‘ w

 

 

‘4

 

 

,_-_ ...‘-

COPYRIGHT. 1888. BY Bun”: &: ADAMS.

wuss.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   AUGUST,1905.

M. J. IVEIES JD (30.. Publishers.  
. U

 

Published Every

10 Cents a. Copy.
Month.

(JAMES SULLIVAN, Pnornxxron), $1 00 a Year

379 Pearl Street. New York.

  
 

 

 

The Escobéiio Millions.

A Romance of the Great Ranch.

BY ALBERT W. AIKEN,

Amon or “ rm: msn or msco,” “ snows:
ucx,” “ CAPTAIN vowmo," “ cm-
ronnn JOHN,” “ TEE srmonn
amp." “0., no.

CHAPTER I.
m summons.

In the elcelde’s oflice in the old Mexican town
of El Pm set the chief magistrate of the city
end the captain of police.

Own brothers were these two men, Pam] b

 

 

name. M' l, the elder, we: the Alande of l 
Peso, and , the younger, held the position a
of chief of the police. 

Rather below the medium hight, but stout,
well-built men were the brothers; not young,
nor yet old good-looking. although there was
filming e ut their face: which suggested the

08

They .were drened richly, u befitted men who

 

 

l

m IRISH LIl'l'ID BIS  IAIRLY ’30! m (mom LID, me an: «_"
IN m AIR, rmw m om an enema 

 

 

 

 

2

held important positions, and at the time we in—
troduce them to the reader’s notice had just be-
gun an important conversation, the captain of
police having just entered the ofiicc.

“Well, how goes iti” qiioth tho alcalde.

“ Badly,” responded the other.

“ How much have you succeeded in getting?”

“A little short of a hundred ounces.”

“ Ah, caramba ! what is that when a man
needs a thousand?” exclaimed the alcalde.

“ Did you call upon our friends, the gam-
blers?”

“ Yes, upon every man.”

‘2 And they were not willing to contribute,
eh? ’

“ Only a trifle.”

“ Did you not tell them that I was sorely

resseal for money, and hint that if they did not
help me in my need, I might be obliged in the
interest of morality to put a stop to their
games?”

“ Oh, yes, I put it to them as strongly as I
could.”

“ And they were not inclined to come down i”

“ No, they all declared they had come down
pretty well already.”

The alcalde shrugged his shoulders like a
Frenchman.

“ Well, Well, there is some truth in that,” he
admitted. “ But still the scamps ought not: to
grumble, for if I did not wink at their open
gambling dens they Would not be able to make
any iiioue at all.

“ Now, ‘ oc Moses is rich—his faro-bank makes
a fortune every week. Did you see him and ex-
plain how I was situated?” -

“ Yes, Moses contributed fifty ounces. all he
said he could spare,” the captain of police an-
swered.

“ Moses declares that his place has made very
little money during the past month, andnheu I
attempted to put the screws on, he replied,
promptly, that if you wanted to kill the goose
who was l ying the golden eggs, you were

erf'ectly welcome to do it, as far as he was con-
cerned;

“ He said: first I pay a tax to the town for a
license to carry on my business, and then I pay
as much more to you and the alcalde; that is on
the quiet, but if I am going to be struck for a
stake every time either you or your brother run
short of cash, why I might as well give up, for
I cannot stand the press. ’

“True, very true, the man is right,” the al-
calde remarked. “A free horse must not be
ridden to death.”

“ How long have you got before this demand
of the governor must be met?” the chief of po-
lice asked.

“ Oh, I have another month, but a thousand
ounces is no small sum, and so I have begun to
get it together. That is the price of my position
here, you understand. A thousand ounccs a
year is what Pedro Cosala, Governor of Chihu-
ahua, considers the office of Alcalde of El Paso
to be worth, and if I do not pay the money I
will very quickly be removed.”

“ Oh, yes, undoubtedly, and it is richly worth
that sum.”

“ Certainly, but I have had bad luck, and that
is why 1 am short of money. The infernal cards
have run against me constantly for the last
month, and if my luck does not change soon, I
shall have to stop playin .”

“ I can sympathize wit you, for my luck has
been atrocious too for the last few days,” the
captain of police remarked with a melancholy
shake of the head.

“ Yes, it is strange how luck will run some-
times. By the way did you call upon the Jew
pawnbroker Hadali Solomons?”

“ Oh, yes; he was one of tho first men I visi-
ted, because I thought he would be good for a
couple of hundred ounces at the least.

The alcalde shook his head.

“ It is about as easy to get blood from a stone
as to get money from a Jew,” he declared.

“ \‘v’ ell, it was so in this case. He declared

he had recently suffered such sevnre losses}
through the rascality of some of his agents, 3,
who had abscondcd with his funds that he had 3
hardly a cent to bless himself with. and had i
I but lately ‘U‘TlVl'd from the island of Cuba,"

been really obliged to borrow money so as, to
be able to get along.” '
“The old liar!” exclaimed the alcalde, “and

after all the money I have throWu in~his way ,
too ”

“ He contributed twenty ounces, but it was
like ting with his heart’s blood.”

“ do not doubt that in the least,” the alcalde
remarked. -

" To a man like the Jew it is about as bad to
part with his gold as with his blood."

u Yps, yes, the old Jew fairly groaned as be
counted out the ounces.”

“Well. let me see,” observed the alcalde, re-
flectively. “ The money must be raised in some
wa .
mks; this sum which you have raiScd and needy
swell it into a thousand at the card—tablcr-ay,
into two for that matter, but I do not dare to
risk it.”

“ True, it is a great risk,” remarked-the cap-
tain of police with a doubtful shake of the

“ flow it that devil of an Escobedo was only

 

If my luck was running all right I could .

 

The Fresh in Texas.

her? the money might be raised,” the alcalde
sair . .

“ Yes, he was a valuable fellow. With his
band of eut—throatshe could be depended upon in
a pinch like this.”

“ You are right, he could always be depended
upon to gather wealth. It was an evil day for
us when this American—this Jacket m Blake,
who calls himself the Fresh of risco. made his
appearance in this section!” the alcalde de—
clared.

“ Let me see; that was nearly two years ago.”

“ Yes, and inside of twelve monthscf the time
he came here, he succeeded in breaking up Es—
cobedo’s band; if you remember, they called
themselves the Red Riders of Rayon.”

The chief of police nodded.

“ And Manuel Escobedo was fairly driven out
of the country by him.”

“ Yes, if my recollection serves me right, he
and his sister departed together; but where did
they go?”

“ To the island of Cuba, where ESCOdeO had
rich kindred. He called uyon me after this ras-
cal of a Fresh got his clamps upon him and said
that he had come to the determination to sock
for fortune elsewhere.

“ His hand was destroyed and this demon of a
North American had sworn to kill him if heever
encountered him on Texan soil, and so, under
the circumstances, he had determined to go to
Cuba, but he Sworo tome that if fortune ever
smiled upon him he would return and make this
Jackson Blake pay dearly for his triumph.”

“ I do not doubt that he will keep his word,"
the chief observed. .

“Manuel Escobedo was a. fine, daring follow,
and until he had the ill—luck to meet this North
American, carried matters with a high band in
this region.

“ Many is the silver ounce that you and I have
fingered, Miguel, through Manuel Escobedo and
his Red Riders of Rayon.”

“ True, and I Wish the band was in existence
now to help me out of my present scrape, for
where to get this thousand ounces I know not.”

“ The governor will not be apt to grant more
time?”

“ Oh, no, he cannot, for he has to pay his as-
sessment to the party at the capital through
whose favor he holds the governorship. His tax
is ten thousand ounces, I believe.”

“ It is a large sum; still, when you consider
what pretty pickings the governor of such a.
province as Chihuahua has, the position is richly
worth it.”

At this moment the door opened and two
strangers made their appearance.

They were well-dressed and were evidently
foreigners.

One was a tall, well-formed man with long
jet-black hair which curled in ringlets alinOst
down to his shoulders; all the lower part of his
face was covered with a. short, crispy-curling
heard, of the same ebon hue as his hair, and his
complexion was almost as dark as that of a

ne 0. x

i: for as could be seen. for the board covered
fully onehalf of his face, his features were
strongly marked, and indicated that he was a
man of great determination.

The second stranger strongly rescmbled the
first, onl he was much younger, hardly more
than a y, but possessed a well-built figure,
which gave promise of unusual strength.

His face was smooth, no trace of a beard, ex-
cepting a dark line upon his upper lip.

And upon his face too, like his companion’s,
were written the signs which, to an experienced
eye, told of dauntless courage and firm deter-
mination.

The complexion also of the young man was
extremely dark, but not the reddish, copper
color of the half-breed, and from the contour
of their faces it was plain that neither one of
the two had any Indian blood in his veins.

“ Have I the pleasure of addressing Don Mig-
uel Parral, Alcalde of El Paso?” the elder stran—
ger asked. bowing to the official.

“That is my name, sir; what can I do for
you?” responded the alcalde.

“We are strangers here in El Paso, having

explained the tall gentleman.

he alcalde and the chief of police exchanged
glances at the mention .of the “ ever-faithful
isle," as the S )auiards delight to call it.

The comci once seemed odd to them, as they
had ust been speaking of Cuba.

“ am delighted to Welcome you to El Paso,
gentlemen," the alcalde said. .

“Have the kindness to beneated, and make
yourselves perfectly at home. I- have many ac-
quaintances in Cuba and am always pleased to
see any one from there.”

The strangers seated themselves.

 

CHAPTER 11.
ran urn or MANUEL ascoanno.

captain of police here in El Puso,” said the
alcalde.

The strangers expressed their pleasure at mak-
ing the acquaintance of so important a person-
age, and the elder said:

 

“ Since introductions are in order, permit me
to make known to (you who we are.” ~

The others bowe .

“ My name is Fernando Gomes, and this
gentleman is called Sebastian Esparto, and
though v. e are Cuban born and bred, yet we do
not fecl as if we were entirely strangers to this
section, for our mothers originally came from
here. ’

“ Ah, is that so?” the alcalde remarked.

“ Yes, they were of the Escobedo line, cousin:
to Estevan Escobedo. the once famous cattle
king of the Rio Grande.”

“ Yes, yes, both my brother and myself were
well acquainted with that gentleman,” the
alcalde remarked.

“ And you were also on familiar terms with
a relative of the old cattle kin who was at one
time an inmate of his househo d, Manuel Esco-
bedo,” said Fernando Gomcs.

This was not entirely unexpected, for when
the stranger had explained that he and his com-
panion claimed kindred with the Escobedos the
thought had come to both the brochers that
there was a probability they were about to hear
news of the man whose absence they had been
regretting when the strangers entered.

“ Oh, yes, my brother and I were just speak»
ing of him,” the alcalde remarked. “ He was a.
man whom we thought a deal of, and we were
wishing he was back again with us here in El
Paso.”

“ Then you are not aware of Manuel Esco-
bedo’s fate?” said the Cuban in a tone of sure
prise, and then he added: “ But that is not
strange though for the island of Cuba is a long
way from El Paso, and I suppose it is not a
common thing for you to hear news of what
transpires in the inland here.”

“ No, it is but seldom that we are so favored,”
the alcalie replied. “ But the way in which
you speak of Manuel Esoobedo alarms me. Is
it possible that aught amiss has come to him?”

“ Here is the full account from one of the
Havana newspapers,” responded Fernando
Gonies, taking a newspaper cli ping from his
pocket-book and givmg it into t e hands of the
official.

The alcalde read it aloud. -
It was a brief account of the loss of a trading
schooner plying between Havana. and the ports
on the south side of the island. In a storm it
had been forced ashore and all on board had
perished, With the exception of a single sailor

who had escaped to tell the tale of the disaster.

The schooner carried two passengers in ad-
dition to her crew, a Mexican gentleman and his
sister, Manuel and Isabel Escobedo, both of
whom had met a watery grave.

“ This is indeed bad news!” the captain if police
observed, with a grave shake of the head. “ Es-
cobedo was a man who would have made his
mark in the world if he had lived, Iain sure of it.
He was a bold and daring fellow and could be
depended upon.”

“ That is true! every word of it!” the alcalde
exclaimed. “He was a man after my own
heart, and many is the good stake of business
we have done together.”

“ Yes, so he informed me; Mannel and I were-
quite intimate,” the Cuban remarked,

The speech was simple enough but it made the-
Parrals exchange wonderin glances.

“ Manuel confided to me t 9 reason which 01)-
liged him to leave this section,” Fernando Gomes
continued. “ And from the hour that he uitted
El Paso he looked forward to the time w on he
should return and take a bloody vengeance upon
the man who had been instrumental in driving
him away.”

“Did he tell you the name of the man?” the
alcalde asked. evidently possessed With the
idea that the Cuban was possibly exaggerating
a litt e.

“ Oh, yes, the Fresh of ’Frisco as he calls him-
self ' the man whose right name 15 Jackson.
B19. 0.” .

Again the brothers exchanged glances. The!
Cuban evidently knew what he was talking
about.

“ The desire, for vengeance upon this North.
American dcsperado was an overpowering one,
and the Sole. purpose of his clinic from his native
land was that 'he might acquire wealth enough
to enable him to come back and crush the man
who had triumphed, over him.” ' ‘ '

“Yes, that was like Eroobndo,” the alcalde
observed. “ He was a true Mexican, and never
forgot or forgave an injury. It is a pity that he
met his fate so soon, {Or I would. have given.
much to have seen him return and take ven-
geance upon this boasting Fresh of ’Frisco, who,
although undoubtedly a. man who can fight like
a (lemon, yet talks as carelessly as a school‘-

.V- -

“If he had lived he would have had a bloody
VPnirl‘ance upon this interloperl” the Cuban de-
clared, impressively.

“ He had friends in Cuba who asked him when

_ 4 he arrived there, and his sister, isnbcl, I don.
“ PERMIT me to introduce iiiv brother. Jose,.

brilliant match, having \vezifi-cd one- Athe
wealthiest planters on the island. He was an

wold man and only survived the union a few

months, and when he died all of his vast estate
came to his widow, and as Isabel was devoted
to her brother, thanks to this fortune, he had

 

 

 

 

 

 

cun's past life the stranger really knew.

calde, endeavoring to assume an innocmt air.

’ our discretion.

‘ We 'umped on him and he whipped us, and af-

The Fresh in Texas.

3 ,

 

 

 

money enough to enable him to carry out his
plans of vengeance.”

“ What a. misfortune that death should have
cut him off thus untimely l” the alcalde cried.

“ Yes, but this heritage of vengeance has de-
scended to my cousin Sebastien here and my-
self,” the Cuban explained. ” lVe are the heirs
of Manuel and Isabel E<cobcdo.

“ Manuel, before he set out on this fatal trip
had a presentimvnt that some accident might
happen to him and so he confided all his plans to
us, together with some of the secrets of his life
here in El I’aso, and we. agreed that if anything
occurred to him we would come to Mexico and
execute his vengeance.

“Manuel (lid perish, us he feared, and we are
here to keep our pledge. “'0 have plenty of

l
“ We will not underrate him and will not en-
gage in a contest until all the advantage is on
I our side,” Gomes declared. “ We stop at the
Hotel Mexico and shall be glad to have you call
when convenient.
“ I shall be charmed,” the alcalde replied,
. and then the Cubans withdrew.

CHAPTER III.
AN HONEST CONFESSION.
l ALONG the trail I ading from the Rio Grande
,2 to the Escobedo Plantation rode two men,
; mounted on most excellent steeds, not the under-
; sized small-liinbed Texan mustangs, but two
i horses whose size and appearance, to the, prac-
l ticed eye, would have denoted that ‘they came
i of Kentucky racing blood—the blue-grass strain,

 

 

money and think we have the courage and l famous for its f(.iii'-milor5, its bottom and en-
ability to pull down and crush this boastcr who I dumnco.

calls himself the Fresh of ’Frisco.”
And the fierce light which shone in the eyes of {
both the Cubans convinced the brothers that the I

()ne horseman was young, the other a man
well in years.
The young man was a little above the medium

strangersyvvould do all in their power to fulfill 1 size, with a figure so well developed that he

the task'which they had taken upon themselves. 3

“You say that Manuel Escobedo confided his ‘
secrets to you?” the ulcalde remarked, with the
intention of ascertaining how much of the Mexi—

“ Yes, all that appertained to this quarrel or
could be of use to us in prosecuting it,” the Cu-
Lan replied, without a moment’s hesitation.

“ And knowing these secrets is why we came
to you, for we felt sure we could count on your
assistance, for we could afford to make it worth
yourwhile to act with us as you formerly acted
with Manuel Escobedo in this Red Riders of
Rayon business.”

“ I do not exactly understanf ,” said the al-

“ Oh, yes you do alcalde,” the Cuban replied,
with a smile. “ ou understand well enough,
and so does your brother here, the chief of po-
lice.

“Come, it is no use for us to heat about the
bush. Let us come to an understanding at once. I
\Ve need your aid in this fight, and are prepared ‘
to make it worth your while to go into it. You
shared the plunder gained by the Red Riders of
I’m on and winked at their deeds.

‘ Now, in order to 6 ht this Fresh of ’Frisco
we are going to revive t e Red Rider band, an
we want you two for confederates as before. and

might have passed as a model for one of the
ancient soul tors who desired to form a figure,
, Apollo and ercules combined.

The frank, open face, the keen. gray-blue eyes,
and the yellow hair, curlin in little crispy ring-
lets close to his well-shape head, together with
‘a certain peculiar careless air, so difficult to de-
scribe, would reveal to any one who had ever
encountered the man, or heard a good descrip-
tion of him, that this was the famous Fresh of
’Frisco, who was really better known by that
title than by his own rightful appellation of
Jackson Blake.

It was plain from the way that the Fresh was
iircslsed that the world had gone well with him
ate .

Hi2; suit of buckskin—not out after the Indian
fashion, in hunting-shirt and leg ings, but as
coat and pantaloons—was new, an showed no
Signs of hard wear.

The long ridin -boots, coming to is knees,
Were of untann leather, after the Mexican
fashion, and fitted him like a glove.

The elaborately-frilled shirt, u n which
Jackson Blake prided himself, and w ich he was
never seen without, unless he had had an un-
usual run of had luck and was clean down to
the “ bed-rock,” so as to be absoluter unable to

afford the luxury, was composcd of the finest of

in order to show you that we are in earnest, . linen, and amid the frills blazed three costly

here is a. draft for five hundred ounces on Ban-
ker Weinholdt, which I will indorse to your
order.”

And taking the draft from his pocket-book he
wrote the indorsement upon it.

“ In another month there will be as much
more for you,” the Cuban continued. “And if l
we strike any big game after the band is organ-
ized we will not forget your share.

“ My cousin and I understand this sort of
work, for we have both led insurgent bands in
Cuba.”

The alcalde took the draft with an eagerness
which no did not attempt to conceal.

“ It is a pleasure to do business with gentle-
men like yourselves,” he declared.

“ All I require is that on manage the matter
so that I will not be imp icated, no matter what
happens, and you can rely upon both Jose and
myself doing all in our power to aid you.”

” It is a bargain, and you can depend upon

“ And now, how stands matters? Has this
Fresh married the heiress, Margaret yet?"

“No, althou h it has been rumored for some
time that Miss bedo—who inherited all the
old cattle king’s plngel'ty, you know—”

The others nodd

“It has been rumored for over a year that
she rind this Blake would marry, but they have
not.’

“Nor will they, now that we have come!”
exclaimed the younger Cuban, in 9. voice full of
menace. -

“ ow does El Paso and the Fresh get along?
There was a time when he was hunted out of
the town in a lively manner?” Goincs asked.

“ Oh, that is all b10wn over now,” the ulcalde
replied. “ Neither my brother nor myself
thou ht that it was wise to keep up the quarrel.

“ hen you come down to the truth of the
matter, the American acted in self—defense.

her 15 e Red Rider band was dispersed and Man-
uel Escobedo de
would be foolish or us toatteniptto keep up the
quarrel so we sent him word that we bore no
malice”

“And he comes anyoes in El Paso freely?”
Fernando Gomcs ask .

“ Oh, yes, as freely as any one, and as he is a.
great gambler, he spends considerable of his
time in the town.”

“ So mu‘ch the better, for then we will be able
to get at him,” Comes observed"

‘ Have you ever met the man?” the chief of
police asked.

“Are we not strangers just arrived in El
Peso?” the Cuban replied. .
m “‘ Well, then, take my advice and do not hold
him too cbea ly. He is as dangerous 9. man as

rted, we,concluded that it‘

diamond studs.
His broad-brimmed, soft felt hat, cream-white
in color, was as handsome a. bead-covering as a

in all, the Fresh of ’Frisco was in splendid
feather.

The man who rode by the Fresh’s side was
a most decided contrast to him, being well on in
years, rather undersized, though extremely
stockily built: had a thin face, the chin covered
with a scrubby heard, but his small, gray eyes
were wonderfully keen.

He was dressed in a complete suit of buck-
skin, and a good judge of men, as they are
found on the frontiers of civilization, would
have at once pronounced him to be an old moun-
tain man.

This was Old California Joe, at man who has
won a name which will never die while the his-
to? of the wild life of the West is told.

he Fresh had a. ranch a. few miles down the
\Rio Grande, and was on his we to pay a visit
to the ranch of Margaret Esco do. the heiress
of the old cattle king, Estevan Esoobedo, and
reputed to be the richest landholder in that
part of Texas.

The two had ridden along at a brisk ace,
and now had pulled their horses into a w k, in
order to breathe the animals, and thus were
afforded an o portunity for conversation.

"We are v ound for the Escobedo Ranch, I
reckon,” said California Joe.

“ Yes, that is our objectIVe point.”

“ But, you said when we started out that you
didn’t know ’znctly where you was going.”

“ No more did I: the fact is, I want to get
some young COWS, and I had not determined
whether to try the Escobedo Ranch, or the one
above, for them.”

“ She! is that soll Wa-al, nowI reckoned that

on were going to call on the heiress of Esco-

Y,” the old man remarked, with a. knowing
smi e.

The Fresh laughed.

“Well, it is likely that I shall see Miss Mar-
garet before I quit the ranch,” he replied.

“ Yes‘, I reckon it wouldn’t be perlite to go to
the ranch without calling on the mistrm”

“That is true, although all my business can
be transacted with the superintendent.”

“ You mean Houma?”

“ Yes, he is the man.”

“Say! w’ot do you think of that cuss, any-
way l”. asked the old mountain man. abruptly.

" Well, I don’t exactly know- I cannot say
that I have made much of a study of him,” the
Fresh replied. carelessly.

” I don’t like the teller for a cent!” California.
Joe declared. “I think he is a rascal! And
jest see w’ot an outlandish handle the galoot has
"got. Lycurgus Houma! 'l‘har'sa healthy name

 

ever struck I. 0 banks of the Rio Grendel” J one
Parral observed, earnestly.

or a Christian to carry ’round !”
“Oh, come now, Cahfornia, you are too

man would care to wear, and, to take him all .

 

severe!” exclaimed the Fresh, laughing at the
old man’s conceit. “ The man is not to blame
for his name; he cannot help that, you know;
besides, the name is all right, although it is
rather an odd one. Lycurgus was one of the
wisest of the Greeks, a man whom it was safe to
tie to every time, to use our modern vernacu-
lar; and it strikes me that Honina is 8. F111;: J
Creole name. In fact, I believe the man claims
to come from Louisiana.”

. “I reckon he does, but I don’t take any stock
in him, no matter whar he comes from 1” the old
mountain—man declared.

l‘f‘ ’Well, I can’t say that I admire the man my-
se .

“I think he is a rascal l” California Joe de-
clared.

“ Oh, come now, ain’t on a little harsh in
your judgment? Remeni er this Houma was
one of the old cattle king’s trusted men. and
when he died, and the estate came under Judge
Bullifant’s management, before Margaret Esco-
bedo arrived from her home in the East. the
'udge fully trusted Ilouma, and the old judge

new human nature like a book and was not
likely to make a mistake.”

“ That’s so, but you ain’t calculating that
thar’s a heap of difference between doin busi-
ness with a man like old Estevan Esco 0, who
was as keen as a rogue when it came to a trade,
or with Judge Bullifanl, another keen customer,
and with a gal like Miss Margaret, who ain’t
used,to figures and is not on the watch for ras-
cals. ’

“ Oh, yes, it would make a heap of difference,
of course. A man who was disposed to play the
rascal would be much more apt to try the game
when he only had an unsuSpectin woman to
deal with than if he was acting wit men,” the
sport declared.

“ That is my say—so to a hair!” California Joe
declared.

“ '1 hen thar’s that no how of Judge Bullifnnt’l
who has succeeded to is business, Dick Bulli—
taut—I don’t take any stock in him. either.”

“Well, to tell the truth, I haven’t much ind-
miration to waste on that gentleman,” Jackson
Blake remarked.

“Reports say that he led apretty wild life
before the 'udge’s death, although he was shrewd
enough to cop it from the knowledge of the
judge, in whose office he was, but I fancy the
Judge did not fully trust him, for when the old
man died he left all his pro rtytoMargaret
Escobedo, only bequeathing his business to his
nephew, althou b that was a fortune in itself.

‘As far as know though, the man is all
right, and I sincere] hope he is, for he has full
control of all Miss argaret’s affairs,and if he
had the mind to play the scoundrel he could rob
her of half her fortune, and perhaps be able to
get away with the plunder before his rascality
could be discovered”

“ Wanl, I reckon that if anything of that kind
was going on you would be apt to have a finger
in the pie, hey?” old California Joe observed,
shrewd y.

“ Yes, I should want to, if I knew of it; but
there’s the trouble,” the Fresh observed, thought-

full .

“If this lawyer is up to any rascality, he will
be apt to cover his tracks, so it will not be pos-
sible for an -outsider to discover there is my-
thin wrong until the-mischief is done.”

“ t is the talk ’round, too, that he is trying to
shine up to Miss Morgaret, and a good my
folks think he stands a mighty good chance to
git the gel, although everybody reckoned you
and she would hitch teams.-

“ Yes. I know that was the talk,” the Fresh
remarked, a cloud upon his usually bright face.
“ And I will admit to you. California, that I
had a strong notion that way myself; circum-
stances brought the lady and mysclf together,
and I was able to be of service to her.

“ She is a beautiful girl, one worthy the love
of any man. and just at this pr int is where
comes my difficulty. '

“ From the way the lady acts, I am sure I am
not disagreeable to her, but whether the feeling

' which inspires her is love or gratitude is a. ques-

tion.” ,
“ Wa-al, 'pears to me it would be mighty easy
for you to find out. A1 the gall” the old moun- ‘-

tain-man suggested. ,

“Yes, the solution of the riddle is call ar— -
rived at, and then comes another trouble, the
Fresh remarked, with a doubtful shake of his
handsome bead.

“ Is such a. man as I am worthy the love of a
girl like Margaret Escobedo?

“ If you could 100k back over my past life as
I can, you would be dubious on this point, I am

sure.

“ There is an old adage, ‘Lucky nt cards, un-
lucky in love,’ and a more luck man than my-
self with the painted pastcboa 8 exists not on
the earth, I verily behew; but I am a firm be-
liever in the truth of the, saying, for in love
afloirs I am not lucky.

“ I have won some peerless women in my
time. and though for a while all went well. yet
some fell stroke has been sure tosepmteme
from them. Death snatched some of them from
my arms; in other cases, I have been to blame,
for I could not remain quiet,_my roving dispo-

 

 

4

sition leading me away in search of adven—E
tures, like a knight errant of old, and while;
I was gone the flower of love withered and died. !
“And that is the reason why I hesitate to ;
press my suit with this beautiful heiress. IE
really fear to succeed. Of course, as a man I
desire to Win her, for she is a girl well worth :
any one’s wooing, but the thought of what the ‘
future may bring forth holds me back. I
“ In fact, as the boys say, I think .I had better f
do the brother act; I will be a brother to her,
fight her battles, protect her from her enemies, i
but resolutely keep from loving her.”
“Darn me, if you ain’t the queerest coot I ;
ever struck!” the old mountain-man exclaimed. !
“ Now, if I stood in your shoes, I would go for .
the gal red—hot, and let the future take care of ,
itself.”
“ Oh, no; if you were in my place, and felt as ,
I do, you would act exactly as I intend to act v
—but here is the ranch."
It was true, the Escobedo estate was now in E
sight.

 

CHAPTER IV.
A BRACE or RASCALS.

THE first house on the Escobedo lace was
occupied by the superintendent, ycurgus
Houma, the man to whom Old California Joe
had taken such a dislike.

Thosuperintendent was a notable fellow, and
one who, once seen, would not be apt to be
easily forgotten.

He was a big fellow, standing nearly six feet ,
high, broad-shouldered and muscular, a man of
forty or thereabouts, with a dark, stern face
and a forbidding look.

He had been on the ranch for over ten years,
having come as a cowboy and risen to the posi-
tion 0 superintendent.

The old cattle king had found him to be a val-
uable man. ,

From his size and resolute ways he had been
able to keep the cow-punchers in order, and
bore the reputation of being an ugly man in a
skirmish. '

And now, since the property had descended to
the old cattle king’s daughter, he had had abso-
lute control of the ranch, for, of course, Miss
Margaret was not able to direct the business.

In the principal room of his house the superin-
tendent sat, and with him was the young law-
yer, Judge Bullifant’s nephew, who had suc-
ceeded to the judge’s business.

Richard King Bullifant, as the gentleman
was named, was a man of eight and twent ', a
rather dashinmlooking fellow who seem to.
have considera$le “ sporting blood ” about him,
as the saying is.

Really, he looked more like a card-sharp than
a lawyer.

And. in fact, all up and down the Rio Grande
Dick Bullifant was known and recognized as a
sport of the first water, although it was only
recently that he had taken up his residence in
the us] hborhood, for before the jud e’s death
he had en in charge of a branch 0 co up in
New Mexico.

Since his advent in El Paco—bis office and
residence was ingthe American t0wn on the
Texan side of the Rio Grandchhe had paid
more attention to amusing himself than he had
to attending to his business.

Old, long-headed citizens, friends of the late
judge, shook their heads, gravel , when the
doings of the young lawyer were 'scussed, and
the prediction was made that if the young man
did not attend to matters a little more carefully
the vast business the judge had built up would ‘
soon vanish.

In fact, after making the acquaintance of
the heiress of Escobedo he had spent more time
on the Escobedo Ranch than in his office or in
attending to his business.

He had become infatuated with the beautiful
Margaret at the (last glance, and, thanks to

having charge of her legal matters, was able
to enjoy her society a, great deal, by pretending
to consult her on subjects connected with the

estate.

At the time that we introduce the two men
toour readers’ notice—the men who had more
to do with Margaret Escobedo’s fortune than
.all the rest of the world put together—the law-
yerhad just entered the ranch and taken a chair
.at the superixilendent’s invitation.

“ Well, how do you find yourself, Mr. Hou-
.mal” Dick Bullifant asked.

“ Oh, retty well, and how are you?”

“ Oh, no as silk!” the other answered. “By
the wag, I have dropped in to see you on a lit-
tle mat r of business as I have been examining
the accounts."

The lawyer made this remark in a careless
way, just as if it did not amount to anything,
but a dark look came over the face of the super-
in tendent.

“ Ah, yes, is that so?" Houma observed.

“Yes, and 1 find some little thin which I
cannot account for, and I thought would see
if you could explain them, so I could straighten
the account out in the books.” ,

“ Well, I don’t know;” Houma remarked,
slowly. “I was not aware that there was any-
ith wrong in my department. ” .

“ on, it is in your department The cattle

 

..

The Fresh in Texas.

don’t agree with the number set down-there
is about a hundred short and the feed amount
seems to be unusually large. Altogether I reck-
on there is over a thousand dollars involved.”

“I don’t understand it,” the superintendent
remarked, apparently very much perplexed, yet
stealing an odd glance out of the corners of his
eyes at the other.

“Of course I have kept this matter strictly
to myself,” the lawyer explained. “ I have not
said anything to Miss Margaret, or to any one
else, for that matter, in regard to it, for I
thought you and I could straighten the matter
out.
“ The fact is, Houma,” centinued Dick Bulli-
fant dropping his voice a little, “ I didn't know
but you needed a little cash and had used some
of the estate money.

“ It is all ri ht, of course; I know you are
perfectly good or it, and I should not kick up

i any row. I understand that you had been in—

vesting inatown lots up at El Paso, and there is
no question but what you are in for a big thing,
if you can only contrive to hold on until the rise
comes. And in re ard to using the money, I
know how that is; have been in the same boat
myself.” -

“ Mebbe on are there now, eh ?” observed the
su rinten cut with a grin.

‘ Oh, no, Miss Margaret is quite a business
Woman and keeps too strict a watch over me,”
the lawyer replied.

“ Ah, yes, of course! I believe that you
know,” and Houma shook his head. “ Just as

’ if you couldn’t fix the books so as to conceal a

shortage of ten or fifteen thousand—ay, twenty
thousand, without any trouble.

“ Not that it makes any great amount of dif-
ference as long as you are going to marry the
girl ” the superintendent added reflective] .

“‘Yes, but am I oing to marry her?) Dick
Bullifant asked. “ hat is an important ques-
tion, you know, and I am not sure in regard to
the answer.”

“ Well, you havo the field almost entirely to
yourself, and the fact that you have the control
of all the legal affairs appertaining to the estate
gives you a chance to ave frequent consulta-
tions with the girl, and if you do not win her it
will not be for want of opportunities.”

“ Yes. I know that, but I do not seem to
make much headwa ,” the lawyer observed with
a doubtful shake of be head.

“ The irl looks upon me in the light of friend,
I know, ut I sometimes fear I will never be
able to execute an dee r sentiment. ”

“ Well. you oug t to able todo so, although
I think there is an obstacle in the way.”

“I think I understand what you mean and I
was going to speak of that when on said I had
a clear field; but the field is not c ear as long as
this Jackson Blake is in the neighborhood.”

“ Well, I don’t exactly know what to make of
the fellow,” Houma observed.

“ You are aware that there has been a report
that he and Miss Margaret were engaged to be
married?” the lawyer said.

“ Oh, yes, that has been floating around ever
since the time when this Blake succeeded in res-
cuin her from an outlaw gang who had cap-
tu her.”

“ Was it not whispered at the time that
Manuel Escobedo had something to do with the
matter?” Bullifant asked.

“ Yes, there was a rumor to that effect, but
how much truth there was in it I am unable to
say,” Houma re lied. “ One thing is certain
though; about t a time of that event Manuel
and his sister, [sale], left the ranch and soon
after it was reported they had gone to Cuba.”

“Manuel was in love with the heiress, 1 be-
lievei”

“ Yes, and he did hisbest to win her. It was a
wonder that he did not succeed, too, for his sis-
ter, Isabel, was the bosom friend of the heiress,
and, being her constant companion, had fre-
quent opportunities to plead her brother’s
cause.”

“ Do you suppose it was because the girl was
in love with this Jackson Blake?” the lawyer
asked shrewdly.

“ Oh, no, I t ink not, yet it is a hard matter
to decide,” Houma replied. -

“Does Blake come here frequently?"

“ Yes, entirely too often to suit me,” the su r-
intendent observed, with a frown upon his k

' face.

“ Why, what difference does it make to you?”

“I do not admire the we in which he looks
around him,” the superinten ent replied.

“ Ah, does it seem as if he was kind of keeping

a watch to see if everything was oing on
all right?” asked Bullifant, immediate y guess-
iizg at the idea that had entered the mind of the
0 er.
_ “Yes. that is it, exactly; be is-toc infernal
inquisitive, and one of these days I shall quietly
to] him that he better mind his own business
and confine his attention to his own ranch and
not come nosing around this one.

“ You will be apt to get yourself in trouble,
for this Blake has quite a reputation as a war-
rior " the lawyer warned.

“ as, I have heard that he got the best of
some fellows in a row in the Mexican town of
El Polo when he first made his appearance in

 

 

this section, but I can understand how he worked
the game. He has six or eight desporadoes with
him, and the probabilities are that they did the
fighting.”

“ Very likely. Well, I tell you what it is,
Houma, if you choose to aid me all you can to
win the heiress I will do my best to help you
along. If i see fit to wink, it will be mono
in your pocket, you know,” Bullifant remark ,
meanineg.

“ Oh, yes, I comprehend that, and I suppose
when you spoke about there being some few
errors that you wanted to come to an under-
standing with me.”

“ Exactly, that was my idea. You and I, b
pulling together, can be of a deal of help to eac
other.

“ Undoubtedly 1”

“Well, I am willing to go into the thing if
you are.”

“ I am agreeable, and there is big money in it
for both of us, but the first point is to keep this
Fresh of Frisco from prying around the ranch,
ful‘ he is 'ust the kind of man to interfere if he
then ht t ere was an thing wrong.”

“ es, he is incline that way, and that I sup-
pose is where he ets his nickname; most cer-
tainly he is exc ingly fresh.”

“ I will take some of the freshness out of him
at the first convenient opportunity i” the super-
intendent exclaimed.

“ Well, on certainly ought to be a match for
him,” the lawyer remarked, surveying the mus-
cular develo ments of the other With an admir.
ing eye. “ ut he will be apt to o for his wea-
pons; for he will never dare to ace you with.
out.’

“It willbe my game to banter him into a
contest with fists, and then I will hammer him
so that he will not be able to show himself
around this ranch for some time."

“ Hello, there he comes nowl” Bullifant ox-
claimed, catching sight of Blake through the
window.

 

CHAPTER V.
rm: ransn EXPLAINS.

THE superintendent jumped to his feet and a
dark frown gathered on his brow.

“ Sure enou h!” he exclaimed. “You are
right; it is the ash and that lying old msun.
tain—man, California J oe, is wit him.”

The two were quite a distance away, coming
on slowly, their horses walking, the riders en-
ga ged in conversation and apparently discussmg
the ap arance of things around them.

At a 1 events this was the conclusion that the
superintendent arrived at, and he said as much
to the lawyer.

“Well, it really does look like it,” Bullifant
remarked. -

“ I reckon Ishall have to put a s to this
sort of thing,” Houma averred. “ think I
have stood this fellow nosing around this ranch
just about as long as I ought t9, and I may as
well give him a piece of my mind today as any
other time.” ‘

“ Oh, yes, I do not see why you should at it
of! so long as you have made 11 your in nd to
go for him. I reckon you will aye a fight on
your hands instanter; that is, if there is any
truth in the stories they tell about this fellow a
claim to be a big chief. ’

“ I am not so sure that there is any truth in
the yarn,” the superintendent replied. “ One
thing is certain—since he has lived in this sec-
tion he has not had a difficulty with anybody.”

“Yes so I understand; and I remember that
my unc e, the judge, before his death, was puz-
zled to account for it, for when the man settled
in this soctiori it was his belief, from what he
had heard of the fellow’s (going on in El Paso,
that he was a gambler an a esporado of the
first water.” .

“ Most certainly such was his reputation.” .

“Yes, I have heard the judge speak of the
matter, and it was his impression that this
Blake would be a very undesirable nei hbor,
but as time passed on and the fellow id not
mishehave himself, he was at a loss to account
for it, for it did not seem possible that such a
man as he was repoer to be should be satisfied
to settle down and be content with a rancher-’3
quiet life.”

‘-‘ It doosn’t seem reasonable,” the superinten-
dent remarked. “ And that is the reason why I
do’not take any stock in these yarns which re-
late what a desperate fighter he is.”

“ Yes' but there is no doubt that he did have
two or t roe fights in El Paso about two years
ago, when he first came to the banks of the Rio
Grande. and that he succeeded in whipping his
men,” Bullifant remarked.

“I know his re utation in that line is well.
established in El aso, and there are not man
u there who would care to pick a quarrel wit
h m, but to m thinking it lens I said; these
dos radoes w om he enlisted in his We,
rea 1y did the fighting, and he got the credit for
. ,.

it.

“ Possibly your supposition is true, and it it
is he will not be the first man on the frontier
who has acquired the reputation of being a d...
gerous fellow without boin entitled to it.”

“ That is true enough,” cum assented;

 

‘- . \. w“ n 4 a

.   {We 1.
A. .  _ _.;..1- -s
I ‘1 W'V' "1*

 

.,
.rp‘
f
'.

wrm" _‘“ “

 

 

 

 

 

2% ~. 4., .
.‘ . .

243.3, . 

worm ‘ '

is} -‘ .

4.:
on
ex.

v 'v--:-e'-:.";

 

 

 

  

JNA

 

 

5

 

-

“ M uncle, the judge, had an idea that he
was p aging at wel -plauucd game,” the lawyer
observe .

“ A game, eh?”

“ Yes, he had got his eyes on Miss Margaret;
she was one of the richest heiresses along the
Rio Grande, and would be well worth the win-
ning. The follow knew that if shown out in
his true colors he stood no chance at all of get-
ting her, andso he sobcred down into a quiet
rancher and proved himself to be one of the
best of neighbors.”

“ Well, maybe that is the game he has been
playing,” the superintendent observed.

“ My uncle thought so, and I, having a high
opinion of his shrewduess in essing, reckoned
that he had hit on the truth, ut I must confess
that since [ have taken up my residence in this
section, I have grown a little doubtful about the
matter, for, as far as I can see, he is not a par—
ticularly ardent wooer.”

“That is a fact!” Houma exclaimed. “ If he
was hot after thewress he ought to be here
twice as much as he'is, although I must say he
comes too often now to suit me. I should not
mind his visits, onl 1 don’t like the way he
looksflaround him. e is too infernal inquisi~
tive.

“ He certainly is on his good behavior,” the
lawyer observed. “I have met him once in a
while both in my own town and in the Mexican
El Paso, and though he takes a fiyer now and
then at the various gIames which are. running,
yet no more than do myself, or any of the
men who gamblea little just to pass the time
awa .

“ know it, and that is what makes me think
that these yarns about his being such a great
gambler and desperate fighter are all bosh!”
Houma declared. “ If he was any such man as
he has been represented to be, he Would never
have been able to keep uiet all this time.”

“Well, here he is, an as he is pulling up his
horse it is evident he wants to speak to you.”

The Fresh and his companion upon arriv-
ing is front of the superintendent’s house had

:11 te .

“ I reckon that if I have any chance at all I
will speak to him in a way that he willnot like,”
the su u'intendent remarked, grimly, as be ad-
vance to the door.

“ Yes, since you have made u your mind to
it you might as well take the bu l by the horns
now as at any other time,” Bullifant asserted.

The two passed through the door.

The Fresh hadui'ust dismounted and iven his
reins to Old C ifornia Joe, for the ast he
rode was a spirited animal who could not be
trusted to stand without restraint.

“ Good-morning, Mr. Houma,” said Blake in
his easy, pleasant way, and then, perceiving the
lawyer in the rear of the superintendent, ho
greeted him also.

“Morning,” replied Houma, shortly.

“ How are you of! for cows—young ones—-
have you any to spare, for if you have I would
like a bunch?”

“ Don’t think I have an that I care to sell,”
the superintendent repli .

“Is that so!” and an e ression of astonish-
ment appeared on Blake’s ace. “ Well, I don’t
comprehend that at all, for I understood that
you offered to let Jim Cassidy, whose ranch is
'ust this side of El Paso on the river, have fifty
head at eight dollars a iece, all young ones too,
and as that is two ollars a head under the
market price I thought I would like to take
them, as Cassidy was not in a condition to make
the trade for lack of cash.”

The face of the superintendent grew dark; he
was both astonished and angry, for his talk
with Cassidy had been a confidential one—he
had pledged the man to keep the matter quiet,
and 6 could not understand how the thing be-
came known.

“ I reckon some one has been fooling you with
a host story !” Houma exclaimed.

‘ Is that so?” the Fresh inquired with the
most innocent air imaginable.

“You bet it is!” the superintendent exclaim-

“ And then, if there had been an truth in
the matter I reckon the thin woul not have
fallen through on account 0 Jim Cass-id y not
having the cash; to my certain knowledge he
had over five hundred dollars when he was up to
El Paso yesterday for I was with him when he
received the money.”

“ Yes, I understood you were with him in El
Paso yesterday; I was up there myself, and when
I heard about this cattle deal I reckoned that it
was all straight, knowing that you ' been
with J im." a,

“ It is not so, and, as I said, it Jim ha antcd
the cows—if they had been offered to him-he
had the cash to pay for them. so the thing would
have gone through all right.”

“ Oh, no," responded the Fresh, shaking his
head decidedly.

“ What do you mean!” demanded the superin-
tendent, his face dark and a touch of anger in
his tone.

“ You don’t seem to understand, Mr. Houma,
that this is a mighty uncertain climate along
the Rio Grande, and that because a man has
money on Monday it is not safe to bet that he

 

The Fresh in Texas.

 

can show his roll on Tuesday,” the Fresh ex-
plained.

“ That Jim Cassidy had five hundred yester.
day in El Paso there is not any doubt, but he
couldn’t put up that five hundred to—day if his
ranch depended u on it."

Thesnperinten cut and the lawyer looked at
each other; the positive tone of the other amazed
them.

“Well, Mr. Blake, I confess I don’t under—
stand how it is that you happen to be so well-

informed in regard to this matter,” Houma re- '

marked.

“ The explanation is just as simple as can be,”
the Fresh answered.

“ When I got wind of this cow deal and heard
that Jim Cassidy had the stamps to put up, it
kinder set me to thinking, for I wanted the cows
myself, and I went to work to devise some plan
to eucher Jim out of them.”

“ The deuce you did i" exclaimed Houma, un-
able to refrain from uttering the exclamation,
so surprised and angry was he at the frank
avowal.

“Yes, and the result of my cogitatious was
that I got Jim into a little game of poker, and I
won al the money he had as easily as rolling off
a log,” and the Fresh laughed as if he thought
the matter a most excellent joke.

“ Yes, I got all the cash he had,” Blake
continued ‘ and his note for a hundred more
besides, 11 though, as a rule, I don’t care to
play for notes, you know,” the Fresh added
in a reflective sort of way. “ My principle is to
play until my cash is gone and then stop, unless
indeed I have got the fever very bad, then I
might put up whatever collateral I could raise,
but I never gamble on notes. I wouldn’t this
time if Cassidy had not been hot for me to give
him his revenge and insisted that I ought to
allow him another sh0w to get square, so I yield;
ed and tackled him again, and the result was
that he went into the hole for a hundred more,
and that kinder cooled him off so he was willing
to stlolp.

“ 6 gave me a message to brin to you. He
said, ‘You will be apt to see r. Houma to-
morrow? I said, ‘ch; he said, ‘ Tell him I reckon
I will not be able to make that trade we were
talking about.’ I said ‘All right,’ not letting
on, you know, that I ad any suspicion what
it was about, but I understood that it re
ferred to the cow trade. 30 1 came up this
morning to tell you what Jim said, and to say
to you, on my own hook, that I will take the
cows. You will get just the same money, on
know only I will pay it to you instea of
Cassi y.”

 

CHAPTER VI.
A SLIGHT DIFFERENCE OF OPINION.

FOR a moment the la yer and the superin-
tendent stared at the Fres in amazemen while
that gentleman smiled in agood-natur way,
just as if he considered the matter to be an
excellent joke.

Houma’s rage was none the lem intense be-
cause he was trying to sup ress it in order to imi—
tate the coolness of the ot er.

“This is a pretty good story of yours, Mr.
Blake,” he remarked in a decidedly sarcastic

way.

“ Yes, I think it is pretty fair myself. It is
quite a joke to not onl eucher a man out of a
trade, but also get ho d of his money to carry
the deal through.

“ Of course, I wouldn’t like Jim to know it,
for he hasn’t any idea that I wanted any cows
and it might make him feel bad to find out that
he has been left so badly,” the Fresh-remarked.

“ From this story I should reckon that you

lay a pretty sharp game sometimes,” the super-
intendent observed. _

“ Well, once in a while I tumble into a thing
of this sort,” Blake replied in a modest way.

“ You will excuse the question, I know. when
I ask how can I be certain that on are not
playing some sharp game on me I” t e superin-
tendent said with elaborate politeness.

“ Oh, yes, of course; there is nothing like be-
ing certain in a little matter of this kind,” the
Fresh replied.

“ Here is Jim’s I O U, which will show that
I stuck him for a hundred yesterday,” and as
Blake spoke he produced the note, and as both
the others were well aoqluainted with Cassidy’s
writing and signature, 1; ey were able to decide
at a glance that the note was a genuine one.

“ Then for further proof.” remarked the Fresh
as he returned the note to his pocketbook,
“ when you were with Jim yesterday did on
notice his roll—five huudned and twenty- ve
dollars exactly?"

“ Yes, that was the amount.” Houma remark-
ed. “ I saw the sum paid to him.”

“Did you take any notice of the particular
bills—would you be apt to know them if you
saw them again?"

“ Yes, I am certain I would,” the superintend-
ent re lied. “ There were five one hundred-dob
lnr hi] 3, two tens, and a five. The hundred-dol-
lar bills were almost bran new, one of the tens
was in good condition, but the other ten and the
five was torn and rugged, the five particularly

so.”
“ I reckon you would make a good detective,

.  igwiug

   

l
l
l

 

swim.

__v_ 

Mr. Houma,” the Fresh remarked; then he pro-
duced a roll of bills from an inside pocket of his
co it, and separating some from the others
showed the superintendent five hundred an .
twenty—five dollars which Houma immediater
declared was the money he had seen Cassidy rev
ceive on the day before.

“ You see, I am giving it to you as straight as
a string," the Fresh remarked, returning the
money to his pocket.

“ Of course l played it on Jim in a way which
no doubt he will despise when he comes to find
out all about it,” Blake continued.

“Still, no one can say that the game was not
a square one,” he went on. “ Jim had just as
good a chance to skin me as I had to skin him,
and there is an old sayin ,you know. that all is
fair in love and war, an I reckon that can be
stretched to cover trade, too, so if you haven’t
any objection I will take the cows.”

“ Didn’t I tell you right at the beginning that

I hadn’t any cows to sell?” exclaimed the super- '

iutendent, rather roughly.

“ Oh, yes: but I understand that, of course,”
the Fresh replied, placidly. “ You were savin
them for Jim; but as im can‘t take them,
will. It is all the same, you know; Cassidy’s
mone pays for them.”

“ on have been misinformed,” the superin-
tendent replied, shortly. “I have no cows to
sell to either you, Cassidy, or any other man.”

A peculiar look came into the eyes of the
Fresh; but the smile did not depart from his
lips, and the others had no suspicion that the
dangerous mood of Jackson Blake was approach—
mg. .
“ I don’t exactly understand this,” the Fresh
remarked, slowly. “ If you were willing to sell
the cows to Cassidy yesterday, why not to me
to—day'!”

“But you are parking up the wrong tree!”
the superintendent asserted. “ Whoever told
you that I made a bargain with Cassidy yester-
day, and agreed to let him have fifty cows, did
not know what they were talking about! And
then the price is absurd; young cows are worth
ten dollars a head.”

“ Yes, I know that, and that was why I was
anxious to secure a bargain,” the Fresh re-
sponded.

“ I am just as ready to pick ups hundred
dollar’s, when it comes in my way, as the next
man.

“ Well, you will not make any hundred dol-
lars out of me!" Houma asserted. “ And I
would like to et hold of the man who told you
this cock—and- ull story.”

“ About the cows?”

H Yes.”

“ You will be astonished when I tell you how
Icame to knew about the matter,” the Fresh
remarked, with a peculiar, dry laugh.

“ Don’t I tell you that there isn’t any truth
in #he yarn i” the superintendent exclaimed, an-

i v.
gr“ I wouldn’t say any more if I were you,” the
Fresh remarked. “ You will be over your head
prett soon and will have to swim out.”

“ hat do you mean?” cried Houma, rough] .

“The conversation between you and Cassi y
in regard to the cows took placein the bar-room
of Big Jake’s United States Hotel inEl Peso.
You were standing at the end of the counter
and talked loud enough for me to hear every
word you said; I was in the back room readin
a newspaper. You were rather of! your gun ,
I suppose, thinking that as there were only Mexi-
cans in the place no one would understand what
{on were so 'ng, but just by accident, as it

a ned 1 card» the whole of it, and as I
wan ed some cows, I made 11 my mind to clean
out Jim Cassidy and get in a end.” -

The face of the superintendent grew dark
with rage as he listened to the explanation.

It was as the Fresh had supposed: as there
were only Mexicans in the bar-room. Houma
had spoken more freely than he would other-
wise have done.

Now, too late he saw his mistake.

“ You played the spy upon me then i” the
superintendent exclaimed in an extremely ugly

wa .

‘yYes, as it hnp ned, I did, but without in-
tending so to do t ough,” the Fresh rejoined,
coolly. “ But if men will talk recklessly in
public places, they ought not to complain if their
conversation is Overheard.

