harngvto set eyes on the fu'st ’stallment, would it,
now.

“Take it all! ’Melie, child. ive them the
money!” hurriedly cried the blin man, feeling
in his pocket, forgetting that he had already
stripped himself of all gold. “It is not the
poor money that shall keep away the bi joy
—it is Franz we want most! ‘ Pay them, c ild!”

“ For myself, I would not ask a dollar, even
though I was starving, but my friends—well,
you will be the ainer after all. Franz was rich
—he must beric er now. He will make it all
up to you, sure!” said Ugly Dan, with a light
laugh.

“ It is the boy, not the gold. Poor, without a
cent—without a rag to cover him—I care not;
only so he comes home to our sick and w
hearts!” brokenly muttered the blind minstre .

Kiiowin how vain would be her efforts to
defend their little store in case she should make
the e ort, Amelia ﬂung the coin on the ground,
and t 6 two lesser rufﬁans scrambled for it like
boys after a choice nut. . And U 1 Dan laugh-
ed softly not one of them touch y the pathos
which ﬁlled the face and voice of the blind
father.

‘f That is all—every dollar,” she said. hard] ,
pomting toward the grazing donqu as s 9
added: “Yonder is eddy. Here is the cart.
With all our poor things. Take "them all, and
now, if you are a man, tell us what we have
paid you for?”

For once Herman Moskau forgot to re ve
her impatience. He was stun ing wit his
hands partly raised and tightly clasped, his wan,
lined face lit up with a pitiful blending of hope
and fear, waiting for the glad tidings of his
long lost boy. '

“That is his payment,” slowl utteredU ly
Dan, showing his teeth in a pee 'ar smile that
sent a cold c ill thrilling over the maiden as she
looked and listened. “ You have paid me noth-
ing, as yet.”

“She will—she will pay you all die can!”
hurriedly cried the blind man. “ ’Melie, you
have kept nothing back?” ’

“Nothing, father,” sadly replied the poor

,girl, fresh tears coming into her eyes at this

cruel suspicion.
“ It is so if she says it, sir,” and there was a
trace of his old dignity in both his face and
tones. “ ’Melie is a good girl. She would not
cheat or lie, not even to ring back our boy!
Ach! no!” . '
“ I have a wretchedly r mem0ry, you see.
I fear I will not be a 19 to remcmber just
when and where I last sawr Franz l‘osknu. un-
less—one kiss from your ripe lips, child, would
answer, I am guite sure!” ’
With an in ignaut cry Amelia shrunk back
from the smiling villain as

 .. i I

he stepped toward. ‘

,.
v.1- . ,i'

“as.” ~. ——. ..

V.“ . 4‘

  

 

9'44.

*7,—

.3
.1

.f“

i-

 

i8.

Howling Jonathan.

 

 

 

u....._-.,..___..._ _ . -.

her as then b about to claim the reward thus
demanded, or demand it was after all.

Herman Moskau, with a wet and energy
which was hardly to be looiied for in one so
aged and shaken, pushed Ugly Dan back, his
face flushing, his breath coming fast and strong.

“It is not that way our maidens are to be
treated, sir!”

“Just as you say," with a short, careless
laugh. “ You know my terms. The gold is for
lny mates, the kiss for me. Refuse, and you can

0 your way to find the lost son and brother as

't you may. Not another word falls from my
lips until I am fully paid for my trouble.”

“ ’Melie—it is for i'rnnz!” brokenly muttered
the poor old man. “ It is not so much. after
all—one kiss! It may never come another
chance—tho world is so big, the places so many
ach main 00f!”

e bowed his head with a roan that came
from the uttermost depths of his bleeding heart.
He looked the very picture of hopeless misery,
and thou h the hot tears of shame and indigna~
tion ﬁllf‘t the big blue eyes, Amelia came for-
ward and took his hand in both of hers, her
voice faint and strained: -

“It shall be so, my poor father! It is not
your ’Melio that shall be blamed for losing even
this poor chance! If you hold my hand—sol”

She ste ped toward Ugly Dan, motioning him
back as 10 sfeppcd forward with a mocking
lau h.

‘.‘ It is hard price you demand, sir, but I wi ll
pay it, for h s sake. I Would pay it double
over, to~kn0w that you are true in what you
promise.”

“ Shall I take my oath l" smiled Ugly Dan.

“It would break as easy as your simple pro—
mise if on are cruel enough to fool this poor,
helpIess hlind man,” was the cold response as she
offered her pale check for the kiss.

But Ugly Dan was not content with that. He
deftly turned her face with his hands, and while
his evil eyes flamed into hers, be pressed her

ure 1i with his foul ones, laughing malicious-
y as s e started back.

“Was it such a bitter dose, little angel?”

“You haf your pay—now tell!” she gasped,
averting her face, her stron young arms encir-
cling the trembling form of or blind father, as
though feeling he would soon require some such

suppliogt.

“ e Franz Moskau I knew, lived at a min-
ing-camp then known as the New Rush. He
had a half-interest in a valuable mine called The
Plenty.” '

The old man shivered, a faint groan coming
from his li ‘. Amelia turned paler than ever,
as though ii; Worst suspicions were veriﬁed.

“That much we knew, long ago. It is after
he left New Rush that we miss him,” she uttered,
forcing herself to utter the words, more to
satisfy the father. than from ought of hope for
fresher tidin s.

“ I’m brca ing it to you, little by jerks, on
see little angel,” laughed Ugly Dan, with t at
wolﬁsh smile. “ If you know so much; ou also
know that the worthy Franz left New ush in
something of a hurry: between two days, not
to put too ﬁne a point on it I”

‘ It is blind words he s ks, ’Melie! I can-
not see what they mean! 3 it anythin against
our poor boy?” muttered Herman foskau,
brushing one thin hand across his sightless eyes.

“'You want plain talk? Good enough! I‘ll
give it to you with the bark on, then! That
was when I ﬁrst knew Franz Moskau. The
second time I met him, and when we became
such intimate friends, was when I had the ex-

uisite pleasure of ﬁtting a necktie about his
ail-oat, and sending him to glory—for stealing a
horse!”

An indignant cry escaped the lips of the sister,

‘ but Herman Moskau apparently had his strength

restored by those cruel words. His form was
drawn proudly erect, his voice was strong and
ban hty, as he said:

“ t is manly to insult a blind and feeble old
man through his son—yes! You would not
dare say so, if I was with eyes—you coward

d l"

OsBah !” and stepping lightly forward, Ugly
Dan struck the old man across the lips with’tlie
back of one hand. “ I killed your son—I would
just as soon kill you, you canting beggar! But

~as for you, my little lump of sweetness ” and he

turned u n Amelia with the devil filling his
eyes “ I ave a better fate in store!"

“ Iiook out for her claws, boas!” cried Blister,
sprin_ ing forward.

Maﬁdened, realizing the terrible peril that
threatened her, Amelia Motikﬂll drew a small
pistol from her pocket, and, with a choking cry,
pointed it at the breast of the head rascal.

Only his cat-like activity saved Ugly Dan
from a richly-merin doom. The weapon ex-
ploded, but his right hand knocked its muzzle
aside sufﬁcient to carry the lead clear of his
body, though the missile fairly grazed his

'b8.

1']

Herman Moskau, his olden spirit fully arouSed,
sprun forward at the sharp cry which broke
from c clips of his child, and blindly sought to
gm ple th the athletic roman. U ly Dan
eusiYy avoided his blind char e. and wit a cruel
blow beneath the. ear with c nched ﬁst, sent the

 

old man reeling away, to be promptly knocked
down by Blister.

“ Shell I salivate the cantankerous critter,
bessimhe cried, kneeling on the inscnsible min-
strel, his right hand uplifted, elasping a bare
blade. “Shell I punch his ticket fer over the
divide?”

Ueg Dan hesitated for a moment—~11 pause
that was almost fatal to Herman Moskau, for
the rufl‘ian rip . 1 his murderous weapon tight-
er and felt or tliSfaintly-throbbin g heart—then
uttered:

“Not justtyet. He may come in handy if this
dainty bit 0 ﬂesh and blood tries to cut up too
rusty. Make sure he don’t come charging along
again, though.”

All this time Amelia was striving to free her-
self from that loathsome embrace, too busy to
think of screaming. And of what use? Who in
that wild, remote region would hear and answer
such an a peel?

“’ith a augll that was half a curse, Ugly Dan
now made use of both hands, catching and con-
ﬁning the maiden’s wrists. laughing anew as be
bent her backward until she was he] )IBSS, until
her face lay along his left arm, her lips wholly
at his mercy.

“Screech away, my dainty music—box! I‘ve
got you right-4"

A snarling curse came to his lips as he caught
the sound of rapid hoof-strokes approachin the
spot, and snatching a revolver from his be t, he
whirled about to defend his prize.

An instant later the rider came dashing
around the bend, and Ugly Dan ﬂung up his
pistol-hand—only to lower it as rapidly, while a.
"rating curse of surprise and chagrin came up
in his throat. .

“ Hands off, you cur! Release the lady, or
die!” came sharply over a leveled revolver.

CHAPTER V.
A HARD PAIR 'ro DRAW AGAINST.

SHARP and peremptory came these words
over the leveled tube as the mod hdrse was
reined in with a steady hand w on still a dozen

ards distant from the litte camp-fire. And

gly Dan knew enough of the speaker to feel
sure each and every word was really meant,
too

 

Yet that speaker was a woman!

With a savage snarl he showed his teeth, but
it was only in that ﬁrst start of surprise that he
showed any si is of freein r his prize.

“You hear my song, anicl? Don’t make
me repeat it. I beg of you!”

A trifle harder, a little less musical sounded
the tones, and it seemed as though the nut-
brown eyes flashed more vividly over the revol-
ver-barrel, and with quick glances one at the
other, Tom \Vacker and Blister crouched low,
and began to steal out of range to either side.

“ You too, fellOWs!” sharply cried the beauti-
ful amazon. detecting this movement, and ap-

mrently suspecting treachery on their part.
‘ Hold your places, unless you want a more ar-
ticular invitation—round, and lead—colorl ’ve
got one for each of you, if I am obliged to
waste them. You understand?”

Beyond a doubt they did understand, for with
marvelous promptness both Blister and Tom
W'acker checked their hasty retreat, the latter,
with a sickly grin and fawning tone uttering:

“Wouldn’t putt ye to so much trouble for a
gold—mine. we wouldn’t, nia’am! Good—Lewd
—no. sir!”

A savage snarl escaped the grating teeth of
Ugly Dan as he heard this, but -his glowing
eyes never once removed from the fair face he-
yond—~and a fair face it really was, despitea
certain spice of recklessness and dare-devihsm.

“ Good! You are not half the fools you
look!” and a. short, mellow laugh came throu h
the red lips. to be cut short with the won 8:
“And you, Ugly Daniel, will make money by
taking pattern after their example. Must I re-
peat in ——”

“ It’s not your chip in, widow,” growled the
ruﬁian, his‘eyes on fire, his voice ﬁlled with
deadly menace, mixed with im tieuce. “ You
go your way, and keep your ainty fingers out
of in game. I don’t want to have a. row with
you mt—”

“ 'ou will have unless you set that girl free.
Ugly Dan I” was the clear, incisive interjection,
and it seemed as though the fair face grew
older and harder as the rascal looked.

“I don’t want it, but if it must come, all
right ” was the slow retort. “ I wouldn’t crowd
it, if were you, widow. I’m only a man, after
all, with aspice of Mormonism in in blood. I
may take a notion to make it a dou le-header,
if you crowd me too close!”

A hot ﬂush came. into the Woman’s face as she
caught these. words, as she saw the vicious glit~
ter which ﬁlled those black eyes. A half—stiﬂed
sound passed her clinched teeth, and her ﬁnger
contra.ch on the trigger of her weapon, the re-
port ringin out sharp and clear.

But she lied to do with a cunning adversary;
one who had carried his life in his hand for
years t; who had learned to read the brain
throng the eye; toact with lightning quickness
when the neec came.

Ugly Dan knew that his taunt would bring
a shot, and he ducked his head, leaping swiftly

 

to one side, still retaining his graspon Amelia
Moskau, despite her struggles to free herself.
And then, before the enraged woman could real»
ize her failure, he rose erect, his pistol covering
her brain, a mocking laugh parting his lips.

“ Just like a woman! f you want to hit me.
why don’t you aim at one of those dowel-ing
rascals over yonder?”

“ Not me! hurriedly spluttcred Blister,
crouching still lower.

“Durncd of I‘m in the game, a-tall!” cried
Tom Wacker.

The fair rider paid no attention to the lesser
rascals, her pistol following the movements of
Ugly Dan, her brown eyes ﬁlling with a red-
dish light, her voice sharp and menacing:

“ Release that girl Dan Bennlsonl”

“ Jealous?” sneered the rascal. “ Bah! there's
enough for two, any day, and your share‘s wait-
 your—J

‘Set her free, I tell you, dog! If she is not
at liberty before I count ten, I’ll bore your evil
brain with a bullet!”

“ If I fail to drop you as our dainty lips say
nine!” cried Ugly Dan, wit) a sudden ﬂaming
forth of his brutal passions, his revolver cover—
ing the fair rider, his black eyes ﬁlled with
murder.

She saw this, and despite her nerve—a nerve

‘ that had grown into a proverb almost in that

section—her flushed cheeks grew a little paler-
her pistol-hand drcoped a triﬂe as her trim
figure seemed to shrink from the threatened
s ot.

Ueg Dan laughed snccringly as he noted this.
and there was conscious victory in his tones as
he. added:

" It‘s my trick. widow, and the wisest thing
you can do is to turn to the rightabout and
travel about your Own business. I don’t want to
spoil your beauty; my old pard might kick up
a row at the loss or in ury of his bright, particu—
lar treasure, and I’dJ rather keep 011 his good
side, if it can be done without too much trouble
But you can‘t come in here. It‘s a private
game, and I prefer to play it to the sweet end
without your yes or no. 8 that plain enough,
my dear? Or if you will have it, I can shoot a
woman as wel as a man!”

The‘e were Very few men who would care to.
face Ugly Dun when in this ﬁerce] playful
mood; fewer still in that section w 0 would
not have betrayed far more agitation and fear“
when undcr his deadly aim, than did this woman
whom he called widow.

She was no ordinary woman, this widow
Mercy Watkins, in either outward looks or in—
ward qualities. Good Leather was more than
proud of her, and probably Ugly Dan was the
only man who claimed a citizenship in that
lively camp who would have dared stand u be
fore lrer istel while her nut—brown eyes led.
with the ight of anger, much less have drawn
a weapon on her in return.

There was but little of the traditional border
amr zon in her face,voice or ﬁgure,under ordinary
circumstances. She was hardly up to the aver—
age of her sex in hight, though her ﬁgure was

trim-built and gracefully rounded, now admirat-

lily set off by her neatly fittin riding-habit:—
one that would not have seem . out of place in
a city park, only for the weapons which were
su rted liy the belt about her round waist.
£3; sma face was as clear and pink-white

as that of a baby, but her features were clear»

cut. showing character and decision. Her eyes
were nut-brown. a shade darker than her hair.
Her mouth small, her lips red and a thou ht
full, arched in a hoe Cupid’s bow. Her c in
rounded and daintil dimpled. Her throat
white and shapely. er ﬁgure well developed,
withorlilt being either too plump or not plump
enoug .

Such, in outward seeming, was the woman
who so boldly faced Ugly Dan, a terror to stout
men when in a mood like the present.

She came to Good Leather soon after it began
to attract attention in mining circles and up a-
rently she came to stay. She came a one bu it

took scant time for the rough diggers in con--

clude that “the widow” W113 ‘1 lime army in
her own self.”

She apparently had an abundance of money,
and 3 int it with a free hand whenever the occa-
sion ernded, She “ put up a corner ” in lum-
ber, and kept the little saw-null running for her
particular benefit until she had sufﬁcient toerect
a building such as few_ mining-camps in their
infant days dared imagine, much less expect to
see. For where so much wood is required to
make tunnels and shafts secure, there is ordi—
narily premous little wasted in upper-world
building.

Not until the two-story stmcture was com-

lete, insxde and out, did widow Mercy Wat-
kins deign to give even a hint as to its uses; but
then a Sign was hung out, the same which We
have seen when Howling Jonathan drew u
with a ﬂourish after his break-neck drive, “ M
HOUSE.” ‘

As a hotel, My House was a success; as a
landlady, Widow Mercy Watkins proved even
greater. Her <pluck deserved success reasoned
the miners, an
judgment, they took every

' to 
against its failure. A lack of WW or'

to prove the correctness of their-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Howling Jonathan.

9

 

 

lodgers never was known after the day My
House first opened its doors for patronage; the
trouble was to decide which ones should be ex-
eluded.

Once or twice since her coming to Good
heather, the widow had been called upon to
show a pluck and nerve not often bestowed on
the fair sex, and 0 ch time did she prove equal
to the occasion, without callin for aid or back-
ing, though nearly every ban in Good .Leather
would have been raised in her behalf if neces-

.sary.

Reckless, vicious though he was, Ugly Dan
would have thought times before meeting the
widow after this fashion, if his evil passions had
been less thoroughly aroused.

If these people had not been connected with a

certain dark page of his past history, he would

have yielded even now, knewin that should the
widow ever tell her stcr to cod Leather, he
would have to 11 ht bar to keep his neck free
from the r0 . ut the hatred he had once felt
for Franz Ecskan was now turned upon this
blind man and his beautiful daughter; for
hatred it was, though that touch of Ainelia‘s
ripe lips sent the hot blood looping through his
veins, fully arousing a devil that, at the best,
but slumbered lightly.

The widow was woman of the world
enough to read much of this in that. devilishly
handsome face, but she gave little sign of fear,
and after that first involuntary flinching, her
fair face hardened, hcr nut-brown eyes ﬂashed,
her voice grew cold and stern as she began to
count, slowly, deliberately, but stea ily as fate
itself.

“At nine. l‘ll s>oil your beauty, widmv!"
grated U gly Dan, his jetty eyes glowing like
living coals. “ If I hivc to, blame yourself
for— Ha! I thought your nerve Would fail
you!" and» he laughed mockineg as her voice
broke off short.

A Ian 1) came as in ccho to his own, and in-
stead of ear, triumph filled the face of the fair
rider.

“It is to give you one more chance for life
Ueg Dan!“ she cried in ringing tones. “i
don t want to stain my hand with the life of a.
foul cur like you! Release that girl. Down on
your knacs and bcg hcr pardon. SWPSU‘ to go
off and hangr yourself, and I‘ll let you escape!”

There was more of rage than mirth in the
laugh with which Ugly Dan greeted his sharp,
scornful speech.

“You‘ve got things all your own way,
haven’t you? Bah! it‘s my say so, and—~”

He never ﬂnis..ed the sentence. A sharp
report rung out on the still air, and a savage

'91] of mingled rage and pain was wrung from
his lips as the revolver dropptxl from his hand
—-as the blood flew in a crimson spray—as the
member fell helpless] y to his side, his ﬁngers
shattnrcd terribly by a bullet!

“After me is manners, Ugly Dan!” cried a
clear sharp voice, and as the crippled rutilan
whiried about with his loft hand gro ing for a
was n, his eyes glaring savagely, is white
tea showing wolﬂshly,'he behold a tall, erect
ﬁgure, a white face confronting him over the
top of a leveled revolver.

m‘IIceberg Dave!” he grated, shrinking a
t e.

“ Correct, Ugly Dan,” was the prompt retort.
“Shall I waste another bullet on you, or are
you less hog than you look?”

There was no reply in words, but Ugly Dan
made no further attempt to arm himself, and
.even shrunk hack a pace or two. Not even
those cold and scornful words could nerve him
then: nor yet the light, mocking laugh that
parted the red lips of the widow.

Though his right hand was hopelessly crip-
pled, the knuckles shattered by the deftly
planted load: though the odds were all against
him, With a revolver covcrin his brain; had
any man save Iceberg Dave ngram bccn be-
hind that Weapon, Ugly Dan would have risked
all for revenge. But of all Good Leather, this
yvhitc—fucml, cold—blooded sport, who seemed
absolutely without nerves, was the one man for
whom Ugly Dan felt anything \like respect or

car.

“ Hold him level, David!” cried the widow,
sharply. as she shifted her aim toward the lesser
rascals who were once more in motion. “I’ll
look after these two brutes. never fear!”

“ lt’s us that’s fearin‘, ma‘am,” and Blister
:v'inncd faintly. “ All we wants is to git out o‘
‘i‘IDVVﬂy so the big-bugs kin spread tha‘r own
9,!)Y03, “'0 throws up our hand, don’t we,
inrr‘i“

I “ For sure!” gasped Tom Wackcr. “An‘ ef
that ain’t a-plentv, I reckon 1 could throw up
my boots. an’ not hate try!”

“ Frevne right fast where you arc. you ras-
cals!" sharply cried the widow, still holding
them under her weapon. “Your punishment
depends on yonder girl. If you have killed that
old man. nothing-” 4

The instant the wounded villain released her,
Amelia sprung to the side of her father. lifting
his blood-stained head to her bosom, pressing
her lips to his, sobbing, calling to him in broken

sentences, fearing the worst. But a glad cry 5

broke from her lips as his eyes slowly opened
and a tremor ran through his frame.

It was this that cut short the menacing
speech of widow Mercy, and for the moment
for etting the ruthans, she leaped to the ground
an hastened to the daughter’s aid.

Blister cast a sly glance over his shoulder,
only to shrink back as he caught an icy look
from the white-faced sport.

“You’ve got your orders lads. Break them
is you are weary of life,” coidly uttered Iceberg

ave.

“The good Lawd! we hain‘t done nothin‘,
boss !” gasped \Vacker.

“If you only had, curse you both!” snarled
Ugly Dan, holdin up his crippled hand and
shaking it until a:

If you would even yet—”
‘ That wouldn’t save you, Dan,” coldly inter-

the last turn. and you’ve call it wrong.”

“Show out, then, curse ye!" snarled the vi]-
lain, viciously. “ Finish it u , and don’t stand
there crowing over a cri p184 man!”

“ Time enou h. Danie , ’ was the cool retort.
“I‘m only a (ark-hand this trip. When the
captain gives the signal, I'll do my part. Until
film does, hold your soul in patience, old

i() 'l”

listcr and Tom Wackcr interchanged covert
glances. They know that by their pusillanimous
conduct thus fa r they had won the undying cn-
mity of the dcspcrado. They knew that he
would never forget nor forgive. If he escaiicd
with life from this predicament, their own
breath could be prolonged only by hasty and
on by flight.

his being so, thcy could lose nothing by
courting favor of the. man who held the game
in his iands, while they might possibly gain
something, if only a lessening of their descrvud
punishment.

“ We’ve done too durn much on your say-so.
a‘rcady, cuss yo!" Toni Wacker growled show-
ing his teeth. “ You made us do it—you (aimed
an’ swore iiii’ said 'ou’d blow us to iie\'er——”

"Easy, Daiiicl!’ wariiin ‘ly uttcred Iceberg
Dave, as Ugly Dan gave a snarling curse of
furious rage. “And you, fellows. bite your
tongue until it chokes off your lies. I know
him, and I know you. That’s enough."

It was too much, “Wicker thought, and Blistcr

agreeable convic tion.

Meanwhile the widow was aiding Amelia to
restore Herman Moskan to consciousness, SUC-
cecding beyond ti.eir hopes. KnOWing how
terribl the r man had been excited, how
intense y his celings had been wrought up. and
how bitter must be the shock as he realised that
all was a vile lie Amelia feared for his brain.
But fortunately this dread proved to be baseless.
If anything, the blind man Was stronger, clear-
er brained than before.

Seeinge this, and feeling that the recovery
would even. more complete were the father
and daughtcr left to themselves for a little
while. the widow turned away and spoke to Ice-
berg Dave:

“ It is like you, Mr. Ingram: alwa s on hand
when your services are most 11 ed! Some
time I will try to thank you as you deserve?”

The white face flushed, and the long lashes
drooped over the big gray eyes. The hand that
held the pistol shook ever so faintly, though it
had never done so before an enemy. And as she
saw this, a similar confusion seemed to attack
the fair landlady.

“ To serve you, Mrs. Watkins. is its own re-
ward." quietly uttered the sport, quickly con-
quering his emotions, ‘once more the ice-cold
sport all the rest of Good Leather knew.

“ If old Mallison could only hear that l" mali-
ciously cried Ugly Dan, though he knew he was
increasing his peril by so doing.

“ Another word, and you’ll ear the foul ﬁend
welcoming ur coming home, cur!” grated Ice—
berg Dave, is face white as a corpse.

“ May I ?” grated Ingram, turning his ﬂashing

was his law and gospel.

Widow Mercy Watkins hesitated, l‘cr brows
contracting, a hard, unwomanly light ﬁlling her
brown eyes until they shone rcdly. Ugly Dan
held his breath and turned a shade whiter. for
he knew that his life hung b the frailcst
thread. But he made no outwar sign. uttered
not a word in pleading. He could not, to Ice-
berg Dave. '

off half his power for evil. But you needn’t be-

ns her keen eyes detected the swift light that
lfaped into the villain’s orbs, despite himself.

Xour punishment is only begun. You’ve got
tgt remember this day’s work as long as Satan
1 ‘s on curse the earth with your vile breath.”

your will or break his back in ,” ' tl ' t-

teer Iceberg Dave. try g qme 3 u

' First, to draw his fangs,” qiioth the little
woman. as she drew her cwclcd knife and deftly

 

posed Iceberg Dave, his thin  curling. “ It‘s '

heartily though silently echoed the same dis- ‘

“ A cripple—I kiSs your hand, mighty chief l” '

eyes toward the woman whose slightest word i

habit, and I don‘t want it mined by coming in

e red drops fell over his ,
craven tools. “ If you had only used your eyes! ‘

 

 

 

l
i

l
1

I
i
l

i

I

contact with your vile rson !”

With a sick] smile, igly Dan obeyed, know-
ing that his 0 ybope for vengeance la in quiet
submission. That was hard, to one of is natur-
all overbearing disposition, but it would be
sti harder to have to leave the world without
even an effort to even up his injuries.

“ With the toe of her boot, widow Watkins
thrust the belt of arms to one side, then turned
upon the lesser rascals. But before she could
utter a word, they were disarming, grinning af-
ter a sickly fashion as they placed their belts at
her feet.

“Ef we ain‘t needed no more, mebbe 'ou‘d
hev Iceberg jcs‘ kick us out 0’ camp, ma am?”
whined Blister, licking his parched lips.

“ The money—they robbed us!” cried Amelia,
quickly.

“ He made us hold it fer him while hewcnt fer
the lady!” hurriedly spluttcred Wacker, as pale
as dirt and grime would permit.

“That’s the truth an’ nevcra lie at all, ma‘am l"
echoed Blister, as they hurriedly emptied their
pockets of their ill-gotten gains. “We didn’t
want tcdo nothin’, but he would hev it so—durn
him i"

“ How was it, my dear?” asked widow Wat
kins. turning to Amelia.

“ They was bad, but he was baddest!” ex-»
claimed the maiden, ﬂushing with the remem-
brance.

“ They the money took, but hc—”

“It makes nothing, little girl,” gravely inter-

the blind man. “ It is not rewcnge that
irings our Franz once again. We will 0 our
way. and ncfer more think of such wic mans
like him. He is more bad off as we, for he
mocks the blind and insults the innocent. Come,
’hieliHit is long roat ahead of us! It is lon
time pefore we find our pcor boy! The wcrl
is so wide—so big place to hunt over!”

The widow had to wink hard and fast to clear
her eyes before she could see just where the
blind man’s arm was. She grasped it kindly, at
last and with true gentility he stood still, await—
ing her pleasure.

“ It is her dues—it is only right that the vile
wretch who dared to insult her, should be hum-
blcd before her eyes. Until then, I beg of you
to be patient ”

“ It is plentv patience you learn when search-
ing through the big world for something You
can nefer find, lady,” was the meek icply. “ It
shall be so, since you ask. It was you that come
to help ’Mclic.”

“ You two rascals can pull out as soon as on
like.” said the widow Watkins, turning to L’lis-
tir and Wacker. " If you want to slcep ( cml'ort-
ably, though, I wouldn’t curse Geod Leather
with my presence for a few weeks, if I were you.
Is that hint plain enough?”

“Plain as a kick, an’ heap more ccmi‘table,
ma’am,” grinned W'acker. “ Mele you would-
n’t mind us takin’ our toils?”

“ I would, sli' htly,” interposed Icibcrg Dave.
“Be thankful t at you get off so easy. Skin
out—and no more whining!”

The two rascals shufﬂcd away. knewing that
their best chance lay in gaining such a stait of
Ugly Dan as to obviate the necessity of wearons
to defend their lives. If they had only secured
their tools, they might have taken to (over and
made all safe b getting in the ﬁrst flow, before
Ugly Dan coul call them to account.

Iceberg Dave glanced at widow Watkins,
and she. nodded slightly.

“It’s ‘die dog or eat the hatchet,” this round,
Ugly Dan,” he said, coldly. lut with a twinkle
in his gray eyes that told how thoroughly be en-
med this humiliation of the one man in Good

ther who had dared to set himself up as I
sort of rival “ chief.” You heard what Mrs.
“’atkins said. You have insulted a lady—two
of them, in fact-and the least you can do is to
knuckle down and beg their pardons.”

It was a bitter pill, but Ugly Dan nervrd him-
self to take it, by reﬂecting that only tl us could
be hope for a chance to get even. Without a
word he dropped on his knees, and slowly
uttcrcd:

“ I was wrong. I have acted like a brute.
am too low and mean and degraded to be ﬁt to
lire. But. I trust the lady—both of the ladies-—
will forgive me for what I have done. I pled
myself to never offend again in like manner,i I
am pardorcd this time.”

Not cvcn Iceberg Dave could find fault with
the words or the manner of deliver . One who

“NO.” at length uttered the widow. "You , knew him slightly, wouln have t ought Ugly
have crippled his right hand, and that will cut I Dan a thoroughly l't’Pf'nl'mt man- Al‘d ’t “'33

with the same quiet tones that he added,

Kill t0 exlllt. you cowardly cur!” she ﬂeshed out . looking up into the face of his conqueror:

“ Is that sufficient? If thcre is anythin
more, say the words and I will repeat them a -
tar you.”

“ It is plcn enough,” hastily interposed Eer-
man Moskau, iis thin face ﬂushing a little, his

Y hOW. Mrs. Watkins, and I’ll carry out 1 honest heart feeling pain that a fellow-man

should be thus humbled on their account. “ It
is too much. I think, that a man must talk so—
not, ‘Meliei"

“ It is so, my father! Let him go his ways,

slashed in two the belt 9 int his waist, without . please. and we will go ours. It is time we lose

3 placing herself within his reach. “ Step a little so. and—"

‘ to one side, you cur! This is my best riding-

“ Yes, yes, yes! It is precious time losen, and

”‘ «Mao—O" Q's—4"-" -

\

1

Howling Jonathan.

 

 

Franz waiting some place for his dear ones!”
hurriedly muttered the blind man, turning
awn . “It is long roat, ’Melic, but the goot
L4va will make it come by an end after a little!
It is that gives me heart to keep up. Yes,
time to be oil? going! ’Melic?”

“Yes, father; I make Noddy fast up in a
hurr , now!”

Widow W atkius hesitated a moment, but then
sail:

“ If the are content, I am satisfied. Let him
go, D11Vli ."

“ My thanks to you, MrsCWatkins,” and Ugly
Dan bowed low, smiling after u sickly fashion.
“ And you, Iceberg, good-by! May we meet
again!"

With these words the fellow turned on his
heel and strode away, never once glancin back,
his crippled hand swinging unheeded y his
side.
their sight around the bend in the road, leading
to G Leather.

“A black heart—if heart it can be called!”
muttered Iceberg.

“ And by far too quiet!” the widow said, her
fair brows contracting and her little hands ner-
vously ﬁngering the huft of her knife.
means mischief, or he’d never go of! like that!
I’m almost‘sorry your lead did not shatter his
skull, instead of his hand!”

“ I feared for your life, or his skull it would
have been, Mercy,” and Iceberg Dave came a
little nearer, his voice strange!
gray eyes, usually so cold and ard, now shin-
ing soft and tender. “But it is nottoo late,
even yet. I‘ll take his tools to him, and then
empty his skull, if you say the word. That is
in law, Mercy!”

Vidow Watkins ﬂushed, then turned pale,
drawing back as Iceberg Dave made a motion
as though to ca ture her hand. She laughed,
short and uneasi as she cast a hurried glance
around them. or voice was far from steady

it is

as she said:

“ I have no right to give you orders, Mr. In-
gram!”

“ You have—if you only so elect, Mercy!” he
quick! breathed.

“ I ave not—I wish it not,” she said, with

sudden coldness. “ You know why, without my
telling),oMr. Ingram; so say no more.”
He wed, stimy, once more Iceberg Dare.

 

CHAPTER VI.
ran cams or econ LEATHER.

“ IT rests with you how much further Ugly
Dan travels, Mrs. Watkins. What you gave
you can take back again, and a life like his
must be a curse and a burden,” quietly uttered
the rt.

“ on would follow him—after what—"

There was a spice of the coquette in widow
Mercy, else she would not have managed such a
shy look out of the shade of those curving lashes.
Her voice would not have been so low, so ﬁlled
with surprise; nor would it have broken off with
that curious little gas , as though emotion was
ove weringbher. or she knew well enough
that Ceberg ave, so cold and hard and merci-
less to all the rest of the world, would be like
wax in her hands if she so elected; that he
would bathe his hands in blood without an in-
stant’s hesitation at a single motion from her
hand or head.

But the pet fare-dealer of Good Leather had
not so soon forgotten the lesson read him by the
fair widow, and there was not the all test
trace of emotion in his face or voice as 9 re-

sponded:

“Why not? It is on my road to town, and
I’ll have to punch the fellow’s ticket on my own
1000th if I don’t on yours.”

“If I thought so—if I thought the rascal
would try to p ay you foul for this day’s work,”
and there came a reddish glow into the nut-
brown eyes, a clinching of the small, gloved
hands, that was far more ﬂattering to the man
who stood ready to carry out her slightest
wish than a dozen shy glances and quavering

tones.

Still Iceber Dave gave no sign, and few who
saw or heard im then would have even dreamed
how madly, insanely, he was in love with this
little woman.

“That gees without saying, ma’am. Daniel
is not an an e], whatever he may become before
I get throng with him. He’ll naturally to

t even with the game, and won‘t lot is air
rpfst’ before calling the turn—for me or for him-
se .
The widow hesitated, but it was only for an
instant. Her voice was low, but sharp and
stem as she uttered:

“Then follow and settle him! You are too
valuable a friend—”

“ Idon’t want to hurry the recession, ma’am,”
interposed Iceberg Dave, With a characteristic
squaring of his firm jaws. “ If it is on my ac-
count that you are changing your mind—”

“ iwomun’s privilege, is it not?" with a little

“Wm settles it,” bowed the ‘ bler.
Thewidow arched her fine rows a little as

 

 i.
J, i.

A Iceber Dave drew back a pace, folding his arms

,hint and drew out.

acress iis chest.

E‘ll’ou fail me, Mr. Ingram f" she murmured,
so t. '.

“ t is y‘gnr ame, ma’am. Mine was only a
little side— t. aniel paid that, but I took the
I was read to slip a cop-
per on the knave, when'I fancic you wished me
to, but—-”

“Is it Greek you are talking, my dear sir?”
lan rhed the widow.

“ he shop will slip in occasionally, ma’am,
but I'll try to make my meaning clear. To do

on a service, 1 was ready to lay out Ugly Dan,
ut when I saw that you were worrying only on

1 my account, as a lossibly valuable aid to—to a

nd thus it was when he vanished from I

“He'

softened, his ,
'lightningscarred tree, his head

more as dust!

 

friend of yours, t t altered the case entirely.
I can wait, and so can Ugly Dan.”

There was one little break in the cold, even
tones of the gambler, barely perceptible, more
like a catch in his breath than aught else; but it
was sufficient to bring a ﬂush to the cheeks of
widow Watkins and to make her answer shorter,
less frank than it might otherwise have been.

“ Thanks for the service on rendered me, Mr.
Inlgpam. If you would on y be as kind to your-
so

She turned away and hurried over to where
Amelia Moskan was putting the harness on the
little donkey, preparatory to hitching him to
the cart.

Herman Moskau. forgetting all else in the bit-
terness of his disappomtment, leaned against the
hOWed, tears
silently trickling down his thin cheeks and over
his heard.

It was the one ob ect of his life, this ﬁnding
the long lost son. cores of times had he met
with disappointment just when his loving faith

‘ told him success was close at hand, but never

before had he felt it so intensely as now. Ugly
Dan had played his cruel part so well, had so
merciless] lied and fed the ﬁres of hope, that
the blow cl] with double f orco at last.

“ That ugl rascal did not hurt on much, in
dear?” askedy the widow as Amelia turned wit
a rateful smile through her tears.

‘ Hurt? yes! But it was in the heart the most,
lady!” and Amelia hastily awrted her face as
the hot tears came anew. “ It was because he
made poor father—he was not always so, as you
see, lady. lie was strong and could see then,
before rother Franz went away and never no
more come back again home to us. That was
the worst—that was the thing broke him down
so bad. Franz was his son—I. only a girl.”

A woman herself, widow Watkins could un-
derstand just what this quiet little quaver meant,
and acting on the impulse of the moment, she
caught Amelia in her arms, and—Iceberg Dave
turned his face hastily away, striding over to
the old blind man. "

“ Traveling, I reckon, uncle?” he said, briskly.
“Going to make any stop at our town? Good
Leather we call it. ”

Herman Moskau roused himself, brushing the
tears from his face, a wan smile crossing his
care-worn features as he said:

“It is foolish-weak the old people get, some-
times, m friend, as you see by me. Ach! time
was—bu you ask question, I believe?”

“Only hoping that you mean to take in our
town before going fur her, uncle. It’s many a
long mile you might travel before seeing—"

It was not often that Iceberg made a wrong
play. but just now his nerves were strung up so
tig E that before he thought the words fell
from is lips. Herman Moskau smiled faint! .

“ It is great hardship to lose sight—yes. ut
there many thing more worse than that, my
friend. To haf no eyes—that take one great
pleasure away, but to lose a dear son—that take
all everything!”

Iceberg Dave started, casting a hasty glance
about him, for the moment faucyin that he had
come too late todiscover the worst (. eeds of Ugly
Dan. And Herman Meskau, with the wonder
ful intuition with which some blind persons are
gifted, seemed to read his thoughts, for be quick-

uttered:

“Not so——-not that way, my goot sir! It was
long ago that I lose m boy—so long, it seems
like I must be older'as t e world! I haf looked
so many places! I but said to myself, this time
the goot God will surely let the glad day be!
And now, that wicked man say he can bring us
by our boy! He swear he know him like a broth-
er! He ask for y, and we gif him all—what
is money and things h our love for Franz? No
And hen, he say—ach ! it was
bitter black sin! He say my boy was hung for
awthieving! He say he pull rope—'mei'n

“ He was lying, of course, uncle.”

“ For sure it was lie!” quickly roudly, ut-
tered the blind man, his thin chce s ﬂushing.
“It needs not stranger lips to tell me that. It
was not that maken the heart so sick, no! It
was to think we must still further looken for our
boy. Unless,” and there was a sudden eagerness
in his voice, a trembling of his frame, a nick
catching of his breath. as he added: “I you
could say, goot man—if you might but seen my
boy—if you knew where we must look to find

him?”
“ Frans, you any?”

 

 

“Franz Moskan—see!” and the poor old man
held forth the card containing the face of his
son.

Iceberg Dave took it, and as he did so, abrupt~
1% turned his back toward the blind minstrel.

'hy? What made his gray eyes fill with such
a sudden fire? Or, was it only the change of
light that brought that grayish shade over his

ace?

It must have been something of the sort. for
he turned back and slipped the card into the
trembling hand, his veice as quiet and full of
sympathy as before.

“I do rot know him, I am sorry to say. But
there may be some one in Good Leather who can
put you on the right track. At least it will do
no harm to try."

“ It is there we was going when that evil man
came to us. It is new place, so we look there,
too. The day must come. It may be so near to
us as this place Goot Leather. Yes, we go there.
’Melie?”

“Yes, father,” was the hurried reply. “In
one little minute all will ready be, new! ’

Widow Watkins had not been idle during this-

ssage between Iceberg Dave and the old man.

he had learned that the travelers were on their
way to Good Leather, and though she was
forced to give the same answer as Iceberg Dave
to the question whether she could tell aught of
the missing brother, she ventured far more en-
couragement than the gambler offered.

“ You will be safe there, my dear. I am only
a woman. but those silly fel ows re rd me as
highly as though I were an angel! or my sake

they will help you ﬁnd your brother.”

Amelia, greatly comforted and not a little en-
couraged, managed to whisper something of
this in the ear of her father, who bent his
white head and almost reverently pressed his.
lips to the gloved hand.

And then,with the blind minstrel seated in the
cart, Iceberg Dave leading the donkey, while
Amelia perched on the horse behind the widow,
the little cavalcade took its departure from the
noonday camp, moving toward Good Leather.

The widow seemed in- a particularly joyous
mood, and her merry laugh more than once
brought a similar sound to the 11' of her new

t, while Herman Moskau smilegei'aintly as he
istened.

Iceberg Dave, cool and wary, kept a close
lookout as they proceeded, for some sign of
Ugly Dan Bennison. But that worthy had
either busily improved the time in fast travel-
ing, or else had turned aside from the main
trail, perhaps to bandage his crippled hand. At
any rate, nothing was seen of him before Good
Leather was gained. , ‘

Before entering t0wn, Amelia insisted on
alighting from the horse and resmning her
wonted place as driver. Iceberg Dave was
nothing 10th to relintLuish his position at Neddy‘s
head, and he fell bac a few yards, though still
keeping nearenough to lend a hand should Ugly
Dan have reached town before them and should
t to “get even.”

idow Watkins drew rein before My House.
leaping to the ground before Iceberg Dave could
come to aid her. She gave her orse to the
nimble, tough-looking lad who ran out from the
saloon attached to the hotel then turned to her
new-found friends, saying cheerily:

“Welcome to My House, both! It shall be
your house as long as you care to stop in Good
Leather, and it shall cost you nothing but ood—
will! I have said it, and my word is law, ' not
gospel!"

As she spoke, she was aiding Herman Moskau
to alight, and leadin him toward the door of
the hotel. But with er last words the old man
stopped short, his voice steady and even proud
as is said:

“It is very kind and goot-hearted you are,
lady, and we thank you many times over for
that. But it is not such beggars that we are.
my little girl and me—no! We will stop for a
w ile, but it is better we camp out, or go to an
inn v'here—”

“ But this is an inn, and I am the landlady
dear sir,” laughed the Widow Watkins. ‘ I
have no master, and if I say you are Hi 'friends
-if I refuse to take pay for the little can do,
who will ‘dare deny my right? Not you, my
dear sir!”

“ Not if you so forbid. kind lady'.” and the
blind minstrel bent his head over the gloved
hand which held his. “ It will leave more gold
to carry us longer by our look for our Franz!”

As he regan speaking, the door before them,
which led into a postage by means of which
the upper story might be gainedswithont enter-
ing the oﬂice and bar combine , swung Open
and a stout, weltdressed man paused abruptly
before them. A 100k of surprise came into
his face as he noticed the widow Watkins in
such company, and then a sharp sound—if not
a curse, it very much resembled (incl—broke
from his lips as he Wheeled and vanished in-

side.

