I THE RED 'BRO.THERHOOD§$

on.

THE TWELVE AVENGERS.

BY W. J. HAMILTON,
Amen or m muome mm- mm:

13 THE FEENCII SPY. 165 WILD NAT.

80 EAGLE-EYE. 174 BORDER VENGEANOE.
102 WILD RUDE. 176 THE Sam OF LIBERTY.
110 NICK, TEE SCOUT. 180 THE PRAIRIE SCOUEGE.

112 THE CMSSED KNIVES. 181 RED LIGHTNING.
122 KIT BIRD. 186 THE RED OUTLAW.

1% GIANT Pm. 187 THE SWAMP SCOUT.
138 MAID on THE MOUNTAIN. 188 THE SHAWNEES’ FOE.

144 THE RED SOAan 189 MOHAWK NAT.
193 BIG FOOT, THE GUIDE.

NEW YORK:

.. BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS,
as WILLIAM STREET.

 

In“ “cording :0 Act of Coupon, in the ynr Ill.”
BEADLE AND ADAMS.
13mm“ m Liburiu: of, Coupon. a WWW

 

THE

TWELVE AVENGERS;

IN the South Sea there is a singular serpent known as the
“ Red Dukite,” a serpent which seems gifted with the power ~
of reason. A long, slender, red body of singular beauty, with
diamond eyes and pointed head, and as venomous as the
Cobra dt' Capella. The legend—however true it may be—is
' that this snake goes always in company with a companion.
and if one is killed and the other is not found and dispatched
’ also, the slayer is doomed. Wherever he goes the “ Red
Dukite" glides on silently, waiting patiently for the time
when he can strike his poisoned fangs into the flesh of the
man who has dared to slay his companion. The Dukite
' makes no mistake, and the Indian is not a more tireless or
emcient scout than he. That trail and that trail alone he
follows through the silent night or the sultry day, and when
the tired man sinks to rest it is only to feel the envenomed
v fangs buried in his flesh, and then too late he knows thatthe
“ Red Dukite” has avenged his “friend.” ’ If business presses
and the slayer passes sleepless nights, still the Dukite is ever
near, waiting, waiting, relentless as death, silent as the‘ tomb.
This is the history of the terrible Dukite, the red scourge of the ‘
South Sea. '

A ship lies at anchor before San, Francisco, one of those
great packets which ply between Australia and the American
coast. Upon the deck looking out toward the great city, the
Queen of the West, is a group of persons of whom this story
treats. Three men, one in the prime of manhood, tall and '

 ‘sinewy, and two young men in whose faces you can see the

 

10 . 'raa TWELVE “means.

features of the elder person. They are brothera,and the elder
man’s sons. A. fourth individual of the group, and yet not
with it, standing a little apart in a half respectful, half caro-
lees manner peculiar to the old family servant. It is an Irish
face, full of rollicking good humor, the type of that nation at
once the most impudent and yet most successful-out of their
own gréen isle—of any the world knows. In love, war and
po:itics-happy Pat reigns supreme. . ‘ ' ,

“Two ladies are with ’the' party, one a stately woman, the
wife of the elder gentleman, the other her daughter, a beauti-
ful girl of eighteen. Mabel ‘Delisle was beautiful with the
beauty of face, form and soul. Her unny brown hair, fair
“complexion, blue eyes and cherry lips; her form, graceful u
the swaying reed; her disposition—all combined to make her
that noblest of all God’s creatures, a pure and lovely woman.

“ So, good-by forever to the South Seas and the dangers we
have escaped," said Oscar Deliaie, as he looked toward [the

- shore. “ There lies the land where vengeance {can never
~raach us.” '
~" Would that you had never invoked it, Oscar" saidng.
Deliale. “ We have escaped, it is true, but think what might
have happened if we had been compelled to remain in the
South r Seas.” '

A sneering smile passed over the face of Oscar Delisle, and
he uttered a low laugh. V

“How our enemy will howl when he knows that we have
eluded him after all the toils he set. The Red Dukite has
'i'ailed in his vengeance once, and I—the man he hated—have ‘
done the work;” '

“He is a terrible being, and a man of rare ability, Oscar.
We have done well to escape him, and in this land we have
a refuge where the vengeance of the Red Dukite can never
come. What do you say, Walter ?"

Walter Delisle was leaning over the rail. looking steadily
toward the land with a look of doubt and trouble in his face.

“ Father.” replied the young man, turning his handsome
face toward the speaker, “ I am sorry to say that 'I do not
share your opinion in regard to our safety."

“  Y” V I .

" Because, when we escaped trom the island, 

 

1 mm "mam ' 11

foolish enough to send a message to the Red 'Dukite, telling
him he would meet him in Melbourne.”
 “ Did you do that, Oscar i" cried Mr. Delisle, turning a wild

I '1 look' upon the proud face of his eldest son. "‘ Could you have

been so mad—you—who brought this trouble on us i”

“ I would not for the chance of a life of trouble, lose the
opportunity to defy our enemy. He had driven me mad by
' his persecutions, and it would have broken my heart if I could
I not answer his insults in some way.”