“ Maybe I should not have paid much atteno
tion to it if I hadn’t heard you ledge Caidy
to be quiet about the matter, or you didn
want any one to know of the deal. '

“ Now, Jim. on know, don’t hear the best of
characters, an has been mixed up in some
rather crooked transactions, and there has been
talk in this neighborhood that if Jim did not
mind his eye, Judge Lynch would get after him
some day, and his neck and a long rope would
become intimately acquainted.

“ So when I heard you tell Cassid that he
must keep the matter quiet, the thong t imme-
diately came 11 in my mind that if you were a
man who indu ed in any crooked business. Jim
Cassidy would just about the sort of a fellow
that on would be apt to pick out for a pa rd.”

_ “ by, you infernal scoundrel !” cried Rooms,
and he made a rush for the Fresh, his game

 

- .. "u ,.- . ..
,‘ ,..¢%~'r. [-5

i .. 1 . . v ' In ,
t;f,'.‘t"§.'xf’t'ra~?'¢§* 1} <1 I.  -" ,i
'I . n , . . _ s ‘ :-

    
 
   
   
  
   
  
  
   
   
   
  
   
   
    
  
    
   
   
    
     
    
     
    
   
  
    
    
  
   
     
   
  
    
   
    
  
  
   
   
   
  
  
   
   
   
  
  
  
   
 
   
     
   
     
     
   
           
       
           
       
             
    
       
     
      
        
         
   
          
     
 

  

       

"7

   

u.

   

.. I‘ll

        
 

p ‘4 S "5‘

    
  

ix

  

.43

        
 

l

 
 

av.

 
        
   
          
   
 
 

 

   

 

6

The Fresh in Texas.

 

 

l
being to clasp him in his strong arms, bear l though, “ but I reckon that in the long run

him to the earth and there, kneeling on hisi

prostrate body, pound him at his leisure.

But the Fresh was not taken by surprise by
the attack, for he had been watching the super-
intendent while he had been speaking, as the
trained swordsman watches his opponent, and
by the glitter of the eyes anticipates the thrust
before it is made.

So when Houma rushed upon him he was
ready for him.

In an ad roit manner he evaded the on tstretch-
ed arms, aud in place of Houma seizing him, be
seized the other.

And then, in some really marvelous way—the
superintendent was never able to understand or
explain how it was done—the sport got his right
arm around the brawny neck of his opponent,
forced his head under his arm, resting it on his
hip; then, with the aid of the other hand, and a

werful swing, the Fresh lifted his assailant

airly from the ground and, turning him in the
air, threw him over his shoulder, Houma landing
on the flat of his back on the ground with a force
that for a moment seemed to knock all the
breath out of him.

To use the language of the “Fancy,” the Fresh
had “ cross-buttocked” the superintendent.

Bullifant beheld this performance, a prey to
unbounded amazement; being fully as much
astonished as the man upon whom the operation
had been performed. .

Fora few moments Houuia remained quiet;
the shock had been so great that he was unable 1'
to rise but when his breath returned to him he
rose 3 owly to his feet, terribly shaken by the
violence of his fall. .

The superintendent was big and fat, in no con-
dition for a contest of this kind, and therefore
the shock had terribly rattled him.

He was game, though he now understood that
when he attacke 1 the Fresh he had caught a
T,_.rtar; still, though the idea had come to him
that the Fresh knew a thing or two about the
wrestlcr’s art which he had not learned, he had
hopes that owing to his superior weight and
strength he might be able to whip his antago-
iiisl’r.

This time he (lid not attempt to close in with

. remarked.

 

i‘n: Fresh, but essuycd to bear him down with a
s .rics of massive blows. I

One, tWol out went his muscular arms, but ;
J ‘ickson Blake pari'ied the blows with the great- i
est ease, for he was an experienced boxer while 
the other man was not, and then, With wonder- I
ful quickness, he put in two blows, the first, I
with the left, “standing; his man,” to use the
sporting term, and the second, the p!)W(-I‘flll
right, catching Honma on the front of the jaw.

The superintendent threw up his hands, gasp-
ed. and down he went all in a heap.

To use the language of the “ ring,” he was
“ knocked out.”

CHAPTER VII.
Tun FRESH MAKES THE TRADE.

BULLIFANT had. been surprised at the result of
the superintendent’s first attack, but he was
still more surprised when he beheld the massive
su rintendent disposed of thus easily.

‘ Great heaven!” he cried, “ have you killed
the man?”

“ Oh, no, bless you he is worth n. dozen dead
mon,”tho Fresh rc lied. “He has only got a
lesson in boxing w ich will be apt to open his
eyes a little. Vii-hen he gets over this little tap
he will understand that he is not so terrible a
fighter as he thought he was.

“ If you have ot some water handy a dose
might do him go .”

Bullifant was quick to improve the hint and
the superintendent soon revived.

With the lawyer’s assistance he rose slowly to
his feet, and then, leaning on Bullifant’s arm
glared at Blake.

“ I will have your heart‘s blood for this!” the
superintendent exclaimed.

“Oh, no, you will not! nothing of the sort!”
the Fresh replied briskly. “ I have not got any
more blood than I want myself and, most de-
cidedly, hav’n’t any to spare. But if you are
not satisfied—and some men are very hard to
suit—we can settle the matter now for good and
alll” the Fresh exclaimed.

“I reckon you are heeled—few men in this
region who are not. I am, and if you are eager
for blood, out with your revolver, and we will
get to work as soon as on like.”

Bullifant at this pomt felt called upon to in-
terfere, for he saw that the superintendent had
been so shaken up by the punishment which he
had received, that he was not in a fit state to go
into a revolver duel.

“ Of course it is none of my business,” he
said, “ but, really, I think that this affair had
better not proceed any further at present. Mr.
Houma has acted a little rashly, and, when he
comes to think the matter over, I am sure he
will see that he has been in the wrong.”

This speeClJ gave the su rintendent time for
reflection, and, despite t e wrath which in-
flamed his blood, he was able to see that it
would not be wise for him to carry the quarrel
further at present.

“ You have got the bestof it,” he admitted,

 

 

the speech being spoken most unwillingly,

I will be able to turn the tables on you.”

“All right, I am agreeable, and hold myself
in readiness to give you satisfaction in any way
that you may desire, and at any time,” Blake
remarked.

“ But, one thing I should like to know: how
do you ropose to proceed in this matter?” he
asked. ' Is it understood that this fight is to be
renewed the next time we meet—is either one of
us at liberty to shoot on sight?”

“Most certain] not, I should say i” the law—
“ i r. Houma, I am sure, is no
desperado of that kind. Among gentlemen
such a thing is unknown. If, upon considera-
tion, Mr. Houma does not feel satisfied, he will
proceed to seek satisfaction as is usual among
gentlemen.”

“ Yes, that is the way 1 like to do business!”
the superintendent declared.

Houma was not particularly quick-witted,
but he had sense enough to see that the course
the lawyer had mapped out for him was the true
one for him to follow.

From the experience that he already had of
the Fresh’s quality, it was apparent that if open
war was declared, his opponent would be pretty
certain to net the best of the fight; but, if he
bided his time, the opportunity might come for
him to catch his men in such a way as to give
him a decided advantage. -

“ Mr. Bullifant expresses my sentiments,” be
“For the present we will consider
this thing settled.”

“ All right, that suits me,” the Fresh replied.
“ I am not going around kicking up rows. In
fact, since I have taken up my residence here on
the Rio Grunde, I have tried to keep out of all
the difficulties I could, but if war comes, then,
of course, I do my level best.”

“ That is only natural,” Bullifant remarked in
his smooth way.

The lawyer had made up his mind that the
Fresh was a dangerous fellow, and that the best
way to get an advantage over him was by the
use of craft and trickery.

“ These little misunderstandings will happen,”
he continued, “and aman cannot help getting
into a difficulty sometimes.”

“ Well, since this matter is settled, how about
the Cons!” Blake remarked. “As you were
willing to sell them to Cassiciy, I do not see why
you should object to sell them to me.”

The superintendent comprehended that he was
in a corner, and there was no way for him to
crawl out, as far as he could see.

. As the reader hus probably suspected Ilouma
had been indulging in a little “ ci'oolredness ”
when he made the bargain with Cassidy for the
cows.

The Fresh had spoken correctly in record to
Jim Cassidy when he had asserted that t ie man
did not bear a good reputation.

Casi-dd y had been detected in some very ques-
tionaole transactions since he had dwelt by the
Rio Grundc, and if he had not begged off, and
succeeded in settling with the men whom he had
wronged, he undoubtedly would have been
driven out of the country.

And so, when Blake overheard the converse—
tion between the two relative to the stock, he
suspected at once that there was something
wrong about the transaction, articularly when
the superintendent offered to et Cassidy have
the cows for two dollars a head less than the
going price, on condition that he kept the mat-
ter a profound secret and aid the cash at once.

It was Jackson Blake’s idea that Houma in-
tended to play the rascal. He thought the su-
perintendent purposed to keep the transaction a
secret and pocket the money, and that was the
reason why he had inveigled Jim Cassidy into a
game and rlcspoiled him of his wealth.

If the transaction was all open and above board,
of course it did not make any difference to
Houma who bought the cows, for one man’s
money was as good as another’s, but if the
superintendent intended to put the cash in his
own pocket, then he could not dispose of the
cows except to some one who Would keep the
transaction a secret.

The manner in which Houma had acted,
showed the Fresh that his suspicion was correct.

The superintendent was a rascal.

Then, as Houma puzzled his brain for an ex-
planation that would appear reasonable, a

right idea came to him.

“ Well, Mr. Blake, 1 would like to oblige you
in this matter,” he said, “ but I don’t really
feel like standing the lots of a hundred dollars,
{lor (yep know the cows are worth ten dollars a

ea . *

yer declared.

“ But you were going to sell them to Cassidy
for eight," the Fresh urged.

“ That was only a little tafl’y to lead Jim on,”
Bouma explained. “ I don’t know as you have
ever had any dealings with Jim—"

“ No, I haven’t.”

“ Well, then, of course, you don’t understand
what a mighty (peculiar man be is to do business
with. If I ha asked him ten dollars a head,
the regular gomg price, he wouldn’t have want-
ed to trade at all, but I led him on with the
offer of two dollars a head less than the cows
are worth; then, when he came to close the deal,
I should have told him that I had made a mis-

 

take, that the cows were worth ten dollars a
head, and that I could not let them go under
that figure, and this is where Jim’s peculiari
comes in. When he came with his mone in his
fist to close the deal and found the price ad ad-
vanced, he would stand the ante and close the
trade.” ,

“ Ah, yes, I see,” exclaimed the Fresh, with a
beaming smile.
wouldn’t have bad it, but after he got into the
thing he would give the figure!”

“ Yes, exactly."

“ Well, it takes all sorts of men tomake a
world,” Blake observed, philosophically.

“That is so: as I said, a man must be well
acquainted with Jim Cassidy to know how to
take him.”

“ Then the price is ten a head?”

“That is the figure.”

“I will go it. for I want the cows,” the Fresh
remarked. “ W here are they? I should like to
take a look at them.”

"‘ Certainly. I’ve got them shut up in the
corral in expectation of Cassidy’s coming, and
if you will walk over you can see them-”

“ All right. I am your man.”

The party proceeded to the corral, which was
not the regular one attached to the superintend-
ent’s house, but a rude aEair on the edge of the
ranch next to the road.

Blake comprehended at once how the scheme
would have been worked had he not won Cassi<
dy's money and so prevented the deal.

The corral being on the road and remote from
the rest of the ranch, the cattle could be driven
away with very little probability of any one on
the place knowing anything about it.

The cows were good ones, well worth the
money, and the Fresh concluded the trade at

once.

“ I’ll send over for them this afternoon,” Blake
said, as he mounted his horse. “By the way, is
Miss Margaret at home?”

“ No, she is off for a ride.”

“It is no use for me to call then. Well, so.
long I”

And then the Fresh and Old California Joe
departed.

Iouina and the lawyer watched the air until
they disappeared around the bend of he road,
and then they took their way back to the super-
intendent’s quarters.

“ Well, the reports in regard to this fellow’s
skill as a fighter are correct," Bullil'ant re~
marked. _

“Yes, curse the luck! I stood no chance at
all, although I look to be more than a match
for him,” the superintendent replied gloomily.

“Oh, he is a regular prizeflghterl” the law-
yer declare ‘l. “ Any one could see that from the
way he handled himself.”

“ I don’t know whether he is as 9
his firearms as he is with his fists, but
find out!” Houma declared.

“ Look out that you don’t give him a fair
chance, or else he may lay you out,” Bullifant
warned.

“Oh, I will hatch some scheme to catch him
at a disadvantage, be sure of that!” the other
exclaimed. “ You may be satisfird that I will
not rest until I have full measure of revenge,
and if I cannot wipe him out mysdf, then I will
call others to my aid.”

“Thutis the safest game, and I will do all I
can to help you!” the lawyer declared.

CHAPTER VIII.
THE FRIENDS.

ALONG by the bank of the yellow Rio Grande,
following what was known as the river trail,
rode two as fair maidens as the bright Texan
sun had ever shone on.

One was Margaret Escobedo, the heiress of
the old cattle king, the richest girl by far in
all that section of country, and the other was
her bosom friend, Pauline Melville. ..

The two girls were a most decided contrast
to each other, for Margaret was tail and slender
and queenly in her carriage, with a wealth of
golden hair and the clearest, deepest blue eyes
that mortal woman ever possessed, while her
friend was short in stature, extremely plump,
with darledrown 6 es and hair.

The position in ife occupied by the two were
as different as their looks, although both were
orphans. but while Margaret was as wealthy
a girl as could be found all along the line of
the Rio Grande, thanks to the old cattle king’s
money, Pauliiiewas entirely dependent upon
her own exertions.

She and Margaret had been chums at school
in the East, an at that time, owin to the fact
that Margaret’s mother had fled gem the old
cattle king, carrying her child with her. the
two not b61132. able to agree, Margaret bad no
more expectations than her friend.

And when their school days were over, and
the two went out into the world to earn their
IlVing—for although Margaret’s mother held a
good (position, yet she preferred that her child
shoul be able to take care of herself. for at
that time neither one ever ex ted to receive
a single penn from Estevan hello—$110 3'0
secured posl ons together, and so the friendship
continiied.

Then came the sudden death of the: old cattle

ert with
mean to

 

“ If you said ten at first, Jim '

 

.wvv . ,ow W W

 

..

.wv. R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 v«./
V,.,../ "k

 

 

 

  
  
   
   
   
   
  
   
  
   
  
  
  
  
   
   
    
   
 
   
     
   
 
    
 
    
   
  
 
    
  
  
   
    
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
    
  
  
   
 
   
    
   
   
  
   
  
  
  
  
     
   
   
   
  

 

  
 

.The Fresh in Texas.

’7

 

 

‘king and the news that Margaret was his heir;
the death of Mar aret’s mother followed shortly
afterward, and argaret’s journey to the West
.to take possession of her inheritance separated
her from Pauline. -

The two corresponded regularly though and
‘when owingr to the misconduct of Manuel and
Isabel Escobedo, hcr cousins, and who had been
.her companions on the ranch, they were com-
pelled to go a way, and Margaret was left alone,
she sent for Pauline to come to her, and the girl
gladly obeyed the summons.

As Margaret said in her appeal to her friend:

“ Why should you toil as hard as you have to
for a bare living while I ha/ve everything that
the heart of a woman can desire? Come and
share my fortune with mel”

Miss Pauline had now been an inmate of the
Escobedo Ranch for some two months and had
become pretty well accustomed to the peculiar
life, so different to what she had been used to in
the East.

The two girls had been indulging in a brisk
gallop and had now pulled their steeds into a
‘walk so as to breathe the animals, and this af-
forded an opportunity for conversation.

“ That is a nice ranch over yonder,” Pauline
remarked, as they rode past a thrifty-looking

ace.

p “Yes, it is a well-kept estate.”

“ Let me see; I do not remember to have ever
noticed that ranch before, although this is not
the first time I have been along this road,”
Pauline remarked, reflectively. “ \Vho lives
there?”

“ Mr. Blake.”

“Oh, the Fresh, as they call him!” the other
exclaimed.

“ Yes, but I really think it is utterly absurd
to bestow such a title upon him 1” Margaret re-
marked, Spil'iledly, a. tinge of color in her cheeks
and her eyes flushing.

“ So it seems to me, but then they have such a
strange habit in this country of bestowing all
sorts of nick—names upon people. Sometimes
they fit very snugly, but in this case, I confess,
I do not see anything fresh about Mr. Blake,
excepting that he has a cool, easy way with him,

nit‘e a contrast to the rough boisterousness of
t 0 most of these Texans.”

“Mr. Blake is not a Texan, you know; he is
from California.”

“ Oh, yes, I kn0w that; his nick-name gives
that information—the Fresh of ’Frisco, you
know; isn’t it utterly ridiculous?”

“ Yes, so it seems to me, and I confess that
since I have been acquainted with the gentle-
man I have not seen anything in his hearing, or

conduct, that would suggest such a. name.

“ As you say he is: cool and 4 uiet, but not at
all forward, as this ridiculous nick name would
imply."

“ That is true enough!” Pauline assented.
'” Now the majority of young men living in
close proxnnity to such a pretty girl as you are
——to say withing of myself—would be sure to
have found some excuse to call in every day or
tw0, but since I have been here I do not believe
he has called once a week.” ,

“ It was the same Way before you came,”
Margaret remarked. “ About once a week, sel-
dom oftener."

“ But he was welcome, wasn't he, Mar 'aret?”
Pauline asked, with a shy glance at the ace of
her friend.

“ VVelcomel” Margaret exclaimed, in deep,
earnest tones. “ Why, Pauline, Mr. Blake is as
welcome to my house as the sun!

“ That man saved me from a position of the
greatest peril, and while I live I will never for-
get the service be rendered me—repay it I can
never hope to.” ..

“ You might, by giving him your precious
self, ch?” Pauline exclaimed, mischievously.

The heiress of Eecobedo crims med from her
neck to her tempazs, and her confusion was most
manifest.

“ Oh, forgive me, Margaret, I did not mean
to Wound you!” the other exclaimed, deeply re‘

etting her careless speech, and then she passed

er arm, caressingly, around't‘he waist of Marv
garet. .

“ I only said it to tease you, and I did not
think you would care.”

“ Oh, it docs not matter,” the heiress replied,
forcing: a smile, although there were tears in
her eyes.

“ I am foolish to allow on to tease me, but
then I know that Mr. Bla e’s name and mine
have been coupled together, and I am sensitive
in re ard to the matter.”

“ ’ hat is true, for during my brief stay here
.I have heard many a sly hint that the Fresh, as
they all call him, would, probably, one day be
the master of the Escobedo Ranch.”

“ Yes, the gossip has come to my ears.”

“ Well, I really Wonder at the talk, for, as
In as I can see, the gentleman does not act at
all like a lover.”

“ Oh, no, no one could with justice accuse
him of paying me any particular attention.”

“ He seemed. to me like a devoted friend—a
brother as it were, whom you might depend up-
on in the hour of need.”

“And such be has been to me ever since we

met!” Margaret exclaimed,

 

“ I came to this far southwestern land alone
and friendless and fell immediately into the.
power of enemies whom I firmly believed to be
my friends; in m) trusting innocence I was an
easy dupe.”

“ That I can readily believe," Pauline re-
marked, “ for you are unsuspicious by nature
and would not be apt to think evil of any one.”

“I inherited the fortune which others covet-
ed,” Margaret explained. “ But my death was
not desired, for in that case there were a bun-
dred heirs and even my father’s Vast estate
would be divided into so many parts that none
of the heirs would be satisfied With their share,
so these pretended friends arranged a plot of
which I was to be the victim. '

“ The scheme was to place me in a sition of

ril from which 1 could only escape y marry-
ing one of these pretended friends, and it would,
probably, have succeeded too, for in my inno-
cence I did not dream of the trap into which I
had fallen, had it not been for Mr. Blake who
came to my rescue in the very nick of time.”

“ How extremely romanticl"

“ It was extremely fortunate for me, for his
timely arrival saved me from becoming the
pre of as base a villain as there is in all this
Wl( e world.”

“ And how was it that Mr. Blake happened to
know of the matter?” Pauline asked with all the
natural curiosity of her sex.

“Just by accident he got a hint that there
was something wron , and with the persever-
ance of a bloodhoun he. followed on the track
until he succeeded in baffling the plans of the
conspirators and saved me from becoming their
victim.” .

“ That is where his freshness comes in, I sup-
pose,” remarked Pauline with a laugh.

“Yes, I presume so, for I was a stranger to
him, and he braved the enmity of a powerful
band of despcradoes by interfering, but he did
not count the cost and in the end succeeded in
defeating the plans of the villains.”

“ I have heard a little gos-ip in rcgn rd to this
matter since I have been here,” Pauline ob-
served.

“ The priuci al actors in the affair were your
cousin, Mamie , and Isabel Escobedo?”

“ Yes, the two whbm I believed to be my firm
friends.”

“It must have been a dreadful blow to you
when you disobvered their treachery?”

“It was, for I never suspected it.”

“Did you haVe any little tender feeling for
Manuel?”

“ Oh, no, although he professed to be my
devoted admirer, but as a lover I never cared
for him.”

“ And the other, Mr. Blake, he has never
sought to woo you? You see I am awfully
anxious! You don’t mind my asking, do you,
dear?”

“ No; in our schoolgirl days we had no
secrets from each other, and I will be as frank
with on now," Margaret replied.

“ . 1'. Blake likes me, I know: his eyes have
told me so many a timkhis 1i 5 neverl He is
always just the same as you ave seen him,
pleasant, perfectly polite and respectful, but
nevor attempts to' woo me in a lover-like fash-

that, for it is not maidenly for a girl to admit
she cares for a man who does not take the
trouble to woo her.

“ And what is the reason that he doesn‘t?”
Pauline asked, abruptly.

“ There is some reason for it, of course. Mar.
garet admits that he, with his eyes, has betrayed
that he likes her; and if that is true, and there
is no cause to doubt it, for a girl like Margaret
is too sensible to be deceived, then it is ver
strange he does not strive to secure the prize a l
the rest of the gentlemen in the neighborhood
are so anxious to win.

"' AsI said before, there must be some good
reason for it, and I am no true Yankee girl if I
don’t find out what it is.

“ Margaret is unhappy Over the matter; I can
see that clearly; and if can disc0ver what
obstacle there is in the way, perhaps I may be
able to remove it.

“Anyway, as Margaret’s friend, I ought to
do all in my p0wer to promote her happiness,
and I feel sure from what she has said—or not
so much from what she said as the way in which
she said it—that she would gladly be wooed and
won by the Fresh of ’Frisco.”

The chapter of accidents favored Miss Pauline
in her design, for, a short time after she formed
this resolution. she overheard a couple of the
herdsmen speaking in regard to the Fresh com-
ing for the cows that afternoon which he had
purchased. '

“ Aha l” exclaimed the girl, delighted at the
o portunity; “ now Iwill have a chance to meet
NB: Blake, just by accident, and if I don’t find
out ju-t what he thinks about the matter, then
I am not as smart as] think I am.”

So, Miss Pauline found it convenient to take a.
walk down by the corral that afternoon at
about the time that Jackson Blake and his men
were expected to come for the cows.

She arrived just in season to see the cattle de-
part, and when the operation was completed and
the cows were on the road, Pauline said, With
her sweetest smile:

“ Are on not coming up to the house, Mr.
Blake? t is quite a time since you favored us
with a call and I rather guess you think we are
not good company or else you would come
oftener.”

Of course the Fresh could not refuse such an
invitation and so be accompanied Miss Melville
to the house.

But upon arriving there, after Pauline bad es-
corted the gentleman into the parlor, and sum-
moned a servant to announce Mr. Blake’s ar~
rival, to Miss Escobedo, the discovery was made
that the ladies of the next ranch above on the
river had carried the heiress off for a visit.

Of course the sly young woman knew that
Margaret was absent when she invited the gen-
tleman to the house, for otherwise she could not
have secured the opportunity of enjoying a pri-
vate interview wit him.

“‘Well, now, 1 am so sorry you are disappoint-
ed,” she said, “for of course I cannot enter—
tain on as well as Miss Escobedol” ,

“ h, I don‘t know about that!” the Fresh
replied, gallantly. “ I am afraid you are not
domg justice to yourself, for I am sure that
you can be fully as entertaining as Miss Es.

ion.” bcebedo.”

“Oh, Margaret, confess now, if he did you
would not be angry l” Pauline exclaimed. archly.

“Well, 1 must wait until that happens, you
know, before I shall be sure,” Margaret replied,
demurely.

“ One thing is certain,” she added, “ I am not
likel to woo him.”

“ erhaps he hasn’t curage to try to win such
0. eat heiress as you are,” Pauline suggested.

‘ Of course I don’t know about that, but as
far as regular courage goes I believe from what
I have seen of him that he would not hesitate to
fight a lien, for hadoes not seem to know what
fear is.”

“ Yes, I have heard people say too that he is
a gambler and a desperado, and all that, but I
don’t believe it!”

“ Neither do I: he may not be any better, but
he certainly is no worse than the other gentle-
men of the neighborhood as far as I am able to
discover.”

And after this the conversation passed to
other subjects, but the lively Pauline, with all a
woman’s shrewdness, made up her mind to have
a talk with the Fresh and see what he really
thought about the matter.

 

CHAPTER IX.
a woman’s wrr.

PAULINE p ndered over the conversation all
the way hom , and the more she thought upon
the subject the greater became her determma-
tion to seek an interview with Jackson Blake
and see what he had to say about the matter.

In the solitude of her apartment, after her
arrival at the ranch, she discused the question
with herself, for there was not a soul in the
house to whom she dared to speak on the sub-

ect.
“ It is a shame. so it is!” the declared. “ Mar-

“Yes, that may be, but if she was here there
would be two to entertain you instead of one-—
double attraction you see.”

“Ah, but you do not consider that I may be
like the gentleman who declared, how happy he
could be with either, if the other dear charmer
were away!” Blake rejoined.

“I do not doubt that that is true, but I think
you are real mean to say so, for of course I un-
derstand that you would a great deal rather
that Miss Escohedo were here to entertain you
than poor me,” Pauline declared, with an affect-
ed pout. ‘~

“ Oh, now you have got it all wrong,” the
Fresh answered. “ It is our charming self who
is the attractive one. am )sitive that any
gentleman who has the good uck to spend an
hour in your agreeable company will not have
cause to complain that he has not been pleasant.
ly entertained.”

“ I am afraid that on are a sad flatterer, Mr.
Blake 1” Pauline exc aimed, shaking her finger
at him, warningly.

“ Oh, no, nothing but the truth comes from me
I assure you.”

“ Well, one thing is certain. my bank account
is not so attractive as Miss Escobedo’sl" Pauline
exclaimed, with a laugh.

“ Yes, there isn’t any mistake about that, and
I presume a good many men in this world
would really prefer a handsome bank-account
to a handsome woman,” the Fresh remarked.

“ I don‘t believe that your tastes run in that
way ” the girl observed.

‘ on are right there; there isn’t anything of
the fortune-hunter about me.”

“ Yes, I feel sure of that!"

“ Really you compliment me!” and the Fresh
bOWed politely.

“ Oh, your actions show that you are not men-
canary.”

“ How do you make that out!"

 

garet loves the man, although she is not willing’
to acknowledge it; but I do not blame her for

“ Why, the way in which you act toward His
bedo.”

B

 

 

 

if.

8

“ I don’t Tthink I get your meaning exactly.”

“Miss Escobedo is the richest girl in all this
section—that is true, isn’t it?”

“ She has that reputation.”

“And as a consequence almost every gentle-
man for miles around is a suitor for her hand.”

“Yes, but I do not think it is hardly fair for

on to assume that all her suitors are attracted
hy the fact that she is the wealthiest girl in the
district," the Fresh observed. “For you must
remember that Miss Escobedo is a. very beauti-
ful woman, and then being a blonde too, her
style of beauty is in direct contra st to the type
usually seen along the Rio Grande, and that
renders her more attractive.

“ So I think it is hardly fairto assume that all
her admirers are attracted by her wealth and
none by her beauty.”

“ lle, I guess my statement isn’t exactly
correct,” Pauline admitted, “ but you are leading
me away from the point which I desired to
make, and that is that neither Miss Escobedo’s
wealth nor beauty seemed to be potent enough
to attract you.”

“ Ah, now Iyou are putting a leading question
to me, as a awyer would say,” the Fresh rc-
plied laughing.

“ ell, I am not a judge to compel you to an-
swcr it if you do not want to, you know,” the
girl replied, nrchly.

“ But you are anxious to learn, though?”

“ Am I not a woman?”

“ And therefore curious, eh?”

“ I will have to admit the fact, I suppose."

“Well, it is a subject about which I should
not care to converse in public,” Blake observed,
slowly. “ But I think can afford to make an
exception in your favor, for I feel sure you are
a devoted friend to Miss Escobedo, and ,would
do all in your power to insure her happiness.”

“ Yes, indeed I would,” Pauline exclaimed,
prom tly. “ Why, Mr. Blake, we have been
frien 5 ever since we were children, and if we
were sisters I do not believe we could love each
other any better than we do.”

“ Oh, I have noticed that you seem to be de-
votedly attached.”

“Yes, I would do almost anything for Mar-
garet, and I am sure she would do as much for
me,” Pauline declared. “ And I will admit,
without beating around the bush, that I am puz-
zled to account for your indifference, particular-
] as I understand that you have a most decided
c aim to Margaret’s titude.”

“ I presume she as informed you, then, of
the rather strange way in which we became ac-
quainted.”

“ Yes, she told me the really romantic story,”
Pauline replied. “ Why, Mr. Blake, it is just
like a chapter out of a novel.”

“ It. was rather odd, there is no mistake about
it; but this is a wild country along the Rio
Grande, and events happen here that could not
pmsibly occur in a more civiliZed communit .”

“You acted like a hero, Mr. Blake, an if
there is any man in the world who deserves to
win Margaret Escobedo you are the man,”
Pauline declared, in her emphatic way.

“ I am very much obliged to you for the com-
pliment,” the Fresh remarked.

“ Ah, but it is not an empty com liment,”
the irl rejoined. “ It is the truth. on saved
her rom a dreadful fate, for what can be worse
for a woman than to be forced into a marriage
with a man whom she cannot love?”

“ That is verv true, and I suppose to carry out
the romance, I ought to lay vigorous siege to
Miss Margaret.”

“ Yes, most decidedly, and I confess my curi-
osity is excited. There is some good reason for
it, of course. Possibly you are already in love,
and so are not heart-fr .”

“Oh, no, there isn’t nything of that kind to
interfere,” the Fresh replied.

“ Of course I will not attempt to deny that I
have met girls whom I have fancied, and they
in return have looked with favorable eyes upon
me, but all these are in the long ago; none of
them recent enough to interfere with m pay-
ilng”suit to Miss Escobedo if I was disposed so to

o.

“ And why don‘t you?” asked Pauline with
true feminine bluntnes-r.

Blake laughed at the directness of the ques—
tion.

“You must really forgive me!” Pauline has.

-tened to exclaim. “ I know that it is perfectly

awful for me to be so inquisitive, but I cannot
help it.”

“ Oh, no, of course you are not to blame, you
were born that we .”

“ Yes, I suppose was.”

“ Well, as I am always glad to gratify a lady,
I am disposed to satisfy your curiosity,” the
Fresh remarked.

“Of coursc I should not care to go around
:ggaproclaim this from the house-tops,” he

“ Certainly not, but you can rely upon my
discretion.”

“ Of that I feel assured, or else I should not
converse at all with you in regard to the mat-
ter,” Blake remarked gravely.

‘ Now then, I will freely admit to on that 1

not at all blind to Miss Escobedo charms.
she is as layely a girl as l have ever had

 

The Fresh  Teasers."

 

the pleasure of encountering, and fully believe
that she is as good as she is beautiful.”

“ Oh, yes, there isn’t a doubt of that!” Pauline

exclaimed. _
“ And any man, no matter what may be his

station in life, peasant or prince, might esteem ,
himself fortunate to Will the love of such a peer- 5

less girl.

“ You are certainly right in that statement! ‘

Margaret is worthy the love of any man, no
matter who or what he is!” Pauline declared.

“ And that is one of the reasons why I hesi-

tate to enter the lists with the rest of her suit-
ors,” the Fresh remarked.
, “ Now, Miss Melville, I am going to be honest
With you, and honest. with myself,” he added.
“I presume you have been long enough in this
section to have heard plenty of stories about
me?”

“ Oh, yes; and I have been here long enough,
too, to understand that gossip here is' just like
gossip everywhere else; one must not believe all
they hear.”

“ That is true enough; there is an old saying
that a good story never loses anything in the
telling, and I think it is a very true one. I sup-
pose you know that though Jackson Blake is my
name, yet another appellation has been affixed
to me by which I am as often called as by my
baptismal name.”

“ Oh, yes, the Fresh of ’Frisco,” Pauline re-
plied, smiling at the odd conceit.

“ And I suppose you have heard, too, that
my character is none of the best?”

“ Yes, but I do not pay any attention to these

idle stories, nor does Miss Escobedo,” the girl re- ,

plied immediately.

“ Margaret and myself were conversing about
the matter recently, and she said that during all
the time you have lived here you had conducted
yourself in the most proper manner, and no one
could, n ith truth, say a word against you.”

“ I am very lad indeed to learn that Miss
Escobedo has sue a good Opinion of me,” the
Fresh remarked.

“ Then she does not believe that I am a des-
perado and a card-sharp going about like a
raging lion seeking whom Inlay devour?”

“ No, indeed I” Pauline declared, em hatically.
“ Your life during the time that you ave lived
here is a complete answer to that accusation.”

“ Yes, that is true enough. I have behaved
myself pretty well since I settled here by the
banks of the Rio Grande, but I will make the
honest confession that I have led a pretty wild
life. A desperado, in the true sense of the word
I have never been, although I have never hesi-
tated to defend myself when attacked, and, to
speak the exact truth, have been involved in
quarrels which I cculd have kept out of if I had
so chosen: that is where the Fresh comes in,vyou
know. My peculiar disposition causes me to
interfere in matters which do not concern me,
like this case of the conspiring against Miss Es-
cobedo; if it had not been for my freshness I
should never have been mixed up in that.”

” It was a most fortunate thing for her that
you did take an interest in the matter though,”

auline observed.

“ Yes, as it happened it was, and now another

int. I am accused of being a gambler, and

must acknowledge that I have seen the time
when I depended upon cards for a living. Of
course I can come the old ame and swear that
1 always played fairly an all that, but that
doesn’t Wipe out the fact that I depended on
cards for my bread and butter.”

“ Of course, to look at the matter 2:: the light
in which it would be regarded in the East, it
seems to be a dreadful thing,” the 'rl observed.

“ But out in this country every y seems to
play cards, and although it maybe that I am
not a competent judge, yet to me there does not
scem to be such a great difference between the
man who plays yards for amusement, as long as
he ventures money on the result of the game,
and the one who makes a living by card—play-
ing. One thing to my'mind is certain: if the
gentlemen who only play for amusement would
stop amusin themselves in that way, the
regular gam lers would be apt to storm to
death.” .

The Fresh laughed, for to his mind the girl's
words were not only true but amusings

“ Well, I think you are right, alt ough the
world at large will not be apt to agree with you,
but that is a mere matter of opinion, of course.
But now, just look at the matter: my past life
has not been a particularly creditable one; the
woman who marries me wi 1 be apt to hear some
ugly stories once in a while, and a good many
people will be apt to hold up their hands in holy

error at the union.

1“ Then, as I am odd and peculiar by nature, it
may be possible that I will not be content to
settle down into a quiet, hum-drum life. I am
not certain of myself, maybe; and now then,
don’t you think there are good reasons why I do
not strive with the rest of the gentlemen of this
neighborhood to win the heiress of Escobedof”

Pauline smiled and shook her head.

“ These reasonsof yours would be swe t.uway
like chaff before the wind if you re )7 loved
Margaret 2” she declared. '

“ And there in another point stronger than all
the rest!" the Fresh resumed.

l

j - “ What is that, pray?”

, “ I may be so doubtful in regard to my chance
of winning the heiress that am afraid to risk
‘ 3,

“ If you are troubled about that, then do.
cidedly you haven’t any right to your nick-name l”
the girl exclaimed.

Blake laughed, and after a few more words
took his departure.

“Fortune is pushing me along whether I will
or no,” he soliloquized, as he rode away from.
the ranch.

“ Is it fated then that I am to win this peer-
less beauty?”

 

CHAPTER X.
SEEKING THE OLD JEW.

THE two Cubans sat together in the office of
the Hotel Mexico. in I‘ll Paso.

They were in a corner remote from the rest,
and so were able to converse without danger of’
being overheard.

“Now, then, what should be our first move in
this game?” the elder, Gomes, asked of the
younger, Espurto.

“ That is difficult to say at present, for we are
not yet thoroughly posted in regard to the
ground,” the other re lied.

“ We have seem the alcalde and the chief
of police, and they will aid us to the extent of‘
their power; but, according to the tell: of the
landlord, and the loungers in the hotel with-
whom I have conversed, the Fresh has become
an extremely popular man in El Paso during
the last year, and we must be careful how we
attack him.”

“ I suppose he is popular because the bullies of
the town are afraid of him,” observed Gomet
with a sneer.

“ That‘s about the truth, I think, and yet as,
far as I can learn, he has not been concern in
any uarrels f0r a long time.” .

“ he town made the discovary that he was a
dangerous man ri ht after his arrival in this
section, and he has leen given a wide berth ever
since.

“ That is probably the truth, and any attack
which we make on im must be planned in the
most careful manner; and now before we be '11-
to scheme, I would suggest a Visit to old Ba ad
Solomons,” Esparto remarked.

“That is not a bad idea,” Gomes observed,
approvingly. “ The old Jew is a shrewd fellow,
and is usually able to give good counsel.”

“ He will know exactly ow the land lays, and-
undoubtedly his advice w be valuable.’

“ Let us go at once, then,” Gomes suggested.

So the two left the hotel and made their way
to the Jew’s house, which was on a side street,
running] from the plaza, as the. readers who
made t e acquaintance of the Hebrew pawn-
broker in the tale entitled “ The Fresh on the-
Rio Grande,” will remember.

Gomes rapped on the Jew’s door when he
reached it, and after a brief interval asliding
nel in the upper part of the door opened an

ike face of the eminent He-

 

he yellow, weasel-
brew appeared.

This was the regular custom of the pawn--
broker. ,

No one gained admission to his premises until
he had made a careful examination of them by
means of the small window in the door.

“ This is Mr. Solomons?” said Gomez.

“Yeah, yesh, dot ish mine name.”

“ This gentleman and myself would like to see
you on a little matter of business,” Gomes ex—
plained. “We are strau rs here in El Paso,
and come from the Islan of Cuba.”

“We bring you news of an old friend of
yours ” Esparto added, “Manuel Escobedo.”

“ A , yeah—mine gootnessl” exclaimed the
old Jew. “ I hafe not heard from mine fr’en’,
Escobedo, for many a long day.

“ Shust wait a moment, mine fr’en’s, and I
will let you in.”

The pawnbroker then closed the panel, and
the sound of moving bolts and bars was heard.

“The man has his house guarded like a fort,”
Esparto remarked.

“ Yes, the old fellow is rolling in Wealth and
he is afraid of being robbed b _some desperate
fellow, and so he has fortified is mansion in a
manner fit to resist anything but artillery,”
Gomes answered.

Then the door opened, and the tall, lean figure
of e Jew up ared.

e was cl in a rusty suit of black, so shabby
that it is doubtful if he, or any of his tribe,
would have been willing to advance adollar
on it.

He cast a iercin glance at the Cubans, and ‘

 

the eyes of he 01 man, although dee sunken
in Ills. head, Were as keen as the or of an
eagle. _

Then, the scrutiny having apparently been
satisfactory, he Opened the door widey and
bade them enter; and after the were Within
the house he closed the door an carefully 3d.
. justed the fastenings again.

This operation performed, he turned to the
: Cubans and inquired:

“Mine fr’on’s, do you vent to raise any money
on anyt’ingl” and he rubbed his skinny, talcu-
, like hands to ether, and showed his yellow teeth
’ in what was tended to be an agreeable

, Aw...“ mums“ .: '

 

i
1’
il
l
1'
CV

 

 

 

 

 

The Fresh  Texas.

  

9

 

 

“ No, we do not desire a loan,” Games an-
swered.

“ All we seek is advice,” Esparto added.

“ Advice. eh?” and the old Jew favored his
visitors with another searching lance as though
he wished to read their Very so 3.

“ Yes, and we have an idea, too, that it may
be ppssible we can put some money in your
wa . ’

“yAha dat ish goot—monish ish goot; he, hel”
chuckled the old man.

“ Times are hard now-I cannot much make,
and I shall be glad if you gifes me a chance to
do somet’ings.”

And then the pawnbroker produced chairs
and invited his visitors to be seated.

“ How ma I call our names, mine fr’en’s, if
you please ” ask , as be seated himself, fac~
ing the Cubans.

‘ My name is Gomes,” said the elder.

“ And mine is Esparto,” added the other.

“ And you said you brou ht me news of Man-
ncl Escobedo,” mused the o d man. “ Vell, vell,
I am clad, for- he vas a goat fr’en’ of mine. 18
he wfi‘l”

“ He is dead,” was the reply.

CHAPTER XI.
, somxons ADVICE.

“ DEAD, eh, Manuel Escobedo ish dead, ah!"
the old man murmured in a reflective wa , rub-
bing his hands softly together, but be id not
seem to be particularly astonished.

“ Yes,” and then Gomes related how the Es-
cobedos, brother and sister, had perished when
the trading schooner went down.

“ Vol], vell, dot ish bad,” the Jew remarked,
and all the time that Gomes had been speaking
be had been closely studying the faces of his
visitors. '

“Yes, the account of Manuel Escobedo was
abruptly closed,” Gomes remarked. “ And just
at a time too when he was preparing to return
to El Paso and strike a blow at the foe who had
driven him from his native land.”

And then the Cuban told the story of Isabel
Escabedo’s wealth marriage, and the death of
bet;l husband, whic had brought all the money
to or.

“Owing to this fortunate circumstance, you
see, Manuel Escobedo was in a condition tocome
back to El Paso and wage effective war against
the man who drove him away."

“ Yeah, yeah, I see' you speak of dis Jackson
Blake, der Fresh of ’Frisco?” said the old pawn.
broker. “ Ho ish a bold fellow, dot Fresh 1”

“' That is the man,” the Cuban replied.
“Manuel Escobedo bore him a. deadly hatred
and swore when he was driven away from El
Pris-o that he would never rest until he was
nvcnved.

“flannel is deal, this gentlemen and myself
were his bosom friends, and to us has come the
furtune that Isabel acquired by her marriage,
and to us too has descended this legacy of ven-
geance, and we have come to El Paso express]
to s uare t' e account of Manuel Escobedo wit
this resb Jf ’Frisco.” .

“ Yea-:1, yeah, I see,” and all the while the old
Hebrew was studying the faces of his visitors
with the utmost attention.

“ Manuel had com leted all his arran outs
for returnin to El when he met h s death
on this ill- ated voyage,” Gomes explained.
“ Myself and cousin here,” and he nodded to

to, “ were to accompany him and aid in
carryin out his scheme of vengeance, so we
knew a his plans, having fully discussed and
arranged the matter; and when the news of his
untimely death reached us, we determined that
as soon as we could settle affairs we would
come and carry out the plans as originally ar-
ranield.”
“ . yesh, I see," the Jew observed, with an
approving nod.

I have gone into this explanation so you
will understand h0w matetrs stand,” Gomes
continued.

‘“llfianueliEscobeldtt‘)i had no secrets fil‘lom us:
we ow a the pa cu are regardin is past
life here in El Paso, and understand 8who were
his friends and confederates in the old time.
We have alread seen the alcalde and his bro-
ther, the chief 0 police, and arranged with them
for their assistance, so we will have strong back-
ing here in El Pam.”

' Yeah, yeah, dot ish gootl” the Jew exclaimad.
“The Pamls are fine men and they always
stick to their frien’s.”

“ And now we have come to enlist you in our
entefiirise," Gomes remarked.

“ ine gootness, v’ot can I do?” cried the
pawnhroker, apparently much surprised. ‘

“ Whfi, you are to help as exactly as you
helgd anuel Ebcobedo in the old time,” the
On I: replied. '

“About the first thin we intend to do is to
revive thfilbaggl of the ledRiders of Rayon,

or we wi u an organi force to cope with
the Fresh of ’Frisco and the d radoes whom
he has at his back: and when the d is formed
it will put money in your pocket just the same
as it used to do.” '

“Oh, well, I am alvaya ready for a trade, of
course, mine fr'en’ "the Je'w remarked.
P“Wearein eamestinthismatterand

 

are determined to compass the death of this
‘ accursed Fresh of ’Friscol” Gomes said, with
‘ flrm determination.
i “ Oh, it will be a diflicult job i" the old pawn-
‘ broker declared. “That man is a devil! Yesb,
mine l'r’en’s, dat ish it exactly! Dot Fresh of
’Fri-co ish a devil, and dere ish not money
enou h in dis world to hire me to fight mit him.
“ by. mine fr’en’s, v’ot you t’ink? When he
_ first to El Paso did come, he raised monish
‘ from me on a loan—then he cleaned out some of

back to pay up, so help me, Moses! if he did not
rope me into a game and beat me out of three
hundred tellers!” -

“ Is it possible?” Gomes exclaimed.

“ It is,” the old man replied, with a d sigh.
“ He fixed der thing so dot it looked as if could
skin him out of three hundred dollars, and I vas
fool enough to t’ink dot I could beat a sport like
he ish at his Own game.”

“ And be beat you, eh ?” Gomes observed.

“ Yeah, mine tnessl as slick as der whistle!
I tell you, mine r’en’, I want no more to do mit
dot mans!"

“ He has bad a good run of luck since he
struck El Paso, but it is about time for it to
change," Esparto observed.

“ I for one do not care to buck against him,”
the Jew replied, decidedly. “ And, if you will
take my advice, When you go for him you will
have der t'ing fixed sodot he will have no chance
at all, or else he will beat you.”

“ Oh, we will make the trap so strong that
when he is once in, there will not be much
1' chance to get out," Gomes declared.

. The old pawnbroker shook his head in an

E extremely doubtful way.

i “ Ah. mine fr’en’, you will find that to be a

I very diflicult matter, I t’ink. The Fresh has
goot men with him, and unless you hate 9. big

band” of Red Riders he will becertainto beat
on.

“ We are in no hurry, but can afford to wait
until a favorable opportunity arrives,” the Cuban
remarked. _

“ We have not allowed the grass to grow
under our feet,” Espu-to observed. “ Although
we have not been long in El Paeo we have al-
ready commenced to enlist men for our band.
Thanks to Manila! Escobedo’s instructions we
have been able to put our hands right on the
men we need—good, trusty fellows who were in
the old band, and a Couple of them are the
men”who used to attend to the business with

 

“ Dot ish gootl I do not new men like. for
until they are tried you cannot tell anything
about them.”

“ That is our idea, and we are securing all the
old men we can et at.”

“ 80, Manuel scobedo is dead,” the old He-
brew remarked, gazing at the Cubans in a curi-
one way as he spoke. “Vell, I am sorry for dot.
I liked Manuel; he vas a goot feller; and den,
too, dere vas a leetle balance of a hundred tol-
lars due me—”

“Oh, that is all rightl" Gomes exclaimed,
immediately. “I will settle that. Bring me

n and ink, and I will give you an order on

anker Weinholdt for the cash.

The Jew hastened to comply with the re-

set, and was greatly delighted upon receiving
t e money.

And t on the Cubans departed, the old
Hebrew escorting them out with many profes-
sions of how lad he would be to serve them.

But aftert e were one, and Solomons had
secure] lock , bolt and barred his castle
again, shook his head in an extremely doubt-
ful way.

“ W on the game was played der last time,
der Fresh won mitout any troubles,” the old
Jew muttered. “ Mebbe he vill not be able to do
der trick dis time, but I vould not be villing to
bet mucb' monish on dot, for be ish a devil,
and der mans dot fights mit der devil must get
up in der morning early. All der same, I am
glad dot der Red Rider band is to go again.

“ A goot bit of monisb did dot band bring to
me, but if de go for der Fresh dey must keep
thin; eyes pee ed, or dot mans will clean dam
on

The Cubans reu‘aced their steps toward the
Hotel Mexico.

“ The old Jew is as cautious as ever,” Gomes
remarked. .

“Yes: he was never willing to take any
risks,” Esparto observed. “ It was always his
game to get all the money he could without put-
ting himself in a position so he could possibly be
implicated.”

‘ Well, I suppose the old fellow is not to
blame for wanting to play a safe game,” Gomes
replied. “ That is characteristic of his iace the
world over.”

“ That is true enough.”

At this point the two turnedfrom the side-
street into the plaza, and, as they did so, they
came face to face with a rather shahbily-
dressed man, s little under the medium hight,
{Sign a dark, olive face, and a decidedly foreign

 

, A .single glance at his countenance, though, to
a judge of nationalities would have revealed his
' 2.00. .

der gamblers, and der next day when he come ,
' slight accent, “ but I am a stranger here in zis

 

The high cheek-bones, peculiar thin face,
pointed mustache and imperial, jet-black in hue,
as was the hair which curled almost as tight as
a negro‘s wool to his head, told that be was a
Frenchman.
d1 Under his arm he carried a long, slender bun-

e.

Upon meeting so abruptly with the Cubans
the Frenchman lifted his bat with all the polite-
ness of his race.

“ I beg your pardon. gentlemen,” he said,
speaking English quite fluently, and with only a

city, and crave information."

“ Certainly, sir, we will be happy to accom-
modate you if it is in our power,” Gomes re-
plied, as he and his companion returned the
man’s salutation.

“] am in search of a Hebrew gentleman—one

Solomons—although for the life of me I cannot
think of his first name, which is an odd, bar-
barous one, I was told to take the second street,
and this I think is no one.”
‘éfladad Solomons, the pawnbrokerl” Gomes
sai . ..
“ The same! Alas, gentlemen, you behold an
unhappy adventurer, reduced by dire misforo
tune to the necessity of pawning the tools by
means of which he lives.

“I am a fencing-master, by name, Louis do .
Charny; by reputation, second to no man in
Europe, stranded in this accursed wildernea on
account of a little trouble in the City of Mexico,
where 1 had the misfortune to severely wound a
relative of the President who presumed to doubt
in skill as a Swordsman.

‘I was compelled to fly, on the road was
robbed of my purse, and am now reduced to
seeking a miserable Jew in order to raise a loan
on a pair of rapiers which have not their equal
in America."

The Cubans looked at each other, for the same
brilliant idea had occurred to both.

“ Here was a man to fight the Fnesh of
’Friscoi”

 

CHAPTER XII.
THE ADVENTUBER. .

“Yrs, my dear sins,” continued the French-
man, " by a most unfortunate combination of
circumstances 1 was forced to fly from the City
of Mexico, where, thanks to my skill as a
swordsman, I had established myself in first-
class style.

“I have led a life of adventure, gentlen-rn,
and in my time have met with many misfor-
tunes. but this last was the crowning blow. You
are true gentlemen, I can see that with half an
eye, and therefore you can appreciate my posi.
tion, otherwise I should not have troubled you
with my story.”

As we have said, the same idea had occurred
to both the Cubans the moment they made the
discovery as to who and what the stranger
was. .

It had not taken them long after the French-f
man had told his story to arrive at a true under-
standing of the fellow’s character.

In the island of Cuba they had encountered
just such another man, only be was an Italian
master of the sword instead of a Gaul.

He was a quarrelsome wretch who took ad-
vantage of the fact that he was a superb fencer
to treat all with whom he came in contact—that
he did not hope to make a profit from—with
annoyance and disdain.

If an gentleman took olense at his conduct
this po ite cut~throat was quick to declare that if
he had given offense he was ready to receive a
challenge and give the challenger full satisfac-
tion.

Before the man’s true character became well-
known, some few bot-headed young men were
fools enough to allow themselves to be drawn in-
to a quarrel with the bully, and this was exactly
what the fellow wanted, for it afforded him an
opportunity to advertise himself in the most
eflective way;

The man .ing an expert fencer easily suc-
ceeded in getting the best of his opponents, and
after his victories was able to carry matters
with a high band.

In two or three cases it was suspected too
that the swordsman had allowed himself to be-
come the tool of another and had taken pay to
fight the battles of men who did not possess
courage enough to face in open fight the men .
they hated.