A still brighter light leaped into the brown
eyes of the little woman as she gazed after the
vanishing shape, but then she laughed softly and
pushed open the closing door, leading her
strange esta into the entry, saying:

“ I take you right up to your rooms,

~ .35-

 

 

 

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 Wra—g “ﬂank and... .-. .--.

‘

 

 

 

 

.‘ l
W

_,_

Wrap. W‘ now»..- .- .--

where I trust you will make yourselves comfor-
table and wholly at home. I will change my
dress and hasten hack to you, for I am dying to
hear your stor 1“

She led the way up the narrow ﬂight of stairs,
making.r no sign as her quick eyes caught a mo—
inentary glimpse of a door ajar.rthrough which
swiftly waved a white hand. She gave father
and child rooms adjoining each other, and after
a few kind words, left them alone.

Her brows were contracted, her lips tightly
compressal as she caught sight of the stout man
descending the stairs, pausing at the foot of

them just long enough to repeat his imperative ,

signal, then vanishing.
“What’s up now, I wonder?” she muttered,

her brown e es snapping,r with anything but an 1

amiable lig t as she followed, entering a rear
roomwhich mi htbe called a parlor. “You
wanted me, Ma ison?”

The stout man was awaiting her coming, his -

full, ﬂorid face hard-set and an ugly look in his

e es.
y“I'Vonld I take all this trouble if I didn’tf

want you?” he said, in a harsh, almost brutal
toneas he dropped upon a stuffed sofa. “ Of
course I want you—a fool would know that
much!"

“Perhaps that is why I come to you for the
information, dear,” softly smiled the widow,
making a mocking little courtesy. ‘* But want
will have to be your master, at least until I can
change my dress and get some of this dust off.
If you are in too great a hurry to wait, I will
try hard to survive the shock, my dear!”

Another coiu'tesy and then away she sailed,
leaving Colonel Joel Mallison to calm himself
as best he might. '

It was not a very agreeable icture that the
colonel presented, just then, an many in Goal
Leather would have required a second look
before recognizing the smooth,edpolite, .suave
gentlemen they were accustom to seeing in
that garb.

He was barely up to the medium hight of -,

his sex, but what he lacked in altitude, he
made up in breadth of person. His shoulders
were broad. his body thick and by no means
graceful. There was a stoop to his shoulders,
though this did not Ishow so much on ordinary
ocmsions, thanks to his full chest and digni-
ﬁed exactness. His limbs were short and thick,
his feet and hands large. His hands were
white, and bore but slight signs of the hard
labor they had done in his younger days. _
‘His face was full and ﬂorid, looking still
redder from the suspicious blackness of his

, hair and heavy mustaches. His eyes were of

a light blue, set close together, small and just
now ﬂlled With an ugly reddish glow. His other
features were heavy almost coarse, his jaws
being remarkably wide and strong, givmg him
something the look of a bull-do". _

Perhaps it was this look that lhelped give 
Leather the impression that Colonel Mallison
would prove a tough nut for even the hardest

to crack for such certainly was the gen-
eral belief, thong up to this time he had never
been at to the test.

If 0 was “ chief” of Good Leather, it was
throu h his lavish use of money, his daring

ations, his suavity, cou led with an occa—
sional show of jollity with “ t e bloods."

Joel Mallison did some hard thinking while
waiting for widow Watkins, and he had time
to realise his.folly in speaking and acting so
roughly. At all events, when she made her re-
appearance in a fresh dress, his tone was much
more civﬂ, his v0ioe softer and more like that
of a ntleman.

“ I glad you‘ve come, little woman!”

“And I’m glad to ﬁnd another person here
from the one 1 left,” pointedly responded the
widow, her eyes still snapping sharply.

“ I ask your pardon. was so excited—”

“ Over what, may I ask?”

Colonel Malhson hesitated, but only for a mo-
ment. He rose and passed one arm about the
trim waist, bending over until he could gm di-
may into the brown eyes. A brief space thus,
than he drew her to 'a seat beside him on the
act saying:

“ will tell you the whole truth, little wom-
an, only—who were those persons I saw you

With?"
Ap t1 the widow had taken a second
git. She seemed quito willing to accept
the trace, and her reply was prompt enou h:
“ An old blind man and his daughter. met

' then while out riding.”

“Wh did on bring them hem?" asked Mal-
lison, Witching her keenly through his shaggy

b for it seemed to him that she had cat K
herself

short while on the point of saying some-

mvléIdgngatkins laughed a little, almost
ashamch .

“ Well—{yon won‘t think I am growing soft,
Joslgid on ever do anything I found fault
with, litt e woman?” .

His voice was soft and almost caressing as he
attend these words, but it was easyto see he
was ill at ease. At any other time the woman
would have been nick to note this fact, but
somehow she heme felt a triﬂe disturbed as the

Howling Jonathan.

handsome face of Iceberg Dave appeared to

pass before her eyes.

“ They were so poorl—he is blind, and she so

pretty, so innocent! And then they were com-
ing to G00d Leather, anyway, so I asked them
to stay here.”
“ Coming to Good Leather!” echoed Mallison.
biting his thumb—nail viciously, his little eyes
glowing strangely.
f His uneasiness was so plain that the widow
s could not avoid noting the fact, and instantly
her curiosity was awakenul.

“Do you know them, Joel? Did you ever
meet them—”
; “ As on came in— Yes," was the hasty reply,
i as he li ted his head, aughing Shortly.

“Before that, I mean! You have! I can see
it in your eyes!” cried widow Watkins, her
brown eyess arklin '. “You seemed startled

‘ at the sight 0 the ol man-or was it the girl?” i

There was a fresh suspicion in voice and face,
now, and the colonel forced another laugh as he
i made answer, with clumsy playfulness:

“Careful, little woman! I any other cars
should happen to hear you now, they would be
mighty apt to set you down as jealous of your
, new lodger!”

' “ You know better than that, Joel,” with a

? curl of her red lip. “ You know there can be no ‘

jealous between you and me. You are simply
a boa er, and I am widow Mercy Watkins,
, free as air 1”
' “All Good Leather knows as much, of Course,
just as they know that it is not my fault you
i still remain a widow. But a truce to this. You
met these plc by chance, you say?”
“ Yes. ave Ingram had just read Ugly Dan
a lemon for insulting the girl—crippled his right
hand. I believe—when I came on the scene,”
said the widow, a )parently too modest to claim
all the merit due er actions that da . “They

seemed in want, and so I brought t em here. ‘

’ My House can afford it, even if they don’t pay
their bills.” ,

“You talked with them, of course? What
sort of story did they tell you?” slowly asked
the colonel, striving in vain to hide th interest
with which he awaited her reply. ,

“ Not much. They are looking for! some one,
a son, I believe. who has run away or been put
out of the way, or—”

“ Curse the foul luck that brought them to
Good leather!” grated Joel Mallison, striking
his tightly-clinched ﬁst against the sofa as he
might have dashed it into the face of a hated
enemy.

The widow turned pale, her eyes glowing, her 7

voice wing hard.

“ at hasvgone wrong now? You do know
them, Joel! hat are they to you? What have
thgy done—or, what have you done ?"

allison caught her arm and stared keenly
into her face.

She read the question before it was spoken,
and romptl said:

“ tisala day for ou to ask whether or
not I can be trusted, Joe ! If you have a single
doubt, keep it close to yourself.”

: He drew a lon breath as he sunk back on the
sofa seat, brushing one hand rapidly over his
face, but his voice was far more natural as he
spoke again:

i “ I do trust you, little woman. I will tell you
everything—but not just now. First—I want
you to get their whole story from them. Pump
them dr , one after the other, and then see if
they bot tell the same story. You can do it—
you will do it, little woman?”

“ Of course. if you say so,” was the promlpt
response. “But give me .just a hint, so 11
know better what points to press the closest.
You know something of this man, this missing
Franz Moskau?"

Just then there came to their ears the sound
of excited voices on the outside, and as they

sound of wild bowls and sharp reports in the dis-
tance, rapidly growing louder and plainer, then
min ling with the rattle of wheels.

“ L mething’s gone wrong—it’s the sta e!”
muttered Colonel Mallison, caning to his eet
I and catching up his hat. “ Remember! find
out all you can from those two!” _

There was more of relief than curiosity writ-
ten upon his ﬂushed countenance as he hurried
from the room. He was not yet ready to make

eatiner trusted with dangerous secrets as the
widow Watkins. This disturbance, coming just
as it did, was a perfect odsend!

As the reader has aready seen. it was the
stage, with Howling Jonathan Hebrew handling
the ribbons. Its mad progress had attracted at-
: tention before the foot of the long slope was
- reached. and thecrowd ra idly gathered to learn

the meaning of such rec ass haste, giving vent
' to excited cries and unanswered questions. And
, when Howling Jonathan drew up before My

House, he ha an audience large enough to
satisfy even his extravagant desires.

Colonel Joel Mallison opened the door and
stopped short, amazed by the scene. J onathan,his
foot still holding Joe Duncan on the foot-bound,
was rattlm of! his wild address, introducing

 

himself to t citizens of Good Leather. But as l

he caught sight of Colonel Mani-on ﬁlling the

turned their heads to listen, they caught the ’

confession, even'to one whom he felt could be so 5 gri

11

i doorway directly opposite him, he rose to his
1 feet with a complicated flourish of his ri 'ht arm
3 that sent outa pistol—like report from the raided
; lash. ching:
! “Bellow, boss! How goes it, anyhow? Ef on
i ain’t the jostmaster, you look enough like im
4 fer to be one, an’ yar’s your new .atcnt male-
; bag! Chuck-full an” sloppiu’ over! e~uplstiddy
’ byve'jerks, josey!”
J hile speaking, the Howler stooped over and
asped oc Duncan by the collar of his coat,
ifting him clear of the foot-board and dropping
him to the ground.

“ Chuck-full 0’ registered packages, that male-
bag is, boss? Han‘le with keer, fer ef it should

, come untied, the good Moses save all them as is
1 within range! Salt won’t save ’em, nur soft—soap
‘ ever take out the stains, or make’em smell sweet
‘ never no more!”

Limp, almost lifeless ap >arcntly, Joe Duncan
dropped to the ground, a eehle groan breaking
from his lips.

“ What’s happened? Give him air! Give him
whisky’s more sense!”

Those nearest crowded around the luckless
driver, and while Jonathan was rattlin on ex-
travagantly, whisky was ured down 1 1e half-
I senseless fe low. it quic y produced the usual
effect, and with a savage curse. Joe Duncan
! strug led to his feet, thrusting lack his officious
frien s, brushing one hand across his bleared
eyes, as he fum led for a pistol. Even as his
, hand touched it, he caught sight of Howling
‘ Jonathan, and With a snarling curse he ﬂung up

his weapon and discharged it.

With awill ell the Howler turned a back
somerset from c roof of the coach, only todart
under the low body between the wheels and
knock the w apon from Duncan’s grasg‘. Then,
catching him by the middle, he twisted im from

, his feet, lilting him into the air with:
“ I’m Howlin’ Jonathan Hebrew, the Terror
: from Headwaters!”

With an effort that seemed an rhuman, he
tossed the driver above his head, t en cast him
endlong, straight at the amazed colonel! Head
and stomach came in c0ntact, and the owners of
1 both fell backward! _

CHAPTER VII.

ran nowura arr RiGn'r WEAR BE LIVES!

“ SCFFEBIN' Moses! of I hain’t done it now, I
hope I’m a liar!” ejaculated the Howler, holding
up both hands in an attitude of holy horror as
he stared wide-eyed at the heap of strugglin

: humanity in the narrow entr . “ Rani-jam
the male-bag clean throng the postmaster,
! ’stead o’ chuckin’ it in the post-orﬁce! The—
! good—Laud !”
I At that savage curse and the pistol-shot, there
was a hasty scatteration on the part of the
l crowd, so the Howler had nothing to interfere
with his passage as he leaped forward and fol-
, lowed his nove missile, entering the hotel and
turning about, with his rear thus guarded, all
so naturally done that, probably, not one of the
crowd. even those who sympathized most with
lucklem Joe Duncan, gave him credit for an ul—
terior motive in thus acting.

“Saints in gc~lory!" he luttered, gra ing
the half-stunned driver and exterously astr
ening his belt of arms as be ap rently wrestled
with the weight, then rolling im unceremoni-
I ously outside as he stooped again to assist the
gasping, cursing speculator. “Ef that clumsy
critter hes bu‘sted anythin’, be darned ef I don‘t
make him prove it cf it takes the hide off ! Tak-
in’a bay-winder like them fer a hole to go
through! Drunk—that‘s wl at‘s the matter!
Be :lurned at he ain‘t drunk as— Damages?”
! he cried, as Colonel Joel Mallison uttered a
sonorous oath. “ Was], I should remark! The.
jedge as wouldn’t give 'e heap big damages for
sech doin’s, ain’t ﬁt to erry truck to hogs! I’ll
. bea witness, hora! l kin take me cath I see’d
him jostlc yc—rub up ag’inst ye right smart, an’
never give a whistle to tell ye right or If ft hsn’
side! It’s a good cause fer action, boss, an’ef
you’ll make me your liar, l’ll kctcb a vardict fer
one-hafe the plunder we git out o’ it—be darned
of I don‘t, honey!”

Colonel Joel Mallison regained his feet, one
hand pressing against the spot where the bullet
head of Joe Duncan had come in violent con-
; tact. the other thrusting Jonathan back with
.moi’e force than courtesy as he growled an-
“yCviiw way, you clumsy brute, or I’ll—”

“Oh. angels 0’ light an’ ministers o’ grease!"
fairly squealed the Howler, every hair on his
ﬁery head seeming to bristle with pure delight
! as he hopped rapid] from one foot to the other,
i dashing his batte hat to the ﬂoor, spitting on
! his hands and making other warlike demonstra-
5 tions, greatly to the delight of the crowd gather-
; ed without. “18 that the chune, hone Jove!
i It’s a heap big ﬁghter-man ye be, ’stea o‘ the
,ﬁpstmaster, eh? Lord 0’ love, pard, but that
; 'ts me right whar I live when Pm tohome!
' I‘m a tough myself! I’m a chief, with ﬁfty
, feathers in my skelp, an’ each one tells of a
I ’way-np gatne-cock that crowed his last cnew on

the p’int o’ my galls! Come sn’ take your last
. salvation. honey! Come an’ see me punch your
ticket fer—” _ ,

Notalittletothesurpriseofthe citizens who

 

 

\‘1‘3‘5-5'.‘

“(‘4‘ ..

 

12

Howling Jonathan.

 

were watching the scene, instead of at once
knockin this rattle-ton ed fellow down off
hand, olonel Joel Mal ison shrunk back, his
ﬂorid color turning to a sickly gray. And had
it been an other than the acknowledged chief
of Good ther, a hoot of derision would al-
most certainly have gone up as for a coward.

Fortunately for the colonel, perhaps, an inter-
ruption came before the crowd could fully real—
ize his shrinking from the ordeal.

Howling Jonathan abruptly ceased his wild
outburst as a hand touched his shoulder from
behind, and he wheeled quickly to find a revol-
ver muzzle staring him f all in the face!

“ You can't turn my house into a bear-garden,
sir. Simmer down, take a walk, or have your
baggage checked through for the boneyard.
Ta 0 your choice of the three, and that in a
h . too!”

It‘was widow Mercy Watkins who uttered
these words, and those who knew her best knew
that she “meant business chuck-up" when she
assumed that clear, incisive tone, when her nut~
brown eyes filled with that peculiar reddish

glow.

But the Howler did not appear to at all real-
ize his peril. He seemed unconscious of the wea-

n whose muzzle almost touched the tip of his
gming—red nose. He had eyes on] for the
face and ﬁgure beyond. Truly, it 100 ed like a
case of love at first sight!

“I thought it sorter smacked o‘ heaven, an‘
new I knows it! But to think that my nozzle
was ‘, ’intin’ that way all the time—that’s what
gits me! Bad—mighty bad! It do so I” he mut-
tered, slowly shaking his head like one confront-
ed b a most pe lexing enigma.

“ That is deci edly too thin, my line fellow,”
tartly added widow \Vatkins, stepping back a

, a parently to guar- l against an attempt to
Enock ierweapon aside. “ oulook fool enough
to be crazy, but that excuse Won’t save you if
you try to run things here according to your
own sweet will. I‘m mistress of this hotel,
and—1,

“An’ you a lone woman!" ejaculated Jona-
than, incifable pity ﬁlling his face and voice.
“ It’s a scan’alous shame an’ a blot onto the citi-
zens 0’ Good Leather—it is so ! I’m a pilgrim
an' a stranger, but I’m too mighty white for to
stan’ that when I kin make it any more iittin’.
From right on, honey. count me our head-
bouncer. An’ ef—but mebbe we‘d cst do the
courtin‘ when there ain‘t quite so many eyes aii'
years a-lookin’ on, oh!”

If the Howler was not thoroughly in earnest,
then he played his part to perfection. Fora mo-
ment or two. it was a toss-u ) with the widow
whetherto laugh or to sends it of leadthrou b
that rattle-brain. But her keen sense of t o
ridiculous gained the day, and her laugh rung
out clear and mellow as the notes of a silver

11.

“ Then it‘s a whack, honey?” eagerly muttered
the Howler moving a step nearer, his hands
outstretched, only to stop abruptly, asthe pistol

'n came to a evel With his red ‘nose, and the
little woman ﬂashed:

“It is a funeral if you don’t take a walk,
stranger! Must I say it once more? I allow no
rowing in My House. Go outside, if you must
kick 11 a fuss. And if you don’t pick up your
hoofs lively,\you’re going to get hurt—bad I”

This was talk such as Jonathan could under-
stand without translation, and with a shecpish
bow he shufﬂed backward until his body was
clear of the door. It slammed sharply to in his
face, and as a in h ran through the spectators,
the red-haired s angcr wheeled about with
business written in every feature.

He saw Colonel Joel allison standing near,
one hand still caressing his distressed waist,
while Frank Spartan was beside him gras ing
his free hand, apparently whispering rapid y in
his car.

Joe Duncan, sadly used up, was being led
away by a few friends, and the little tough-
.lookm ladof-all-work attached to the hotel was
about riving the stage away.

Hebrew had eyes for naught save the colonel,
however and striding forward he struck a
position before that worthy, his hat cocked over
one eye, his arms akimbo, his chin protruded

pugnaciously. .
‘ E! I ain’t a liar, you’re the gent as give me
i hunch an’ whis red that I come 0’ four-legg-
id stock! Now. don’t know your name—”

“Colonel Mallison-Howling Jonathan,” and
.s‘rank S rtan stepped to oneside with a low
bow andpa raceful wave of his gloved hands,
smiling as landly as one might who feels conﬂ-
dent he is making two very dear friends su-
premely happy.

The colonel bowed stiﬂl , but the Howler
leaped mm the air with a 8 ill howl that ﬁlled
all Good Leather with its outlandish echoes,
cracking his heels together, tearing off his bat
tered hat and dashing it violently to the ground,
standing upon it as a smile came near stretching
his mouth from ear to ear. ‘ .

“Run up ag’in’ him the fust clatter! Who
says I aint a lucky cuss? II h-ough—ugh-h-
00]!” and once more he split t e air with his
unearthly war-cry, his fist see-sawing, his feet
going through the motions of climbing very high
and very steep stairs.

“ Chief 0’ Good Leather, that’s what they call
him! Chief o’ the liveliest little camp that sets
on the foot-stool, so they swore! An’ that’s the
sort 0’ mutton I'm hunt.n’ fer, you bet! It ain’t
no ﬁve-cent rest’ryant whar I take in meals at
—not much! I’m a chief my own se f. an’ the
worry best ain’t half ood enough fer me! Pork
an’ beans an’ b’iled ca )bage, with a bite or two
0’ fresh souse is what hits me ri ht whar I live
when I’m to home! Kunnel, wa e up an' lis’en
to Howling Jonathan Hebrew’s lament!

“ You was chief 0‘ Good Leather ’afore I come
to town, but you cain’t stay chief onless you kin
git away with my copperossity, clean! Name
your tools, from a cyclone to a ’skeeter’s probe!
Step your distance, from a single ha’r’s breadth
to a thousan’ mile! It’s all oneto our master
——which is me! Bullet, steel or plain meat an'
bones! Anythin’ an’ everythin’, jest so we git
down to solid fun while the sign’s right! I don’t
ax much, but what I do ax, I ax mighty hard,
honey!"

Clearlv it was one of the colonel’s unlucky
days! He had no stomach for hard knocks, and
a far less acute mind than his could easily have
told that hard knocks and lenty of them were
wrapped up in the hide 0 this wild beast in
human shape. The citizens were looking on
with undisguised interest, clearly expecting to
see him unish this insolont braggart off-hand.
The cha lenge was so blunt, so comprehensive,
so sweetping in its terms, that he knew he trust
either ght or back squarely down before. all that
crowd.

His nerves were still unstrung from the si ht
of Herman Moskau, and the terrors which t at
sight had given birth to. He could not ﬁght—
much less such a fire-eater as this! '

“ Another time—I’m sick—I can’t—”

He asped out these disjointed words, then
turn . about and hurried through the crowd,
almost running away!

The Howler seemed the most surprised of all
that astonished assembly. Certainly he was the
most disgusted.

He stared open~mouthed after the hastilyre-
treating magnate, until Colonel Mallison dodged
around the‘nearest corner, then his figure seem—
ed to shrink and shrivel, his bristling‘red hair
to wilt and grow dim, his boisterous voice fall-
ing away to a husky whis r.

‘Now I will be durnc ! An’ that’s the sort
0‘ timber they makes chiefs out of in Good
Leather? That’s the kind o’ tarrapin I’ve come
all this way to embed! Gimme my hat—I’m
sick—I want to go home!"

There was an ugly muttering running through
the crowd, mung of whom, thou h quite as
much surprised y the unaccounta le action of
the man to whom they had lon looked up to as
little less than perfect, were qu ck to resent any
slur cast upon their town, and it is more than
probable that Hebrew would have had his hunger
and thirst for s rt fully satisﬁed, only for the
interference of rank Spartan.

“ Compose yourself, my friend." he said as he
touched the champion lghtly on the shoulder.
“ Rather than see you suffer so terribly, I will
take the place of my friend, the Colonel, who has
been so suddenly taken sick. As I introduced
you, I can hardly do less.”

There was a momentary brightening up of the
Champion's faCe, but it as rapidly died away as
he shook his head mournfully, saying faintly:

“ I’m all broke u , stranger! I couldn’t fight
a sick kitten with it’s han’s tied an’ it’s toenails
pulled out! Chief o’—good Lawd!”

A ﬁoan of utter misery broke from his lips,
and ank Spartan step ed hast-i1 aside, evi-
dently fearin an cxplos on of a sagrecable
character. gut though Howling Jonathan
doubled u , his hands pressed to his middle his
£300 tigh y screwed up,‘nothing worse follow-
“Ef I kin borry a wee drap 0’ red licker,
mehbe it’d cure me up ag’in,” he groaned,
casting a wistful glance around the grinning
circle. “ I’ll give it back when I git done
with it—the bottle I mean, durn ye!” he ﬂashed
as the crowd burst into a laugh.

Frank Spartan pressed a small ﬂask into his
eager hand, and then slipped away through
the crowd while the red-haired champion was
busy sam ling its contents. A hearty drink,
then How ing Jonathan tossed back his shaggy
locks. once more himself. ,

“ Durncd of I know. stranger, but what I will
—whar is he ?” suddenl breaking of! as he failed
to catch a glim of partan.

“ Runnin’ a cot-race with the kunncl i” cried
one irreverent scoffer on the skirts of the crowd.
“ Ef somebody don’t clap a muzzle onto on
vou’ll skeer every man-critter out o’ 

thcr!” '

“ 'Nother chaince fer fun gone glimmerin'
down the dark an’ misty—oh, Moses!" snorted
the Howler, burying both hands in his shag
top, glaring about him with a half-angry, hal -
wretched air. “ ’Nothcr chaince—be durned ef
they ain’t, though!" and once more his wild
howl rung through Good Leather.

“ Friends an’ feller-citizens—fer I’ve come to
Good Leather to stay ontel she git down on her
two knees an’ hails me chief an’ high-cockolo-
rum! Feller-citizens, of they ain’t no fun in
town, they’s jest lots an’ gobs of it layin‘ ’nound

 

 

Y

loose in the hills over back! I know, for I tick
a taste as we was comin’ through on time! I
kin take my davy to that eifec‘, fer didn’t I lay
out a dozen road-agents too cold to skin! Ax
him!" and Jonathan pounced on one of the
pros ‘tors who had come in with the stage.

“ t’s so, more or less, boys,” was the prompt
response. “We was held umy Cap‘n Clean-
up, an’ this cut fetched as t ugh in ’way-up
style. Not t at it mattered much, only for the
fun—an’ sech fun! ef my ha’r ain’t snow-white,
it Offer be!”

“A pesky fool’ trick, anyway!" growled the
other prospector, with an angryrescowl toward
the Howler. “ Cap’n Clean-up ated as clean
white—didn’t keep a red cent, an‘ tole in we
mi ht go on. when that crazy critter tuck a bee
in is years an‘ run the bosses oﬂ. Turned the
hull durned outfit end over end a thousan’ times
comin’ down the Slide—he did, dum him!”

There seemed a healthy prospect for “fun,”
right then and there, but Jonathan was not
easily turned from a course once entered upon,
and with a lofty dignity he waved one hand for
silence, the other stuck into his bosom, his chest
smelling, his whole attitude that of an orator.

“ Feller-Citizens! Shell Good Leather be run
over rough-shod b a passel o‘ critters so darned
ugly they don‘t ast show tha’r faces fer fear
they’d skeer each other into conmption fits?
Shell Good Leather set down on her bunkers an’
let this p‘izen road-agent take all the cream,
lcavin’ us nothin’ but skim milk an‘ sour at
that? Shell she? Echo say not a urned once!

“ It was all well enough afore I come to town.
It takes gen’us to lead a crowd or a army.
you never seen gen’us afore, am on it now, as
done up in the mantle of owlin‘ John, the
Terror right from Headwaters!”

“A-men!” came in a drawling tone from the
outer edge of the crowd, and a general laugh
followed.

.141)? Howler frowned portentously, but per-
815 :

“A man is the properest way to pronuncify
it, pard. though your mistake ain’t as big as a
haystack. Foller me after them darned mad-
agents, an’ when we git at ’em. you’ll think I‘m
numerous enough to be counted a dozen times
over, ’stead of a man! We kin clean ’em out
too easy! I kin sw’ar to killin’ a couple. an’ I
keclcd over the boss of the gan so party. he
won‘t hev much fight left in him y the time we
git thar, nuther!”

“And what’ll come of Good Leather cf we do
clean em out? What’s a cam that cain’ts rt
it’s own gang 0’ road-agents demanded ‘ the
fool of the camp,” who had so often put in be-
ore.

It was a shrewd remark for a “ fool” tomake
and the general laugh which followed proved
this. Howlin Jonathan saw that he was wast-
ing his breat , and that he had stillone more
lost chance to lament over. But repeated
pointments Were teachin him how to bear -
varsity, and after one bank gaze around over
the unsympathetic crowd, he added:

“ ’Tain’t fer me to crowd your likin‘, gentsi
an’ of you don’t want to kiver ourselves al
over with glory, let it slide. nyhow, of I
cain’t lick a chief or cats road-agent gang, I
kin git drunk! An’ them what would liketo
help me turn into a h’iled owl, kin folkr the
same sweet scent that ttlls my nose this is the
waly to find a p’izen-depot!”

he Howler hastened into the bar of My
House, and with a long string of followers.
ready enough to drink at his expense, though
they did not seem to banker too stronﬂly “I”
him as a leader on more dan erous busi he
brought up against the po shed bar. 
cordially at the white-aproned attendant hey

it.

“Sling out the best ou’ve t in the Shop,
Johnny. au’ don’t be lishful gut joinin‘ us
your own sweet self. It’s a chief from ‘way up
the headwaters that shouts!” .

“ The Slate’s broken. pard,” softly uttered the
larkeeper, with a gentle nod toward that pop-
ular and iii iﬂcant work of art, hanging in a
pi ominent p ace above the glassware.

Jonathanstared at the emblem of no trust,
then a hot ﬂush came into his face, a red glow
in his blue eyes. / I

“Did I break it durn ye! Want to skin a
stranger the fu'st time he sticks his nose in your
shebangi Want to collect a national bank fer
that cracked bit o’— Landlord !” with a bowl
that was almost enough to lift the roof of the
house. “ Be darned ef you kin skin— Landlord!
I don’t often kick, hut— Landlord!”

The very picture of choking indignation. the
man from headwaters danced frcm one foot to
the other. his tightly clinched fists sawing the
air. He shot a_fra£mcnt of a sentence at the
astonished and disgusted l orkee er, en] ' to have
his rage choke him off into a w‘ d how for the
head of. the house. And the last call was so
lung-splitting that it distended his mouth so
wide his eyes had to shut u .

Thus it was that he failed) to see the trim fl -
ure of widow Watkins as she came sailing lug)
the room, her brown eyes glowing, her red lips
com reﬁlled, “ busmess” written in every line of
her air face. And it was only when her pluiL

little hand struck him sharply on the lips

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13

 

 

Jonathan opened his eyes. 0 ned them with a '
snarling curse only to cut it s ort with a grunt
of surprise as he. stared at the fair widow.

“ Be darned of it ain’t the same purty angel
come back—”

“ To give you warning for the last time that I
will not rmit an such disturbance in this
place sir, ’ was the s mrp interjection.

“ ou hear that, don’t ye?” and Jonathan
turned with a re )roachful frown toward the
barkeeper. “ Kic up ’nothcr row will ye?”

“ You made the row, not me. I appeal to the
crowd-”

" Look at that, now!” and the Howler ap-
peared the rfect personiﬁcation of injured
innocence. ‘ Didn’t you tell me I bu’sted your
darned old slate, when I hadn’t got fa’rly inside?
Didn’ ou want me to pay for it or o to the
jug? Kn’ didn’t I call on the landlor for per-
teckshun from scch a hungry bloodsuckcr? Be
course I did; an’ so, ma’am, ef you’ll only call
him up to—”

“ Call nothing!” curtly interjected the widow,
motioning the eager citizens to keep their dis-
tance. “ I underStand your case we 1 enough to
manage without calling for assistance. You are
a fraud and a traveling Sign, but you can’t beat
your drink here.”

Jonathan gave the fair Virago one long,
mournful gaze, then without a word he dove
down in his )cket and brought up a ﬁstful of
mingled go] coin and bunk-notes.

The Widow cast a swift glance into his re-
proachful face, then turned to the barkeepér
with a sharp glitter in her eyes. There was no
need for her to utter the question, and he quickly
answered:

“ As a rfect stranger, calling for drinks
for the w ole crowd, ma’am, I simply asked
him to look at the chronio over the bar. If that
was wrong, I ask his and your pardon for my
mistake.”

The widow turned to Jonathan with a slight
smile on her fair face, for business was busineSs,
and the sight of that money had changed her
opinion of this loud-voiced stranger. He mi rht
be a nuisance, but he was not a bummer y
trade.

“It was a mistake, my dear sir, which will
sometimes happen in the best of conuianies. You
were both mistaken, and so—shall we call it even
and . in over again?”

“ An he didn’t mean for to ’cuse me 0’ bu’stin’
up the furniture, then i” slowly muttered He-
brew. .

The widow laughed merrily.

“ He was following a rule of mine, ever since
I took to keeping hotel, to give trust to no one,
without regard to their appearance or.whether
they were old friends or new acquaintances.
Otherwise, you see, I might easily lese enough in
bad debts to eat up all my profits.”

“ Your roﬁts—your rules!" echoed Jonathan,
a sudden ight leaping into his blue eyes as they
first cast a quick glance around the neatly-fur-
nished bar and then came back to dwell on the
trim, neat ﬁgure and pretty face of the Widow.
“ Then you ain’t—eh?” .

“ I am the landlady, sir,” with a mocking lit-
tle courtesy.

“ And the boss—the land—lord f“ persisted the
Howler. ,

“ I own no other bossthan my own sweet will,"
laughed widow Watkins, far more communica-
tive than was her wont.

Somehow this rough diamond interested her,
despite the luckiess fashion in which he had thus
far been introduced to her notice. And then,
some women are born coquetteoi, who would
rather fascmate a satyr than to go through the
World Without making other captive. And
widow Watkins would have been less than wo-
man had she failed to read aright that glow of
admiration.

" An' this is 110“? bar? You own the hull she-
bangi Hotel, toot”

“ All mine, and something more, if you must;
know, sir,” she laughed.

“ No old man to— Never married, I don’t
reckon?”

“ A widow, air.” and she cast her brown eyes
down bashfully, twisting the corner of her white
a mu between her plump ﬁngers, a demure
smile just curling the corners of her red lips.

It was an amusing farce after all!

But the Howler seemed determined to make it
more than a farcc, if his earnestness could be
measuied by the force with which he dropped
on his knees at her feet, catchin her hand and
pressin it ﬁrst  his lips an then over his
man] In. “Vlngi,

“1 Good Leather am’t man enough for to do
what it ortcr, ma’am, let me take its place! Let
me turn you from a widder into a Wife, an’ I’ll
do it so quick it’ll .make your head swim in a
circle wuss than a circus ring!” .

“ Sir! what am I to understand by this con-
duct?” demanded the widow, fairly startled de-
spite her coquetry, drawing back her hand. with
a gesture that bade fair to return it With inter.
est-alongside the audacious fellow’s pate!

“ Business, ma’am, business clean up to the
bands!” was the prompt reply. “ I want a wife
an’ you want a husband, to look after thin
1111' see you ain’t cheaml out 0‘ your e e-teet !
Ef 1 do say so myself, l’ui as good as t ey turn

 

out o‘ the ’facto these da s. I’m sound as
a dollar in wind, limb an’ i y. I kin lick an '
alootasdared look crosswa s at my wife.

in love yer harder then a blind mule kin kick
frozen pumpkins down—hill. I kin tend bar—I

'est love to tend bar, honey!” and carried away

y the notion, intoxicated by the. mere shadow
o the future which seemed to open before him,
Howlin Jonathan smacked his lips and glanc-
ed wist ully toward the bar.

“Where you would be your own best cus-
tomcr!”

“ ’Deed no, honey!” was his hasty assurance.
“ I’ll sign a pledge to never git drunk but once
a (la ', pulcss you say I kin do better fer bein’ a

The widow recovered from her brief disma
at the ridiculous scene her coquetry had precipi-
tated, and as'thou h resolved to at once end it,
her face grew ham and her voice sharp:

“Enough of this folly! Get up, and beware
how you ever offend in like manner again! If
I am only a woman, I can handle the weapons
of a man, and know how to rebuke all such
idiots as you are showing yourself !”

“ An’ you won’t— Durned ef I don’t begin to
think I’ve got the dirty shake!” splattered J one-
than, his face ﬂushing hotly, his e ‘es protrudin
wildly as widow “Iatkins turned and ﬂoun
away.

Slowly the red-haired stranger arose to his
feet, wincing a little as the door closed behind
the widow with an em hatic slam. He gave
one mighty sigh as he g anced around over the
grinning faces then said:

“Waal, ef cain’t git married, I kin git
drunk enough to look twenty-seven different
ways at the_same time! Sling ’em out, John-
Ey! mI’m thinkin’ wimmen ain’t no good, no-

ow. ‘

 

CHAPTER VIII.
A WOMAN’S REASON.

COLONEL JOEL MALLISON Sat in his room at
My House that same evening, the little round
to 10 at his elbow supplied with Ii uor, glasses
and a box of cigars. It was easy to seen, too,
that he had not stinted himself in the matter of
drink, though it was very seldom indeed that the
chief of Geod Leather permitted himself to “ sur-
round ” enough “poison ” for it to be recognized
through his face, voice or walk.

Just now he was staring moodin at vacancy,
his shaggy brows drawn together, his bull-dog
jaws squared, his thick under lip thrust out as
though he was trying how ugly he could make

his never handsome face.

His large hands were tightly clinched one mo-
ment, then opening, to shut again, like one who
longs to practice on the throat of a bitterly hated
enemy.

Dark and ugly thoughts were ﬂoating across
his mind, and these in Good Leather who thought
the knew him best, would have stared aghast at
Joe Mallison if they could have read those
thou hts aright.

" ‘urse the day, anyhow!” he owled, as be
ﬁlled a glass of brandy and to. it down his
anger-parched throat. “ Everything has gone
wron end to! Everything is turning against
me! 'rst, that name—”

The sound of his hoarse, strained voice seemed
to startle him, for with a savage light in his
small eyes, he half~rose from his seat and glared
around the room, only sinking back when he saw
that he was alone.

For once the magnate of Good Leather had
spoken the simple, unadorned truth, which, it
may be said, he rarely did, own to himself. That
was a da he would not soon forget.

Until t en he had felt secure, had felt assured
that the dead past was dead beyond all pos-
sibility of resurrection. But now?

All unsuspectin , that name had struck him a
blow that fairly rove the breath from his body,
the wits from iis usually cool and crafty brain.
It had made him drop the mask before those who
would, if they could, work him deepest injury. If
they should suspect the truth! If they were to
follow 11 the dew he had so insanely let drop!

And t -n——that wild, fiery-headed, gasconad-
ing stranger! If he had—had but sent a bullet
through his brain on the instant. If he had-

“I Would, only it came so soon after I saw
him and heard him asking for Franz—devil grip
both father and son !” he snarled, his strong
teeth grating together until it seemed as though
they must he s an by the. ﬁerce ressure.

Again Joel iallison started s arpiy, one hand
gras in the bait of an ugly-looking knife that
nest ed neath his Vest, but as the wand that
startled him came again, he gave a gasp of re-
lief and hastily passed a hand over his red face.

.It was as though the motion drew a mask over
his features, and he looked much nearer his usual
self a moment later, when a narrow section of
£1.11”? Wall swung open and widow Mercy \Vnt—

me step .11 htly into the chamber, closing
the door inn her.

It Cited so closely, and the pa r had been
chosen so well to aid in the worlEfthat no one
not in the secret would have dreamed that a
door was on that side of the room at all. -

Didn‘t you hear me give the si all” a little
sharp] demanded the fair lan lady as she
crossed the room and dropped a handkerchief

 

over the door-knob, ﬁrst making sure the key
was turned in the lock.

“1 was thinking, and before I could fairly
wakcn, you came in.”

“ Drinking, I should say !”

Clearly, the widow was out of sorts, or else
she. like the colonel, was occasionally to ie seen
without an every—day mask on.

“ Whose money pays for it?” growled the col-
onel, in a bear-like style, very different from the
manner in which he spoke to and of the charm-
ing widow in public.

‘Mine, as much as yours, you brute!” s ly
retorted the woman. her eyes ﬂashin , er
blossom heaving as her breath came quid-i; and
s ort.

She, as well as the colonel, had made a partic-
ularly di able discovery, and her temper
was none t e better for it. now.

Colonel Mallison saw this, and from past ex-
perience he took warning. He needed her aid
sorely, and rough usage would not make her any
the more easily handled. He ﬂung out one hand
with a de recatory gesture, forcing a smile and
short laug as he said:

“Of course, for what’s mine is yours, little
woman. If I snap i you up short, to at it, or
lay the blame on w iat as happened ay.”

“If I knew w}. it had happened, it mightbe
done, bpt as long as you keep me in the dark,

wh —

‘FThat’s all right, my girl,” and the colonel
reached out and by an arm about hertrim waist,
drew her to a seat on his knee. “ It’s not for
you and me to quarrel, this late in the day. Our
interests are so tied up in each other, that if bad
Luck drops on one, the other will be just as bad

urt.‘

There followed a little by-play that would
have made Good Leather 0 n wide its many
eyes if those tight walls he suddenly been ren-
dered transparent. Colonel Mallison had an
(ml to reach, and he knew the shortest road to
his goal. He knew how to} lay the lover, if he
was old and ﬂeshy and rather rough in his
caresses.

The landlady of My House did not appear
greatly displeased, thi' nth, had he been cooler,

oel Mallison might have. seen that she suﬂered, '

rather than reciprocatid. She, too, felt that
she wanted some information he could give, and
banished her tart humor With a good grace.

“If thOse poor fools outside could only see us
now, Joel!” she uttered, with a short mocking
laugh. “And—do you know—I had another
oﬁ’er 10-day? Isn’t it rich?”

The colonel laughed softly. It was an amusin
farce they were playing on the citizens of G
Leather. and many a time, they had enjoyed a
hearty laugh together over their perfect success
in hoodwinking even the most acute. Thanks
to their caution while in public. To that cun-
ninglv—ﬁtted door, leadingl by a concealed pas-
sa e alt-way around the case to the opposue
8“ e, there to end in another door to the full as
cunning] concealed. And they two alone
shared t at recret as the did cnrihrr which
would have startled the citizens of Good Leather
fully as much. '

“Let the peer fools covet—I alone possess,
little woman.” and the colonel punctuated his
words with a kiss. “ The time will come when
you and I will open their eyes by showin our
certiﬁcate of marriage. But when the b oods
know they have been courting a married wo-
man—well, Good Leather will be rather un-
healthy for me!”

That was the secret. The widow was no
widen: but a wife! .

It had been her pro 'tion, suggested Ly a
pretty thorough know edge of human nature
in general, and man in rticular. She knew
that while as the wife ;. Good Leather’s mag-
nate she would be honored and respected and
all that, as a widow, young and charming, in
the market, her chances for coining money
would be enhanced a hundred-fold.

And thus it came that while Colonel Malli-
son supplied the funds for building, furnishing
and opening My House. the Widow received all
the credit. Of course the colonel must board at
the house. and that their secret might be the
easier kept this private communication between
their chambers was constructed.

The colonel was too dee ly interested in other
matters to waste much time in billing and eco-
ing after he had restored his little worran to
good humor, and as she slipped from his knee
into a chair, he asked:

“ Well, what have you found out?”

“ Something—l at whether it is what you want
to know, of course I can‘t say,” slowly res cnd~
ed the ‘ widow ’ as we must continue to cal her.
“ You ve been keeping a secret from me, J cel !"

Mallison frowned a little at this sudden
char e, retorting sharply:

“End you—have you never kept anything
from me?” '

The shaft struck home, as less keen e '5: than his
could have readil told from the swi tl chan —
ing color; and allison laughed short y as 0
added in a hard tone: -

“ If I have held anythgi‘ilg back, little woman,
it was only facts that c dn’t interest you in
the least—of something that took place before
you and I came together.”

‘z—a

 

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F‘-

- ' §~,-~»r~ w-N,L.

 

 

14

“Concerning this blind man and his daugh-
'ter?”

“That question can be answered better after
you tell me just what discoveries you have
made,” with poorly assumed carelessness.

The widow was silent for a brief space, but
then said:

“It was not a diﬂicult task to get at the
story of their past, and I was careful to keep
track of all the main points. I had to, smce *ou
fox ot to tell me just what it was you wan to
ﬂlﬂ. out.”

“Don’t ha on that string, Mercy! Haven’t
I told you 1’ let you in on the ground floor,
presently ?" he muttered, iin tiently.

“ I was afraid you would or oi: the fact,” and
the widow laughed a little ma iciously. “But
since our memory is so ood, business!

“ ears 9. o, Herman oakau with his wife
and two chi dren, lived in the rim, fairly well
off, if not wealthy. He was a merchant, an im-
porter of some sort, though I didn't payI much
attention to that part of the story. e was
musichcrazv I reckon, from what I learned.”

Colonel Mallison made an impatient gesture.

‘ ‘ Never mind going so far bac , Mercy!”

“Just as you say; you know I am oping in
the dark," with another malicious litt e nod and
sparkle of the nut-brown c es. “If you could
just give me a hint as to which one of the family
you want to—-”

“Don’t crowd me too hard, or you may’ regret
it,” slowly muttered the magnate 0 Good
Leather, an ugly look in his small eyes. “ You
know well enough; about his son.”

The widow nodded, her eyes aglow. She had
gained her int, and like a true woman, was
content for t e present.

“Well, this son, named Franz Moskau, ap-
pears to have been an enterprising sort of
youngster, and though his father had enough for
all, he would strike out for himself, resolved to

make a fortune by quicker means than dabbling ,

in musty dry-gwids or whatever it may have
been the old gentleman handled. And so, with
a snug sum in— his pocket, and the blessings of
father, mother a. d sister besides, he set out for
the West, to look about him before piling up his
fortune.

“It did not take him long to make up his
mind. The country was mine-mad then, and
he fell in with a smooth—ton 'ucd fellow called
Morris Grant, who claimed to e an experien ed
miner, but just then down on his luck. He felt
sure he would strike it rich, if he had a fair start
in the race for wealth, and before he gave over,
thil Franz Moskau believed the same. At any
rate. he staked the prospector, and they agreed
to divide the proﬁts, if any.

“According to the letters Franz wrote home
Morris Grant’s head was level, and made rood
his romises of striking a good thing. ‘hey
worfed to ether, I believe, and one of them
made a luc y hit. Franz had money enough left
to develop the claim sufficiently to prove its
worth, and then, I believe, there was some talk
of selling out for a large sum; just what, I don’t
think the old man mentioned.

“ That was the last letter they received from
Franz. Time passed on, and misfortunes came
u ion them, thick and heavy. The mother died.
The father lost his eyesight, which had been
growing poor for years past. And then, b
some means which I f oiled to fully understanr ,
they lost all their property.

“ In all this time they heard nothing from the
son, though they wrote often, begging him to
come home, let the sacrifice be what it migl't.
As he did not come, and as they heard nothing
from him, they began to fear he wzs dead, or
that some reat misfortune had bei'allen him. \

“ To sett e their doubts, the father and daugh-
ter sold off what few articles remained to them,
from the financial wreck, and set out in search
of the missing son. They knew the name of the
place near which his mine was located, and had

ittle difﬁculty in ﬁnding it. That was New
Rush, and the mine was called The Plenty.”

\Vidow Watkins aiised as she uttered these
names, gazing keen y into the face of her hus-
band, seeking to read there the truth or falsity
of the Sus )lOIOIN which his strange conduct at
sight of erman Moskau had awakened in
her mind. She saw a dark and scowling coun-
tenance, with redly-glviwiug eyes and hard—set
jiws; but the colonel made no Sign, spoke no
word. and she resumed:

“ This much they found without difﬁculty, but
it was about all, at least so far as their princi-
pal hope was concerned. The mine was being
worked for all it was worth, and the present
owners bade fair to make their inde ndentfmu
tunes out of it. But neither Franz oskau nor
Morris Grant were of those owners.

“The old man told his story, and the mine-
owners proved their title clear, even to the blind
man’s satisfaction. They showed their papers
and they were in perfect shape. One set show
that Franz Moskau had transferred his share in
the Plenty Mine to Morris Grant, for'full value
received. The others showed that Morris Grant
had in turn sold the mine to the present owners,
for a large sum: $75,000 I think. As for the rest,
no one seemed able to tell them where either
Franz or Morris had gone: they might as well
have dropped into the bowels of the earth!

 

 

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Howling Jonathan.

“Then he an the wear search which has
lasted until t is day, and w iolly without success.
The old man fond! ' believed that at last his fid-
dle would briiir ack the missing son, that
through the old ove for music, which, it seems,
was quite as strong in Franz as in his father,
they would once more be united.”

“Not this side the gravcbcurse them !” sav-
agely grated Mallison, a hard, merciless laugh
followmg. cut short by the low cry and equ-
tant laugh from the lips of the widow.

“I knew it! I felt it all the time! You are
Morris Grant!” she cried, her brown eyes all
aglow. “ You put the missing man out of the
way—that sounds so much better than to say
you killed him!”

Colonel Joel Mattison started to his feet, his
hands clinched until the nails were stained with
blood. His face was distorted until he looked
fairly demoniac, His voice was harsh and
strained, though habitual prudence kept it at
a low pitch.

“ You lie! Say that a ain, and l’ll—”

His fist was drawn bac and he seemed on the
point of (lashing it into the widow’s face. It
seemed as though he would murder her in his
savage rage, but she never ﬂinched, never lifted
a hand to ward off the blow or to sign for mercy.
She looked him full in the face, laughing in a
low, mellow tone, utterly fearless. It was a su-
perb exhibition of neer, and it carried the

da .

'Iy‘vhe clinched fist slowly lowered, and Joel
Mallison sunk back into his chair, his ﬂorid face
turning a sickly yellow as he muttered:

“Don’t crowd me too far, Mercy! I don’t
want to hurt you, but-—”

“All the same, you are Morris Grant!" was
the positive interjection, a sudden scorn leaping
into the fair face and blazing in the nut-brown
(ﬂee. “ Bah! have you known me this lon , J oel

allison yet think to blind me to re p ‘n a
truth? nce more, I say you are Morris Grant,
one time partner of Franz Moskau, for whom
these people are hunting. Not that it matters
to me the value of a crwked pin, but I’m tired
of bein treated as a spy, or some foolish child
whose ips cannot keep a secret.” '

The colonel sat glaring at her from under
cover of his shaggy brows as he crouched With
his ell)0ws supported on his knees. Twice he
seemed about to break the silence, and twice he
closed his lips again Without saying a word.

“You should know me well enough by this
time, Joel—to have no fears of my betraying
you— supposing there is anything in particular
to betray,” slowly added the widow. “ I am as
much an angel as you are saint—no more. I
have kept some pretty off-colored secrets in my
time and if I fail a friend now, it will be the
ﬁrst. Once more. I sa you are the man who
called himself orris ( rant, whether that was
your rightful n me or not.”

“Suppose I Was—what of it?” growled the
colonel, savagely. “You said everything was
square about the mine and its sale!”

“Of course it was," and the widow laughed
lightly more like her Usual self now her point
was gained. “ I know you about as well as you
know yourself, and I never once set you down a

7,

“that are you driving at, then?” he snap-
ped, sourly.

“Kicking for m ' rights—the rights of your
wife, love!’ laughei the widow, her eyes spark~
ling with true womanly malice. “ And because
I wanted t ) give you a solemn warning for your
own good.”

“I’m not in the humor for nonsense, just
now.”

“ It will be sorry jesting for you if ever the
truth ets out, my dear! True, you are the
chief off’Good Leather, and until now your light-
est word has been as law to these poor fools!
True, these two strangers who hunt for Morris
Grant only less earnestly than they search for
Franz Moskau, are poor and helpless in them-
selves: buth is blind, she is young and lovely
and innocent. Let 'them raise their voices
against Colonel Joel Mallison—Jet them prove
that he is Morris Grant—lot them charge you
with removing their brother and son. and if
there is the slightest joint in your armor, be
sure a necktie-party will come. off in Good
Leather, ‘with you as the prinCipal perform-
er!’

“That’s just what I‘m afraid of,” muttered
Mallison, starting up as a mocking laugh broke
from those scarlet 

“ If you are not orris Grant, what have you
to fear?” she asked, catching quickly at his slip
of the tongue.

“Haven’t I owned that I did once pass as
Morris Grant?" sourly.

“ Not in so many Words. my )recious!"

“Well, if you will have t—I was Mon-is
Grant!"

“Now, that‘s white and decent, just as it
should be, dear,” said the widow, stepping to his
side and resting one hand on his bowed head.
“If Ican‘t be trusted with all I’ll be trusted
with nothing. The day you p ainly show you
doubt me, J ocl, will be the day of our last part-
.“ .,

“'1 do trust you, little woman,” he said. but
still in a surly tone of voice that brought the

 

ﬁl

bright light back to her eyes and sent her to her
former place. “ I admit that I played it sharp
on young Moskau, but he brought it on himself.
He would crowd me with temptation, the
idiot! He made me gouge him, almost against
my will!"

“ Don’t spoil a good thing, dear. I am a bird
of rey, as well as you are, and it does me good
to ear of a smart operation like this must have
been !“

“ it wasn’t so bad,” and Mallison laughed
shortly. “They can’t ﬁnd a single ﬂaw—they
can’t prove anything against Morris Grant, even
if they ever find him. But—you know how eas
it is to raise a mob among such hot-bloods. And
you know how hard it is to choke them off when
once they et started, too!”

“Don’t I?” and a gray shade settled over the
woman‘s face, making her look years older, and
far from beautiful. “ I’ve seen more than one
in my time, and I hope to never take part in an-
other. That is the reason why I determined to
get at the bottom of this affair. I knew I could
be of more Use to you then: and if these people
ever suspect that you are Morris Grant, be sure
you will need all the aid you can git.”

“ They’ll not trouble Good ather long.
When they fail to learn an thing of the man
they are hunting for, they wiﬁ move on again.
I know this, for I have kept track of them for
the act year——ever since I first heard of them
stro ling through the country.”

“ Yet they took you by surprise today?”

“ I lost track of them twu months ago. Then
they were facing to the south. I didn‘t look for
them up this way.”

“ You know—they spoke of one who had
proved himself 9. 00d friend,” said the widow,

er voice sudden y growing harder. “If you
have kept track of them as closely as you say,
you must have heard of his Quixotic notions!

“ You mean Frank Spartan”

“ Of course. You know he has just come to
town?”

“ I saw him to-day, yes.”

“ That girl told me he had promised to find
her brother, if he was on the face of the earth,
and when Frank Spartan makes a promise, it is
no common difficu ty that can turn him to one
side. You know that l”

.A short, hard laugh came from those thick

ips.
“ He’ll have to look somewhere else besides on ,
the face of the earth for Fianz Moskau!

But I
don’t fear his interference one—half as much as I
dolthat of another—that infernal red-haired ras-
ca .

“ Not Howlin’ Jonathan?” and the widow
looked the surprise she felt.

“Howling devil!” grated the colonel, savage
1y. “ He was playing a part, I could almost
take my oath! You know the word that came
of a dangerous enemy, a detective or something
of the kind, who—”

“ This coarse brute can’t be the one!” exclaim-
ed the widow.

“ I wish I was as sure of that; I’d sleep a good
deal sounder this night!” grated the colonel,
scowlingly.

There was a brief silence, broken by the
widow. _

“ Well, one thing at a time. After all, if this
fellow is the one you think, it is not our part. to
handle him, so let’s settle nbcut this other
scra ‘. Do you know. I‘ve got an idea?"

“ Ect’s have it, then.”

“ \Vhy not make assurance doubl Sure?
IVhy not take to yourself a safeguard t t will
prorect you. ard seal their lips, even if it should
come out that you were the partner of Franz
Moskau?”

“ I don’t understand ycu, little woman!" ut-
tered the colonel, his small eyes opening wide,
ﬁlling with a puzzled light. “ S ak out!"

This did not seem 90 0853' for t e one address-
ed. It was a bold card to play and she hardly
relished the idea of facmg it. he colonel had
an ugly trick of bursting into a hot and danger.
ous rage at times, when he was hardly account-
able for what he might do.

Yet, ever since she left Amelia Moskau, after
drawing from the poor child lxr secret, widow
Watkins had been weighing this very point.
and when she entcrcd the room of the Good
Leather magnate. It was with the firm resolve
to lace the scheme before him in plain words.

‘ You know that Frank Spartan is a hard
card to draw against. You can guess why he is
so interested in this matter. She told mc—she
said that he loved her, and had begged her to
marry him.”

The words seemed to stick in her throat, and
she kept her EDWIN}: ( ycs cast down, as though
she feared t eir light mig ht betray her real
reason for making such a strange su gestion.

“ Well? He isn‘t the first fool l away by a
pretty face !”

“ Morris Grant has more to fear from Frank
S rtan than from both the others. If he is
b uffcd out of the game, there wouldn’t be so
much to fear. And it can only be done in one
Way—by your ll‘ﬂf‘l’yilig this sister of Franz
Moskau yourself!”

It was out novr, and the widow looked u to
laugh softly as she encountered the. astonished
almost stupeﬂed gaze of the colonel.

. 5,. .

3
i

 

. 5,. .

“5-.

 

.mxlly company gathered in the spacious interi- one. those crime-hardened men. as the violin

appearance, out little time to waste before Open- vem.

39W.li.ng__q9nathan*

  

15

 

 

“Marry her! And yoxcf’he irianagedtogasp came not, yet they started to their feet with
at length. looks and exclamations of wondering interest.

“Never borrow trouble on my account," was Through the room ﬂoated a low, sweet, yet
the light retort. “ What wouldn‘t I be willing wailingr sound, such as only one instrument can
to sacriﬁce for the good of as true a friend as give utterance to, and then only under the ten-
you have proven to liit‘f Even this—and if you (her, practiced hands of a master. From beyond
are wise you will think twice before you throw the frail rtition that separated the bar from
the chance ovcrycui' shoulder!” ‘ the ganib iiig-room proper, came this sound.

“ But how—you are crazy, girl!" 1 And as the startled sports listened. that wail

“ There is method in my madness, then," with rose and ﬂoated off into one of the tunes of re-
another merry laugh. “ I am giving you the cent da 's, which has brought tears to i::: iiy an
best and most disintorestcd advice you ever re— cye an reopened many an old and aunt. t in r— I
ceived in the whole course of your life. You tal wound.
are an old bachelor. Your pate is growing ‘ Then—a voice as perfect in its wa ' as the
l'rostv—or would be, if you were not uite so music, low and even mournful, yet 0 car and
sensitive on the score of white hairs! It isquite penetrating; mellow and sweet, yet full of
time you were settling dewn in life. Here is a lower repressed, took up the ﬁrst verse, accom-
charming young wife ready to your hand, and panied by the violin. And there was a soobing,
if you are not a much big er fool than the despairing wail in both as the refrain was re-
world gives on credit for being, you Will make peated:
311 safe for orris Grant by giving him a wife .
in the sister of hislate-I am right’t—partner, .
Franz Moskau!" This was no ordinary camp mllSlC, nor these

As she uttered these Words. the widow rose of the common run of saloon layers and on ere.
from her chair and came to his side, hurriedly It needed no cultured ear to coide that, an be. ,
uttering: fore the ﬁrst verse was sung, the dealers found

“ Think of what I say, Joel, and don’t throw their tables deserted and their occupation gone,
it over your shoulder through a silly scruple on for the time being.
my account. I have lived without ou—I can Roughs and toughs, gamblers and dmnkards
do w again. For your good remem 1'!" though there were in the crowd, a. more orderly

She touched his flushed brow with her hot assemble e never listened to music or song.
lips, then turned and opening the secret door, They gat ered around, but all were silent, all
vanished from view, leavin him utterly speech- were tful, all were deeply interested-
less with surprise and won er. . . with poemny one exception.

Surely this was remarkable advrce for a wife 3 True to his life-quest, Herman Moskau, with
to give her husband. ‘ Amelia as his eyes, left My House soon after
dark, and as the surest method of attracting
attention and interest, he entered The Mint, an
. seating himself beside one of the little round
. tables in the saloon proper, uncovered his belov-
l ed violin, and, whispering to Amelia, drew how 1

“ 0b, where is my boy to-night?"

 

.—.—-—-—

CHAPTER IX.
“on, wanna IS MY sov ro—xronr?"

 

THERE was another establishment in Good acrom the strings. I ge

Leather which was built and run by the money She stood at his side, her face flushed with the l
of Colonel Joel Mallison, though very few had modesty which all their weary wanderings in
any knowledge of this fact, or even suspected search of the missing boy had failed to destroy
that the colonel had aught to do with “The or even lessen, her hands nervously clasped be-
Mint” save dropping an occasional double- fore her, her blue eyes downcast and vailed by
eagle on one or another card, merely “to help their long lashes. Tremblineg at ﬁrst, but
along business” when he was showing some then strong and true, showing natural as well
recent arrival “the elephant.” as trained pathos, her voice ﬁlled the saloon
Iceberg Dave Ingram was popularly supposed With its mournful melody. It seemed more than
to be the sole proprietor of the gambling room ‘ a sOng. It was a prayer, all condensed in the
and saloon attached, for it was while acting as 3 last line.
manager of “ The Mint ” on the . principle. of And as her voice died away, trembling, almost
“peace if I have to have war,” that the white- sobbing, the violin in the hands of its master
faced rt was ﬁrst introduced to the citizens repeated the uestion as plainly and even more
of Leather. He took such an interest in , yearningly. t was the perfection of art, for the 1
the matter, and seemed so bent on setting a pre— musician felt all that he tried to exprem through v
cedent that could be understood in only one way, i that medium.
that no one thought of asking if he had a part- Amelia cast a quick glance around over the ,
nor in the enterprise, silent or otherwise. interested faces while the violin was playing its 1
That recedent was written in lurid letters. ‘ part, instinctively searching for some sign which 1
and it id not take long for the communit at might lead to the discovery of their lost relative. i
to com )rchcnd that order was the 'i‘st A low, half-glad, half-frightened ejaculation ?
law of The int, and that he who attempted came to her lips as she recognized a familiar, l
to “ kick up a ruction ” within those four walls, ‘ loved countenance close at hand. I
must be prepared to “ give and take” With “What is it, ’Melie? Not—not our boy?”
Iceberg Dave. And almost as early they learii~ eagerly muttered the blind minstrel, in his
ed that the chances were three to one that pitiful hoping against hope making a sharp 
those who made the venture would take conSid- discord With his suddenly unnerved ﬁngers.
crably more than they gave. Hence itcame to “No, father. I was very foolish. I did but
pass that The Mint was a model establishment, see the face of a good friend close by us,” ;
judged by the rules of the “ wild and woolly faintly whispered the maiden, bending her lips ‘
West,” close to the old man’s ear. i
It was a ying enterprise, too, and hardly “It is not so many friends the poor and the ’
felt the lac of custom. Good Leather was blind have, that I can miss a guess very wide,"
flourishing. Her mines were being rapidly (lc— smiled the old man. turiiin his thin face as
'veloped, fresh capital was constantly coming in though guided by some subt e instinct in the i
for investment, wages were good and promptly right direction. “It IS the goot Mister Frank 
paid. And men wrll gamble when they have a —-no, ’Melie?”
chance offered. His handsome face ﬂushed, Frank Spartan
The little “ breeze” occasioned by the advent stepped forward and took the proffered hand,
of Howling Jonathan as a temporary substitute pressing it warmly, stoopinghlow and hurriedly '
for the regular driver to the stage, with the pe- muttering some words, to w ich the blind man
«uliar events which followed, wrought no injury shook his white head in dissent, a pathetic tre- I

 

 

to The Mint. but just the contrary. Men will mor in his voice as he replied:
talk, and when that is so, there will be widely “It is very kind that you wish to take the ;
uiil‘erent views taken of the same subject. This trouble, my goot sir, but it is better we cling by 1
“as the case on the Present occasion, and before the old hope—yes! It is in my heart that
darkness came .over Good Leather. it was the feel the dear moosic will fetch us by our boy ]
general im ression that “ something” was bound the. most quick! It is much kind by the we i
't J happen fore another sun-rising. you look at it but not miiithnol And, if it 1
Just what, when, Where. how, was not so gen- was true—if I hat to think so mine self—it ]
,erally settled; but on one point thee-invent; were would break away down my little courage, !
practically unanimous. he parties more im- sure! It is my hope; it is a that keeps my
mediater concerned were to be Colonel Joel poor, sick heart from dying out; it keeps me
Mallison and this red-hairal nondeecript from from (razy going!”
the beginning of maturation, Howling Jonathan. Eagerly the crowd listened, but not one spoke
And there was somethmgndded about Frank or made a stir sufﬁcient to break the spell
Spartan. as “'911- And ’t was pretty well which seemed to have fallen over them with
agreed upon that a fellow would  a natural the ﬁrst strain of music, the ﬁrst sound of that
born idiot if he even thought of gomg to sleep sweet young voice,
that night. . And they seemed to fairly hold their breath,
And 80, earner than “5118], there was 5. those strong, rough, and in more cases than

a;

or of The Mint that evening. The dealers, once more awoke under the hand of the blind
though as yet Iceberg Dave had not put in an master, and that pure voice took up the second

Frank Spartan silently stepped back a pace,

ing their banks and settin the ball to rolling.

And Headlight Harry beh nd' the bar quick y his hat in hand, his face grave and hand-set as

found the position far from being a sinecure. . I his black eyes roved swiftly from face to face,
Those who cared more for cards than they did : as though looking for some sign of scorn or

for drink and idle gossip. that put no money in ! scoﬂlng.

their pockets, trusted implicitly to the pledge of ; It was a diﬁ‘lcult position for any man to ﬁll, ‘

 

 

their friends that they Would be called at the and particularly hard forone like him. He was
ﬁrst sign of “business,” but though that call known so widelyas a gambler and a sport, to

; crowd. They knew t

nearly every man in that region. They knew
that in the days gone by he llllﬂ been a skeptic
on the question of female morality.

He had hardly known his own mother, and
would have been better oﬂ‘ had be known even
less. He had no sister, no relative living, and
until he met this fair-faced girl, he l:ad looked
upon her sex as fit- prey for men to capture and
then cast aside as worse than useless. He knew
that many of those now prcsc iit must have heard
him rail and scoﬂ’ against the sex, and he could
10" help feeling that they “ ould be very slow to

' give him credit for honest motives in his conduct

now. So knowing, it is not strange that he
should search for such sign.

The song was completed, and the blind man
dropped his instrument with that old, pitiful
look of blended hope and fear on his man face.
As he truly said, he had placed all his hopes on
the love of music eventually l ringing about the
meeting with his lost son. Just how it was to
be, he could not tell himself, but that was his
ho and faith.

"Melie?” he muttered, plucking her sleeve
with his trembling ﬁngers. “ ’Melie, it is time
to ask the goot people—no?"

A strong band touched his shoulder, and
Frank Spartan said: .

“ Allow me, instead, Mr. Moekau."

He did not wait for permission, but moved to
the front, facing the curious gathering, his face
white and his eyes glowrng vividly.

“Gentlemen, please give me your attention
for a few moments. ask it as a rersonal
favor, as well as in the interests of humanity."

“ Let her roll, pard,” promptly uttered a neat-
ly dressed man of near middle age, but about

? whose ever look and air clun the atmo phere
of the gaming~tables. “ But i your speech falls

ﬂat, blame not your own eloquence, but give
credit to the celestial strains which are still lin-
ring in our ears!"

The pale face ﬂushed a little and the black

‘ eyes ﬂashed with an almost menacing light, but

Frank Spartan held his feelings under control
with a will of iron, and his voice showed nothing
of resentment as he added:

“ This is no ordinary case, gentlemen, and I
beg you will listen as soberly and as earnestly
as am aking to you. You see these good
people. ’ hey are hi friends, and a favor
shown to them is a ouble favor shown to me.
And—though I sincerely trust this addition is
wholly unnecessary, though I prefer making it
at this point—any wrong done them, any slur
cast out, any insult offered to either father or
daughter, Will be resented by me at the point of
the knife 1”

“More interesting than I had any idea of,"
botwed Perry Blair, the gambler who had spoken
be ore.

“I’m dealing, if you please. sir!” sha ly ut-
tered Spartan, a dangerous lightﬁlling his jetty
e 'es.

)Blair bowed again with mock humility. There
was a little stir and a growing hum among the

at there was little love
lcst between the two professional sports, and be-
gan to scent music in the air from that
quarter.

Herman Moskau was listening eagerly, his
sightlcss eyes turni from one to the other as
the two men spoke, ut his pathetic eagerness
could no longer wait, and his trembling voice
broke in:

“ It is not begging for money that we do this,
my goot friends, for there is yet a little dollars
pry our pockets, to carry us on some more miles,
' it is not here the kind Lord our hearts will
happy maken! It is by hopes to ﬁnd our poor
bov—my son Franz, gentlemen!”

is voice choked and Amelia bent over him
tenderly, unconsciously forming a picture that
softened more hearts than one in that as-
sembly.

“ They are looking'for a son who disappeared
from New Rush, several years ago, gent omen,”
added Frank Spartan. ‘ He was the discoverer
of the mine, Plenty. He had a rtncr named
Morris Grant. who is believed to iave played a
villainous part in the sale of that mine. For
both Franz Moskau and Morris Grant vanished.
and all march for either has been in vain, from
that day to this.

“ The present owners of The Plenty, can show
apparently clean title to the ro rty. Accord-
ing to their papers, Franz 08 'au transferred
all his rights in the mine to his partner, and
Morris Grant sold the claim for $75,000. So
far, everythin appears 0 n and aboveboard.
But whathas 'ome of nz Moskaul Why
did he not answer the letters which came to him
from home, tellin of illness and death? Why
has he never been card from in any way?”

“He was a good  gentlemen,” muttered
the blind minstrel. ‘ He was kind and full-
hearted. He would nefer be still so lcng. if it
was well by him—no! He would come back by
his people, if aorre had mans nefer keep him
back away—that I know so sure as I know there
is a merciful Lord in the heafens yonder up!” 0

“ Double sorrow and trouble came upon this
poor gentleman,” added Frank Spartan, his
own voice growing unsteady. “ His wife died.
He lost his eyesight. His prorerty was taken
from him, and he was turned out from his homo

 

.26

Howling Jonathan.

 

 

to live or die as heaven pleased. Yet through i
t s

it all his great love for his son prevailed.

has ﬁven him strength to come this far in!
c

sear of him.

It has given him strength to ‘

travel thousands of miles, living only by kind ‘

charity, home up only by the hope of one day
ﬁnding his lost son, or, at least, gaining positive
knowledge of his——”

“No, no!” tremblingly cried the blind man,
tears in his sightless eyes, his trembling hands
outstretched, his wan face painfully working.
“It- is not that—~it is alive he is my poor boy!
If he was not still alive, would I be so? No—I
would die too! It would kill my sick heart so

nick! The goot Got Would not so cruel be as
t at—no!”

“ Take it to yourselves, gentlemen,” said
8 artan, his voice low and far from steady.
“Ple and put yourself in his place. And if you

can aid him in any manner, I am sure you will
do so. And now—can an one of you "ive any
information regarding either Franz oskau or
Morris Grant?”

“ Listen ‘Melie! Lose not a word, now!”
gasped the blind man.

But it was listening in vain, for not a word
broke the silence. No one present appeared to
have any information to give. And even Her-
man Moskau could not ope longer. A long,
heart-sick sigh parted his lips, and his white
head bowed on the table beside which he sat.

Frank Spartan impulsively dropped his silk
hat on the table close by that white head, and
drop )ing into it a handful of gold. he cried:

“ intleinen, not as inendicants, but in the
name of humanity I appeal to you one and all!
I have ivcn you the pitiful story of this poor
.man. on know how helpless he is. You can
see that but one hope in life remains with him——

~ the hope that by searching the country through,
he ma chance upon some news of his lost son.
Bu; to do that, he must have some money,
an —.

“Not so much, goot people,” brokenly utter—
ed Herman Moskau, lifting his tear—wet face,
-with a deprecatcry wave of his thin hand.
“ Only the small bit you may think the moosic
is worth by you. It is not beggar we want to
be—my child and me—no!”

“Ef I was to give all that hes bin wu’th to
me, even this fur, be durned ef I’d hev enough
dust left to git drunk on!” impulsively cried one
rough day-laborer, as he moved forward and
dro ped some coin into the hat.

That was “a starter," and quickly the crowd
moved around, each man 'ving according to his
means or his nature. An not one but what had
a kindly word to say, until Perry Blair passed
up, dropping a heavy contribution into the hat,
then laughing in the face of Spartan as he said,
with a meaning nod toward the blushing, down-

,cast face of the girl:

“ It’s a rich snap, old fellow, and I envy you
more on her-—”

He never finished the sneering insult, for swift
as thought and sure as death the ﬁst of Frank
Spartan shot out. striking the gambler full be-
tween the eyes with a force that sent him head-
long clear of the floor until his head struck first,
close up against the bar!

There was an immediate scattering of the
crowd, leavingalane clear between the two men.
White as a corpse, his eyes glowing redly, his
face for the moment looking more like a demon
than aught human, Frank Spartan stood with
revolver drawn, glaring at his fallen foe.

Then, as he saw no effort on his part to
arise, his glowin eyes shot around the circle
of startled faces, is voice hard and vicious:

“ Take that cur away, or I’ll stamp the very
semblance of humanity out of his carcass! Take
him away, ye who call him friend! Get him out
of mv sight, or worse will follow!”

“Father, let us rim away! It is had here!”

asped Amelia, scared almost out of her senses

ﬁy the unfortunate affair. '

She tugged at his arm, half-crying, but the

)r old man was bewildered by the sudden out-
ggeak, and sat motionless, staring around with
his sightless e es. His already overtasked brain
was not equa to the emergency, and forgetful
of the answer already received, he muttered:

“ Not yet ’Melie—it is a chance we must not
lose—no! It is nefer a chance we can let go by,
if we hope to find our poor boy.”

He shook off her trembling grasp and rose to
his feet, steadying himself against the table with
one hand, the other clinging to his beloved in-
strument. He spoke, his voice full of pitiful
hope and longing:

“My goot friends, I thank you much for
listen so uietto the moosic my violin maken.
And now, if you will be so kind. it is a poor old
blind man who is looking this long time for a
goot son that stop aWay from his home such a
sad. weary time! It is my boy Franz—a fine
little lad gentlemen! No—I am foolish grow-
ing, gentlemen! That was long time a 0, when
his mother was living yet—when we a l baggy
was together! So long ago, that now.my y
anszas more tall grown as his father—me!
A ﬁne, tall, strong, soldier-looking man, my
friends. With hair ande es like those you see——
’Meiie, child, let the kin people see! So—hut
hair more bri ht and eyes more blue and sweet
as these, gent men! That was my boy Franz!

 

I
I

 

 

Maybe you know where he is now? Maybe you
can bring us by him—yes?”

It is impossible to give even a shadow of the
pathos contained in this trembling speech. It
was not the words so much as the tones, the con-
stant] changing expression, new full of hope,
now 8 rinking from the nswer which be im-
plored yet feared to rec 've. And not a little
was owing to the sightless eyes, from which the
tears were unconsciously ﬂowing. To the
shrinking, trembling figure of the fair young
maiden.

It was sufﬁcient to quell any outbreak which
might easily have followed that promptly
avenged insult, for Perry Blair was a popular
sport in Good Leather, and had a number of
friends and adherents present. It was enough
to still even the fierce rage which until then al—
most turned Frank Spartan into a demon.

He turned and gently touched the old man’s
arm.
“The glad time is not for to—night, father,”
he said gently.

The blind man passed one thin, hand across
his brow, sighing softly as he sunk back into
his chair, mechanically fingering the strings of
his instrument as he spoke again:

“ The goot Got he knows what is pest. and it
is not Franz’s father who will say not! I thank
you, kind people, for listen so goot to the blind
man. And now—’Melie?”

“Yes, father.”

“ We will play for the kind people. You will
sing for them.” ‘

Amelia, not daringr to refuse, cast an appeal-
ing glance toward 1‘ rank Spartan. At ﬁrst lte
did not catch her glance, for he was coldly
watching the removal of the stillinsensible gam-
bler who had felt the full power of his good
right arm.

‘ \Vhen he comes to, tell him that I am wait.
ing for him, if he wants to get even,” he hur-
ried] muttered as the men passed b .

“ 0 need to tell him that l” was tie hard rc-
tort, with a vicious snapping in the fellow’s
e es. “ He’ll take it for ranted.”

“I’ll not disappoint him,” was the cool re-
turn. '

A wailing chord caused him to turn toward
the musician, and his white brow wrinkled a lit-
tle as he saw Herman Moskan nodding toward
Amelia, whose tearful, appealing glance spoke
volumes to him.

“Is it not time to return to the hotel?” he
whis red, quickly. “ You are‘not strong, and
Ame is is not able to sing any more.”

" I am strong enough ever, when it is to ay
a debt, my dear friend,” returned the b ind
man2 with a dignity that was almost pitiful.
“ It is only my moosic I can pay these kind peo-
Bée for their gold that is to take us by our lost

v! It is not all beggar we are—no!”

There was something in the “mug, sharp mo-
tion he gave his bow that told Frank Spartan
the blind man was hurt if not angry with him
for this effort to draw him awa , and he stood
aside, grave and quiet, feeling t at his proximi-
ty wou d lend Amelia a little of the strength she
so sadly needed just then.

As though to remove his own sadness at this
last disappomtment, the blind minstrel played a
tune in striking contrast with the one \.hich
had introduced him to the habifues of Good
Leather, nick and rollicking, sending a thrill
to the bee s of many a man present, and ap r-
entl extending its thrill far beyond those 8hr
wal s. For, with a wild how! and a wilder
whoop, a red-haired man leaped into the room,
his blue eyes glaring around as though in search
of the dancing.

The Terror from Headwaters had arrived!

The wild outburst startled the blind musician,
and angry looks were turned upon the luckles
intruder who was cutting their amusement short,
but the Howler paid no attention to them. He
seemed to take in the situation at a glance, and
swaggered up to the table on which the well
freightcd hat still stood, dropping into it a gold
piece with a ﬂourish as he cried out heartily:

“Money makes the mar’ trot, an’ I reckon
it’ll liven up your elbow j’inta wee bit, too,
daddy! Go on with the music! Give us a
slam~up chune, full 0’ s ice an’ kivered over
with kyann! I’m How in’ Jonathan, a Holy
Terror right from Headwaters. an’ my boots
is ram—jammed chuck full o’ quicksilver to-
night! Whooray fer whooree!"

Frank Spartan had moved between Herman
Moskau and this red-headed whirlwind, his
hands tightly clinched and his eyes glowing
dangerously but apparently Howling Jonathan
saw neither him nor his warlike actions.

He spun around on one boot-heel like a whirl-
ing dervish, almost laying himself ﬂat on his
back, but deftly recoverin himself and draw-
ing his athletic figure prom l erect as be crossed
his arms over his chest and g ared stern deﬁance
at each grinning face.

“ The critter as says I’m drunk, sla
mother-in-law right on the gob, an’ be
it ever ag‘in of be— Good Laird !”

Meekly the blind minstrel was complying.
striking into a fresh tune, even more ‘quick
and devilish” than the other. It seemed to
strike Jonathan as with a lvanic shock. rend-
ing every member of his y going in wild

my
a do

.-' H,  " '1;  y
5:: 7, .‘,‘. ‘ T « ‘ *1 Jr};

 

a" ‘ I“. a . , / .'
.z- 4 «' :l‘ﬁ‘r-‘l’l‘or? v a i  - i": . ‘ s
i . mu. . t ,_ . . 4;, , :7” ‘ .. .»

tune to the music, his eyes closin , his tongue:-

sticking out, his red face fairly g wing with
ecstasy!

“ Good—Lawdf’ he glasped, in loaive—
orts. “Ef this ain’t eaven, then don’t
never want to git thar! Talk ’bout the heaven—
liquire o’ musical angels! They cain’t fetch

e old man with a forty-rod pole! He’s music
b’iled down an” concentrated ontel of you was to
squeedge the thousandth rt of 8 ounce more
into his hide, he’d bu’st Wide open an’ ﬂoat off
to lo whar he must b’long by rights!”

i .ot 0nd enough to disturb the sweet yet in-
toxicating sounds, nor to awaken the wrath of
the spell—bound crowd, did Howlin Jonathan
thus deliver himself. He seemed ost to all
else, to hear nothing but those thrilling strains
——see he certainly could not, for his eyes were
closed as ti ht as facial muscles could seal them 1'

But then e ave a subdued how! that startled
the crowd as t cash a bomb had suddenly burst
in their midst, an leaping over to where a tall,
gaunt, dyspeptic-looking man was standing, he
caught him about the middle and whirled him
into the center of the ﬂoor with:

“ Sech a clean waste 0’ harmony an’ jig-juice
is a sin an‘ a shame to human men! Dance, you
critter! Dance onto] your toenails drap off
with pure jo ! Dance, you onregenerated
galoots! That 8 right,” as a few oth(rs caught
the im jest and acted upon it. “Glory
to t e ram! Honor your rdners heap
big! Hug! Back an’ fo’th! ﬁasco-do! Hug
some mo! Ladies change!” ﬂinging the thin
man headlong intn the dancing mass and rah-w
bing another lucklcss individual. “ ug!’
Squeeze han’s! Slamanade all-to the bar 2?
Treat your pardners— Good Lawd I

CHAPTER X.
'rmc PRICE OF A SECRET.

FRANK SPARTAN watched the scene, gravely.
even gloomily. Now as so many tin‘ es before.
he was asking himself how it was all to end.

Considerin the life he had led ever since he:
could remein r. and the hard, bitter lessons he
had learned in his brief lifetime, it is not greatly
to be wondered at that he should ﬁnd it hard
and Wearing Work to so complete] change his,
course, as he had ever since the ay when he
ﬁrst crossed the path of this fair-faced girl.

Until then he had felt many a hot passion,
hut never once a feelin that deserved to be
called love. He had mired women almost
without number, and exerted his powers to the-
utmost in order to win them, but ever before,
when the victory was won, the fruit began to
lose its ﬂavor and attractiveness. Always, until
DOW.

It was a startling velation to himself, when
he sat down one day (1 studied out the truth of'
the strange inﬂuence which this ( hild of a blind
beggar had over him, mind and body. It seemed
to him. like all of his class, tinged with supersti»
tion, something akin to witchcraft: and for
Weeks, and even months, Frank S artan fought
against it and against himself. 8nly to realise
at last what that strangely- werful, strangely—
sweet witchcraft really consmted of.

It was this struggle for the truth, this fight-
against his evil nature, this transposing all he
had ever lpreached and practiced, that so were
the gamb er down, making his nerves tense as
piano wires, and almost as easily to be played
upon. Outwardly he gave little evidence of the
radical chan e, but it was there. He knew it,
and it scenic to him that it must be printed on
his face in letters lar e and plain enough for the.
dullest-Witted to reufaright. \

He knew that he could not follow, much less
accompany. the blind man in his wearisome
search for the missing Franz Moskau, without
that fact attracting notice and drawing forth
ccmment. For himself. he believed, it mattered
little; but when he thought of r Amelia, his
hardest trials began afresh. e was known so!
widely, his 0 inions had been so recklessly sown
2t large. ere could be but cne interpreta-

ion.

He was ever on the alert to catch a sneer, a
smile, a word that could sting the maiden whom
he loved so entirely. And though there were:
few men in all the land who valued life at a
lower ﬁgure than Frank Spartan, who knew
less the meaning of personal fear, who could
look death in the face with calmer .or steadier
nerves, watching and waiting suoh as this, when
kept up without relaxation for weeks and
months at a time, must surely if slowly break
down the best and truest of nerves.

To Frank Spartan, even as to the poor blind
aninshti-el, that weary search bade fair to end in.

eat .
The uproar started by the Howler was at its

hight when a man hastiiyrentcred the saloon,
and lidingtc the Side of ank Spartan, whis
pe . in his ear:

“Perry Blair’s on his feet again, pard, and
swears to get even.” -

A reddish glow filled the black eyes ands
tin of color came into the pale face. His
100 was that of a man who has nst heard most
welcome news and in this look
which stirred Frank Spartan was not misrepre-~
seated. Just then he needed something of the
sort to act as a safety valve, and even Perry

ﬁrst feeling

’s‘X

 

 

ft

 

.» .0...” _ _ .. w-..»

v .

Howling Jonathan.

17

 

 

Blair could not be more eager for the collision
than was the man whose iron ﬁst had sent him
headlonv‘to the ﬂoor.

But then—lie cast a swift glance toward
Amelia. Pale, evidently still suffering from
that fearful sh0ck, her eyes were downcast as
she stood With drooping head beside her father
who was conscientiously giving music for
money.

“ Try to keep him back until I can get these
people out of the way, will you?” he hurriedly

whispered, forgetting all else in his fear for her. 3

“ I’ll not be long—he’ll ﬁnd me soon enough!”

“ I’ll do what I can,” was the hasty response,
though there was not much encouragement in
the look which bore the words mmpany. “ Ile’s
just red-hot. and swears he’ll cut a straight
swath to ye!“

“ Do the best you can, pard.
the favor.” _

The man turned and left the saloon, while
Frank Spartan, hurriedly em tied his hat into
his sket, touched Herman Oskau on the arm
with?
abrupt pause.

I’ll not forget

It was this pause that brought the marl dance ;

to an end and led to Howling Jonathan giving
the true Westeni dancehall ﬁnale.

“ You must go, and that at once, good friend,” .1

Frank Spartan hurriedly)V uttered in guarded
tones. ‘ Amelia is ill—s e
rest, or you will lose a daughter as well as a
son i”

It was no time to pick and choose his words.

The main point was to get these be} less ones 

out of The Mint with the least possi 1e loss of
time, and Frank S )artan cared more for
Amelia than he di
father.

Without giving the bewildered old man a
chance for the quaint speech with which it was
his custom to make his bow, he hurried them
to the door and out of it, not only before Perry
Blair put in an appearance, but without being
noticed by Hebrew and his companions at the

bar.

As quickly as possible Frank Spartan led
his friends around the nearest corner,tliinking
only of escaping an encounter with the gain-
bler while they, wcre under his wing, nor did
he draw a full. free breath until The Mint was
lost to view in the night.

“ ’Melic?” _

” Yes, father.”

“It was too bad you‘ sick become, just so!”
gravely uttered the old man. “ And you, my

goot friend, was hurry us of! so quick that it ,

was me for ot our thanks to the kind )eople for
the money they give us for our b0 ! hat was
look barll They think it a. cheat, or—”

“ It is for her sake,” a little sharply interpos-
ed Spartan. “ You forgot that she is young
and tender, not able to bear up under such it
trying life for so long at a time without rest.
She is breaking down under the weight you cast
upon her shoulders, and unleSs y on Will listen to
sober reason, she will die !” _

“ ’Meliel It is not so bad? You Will not
leave me, too?” fecbly, helplessly muttered the
blind man.

“ Never, father,” was the low but ﬁrm reply.
as her hand tightened its grasp upon his trem-
bling ﬁngers. “ Together, you and me, until we
ﬁnd Franz!”

“ Or a grave in this cursed country!” almost
grated Spartan. “ That is what will be thecnd,
and if you were not blind, old friend, you would
see this as plain as I can see it.”

“ It is Franz—it is our boy we must ﬁnd!”

“ And if he, is “KW-3 I led my word of
honor to ﬁnd 111',“ {0“ YOU- Wil set a thousand
men to work, if . you are afraid to leave the
seaJ'Ch wholly to tile. . I Will ﬁnd him and bring
him to you, if he is alive. I will ﬁnd his grave
if he is dead. Only—you and/Amelia must take
tome rest and-f"

“ And 5‘0 die!” Sharply, abnost ﬁercely inter-

- Hannah Moslmu, his bo‘wied form drawing
erect, his voice strong and clear. “ It is this
going about that alone keeps life in my heart!
It is only when this poor _old body is worn out
and almost drooping With fatigue, that I can
rest or sleep. To stop going—to sit down and
wait—that would brin death. And I cannot
die until I ﬁnd my poor y—no!” /

Frank Spartan was Silenced, if not convinced.
And then they were already at the front of My
House. from the saloon of which came the sound
of voices. He dared not linger there under the
light which streamed from the glass lamps in
front of the hotel, and so he opened the side
door, entering With the two wanderers, to ﬁnd
himself face to face with Widow “'ntkins.