For a good round sum in money the adven-
turer espoused the quarrels of these memtook
occasion to insult the foes whom they dared not
face, and so revoked them to an encounter in
which his skill enabled him to achieve a victory.

And the idea had come to the Cuban's that
with the Frenchman some arrangement might
be made whereby he could be in need to pro—
voke the Fresh of ’Frisco into a quarrel. and if
such a scheme could be carried out- -and it seem-
ed feasible, for the Fresh was not the kind of
man to stand any nonsense from any one—there
was very little doubt that the adventurer would
not have much difllcultv in disposing of the Cali-
fornian, for although Blake might be an expert
with revolver and rifle, it was not likely that he .
was a master of the sword.

The only diflculty that appeared to the OI-

 

 

10

bans was to et the stranger to consent to play
the role of a ravo.

The first point was to prevent the man from
obtaining any money from the pawnbroker
and so force him to rely upon them for assist—
ance.

This idea likewise came to the minds of both
of the Cubans, and immediately succeeded the
ins iration of using the stranger as a bravo.

sparto was the first to speak.

“My dear Mr. De Charity. I can assure you
that I fully up reciate your position!” be ex-
claimed, “and? feel sure that this gentleman,
my cousin, Fernando Gomes, has the same
thought as myself—my name, by the way, is
Sebastian Esparto.”

“ I am charmed to meet you. gentlemen,” and
the Frenchman shook hands with the pair in the
warmest manner. “ Of course, as I said before,
it was easy for me to see that you are men
whom any gentleman might be proud to knew.”

“New, in regard to this Hadad Solomons, the
old Jew pawnbroker,” the youngest Cuban re-

.marked, “let me warn you not to place much
confidence in getting any assistance from him,
for he is the greatest miser in business that was
ever seen.”

“Yes, I was informed that I would not find
him an easy man to do business with, but what
can a man do under such circumstances?” the
adventurer asked, shrugging his shoulders like 3

rue Frenchman.

“I want money, and I know no one in this
place' who can I go to but to some wretch like
this 0 d Jew, who thrives upon the distress of his
fellow men?”

“ Very true!” exclaimed Games, and his com—
panion nodded assent.

“ And I presume as it is. that I will only be
able to raise a trifle upon as elegant a pair of
swords as the cunning hands of the artisan ever
for ed.”

“I doubt if the Jew will be willing tonego-
tiate at all.” Esparto remarked With a doubtful
shake of the head. “ As a rule he will not ad-
vance more than the tenth of the value of any-
thing, and then the article must be one that he
can readily dispose of if it is not redeemed.”

“ And you understand, of course, that there is
not much of a market for dueling-swords in a
town like El Paso " Gomes added.

The Fresh in Texas.

!
given us great pleasure to assure him that you
will do as well by him as any man he can find in
; the town.”
“ Oh, ycsh. yesh 1” the old Jew exclaimed. “ I
, am always glad to be able to accommodate the
', fr’en’ of my i'i"cn’sl
i “ Shust vait a moment, gentlemen, and I vill
der door open for you.”
Then the Jew closed the panel and the sounds
: of the moving bolts and bars were heard.”
“ He speaks fairly enough,” observed the
Frenchman in a low tone to his new-made
: friends, “but that is where the craft of these

3 cunning Jews comes in. They are always smooth
‘ and soft in speech, even when they have made

up their mind to strike you a. deadly blow.”

“ Yes, that is true,” Gomes remarked. “ A
man is never safe in building upon their
words.”

“ And this old rascal is the biggest fox of his
race," Esparto added.

The 0anng of the door at this point ended
the conversation.

With the greatest civility the old Jew escort-
ed the three into his house, taking care as usual,
to securely fasten the door after the visitors
entered.

“ This gentleman is a friend of ours,” Gomes
explained, “ and as you have often said that
you would be glad of a chance to oblige us if we
ever needed any accommodation in your line,
we ho you wil treat this gentleman well and
we wi 1 consider it a favor done to us.”

“ Yesh, yesh, I shall be delighted!” Solomons
declared. “ I will be sure to do all I can for the
gentlemans.”

“ Mr. De Charny, Mr. Solomons,” and as the
Cuban introduced the Frenchmen he fell a little
in his rear and by so doing was able to warn
the Jew of the game that Was to be played by
shaking his head in a decided manner.

“ Yesh, yefh. glad to meet you mine fr’en’l”
exclaimed the Jew, rubbing his hands and duck-
ing his head in the most servile manner.

“ I find myself a little short of money, unex-
pectedly,” the Frenchman explained, and I de-
sire to raise a loan on a elegant pair of French
dueling swords which I have here.”

And the adventurer made a movement as if
to remove the wrappings around the swords,
but the pawnbroker sto ped him.

 

“ Very little indeed,” Esparto remarked. “ I
presume you have been long enough in this
country to understand that the favorite weapon
here is the reVolver.”

“ Yes, yes, I understand that,” the French-
man replied. “ Why, not one man out of a bun-
dred knows anything of the use of the sword l”

“ It would be nearer the mark, I think, to say
one out of a thousand!” Esparto exclaimed.

“Most decidedly that comes nearer to the
truth," Games added.

“ Ah, yes gentlemen, I have no doubt you are
right, and eel that I am in a most unhappy
situation," the Frenchman observed.

“ The sword is the only tool of which I am
the master, and how in the world I am ever go-
ing to get out of this miserable plight in which I
find myself is more than I can tell, as I am with—'
out money and without friends.”

“ You are wrong there, My dear Mr. De
Charny, you are not without friends as long as
my cousin and myself are in El Peso!” Esparto
declared.

“ Sebastian voices my sentiments!” Gomes
hastened to add.

“ Ah, entlemen, it was a. fortunate thing
which le me to accost you.” and the. French-
man, with true Gallic impulsiveness again shook
hands with the others.

“ But come! let us hasten to this old Jew and
see if he will do anything for you !” Esparto ex-
claimed.

“We will go with you. Although we have
never had occasion to do much business with the
old Hebrew, yet we are well acquainted with
him, and he has always professed a great desire
to oblige us, and now there will be a good op-
portunity to put his words to the test,” the
young Cubtn continued. “By aiding you he
will be serving us.”

“Yes, we will talk strongly to the old skin-
flint,” Games added. “ But I assure you that I
place little reliance upon what he says. For all
that be has ever professed a desire to be able to
serve us, I have an idea. that he would drive just
als hard a bargain With us as with anybody
e se. ‘ -

“ Well, well, we can’put his professions to the
test!” Esparto exclaimed. “ Our intercession
can do our friend here no harm, if it be not pro—
ductive ol.’ good.”

“ And I assure you, gentlemen, I shall appre-
ciate it all the same!” the adventurer declared.

“ Come. then, let us hasten !” Gomes said.

In company then with the Frenchman; the
Cubans retraced their way to the abode of the
Jew pawnbroker.

As before. they rapped on the door and the
Jew surveyed them through the little sliding
panel in the portal, and the moment that his
face appeared.“ Gomes said:

“ My dear Mr. Solomons, we have come to,
introduce a gentleman who desires to transact n
little business with you. .He is a stranger in E1

“ My tear sir, I woul be glad to let you hafe
some monish, but swords are worth not’ing to
me, I could not on der best of them aflord toad-

! vance a. single t’ollari”

 

CHAPTER XIII.
ammo ran BRAVO.

Tim Frenchman looked disgusted.

“ But you have not seen the swords!” he said,
in protest. “ Will you not take a look at
them i"

“ Oh, no, it is no use i”

“ But they are beautiful tools, and you may
change your mind when you see how good the

in the whole of Europe possesses a finer pair!”

“My tear sir, I do not doubt dot,” the old
Jew replied. “But be they goot or bad it is all
the same; no one in El Paso vants any such
t‘ings. If (19 vas pistols or uns now, we could
do business; at swords,”an( the old man shOok
his head in an extremely emphatic way—“ my
gootness, no! Dore is no chance for me to get
mine monish out of such things. You shust ask
these gentlemen,” and the pawnbroker appealed
to the Cubans.

“They will tell you that nobody in this part
of the country has any use for swords.”

“ I am afraid that Mr. Solomons is right
about that.” Gomes observed.

“Yes, when men quarrel in this region they
always settle the matter with knives, pistols, or,
in rare cases, rifles,” Esparto remarked.

“ Ah. gentlemen. it is a barbarous land, and

foot on-these shores !” the Frenchman declared,
in a melo—dra matic way.

"Of course we are on the very frontier of
civilization.” Gouies remarked.

“ Yes. yes. that is true. enough, and it was an
unlucky hour for me when I was persuaded to
come to Mexico,” De Charny remarked.

“ But the tale which was told to me was a
g10wing one; it was 2e land of flowers and of
gold. they said, and a man like myself. with

carte and tierce’at his fingers' ends Could not
fail to win a fortune in a wonderfully short
time. .

“True. for a while I did fairly, but not as
well as I Would have done in any European
capital and then, when misfortune came, there
was no escape."

“ In Europe, no doubt. it would have been
different.” Esparto remarked.

“Oh, yes!” the Frenchman exclaimed, “for
in the old country there is not a city of any size
\without fencing-masters; and. if a ,entleman in
my line finds himself short of font 5, all he has
to do is to seek out the principal swordsman
and challenge him to an encounter.”

“ Yes, yes, I see! A capital idea!” Gomes ex-
claimed, and Esparto nodded assent. \

“ A man with a reputation, like myself, can

 

hue and has been directed to you. and it has

always find plenty of backing,” De Churny do-

my evil star was in the ascendant when I set .

 

r i

are. I assure you that no duke, prince or king ! as t’e sparks to fly up mit demselves!” the old

i
i
.
i

I
l

i

 

 

clared.
man can always ut
whether he wins or oses.

“ Yesh, yesh, the scheme is a good one!” the
pawnbroker declared.

“By Jove! 1 have a splendid ideal” Esparto
declared.

“ Let us hear it i” Gomes exclaimed.

“ Why could not our friend lay such a game
right here in El Paso with our help?” the young
Cuban asked.

The others shook their heads.

“ But I think it can be done i” Esparto pro-
tested.

“ Oh, no; where in such a town as this—a
miserable hole—will you find a man who could
encounter a swordsman like myself i” the-
Frenchman asked.

“ It is not possible!” Gomes exclaimed.

J “ He exists not in the town i” cried the old
cw.

“ I see you do not catch my idea,” Esparto
remarked.

“Explain it then, my dear sir, and you can
rest assured I will jump gladly at any chance to
get out of ze scrape in which I now find my-
self,” De Charny declared.

“ There is no swordsman here, of course, for
this is not a country favorable to the develop—
ment of sword fighters, but we have men here
who pose as bullies—men who are expert with
weapons, and so are quick to ive and take
offense. twisting to their reputation and skill to
bring them out victors.” Esparto explained.

“ Yes, that is the very truth—this Jackson
Blake. the Fresh of ’Frisco as he is called, is just
such a man,” Gomes observed.

“ Dot ish so!” exclaimed the old Jew. “ Dot
man would mid der lion fight, if der beast wag-
ged his ears mit him."

" A fire—eater, chi” and the Frenchman rub-
bed his hands, gleefully, together while his face
lighted up as though he was anxious to en-
counter just such a man. .

“ Yes, such is the reputation he hears,” Es-
parto re lied.

“ Be as managed to come out the victor in
several encounters in which he has been en-

ed since he made his appearance in El Paso
an these afi'airs have given him such a_ c
opinion of himself that it would not be a diffi-
cult matter to draw him into a quarrel.” . 1

“Oh, no, I know the breed well, and it is the
same in all lands!” De Choruy declared.

“ A man of that kind is always on the lookout
for ag’chance to show the kind of metal that is in
him. .

“ Exact?! Well now my idea is for you to
meet this resh of ’Frisco and contrive to quar-
rel with him. As I have said, that will not be
a difficult matter.”

“ Not at all!” the Frenchman exclaimed.

“ The Fresh has always been ready enough to

uarrel with any one who came in his way,”
omes remarked.

“ Mine gootness! dot mans is as quick to fight

“And then by betting jufiiously,

a
,money in ' pocket

Jew declared.

“Arrange the affair in such a way that he
will be compelled to challenge you, Esparto
sai .

“Of courswthat is the game, always,” the
Frenchman replied.

“ Then you can say that in all such affairs of
honor in which you have been engaged the
challenged party has the choice of weapons,"
Esparto continued.

“ Undoubtedly. that is the code- in all land;
where the duello is known,” the swordsman re-
marked. “ And as the challenged par , hav-
ing the right to a choice of weapons, shall
choose swords.”

“Aha, but (10 Fresh of ’Frisco ish no man’s
fool!” the old Jew exclaimed. “When you say
swords will he not smell der mouse and refuse

' to fight?”

“Oh, he will not dare to do that if he sets
himself up for a cock of the walk, for if he did,
I should make no bones of accusing him of show-
ing the white feather !” declared the French-

' man. arrogantl

, Y-

“Oh, I do not think there is any danger of
the Fresh declining to fight with swords!” Es—
parto exclaimed. “He has such an overween-
mg confidencc in his own abilities that he will
be likelytoagree to fight with any kind of a

weapon, no matter how strange or unaccus-
” .

med.

“ That is also my idea,” Gomes remarked.
“He is a man with a. wonderful] good opinion
of his .own talent, and in the blindness of his:
conceit he will he ant to think he will be able to
handle a sword. although he is not accustomed
to the weapon, u well as though it was a revol<
ver or rifle.”

“ Oh. since I have come to this country I
have met hundreds of such men !” the Frenchman
declared.

“The fools had no idea that there was any
art in sword-play,” he continued. -“ According

‘ to their notion all that a man hastodoisto

take the sword in his hand and poke away at
his opponent.

(0

such idiots in my time, and have snot-ceded in
teaching the most of them a lesson which they

 

4-x

‘”‘+MW ._

-....-.--.,_ w“ “ .. .

 

vc had little affairs with a dozen or ti'vo .

1:;
i
it

 

 

'- A—x. ,-_‘-——- x? 7"”-

W, ..
\

,. v.4. w<__4-.~—-—<—-‘

[

 

 

 

will not be apt to forget while life remains,” the

I Frenchman added with great complacency.

“There is no need to worry ourselves in re-
gard to whether the Fresh will fight or not in
my opinion, for frOm what I know of the man I
do not think there is the slightest doubt about
the matter!” Esparto remarked in an extremely
pmitive way.

“ He will fight upon slight provocation and
will not be apt to grumble in regard to the
weapons; and as it is hardly possible that he
can be an expert swordsman, our friend here
ought not to have any trouble in overcoming
him.”

“Rest easy in regard to that!” the French-
man exclaimed in a tone full of confidence.
“Be the man an expert, or the greatest ig-

noramus who ever took a blade in hand, I will.

engage to give him his quietus in a workman-
]ike manner.

“ You must not think I am boasting, gentle-
men, when I tell you there are but three swords-
men in the known world whom I will admit
to be my masters, and before those three men
all Europe bows in admiration of their genius.”

“There is no doubt in my mind that you will
be able to finish this Fresh of ’Frisco without
any trouble!” Esparto asserted. “ That is, if he
is foolish enough to dare to face you, sword in
hand.

“ He will do it,” Gomes declared. “ The man
is rash and foolhardy in the extreme. and in a.
case like this his overweenin faith in his
prowess will be certain to 1 him into the
trap.”

“ Yesh, he ish a devils, and I believe would
rather fight dan eat,” the Jew exclaimed.

“If I can only get him to confront me, sword
to sword, I will engage to take a little of the
devil out of him,’ the Frenchman observed,
boastfuilg.

“ All t e sporting men of El Paso have a high'
0 inion of this Fresh of ’Frisco as a fighter, sim-
p y because he has been lucky enough to be suc-
cessful in the few encounters in which he has
been engaged," Games explained. “ And after
you arrange the details of the fight. and the
news spreads that a stran er had dared to en-
gage to fight the'Fresh of ’ ‘risco, all these cun-
ning sporting men will be certain to be eager to
bet all the money they can raise upon the Cali‘
fornian. My cousin and myself will not hesitate
to take all the bets that we can raise money to
meet, and as we, luckflahappen to be flush just
at this time, we will able to back you to a.
large amount.

‘ Then, too, as you are a stranger, and no one
here has any idea of what kind of a fighter you
are, the chances are great that about all the
betting men will be anxious to back the Fresh
of Trim and so we will be able to get good
odds, for there will not be likely to be many bo-
sides as two who will dare to venture their
money on you; so if you succeed in beating your
antagonist we will make a small fortune, and of
all our bots you will receive half.”

“ That is a bargain,” the Frenchman ex-
claimed; “ and within ten minutes after I cross
swords with the Fresh of ’Frisco I will engage
to lay him out as stiff as a red herring, for I al-
ways fight to kill I”

“ We will provide you with what money you
require, and tonight you will be apt to meet
your man.” ,

The Jew was pledged to secrecy and then the

rest departed.

CHAPTER XIV.

SPRINGING TH! TRAP.

Tan two Cubans and the Frenchman pro-
ceeded directly to the Hotel Mexico.

On the way, Gomes counted out fifty dollars
and ave them to the Frenchman.

“ hanks!” exclaimed the adventurer, all his
good spirits returning now that he saw a chance
to get out of the hole, as he termed it, into
which evil fortune had cast him. “ You may
rest assured, gentlemen, I will not long remain

our dehtorl’ he declared. “That is, if the
*resh of ’Frisco has blood in his veins and not
water.

“ If the fellow will uarrel, and dares to meet
me with swords, and t e gamblers of El Paso
have sufficient sand—-as you say in this country
-—to back their man I will 81188-28 to Win a sum
am ly sufficient to carry me back to France,
an 1 can assure you, gentlemen, that if I once
again cross the seas and set foot on the Conti-
nent of Europe no inducement will ever tempt
me to this New World again.” ~ \

The Cubans replied that the did not think
there was any doubt about the scheme succeed-
in to a charm.

nd after they arrived at the hotel and De
Charny secured a room, he unpacked his Swords
and DPOCeeded to show the Cuban how expert he
was in their use.

Gomcs had taken lessons and so knew some-
thing about the matter, but Esparto was com-

letely Ignorant, so the elder Cuban and the
Frenchman bad a fencing-match while the
younger man looked on, displaying great inter-
est.

De Charny was indeed a master of the sword.
In a bout often minutes he touched his oppo-

The Fresh in Texas.

i
nent a dozen times, and each one of the thrusts

would have been a deadly one if the encounter
had been in earnest, while Gomes was not able
to gain a single point, although the Frenchman
was pleased to remark, in a patronizing way,
that he did not handle the sword badly, and
that witggilenty of practice under the direction
of a go teacher there was little doubt that
in time he would make more than an average
fencer.

“I do not believe this American can be as
expert with the sword as I am,” Gomes re-
marked, after the bout was ended, “ for men of
his race are not much given to sword exercise,
their tastes running to knives, pistols and guns,
and I am unable to see that the fellow hasa
chance for his life if he once faCes you, sword in
hand.”

“ Oh, I will force him to that when I once get
a chance at him!” the Frenchman exclaimed,
with a fiendish grin.

“He will be apt :o be in the hotel to—night,
for the landlord told me this mornin<r that
he was expected by some party whom c has
to see _ on cattle business,” Gomes remarked.
“ The Fresh has a ranch a short distance down
the Rio Grande.” '

“I wonder if he will have a premntiment,
when he quits his lace for his visut to El Paso
this evening, that e has taken his final leave of
it?” the Frenchman remarked, with his demon—
like smile.

“ I fancy not,” Esparto replied. “ The chances
are that Dame Fortune will not trouble herself
to warn him that he is coming to his fate when
he rides up the river trail this evening.”

“ And 1: us it is in life—how many men walk
blindly on to their graves 1” De Chamy observed
with the air of a philosopher.

“ How do you propose to bring on a. quarrell”
Gomes asked.

“ Ah, my dear friend, do not ask me, for I do
not know,” the Frenchman replied.

. “ In all such matters I trust to the impulse of
the moment. But do not fear; if the opportu-
nity does not come, then I will make one. Be
satisfied that if this Fresh of ’Frisco enters
the walls of the Hotel Mexmo to-night, he
will not leave them until I have fastened such
an insult upon him that, if he has any blood
it; litis” Veins, he will be obliged to take notice
0 l . ‘

“ If the Fresh of ’Frisco has not altered won-
derfully since I saw him, you will not find it a
difficult matter to provoke him toaquarrel,”
Esparto remarked.

‘ Well, that is what I like,” De Charny re-
plied. “ I am nick myself. and I like men
who are prompt n action. A slow fellow is my '
aversion.” -

“ B the way, I should think that it would be
a g idea for Sebastian and myself to conceal
the fact that we are friends of yours until after
the‘row takes place,” Gomes observed. , “ For if
the Californian gets the impression that you are
a stranger, and entirely without friends, he will
be apt to quarrel and fight with you according
to your ideas.”

“ he thought is a good one!” the adventurer
declared.

“ Yes, so it seems to me,” Esparto remarked.

“ Decidedly sol" De Charny exclaimed. “ By
working the game in that way no one can poser-
bly suspect t at we three arran ed a nice little
trap wherein to catch this bold rash of ’Frisco
and all the gamblers of the town. It will be an
excellent joke to beat these wolves at their own
game, ha. ha, ha!” and the Frenchman laughed
long and merrily, and the others joined'in the
glee, for they thought that this cunningly-

evised plan would surely compass the death of
the man whom they hated, and so feared that
they were loth to expose their own precious per-,
son in an open contest with him. '

“ The way we must work the trick is, after
the row takes lace—if everything goes on well,
and I succeed) in arranging the duel—I will
appeal to the crowd: ‘ I am a stranger: are there
any gentlemen present who will oblige me by
acting as my seconds? ”

“I 509; and that will be our one to step for-
ward and offer our services,” said Gomes.

“ It is well planned,” remarked Esparto,
thoughtfully. “No one will be apt to suspect
that the Fresh is the victim of a carefully-
devised plot.”

“And the betting men!” cried the French»
man; “think how we will fleece them of their
gold! No one here knows aught of me but you
two; no one knows but what I may be the
greatest blunderer that ever took a sword in
hand!" And again the adventurer laughed
loud and long.

The plan being all arranged, the three judged
it wise to separate 39 that no suspicion might be
excited.

Time passed on—slowly enough to the conspi-
rators, who were anxious for the shades of
nag]; to descend, so that the plot might be exe-
cu .

Nigut came at last. and the plaza of El Paso
be an  be brilliant with lights.

y nine o’clock all the places of public resort
were well filled, and at five minutes nst nine
the Fresh of Wrist-o, accompanied by 1d Cali-

11.

superintendent, entered the bar-room of the’
Hotel Mexico.

The Frenchman occupied a seat near the door”,
and a few paces from him sat the two Cubans,
and the moment that Jackson Blake made ,
his appearance Gomes quietly made a signtol
De Cnarny. ‘

The Frenchman rose to his feet and saunterm!
across the room.

He was not quite sure which was the Fresh,
for Dave Ringwood was a dashing—looking fel- '
low, the once shabby gambler having improved
wonclei'fullgin his personal appearance since he
took service with Jackson Blake, so in order to
be sure, the Frenchman said to one of the loung-
ers, whom he chanced to meet as he approached
the bar, before which the Frdsh’s party had
halted:

“ Isn’t one of those gentlemen named Blake?”

“ Yes, the tallest One on this side' most folks
call him the Fresh of ’Frisco, thong .”

“ Ah, yes, I thought I had seen the gentleman
somewhere.”

Then De Charny sauntered up to the bar and
took a position by the side of Jackson Blake.

All of the Fresh’s party had ordered ale and
the glasses of the foaming beverage were being
placed on the counter when the Frenchman took
up a pdsition by it.

De Charny stood at Jackson Blake’s right
side, the Fresh was standin half sideways
to the counter, so that his bac was to the ad-
venturer. _

“ Well, gentlemen, here we go,” he said, and
he took up hisglass as he s kc.

Then the Frenchman deliberately joggled his
elbow so as to spill some of the liquor in tho
tumbler.

The action was performed in such a way,
there could not be a doubt that it was no acci-

dent.

Biake turned and surveyed the adventurer.

“ Hello,.what did you do that for?” he asked,
a slight trace of surprise in his tone, but no trace
of excitement.

“ What is the matter with on?” demanded, ‘
the Frenchman, in a loud an arrogant tone
which immediately attracted the attention of '
ever One in the room to the .

“ id 1 tread on you?” be continued. .

“Oh, no, not to my knowledge, but you jog-
gled my elbow and so caused me to ill my
ale ” the Fresh said. in his quiet way, an as he

he he was attentively studyin the face of
t 9 other, for he understood we enough that
the strangex had touched his elbow on purpose
to draw him into a quarrel, and he was wonder-
ing why the man had taken the notion into his
head, for at the first glance he ized that
the other was a foreigner, and one w om he had
never met before.

The question of course immediame arose in ,
his mind as to why the man wished to have a
‘diflculty with him. ‘

He was no common fellow, filled up with
chat: whisky, and anxious to make a name as a
chief by “ climbing ” one of the “ good men ” of
the district.” . . , , ., '

The stranger was not one of this kind, but is
man who had evidently been used to goodne-
cie , although his attire showed that at pres-
ent e and good fortune were not on the best of
terms.

No drunken ruflian, no frontier despot-ado—
what then was this man, and what was the mo—
tive that inspired his actionl

“ You cannot ex t to occupy the whole of
the bar!” cried the renchman, and he made a
movement as if to shove rudely against the
Fresh, but the movement was not made, for
Blake concluded there had been talkin enou b,
so, promptly, he dashed the ale in t efa of
the Frenchman, a movement which took that

entleman com letely by surprise, for the liquor
or a moment a most took his breath away and
half-blinded him, and before he could recover
from the effect the Fresh of ’Frisco caught him
by the nose and rungxit until the other yelled
with pain, dancing at ut like a turkey on a hot

p The Cubans were right—the Fresh of 'F‘risco
was not a difficult man to quarrel with, as the
adventurer had discovered to his cost.

CHAPTER XV.
'rnx CHALLENGE.

TEE Frenchman was almost crazy with rage;
in all his life he had never been treated in such
an outrageous manner. and the assault had been
committed so quickly that he was powerless to
resist.

When he was released he fell back a step or
two, and then, in his blind exasperation, f0 et-
ting all about his carefully arranged p an,
thinking only of taking immediate vengeance
on the man who had insulted him so grossly, be
rushed upon the Fresh of ’Frisco.

But the Frenchman. for all his expertnesl
with the sword, was as innooent as a child of
any knowledge of the boxer’s art, and as be
rushed at Jackson Blake he struck “ round arm ”
blows that the other parried without the least
trouble.

The Fresh gave ground before the attack, re-

 

 

 

fornia Joe and Dave Ringwood, Blake’s ranch

1treatin slowl , and, much to the astonishment

of the ystan ers, he made no oflorts to return

 

 

12

the blows which the other was showering upon
him so liberally.

it was plain to all the bystanders that it was
not because he did not know how, for from the ,
easy way in which be was “ handling ” himself, ‘
it Was plain, even to the lookerson who were I
not posted in regard to the boxer’s art. that ho '
was an an expert in that science. 

The reason for his forbearance was soon made i
manifest though.

To defend himself from the attacks of such a l
com lete tyro in the maan art of self-defense as l
the ‘renchman was but c ild’s play, and with a 1
single blow of his iron-like fists he could have ,
routed his attacker right in the beginning, but i
the Fresh of Frisco was annoyed at the unpro— f
voked insult, and had determined to give this 3
bold and arrogant foreigner a lesson which 2
would be apt to teach him caution in the future.
So he retreated before the assault, contenting
himself with parrylng the blows without at-
tempting to return any, until the Frenchman
was forced to use for sheer want of breath.

Striking vio ent blows which fell only on the
em; ty air is about as fatiguing an exercise as
can be found.

Then when De Charny halted comlpletely tired
out, Jackson Blake, with wonderfu quickness,
began an attack, but he used only the palms of
his hands as weapons, slapping the Frenchman
in the face, but with such force that the slaps ]
resounded through the room like pistol-cracks,
and the in fairly brought the tears to the eyes
of the a venturer.

Infuriated by this treatment, with a last des-

rate effort De Charay assayed to close in with
filatormentor, but with a single blow, delivered
right between the eyes Jackson Blake stretched
his antagonist on the door, and the man went
over as if he had been shot.

The moment he struck the floor it was plain
to all in the room that the contest was ended,
for the Frenchman had had all the fight in the
fisticui! line knocked out of hilgl.

Blake took a single look at t e prostrate man,
saw that he had got his fill, then he turned to
the "barkeeper and said:

“ Will you have the kindness to give me an—
other glass of ale? mine got 3 ilt, but these little
accidents will happen, you now, in the best

ted families.’
he spectators looked at each other in amaze-
ment, for the Fresh was as cool and uncon-
cerned as though “ knocking out” an arrogant
stranger was a common, every-day occurrence.

The bartender hastened to draw the ale, and
as he placed the glass 11 n the counter, he could
not help paying a sligh tribute to the hero of
the hour.

“ Thirty ears have I juggled tumblers behind
a counter!’ he exclaimed. He was a middle-
aged man with iron-gray hair, yet as spry and
active as any o‘un fellow. ‘ Yes sir, thirty
years have 1 h isted nzine over a bar, and in
that time I have seen some pretty lively skir-
mishes, but I never saw a man laid out in a
nicer wa in my life.

“ Gen emen, I want lyou to take a ‘ ball’ with
me on the strength of t is.” ‘

This was something remarkable, for the bark
keeper was known to be a close-listed fellow
bearln the nickname of Btingy Jake, and had
never geen known to stand treat during all the
time he had been behind the bar of the Hotel
Mexico so the effect of his tribute to the genius
of the resh produced a gent impression.

By this time the two On us, who were terriblfl
disgusted at the miserable display that the a -
venturer had made, thought it worth while to
come to his aid.

“ khope the man isn’t killed!” Gomes exelaim-

“ It looks like it ” Esparto remarked.

“ Oh, no he will not'mind a little thing like
that,” the Fresh rallied, in his careless way, but
as he spoke he fix his keen eyes in a searching
glance upon the two strangers.

“ I only put him to sleep for a while; he will
soon recover, and although he may not be as
- nod-looking as he was be ore he got into this

ttle scrape yet he will know a deal more.

“ Is he a fr end of yours?”

“ Oh, no!” Gomes hastened to exclaim. “ I
only spoke in the interest of humanity.”

“ if the ma is badly hurt he ought to receive
attention,” Esparto remarked.

“ Get a little water sprinkle it in his face
:and that will be apt to letch him to his senses

ain,” Blake adVlsed.
he barkeeper filled out the water, Gomes
'took it and hastened to the side of the prostrate
Frenchman, Es rto following, while the rest
gathered al-oun , the only ones in the room who
retained their positions being the Fresh’s party
at the bar.

“ What will you take gentlemen, this round,

which is on me, you understand l” the barkeeper

asked.

All called for ale as before, and while the man
was drawing the liquor, Blake said to his com-
. nions:

“ Did either of on ever see those two foreign-
»looklng chaps be ore!"

“ Nary time,” replied Old California Joe.

_ Voices.

 

“Never ran across them to the best of my re-
anembrance,” Ringwood remarked.

The Fresh in Texas.

‘.‘Well, their faces are not familiar tome,”
the Fresh observed, “but their voices are,
and I would be willing to bet all I have
in the world, or ever e ct to get, that I
have met the two, although for the moment I
cannot placa them. I have a pretty good mem-
cry for faces, and a really Wonderful one for
A face though may ss out of my re-
collection, for time often ma es great changes,
but when I once become familiar with a man’s
voice I am certain never to forget it, although
as in this case I cannot always decide where I
encountered the man to whom the voice belongs,
or identify him by name.”

“ That is a mighty valuable gift, sure as you
ar' born!” the old plainsmau remarked.

“ No doubt’bout that,” Ringwood assented.
“Another odd thing about this matter is that

j the impression has come to me that these voices
‘ belonged to people who were no friends of

mine.

“ Is that so?” exclaimed Old California Joe in
wonder.

“ Well, that really goes a leetle ahead of my
time,” Ringwood declared.

“ It is rather odd, but that is my impression,”
Jackson Blake remarked. '

The placing of the ale upon the counter put an
end to the conversation.

“ Here’s luck, gentlemen,” remarked the bar-
keeper, who had also filled out a glass for him-
self. “ And the next time, Mr. Blake, that you
knock a man out in this really wonderful way
mail be there to see.”

e Fresh bowed his acknowled ments, the
ale was drank, and then all turn tosee how
the Frenchman was getting along.

He had fallen in such a clumsy way and hit
his head with so much violence against the floor
that the shock, even more than the blow he had
received, stunned him.

But when Esparto‘ knelt by his side and
s rinkled the water upon his fees, at the same
t me loosening his neck-tie, his senses soon re-
turned to him.

Es arto had treated the stunned man with all
the eft tenderness of a woman, and more than
one of the bystanders remarked that the
stranger was as good as a doctor.

The Frenchman rose to a sitting posture, and
as he did so the Fresh observed to his compan-
ions:

“ I knew the fellow was all right. A little
clip like that never killed a man, or was even
good for along fit of sickness.”

“ Great Scott! I reckon it wasn’t,” the old
mountain-man declared. “ A leetle tap like
that don’t amount to nothing. If he had been
laid out with a club, or knocked down with the
butt-end of a gun, as I have been half a dozen
times in my life, then he might talk.”

“ Yes, I was laid out myself with a heavK oak
chair,” 'Ringwood remarked. “ And w an a
man gets a lick of that sort it is worth remem-
berindg.” ,
Ai ed by the Cuban, De Charny rose to his

act.

He had not suffered any material inju , al‘
though his head felt a ittle user, an the
bruises on his face, disfigured y the Fresh of
Eriggq’s iron-like knuckles, gave him considera-

e n.

As the adventurer assumed a standing poe-
ture, and glared in sullen rage upon the man
who had won such an easy triumph over him,
the bystanders, who had crowded around, eager
to watch the return of the Frenchman's senses,
discreetly fell back, getting close to the walls so
as to leave the center of the room open.

Accordin to the usual custom in all such
casesas th 3, now that the adventurer was on
his feet again, it was his lace to “ go” for a
weapon, and the crowd fel back, none of them
being anxious to stopa bullet.

But the Frenchman had no intention of doing
an hing of the kind.

ecould not have done so if he had wished,
{nor be was not ‘ heeled,” to use the frontier par-
nce.

The Fresh was on the watch for such a move-
ment, and fully prepared for it. but when the
adrenturer faced him be guessed that his oppo-
nent had all the fight he wanted at present.

“ I am no flsticnif mnn,” De Charny declared.
“ No English John Bull to fight like a rufflanl I
am a gentlemen, and if you are one you will not
refuse to give me full satisfaction.”

“Now you hit me where I live,” the Fresh
remarked. “ I am a gentleman from Gentle-
manville, and I hold myself in readiness to give
you all the satisfaction you can possibly desire.”

CHAPTER XVI.
m ADVENTURER’S DEMAND.

Tn crowd listened with. eager attention,
for they saw there was a good chance for some
more “ fun.” ' ‘

The Cubans looked at each other, and there
was a decided expression of satisfaction in their
dark eyes, but they were careful to school their
faces so that no one could perceive that they
were delighted with the way that matters were
pro ng.

“ hat is what I want, as satisfaction due
from one gentleman to another!” the French-
man exclaimed.

 

 

c.

“I am your man,” the Fresh of ’Friscon-
plied. " And if you are not satisfied, I an
readytogoon with you until you think you
have ot your money’s worth.”

“ on will give me satisfaction, then?”

“ That is what I said, and when you come to
get well acquainted with me you will find that

am a man of my word.”

“ What weapons do you desire?” De Charny
asked. ‘

“ It doesn't make a bit of difference to me,”
the Fresh replied.

“ Do you dare to meet me with small-swords?"
the Frenchman inquired, with an eagerness
which could not be concealed.

“Small-swords, eh? and Jackson Blake sur-
Veyed the other, a peculiar smile upon his lips.

“ That is what I said—small-swordsr—ze gen-
tleman’s weapon!” exclaimed the adventurer in
a lofty way.

“ I reckon you will not find many men in this
region who are posted in that line,” said the
Fresh.

“Here, when we go into a little picnic of this
kind, we usually choose fire-arms, revolvers or
rifles, and once in a while, if the partiesare
ve desperate, they go in to carve each other
wit bowie-knives.”

“To my thinking, these are barbarous wea-
pons!” the adventurer exclaimed in disgust.

“I am not a native of this land. I ma

European.”
“ So I sue cted," Jackson Blake observed.
“ You are a renchman, if I mistake not.”

“ You are right. I am a son of the Repub-
lic!” the other declared in a grandiloquent way.

“ You are a lon wai from home, and if you
should have the —l c to get ‘ planted ’ here,
your folks would never be apt to know what he-
came of you,” the Fresh remarked.

“ I am a soldier of fortune, and all lands are
alike to me," the adventurer re lied. “ I am
the last of m race, and whether meet my fate
here or elsew ere, it matters not.”

“ Well, that is a good thing,” Jackson Blake
remarked in a reflective sort of way, “ for it
kinder takes a weight from a fellow’s mind. If
you had a large family, now, and as numerous
circle of relatives, who would be apt to be in-
consolable at your loss, than a man like myself,
who is apt to be a little tender-hearted, might
feel rather queer about going for you in a regu-
lar red-hot manner.”

This bantering speech, although uttered in a
perfectly sober and serious manner, excited the
smiles of the listeners, and angered the French-

man.

“ Bah! I ask no mercy from you!” he ex-
claimed. “ Neither will I give any, and if you
have the courage to meet me, sword in hand,
I have no doubt you will have all you can do to
defend yourself, although I do not profess to be
an expert swordsman; but it isa gentleman’s
weapon, and as I am a gentleman, I am sure I
will be able to give a good account of myself:
that is, if you dare to meet me with the award
but it ma be that you are only a fiction
fighter, an that you will be afraid to egress
your precious person to the naked steel,” ded
the adventurer with a sneer.

“ Oho!” cried the Fresh of ?Frisco, " I reckon
you are  to banter me into this fight! I
suppom you t ink on have struck a soft thing!
I reckon on must e a great chief in the sword
line, or e you would not be so anxious for an
encounter of this kind.” ‘

“ In France every gentleman learns the use of
the sword: it is part of a polite education,” re-
plied De Cherny, proudly.

“ I am afraid that my education has been
rather neglected in that line; but lam wi
togo on, all the same, for that is the kind 0
man am!”

" You will meet me with swords, thenf” De
Charny asked?

“ You bet!”

“ Remember! it will be a duel to as death!"

“ That suits me, and just keep the fact in mind
too, so that if I et you in a tight place you will
not trng beg o ."

“ g!” cried the adventurer in mingled con-

“ hat is w 1:! said,” replied the Fresh. in
his cool, serious way. “ And I give you fair
warning that it will not do you any good, for
since you have got me into this sword businem I
shall for Von in an extremely lively way. I
shall 58 my best to make it interesting.” ~

“ You are far more likely to be the one to beg
for mercy than I!” exclaimed the adventurer.
“ But I warn you in advance that I have made
up my mind to kill you.”

“ You will let me know when you perform the
operation, of course?” the Fresh sug . “It
would be awfully awkward for a man to be
killed without knowing it.”

This banter inflamed the Frenchman’s rage
still more, particularly as he saw that the by-
standers were grinning at the pleasantr .

“ Wait until you see the shining bla es twist
together like two siIVer snakes and you will
not feel then in a jesting mood!” De Charnv
cried.

“Maybe not, but we can tell better when we
come to that,” Jackson Blake replied. ‘“ The

tem t and ra

 

only thing that worries me now though, is as to

v-n ———&:,. _ ._._.._

‘35, g.

 

_ __....s.-..m« ~.  A

‘4'» v,

n than—"wwh

 

The Fresh in Texas.

13

 

4

where we are going to get the aforesaid shining
blades of which you speak, for I reckon that
small—swords are a scarce article in these dig-

gin .”

“%0 not let that trouble you. I will under-
take to find a pair,” De Chamy replied.

“ All right, I am satisfied; and now, how
about the time!”

“ To-morrow.”

“ The place?”

“ Any convenient one will suit me. I am a
stran er and so not informed in regard to the
neigh rhood.”

The landlord of the Hotel Mexico hastened to
put in a word at this pomt.

“ There is the bull-ring, where the bull-fights
take lace,” he said. “ am the manager and
shall pleaScd to arrange with you gentlemen
for the use of it. This affair is so public that it
will not be possible for you to have your fight
come off without a crowd being in attendance,
and the rabble will be sure to be there of course,
and some annoyance may be caused by them.

\

Now, by having your duel take place in the bull- ,

ring, a small sum for admittance may be charg-
ed, and I would be willing to make 0. 00d
arrangement with on gentlemen, say, a low
you fi ty per cent. 0 the recei ts.”

“ A capital ideal” exclaimed the Fresh.
“ Turn the whole thing into a show, and fight
for the gate-inoney—fight in an arena like the
gladiators of ancient Rome, and let the victor
pocket the gate-money after the fashion of the
modern gladiators.”

This scheme at once appealed to the merce-
nary instincts of the Frenchman, and as he was
in great need of money, being certain that his
opponent stood no chance, opposed to a master-
0 —arms like himself in a sword fight, he gave
his approval to the scheme.

“ I think it is an excellent idea, gentlemen!”
the landlord declared.

The proprietor of the Hotel Mexico was a
thrifty German Jew, Moses Goldberg by name,
who had contrived to feather his nest pretty
well since his advent in El Base, for the hotel
and bull~rin —where at re lar intervals bull-
fights tOok p ace—were bot paying institutions.

“ You could not find a better spot for a con—
test of this kind if you were to search all through
Mexico,” the landlord continued. “ The spec—
tators will be confined to the galleries and you
will have all the arena for the fight, and you
can both rest assured that there can be no in-
terference with the contest, for our police ar-
rangements for the purpose of keeping order are
excellent.”

“ It will answer admirably, I am sure!” the
adventurer declared. “ And I for one am quite
satisfied.”

“ I have no fault to find with the arrange-
ment,” the Fresh remarked. “ And since the en-
counter has been arranged 1 Sn pose one might
as well give the citizens of El see a treat as to
allow the thing to waste its sweetness an the
desert air.”

“ By the way ” observed the Frenchman, ab-
ruptly. “ I had forgotten one thing. We have
not roceeded in this matter according to rule
at l, for the principals, we have made the ar-
rangements, when it should have been left to
our seconds.”

“ Well we have got there. all the same, so
what difference does it make?” Jackson Blake
inquired in his eminently practical way.

‘ Yes, but we must ave second for the
fi ht,” the adventurer observed. “ It is ab-
so utely necessary, and as I am an entire
stranger in El Paso, I shall have to ask two of
you (gentlemen to favor me by acting as my
secon s.”

The bystanders looked at each other, the two
Cubans, in particular, exchanging inquiring
glances and then, Gomes said:

“I for one am happy to place myself at your
serv1ce, sir, if you care to avail yourself of my
poor assistance.”

f‘ I shall be delighted,” the Frenchman replied
with a courtly bow.

“ I will be glad to serve you also,” said Es-
P‘W-‘i “although I cannot boast of much ex-
perience in this line.”

“ I am charmed, I assure you, sir,” and the
adventurer made another bow.

“ How about our seconds, Mr. Blake?" the
landlord inqui , .

f‘ I reckon that I shall have to call upon Mr.
Ringwood here, and California Joe to look after
me, the Fresh replied.

Both men immediately expressed their willing-
ness to take part in the matter.

And then, at the landlord’s su estion, the
time for the contest was fixed for hree in the
aftern00u; that being the hour when the people
mflnclftustomod to visit the bull-ring to see the

u - g .

Moses Goldberg, with true Jewish thrift was
looking after the gate-money.

“ To-morrow then I will see on,” the French-
1110‘“ m‘rhd. Ind than he w thdrew.

‘ He"! Zone for arnica and court-plaster.” Old
California Joe m ,as he with the Fresh
and Ringwood also took their de rture.

Within an hour the news of e coming fight
was widely known and El Paco was excited as
schadnotbeen for manyaday.

CHAPTER XVII.
GETTING AT THE TRUTH.

1 steeds and set out for home.
i The moon was shining brightly, and the ride

was an extremely pleasant one.
After the three crossed the river and got well

conversation regarding the events of the night.

Dave Ringwood was the first to refer to the
subject.

“ I say, pards, I have been thinking over this
little matter to-night, and am considerably puz-
zled about it,” he observed.

“ What puzzles you i” the Fresh asked.

“Why, you and this Frenchman acted as if
you were strangers to each other.”

“ That is correct; we were ”

“ And you never ran across him before?”

“ Never!”

“ What the deuce made him pick a quarrel
with you then in such an outrageous way?”
Ringwood exclaimed.

“ That is a mystery.”

“Durned if it ain’t!” the old mountain-man
exclaimed. “ When the feller joggled yer elbow
I reckoned he was some galoot that you had
had trouble with somewhar, and was trying to
pick a fuss with you so as to git uar’; I reck-
oned, you see, that you had kin er upset his
apple-cart onto the furst heat.” ~

“ That was my idea, too,” Ringwood ob-
served. “ For the affront he put upon you was
so deliberately executed that it looked as if the
man had planned the thing beforehand ”

“Oh, you kin bet yer gizzard on that!” Old
California J 0e declared.

“ The whole affair is a mighty odd one,”
Jackson Blake remarked, refiectively. “ And
the more I think about the matter the greater
becomes the difficulty in deciding why the man
acted as he did.

“ Of course, the moment my elbow was 1. -
glcd, I jumped at once to the conclusion that it
had been purposely done, for there was plenty
of room at the bar. If there had been a crowd,
then there might have been some excuse for the
fellow. but not as it was; and when I turned, I
expected to see some stranger—possibly with
more li nor on board than was good for him-
who ha come to El Paso with the idea of run-
ning the town, and pitched upon me as a good
man with whom to commence operations.”

“ Oh, no, this fellow was not on that game,”
said Ringwood.

“ So I discovered the moment I got a look at
him, but he was eager for a fight all the same
thou h.”

“ n’ I reckon he got it, too, red~hotl” chuckled
the old scout.

“Yes, I do not think be anticipated bein
climbed quite so quickly,” the Fresh remark .
“And most certainly he was astonished at the
way the job was performed.”

“He hadn’t any reason to complain that he
did not t his money’s worth,” Dave Ringwood
observ , dryly.

“ Yes, yes. he got full measure, heaped full
an’ a-runnin’ over, and you would be safe in
betting a heap of money on it too,” Old California
Joe declared.

“ As you say, Ringwood, it looked as if it
was a put-u job, and as the man was a stran-
ger, the in erence seems plain that somebody
set him on to attack me.”

" Yes, that seems probable, for the man was
not drunk, neither was he one of the‘ gay and
festive roosters who delight to pick a quarrel
with any stranger they run across for the pur-
pose of proving that they are big chiefs, but if

e was set on to attack you who is the party en-
gineering the job?”

“ Now you are asking a question which is not
easily answered,” the Fresh rejoined.

“ In my mind there is no doubt that the fel-
low was instigated to attack me by some one,
but as to who that party is I am completely in
the dark.”

“You hain‘t had a mite of trouble for some
time, ’cept With that superintendent, Houuia,”
the old scout remarked.

“ That is true, and the moment I saw that
this Frenchman was bent u
tack upon me I thought of im, but now that
I come to think of the matter I can hardly bring
myself to believe that he can be at the bottom of
the affair.”

“ No. it seems to me that it is a cut above
him," Dave Ringwood remarked.

“ Oh, yes, decidedly,” the Fresh asssented

have been apt to pick out some common ruman,
who would have gone in to lay me out in the
regular way.”

‘flow ’bout these Parrals?” inquired Old Cali-
fornia Joe shrewdly.
any finger in the pie? You kinder worried

meigie, they have been laying the thing up ag’in’

er
“ N o, I do not think that either the alcalde or
his brother, the captain of police, are interested
in this matter," Jackson Blake replied.
“ They took pains to send me word some time

 

JACKSON BLAKE and his pards mounted their ,
down along the bank of the yellow R10 Grande i

along on their homeward road. they fell into 3

ago that they bore no malice, and were willing
to call the thing square.”

“The fact is, you got so much the best of the‘
fight when they attacked you, they were not

i anxious to have another taste of your quality,”
’ Dave Ringwood remarked.

 

:1 making an air I

“ If he had hired a man to attack me, he would 5

“ Do you s’pose they had P

them when you fn’st came to El Paso. and, '

:qua

 

“That is about the size of it,” the Fresh re-
plied. “ Now then, who is the partyat the back
of the Frenchman? If I had not heard toda
that Manuel Escobedo and his sister were d ,
I should immediately jum to the conclusion
that (in? of them had somet ing to do with the
attac '. ’

“ I has rd that they were dead too—died in
Cuba,” Ringwood remarked.

“ Yes, so the story goes.”

“ Mebbe it is all a yarn got u to throw you
off yer guard,” Old California oe suggested.

“ I thought of that,” the Fheeh answered.
“Such a game has been played many a time.
The report of their deaths would be apt to ren-
der me careless, so they would reason, and then
they, would have 0. better chance to get at
me.

“It looksas if there might be something in
that idea,” Dave Ringwood observed thought-
fully.

“ Sure as you’re born!” declared the old scout.

“Well, as far as I can see, whoever planned
the job has used considerable headwork,” the
Fresh remarked. “ That is, if I am correct in
my assumption that there is a scheme on foot to
dame me.” ‘

“ It certainly looks like it,” Ringwood ob-
served. .

” To mistake ’bout that!” exclaimed Old Cali-
fornia Joe, “ ’cns that French galoot went clear
out of his way to pick a fuss with you.”

“ That is certain,” Jackson Blake assented.

“ New to figure the thing right out. The man

icked a quarrel with me without any reason.
Tie was not a bully spoiling for a fight, and I do
not think he contemplated having a rsonal
encounter With me but the prompt way n which
I resented his affront provoked him into an
attack. But that was not his game, though.
The point for which he was workin was to get
me to meet him in a duel with swo 8.”

“Yes, that seems likely, for that is what he
came to as soon as he could,” Ringwood ob-
served.

“ And that is where the headwork of the
scheme comes in,” the Fresh remarked.

“ Whoever put up the job knew that I was a
handy man with ordinar weapons, such as are
in use along the Rio rande, and that they
would have to look a long time before they would
be apt to find a man who could get the best of
me with either knives, revolvers or rifles, but
with an odd weapon like a sword the chances
were big that I might be taken at a disad-
vantage.”

The others nodded.

“ I have met men like this Frenchman be-
fore,” the Fresh continued, “ so the breed is not
unknown to me. I remember just such a fellow
comin to a mining-camp in Southern California,
wheregl hung out for a while. It was a mystery
to everybody how such a man ever happened to
come up in the foot-hills, for he was about the
last man in the world who would be apt to get
along, being a little, slender fellow, not fit or
hard work. and all he could do was to tach
French and dancing.”

“ I should reckon that there was not many
men in the average mining-camp who would
care to go in for either of those things,” Dave
Ringwood remarked.

“Well, it must be a very smal‘ camp indeed,
not to hold some eccentric individuals,” the
Fresh replied. And even in this place of which
I speak. the Professor, as we all called him,
managed to et enough pupils to enable him to
keep body an soul together. In fact. I myself
Went three dollars a week on him for quite a
time, for a man mixing in the socie that I did
needed the polish that a knowledge 0 the French
tongue and the art of dancing gave.”

“ Oh, yes, thar must have been a. heap of
good some in sich e. mining-camp as you tell
us!” the ol mountainuan exclaimed.

“ Well, the people there were all blue-blooded
ducks if you could believed their yarns of how
well fixed they had once been. Anyhow, there
were three of us that chipped and kept the
Frenchman alive. and after a while we found out
what had brought him down that way: it was
the old story of the secret mine; but. as it usual-
ly us out. the mine was so durned sea-ct that
no y was ever able to find it.

“ The Frenchman was half-starved when he
struck the camp, and so was uite weak and
humble. but after he began to p ck up, he grew

some. He d a pair of sword: with

him and said he was a terror as a swordsman.

so one of the smart Alecks of the camp took

him up one nighti and the wit was that when

the fight took p ace next do the Frenchman

layed with his man for a w and than laid
him out without any trouble.