Her greeting was cordial enough, and it was
mly when she frankly extended her hand that
S' n made more than a distant, polite recog-
nition b" lifting his hat, just as he might have

done orJi coming face to face with a perfect

r.
strgnéti‘ght .Ilush came into his pale face as her
fingers closed warmly, signiﬁcantly about his, a
peculiar light ﬁllingher brown gym
u Delighted tosee you. Mr Spartan!" she said.

her almost ” KUSIlini'i" “ And' by the
333:2“, ,, message to deliver. Will on be
no 1- .' i w w wait {or me a moment in par-

n emphasis that brought the music to an i

must have quiet and T

for the feelings of her -

v lor? I will not task your patience long—just
l enough to see these gooodapeople to their rooms.”
The 'oung man w' , following the widow
E alon t e narrow passage leading to the room in
3’ whic she had that evening faced Colonel Joel
‘ Mallison after his recognition of the Wanderers.

“ I must see on!” she muttered, hurriedly, as
she held the cor open for him to pass by and
enter the room. “ You will wait?”

“Since you insist—certainly, madam,” was
the cold response.

“It concerns those two—the blind man and

‘ his daughter.”
I She turned and hastened back to where Ame-
; lia and her father were awaiting her, a peculiar
; light ﬁlling her eyes. She knew that Frank
‘ Spartan would not attempt to avoid her after

those words.
i She kept her romise not to make him wait

man minutes. i be shut the door behind her,
i turning the key in the lock before facing him.

A swift ﬂush leaped into her face as she saw

1 him smilin coldly, almost sneeringly. For a

brief spaceier eyes drooped, but then they met
I his am ﬁrmly, even deﬁant] as she s kc:
“ on are still revengeful, rank? ou have
! not forgotten?”
l “Reven eful? toward a lady?” lie echoed, his
brows arc ing. “My dear—pardon me! I
have forgotten what name you sail under at the
present tune !”

He could not have chosen his words better had
he studied howto the most surely at her at
case. A low, musical laugh bubbl from her
lips, and all constraint disappeared from her
manner, as she motioned h'm to be seated, her-
1 self sinking into a chair at a little distance.

“The widow Watkins, my dear friend, and
landlady of My House.” she said, with a little
how. that. was perfect in its way. “But I did
, not imprlso grim to talk about myself. I wish
it: talk abou crman Moskau and his daugh-

. r. 1

“My friends,” gravely responded the young
man.

“ So rumor tells me,” with just a trace of tort
ness in her voice.

“ For once rumor speaks true."

“ When it says that Frank Spartan is over
head and ears in love with this girl! Do you
admit that, too?”

Sharp and almost harsh sounded her voice as
she uttered these words, and there came the
same agalédgray shade and look into her face
that mark it not many minutes before, when
in the compan of Colonel Joel Mallison. She
loaned forwart in her chair, her eyes aglow,
ﬁxed on the face of the young man, who grave-
ly bowed as he said:

“ I admit it and am proud to do so—yes.”

“That you love this child of! a. blind beggar?
That you seek towed her? Do you dare say
this—and to my very face?”

That cold, sneering smile came back to the
face of the man as he listened to these swiftly

ut questions. The hot anger which filled the

ace of Widow Watkins seemed to give him
pleasure rather than alarm or annoyance.

“Why'not, my dear madam? We are as
much stran era as thou b you and I had never
met each ot ier before t is night.”

“ Frank—you know you are lying!"

“I am speaking the truth, no more, no loss,”
was his calm retort. “ If we were ever more to
each other than—” '

“I I” echoed the woman, her eyes glowing
vivir 11y.

Stil cold and contained as though the most
disinterested of persons, Frank Spartan ad-

(led:

“If you ever had any rights to take me to
task, to pry into my private affairs, you surren-
dered that right when you eloped that—”

“I was mad—I did not know what I was
doing!” muttered the woman, bowing her head
and covering her face with her hands, her grace-
ful form quiverin with strong emotions.

“Yet Iyou had an warned plainly enough.
You con (1 not have forgotten the understand-
ing which we had when you ﬁrst came to me. It
was full and explicit enough, one would think,
for even your short memory. But let t‘ at be as
it may; you took your choice, and I never once
blamed you. I said you were a woman, and
that): was; excuse sufﬁcient for even your conduct
— en.

“ And now, Frank?” lifting her face, catching
at the sudden alteration in his voice as he ut-
tered that last word. ’

“ NOW— on are widow Mercy IVatkins, and I
am the promised husband of a true-hearted, pure
and angel girl.”

1' the ﬁrst words were tinged with irony, the
last were spoken almost in reverence, and widow

came from the very bottom of his heart.

What would have convinced a man the ﬁght
was worse than vain, only served to urge her on.
tomake her play the card she held in reserve
With increased cunning and force.

She ﬂung }back her head with a careless.
graceful gesture, all anger vanishing from her
face as though by magic. She smiled, and‘there
was even the trace of laughter in her voice as
she spoke:

“ Well, what the fates will must come to pox,

 

 

\Vaikins was woman enough to know that they

f afford.
, have told her something of the tru
! whole story, from the amount of knowledge she
I had already exhibited.

I suppose, and it is onlya fool who stop: 
o res

over spilt milk when the woods are fu

cows! One cannot have and throw awa , too!
Which proves the old roverb a. lie when it an s
that a woman and a p ' osopher never were
same clothes!” -

“Was it this )you wished me to listen to!" a
little sha ly as ed the young man, with a quick
glance at 15 watch. “ If so, it will keep better
than an a pointment which is waiting.”

“ You ave had trouble about her!” swiftly
demanded the widow, seeming to read his face
rather than his words. “ You are going to ﬁght.
on her account?”

“ If there is to be any ﬁght, it is on my own
account,” coldly.

“ You must ove her very dearly. Time was
when you swore no woman on earth was worth
ﬁghting over.” ‘

"At what time to—morrow can on see me,
Mrs. \Vatkins?” he asked, rising to
moving toward the door.

“ I prefer to see you this evening unless you
are so frightened that you elect to breakdown

the door,” laughed the widow, holding up the

key, then slipping it into her bosom.

For one moment Frank Spartan hesitatrd, but
then resumed his seat, a hard smile playing
about his 1i 3.

“ When am charged with hiding from an
enemy, I’ll have to send them to you for an ex-
cuse, then.”

Once more he had chosen his words right well,
and without any further beating about thebush,
widow Watkins spoke to the paint:

“ You are deeply interested in these . le.
You have oﬁ'ered a large reward for any in or-

niation leading to the discovery of either Franz .

Moskau or his partner, Morris Grant. Am I
i'ightl informed?”

“ on are,” bowed Frank Spartan: but her-
eyes sparkled even more vividly as she saw the
interest written upon his face. ' _

“ Have patience, then, and it is barely possi

He that I may be able to give you a (lew. If

so—you would be grateful?”

“Try me and see.” he uttered, his voice deep
and earnest. ‘

“That is by far too vague, my dear fritnd,”
with a low, mocking laugh. “ Y (.u must put it
in plainer terms, or I fear my memory will
prove treacherous. In plain words, what will
you give to be placed on the right trail?”

“ You knowl—you can tell me where to look
for Franz Moskau?” he cried, his face all aglow,
his voice trembling with eagerner s.

\Vidow Watkins laughed softly, leaning back
in her chair, gazing at him through her half-
closed lashes.

“You should cultivate animation, my dear
boy. It makes you absolutely handsome,
and—”

“Will you answer me?” he gratingly inter-
posed, the color fading from his face, his black
eyes glowing dangerously.

“ Afton me is manners, you understand,” and
the widow bowed with ironical politeness.
“ \Vhen you have answered a few questions for
me, I will—or will not, according to your elec-
tion—answer yours.”

It was a dangerous game she was playing.
but the experience of the past had tang ht widow
Watkins that Frank Spartan would Ti wr use
actual violence toward a woman, let l or sin he
never so black. And even though - l q- l. rev."
she was lessening her very faint chrncc ( f gain-
ing the end on which she had set in hunt by
thus mocking him, she could not feilxar. Re.
venge is Sweet, and his cold contempt ( f a short
time before had cut her to the ve quick.

Frank Spartan settled back in is chair ban-
ifshmg all anger, all interest from his handsome

ace.

“ At vour service. Mrs. Watkins. Pray don‘t-
let me hurry you,” he said, quietly, fceling that
he must meet her with her own weapons if he
he to win the game.

‘ First, you have more than an ordina in—
terest in hurrying up the ﬁnding of in.
Moskau. Am I not right?”

A slight inclination of. his head was the sole
response.

She laughed, with just the suspicion of a eer
in her voice.

“You need not be so cautious, so reserved.
The fair Amelia told me all; and more than, I
ask vou, Frank.”

“ The less need of my wasting valuable time,
then, by rcretitionm

“ But if I prefer hearing it from your lips?”
she persisted. ‘ 9,.»

His brow drewtogether, his jaws squared, but
it was only for ai'pioment. He knew from past
experience that there was little ace in trying to
drive her from a position once taken. unlelm by‘

l a greater waste of time than he could just then
elia must.
, if not the»

And he knew. too. that-T

All this passed through his mind in an instant,

’ and his brows resumed their wonted smoothness

as he spoke:

“I will set you a good example, Mrs. Wat-
kins. It is true, I have the greatest interest in
speedily ﬁnding Franz Moskau, or his grave

is feet and.

 

lj
x5
1
\.

 

.1 8

Howling Jonathan.

 

 

If what I have to say causes you any pain, you
have but ourself to blame."

“ Whic , bein interpreted. means?"

“ I have told elia Moskau that I love her,
with the ﬁrst, the only true and pure love of my
life. I have won her admission that she loves
me in return. I pressed her to marry me at
once, that I might have the right before the
world to guard and cherish her, but she would
not prove untrue to the vow she made, with her
blind father, to suffer naught to interfere with
the search for the missing son and brother.

“I told her that I would 'oin them in the
‘ nest, and work all the more aithfully because

was looking for a brother, too, but the old
man was afraid, and she listened to him. She
said that she would max-3' me the day after the
fate of Franz was decide. .”

“She put the same meaning into a slightly
«different shape, when she made confession to
me,” slowly interjected the widow.

“ And she was right," corrected Frank, flush-
in a little beneath that close and burning gaze.
“ he said that until the mystery covering the
fate of her brother was forever dispelled, she
would never marry!”

A low, almost fierce cry escaped the red lips
of the woman as she sprung to her feet, her
face fairly glowing, her eyes seeming on ﬁre.

“ That settles it, then! Frank Spartan, it
rests with on whether or no the mystery cn-
shroudiiig F‘I‘anz Moskau is ever lifted!"

“ What do on mean by that?" demanded the
man, but litth less excit (1, though he strove
hard to control himself.

“ It means that l have been a fool-more and
worse than a fool, Frank!” she said, her hands
tightly clasped before her, the lurid glow still in
her eyes, but a far different look upon her face,
new pale and strained. “ It means that I was
wild, insane, when I ﬂed from you! It means
that even when I ran away, I “as loving you
more ﬁercely than ever before in my life!
Frank—isit too late?”

It was no longer acting, but deep, i tense
earnest. Even he could not doubt this, t ough
his face grew hard and stem again.

“ I am not quite mire I fully understand you,
Mercy. ”

“ Will not, why don’t you say?” with a sud-
den outburst of ﬁre. “ But you must—you
shall not lzave oven the shadow of an excuse. It
is not the first time we have spoken of low,
'll‘rank!”

“ The past has many sins to answer for, Mrs.
\Vatkins.”

A sharp cry parted her lips.

“ Cold—cold and hard and sneering! It was
that that drove me into taking that rash and
much regretted ste , my love! You drove me
wild with your care ass indifference. I thought
I would sour you into life and action. I left a

' plain trail behind me, and I felt sure you would

follow me—then it Would all come right again.
But you never made a move! You never took
one step toward recovering me i”

“ Why should I?” with a coldness plainly sin-
cere. ‘ I was just as glad to lose on as I
believed you were to be lost. You kil ed what
I fancied was love, with your petty tantrums.
You—hut why bring 11 ) the past, Mrs. Wat-
kins? It is not so p easant, not so sweet-
scented!”

She must have seen how utterly dead was
the )sssion, such as that passion had been;
4‘. beyond all resurrection; but she would
not even yet abandon all hope.

“ The prescnt~the future, then! Think of that.
Think of your oath to discover the fate of this
iiiisdng man!"

“ I am thinking of it, and if I could feel even
the faintest temptation to bring back our old
life, Mercy, that very thought would drive it
forever from my min ,” was the quick retort.

“Think of her—of this milk-and-water i'irl
whom you fancy you are in love with! Think
how she is failin , worn out by this never—ending
search—think 0 what she told me, only this
evening, that she felt she was dyin i”

There wasa triumphant rin in or voice as
she uttered these words, that rought an angry
ﬂush to his check. Yet he knew that she was
onlv voicing the same fear that had given him
such bitter agony of late. He knew that she was
speaking no more than the truth.

“Now listen to my last roposition, Frank
Spartan,” the widow added, er voico growing
'(‘allllel‘, thou h her determination seemed even
the more sott ed. “ I can save this love of yours.
I can solve the mystery of her brother’s fate, if
.not by pointing him out in person, by tellan
you where you can ﬁnd the one man who can re
weal all—Morris Grant!”

“ Do that and we will call you blessed!” be im-
pulsively cried.

A low, hard laugh broke from her lips, one
Zhand ﬂinging out in a scornful, bitter gesture.

“ That is not my price, Frank Spartan, as
you very well know. But one reward can un-
lock my lips. and if you really love this girl,
you will not think tWicc before coming to my
terms.” _

“She would SI‘Om any such offer, dearly as
she loves her brother."

“Of course: that is to ho, exmctml," with a
hard laugh. “ But it is you I am dealing with,

I

 

not her. You can see that this blind quest is
slowly but surely wearing out her young life.
That blind fool will drag her along until she
falls into the grave. And you can save her from
this! You can give her joy her blind father the
precious boon he craves and starves for. And
at what cost to yourself? Surel it is not sm h a
frightful price to pay, Frank? urel it will not
beso difficult to revive the past? love you
so—I will be true and faithful as I can be
loving—and you know I never lacked on that
score, Frank l”

Not acting now. In deadly earnest, and with
her mad, insane love showing in every line of
her face, in her glowing eyes in her every word.
But the man to whom she offered all this grew
harder and colder instead of melting as she hoped
and rayed.

“ hat you know I can discover, Mrs. Wat-
kins, without paying any such exorbitant price.
“'ill on be so kind as to unlock the door? Or
shall break it down i"

“ Look out, Frank Spartan!” the widow grat<
ed betwixt hcr tightly clinched teeth. “ As I
love, so I can hate—beyond all bounds! Refuse
me now, and it will be the worse for on! It
will be a thousand—fold worse for this milk-

‘faced doll! Think twice before you decide, I

warn you!”

“ You have my answer," was the cold reply.
“ I love but one woman. and be sure her uameis
not Mrs. Mercy \Vatkiiis.”

“ And that woman—shall be the bride of
death—never yours I”

CHAPTER XI.
rm: HOWLEn UPHOLL‘H rim LAW.
“,‘CHOOSE pardners an’—— N ow I will be durn-

l

Slapping his emptied glass on the bar with
more orce than ceremony Howling Jonathan
Hebrew spun a dollar beside it, ihrn making a
dash for another victim as; he roared out the
command, only to break off with a loud snort
of utter disgust as he discovered the absence of
the musician.

“Is he gone pard?” hoarsely whispered the
red-haired tornado in the ear of lii<;,iiitei:dal
iartner, wondering awe written on ltis every
'eature. “ Is be clean gone, or hes; he only gone
down into his pocket to look for a piece 0’
rosum?”

“(lone slick and clean—goal-luck go with
him i" was the prompt response, though the
latter portion came in a much lower pitch and
only when the relieved miner had fairly escaped
the gri of Howling Jonathan.

Slow y shaking his shaggy head, paying no at-
tention to the laughs which greeted him from all
sides, the Howler moved toward the seat where
he had last seen Herman Moskau, lifting the
chair up and looking at its bottom, at the floor
under the table, then turning his eyes upward
toward the ceiling.

“Gone glimnierin’, shimmei'in’ up the golden
stairs! Tuck a short cut back to ﬁne in the
celestial quicr, an’ never left hole, crack nur
scratch on the ceilin’ to tell a dumb critter how
he did it! Gone from our midst, an’ never so
much as left us a lock 0’ his ha‘r or a note fer
us to keep his mem‘ry green over! Holy smoke
from Abraham’s fi'icasseeth young ’un! Good
Leather must be ittin’ ’ligion, less they would
n‘t sech a merric 6 come to pass inside her cop-
peration!”

Howling Jonathan shook his head with grave
emphasis as he arrived at this conclusion, but
there was at least one person present who took a
much more practical view of the situation.

“It was fun alive while it lasted but I ain’t
sheddin’ no briny ’cause the ﬁddlels sloped—I
ain’t! I’m uttin’in my time thinkin’ how p’izen
lucky we a l is that Iceberg Dave didn’t drap in
on us while we was hoein it down, I am i"

“ Durn a critter that’ ’ject to a little honest
’museinent like them!” snorted Howling Jona-
than, supreme dis ust written on his glowing
countenance. “ Ipe rg is one o’ mv best fri‘nds,
though I don’t know him from a side 0’ smoked
bacon, but ef he’s that kind 0’ tarrapin. I hain’t
ot no more use for him then a greaser hes o‘
buckwheat pancakes for to git up a scratch!”

“ Pard,” and the jolly digger solemnly tapped
the roddieaded cyclone on the arm with one
stum y fore-finger. “ Pard, I admire your grit,
but don’t bank a red on your judgment. In
other words, of you’re dead-sot on tellin’ Iceberg
them sentiments. won’t Vou let me know long
enough ahead 0’ time so I kin climb a tree ?”

“ It’s a whack, pard 2” and Howling Jonathan
gripped the horny hand of the digger in ardent
grip. “I’ll send ye notice, gilt-edged nn‘ done
up in a ink enwollup. An’ ef you don’t see
gobs 0' un, it'll be fer reason the fire ﬂashin’
from my two e es'll melt the iceberg to hot
water afore I in git my books onto it! It’s
Bowlin’ Jonathan that tells ye, honey; an' the
ghost of a lie or the shadow of a brag would
split his throat so wide open you could use it for
a barn-door !"

Little by little the cmwd in the salmn proper
was thinning out, the majority going back to
the tables which they hat. deserted at the ﬁrst
strain from the blind man’s violin. A few re-

mained in the bar-room, gathered in couples or ,

triplets, eagerly discussing the collision which

 

had so recently occurred. And though their
« pinions seemed to be about equally divided as
to the merits of the men, it was unanimously
agreed that the affair could end only in a ﬁght
to the death.

This discussion a peared to have little interest
in it for Howling onathan, and he shortly de‘
sorted the bar for the tables, conﬁdentially ob-
serving to the facetious digger with whom he
was armin-arm:

“ They ain‘t no music to me like a ﬁddle, an’
I". ruther shake my foot then tocat: but cf I
cain’t hev ood bread an’ butter, I’ll eat fruit-
cake afore ’ll starve! The ﬁddle‘s collapsed her
ﬂues, but the tiger is left ahind. Come an’ see
how clean a holy terror from ’way up kin clip
the animile’s claws, honey!”

Already the two faro lay-outs were well
crowded, but the Terror from Headwaters ex-
perienced no diﬂlculty in making his way close
up to the table. He was already a marked man
in Good Leather, and room was quickly made
for him as soon as his voice made itself known.

“ Bite quick aii’ bite deep gents, cf you don’t
want to git up from this y-out full o‘cm ti-
ness an’ hunger,” warnineg uttered thc oly
Terror with a grim determination as he squared
himself at the table, his keen eyes running over
the painful cards and the silver dealing-box.
“"l‘ain’t often I go fer the menadgery, but
when I do, they ain t even a smell 0’ wild meat
lleft ahgpd me! Pard, that ain’t toppin’ the limit,

iope ‘

Howling Jonathan slapped a silver dollar on
one of the cards, gazin anxiously into the cold,
businesslike face of t e dealer 0 posite. Not
even the ghost of a smile played about his thin,
straight lips as the dealer compared the bet with
the neat stacks of chips indicating the capital of
the bank that night.

“A dollar goes, pard, but don’t hit us toooften
with a sledge—hammer like that; give the bank a
livin chance, please!”

“ hey ain‘t no fri’ndship in business, rd,"
said the Howler, gravely shaking his hea as he
wan-bed the cards slipone by one from the case.
" I‘d down my own iap cf so be he was settin’
on the wrong side 0 the layout from me, ef I

ot a— Didn‘t I tell ye so?” with a subdued

owl, as his stake came winner. “ Luck ag’in’
science, an’ I’m his prophet! Grit your teeth,
tiger, hit here‘s coniin‘ for more 0‘ your wool.
Good Lawd! but I’m on it to-night bigger’n a
wolf i”

It was a flagrant violation of all gaming lawn,
of course, but no one. of the players seemed to
care enough about their rights to rebuke this
i‘attle—mnguc. They knew Jonathan was not all
wind. They knew he had shown “ goal leather”
in the affair with Captain Clean—up and his gang,
to say nothing of the positive manner in which
he had made Colonel J 0e] Mallison “ take water.”
And while they would, one and all, heartil"
enjoy seeing him effectually “ squelched," eac
preferred to leave that job to some other indi-
vidual.

“An still the tide 0’ fortune runs my way,
smooth as a buzz—saw through the finger o’ the
critter as tries to p’int out how ’tarnal fast the
teeth is movin’!” chuckled the Howler as his
second venture proved equally lucky. “ It's a
durned shame that I cain’t do my winniu’ 'thout
lettin’ you all into the secret o’ my rule, gents,
but they won’t be many 0’ on that’ll git fat on
this bank—no, sil‘l I’m a oly hog when I git
my nose in a trough filed with grub like this,
an’ what I leave wouldn’t make a squar‘ meal
fer the ghOSt_0f a ﬂea! The more I eat the
hun rier I git. Third time’s the charm, aii’
you in begin to unpack your mournin’, pard—
ner, Iter the bank’s goin’ bu’st this clatter, dead
sure

Solemnly Jonathan slapped two dollars down
on the ace, sinking hack in his chair, his red
cheeks puffed out, his shaggy brows dropping
down over his little \yes, his breath coming in
short, heavy puffs through his dilated nostrils.

But only for a moment did he maintain this
ridiculous sition, for as loud voices suddenly
broke out in the saloon, uttering among othcis
the words "coward" and “ fraud," the 'l'error
shoved back his seat and “jumped the game”
without a second thought 0 his mighty stake.

Though there were others who seemed to
care more for “fun ” than gambling, Howling
Jonathan was the ﬁrst man to pass through
the. open archway that joined the two apart-
ments. *

The angry speaker was Perry Blair, the
middle-aged gambler whom Frank Spartan had
knocked down so cleverly a short time before.
He bore the imprint of the iron knuckles still,
though it was clear to the initiated that a
knife or lance had been called into lay to let
out the blood that would otherwise ve well—
nigh ('10sed his eye for him. The livid bruise
formed an ugly contrast to his ghastly white
face and his redly glowing eyes.

” He sent ms word that he would meet me
here, if I wanted to get even, and now I have
come, where is he? Shocked off like tie cow-
ard] fraud I pronounced him! Crawled into
his ole to hide from a man! Frank Spartan
is n cur! And if he has a friend resent who
dares to stand up for him, 1’" m o my word
good or——”

!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Howling Jonathan.

19

 

“ Or bust a ﬂue!"

Perry Blair whirled about with hand on re—
'volvel‘, to mcet the rod face and blue eyes of
the Howler, quieter and cooler than any one
in Good Leather had as yet seen him.

“ It was my gentle bazoo that made ye flip-
flop, pard," and his voice was gentle, almost
npolo ctii: as he spoke. “ Ye don’t know who
I be reckon, but that’s a fault easy got over.
I'm IIowlin‘ Jonathan, a Holy Terror just come
in from Headwaters, nn’ I’m the best fri’nd to
the gent you‘ve bin takin’ the name in
vain.” . . .

The gambler showed his teeth in a Vicious
snarl as he grated: _

“ What have you got to do with it? \Vhat is
Frank Spartan to you ?"

“Waal, pardner, that ’ nds some on which
eye ye look at it out of. ne way Ihain’t the
ghost of a right to chip in, seem’ as it‘s ’nother
roaster you‘re crowin’ ’ﬁance to, but—”

“ Then hold your yawp_and save your chips
for a game that better suits your caliber, curse
your! snapped Blair, like more than one of
those present taking this moderate tone and

even gentle demeanor to be but the prelude to I

~the “ crawﬂsh act.”

I know jest as well as ary man livin’, but is a
critter to starve to death holdin’ out for a hull
hog when they’s spartribs layin’ clnss by? It’s
mighty small an’ monstrous slow pickin',’ but at
you cain’t git jest what you want, take what ye
kin. Penny-ante is heap better then no game
an’ S), incanin’ no ’fense to you, pardner,

rcclrou I Wouldn’t mind steppin’ into the boots '

0’ Frank Spartan, onless you kin shove out a
bigger an’ better man to tackle the Terror!”

This was a widely different conclusion from
the one Perry Blair had anticipated from that
'inuleratc, even depri‘catory tone, and he 
glewcring at the red-haired champion half in
rage, half in doubt.

“That’s the one question answcrcd the bcst I
know how, pardner,” placidly added the Howler
yet with a peculiar something in his tone and
looks that held the crowd interested enough to
leave him a clear field. “ As fcr the other,
inch-lie Von never hear tell on the Hebrew chil-
dren? “Mi-be you ncvcr rcad o’ Shadracli, Mes-
hach. aii' 'i‘t'rbed-wo-go? Mcbbc you don‘t know
that I’m them (111’ thcni‘s inc, IIowlin’ Jonathan
Hebrew, the Terror right from I'Icadwatcrsl”

\‘."ith a short, angry curse, Perry Blair turned
on his heel as though feeling this red-headed
chn npion was too far beneath him for further
not: ‘0. All his former hatred burst forth anew,
as l\ a cyi'atcd:

“ lf l-‘rsnk Spartan has a friend within sound
of my voice, lct him carry my words to the run-
away Simi‘t! Tell him that I brand hilll as a
('i‘)\Y:ll".liY cur. too internally low for an white
man t» dirty the sole of his boot with! ell him
tha"-—”

" II.-’s one o‘ the Hebrew triplets, un’ I’m the
others.” curtlyr iiitA_-rjcctc<l a voice, and once
more Perry Blair wheeled with drawn revolver
to confront the Howler.

The Terror stood his ground, though the gam-
bler was in a red-hot rage, his face fairly trans-
ﬁgure'l, his cyes all aglow. He must have seen

the drawn pistol, but if so he ShUWPd no trace of ,

uneasiness, nor did he make any move toward

arming himsclf, one hand lifted with forefinger ,
shakinry deliberately in front of that knuckle- '

msrka face.

“I'm the most peaceable critter that over
hopped on two legs, pardner, an’ many a time
I’ve clean broke my neck running to git awa
from some scch mighty bloodsucker as you thin):
you be right now; but when you tromp on the
(-oms of my pet brother, an’ he a triplet of
which I’m the rest. then I’ve ot to howl right
out in niectin‘! Au’ when I howl I say some-
thin’. 11’ that somethin’ in this case is that
Frank Spartan gits shot 0’ more inanliness an’
grit nn’ genuine good leather evcry time he

blows his nose thcn was ever wropped up in the '

clothes of the Blair family, with you at the
head, pardncrl" I

For one moment Perry Blair stood like a man
dumfoundcd, but as a laugh broke from the
amused lockers-on at this decidedly origin“
compariwn, a savage snarl grated through his
teeth and he made a swn‘t mot-ion with his pir-
tol arm. . . .

There was a rapid shifting as the weapon mp
ploded. and then a man staggered back—but it
was not Howling Jonathan.

The load Spciit its force on the wall, while the
Terror, with a forcc that could not be resisted,
“Find the disaruied gambler across the 1.00m,
in TV into the arms of the tall, thzn, dygpe ﬁe
' «' "1g individual with whom the Howler .ad
.up- wcd the impromptu dance an hour or lcss be-
rm." ;I\1 those who followed the rccling gambler
w"'i their eyes, caught a glimmcr of polished
it i', hearl «i metallic chukzng ':oiind,.zmd than
-1, C, of wonder broke from their lips as the

,«
1

‘ I~ reed. l is ri. ht hand to display 3 "amp ,
::B,Tv’lixilg Perri)y Blgair cursed vwiously .qg hf, 

geared in stupid wonder at the steclmanacles
upon his wrists!

u Fun alwe!" and Howling Jonathan set up

his thrilling. ear-Splitting “TIT-(Ty. t. Tum the

‘ “ It’s a waste ‘0’ time an’ good material, that |

i Hebrew children loose an’ give ’em room ’cordin
to thar bizness! The safety valve’s dropped off,
an’ I’m blowin’ off steam that’s hot enough to
raiseablister on a cast-iron monke at forty
rod! Shove that cocktail for’ard! ub kyann
pepper in his tail feathers an’ sting him up to
meet a— Look out, pardner!”

“ Keep your distance, my good fellow, unless
you want a high lot on the hillside free of
charge!” sharply cried the dyspeptic man, his
gray c cs gleaming cold] over the leveled
tuble 8 death. “Perry B air is my prisoner,
an —

His voice was drowned by a h0wl from the
crowd, until then too much su rised to make
any decided move. And Perry lair aided in
this as his voice rose in savage curses, his tem-
pered muscles t ing to map the slender links
which connect the handcuffs, his practiced

1 feet to trip up his captor.

Butalong arm held him off, ﬁngers of steel

, shifted from his shoulder to his neck, and clear

' above the tumult rose the voice of the man who

, had so deftly ironed the gambler. And the

I muzzle of his pistol was now turned toward the

skull of his captive to emphasize the words that

came hardly from his thin lips:

“Keep your distance, gentlemen, unless iyou
I want to murder this man! You can’t take im

from my gri alive. The law is on my side, and

ill) itsnr’iame command you one and all to stand

c car.

“ What’s he done? What right hev you to
kick 11 a row when two gents was jest hevin’ a.
little un to 88 away the time? Whobeye,
anyhOW?” in ignantly cried Jonathan, but at
the same time falling back a pace or two.

“ I’m a detective—see!” and a quick motion
of the revolver 0 mod his coat far enough to re-
veal a gleaming Badge, “ I have a warrant for
this person, for robbery and murder. I have
arrested him. and now, it is in the name of
law and justice, I call on all respectable citi-
izensyto stand by me as the representative of the
aw

His swift appeal a peared tohave its effect,
for several men moved toward him, their faces
to the rest of the part , their hands filling with
weapons“ And then ebrew strode forward. a
broad grin on his face, a peculiar twang in his
voice as he cried:

“ That’s a boss of another color, nn’ ef the law
says so, I say so, an’ durn the odds! Mebbe I’ll
need the good natur’ 0’ the law myself some 0’
these da 8, an‘ so I’ll git a under grip onter her
while I in. Nothin’ like layin’ up grub fcr a
hungry time, pards, an’ I reckon you want to
shinny on this side, too!”

If this peculiar appeal had any effect on the
rest, it was not immmliatcly visible. Thcre
were dark looks and sullen mutterin .. Strong
hands gripped deadly weapons, am it would
take but little. to cause an outburst where death
would claim more than one victim.

Every one then present appeared to realize
this, and the knowledge made each man slow to
make any decided move. There were no lack
; of followers, but none who wished to play the
' part of leader.

The detective saw this, and his hard, menac-
ing tone perceptiny softened as he added:

“ I am simp y performing my duty as asworn
' officer of the law, gentlemen. I was sent here
to make this arrest, and I had to do it, just as I
would arrest him again, though I knew certain
death awaited the action. I trust there will be
no further trouble, but if there is, it is my duty
to tell you that the warrant I am acting on,
says dead or alive ! If I am crowded too hard,
it will be dead I” .v .

“You grip tight the critter, pnrd. an' Ill
lwatch out fer the crowdin’,” cried Howling
lJonathan, a revolver in each hand, his face

stern and business—like. _

: “We’ll stay with you, friend,” quietly utter-

l crl one of the three nicn who had first stepped to

i the aid of the detectivc.

“They’re all birds of a feather!” growled an
ugly voice froni among the excitcd crowd.
“ Strangers, every one of them! It’s a put-up
1 job to down Perry—” _

1 His voice~was drowned by the ﬁerce cry rais-

! ed by the particular friends of the ironed gam-
bler, and for a few moment-s it seemed as if the

| crisis was at hand. Steadily and rcsolutely the

three men closed about the s‘ruggling, cursing,
snarlin" captive, their weapons cocked and
ready for instant use when the ﬁght could no

1"“39!‘ be avoided. The tall detective turned

the muzzle of his weapon to the head of the

Priscner. Howling Jonathan formed the ad-

vance guard. his red hair fairly bristling, his

little eyes ﬂaming, his athletic ﬁgure fairly
quivering as his muscles tightened for the des-
perate struggle which seemed inevitable.

bcn, clear and stern came the voice of the

detective:

“Tcll your friends to keep their distance,
Perry Blair, if you love life! The first blow
they strike, will be the signal for me to blow
the roof of your skull off! I swear to this!"

The gamblcr was not a coward, physically
spcnkinsr, and if he could have seen even the
shadow of a chance to escape instant death, he
would have called for a charge instead of in re-
treat. But his hands were ironed. That teiri-

 

ble grip on his neck was causing his breath to
come hot and thick his brain to buzz and whirl
dizzily, the strength to desert his limbs. And
the cold muzzle of a revolver was presing
agaigst his skull, telling only too plainly of
deaf .

“ Let up, boys!” he gasped hoarsely, ceasing
his vain struggles and haugin limp and heavy
on the arm of is captor. “ 'ait for a better
opening, then—”

His voice died away as those ﬁngers closed
tighter about his neck, but he had said enough
to avert the crisis for a time at least.

And just at that moment a tall, athletic form
lea 1 into the room from the street, holding a
coc cd pistol in his left hand, glaring keenly
about as though seeking some parti person
in the crowd.

“Iceberg;r Dave! This way if you’re a man!"
he cried, his voice hard and strained, his weapon

rtially raised, murder in his eyes.

“U ly Dan!" came in half a dozen voices
from t e startled crowd, as it parted to leave a
free ssage for the desperado.

“ gly Dan it is, and on the war-path!” grat-
ed the man, shaking his bloody-bandaged right
hand in the air with a ﬁerce curse. “ Ugly
Dan, come to get even with Iceberg Dave for a
coward shot from cover and behind my back!
Where is he? Gone—hiding, the cow aroly int!”
he answered his own questim as his keen eyes
saw the cool sport was not iresent.

A move on the part of t e detective with his
prisoner, still surrounded by his ard,‘ boring
to clear the. saloon under cover 0 this fresh ex-
citemcnt, attracted his attention, and as the
lamglight flashed across the detective’s badge, a
sud en light filled his eyes and he cried in a
quick, vicious tone:

“ I swear that Iceberg Dave is in one of Cap-
tain Clean- ’5 gangs of road-agents! I can
prove it! I’l help arrest him, if you—”

“I’ll see 'ou later, my friend,” coldly inter-
posed the etective, xessing with his half-
choked irisoner towar the docr.

Ugly an made no attempt to stay them, and
the of ers were too completely demoralin f or
the time being to,take decided action. The d( rr
was gained and a moment later the little pai Ly
was .astening away from The Mint, the Howler
guarding the rear and keeping an eye open to a
possible rush from the saloon. But none such
came, and this was in part due to the opportune
up arance in the rcom of Ugly an.

be detective took his hand from the throat
of Perry Blair, and a few long breaths strength-
cued that worthy sufficiently so he could keep
pace with his captors without much assistance.
And by the time they reached the front of My
House. he was alert enough to recognize the
tall, athletic figure that came out of the build-
ing, and to burst forth into a savage cume.

“ You cur! This is your cowardly work i” he

cited, his ﬁgure uivcring in every ﬁbcr as be

old up his nianac ed hands in the bright glow
of the lamps.

With a startled exclamation Frank Spartan
stared for a. moment at the speaker, then hur-
ried forward, his face showing pale as dcath, his
black eyes glowing with a reddish light, his
voice hard and strained.

B1“ “Zhat does all this mean? It is you, Perry
air? ’

1 “You low-down cur!"snarled the .amblcr,

his lips fairly tinged with froth. “ 'ou ask
that? You—bah! what is shame to you?”

Frank Spartan turned to the tall man who
held the prisoner ﬁrmly as he attempted to push
him cnward.

“ What has this man done? What right have
you to arrest him i”

“ You can't cover it up that way, Frank
Spartan !" grated Blair. “ You sent me word
that you’d wait to ive me a chance to get even
for that coward 1: 0w, but instead you hunted
your hole and trumped up this dirty lie to save
your ,hide! But I‘ 1 get even with you yet,
you—

A strong grip choked off his ﬂood of curses
and epithets, and the detective warningly waved
a revolver toward the other, saying:

“ I’ve arrested this man on a regular warrant,
and if you care for your own hcad, young man,
you will think twice before interfering.”

“ If you are what you say, of course I can do
nothing. But you have heard what this man
says. In justice to myself, I'll investigate your
rights. and unless you can prove your title clear
I’ll set him free if have to kill you and all your
allies! That is sworn to, sir.”

A choking, savage snarl came from the lips of
the prisoncras he managed to free his throat
‘long cnough to utter:

“ Too thin, you cowardly cur! You set up
this job. but it will not die out with my voice,
thank the devil! It’s all over town by this time
and it ’will ring in your ears until you sﬁt your
own—

“ Let me see him! Let me see him just once!”
came a shrill,- peculiar voice from beyond and
out of the shadows came a crouching, sh mg

 

 

ﬁcure toward the little group. “ It sounds like

’ his voice—the voi' e of the devil who—"

“ No crowdin’, honey!" grated the Howler as
he stepped before the new-comer, one heavy
hand lifted wamingly. “ It wouldn t be healthy

 

.41"

2O

» "my-mwx’.’ . ‘

Howling Jonathan.

 

I don’t think! Better hunt your hole ag’in an' I
wait for another rocession to come along.”

“I must see him—it is like the voice of that
hell-hound, I tell you!” and the rugged object
pressed forward, unheeding if he saw the .-
clinched and threatened ﬁst.

Jonathan showed a forbearance unusual in
one of his stamp, and instead of knocking the
intruder down, he )ushed him back, saying:

“Better you dirn’t, pardl I don’t want to
hurt ye, but—”

“Imust see his face!” panted the stranger,
struggling vainly to press forward, then his tone
0 to a piteous pleading: “I beg it of
you, dear sir! Just one glimpse of his face! It ,
will cool my poor brain and— will see him, I” l

The last words came almost in a scream, and I
bright steel ﬂashed in the lumplight, but Howling
Jonathan proved equal to the emergency, his
left arm knocking aside the armed hand, his
right ﬁst shooting out and sending1 the stranger
reeling away, to drop heavily to t e ground.

CHAPTER XII.
UGLY DAN ON THE WAR-PATH.

“KEEP ourhhoolks on hégi (in‘ 'lrook out fell;
snags l” s a y warn t 0 error, wit
a over his s oulder toward the detective
in charge of Perry Blair. “ Mcbbe it’s a trick
to climb us an’ sot him free, but I reckon I kin
tell better—The devil!”

He sprung forward to the shadow at the edge
of which the ragged fellow had fallen under t e
powerful blow, ut the ground was bare, nor
could he distin ish any ﬂeeing form glare
about keenly as 0 might, though he di catch :
sight of a tall ﬁgure striding hastily toward the
hotel coming from the direction of The Mint.

“ Ugly Dan l” and his brows contracted sharp
ly as he turned back to the detective and party,
mutterin : “ No time to lose, pardner. Best

't to krver Wbar ye kin stan some show 0’
lufﬂn’ of! a gang of sobe they come fer us red-
hot. Out here—waal, I reckon you kin see!”

“They may get us, but Perry Blair won’t be
worth much to them,” was the grim observation
as the detective forced his half-crazed risoner
forward, with a warning glance towar Frank
Spartan, who made a move in the same direc—
tion.

His handsome face was very white and very
hard-set as he ke:

“1 am one o the party, until I am satisﬁed
that everything is on the square, and that on
haven rfect ri ht to arrest this man. f I v
ﬁnd a Single ﬂaw in your side of the case, I’ll Sct
him free or go over the range in trying! That
is sworn to!" ,

Howling Jonathan fella few paces behind the l
remainder of the party, as Ugly Dan came on at
a half run, and choosin a point where a line .
of shade dee r than usua would partially cover ,
him, tlhe redﬁiaired deputy wheeled and cried 

Y1 .

“ e ’s a dozen smalliiox ﬂags hung out ‘

right a ore ye, pardner! tter check yer mad ‘

 

 

 

knowing that he was playing with fire, but ﬁnd-
in it hard to swallow such sharp threats.

Vith a powerful effort Frank Spartan crush-
ed down his hot temper, and in a few words ex-

plained just how he stood in relation to the]

prisoner, adding:

“ This is wh I take such an interest in the mat-
ter, and why say to you, by all that men hold
holy! unless you can satisfy me that you are
keeping fully within the pale of the law in mak-
ing this arrest, I will set Pei ry Blair free or die
in the attempt! With a single cry I can set a
mob to howling for your blood. If you are
not a blind idiot, you can see what the end
would be.”

“ Heaps 0’ fun, you bet!" chimed in the How]-
er, with a reckless laugh, as he and U ly Dan
came up just in time to catch this ast hot
8 ch. “ Be durned cf it was me runnin’
t in PS I‘d show up my papers to choke off the
bloor thirsty c1ittcr—I would so I”

“ As'I am ready to do now that the prisoner
is in safe quarters,” coldly uttered the deteC-
tive—“as would have done without any of
this talk, if you had shown a little less bluster,
young man.’

Frank Spartan cared little for the manner in
which his demands were met, just so he receiv-
ed the data by which he could clear his man-
hood of the foul charge fluiir in his teeth by
Perr Blair. Keenly, carefully he examined
the ocumcnts produced by the detective by the
light of a pocket lantern, ﬁnding them genuine
and complete.

“ Are you satisﬁed, sir?” liulf-sneered the de—
tective, as he took back the papers and stowed
them carefully away.

“I must be, though I’d ivea finger if you
had delayed the arrest an iour!” frowned the
young man.

The detective lau bed, shortly, re lying:

“Only for you, erry Blair won] still be at
liberty, my dear sir!”

Frank Spartan turned upon him with a ﬁerce
ejaculation, but the ofﬁcer of the law laughed
lightly as he held up a hand in truce.

“ It is the solemn fact, in dear fellow, though
you neVer knew it until this moment. 1' heard
of your row, and of the ﬁ ht that would al-
most surely follow. I wantet to let Perry Blair
run a little longer, for reasons which needn’t be
particularized, but he was too valuable to run
the risk of losing in a. duel. So, you see, it is
part] your fault that be is in limbo this early.”

“ e may not remain so long,” gravely warn—
ed Frank Spartan, with an effort, casting aside
his own interest in the case. “He has man
friends here in Good Leather, and they’ll be a -
most sure to raise a crowd to down you and re-
lease him. For my own sake I’d like to see it
done, but as an honest man I feel it in duty to
give you this warning. Get him out o town as
quickly and as uietly as you can. Travel
mighty fast, or ﬂu a secure hiding-place, if you
want to bring him to the bar.”

“ I reckon we can manage it, sir,” smiled the

career an’ make a break the other way afore ldetective.

ye keteh yer everlastin’. sickness! It‘s a heap
fri’nd that s talkin’ l” l
“ That’s all ri ht, old fellow,” was the prompt
l , as U ly an brieﬂy used in the clear
 hol in: up his ban 9, both free from
weapons. “ I’m a friend, ready and anxious to
aid the cause of justice. You’ll need all the
strong arms you can get before you clear Good
Leather with Perry Blair.”

He moved forward as he uttered the last
words, andHowlin Jonathan made no further
objection. He realized the truth of that state-
ment, and he had heard enough of Ugly Dan to
know that his reputation would aid hem more
than his weapons, even.

With his three men forming a compact guard
about himself and his risoner, the detective
hurried Perry Blair on t rough the town, com-
ing to a pause before a low, squat structure
com of stone and mud. He nodded to one
of h followers, who unfastened the heavy door
of hewn slabs, and then assumed charge of the
prisoner long enou b to place him out of harm’s
way within. As or the detective, he turned
upon Frank Spartan, who had kept them close
corn ny to the building.

“ ow, sir, I’ll sett e with you,” he said,
shar ly.

“ intend you shall. and I ive you free warn-
ing that there must be no lf-wa about it,
either,” was the sharp response. “ ou want
to show your authoritéfor taking Perry Blair
prisoner. You want make out a perfectly
clear case against him, or I swear to set him
free though it costs my life and the lives of a
score better man l”

The oung man was intensely wrought up, and
show this fact in his every tone and move-
ment. He had been kept on such a trying strain
for weeks and months past: he had not come on
of his scene with widow Mercy Watkins wholly
unshaken, though he had so cleverly left her
with an exactly opposite Opinion: and this sav-
age charge marle ' the gambler had stung. him
to the very quick. He was dangerous, as one
far less experienced than the tall detective could
readily divine. -

“Thelast would be far more like] to hap n
than the ﬁrst, my dear sir," he lau ed, co y,

 

n

“ All right. I’ve done my duty. It is you for
it now,” coldly uttered Spartan, turning on his
heel and stridin away.

As he did so, e fairly brushed shoulders with
Ugly Dan, who now pushed past J ouatban, and
faced the detective, his voice hard and full of a
vicious hatred as he uttered:

“ You wouldn‘t listen to me back there, and
I’m not blaming you. But now your game is
safe caged, and you’ve got to hear me through!”

“ You are the fellow people call Ugly Dan, I
believe?”

“ Never you mind my name; it’s about Ice»
berg Dave—David Ingram, in full—that I want
to talk. I swear he is one of the gang of road-
agents, and ten thousand times more deserving
of arrest than Perry Blair! I can give you
plenty of proof, and—”

“ Iceberg Dave crippled your band, didn‘t he?”
coldly interjected the tall detective.

“What has that got to do with it, curse ye!”
snarled the other.

“Quite as much as I have to do with Iceberg
Dave,” was the careless retort. “Settle your
own quarrels.” '

“ But I accuse him of being an outlaw and a
road-agent I”

“And I don’t care if he is Captain Clean-up
himself! I came here in search of a particular
criminal, and I’ve got him. I have no author-
ity to arrest an other, Iceberg Dave, Ugly Dan
or the devil! f you can prove your charge,
wh don’t you take the fellow yourself and
cla m the rewards. if any are offered?” coldly
uttered the detective.

“ D——d if I don’t, then!” snarled Ugly Dan,
his eyes glowing vicious] , turning on his heel,
knowing that after his pu lic charge that even-
ing, he must either take or be taken.

“ An’ be letter (1 dash d ef I ain’t goin”long to
see the fun, my hearty!” cried the Howler, with
a bound gaining the side of the desperado. I’m
on it to-nlght, wuss then a nest o’ ram-cats an’
of this yer’ chunk 0’ coldness you’re lookin fer
hes got a few 0’ his ’lations swimmin’ in the
same channel, mebbe I kin git a bite at the free
lunch More the boss kicks us all out-doors!"

Ugly Dan 'rowled short] as the red-haired
cyclone took is arm, and t ere was a halfm

 

Eicious glitter in his e es as he looked into that
airy face. But the owler seemed to be wholly
at ease, and his nimble tongue rattled on so free»
ii that U ly Dan soon forgot his doubts, for
t ey were aint and undeﬁnrd at the most.

“ ’Tain’t that I want to crowd in whar I ain’t.
wanted, pard, fer I’m one 0’ the most bashfnlest
critters on ever see propped up on two legs:
but it’s [in I live fer, an’ without fun I‘d dry up
an’ blow away wuss then ary old maid you—-
Thar he goes now!”

Ueg Dan started sharply, his sound left Land
dropping on a revolver butt as the Howler
uttered that ejaculation, and he glared around
gith eyes of ﬁre, expecting to behold Iceberg

ave.

“ Where, curse you, where?” he grated vicious
ly. “ The ﬁrst drop tells the tale, and if I miss
it through you even Iceberg will be too slow to
save your skul l”

“ Not him—I meant that spunky critter as
wanted to chew up the ’tective tellers ’count 0‘
Perry Blair,” hastily uttered Howling Jona—

an.

“ Frank Spartan?” .

Jonathan nodded vigorously.

“ He 'est went in the saloon, yender, an‘ be
looked 1i e he meant holy business in a minnit!
So—long, pardl thar’s fun a-brewin’ in thar, an’
?s it’s ,the nigbest, I’m howlin’right that course.

am!’

He dashed ahead, followed by Ugly Dan with
scarcely less celerit , for the building indicated
was no other than he Mint.

Even in his madness, Ugly Dan did not lose
sight of his natural craftiness. He knew that if
Iceberg Dave had shown up at his place of buSi-
ncss, and Frank S rtan was to attempt a row.
the cool 5 )ort won (1 surely interfere to preserve
order; an if this was so, he might be taken an
awares by his enemy.

The Howler was not deceived, though be had.
caught but a momentaryAI glimpse of Frank.
Spartan as he entered The int. ,

The youn man was still raging under the bit-
ter charge ung in his teeth by Perry Blair, and
knowing right well that he ha plenty of enemies
in Good Leather who would be only too hap y
to catch at even the shadow of a slur on £15
courage or manliness, he hastened at once
to face it and them down or ﬁght for his credit.

The instant silence which reigned among those
who occupied the bar-room as he entered, told
Frank plainer than Words that he had formed
the subject of conversation, and a dan ‘rous
light came into his eyes, as he spoke c curly.
sba ly:

“ n‘rentlemen, I have just learned of the arrest
of Perry Blair, with whom I had a little dispute
this evening. I tried my best to get him set at
liberty, but failed. Now, since I cannot settle
my debt with him in rson, I come to ask a
favor of his friends. I 1 fl bt any of them thug.
cares to take his place, in t eir own style. 1’]
fight them one after another, until they are
cleaned out or I am laid cold. I mean clean
business, gentlemen, and you can’t come to the
front one second too e(buick to suit my taste!”

His 'etty eyes rov swiftly over the startled
faces fore him, and just then he looked an
awkward customer to handle, even for the best.
of tough men. Still there came no acceptance,
and after a brief pause he spoke again:

“ If the odds seem too great, gentlemen, make

our own. I’ll take two three—the entire num—

r, for that matter! won’t give his mates
even the ghost of a chance to ﬂing dirt when my
back is turned. “I’ll rove m earnestnes, if
you’ll but give_me a c nce! hat! not evan
one friend to pick up the gauntlet! Poor Perry!
At least, he was a man who knew no fear, and
he deserved better and trust friends than those
who fawned upon him while he was free-foot
and hand-open I”

No answer, even now. There were dark and
sullen faces to be seen among those lit up
with broad smiles, and it was an easy task to
pick out- th0se who supported Frank Spartan

rom the ones who had trained under the colors

of Percy Blair. But not one of the latter seemed

inclin to take up the quarrel on behalf of their-
dis ced chief. " .

short mocking laugh parted the lips

of Frank . partim as he became full convinced

pi this fact, and he cried as be'mov toward the

r:
“ It is your election, gentlemen, and if ever
you hear a fool talking over this unfortunate af—
fair, you can bear witness that I tried my level
best to give Perry Blair a chance to even up
through his friends. They declined the offer,
and now—what ’11 on take, gentlemen I”

There was no re usal to accept this sweeping
invitation, even by those whom all present knew
had been closest to and most intimate with
Perry Blair. They knew that such a refusal
would sure] brin on a ﬁght in which the
friends of nk artan would all the more
gladly participate t t he was present in per-
son to lead them.

It was a curious spectacle, but one by no-

means uncommon in such wild and almost law-
less sections.

The barkee r was deftly slinging out the

glasses when gly Dan slipped into the aims,
his left hand armed with a cocked revolver, his.

 

 

 

 

 

. -ﬁq- .___-..._.~_

 

 

Howling Jonathan.

21

 

 

black eyes ﬁlled with the glow of murder as they
roved swiftly around in nest of the man who
had shattered his ﬁnd rig t hand with a. bullet
that afternoon. ut Iceberg Dave was still
absent, no one a parentl knew where, and a
savage curse bro e from is thin lips as he real-
ized that one more chanco had slip 1 him by.

Of a verity tth halritues of The int were not
to grow rusty for lack of excitement and sur-
prises, on this night:

“ Not you, durn ye!” snarled Ugly Dan as the
double ranks before the bar turned to break and
scatter precipitatcly. “ It’s bifgger game I‘m
huntin. there’s Iceberg Dave

“ Not in at present,” promptly replied the
biirkeeper, his face le as death, but his right
h:-.nd going down )elow the bar and clasping
a‘_ :ut the butt of a revolver.

" Crawled into his hole to hide from a man!”
c: d Ugly Dan with a laugh that was even more
5‘ "age than his curses. “ Go on with your
d. aning, ntlemen. I‘m with you in spirit,
biz: I’ve ta en an oath to touch no li uor until

I can drink it over the corpse o Iceberg
Dave!” _
“Jest a’p‘int me our depity s nge ontel the

circus is over with an’el, an’ I’ l o bail you’ll
be drunkcr’n a. b’iled owl afore two ours more!"
(‘lliloklod the Terror 1promptly “ surrounding "
m; own dose and reil ing the glass with a low
Low toward the d .rado. “ Your drink, pard,
an' my fecl-nm-g !"

Ugly Dan gave a surly growl as Howling J one-
than tomed of! the liquor, and then spoke sharp-
ly. addressing the crowd in general:

“ It‘s no more than fair I should tell you why
I‘m out gunning for Iceberg, gentlemen, and if
you’ll be d your hush for a bit, I’ll do it." _
i’e cast one more keen glance around him, into
the gambling-room where only the two dealers
remained at their stations, the players having
ﬂocked to hear what Frank Spartan had to say,
then he strode to the corner of the room as form—
ed b one end of the bar and the partition wall.
\Vi his back thus guarded, and the gathering
all in his front, while it would be impossible for
any one to enter the saloon without his catching
the ﬁrst glinum, Ugly Dan added:

“ You all know that neither Dave nor I have
lost any sleep through our love for each othcr.
I was satisﬁed to go my own way, as long as he
didn‘t try to crowd me too hard I knew he
was a mighty good man at bottom or I thought
so until now! And thinking so, was content
to keep my own walk, only givin back such
crows as he chose to send over the ine fence.

“ But today Icebe played me dirt of the
nastiest description. on see this hand, gentle-
men?" he cried, his voice taking on redoubled
viciousness as he shook his bandaged right hand
in the light where all could see. “ Iceberg took
a pot shot at me from under cover and behind
in back this day, and when I have spare time,
thla hand will have tocome off at the wrist—
boll}: bitter-eat curses forever blight the cowardly
cur

There was a stir and a buzz perceptible and

audible‘as the men interchanged swift glances
at this hittcr charge. Frank Spartan alone
seemed unmoved, though such would hardly
have been the case had he even suspected how
that wound had been received—in whoa.) defense
it had been inﬂicted. But Amelia had said no-
thing of her experience at the hands of Ugly
Dan, partly because the lovers had no
chance for close communion as yet, and rtly
because she knew Frank would lose no time in
seeking the desperadoto avenge her wrongs, and
she loved him far too dearly to knowingly ex-
pose him to danger.
“ IIe lplayed me dirt, and when I was crippled.
under iis gun, m n ht hand uselem, my left
hand empty, he ru that dirt in until it came
out on the other side! All this—and then he was
fool enough to let me go, to get even! And even
I’m going to get, or you’ll have a chance to at-
tend the funeral of a man .’"

His voice choked With rage, and fora brief
space there was silence throughout the room.
Ugly Dan leaned back against the wall, his left
hand clutching a revolver With muzzle covering
the entrance. His face was purple and swollen
with savage rage and hatred. His eyes were
bioodshot and glowing like balls of living ﬁre.
His thin nostrils quivered as the hot breath
came through them in sharp puffs. .

Not a pleasant picture ust then. Now; if
now-r before, his title of gly Dan was fully

t' b facts! I .
in: 3If‘ll?z(a.lt'iaym story, gentlemen," he said. his
voice low an strained from the eﬂ'orthe made
to centrol his furiOus passions sufﬁciently to
smak at all. ” You know why I’m out gunning
for Iceberg Dave. And if there is one present
who knows where the cowardly 01" 19 hldmgi I
will give him ﬁfty dollars to go and t8"  )6
dirty whelp I’m here and waiting for him!
Wiil you 0, Tom—” .

He bro 0 off with a snarl asa rapid footfall
echoed just outside the door, and his pistol went
up as a human form crossed the threshold, only
to lower again with a vicious oath as he recog-
nized his errors It was not Iceberg Dave, but
the same ragged wretched cmtum who had
begged for a single glance at the face of Perry
Blair not long before.

 

Tall, if standin
looked as thong

erect, and of a ﬁgure that
it mi ht once have been
athletic if not raceful, ut now bowed and
warped as thong throu h disease or long and
terrible sufferings. A lead that was covered
only with long, tangled hair. bleached by the
sun and weather to a dull whitish hue. A face
that was bearded, but not heavily enough to
hide the wan cheeks, the pinched nose, the sunk-
en eyes in which gleamed and glitteer some-
thing that seemed close akin to insanity. Hands

bony and claw—like, now raised to his head as i

the wretched creature stared about him like one
dazzled and bewildered by the bright lights.
A mass of tattcrs and rags for a garb, leavi
his arms bare to the elbow and legs uncove

to the knees, while his bruised and scarred feet
had no protection from the earth.

“ I heard him !" gasped this wretched creature,
his eyes rovin over the curious, pitying or
amused faces a ut him. “I heard the voice
that mocked my agon in the ages gone by,
when I was in hell! If could only see his face!
I would know that, I think! He printed it on
my poor brain, and—was it you whose voice I
heard but now?” and he paused as his glowing
orbs reached the face of Frank Spartan.

“ The man who spoke last is standing there,”
and the young man pointed toward Ugly Dan,
who was scowling ﬁercely at this interruption.

With a swift movement the ragged creature
step 1 before the desperado, bending forward,
sha ing his eyes with one bony hand, his gaze
seeming to scorch the face they rested upon.

Ugly Dan growled viciously as he tried to
beat_back the strange being with his ﬁery aze.
_But instead, the creature seemed fascina by
it, slow! moving nearer, his breath coming
hot and net muttering:

“ Speak—let me hear if the voice is the same!
The dark face lookalike that of the devil—speak,
thou h only a word!”

“ urse you, get out of my light!” grated
Ugly Dan as he swiftly raised one foot and
kicked the stranger half-way across the room.

A cry of angry re roof broke from the crowd
as they witnessed th s brutality, but only Frank
Spartan spoke in plain words:

“That was a coward act, Ugly Dan, and for
it you should be booted all over Good Leather!
Tackle a man of our own :‘ize, if—”

“Wait until I ve laid out Iceberg Dave, and
then blow, curse you !"

A wild, unearthly scream rent the air and
the ragged ﬁgure leaped forward, a bright blade
ﬂashing in his right hand. He landed fairly
against the breast of Ugly Dan, and struck hard
and sure!

“ You devil! at last I‘ve found you!” he snarl-
ed, savagely.

 

CHAPTER XIII.

THE MAN WITHOUT A BRAIN.

So swift the action, so ﬁerce and deadly the
onset, that not a. band could be lifted tocheck
the maniacal slayer until all was over!

So swift the assault that Dgl Dan himsclf
could not strike a blow in se f-defense, the
armed left hand with which he was threatening
Frank Spartan being driven across his body as
the strange being leaped at his threat, the re-
volver ex loding and sending its lead crashing
through he glittering yramid of glasses piled
on the shelf back of the ar. .

So swift the blow that almost before one of
those present could detect the gleaming . of

lished steel in the lamplight, the avengigg

lade had fallen, to rise again with red b (:
dimmin its luster! Rose to fall for the second
time. gain—and then Frank Spartan twisted
the knife from the hand of the snarling, grating.
foaming slayer, hurling it across the room With
the same motion that inned his arms and tore
him from the sinking gody of his victim.

_ And Ugly Dan, With never a word or groan,
without a sign that told of life Or consciousness,
dropped in a limp and nervelcss heap to the
floor, his red heart’s blood uring out and fenn-
ing a pool just where the. anting shadow of the
bar drew a line across the corner.

The slayer never looked at the man whose
strong arms held him helpless, never cast a
glance around as a dangerous growl ran through
the crowd, distinguishable even through the
ejaculations of horror born of that swift
tragedy. He lared at Ugly Dan with his
eyes ablaze, an not a word camefrom his foam-
tinged 11 until he saw the despeme fall to the
ﬂoor wit out life or motion.

. ‘The devil——the devil is dead! And I killed
him, even who murdered me in the lon ago!”
he cried, ending with a shrill. maniacal; laugh
that caused Frank Spartan, stout-hearted and
steel-nerved though the young sport was, to
shiver and feel his ﬂesh creep!

“ Plum‘ craz , or I‘m a howlin‘ liar right from
headquarters? came in loud, clear tours from
the Terror as he stopped a little nearer the assas-
sin and his captor, facing the swaying, mutter-
ing crowd.

And then, in low tones that alone met the ear
of Frank Spartan, so cunningly uttered that the
closest observer could not have detected the
motion of lips or throat, he hastily added:

“ Ef you don’t want him lynched off-hand,

 

boas, show your grit! Call our fri‘nds to back
us. or we’re gone up in a ho y minnit!”

Frank Spartan heard and comprehended,
acting promptl '. Those ﬁrst words had so
wholly exp the thought—conviction, rather
—that ﬂashed across his own brain. This crea-
ture was surely insane, and if so, he should not
be murdered without a trial.

With a swift movement he swung the slayer
around and through the open archwa leadin
into the gambling room roper, his ft han
still grasping the mass 0 rags. his right ﬁlled
with a revolver as he held it up with a warning
gesture that checked in its birth the rush that
would almost mirely have ended in the death of
the stranger.

“ Don’t be in a rush, gentlemen! The whole
night’s before us in which to settle this unfortu-
nate affair. I in open to hear reason, and I trust
you all are in the same sweet etc to of mind. But
whatever you do, don’t crowd!"

Not so much the words or tones as the darn
face and the dangerous li ht in those jetty orbs.
They warned the exci crop d that any such
crowding must be at their expense.

Before they could get at the slayer. they must
ﬁrst down this sport. unless they (in se to I-rcak
down the frail partition and so make rocm to
act in too great for any one man to ard
against. And almost before they (ould think of
this method, the Ho“ ler stepped mid“ ay be-
tween, his back to Frank Spartan, his face to
them, both hands armed and ﬁght written in
every line and feature, ringing out in every tone
of his deep voice.

“ Fer crowdin’ is onpcrllte, eats, an’ them ‘3
what I never could stan'. no ow an’ nowa s!
No crowdin', or the ‘s goin’ to be jest the behest

icnic right here t at ever Good Leather tee'd
in the hull course 0‘ her pussonal ’speriW
amen!”

The ﬁerce, unreasoning lust for blood which
sooftcn ﬁnds birth in t 9 Fight of blood, was
checked but not quenched. Dark and ugl
looks; deep and savage growlings that migh ,
at any morrcnt burst forth into a run- that
would be stiﬂed only in death; nervous hands
gripping deadly ,weapons, waiting on] for a
leader—only for a movement that won d lreak
the peculiar spell which nearly always markathe
ﬁrst moments of such an uprising.

Swiftly the eyes of Frank Spartan roved over
the faces before him. He showed no signs of
fear or dismay, though he saw that even those
on whose blind aid and backing he. could usual]
count without asking, were to the full as mac
affected by that strange, unreasonin lust for
blood as the most intimate friends an mates of
the despeme who lay weltering in his blood at
the end of the bar. And only now did be fully
realize the difﬁculty of the task he had taken
upon himself. But not a sign of all this ap-
peared in his face or voice as he spoke up.
clear and ﬁrm, but with the air of (hue “to
asks only a. reasonable argument before coming
to blows. I

“ Time enough and to are, gentlemen, since

'on see I have faktn c arge of the man who
illed Ugly Dan. He cannot cacape if he was
to make the attem t. I will be rrsronsible for
him, while you an I try to decide whether or
no he was 'ustiﬁed in the act."

“He kil ed Dan—kill him to make it even!"
growled one of the mates of the slain dearer-do,
a vicious-looking knife glittering in his era as
he made a font ard movement, only to need in-
voluntarily, as it secmed. before the pisz of
Jonathan, who indignantly. cried:

"I like a hog, but you’re a hull slaughter-
house full, you air! Ain’t one cold corpus
cucugh fer to make you a squar’ meal! Want
to depcpylafe all Good Leather in one night?
Cain’ cave even a free lunch fer ponerityl.
Billy-be-darncd at you ain’t heap uni-s than a‘
John Pigtail at a rat barbecue—you be!"

If Howling Jonathan expected ton ake a point
by raising a lath at the other’s expense. he was
disappointed. The aﬂ'air had passed that stage,
and sterner arguments were needed tocheck the
longing for blood.

Frank Spartan saw this, and though he still
guarded the entrance to the gaming-room with
unﬂinching nerve, his voice grew still more
placable.

“.I don’t want to have trouble with you,

ntlemcn, but simply to get at the bottom

acts. We can look at the matter windy and
come to some equitable decision surely !”

“ Ain’t it plain as the nose on your face, an i”
indignantly added Hebrew, his red fa(e turning,
still redder. his eyes ﬂaming vividlv as he
ticulated with his armed hands. “Didn’t gly
Dan lend him the lran 0’ his boot right whar he
lived? An‘ for why? Was the era critter
trompin’ onto an 0’ his pet corns? as he do-
in’ any harm? ct a durn bit, fella-citizens!
Jest takin’ a look at the sweet mug of him to
try an’ 'ze a long lost brother! That’s
what ! An’ :1 kick—think of it, gents! A
k-i-c--k. boot-leather!” and his whole form secm~
ed to shrink and collapse with utter hu ' ' tion
at having to utter the shameful words. I

Only for a moment. then he drew his form
erect, swelling out with hot indignation in voice,
face and every member.

“Ablowferakick! An' who‘atostan’upin

I

 

 

22

Howlingjonathan-

 

 

 

the light whar his 1' eller—critters kin see his dirty
face an’ say he wouldn’t ’a’ done the same thing
or bu’st a. ’spendcr tryin’? I want to see him
step out afore the rest right here, an’ say as
much. An’ then I want to go off an‘ die fer
bein’ in the same fashion as sech a whelp—I
do fer a shameful fact, gentlemen!”

“Talk’s cheap, but that won’t bring Dan
Bennison back to life again!” muttered one of
his friends.

“I had to do it—I had to kill him, even as
he killed me, long years ago!” uttered that -
culiar, shrill, yet not musical voice now t at
the insane frenzy had partially died out.

Frank Spartan had been watchiu the effect
of the iude argument used by the ‘crror, un-
til he spoke of looking for a long—lost brother.
Then it seemed to him as though a wondrous
revelation had burst upon his mental vision!
And with pale, trembling, working features he
turned to stare at the stranger.

He thrilled from head to foot as he looked,
striving to realize what sort of face that mi ht
he were the matted hair cut away, the ‘rt
and ime washed off. the cheeks ﬁlled out and
the ght of reason restored to those sunken
eyes. And that thrill rew into a feeling but
little short of awe as e fancied—was it only
fancyi—he could trace there a likeness, faint,
but still a likeness, to Amelia Moskau!

What if it should be so? What if this r
creature was indeed the long lost Franz Mos an!
It was barely possible. and for the moment for-
getting the danger which threatened more and
more strongly with the passing of each instant,
be bent forward and breathed the name of
Franz Moskau in the ear af the wild-looking
creature.

Only to step back with a sinking at his heart,
for not a trace of emotion or of recognition
came into those sunken eyes.

It was then that the slayer of Ugly Dan

 

J

i

moved forward until he could look out upon the ‘
crowd that thirsted for his blood, and slowly, :

vacantly uttered those words.

Frank S \artan put out a hand to push him
back, but then paused. It was a forlorn hope,
but still. it might be of service. Surely even a
mob would not lynch a lunatic!

“ An eye for an eye—a. lifc fora life!” uttered .
the stranger, seeming to waken under the sav- -

age glare ﬁxed upon him by those who were
crouching to leap at his throat. "“ He murdered
me by inches! He tortured me for a es and
ages. before be murdered me outright! 6 took
out my poor aching brain and ﬁ led my skull
with mingled fire and ice! Did any of you ever
have your brain taken from you by a cruel,
merciless enemy? Do you know how unutter-
ably horrible it is to feel that you are not like
other men—to know that you are still living
even while dead, long ago? Do you know what
frightful agony itis to be doomed to wander
through the Wide world over until you ﬁnd the
devil—there he lies!” with a sudden intensity
that sent a cold chill through many veins, as he
pointed one trembling ﬁnger at the corpse lying
on the floor.

Frank Spartan caught the maniac by the arm
as he seemed on the point of leaping upon the

dgz‘g-rado in which he seemed to recognize his thou h
d _

oyer.
“You hear, gentlemen?” he cried, his e es
lowing, his voice clear and ringing. “ ou
know now why this poor creature killed Ugly
Dan! You can see that his poor brain is unset—
tled by—”

“Gone!” moaned the madman, clasping his
head with his claw-like ﬁngers, utter woe writ-
ten on his haggard features. “Lost! A man
without a brain! Pity me, good people! Pity
me and tell me where thatdevil hid my brain!
See!" and despite the grip of the young man he
dropped to his knees in the archway. clasping
his nds, tears streaming from his sunken eyes.
“ I kneel to you, even as used to kneel to the
good God above befch I was robbed of my
brain! Tell me where I can ﬁnd it and so (lie in
peace! It is so hard to live on like this! I am

so weary of m cruel sentence! Give me back

my brain, and et me die!"

‘3 voice died away in a choking sob. His
head droo , his hands crossing over his hollow
chest, an hot tears dropped to the sanded floor,
sparkling like gems in t e lam light.

His were not the only 9 es hat dimmed and
ﬁlled with moisture, rare y seen when men are
facing each other With deadly weapons drawn
to take life.

His own sight dim and blurred, Frank Spar-
tan felt that the worst was passed, that the poor
creature was out of danger, so far as lynch law
was concerned. But then a harsh, choking
voice broke the silence:

“ Too durned thin! That trick’s saved its last
murderer while I‘m nigh enough to strike a lick
for a fri’nd like Ugl Dan!”

Better for him not for his hopes of vengeance
had he acted before speaking. His savage
words ut Jonathan on his guard, and as the
fellow ung up his pistolvhand for a shot at the
kneeling slayer. the Holy Terror leaped forward
and knocked the wea 11 ug just as it exploded,
then the fe low y hip and throat,
heaving h to into the air above his head, holding

!

l

!

 

him thus a moment before hurling him head-
long through the open door, grating ﬁercely:

“Go an tell ’em we‘re comin‘, you bloody
cur!"

And almost before his actions could be realiz-
ed, the red-haired cyclone leaped back to where
he had dropped his pistols, snatching them up
and facing the startled crowd with face inﬂam-
ed, e es aglow, voice full of stern resolution.

“ hat was a dirty cur, an’ if I’d bed plenty

0’ time to waste, I reckon I’d ’a’ disgraced my r
i at him, all of you!” he cried with thrilling ai'--

bringin’ up by takin’ off his man y hide fer to
’izen coyotes with! But time I idn’t hev, fer
I) want to reason with all the rest 0’ you bloody
hounds that itch to murder a crazy man fer act-
iugr the part of a white man! I want to see ye
step out, one by one, or all in a heap together.
I kin wipe the ﬂoor up with two dozen of the
breed, an’ take a nap while I’m doin’ of it! I’m
talkin’ to the critters that want to hang a crazy
man, mind ye, not to the decent part 0’ the
crowd. Them I invite to step for’ard an’ do

themselves white by standin’ b the right!”
Frank Spartan saw that t is characteristic
h was not without its effect on a portion of

t e crowd and quickly added:
“ And Fm backing what Howling John says,
ntlemen! You may be able to ride us both,
at not without some tall bucking! And wh

should you try it? We don’t ask that on whof:
ly clear this poor devil of murder. e only ask
that you give him a fair chance—that you let

the matter rest until morning, when we will all '

be cooler-brained than we are at resent.
Then, if it be proven that he is nota unatic,
and so irresponsible for his actions, I will be the
last man to stand betWeen him and the punish-
ment due his crime. But if you try to rush him
into eternity without giving him a chance for
his stake, I’ll be too co (1 to take any further in-
terest in the matter.”

“ Me, too!” chimed in the Howler, with a
touch of his wanted humor. “ An’ of on don’t
hev to send outside 0‘ Good Leather er hands
enough to do the up—haulin’ of that critter, then
me an’ my pard ’ll lose our appetite heap sooner
than we ever did afo’ in a circus! An’ it’s
Howlin’ Jonathan Hebrew, the Terror from
Headwaters that slings this bit of a sermon at
ye, honeys!”

“ To on, my friends and old pards, I appeal,”
added partan, followin up the charge Without
giving t 6 other side a c ance to make a count—
er-p01 t. “ You know me. and know that I try
my level best to not white as I know how. You
know that I would not defend an assasﬁn; and,
when I swear to you that I believe this poor
devil is really craz , and therefore not account-
able for what he ( oes, you will give me credit
for honesty at least.”

“ Glory to the ram!" howled Jonathan, assev-
era] of the men stepped forward with empty
hands at this appeal. “ Step up tothe mourners’
benchh all ye who hope to be saved, for in a
minnit more I’m goin for to 't in a weavin‘
way that I’ll fresco t ese wal s with gore an’
brains an’ tangled up ha’r tell you cain’t rest fer
the night—mar’ it’ll give ye!”

Frank Spartan frowned darkly, despite this
acquisition to his allies, as he saw by far the
greater portion of the crowd closing to other as

or concerted action. He saw t iat those
who ad followed the lead of Perry Blair were
uniting with the friends of Ugly Dan, and this
told him an effort would almost surel be made
to repay! him for the stinging de ance with
Xﬁiich he had so recently cowed them one and

On] for that wild hope born of the words ut-
tered y the Terror in grim mockery, Frank
Spartan would have greeted this fact with a
certain degree of ﬁerce satisfaction. The life he
had led for months past made him just ﬁt for a
death~grapple where the odds were all a ainst
him. And if he could have known tha this

r devil was not the long missing Franz Mos-
au, he would have made no further effort to
stave off the collision which must come sooner
or later.
\ But that hope, faint and chimerical though he
could not help telling himself it was, gave him
stren h to smother the ﬁerce temptation. He
thou t of the old blind man. He thought of
Ame la, and thinkin of her brought the mem-
ory of the vow she (1 made when be pressed
her to marry him. .

“Not while father lives, if Franz is dead.
Not until we ﬁnd him if living, or his grave if
he is dead as I sadly fear, my good friend!
I love you, but my duty comes ﬁrst. Bring me
my poor brother, and then—it shall be as you
w 11, my love!”

Those were her words, uttered broken! and
with tears that told how difﬁcult she foun it to
give them utterance; but this very fact lent
them double strength of purpose. She would
never break that vow.

If this should prove to be the long-lost son and
brother! If he could take 'him to them, even
though hsi‘iiﬁpoor brain was shattered by the
frightful erings which he must have under-
gone before he could have become such an utttr
wreck, would she not listen to him then!
XVould he not receive his reward for all he had

one?

All this pulled through his brain with wonder-

ﬁ

|
, ful rapidit , and he warmly greetedtherecniitec
v to the g cause.
“ I thank you, my friends,” he hastily mutter—
: ed, still watching t e movements of the enemy.
for now the lines which divided the crowd were
being rapidly drawn plain and distinct, Howling
‘ Jonathan enthusiastically welcoming each fresh
1 “mourncr” as they came forward. “It is nu

i a murderer 1 ask you to aid me in defending.

but a poor madman who has but taken a just
and holy vengeance on a merciless devil' Look

dcr, as he lifted the poor wreck to his feet and
held him facing those scowling faces.

“ Is that the face—are those the eyes of sober
reason? Are not they signs of long and horrible
! torture? Ay! I tell you to your teeth, you men

who stand up for yonder lump of carrion! I
I tell you that he richly deserved his fate, even

 

I though it had been a thousand-fold more bitter!)
|

I say that this poor wretch was fully justiﬁed
in killing him as he did! Now make the most of
that. vou bulldo s!”

 

the stranger. “He took away mv brain and
cursed me to wander the wide world over with-
out rest until I could discover the lace where he
hid it. It was cruel—so cruel!

! a man without a brain! 0 cry and pray aloud
! for death to come to you as the sweetest boon
mortal man can receive! To only one devil in

human shape. would I decree such a monstrous

‘ doom—and he is dead! I killed him! But 1,
had to do it! I had to do it!”

per. his sunken eyes resting on the bed lying

ity, it might have been found in the fact that
never once did he notice the threatening attitude
of his enemies, never once show fear or interest
in their uglly mutterings, their growing threats.

The How er had listened intently to this wild
speech, his gray eyes keean riveted on the face
of the stranger, and now 0 turned once more
toward the o _ .ing party, his voice hard and
resolute, thong his words were couched in his
peculiar phraseology.

of you ain’t clean blind idjits, ou know that
he’s crazier then a bed—bug in a (Issarted cabin.
But I ain’t keerin’ a cop er dam! I ain’t crazy
myself, but ef you’re and set on I nchin‘ a
era critter. I’ll play I was the best I in.

“ take all the ’sponsibility onto my own self ‘
fer what that pore critter done. Ef he hedn‘t
wiped that blot of! o’ the face of the airth, I‘d
’a’ done it in self. That makes me jest as guilty
as you take im to be. An’ Pm your mutton—-
with wool a yard lon and horns ﬁt to blow
down the walls 0’ Jeric 0! Come an’ see me!
Do come, dum ye!”

Frank Spartan stepped forward and tap i
tge Cilavorting Terror on the shoulder, sayifg
s a v:

“rWhile we will ﬁght if we can’t get along
without it, we are not be ginga row, my friend.

crow ing comes. if come it oes.”

Jonathan laughed a little sheepishly, as he re»
sponded:

“ I je‘t wanted to get ’em piled onto me, boss,
so’s you could sashay right out o’ the door to a
safe spot—you know whar!”

“We are going out, all the same,” and at a
gesture of his hand his friends closed around the

remainder with weapons drawn and faces telling

ed to carry out their orders.

Frank Spartan glanced keenly at the enemy,
then said coldly: '

“ You heard my words but that there may be
no excuse for a misunderstanding, I repeat
them, We are going out of that door, peace--
ably if we can, t going out! If we ﬁnd the
way clear, so much t e better 5 if not, then we'll
eat a road through or die making our teeth meet
in the ﬂesh! Now you’ve got it, straight as a.
string! Ready, lads! don’t shoot unless you
have to, butthen shoot to kill !”

“Who talks about shooting in my place!"
cried a cold, stern voice.

CHAPTER XIV.
soon}: 01m FOR ICEBERG DAVE.

Acnoss the threshold of The Mint ste pad Ice-
be Dave, pausing and glancin {gem me
pa to the other, as though to rea the actual
facts of the case in their faces.

His hands hung easily at his sides, empty of
weapons. nor were any such visible to the eye.
though all who knew the cool sport of Good

 

"arms arose, the proprietor of The Mint would be
amplv supplied from some source.

“Who ks of shooting in In place?” he
again demanded, his tones even an smooth, but
plainly meaning business of the strictest sort.
“ I do the shootin for this establishment, I want
you to understan .”

Not the faintest show of angry bluster. The
tones smooth and ea , then b so clear-cut and
distinct. The white ca m and immobile as

 

“I ‘had to kil him!” mechanically repeated-

, ay you never-
! suffer as that devil doomed me to suffer! May‘
5 you never know what fri htful agony it is to be!

His voice sunk away into an incoherent whisw

there in its gore. He could see nothing e se, and-
if any further proof was wanted as to his mean—-

“You hear what the critter says, gents, an"

Save our breath to bee your licks when the»

madman, two men holding fast to his aims. the”

plainer than open words how ﬁrmly they intend—-

 

Leather at all, knew that when the occasion for'

‘ A; .J-

 

 

 

Fl

 

 

‘ was .‘   

 

Howling Jonathan.

’23

 

 

though its owner was uttering the merest com-
monplaccs in the midst of his dearest friends,
instead of facing nearly two—score hot-headed
menz who had weapons drawn and their evil
possmns wrought up to fever-heat.

Only in those big gray eyes could be seen any-
thin like menace. A yellowish light was shin-
ing t ere, and these who knew this icy sport the
best, felt an uneasy thrill as they beheld that
ris' signal-ii ht.

“ hat ens critter killed Ugly Dan!" growl-
ed one of the dead desperado’s friends, shaking
a grimy ﬁst toward the stran er.

“ It was blow for blow, an Bennison struck
ﬁist,” as promptly cried Frank Spartan. “ But

all we‘re standing up for is a fair trial, as ‘5

against mob rule. If our man is goved guilty
by responsible parties after a fair ‘aring, we’ 1
be the last to stand between him and punish-
mcnt.”

“ But you cain’t railroad him over the range
’thont a show, onless 'ou buck this hull rijiment
of! o’ the track—an‘ wouldn’t give a pinch 0’
last year’s frost for your ole oowcatcher when
the job’s jobbed, nuther! It won‘t pla pilot
never no more, it won’t!” added the owler
with an em hatic nod, by way of emphasis.

Swiftly t 036 big gra eyes roved from face

to face as each man spo e, then pamed on until I,
the rested on the prostrate ﬁgure lying in a

pool of dark blood, in the angle formed by the
partition and the bar. The yellow light deepen-
ed to red, as though it caught a reﬂection from
the lof blood. The thin lips parted enough
to s ow a line of white below the drooping mus-
taches. But in nothing else did Iceberg Dave
betray emotion, thong into his hands there
somehow came a. brace of revolvers, grim and
business-like, :.s he spoke coldly:

“ Keep your places, gentlemen, or somebody’s
going to get hurt. on all know what laws
govern The Mint. One of those laws has been
broken, and I‘m going to et at the bottom facts
of the case before a son of you all stira foot
front or back. You know me. I reckon!”

He strode forward and bent over the dead
man, yin no attention to the angry men
whom e ha so boldly bearded, even threaten-
ed. And it is probe. 316 that to this very care-
less contempt Iceberg Dave owed his immunity
so lon . His cold contempt of danger rendered
him a most death-proof.

Only a few moments were spent in the ex-
amination, but they were uite suﬁicient to
satisf the experienced sport t t Ugly Dan was
indeeddead. The avenging blade had literally
cleft his heart in twain. And cold, calm asever,
he rose erect, turning toward the man behind the
bar, saying:

“ You must have seen the whole aﬁair, Harry.

/ How did it begin, and who deserves the blame?” .
Brieﬂy, but with sufficient clcamess, Head- .,

light Harry described the event, and none who
listened to him could say that he showed par-
tiality to either side.

“ It was a blow for a kick,” interposed Frank
Spartan, as the barkoepcr concluded, “ but we
don’t hold altogether by that, ample cause though
it was. This poor fellow is crazy as a Icon, and
it would berank murder to hold him accountable
for what he has done.”

“ Crazy be darned!” came with a savage snarl
from the opposmg party.
derer ain’t crazgj e you take the say—so of his
frﬁndgl Ugly an was white, clean through,
an —

” Will you stick a in right there, Croakerf”
coldly interposed Ice _rg Dave, emphasizing his
,- by a rapid shifting of his revolver-muzzle.

“' gly Dan was clean white? Hell’s deepest pits :

never contained a blacker, ﬁler, more utterly
despicable wretch than this sameangel of light-—
according to your gospel!”

For the ﬁrst time since his an rance on the
scene of trouble, Iceberg Dave 8 owed outward
signs of heat, of anger and excitement. And
though the lips of the growling mate of the dead
d. rado parted to utter a retort, he thought
wear of it when he saw that white face show
twin spots of red on the cheeks. He shrunk
back, trembling, though ordinarily a bold fellow

enou h.

“ 1% isn’t often I speak hard words of the dead
even when those words are truth boiled downﬁ
added the sport, his voice suddenly resuming its
wanted calnmesa, though the danger signals still
glowed in his eyes and on hischeeks. ‘

well I know that after what has happened is
da , yonder carrion would never have come here
unless on the war-path.” . .

“ He swore you crippled him— shot him from
behind I” _ _

“ And so I did,” was the cool admismon that
caused a murmur of wonder to break from the
law-and-order party, a deeper, more signiﬁcant

w] from those who opposed them. “ And :
’ll tell you why I ﬁred that shot. When I have I

done so, if Ugly Dan hasany friends present who
think he didn’t get off with far less punishment
than he deserved, I’ll give them a chance to get
even on his account.

“ He and two other di whelps were making
sport of a poor, weak, ag blind man, and abus-
ing his young daughter—a lady, if ever them
was one come to Good Leather?