“Now this gave me an idea; I was a card.
sharp, just then. and time used to hang heavy
on my hands during the day. as there was no
business until night, so I got the Frenchman to
give me fencing lessons, and as both of us Ind
nothingtodo, wound to prwfleetwoorthnl

 

 

14

hours a da , and I got so I could handle a sword i
very Well. ’ i
“ Aha, you will be able to beat this fellow at
his own game then?” Dave Ringwood exclaimed.
“ Oh, no, that was some fifteen years ago and
I am all out of practice—regularly rusty, you
know, and if I should atiempt to put my skill
against the Frenchman’s, he would settle me
sure; but thanks to the lessons I received I I
know enough to understand that I cannot hope
to get the best of the tight unless I come some
, ame upon my man, and that is just the ripple
am oing to try.”

“ ow about those two foreign-looking chaps
who are to second the Frenchman?” Raymond
inquired.

" I reckon that both of them will bear watch—
ing, for I think they are in league with the fel-
low,” Blake answered. “ But deep as the game
is I think I can beat it!”

The Fresh was confident as usual.

CHAPTER XVIlI.
IN THE BULL~RING.

THE announcement of the duel between the
stran er and the Fresh of ’Frisco created more
talk than an thing which had happened in the
old town of l Peso for many a day, and, as the
Cubans had anticipated, the sperts of the city
were decidedly inclined to favor Jackson Blake
in the betting.

The knew what the Fresh could do, and ,
thong they had never seen him encounter a foe i
with the sword, yet they felt sure he was 8. mos I,
tor-hand with the weapon or else he would not 
have consented to fioht with it. I

“There are no dies on the Fresh of ’Frisco,.l
you hetl” was the emphatic declaration of one ;
of the leading sharps of the town. i

So. when it came to betting upon the result
the Fresh was the favorite at the odds of two to

 

 

one. .

The Cubans called upon the alcalde and found

him busily engaged in discussing with the chief
of police the chances of the coming duel. .

“Aha!” exclaimed the alcalrle, as the Waters
entered, “you are just the men we wanted to
see. We have been talking about this fight. and
since you are mixed up in it, you can post us in
regard to the chances. ’ . .

‘ Oh, yes, the Frenchman Is our tool an-l this
is our first blow at Jackson Blake,” Gomes re-
marked, as he and his companion helped thew _
selves to seats. a

The Mexicans were amazed at this intel-
li ence, and so expressed themselves.

hen Gomes explained how they had hap-
ned to meet with the adventurer; related all
the particulars of their interview with him and l

' the agreement to which they had come.

The ulculde and the captain of police listened
with the utmOSt attention, and at the close of
the recital expressed their SJtlsfuL'tlflD.

“ From such a trap it does not appear pos-
sible that the American can escape,” the alcalde
remarked.

“ And the best of the matter is that neither he
nor his friends seemed to have any suspicion
that he has been tricked into a foolish agree- !
men t,” the chief of police observed. _

“ The man’s overweening confidence will be
his ruin,” Gomes declared.

“Most certainly he does not seem to know
what he is doing,’ the alcaltie remarked. “ But :
these Americans are a foolbardy race. 01’ 2
course he knows nothing of the sword, although i
undoubtedly expert with the weapons in com-
mon use in this section. but he has no fears in
regard to the result; that is because he knows ;
nothing about it, and. in fact, there are few ;
Americans who are skilled swordsmen. It is a E
weapon with which the are not familiar, and 1
that is the reason why t is madman of 21 Blake
is ready to rush so heedlessly into this contest.
If he had any knowledge of the subject it would|
teach him that it is a dangerous thing to face a
Frenchman in a sword encounter, for it is a
well-known fact that the French are arace of
swordsmen.”

“ My brother and myself are posted in regard
to this matter,” the captain of police explained.
“At one time We were officers in the Mexican
army, and of course learned how to use a sword,
althou h neither one of us can boast of bein
skillfu enough to meet a regular professions;
fencer like this Frenchman. and, most certain-
ly, for my part, I would not hold a man to be a
00ward if he avnidcd such a contest. for itwould
simply be throwing one’s life awa .”

“ That is my opinion also,” t e alcalde re-
marked. “ A man would be a fool to engage in
a contest where all the advantage is on his oppo-
neu t‘s side.”

“ That goes without saying.” Games observed.
“ This man Blake is undoubtedly a shrewd fel- ,
low, and prided himself a on his sharpness, but I
in this case he has fallen nto a trap which will
undoubtedly cost him his life.”

“ There is a chance for a speculation,” the
alcalde remarked; “for about all, the sports
of th: town are betting heavily upon the Ameri-

can.
“Yes; it is the common belief that heisinvin-
' cible,” the chief of police added.

I
1
l
1

I to calculate the chances.

 

“I understand that he has been remarkably
successful in all the encounters in which he has

The Fresh in Texas.

been engaged since he came to El Paso,” Esparto
remarked.
"That is undoubted‘lya fact and that is the

‘ reason why the sports have ma 6 him a favorite

in the betting,” the alcalde observed. “You
see, the majorithr of them know nothing at all
about a sword- ght, and so are not competent
Now we, being Well-
posted, have the inside track, so to speak, and if
we invest our money carefully we ought to be
able to make a good thing out of this fiaht.”
The rest agreed to this, and after as aw more
unimportant words were exchanged, the party
sallied forth, intent upon pick'mg up a good

' round sum by betting upon the coming fight.

The four had no difficulty, whatever, in bet-
ting all the money that they cared to wager.
for the. sporting men of El Paso, having perfect
faith that the Fresh would prove the victor in.
the sword-fight, were eager and anxious to back
their opinions with the “ solid stuff,” as a Wes-
terner would say.

The old town of El Paso could boast of as
many Sports as any other in Mexico, in propor—
tion to its population, the pee le generally de-
lighted in amusements, and t e null-ring was
always well—patronized whenever it was opened,
but on this particular afternoon of winch we
write the place was crowded.

A bull-fight, when it was known that the bulls
were Wild, savage beasts, and there was a chance
that some of the performers might come to
grief, was sure to attract a crowd, and what

ull fight could compare with a duel to the death
between humans?

The attraction appealed powerfully to the
citizens of the old Mexican town, and when the
hour for the con test arrived, the auditorium of
the bull—rin g was crowded.

El Paso had turned out en masse to witness
the rare show.

And not only the inhabitants of the town
were present, but people had come in from the

surrounding country, twenty or thirty miles
5 away even, to witness the fight for the news of
; the encounter spread like Wild- re.

It had been car-rial down the Rio Grande to
the neighborhood where the Fresh had his ranch.
and a large allegation of his neighbors had
come up to see the contest.

In Mexico, as in Spain, it is considered per—
fectly proper for ladies to grace the hull-ring
with their presence, and in the party who came
up the Rio Griuide were half a dozen ladies, and
among them were the heiress of Escobcdo, Mar-
garet, and her companion, the lively Pauline.

Margaret hail bccn persuaded to take the trip

? by the ladies who resided on the next ranch.

These being members of one of the old fami-
lies, who pridcd themselves upon their pure
Spanish descent, were in the habit of goin to
the bull—fights. just as their ancestors ha al-
ways doue, and did not think there was any-
thing out of the way in their attending this
modern gladiatorial encounter.

But Margaret Escobedo had not been brought
up to look at the matter in this light, and most
certainly she would not have yielded to the
pressing solicitation of her Mexican friends if
Jackson Blake had not been interested in the
matter.

When she learned, though, that the Fresh was
to be one of the principals in the affair, she felt
as if she could not stay away, and so she ac-
ce ted the invitation.

n this course she was encouraged by her

‘ friend, for though Miss Melville, when she first

heard of the affair, had protested that it was
“ perfectly horrid” tothink of going to see two
men try to kill each other, yet her morbid curi-
osity was soon excited and she really became
eager to make one of the party.

Of course. had it not been for the interest
which the girls took in the Fresh of ’Frisco,
neither one would have dreamed of going.

The two Cubans were standing near the eu—
trance when the'party from down the river en-
tered the inclosure, and they immediately
noticed the presence of Margaret Escohedo.

The heiress was pale, and seemed ill at ease,
and as she entered Gomes called the attention
of his companions to her. saying:

“There is Margaret Escohedo: I am rather
astOnished at it, for she has a horror of bull-
flghts and kindred sports. which she considers
to be barbarous and bloody.” '

“ The Fresh of ’Frisco is the attraction which

: draws her here,” Espnrto answered. “Other-

wise you may be sure she would not come.”

“ Is she in love with the fellow, then?” Gomes
asked. a scowl darkening his face.

“ No doubt of it! Do on not see that she
looks pale and anxious?” t e other replied.

“That is true. Well. unless the Frenchman

. is a braggart, and boasts a skill which he does

not possess. she comes to see the American die 1”
Gomes exclaimed with a fierce accent.

“ There is little doubt in regard to the result.
I think,” the other remarked. “ Although all
El Paso appears to consider that the lh‘enchman
stands no chance at all, but that is because they
know what Blake can do while the other man is
a stranger.”

“ Yes, but they will probably be consider-air?
astonished within five minutes after the at! r
begun."

 

_-
4-.

Then Gomes consulted his watch and finding
that it was near the appointed time he, with his
companion, repaired to One of the dressing~
roorns, _w here they found the Frenchman enjoy-
m a c1 .

‘ Aha, my friends, is it near the hour?” he
asked.

“ it wants but ten minutes to. the time,”
Gomes replied.

“_I_ am lad of it forIam getting tired of
waiting. am anxious to get at. my man and
finish as soon as possible.”

“ You feel certain that you will be able to
conquer him?” Esparto asked.

adventurer smiled disdainfully and
shru ged his shoulders like a true Gaul.

“ t would be very strange indeed if a man
like myself, one of the first swordsman in Europe,
should come to an obscure hole like El Paso, in
the wilds of the New World, and there meet a.
master,” he remarked.

“ Well, this Blake is a good man and it
would be well. not to hold him too cheaply,”
Gomes continued.

“Rest content. my brave,.I shall not throw
aux opportunities away.”

i this point the lan lord of the Hotel Mexico,
Moses Goldberg, who acted as master of cere-
monies entered the room.

“ It lacks but a few minutes of the appointed
time,” be said, “ and the seconds of the Ameri-
can are already in the ring.”

CHAPTER XIX.
SWORD IN HARD.

“ W n are all ready and will not keep them
waitingl” the adventurer exclaimed. ‘ There
are the weapons,” and the Frenchman pointed
to a table upon which were two pair of swords.
They were the regulation “ small-swords,” such
as are used by the duelists of the Old World.

“ As you will perceive, gentlemen, they are
all as alike as two peas, and a man won d be
safe in choosing one of them with his eyes
blinded,” De Charny continued.

This was true enough, for the Swords were
exactly alike, as far as any one could see.

“ Let us get on with the business as soon as
possible,” said Goldberg, “ for the audience is
growing impatient.”

The party then proceeded to the ring, the
Cubans; bearing the swords, and the adventurer
struttcd along with the air of a man who
thought himself to be of great importance.

Ringwood and old California .loe stood in the
center of the bull-ring, and the Fresh was Seated
in a chair on one side near the entrance where
the bulls were wont to make their entree into
the ring. -

On the other side of the ring near the door of
the dressing-room from which the Frenchman
and his party came, was another chair, and this
De Charny took, while his seconds advanced to
the middle of the ring to confer with the Amer~
icans, the master of ceremonies keeping them
company.

The audience had been busily engaged in dis-
cussing the chances of the coming fight; many
of them wondering why the Frenchman was
not visible, and quite a number had openly ex-
pressed the apprehension that it might be pos—
sible the adventurer had shown the white feather
at the last moment and they were to be cheated
out of their amusement. herefore, when the
Frenchman made his appearance, a loud hum of
satisfaction rose on the air, and then the audi-
torium became still, each spectator anxious not
to allow any of the exhibition to escape notice,
just as in a theater the audience settle down in
their Seats and become quiet upon the rising of
the curtain.

The Cubans saluted the Americans olitely,
and Dave Ringwood and Old California oe were
particular to return the salutation with equal
ceremony. .

“ Here are the swords,” said Gomes. “ As you
will observe they are all alike; there is not a
particle of difference between them as far as I
can see.”

And he held out the swords for inspection.

Dave Ringwood was a sus icious man by
nature and his experience, too, ad taught him
that it was not safe to put trust in the avers 9
man in a case of this kind, so he examined tlgie
swords in the most careful manner. He was not
an expert in regard to Swords: yet, as far as he
could see, no one of the weapons was better than
the others.

“ This will answer, I reckon,” he said, selecto
ing one of the swords. “ And now in regard to
the terms of the flghti”

“It is to be a duel to the death,” Gomes re
plied. “My principal has been insulted and
outraged in so gross a manner that the death of
the man who has been guilty of the offense alone
can satisfy him.”

“That is all right,” Ringwood rejoined. “ I
trgckqn that our side is satisfied to let it go at

at.

“ Oh, yes. on kin bet yer bottom dollar that
we are not k ckingl” Old California Joe cried.

“ The bout is to continue until blood is drawn,
then a wait of five minutes will be allowed.”

“ Kinder divided up into heats, so to speak,”
the old mountain-man remarked.

“ More like the minds of a prize-fight,” Ringo

 

 

int?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

' wwfizffi'w—‘tvf Y i f a "

The Fresh in Texas.

15

 

 

‘wood suggested. “ Well, that is all right. Fight  was no response to his first offer, expressed his
until blood is drawn, then five minutes’ rest be- ; willingness to bet three to one, De Charny could

fore the contest is renewed. That is understood.
Anything else?” _

“That is all,” the Cuban replied.

“ I suppose I had better make known the con-

ditions of the fight to the audience,” the hotel- ‘

keeper remarked. _

The seconds nodded assent to this.

‘“ If I did not there might be some dissatisfac-
tion,” Goldberg added.

“ How ’bout the gate—money?” asked Old Cali-
fornia Joe, with a keen eye to business.

“ Fifty per cent. of that I take for the use of

the building, and the rest goes to the victor in ;

the fight,” the landlord answered.
" That is all squar’!” the old scout exclaimed.
“ Go ahead with your explanation, so we can
get down to business, Goldberg,” said Ring~

wood.
The hotel-keeper heed the audience, held up 1
his hand '0 attract their attention—which was ;

needless, for every eye was fixed Upon him—
then made known the terms of the fight.

There wasa hum of Efzpplause when the ex-
planation was conclud , not that the amuse—

ment-seekers cared a jot about the rules of the ,

contest, but they were eager for the fight to be

soon be gratified.

j hardly restrain himself.
9 “ Is the man a fool?” he exclaimed, to the
tito Cubans who at the moment were helping

' him to prepare for the encounter.
, “ What does he take me for?” he continued,
. full of wrath. ” Am I a boy who has never had
5 a sword in his hand that he is so certain I will
E be vanquished in the fight?"

“ Oh, he is trying the favorite game of these
, Americans,” Gomes remarked. “ He is only
: blufiing, as they call it, and if any one should he
5 bold enough to take him up the chances are
great that he would not be inclined to risk much
i money, if he did not find some way to creep out
I of the wager altogether.”

“ Why do you not take him up?” the French-
| man asked.
I “ Because I have already invested all the
, money I can spare,” Gomes replied. “ Both Es-
parto and myself have put out every dollar that
we could rake together on you.”

“ Three to one!” exclaimed the adventurer,
red with rage. “ Aha! wait until we cross
swords and I will soon show this sport who is so
free with his money that he never made a big-

_ g gcr mistake in his life than when he dared to
.gin, and understood that their appetite would 

As soon as the applause died away, a stalwart 
y They had removed their outer garments, their

man, with a long, brown beard, who occupied
a front seat in the center of the semicircle arose.

Being of a commanding figure, and ocmpying a i

prominent position, all eyes were attracted to i

him. .

The gentleman was as well known as any
«citizen who dwelt in El Paso, being the owner of
the largest gaming establishment that the town
had ever known.

The readers of the romance relating the ad-
ventures of Jackson Blake in the neighborhood
of the old Mexican city, entitled, “The Fresh
on the Rio Grande,” will probably remember
Doc, Moses, the hub king, and it was this promi-
nent sharp who, by rising in his place, had at-
tracted the attention of all the audience.

“ Gentlemen, I rise to remark that I believe
Jackson Blake, the Fresh of ’Frisco, is going to
win this game!" he exclaimed. “ And as money
talks in a case of this kind a heap sight louder
than words, I will announce that am pre-
pared to back my opinions with the solid stuff!”

At this point Doc Moses drew abig roll of :

bills from his pocket, and flourished them in the

Lill‘.

“ Now thcn, gentlemen, any of you that are
anxious to bet against the Fresh of ’Frisco, will
have a chance.

“ Just step up to the captain’s office as soon
as possible, please!” the sport continued. ‘
am I‘cpm‘ed to give odds—I will go two to one
on acksmi Blake!”

Tho nmmbers of the audience looked at each
other, but no one stirred to accept the banter.

The brown—bearded sport waited for a few
moments, looking around him in an inquiring
way, and then said: .

“ I ha ve made a few small bets on this con-
test, bnt I have not invested anything like the
mouev that I should like to have on it, and so
I take this public method of making known my
wants.” - .

Then the sport glanced aromd again, but not
a man in the audience evinced any idea of tak-
ino' up the defiance. .

‘ Oh, come, fellow-citizens!” cried Doc Moses;
“ don’t be so backward in coming forward!
Ever I am. and hyer’s my money—and money

' talks every time, you bet! And if two to one is
not a big enough inducement for you, hang me -

if I dou'r, raise the ante! I will make it three to
one, and go any man in hundreds, too. Three
hundred to one hundred that Jackson Blake, the
Fresh of ’Frisco. wins this game! Now, don’t
all speak at once!”

But though many of the men present nodded
their heads as much as to say that they con-
sidered the offer a tempting one, yet no one
accepted it. _

There had been conSiderable betting on the

.result of the contesti for when such large odds

as twotooue were 0 ered there were uite a
number of reckless sports who were wil ing to
risk small sums, for even though they believed
that the Fresh was the best man. yet they
argued that the chapter of accidents might
give the victory to the stranger, and so they in-
vested.

But these men had bet all the money that they
cared to risk, and Doc Moeee’s offer met with no
response.

“ Well, well, I am sorry that none of the gen-
tlemen present have the sand to accept my chal-
lenge," the old sport remarked. “ And yet,
:since this match was on, I have heard some
PNWY'IOWI talk, but evidently the men who
were so free with their chin-music are not dis-
posed to be equally so with their cash.”

And with this sarcastic remark, Doc Moses
took his seat.

The episode excited the Frenchman’s anger;
the idea that the cool sport should_thmk so
mennly cf his abilities as to be will")! hob“
two to one upon his antagonist was extremely
gelling, and when the sport, finding that there

 

lay odds against me 1”
By this time the duelists were prepared for the
encounter.

breasts only being covered by their shirts.

Each had rolled up the right-hand shirt—
sleeve and knotted a handkerchief tightly around
their waists.

Sword in hand the pair advanced to the center
of the ring and confronted each other.

The audience became as still as death.

 

CHAPTER XX.
THE comsr.

ALTHOUGH the Frenchman was a well-made
fellow, yet he was not to be com red in mus-
cular development with Jackson lake, and he
was evidently astonished by the appearance
of the sport when he saw him stripped for the

figllait.

ut in a sword contest muscular develop-
ment and superior strength are not so impor-
tant as in a boxing match, and therefore, though
the adventurer was amazed by the discovery
that his opponent was as well-made a man as
his eyes had ever looked upon, yet he was not
impressed with the slightest fear in regard to
the result of the duel.

He was nettled by the contemptuous manner
in which the sports of El Paso had treated him.

The idea that he, one of the first Swordsmen
in Europe, opposed to a dull brute of an Ameri-
can, who in all probability never had a sword in
his hand before, should go a-begging in the bet-
ting, no one bein willing to venture one dollar
against three on im was, in his opinion, simply
outrageous.

Confident then in his own skill—feeling sure
that his adversary stood no chance whatever be
resolved to show these men of El Paso, who had
so poor an opinion of him, a display of swords-
;nanship such as they had never witnemed be-

OI‘P.

He determined to play with his antagonist for
a while as a cat plays with a mouse.

Under ordinary circumstances it was his cus-
tom in an affair of this kind to “ finish ” his
man as soon as ible—a “ parade ” and then
a fatal thrust as quickly as the opportunity
came. -

If his opponent had been a man with a fair
knowledge of the fencer‘s art the Frenchman
would have hesitated about trying any nonsense
with him, but as it was, De Charny did not have
any fear of the “ brute American.” as he con-
temptuoust termed the Fresh of ’Frisco.

The adventurer had his plan of operations all
formed as be advanced to cross swords with his
op nent. ‘

ith a brilliant “ flourish ” he intended tocon-
fuse his antagonist, then be pro to “ ink ”
him in the shoulder, just enoug to draw lood,
but not so severely as to d' his the American.

After this he would wound im in the sword-
arm—just scratch the skin with the int of his
blade, as though it was the claw o a gigantic

By this time be calculated that his antagonist
would either be wrought up to a state of fu ,
or else plunged into despair, realising that e
stood no chance to win, then he would bring the
affair to an end with a .thrust, which would
send the American to his long home without
ceremony.

“ These savages, who are afraid to bet on me,
have paid their money to witness the exhibition
and I will see that they get the worth of their
cash,” the Frenchman muttered between his
teeth as he advanced to the center of the bull-
. 0 pair paused when they were within six
feet of each other and bowed oeremouionsly.

“ Sir American, you have insulted me in the

 

grossest manner !” exclaimed the adventurer in
tones so loud that every word could be distinct-

l iy heardb .11 the audience. ,
“ Never all my life blue I suffered so gross

 

 

an outrage, and I give you fair warning that I
intend to have your heart’s blood to wipe out
the disgrace!”

“That is your say-so, but it is not mine !” the
Fresh of ’Frisco retorted. “ Now, as you are a
stranger to this section I don’t want you to
make any mistake about this matter. You
may thin you are going to have a walk-over,
but in such a picnic as this “ it is never safe to
count your chickens until they are hatched.”
That is an old saying, and a mighty true one.
Before we get through with this little affair you
may discover that ‘ Jack is as good as his mas-
ter,’aiid I want you to distinctly understand
that you have not got sosure a thing asyou
seem to think."

This bold defiance angered the Frenchman
still more.

“Be warned!” De Charny cried in a voice
full of rage, “ I do not intend to show you any
mercy 3”

“Oh, come d0wn to business and talk no
more!” Jackson Blake exclaimed. “You are
not going to win this fight with words, and you
are just wastin your breath.

“ En garde ! ’ cried the adventurer, throwing
himself into position.

The shinin blades crossed, twined around
each other 1i e a pair of silver serpents, and
every eye in the audience was fixed upon the

ir. ,

Just for a moment the steels twined around
each other, and then, before the Frenchman had
a chance to make the movement which he had
in anticipation the Californian played a trick
upon him, the iike of which no fencer was ever
taught.

The Fresh, with a powerful movement, closed
with his antagonist, and pressing his blade firm-
ly against the adventurer’s steel, forced the
other’s sword against his body, and with the
point of his own blade ripped open the cheek
of the Frenchman, then jumped back out of dis~
tance, lau hing in the face of his antagonist.

“ First 100d!” sung out Old California Joe,
delighted at the successful accomplishment of
the trick. ‘

“ Five minutes’ breathing time, gentlemen!”
proclaimed the master of ceremonies.

The Frenchman was furious—he fairly turned
white with rage as he put his hand to his cheek
and pressed it u n the ugly scratch which the
blade of the Cali ornian had made, while a long-
drawn “ Ali!” ascended on the air from the lips
of the audience.

“ What kind of sword-play do you call that?”
the adventurer cried, really trembling with

as he spoke.

‘ That is called the ‘ Git that stroke,” the
Fresh replied in his cool way.

“It is barbarous!” cried De Charny indig-
nantly.

“ Exactly, considerable of the bother about
it, if it cannot lay claim to the ous,” rejoined
the other.

“ Such a way to fight was never heard of i”
the Frenchman declared.

“ What do you know about it, anyway?” J ack-
son Blake uestioned.

“ What 0 I know about it? Am I not one of
the first swordsman in Europe?”

“ You are?”

“ Yes, there are not three men in the world
whon’i I am willing to acknowledge as my mas-
tors!

“ The deuce you say?”

“It is the truth!”

“ Well, you have roped me into a nice trap
then!” the Fresh declared. “What sort of a
chance then do I stand against you, I should
like to know i”

“ None at all!” hissed the Frenchman savage-
ly. “And I am going to kill you with as little
mercy as though you were a snake crawling in
the grass at my feet 1”

“ If you can!” cried the Fresh of ’Frisco.

“ Don’t forget to put that in, always! If you
can, because sometimes it is not as easy to do
these tricks as it is at others.
' “ Now, then, gentle stranger, it strikes me
that you have put up the worst kind of a job on
me. You are, according to our own state-
ment, 9. master of the sword w ile it is a wea-
pou which I know but little about, and so, un—
der the circumstances, I think I am justified in
going at you any way 1 can; so just kee on
the lookout and you have no right to grow if I
don’t fight according to the rules of a fencing-
school.”

“Time!” exclaimed the master of ceremonies
at this point.

Again the antagonists advanced, sword in
ban .
This time the Frenchman, furious with rage
at the advantage which his opponent had
gained in the first bout, made up his mind to
ring the aflair to an end as soon as pomible.
He would, kill the American at the firstop-

uni . i

The amenturer thought no more of “ showing
01! "—no longer was be anxious to display his
skill as a swordsman, all be cared for now was to
slay his antagonist.

A in the shining blades crossed, but hardly
had y turned when the Fresh jam-Ed back,
and then rushed at his opponent, stri g at his

 

 

16

The Fresh in Texas.

head, using the small-sword as though it was a  extremely narrow escape!” the doctor ex-

With the cavalry' weapons the Californian
was familiar, although he could not boast of

saber i

claimed, after he had made a careful examina—
tion of the Frenchman’s hurt.
“Oh, yes. I know that as well as you,”

much skill with the foil, and in this he possessed ! growled the adventurer, evidently in an ex-

a decided advantage over his antagonist, who i
knew nothing at all about the saber. I
So fierce was the attack, that De Charny had ~
all he could do to parry the blows, and found no )
0p rtunity to thrust. 5
irst on one side and then on the other the !
Fresh of ’Frisco pressed him. |
Twice the agile—footed Californian broke 1
through the hard of the Frenchman, and his 
steel wounde the adventurer. l
De Charuy's breath began to come quick and i
hard.

In all his experience as a swordsman, he had i
never been so fierce} v‘ attached, or had his f
strength and endurance put to so rude a test. 3

He felt that his strength was beginning to fail f
him, and, in desperation, endeavored to get a I
chance to thrust at his foe.

The attempt cost him dear, for Jackson Blake
parrie the stroke so vigorously that the,adven- ,
turer’s lade was beaten to one side—the muscle f
of his sword-arm bein tired from the unusual i
efforts which they ha been forced to make— 5
the Fresh saw his opportunity, and uickly T
lun ing, sent his blade through the shou der of .
thei‘renchman.

By this time, about all the audience was on I
their feet, wildly excited over the context. and 
a tremendous shout went up when the Fresh I
made his successful thrust.

The Frenchman staggered back, threw up his I
arms and then sunk to the ground.

The fight was ended. I m

Again the audience yelled, and, to add to the
excitement, some half a dozen ladies in the au-
dience fainted, the heiress of Escobedo being
among them, thus making a scene of wild con- 1
fusion.

The ladies were removed by their friends, the -
wounded man carried to one of the dressing-
"ooms. and the audience dispersed, satisfied that
they had got their money’s worth.

IItedwas equal to a first-class bull-fight, all do-
c ar .

 

CHAPTER XXI.
AFTER THE BATTLE.

IT was the two Cubans and the master of care- 1
monies who bore the wounded Frenchman to the
dressing-room, and the doctor that was usually 2'
employed to care for the bull-fighters who hap— ,‘
pened to be in'ured in the games, hastened to '
see what he con (1 do fer the discomfited duelist. 

After an examination the medical gentleman '
announced that though the wound was a severe ;
one, yet it was not mortal, and in his 0 inion 1
there was no doubt the Frenchman wou d re- I
cover.

And then, having a keen eye for business, the ,
doctor inquired who won d be responsible i
for the bill in case he took charge of the case. ‘

“ Well, the gentleman is an entire stranger to
me,” the landlord remarked. “ He is sto ping ;
at mg hotel, but I know very little about film ’

“ e is a stranger to us also,” Gomes remarked
as the landlord and the doctor turned an inquir—
ing eye uplon him and his companion. “ I should
imagine t ough, from what little I know of him
that he is not over-flush with wealth, but as far
as your bill ocs, doctor, do not allow that to
trouble you, or I will attend to it, and, land-
lord, see that he wants for nothing and I will
stand the expense.

“ Upon my word, sir, you are extremely lib-
eral!” the doctor exclaimed, with a low bow,
profoundly im ressed by the generous offer.

“ I will see t at he has everything he wants!”
Goldberg declared.

The wounded man had been laced upon a
rude couch in the room which he been express:
ly provided for use in cases of this kind, and he
was aapparently in a swoon; in reali , though,
he h come out of the stupor into wh ch he had
fallen immediately after receiving his wound,
and so was able to overhear the conversation.

Now, the adventurer was a man of the world
—had traveled much in his. time, and seen a deal
of life, and the generom‘ y wf the Cuban, instead
of arousing his gratitude, ,iwakened his sus-
picion.

“ Too generous—too generous by half,” he
muttered between his teeth. “ What game is
the man up to—what service does he desire at
my hands after I get over this cursed sword.
thrust?”

By this speech it will be seen that the French-
man was an extremely suspicious gentleman.

As the doctor and t e landlord now felt easy
in regard to their bills they hastened to get the
wounded man to more comfortable quarters
than he now enjoyed.

Four of the bull-ring attendants were sum-
moned, and the Frenchman, couch and all was
transported to the Hotel Mexico.

There the landlord had a comfortable room
prepared for him, and fter the wounded man
was put to bed in it, t o. doctor proceeded to .
dress his wound, the Cubans and the landlord
stendin by and watching the operation with

great in
“Upon my life, my blend, you have had an

 

tremelg’ bad humor.

“ If is blade had gone two inches more to the
left and an inch lower down, all the doctors in
this world would not have been able to do you
any good,” the medical man observed, with a
solemn wag of the head.

“ Yes, yes! You must tell me something that
I don’t know, if you want to astonish me,” the
wounded man exclaimed, testily.

“ You must not make the mistake of taking
me for a novice,” he continued. “This is not
the first time that I have stood, sword in hand,
before an o ponent, and not the first time,
either, that have been stretched on my back by
a dextrous swordthrust, so I am about as good
a judge in regard to such matters as any doctor
in Christendom.”

“ Now, my dear sir, you must be patient and
restrain yourself from giving we to any fits of
temper, or I will not be answera 19 for the con-
sequences,” the doctor protested.

“ Oh, that is all right,” returned the wounded
man. “Don’t fear that I will hurt myself by
growling. That is all I can do—the only conso-
lation left me after my miserable display to-

} day.” And the tone in which the adventurer

spoke showed how deeply his defeat had sunk
into his heart.

“ Well, well, my dear sir on are not the first
man that in this city of El aso has attempted
to cut the comb of this American fighting-cock
and lived to regret the trial,” the doctor re-

arked.

“ That is true enough,” the landlord added.
“ It is no disgrace for any man to be con uered
by this American, for since he came to the nks
of the Rio Grande he has met some of the best
men in this section, and has succeeded in getting
away with all of them.”

“ Oh, he is a regular North American devil!
There is no doubt about that!” the doctor ex-
claimed.

“ Yes, I understood that he was looked upon
as being an extra good man,” the Frenchman
remarked. “ But I had no fears in re ard to
meeting him for I knew that it could not pos-
sible that he was any such swordsman as I am
and therefore I anticipated an easy victory.”

“ Ah, my dear sir, experience has taught me
that a man never knows how to take these wild
North Americans!” the doctor exclaimed. “ Why
I have had them under my care when there was
not one chance in a hundred that they would re-
cover, and yet they have managed to pull
throu h. One case in particular I remember;
this 0 d mountain-man—old California Joe as he
is called—he was sick with the break-bone fever
—not a hope for his life to my thinking but I
prescribed for him— he recovered; I to d him
that I knew my medicines would save him if
anything would: then the North American
brute laughed in my face and said that he hadn’t
taken a drop of my nasty stuff, but had dosed
himself with whisky in which pine burrs had
been steeped; a barbarous decoction which would
have killed anybody but one of these savages.”

“ It is true; I have known of just such cases,”
the landlord assented.

During the conversation the doctor had been
attending to the wound, and it did not take him
long to do all that could be done under the cir-
cumstances; then, when the task was completed,
the doctor and landlord withdrew.

“ Well. our carefully- lanned scheme came to
naught,” Gomes remar ed. He had taken a
seat by the side of the bed u n which the
Frenchman reclined, Esperto ing seated a
yard or so away. ‘

“Yes, the fellow beat me. but such a duel
was never seen before in this world l” the ad-
venturer exclaimed. “ I was made a complete
laughin stock of—the butt for the crowd! If
such a t ing had happened in Europe I would
never have dared to show my head a in.
Like the ancient Roman, I should have n
tempted to have fallen on my own sword!”

“Undoubtedly the peculiar manner in which
this American fought perplexed you,” Esparto
remarked.

“ Undoubtedly it did i” cried the Frenchman.
“ By my soul! I never saw anything like it be-
fore, and I doubt if anybody else ever did. The
fellow by his mode of attack set at defiance all
the rules of fence.” '

“ But now that you are acquainted with the
peculiar way in which he fights, do you not
think that in a second encounter you would be
able to get the best of him!” Gomes asked.

“ I should surely think that on would suc—
coed in turning the tables, and t us secure am-
ple revenge for your defeat today,” Eeparto

urged.

he Frenchman half-closed his eyes, a device
on his part to conceal the uliar look which
he knew was coming into t em. “ Well, well,
it is hard to tell." e said, slowly, king as
though he was affected by the pain of is wound.
“ NOW that I am' a uninted with the man, and
understand how he gbta, there is no doubt that
I could do better than I did today, but whethe-
I could conquer him or not is a question.”

 

 

 

fl

“ By all the fiends!” cried Gomes, “ if I were

you and had been triumphed over to-day as
on have been by this American, I could find it

in my heart to compass his death by foul means
if I could not do so fairly.”

“ That is my mind too!” Esparto declared.
“We Cubans are hot-blooded about such mat-
ters, and when we are wronged we care not how
we gist revenge so long as we obtain it!”

“ hat is right; I agree with you there,” the
Frenchman replied. “ This sconndrel has tri—
umphed over and disgraced me before a multi»
tude and I should not be worthy the name of
man if I did not hunger for revenge.”

“ Exactly! that is the way I should feel about
the matter,” Gomes declared with an approving

nod.

“ It is the way that every man should feel if
he has blood and not water in his veins!”
Esparto exclaimed.

“ Oh, I will call him to an account, be sure of
that,” the adventurer remarked. “ But I will'
own to you that he achieved soeas a victory
over me that it has rendered me tim d of meet—
ing him with the sword again.”

‘ You would be on your guard now against
his‘tzicgsfieGomes suggested. rd
n ing on your gun , sibl on
would be able to give him a thmsfgshichnguld
close his account with this world,” Eeparto ob»
served.

“ I fear that with the sword I cannot hope to
co with him,” the wounded man replied with
a oubtful shake of the head.

“ Select some other weapon then!” Gomes ex—
claimed. “And if you do not think on can
secure revenge by a fair and open fight why
then make a secret attack upon him. e are
Egg" friends and will stand by on. You have

11 injured and we are aux ous to see you
aven e yourself.”

“ es, count on us to the death!” Esparto de—
clared.

The Frenchman thanked the Cubans, and as
he Seemed to be wing tired, after a few more
words, they withdrew.

The Frenchman looked after them with a
peculiar ex ressron upon'his face.

“ Oho!” e exclaimed, “am I selected for the
role of the cat then to pull the chestnuts out of
the fire? Upon my word I think I have burnt
my fingers once already.”

 

CHAPTER XXII.
AN unnxrno'rnn uovnnN'r.

FOR quite a time the wounded adventurer re-
mained silent, busy in meditation.

Now that his wound was dressed he felt de~
cidedly better; in reality his hurt was not as
severe as the doctor imagined, and as the French—
man was a man with“ a fine constitution and
one who had always taken care of himself, the
shock had not prostrated him as completely as
it otherwise might have done.

“‘Yes, yes ” he said at last, “I think I see the
game now. I was a fool to allow these sharpers
to deceive me so cleverly. It is odd too that I
should have fallen into the trap in such a blind,
stupid way, a man like myself, who has met
cunning rogues of all degrees. These fellows
though deceived me completely. ' They planned
the matter so cleverly that I ad no suspicion
they were making a cat’spaw out of me and
that I was being used as a tool to wreak private
vengeance. They have a grudge a ainst this
American, and not daring to face im them-
selves got me into this scheme, hoping that I
would be able to do the work which they dared
not attempt themselves.

“ These Cubans are extremely generous en-
tlemen!” the Frenchman exclaimed, wit a
sneer. “They will p’ey my bills although I am
a stran er to them; ut though have not been
of se 00 to them in the st they hope I will!
be in the future. In fine, t ey desire me to play
the rt of a bravo—a hired assassin-and they
thin I will be base enough to murder the man
whom I was not able to master in a fair and
,open fight.

“ But they have made a mistakel I am .no
such men as that. I am bad enough, Heaven
knows! but I have never yet descended so. low
as to play the role of an assassin.
than disgrace in self in that Way I would heg-
my bread from oor to door!

“ I hate these men of Spanish descent!” he
exclaimed, with a sudden outbreak. “ The are

\

"like the Italians, prone to strike at a man’s ck

when they dare not face him!

“Another thought comes in here; will not
this precious pair seek to take ven nee upon
me when they find that I am not w 1i to act
the art which they have assi ed me

“ es, yes, nota doubt of t,” the wounded
glen declared, after a few moments of medita-

on.

“ They will turn against me in a moment, and
probably seek to deal me some terrible blow.

must look out for myself.”

Again the Frenchman fell into profound med-
itation, which continued until interrupted by
the anti-awe of one of the hotel servants, who,
had been instructed to look in upon the
wounded man every now and then for the pur-

within.

poeeofleeingifhewiahed

No, sooner '

,hnm.-.

. ., .M‘.‘ ..-

w“ an..." _

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

m.,

m

“a”. N

. www’

gages-n. . x 

. pulven-p-‘

r’rxa- .

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Fresh in Texas.

17

 

 

The man was a negro with a sly, cunning
face, and after the Frenchman took a good look
at him he decided that he was just the kind of
fellow who could be depended upon to do an
job where craft and keenness were require ,
provided he was well paid for it.

“Is dar anything you want, ssh?” the negro
in uired.

ith the forethought which is so necessary to
the man who leads the life of an adventurer, the
Frenchman had taken care to have his wallet
placed under his pillow, so that he was not with-
out funds, for the sum which he had received
from the Cuban had not been all expended; in
fact he had barely touched it, although he had
been strongly tempted to risk it in betting on
the result of the fight.

“ Well, let me see,” replied De Cbarny, fixing
his keen eyes full on the face of the black.
“ What is your name?” he asked, abruptly.

“ Domingo, sah.”

” Are you a man who can betrusted, provided
you are paid enough?”

The negro displayed his ivories in a prodigious

n.
gr‘l‘ Yes, sah, I reckon I is!” he replied. “When
you, say dat, sah, I reckon you hit me whar I
ib! ’

“Well, I want a little service performed, and
if you will undertake the task, I will give you a
couple of ounces.”

;; All right, ssh; I reckon 1 will be glad to do
it.

“ You know this Mr. Blake—the gentleman
with whom I fought to—day?”

“ Yes, sah; I was dar and seen de skirmish.”

“ I want to see Mr. Blake, and I don’t want to
have anybody know anything about it. Do you
think you could contrive to see Mr. Blake and

ct him to come to my room here and arrange
it so that his visit will not be known?”

“ Oh, yes, sah !” the black declared, full of
confidence. “ I kin work dat trick jest as easy
as rolling OR a l l”

“ If you succegg in arranging the matter I
will ive you a couple of ounces.”

“ ll right, sah, I will be glad to do it. De
gemman is down-stairs now and I reckon I kin
git him up hyer ’fore long.”

“ Very we 1, proceed. I want to have a talk
with Mr. Blake, and I havo reasons for wanting
the matter ke t quiet.”

“ Oh, you 'in trust me, sah; I won’t say
nothing to nobody ’bout it.”

And with this assurance the negro withdrew.

It was true, as the black said, that the Fresh
of ’Frisco was in the saloon of the Hotel Mexico.

After his triumph over the Frenchman the
enthusiastic citizens ofOEl Paso insisted upon
tendering him a reception, which he felt con-
strained to accept for it appeared ungracious to
refuse the compliment.

Of course it was the Americans of El Paso
who thus designed to honor the Fresh of ’Frisco,
for the Mexican residents of the town had no
love for Jackson Blake, and all the sports of
that nationality who had courage enough to
back their opinions that the Frenchman would
win, being, at the end of the contest, cleaned
out and disgusted, felt much more like giving
the victor a ducking in the Rio Grande than a
reception at the Hotel Mexico.

The “levee” had just ended when the negro
entered the saloon.

The Fresh had succeeded in tearing himself
away from his joyous friends when the servant
entered. '

Watching his opportunity the black followed
Blake and on the way to the corral, whither the
Fresh and 1113 ards were going in quest of their
horses, 89009 ed in gettin a chance to speak to
Blake Without being seen y any one connected
with the hotel.

He delivered his message, not for etting to
state that the Frenchman desired t e matter
should be managed so that no one would know
of it, and adding that by means of the rear en-
trance to the hotel, he could undoubtedly con-
duct the Visitor to the room,where the wounded
man was, Without any one in the house being
the wiser.

The Fresh reflected over the matter for a mo-
ment, and then said to his two pards:

“ Well, I don’t see any reason why I should
not slings the man by complying with his re-
ques .

Both Ringwood and Old California Joe re-
marked that they knew of no objection, so
while they proceeded to the corral to attend
to their horses, J acksou Blake was conducted
by the negro to the room occupied by the

damn.

“ Aha my brave friend, you have succeeded,
I see!” e Charny exclaimod in a tone of satis-
faction, bowing politely to the Fresh, who re-
turned the salutation.

“ Here are your ounces." ,

And he chinked the two pieces of silver into
the hands of the black, who grinned with satis-
faction.

“ Now then,” continued the adventurer, “ just
you keep ,watch outside in the entry, so as to
give me timely warning of the a preach of any
one like y to enter my room, an there will be
another ounce for you."

“All fisht, ssh; I will do dat job right

 

up to de handle!” the black remarked, as he
departed. '

“ Be seated, Mr. Blake,” requested the French-
man. waving his hand to a chair by the side
of the bed, when the door closed behind the
negro. ‘

The Fresh sat down.

“ Probably you are at a less to know why I
wished to have an interview with you,” the ad-
venturer remarked.

“ Yes, I confess I cannot guess the reason.”

“Well, I wanted to set myself right, in the
first place,” Do Chamy said. “ I do not claim
to be any better than I ought to be, but I have
always tried to act like a gentleman, although
in this quarrel with you I was tricked into act~
ing a mic which, now that I look back upon the

rformance, seems to me more like that of a
lircd bravo than anything else. I am going to
more a. Tl!!! confession, though, of all the cir-
cumstances connected with the affair, and allow
you to judge.”

And then, briefly, the Frenchman detailed the
unfortunate circumstances which had led his
wandering footsteps to El Paso, and related all
the arriculars of his meeting with the Cubans.

“I can see now that they made a cat’s-paw
out of me, although I had no suspicion or it at
the time. I presume they are enemies of ours,
anxious for vengeance upon you,” Do C arny
said, in conclusion.

“ Upon my word, the whole aflair is the big-
gest kind of a mystery!” the Fresh declared.

“ I do not know either one of the Cubans,
and so, consequently, never had any trouble
with them.”

“ it is a mystery, indeed i” and then the
wounded man related the particulars of his last
interview with the pair.

" Well, well, they are anxious to have me
wiped out!” the Fresh commented.

“ If they are not acting for themselves—if
they have no grudge against you, possibly they
are acting for some one who has—some bitter
foe of yours,” the adventurer su gested.

“ So it would seem,” the rash remarked.
“ But the joke of the thing is that I am not
aware of having any foe who feels bitter enough
t0ward me to go to such trouble.”

“ The foe exrsts though evidently.”

“ Yes, so it seem. and I must make it my bus-
iness to discover hi as soon as possible.”

“ That is a good idea, or otherwise he may
get in a blow w ich will be a t to hurt.”

“Well, I am much ohlig to you for your
warning, and I say, as you do not intend to act
as the tool of this pair of precious villains, they
will be apt to cut 011’ the supplies the moment
they discover the truth.”

“Yes, and then i shall be helpless, but it is the
fortune of war,” the adventurer remarked,
shrugging his shoulders like a true Frenchman.

“ i will raise a subscription for you,” Blake
exclaimed. .“Tbere are plent of sports in El
Paso whose pocketbooks are a ways open in a
case of this kind. Just you wait! Inside of an
hour I’ll have you on your legs again 1”

And then the Fresh departed.

‘ CHAPTER XXIII.
CHIPPING IN.

JACKSON BLAKE hurried at once to his pards
in the corral.

“ Put the horses up, boys,” he said. “ I have
struck a little business which I must attend to
before I go.”

Then be related the particulars of his inter-
view with the wounded Frenchman.

:‘ Wa-al, I reckon that this ar’ is a —mi h
mixed-up affair,” Old California Joe remari .

“ As sure as you are born!” Dave Ringwood
exclaimed.

“ You knew it was my opinion, boys, that
neither one of these two Cubans bore me any
love. though why a couple ofstrangers, whom I
never run across before, should be anxious to do
me harm was a mystery to me,” the Fresh re-
marked.

“ ’Tarnel strange!” the old mountain-man ex—
claimed.

.“ As queer a case. I reckon, as I ever struck,”
hRingwood observed, with a wise shake of the

es .

“ Of course there is a reason for it,” Jackson
Blake remarked. “ Men do not go into a game
of this kind without a motive.”

“ You kin bet all you are worth on that!” Old
California Joe declared.

“ Oh, yes, that would be a safe bet; these two
Cubans put up a job on you, and they roped the
Frenchman into the trick in an extreme] neat
manner. but what are they driving at—w at is
the motive?” Ringwood asxed.

. “ I reckon it is the old war re—opened,” the
Fresh answered. “ These fellows come from
Cuba' in Cuba Manuel Escobedo and his sister,
Isabel, found refu e when I made the neighbor-
hood of the Rio rande too hot to hold them.
Rumor says that both of them are dead, but I
reckon that is a cute device to throw me 08 the
track.”

“ To kinder throw dust in yer eyes so as to be
able to git a good lick at yer without you being
on the lookout for it,” the id scout suggestpd.

“Yes, I reckon that is about the size of it,”

said the Fresh. “ As you will probably mem-

 

ber, boys, I have not taken any stock in these
Cubans and got the idea, right at the be 'nning

that they were no friends of mine. alt oughI
really had no good reason for the belief, but now
that I know the game they are playing I shall
try to give them an opportunity to show their
hand as soon as possible. ‘

“That is the right idee!” Old California Joe
declared.

“ You bet it is!" Ringwood exclaimed. “ It is
not pleasant to be subject to attacks from secret
enemies. If a man has got anything against me
I want him to square the scoount as soon as
sible. If there is anything in the world that I
despise it is a sneak who skulks about waiting
for a chance to stab a man in the back."

“Oh, you can bet your hfe that now I have
got hold of the tail of the rat. I will force him
to come out of his hole!” the Fresh of ’Frisco de-
clared.

“ No one ever at accused me of being back-
ward in coming orward when there was any
chance for a row, no matter whether I had any
business in the skirmish or not, and I can assure
you that I will give these Cubans a chance to
walk up to the ca tain’s ofilce and settle before
they are a day 0] er.

“ In m mind there is ve little doubt now
in regai to the game. The bedos are alive
-—or at any rate one of them is—and since the
attempt to beat me in a fair and open fight was
not successful, the tactics are changed, and the
trial is to be made of secret cunning.”

“ You are right for a thousand dollars!” Old
California Joe cried. “And such a game just
suits the Greasers to death. They are a pesk
mean lot, and their best holt is trickery. Oh,
hate ’em like p’isoni"

“ Joe puts the case pretty strongly,” Dave
Ringwood observed, “but from my experience
with these Mexicans, I am not prepared to de-
cide that he is far out of the way. There are
good Mexicans of course, men w o are gentle-
men, and who would scorn to do a mean action,
but for eve one such man that you run across,
you will fin a dozen who cannot be trusted as
far as you can see them, particularly such men
as hang ’round a frontier t0wn like El Peso.”

“ I will make them show their hand and de—
clare their ame the very first chance I et at
them!” the rash declared. “ And I rec on I
will get an opportunity soon, for I am going to
raise a subscription for this Frenchman. The
man is helpless here without either money or
friends, but I reckon when I let the boys know
how the fellow is fixed, enough of them will chip
in to raise a good sized stake so he will be inde-
pendent of this air of sharpers.”

“They play a very~fine game,” Dave Ring-
wood observed, with an approving shake of the
head. “ They calculated t at the Frenchman
Would be just crazy to avenge his defeat, and
since he could not hope to get the best of you
in a fair fight he would be glad to assassinate

you.

“ That was the game!” the Fresh asserted.
“ But the Frenchman is nobody’s fool. although
he was rather rash in pitching on me, but be
relied upon the fact that he was an expert
swordsman, and never suspected that he Would
run across anybod in this far-off corner of the
world who would able to get away with him
in a sword—fight.

“ But we are wasting time, boys, chinnin
here!” the Fresh exclaimed, abru tly. “ If I
am going to do anything for the nchman I
must “get at it before the sharps get out of
town.

The others agreed that this was true and the
three started for the plaza.

“ Dave, see if on can’t hunt up a barrel or a
box—something can stand on. while I 've the
crowd a bit of a speech,” the Fresh sai , as the
party entered the square.

There was an empty barrel-standing in, front
of an adjoining store and when Dave Ringwood
proceeded to roll this into the middle of the
street the attention of the men who happened to
be in the neighborhood was at once attracted.

And when Jackson Blake got on the barrel
all Eithin sight of him came hurrying to the

8
pThen an idea occurred to the Fresh.

“ I say, Ringwood, it wouldn’t be a bad idea
to get the gang from the hotel,” be said. “ With
the aid of that instrument of torture I will be
able to attract a crowd in no time.”

“ That is jest a bully ides!” Old California Joe
declared.

“ You bet- it is,” Rin wood assented. “ I’ll
h’ist it out instanter.” he started for the
hotel forth with.

“ W’ot’s up, hey?” inquired a curious by-
stander acting as spokesman for the rest.

“Well, fellow-citizens, I am going to t. my
hand at a little stung) sfeech.” the Fres re-
plied. “And I won li e to have you gentle-
men just scatter yourselvoas around town and
drum up as man as you can to attend them'eefr
ing. Go into 111 the shobangs and tell the boys
that the Fresh of ’Frisco is goin to make a
stump fliesch to the public on the p an in front
of the otel Mexico, and byeso doingyou will
greatly, oblige your humb servant to com-

um .
“ Sart’in, urt’in—you bot weme exclaimed

 

 

  

18

one of the crowd, and the rest echoed the
words. _

A dozen or so hastened to comply With the re-

nest.

q And then came Dave Ringwood from the ho«
tel, bearing the gong, followed by all the men
who had been in the hotel saloon, including the
two Cubans. _ _

“ Say, gi’n me the rrong, and I Will Jest march
up and down the p 329. from one end. to the
other, and pin. town-crier,” Old California Joe
exclaime l. “ but will draw the crowd, you
bet.”

The Fresh thought the idea was a good one,
so the Gong was given to the old scout, and he
proceeded to wake the echoes of the town with
it, stopping whenever he came to any lace of
common resort _,to proclaim that the resh of
’Frisco was oing to make astump speech in
front of the otel Mexico.

And the result of this performance was-that
within ten minutes a. gJoodl y number of people
collected around the arrel upon whic the
Fresh stood, all curious to. know what he was
going to say.

To the Americans in the assemblage there was
nothing novel about a man delivering an ad-
dress from the top of a barrel in apublic ours,
but the Mexicans were greatly amaze , for
the were not accustomed to such a proceeding.

fihen the Fresh saw that his audience had
become as large as it was likely to be, he waved
his hand to command their attention, and be—

an:

g “ Fellowcitizens of El Paso, I am not much
accustomed to public speaking, and I do not
doubt that there are many men within the
sound of my voice who would be able to give me
points in regard to a game of this kind, but,
under the circumstances, I have been forced to
take a. hand.