“What bloody mur- ;

But I’ve 1
got to do so now, in justice to myself, for ri ht l

I A sharp cry escaped from the lips of Frank
Spartan, and he took a step forward, his face
white and hard, his jetty eyes ﬂamin , but paused
as Iceberg Dave raised his free han with acom-
maii'lt‘lling gesturl'e.d rd h

‘ ie oung a y met no inj , a , t anks
to Mrs. Watkins, who t'ortunatgllg: chanced to be
riding out that way. She heard screams, and
caught the drop on the dirty cur. She held it,
too. though Ugly Dan managed to cover her
With his gun, while holding the girl as a safe-
: guard for his worthless carcass The widow

vowed she would shoot him if he didn’t clear out
I before she could count ten. He swore he’d drop
; her from the saddle as her lips formed the word
nine. He meant it, too; but even his ugly face
and dirty threats couldn’t frighten the little
woman who is an honor and an ornament to
I Good Leather !”
' “ Be durncd ef she ain’t, now!” enthusiastic-
lally cried Jonathan, castin a vengeful glare
‘ toward the corpse. “ An’ ’m only wishin’ we

bed a. ’lectric battery right here so’s we mought

bring that low-down critter to life ag‘in ling
. enou h fer each one 0’ this outﬁt to lend him a
l punc right—be durned ef it don’t make me gag
i up my boots, jest to think! The widder! that
' little angel with the ﬁddlesqueezer! He—Ugly
Dan—good Lawdl”

Utterly unable to do 'ustice to the subject
Jonathan tore off his d' nidated felt hat and
ﬂung it to the ﬂoor, liftin his foot as though to
stamp it through the plaiﬁm, only to pause ab-
ruptly, shaking his head in supreme disgust as
he muttered:

“ Twigple the old louse-c‘ age—fer sech as him?
Be durn of it wouldn’t be too much honor fer
the likes 0‘ him, so it would 1’"

 

I Iceberg Dave here with this interrn ition
‘ calm] enough. He knew his hearers, and 'new

that Just such touches of nature as this went a

, lon w y with them.
I “ chanced to come up just at this junctur

e
and I sent a blue pill through the cnr’s paw. I
could have downed him for ood just as easily,
but I wanted to make him c aw dirt as far as I
could. And he did it, too, big ﬁghting man and
might chief as Ugly Dan claimed to be! I
made im get down on his knees and beg par-
don of bot-h ladies. I turned him loose, to go
his way, for the time being; but I meant to look

‘ hes to come on eit er ’count.

him up and put him beyond the power of insult- .

ing ladies for the future. For that reason I am
sorry he has met his fate, and for that reason
alone.”

Frank Spartan steamed forward and grasped
his hand with warmt .

“ I thank you, Dave, for what you have done.
Miss Moskau is my promised wife, and a favor
done to her is a favor done to me. Be sure I’ll
not forget it very soon 1”

" Holy

enemy showed no haste in following, either
owing to the arguments of Iceberg Dave, or the
parting hint conveyed bi Howlin Jonathan.

Frank Spartan led t e way inect for the
shanty in which Perry Blair was conﬁned, feel-
ing almost certain that he would yet have to do
battle with the friends of Ugly Dan and the
gambler before day dawned. And he had seen
enough of the detective and his aids toknow that
the would be prime allies in a ﬁght.

he Howler, as they passed out of sight of
The Mint without any signs of pursuit, hastened
his footsteps and gained the side of Frank Spar-
tan, hurriedly uttering:

“ I reckon you ketched my hint, pard, when I
said the uicker you got the pore critter to a
safe s t t e better?”

“ on meant the house where Perry Blair is
conﬁned?"

“ Fer sure! An’ I reckon it won’t do no hurt
fer me to mosey on ahead fer to explanify a bit,
or them ’tective critters mought take us fer a
gang come to bounce ’em ’count 0’ Blair."

“ You are a friend of theirs, then?” pointedly
asked Spartan.

“Friend 0’ the law, ruther, pard,” laughed
Jonathan, ressing on at a rapid pace that quick-
ly carried im out of sight in the shadows.

To give the Holy Terror ample time to pave
the way, and seein no signs of pursuit, Frank
Spartan .modera his cc, and when the
party came in sight of t e stone house, they
caught sight of the Howler hastening toward
them, waving his right hand. Taking it fora
signal to ha t, they did so, but the red-headed
cyclone laughed as he came up.

“ It’s right as right can be, pard. Them ‘tec—
tive fellers is white as human critters gen’ally
git to be, an’ they says they’ll not only lend ye
the loan of a bunk fer Ugly Dan’s layer-out, but
they’ll agree to we ﬁghtin’ with e ef trouble
ow does that
strike ye, ards?”

“ It’s a ittle one-sided, but we‘re not going
to split straws,” laughed Spartan shortly.
“The ﬁrst ob' t is to get this poor fellow an.
der cover. A ter that, we’ll do our part. Eh,
mates?”

There was a prompt and cheerful response.
Men who would shirk a ﬁght would hardly have
ventured to espouse a cause so hopeless as this
one had looked at ﬁrst.

“ Ef it only comes—which is what’s troublin"
me heai‘p sight the wu’st jest now!” 'nned the

error, smacking his lips lou y as he led
the way on to the extcmporined prison.

They were met a few paces from the entrance

I by the tall detective, who asked a few questions

as to what had happened, then keenly scruti—

; nized the man without a brain.

“ You Owe me nothing, Mr. S rtan,” was the i

cold, almost rude reply, and ere was no an-
swering ressure, no friendliness in those gray
eyes. ‘ simply rformed my du then, just
as I am going to o my duty now. at was to

ladies in distress, this is a duty I owe myself and ,
; of this nameless man. “ I believe he is one for

the house I have sworn to run on white princi-

ples. You can’t ﬁght in here. Decide your

quarrels after your own fashion, but do it out-

man who ﬁres a shot or strikes a blow this side
the threshold yonder!”

Frank Spartan uttered a light laugh as he
stepped back and joined his little party. feeling
far more conﬁdent now than he had a few min-
. utes before. Even as a neutral, Iceberg Dave

was a power in the land.

sport‘s hand before it could he guarded, crying
enthusiastically: '
“ White as they make ’em, pardl an’ be durn~

the sort 0’ kittens I’m lookin’ r, an’ when we
git this little tangle sorter straightened out, I’m
comin’ back to make ya a call fer pure fun or
man ducats, to see which is the high-muck-a-
muc 0’ Good Leather from this time on! Be
durned of I ain’t now 1"

“You’ll ﬁnd me at home, I reckon,” was the
cold retort as Iceberg Dave shock of! the warm
gnp, adding:

 

I and acoomm 7

l  cfrazyth fellow of yd0u1;:,gill tr and see the
0 e compan o -

pass them byp y n  you as you

enemy.

Howlin Jonathan was the last to tbedOOI'
and turnigg he said: pm ’

“ Ef I was you, gents, I don’t reckon I’d be in

not I’d hev to ax ye to tote rt 0‘]
long!’
yards to the rear of the escort,

 

-. .ﬂ,’ Ips‘../"4‘ v4.3 _.

by

on pistol,

“ I am satisﬁed. Mr. Spartan,” he ﬁnally at,
tered, quietly. “ Come with me, and I’ll let you

, inside with your friend.”

“ That is what I most desire,” hastily utte‘ ed
Frank, his voice a triﬂe unsteady as he recurred
to those wild incredible fancies which had ﬂash-
ed across his rain when he ﬁrst noticed the face

whom I have been searching a long time, and if
I could is alone with him where there was a

Side. I swear to put daylight through the ﬁrst  light, I think I might learn the truth!”
I
l

i
Jonathan ste) forward ras ing the cool 2 then .
‘ ,ped g p ' half-Sing on a blanket spread on the ground

I

ed ef I cain‘t bloody the ear 0’ the man as dast ! chances!
to say you ain’t a chief ‘mong chiefs! That‘s .
e

The detective was unlocking the door while

was speaking, and now ﬂung it Open.

There was a single lantern inside, lighting up
the one rude chamber indistinctly.

At the further end of the room Perry Blair
was sittin on the ﬂoor, his back supported by
the wall, rons were upon his wrists, and strong
bound his ankles together. Near him

floor, was a guard, revolver in hand.
Evidently the detectives meant to run no

His eyes better used to the dim light, Perry
Blair was the ﬁrst to recognize Frank S .artan,
and a savage curse burst from his hrs. e lift-
ed his nianacled hands and shook them until the
short links rattled again. His face was that of
a. demon as he burst out:

“ Curse you, coward—cur! Come to gloat
over your dirty victory, I sup 1 Ba ! I
wouldn’t change places With on or all the gold
in America to boot! Afrai to meet a man——

And now, enﬂemen, if you will be so kind . afraid to stand up for the blow you dealt when I
ting as to take a little walk with j. wasn’t expectin anything of the kind! To save

our cowardly ide, you trumped up this dirty
{rickl But it won‘t save you even though you

add my murder to the list! e boys will see

Frank Spartan led the way, and his friends . that the true story is spread broadcast! They
followod, with the madman in their midst. Not will—"
3 hand Was raised to check them, though many ,
were the sullen, vicious looks cast at them by the

His rage and hatred were too intense to permit
his lips to form another coherent sentence and
he went oﬁ‘ into a stream of. curses and black-

uardism so horrible that the tall detective
feaped igion him and forced a gag between his

jaws. ven then the wretch kept cursing with

any to? big a hurry ’bont follerin' this crowd I glowing eyes!
“E- I mﬁittin’ powerful stiff in the j’ints with l
r eumatickisms, an’ it makes me tired to be ] your ears, r. Spartan,” said thedetecﬁve when
crowded. So durned tired that 'est as like as
m load—say
a couple dozen or two 0’ inc whistlers! So- ly without foundation, 'nst as well aswe do, but
.. somehow he seems to old a particular grudge

He backed out into the night‘lkee‘fing a few against you for some reason.”
, a “ Which I neither know nor care to discov- *
eyes watching the door of The Mint. But the or,” was the cold response. “You unsatisﬁed

“To kee. him quiet, if not for thegoodof

this work was accomplished to his satisfaction.
“ Of course he knows his vile charges are utter-

 

1}

 

‘24

me that you are acting under the law, and that
cancels any claim I might have on the do .
And now, can I have a few minutes alone wit
this poor follow?"

The bland smile vanished and the thin face
hardened, though the voice of the detective was
polite enough as he made reply:

“ It is a ainst our instructions to lose sight of
our game or an instant after it is fairly brou ht
to bag. You need not fear to speak out be ore
Jones. He can be both blind and deaf on oc-
casion.” l

Frank S n knew that it would be useless
to argue a ecision given with that face and in
that tone, so he bowed coldly, and gently led the
man without a brain to the corner furthest re-
moved from the prisoner and his lard. He in-
duced him to sit down on the oor, if such it

: could be called, since it was no more than the
. Bare earth, then passed over and borrowed the

lantern.

He held this so that the rays fell fairly
across the face of the unfortunate being, gazing
at him keenl , striving to again trace the resem-
blance whic he had seen while in The Mint.
Inch by inch, feature b feature, trying to 
them as the mi ht 100 with the hair shaVcn
of! and the s in 0 caused of dirt and grime. And
the faint hope grew more strong—the dinl con-
viction became almost a certainty!

Surely this was the original of the photograph
over which he had pored for hours at a time,
impressi every line every feature indelibly
u n his rain! Surey this was the long-lost

Moskau!

Returnin the lantern, he came back and sat
down besi e the unfortunate man, taking his
hand in his own, tr ing all ﬁx his waiﬁdering
gaze spea ing in sow, cear tones, c oosing
the words which he felt would be the surest to
awaken the memory of the past.

He spoke of the old home pictures of which
Amelia had often drawn for him in their hours
of communion after the weary work and tramp-
ing of the lon days were done telling him ev-
ery little detai until he could c ose his eyes and
see .ic start up before him—as it was before
Franz Went away, before the mother died, be-
fore they were crushed to the earth by trouble
and heart-pain.

But not a sign came into that blank, wan
face or vacant eyes to give him encourage-
ment!

He spoke of the blind minstrel, and of Ame-
lia, his sister. He told of their pathetic h ,
of their weary wanderings in search of t eir
missing dear one. But a this, too, he was

doomed to suffer keenest disap intment. 'At

times the unfortunate man won d look at him
with a vague curiosity, only to turn his wild
eyes away with a low murmur about his miss-

-ing brain, about the devil who killed. him by

stealing it away, condemning him to wander
over the earth a corpse, yet unable to lie down
in a ave where he might ﬁnd rest and ce.

Al his efforts won in vain and ﬁnally nk
Spartan was forced to relinquish his efforts,
though still clin 'ng to the one frail hope
which he had so 0 ten heard fall fromthe lips of
Herman Moskau—music might restore his rea-

son.

For by this time Frank Spartan was ﬁrmly
convinced that he had indeed discovered the
long missing Franz Moskaul

Beggin the detective on guard to keep an
e e on e unfortunate fellow, and enforcing
t s witha handful of gold, Frank rapped on
the door and was permitted to emerge just in
time to see Howling Jonathan come running up
to the party, a broad grin on his face and run-
nin over in his voice as he panted:

“ f the t ain’t beginnin’ to bdil u like
fun, then I on’t want a red cent! Good wd!
but the critters is chawin' Soap an’ chompin’
their teeth wuss than two boars with a stout
fence ’atween ’em!” .

“What have you discovered?” sharply de-
manded the tall detective, who appeared to be
the head of the party.

“’Nough to set my old boots to dancin’ a

lg ef the weight of my trotters didn‘t hold
'em down too tight!” chuckled Howling Jona-
than.
“ Business, if you please, sir!” sharply chided
the detective. “This is no time for fully. If
danger is brewing, the sooner we know it the
better. Plain talk and no exaggeration, mind.”

With a visible ed’ort Howling Jonathan sober-
ed down and terser narrated what discoveries
hehad made on his brief scout. They were quite
enough to bring hard, thoughtful looks into the
faces of all present, save himself. Even while
his face was sober enough, his eyes danced and
sparkled as'though he could conceive nothing

"tter or more to be welcomed than a ﬁght to,

't e death with the lynchers!

, “Be course I didn't put in self too much
for’ard,” he added, with a grim umor that was
nadin understood if not fully appreciated by
those who listened to this re rt. “"I‘hat
mou ,htn’t ’a’ bin good medicine er our side, ye
min l But I see'd an’ hearn a-plenty fer to be
on the safe side 0’ the fence in tellin’ ye that
Good Leather is gittin' up on her car like a
mice! It’s, a sort 0‘ double-bar’led a’fair, ye
see. One gang’s dead sot fer lynchin’ the crazy

 

 

Howling Jonathan.

 

critter fer downin‘ Ugly Dan. while the other is
jest red-hot to set Perry Blair free an’ curry-
comb you fcllers all over fer pickin’ him up so
mighty neat."

‘ They are acting ill concert then?"

“ I should remark! Concert with a hull brass
band to it, now I tell 0, boss!” enthusiasticall
cried Howling Jonat an. “Won’t be no lac
0’ music when the curtain once rolls up, fer
sure! An’ this outfit hes got to do some mighty
tall dancin’ ef it don‘t want to get left ’way be-
hind the chune, too, I’m tellin’ ye, honeys!’

“ Are they divided, or are they going to act as
one gang!” repeated the detective, changing his
mode of expremion for one better suited to the
one addressed.

“One ang fer sart’in,” was the prompt re-
 “ igh as 1 could make out, they was some

t in the outﬁt when I sce’d ’em, an’ of I ain’t
Wl( e mistook, they’re waitin' fer more to come
in. Oh, they’ll be a—plcnty for to go ’round,
don‘t you fret, pard! Won’t be no need 0’ an
0’ this crowd goin’ hungry for lack 0’ good,
tough chawin‘—no, sir 1“

CHAPTER XV.
ICEBERG DAVE MAKES ins REPORT.

Tamar: was no answer made to the blunt hint
which Howling Jonathan made on the threshold
of The Mint. Those to whom it was more par-
ticularly addressed, just then had eyes and ears
only for Good Leather’s cool sport.

Iceberg Dave held them under a spell, as it
were, an while he chose to hold them thus,
they were little more than mute and jointless
pu pets, subject wholly to his will.

e would have been more or less than man

 

had he not felt a Certain degree of pleasure in 1

this exhibition of his ullar power, but not a
sign of such appear in his white, cold face.
Sternly erect he stood before the cowed men,
istols in hand, his big gray eyes roving swiftly
rom face to face as though watching for the
ﬁrst symptom of rebellion. But none such were
to be seen. The cold, white-faced sport was too
thorough] understood for that, and though
they mus have known that a single concerted
movement would have put him beyond the
power of interferingggain, they also knew that
death would surely the portion of those who
made the ﬁrst move against him.

As though to fully prove his power, Iceberg
Dave held them thus for fully one minute before
he spoke a n, and even then his words were
such that t e party did not care to take the
risk of breaking away without hearing him
through.

“ As I spoke plainly to that tgang, gentlemen
so I’ll give you words with e bark on, an
straight as hough ou found them inside the
Bikle. If any of t em scratch too deep for
comfort, la it to your mistake in tryin to
turn The int into a bear-garden. Outsii e, I
have nothing to say. ,You might ﬁght from
now until the crac of doom for all I care.
But in these four walls my wo is law, and I’m
ludggzﬁm'y, sheriff, and executioner, all com-

m .

“ Was we to stan’ by an’ see Ugly downed like
that, with never a word or look, even?” growled
Jack Croaker.

“ The less you say about Daniel Bennison to
me, my dear fellow, the more apt you will be to
live long enough to see him safe y planted," Ice
berg1 Dave soft] retorted, showing his white
teet in a smile t t was even more to be avoid-
ed than the blackest sc0wl, when comin from a
man of his nature. “I had im rtant usiness
that ke t me occu ied,until a it ago, or that
crazy ellow wo d never have been quick
enough to down Ugly Dan. I counted him my
meat, for insultin a lady whom all Good
Leather is proud to onor, love and respect.

“ Ugly Dan led the life of a brute, and I am
Eiad he died the death of a dog, my on] regret

in that another hand than mine sen him to
the evil his master. But I’ll take the responsi-
bility, anyway. And if Ugly Dan’s friends
want to avenge his death you can send them to
me for ﬁnal settlement. Is that sufﬁciently
clear, gentlemen?”

“ It’s that cuss who pla ed crazy we want,
not a white man like you , Iceberg,” sullenly
muttered Croaker.

“ Well, you can go and take him, for all I
care,” was the cool reply. “After you cross
my threshold, I have no further jurisdiction.
You can lynch half of Good Leather for aught
I care; be sure I’ll never lift a ﬁnger to hinder
you from stretching the neck of that crazy fool,
or even Frank Spartan, for that matter.”

The dark, sullen faces began to lighten up,
and there was a faint show of raising a cheer
to reward the magnam’mous owner of The
Mint, but Iceberg Dave uclched this with a
single motion of his armed and.

“ Get down to solid business just as soon as
best pleases you, gentlemen, but don’t cut in
ahead of the hearse. Crodker, The Mint has no
further use for a stiff of Ugly Dan’s dimensions.
You and his other pards want to tote him out of
this, first off, or he may meet with less consider-
ate treatment. You sabe f”

In silence the burl rufﬂan and his chosen
mates picked up the astly burden and bore it
out’ into the night. ceberg Dave watched them

 

v' "Alas: «‘5:

coldly until the body was lost to view, then he
turned and entered the gambling-room, a slight
signal summoning the barkeeper and the taro-
dealers to his side.

In low, guarded tones he whispered to than
for a few moments, then tumed again to the
saloon, where only a few members of the for-
mer crowd remained. In cold, measured tuna
he spoke to them:

" As the I are white article for us all, gentle-
men, it is only fair that I tell lyou I have given
my boys strict orders to mar down the name
of every man who cuts up rusty in The Mint to-
night. I’ve got a little lsusinem on hand which
must be prom tly attendedlto, but when I have
gotten that o my hands, I‘m coming back to
glance over the list the boys make. And I’ll
pa it off, if my sand holds cut lon euo "

hat was all, but it was am e. A who
heard him knew that any one who engaged in
another row at the saloon that night would
have to make ample amends or else rub Iceberg
Dave out slick and clean!

Apparently David had nothing to conceal, or
else felt perfectly secure against being followed
through curiosity as to what important business
he could have on hand for that evening for he
strode direct to My House, entering the her and
ofﬁce combined, asking for Colonel Joel Malli—
son: was be within?

“ Up in his rtfxgn, 9,1; he bain’t gone out with-
out m seein 0 im, was the row t rcspome
of thcxough-looking lad-of-all-wp01‘k,pbefom the
barkeeper could speak.

“ He always leaves the key to his room with
me, when he oes out, and as he hasn’t done so
this evening, reckon ou’ll ﬁnd him up in his
room, Dave,” added t e barkeeper. ‘ Shall I
send up—”

“ Never mind—I know my way, and won‘t
trouble you,” smiled the cool sport as he turned
and left the room by a door opening into the
narrow passage which also contained the ﬂight
of stairs leading to the second story.

As he emerged from the ofﬁce, he caught sight
of widow Mercy Watkins standing at the door
of the back parlor, one ﬁnger on her lips as
though warnin him to silence and caution, then
beckoning to him. He instantly glided toward
her, following her into the room in which we
last saw her with Frank 8 rtan.”

“ I heard you asking or the colonel?" she
whis )ered, guardedly.

“ es, but he can wait ” was the quick repl ,
the big in eyes beginning to glow and kindle
as they ady once before that day.

There was what seemed a reﬂected glow in her
brown eyes. but before Iceberg Dave could as-
sure himself of this, the long lashes drooped and
she spoke softly:

“I wish to ask a very particular favor of you,
Mr. Ingram—”

“It is granted beforehand,” was the nick in-
terjection. “My time, hand, lif are at
your service, Mercy!”

“ After you have seen the colonel—"’

“ The colonel be-—blessedl” and there. was far
more than the usual amount of animation in the
voice and looks of Good Leather’s cool rt,
'ust then, as his white hands caught her p ump
little w betWeen them.

“ 0; see him and ﬁnish your business
with him, then I will explain m wants, David,”
with a warm smile and a spar e of the brown

e es.
y“ And I will ﬁnd you here?” .

“ Unless I ﬁnd you,” with a light laugh, assho
freed her hand and led the way to the door,
opening it to afford him egress, but after such a
fashion that no one who might chance to be in
the passage could catch even a glimpse of her,
thou h this proved an unnecessary caution.

Ice )erg Dave ran lightly up the steep steps
and knocked quickly at the door of Colonel Joel
Mallison’s room, and when a surly voice bade
him enter, it was the cold, grave, steel-nerved
sport whom Gocd Irathcr held up as a model of
“sand” and “git thar” that ente the cham-
ber and closed the door softly behind him.

Just as we have seen him once before on this
same eventful eve, Colonel J oel Mallison was sit-
ting at the little round table, with brandy and
cigars close at hand. The room was blue with
smoke, and from the unusually ﬂushed face as
well as the thick voice that greeted David In-
gram, it was clear enough that the colonel had
not spared these comforts.

“ Sit down. You’ve kept me waiting long
enough, the devil knows!”

Iceberg Dave drew a chair to the opposite side
of the table leaning: his elbows uron it as he
stared with his big jgray eyes direct into the
bloodshot blue ones of the other. H is face was
cold and hard-set, though his thin lips curled a
triﬂe. His voice was harder still as he spoke:

“I have been at work. And you? Bwillfn.
bad liquor like a hog up to its cycs in swi !
Muddling 1your never too clear wits. Unsteadg;
ing what ew nerves you could boast of at t
best, just when you ought to be preraring your-
self for hard and bitter and merciless ﬁghting!
Of the two, Mallison, I reckon I’ve got the whitest
record!”

The colonel stared o n—mouthed at his visitor,
his wits too much he ogged to kec pace with
those cold, scornful sentences, thong they were

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uttered deliberately rather than hotlév or in
haste. But the sting rankled at last, an a fiery
oath leaped to his thick lips.

“ What the foul ﬁend are you jumping rough-
shod on me for?”

“Because less summary methods would have
no effect upon you as you are now," was the icy
retort, those gray orbs glowin with mingled
re roof and scorn. “ Because I nd you making
a Bog of yourself just when you should be clear-
ing your wits for hot and deadly work! 
cause I am growing sick and tired of racking
in brains to keep your head above water,
while on persist in ruining all With your iii-
fsrnal all-headed obstinacy! Because you rm]!
hunt your hole at the first sign of danger, layni
low, playing the hog and our while the rest 0
us are out ﬁghting to correct the mistakes you
have made! And if those are not reasons
enough, I can ile one on another until it would
take a thousan -powcr telescope to see half-way
to the top of them!”

“ Are you going craz ', Dave Ingram?” splut-
tered the magnate of ( )od Leather, turning a
sickly yellow as he shrunk back from those
icil gleaming orbs.

low, soft laugh parted the lips of the cool
sport, and there was no trace of scorn or reper
in the words that followed:

“Not a bit of it, my dear fellow. Simply
trying to open a hole through the whisky-fog,
and to save precious time by 0 )ening your eyes
at once, insicad of trusting to t e slow effects of
cold argument. I’ve got most important mat—
ters to repor and for your own good, as for the
welfare of a l the others, you must give it
immediate and careful attention. You follow

me?”

“You talk as though I was no belt ‘r than a
half-Wit!” sulkily growled the colonel, his hand
moving toward the decanter, only to he pushed
back by that of the cool sport.

Sharp and cold came the retort:

“ And how much better have you shown your-
self? What wit have you displayed since the
stage came in this day?’

r Colonel Mallison shrunk back, his eyes droop—
ing, that yellowish hue again coming back to
his face, his voice trembling despite the evident
effort be made to render it steady. ,_

“That devil! It sci-med as t ongh he put a
spell on me! And coming so soon after—aftera
heav shock t!2af——"

A ow, cold laugh from the gambler cut him
short.

“If you call that a heavy shock, I wonder
how you’ll manage to Weigh the one that is now
impending over your head?”

“ What do you mean? What shock?” gasped
the coloncl, uneasily.

Iceberg Dave ﬂung out one hand carelessly,
responding:

“ That must take its turn. You forget that I
have a report to make to you as the nominal
head of the family. Are you ready to receive
it? Can you muster up your wits sufficiently to
comprehend what I say i"

Good Leather would have Opened its eyes
widely could it have seen those two men just
then, and listened to the scornful tones in which
Iceberg Dave addressed the magnate. Colonel
Joel Hallison had fallen down one step in its
estimation that day: this would have brought
him to the very foot of the ﬂight.

“l'l‘ry me and see,” sullenly muttered the col-
one .

Once more Iceberg Dave made a complete
gauge mains gunner an?f tones, the one calm

easy e 0 er res ul, as due a su rior
in rank, if not in abilitgsc p8

“ You know what news we ex ted to receive
by the stage; very diﬂcrent from what actually
came. And the worst of it is that what we
heard was the actual truth !"

“I knew it!" muttered Mallison moodily.
“As soon as I caught the eyes of that red-
headed demon, I knew we were ruined!”

" If we are, I know who is to shoulder the
biggest share of the blame,” and Iceberg Dave
reached acress the table to touch th~ arm of
the specnilator. “ You lost your nerve ust
when it was needed the moat. You let tint
rascal—if he is the man we have to fear,
which I am strongly inclined to doubt~see
your hand, just when you wanted to play
every card for all they wr-re worth! It would
not take very hard talking to make a jury bring
that in as rank treachery,’colonel!”

“I was all broken up!" muttered the other,
moodily, with a longing glance toward the
liquor which Iceberg Dave was guardin . “ You
don’t know why, but it was no actu fault of
my own. And then, if you say he isn’t the
de‘n‘] we were looking for, what harm could it

do?"

“I said I hardly believed he could be the
man,” coldly corrected the gambler. “But let
that point pass for the present. To my re-

rt.
p0“! left town as soon as I could manage it
without being noticed, and hastened to the
rendavoua found the boys there, save two
whom that red-haired rascal laid out cold.
They had been left behind. hidden as thorough-
ly as time would admit. Captain Clean-up
was not with the gang, having left in a hurry

 

for town, that his agency or identity might
not be sus ted.”

“ I thought somebody said he was killed?”

“ If so, there was some excuse for it,” was the
uiet response. “He was shot and knocked
mm the saddle, I believe. The bullet struck

and shivered the bone handle of his bowie-knife, .

which ha nened to be resting directly over his
heart. The shock upset him for a few minutes,
but an examination showed that the lead had
gone no further, and that the blood came only

from bits of the bone tearing his skin. It was |

lucky for him~it might have been far luckier if
he. had carried no knife other than the plain one
in his belt!"

Colonel Mallison stared at the speaker with
wide open eyes. This sounded like open treach-
ery to one of the family! '

“ I don't understand you!” he muttered, one
{Irembling hand rubbing his brandy-heated fore»

ead

“ You will in good time,” was the cold retort.
“ Just now—listen:

“ When I found Ca tain Clean-up was miss-
ing, I picked out one o the coolest headed mem-
bers,and pressed him close With questions, re-
solved to get at the bottom facts and to discover
where the blame for the botched affair should
be placed. I . '

“To go back to the beginning, he said that
word was received under the usual cover, that
plans were being laid for the capture or destruc-
tion of the road-agent gang under Captain
Clean-up. The information was_far from clear
on some points, but in the main it was quite

sufficient to give us a living chanceto win the

ame.
g “ Just what force was to be sent our spy could
not say. Equally in the dark was he as to the
name and description of the chief enemy, but he
knew when the hunt was to begin, and sent
facts by which Captain Clean-up felt positive
to-day's stage would bring the dew] to Good
Leather. And so, to at one blow upset the dirty
scheme, be resolved to stop the. stage and ﬁnd
out the bloodhound. With him in custody. it
would go hard but torture would bring out the
whole truth.

“ You know what happened. The hearse was
held up in good style, and as only Joe Duncan
and a rough cuss was on the box, one of whom
he knew to be faithful and the other of whom
wasthe last man in the world any sensible human
would ick out for a detective, he first went for
the insides. He satisﬁed himself that they were
none of them the one he was looking for, and
so turned to the red-head“! rascal on the box.
On! to have a bombsth burst under his feet!"

“ et you said—”

“And I still cling to that opinion,” coldly

inter rd the gambler. “ I don’t believe

ilow  Jonathan is any more a detective than
am.

“ But how can you explain it, then?”

“ Simply enough: something deceived our spy,
for I know he would not knowingly send false
information. Instead of to—da , yesterday’s or
some earlier stage brought the etectivc to Good
Leather!"

“Or he may still be on the way!” muttered
Colonel Mallison, seeming greatly relieved to
have even this indirect evidence that Howling
Jonathan was not the detective he had believed
him ever since that luckless encounter while
his wits were muddled and his nerves so

terribly shaken by the unexpected meeting with ‘

Herman Moskau. . .

A low, hard laugh parted the thin lips of the
gambler, and there was little of consolation in
his tones, as he added: -

“ That detective is now in Good Leather. He
has been at work, too, since he has not hesitated
to strike the family one heavy blow this very
evening. ” .

“ What do you mean by that?" faltercd Malli-
son. who was making a truly wretched exhibi-
tion. of himself, thanks to that ugly ghost of an
uglier past.

“ Wait a bit,” was the quiet response. “ You
remember I said that when I asked for Captain

Clean-up, I was told he had, immediately on re- ‘

covering from the shot that shattciwi knife—
handle gave him, started for Good Leather. This
was partly to give no cause for suspicion falling
on him when noses should be counted in Good
Leather after the tale was told of the adventure,
and partly to lend us aid if we should need any
to put the detective out of the way.

‘ Like all the rest of the femil , Captain
Clean-up ﬁrmly believed that red—hos ed cyclone
was our game. and he knew that if so the part
he had been forced to play when the stage was
held up, would make him lose little time in deal-
ing his blows at the rest of us. But he was in
error, and now I’ll tell you what I meant by say-
ing that it might have been better if that shot
had killed him instead of merely bruising:

“ The detective has made his ﬁrst blow, and .

Cagtain Clean-up is under arrest, ironed, guard-
ed y men enough to make a mighty hot ﬁght !”

, CHAPTER XVI.
'rnn wmow wms CONFIDENTIAL
Cowman JOEL lIALLISON shrunk back in his
chair, his face a sickly yellow, his little eyes al-
most, popping out of their sockets, his entire

 

frame shivering as with an ague-ﬂ the
personiﬁcation of abject fear. And '8 It
were barely articulate as he gasped:

“ We’re gone! He’ll blow the whole business
to save his own neck!"

Iceberg Dave sat with a cold, scornnt smile
upon his face, and now if ever before he showed
§ how miserably low in his estimation stood the
! magnate of Good Leather, when viewed simply

as a man according to the orting code. And
1 something of this appeared in his words:

" Measuring him in your own bushel, colonel,
5 you mi ht be Bretty near right. But, thank the

devil! erry lair is of a different breed of
dogs! They may down him but they can’t
wring a sound from his li ‘ f we had naugli
to dread save his tongue, might rest (a in.
our little beds without lcsing a single vsin ' of
slce . ’

“ They’ll pinch him until he squeals!” mutter-—
cd the colonel slov 1y recovering from the
shock. licking his perched lips, reaching with
trembling hands over to the brandy bottle.

Iceberg Dave did not hinder him this time-
Perhaps he felt that the wretch would need all
his strength before the end. If so, he musthave
given the liquor credit for doing very rapid
work.

“They

couldn’t coax a syllable cut of Perry
Blairs’s lips against his wi I, though they had
all the fiends in Tophet to aid them! All the
same, we’re not going to give them much nope-
We ve got to get him out of trouble, and the
rgachine is already at work. So much for
t at. ’

“There is one other int which I want to
call to your attention, orris Gi'ant—”

With hands that trembled so they made the
neck of the decanter and the edge of the glass
ring merrily together, Colonel Mallison man—
aged to Ipour out a brimming lnmpcr of the
liquor. e was just gulping it down as Iceberg
Dave uttered that name, and with a start he
choked and strangltd the brandy flowing from
the mouth and nostri s!

The cool sport made no move, no offer to as-
sist him, but leaned back in his seat, smiling
maliciously at the effect of his words. It was u.
delicious treat to him, after his long and nerve~
trying restraint. Until this night he had bowed
down before the arrogant will of this poor cow-
ard, crushing his own manhood down with an
iron hand, doing battle none the less sturdy and
severe from being hidden from all eyes, known
only to his own heart and— 'bly one other}

It was almost like a frre month to a drown—
ing man, this sudden outbrcak, this casting oif
the fetters which had held him so long!

“Curse—I don’t know—that name!” gasped
the colonel, the words coming in pants as he
coulvl catch his breath between his paroxysms of
s rangliug and coughing.

“And you lie to me when you say so Joel
Mallimn," was the ic amid retort, the be some
face growing hard an even menacing. “ Yonare
the same Morris Grant who sold The Plenty
mine at New Rush. 1 have known this almost
from the day you and I ﬁrst came together, but-
I never knew or even suspected until quite re»-
cently, your real reasons for taking another
name, and trying to alter your poisonal ap—
pearance."

Colonel Mallison choked down his spasms,
glaring at the speaker with sullcn fury, min-
gling with terror. The shock was severe citcugh
to partially clcar his brain, and bring back a

rtioii of his natural cunning. He saw that

ceberg Dave was not making a random charge,
and he tried to cover his hasty mistake.

“Curse the liquor! it cu like a knife! I
don‘t know why it is one has to put up with such
infernal stuff! And that name—I drugged it
ages ago. What makes you bring it up, ave?"

The cool rt laughed softly, moc ingly, as
£1.43 gazed at is opposite through his half—c osed
i s.
‘ “ Too thin, old fellow! It was the name that
I choked you, not the brandy! And shall I tell
I you why?”

Mallison growled savagely. If he could have
done so without too great risk. he would have
‘ drawn a pistol and sent a bullet through that
white, mocking face.

“ Curse the name!”

“ As others have before this, and with a good
I deal bcttcr cause, my :icar follow,” quickly in—

i teiposcd Ingram.

‘ We were talking about setting Perry Blair
, free. and if we’re to do him any go , it’s a
shame to waste time raking up the past.”

“ I told you work was going on, and even if it
wasn‘t, what could we hope from you, in this
condition? Drunk. unnerved, ready to choke at
a mere nanic! Bah! old man, your squirminﬁs
are worse than useless! I came here to-nig t
more to give you a beneﬁt than to make a re
port of the work I had done. And when I take
a trail, the devil himself hasn‘t got grip enough
to tear me off, before I run it to an end!”

Hardly the 000] sport now! More like a man
who has cornered a long-hated enemy,.whoser
blood he is thirsting to lap, and only held back
by a ﬁcrce longing to make that punishment.
. even more than death. ' . ,

Something of this Colonel Malliron saw.
though why it should be so he could not evcn

 

 

 

 

 

26

 

 

guess. Until this night Iceberg Dave had al-
ways treated him wit respect, listening to and
acting upon his suggestions with hardly the
shadow of oppoaition.

Desperate, fearing he scarcst knew what,
Mallison growled:

“What are you trying to get'through you,
anyhow? What have you to do with that time
~what did Morris Grant ever do to you!”

“ Sup .0815 I was to say that the fonner part-
ner of ori'is Grant was one of my dearest
friends? What if I say that I on] recently
learned how thoroughly you goug the poor

Howling _Jonathan.

oor.

“ You deal your blows mighty hard when on
do hit David!” came a clear, musical voice t at
caused the gambler to spring erect his face
flushing hotly, his eyes nglow, a cry of astonish-
ﬁent pa3sing his lips as be confronted widow

ercy Watkins.

She laughed softly as he involuntaril glanced
toward the door, in which he had def y turned
the key on entering.

“ An angel or a fairy has little need of any-
thing so material, my dear friend,” she uttered,

I téhen suffering him to rest at full length on the

young fellow?" ‘ half-mockingly, as she gingerly held back her

was recious little mirth to be detected in it.

“ & any man accuses me of anything but per-
fect fairness in that transaction, e is a liar! I
1111) prove it—and so can you, if you care to
take the trouble to go back and ask fora glance

at the papers. They are square as adie. As '
for Franz Moskau—bah! I’m an ass for ever i
i one must expect something of the sort."

listening to ou Dave Ingram !"

He sunk ack in his seat with an affectation
of contempt, but the cool sport opposite only
la bed so tly as he added: ,

I “ gly Dan Bennison is one of your Witnesses,

m ,

Dgspite his attempt to steel his nerves, Malli-
son visibly ﬁinched, and showed signs of renew— 3
ed fear and ra . g

“ Curse hiniIGhas he dared to— Bahl You’re
’way off, In. ram!"

“ Then, w y don’t you laugh at my playing
'the ass?” retortod the vainbler, showin the  .
of his teeth in a malic ous smile. “ W at m 6
'you start and shiver as I named Ugly Dan? Be-
cause heis dead? Did you love t c two-legged
:- I so much? Destroying angel I”

here was .. peculiar emphasis lplaced on the
last words that were worse than a glow, and the
colonel shivered anew. He tried to speak, but
only a low, inarticulate sound came up in his
parched throat. One hand rose to his forehead,
where the great veins were throbbing and turn-
ing urple. A friend would have grown alarm-
«:1 a the spectacle, but Iceberg Dave seemed to
hugely enjoy it after his fashion.

‘ Dea —laid out so suddenly that not a word f
ora sound esea ed his li ., old fellow! So sure j
and slick that even don it if his mind had time
to go back to the time when he tortured poor i
Franz Moskau at your bidding, until the lad had I
IA) leld.” ;

‘ A lie-I never—J ,

Iceberg Dave leaan across the table and
lightly tapped the livid lip: with the back of his
hand. It could scarcely called a blow, but it
served the double purpose of checking that inco-
herent denial and gratifying the deadly hatred

I which David Ingram for the ﬁrst time permitted
iniimself to exhibit toward his partnerin The I.
nt.

“ I fear you will in are your voice, my dear ,
sir,” he said, softly, a most purringly, his words Q
and tone in startlin contrast to his action.
"You are still suffer ng from that unfortunate ;
choking spell—may you ncwr know a more se- i,
ri us one! Yet men have been hanged for much 3
less than Franz Moskau accuses you of, dear fel-
low !"

No answer, but the face grew redder, the veins
stood out l.l\ re prominently, the breath came
heavier and 8h rter. I

Iceberg Dave smiled more openly, his white 1
hands rubbing together as though he decidedly i

en yed the ugly sight. Truly, his cause forj
.111th must be great, else his usual nature
would never have undergone such a com lete :

‘ansl’ormation! Until tliatnight, Iceberg ave I
had ever met his enemies openly, with blows in-
stead f word~staba

“ You don‘t ask how Ugtly Dan took the ex-
,press over the range. but know you must be .
curious to hear it all. Wh not? Did he notj
wrve you faithfully in the ays when you were 1
Morris Grant?" _

Still no reply. Only for the red flow in the ‘
tnloodshet eyes, 'the stertorous breath iig, Colonel ‘
Joel Mallison might well have been a cor ..

“ He was stabbed to the heart by a wi d-look-
ing fellow in rags, who started up like some
Mack ghost of the past—and perhaps he ‘
'was!

" You know Frank Spartan? You know how I
had stuck he is on the girl who cametoMy 1

 

Colonel Mallison forced a laugh, but.there 5

skirts as she stooped a little to gain a better view
of the stricken man’s face.

“ You heard, then f” muttered Iceberg Dave.
scarce knowin what he said, so completely had
he been taken y surprise.

“ A touch of apoplexy, I fanc l” muttered the
widow, then rising erect wit a soft laugh.
“Well, if one will feed and drink like a hog,

“ I’ll go for the doctor. "

“ It‘s hardly worth while, David, I think.
'What is to be, will be, you know. And then, I
hardly think there is any particular danger.
It looks to me more like a case of brandy.
Ve’ll’put him on the bed, and let him sleep
it off.

There was an indifference in her tones that
was little better than brutalit , and in his ordi-
nary state of mind Iceberg ave would have
felt a degree of repulsion for a woman who could
give frank utterance to such a speech. But now

is brain seemed in a whirl such as he had never
experienced before. He hated this man. He
loved this woman With a passion that was little
short of insani .

In silence he iftcd the colonel in his anus and
placed him on the bed. He loosened his collar
and rments generally, without a word pre-
vent ng widow lVatkins from touching him.
She made no second attem t, but stood quiein
by, a peculiar light in her owncast eyes. And
when the ambler had done all he could for the
comfort 0 the stricken man, she lightly touched

; his arm, sayin :

“You stayec so long, David, that I grew ini-
Eztient and came to seek you, as I hinted just
fore we parted down-stabs. And now he is
well fixed, please to hear me company.”
Mechanically the gambler turned toward the
door, but with a short, low laugh, the widow

checked him.

“You know what we were to each other— ,

that man and I." she said sinilin ‘ly. “ So one
more secret will not shock you myond recov-

crv I iope.

She led him to the rear wall and touched the
secret spring by which the hidden door opened.
A dark, narrow ge was revealed.

“You are light-footed, and there are a few
of the boarders in the house, so I fancy there is
no dagger of our being mistaken for rate!” she
lau h , taking his arm and stepping inside.
“ on are not afraid?"

“ \Vith you?”

An hour’s speech could say no more than
those two Words uttered in the tone he gave
them. The widow gave his arm a grateful
squeeze, then said:

“Touch my shoulder, or take a curl as tow-
rope if that likes you better, my gallant
knight. A light might betray more than I
care to have the whole world now, though I
am trusting you so blindly!” ‘

“ You shal never regret it, Mercy !”

In silence she led the way along the narrow,
dark and crooked passage, finally opening an-
other door which led into her chamber!

Iceber Dave accepted the chair she offered
him, wit out a Word. As he had for many long
months, he was holding down that ﬁerce pas-
sion with a desperate gri , fearin to ve it
any play, last it escape h s control an bring
ruin upon his own head. For, so all-absorbin
was his love that he never, even in his wildes
dreams, for a moment believed it could ever be
returned.

One glance into his sternly composed face up-

red to decide the widow as to her own lineof
conduct, and taking another chair, she at once
broached her subject.

“ After what you have seen, Mr. In am, you

will notbesurprised to learn that I ave been ,

connected with Frank Spartan. l was youn
then, and hotter-headed. I had more fanCi ul
notions, too; but the less said of them the better.
It is enough that in time I chafed against; the
cool, careless insolence with which Frank
treated my little outbursts, and to avenge my-
self I ran away from him.