“ I do not think I will be far out of the way
'if'I jump to the conclusion that the majority of
you gentlemen here were present in the bull-
ring to—day, and witnessed the performance
that took place there.”

At this point a dozen or so of the listeners
took it upon themselves to nod in the afilrma~
ti re, and cry, “ Yes, yes!”

“Well, follow-uin...~::.~:, it is on behalf of my
late opponent that I now address you,” Jackson
Blake continued.

This announcement caused the majority of
the crowd to look amazed, and the two Cubans,
who formed a group with the alcalde and the
chief of police, exchanged glances, and a dark
look came over their faces.

“The Frenchman is in apretty tight place,
fellow-citizens!” Blake exclaimed. “ 'o is a
long way from home, badly wounded, and with-
out either friends or money.

“ Now, my dear pards, Just put yourselves in
the place of this unfortunate fellow, and see
how you would like it!”

A large number of the cr0wd shook their
heads in an extremely decided way, as much as
to say that they did not enjoy the prospect.

“ I propose to raise a subscrig‘tion, so that this
Frenchman will have money to pay his bills,
and be able to go to his own home across the
sea, and I am willing to chi in to the tune of
fifty dollars, and that is the ind of man I am!”

 

CHAPTER XXIV.
ma FRESH scoans A succnss.

THE spectators looked at each other for they
were not accustomed to such liberality.

“ Yes, fellow-citizens, I will Chip in fifty dol~
lars, and I want you all to give every cent
that you think that you can spare,” the Fresh
continued.

“ As I said before, put yourself in this man’s
place. Here he is many miles away from his
native land, so far that it will cost him a small
fortune to get home. In this country he is help-
less, but when he strikes his own land again he
will be all right, and I propose to help him to
get home again, and I hope that all of you will
put your shoulder to the wheel too.

“ M ard here, Dave Ringwood, will go
round With the hat. Now show what you are
made of, you men of El Paso. Chip in and chip
in liberally!

“ I do not expect that any of you are going to
see my hint! of fifty dollars and ante up as
much, but don’t let t at scare you out of the
game. If you can’t go that, give what you can;
'the smallest favors will be thankfully received
and large ones in proportion. Don’t bescared
even if you have nothin , better than a two bit
piece, put that in and t rank Heaven that you
have got that much to give!”

Ringwdod took ofl' his hat and began to move
around amid the crowd.

Nearl all the Americans contributed, the few
‘that di: not expressing their regret that the
were not flush just at that time, but the Mex -
cans, as a rule, allowed the hat to pass them
without putting anything in it, only a few of
the sports contributing.

The Fresh kept his eyes 11 n Ringwood and
who! he a preached the ost of the Hotel
Mexico, Bin 0 exvlaimed:

“,Now then, Goldber ! look alive! Go down
ring up the solid stuff!

into your pocket and

 

 

The Fresh in Texas.

What kind of stqu are you made of, anyway,
Moses?”

“ Oh, my goodness! I am not a Sport like you,
Mr. Blake!’ the landlord declared, decidedly
put out at having the attention of the public
thus drawn to him.

“ Oh, come new, you can afford to shell out
right handsomely!” the Fresh declared.
made a good thing out of the show and you
ought to be willing to help the man along, par-
ticularly since you will profit by his sickness,
for by the time he gets well you will have a big
bill against him.”

The hotel-keeper made a grimace.

“ Oh, I made very little out of the show i” he
protested. “ My expenses are very heavy and I
shall make my bill to him very light too, but I
will 0 a dollar—”

“ h, only a dollar!” exclaimed Blake pre-
tending to be deeply disgusted.

And the Americans in the crowd took up the

cr .

x A dollar, oh!”

Goldberg became red in the face; he did not
relish being jeered at and so he exclaimed:

“ IVell, well, I will make it five!” and he hast-
ened to drop a five—dollar gold-piece into the

hat.

“ Goldber , old boy, it ought to be ten at the
least!” the lresh declared. “ But I su )pose this
time I will have to let on off with ve, but I
want you to understan that you are not com-
ing up to the scratch in the way that you ought
to do. What is five dollars to a man like you
who has just been coining money in this town of
El Paso for the last year or two?"

By this time Dave Ringwood had reached the
spot where the two Parrals and the Cubans
stood.

The Fresh hadvhis eye 11 n the party, for it
was his intention to utter a ew pointed remarks
in case the Cubans refused to contribute.

But the opportunity was not afforded him,
for while the alcalde and the chief of police only
dropped a dollar into the hat, each of the
Cubans put in a five-dollar gold-piece.

“ Half a saw-buck apiece!” exclaimed the
Fresh, as his quick e es caught the flash of the
gold. “ That is rig ti Much obliged to you,
gentlemen; that is the right way to chip into a
game of this kind!”

“ Oh, I say, Goldberg, these gentlemen are
making you look awful small! They have come
right up to your auto, yet you have made money
gut 3f the man while they are strangers to

iml

The hotel-keeper was shamed by this declara-
tion, and so he made haste to produce another
five-dollar piece.

“ There, that makes ten for me!” he exclaimed
as be tossed it into the hat.
satisfied with that.”

“ Yes, that will do pretty well, although,
really, Goldberg, considering that you made a
good thing out of the show you ought to have
sand enough to pony up fifty as I did.”

“ Oh, my goodness !” cried the wily host,
“ on want to ride a free horse to death!” l

Vhen the collection was completed Ring-
wood returned to the Fresh and be counted the
money.

“ Two hundred and six dollars!” Jackson
Blake announced. “ Fellow-citizens, this is some-
thing like, and I really feel proud of El Paso.
This sum will put the Frenchman on his feet
again and he will be able to get back to his
home. Mr. Weinholdt!” the Fresh continued,
addressing the banker, who stood a short dis-
tance away. “ Will you have the kindness to
take charge of this money and hold it subject to
Mr. De Chem ’9 orders?’

“ Certainly ’ said the banker, coming for-
ward. “ And although I have already con-
tributed. yet in order to make the sum an even
one I will go four dollars more.”

“ Much obliged, Mr. Weinholdt!” the Fresh
exclaimed, with a polite bow to the banker.
“ You are a white man all the way through—all
wool and a yard wide. Here’s the cash.”

Then after delivering the money to the banker
Blake again addressed the crowd: 4

“ Gentlemen, I am very much obliged to you
all for the liberal manner in which

book sharps once wrote something about one
touch of kindness making the whole world akin,

and I reckon there is a good deal of truth in the ,

say' .
out o a hole.
any of you will beso unlucky as to st mtoa

similar scrape, yet if such a thing shou d happen, .

I trust vou will be fortunate enough to strike men

who will be willing to help you along as you‘

have helped this stranger.”
“ Three cheers for the Fresh i” cried one of
the Americans in the crowd.

The cheers were given with a will, Blake 1
from |

bowed his acknowledgments, got down
the barrel, and the crowd began to disperse.
With his two pards the Fresh proceeded to the

apartment of the wounded man and related to l' the sport
him how successful the endeavor had been to ,

raise a purse.
De Charuy was Extremely grateful.
" I shall not tarry here long,” he said.

, l

u

.-_‘  ‘ . a.  .
~:’—'.nl;’.7‘1k¢‘!' .. s. 
.r .,

“You ‘

“You ought to be 

you have re- f
spouded to my call,” be said. “One of the old ,

You have helped an unfortunate man L
Now, while I am not hoping that §

“This
wound, although painful, is not one that will checkers ’

 

‘ prevent me from traveling soon. Within a
: week, at the latest, I shall be able to set out. I
i shall go straight from here to New Orleans and
3 there take a steamer for France, andI assure
,1 on 1 shall not be sorry to shake the dust of this
' cw ‘.V01'ld from my feet.”

I “ The Cubans will be rather astonished at this
move, I think, ’ the Fresh remarked.

_ “Yes, undoubtedly, but though the will not
3 be able to use me for a tool, they wi not be
3 apt to give up their design to injure you, so you
must be on your guard.”

“ Oh, I shall, rest assured of that.”

Then, after wishing the Frenchman apleas—
ant 'ourney to his own land, the Fresh and his
par 5 withdrew.

The Cubans were on the watch and, after the
Americans had gone, they entered the room.

De Cbamy, a complete master of the art of
dissimulation, received them as thou h he be-
lieved them to be the dearest friends e had in
the world.

“ Ah. I am glad you have come!” be ex-
claimed. “ You are just in time to con ratu-
late me. You have heard of my wind all of
fortune, I presume?”

“ Oh, yes,” Gomes re lied “both myself and
my friend here contri uted. Of course, this
American was not aware that you had friends,
like m self and Esparto here, who would see
that al your wants were supplied.”

“ Yes, yes, you have been friends indeed!”
the adventurer exclaimed. “ Never while I live
will I forget your kindness; I was not at all
worried about the future, knowing I could de-
pend u on you. At the same time I am glad
to et t is cash, for now I will be able to return
to rance.”

“ Do you not think that the raising of this sub-
scription was a cunning trick on the part of the
American to get you out of the way?” Games
suggested.

‘ Perhaps—it may be,” the Frenchman re-
sponded, with a wise shake of the head.

“ He feared that when you recovered from
your wound you might endeavor to revenge
yourself 11 n im,” Comes remarked.

“ Pessib y so; but it is hard to tell; these
Americans are a strange ple,” the adventurer
replied, thoughtfully. “ he more I see of them
the more I am amazed. They are like their kin—
dred, the English John Bulls. A man can never
tell what they will do. They commit the wild-
est and most incomprehensible acts.

“ But as these Americans say, a man would be
a fool to look a gift horse in the mouth, and so I
take the money Without troubling myself to ask
why it was given me."

“Oh, undoubtedly the American fears your
vengeance. and has raised this money so as to
enable you to depart, and thus he hopes to es-
, cape meeting you again,” Esparto observed with
i a sneer.

“ If that is his game, the man has calculated
admirably,” the Frenchman replied. “ For,
most assuredly. now that I have the money to
leave this country, where I have met with noth-
ing but misfortune, I shall get away as soon as I

 

an.”

“ Without attempting to seek for revenge
upon the man who humbled you?” Gomes ob
served.

“ I am satisfied; I was beaten in a fair fight,
and so badly beaten that I am not anxious for
another trial,” De. Chamy rejoined.

The Cubans saw that it was useless for them
to attempt to cban e the Frenchman’s resolu-
tion, and so after a ew more words they took
their departure.

“ We must try some new device,” Gomes re-
marked, as the pair proceeded along the entry.

“ Yes; open force seems to be useless with this
American demon, so we must try secret cun-
ning,” the other rejoined.

CHAPTER XXV.
DOC MOSES SUGGESTS A GAME.

“Now we will go for our horses sin. and
make another attempt to get home,” t e Fresh
remarked, as he and his pards quitted the hotel.

But he was destined to be a ain interrupted,
for as the party came to the ane which led to
the corral they encountered Doc Moses, the lead~
ing s rting man of the town.

“ ello, Blake! I want to have a little private
conversation with you, if you can spare the
time.” the veteran sport remarked.

i “ Certainly; yours to command,” replied the
Fresh. “ Get out the horses, boys, so as to be
all ready to start after I get through.”

‘ “ We will turn up the lane, then We will have
I a chance to talk without interruption,” said the
, veteran sport.

I “ All right.”

: So, while Dave Ringwood and Old California
! Joe proceeded to the corral, the Fresh and Doc
Moses went slowly up the lane.

“ Blake, I don’t know but what I am going to
‘ take a little bit of liberty with you. but, as an
old acquagiatanc‘e, I hope you will not mind it,”

n.

“ Oh, 110531 reckon not. You are too old
‘ a hagd, I take it, to do anything out of the
- wa
“ Did

 

 

you ever watch a game  chess or

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

_.,-....i..... »--.

 

WW5.- ‘. .ggéangmtz. .

 

 

 

The Fresh in Texas.

19

 

Can’t you see my fifty and go me ten better?

“ Of course.”

“ And did you ever remark that the lockers-
on generally see lots of good moves that the
players don’t?”

“ Oh. yes."

“Well, sometimes in this game of life which
we are playing, it is that way. Men who are
not Concerned see moves which the men who are
interested do not.”

“ I reckon I understand what you are driving
at,” the Fresh remarked. “ You see some
move which you think I ought to make, and
you have a suspicion that I am not aware of it.”

“ That is the idea to a hair!”

“ Well, I am not generally very short-sighted,
and, as a rule, I manage to see about all the
good moves on the board; still, it is possible
that some such move may-have escaped me,"
the Fresh replied, in a reflective sort of way.

“ It is none of m business, of course,” the
sport admitted. “ at as the move is a right
good one_I thought you ought to be posted in re-
gard to it, for I kinder have an idea that you
don‘t see it.”

“ Go ahead! you are too solid and square a
man to go into a thing without there was some-
thing in it,” Blake remarked.

“ Did you notice to—day that at the end of your
ught with the Frenchman—just us you laid him
out. one of the ladies in the circle fainted?”

" I knew there was a commotion in front, but
I didn’t know what caused it.”

“ The lady sat only a few seats from me so I
had a chance to see what the trouble was. It
was Miss Margaret Escobedo who fainted.”

C.Aiwslight shade came over the face of the Fresh
0 ‘ I'lSCl).

“ l‘ was not aware that she was present, and I
wonder at her being there too, for I know she
does not believe in attending any of these bar-
barous affairs, as Eastern people would be apt
to term such a show.”

“ Yes, I have heard that she objected to at-
tending bullvfights and sports of a like nature,
but she was there to—day, and I can tell you,
Blake, she did not enjoy it a bit: she. was as pale
as death and trembled like a leaf; she had a
friend with her—that Eastern girl who is paying
a Visit to her ranch, but though she too was ill
at ease, yet she did not betray the emotion that
the heiress of Escobedo did."

“ And I suppose you jumped to the conclusion
that the, girl was anxious about me!”

“ That was what I thought. She was afraid
you would get hurt in the fight, and yet, with
that moi-biliiess which seems to be so strong in
some natures, she could not resist the impulse
which bade her come and see the light. but when
it ended with your triumph, the strained nerves
could stand it no longer and she fainted.”

“I reckon, Doc, that you have got this thing
down as fine a; any medical sharp in the coun-
try could bring it.”

“ Yes, I rather pride myself on the fact that I
am a pretty good judge of human nature,” the
sport replied.

"' erll, from these facts what do you reckon?”

“To putit plainly, I reckon that the girl is
dead in love with 'you, and if you choose to
enter for the race, Margaret Escobedo, the
richest girl in all this part cf the country, and
finest and handsomest one. that I know of all
along the line of the Rio Grande, can be won by
you with very little trouble.”

“ Kind of a walk-over for me, eh?”

“ ’1 but is about the size of it.”

“ That 13 a mighty fine prospect.”

“ I never run across a finer!” Doc Moses (le-
clared emphaticall .

“ The girl is welfworth the winning if she did
not have a Single ducat at her back.”

‘f True, every Word of it!” Blake admitted.

“ £351? Wh?" you consider that she is jest roll-
ing in wealth—can put up the dollars with any
man or Woman in ahundred square miles—why,
she is a prize W011i}! any man’s while. And she
is yours. BIPIKB’ If you want her!" Doc Moses
declared. ‘ I feel uncertain of it as though the
girl had told me so With her own lips. All you
have t3 do is to enter the game and the stake is

ours.

“ That is a remarkably flue outlook eh?”

“ You bet!” cried the old sport. , ,

“ Well. 85 I mid 3791!, I am generally far-
sighted enough. and this move has not escaped
me. I have felt sure for quite a while now that
I stood a good_chance to win the lady if I chose
to enter the lists, but there are two or three
reasons which have prevented me from going
into the game,” the Fresh remarked slowly.

h of com-Se it is not pomiblo for me to look at
the matter from your stand int,” the veteran
s ort remarked, “ and there ore I am complete-
ly in the dark as to Your T935008. but as fares I
can see, you are Just the man to, go into the
scheme.’

u Doc as a, rule I am notin the habit of show.
in my and to any one,” the Fresh observed,
it fieafly an my life I have been so situated that
I have had to play a, lone hand, but in this case,
as I “0181,”, you are a friend of , mine, and as
you have taken the trouble to put me on the
scent of a Food thing, I Wlll explain why I have
held back. ’ I , -

“ Now, Blake, I dont want you to think that

 

I spoke about this matter with any idea of pry-
ing into your affairs!” the shar exclaimed.

" Oh, I understand that. on are not the
kind of man to worry yourself about what does
not concern you," the Fresh remarked. “ And
I have perfect confidence, too, that anything I
say to you will be strictly confidential.”

“ I will give you my word as to that,” the
other replied.

“Well, then, to come down to business, just
put yourself in my place—”

“ wish I could!” Doc Moses exclaimed.
“ You can bet all the diicats you can raise that
I Would go for that girl so quick that it would
make my head swim !”

“ Oh, no! Just think of the difference that
there is between a man such as I am, and 8. WO-
man such as she is.”

“ Well, you are not as well-fixed, of course,
but for that matter, there isn’t any other man
round here that is, either, and simply because
the girl is worth a few millions ought not to
make any difference.”

“ That is true enough, but I am not referring
to money.”

“ What are you driving at, then?"

“ The wide difference that there is in our
social positions,” the Fresh replied.

“ This girl. you must remember, is a well-
educated Easterner; one brought up where civi-
lization reigns; not a child of the wild and
woolly West."

“On, I understand that, of course,” the old
sport observed. “ She is a first-class lady, nary
discount on that—as does. one as ever struck
the. Rio Grande.”

“ Well, now, do you think I could pass muster
as a first-class gentleman?” Blake asked.

“ Why not?” the veteran demanded. “ I
reckon you Will fill the bill as well as an man
that can be scared up in this region, an I am
not flattering you a bit, either. when I say it. I
reckon I am a judge of the article, too, seeing
as how I have run a fare-game in almost every
 city clear from New York to the Golden
White.

“ Yes, you ought to know what you are talk-
ing about,” the Fresh observed.

“ I think myself that if I chose to brace up,
and have some style about me, to use our West-
ern saying, that I would be able to pass muster
in pretty decent society, but that don’t alter the
fact that in my time I have been a sharp of the
first water: in fact, at one period in m career,
on the Pacific Slope, I was so successfu in win-
ning the cash of the men who dared to wager
their ducats against mine that I have been
waited upon by deputations of the leading citi-
zens and politely requested to make it con-
venient to honor some other camp with my pre-
sence.”

“ Oh, that is nothing,” Doc Moses rejoined.
“ I have been run out of a dozen camps by the
Vigilantes myself, and I am sure I am none the
worse for it. Might few lucky sports will a
man strike in this estern country who can
boast that they haven’t run afoul of the Vigi-
lantes at some time in their careerS. It is a
penalty that a man is obliged to pay for being
an expert in his business. If you look at it in
the right light it is really a compliment.”

“ No doubt, no doubt, but the world at large
hardly considers it so,” the Fresh observed.

“ But to come back to our muttcn. One rea-
son why I do not go in for the heiress of Esco-
bedo is because of the bad record that I have,
and another—which may seem absurd to you—
is that I am not sure Whether I can content my-
self to settle down to a quiet, hum—drum life. I
have been quiet for two years now, and once in
a while the fever in my blood is so strong that
it seems as if I must resume my old life of ad-
venture again.”

“ I know how that is; I was like you when
I was your age, but time will alter that,” Doc
Moses obserVed, with the air of a sage.

“ Now, if you take my advice. you will not al-
low these things to trouble you, but go in and
mu the heiress There isn’t any society along
the Rio Grande that you can’t hold your own in,
particularly when you have the Escobedo wealth
at‘yiiug fliack.”

e ieve you are ri ht and I will tr the
rimel” the Fresh ext-lunged: y

“Good luck go with your game!” Dock Moses

cried, and they shook hands and parted.

 

CHAPTER XXVI.
ran msa TELLS ms son TALE.

J UST as the two men parted, Dave Ringwood
and Old California Joe came down the alley
with the homes.

“ Bards, I am a little puzzled about one thing.”
the Fresh observed when the others came up to
him.

“ What is it?” Ringwood asked? _
“ Spit her out. Cap!" Old California Joe ex-
claimed. . ~

“It is in regard to these two Cubans."

“ What of the n?” Ringwood questioned.

“ I am rather bothered in regard to how I
ought to act toward them,” the Fresh re.
marked. “ From what the Frenchman told
nae—and there is no doubt in my mind that he
did not speak a word outside of the truth—the

 

t

inference seems strong that these two fellows
sought to have me kil ed, and after their first
attempt resulted in a failure, they did their level
best to work the Frenchman up so that he
would be led to assassinate me when he got well
enough to attend to a job of that kind.”

“ I reckon there isn’t any mistake about that,”
Ringwood remarked.

“ Mistake about it—nary time!” the old moun-
tain-man exclaimed. “Why, it is as plain as
the nose on your face!”

“ As far as I know there is no reason why they
should want to go for me. for I have not trod—
den on the toes of either one of them to my
knowledge,” the Fresh remarked. “ But, as I
told you, I have a suspicion that they are the
agents of my old-time enemies, the brother and
sister whom I drove away.”

“ That seems to be the only reasonable ex-
planation,” Dave Ringwood observed.

“ It is jest like these ’tarnel Greasers!” Olil
California Joe exclaimed. “ I never met one of
’em yit that wasn’t u to all sorts of tricl“
They are as mean as a1 git out! The most ( ..
’em would a heap sight rather strike a man in
the back, or give him a lick in the dark, than
go in for a fair fight.”

“ Joe, you are utting it a little strong, yet
there is no don t that a great number of the
Mexicans are both treacherous and cowardly,”
Blake remarked.

That is my experience with them,” Davi
Ringwood observed. “ Of course on will find
good and bad men in every race, utas far as
my acquaintanco with the Mexicans goes. I have
been unlucky enough to meet a deuced sight
more bad men than good.”

“ To my notion the Greasers are a heap sight
like the Injuns,” Old California Joe declared.
“ The only good Injun is a dead Injun, and the
only good Mexican is a dead one.”

“ Ah, Joe, you are putting it a little too
strongly now,” the Fresh objected.

“ Not a mite!” the old mountain-man re ilied.
‘.‘ I reckon you don’t know the tribe as we] as I
do. Oh, you bet I know the Greasers from
’wa -back i”

‘ ’ell. to return to what I was saying," ob~
served the Fresh. “ I do not relish the idea
that there are a couple of fellows in this town of
El Paso who are ready to take a crack at me
whenever they get a chance, without being
obliged to show their hands.”

“ It is not pleasant,” Ringwood remarked.

“ You kin bet yer bottom dollar it ain’t!” Old
California Joe declared. '

" If the pair would come out openly, so as to
give me a chance at them, I would not mind.”
Blake observed. “ It is this work in the dark
that I object to. Of course, the only proof I
have that the pair did strike at me is the French~
man’s statement, so that I am rather in a quan-
dary. If I should attempt to bring them to a
reckoning b openly charging them with at-
tacking me, bringing forward the Frenchman’s
statement as proof, they undoubtedly would de-
clare that it was not true, and they would crawl
out of the matter by pretending that the only
reason they backed the Frenchman was because
they were anxious to see some sport.”

“ Well, the statement would appear probable,
for they would back it up by saying, ‘ Why
should we attack you? You are a stranger to
us, and we hav’n’t anything against you,’ ” Dave
Ringwood remarked.

“ Exactly, that would be their ame beyond a
doubt, and I could not prove t at they were
actuated by any malice against me,” the Fresh
responded.

“ Wa-al. I dunno,” said the old mountrin~
man, slowly; “ but it seems‘to me that if I had
a thing of this kind to work, that I would go
right at- it and take the bull by the horns, so to
speak, you know. If I s’picioned that this byer
pair of Cubans were a-trying to play roots on
me, I would jest make it my business to pick a
fuse with them—g’in ’em a chance, you know,
to come up to the captain’s office to settle.”

“ Yes, that idea occurred to me. and if I were
differently situated from the way I am I should
lose no time in forcing a quarrel open them,” the
Fresh rejoined, thoughtfully.

“ But there are good reasons for my not going
ahead in that way,” he continued. “ In the
first place, I am on my good behavior now, and
I do not want to have it said that I forced a

uarrel upon any one. Then again there is the
c ance that these Cubans would not be forced
into a fight, no matter how much I provoked
them.”

“That is true!” Dave Ringwood exclaimed.
“ I thought of that.”

“ That is so. sure as ye’r’ born!” the old scout
admitted. “ They might let on that you wasso
big a chief that they wouldn’t stand no show
with you, nohow, and allow that they would be:
couple of fools for to go into a skirmish when it
was a dead certainty that they would come out
losers.”

“ Joe has figured it up about right. I reckon,”
the Fresh said. “ At preseutI don’t see as there
is a chance for me to do anything. If the
Cubans don‘t want to fight I cannot very well
make them come up to the scratch. and any at-
tem t on my part to ore them into a light
wood make we seem ‘e adceporado.and

 

 

 

20'

have mighty good reasons just now for wanting
to appear at my best.”

“ As far as I can see, the only thing you can
do is to keep on the watch, and if the Cubans
try any more games you may be able to catch
them in such a way that they cannot get out of
it, and then you will be able either to make
them give you satisfaction or else force them to
dust out of El Peso,” Dave Ringwuod remark-

“ Yes, I must ride a waiting race this time,”
the Fresh coincided. “ And now let us be off
for home."

Five minutes later the arty were across the
Rio Grande, and well on t eir way.

There were few words spoken during the
homeward trip, for the Fresh was strangely rc—
served, seemin ly involved in meditation.

He contemp ted taking a step. which would
materially change the current of his life.

His mind was almost made up in regard to
the matter, but he resolved to take no step until
the morrow.

“I will sleep on it to-night, and then, if my
mind is still the same. in the morning I will try
my luck with the heiress of Escobedo,” he mur-
mured.

When the morning came the Fresh was up
bri ht and early.

is .mind had not changed during the night,
excepting that the resolution to woo, and if pos-
sible, win the beautiful heiress was stronger
than when he retired to rest.

After breakfast there were some matters ap—
pertaining to the ranch which required his at-
tention, and then be mounted his horse and rode
over to the Escobedo Ranch.

Fortune favored the Fresh, for he was lucky
enough to find Margaret alone: as a rule, the
heiress and her friend, Miss Melville, were sel—
dom apart.

That the heiress of Escobedo was pleased to
see her visitor, was apparent from the lad
li ht which shone in her eyes, and the bright
00 or comin up in her checks.

The Fres o ’Frisco was as abrupt and pe-
culiar in his love-making as he was in many
other respects.

He came at once to the errand upon which he
had ridden forth.

. “ Miss Escobedo, I have come over this morn-
ing to ask your opinion of me,” he said.
thA 19(1)): of amazement appeared on the face of

c 1r .

“ y opinion of you?” she asked.

“ Yes want to know what kind of a fellow
you think I am anyway?”

“ What an odd questionl”

“ It is a very important one to me, I assure
you, or else I would not trouble you with it.

mm the way you have always treated me, I
have been led to believe that when I come to
your ranch I am not an unwelcome guest.”

“ Indeed you are not unwelcome! Are on
not the man who once saved me from a ate
which to me would have been worse than
death?” Margaret exclaimed, with a sudden out-
burst. “ And while I live I shall never be able
to pay you for that service!”

‘ Oh, yes, you will; you can settle that ac-
count ver easily if you wish so to do.”

” Howl’ exclaimed Margaret, her face full of
astonishment.

“By giving me the right to protect you for
the rest of your life.” '

Up came the red blushes into the girl’s face
and down swept the lids over the glorious eves.

Shfitunderstood now what the Fresh of ’Frisco
sou .

, “ argaret, I love ou, will you be my wife?”
the suitor asked. y

' His strong arm was around her slender waist

and he clasped her hand in his.

“ Yes ” came the whispered reply.

And then, Blake drew the not unwilling mai-
den to his breast and imprinted upon her ripe,
red lips the seal of love.

It was not the first time that Jackson Blake
had won the affection of a young girl’s heart
and been made happy by her soft confession,
but this girl was so different from the rest that
he felt as he had never felt before.

.“ You will be mine then?” he said.

“Yes, but do not let us stay here,” she re-
plied. “I’ cannot hear this wild Western land;
carry me back to the quiet East where I can
live in .”

“ All right, I will do so,” the Fresh declared.
the idea striking him as being an exceedingly

one. «

In the East, far from the scenes wherein he
had played so prominent a part, he could carve
outanew life; there would be nothing in the
East to remind him of the turbulent past.

And now we will leave the lovers to whisper
those soft nothings which are so much to them
and so little to others, and turn our attention
elsewhere. .

 

CHAPTER XXVII.
nonn- rwrrme.

' Two more disgusted and disappointed men
than the Cubans, as they made their way from
the Frenchman’s room to the saloon of the Hotel

0

 

The Fresh in Texas.

I

Mexico, could hardly have been found in the 1
town of El Paso.
After entering the saloon they made their 1
way to a couple of chairs at the extreme end of l
the room, remote from the door, and sat down, '
in this position they could converse freely, l
for they Were some distance from the bar, near !
which the loungers in the saloon usually gath- l

ered.

“ Well, what do you think of the outlook l
now?” Gomes asked, after they were seated. l

“ Very bad, indeed,” Esparto replied, with a |
shake of the head.

“ Yes, no doubt about that. We need not ex-

t anything more from the Frenchman.”

“ That is true,” Esparto coincided. “ Thanks
to the money that this American has raised for
him he is independent. He would be a fool in-
deed to remain here for the purpose of killing
the men who has x‘lrovirled him with the money
to pay me bills and lake him to his home.”

“ And this Frenchman is no fool, although
we did succeed in getting him to do our work,” l
Gomes remarked, with a wise shake of the 
head.

“ Ah, but that was because he had no idea he I
could find on man in an out of-the-way corner 1
of the world ike this who would be able to stand '
against him in a sword-fight.

“It was a very natural mistake for a man to
make,” Esparto continued. “ And I do not ‘
wonder that the Frenchman jumped to the con-
clusion that he had an easy task before him,
particularly as he knew nothing about the man
whom he was to encounter.

“ Pray take into consideration that you, who
knew what the Fresh of ’Frisco is, thought the
Frenchman would succeed in killing him.”

“ Very true,” Gomes admitted. “ But it was
because I thought that in a sword fight he would E
be taken at a decided disadvantage, although I !
knew he was skillful enough With ordinary ?
wea ons.”

“ ome of these Americans are regular de-
mons!” Es arto declared.

“ This resh of ’Frisco certainly seems to
have more luck than usually falls to the lot of a
human,” Gomes remarked.

“ He is both shrewd and daring and that has .
as much to do with his success as luck, I think,”
EBparto answered.

“ Possibly, but he is lucky, too ” the other
persisted. “ Now. see in this case: If he had not
taken it into his head to collect this money, the
Frenchman would have been forced to rely upon
us, and there is no doubt that when he recov-
ered from his wound, we could have persuaded
him to play the bravo and assassinate the ‘
Fresh.”

“Yes, I think myself there was a chance that .
we could have werked the game in that way,” '
Esparto observed, reflectively. “ But that is all
knocked in the head now.”

“ Oh, yes, we cannot calculate upon the
Frenchman to do anything more,” Gomes re-
marked.

“What do you think about this matter?” ex-
claimed Esparto, abruptly. “ What induced
Blake to bother himself about raising the
money?”

“ Satan knows!” Gomes declared, with a
shake of the bead. “ It was merely one of those ,
wild ideas that these Americans are apt to get. i
They are a nation of maniacs, and it is almost ,
impossible for any one to guess in advance what ‘
mad things they will do, next.”

“ I do not agree with you there—not inregard '
to this case.” Esparto observed, slowly.

“ No? You do not?”

Es arto shook his head.

“ What do you think, then?”

“ The suspicion has come into my head that it
is no wild freak—no act done on the spur of the
moment.”

“ What then i”

“It was carefully calculated.”

“ But I do not understand."

“ I think that Blake has a suspicion that we
are interested in the matter,” Esparto replied.

.“ Well, we certainly volunteered tosecond the
Frenchman, but there wasn’t anything out of
the way in that,” Gomes urged.

“Certainly not! If we were in truth total
strangers to the man, as we were supposed to
be, we might. under the circumstances, have ‘
volunteered to assist him, he being a stranger
to El Paso like ourselves, but from the manner
in which Blake watched us when the man went
around with the hat the idea came to me that he
sus ted us.”

‘ Of what—suspected of what—that we set the,
Freghrnpn on him?” Games inquired.

es

!
l
l
l
l,
l
i
l
i

 

“ But I do not see how he could suspect us!”
the other exclaimed. “I am sure waplanned '
the scheme with wonderful skill. Even the
Frenchman himself could not say that we nixed
him or hired him to make the attack; we me 1y
suggested that as the Fresh was a man with a
great reputation as a fighter there was a chance
for him to make some money by engaging in a
contest with Blake.”

“Ah, yes, that is all true enough i” Esparto
exclaimed, impatientl , “ but now you are not
giving Blake credit or possessing the shrewd~
ness with which undoubtedly be is gifted. In

 

some way—how, of course, I know not—he has

I sme t out the trap, and his collecting the money

for the Frenchman was a cunning device to ~ at
him out of the way, so that we would not be a 10
to use him for a tool any more.”

Gomes pondered over the matter for a mo-
ment.

“ Upon my word! I don't know but what you

. are right,” he said at last. “Your wits were

always keener than mine and I should notbe
surprised if you have hit upon the truth."

“I am satisfied of it; although beyond the
fact of the Fresh interesting himself in collect—
ing this money, and the peculiar way in which
he kept his eyes upon us when his pard came
around with the hat, I have not anything to go
upon.

“In some way the suspicion came to the Fresh
that we were the instigators of the attack, and
he reasoned that when the Frenchman recover-
ed he would be here without friends or money,
entirely dependent upon us, and in such a con-
dition Would be apt to be ready to go into any
desperate Scheme, and so he uietly said to him-
self, ‘ i will act upon the o d Spanish proverb
and build a bridge of silver for a flying enemy,’
therefore he raised the money so the French-
man could de rt.”

“ Yes, yes, Iiflthink you are right!” Gomes ex-
claimed. “ And now we must be on our guard.”

“ ainst an attack from the Fresh?”

“ es, you know him of old; he is not the
man to keep quiet if he thinks any one is trying
to injure him. He is one of the kind who be-
lieves in carrying the war into an enemy’s ter-
ritoi’iy.”

“ hat used to be true of him, but, according
to the reports, he has been remarkably quiet
during this last year,” Esparto remarked. .

“ From what the say it would seem that he
has taken particu ar care to keep out of all
quarrels in place of rushing into them as he
used to o.” i

“ Degenerated down into a respectable citi-
zen !” exclaimed Gomes, with a sneer.

“And can you not comprehend the reason?”
Esparto remarked.

“ Oh, yes, it is a part of his game to win the
heiress of Escobedo!” Gomee replied, an angry
frown darkening his face. “ But I swear he
shall never do that while I live! I would sooner
kill the girl with my own hand!”

“ It may come to that yet,” Esparto remark—
ed. " But time will tell.’

“Yes; it is our game, of course, to remove
the Fresh, but sooner than see him in ion
of the Escobedo property I would kill the heir-
ess herself."

“ I hope it will notbe as bad as that; but now
let us look ahead 8. little. Suppose my suspicion
is correct that Blake looks u n us as the in-
stigntors of the attack upon im and endeavors
to call us to an account?”

“ Oh, we Will not allow ourselves to be drawn
into a quarrel!” Gomes replied, with a crafty
smile. “ And even a wild and reckless fellow
like the Fresh will find it hard to have a diffi-
cult with men who will not resent afl’ronts.”

“ es, that is our game,” Esparto observed,
after reflecting about the matter for a few mo-
ments. “ It is useless for us to think of getting
the best of a dare devil like this Fresh of ’Frisco
in an open fight. He would conquer us beyond
a doubt. Our only hope is to encompass his
death by some secret means.”

“ There is an old aging that when a man has
evil work on hand, tan always sends some
tool to do the job,” Gomes observed. “ But in
this matter, his sable Highness is not favoring
us, for though we have murder in our hearts,
yet no proper instrument appears.”

“ Oh,‘ he will come in time,”E rto assented.
“ In such a town as El Paso there mustbe plenty
of men who would be glad to do our work, if we
could only find them.”

Hardly had the words been uttered when the
door of the saloon was thrown open with a bang,
and into the place came a big, brawny fellow,
with long, black hair and a matted heard of the
same hue.

He was dressed like a 00wa , and carried a
fine array of weapons in his be t.

Stalkin up to the her, he threw a gold-
piece on t e counter, following it up with a hang
of his fist on the board which made the glans
rattle. ' t

“ Thar’s a gold sawbuck for you, an’ I wants
pint of blood!”

This astonishing announcement drew the at-
tention of everybody in the place.

“ Ten good solid dollars in this hyer bit of
gold,” the stranger continued, “ and 1 don’t set
no more value onto ’em than if they were so
many hits of copper!”

And after this declaration the speaker glared
around him, as if for the purpose of seeing if
there was anybody in the room who had any
idea of disputing this statement.

“I’m the kin of the cowboys, and you kin
bet all your soil wealth on it, too! I ride on
the lightning. turn my cows with a thunder-
clap. and drink fire!

“ Set ’em up now, harkeep"- a pint of blood
for Jim Bull—Wild Bull of the Feces, the big-

est man thar is to-day in this hyer State at

ens, bar none!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Fresh in Texas:

21

 

 

 

“ Satan has answered our prayer!” Esparto
exclaimed, in the ear of omes. “Here is the
man who can be got to fight the Fresh of
’Frisco!”

 

CHAPTER XXVIII.

m WILD BULL OF THE PEOOS.

"‘ I an very sorry, but we are out of gore
‘ust now,” remarked Billy Long, the affable
bartender of the Hotel Mexico Saloon, betray-

in no more surprise at the odd demand than
if it was a common thing for stran ers to stalk
into the saloon and call for a drinko the human
lifecurrent.

“ What do you mean by gore?” the burly
fellow demanded, with a scowl. “ It was a pint
of blood that I axed you for.”

“ Oh, yes, exactly; we have jest run out of
that too, although in a first-class bar-room like
this hyer we generally calculate to keep on hand
about everything that a customer is likely to
ask for.”

“ Do you call this a firstclass bar?” exclaimed
the stranger, with a snarl like a wild beast.

The experienced bartender saw the fellow was
inclined to be ugly and that it was necessary to
handle him with caution.

“ Well, what I mean, is first class for this sec-
tion of country, on know,” Billy Long hastened
to explain. “ A ong the Rio Grande, of course.
we can’t hold a candle to the saloons in the big
cities.”

“ Wa-al, I reckon you kin not, and that is
the sort cf thin that I have been used to, you
bet yer boots!” t a stranger exclaimed.

“ Of course, anybody could see that with half
an eye!” the barkeeper replied. “Now, if you
wanted whisky, or brandy or gin, or any of the
common drinks, I reckon we can accommodate
you to the queen’s taste.”

“ How’s yer whisky?" rowled the big fellow.

“ It is est big I” ejacu ated the bartender. “I
will bac it ag’in’ an bug-juice that kin be
scared up along the hul line of the Rio Grande l”

“ Will it burn all the wa down?” the cow-
boy demanded, with a fearfu scowl.

“ Well, now, you kin bet it will!” the genial
Billy replied. “ It is the kind of stuff wan
ranted to warm up the cockles of a man’s heart.

“ Why, I have known a man to get drunk in
hyer on Monday and not git sobered up for
.three days!”

“ That is it,” the stranger exclaimed. “ That
is the kind of stqu I am looking for. Give me
about a quart of it."

With a flounsliglhe bartender set a bottle and
glass on the coun .

The cowboy filled the glass to the very brim
with the whisky, then drank it at a single swal-
low.
“ Aha!" he exclaimed smacking his lips,
“that is retty fair stu , but I have drank a
heap sight better. It don't take hold and twist
a man‘s innards the way it on ht to. Hain‘t you

somethin with a hea sig t more liquid fire
into it than is week at i”

“I see, I see! I understand what you want,”
the barkeeper exclaimed, aflecting to be very
muc interested in the matter. ‘ You want a
drin which will kinder give you the idea
that it is a torch-light processmn goin down.”

“ That’s itl that's itl” the big ellow ex-
claimed. “ Now you hit me where I live when
you say that!”

“ Well, stranger, I am jest the man that kin
fix up a drink of that kind for you,” the bard
keeper exclaimed. “ Jest lemme mix'you a red-
. hot cocktail, and if it don't suit, then I’ll stand
treat for the hull gang.”

“Wa-al, I don’t go much on mixed drinks,"
the cowboy said. “ But seeing as how you seem
to know what you are talking about, I will let
you wade in.”

The barkeeper was an old hand at the busi-
ness: 393," 0‘ experience on the frontier had
taught him how to deal with customers of this

In I

He proceeded to compound a drink, using all
the liquors at his command first utting at the
bottom of the glass a good dash of cayenne pep-

r.
peIt was a do” well calculated to blister the
throat of an ordinary man, and although it was
the cowboy’s boast that his threat was lined
with copper, yet the fiery mixture made him
wince, and caused the tears tooome into his eyes
as be swallowed it.

In a bravado spirit he had downed the glass at

one ul .
“ gov}: is that. pardl Does that go to the
right spot?” inquired the bartender with a grin,
as he noticed the effect produced by the potent
dr‘a‘n  kin bet {at life that ar’ cocktail is red
hot, and no mists 9!” the stranger declared.

“ But I am t the man who kin at away
with sich stu as that and don’t ou urget it!
I am a chief, I aml The biggest c ief that ever
struck this town of El Pasol I chew meat and
live on b’srl If you have 8011 a!) fighting men
around this burg I would 160th e to have you
trot ’em out, sol kin have a c to .1”
1meme”) who (i the declaration the big (.110.

me e
tanned ahis hack to the bar, threw out his ma...

 

sive chest, stretched his long arms, and cast a
look of defiance around him.

“ Do you hear me, you'El Paso men, it is my
horn w’at is a-blowin’ 1'” he continued.

“ I am a warrior and a bad man from way-
back, and I am jest hungry for a chance to
chew some one up! It don t matter the wag of
a goat’s tail to me who it is, white or black, red
or yeller; I am auybody’s antelope w‘at wants
to o inter this hyer cowtillion l”

t was a bold defiance—as hold a oneas had
been given in the old town of El Paso for manya
dav, and yet, although there were in the room a
ha tea—dozen men who were renowned as fighters
none of them manifested any idea of coming
forward, and taking up the stranger’s challenge
and thus maintaining the honor of tho town.

It was not strange though, for the cowboy
had all the appearances of being an extremely
ugllf' customer.

e was an unusually big fellow, and, not
withstanding his size, seemed to be as active
and quick as an'ordinary man.

Then, too, althou h this was his first appear-
ance in the town of 1 Paso, yet he was not un-
known, for his reputation had preceded him,
and there wasn‘t a man in the room who did
not understand that a challenge from such a
warrior as this meant a combat to the death.

It would be no ordi boxing match, but a
blood contest where the ives of both the actors
woul be put in peril.

Therefore the bullies of El Paso shrunk from
the encounter.

Perceiving that no one moved to accepthis
challenge the cowboy proceeded to express his
opinion in regard to the El Paso men.

“ Wa-al, wa-al, durn me if this don’t beat my
time i” he exclaimed. “ Why, what sort of a-
town have you got hyer anyway? Is this El
Paso or ain't it? I never was hyer before, but
I have allers heard that El Paso was a right
smart town and that if a man wanted fun he
could find as much of it to the square inch as
in any other town along the Rio Grande!

“ Say, pard, w’ot has got inter yer burg?”
he addressed the question directly to the bar-

keeper.

“Well, El Paso is pretty live] as a rule,”
Billy Long replied. “ And men w 0 come hyer
arter fun generally succeed in getting all they
want, but, really, the town seems to be kinder
quiet ust now.’ ,

“ ope I ain‘t scared them clean out of thar
bootsl” the cowboy exclaimed with a in.

“I reckon you have kinder bind the town
thou h,” the barkeeper admitted.

“ a-al, I am sorry for it," the strap er re-
marked with a solemn wag of theh , “ for
blumng is not my best halt. Thar ain‘t an brag
about me. I am the good, old, solid ho dfast,
and you won’t find any better man than me
totleto clear from the Mexican Gulf to the
Rocky Mountains. I am the clear white article
and no mistake! '

“ Sorr I ain't able to skeer up a little fun in
er rane , but I will be in to see you ag’in afore
leave town; so-long!”

Then the cowboy gathered up the change
which the bartender had placed upon the counter
and stalked from the saloon, all within the place
gazing after him.

The Cubans approached the bar.

“ That fellow is a decided character,” Gaines
remarked.

“Gentlemen, you would be safe in betting
agrzgu are worth onto it l” Billy Long de-
0

“I rather think he would be a troublesome
customer in a fight,” Esparto observed.

Oh, ea, you bet he would l" the barkee'per
declar , emphatically. “Thar is not a man
that I know of along the Rio Grande whom I
would not rather see come into any place that
I was running than that same cowboy, for when
Penis’pn a tear he is jest as ugly as they make
e

‘: Ah, you know the man then?" Gomes in-

quired.

~“ 0h, es, I have heern tell on him a hundred
times, a though I never saw him before!” the
barkeeper rep ied.

“ Why, gents, do you s’pose I would have stood
any sich c in mumc as he gave me from an or-
dinary man? Well, now, you had better'be ieve
I wouldn’t! No, siree, hoes-fl , nohowl I
would have pulled my n on im and made
him slip away from this yer bar!"

And in order to give due emphasis to the
declaration the barkeeper roduced a big re-
volver which was on a sma l shelf, underneath
the bar, convenient to his hand.

“ You were all ready for war, I see,” Gomes
remarked.

“ Yes. sir, you bet your sweet life I aml And
this is the way I am fixed all the time tool”
Bill Long declared. “ I haven’t joggled lasses
beh nd a counter for twenty years for no hing!
I knew the man the moment e showed his nose
in the doorway, and a worse galoot than he is
when he goes in to paint a town red don't exist.
And that is the reason why I was mild and easy
with him. He is a terror! I heard of a fuss he

ct into down at Laredo once and he Iaidout
ante“ men, single-handed. '
He is a bloodthirsty rooster, don’t you see,

\

 

and when he gits into a difficulty allers goes in
for to kill his man i” ,

“ A dangerous customer 2” Gomes remarked.

“ Yes, he is jest the man to keep clear of when
he is on the rampage l” the barkeeper declared.

“ I supppose as the man is eager fer a fight
that he wi i be able to find some one to accom-
modate him in El Paso.”

“I dunno,” Billy Long responded with a du-
bious shake of the head. “ Unless he strikes a
stranger w’ot never heerd onto him I reckon he
won’t."

“ I must take a look and see how he eta on,”
Gomes remarked and then the two Cu as fol-
lowed the big Cowboy.

CHAPTER XXIX.
ARRANGING THE nun.

WHAT do you think of this fellow!” Gomes
asked, after he and his companion had reached
the street.

“ Just the man, I should imagine, to do the
work which we want done,” E re ' .

“ So it appears to me; he is a bully and a des-
perado of the first water.”

“ Oh, yes, undoubtedly; an entirely different
man from the Frenchman.”

“ This follow will not be apt to be troubled
with any foolish notions in regard to fair play.
If we approach him in the right way and make
it an object for him to attack the Fresh, he will
do his best in the matter without troubling his
head as to whether he gives his man a fair
chance for his life or not.”

“ Yes, and that is the kind of follow we want.
With such aman as the Fresh, it is not wise to
stand upon ceremony,” Esparto remarked.

“ Decidedly not.”

The pair were proceeding down the plans in
the direction of the United States Hotel, the
cowboy having gone in that direction, and in
the saloon of the hotel t y found the stranger.

He had gone through t esame rformance as
at the Hotel Mexico, and BigJ e, the proprie-
tor of the saloon, who hapfpmed to be presiding
over the bar, had been per ectly astonndedwhen
the rough fellow called for blood with as little
ceremony as though the crimson fluid was on
tap at every bar in El Paso.

he jolly Dutchman soon com rehended,
though. what kind of a custouier he , and so
exerted himself to be able, as he did not
want any trouble in his pica.

But thecowbo was bent on war, and speedily
expressed his op nion' that there wasnot a man
in the town of El Paso with “ sand” enough to
fight him.

But it was as the ‘genial Billy Long of the
Hotel Mexico had sai , the 00wa was known,
and if few of the “rounders” in a town had
met him, nearly all knew by reputation of the
Wild Bull of the Pecos, and the men who had
neither met or heard of him, and who might
have felt disposed to acce t his challenge for the
honor of the town, were eterred by the appear
ance of the boasting stranger.

Therefore the cowboy was no more successful
in gettin a man to quarrel with him in the
second con than he had been in the first.

His disgust was great, and he did not hesitate
to express it in the most emphatic tones.

The Cubans remained in the background, lis-
tening intently to the cowhoy’s blustering, and
when he left the saloon they followed him into
the street, being ri ht on his heels.

After gaining t e street, the cowboy hesi«
tated for a moment, as though uncertain where
to o, and Gomes improved the opportunity to
ad ress him.

“ I think, stran r, that you are going to hint!
the town,” the Cu n remarked.

The cowboy took a good look at the two,
and thené‘ferceiving that they were gentlemen,
and look like foreigners, indulged in a good.
natured grin.

“ Wa-al now, durn my cats! ef it don’t look
that way!” he exclaimed.

“It certainly appears so,” Gomes remarked.
“ And I must con ess I am rather astonished at
it, too, for I had an idea that El Paso boasted
about its fightin men but you certainly lnve
backed them all own te-nig t."

“ Wa-al, I reckon I did chip in pretty strong,
and it is sart’in that I hain‘t run across any one
yet with sand enuf! to take up in bluff, and I
am mighty sorry ’bout it too, or I am jest
yearning for a little fun. I ain’t had a skirmish
for ’bout a week and I am afeard I will git rusty
if I don’t scare upa fight with some onesocn.”

“ I do not believe that you are likel to be
accommodated,” Esparto remarked. “ e fact
is the people of this town know you, and they
are not anxious to run up against a cyclone.”

Again the cowboy grinned, his vanity tickled
by t e compliment.

“ I don’t see how that kin be,” he said. “How
kin the sports of El Paso know me, seeing as
how this is the fu’st time I ever struck the
“if”; k b n.»

ey now you y utation well enoug ,
Gomes explained. mp
“ Oh, yes, I see, and the moment I spit out my

handle, he hull town drogped onto me.
hadall heered of the Wild ullofthePeccs,
were a leetle sheared to tackle him."

 

  

"’22

“ Yes, that is almost the idea of it,” Gomes re- j
‘ and the big cowboy repe
you say this cuss had a ranch "

marked. _
“ Wa—al, r’ally, pards, I feel kinder sad ’bout

this hyer matter,” the big fellow remarked in a
reflective sort of way.

i

“If things - got to ;

sich a pass that the moment I strike l. strange ;
town and s it out my handle all the boyees are .

going to ght shy of me, I won’t be able to
amuse myself at all.”

“ I think that is about the way the matter
stands,” Gomes observed.

“ No doubt about it!" Esparto exclaimed.
“ Your ropination as a warrior is so great that
all the fighting men in El I’aso are afraid to
meet you.”

“ Too bad! too bad l” the cowboy cried, with
a melancholy shake of the head. " A nrl do you
Nelly reckon, sports, that thar isn’t a man in El

The Fresh in Texas.

——-a domed funny one too, the Fresh of ’Frisco,”  ful since he has taken up his uarters in this
ated the name over, 2 section, but circumstances have avored him; it

slowly. “ Did

down the river?’
6‘ Yes 77

is the chance of fortune more than his own
abilities he has to thank.”
“ Yesb, yesb, maybe,” replied the Jew, again

“ But' that ’ar handle sounds a mighty sight I shrugging his shoulders as much as to say that

more like a sport than a rancher.”

“ That is what this man used to be, a regular
gambling sharp, but now he is running a
ranch.”

“ ’Tain’t a good outlook, pards,” the big fellow

' exclaimed, With a solemn shake of his big head.

“ Some of these gambler sports are the hardest
kind of nuts to crack, but he is my mutton when

; I run across him.

" I reckon I will hang out at the Hotel Mexico

' myself, and then I will be sure to meet him:

Paso with sand enough for to stand up for his ‘

tOWni” _ '

“ Well, now I ome to think of it, there is one
man who woul be apt to give you a fight if
you happened to run across him,” Gomes replied
after having apparently reflected over the mat-
ter for a few moments.