“I took particular pains to leave a plain bail
behind me, expecting and even hoping he would
follow after. But ap rent] he was glad to
get rid of what, unt' won, 8 had sworn the
choicest treasure the world or the heavens
could provide, for he never took a step to re-
cover nie. And then, when hottest a ainst
him, I accepted the offer which Joel ison
made me, and married him.”

It was a hard story for a lover to listen to,
even though he had so often told himself he was
as far removed fmm her asthough they inhabit.
ed different worlds, and Iceberg Dave had to
stru gle hard to keep his nerves under control.
But e succeeded, and sat motionless, his face
cold and com hosed, his eyes alone beh‘aying the
emotion whic was inwardly raging.

As for the widow, she made the confession
withouta blush or a stammer, mining to regard
it as a sim ile business transaction.

“All this is merel preliminary,” she mid
resuming. “ You wi soon understand why I
have taken the trouble to go so far back in my
story, for Frank Spartan is connected with the
favor which I have determined, after much
sober thought, to ask of you.” '

“Which is granted before you put it into
Words.” -

“ I expected no less, from what I have seen of
you, David, but all the same, I thank you—how
sincerely, let the future tell !”

Again that hot thrill! “'as this woman wil-
fully trying her wcrs over him? Was she
maliciously punis ng him for daring tolove
‘ her, even in secret?

I Despite himself Icober Dave felt these wild
g’ thong ts ﬂashing throng his mind. Nor could
‘ he banish them at once, thou h be loyally en-
Edeavored to do so. It seemetf like treasonto
I the widow!
1 “Lou ago I learned that at one time in his
. career, t_ e colonel had gone under the name of
I Morris Grant,” quietly resumed the widow.
§ “ At the time I paid little attention to the mat»
| ter, but recent events have awakened an inter-
1 est in it such as I could hardly make you coni-
: prehend, without a frank and ample confusion
I —a confession such as I hate to begin-40 you I”

Did she mean to drive him mad? If not. hot-
‘ tor for them both were she to steady her voice,
to vail those glowing brown eyr~ to plot-o. less
I tcrlider emphasis on WOI’dS that re erred to him
< so 0 .
i “ afhy do so, then?” he said simply. “ I will
l do your work without asking why you want it
I done. Snrel you can trust me?”
. She shook er head with a low laugh.
j “ I am a woman, and you must let me have
I in head, or there‘ll be another runaway of a
| di erent sort from the ﬁrst! But—bushiet-s!"

“ I heard of this blind ﬁddler and his daugh-
: ter, whom report made but little less than an
! angel of duty and a marvel of beauty! I heard
of their wanderings and of their weary search-
‘ ing for tidin . of one Franz Meskan, but it was
, long before began to connect them with that
9 secret ge in the colonel’s life history. In fact
1 I paid at little attention to the matter at ﬁrst,
: knowing how anything in the shape of woman
iis exalted and exaggeratedh the inhabitants

 

of a wild and woolly country he this!

“ But as time passed on, the name of my old
ﬂame, Frank Spartan. began to be connected
with theirs, and then-you see, I am as frank as
I promised—my interest began to grow until,
when I met them this day, I resolved to learn
the whole truth beforel let them pass out of
my si lit. For that reason I dared the gun of
Ugly an, and by your gallant aid, brought
them to My House.

“ I saw that my old su icions were pretty
near correct, when Joel allison shrunk back
on meeting Herman Moskau as though he had
gbumped neses with a host! And when we
: were alone together I c rged him with being
i Morris Grant, with having cheated Franz Mes-
kau shamefully, if he had not even killed him to
the better cover over his frauds."

“Ugly Dan acted as his deputy in that af-

Honse to.-day with the widow? The daughter of } listening to nearly all you and the colonel said 1 fair.”

Herman Moskau, the blind ﬁddler, [ mean. You 5

in his rooms. I d my reasons for so acting,

1 ~ “ So I heard you say, a little bit ago. But

know, sibly, that Frank has sworn to ﬁnd 3 and as I have resolved to not only trust but to E Joel Mallieon fearsto have the whole truth come

Franz oakau, alive or dead. l

“ Well, Frank was standing close h when this
ghost struck Ugly Dan down, and Ti ed his life ‘
to save him from those who wanted to lynch the I
ragamumn for downing Dan. Why? Because
he recogiiaed the man he was searching for—he
called t fellow Franz Moskau!”

Swift and netrating came these concluding
words. and t cy were sharp, bitter menacing
.4 nongh to pierce the sort of stiﬂm which appar-
ently enchaincd the colonel. e started to his
feet, cla ing his temples With both hands, o
mg. pant ng—then flung out his hands an fell
like a dead man!

Active as a cat, Iceberg Dave leaped forward
and caught him. holdin him long enough to
gin-d against the shoe startling the house,

ask an immense favor of you, it is only right
that on should know my reasons.”

"' nly if you prefer to give them Mrs. Wat-
kins,” was the stead response. “ will serve
you net as blindly thont them.”

“ know it, David, and that is one reason
why I preform be perfectly frank with you,
even at the risk of losing your-your respect."

“ That you can never do, though you commit-
ted all the crimes in the decaloguel” was the
swift, passionate response.

“I thank you now—some day I may do
more." was the quiet answer, the brown eyes

1 meeting his gray orbs with a glowing use that

sent the hot blood thrilling through '9 veins.
“ Now-tto business:
"I believe you know that, years ago,l was

' out, quite as badly as though he had killed the

youn fellow with his own hand.”
! “I there was actual murder done ” slowiv
j uttered Iceberg Dave. “If you heard what I
{ told him, you cannot have for ttei that about
: the craﬁgellow who killed Ug y Dan this even-
I ing at Mint.” '

Then that was no more than the truth!"

.She half-rose from her seat, her eyes glowing
; vwxdly as she bent toward him, now terribly in
I earnest.
. “That Bennison was killed h a god
. wretch who afterward swore he (I to it,
{because ages ago, Dan had stolen away his
2 brain, ﬁlling his skull with mingled ﬁre and ice

instead—yes.” ,

“ And about Frank Suntan?”

._‘-'_A _.
(if:
*n

 

 

.2,  L. .

"Hi.

izai'k. ‘ w: ’1

.“ '3’};
:‘ “.4

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Howling Jonathan.

27

 

 

“He risked life to defend the fellow. And
'Ileadlight Harry said he heard him call him by
... name which, when Inientioned Franz Moskau,
be instantly recognized. I believe he thinks he
has found the missing son and brother, whether
he is right or not.” .

Widow Watkins bowed her head and covered
her face with her hands. As Iceberg Dave
watched, he could see her figure quivering With
strong emotions. Ile made one move as though
he would leap forward and catch her in_his
arms, but then fell back, his hands clinching

' htly as he fought back the hot impulse. .

hough he so hated and despised Joel Malli-

son, he could not forget that this woman was
his. wife.

The widow abruptly lifted her head and ex-
claimed:

“ David Ingram, I can trust you, wholly, per—
fectly?”

“ Put me to the test—I ask nothing better,"
he said. gravely.

“ And you will deny me nothing? You will
not shrink away from me if I speak out plainly?
If so-I would kill you i”

“ What you ask, I will perform. Nothing
you can say or do will alter my love for you—-
nothing turn me from you now! '

“ Even though I bid you stain your hands
with blood?”

“Once more, your slightest wish i; my law.
Command me in all things, and mayr I never
look into your sweet eyes again if I fail you,
Her-y!”

" Then—kill Frank Spartan for me I”

 

CHAPTER XVII.
A srnoso MAN rsxmn.

“ I WILL—unless he kills me first.”
Without a moment’s hesitation came the reply,

cool, distinct, leaving not even the shadow of a

doubt as to the speaker’s perfect sinccrit . Yet
that fair brow perceptib y wrinkled an the red
Lips compressed as though the words were not
wholly pleasing.

“ You spoke to Joel Mallison about setting
the machine to work,” the widow said, after a
brief pause. “ That means an attempt is going
to b.) made to set Perry Blair free?"

I :cbcrg Du ve bowed assent.

“ And Frank Spartan has taken this crazy
slayer of Dzin Bonnison to the same place? He
will be one of the defenders, of course?"

Again the gambler inclined his head.

“Then—it could be done easily enough, and
without once riving rise to suspicion—wh not
manage it so t at the mob rubs out the fellow?”
'uttwrcd the widow, leaning forward in her seat
and speaking rapidly, her eyes glowing vividly.

“ If it he ipens so, well and good," slowly re-
sponded ICc )erg Dave. “ It is a chance all men
must run when they mix up with such rﬂ'airs.
And of course you know that my first duty is
owing to the family. Perry Blair must be set
at liberty this night, or it may be forever too
Into to save him. Still, if you are not willing to
wait—”

" It was for your sake that I spoke, David,"
‘the widow gently murmured, flashing a quick
glance into his face, then drooping her lashes.

Apparent] both Words and look failed of
their intent ed effect. David Ingram grew
colder and harder, at least in outward seeming,
and his voice had a clear, metallic ring as he
spoke again:

“ Unless you plainly state that you expect me
toattend to this matter instantly. without the
loss of a minute. I will post incit until after the
other affair is pulled off. You know enough of
the wrrkings of the family to realize how all-
.important it is that Perry Blair be rescued as
soon as posible?”

‘f I know—and expect you to do all on can to
bring that to pass. It Was knowing t iis part of
younduty that inade‘nie give the hint I did. not
from any doubt as to your bravm'y, David.”

"‘ It is enough for me to know that you wish
him put out of the way. I will kill him if he
den‘t kill me first. But I can’t strike a man
i‘romliehind! I can’t strike without first giv-
ing him warning that I am after his scalp!”

‘ Not even for my sake', David? Not even to
__t0__ﬂ

Swiftly she began, only to falter, her e es
drooping after one glowing leek into his iig
gray orbs. A hot flush came into her face. Her
hands tWisted together nervously. She looked
the picture of sWeet confusion. As though an
impetuous tongue had almost hurried her into a
too fro nk revelation.

“:ml 3 rt though he wascallcd, and not with-
oc' imp 0 reason, when the ordinary events of a
gr. willing and sporting life are alone consider-
' «>911, shrewd clearwvitted man of do
w 1 .i though he had so often proved himself;
In ‘1 io Cunning hands or this woman Iceberg
D.“ '3 “113 but 8 mm is. Though she spoke to
hm 0f murdpr, it as not shock him. He felt
that. Frank Spartan had amply deserved even
worse treatment. He. knew her husband was

:living under that same roof, yet he could not

think her _cruel or unnatural in leaving him
delimgibly to-die in that heavy-fit. And
when spoke to him in this tone; wth she
looked It him with that glow in her eyes, he felt

'lips. “Di

 

his control fadin away and the lava-ﬂood of
passion bursting own all bairiers.

“Beware, Mercy!” be panted, hoarsely, his
white face ﬂushing deeply. “ Don’t triﬂe with
me, I beg of you, or worse may come of it forus
both!”

Instantly she glanced up, with that same light
in her eyes, her voice soft and low:

“ What do you mcnn, David? Surely, I have
nothing to fear from you?”

Not much when set down in cold type, but
enough when coming in that sweet voice. when
accompanied by t‘ at look, to swee awa the
last weakenin barrier, and Ice rg ave
sprung forwar , catching h=~r to his breast
forcing back her head until their eyes could
meet fairly.

“What, do I mean, Mercy?” he echoed, his
voice low but full of a ion so intense that
even her eyes were open , though she had long
known him as a secret worshiper. “ I mean that
I love you with all my heart and soul! That
for one kiss from our li , I would dare the
hottest ﬁres of hell itsel ! For one glance of
love-one word of love from you, Mercyl—bahl
how poor and feeble words are!" he abruptly
broke off, releasing the widow and stepping
back a pace, his hands behind him as though the
better to resist temptation.

A slight shade passed over her fair face, and
his eyes were keen enough to catch it, though
he gave to it a wrong inte rotation. It was
not that he had said too muc ; she wished and
expected still plainer h.

“Am I to blame or that, David?” she ut-
tered, softly, a half laugh parting her red-ripe

I fall on my knees and beg of on
to commit such an enormous crime as to f in
love with me?" '

“It was fate, I suppose,” he muttered, his
brows contracting.

“And one is a fool to fight against fate,
David 1”

Again that glowing almost savage light,
lea i into his eyes. dnce more he lifted '
rig it hand with a warning esture.

‘ That is what I meant, ercv!” he said, try-
ing hard to render his tones cold and even, but
with only partial success. “ Vtht I meant by
warnin you not to rouse my wild hopes, only
to laug at and crush them domi when I have
performed the work you set for me. I will do it
without that. I will serve you as faithful] as
ever mortal man served woman, and all wit iout
even the ghost of a promise on your part. But
you must not make it too hard for me. You
must not throw out any false beacon for me, or
-——it will be worse for us both, Mercy!” ‘

Even, yet she pretended to be in doubt as to
his real meaning. She uttered not a word, but
there was a (iuestion in her uplifted cycs.

“ I will kil you—we will die together, Mercy 1"
he added.

She lau bed, lightly, merrily, then whispered:

“\Voul it not be better and more agree
able to live together Dave?"

The gambler gazed steadily into her eyes, as
though trying to read the undisguised truth
there. She li ted one hand with a gcsiure that
bade him wait, and be mechanically sunk back
in his chair, his face hard set, his eyes glitter-
ing, his hands tightly clinched by his side.

' You wonder how that can be, David,_while
I am a married woman, my husband alive and
underneath this same roof! It does sound
rather suspicious, and as I don’t want you to
form a worse opinion of me than I actually de-
serve—listen i

“ I told you how I charged J 001 Mallison with
defraudin this man Franz Moskau out of his
rights in tIie Plenty Mine. I did more, I made
him as good as acknowledge that he killed Franz
Moskau the better to cover up his rascality.
And then, when I had frightened the poor .(ICVll
half out of his feeble, whisky-soaked Wits, I
sprung a bold trap on him.

“ I told him what Frank Spartan had sworn,
and what a reward he was working fcr. I made
him see that sooner or latter the whole truth
was bound to come out, when he would have to
suffer. And then I showed him one little loop-
hole through which he might even yet escape
with sound wind and an uncracked neck!

“ 'l‘hqpros \ct did not wholly please him. He
balked a litt e at taking the leap. but with your
aid in frightening the fellow, I’m open to bet
that we can make him run away with and marry
Amelia Moskau!”

Whatever rlse he might have expected, this
conclusion took Iceberg Dave by sur rise. He
showed it in -, his face and eyes. 6 widow
hugged softly, adding:

“ . ore improbable things than that have been
carried to complete success, my friend. With

he aid of the family, it will not be (limciilt to
steal the girl away without leaving any telltale
traces. And then surclv she could be persuad-
ed into marrying doel Mallison?”

“ Irmr husband, Mercy!”

“ Now—but then ?” with a soft laugh. “ How
long would it take to get a divorce! If necch
SM", to bring him to book as a bignmist? But
that only if all other means failed. Who can
prove our marriage besides he and I? No one!

t. would be easy enough to secure a divorce
Without publicity, by law—or death 1”

 

“ And then, Mercy?”

“After that—after Frank Spartan is dad—
you say. David!”

Even yet Iceberg Dave fou ht back the lava-
ﬂood of assion that seemed a . oat bursting his
brain. bite in the face as a corpse, he sat
motionless, not yet daring to trust himself to
s ak. She looked at him in su rise, the warm

ush gradually fading from her ace and a look
that was close akin to fear coming into her
large eves. Had she made such a terribe mis-
take? Had this man, too, been playing a can»
ning rt?

Ice xrg Dave read something of her thoughts,
and it lent him the necessary nerve to speak,
cold and steady, with an undercurrent of hot
and even savage passion in his tones:

“ Mrs. Watkins, as on have set the example,
sowill I be frank an speak without the thin-
nest disguise. I lovs you. I have loved you
ever since the day we ﬁrst met each other. I
would not own it even in in own heart, at first,
for I knew that you were . wife of my part-
ner. He told me at the outset, became—— ’

“ Because he saw and a reciated the vast
difference between you an is coarse, hoggish
face and ﬁgure, no doubt!” laughed the widow.

“ For that reason, in rt, but more because I
feared to trust myself, avoided you whenever
I could do so without openly betraying the fact.
I knew that if I saw too much of you my mad
passion would surely get the upper band, and
then—either Joel Mallison or I would have to go
under!”

“It wouldn‘t be very hard to say which one
would do the toes-up act," la bed the widOw;
but there was something in 1' face and eyes
that showed she was far from feeli at ease.

Cold and calm though the mb er was out-
wardly, his tones smooth an even. she began
to estimate him more correctly. Until now, she
had never dreamed a man could love so v holly
so fiercely. And though it almost frightened
her, she experienced a strange. glowing thrill
that was as new as it was startling.

“ Until now I never permitted myself even to
dream that my love could be returned, mull.-
less that it won (1 ever be rewarded by the prirn
for which I Would bewilling to dare heaven and
hell combined! I never thought to Speak such
words to you. I would not, only for the words
you have spoken this evening-only for the
ight I have seen in your eyes.

“ Wait—hear me out " he said, his tones grow-
ing steadicr as he lif , one hand with a swift
motion. “ I am trying to give you a faint idea
of how I worship you. Words are poor thin s
to paint it, but you may be able to guess 0
rest.

“ If you encoura e me to give wayto that
passion. even thong you are simply laying
with me, we can never go back to t .e o (1 Not-
ing. You must he mine—all mine! If not—
I will kill you .'”

Her eyes were fully opened now. She realised
that with this man love meant more than a
milk-and-water sentiment. And she felt that
wild thrill growing and growing until she could
hardl refrain from ('l‘Ylllﬁ out—from ﬂinging
herse f 11 ion his breast! t was strange, but
none the ess the truth. She was one of those
women who must be taken by storm, and when
once so taken, only death can change them.

“’ith an effort she fought back that dizzy
temptation, still keeping in sight her ﬁercely
sworn vengeance.

“ I am not displeased, David Ingram,” she
said, her tones low but her voice steady. “Any
woman should be proud of inspiring such love,
and I am a woman, after all!”

“ Merc ?”

She quickly lifted one hand, and the gambler
sunk back in his seat.

“Let me speak now. You have been frank
and o n; I will be the same with on, though
what have to say is terribly hard or a woman
to speak in the face of a man whom she respects
and whom she wishes to think well of her.”

“ Nothing you can say will alter my opinion
of you, Mercy.”

“ I told you how I ran away from Frank
Spartan. It was through pique such as a warm-
b ooded assionute woman will feel when she is
treated like a s iled child by one whom she
lovos—for I d id ove him then. More—that love
grew stron er and more intense With each day
that pa. ovor my head while I was waiting
and watching for him to follow the trail I left
and me to return! It was growing even
when I me convinced that hope was worse
than vain—growing when I had to admit that
Frank Spartan was glad to get rid of me! And
it was never stronger than when I listened to
that clumsy hog, Joel Mallisonl"

Hard words, true enough: but harder for Ice
berg Dave to listen to than for her lips to utter!

“Through it all my love for Frank Spartan
grew and stood the test of time and absence.
And when I heard of his being struck With
that blind beggar‘s daughter, I could have torn
her eyes out with a hearty good will, had she
crossed my gth!

“ t,w nIﬂrstbeardtherumoncomct-
ing their names. But then I began to grow
skeptical. He was a keen and swift fowler, and
if he had really meant business, I felt  be

 

 

'28

Howling Jonathan.

#‘t‘t 

 

would have captured the prize long ago. And
so, to learn the truth, I brought her here.

“ It was not hard topump the milk—and-wator
fool. She was only too ready to s ak of him,
whenI said that he had been my riend in the
days gone by. ' She never once suspected the
truth poor fool!

“ on know what she told me since I’ve
already hinted at it. But even yet I would not
believe it, and when Frank Spartan brought
them back to My House this evening I took him
captive, much as I did you, and a long in-
terview with him in the back parlor.”

She paused apparently to regain her breath,
but Iceberg Dave could see that she was nerving
herself to utter still harder confessions. He sat
motionless, but his heart was ﬁlled with seething

passions.

“ I said I would be frank with you David and
I‘ll to hide nothing.” she added, with asliort,
hard augh. “ When I stood face to face with
Frank Spartan, I felt my wild love fairlyfboiling
over. Like a fool I fairly ﬂung in(y_se at his
head, only to be coldly re ulsed! I id more—I
even Legged that he won] take pity on inc—that
he would for ive my folly of the past and take
me away wit him, tobegin life over again. And
he—laughed at me. !”

“ He'll never laugh again,” coldly muttered the
gambler.

“ told him all I had learned from Amelia
Moskau, asking him if it was true. He admitted

it. I made him own up that she swore she would.

never marry him until her father died, or until
Franz Moskau was found. And then I played
my last card. .

“ I told him that I could put him on the right
track. I told him I was able to show him Morris
Grant, but would do so only on one condition. I
told him she was being worn out by the weary
life they led, and that a few months more of the
same would bring her tothe grave. He admitted
as much. He pretended to love her better than
life, but when I offered to tell all, to put her
weary search to an end by showing them Morris
Grant, if he would ive her up and take me
away with him, he on y laughed me to scorn and
said the price was far too much to pay even for
her reCious life!"

“ Kfou have said enoug —-more than enou h,
Mercy!” muttered Iceberg ave, rising from is
sent. “ I'Vlicn you see me again, those brutal
words will be blotted out in his heart’s
blood !"

“ Wait!” and the widow also rose erect, her
brown eyes lowing, her face flushed, her breath
coming quic and fast. “ IVait until I have said
a. few words more, David. And I swear to you
that they are even more true ‘shan those I have
aimed uttered. If you doubt, look into my
e es while I am speaking. I could never tell a

' lieto ou—now!’

An 80, their eyes meeting, their hands clasp-
edz she s ke on:

‘ Unti those words were uttered, I loved—or
believed I still loved—Frank Spartan. I know
in mistake now. I know that I never loved
Mm as I am capable of loving a man! But the
feeling I had for him then changed all at once to
deepest, bitterest, most relentlesshate!”

“ Are you sure, Mercy?” slowly asked Iceberg
Dave.

“ As sure as I am that you love me!”

He said no more, but his big ay eyes closed
as though he was afraid to gaze onger into those
glowing orbs.

And there was a curious little tremor in her
tones as she said:

“ I intended to have said more, David, but I
cannot— ust now. I am afraid to trust myself
and for t e same reason you say you are afraid
to trust yourself!”

His e, es opened, he gave a quick, painful
gasp. lie gazed keengy, searchingly into her
e es, but they never inched from him now.

hongh she had never dreamed of such a result
—though she had enlisted him as her champion
todo her foul work, and brou ht all her cunning,
trained arts into lay théav ut‘ter toh eilfect her
purpose—Widow ercy a ins M never
thought to reward him with more than a smile or
two, a few soft words, and then dro him with
a little laugh at the blind credulity 0 his sex.

But since that interview began, she had come
to realize how a man can love, even though the
object of his adoration be wholly unworth .
And before she realized her peril she was caug t
in the same tra she had set for Iceberg Dave.

Suddenly Ice rg Dave dropped her hands,
ste ing back a co,

‘Pfam afraid ercy! So much afraid that I
dare not ask if what I saw in your eyes is the
truth. S ! I must not hear you say—it would
be more t an my nerves would stand, and I’ll
need them all before this night’s work is done. I
will go now. When I come back you can be
sure my work is done—that Frank Spartan will
never again laugh at you or your pra ers!”

He ste pcd forward and gathered her to his
heart. is hot li touched hers once, then he
released her, catc ing up his hat, and turning
the ke in its lock, 0 in the door and vanish-
ing he ore she coul spea another word. She
dro into a chair, one hand pressed to her
has her eyes swimming, her breath rapid, her
voice low and glad:

 

“ Ah, that is a man—a man to the ve ' core!
And I? Bah!” with a short laugh: “ never
knew what love meant until now I”

CHAPTER XVIII.
JONATHAN PUTS UP A LITTLE JOB.

“ THE pot was bubblin’ over then, but now it’s
inighty‘nigh to run over it’s hull bigness—I tell
you. ’

.lven as Howling Jonathan uttered those
words, the little rty collected in front of the
stone house in w 'ch Perry Blair and the sup-
pOsed Franz Moskau were confined, caught the
sounds of the growing storm with a distinct-
ness which even the least experienced one among
them all could not misinterpret.

There were isolated yells, shouts, and brief,
fierce outbursts, any or all of which might read-
ily have come from a party of drinkingfoister-
eis. bent on “painting the town red, but to
keen ears there was bare! perceptible a low,
indistinct murinuring soun joining all  to—
gether, which spoke even more clearly.

“They mean business. I’m thinking!” mut—
tered the tall detective, his brows contracting,
his voice growing hard and cold.

“ Business clean up to the han’le, boss, or I
be I’m a liar !" and Howling] Jonathan grin-
ner and chuckled and smacked is lips as though
he already tasted the rare feast which was be—
ing prepared for them. “ Be darned of I’ve got
ary ’nother word to 8 ﬁt out ag’inst Good
Leather. She’s showin’ ersolf the. are quill,
an’ chuckor full 0’ fun then a bob-tai ed cat kin
play the ﬁddle! Good Lawd! of my teeth don’t
go back onto me too 8001], I’ll weigh a solid
ton afore the moon grows old! Come to set.
’cin up one by one she hain’t 0t so many fu’st-
class chiefs, but take ’cni as a ump, an’ she kin
shell out ’nough figlitin’ men for to ration a
hull army—now I tell you yes!”

“ Blufhng won’t take the trick, you think?”

“ Not- to—night, pard,” prdmpty responded
Howling Jonathan. “They’ve got the deck-
hcad, ai‘.’ know jest what our hand calls fer.
They’ll make a grip fer the hull porker an’ of
we want even the tail, we’ve got to shot our
teeth an’ hang on to it wuss than grim death to
a dead sinner. ’

“That we’ll do. though half the town comes
to the front!” hardly grated Frank Spartan,
thinking of Amelia and of the poor unfortunate
within these walls.

“ Say three-thirds, pnrd, 1211’ you come heap
nigher the truth,” and Howling Jonathan turn—
ed toward the man.

“ Let it be so——I’d fight half the. world, rather
than give one foot before the devils who want
to l nch a crazy man!”

 

“ on’t, pard—don’t sling them 'out so wicious ‘

like as them, ef you ain’t tryin’ to make me
break m neck for takin’ up the wrong side!"
pathetica ly muttered the Holy Terror. “ I
come to these parts to rake in the boss fightin’~
cock 0’ the range, an’ yar I be with him on my
side 0’ the range. Durn sech luck, anyway!”

“ You can desert to the enemy just as soon as
on please,” short! uttered the young man,
alt-suspicious of t is red-haired cyclone, de-

spite the risks he had run on that side of the
matter.

“ Not with m consent,” ﬁnickly inte osed
the detective, be ore Howlin onathaii ceiliId an-
swer the hasty speech. “ eep all you get, is a
mighty good motto in a case of this sort. and as
geood a spy as you have proved yourself is not to

thrown over one’s shoulder without cause.

“Don’t berry no trouble, Lengthy,” grinned
Hank, broadly. “ I ain’t so easy chucked awa
when they’s so much fun in t e airasthey is
this blessed night—no sir! An’ I stick to the side
whar they’s the fewest mouths to git away with
the most chuck, I do!”

“It is just a mob or have they got a leader
whose voice they w 11 follow without stopping
to argue the matter?”

“ Got him—you bet! An’ that’s what makes
me so durned sure we’ll hev red-hot fun afore
the sun comes up.” '

“ Not Iceberg Dave I hope?” and there came
a grayer shade into the face of the detective, a
more sober tone tovhis Voice.

“ David, fer sart’in! I was gittin’ skeart that
he wouldn’t ﬁne in the dance, by the way he
chipped in back at The Mint, but he’w thar, an’
he weighs a solid ton every time he hits the
crowd with a word!”

“What does he advise? What line is he lay-
ing out?”

“ IVaal, boss,” and Jonathan rubbed the rub
tip of his nose with a dubious air. “ You see
couldn’t walk right up and shake'the hull truth
out o’ the critter, aii’ yit make sure I could git
back here to report on my own legs."

“ But you have an idea?”

“ Two, three couple of ’cm, boss!” was the
rompt response. “Though I couldn’t be sure I
etched onto the hull programme, I found out

this much: They was goin to take Perry Blair
fu’st. Ef you would listen to reason, as hecailed
it, an’ let go your grups without makin’ too big

a row, all right; you wasn’t none on ye to be_

hurt in wind nor limb. But of we wouldn’t do
that, an’ ’sisted on kickin’ up a row, why they
was to take him anyway!” '

f‘ That was his main point, then?”

“Perry Blair cums fu’st. Then, the of
Ugly Dan could do what thegnd pleased
with the cr critter. He di ’t keer one way
not t’other. e wouldn’t lift a hand to bender
’em, nor he wouldn’t pull a pound weight on the
rope of it was hangin .”

“ Snitching comes first!” muttered Frank Spar-
tan.

“ They was some talk ’bout sendin’ a depyda-
tion over here to talk the matter over afore they
come in full force, but I didn’t wait to take that
all in. Things be u fer to smell mighty sul-
phury in my neigh rhood—come less’n a inch
0’ gittin’ trompled on by a lot 0’ roughs that set

' off hot-foot fer somethin’ or ruther—an’ I. took a

 

' walk back here, to-—-”

His voice was growing less distinct and steady
as he uttered the last sentence, his game being
bent intently in one direction. Then, as he
broke of! speaking, one hand closed on the arm
of the detective and crouching low in the shad~
ows. the two men stole silently away.

W'ith no little interest the rest of the party
watched them, trying to divine what was in the
wind. They could see them creeping alon to
ward a patch of still deeper shadow, into w ich
they entered, to be lost to view for a few min-~
utcs; long enough to awaken both doubt and ap-
prehension in inoie than one breast.

“ Brag is good, but Grip—tight is better to bank
on I” muttered Frank Spartan to his party, with.
a hard, bitter cadence. _

“ You don’t reckon they’ve sloped 'f"

“ It looks like it to a man up a tree.”

“If he is cross-eyed,” laughed one of the dc—
tectives catching the urport of their wh' .r—
ings. ‘ Don‘t you t ink it, paid. Dav' son
hasn’t come all this way to gri a man and then
dro a]! holds just because a ew horncts begin
to uzz about his ears. He’ll give up Perry
Blair—when he's dead.”

Even as the man spoke Frank Spartan saw
the two figures come back from the shadow.
and his doubts grew weaker, though he said
nothin .

“I thunk I did when I didn’t, an’ that’s
what’s the matter with the old man’s eyes!"

owled Howling Jonathan, in a tone of sub»
( iicd dis ust. “ I could ’a’ tuck oath I kctched
glimp’ o a sneaker out yender, but of 1 did be
melted an’ run so durncd deep into the airth We
couldn’t kctch even a smell 0’ the “armint—not-
a smell!”

“Better be too careful than too careless!"
quiet] said Davidson, as the tall detective was
name. “There isn’t much to he lcained by
spying on us; still. I’d rather have it on our own
8‘! 0. And now, Mr. Spartan, if you will kindly
grant us a few moments’ private conversation,
we’ll try and decide our course of action.”

“ I have but one line—fight for that poor devil
in yonder as long as I can Kick a trigger or
handle a knife!” coldly utters Frank.

“That of course’ was the calm response.
“ I’m the last man on earth to counsel you difo
fcrently, and 1 say now what is superﬂuous,
perhaps: that I mean to defend my prisoner to
the death, no matter what may be the odds
brcu ht against me."

“ t settles it, then!” and Frank S an
impulsively caught the. detective’s han , with
more fervor than he might have shown but for
a feeling that he had done the man wrong in his
then hts. '

“ ith me, it is business: with you, mainly
sentiment, though I feel inclined to think on
will fight just as hard as I or in men inI w en
the pinch comes. I make no e on to‘dissuade
you, though if we are not strong enough to keep
the mob off, you and your friends would only
add a few more victims. If it comes to the
worst—if you see that all hope of standing the
gang of! is lost—I trust you will have nerve
enough to do what will take even more courage
than to stand and ﬁght a ainst odds to the death:
I trust you will draw 0 and leave the rest to
me and in men.” -

As he a tered the last words, Davidson moved
back to the door, unlocked it, step ing inside
with his men and closing it behind t em.

This was one so quickl and smoothly that
before Frank S artan coul divine his urpose
it was aecomp ished, and the heavy sla only
gave back a dull echo as he ﬂung himself against

em.

“I wouldn’t, pard,” and Jonathan Hebrew
tapped the excited man on the arm, dodging a
tn 0 as Frank Spartan wheeled upon him with
a fierce curse, his right hand tightly clinched.

“What does he mean? If this is atrick of‘
any sort—”

“ Why, I’m the one to blame ” frankly cut in
the Ho y Terror with a ligh laugh, that did
more to check the threatened blow than an '
other guard he could 'bly have se . .
“It’s a trick 0’ my hate in’, an’ of it don’t pan
out ’way up, then I’m ready fer to take the
quincekonces fpard!”

' “Explain,i you please sir!”

“When you give me alf a chance, I’ll do it
so quick it’ll make our head swim all over,
boss!” grinned the , owler with a confidence
that in a measure calm the excited man.
“ An’then, ef it don’t suit your idees to a t-y t .
you kin begin chawin’ on my ear jest as quigk
as you durn please. We kin hev alittle fun,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a)», .v

 

 

—- ‘ J./

29

 

IIowling monathan.

 

 

 

anyhow, afore Iceberg an’ his army comes to
kick the stufﬂn’ out 0’ us.”

“ I am waiting for your explanation, air,” was
the cold retort.

“ The boss thief-ketcher give a hint of it, of
you only tuck notice, pard, when he  that
mebbe you’d show better grit by liaulin' off
from a hopeless tight then stickin’ to the trough,
whether or no." ‘

“You are dodging the point at issue. Get
d. wn to business." _ .

"Gittin‘ thar, jest as fast as a cripple kin
pch ,” was the )lacid response. “ I always du
lizn . an’ go ho blety when any one undertuck
to rive me out o’ my nat’ral gait. But now—-
I reckon you’ve ca’med down enough to listen
w .hout Jumpin’ off the han’le, so here goes:

"They ain’t room inside the Jug for us all.
T y is room fer a few, an’ that few kin do the
p" "t I set for ’em jest as well as of they was a
ti: Aisan’. It ain’t so much ﬂghtiii’, as it is talk~
in‘ back for to git the critters out yonder red—
h: t stirred up.

“I knowed you’d want to be one o’ the in—
sides, to keep watch over that crazy critter, but
as I’d got better an’ more rtant work for ye
to look after on the outsi e, I jest give them
‘tt-'-Livi_wi‘itteis the hint to make a slip of it,
w Lon you wouldn’t draw off a hit to play talk it
over.”

“ That was part of your scheme to get them
inside, without me?”

Howling Jonathan nodded placid] . But as
the sounds from the town came nearer and
more distinct to his ears, he added more rap-

idl :
‘Y’Nough fer that p’int, bow. Now fer tie
pert We’re goin‘ to play in this little jamboree.
“ You know as well‘s I do, that we ain‘t
enough in weight or number to stand of! the .
gang that Iceberg Dave is raisin’. We couldn‘t 5
all git inside, an’ ef we could, we couldn’t tire a g
shot at the inemy ontel they’d bu’sted Open the t
door. They ain’t even a winder to shoot out of. .
“It ain’t much better out here. Ef they!
wanted to an’ could kee cool enough, the mob I
could lay low in the dar ' out yonder, an’ sweep 3
us of! thhout givin’ us a chaince, only by ﬂrin’
at the fl shes. An’ it’s jest some sech mean way
the ’11 try, of we was lucky enough to drive,
back thar i‘n‘st charge. You know that, boss?” I
I

 

 

“ I know that while I live they shall never lay
a hand in violence on that unfortunate man,"
vo?:lly uttered Frank Spartan. .

“They’s only one way to keep ‘em from dom’
of it, an‘ that’s the very job I want ya to beg)
me at u ) on the p'izen critters Pearnestlyad -
ml owlmg Jonathan. “ch3 need to be foot-
!roe to play it. We want to be whar we kin ,
try to bluff the critters off, but if that cam’t be 1
did, an’ I’m pritty sure it won’t work With Ice- 1
berg Dave fer a head on the other side, we want i
tobe whar we kin take the gang by surprise. ;
.151" cf you’ll agree to play your part,‘we’llinake :
Good Leather think she never bed a full-growed i
‘bmeﬂt nfore—we will so I” _ _ l

Louder and plainer came that dull, Signiﬁcant ,
muttering: a sound that somewhat resembled =
the distant roaring ( f an angry surf breaking '
against a rocky shore.

“ Durned of they ain’t comin', hot-foot, too!" ;
muttered Howling Jonathan as be bent his head
in listening, swiftly straightening up a n and ‘-
§peaking rapidly: “W'e’ll try to b ‘em off.

(hen that plays out, we’ll give ’em the dare aii’
then run off—or make ’em think so ’tanyrat/c.
'We’ll dodge ’round the corner of the shanty, 1
slip of? in the shadows an’ make a circumbendi- ‘
bus ‘round ag’in to whar we kin take the durn- 5
ed fools in the rear. They’ll hev struck the {u’st
blow, an’ we kin shove off onto tha’r shoulders
all that may come of it—see?” l

“ Not as clear as I could wish, I confess!”

“We’ll hev them right whar they bed us in
the fu’st place, an’ as they won’t be lookin' fer 3
us from that way, one minnit o’ red-hot work '
sech as I reckon we kin pour in, ’11 be mighty l
apt to sickcn ’em so they’ll haul of! fer day to i
come to show ’em what‘s happened. An’ I
reckon you know how mighty tough it is to ,
fetch a mob up the scratch ag’in after it’s ;
once run away," hurriedly muttered the Holy :
Terror. 1

A little murmur ran through the group, and I
hunk Spartan felt that his friends regarded 
the trick with favor. He himself doubted, but 1
even if all should not work as Howli Jonathan ‘

Seemed confident it would, the won d be none 1 D

the worse off, and could still ht for the two 

en.

“They‘re comin,’ sure ’nou h this time!” mut-
 Howling Jonathan. “ ou’ve 0t to take ;
the rust on trust. Better you do the ieft o’ the
talkin‘, boss. Hollow you critters!” he bawled
at the top of his voice as the advancing crowd =
arue into plainer view. '

“ Hello yourself!” came back the cold, clear-
cut tones of Iceberg Dave, who had apparently
taken command of the lynchcrs.

“ I wouldn‘t come no clostcr, ef I was you.

! We’re holdin’ a love-feast ri ht here, an’

in’t got time fer to be denstar by any

ongodly gang as goes prowlin’ ’rcund town this

time 0‘ night, when all decent an’ honest critters
is in bed an' snorin’ long ago! Scat!" ‘

“Are you the acknowledged head of that

+—

Jonathan.

 

 

| arty? If not, let your leader speak. I mean

usiness," coldly retortod the gambler.

“Perhaps I can serve your turn, Dave In-
gram,” sharply uttered Frank Spartan, stop—
ping forward a pace or two. though Howling
Jonathan as promptly advanced until at his
Side.

“ Either you or the fellow who arrested Perry
Blair, my friend, on a trumped—up charge and
a for d warrant.”

“ at is your say-so, Dave,” was the cool re-
tort.

“ And my  is that you lie in your throat
when you utter the words, Dave Ingram,” came
a voice so closely resembling that of Davidson,
the detective, that Frank started in surprise, all
the more acute from his seeing that they came
from the lips of Howling Jonathan, who hur-
riedly whispered: “ Make the boys understand
that they are to follow your lead in the trick.
No mistake now. Not a shot, not a blow until
'our voice giVes them the signal. Do it uick.

ut make ’em see that everything depen on
their blind obedience!"

While he was hastily whispering, Iceberg
Dave was replying to the blunt defiance which
he believed came from the detective.

“ I will be ou to repeat those words after
we have sett cc this affair, my dear sir—pro-
vided you are in ﬁt condition as I trust you
may be. As you will be. i you are wise
enough to listen to reason ins of throwing
away your valuable life in attempting impos-
sibilities l”

“ Say you’ll do it, man!” urged Howling
“One single mistake now may
ruin everything! Quic ! I must answer that
fellow!”

“ I’ll trust you,” responded Frank Spartan,
as he stepped back to pass the word to his
friends. ' -

“ Are you struck dumb by the more sound of
a man’s voice?” sarcastically added Good
Leather's cool sport.

“ Hardly, if you call that the voice of a
man. I took it for the yclping of a stray cur
whose tail somebody had stopped on! B r par-
don for the mistake—but, what in thun er do
you fellows want, anyhow?"

“ What we are able to take if you are fool-
ish enough to withold it my dear sir,” came
the prompt res use. “We want Perry Blair.
W'e want the ellow who murdered Ugl Dan
Bennison. And what we want, we’re bound
to have, even if we have to walk over your
dead bodies to get it!”

“ Without givin us a chance to get out of
the way?” laugh. the counterfeit Davidson.
“ Surely you’ll give us a chance to clear the
track?”

“If at once, yes. If you offer the slightest
resistance, so much the worse for you, one and
all 2” came the stern threat.

“Give me ﬁve minutes in which to consult
with”my friends, and I will give you our deci-
SiOIl.

“Granted. Make the wisest use of the time,
if you love life.”

‘Howling Jonathan stepped back and rejoin-
ed Frank Spartan, who gr his hand in
token that all was as he desi .

“They mustn’t be no mistake, boys,” hur—
riedly uttered the red-haired plotter. 5‘ You
want to dodge behind the house, turn to the
right, an’ lay low ontel Frank gives the word.
Not a move afore you see an’ hear him! Then
—wade in for all you’re wu’th! Ready, now,
an’ off i”

He turned as they stole away. leaving him
alone with Frank Spartan, and cried out taunt-
in lv:

F‘ Come an’ fake us—ef you kin, dm‘n ye !”

Gi'asliin r Frank by the arm, he darted away,
as Iceberg ave gave the word to charge, lead—
ing the way himself, grasping the front rope
slung to a heavy log, w ich was buried against
the door. A crash, and the barrier gave way—
then rose a wild, thrilling yell!

CHAPTER XIX.

THE HOWLER GETS DOWN TO FINE WORK.

ALTHOUGH the rest of their party had turned
to the right of the stone use, Howling
Jonathan half led, half forced Frank Spartan to
the left, turning abruptly under cover of the
shadows as the mob rushed forward with that
savage yell for blood, under load of Iceberg
ave.

Even the Terror was taken a little by surprise
at this very )rompt assault, which bade fair to
COmPIOtely rustrate the cunning plan he had
formed for their discomﬁture; but, instead of
showm disma or going into a flurry of excite-
ment. t o How or chuckled grimly as he tunied
upon Frank and dexterously twisted him to the
ground one broad palm pressed over his lips,
the other hand engaged in keeping the
:tarth and enraged young man from drawing
weapon.

“Look_an’ lis’en para," inn'riedly muttered
the seeming traitor, his voice full of triumph,
his eyes glowmg redly in the dark. “They’ve
bu’sted open the door, an’-you hear that?”

A wild, ﬁerce yell risin above the confused
tumult. Sharp cries an some words which
neither of the two men lying there on the earth

 

in the shadow could catch with sufﬁcient clear-
ncss tobe sure of. The swarming mob falling
hastily back. And then Iceberg Dave leaping
over the shattered door, his voice rin 'ng out:

“The cunning devils have tricked us!
There’s no one here! There‘s a hole under the
ren r wall, through which they must have stolen
awav!"