“ Shoi you don’t say so!” cried the cowboy,
delighted at the information.

“ Yes, there is a man who would be retty
certain to take up your challenge,” ‘omes
continued.
and no one has ever yet made him take water.”

“ That is jest the kind of ,a galoot that I am
looking for!” exclaimed the big fellow.

“ He is the big chief of El Paso, j
= will know no peace until he has tested the prow—

’sides I am kinder hankering for another one of
those dandy drinks. So-loug, I’ll see you ag’in!”
And the cowboy started up the plaza, toward
the Hotel Mexico.

CHAPTER XXX.
THE JEw’s WARNING.

THE Cubans strolled slewly along up the
plaza, following in the footsteps of the cowboy,
and watched him until he entered the saloon of
the Hotel Mexico.

“ So far so good 1” exclaimed Gomes, exulting-
ly. “ He has taken the bait, and now his soul

‘ ess of the Fresh of ’Frisco.”

“Ii

would not give two cents to back up ag‘in’ any 5

common cuss: it is a big chief that I am a-
huntin arter."

“ We I, this man will certainly fill the bill,
for so far he has got away with every fighter
who has dared to face him.” -

“ You are speaking of Blake, I suppose?” Es-
Karto remarked at this point, speakin as though

o had been puzzling over the idengity of the ;

part . _
“ es, he hada sword-fight with a French-

man to-day and succeeded in laying out his man ;

without an trouble,” .Gomes observed. And
then he relaled the particulars of the fight, not
forgetting to state that 9. 00d many of the El
Pasoites expected that t e Frenchman would
prove the Victor on account of his being an ex-
pert swordsman.

The cowbo shook his head.

“ Durned iI I would like any sword fight in
mine!” he exclaimed, ,

“ I reckon that this hyer Blake, as you call
him, made "a better show than I should, and

, from w’ot you say it ’pearsto me that he must

be a furst-class man."

“ So El Paso thinks,” Gomes replied.

"' Perhaps it was just as well that you did not
run across him today,” Esparto suggested, shy-

y“ Oh, come, none at that!” the big cowboy
exclaimed. “ Don’t you try to poke any fun at
me, ’coo I won’t have it.” , ~

" I meant no oifense I am sure,” Eaparto has-
tened to say. I . '

“ That is all right, pard, I ain’t thin-skinned
and kin take a joke as well as any man, as long
as it ain’t put on too thick. I an’t no frag-
oater and ain’t got no idea of fooling with to -
stickers; revolvers and bowie-knives are my
we’pons and with them I don’t fear no man
w’ot walks on top of the airth. I am good for
this hyer Blake, and I am jest hungry for to git
at him. Whar does he hang out?"

“ Oh he does not live in El Paso, but on a
ranch own the Rio Grande,” Gomes replied.

“ gut you say he flt hyer in the bull-ring to-

day

“ Yes, that is true, but he is not in town now,
having gone home,” said the Cuban.

“ Then I can’t get at him?"

“ Not until to-morrow.”

“ I will wait; you kin bet yer bootson that!
But is he sart’in to be liyer to-morrow?”

“ Oh, yes,” Gomes replied, promptly, having
made n his mind to devise some trick by means
of whic Blake could be lured to El Paso.

“ Whar does he ginerally hang out when he is
in town?”

“ Well, the Hotel Mexico is usually his head-
quarters.” .

“ That’s the sheban whar the tumbler-jug-
gler fixed up that dan y drink for me, I reckon,”
the cowboy observed. “ You kin bet yer boots
it was hot, and it took hold all the way down.”

f‘ That is the Hotel MeXico,” Gomes answered.
“ We were in then when you came in.”

“ And , on think that it will be sart’in sure
that this lake will come to El Paso to-rnorrow?”
the cowboy asked.

“ Oh, yes, hardly a doubt about it.”

“ And he is counted the best man in El Paso?"

‘f Well, he has Succeeded in getting away with

every man who has tackled him so far; every'

opedin the town will tell you that,” Gomes re-
p 1e .

“ Oh, by long odds he is the biggest chief that
El Paso can bcast!” Espal'to. declared. “ Ask

anybody you like and they will tell you so; the
champion of the town is this same Jackson
Blake, the Fresh of ’Frisco. as he is called.” ,

“ Shel is that his handle?”

The Cubans nodded.
\ “Wa-al, I must say it is a right smart name

“ Yes; the train is laid, and all that is needed
to fire it is the appearance of Jackson Blake in
El Paso.” Esparto observed.
matter to be arranged? The Fresh may not
come to town for a week.”

“I have thought of a plan; it came to me
while I was talkin with the cowboy, and that
was why I assur him that Blake Would be
pretty certain to come to El Paso to-morroiv.”

“ I see; you havea scheme in your mind to
brin him here.”

“ es; and it will work. too, undoubtedly,
if we can only get the old Jew pawnbrokei' to
aid us."

“You can arrange that all right, if there

' isn’t any risk and you ay the old rascal a good

 

price for his trouble,” sparto remarked.

“ We will see him at once and arrange the
matter!” Gomes exclaimed. '

Then the two proceeded to the abode of the
old Jew. ‘

They gained an entrance, after Solomons
went through the usual ceremony of ascertain—
ing wlho it was that applied for admission at his
porta .

“ Ah, my tear fr’ents, I am glad to see
the pawnbroker' remarked, as he usher
visitors into his reception-room.

“ I say, dot leetle job did not work' today,
eh!” he continued, wagging his head in a know-

ing way.

” What job?” Gomes asked. '

“ Dot one you put up on der Fresh,” replied
the ancient Hebrew, with a wink. “ Ah, it was
a nice job, but it did not work. Oh, my tears,
did I not tell you dot der Fresh ish a devil of a
man?” '

“ Why should you think that we had anything
to do with the matter?” ESparto asked.

“ Oho, mine goot fr’ents, on must not think
I have lived mid der worl all this time for
nothing!" the old Jew exclaimed. “Oh, no; I
can smell der rat as far as the next man. Der
moment I heard dot dot Fresh was to fight mit
swords in der bull-ring mit a stranger, I said to
mineself: ‘ Aha, mine Cuban fr’ents are at der
bottom of dot !’ ” I

“ You are good at guessing,” Gomes re-
marked.

“Oh, yesh; I am nobodr’s fool; all der boys
will tell you dot,” old So omens replied, com-
placeutly. ,

“ The Fresh certainly proved the victor.”
Gomes admitted.

“ I tell you it ish no use for you to try to hurt
dot man?” exclaimed the pawnbrokcr, shaking
his head in a decided manner. “ He ish a lucky
mans; eVerythin goes well mit him. and many
years ago I foun out that it ish not wise to at-
tack one ot dose lucky men: a man cannot make
anything by a game like dot.”

“ Seine so—called lucky men meet with-terrible
disasters once in a while,” Esparto observed,
tartly.

The old Jew took a good look from under his
bushy (ayebrows at the speaker, and then shook
his hen .

“ Yosh, yesh, dot ish so,” he replied. “ Dot
ish true, every Word of it, but when dose lucky

on,”
the

men meet mit a fall it is because their time has .
l “ Der Fresh has not been whipped

come; the men who hate them have nothing to
do mit it.”

“ Then on, think that this Jackson Blake is
such a liic y man that we cannot possibly harm
him, no mattvr how carefully we arrange the
scheme?" Gomes said.

The old Jew shrugged his shoulders.

“ Oh, well, perha .s I ought not to put dcr case i
as strong as that, ’ the pawnbrokwr replied. ;

“ But if I was a betting mans, mv goot fr’en’s——
which I am not—-—I would bet all mine monish
on der Fresh.”

“ You are overrating the man !” Esparto ex-
claimed. “ He certainly has been quite success

“ But how is that .

l

 

he did not believe it. “ It is hard work in such
a matter to decide sliust how der trick is done,
but there is no mistake dot der Fresh has come
out on der top of der heap, every time! Maybe
it was all in k, maybe not, but I can tell you
one thino‘, mine good fr’en’s, I will not buck
ugigi’l’lst der Fresh of ’F‘risco if I know mine.
se .

Gomcs laughed outright at this declaration.

“ Why you laugh?” inquired the old Jew.
“ You vant to make game of me, eh?”

“Oh, no, but the idea came into my mind
that, it reports do not do you injustice, you are

not the kind of man who bucks against any-.-

body,” the Cuban replied. “You always play
a sate game; you remain in the. background,
and allow some one else to do the bucking,”

Tlie pawnbi‘oker gave utterance to a low, cun-
ning laugh.

“ Vol], vell, my tear, I guess dot is dcr safest
kind of game to lay!” he exclaimed.

“ You evidentfv believe so, for that is your
rule always,” Gomes remarked. “ But now to
come. to business: there is a little service which
we want you to do for us.”

“ Of course. illll‘iC goot fr’cn’s, I shall be glad
to acrommooate you.”

“ It is necessary for a certain purpose of ours
to have the Fresh of ’Frisco come to El Paso to-
morrow.” '

‘ ‘ 'l‘o—m orro w?”

“ Yes, and as there is no prospect that he will
come of his own adcc rd, he must be brought
here in some way.”

“ You got some nice leetle trap to
him when he does come, eh?” inqun
J aw, in an extremely suspicious manner.

“ There isn’t any ira , as far as we are con-
cerned,” Gomes repli . “ We have never
taken any open stand against the Fresh, and we
do not propose to begin now. The fact is, my
dear Solomons, we are playing your game. lVe
keep in the background, and allow some one
else to do the work.

“ If the Fresh comes to El Paso to-morrow,
he will be apt to meet a man who thinks he can

at away With him; it will all be just by acci-
ent. you understand.”

The old Jew nodded sagely, and then chuckled,
for a trick of this kind was exactly to his hu-
mor.

“ Yesb, yesh, I see, and neither of you two
will have anything to do mit it?”

“ Certainly not i” Games declared. " We will

ring on
the old

probably be in the neighborhood, though, when

the thing occurs, so as to see the fun.”

“Ah, yesh, yesh, if der Fresh is in it there
will be fun, you may shut bet your life on dot l”
the old Jew decla .

“The man of whom I speak is a stranger to
El Paso and has taken up his quarters at the
Hotel exico; he is a cowboy. and flutters him;
self that he is a big chief ; he has been informed
that Jackson Blake is the best flghtin man that
this section can boast—the acknowle god cham-
pion of all this countr adjacent to the Rio
Grands—and he is eager see if the Fresh is as
good a man as rumor reports.”

“ Air, yesh, dot is a nice scheme, and you have-
worked it beautifully,” and the old Jew wagged
his head in an approving manner.

“ It ish all by accident, of course, dot this
mans has heard of der Fresh, but, my cot
f’ren’s. you mark my words, dot devil of a 13 aka
will et away mit him.”

“ e may and he may not. for this stranger is
a ton h customer,” Gomes replied.

“ e has been trying to have a fight ever since
he struck the town.” Esparto obsched; “ but
his appearance is such that no one is willing to
face him.”

“ Oho, dot vns strange,” the pawnbroker com-
mented. “Who vas he?”

“He is a cowboy, and he calls himself the
Wild Bull of the Pecos,” Gomes replied.

“Oh, yesh, esh, I have heard of dot mans!”
Solomons exc aimed. “You are right; he vas
a tough customer but if I vas a betting man I
would bet on der Fresh.”

“ You are like the rest of the town,” Gomes'
remarked, “because the Fresh has succeeded in
coming out ahead two or three times, you have
got the idea into your head that he is invinci-
ble.’

“De proof of der pudding is in der eating,”
old Solomons replied with the air of” a sage.
et.

“ True, but that does not prove t at he never
will be,” Gomes urged.

The pawnbroker was obliged to admit that
this was true.

“But we are only wasting time in discussing
the matter.” Gomes continued. “ The point we
want to get at is this: Jackson Blake must be
induced to come to El Paso to-morrow so that
this cowboy will have a chance to get at him,
and the afl'air must be so arranged that Blake
will not suspect he has been led into a trap.”

“ Yesli. yesh, I see.”

“Now if you can think of some plan to get

 

 

. yum-ad- w a.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Fresh in Texas.

23

 

 

r

the Fresh here I will give you fifty dollars for 

the service.”

The eyes of the old Jew sparkled, for it was
not often that he had a chance to make fifty
dollars so easily.

“ Oh, yesh, I think I can do it—not so much
for de monish as to obli e you, mine fr’en’s,” he
remarked, rubbing his iands gleefully together
and grinning at his visitors.

“ You understand, mine goot sirs, dot in a
business like this, I must be careful,” he con-
tinued.

“ Not for ten times fifty dollars would I have

the Fresh know dot I had gone into any me I

against him—oh, mine ootness, no! I e is
sinust der kind of fellow g
like dot up against a man.”

“Yes, no doubt about that, but can’t you fix
the matter so it will seem to be all right?”
(iomes inquired.

“ Let me see!” and the ancient Hebrew cogi-
mred for a few moments.

Then his face lit u with a running smile.

“ Ah. yesh, yesh, have it!” he exclaimed.

“ There is a fr'en’ of mine that has some cat—
tie to sell sheap; I will send word to der Fresh

to come ri rht away to-morrow and meet me at E

the Hotel exico 0n important business.”

“ That will do if you select a. good messenger,
one who will make‘ Blake believe that the busi-
ness is important.”

“Oh, leave me alone for dot; I will fix der
trick right up to der handle?” the Jew declared.

And so the trap was laid which the cons ira-
tors confidently expected would catch J son
Blake, the Fresh of Frisco.

CHAPTER XXXI.
THE FRESH WALKS INTO THE SNARE.

IT was about eight o’clock in the morning; the
Fresh had had his breakfast and had just returned
from the corral where he had been to look at
some new horses which had just come in, a
rcent purchase, when a youth whose features
plainly betrayed thath'e was of the race of Jacob
and. Abraham, rode up.

Blake recognized the new-comer at a glance;
it was the young,r Jew who acted as clerk to
Iladad Snlonous, and wh'nn he had treated to
such a fight on the occasion of his first visit to
the pawnbroker’s establishment as deta‘ileuil in

 

tT-c “fiery entitled “The Fresh on the Rio;

Grande.”

“Hallo, what brings you down this way?”;

Bis k a asked.

The youth assumed a mysterious air and'

gravid the favor of a private interview with the.
‘res . ‘

This being granted he proceeded to unfold his
business, wnich was that his uncle, the pawn

broker, desired to see Mr. Blake. in El Paso at ,
the Hotel Mexico that morning. if possible, up- ‘

on iwmrtant business.
 hat is the nature of the business?” the
Fro-1L1 inquired.

in!»;7,i'll(_tt.(.‘d to say it was most important, and
thut his uncle hoped Mr. Bloke would be able to
make it mnvenient to come.

The Fresh thought over the matter for a
moment; be bid not had any business dealings
with the old J ew since his transaction ‘witb him
inst after his arrival in El Paso, and he was a
little puzzled by the message, for he could not
guess why the Jew wished to see him.

He concluded to go though and so informed
the messenger.

“ You can tell Mr. Solomons that I will be at
the Hotel Mexico about noon,” he said,

“Yes, sir,” said the youth, “ I will tell him,”
and then he rode away.

Old California. J 09 and Dave Ringwood
happened to come up'Just at that moment and so
overheard the speech.

“ Did you hear what he wanted?” the Fresh
asked of the pair, after the messenger took his

departure. _
‘ Yes, the old Jew is anxious to see you,”
Ringwood replied.

" And w’ot do you s’pose the durned old galoot
is arterr’ California Joe exolaimed.

“ That is just what I am puzzling my brains
about,” Blake replied.

“ It is mighty queer now, on bet,” the old
mountain man observed. “ reckon the Jew
ain’t no great friend of yourn.” the scout re-
marked.

.“ No, I reckon not. I succuaded in getting
him into a trap and skinned him once in a we
be despised, and I fancy Solomons is a man wit.
an extremely memory, and if he ever got
Ia good Chance at me he would be apt to endeavor
to get square.”

“On. I reckon you are kinder barking up the
wrong; tree thar,” Old California J06 observed,
with u wise shake of the head. “ You ain’t so
well am uninted with the old cuss as Iam. I
ain’t n isrluting. mind you, that if he had a
chance to git squar’ with you, without showing
his haul—without; 19m mg on, you know, that he
was inter the thing at all, I don’t doubt be Would

it ifi’l’m' 1:0 Skin yct‘ as quick as a wink. b1“ he
is too darned skeered'to go for you openly. He
would“ be afraid ou wduld git back at him
sometime.” .

0t would lay a thing 3
' , drel, he would as soon part with his flesh and i

g sense ” Dave Ringwood remarked.

l “ es, he is about right, I think,” the Fresh
l coincided. “ I do not believe the Jew has pluck
! enough to go for me openly, but if he got a
i chance to give me a dig without my being able
: to tell where it came from, the odds are big that
, he would be quick to improve the opportunity.”

I “On, yes, you bet!” Old California Joe ex- .

! claimed.

l “The old Jew is the worst kind of a fraud,”
l Dave Ringwood remarked. “ Any one that
f knows him understands that. He hates you, of
course, for you got the best of him, and in the
’deal succeeded in carrying of! some of his
Shekels, and from what I knew of the old scoun~

‘ blood as with his cash.”

“ Yes, yes. thar ain’t no mistake ’bout that!”
Old California Joe assented.

“ It would only be natural under the circum—

stances for the Jew to want to get square with
I you and so the moment I heard what was want
i ed, the idea immediately came to me that there
i might be some truth about the thing,” Ring-
 wood remarked.

“Yes: that notion came to me,” the Fresh
said. ‘ And that was why I hesitated for a mo-
ment before I told the messenger that I would
come. But, really, when you come to think
over the matter it appears a little absurd to

that the old Jew is no friend of mine.
“ If Solomons had sent me a message that he
wanted to See me in some lonely and our-ortho-

that he was acting as the'agent of some other
party, and there was a plan on foot to get me at
a disadvantage so that might be attacked but
as the meeting-place is in the town of El Faso,
that theor is not reasonable.”

“ The ew is up to some game now, you kin
bet your life!” Old California Joe declared, em-
phatically. “ He is a prison galoot and I
wouldn’t trust him for a cent!"

The others laughed, for it was plain that the
aged scout was decidedly prejudiced. ‘

“ Well, as far as I can see it does not matter
much whether there is a game back of it or not,”
Blake remarked. “ If there is one I reckon I
will be strong enough to best it. But I hardly
think it is probable. We allow our suspiciom~ to
‘ run away with us because we haven‘t a. good
opinion of the puwubroker. ’1") mv mind the
- most probable solution of the buystery is that

 

is unable to handle for some reason. and be
itg-‘kOns that he might be able to rope me into
1

“ I guess that is it," have Ringwood re-
marked. ‘
But Old California Joe shook his head.

der ag’m’ the measley cussl" he. exclaimed.

 ‘f And I kin jest tell you, boys, I have gut a. ‘
The youth answered that he did not know, I V
his uncle had not told him that, but he had been ‘

heap of reason for being in that nr’ way; and,
feeling as I do ’bout the ornery galoot, I can’t
5 get it out of my mind that thar ain‘t some gum
, game into the busmess.” '

l “ Well, speculation is i lle.” the Fresh re-
! marked. “ At noon I will know all about it.
' I hardly think the Jew would dare to do any-
thing openly against me, but for fear there may
be some game af00t, you two had better come
with me. ' ‘

The others thought this was a good idea, and
so, in due time, the three started for the old
Mexican city.

It lacked about ton minutes of noon when the
party rode into the corral of the Hotel Mexico,
and dismounted from their steeds.

Ended Solomons was standin in front of the
hotel as he rode by, and he nod ed in the most
friendl manner.

“ Di you see the old galoot grin and rub his
hands?” the old mountain-man asked. “Now
I tell you w’ot it is—when that ar’ old son of a
gun goes on in that way it means that thar is
mischief afoot.”

“ Oh. come now, California, you are putting
it on a little too thick 1” Blake exclaimed, laugh-
ing. “ You are going on the old saying of give
a 02 a bad name and hang him.”

“Durned if I wouldn’t like to hang this old
rogue of a Jew,” the plainsman exclaimed.

“I will go on ahead, boys, and after I enter
the hotel, you can saunter in,” the Fresh re-
marked. ‘

b The others nodded, and Blake proceededto the

o e .

d Solomons was inside, and met him at the
oor.

“Ah. my fear fr’en’, I was delighted to see
You,” the Jew exclaimed, shaking hands with
alike as though he had not seen him for an
I g
‘ “ Come, in a uiet corner we vill have some

leetle business tal together,” the old Jew con-
I “filled, leading the way to the end of the saloon,
l remote from the bar, where there were no
i loungers.

I “Sit dawn, mine fr’en’, sit down, and we vill
; see‘ if we cannot some leetle trade make.”

I Ah, {on are full of business, ch. as usual?”
! Sigma remarked, as he accepted the proffered

 

“I reckon California is talking good sound 5

jump to such a conclusion, just because I know 

way place the suspicion might be» reasonable 3

“ Ah, yesh, mine goot sir, I must work all der
vhile or else I vould not be able to live, for
times ish very hard,” and the old Jew heaved
a deep sigh, doing his best to look disconSOlate.

“ Nonsense! the times don’t trouble you much i”
the Fresh retorted. " The harder the times,
the more money a man makes in a bustness like
yours.”

“ No, no, no, dot ish not so!" the old Jew de-
clared. “I kn0w dot ish what pevples think
and say, but my tear fi"en’, they knows nothing
« about it at all.”

“ Yes, of course you will wear to that. Men.
of your race are never willing to acknOWchge
that they make anything. But what do you

i want to see me about?”

“ You have a ranch?” and as be put the ques-
tion the 01d Jew looked around him in a mys-
terious way as though he was afraid that there
j might be some one near, playing the spy upon
‘ them.

“Yes I have a ranch,” the Fresh replied.
l “ but what are you looking around you in that
:queer way for? Everybody that knows any—
,thing about me knows that I have a ranch.
l There isn’t any secret about it.”

“Yesh, yesh, of course, but I likesto keel
1 minebusiness tomineself,”tbeold man remarke .
i On dot ranch you hate cattle?” and Solomons
‘drop d his voice almost to a whisper as he-
j put t e question.

“ Of course, that is what ranches are for.”

, “ How would you' like to buy some nice
3cows, sheep? inquired the pawnbroker in the
1 most cautious manner.

“ Where are they?”

“ On der Mexican side of the Rio Grande.”

“ Do they belong to you 1”

“Oh, no, I am shust offering them for a
fr’en.”

“ Why didn’t you have them brought up to

E the town and offered at open sale?

“ N o, no, my fr’eu’ would rather sell them to
some rancher d0wn der river."

“ Something-crooked about the matter, eh?”

“ Oh. I guess not, my fr’en’ is an honest man,
but when der beeves are on der American side

1 of der Rio Grande it will be all right, and you
i. can buy them for about half what they are
. really worth.” .

Sclomons has struck some speculation which he 3

 

CHAPTER XXXII.
THE 'COWBOY AGAIN.
BY this time the Fresh fancied that be fully
understood the game.
The cow‘s were stolen ones; they had been

, “lifted ” from the Mexican ranches in the in-

terior and driven to the bank of the Rio Grande

- with the idea of selling them to the ranchers on
' the American side. and once the beeVes were on

“I will all nv that I am prejudieed as thun- 3

Texan soil, it would be a difficult matter for the-
rightfnl owners to trace them.

Now, although Jackson Bluke. the Fresh of
. ’Frisco, was by no means a saint, yet be was not
the man to allow himself to be mixed up in any
affair of this kind, and he lost no time in letting
the old Jew pnderstnud as much.

“ My dear Mr. Solomons,” be said, “ this
speculath which you propose m-not one that I
care to go into.”

“ W by not?” exclaimed tho pawubroker. pre-~
I tending to be much astonished. “ You can much
monish make out of der trade. These cows can
be bought for cash for one—half of what. they
are worth. You see my fr’en’ is in a hurry to
sell. and he wants his monish right down so he
can go away, and I thought of you, for I knew
dot you would be. likely to bafe der hard cash."

“Oh no, I don’t care to trade,” Blake replied
dec1dedly. "There is something crooked about
this transaction, of course, or else your u an
would not be eager to get rid of the routs at a
sacrifiv e. I reckon your man did not come i y
them honestly.”

“ Oh, I think he ish a goot man i” the Jew per—
sisted. ' “Many years have I known him, and
never did I beardot be was in trouble.”

“ Yes, I suppose he has always been smart
enough to keep in the background and get
others to do the work for him: but be that as it
may, I do not care to trade,” and the Fresh rose
to his feet in order to signify that the interview
was at an end.

The Jew rose also.

“ Vell. veil, my goot fr’en’, I am sorry dot
you vill not trade,” and then he continued in his.
smooth. insinuating way: “ I he . Mister Blake,
dot you vill keep this matter quiet—dot you vill
not speak about it?”

“ Oh, that is all right; don’t trouble our head.
about that. I am not in the habit of etrnying
any confidence that is reposed in me,” the Fresh
answered. 4

“ I am so much obliged,” bowed the Jew.
“ Be sure, Mister Blake. dot I vill do as much-
for on some time. Vill you hafe a drink mit
me. ister Blake?”

“ Well, I don’t mind a glass of ale,”‘tbe Fresh
replied.

The two advanced to the bar: the Jew called
for two glasses of ale, and as the order was be-
ing filled. the door of the salonn was thrown
open and into the saloon stalked the cowboy
who called himself the Wild Bull of the Pecos.

The manner of the man’s entrance attracted
the attention of every one in the mom, and as

 

 

 

24

The Fresh in Texas.

 

 

 

the Jew and Blake tured to see who it was they
encountered the of the new-comer, who
had halted half-way between the door and the

r.

The moment the cowboy saw that he had at-
tracted the attention of the Fresh, he cried out
in a loud voice:

“ Hyer am I, the king of the cowboys, the
eternal, lightniu terror of the airth, the cavort-
ing, snorting Wi d Bull of the Pecos, the best
man today that thar is in this town of El Paso,
bar none!‘

As the reader who has followod the fortunes of
the Fresh of ’Frisco knows, Jackson Blake was
remarkably quick-witted; he was no man’s fool,
and when he heard the boasting words of the
stranger-saw the fellow glare at im, and com-
prehended that the speech was addressed more
to him than to any one else in the room, the
thought instantly came to him that it was for
the purpose of giving this big strangér a chance
at him that he had been brought to i Paso.

“ Aha, you have put up a job on me, eh?” he
said in an undertone to the Jew, much to the
latter’s astonishment and disgust.

“ So help me Moses, I did not,” the pawn--
broker protested, with trembling accents. “ I
figure you, Mister Blake, 1 know nothing about
1

“ I’m the best man in this town, I say!” re-
peated the cowboy, finding that the Fresh did
not take any notice of his speech.

“ The best man in El Paso, you bet! and the
man who says I am not will have to peel and
wade in! I am the cowboy fighter and I kin
chaw up and drag out ever thing from a griz~
zly b’ar downwards, and i thar is any man in
this shebang who thinks he is a chief, you kin
jest bet all you air worth thatI will take his
scalg‘i‘n mighty quick order.

“ y, mehbe you would like to have a leetle
fun with me?” he continued addressing his con-
versation directly to Blake.

“ Well, maybe I would,” the Fresh replied.
“ Perhaps I am the man you are looking for.”

“ I reckon you ar’ if on are game for a
fight!” the big fellow rep ed. “ I am arter the
best man in this hyer town of El Peso, and I
calculate to take his hide!”

“ If you can, stranger; always put that in,
because sometimes these leetle things don’t
always work as smoothly as they might.”

“ I reckon I kin take the shine out of you and
not half try!” cried the cowboy in contempt, for
he. like many another who had been led to at-
tack the rt, made the mistake of thinking
that the h of 'Frisco was not up to the
champion form, Blake being one of those de-
ceptive men who did not look when dressed in
the garb of civilization to be anywhere near as
bi as he really was.

6 was so well-proportioned that his real size
was diW.
At th s point Goldbe , the landlord of the
Hotel Mexico, came r n into the room; he
had been warned by one of he hotel attendants
that the big cowboy was in the saloon on the
rampage and there was a prospect of a row.

The moment he heard this intelligence the
hotel-keeper immediately became alarmed for
the safety of his property and at once hurried
to the scene of action. .

“ What is the matter, my friends! don’t have
anv trouble in here i" he cried.

Bitter e co had taught the proprietor
of the Hate Mexico that a personal quarrel in a
saloon usually wound up in a free fight, and
generally resulted in much damage to the per—
sonal property of the saloon-keeper.

“ Oh, no. we ain’t going to have the least bit
of trouble!” the oowboyres ed. “ I am just
oinglto smash this hyer rash of ’Frisco duck
or a 1 am worth i”

“Ohoi you know who I am, and yet I don’t
remember ever being introduced to you !” Blake
exclaimed.

“Gentlemen, I ha that you will not fight
here!” Goldbe cri . “ Go out into the street
—there you wi have plenty of room, while here
you will not.”

“Don‘t you worri now i" the cowboy replied.
“Idon’t need muc room to finish up sich a
whipper-sna per as this galootl” And the big
fellgw bra ished his huge arms in the air as he
spo 8.

He was such a big, overgrown piece of hu-
manity that it did not really seem as if the
Fresh stood much chance in a contest with him.

“ You don’t understand this rifile, Goldberg,"
the Fresh remarked. “This fight is all over
now excepting the shouting—that is what this
big chief thin 8.” .

‘Wa—al, now, you kin bet ’bout all on ar’
worth that that is about the size of t!” the
cowboy cried. “You hain’t got conceit euufl
now, have ye, to reckon that you kin stand u
ag‘in’ me more’u a minitl Shol one good cracE
will settle you, and I don’t believe I will have
to more than half‘try either.”

“ Oh, my dear friends, let me beg of you not to
fight here i” Goldberg cried. And then a bril-
liant ideaeame to him.

“I tell you what it is!” he continued. “As

 

loa as you are going to ht wh not have the
oonfiest take place in theflgull-rinzf There you

 

will have plant of room while here there is not.
You can have t e buli-rin and welcome! I will
not charge you anything or it.”

This idea struck the cowboy favorably.

“ Fight into the bull~ring, boy?” he cried.
“ Wa-ai, I reckon that is a mighty good notion,
although arter we git at it you kin jest be safe
in betting yer bottom dollar that thar won’t be
much of a fight, for it won‘t take long for a
man of my size, a re ’lar, ranting, snorting big
chief, to lay out any ack-a-dandy chap i”

“ It isagood idea for you to go ahead and
blow now! Blake remarked, “ for after the
fightve'ou may not feel like it.”

“ y, I won’t make mors’n a mouthful of
you!” he cowboy declared.

“ Come along, if you mean business, ’cos I
am in a hurry to hammer a leotle sense into

on!

“ Go ahead, Godlberg, and'open the bull—ring!”
the Fresh exclaimed. “ I am a little anxious
myself to come to the hammering part so as to
understand how it feels.”

“ Yes, yes, come on, I am glad to be able to
oblige you, gentlemen,” Goldberg declared.

And then all within the saloon flied out into
the street with the exception of the barkeeper,
genial Bill Long, who was obliged to stay,
in order to 00!: after the place, much to his dis-

st.
gu“ I would give a five-dollar gold-piece to see
the fi ht!” he declared.

“ at bi aloot thinks he has got a soft
thing, but i was betting ducats on the fight,
I would back the Fresh of Frisco every time!’

Goldberg led the way-to the bull-ring, the big
cowboy marching by his side as proudly as
thou h he owned the whole town.

Be ind him came the Fresh and his pards,
Dave Ringwood and Old California Joe, then
the Jew, and the men who had happened to be
in the saloon at the time when the cowboy made
his entrance.

At the tail end of the procession Were the two
Cubans.

The had been on the street, gazing thro b
one o the side windows into the saloon, watc -
ing the progress of the aflair, and though they
were rather disappointed because the cowboy
had not brought on the conflict immediately, yet
they consoled themselves with the thought that
in the bull-ring no one was likely tointerfere
with the fight.

The people who chanced to be on the street
were attracted by the procession, and upon
learning what was goin on, immediately fol-
lowed, so by the time the ull-ring was reached
there was quite a crowd.

 

CHAPTER XXXIII.
A Burns sons.

GOLDBERG unlocked the small door which led
into the hull-rib , admitted the crowd, and then
securely fasten it again for, as he remarked
it was not necessary that t e whole town should
be present to witness the performance. ‘

It really grieved the soul of the thrifty hotel-
keeper when be reflected that uite a nice little
sum of money could he get ered from the

"crowd if he could charge them for going into

the bull—ring, and he had half a mind to declare
that he could not afford to allow the crowd to
come in without paying; but when he came to
take a look at the ‘ gang,” the conclusion was
forced upon him that they would not stand it;
some of the toughest customers in El Paso were
present, and as they never were known to have
any more money than they knew what to do
wi b, any attempt to make them pay for the
privile e of seeing the fight would undoubtedly
raise' t bilggest ind of a row.

The land ord was determined, though, that no
more should get in, and so he was careful to
lock the door.

The cowboy strode out to the middle of the
bull-ring, and, wheeling around, threw himself
in a fighting position.

“ Hyer I am, all .of me i” he exclaimed, defi-
antly. “ The best man that you kin scare up
to-da in this hyer old town, or. for that matter,
I wil throw in up and down the Rio Grande,
all along for a hundred imiles; yes, and the hull
durned State of Texas! I am the best man in
the Southwest, and I don’t keer who knows it!"

“ Stranger, you blow the loudest born that
has been heard for many a.day in El Paso, and
I really hope you do amountntgi something as a

fighter, for it would be a dres disappgintment
to all of us if on should turn out to only a
gas-bag,” the rash observed.

“ Come u to the scratch and I will soon show
you what it nd of a gas-bag I am,” the cowboy
exclaimed. brandishing his long arms and be-
ginning to prance around.

“ What sort of a fight do you want—a good
square fisticui! match!”

“Yes, sir-es, that is w'ot I am arterl” ex-
claimed the cowboy, and he dashed the big,
fawn~<éolored slouch hat which he wore to the

roun .

“ Thar’s my tile into the ring,” he continued,
and then be commenced to roll up his shirt-
sleeves. “ Come, nOW, don’t waste any more
time in talk; land wade in!"

Asthecowg; worenocoat, all he had todo

 

to prepare for the contest was to remove his hat
and roll up his sleeves.

The Fresh was obliged to remove his coa
which he immediately proceeded to do, an
then he took off his hat and rolled up his sleeves.

The cowboy was watching him, and an ex~
pression of astonishment appeared on his face
when he saw the unusual muscular development
of his antagonist.

Durin the forenoon he had made some in-
quiries a out the Fresh, and all with whom he
had spoken had assured him that Jackson Blake
was as good a man as had ever struck El Paso;
but when he came face' to face with the Fresh,
because he did not find him to be a t over-
grown fellow, he fell into the error of thinking
El Paso overrated the man.

Then the idea occurred to him that the quiet-
looking, gentlemanlyeppe’arin fellow was a
sharp/who had won his ren0wn y his skill with
gellipons, and this was why he desired a fist-

g it.

But nevi:v that the Finish had “ peelebd” oi! his
coat, to t e surpriseo is op nent, ea pear-
ed to be big or than when he had it on. p

“ He is a tier man than I reckoned he was,”
the big fellow muttered to himself, “ but I will
smash himinto bits thou b, all the same."

“Now then, stranger, am ready for you!”
the Fresh observed, as he finished is prepara-
tions and advanced toward his opponent. “ Sail
in as soon as you like i”

" Look out for yourself, for thar‘s a cyclone
coming !” the cowboi howled, and then he made
a ferocious rush at t 9 .Fresh, striking wickedly
with both right and left.

The blows were ferocious ones, and most eure-
ly would have damaged the handsome face of
the Fresh of ’Frisco materially if they had
fallen where the cowboy intended, but Jackson
Blake was too good a boxer to be made a chop-

ing-block by any such clumsy fellow as the

lid Bull of the Pecos.

He ave way as the other advanced—dodged
some lows, parried others, and then, watching
his opportumty, slipped under the right arm of
his opponent.

The cowboy wheeled about to renew the at~
tack, and as he did so the Fresh caught him
under the ear with a terrific blow, which sent
him reeling to the ground.

The big fellow came down heavily, but al«
though he was dazed b the shock he was on his
feet again in a secon , and made another rush
at his nimble foe.

The Fresh of ’Frisco did not give an inch this
time, but met the onset with a strai ht right-
hander, which landed between the cow y’s eyes
and brought him to a dead halt.

Then, almost before the cowboy could realise
what had happened, the Fresh “measured ” his
man and sent in a left—hander, which caught the
cowboy on the throat, full on the jugular vein,
and over again went the big fellow.

A shout went up on the air from the lips of
the crowd; it was impossible for them tokeep
quiet, for it was not once a year that such a
rare show as this could be seen in the town of
El Paso.

The cowboy was completely exhausted, as
much by the exertion w ich 6 had made as
y the punishment he had received, while the

resbh showed few signs of the efforts he had put
fort .

“ I reckon that this may be called the end of
round number one ” he remarked. “ We kinder
rushed into this thing without making the usual
arrangements; but we ought to have seconds to
attend to us, and if a couple of you gentlemen
will look after this stranger, my pards. Dave
Ringw’ood and Old California Joe, will attend
to me.

Although the stranger had made no friends
by his actions, yet a couple of the lockers-on
volunteered to act as his seconds in the interest
of fair play.

The two were new men in El Paso, being a
couple of cowboys who had come lacfrom the
Rio Grande, Tom Bunker and Ben kford by
name.

“Me and my pard b er will look arter him,
seeing that he is in be same line of b
that we foller for a living!” Tom Bunker, the
elder of the two explained. -

“ Yes, we are cow-punchers, and w will do
what we kin for him,” the other added

“ Yes, and I reckon, Goldberg, you had bet-
ter act as referee, for we need some one to en-
gineer the picnic,” the Fresh suggested.

“ Certainl , I shall be glad to assist.” respond-
ed the lan ord. whose “ sporting blood bud
been heated by the contest.

Then the seconds hurried to bring chairs for
their rincipals.

Bla e seated himself and the two cowboys as-
sisted the big fellow into his chair.

Tom Bunker had acted as a second before
and so he took it upon himself to give the Wild
Bull of the Pecos some advice.

“ You have got a tough customer to handle
in this hyer jig,” he remarked, “ and you don’t
want to go to work to throw no chances away.
You want to kinder spar and keep awaym
and counter him, for if you once getafair
you ought to be able to dams 0 him."

“ I have been in a heap of ghts in my time,

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

.4 w.

 

The Fresh in Texas.

25

 

 

but I never ran across sich a galoot as this hyer
before,” the cowboy complained. “ The cuss
dodges ’round like a dancing Jack and I don’t
git no chance at him. If he would only stand
up, fair and square, scI could smash him, I
reckon that two or three good hits would settle
his hash.”

“Yes, but he is a reg’lar scientific boxer,”
the other remarked. “ And though I have seen
a mighty big heap of good men in my time, I
reckon this fellow is top of them a 1. You
mustn‘t exEose yourself by rushing at him, ’00s
that gives im a chance to get in his fine work.
You want to kinder hold oil’ and not give no
points away.” _

“ The galoot hits ’bout as hard as a mule km
kick,” the cowboy rowled. “ Durn me if I
ever run up ag’in suc a fighter aforel”

During the wait the Fresh inipro ed the op-
portunity to exchange a few wor 5 With his

'( s.
' “ The Cubans are here, I see,” Blake res
marked.

“Yes, I spotted them,” Dave Ringwood re-
)lied.

I “' You kin bet all your ducats that them two
’isoned yaller cusses ar’ at the bottom of this
{iyer busmess,” the old mountain-man asserted.

“California. wai- right about the Jew’s re—
quest,” the Fresh Observed. “ It was a trick to
lure me to El Paso so that this big rufiian could
pick a quarrel with me.”

“ Yes, there isn’t any doubt in my mind about
that,” Dave Ringwood observed. “ And we
must give Old Joe credit for being sharper than
we were.”

“.Wa-al boyees, I have lived in this hyer
world a few years longer than either of you,
and I have dealt so much with these Greasers
that I have got to know ’em like a book,” the
old fellow replied. “ Trickery is their best bolt.
and I reckon if they hated a man and hada
chance to wipe him out, and could strike him
either in the back or front, that they would go
for his back ever time!”'

“The little so eme Will not work though,"
Dave Ringwood remarked. “ You are going to
punish this fellow Without any trouble.”

“ Yes, but I fancy that after I hammer him a
little more he will get sick of it and go for his
shooting-irons."

“ Wa-al, if he does, I reckon he won’t ketch
you napping," the old scent observed with a dry
chuckle.

“I fanc not,” Blake replied.

The Cu us had also seized upon this Oppor.
tunit to hold a brief conversation.

" hat fellow is making-a fine show of him-
self!” Gomes exclaimed, his face dark and his

.voice hoarse with suppressed ra e.

“ He isabout as fit to conten with this Fresh
of ’Frisco as a hawk would be to wage wu-
with an eagle,”E artore lied, contemptuously.

“Yes, that is t e trut , but when this cow-
boy finds that he stands no chance to fight
Blake with his fists he may resort to his Wea-

us.”

“ And in that case I fancy he will find that
J ack.is as good as his master!” Esparto rejoined.

“ Ah, my dear fellow, we are wasting time
and the quicker we or anize the Red Riders of
Rayon again the better.

“ Time, entlemen!” exclaimed the hotel-
keeper at this point.

CHAPTER XXXIV.
mm mm or ran STRUGGLE.

60me was not well posted in regard to
the rules of a contest of this sort and was not
sure as to how long a time should be allowed
between the rounds. and. when he ap led to
some of the bystanders in regard to t is point
he found that there was a deCided diflemnce of
opinion about it. -

Some thought five minutes was the proper
time. others maintained that it was only two,
and a few declared that it was neither two nor
five, but three; and then there was as great a,
difference of opinion in regard ‘to whose rule.
should regulate the fight. the ‘ London rize
ring” or the “ Marquis of Queensberry,’ and
the discussion hecameso heated that it pretty
nearly resulted in a free fight. ‘

Goldberg settled the matter though, by declar.
ing that in his opinion five minutes was a short
enough time for men to be allowed to recovar
from such vigorous exercise; at the same time
remarking that he did not pretend to settle the
dispute by assuming that it was correct and ac-
cording to the rules.

The risin of the men to renew the battle put
an end to t e dispute.

Althou h owing to the wrangle the wait had
been near y seven minutes, yet the bi cowboy
had not recovered from the effects 0 the last
round but was still decidedly short of breath
when he faced his opponent.

The Wild Bull of the Pecos could not be set
down for a good-looking man at an time, and
now that his features were discolo and bruis-
ed. the result of the awful “ facer” he had re-
ceived, he was about as ugly-looking as any man

I that had ever trodden the streets of El Paso.

“ Bay, why don’t you stand still and fight like

 

a man?” the big fellow growled, as he squared
off at his opponent.

“ Oh, you don’t like my style of fighting?” the
Fresh inquired, with a sarcastic smile.

“ No, 1 don‘t!"
, that isn’t anything remarkable. I
nevnr fought a man yet who did.”

“ I don’t. believe in no hopping ’round like a
b’ar with a sore ear.”

“ You want me to stand quietly, eh?”

“Yes, that is the way to fight—no dancing-
Jack business.”

“ I am quiet now—go for me!”

The cow boy accepted the invitation and aimed
a terrific blow at the head of the Fresh.

Blake parried the stroke without any trouble,
:hcn “ fcinted ” With his left at the cowboy’s

ace.
Up went the arms of the big fellow to ward

off the blow, thus leaving his chestmiglinrilmi. ,
which was exactly what the Fresh oi ’Fnsco ‘

was after, for out shot his powerful right arm,
landing on the breast of the cowboy directly
over his heart, and down to the ground again
tumbled the Wild Bull of the Pecos.

Again the bystanders yelled, but one disgusted
citizen, who had been foolish enough before the
fight to bet five dollars on the cowboy, pinning
his faith on the stranger being so much 'the
bigger man'of the two, and who, after the first
round, had been vainly endeavoring to save his
money by offering to bet heavy odds on the
Fresh, now could not help roaring the discon-
tent which filled his soul.

“ Oh, take that big stuff awa and plant him
somewhar! He is only fit for og meat!”

This exclamation was fii110wed by a shout of
lau rhter, which gelled the cowboy to the soul.

I is seconds had run to his assistance and
he] ed him to his feet.

e was now thoroughly enraged and perfectly
satisfied that in a boxing contest he stood no
chance at all with his opponent.

“ I don’t want no more of this infernal box-
ing-l” he roared at the to of his lungs. “ I am
a ghter, I am, a man w o ain’t afeard to wade
in blood! ‘

“ Say, you ornery galoot, do on dare to pull
out yer revolver and fight me 1! e a man?”

And as he spoke the cowboy clapped his hand
on his weapon. -

“ I am your man, sir, in any way you choose
to take me!” the Fresh replied.

“ Hold on, gentlemen, give us a chance to get
out of the way!” the landlord cried. “ I want
you to understand that there 13 no one here who
IS anxious to stop a bullet!”

“ We will back to the edge of the ring so as
to have a fair field and you entlcmen can get
into the seats where you wi be out of harm’s
way ” the Fresh suggested.

“ hat‘s the ticket!” cried the cowboy. “ All
I ask is a fair show for my money!”

“ Oh, you will get that, stranger l” Goldberg
declared. “ We men of El Paso pride ourselves
upon giving a fair shake to everybody, and it
don’t make a bit of difference whether they be-
lon to the town or not.”

‘c‘ es, yes, that’s so!” cried half a dozen
vowes. _ '

“ Back to your places, gentlemen, and I will
give the word for the thing to begin!” the land-

0rd exclaimed.

“ All right! that suits me!” the cowboy cried.
“ And I want you to understand, you Mister
Fresh of ’Frisco, that I am going for your scalp
this time, red-hot! and you had better believe
that I am going to get it, too!”

“ If you can, don’t forget that l” responded
Jackson Blake. “ Always put that in, and then
you will be sure not to make a bad break.”

“You may be a dead boxer, but you will
find that I am the champion revolver shot!” the
cowboy boasted.

“You will be able to give me a few points,
then, in the shooting line,” Blake remarked.

“ You won’t need any points arter this fight
is ended, for you will be dead!” the big cowboy
snarled. ‘

“Say! don’t bu me alive, you know,” the
Fresh retorted. “ quite sure that 1 am dead
be‘f‘ore you go to plant me.”

Oh, don t on worry ’bout that!” the other
exclaimed. “ on will be dead enough when I
get through with you, dead for keeps, too! You

ad the best on it in this hyer fist fight, but
when it comes to guns, you kin jest bet all the
rocks You kin scare up t at I am the boss, and
no mistake!”

“ The boss blower. and no mistake about
that! ’ the Fresh exclaimed. “ There has been
some big braggarts in El Paso before you struck
the town. but you is Overall of them—you take
tbs cake, beyond a oubt!”

, Y0u Wtki‘t talk so big arter we git through
with this skirmish!” the cowboy declared.

And most assuredly you will not!” Jackson
Blake replied, his voice deepening and a stern
look appearing on his face.

As a rule, when I get into an affair of this
sort I do not care to badly hurt my man, be-
cause I am not naturally bloodthirsty, but in
your case I reckon 1 shall have to give you a
seam that W)". beapt to last you for some time,”
the Fresh continued.

“ Oh, yes, I reckon you will if you kin!”

 

sneered the cowboy. “You oughter think of
w’ot you saida spell ago, if you kin, you know!”

“That question will soon be settled,” Blake
replied. “ And I reckon that you will not
admire the settlement either. But there is one
point that I want to touch on. You are a.
stranger here, and yet you have picked a quar-
rel with me Without any reason whatever, for I
never had any trouble with you in any way—”

“ Wa-al. I’m a big chief, I am, and when I
struck El Paso, I calculated to run the town !”
exclaimed the cowboy, “ butI heered that you
were the biggest warrior in the burg, and as I
didn’t think the town was big enough to hold
both on us, I made u my mind to find out to
onc’t which was the st man of us two.”

“ Oh, yes, I understand all about that!” the
Fresh exclaimed. “I know the game that is
being played just as well as thoughgl had a

‘ . V r— - awn“... . VA. v
harm in imminu hm: M'ucuxe “mach. .‘Ivd VJ‘I‘Q
. v. __ , .- .. w...  ..
put. U1) in attack me, "in. the I“-.. I._EI..(1 you

are cowardly curs who do not dare to come out
and face me openl , but as I am getting sick of
this sort of thing, will hunt them out of their
holes before long and make them show their
colors.”

This Speech made the bystanders cast inquir~
infi glances at each other.

y this time all the people in the inclosure,
with the exception of the duelists, had got out
of the bull-ring, and were bunched together on
the seats at one side of the circle.

The Cubans were in the background, rather
keeping behind the others so as to escape obser-
vation, and when this speech of the Fresh, so
unexpectedly delivered, reached their ears, they
exchanged meaning glances.

“ The follow has smelt out the trap,” Gomes
whis .red in ESparto’s ear,

“ . es; I am not surprised at it, either, for he
is wonderfully quick-witted.”

“ We must look out for ourselves, for now
that his suspicions are aroused he will be apt to
try to find the principals whose agents are at
tacking him—that is, if the cowboy does not
succeed in laying him out.”

“it is a hundred ounces to one that he wili
get the best of this big braggart as easil with
the weapons as with his fist,’ Esparto rep ied in
a tone of conviction.

“ Now, entlemen, are you all ready?” Gold-
berg askeg.

The duelists were at the extreme edge of the
ring, on opposite sides, facing each other, their
backs bein against the railing which was in-
tended to keep the bulls from leaving the ring.

“All ready.” replied the Fresh of ’Frisco. '

“ Oh,‘yes, you bet!" cried the cowboy.

“ How are you going to run this thing?” the
landlord asked.

“ Why, I am going to kill this orncry galoot
as dead as a door-nail !” the cowboy exclaimed.

“ The gentleman means, I presume, that it is
to be a duel to the death,” Blake remarked.

“ That is it! Now you hit me whar I live!”
cried the other.

“ All right; I will count three and then you
go it!” said the landlord.

The duelists nodded.

Their revolvers were out—their eyes intently
fixed upon each other.

“ One, two, three, go i” cried Goldberg.

Hardly had the last word escaped his lips
when up came the revolvers, but the Fresh
being the quicker shot anticipated the fire of
the other.

With a howl of pain the cowboy dropped his
weapon. v

Blake had put a ball through his right
shoulder.

“ I kin shoot with my left hand!” the cowboy
yelled, and he plucked out another pistol.

Again the Fresh’s revolver spoke and another
yel. of pain came from the rough fellow.

Jackson Blake had shot him through the left
shoulder.

I reckon you will not trouble anybody now
for some time!” the Fresh remarked.

CHAPTER XXXV.
AN CNSUCCESSFUL QUEST.

THE fight was over, and as nearly all the
spectators had anticipated, the Fresh of ’Frisco
had proven an easy winner.

One of the doctors of the town happened to be
among the spectators and be burned to the
asmstance of the cowboy.

The Wild Bull of the Pecos was completely
dis usted; the fight was taken out of him, and
all e desired was to get out of El Paso as soon
as possible.

And. as it happened, there was a hamster
present who was bound down the river and he
volunteered to give the cowboy a passage, and
so the Wild Bull of the Pecos took his de-
parture.

He had come for wool and returned shorn.

‘ After the duel, Dave Ringwood and Old Cali-
farnia J cc hastened. to congratulate Blake on his

.victory.

“ This second trap did not succeed in catcth
you'any better than the first,” Dave Ringw
remarked.

“ This fellow was not as dangerous as the
other ” the Fresh replied.

“ You didn't gi’n the galoot much chance in

 

 

26

The Fresh in Texas.

 

>—

this hyer fight to show whether he could do any-
thing with a pistol or not,” the old mountain-
man observed With a chuckle.

“ I did not intend to take any chances,” Blake l

replied. “ Of course I had no knowledge of
whether he was a dead-shot or not, but from the

way he carried himself I got the idea that he .

might be a pretty fair marksman. The cowboys
pride themselves upon their shooting abilities,
and the most of them are good shots, but my ex-
perience with all these big men is that they are
slow on the trigger—apt to putter over their
aim—’

“ That is so, sure as ye’r’ bornl” cried Old Cali-
fornia Joe, “ I have noticed it a hundred
times!"

“ Yes. it is true,” Dave Ringwood assented.

“ So I made up my mind not to give him any
chance to show whether he could s oot or not,
but to plug him before he could fire.”