“Now kin ye see through it, boss?” laughed
Jonathan : s he suddenly relaxed his grip and
leapod to his feet.

‘ What for—why didn‘t you tell—where has
he been taken?” huskily muttered Frank Spar-
tan as he also arose.

“ They’ve taken the ﬁrst trick, but we’ll come
out ahead in the game or I’ll never play another
this side the grave !” they could distinguish the
voice of Iceberg rising above thc wild tumult
that followed the start ing disclosure.

“ Which  to show we‘ll hev chances ‘nough
fer ﬁghtin’ thout i'unnin’ a-niuck with that red-
hot gang right now.” chuckled the Terror as be
caught the arm of the bewildu ed man and stole
silently off at a tangent which would soonest
bring them to the remainder of the .
“ Fu’st thing’s to git our fri’nds to take a little
walk fer the good 0’ our healths. Ef they wasto
stan’ thar groun’ ontel them red-hot critters nin
chuck-up ag’inst ’em, we’d hev to wade in an’
see ’em through the circus, which is jest what
we want most to keep shot of. Let Icebe
Dave puzzle the trick out ef he kin. It’ll ho
him busy ontel we kin ﬁnish stockin’ the keerds.
Then—we’ll rake in the stakes an’ ’vide up the
effec’s ’cordin’ to Hoyle—«you bet!”

By this time they were far enough from the
stone house, where Iceberg Dave was still
haran ing his men', and near enough to the
puzzl and doubting friends to attract their at-
tention without too gmat danger'of giving the
enemy the office at the mine time, Howling
Jonathan held Frank Spartan motionless fer a.
brief space while he whispered in quick and
earnest tones:

“ Kin you trust your fri’nds, rd! Im’t
they a single one in the outﬁt w o’d weaken
at a bit of resky work? Not one that you’re
dubious mou ht to sell ye out ef he thought
he could in 'e :1 lg stake? Think uick an’
sure! A mistake may ruin all your wrightest
hopes—may bring death to Franz Moskau an’
undying grief to his father and sister! An.
swer, but only when sure!”

“ I’ll answer for them with my life, if neces-
saryi
“That’s enough then, pard,” with a grim
chuckle as his ﬁrm grasp relaxed. “Give ‘cm
the signal. an’ let’s gi.’ out 0’ here to whar we
kin do a bit 0’ talkin’ ’thout runnin‘ too much
resk 0’ hev’in’ them critters runnin’ chuck up
into our council."

There was scant time to spare, for already the
mob at the stone house was breakin up into
compact bodies which were to searcE for the
fugitives and take them, dead or alive if they
remained within the conﬁnes of Good Leather.
But fortune still favored the right, and the
friends succeeded in drawing 011‘ without inter-
ruption. ‘

“ This slip-off business was what. we ’lowed to
play from the very fu’st, gents,” hurried] ex-
plained Howling Jonathan, “though we idn’t
count on takin’ a crazy critter through the
back door. That hole was thar, pard,” turning
to Frank Spartan, his eyes gleaming with sub-
dued fun, “when you went inside. Our pard
was layin’ over it on his blanket, an‘it was
more to kee you from stumblin’ onto it then
from wishin to kctch your talk with the crazy
man that you wasn’t loft in tbar alone."

“Why didn‘t you trust me with your plans?”
sharply demanded the young man, his eyes still
glowing with angry excitement.

"They wasn’t time to talk it all over, an’ at
they was, you wouldn’t give us a chance ’way
from the rest,” coolly added Howling Jonathan.

1““ Ngt one of them would have betrayed your
p ns.

‘.‘ We didn’t know it fer sure then, an’ the
prize was wu’th too much for us to run any more
reeks then we bed to, )ard, an’ you, gents.
Look at it in a white ligit, an’ you’ll see the
why and wharfore. But just now—thar’s busi'
ness nfore us that we want to settle for sure.

“ lVlicn I take oath that it will be fer your
own good—when I take oath that nearly
all 0’ what is to come in fer your
happiness an’ the happiness of the woman you
love—when I say that we hope to rub out the
my tcry that hcs so long kivered Franz Moskau
over with a mighty black cloud—kin I count on
you an’ your fri'nds kcrryin’ out orders without
stoppin’ an’ argyin’ them all through, from fu’st
to the last one? No it’s nur and’s, but plain yes
or no !"

Frank Spartan paused only long enough to
glanf‘eﬂiover the faces of his party, then re-

“ Tell us what to do and we will not fail you
while one of 115mm pick trigger or play a knife.
I answer for all present.”

“ l’m hopin‘ they won’t be no ﬁghtin’ at all."
quickly replied the Howler, with an unblushing
repudiation of his sanguina record. “ Ef
they don’t come no p‘izen awk ard slip-up, we'll
hev Good Leather whar the wool’s mighty short

‘ ,

 

30

 

long afore the sun comes up toshow the rest
what a han’ful 0’ almost men kin do when they
set out to spread themselves wide 0 n!

“ You’ll take your men an’ be! the hotel.
Don’t let a. soul in nur a soul out, without he,
she or it kin show up a pass writ by me or
Mark Davidson You want to hold the doors,
but not to make any more show 0’ what you’re
doin’ then you hev to. Onderstand?”

With a painful, gasping moan, Colonel Joel
Mallison opened his eyes, for the ﬁrst time re—
turnin to comiousness after falling in that
death- ike ﬁt as Iceberg Dave flung those cruel
words into his face.

For a brief space his brain' was a blank, his
hloodshot eyes roving slowly and aimlme
around the low ceiling then wandering down
the wall at the foot of his bed until—what was
that black, grim ﬁgure doing there?

The benumbing spell was broken, and from
that moment the sluggish brain of the specula-
tor began to work, quickening under that curi-
osity, with which was mixed a trace of fear,
that rapidly grew and grew until—with a low,
shivering cry, Joel Mallison sought to spring
from his bed. Only to make another discovery.

His wrists were ironed!

A cold, heavy hand closed over his lips
and cut short the wild, hoarse yell of terror that
rose in his throat as he made this discovery.
Strong hands held him back on the bed until his
mad, yet feeble, struggle ceased.

The dark figure at the foot of his bed threw
back the cloth that had hidden its features. A
lam was turned up until the small room was
ﬂ ed‘_ with light, and even his terror-dimmed
eyes could not mistake that face for other than
the one belonging to the Terror from Head-
waters! ‘

“Hollow, kunnel! woke up at last?" came in
a cheery tone, and abroad smile lit up that red
and homely face. “ Be durned of I didn’t begin
to think you’d cheated the rope an’ dodged over
the dark river without waitin’ fer the proper
1 rt! I did so!”

“ ercyi” gasped the craven wretch, now that
retribution seemed to have fairly overtaken him,
showing himself in his true colors.

“ Gobs an’ heaps of it, boss!” grinned the
red-haired detective, as he leaned over the foot-
rail and ﬁxed his eyes steadily upon the livid
face lying so helplessly back on the pillow. “ All
that’s wanted is to fu’st ﬁnd out jest how much
mercy it’ll take to wipe out the past an’ kiver
up your devil-doin’s. To ﬁnd that out fer a
sure , supg‘ne you’n me go back a little nn’ rake
the ust o m some 0’ your dirty didoesl Ef I
git off 0’ the straight trail, don’tlet our modest
prewent on from correctin’ me. t’s the dea —

' sure trut we want to git at jest now, boss!”

That strong hand was clapped over his lips
again as he sought to shout aloud in hopes of
bringing aid to save him from that grinning de»
men whose eyes seemed to burn a. hole through
his skin wherever they rested for a. moment.

A cold, snake-like rope was ﬂung across his
throat; the two ends were drawn taut b hands
the owners of which he could not see. T 6 hand
was removed, and the Terror spoke on, his tones
as even and calm as though no interruption had
occurred, as though he was engaged in the mild-
est, moat agreeable of conversations.

‘ They was a time when Morris Grant was
’most as big a man in New Rush as Kunnel Joel
Mallison was in Good Leather, u to tonight.
He had a half-interest into the ig mine, The
Plenty He could sell out any day for enough
dnoats to make a ’pendent fortin for any man
that wasn‘t a. hog, but neither he not his pardner,
Franz Moskau, was willin’ to do that just then.
They had a bonanza, so they thought. It would
pay better fer to work it thar own selves. An’
mange the time they swore they would.

“ ut then they come a change. Morris Grant,
the more he thought it over, the more he felt that
what was a good thing for two, would be jest
doubleas a thin fer one. An’ so, forget-
tin’ that e it hadn’t b n fer Franz Moskau. who
furnished the money to ﬁnd the mine an’ devel-
o it enough to make it wu’th so much, he would
8611 be a pore, no-‘count, broken down rospec-
tor, too poor to pay fer a drink of whis y or to
buy a sin in meal, this Morris Grant began to
plot an' p an murder!

“ You kin winch an’ squarm, kunnel. but that’s
jest what it was,” coldly added the Howler, as
the wretch on the bed shivered all over and
shrunk back as he heard those words. “ You’ve
Wow dance, an’ now you’ve got to pay the

or

‘ “ Your pardner was too white himself to even
dream 0’ sech black treachery as ﬁlled your
base heart, an’ he tumbled into the trap you
sat for him without much trouble. An’ then,
on set to work to break him down, to tortur
he pore devil ontel he come to the terms you
set afore him—even then lyin' as only sech
agility whelps as you kin lie fer to gain tha’r
!

s

“ You on]! tuck one man into your conﬁdence,
but you pal him so well for his he] that he was
enough, t man was Ugly Dan unison, an’
bein‘ a nat’ral—bol'n devil, without heart or con-
science, lovin‘ evil for evil'l own sake, you

Howling Jonathan.

 

 

 

l
i couldn’t ’a‘ picked a better t(X)l fer the work of
you hed raked the World over.

“ Nobody see’d Franz Moskau leaVe New
Rush but when you told ’em he hed tuck a
trip ack East to vis1t his ’lations you was
thought so well of in town that nobody ever
thought to ax an questions. An’ then when
you come out an’ s lowed the papers that made
over to you the mine for value received, it was
looked on as all right, an' a luck bit 0’ businer
fer you. Nobody ever dreame what horrible
tortur’ hed bin brought into la to git the sig-
nature of your old pardner. V y should they?
\Vasn’t on a honest man? Hedn’t you bin open
an’ fran as day?

“But ’way back thar in the hills was a dark,
damp, gloomy hole in the rocks that mought ’a’
told a iii‘erent tale, of its wall could only '
human talk! An’ those black walls hev spo en,
Morris Grant! They hev give umha‘r secrets
at last, an’ sent me to tell you t t the day 0’

jed cut is come at last!” ‘

i onathan paused abrn tly, not because he was
' through, but with a frig tful contortion of fea-
l tures, Colonel Joel Mallison seemed on the point
i of iving up the ghost.

ere were rapid movements and hurried
whisperings in the room for a few moments.
, There was the smell of strong liquors, and there
was the taste of brandy in his mouth as Joel
Mallison once more opened his 0 es, weak but
living, growing stronger with t e passage of
each moment.

Once more that snake-like pressure crossed his
throat. Once more his accuser leaned on the
foot-board, his glowing gaze holdin that of the
trembling, cowering wretch as “it the fabled
fascination of the rattlesnake. Once more
those cold, measurcxl tones, tearing the vail from
the black and criminal past!

If his sins had been great, so were his suffer-
ings just now. He was broken down by the
shock he had received that day in so unexpect-
edly meetin Herman Moskau, by the scare
which the owler had given him, followed up
so clomlv b the still greater shock dealt out to
him by Ice rg Dave. Alone and uncured-for
he had lain in that death-like stupor until
awakened to this—to realize that all was indeed
lost! That the black past had ceme tolight,
and vengeance had claimed him for its own.

Truly, Jeel Mallison was reaping his just re-

ward!

“ U ly Dan told you that he’d bring the young
feller taw in a monstrous short time, once he
got him out whar there wouldn’t be no curious
critters to as: what so much row an’ rumpus
meant. An’ he didn’t waste his time, nuther.
It was a work 0’ love to him, though this poor
youn feller hadn’t never done him no harm. A
devil rn, cruelty an’ Injun-work come nat’ral
to his hand. But he found that it wasn’t so
quick a job. He found that Fran'z Moskau bed
a will like iron, a nerve sech as not one man in
a thousand kin boast of ’thout tellin’ a lie!

“For days an’ weeks he ke ’ up his devilish
work, afeard to crowd too muc in one day, lest
he beat your game by killin’ the lad instead 0’
bendin’ him. An’ as he found how stiddy the
lad held out, despite the tortur’ which was
enough to drive any man crazy, he come to hate
the poor boy like he had done him some turrible
injury! An’ so, even when the work was done
—when Franz Moskau, broken down in body an’
sperit, signed all the pa were you hed repared
fer him, Ugly Dan lied you when e swore
he’d kill the poor bog as soon’s you got out o’
sight. He meant to ill him, but not at a single
blow. That would not kill the devilish hatred
which he now felt fer Franz Moskau. Only
tortnr’ could do that!

“You went back to New Rush, an’ after the
right ’mount 0’ talkin’ to pave the way, you
8110va our papers as roof 0’ your words.
You sai that our part ner hed come on a gal
back home an’ ell in love with her so might
bad that he would marry her oﬂ-hand, thong
she swore she would never hcv him onlcss he’d
agree to settle down with her folks an’ let mines
an’ minin’ alone.

“The only reek you run was in talkin’ too
much but you manidged to steer cl’ar 0’ that,
an’ sold The P! ty fera pile big enough to ﬁtin
well 'with yet y-so that on was goin’ back
East to settle down an‘ ’jo ife.

“ Better fer you of you‘ done it, kunnel! A
man kin hide so much better in a crowded ken-
try then he kin out here. You mought ’a’ bin
footrfree an’ full 0’ deviltry even yit ef you’d
bin content with what you’d stole; but you
wanted still more. You wanted to be one o’ the
few mighty rich men in the world, an‘ so turned
up ano er trick that hes brought yer to thefoot
o - the gallows!

“ You changed your name an’ come here, liv-
in’ a lie in more senses than one. You brun a.
woman an’ not her up in business as a wid er,
when she was vour wife. You thought it a high
old joke 011 Good Leather, but that joke has
turned onto you now!

“By your talks with the widow, the hull
truth has come out. Ef you want to know how,
thank that cunnin’ passage you hed built from
this room to the one she uses. An’ not the least
part to this h-lookin' little spy l”

Aahespobe, boyofallworkpoppedupbo-

 

 

»

 

fore the colonel’s eyes, grinned si iﬁcan
then dodged outof sight again. gn “yr

“ Through that kid we l’arnt all the secrets 0’
Cap’n Clean-up an’ his gang. Thanks to him
we tuck Perry Blair, alias Cap’n Clean-u . We
hev pinned every man 0’ the ang, an’ t enwe
come here to give you a fu’st-c ass beneﬁt.

“ But Franz Moskau? Was it a ghost that

killed U ly Dan? Is them the questions I kin
see bub lm’ up in the pretty two eyes of ye,
kunnel’!” rinned the Howler, evidently hugely
en 'oying is part in this general unmaskmg.
“ listen, kunnel, an’ I’ll give you still another
look into the pinny-poppy-show 1”
His gleaming eyes raised and glanced past the
head of the bed. And Joel Mallison shivered
anew as he could detect a stealthy trampling to
and fro beyond his ken. He scarcely knew what
it was he dreaded, for his brain was all in a
whirl, but he felt that afresh and still more
terrible shock awaited him.

Slowly two dark ﬁgures moved within his
limited range of vision, pausing near the foot of
the bed, where Jonathan was still standing.

In one of the forms be recognized Frank Spar-
tan, his face 1e and hard—set, his dark eyes
glittering wit stern vengeance.

But the other? Its head was covered with a
dark cloth that fell over its shoulders, conceal~
ing all from his view. Under that vail? What
was coming? Was it the ghost he had seen so
often of late?

“Look straight this way, kunnel,” said the
Terror, as his hand touched the black cloth.
“’Low me to interduce to yea old-time fri’nd
an’ ner. Franz Moskaui

I e snatched the cloth off, revealing a ﬁle,
thin, deeply lined face—a face that might ve
belonged to a corpse, only for the wild fire that
glowed and gleamcd in thom deep-sunken e es.
The face of the madman whose steel had c ft
the heart of Ugly Dan. But the knife and
shears had been at work, clipping and shaving
until a ghost of the past indeed stood revealed
to the horror-stricken eyes of the criminal.

“ Franz Moskau!" he gasped, shrinking hock,
shivering from head to foot with abject terror.

CHAPTER XX.
“nusxc nun CHARMS.”

THAT was a ni ht- never to be forgotten in
the annals of Good Leather. Surprise followed
su rise with a rapidity that caused the coolest
unit-1p steadiest brain to whirl and become eon-
fused in the attempt to keep the run of mat-
ters in general.

Even the cool sport, Iceberg Dave, was taken
aback by the cunning job put up on the lynch-
ing party by Howling Jonathan Hebrew, and
for a. little space he airly lost his head. He
was playing for the heaviest stake of all his
life. He was still unnerved by the ﬁerce strug—
gle he had had to keep his mad mions in
check while in the presence of wi ow Mere
Watkins. He was constantly hearing the w a
she uttered, ever recalling these glowin looks.
the intoxicating truth which he believ be had
read in the depths of her brown eyes. And
thus it came about that he lost control of the
mob in losin control of himself.

After;1 the rst lgliadd rule aiter the vgnishcd

ey t e compac ies ro e u an swept
sired h the town, without a hen , since Ice—

berg

Spartan.

And asthe demoralized mob carried more than
one bar by storm, pourin in liquor until their
wits cored out, it came t at one after another
man was arrested and ironed by the cool-bead-
ed, iron-nerved detectives under the lead of
Mark Davidson.

All this was done so quietly and adroitly that
not a soul save those more immediately concern-
ed even suspected what was oing on undercover
of night, until it was too ate toefl‘ect either
rescue or turn upon the bloodhoxmds-of the law.

One by one, until all of the band of Ca '11
Clean-up, save Colonel Joel Mallison a Ice-
berg Dave, were taken into custody, placed in
the stone—walled cellar beneath My House where
a few of the friends and allies of Frank gpartan
guarded them vigilantly.

Even widow Mercy Watkins was takm in
charge as she attempted escape by way of the
secret passage. But somehow she managed to
effect an escape. soon after Frank Spartan
whispered a few guarded words to the man
in w 060 care she was placed by Howling Jona-

 

It was not until near] day dawn that Ico-
berg Dave was discover by the officers of the
law, returning on horseback from his “in
search around Good Leather for the man whom
he had sworn to slay as the price of the fair
widow’s love.

He dismounted at The Mint and entered its
doors, only to have the enemy close in behind
him. covering him with their pistols and ordtr-
inglhim to surrender in the name of the law!

0 leaped hack and his hands filled with re-
volvers, cooked and in readiness tobegin their
deadly work. He saw that escape was wen—nigh
impossible, but his white. stern face showed
the detective that it would be no tat to
take  alive. And cold, stern, vhf-on

ave had vanished, looking for Frank '

 

 

 

’.__.

“The jig is up, David Ingram! Every man
belonging to the. gang is under arrest save you.
The mob you raised has melted away as the
truth showed itself, and the better element of
the town came to our side. You may cheat the
rope; you can’t cheat our weapons. So sur-
render!”

Even as he uttered the words, a ﬁgure forced
its way through their ranks, leaping across the
room and panting:

f‘ ogethcr, my hero—m love!”

It was widow Mercy \\ atkins, who had ﬂed
to the side of the one man in Good Leather
who, she knew, would defend her to the last

ga. .

3:111] then Iceberg Dave had well borne out
his title, cold and unshaken as he faced those
heavy odds, a smile even curlin his mustaches
:is he listened to the stern speec of the tall de-
tective. But now!

His left arm encircled the woman who thus
proved the intense low: with which he had so
suddenly inspired her. His face was trans-
ﬁgurod. One moment full of love, beyond the
power of words to depict. The next that of a
demon, as he glared at the detectives who Were
moving forward to capture him while thus ham-

)ered.

I “Better death, in love!" panth the widow,
and before he con (1 divine hcr intention, she
drew a pistol and ﬁred straight into the faces of
the enemY.

The fell back, confused, shaken far more
than t cy would have been at the assault of a
dozen men, and Iceberg Dave caught at the
chance.

A stream of ﬁre poured from his weapon as he
lifted Merry 113) on his left arm and rushed for-
ward. The etectives and their allies from
Good Leather reeled back, yelling, shouting,
cursing, ﬁring without an aim. split through
the center by that human catapult.

And it was not on] by his might and desper-
ate nerve. Mercy V atkins added her quota to
the scene of death and confusion, shootin as
she lay in his arm, laughing h rically, shr 1y,
encouraging her new-found ero to still more
defzgii-atc deeds!

the time being they were neither much
better than lunatics!
_ But it was mmlncss with a method underneath
it. Iceberg knew that but one frail hope re-
mained for them, and as he dashed through the
confused tangle into the open air, a mighty sob
rose in his throat as he saw his good horse still
standing where he had left it.

One mighty bound and he was beside it.
Another instant and Mercy Watkins ﬁlled the
saddle, hcr istol still sending out vicious mes—
.lscngers of eath, covering the mounting of her
1910.

U behind her he lea , wrenchin the good
hora}; around and thus Isliilildin her pg ions life
with his own body, laughing erOCiou. y as he
sent his last shot into the confused crowd, then
crushmg the skull of a man who leaped to the
head of the horse to check their ﬁi ht.

On through the streets of Good thcr dash-
cd the horse with its double burden. Out of
Good Leather and into the dark shadows that
were not yet thinning before the coming day.
On and on and on!

Pursuit was made, but it came to naught.
Either by swift riding or cunning doubling, the
fugitives eluded all pursuit, and from that day
thenceforth their names were only known in
Good Leather as a memory.

—l...

Once more in the back rlor of My House.

The room was well ﬁilgd. though a somber
silence generally reigned over the assembly.

Herman Mos an and his daughter Ame ia sat
near one end of the room, both ve pale and
bearin traces of strong agitation. ear them
stood nk Spartan, one hand gently resting
on the chair of the blind minstrel, the other
clasping the trembling ﬁngers of the sister.

On a couch at the further and of the room sat,
or rather crouched. Franz Moskau. His face
was immobile, his eyes ﬁxed on vacanc . He
gave no signs of interest or curiosity. H s mind
seemed a rfect blank, and he had not spoken a
word for ours. The slayin of Ugly Dan Ben-
nison ap to have satis ed him.

Near im stood Howling Jonathan Hebrew,
now very different in a pearance from the
Terror who had “ shaken Leather u ” so
lively ever since his advent the eveni ore.

Mark Davidson, ler than ever, his ead and
one arm bandalﬁcg,A memorials of that ﬂerco
charge at The int, with several other persons
made up the number.

“ It is time ’Melie?” softly muttered Herman
Moskau, his blind eyes roving around as though
he could thus see just what was near. “ It is
time to play, is it not? It may make him the
quicker come. You see him not, 'Melie? Franz
is not yet in sight?”

“ y father,” gravely uttered Frank Spar-
tan. “ And as you play, pray that the ever
morth Father may open the ears of your long-
lostsonl Pray that your music may give him
back to us all!

“Eltilovcr I0 I pray,” was the simple reply, as

\

 

Howling Jonathan.

he drew the bow across the strings, sending out
that lon drawn, wailing, yet inexpressibly
sweet an touchin sound.

More than one eart gave a quick bound of
hope as they saw the crazy man lift his head
with a start, gazing across the room. But only
to sink again as the head drooped and he resumed
his former attitude of listless apathy.

The father played on and on, tears streaming
from his sightless eyes, his face upturned, bent
a little to one side as though he was listening for
the ﬁrst footsteps of his wandering boy. Played
on until his overtasked nerves could stand no
more, and the instrument dropped into his lap
unheeded as he murmured:

“ Is it not yet, ’Melie? Is the goot Lord still
hard to us? Is it nothing of our poor boy that
you see, yet, ‘Meliei”

“Not yet—not et, father!” came chokingly,
those teardimm blue eyes ﬁxed on the pale,
lmﬁlgard face op )site. “ Play yeta little more,
fa or! It mus be—it must be that he will his
ears open! It is the last hope! If music not—
thcn nothing !”

“Patience, my dear friends,” said Frank
Spartan, only by the utmost exercise of his will
keeping his v01ce under command. “Time is
long, and kind heaven will reward your efforts
at last. Play some more—if you have not for-
gotten, lay some time that Franz loved when a

appg' c ild with on all. Try that, and God
gran it may open is ears!”

. A gasping cry broke from the poor old man‘s
lips, an be turned his sightless eyes toward his
dau hter, c ing huskily:

“ tisso ’ eliel The time has come for the
old song that the poor mother make him to
slee goon? He is by us close—my boy?”

“ t is time, father. It is now, or never no
more in this life!”

The blind man bowed his head, tears trickling
through his thin, trembling ﬁngers. He was
praying.

Ame is dropped to her knees before him her
face uplifted, her clasped hands raised on high.

Not an audible word was spoken but the
Era ers that went u to the throne of the Most

i5 were none the em ardent and eloquent.

nly one di pair of eyes in the room. Only
one unmoved ace!

Silent, stolid, Franz Moskau stared at the car—
pet, unmoved by the pathetic scene, senscless to
all that was going on for the rescue of his mind
from worse than the tomb.

Herman Moskau gently took the hands of his
daughter, )ressing them to his lips, then over
his painful iy throbbing heart. Faint his voice,
unsteady h 9 words as he muttered:

“It is the time we wish and wait and pray
forwso long, ’Melie. Be brave, my child—like
me

Frank Spartan turned abrupt! away. That
piteous attempt at drawing up t e bent frame
—~that poor assumption of calm conﬁdence;
tvivlas more than he could bear to look upon just

en.

.“ I am brave—I fear not, father!” and the
girl’s vowe rung out clear and distinct, her face

lghting up, her eyes ﬁlling with a light as
bright and lorious as though it was truly in
spired. “ lay the old cradle son . and pla
it as though on knew more than fife depeu -
ed on each c 0rd! I will sing—even as the
good mother sung to Franz!”

The father seemed to other“ courage from
her strength. He his beloved instru-
giggii with something of his old energy, and

Soft and low came the sweet voice of the
maiden, her blue eyes riveted upon the bowed
face of her brother. Like a far-away echo the
Viggltltkepg tlime to her singing.

an ow at ﬁrst but gradual! drawi
nearer and clearer. ’ y as

A ﬁnspmg breath that 'caused a discord as
Ame a saw the face of the crazy man raise
and his eyes glance swift! around. Only for a
Single instant did she fa ter, for she had cast
their last frail hope on this venture. Sweeter
and Clearer» now. as though comin still closer
sounded the music. It was not as t ough both
Egg? and player Were in the same room With

And from wanderin , that vacant game be-
came ﬁxed pm the faog that now smiled upon
him. The light deepened in his eyes which ad
been so blan ever since he became fully Baas”
ﬁed that the demon who had so merciless! tor-
tured him was dead. His breath came aster
and less re lar. One hand slowl lifted tohis
head. DDS ng back the shortened hair from his
forehead, then—with a swift motion sweeping
across his brow as he leant' forward, his lips
parted, his face slowly ﬂushin .

810W]? the song sunk agafn, little by little.
The maniac sett‘ed back on the much, hisbreath

, wing more even. The wild light softened in

is eyes, and his thin ﬂn re moved as then h
keeping tureto the muse. And then, as t 0
music and the no less sweet voice grew lower
and less distinct, a smile crept over his haggard
face and his head dr00ped toward the pillow.

Amelia touched her father on the arm and
ceased sin g. Asilcnce ﬁlm,thme reign-
ed thr‘ole out the room. Franz oskau gave a
start glanced bewildcmdlyaronnd the room,

 

31

but Amelia, steadying her voice by a desperate-
effort of will, spoke in a low, so thing tone:

“ Sleep, my ne boy! Sleep for mother, dear
Franz!”

“ Yw—I will sleep,” slowly uttered the man.
his head sinking to the pillow with a faint sigh,
a languid smile pla 'ng about his thin li
" The pain is gone, an 1 am so tired—good-nig t.
mother!”

Herman Moskau started to his feet, trembling
like a storm-teased leaf, his lips parting as he.
caught that voice, so languid, yet so familiar to
his lon 'ng ears. But before he could utter a
word, ank Spartan clap a hand over his
mouth, whispering earnest y:

“It is Franz, your long-lost son, but if you
speak a word to startle him, you will lose him
forever!”

“ It is true, father!" softly whispered Amelia.

sping his hand “ It is so for sure! Franz
Ea: come back to us, and it was the dear moomc
that bring him home again !”

And time proved her words true!

From that peaceful sleep which lasth for
man long and weary hours, Franz Moskau
awo e in full possession of his senses though it
was many a long month before he fu ly recover—
ed from the effects of all he had undergone at
the hands of Morris Grant and his unscrupulous
tool, Ugl Dan Bennison.

He cou d never explain how it was that he es—
caped from Ugly Dan. The past was a blank.
and far too painful to be needlessly stirred

up. -

Morris Grant never fully recovered from the
shocks of that .‘night. He was forced to make
ample restitution to his former partner, and
then was taken away to answer to the c of
highway robbei and murder, with Perry lair
and the remain or of the gun who had cursed
the country under the name 0 “ Captain Cleanw
up” and his band. It is quite enou h to adt'.
here that they received suitable punis ment for
their crimes,with the exception ofMorris Grant,
or Colonel Joel Malliison.

He died in prison, before trial, of alpoplexy,
brought on, his mates said, by his w' d fancy
that a host was hauntiu him!

Fra Spartan marri Amelia Moskau, and
neither of them ever has seen cause to regret so
acting. Herman and Franz Moskau live with
them in the old home from whence the twain out
out on their long and weary search for the min»
ing son and brother.

And, is it necessary to add, music is king in
that home!

 

TEE END.

Half-Dime Singer’s Library

1 Wnoa. Emu! and 59 other Songs.

2 CAPTAIN Curr-and 57 other Songs.

a 3‘1}; Gugsaomi‘ HA: andg? otlsigr Songs.

onssiv own: an 0 or age.

5 I‘LL S'nuu: You Win: A Fin-ram and 62 canal.
6 Grocer run CKARXER and 56 other Songs.

1" Tim BELLE or Rocruwtv and 52 other Songs.

8 Youso FaunaYou‘as Too FRst and 60 others.
9 Sin YOUNG Gun. and 05 other Songs.

10 [‘1 mi: Govzlucoa’s 0mm Son and 58 other Songs
11 MY Fax and 55 other Sousa.

12 Count' Tnno‘ run Ru and 55 other Songs.

13 Tim Romwxo 1mm and 50 other Songs.

14 01.» D00 Tan and 62 other Souls.

15 \VEOA. Guam: and 50 other Songs.
16 Is mis Wnnr BY um B! and 62 other Songs.
17 NA.ch Lu and 58 other Songs.

18 1'! m Bo! mr’s House in Buzz and 5t othac
19 Ta: Two ORPlANB and 59 other Songs.

20 WHAT ARE m WILD Wavu Sumo. Burn?
and 59 other Songs.

21 INDIGNANT Pour Woo and 50 other Songs.
22 Ta: 0m ARI—CHAIR and 58 other Songs.
23 ON Coszv Isuzu) Bates and 58 otherSonga.
24 OLD SIION, ran How-00m! Mn and 80 othat.
25 l‘il m Lev: and 56 other Songs.
26 Passe: or m Gm. ans and 56 other Songs.
2] Yo. Hun. Ho! and Mother Songs.
28 ’wau. Nana no in Gm rr UP 80 and 60 other!»
29 Bw'z' Bommr‘s Ova. rs: Rosana and 54 other:
80 Tu: va LAUGHING Max and 56 other Songs.
31 Swan-r Foss mils-Nor and 55 other 80m
32 Liza-rm: BABY Miss and 53 other Songs.
88 D: BANJO n m: Imam ma Mn and “other;
34 Ttm and 50 other Songs. ' ‘
85 .1031 To Pmsx ms: Bars and 52 other Songs.
86 Sumo on 0m: in ms Gown-and 5‘: others.
87 Kowm Rum and 59 other Songs.
38 Nu. Dzsrnusnm and 53 other Songs.
89 Ta: Gnu. I LII-r Blame Mi: and 50 other Son's. I
40 "1‘13 zu'r'a Lm'u: Fauna Fwwsa and 50 other!
/1 Farms Whitman:qu and 60 other Songs.
& Dame :1: ran Bank and 63 other Songs.
43 H. M. S. Plum“. com and 17 other-Bongo
Sold everywhere by Newsdoalen, at ﬁve oeu-
pcr copy, or sent pact-paid. to any address. on to
oclpt of an: ant: pernumber. ,
BELDLI AND ADAMS, m
08 Wan“ Sum Raw 10-.

 

 

 

 

 

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979 Buffalo Bill's Relentless Trail. l3 Colonel'820 White Be ver's ii ' Min r ' Leash - Ticﬁ
Prentisa‘ingruham. y ‘ Ziluraudcr'itlt i‘)oath§l‘llacl¥ml3‘y ﬁﬁhﬁemll. e 653 P(giglgnel Prgntfzg $3.:th 0f '
973 The Dread Shot Four; or, My para. 0: the 816 l‘uffnlvx ltiil‘n Rod Trail; or, The.Rond-Rlder 649 Buck Taylor, the Saddle King. Buffalo Biil'i
liming. L'y 501"“; m Cody_ Rellegllde's Run Down. By Col. P. lngraham. Chief of Scouts. By 001. P. Ingrahnln.
M'Buffalo Bill's Invincibleo; or. The Sable Shad-.812 WM!» “"15” DPnth-Kile“: Or. The Rad mind 344 Buffalo Bill's Bonanza; or. The Knlshu of
ower's Sublime Sacriﬁce. By 00L 1;. my» iiidurs of the Rockies. fly Col. P. Ingraham. mg suvei- Circle. By Col. P. Inmham.
ham. 07 Will Bil. tile Wilil “’ca‘. Duelist: rl‘. The 0121639 The Gold King; or. Montebello. tho Mania-
manual.) Bm'. Blue Ben Brigade; 0,. Sum Mascot of Moonlight Mine. isy Buliulo bill. ' cent, By Buffalo Bill,
"0"?" 33m 0‘ Sham-3- 137 C01. 1’. Insrnllam. 807 Wild Bill. the Wild West Duelist; or, The Girl 629 Buffalo Bill's Daring Role; or Duration)!
{956 Baguio Bur. volunteer Vigilante” on The Grande Ralph, the Cowboy Chief. By Buf- Dick, King of the Cowboys. By icon um

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mysterious Man in Blue. By Col. 1’. lngru- m1" mm 599 'I'h Dead Shot. Nine' or M Purdl of tho

. 704 Buffalo Bill's Winning Hand: or. The Masked Plains. By Buffalo B'ill. ' y

950 Buffalo Bill at. Bay; ‘br. The Gold Seeker's }K°m‘§," 0’ "‘9 “Mom” “Wim- 35’ 001- P- 511 Buffalo Bill's rim Trail; or, Will Cody. the
Doom. By Cot. P. Ingrnham. gm "m' . Pony. Express Rider. By Ned Buntiino.

043 Buffalo Bill’s Block Game; or, The Mounted 787 wqﬂlocnfn sdneag‘qhgtLorpmifkeietogﬁogt 414 Red Renard. the Indian Detective; or. Tho
Miner: of the Overland. By Col. P. IIIng 0 ‘9 00m °' y 0 re“ 38 n8 ' Gold Buzzards of Colorado. By Buﬂnlo Bill.
hang/6, 78 Buffalo Bill's Brnnd: or, The Brimstone 401.1.“ One_ArmM para. or Red Retﬂbuu“ h

m 33...... “it; {3}"; PM:  The Gold m 33352.1'“.?ill-‘. 3:,22‘..f.52‘3“21‘2i2“'§§$l.. WWW- ” B“““‘° '3‘“-

m o . I ' i. _ ‘ - n "i Z r - . v
ham o i g cm By ‘01 1 “I‘m , Men at Grand Canyon. By Col. P. Ingruhum. 397 Esulvgfgugﬁghgm. or. “bite MW.

921 Buffalo Bill's Bluff; or. Dulky Dick. the 773 EMT)" 3‘1"" B“; °"- Cm” ‘° “W 39”“9- White Beaver. the Exile of the Plate; .9. 1‘
Sport. py Col. P. mgr-alum, ‘ Y 9°“ ‘fwm‘ I A Wronged Man's Red Trail. 37 8.1310

921 Buffalo 8m.“ Quandary; m.‘ velvet Bur. 700 Buffalo. Bills Sweepst‘ake: or, The Wipe-on; Bill. .
vow. By am Prank... manna"). at Last Chance. By (.01. Prentiss Inxrahnm. Bum“, an“ on ; on Outbb‘m“ u, 0...“...

915 Buguo m" and the Surgeon. Scout: or. Go_ 765 Ilui‘foio Bill‘s Dozen; or. Silk Ribbon Sam. By Col. Prentiss Engruhun.

Wilmer). tile lledrlrin Ridor. By Col. P. in. B" 90’- “ent‘” Inﬂamm- Buffalo Bill's Pledge; or. The M of

I graham, 761 Buffalo Bill's Mascot: or. The Death Valley Three. By Col. 1’. Ingmham. ’

909 Buffalo Bm.‘ Lam”; or, Red Butterﬂy. By Victim No. 13. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. wnd m“, the whmwmd of “w w“. 3*

_ COL Pam“, Ingram"... . 751.?1lfﬁalo Bright I}oufhle; or, irhe ugﬁperado De- Buftalo Bill. .
guano Buy. “M104 Tm"; 0,.“ oemlem.“ 90‘ ve- YCD- rem 51' "Kr ‘- Texan Jack, the Prairie Rattler: or The

.H Jack. the x“. 0‘ Many Mu“. By Col. 1.._ 750 Buffalo Bill's Big Four; or, Custer'a Shadow. Queen of the Wild Riders. 13y Buffalo'Bul. I
lngrlhum. By C"‘- PWM‘S’ mgrahnm- The Pilgrim Sher ; or. The Soldier'- SM-

900 ammo any. Rough Ride"; or. Tex“ Jack-ﬂ 143 Buffalo Bill's Flush Hand: or. Texas Jack's heart. By Buffalo Bill, Government Boo-t
Sharp-Shooter; by Col. Prentiss Ingraham. “mms- BY Ci’l- l'renm‘ human" and Gume” l

805 Buffalo Bill's secret A] ; _ . v Buffalo Bill's Blind; or. The Masked Driver 189 Wild Bill's Gold Trail; or. The W
Double. By Col. pmnusylngrw'zg: Texan. gt Death's Canyon. By Col. Prentiss Ingra- , Dozen. By Col. P. Ingraham.

MEN“! 3 I. ' . am. 175 “'lld Bill's Trump Card; or. Tho Indium
gm“? 1;," any? Siaiféhggd The Pleased §3uglnloﬂmg ﬁnd quIBMtg‘f‘y‘ ll‘ifen;i ori The Heiress. By Col. Premise Inxmhnm. a

» ' ‘ <0 n 00 We ~ 9' 0- rent” "Km. 163 Wild Bill the Pistol De 19h t' D

m The Thu-owns; Buth lllll. .Wll Bill . .. ' ‘ m ‘ ° ' °m" mg”
Band-Box Bill: o'r,. The Bravo in grandma? ham' Do“ a Double' By 90“ Pram” In
13, co; p, 13313113,“. Buffalo Bill's Boa ea: or. Silk Laaso Sam. 158 Buffalo Bill, Chief of Scouts: or. The Doomod " .

87‘ Hurrah Bur. Buckskin Brave.qu The and By Col. Prontlsu uxrahum. ‘ Dozen. By Dr. Frank Powell. ~-
Qurm's Lust Gallo. By Col. 1". Ingraﬁzqﬁ), Buffalo Bill'o Body Guard: or. The Still Kunt “7 Bumm‘ 3111'” 3mm” PM“:

V_ — V 7 or. Dashing
m mama mm, mm Agent Rounmup: or, The of the Hills. liy Lol. Prentiss lngruhum. Bengymthe dotsvur of the Hills. By Union

Mysterious Inked Mun in Block. By Col. Buffalo Bill on the War Pnth; or, Silk Lasso .
I P. lntmham. ’ ‘ ' Sam. the Will—o'—ihe—Wisp. liy, Col. 1’. ln~ 92 glaﬁf'zlgn“13?]théh€Ver:ECngmM:§o2‘Wh or.
888 anguish Iggl‘n goutgfhrjrm: ior.x The Man Kmh‘m“ « liurr. I y a
l 9 N'- Y '0- "m" “‘mmm‘ Buffalo Hill's Scout Sllnrlowerﬁ: or. Ema-r. 433 Go] 131 .
35" Buﬂlllo Bm'ﬂ ROS"! Plum: or. The Pony Rt- old Ed of Devil'l Acre. By Col. P. Ingraham. Ovedrlan‘é.‘etngplo3'l:ifal):  Km“. or the
. . ' )

~ g3; Mi“ “"3" “Y COL 1mm” 1mm“ numllo Bill Buﬂled: or, 'i‘he Deserter Des- 52 Death Trailer. the Chief of Scouts: or. Lite
- - perudo'l Defiance. By Col. P. lngrahllm. and Love in a. Frontier Fort. By .Buiulo-
851 Buffalo Bill'l Double Dilemm'a: or. The Great Buffalo. m1”; Buckskm. Brmherhood: .or Bill. -
, , Soontl Big Three. By (.01; I. Ingrallllm. 099nm“ up a Lost Tm". By COL p. m_ NEW ISSUES To COME. .
845 Buffalo ‘Blll’l Redskin Rune; or Texan Jack’s graham; . / ‘ .
. “Death shot. Br Col. Prentiss lngrnilum. Bum“, Bum mmd Tm". or. The Daughter 981 The Gold Lace Sport: or, The Tom sum.

83!) Peking: Igin Peacliiiihot: or, Texas Javk'a of tho Regiment. 1);; col, pram“ Insmham. 982 :ohn": “('th biwatnwlfyf {10L  Band‘s, 3;“
waxy. y u o ., . , rs _ eweyw m1 at “I z or. e
Bufﬂlu Blll": Barr ianluo: ori The Brimstone “32 ggggnggl 3”???” Sim!“ TmH- By Melat- ﬁucrly yam.” Double Game. B, A. P

’ Bond’s Blot-out. By Col. P. nxrllham. . ' ‘ _ orr 8.
f’ ' . '_, z ’ h 3“ e n 661’ Buffalo Bills. swoon: or, the King of the 933 Km move rm the S rt. By J. c. M_
Iguooffﬁ'zoame'gg’oméhﬁtgl.°§2 lngrahgn? 3mm“- BY (9‘- ?"nuss Ingmh'm- drick. Rea 3! August . , I ‘  I
‘ 658 The Cowboy Clan: or. The Tigress of Texas. 984 Buffalo Bill's Lite Rania: or. The w

9 . -. . Montebolio the
mgﬁ‘ﬁiﬁ‘.’ ’Jf‘&t§°¥3§nﬁ£ Inzrnhanl. By Colonel Praline» Ingraham. Three. By Col. P. Ingmham. Ready Ht.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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