By this time the Fresh bad attired himself for
the street again, and the conversation was inter-
rupted by the spectators who came to congratu-
late the Fresh upon his victory.

Blake was on the watch for the Cubans and
the Jew, but neither one of the three was
visible.

In company with the others the Fresh return-
ed to the Hotel Mexico, but under pretense of
having some business to which he must give his
attention, Blake and his pards got away from
the enthusiastic crowd.

“ W here now?” asked Dave Ringwood, when
the three were on the plaza.

“ To the old Jew’s,” was Blake’s reply. “The
old rascal was a part to this scheme and I in-
u-nd to bring him to ok for it.”

“ Yes, and it will serve him right too, the

measley galooti” Old California Joe declared. i
" Ulil Solomons is as tough it cuss as ever walk- ‘

ed in shoe leather. I have met with many a
Jew in my time, and when they get inter the
frontiers of civilization and o inter the pawn-
.hreker business they are we ves, all of them,
but  aged cuss is the boss wolf of the
wow: i

“ Well, I am going to find out who was at the
h-tck of this business today?” the Fresh de-
z-l-arerl. “ For in my mind there isn’t any doubt
Illilh Solomons was hired to get me to come to
{Cl Paiso so this cowboy would have a chance to
attack me. I so

.splfefl reckoning.”
“ b pose the old ch will not give the snap
away?" Dave ltingwmd asked.

“Oh, I shall adopt such a persuasive way ,
that I do not think he will be able to refuse,” ‘

Blake replied with a smile.

The olrl mountain—man grinned.

“I reckon that if I had the working of the
trick I would make the Old galoot spit out w’ot
he knows ’bout the affair, or I would ut him
through a course of sprouts w‘ot woul be apt
to take the curl out of his hair!” .Old California
Joe de alared. '

“ Well, it is about time that you found out
something about it,” Dave Ringwood remarked.
" It is not pleasant for a man to reflect that
he has some secret foe who is ready to strike
him at any convenient opportunity.”

“ I will wring the trut out of the old Jew as
sure as my name is Jackson Blake!” the Fresh
declared. “ I think that the Cubans are at the
bottom of the mischief, as I said before, andif
the Jew implicates them as I believe he will,
this town of El Paso will not be big enough to
hold the pair and a man about my size.”

By this time the three had arrived at the dom—
icile of Hadad Solomons.

The house was tightly closed as usual, but in
answer to Blake’s loud rap the panel in the door
opened, but instead of the Jew, the face of his
assistant a peered. '

“ Open ocksl I want to see Mr. Solomons!”
Blake declared.

“ He is not here,” the youth answered.

“ Not in the house?”

it No‘ sir.”

“ When will be be in?”

“ I do not know; he has been called out of
town on business.”

“ Oh, well, you will do.
my business all right.”

“ I do no business until Mister Solomons re-
turns. Good-byl” and then the youth shut the
wicket.

“ Euchered, by thunder!” cried the old moun-
min-man.

“ I say, you didn’t get much satisfaction out
of him!” Dave Ringwood exclaimed.

“ Oh, but I am not goin to be put of! in
this way 1” the sport rejoin . And then with
the knocker he awoke the echoes of the street.

No answar was made to the summons though.

“ He knows who it is, and he don’t calculate to
‘hold no more talk with you,” Old California Joe
remarked.

“ Oh, I tell yer it is just as I said—this hyer
Jew is a ’ison galoot!”

“Whe her be is in or not, he is determined
not to see you,” Dave Ringwood observed.

“ Conscious guilt, pards, that is what it ill”
Blake declared. “ If he hadn’t something on his
mind he would not hesitate to see me, but I am
going toget in if I can !” .

I suppose you can fix

ct the Cubans are at the E
bottom of it, and it so I intend to call them to a l

I And again the Fresh banged away at the
E knocker, and this time he raised such a racket
I that he alarmed all the neighborhood.
Men, women and children appeared at various
1 doors and windows, peering cautiously out into
the street, and many of them were armed with
‘ various things in the shape of weapons, in the
,‘ alarm of fear caught up, more or less offensive,
i ranging from fire-arms dewn to brooms, pokers,
; and big sticks.
“ Kinder looks from this display as if the in—
r babitants of this hyer street imagined the wild
ll In juns had made a raid on El Paso,” the old
I mountain-man remarked.
“-Yes, and I hope that these good people will
not take into their ends to sally out and attack
us,” Dave Ringwood observed. “I will be
, ban ed if I want to fight a Mexican mob l”
I “ Veil, it would be rather ugly,” Blake re-
, joined.
! But the ferocious attack on the knocker pro-
; duced the desired result. ‘
3 Again the panel opened and the face of the
5 boy appeared, this time pale with fright.
“ My good sir, do you want to tear the house
. down?" the youth exclaimed.
“Oh, nol no idea of doing anything of that

' kind,” the Fresh answered. ‘ But 1 do not like
~ to be treated in a sbabb manner. Here we are
, come to do business wit you. and you will not

let us in.”
l “ Did I not tell you that Mister Solomons was
i not at home?” the youth exclaimed. “ It would
| not be of any use to let you in; I could not do
; any business with you.”
: “ Have on not made some mistake about the

matter?" lake asked, in his softest and most in-
i sinuating way.
“ No, no; no mistake!"
“ Oh, but it may be possible, you know, that
: your master is in the house somewhere and you
I not know it,” the Fresh persisted.
' “ My good 311', I assure you he is not in,” the
! youth answered.

“ Bntit would not do any harm if you were to
go and take another look,” Blake said, persua—
sively. “ And just tell him, on know, that his
very good friend, Jackson
’Frisco, is here, and is anxious to transact a lit-
tle business with him. ' And if he is in the house
I feel sure be will see me; he might as well, you
know, first as last for he will have to see me
some time, for if I make up my mind to that,
there is no corner of this earth, far enough off.
or so obscure, in which he can hide, that I will
not find him,” and the tone of the Fresh deep-
ened, while his eyes flashed in such a way that
the Jewish youth fairly shook in his shoes.

“ You just- hunt him up, and tell him this,
and I am sure be will see me—just try now,”
continued Jackson Blake, with an abrupt change
in his tone to the soft, wheedling manner again.

“ Oh, my good sir, I am telling you the
truth!” the youth rotested. “ Mister Solomons
is not here; he 1e t the house about a uarter of
an hour ago, and he will not be back or two or
three wee s.” .

“ Ah, indeed?” the Fresh exclaimed.

“ Yes, yes, it is the truth. He has gone on a
journey.’

“ Not on foot?"

“ Oh, no, sir, on horseback. He has business
at —— and some other towns in that direction
and he expected when he left to be away for
some time.”

“ Has be taken the direct road to —?” Blake
asked, carelessly.

“ Indeed, sir, I do not know. He has busi-
ness up the river and down the river, and whe-
ther he intends to go up or down the Rio Grande
before he goes to —— or after he comes back is
more than I can tell.”

“ So, he is likely to have gone in any one of
the three directions?” the Fresh remarked, mus-

in v.

5‘ Yes, sir, but for the life of me I couldn’t
tell zou which one of the three is the most likely
one. .

Blake appeared to be buried in meditation for
a moment just as though he was debating the
matter over in his mind, then observed, abrupt-

ly.

“ The odds are big that he has gone straight
to —— for he would be apt to attend to his
business in the river towns on his return, and as
he has only a few minutes’ start, if we set out at
once we may overtake him. Much obliged for
the information; so-long !”

And then the Americans took their departure,
greatly to the relief of the inhabitants of the
street, the most of whom had recognized the
Fresh of ’Frisco, whom in their heart of hearts
they believed to be a lunatic.

CHAPTER XXXVI.
BRINGING rm: new '10 AN ACCOUNT.

Nor a word was said byan of the three until
they turned into the plaza; t en Old California
Joe at the question:

“ bar are we bound?”

“ To the corral,” Blake answered.

“ Arter our bosses!”

“ Exactly.”

“ And do you reckon tomake an attempt to
overtake this H’izen ga100t of a J ew?” the old
mountain-man asked, evidently amazed.

O

 

lake, the Fresh of ,

 

“ Of course! As he only has fifteen minutes‘
start, we can do it easily enough, if we only
have the luck to strike the right road.”

“ But I say, Blake, you don‘t take any stock
in this boy 3 yarn, do you?” Dave Ringwood
inquired. ',

‘ Don’t on?” "

“ N o, I on’t believe a word of it!”

“ Neither do I!” Old California Joe declared.

“Well, well, if you are not two of the big—
gest doubting Thomases that I ever ran across!”
Elbe Fresh exclaimed, with a grave shake of the

em .

“ You don’t really think that that‘guileless
youth would lie?”

“ Lie!” cried the old plainsman. “ Consarn his
pictur’! I don’t believe he could tell the truth if
he wanted to ever so bad!”

“Oh, no, he wouldn’t do such a thin —the
old Jew wouldn’t attempt to throw me o the
track in such a way!” Blake declared. “ No,
Bards; we will go to the corral and get our

orses, inquire anxiously if any one has seen
the aged Hebrew take the road leading to
Chihuahua, and then we will set out to over-
take him—”

“ Oh, yes: I see your game now!” Dave Ring-
wood exclaimed. “You will apparently start
in ursuit, so as to deceive the old Jew and
mm c him think you believe this yarn about his
having left El Paso on a journey.” '

“Kinder throw the old galoot 03 his guard,”
California Joe suggested.

“Yes; and then to-night I will be back in
El Paso, and if I don’t find a way to get into
the Jew’s castle, thenI am not so smart as I
think I am.”

“ Wa-al, now, it will jest do me good to see
you pla roots on that ’ar Jew!” the plainsman
(1

solar .

“I will tr the rifle to—night; I may not be
able to ma 0 it but I red: on I will, unless the
gldman is a mighty sight smarter than I think

e ls.

“ He is in the house, I feel sure of that!” the
Fresh continued. “He is not the kind of men
to start off on a 'ourncy at a moment’s warn-
ing. And then, if he was going to Chihuahua,
he would be sure to take the stage; a man of his
years and character would never make the
journey on horseback. I feel quite sure that the
old fellow would never be able to ride so far.”

1“ Sure as ye’r’ born!” Old California Joe de-
c ared.

“ No it is a trick to throw me of! the track!”
Blake declared. “He fears that an interview
with me will not be pleasant, and so has made
up his mind not to see me. Of course he is too
shrewd not to knew that in time I will surely see
him, but he reckons that if he can push the in-
terview off I may not he so hot after him; and
then there is the chance, too, that those parties
who are going for me may succeed in laying me
out before I can get a chance at him.”

“Like as not the old fellow has calculated just
that way,” Dave Ringwood remarked.

“ 0b, didn’t I allers tell yer, pards, that be
was‘a p’ison galoot?” Old California Joe ex-
claimed. “ I kin jest tell you what it is, boyees,
you kin s’arcb all this country through, cl’ar
from the Gulf of Mexico 11 to the big pine
woods of the North, and now ai’ will on find
a bi er rascal than this same measley ow.

“ ar ar‘ good Jews and bad Jews, and
when you come to bad Jews, this here old Hadad
Solomons is the kin -pin, and no mistake.”

By this time the t ree were at the entrance of
the lane which led to the corral, and as there
were loungch around, the conversation ended.

The pards ot their horses, spoke about trying
to overtakeo d Solomons, whom they believed
tobe on the road to Chihuahua, and then de-
parted.

“Ten to one that the old Jew has put spies on
us, so keep your eyes about you, pards, and see
if you can spot the men,” the Fresh observed to
his companions as they rode out of the corral.

The pards rode at a slow cantsr through the
town, and then struck into the road which led
to the old Mexican city.

As they passed the last group of houses,
Blake’s attention was attracted by a peon-as
the tame Indians who act as servants to the
Mexicans are called.

The man was sitting by the side of the last
one of the houses, with is ragged serape drawn
over his shoulders, pufling awe at one of the
home-made cigars’so common to is r

A ragged peon, Making a cigar y the nod-
side, is such a common sight in M ice. that the
circumstance would not have excited the
American’s attention, had not Blake noticed a.
pgccluliar gleam in the fellow’s eyes as the three
r e

“ ’llhere’s a spy for a thousand ounces!” Blake
exclaimed to is companions, when they were
well out of ear shot of the man.

“ Yes, I noticed that be regarded us intently
as we rode past, Ringwood remarked.”

“ One of those darned tame Injuns!” Old Cali.
fornia Joe exclaimed. “ The meanest critter
’bout that kin be scared u , with the exce tion
of a Digger Injun; they ar as cunning as oxes
and as sneaky as snakes!” ,

“ California, you are pretty far-sighted,”
Blake observed. “When we get on a piece,

 

- '«~.£..'/~ 
(‘2' 'vr"_r- - -

 

 

ow

 

‘7wa its

 

 

 

  
 

i 232;?1  L‘

'  

cs“

p :7 "VI-N.

 

. .

ru ,

hiss». “Quiz:
r ..

 

 

The Fresh in Texas.

2'7

 

 

just take a look back and see what the fellow is

up to. Manage, if you can, so the peon will not
be able to detect that you are taking a look at
him.”

“ All right, I kin do the trick slick as kin be,
by jest bending for’d, as if I were a~flxing my
saddle, and so git a squint at him under my
arm,” the old scout replied.

Soon he performed the maneuver, and then,
when he assumed an upright position again, an-
nounced:

“ The galoot is a spy, sure enuil!
his feet now, watching us.”

“ Well, that is all right,” the Fresh responded.
“ He will carry the intelli, ence to the old Jew
that we are on the road to hihuahua, which is
exactly what I want him to do.”

“ How far do you calculate to ride?”

“Only to the first cross-road, then we will
turn off,” Blake replied. “ There is a ranch
about half a mile down the road where we can
get something to eat, and remain quiet until
nightfall; then we will return to El Peso, and on
the outskirts of the town—which, by the way,
we will approach frcm the open country for fear
that the old Jew may have spies on the different
roads. Well, as I was saying on the edge of
the town we will dismount and leave our horses
in charge of California, while you and I, Dave,
go to interview the Jew. I have thought of a
scheme which I think will gain us admission to
the house.”

This plan was carried out without any trouble,
and at eight o’clock in the evening, Jackson
Blake and Dave Ringwood were again in the
streets of El Paso.

Thcy aVoided the main thoroughfares, partic-
ularly the Plaza, and kept in the by-streets.

“ I want to run across a smart, lower-class
Mexican,” Blake ex lained. “One of the kind
that hang aroun the Mexican gambling-
houses.”

The wish of the Fresh was soon granted, and
luckily the man was one with whom the Fresh
was slightly acquainted.

The fellow was called Sancho Peralt and bore
the reputation of being one of the most unlucky
gamestei's in the town. Mexican Mike’s shebang
was his headquarters.

The man was slouching along with his head
drooped upon his breast, and the moment Blake
caught sight of him he exclaimed to his com-
panion:

“ Here is the very man .I want, and from his
appearance I would be Willing to bet a. fortune
that he has just been cleaned out in seine of the
Mexican dives. If so, I can undoubtedly drive
.a bargain with him.”

The man came up and Blake accosted him.

The speculations of the Fresh were true; the
follow had just lost his last _com in Mexican
Mike’s place, and so he readin agreed to per-
"form the service which Blake required for ten
silver ounces. '

Then, too, the man had a grudge against the
old :iwnbrokcr, for on several . occasions the
Jew ad driven a hard bargain With him.

The plan being all arranged, the three set out,
the Mexican going on ahead and the Americans
following about a hundred feet behind.

When tcey came to the J ew’s abode, the Max.
ican Went to the door and the Americans stole
along the shadow of the wall and concealed
themselves behind the comer of the house about
a and from the door.

[he Mexican knocked gently, like a man who
was not desirous of attracting attention, and
soon the panel opened, the face of the Jewish
youth appearing. . .

“ Who is it?” he inquired.

“ Sancho Pei-alt and I have a valuable dia-
mond ring which I want to raise a loan upon;
see, it is a sparklel‘.," and the Mexican flashed
the light of the ring in the boy’s eyes.

“ You have been lucky, 011?” exclaimed the
youth, With a shrer chuckle.

“ Oh, yes, but I would rather have mone than
the ring, and I am Willing to give a g bar.

sin on it," the Mexwan remarked. “ I can

901 [but I ,1 m in luck to—night, and, if I have a
little mono}; to back me, I am sure I can break
the bank at Mexican Mike’s.”

u we“, [ don’t know whether (you can get an
money or not, blut I will see,” an the“ the yout
closed the no .

“ The olgflfellow is cautious, but I think the
bait is so attractive that he will not be able to
resist the temptation to blte,” Blake whispered
to his companions.

Dave Ringwood nodded, for he thought so,

He is on

tsoosooon the panel reopened, and this time it was
the face of the old Jew thatappeared. _

“ Is dot you mine goat Mister Peraltl"

“ Yes,” rep ied the Mexican.

“ Are on all alone, mine goot fr’en‘l” and old
Ended . olomons peered anfiionsly up and down

tr . a ut the ues ion.

tb?‘ Sbbieyess; h1e gave a ittle bit of business to
transact which I do not want to make public.”

“Mine boy said it vas about a diamond,"

“ Yes, seel” and the Mencnn displayed the

ring. . .
‘ Ah, yeah, I will let you in, for I am always
glad to oblige a fr’en’.”

The Jew closed the panel—there was the sound

 

of moving bolts and bars, and then the door
opened.

The trick had succeeded.

CHAPTER XXXVII.
OLD SOLOMONS WEAKENS.

THE amazement of the Jew can better be
imagined than described when he opened the
door and the Fresh of ’Frisco, closely followed
by Dave RingWood, appeared on the threshold.

The Mexican had disappeared.

The Jew gave a cry of alarm and made a
movement to shut the door, but the Fresh was
over the threshold, and it was not possible to
accomplish the feat without ejecting him, and
thekpawnbroker knew he was not equal to the
tas .

“ Come! take it easy! no nonsense now! You
have no cause to be alarmed l” the Fresh ex-
claimed.

“ I do not want tosee you i” cried the old Jew.

“ No, but I want to see you, and I intend to
do it too!” the Fresh re 'oined.

“ I will not see you - w1!l call for der police.”

“ Solomons, if you utter a yelp I will lay you
out fit for planting!” Blake threatened.

The Jew co wered under the threat.

“0h, mine gootness! do not be violent—dot
viii be bad I” the old man protested.

“ Usher us into your sanctum then, so we can
have a nice uiet talk together.”

“ But I ha 0 nothing to say to you i”

“Yes, but I have got a heap to say to you!”
the Fresh retorted. “ Come! trot along, and
don’t make me ugly, because if you do, it will
be the worse for you!”

“ All right, my tear fr’en’, I vill do anything
for the sake of peace.”

And then, with a heavy sigh. the Jew closed
the door, adjusted the fastenings, and then led
the way into the large room where he usually
received his visitors.

A candle burning on the counter, behind
which the Jew generally took his stand, shed a
dim light OVcr t e romn.

There were some chairs scattered about the
apartment; Blake helped himself to one, Dave
Ringwood sat in another, but the Jew stood in
the center of the room, softly rubbing his hands
together, evidently in a state of great agitation.

“Now, right at the beginning I want to set
your mind at rest,” the Fresh of ’Frisco remark-
ed. “ You are all right—not in the least bit of
danger so long as you are agreeable, and don’t
try to play any ugly trick upon me.”

“ Ali, my tear fr‘en’, I would not do dot for
the world i" the pawnbroker protested.

“ Well, it would not be wise for you to do so,
for, most undoubtedly, you would get hurt,”
Blake observed, significantly. “ Now, sit down
and make yourself comfortable.”

The Jew sunk into a chair, but he was evi-
denti anything but comfortable.

“ o begin, let me tell you, as a friend, that
you acted unwiser in gain into this game
against me,” the Fresh remar ed.

“ Oh, my tear sir, let me assure you—"

“ Assure nothing!” exclaimed Blake, abruptly
cutting the Jew short. .. ‘

“ Don’t try to humbug me about this matter,
for the thing can’t be done,” he con tinued
sternly. “ I know how the trick was worked
just as well as though I had planned it myself!

“ You were ein loyed by some one to lure me
to El Paso so that this big cowboy would be
able to ct a chance toattack me.”

“ Oh, ister Blake—"

“ Shut up now! keep quiet! It will not do
you any good to deny it for I know that it is so.
Whether there is a man with cattle to sell, or
not, it doesn’t matter—”

“ Oh, I assure you, upon my word of honor—
as I am a living mans, it ish no lie!” the Jew
protested.

“ Well, as I said, it matters not. You knew
very well when on sent for me that I would
not bu the catt e—you know I wouldn’t touch
any sto en cows if I could buy them for a dollar
a head, for I do not do business in that way. I
do not care to be mixed up in any crooked
work.

“ Now then, I want to know who put up the
job? I think I know the arties. I fancy it is
the same ones that set the Frenchman after me,
but I want to be sure.”

“ Oh, Mister Blake, if you will only believe
me when I say—”

“Yes, but I don’t and I don’t want to hear
you say anything except to disclose the names of
the _men who put up this job on me!” the Fresh
replied, shortly.

‘ ust think the matter over, now,” Blake
continued. “ Can’t you do better by making a
clean breast of it, than by keeping the matter
a secret? I don’t want to bring you into the
aflalr at all. you know. If you will tell me
what I want to know, I will keep the matter
quiet; I Will not betray to any one that you
have revealed the secret to me, but if you are
obstinate, then it will be war to the knife be-
tween us, and it I den’t find a way to get square
with you .before you are a month older, then
my name is not Jackson Blake!”

Again the Jew trembled, for the threat set
all his nerves ajur.

Of the many men that he had evermet during

 

his long experience on the border he esteemed
the Fresh of ’Frisco to be the most dangerous of
them all.

And so it did not take him long to come to a
conclusion, but, with the craft of his race, he
endeavored to make an honest penny out of the
matter.

“ My tear fr’en’, if I tells you vat you vants
to know, vat vill you gifes me?” he inquired, in
his soft, insinuating way.

Blake burst into a laugh, while Dave Ring-
wood indulged in a low whistle, by which he
intended to show his profound amazement at
the impudence of the Jew. ,

“ Oh, no, ancient of the tribe of Abraham!
you cannot play any racket of that kind on me!"
the Fresh declared.

“ If there is going to be any money in this
transaction it will be from you to me, to keep
me from seeking the vengeance which a man
such as I am naturally desires when he discovers
a satellite of his foes!"

By the words and tone the apprehensions of
the Jew were again excited, and he made haste
to a logize. _

“ esh, yesh, you are right: I ought not 1/)
ask monish!” he exclaimed. “ Dot ish all right;
I tells you for nothing. I ms hired to get you
to come to El Paso.”

“ And who arranged the trick?”

“ You know these two strangers—the Cubans?”

it Yes.”

“ It was those two.”

That is exactly what I thought!” the Fresh
exclaimed. “ They set the Frenchman on me,
and now, Hadad,.iny boy, can you tell me why
tb'tiy are after me?”

be old J ew’s face assumed a blank expression
and he shook his head, slowly.

“I cannot,” he replied, “ nor did 1 know why
they wanted you to come to El Peso. They
only paid me to get you here. I thought it was
for some fake until dot big cowboy Went for

on.

“ I see.” Blake did not place much credit in
this statement, but as it mattered little to him
whether it was true or false, he allowed it to
pass unchallenged.

“ Who are these Cubans and what are they
doing here?” Blake asked.

The old Jew shook his head.

“ Have you any idea why they have a grudge
against me ?”

“ Mine gootness, no!" Solomons exclaimed.
“ How should I know?”

“ Let me see,” observed the Fresh, reflective—
ly. “ There is a reason for all things, of course,
and these men are not attacking me without
good cause. Was it not in Cuba that Manuel
and Isabel Escobedo sought refuge when I made
this country too hot to hold them?”

Despite the wonderful self-control that the
old Jew had over his features he could not pre-
vent a peculiar expression from appearing in his
eyes.

“ Yesh, oh yesh,” he said, after a moment's

use, as though he had been obliged to ranssck
iis memory in regard to the uestion. “ I be-
lieve it was to der island of Cu a dot they went
-—but they are dead, on know.”

“ So I heard, an I suppose it was these
Cubans who brought the report,” the Fresh re-
marked, carelessly.

The Jew fell into the trap.

“ Yesh, yesh, I believe it was.”

“ Aha! I see the game then 1” Blake exclaim-
ed with such a sudden change in his manner
that old Solomons was startled.

“ Game—mine gootness, mine frien’, what
game do you see?" °

“ Why, that report is a lie—a lie gotten up on
purpose to deceive me and throw me of! my
guard l” the Fresh replied. “ The Escohedcs are
not dead—or one of them at any rate is living;
these Cubans are Escobedo agents, and that ac»-
oounts for the attempts to damage me.”

“ Maybe so,” the old Jew exclaimed with an
extremely wise shake of the head. It ish a very
strange affair, so helps me gracious!”

“ Well, I am through with you now,” and
the Fresh rose to his feet, Dave Ringwcod fol-
lowing his example.

The Jew also rose.

“ I hope, Mister Blake, dot you will remember
your promise and not mix me up mid der af-
fairs.” be said, cringi'n ly.

“ Oh, that is all righ ” the Fresh replied. “I
am a man of in word and never betray a con.
flde But, adad, my venerable tulip, let
me you a bit of advice. Don’t try this sort
of thing on again—don’t go into any scheme
against me, for, as a rule, I_ am not of a forgiv-
ing nature, and when I discover that a man is
giving aid and comfort to my enemies I usually

to make it warm for him.”

“Ah, my tear fr'en’, there ish an old saying
once caught, twice shy l” the Jew replied. ‘ I
have a fool make of mineself' this time, but I
will not try it on again, 80 hem me, M nsesl”

“ If you act that way it ~will show that your
head is level i” the resh exclaimed, and then,

with Ringwood, departed. .
When they Were in the street, progressing to-
ward the plaza, Dave Ringwood put the ques-

OD :
“ What is the next move!”

if

 

 

l

28

The Fresh in Texas.

 

r—i

“ To call these Cubans to an account 1” the
Fresh replied. “ I am going to hunt them u
and ut the screws on them in a way they wi 1
not 'ke.”

“ Suppose they will not fight?"

“They will have to, or else come down and
make a full confession. I mean business, and
they will find that I do the moment I get hold
of them.”

But the Fresh of ’Friseo was not destined to
“ et hold ” of either of the Cubans.

he had settled their bill at the hotel, de-
partet , and the closest search failed to discover
a clew to their whereabouts.
Tue Fresh of ’Frisco was completely baffled.

 

CHAPTER XXXVIII.
A BOLD nnrmncn.

FOR fully as week Jackson B?ake and his pards
kept up the search for the Cubans, for the Fresh
could not get rid of the idea that they were in
the neighborhood somewhere.

No trace of them was discovered, though, and
the search was at last given up.

The Fresh was anno ed by his want of success.

“ I do not admire this at all,” he remarked, in
confidence to Dave Ringwood, in whose judg-
ment he had great faith. “ From the fact that
we are not able to get on their tr til I am in-
clined to think they are hiding right in El Paso,
and if that is so, just as soon as they think I am
off my‘guard, they will be hatching some new
scheme.

“ Yes, that seems probable, and the only way
for you to beat the game is to be on the watch
until you are satisfied that the Cubans are not
it; this part of the country,” Dave Ringwood re-

ied.

“ Oh, you can rest assured that I will not be
caught napping," the Fresh declared.

And from that time forth, Blake and all his
men were as watchful as though they were in-
truders in an enemy’s country.

A month went by without any discovery be-
ing made to show that the Cubans had not given
up their designs against the Fresh, and about all
the ards had made up their minds that they
hadgieard the last of the pair.

The only two who had not come to this con-
clusion were the Fresh of ’Frisco and Old Cali-
fornia Joe.

“ Oh, no, not a bit of it,” the wily old plains-
man declared. “Them galoots haven’t given
the thing up! It is the natur’ of cusses of their
kind to hang on until the last man is strung up.

“ They are jest a-laying low—jest waiting for
a good chance to give you a lick that will be apt
to hurt. you betl’

The Fresh was also of the opinion that the Cu-
bans would yet be heard from, and so did not
relax his precautions.

The fact of his engagement to the heiress of
Escobedo was made public, and for a time
created considerable talk all along the Rio
Grande, and great was the envy the news excit-
ed in the breasts of the men who had hoped to
win, not only the handsomest, but the richest
girl for a hundred square miles around.

The young lawyer, Richard Bullifant, was
furious, for 6 had set his heart on winning the
heiress, and if he had been a man of war, un-
doubtedly he would have challenged the success-
ful suitor to mortal combat.

In his ra e he had an idea of doing something
of this kind, and he began to practice with a re-
volver but, in a short time, he saw that nature
never intended him for a crack-shot and that
to encounter such a man as the Fresh of ’Frisco
upon the battle-field would be the hight of folly,
for he would sure] be killed.

The superinten ent of the Escobedo Ranch,
Houma, who, as the reader will remember, was
handled so roughly once by Jackson Blake, when
the man rashly forced a quarrel upon him, was
fully as angry as any man along the Rio
Grande.

In secret, the su riutendent had cherished
lggges of one day w uning the heiress of Esco-

‘ 0.

Like many another dull-witted man he had
mistaken the girl’s kind oliteness for interest,
and as she alwa 5 tree. him well, he fancied
he had made an mpression upon her.

Therefore, when the news of the en agement
was made public, Houma’s rage Iknew "no
bounds.

He hated the Fresh, anyway, for th esson
which Jackson Blake had given hi as a
severe one.

Many a mighty oath had Houma sworn that
he would never rest satisfied until he had secured
ample revenge. ,

And now, to add insult to injury, the Fresh of
’Frisco had won the peerless Margaret and was
soon to become his master.

Houma registered a mighty oath that the
wedding should never take place, and imme-
diately began to practice with rifle and re-
volver.

The superintendent was a good shot with both
weapons. and after steady practice for a
couple of weeks he felt safe in challenging the
Fresh.

’- The oung lawyer bore the message. ‘

.Buil at, when he found that Houma was so

 

l
bitterly incensed against Jackson Blake, did all ,
in his power to urge the superintendent to defy 3

the sharp to mortal combat.

Of course, the young lawyer had no idea that i

Dave Ringwood remarked, after Bullifant had
departed.

“ Yes, but I am used to it and the chances are
that my opponent is not,” the Fresh replied.

Houma aspired to the hand of the heiress, but i “ You see in view of the fact that I am soon to

thou ht the superintendent hated Blake because 

the resh had thrashed him. 1

Bullifant waited upon the sport and made i
known his errand in the courteous manner usual
in such cases.

“ Mr. IIouma desires satisfaction, eh?” the ‘
Fresh remarked, with a quizzical glance at i
Dave ngwuod who chanced to be present.

“ Yes, sir, the satisfaction due from one gen-
tleman to another.”

“ And is it on account of that little misunder-
standing that we had?”

“Yes, sir: of course, you are aware that you
handled my friend retty roughly.”

“ Well, come to t ink of it, I reckon that he
was not treated as if he was made of glass,” the
Fresh remarked.

“ Egad! when you flung him to the ground I
was afraid you had broken every bone in his
body!" the lawyer exclaimed.

“ Oh, no, a little tumble like that does not
amount to anything,” Blake observed, care-
lessly. ’
“ But I say, your man has waited quite a _
time; how is it that he did not attend to this I
matter sooner?”

“ I—really—I do not know,” Bullifant an-
swered, a trifle confused, for he was knowing to
the fact that the superintendent had been busily
engaged in rifle and pistol practice.”

“ I have been expecting something of this
kind from Honma,” the Fresh remarked, in a
reflective sort-of—way.

“Oh, have you!” Bullifant asked, not know-
ing exactly what to say.

“ Yes, 1 have been expecting a challenge ever 1
since I heard that the superintendent was wast- i
ing a deal of powder and lead in endeavoring to
make himself a dead-shot."

The young lawyer coughed, decidedly con-

u .

“Well, really, I was not aware—”

“ Oh, that is all right! I don’t lay it up
against him!” Blake exclaimed. “ There is
nothin like being on the safe side, if a man
can on y manage to get there.”

“ You have the choice of weapons, of course,
as the challenged party,” Bullifant remarked,
eager to change the subject.

“Yes, I am aware of that.”

“ What do you prefer?”

“ Bowie-knives!" the sport replied, in his cool

waly.
he lawyer was aghast at the answer.

” Bowie~knives?” he cried.

“ That is what I said.”

“ But such a weapon is unusual l”

“Exactly, and that is the reason I choose it.”

“ Such a duel would result in the death of
both articsl” Bullifant exclaimed.

“ ot a bit of it! I am so expert with a knife
that I will engage to carve your friend into
mincemeat before he can get a chance to carve
me ” the Fresh replied.

he lawyer was in a quandary; he did not
know what to say, for he felt sure that Houma
would stand no chance to win in such a fight.

“ You do not seem to be eager to go in on this
riflie,” Blake observed.

‘° The weapon is such an unusual one,” Bulli-
fant explained. “ I am sure Mr. Houma knows
nothing whatever about it.”

“ That is the reason I selected it,” the Fresh

rejoined. “ As he has been practicing with
both rifles and revolvers, I presume he has got
to be a dead-shot by this time, or else he would
not challenge me; but, as I am a dead-shot ‘
with a bowie-knife, I will have the deadwood
on him."
“I guess we will have to call the thing off,
then,’ the young lawyer remarked. “ For
there isn’t any sense in my lettin my man go
into 3 fight when he doesn’t stan any show to
win.

“ Then you object to bowie-knives!"

“ Oh, yes; it would be madness for meto agree
to such weapons.”

“lVell. I” i tell you What it is; I hate to balk ,
any man when he is anxious for me to give him j
satisfaction, so I will say repeating-rifles at five ‘
hundred yards, each man at liberty to advance .
after the word is given, and fire as many shots
as he likes.” ‘ .

The distance did not suit Bullifant at all. for
three hundred yards was the greatest distance
that Houma had tried; but as the Fresh was
firm, he was obliged to accept, and consoled
himself with the thought that after the word
was given, his principal, by advancing, could
speedily reduce the distance.

The hour for the duel was fixed at six on the
following morning and the location a t mid-
way between the Fresh’s ranch and the scobedo
place by the Rio Grande.

Then, after the arrangements were completed, 3
the lawyer took his departure.

When he made known to Houma the condi-
tions, the superintendent did not like ‘the dis-
tance, but set out immediame to practice, so as
to get used to it. . :

‘ Five hundred yards is a pretty long shot,”

 

become a married man, I am beginning to take
care of myself and in a picnic of this kind I
want as sure a thing as I can get.”

 

CHAPTER XXXIX.
a SURPRISE.

ON the following morning the Fresh and his
men were up bright and early.

All of the army were aware that there was
going to be a fight, for Blake had not thought it
necessary to keep them in the dark in regard to
the affair, although the had been cautioned not
to allow the servants o the ranch to know any-
thing about it, for, us Blake remark-Hi, there
was no need of having any limit} tsll; cheat the
affair than was absolutely necessary.

“ If he plugs me or I plug him, there will be
plenty of chances for chin-music,” the Fresh ob-
served.

Breakfast was served at five, and at half-past
the party expected to be in the saddle, although
fifteen minutes at the outside, would take them
to the meeting-place.

All of the men were eager to be present at the
fight, and Blake declared:

“ Considering that the boys don’t have many
chances for fun, it seems a shame to ask any of
them not to go; yet, on the other hand, I don’t
want it to look as if I had come with a crowd
for the purpose of intimidating the gentleman
who has done me the honor to ask me to stand.
up and be shot at.”

“ Yes, but is it not likely that he will have a
gang of his friends along too?" Dave Ringwood
asked. “ There are half'a—dozen fellows up the
river who are his chums."

“ I hardly think he will have them there,” the
Fresh remarked. “ There wasn’t anything said
about our having any witncSSes. But I will tell
you how to fix the thing, boys,” he continued.

‘It is a broken, undulating country, with
plenty of small timber for cover. Dave and I
will start, and you follow about half a mile in
the rear. and when you get near the ground, tie
your horses in some grove, and scout in on foot,
near enough to be able to get a view of the
skirmish.

“ You will be able to work the trick so that if
the superintendent has any friends with him,
neither he nor they will have any notion that
there is anybody in the neighborhood.”

They all thought the idea was a capital one
and Old California Joe, the crafty, long~headed
scout remarked:

“ I reckon that is about as good a deal as ou
kin scare u l I have kinder been pu7 ing
the inside 0 my old figure-head over this h or
matter, and the idee has kinder come to me t at
mebbe thar is some traps inter this duel.”

This announcement interested the others at
once, for none of them—not even the Fresh of
’Frisco himself—had thought of such a thing.

“ What put that idea into your head i" Blake
asked.

“ Wa—al, now, you have got me foul l” the old
mountain-man declared. “ I couldn’t answer
the uestion to save my life! ‘

“ T e idee is thar, I will swar’ to that, but
how it got thar is more than I know.

“ I s’pose the explanation is that I am a
kinder of a suspicious old cuss, anyway, and
somehow, the notion came to me that, mebbe,
this war a trap to git you out whar a gang
could git at yer.”

“ You are thinking of the Cubansl” Blake ob-
served.

“ I reckon my mind is a kinder running on
them tanned galoots,” the old mountain-man
admitted.

“ This hyer is what bothers me. Wh has
the superintendent gone for you all of a sudden?”

“Oh, there are good reasons for that,” the Fresh
replied. “ 1n the first place, I thrashed him, in
the second I know he is a rogue, and he feels

rfectly sure that when I take command of the

obedo Ranch he will get his walking papers.
And then the third and strongest reason of all
is that he has an idea he could win the heiress,
for he has been paying especial attention to the
lady for quite a while. ’

“ Is that so?” exclaimed the old mountain-man
in wonder.

“ Yes, my information came from one of the
herdsmen on the place, a smart fellow, with a
pair of sharp eyes in his head, and who had
sense to detect the game that Houma was try-
ing to play. The man wanted to stand well
with me. and so put me on my guard. Now
you see the superintendent has reasons enough
for wishing to lay me out,” the Fresh said, in
conclusion.

“ Yes. yes, it is as plain as the nose on a man’s
face.” Old California Joe observed.

“ W’a-al, it won’t do any harm for the
boyees to be around handy, and they want to
see the skirmishg‘iijay.”

The Fresh agi- to this, and the programme
was carried out.

Blake and Dave Ringwood started on ahead,
and the rest followed some ten minutes after;

 

3:1":- ' ., ‘

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

n. ML

-< Jar".

 

 Vi];  :

 

 

The Fresh in Texas.

29

 

 

,.



dismounting when they came near the battle-
ground, tying their horses in a clump of timber,
then cautiously approaching the scene of action
on foot.

When Blake and Dave Ringwood arrived on
the field they found the others on the ground.

lVith llouma and the young lawyer was the
doctor from El Paso and a. friend of his.

The Fresh and Houmn exchanged bows, and '
then withdrew in opposite directions, while the 1
seconds arranged the details.

“ There wasn’t anything said about a. sur- 5
geon,” Bullii'nnt observed, “ but as I knew you
would not be likely to get one in this section, I i
took the liberty of bringing ‘one from El Pasa, J
and this gentleman is one of the doctor’s stu-
dents, and I presume you will not object to his
presence?” .' i

“Oh, no, that is all right,” Dave Ringwood "
replied. “ Now, suppose we get right to Work ‘
and ace oil‘ the ground—about two hundred ;
and iifty paces will be near enough.” 

The lawyer assented to this, and the distance .
was soon measured. I

“ Now, how about the positions? If you think i
there is any choice. we will toss a. coin to decide ‘
the matter," Dave Ringwood remarked. . 

But as it was a cloudy day, the rising sun i
being hidden by heavy banks of dark vapor, ’
there really was not the slightest difference be-
tween the two ends of the line.

“ No, I do not think that is necessary,” Bulli-
fant replied. “ Let my principal take the
pOSltlgn nearest to him and your: can do the
Same.

“ How about the signal for the fight to begin? ,
I suppose the doctor had better give that?” Dave
Ring wood suggested.

This was ap roved by the lawyer, andsoit
was arranged t at the signal was to be a shot
from the doctor’s revolver, preceded by a warn-
ing from him to be ready.

he duelists got into position; the seconds re-
treated to one side, and the doctor and ‘his
friend took their station midway the two paints
occupied by the fighters—~well to one side, of
course, so as to be out of the range of fire.

“Now, then, gentlemen, look out for your-
selves—prepare!” exclaimed the doctor in a.
loud voice.

The rifles came up to the shoulders of the
duelists and their eyes glanced along the shining
tubes of death.

The doctor counted, one, two, three, to him-
self, and then discharged his revolver in the air. ,
Like an echo came the report of the Fresh of
’Frisco’s rifle. .

With a asp the su rintendent dropped his
weapon, and as it struc the round the iece '
was dischur ed. the hall whis ng harmless y up
toward the c ouds. '

Hounia’s right arm hung helplessly by his side.

The doctor and his assistant, also the lawyer,
hurried to him. _

“ A most wonderful shot, if it was not an ac"-
cidentl” the surgeon declared, as he examined
the wound.

The ball had entered the right arm at the
wrist and shattered the bone of the forearm.

“ By Jove!” Bullifant exclaimed, “ you have ,
had a lucky escape; that man is evidently a. '
dead shot and could just as well have put his
ball through your heart instead of shooting to
disable you.”

The superintendent was deadly pale. His
wound was a severe one but, as Bullifant had
remarked, he felt that e owed his lifeto the
mercy of his antagonist, and the knowledge :
took from him all desu'e to brave the power of
the Fresh of ’Frisco.

Dave Ringwood approached; Blake had drop-

the butt of lust rifle upon the ground and
stood leaning upon 1 . .

“ Are you satisfied-18 another shot desired i”
Ringwood asked.

“ No, I am disabled,” Houma replied, before
his second could nk. “Tell Mr. Blake I am
content, and that feel I was a fool to attempt
to measure strength With him.”

Rin wood bowed, expressed the hope that the
woun was not a severe one, and as the doctor
begun to dress the hurt, returned to report to
Blake that the affair was ended.

“ I didn’t want to kill the fellow,” Blake re-
marked as he and his part! mounted their horsps,
“ and i had to give him a. lesson.”

Away rode the two at a slow center, and by
the time they got a thougund yards away a sur-

rise was 5‘ run u n r em-

p Ont Iron}: a 1(ilhlgp of timber rode a dozen
horseman. all brandishing revolvers, and they
changed directl for the pair.

h

 

2 red and masks, the red hair and .
beards showed that the strangers were the Red 

Riders of Rayon, the famous bri and band
which the Fresh of ’Frisoo had once ispersed.
The ards prepared for fight, but before the
Red idem got within range _they were
treated to a surprise which they little antici-

ted.
IMA volley of revoévor she? 'wns ifiredfl into
them at int-blah run , rom ou o n ump
of timberPo which em “affix saddles and then
with o ye i, Old ' orniu Joe and the rest 9
Fuel: of ’Frloco’l men sprung from their

 

The Red Riders wheeled toward the right, and
fled to the river in wild confusion.

The pards chased them, blazing away as they
ran.

Three of the riders only gained the opposite
bank of the Rio Grande, the rest were carried

way by the river, now quite high and turbu-

‘ lent.

The victors gathered the dead and wounded
bi‘igunds.

The red mask, false hair and heard had
fallen from the faCe of one of the wounded men,
and the features of the Cuban, Gomes, were
revealed. .

“Ahii, caught at last in your Own trap?"
Blake exclaimed. " But why have you, a stran-
ger. attacked me?”

“ Do you not know me, you accursed Ameri-
can?” cried the dying man. “I am Manuel
Escoliednl You have succeeded in killing me,
but my sister, Isabel, who has escaped you, will
avenge me!" And then the death-rattle sound-
ed in his throat.

At last Blake comprehended; the two Cubans
were the brother and the sister, in male attire.

An eager search was made for the disguised
Isabel, but as she could not be found‘she was
not one of the three who gained the bank, as
was afterward discovered—it was concluded she
had found a watery grave in the Rio Grande’s
yellow flood.

Our tale is told; a few more words only.

J nckson Blake, the Fresh of ’Frisco, wedded
the eerless Margaret Escobedo, and after the
wed ing, in obedience to Margaret’s wish, the
ranch was sold, all the Western property turned
into ready cash, and the pair departed to seek a
home in the far East, amid the civilization
where the heiress of Escobedo had been reared.

And there in their palace-like home, on the
noble Hudson’s banks, we will leave the happy
pair, but at some future time we may again
take the n in hand to relate the adventures
which in t 19 “eirete East” befell the restless,
irre iressibie son of the Orient, Jackson Blake,
the ‘resii of ’Frisco.

THE END.

 

Beadle’s Half-Dime library.

3" PHILIP 8. WARNE.

07 Potent-Leather J no; or, Old Ruitlemnka, the Chem.
175 Darn-In Arizona; or, Palont—Lenther Joe's Big (Juno.
ms Captain Monk; or, Patent-Leather Joe’s perm.

219 Der-yard. the linen-t; or, The Mouninln Vampires.
888 A '.l on 1: Boy: or, The Dwuri’s Revenge.

8“ LIQtle ornudoi or, The Onion“ of ills Glen.

8?! Little Jlngo; or, the Queer Find.

88?! Little (HI-my; nr, Cuught in llll Own Trap.

401 Little filoo- lyz or, A Rue. for n Ranch.

408 Little Lenthelnllreoehen; or. Old Jumbo'l Cum.
431 Little Ah Sin; or, The Curse of Blood.

451 Colorado Kate. A Tale of the "lines.

480 Three Jolly Yards.

617 Jim Gludden’o Deput .

68? I he Jolly I’m-do to t 0 Bonnie.

 

BY GEORGE “'ALDO BBOWNE.

88 Dundly Rock the Men from Tom.

90 The rend Rider; or, The Texan Duelist.

99 The. 'l‘lxer ofTuon: or, Dandy Rock’s Angel.

115 The Mod Miner: or, Dandy Roc‘k’u Doom.

131 The Golden "and; or, Dnndv Rock to tho Rescue.

164 Dandy Ilook’n Pledge: or. Hunted to Death.

1‘23 Dandy Rock’s Riv-l: or. The i-nunlod In“ of'l'noo
BY BI‘OKSKIN 8AM (Mnjor Bill. 5. Bull.)

284 Old l‘ltocky‘l “ Boyce. 3” or, Bonito, the Young Horu-
Yefl er. ‘

246 (Hunt George or, le Ang‘l oftlie Run a.
276 Arizonl Jack: or. Giant George‘s Put-l. z
297 '1 he Turin-tul- of Tum-i or. GluntGonm'o Revenge.
80? The Strange Ford or, Little Bon’o Death Hunt.
818 her-Winona. Ker-w on: or, The Tnnntuln (\me
827 Creeglnz at, the Cndclo; or, The Red nnd White Pom.
38. F310 red: or, The Tomlin“ ny’l Trust. -
844 The Fighting Trlox or. Rattlesnake, the Touhwny.
399 Wild “ olf; or, Big-Foot “'Illnco to the Front.
80‘? The Ranch R-lllel'l: or. TI” 5'08. "(1’0" Purlflwl-
804 Snap-Blot, the Boy Ranger.
875 Chlota. the Creek 3 or. The Three Thunderbolu.
881 Bender. lllllz or. Frio Frilan to the Frnnt.
89. Romeo and the Red” or, The Bela-guard Randi.
404 Little Lou-lot: M. Pecan Pete’s Big Rampage.

4 The Daley from Denver.
427 The Three Trailers; or. Old Rocky on tho Romp-go.
448 lllnll' lull: or, The Lynx ofilio Leone.
“5 Little Lone Star: or, The Bella of the Cihoio.

BY CAPT. HARK WILTON.

 ‘Yfiung'gfintuek: $2.13. main-o.
III en or, o ‘t t'o Con
.80 Josh. the Bly‘Tonderfqlvit: M F

BY J. W. 0330K.

409 The Blvd Chim- ofNowhnr'.
498 Cactus Burr. the Man from Hard Inch.
581' 01‘ Buckeye, the Slam Shadow.

BY IAJOR IIENBY B. BTODDARD. Ex-leout.

800 Neck-Tie N“ 3 or, The D1 ~0ut Pnrdo.

340 1!. [or Raphael: or.Tho wordsmen arm

1191 kl ~Glovo Klt. the Dnndy oftlie Rockies.

898 Kid-Glove Kit and Ford; or, The Gnid King.

400 The Mad Mnn-llnnter; or, The Mystery of Golden

Gulch.
505 Powell'- Poul; onThoOueAnnod Giant.

BY JACK FABRAGUT.

815 Ned, the Cobb- Bo .
820 The Ben Bonereuiyorfl'ho Boy shipper.

BY 001.. A. l'. BOLT.

899 Block Buckskin: or, The linked Mo- ol‘ Death Carol.
‘19 Kenneth. the Knife-King.
a. Little “till”, the Pilot of the Woods.

BY JAKE! 1.. 130m

10" Duo-E CI 81.: or, The Abandoned You“ Homo.
11. Thom It... of tho Prob-loo. A Story of To“

 

v

BY BIIACEBRIDGE llEMYNG.

39 Inland Jim: or. The Pet of the Family.
1 The Captain of the Club: yr The Rival Add“
101 Jack llnrkawuy In New 1 ork.

BY "AR RY HAZARD.

323 Arkmmnw Jncl.’ : or, Tln- Scourge of the Mine.
29 Red-Skin Tum: or, The Dem ‘Vi'n Trail.
842 The llouiituln llc\ ll; or, Yellow luck, the Outlaw.

ll" “‘ILLlA“ ! . lil'STER. /

190 "11"le Dilrke; or, The 'l’igrrs or High Pine.
210 Faro Frank; or, llnlilly Durke’: Go-Down Pun“.

BY (‘01.0N El. “ELLE SARA.

108 The Lion ol'the Sen: m, The \‘niiecl Lady.
1156 Cool Dcmnond; or, The Gambler‘s Big Gum!

BY MAJOR l.E“'lS \V. O‘KIISCN.

278 The Three Trapper-z or. The Mount-Ii" Monster.
.885 Indian Joe; or, The White Spirii of the H “A.

BY JOHN J. MARSHALL.

40 Rovlng Ben. A Story of a Young Amorlcnn.
197 The outlaw Brothern: or, The Cuptivo of the Mini.

BY “'31. G. PATTEN.

489 The Diamond Sport: or, The Double Face «Bod Rock.
519 Cu tuln Mystery ; or, Five in One.
581 Dulny Dare, the Sport. from Denver.

BY 1" REDERICK DE“’ KY.

818 Clmnrron Jack, the King-Pin of Rina-Shoo.
478 Tangential-d, "in Doom. Detective.
542 The Canyon Pun-do.

BY LIEUT. 11. D. PERRY. U. S. N.

176 The Boy Run-way; or, The Brier-near of tho Buy.
180 The Ben Truner: or, A Vow Well Kept.
193 Cuptnln K“: or, The Mystery of Montouk Pollt.

BY GEORGE C. JENKS.

485 Git Thur Owney, the Unknown.
493 Git Thur Owney’u Pledge.
518 The Demon Doctor.

BY CAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR. U. S. A.
191 “until. Billy, the Boy Buliwhnchor; or, The bound

liirioon

194 Bum; Bur. Bet: or, 11.. an..qu mm.

BY W. J. 11AM1L’1‘0N.

68 The Red Brotherhood: or. The Twelve Ave-gun.
66 Bin lo "and; or, A Life («I n Lite.
78 Mo: Tom “'eotcrn, than Tenn Ranger.

“7 Ben Blrd. the Gov. King; or, Big Poto’l Scoop.

BY ROGER STARBUCK.

.5 The Boy Cnptnlnz or, The Pluto's Daughter.
114 The Block Schooner: or. M Junk. the Old TU.
.59 The Golden llnr oon: or, Lost Among tho "on.
848 FIre-lleelnior, 0 d Sklnflli-t, nu Duct-stunt.
854 Big Horn 1 'e. the lllll Tron); or,‘l'ho 0“ M
.61 The Phantom Light-tonne.
870 Breaker Ben, the Beef-Runner.

BY BARRY ST. GECRGE.

80 Roaring Rnlgh Boekwood, the Bangor.

44 Ruttlln Ru e; or, Tho nghihuwho Kentucky.

69 0h! llle ory; or, l’undv Elli-’1 Sail .
108 During Davy; or, The Trail of the lira" Wolf.
166 Hickory llnrr 3 M, The Tn cr-Brlg-do'l Spy.
173 Thunderbolt on; or, the oil-Herder.

BY CAPTAIN FRED. “'IIITTAKEI.

15 The Ben-Cat; or. The Witch of Dnrion.

'9 The Dumb Page or. The Day's Dnughm.

48 lllck Darling. t a any Expruo Rider.
150 Lance and Lat-w; or, The Chlldm of the Chuco.
154 The Sunni Hunters; or, The Lnud oi the lie hontluddn.
159 The Lost Captain: or Skipper Join-u Con-’0 In to tho

Omen Pull" Sen. .
.00 T e Boy Bedouin-z or. The Broil-en of the Pinned Luna,
314 “'olfgnng, the Robber of the Rhino.

849 Milo Roller. the Animal King; or, The Round the World

d her.
.65 Th T To r or,ThoI.uguooftluJ
:31 Blneek i:k. .33.}... an... """
95 California Joe’s Wnr Troll.

BY J0 PIERCE.

89'! Bob 0’ the Bowery 3 or. The Prince of Mulberry Street.
416 The Vagabond Detective; or,Bowory Bob'o loan.
45. lloto r Bo the Street-Boy Detective.

460 The owye ofihodow; nr Luke’s 1W.

4" Jgunty Joe, the Young Hom- ing.

494 Surly film. the Young Forryinun Doiocflvo.

1504 Five Points PM].

509 Jack J. gen, the Butcher Boy boned".

516 Tort-r 1m; 0:. Five Points Phil‘s Men-goth.

528 North River Nut. the Pier Detective.

588 “'reotlln Rex, the Pride oftho Sixth Ward.

541 J 9' F110. er, the Stable Boy Detective.

BY FRANK DUIONT.

1.0 The Branded "and: or. Tirol:- Mum.

1’? Wild-Fire. the Boss of the Road.

140 Blue Blazes: or. The Bunk 0' Day Boy- dloaky I.
171 E50 Dan; or, The Rival Leagues.

18‘ Evll yo; or, The Vulture. of the Rio Ora-lo.

BY CAP'I. J. F. C. ADA“

hm- 801 or Nick Whiniu'l Boy 8, .

loud-n]? 0‘ lb): ban-fiber. of tho We“. '
V m t io in per.
sick Win an 1;“; ’3. II: n. w MM
I'he White Indian; mall‘ho Seoul of a Yellow“
0“ 21 ’I Cabin: or, The Gumbo"- In I“ Wooh.

81 latitl Jo. the Terror oi the Prairie.

8‘ lack Buokrun; or, Bonn, the Fem-lo T not.
.41 old Grizzly and Ill. Pet-i or. The WII Hutton.
25; Li ht-Iionno use; or, Oucoolu, tho l‘lrobnnd.
u Tgo Loot III-liter" or The Unduzmnd Comp.
us The snip King; or, 1%. Hum... 7mm

BY EDWARD S. ELLIS.

C 31“ Blldon, Tn r.
8 Seth Joneo; or. c Cnptlvoo of the Frontier.
10 Nut Todd : or, The Fate of the Sioux Gupta".
.1 Tho Frontier Angel.
8 The Boy Ellen; or, The Inc-hunted Island.
1 The III-ted Hunter; or, The SM flan-II.
The Half-Blood; or, Thu Panthot o! a. Plot-o.
.71 Tho lingo Hunter; or, The Bloom Pum- In.

A now {use ovary Tuesday.
The "album" Library is for solo by .n
Newodenlen, five cent- per copy, or sent by mail,

 

"unedptotoix cent-ouch. magmas.

Publishers, Q William mot. New York.

\

 

 

 

BEADLE’SSEDIMBLI‘BRARY;

' Published Every Wednesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Umfom Price of Ten Cents. No Double Numbers.

 

 

‘ K.

in

BUFFALO BILL NOVELS.
By Colonel Prentiss Ingraham.

924 Buffalo Bill‘s Lone Hand.
NY. Buffalo Bill’s Marked Bullet.
984 Buffalo Bill’.: Life Raine.
.979 hum-no Bill‘s Relentless Trail.
.964 Bull’a 0 Bi 1‘s Invincibles.
\960 Buffalo Bill’s l:luc Belt Brigade.
$956 BJflliiC Bill’s VolunteerVigilantes.
950 Buffalo Bill at, Buy.
Buffalo Bill’s Block Game.
1936 Bufful ) Bills Black Paul.
927 Buffalo Bill’s Bluff; or, Du: Dick the Sport.
 Buffalo Bill‘s Quandary: or. elvet Bill‘s Vow.
15 Buffalo Bill and the Surgeon-Scout.
Buffalo Bill’s League: or, Red Butterfly.
Buffalo Bill’s Tangled Trail.
Buffalo Bill‘s Rough Riders.
895 Buffalo Bill’s Secret Ally.
890 Buffalo Bill‘s Lifeb‘takc.
882 The Three Bills: Buffalo llill Wild Bill and Band-
box Bill; or, The Bravo in Broadcloth.
874 Buffalo ill’s Buckskin Braves.
‘869 Buffalo Bill‘s Road-Agent Round-up.
863 Buffalo Bill’s Death Charm.
1857 Buffalo Bill’s Royal Flush.
851 Buffalo Bill’s llouble Dilemma.
845 Buffalo Bill‘s Redskin Ruse.
830 Buffalo Bill‘s Bovsin Blue.
m Buffalo Bill’s Shel Shooters.
822 Buffalo Bill’s Best wer.
816 Buffalo Bi 1‘s Red Trail.
812 Buffalo Bill’s Death-Knell.
794 Buflalo Bill‘s Winning Band
787 Buffalo Bill’s Dead Shot.
781 Buffalo Bill‘s Brand.
777 Buffalo Bill’s Spy Shadower.
769 Buffalo Bill’s Sweepstake.
765 B zlfalo Bill‘s Dozen: or, Silk Ribbon Sam.
761 Buffalo Bill’s Mascot.
757 Buffalo Bill’s Double.
.750 Buffalo Bill‘s Big Four;or, Custer‘s Shadow.
1748 Buffalo Bill’s Flush Hand.
739 Buffalo Bill‘s Blind: or, The Masked Driver.
.785 Buffalo Bill and His Merry Men.
’781 Buffalo Bill's, Beagles: or, Silk LassoSam.
727 Buffalo Bill’s Body Guard.
70.2 Buffalo Bill on the Wur- nth.
'716 Buffalo Bill’s Scout Sha owers.
710 Buffalo Bill Baffled: or. The DegenerDesperado.
697 Buffalo llill’s Buckskin Brotherhood.
691 imffalo Bill’s Hind Trail: or. Mustang Madge.
W Buffalo Bill‘s Swoop;or. The King of the M use.
The Cowb'lv Clan: or. The Ti so of Texas.
Lasso King‘s LeaguemnBuc Taylor in Texas.
9 Buffalo Bill‘s Chief of Cowbo ; or. Buck Taylor
.644 Buflalo Bill‘s Bonanza; or. Si ver Circle Knights.
‘ Buffalo Bill‘s (32;); or. Oath Bound to Custer.
. Buffalo Bill‘s Pl ge: or. The League of Three.
~_ ild Bill’s Gold Trail; or, The Desperate Dozen.
175 Wild Bill’s Trump Card: or. The indian Holmes.
168 Wild Bill. the Pistol Dead Shot.

By Bu ifnlo Bill.

The Dread Shot Four.
Tcan Jack, the Lasso Kim:
The Rancl King Dead~Shot.
White Beaver ’3 Still Hunt.
I Wild Bill. the Wild West Duelist.
Wild Bill. the Dead-Center Shot.
, 39 Buffalo Bill‘s Gold King.
The Dead Shot Nine: or. My Bards of the Plains.
414 Red Renard. the Indian Detective.
l401 One-Armed Para; or. Borderland Retribution.
r897 The Wizard Brothers: or. White Beavers Trail.
(894 White Beaver. the Exile of the Platte. ,
19 Wild Bill. the Whirlwind of the West.
Texas Jack. the Prairie Rattler.
The Pilgrim Sharp: or. The Soldier’s Sweetheart.
i 83 Gold Bullet Sport: or, Knights of the Overland.
‘ 52 Death-Trailer. the Chief of Scouts.

By Loon Lewis, Ned Buntllne, etc.

M3 Buffalo B "’3 Ban; or. Cody to the Rescue.
‘683 Buffalo Bill’s Seer. t Service Tran.
629 Buffalo Bill’s Darin Role; or. Daredeatb Dick.
517 Bufmlo Bi l‘s First rail; or. The Express Rider.
158 Buffalo Bill, Chief (f Scouts
17 Buffalo Bill sStranze Ford; or, Dashing Dandy.
“2 Buflalo Bill. the Buckskin King.

BY HAROLD PAYNE.

less The Man from Mexico in New York.

£72 The King-Pin Shark: or, Thad Bun": Ten Strike.
,861 The Tenderloin Big Four

353 The Quaker (‘ity Crook.

844 Tracked to Chicago.

836 The Policy Broker‘s Blind.

829 The Frisco Sharper’s Cool Hand.

821 The Tramp Shadower‘s Backer.

818 The Sham S otter's shrewd Scheme.

m The Grand treet Gold-Dust Sharpen.

796 Detective Rurr‘s Luna ic Witness

,792 The We'l Street Sharoer‘s Snap.
"'84 Thad Burr’s Death Drop.

742 Detective Burr Among the New York Thugs.

Detective Burr‘s Foil; or. A \. oman‘s Strategy.

728 Detective Burr. the Headquarters Special.
'718 Detective Burr‘s Spin't Chase.

r706 Detective Burr’s Seven Clues.

i698 Thad lillrr, the invincible: or, The “L ” Clue.
"£690 The Matchless Detective.

680 X 1'. the Fatal Clew; or, Burr‘s Master Case.

 

BY COL. 'l‘liloIlIAS ll. MONSTERY.
995 The Czar’s-Spy."
936 Iron Wrist. the Swordmaster.
6 Champion Sum: or. The Monarchs of the Show.
9 El Ruble Bravo, King of the swordxmen.

BY J. W. 03m.

/

 Gilbert Goldspur. the Dandy Sport.
W5 ShastaSam, the Sparklcr.
‘ .77 Cool Creodc. the Dead-Shot.
750 The S rt from St. Louis.
Malone, the Thoroughbred.

!!¥€"‘ Ghadrach. the Sport Detective.

 

BY (ill P'I‘AIN HO‘VAJID I!0LMES.

929 Gentleman George, the Showman Sport.
912 (lenteel Joe‘s Lone Hand.
903 The Train Detective.
896 Kent Keen, the Crook-Crusher.
888 Nightshade in New York.
879 Falcon Flynn, the Flash Detective.
871 The Crook Cashier.
859 Clew-Hawk Keene‘s Right Bower.
847 Hiram Hawk, the Harlem Detective.
840 Major Bullion Boss of the Tigers.
83! Shadowing the London Detective.
817 Plush Velvet. the Prince of Spotters.
803 The Rogue Broker’s Right Bower.
788 The le’ht’Hvlwk Dl-teCIive.
779 Silk Ribbon’s Cr: sh-out.
766 Detective Zach, the Broadway Spotter.
751 The Dark Lantern Deto ctive.
736 The Never-le D lective.
724 Captain Hercules, the Strong Arm Detective.
711 Dan Damon, the Gilt-Edze Detective.
701 Silver Stew, the Branded Sport.
694 Gideon Grip, the Secret Shadower.
684 Velvet Van. the Mystery Shadower.
678 The Dude Desperado
671 Jason Clew the Silk-Handed Ferret.
664 Monk Morel, the Man-Hunter.
654 Sol S hinx, the. Fermi Detective.
642 Red ard and Yellow
608 Silent Sam the Shadow Sphinx.
592 Cu lain Sid, the Shasta. Ferret.
579 01 Cormorant. the Bowery Shadow.
569 Captain Cobra, the flooded Mystery.
5'59 Danton. the Shadow Sharp.
550 Silk Hand, tire Mohnw Ferret.
548 The Magnate Detective.
5‘32 Jack Javert. the Independent Defective.
523 Reynnrd of Red Jack: or, The Lost Detective
512 Captain Velvet’s Biz Stake.
Phil Fox. the Genteel Spotter.
4 Richard Redflre. the Two Worlds’ Detective.
487 Slinshine Sam, 9. Chip of the Old Block.
480 Hawkspear. the Man with a Secret.
468 Coldgrip in Deadwood.
460 Captain Coldgrip. the Detective.
45?! Captain Colrhfiip’s Long Trail.
447 Vorcano. the. l 1800 Spy.
441 The California Sharp.
434 Lucifer Lynx. the V onder Detective.
421 Father Ferret. the Frisco Shadow.
413 Captain Coldgrip in New York.
407 Captain Coldgrlp’s Nerve; or. in un Nick.
400 Captain Coldgrip: or. The New ork Spotter.
892 The Lost llonanza; or. The Boot of Silent Hound.
382 The Bonanza Band: or. Dread Don of Cool Clan.
374 Major Blister. the Sport of Two Cities.
365 Keen Kennard. the Shasta Shadow.
352 The Des rate Dozen.
347 Denvlar nice. the Man with “ Band.”
340 Cool Conrad. the Do kota Detective.
335 Flash Dan. the Nabob. or, Blades of Bowie Bar.
821 California Claude. the Lone Bandit.
294 Broadcloth Burt. the Denver Dandy.
941 The Shadow Sport from Frisco.

nu WILLIAM H. MANNING.

948 The Red-Gloved Detective.

931 Frisco Frank at Glory Gulch.

920 The Monrlme. Miner in New York.
906 The Doomsday-Den Detective.
899 The Double-Quick Delective.
893 Yellow Gid of Dark Divide.

885 The Expert Detective’s Shake-up.
875 Trap ing the Race-Track Judge.
864 The olice Special‘s Dilemma.
849 The Genteel Sharper’s Combine
841 Grnydon‘s Double Deal.

888 The Sport Detective‘s Grip?

823 The Athlete Spert About own.
308 TheCrook-Detective’s Pull.

790 Plun er Pete. the Race Track Detective.

782 Rev Rock, the Round-up Detective.

774 Steve Starr. the Dock Detective.

764 The New York Sharp’s Shadower.

738 Detective Cluxton, t 9 Record Breaker.

714 Gabe Gull, the Gambolier from Great Hump.
703 Spokane Saul. the Samaritan Sus ct

692 Dead Shot Paul, the Deep-Range ‘x lOrer.
655 Strawberry Sam, the Man with the irthmark.
646 Dark Job 1, the Grim Guard.

638 Murdock. the Dread Detective.

623 Dangerous Dave. the Never-Beaten Detective.
611 Alkali Abe the Game Cl'icken from Texas.
596 Rustler Ru : the Round-Up Detective.

585 Dan Dixon’s Double.

570 Steady Hand. the Napoleon of Detectives»

563 Wyoming Zeke, tl e Hotepur of Honeysuckle.
551 Garry Kean the Man with Backbone.

539 Old Doublelark, the. Wily Detective.

531 Saddle—Chief Kit. the Prairie Centaur.

521 Paradise Sam. the Nor‘-West Pilot.

513 Tean Tartar. the.Mull With Nine Lives.

506 Uncle Honest. the Peacemaker of Hornets’ Nest. ,

498 Central Pacific Paul. the Mail Train Spy.

492 Border Bullet. the Prairie sharpshooter.

486 Kansas Kitten. the Northwest Detective.

479 Gladl ltor Gabe, tl‘." Samsorqlf Sassajack.

470 The Duke 01' Dakota. .

463 Gold Gauntlet the Gulch Gladiator.

455 Yank Yellowbird. the Toll Hustler of the Hills.
449 Blufl' Burke. King of the Rockies.

442 Wild West Walt. the Mountain Veteran

487 Deep Duke: or, The Man of Two Lives.

427 The Rivnls of Morten Mill

415 Hot Heart, the Deter- ve Spv.

405 Old Baldy the Brismdier of Buck Basin.

297 Colorado Rube. the Strum: Arm of Hotspur.
279 The Gold Dragoon. or. California Bloodhound.

BY NED BUNTLINB.

3; Low: Tom. the Privateer.

The Sea S yla “
621 The. Red l-lvateer; or, The. Midshipman Rover.
584 Fire Feather. the Flncc-lneer King.
517 Buffalo Bill‘s First Trail.
861 Tombstone Dick. Ll)“ 'l'mi',‘ Pilot.
1:22 Saul Sabherslav. the Idiiy

111 The Smuzq’or W Main; or. We Skinner’s Crime.

18 The Sea Bandit; or
18 The White er
' -

""10 Queen of the Isle.
"be Seminole Met.

 ALBERT 1V. AIKEN’S NOVEL‘8.

Dick Talbot Series.

1 99] Dick Talbot at the Mines: or, Kentuck. the Sport.
; 988 Rocky Mountain wa.

l 976 Overland Kit: or, The ldyl of White Pine.

: 741 Dick .alhot’s Close Call.

I 737 Die: Talbot ll‘ Apache, l and.

. 733 Dick Talbot. the Ranch King.

| 729 Dick Talbot‘s Clean-Out.

' 725 Dick Talbot in No Man’s Camp. 1 g

354 Dick Talbot; 01, The Brand 0' Cnmson Croatl

36 Dick Talbot; or. The Death-Shot of Shasta.

Aiken’s Fresh 01‘ Frisco Series.

825 Fresh, the Race-Track Sport.
660 The Fresh in Montana: 4r. Blake's Full Hand.
652 T‘ve Fresh's Rustle at Painted City.
647 The Fresh at Santa. Fe; «'3‘, 'l h ‘ Slrantref Sharp.
556 Fresh. the Sport: or. The Big Racket at Slide Out.
537 Fresh Against the Field: or, Blake. the Lion.
497 The Fresh in Texas; or. The Escobedo Millions.
461 The Fresh of Frisco on the Rio Grande.

97 The Fresh in Big Walnut Camp; or. Bronze JaclL

Alken’s Joe Phenlx Series.

965 Joe Phenix's Mascot.

959 Joe Phenix’s Double-Deal.

954 Joe Phemx in Chicago.

949 The Doctor from Texas; or, Joe Phenlx‘s Clue.

944 Joe Pheuix‘s Right Bower.

865 The Female Barber lu-tectiv ‘; or, Joe Phenlx in"

Silver City. 5‘
799 Joe Phen x’s Great Blue Diamond Case; or, The
New York Sport at Long Branvh.

793 Joe Phenlx‘s Decoy: or The Man of Three.

760 Joe Phenix‘s Lone Hand.

749 Joe Ph nix‘s Big Bulge.

745 Joe Phenix’s Mad Case.

708 Joe Phenlx‘s Siren; or, The Woman Hawkshaw.‘

700 Joe Phenix’s Unknown; or. Crushing the Crooh’

681 Joe Phenix‘s Specials' or. The Actress Detective

637 Joe Pnenix in Crazy amp.

632 Joe Plienix's Master Search.

628 Joe Phenix‘s (fomlaiu ;\ r,Lhe Dandy Conspirator

6%) Joe Pheuix’s Silent Six.

601 Joe Phenix‘s Shadow ; or.tlle Detective‘l Monitor

419 Joe l’henix., the Kine of Detectives. ‘

161 Joe Phenlx's Great Man Hunt.

112 Joe Phenix, Private Detective; or. The league.
79 Joe Phenlx. the Police Spy.

Aiken’s Mine ellancouo Novels.

980 The All-Around Athlete.

940 Captain Jack, the Scalper

935 The hawks and \\ elves of New York
932 Detective Gordon’s Grip.

926 Old Sunflower. the Silent Smiter.

901 The Hotel Swell-Sharp; « r, The Siren m
892 The Countryman Detective.
876 Gold Bu'ton S rt; or The Miner Sharp”
842 Teton Tom t e Half-lilood. ,
885 The King Pin Detective.
814 The New Yorker Among Texas Sports.
7‘75 King Dandy. the Silver Sport.
on Gideon's Grl at Babylon l ar. .
717 Captain Pat cGowen, tl e Greencoat Detective;
674 Uncle Sun Up, the. Born Detective.
670 The Li htw eight Detective. I
665 Tue sco Detective; or, The Golden Gate Find.
613 Keen Billy, the Sport.
om Old Benzine the “ Hard Case " Detective.
594 Fire Face. the Silver King‘s Foe.
586 The Silver Sh arp Detective.
577 Tom. of Calif (mm; or, Detective‘s Shadow A

70 The Actress Detective: or. The Invisible Han

2 Lone Hand. the Shadow;
520 The Lone Hand on the Caddo.
490 The Lone Hand in Texas.
475 Chin Chin, the Chinese Detective.
465 The Actor Detective.
440 The High Her e of the Pacific.
425 The Lone Hand; or. The Red River Roman“.
408 Doc Grin. the Vendetta of Death.
881 The Gypsy Gen tleman: (r. nick Fox. Detective
876 Black Boards: 01. The Rio Grande Blah Horse
870 The Dusky Detective: or. formed to the Ella.
863 Crowningshleld. the Detective
l 320 The Genteel Spotter: or The N. Y. Night Hawk.
252 The w all Street 1 lood; or. The Teleera h Girl-
. 203 The Double Detective: or.The Midnight ystery.
196 La Marmoset, the Letectlvc Queen.
101 The Man from New York.

91 The Winning Oar: or. The Innkeepers Daughter.
84 Hunted Down: or, The Leagueo Three.

81 The Human Tiger: or. A Bean of Fire.

75 Gentleman George: or. Parlor Prison and Street.
7'3 The Phantom Hand: or. The 5th Avenue Heiress. r,
56 The Indian Mazenpa: or, Madmen of the Plains.
49 The Wolf Demon: or. The Kanowha Queen
, 42 The California Detective: or. Tl-e Witches of N.Y.
l 81 The New York Share: or. The Flash of Lmlxtning
, 27 The Spotter Detective: or. Girls of New "fork.
: new ISSUES.
l 1000 Buffalo Bill’s Grim Guard.
l 199: The Brand—Burnersof Clmarron.
; Osbon.

1002 Silver City Sam. Bv Jos  Badger.
. 1003 Gold Den; hr, Dick Talbot in Uta . By Albert
' W. Aiken
3 1004 Buffalo Bill’s Death Dleal. By Col. Ingraham.
1 100's Foot—Hills Frank. By Jos.1t. Badger. r
j: 1006 The Sea Cadet. By Col. P. lnzrahar'

J UST ISSUED.
996 lnjun Dick. the Shasta Dead Shot.

 

By John

Izmen. .
907 Hotsnur Hal, the Sport. from Hard uck. By

l Jon, E: Bald; r.if.Ir1.)ri r B Ned Bun

1 g gggtiiello'éwifmldz (when; min Grip of Injun-
Dick. By Albert W. Aiken.

l A new issue every Wednesday.

1 THE DIME LIBRARY is for sale by “I-
’ Newsdealers. :0" cents no‘ no) or sent by mail of
. receipt of price. 1.2..» - ~ " “7“” "‘65"
j '1" “'0‘ ‘ "‘9- \“W

923 Old Sunflower. the Hayseed Detective. {

'.
By COL Inmhagd

 

34.4 '

 

'3}. .

a-

 

 

‘

mus. ~41,
r

. r a.” V4

 

 

'3’. .

u-

 

BEADLE’SrDIMErflBRARY.

i. thele Every Wednesday. Each Issue Complete and

 

BY JOSEPH E. BADGER. JR.
Ills Old Soberside the Detective or St. Louis.
)3 White-Horde \ 'heeler, the Revenue Detective.
118 The Double Edged Detective.
m MaVerick Mark. the Man from Nowhere.
98 Silky Steele, the Stay-in Sport.
81 T10 S tter-Sport‘s Neck~Tie Party.
r70 High- Vater Mark; or, Silver-Tip Std.
£2 Riata Rob. the Range Chem ion.
$55 The C uhov Chief's Sure-S 0t.
8'18 The Rival Red-Hut Sports.
837 Curly Kid. the Cheyenne Sport.
824 The Sofa Hand Detr ctive.
815 The Soft H-md’s Clutch.
m9 Dan Dunn the Soft—Hand Sport.
796 The Frisco Detective's Thug-Tangle.
169 Sam Cary. the River‘ Sport.
$80 The Dead Sport‘s Double.
771 Prince J ohn. Detective S ecial.
763 Dandy Don, the Denver etective.
754 lthe Man from Texas; or, Dangerfield. the
Doctor Detective.
744 Swee takes Sam, the Silver Sport.
720 The cret Sir or, 01d Halcyon.
712 The Man of Sit .
7.05 Bantam Bob. the Beauty from Butte.
W8 Kent Kusson, the Prwcher Sport. ,
683 Bob Breeze, the Rounder Detective.
0! Steel Sorry, the Sport from Sunrise;
668 Solemn Seul’s,l.uck Streak _
661 The Get/There Sharp.
65 Shires-tip St-ve, the Sky Scraper from Sinkiyou.
645 Gopher Gabe, the Unseen Detective,
636 Dandy Darling, Detective.
07 Mossback Mega, the Mountaineer.
617 The Grip Sack Sharp’s Even 
59? Big Bandy, the Brigadier of B mstone Butte.
583 sgudy «ands. the Sharp from Snap City.
576 Silver-'i‘ong'ned Sid; or. Gru- Sack Sharp‘s Sweep.
564 The Gtip~Suck Slurp; or, The Seraphs of Sodom.
556 Grip-Sack Sid, the Sample Sport. _
547 The Buried Detective; or, 81}! 1’8 Six Sensations.
541 .11th Magnet. the Man of IVcrve.
1535 Dand-x Dutch. the Decorator from DeadLm;
r127 Dandy Andy, the Diamond Detective.
£314 Gabe Gun 1, the Urlulv from Ginseng.
501 Solemn Saul. the Bad Mam from San Saba.
495 thtt r'pl‘ae Roi); or. The Iloundhead’s Reprisal
. 438 The Thor usznbret'l Sport.
71 llatddv Dead-Eye, the Domini. of Dew Drop.

0'

H

Add 011 Kong-h (in: Ready, the Sayre oi' Sundown k

' 453 Dutch Dun the Pilgrim [nun Spitzenberg.
6-13 A Cool Hand: or. I’istol Johnny’s I‘icnic_

‘18 (l :ultoutn Nick ‘

$33 Laughing: Leo; or. Sam’s; Dandy I urd.

Q6 The Ghost Dr'ilrci luv: 01'. The Swim Service spy.

V”. Monte Jim. the Duel: Sheet) of Bismarck.

Ftvb Roy Ranch: or, The lntps of Pan Handle.

. 1.15:" uncles; Sport. '
De?le Aim. the Duke of Derringer-s.
331.“: burg. the lsruntzcl of the Hills.
Captain Crisp. the Man With a. Record.
A llnvni Fins t: or, Dun Brown a: 1.1;: Game.
Jumping Jerry, the Gamecock from Sundown.
Stormv Steve. the hind All-iota. .
Nor‘ West Nick. ih~ Borer r Detective. .V
845 -meu Mark, the liountt-d Detective.
i‘lll‘t‘i‘lll Eagle Sam. the Hercules H‘tde Hunter.
Guiana Charley. the Gold Auriga! Sport.
Frank 1.1;lttfout. the Minor Detective.

Moire Homer, the Boss Roustabcnit.

Pistol Johnny;   efllllunht'u ate 1 housand,
’ " e= ‘an the evr o t to .in s.
grifhb'rrii’n Diggings: or. A Man ’Way Back
. Elephant. cm. of Durrtnao.
Spitfire Saul. King of the Rustlets.
The Old m’ of Tombstone. ‘

Pirate of the Planers: or. Joaquin 9 Death Hum
Old ‘49; or. The Amazon 0! Armorial.
170 Sweet. William, tho Trapper Detective.
165 Joaquin. the Terrible .
154 J ouquin, the Saddle King.
141 Equinox Tom. the hub '_ of Red Rock.
119 Alabama Joe: or. The azoo Man-Hunters.
105 Dan Brown of Denver; or. The Detective.

88 Big George; or. The Five ‘ tluw Brothers,

71 Captain 0001 Blade: 01'. ML issippi Man Shark.
67 The Boy Jockey; ortHoneSLy vs. Crookednesg,
50 Jack Rabbit, the Bratrte Sport.

BY .‘VM. G. PATTEN.

2 - 4 e, the Thug’s Terror.
gig gilt? {light-Haw k, the Crook Shadower.
768 The Prin e of New York Crooks.
756 Old Burke. the Madison Sonan- Detective.
47 Double-voice [£811 5 chhl; Disguise.
,-V ice an on or: . .
703 ngmfivgic» Dun, the Alwziys-on-Deck Detective
.96 Double-Voice Dan, the Go-tt Alone Detective,
$3 The Sparkler Sharp.
. Hurricane Hal, the Cowboy
069 Old True Blue,

the Trusty.

663 The Giant S ort; or, Sold to Satan.
156 Old Plug I my; the Rough and Ready.
618 1'1 Glove Gid lh‘2Mup ofGrit.
341 me ‘MCR'lthle :se?t}g)r§nsahf’drp

t o tie Can :. . .
33; (diloifiitctianaotm the Mountain Mystery.
171 01 Dismal. the Rutter?

Detective.
'45 Hustler Harry. the Cowboy

h;

15

Hotspur.

Sport.
BY GEORGE FC. IENKS.
I) The Arizona Dcte‘tive.
:34 Silver Sam. the Shasta Sport.
The Silver Spot‘s l) tublo.
I’tr- Knee-Cullfe trctlvc.
-. ’l‘ize Haw-42d. Loicc we. .
. O-t item Gordon. the 'l‘wtsler Detective
(55 Mid P- h; 1/2.:- li-rmcho Buster Detective.
 72.6 Four‘u at Sam. :11. (,ii'lillrl (:Oll'llflnr. tton Detective.
'1 71-9 EZ‘AIO“ "loll. thw Sport Detective.
I 1772 Jluinl; Joe, the .lt-sl; -y D‘J'ECHVO.
.1554 2181‘ Sharp, tlt~n Rustler . _
’EJflE" 1111' Rocket. the Tent. Detective.
‘ ‘%,Dhac cup. the Tenderfoot Detectlvo
' Thee “mac? Detective.
The iant orsemen _
\ Sleepless Eye. the Pacific Detective.

T

‘BY WILLIAM R. EYSTER.

916 Two Dead-Square Sports.

902 Soft Velvet, the Man from Sandrock.

891 Genteel J 1m. S ort-atLarge.

881 The Clubtnan- rook’s Cat‘s-paw.

867 The Frisco Sport.

852 The Stranger S ort‘s Shake—ug.

828 Kirk King. the an from Kir y.

818 Gentleman Dave, the Dead Game Sport

783 The King-Pin Tramp.

767 The Sport of bilver Bend.

718 Uncle Bedrock's Big Bounce.

707 The Rival Rovers.

687 Double Cinch Dan, the Sport With a. Charm.
677 Mr. Jackson, the Gent from Jaybird.

659 Gilt-Edge Johnny; or, Roldan and His Rovers.
650 Luck .ester’s Lone Hand. ‘

634 Old andcart‘s Big: Dump.

622 The All Around Sports.

603 Desert Alf, the Man With the Cougar.

590 Gentle Jactr. the High Roller from Humbug.
578 Seven Shot Steve, the Sport with a. Smile.
566 The Dude Detective.

558 Hurrah Harry, the Hi h Horse from Halcyon.
549 Belshazzar Brick, the 1th of Blue Blazes.
533 Oregon. the Sport Witha Scar.

503 The Dude from Denver.

478 Pinnacle Pete; or. The Fool from Way Back.
459 Magor Sunshine, the Man of Three Lives.

429 He 1‘ Trigger Tom of Red Bond.

402 Snapshot am': or. The Angels’ Flat Racket.
396 The Piper Detective; or, The Gilt Edge Gang.
375 Royal Geo , the Three in One.

356 Tltr e Han some S rts; or, The Combination.
333 Derringer Dick. the 'an with the Drop.

%8 Magic Mike; "to Man of Frills.

229 Captain CutSIeevc; or. The Little Sport.

214 The Two 0001 Sports; or. Gertie of the Gulch.
182 Hands Up; or, The Knights of the Canyon.

160 Soft Hand Sharp: or, The Man with the Sand.
145 Pistol Pards; or. The Silent Sport from Cinnabar

BY NED BUN'I‘LINB.

D
657 Long Tom, the Privateer.

633 The Sea S y.

621 The Red rivateer; or. The Midshipman Rover.

581 Fire Feather. the Buccaneer King.

517 Buffalo Bill's First Trail.

361 Tombstone Dick, the Train Pilot.

122 Saul Sabberday, the Idiot S y.

111 The Smuzz‘or ( luptain: or, Jfine Slrlpper‘s Crime.
13 The Sea Bandit; or, The Qu en 01' the Isle.
16 The White Wizard; or, The Seminole Prophet.

BY JACKSON KNOX—“ Old Ilanvk.”

838 01:1 Grips Still Hunt.

827 Detmtti‘n; \anilwn‘s \Veb.

176 The Butler Deir’CllVP; or. Old Grip‘s Grip

77’) The Showman Dew, liv-E‘.

7'62 Old Grip. the De'ectiw.

740 Capt -iu Clot", the Fighting- Detective.

7‘32 The Hurricane Di tertivt-u

643 033' lomnino, the Silent Sifter.

616 Magnus. the Weird Detective.

606 The Drop Detective.

595 \Vellhtum. the Upper Crust Detective.

562 Jar-i m. the DetectiveExpt-rt.

574 Old li‘nlcon‘s Double.

561 The Tnuz King' or, The Falcon Dot-ective‘s Foe.
548 Falconhridge. tie Sphinx Detective.

536 Old Falcon 6 Foo: or. The Detectin’s Stvt-ll Job.
515 Short-890p Me '1). the Diamond Field Detective.
599 Old Folion. t u Thunderbolt Detective.

501 S rinrrstcel Steve, the Rotier Detective.

491 T e Det~ctiv<"s Spy.

485 Rowlock. the Harbor Detective.

477 Dead-arm Brandt.

457 Muinwaring'. the Salamander.

462 The Cincus Detective.

451 Griploclr, the Rocket Detective.

444 l‘he Magic Detective; or, The Hidden Band.

424 Hawk Heron’s De uty.

886 Hawk Heron. the alcon Detective.

BY J. 3. COWDRICK.

752 The Su t S rt- of Daley Drift.

626 Ducats ion, t e Nabob Sport Detective.

612 Sherifl Srillwood, the Regulator of Raspberry.
598 The Dominic Detective.

591 Duke Daniels. the Society Detective.

580 Shadowing a. Shadow.

li615 Prince Paul, the Postman Detective.

557 The Mountain Grevbeards: or. Riddles‘ Riddle.
519 Old Riddles. the Rock Ranger

499 Twilight Charlie, the 0nd Sport.

in Gilbert of Gotham. the Steel-arm Detective.
452 Rainbow Rob, the Tulip from Texas.

436 Kentucky Joan, the S art from Yellow Pine.
422 Blue Grass Burt. the old Star Detective.

890 The Giant Cupid: or Cibuta John’s Jubilee.

BY EDWARD WILLETT.

483 Flush Fred. the River Sharp.

368 The Canyon King; or. a Price on his Read.

348 Dan Dillon, Kim: of Crosscut.

337 Old Gube the Mountain Tram .

‘32? Terrapin bick. the Wildwood late-cave,

315 Flush Fred‘s Double; or, The Squatters‘ League
308 Hemlock Hank. Tough and True.

296 L *gzer Lem; or, Lit - in the Pine Woods.

289 Flush Fred‘s Full Hand.

274 Flush Fred. the Mississippi Sport.

248 Montana Not, the Lion of Last Chance Camp.
2‘22 Bill the Blizzard; or. Red Jack's Crime.

209 Buck Farlev. the Bonanza Prince.

129 Mississippi Mose: or, a. Strong‘ Man ’5 Sacrifice.

BY (‘A PTA IN ,MA YNE “ll-III).

.-7 The White Squaw.
234 The Hunter‘s Feast.
21K The Wild Wunlress; or. The Squatter.
200 The Rifle Rangers; on Adventures in Mexico.

66 The Specter Bnrqun‘. A Tale of thr' Pacific,

 

55 The Scalp Hunters “ Rantggoe of the Plains.

Sold at the Um'fomn Price of Ten Cents. No Double Numbers

74 The Captain of the Rifles; or, The Lake Queen.

 

BY COL. PRENTISS INGRAHAM.

911 The Blue Blockader; or, The Coast Greyhound
906 The Cuban Cruiser.
834 The Ocean GipSV.
834 The Wild Steer llidurs;or, Texas Jack‘s Terrors.
819 The Rival Monte Cristos.
805 The Last of the Pirates; or, 1701111 Driven.
801 The Water Wolvres’ Detective; or. Trapning th;
Grave Ghouls.
791 The Coast-Raiders Death-Chase.
748 Arizona Charlie. ii'v Crat k-s'vot Detective.
704 Invisinle lvan. the Wizard Detective.
685 The Red-skin Sea Row-r.
679 RPVPHO, the Pirate Cruiser; or. The Rival Reva!
72 The Red Rapier: or, The St a Rover’s Bride
662 The Jew llv teclive: or, The Beautiful Convict.
640 The Rev r‘s th ihutitvn.
6:13 The Ex Buccane- r; i r, The Stigma of Sin.
625 Red Wings; or. The Gold Seekers of the Bahamas.
615 The Three uccuneors. ‘
610 ’l‘ht- Red Flag.' Rovctr;or,White Wings of the Deep.
605 The Shadow Silver Ship.
600 The Silver Ship: or, The Sea. Scouts of ‘76.
59.3 The Sea Rebel: or. Red Rovers of the Revolution
567 Conrad. the Sailor Spy; or. True Hearts of ‘76.
581 The Outlawed Skipper; or. The Gantlet Runner.
560 The Man front Mexico.
553 Mink Monte, the Mutineer; or, The Branded Brig.
546 T? ‘ Doomed Whalvt‘: or, The Life WrcclL '
530 The Savae‘es of the Sea.
524 The Sea Chaser; or. The Pirate Noble.
510 El Moro. th - Corsair Commodom.
493 The Scouts of the Sea.
457 The Sea. Insurgent: or, The Oonspirator Son.
446 Ocean Ogre, the Outcast Corsair.
35 The One-Armed Buccaneer.
430 The Fetal Frizalc; or, Rivals in Love and Wu
899 The New Monte Cristo.
393 The Convict Caption.
377 Afloat and Ashore: or. The Corsair Conspiraton
369 The Coast Corsair: or. The Siren ot’ the Sea.
361 The Sea Fugitive: or. The Queen of the Coast.
341 The Sea. Desperado,
336 The Magic Snip' or. Sandy Hook Freebaoters.
825 The Gentlmun r irate ; or. The Casco Hermiti.
318 The lndtun uccaneer: or. '1 he Red Rovers.
307 The Phantom Pirate; or. The Water Wolves.
255 The Pirate Priest; or, The Gambler’s Du bier.
2—16 Queen Helen. the Amazon of the Over .
235 Red Lightning the Man of Chance.
224 Black Beard. the Buccaneer.
221' The Specter Yacht; or, A Brother‘s Crime.
210 Buccaneer Bess the Ltom ss of the Sea.
305 The Gambl tr Pirate; or. Lady of the Lagoet,
1931 The Skeleton Schooner; or. The Skimmer ,.
18/1 The Scarlet Schooner: or. The Sea Nomi
101 Montezuma. the Merciless.
103 Merle, the Mutinecr; or. The Red Anchoa  "'1
In" PHI LIP S. ‘VARNB.
83! Dan Dirk, King of No Man’s Land.
5‘33 Captain Adult: the Cattlesz.
567 Canon] Midnight, the Man of Craft.
544 The Back to Burk Perils.
~z. Th: Chum lion Three.
.. Burt-buck buck, the Centaur of the Plain
‘ six Foot Si: or, The Mun to “Tie To."
California Kit, the Always on Hand.
101 Silver Sid; or. A “ Daisy " Bluff.
38:1 Tii‘fPl' Dion’s Pied is: or, Tne Golden Serpent.
339 Yellow Jack. the Icstizo
33% Jack Sands. the 11053 of the Town.
299 Three of a. Kind; 01‘,Dick. Despard and MSM
251 Ticer Dch vs. iron 1): spord._ .
207 Old Hard Dead: or. Whirlwind d his mm.
171 Tiger Dick, the Man ctthe Iron cart.
114 The Gentleman from him I
80 A Man or NeIrvc; or, C‘Iz‘llllibin the1 Draft.) rt
51 Alwa s on I and; or. e ‘oot- 1. s ,
29 TigeryDit-k. Faro King; or. The Cashier’s (Brine.
4 The Kidnapprr; or, The Northwest Shanghai.

BY CAPTAIN MARK \VILTON.

323 Hotspur Hugh; or. The Banded Brothers.
311 Heavy Hand: or, The Marked Men.

305 Silver-Plated Sol, the Montana Rover.

291 Horseshoe Hank, the Man of Big Luck.

285 Lightningr Bolt. the Canyon Terran.

276 Texa Chick the Southwest Detective.

271 Stonoflst. of Big Nugget Bend.

266 Leopard Luke the King of Horse-Thieves
26". iron-Armed Abe, the Hunchback Destron
258 Bullet Head, the Colora ‘o Bravo.

2'37 LongHuire 1 Max: or, Tl.» 1, lack Le e.
227 Buckshot Bun, the Man-Hunter of Ids to.

2‘23 Canyon Dive, the Man of the Mountain.

219 The Scorpion Brothers; or. Mad Tom's Mink
202 Cactus Jack. the Giant Guide. '\

191 Don Sombrero the California Road Gent.

176 I.st Jaguar. the Robber Queen.

~ BY OLL COOMES.
619 Kit Bandy & Co , the Border Detectiver.
148 Queen rmed Alf. the Giant Hunter.
99 The‘Giant Rifleman: or. Wild Camp Life.
43 Dakota Dan. the Reckless Ranger.

BY 001.. THOMAS H. MONSTEBY.

236 Chum lion Sam: or. The Monarchs of the M
150 El Ru io Bravo. King of the Swordsmen.

BY DR. NOEL BUNBAR.
919 The Sea, Scone}: or. The Patriot Printers:
686 The King 01’ root 9.
858 Number One. the Dead-set Detective.
860 The Planth Detective. _
730 Duke Despard, the Gambler Duelist.
604 The Detective in Rags: or, The Grim
W The True~Heart Pards.
a new Issue Maw Wednesday

Bonnie’s Dime Library is for sale Q
Newsdeelers, ten cents per copy. or sent by .
receipt of twelve cents es"

i

suds-o.

 

 

x

L

 
 
 

v"

  
  
  
  

“fig—“fi—fl
"Each Number

 

 

\

«a

rj/a>~——

 

 

\

Complete.

 

Milli

979
973
964

960

956

050

043

930

927
921

015

909

900
895
“0

882

874

so)

863

857

830
826
622

 

 

Bill
Nfliflifi

 

 

 
 

Ten Cents a
Copy.

 

mM

DIME

 

 

 

 

\ Hiram.

 

 

Buffalo Bill's Relentless Trail.
Prentiss Ingraham.

The Dread Shot Four; or, My Paras of the
Plains. Liy (.ol. WY. F. Cody.
Buffalo Bill’s Invincibles; or, The Sable Shad-
?wer's Sublime Sacrifice. By Col. P. Ingra-
lalll.

Buffalo Bill‘s Blue Belt Brigade: or. Sun-
flower Sam of Shasta. By Col. P. Ingraham.
Buffalo Bill's Volunteer Vigilantes; or. The
Mysterious Man in Blue. By Col. P. Ingra-
ham.

Buffalo Bill at Buy; or, The Gold Seeker’s
Doom. By Col. P. Ingraham.

Buffalo Bill's Block Game; or, The Mounted

By Colonel

Miners of the Overland. By Col. P. Ingra- ‘

ham.

Buffalo Bill's Black Ford: or, The Gold
Boomers of the Big Horn. By Col. P. Ingra-
hum.

Buffalo Bill's Bluff; or. Dusky Dick, the
Sport. By Col. P. Ingrahsm.

Buffalo Bill’s Quandary; or, Velvet Bili's
Vow. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

Buffalo Bill and the Surgeon Scout: or, Go-
wan-zo, the Redskin Rider. By Col. P. In-
graham.

Buffalo Bill’s League; or, Red Butterfly. By
Col. Prentiss Ingrnham.

Buffalo Bill‘s Tangled Troll; or, Gentleman
Jack, the Man of Many Masks. By Col. P.
Ingraham.

Buffalo Bill's Rough Riders; or. Texas Jack's
Sharp-Shooters. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.
Buffalo Bill's Secret Ally; or, The Texan's
Double. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.
Buffalo Bill’s Life-Stake; or, The Pledged
Three. By Col. 1’. Ingrnham.
The Three Bills; Buffalo Bill, Wild Bill and
Band-Box Bill: or, The Bravo in Broadcloth.
By Col. P. lngraham.
Buffalo Bill's Buckskin Braves: or, The Card
Que-en's Last Game. By Col. P. Ingraham.
Buffalo Bill's Road Agent Round-Up; or, The
Mysterious Masked Man in Black. By Col.
P. Inzraham.
Buffalo Bill's Death-Charm; or, The Man
\Vith the Scar. By Col. Prentiss Ingrsbam.
Buffalo Bill's Royal Flush: or, The Pony Ri-
der’s Death-Run. By Col. Prentiss Ingra-
ham.
Buffalo Bill's Double Dilemma: or. The Great
Scout’s Big Three. By Col. P. Ingraham.
Buffalo Bill's Redskin Ruse; or. Texas Jack's
Death Shot. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.
The Ranch King Dead-Shot; or. Texas Jack's
Proxy. By Buffalo Bill.
Buffalo Bill's Boys in Blue; or. The Brimstone
Band's Blot-out. By Ool. P. Ingrnham.
Buffalo Bill’s Sharp-Shootertr or. The Surleon
Scout to the Rescue. By Col. 1’. Ingraham-h
uffalo Bill's Best Bower; or. Montebello t 0
80“ King. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

 

000000000

 

/\.
no
06%

&

&

000000000
000000000

 

 

 

 

 

000000000

9/

 

 

   
 

 

 

l _

820 W'hlte Beaver's Sfill Hunt; or, The Miner
Marauders Death-'l‘i'ack. By Buffalo Bill.
Buffalo Bill's Red Trail; or. The Road-Rider
item-glides Run Down. By Col. P. Ingraham.
lttlz'f'nlo iiill‘s l)enth~Knoll; or. Ti.” Rr-vl Hand
Riders of the Rockies. L‘y Col. i'. ingraham.
\l'lll Bil, the “Mid “'es: l‘uoli t: ‘1‘. The Girl
Mascot of Moonlight. Mme. ily JHJ‘ALUH Bill.
\Vild Bill. the \V’illl \Vest Duelist; or, The Girl
Grande Ralph. the Cowboy Chief. By Buf-
falo Bill. .
Buffalo Iliil's Winning Hand: or. The Masked
\Voman of the Colorado Canyon. By Col. P.
Ingrallam.
Buffalo Bill‘s Dead Shot;or.The Skeleton Scout
of the Colorado. 13y Col. Prentiss Ingraham.
Buffalo Bill‘s Brand; or, The Brimstone
Brotherhood. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.
Buffalo Bill’s Spy—Shadower; or, The Masked
Men at Grand Canyon. By Col. 1?. Ingraham.
Buffalo Bill's Ban; or, Cody to the Rescue.
By Leon Lewis.
Buffalo Bill's Sweepstake: or, The Wipe-out
at Last Chance. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.
Buffalo Bill‘s Dozen: or, Silk Ribbon Sam.
By Col. Prentiss Ingrnham.
Buffalo Bill’s Mascot; or. The Death Valley
Victim No. 13. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.
Buffalo Bill's Double: or, The Desperado De-
tective. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.
Buffalo Bill’s Big Four; or, Custer's Shadow.
By Col. Prentiss Ingrnham.
Buffalo Bill's Flush Hand: or, Texas Jack’s
Bravos. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.
Buffalo Bill's Blind: or, The Masked Driver
of Death’s Canyon. By Col. Prentiss Ingra-
ham.
Buffalo Bill and His Merry Men; or, The
Robin Hood Rivals. By Col. Prentiss Ingra-
hnm. . ~
Buffalo Bill’s Beagles; or. Silk Lasso Sam.
By Col. Prentiss Ingrahnm.
7'27 Buffalo Bill's Body Guard; or, The sun Hunt
of the Hills. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.
722 Buffalo Bill on the We: Path; or. Silk Lasso
Sam, the Will-o'-the-\Visp. By Col. P. In-
graham. *

716 Buffalo Bill's Scout Shadowers: or, Emer-
ald Ed of Devil’s Acre. By Col. P. Ingraham.

710 Buffalo Bill Baffled; or. The Deserter Des-
persdo's Defiance. By Col. P. Ingrahsm.

697 Buffalo Bill's Buckskin 813therhood; or,
Opening Up a. Lost Trail. y Col. P. In-
grnhnm. _

691 Buffalo Bill's Blind Trail: or, The Daughter
of the Regiment. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

882 Buffalo Bill's Secret Service Trail. By Major
Dangerfield Burr. <

667 Buffalo Bill's‘Swoop: or. the King of the
Mines. By Col. Prentiss Inzrnhsm.

658 The Cowboy Clan; or. The Tigress of Tens.
By Colonel Prentlsl Ingraham.

810
812

07

'89

:-

 

THE DIME LIBRARY is for sale by all Newsdealers,
ten cents per copy, or sent. by mail, pro-paid, on re-
ceipt of price.

653
649

The Lasso King’s League: or. The Tigers of
Texas. By Colonel Prentiss Inmhun.
Buck Taylor, the Saddle King. Buffle Bill's
Chief of Scouts. By Col. P. Ingraham.
Buffalo Bill's Bonanza: or, The Knights of
the Silver Circle. By Col. P. Ingrahnm.
The Gold King: or, Montebello, the Magnifi-
cent. By Buffalo Bill.
Buffan Bill's Daring Role; or, Daredenth
Dick, King of the Cowboys. By Leon Lewis
The Dead Shot Nine: or, My Pardl of the
Plains. - By Buffalo Bill.
Buffalo Bill’s First Trail; or, Will Cody, the
Pony Express Rider. By Ned Buntlino.
Red Renard, the Indian Detective: or. The
Gold Buzzards of Colorado. By Buffalo Bill.
The One-Armed Pard; or, Red Retribution in
Borderland. By Buffalo Bill.
The “'lzard Brothers; or,
Trail. By Buffalo Bill.
White Beaver. the Exile of the Platte; or.
gufifronged Man’s Red Trail. By Buffalo
1 .
Buffalo Bill's Grip; or. Oath-bound to Custer.
By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.
Buffalo Bill's Pledge; or. The League of.
Three. By Col. P. Ingraham.
Wild Bill. the Whirlwind of the West. BY
Buffalo Bill.
Texas Jack. the Prairie Rattler: or, The
Queen of the Wild Riders. By Buffalo Bill.
The Pilgrim Sharp; or. The Soldier's Sweet-
heart. By Buffalo Bill, Government Scout
and Guide.
1891Vild Bill's Gold Trail; or.
Dozen. By Col. P. Ingraham.
Wild Bill’s Trump Card; or, The Indian
Heiress. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.
168 Wild Bill. the Pistol Dea'd Shot: or. Danger
Don’s Double. By Col. Prentiss Ingrnhnm.
158 Buffalo Bill, Chief of Scouts; or, The Doom“

644
639
829
599
61

.1

414
397 White Beavers
394

362
329
319
304
243

The Desperate
175

Dozen. By Dr. Frank Powell.
117 Buffalo Bill's- Strange Ford: or, Dashing
Dandy. the Hotspur of the Hills. By Major

D. Burr.
92 Buffalo Bill, tho Buckskin Klnr, of, The
Amazon of the West. By Major bungerfield

Burr.

' 83 Gold Bullet Sport; or, The Knightl of the ~
Overland. By Buffalo Bill.

52 Death Trailer, the Chief of Scouts; or, Life
grille} vo in a Frontier Fort. By Buffalo

NEW ISSUES TO COME.
981 The Gold Lace Sport; or. The Texan ? -
son's Wide Swath. By Jon. E. Badger, r.
982 Chris Crowley's Winning Hand; or, The
Rsscslly Valet's Double Game. By A. P.
Morris.
983 Kid Glove Kris, tho
drick. Ready August
984 Buffalo Bill's Life Raffle; or. The Doomed
Three. By Coh P. Inst-sham. Ready Sept. 1.

8&0“. By J. C. COW-

 

is

 

oo‘ooooooo
ooaooo'ooo
000000000
000000000