“ If the avenger is on our track who is to be blamed if not
you, Oscar I You have brought us into danger and add to it
'yvhen we have thrown our pursuer oil" the track. You have
: much to‘answer for, Oscar Delisle. But we must not hesitate,
and as for staying in San Francisco for twenty-four hour, I

will not do it."

Q " We mull stop in San Francisco," ‘was Oscar‘s angry retort.
" " You promised me to go into business here, and you must
' keep yOur 'word.”

” “We have sufi‘ered enough already from your folly and
pride,” replied Mr. Delisle. “We were delayed four days at
Melbourne; how do you know that the avenger is not already
on our track 1’"

“ Let him come if he dares l” hissed the young man. ”“ I
will give a good accountof him when I meet him anywhere."

“ You were not quite o eager to meet him in the islands,
Oscar,” said Walter, in his quiet way. “ If it had not been
for me upon two occasions you would have felt the weight
of the Red Dukite’s vengeance.”

“ Boasteri Because you were fortunate enough, by a series
of lucky accidents, to obtain a momentary advantage over our
enemy you presume upon it to demean me."

“,Walter is no beaster, Oscar," was Mabel's quiet reminder.

“ Bah; you always take his part.”

“ Whatever folly I may be capable of, Oscar Delisle, I will
. t not be guilty of this one longer. If any of his envoys should
be upon the ship how you would betray yourself. ’l‘hrce
, times you have spoken that terrible name, which you ought

7 ne'er to utter, and which would he a sure guide to those
 who hate us. Let us rand and lose ourselves in the great
"'"'ulty"vrhere we can make up our plans."

 

'rmn‘ TWELVE AVENGEBI.

“ 1 say—estay in San Francisco."

“ We can not decide that now ; here, Pat."

“ All right, Masther Waliie; phat‘ll I do for yeesr'

“ Get out our baggage, as we propose to land at once. I
Send it up to the Lick House "

“ Lick—is it? Sure an’ that’s a ioine name, alauah. A
heatin av a name, bedad, nu’ it's mesilf, Patsey O‘Ratferty,
County Counaught, 88th Counaught Rangers, w’u’d do phat
yet-s order me. Lick indudel Phool Phat a name.”

Patsey busied himself in getting out the baggage, which
was sent on shore, and the party landed soon after. Patsey
reached‘the “ Lick House” before the others and when he met
them in the vestibule he placed a folded paper in the hands
of Oscar. * '

“ A jintleman bid me give it yees, masthet." ‘

Oscar opened the paper slowly and the moment his eyes
rested on the inclosure he uttered a cry of alarm and reeled
back, pale as death. .Upon the paper was an exact ro-
presentation of the Red Dukite in the attitude of striking.
The pursuer was on the track.

CHAPTER I.
THE sERPENT synnon.

THE “ hotel ” in a Californian “city” at the base of the
foothills. “City " is a term variously applied in the West.
It may mean San Francisco or Sacramento, or it may mean
a cluster of rude shunties nestling down beside some gold
stream or quartz ledge. If the latter the busy quartz mill
is at Work, the great crushers dropping; with stunning force
Upon the white rock, grinding it to powder, while in the other
parts of the mill science was extracting from that'massof
white dust its virgin gold. Tampa City occupied a middle
rank between the great ocean cities and the last named.
It had its quarts mills to be sure, but it.ha_d also its daily
paper, fire department and the other machinery of municb ’

 

a masan 18'

psi government. I: 'was just now a lusy town, for a new

- ledge’had been “developed” and it was in the flush times
when every one was crazy about stocksyand money was free
as air.

Walter Delisle was seated on the wide veranda of the
“hotel,” smoking a cheroot which had found its way from
Manilla to San Francisco, and thence to his hands. The
young man, was in a brown study, and in the midst of it he
was touched on the shoulder by a lad wearing the picturesque
dress of Mexico.

“ Senor," he said, “ my master wishes to speak to
you.”

’ “‘ Ah," said Walter, starting to his feet. “ Where is your
master?"

“Do not disturb yourself, senor,” said a quiet, melodious
voice at his elbow. “ I am in despair at troubling you, but
I'have a little business with you which must be attended
to.” .

The young man looked up and saw a fine, stately-looking
Californian of noble presence. dressed in the rich garb of the
Mexican Hidalgo who has riches to back him. He was not
young—perhaps fifty years of age~ and the expression of his
face was at once noble and pleasing.

“ You are called Walter Delisle, senor ?” he said, in a
questioning tone.

“ How did you know my name. sir l’"

“ I shall explain that presently, but this is neither the
time nor place for doing so. Look in my face and tell me
whether you will trust yourself to my honor if I ask you to
ride with me to my ranche to the south of the foothills."

' Your business is important?”

“ Life or death I” replied the Californian.

“‘ I am at your service.”

“Hola, Juan i” cried the gentleman. “A horse for the
Senor Delisle; lie rides with me."

. The boy ran up with a magnificent “ American " horse—
on animal much valued on the Pacific slope. Walter was
about to leap into the saddle when he thought. that he ought
Violas" some word at the hotel, for he expected the family

 

14 THE TWELVE amnesia.

“Juan will stay,” said the Californian. “He is a sharp. '
boy, small as he is, and will do your lidding. If any of
the senor’s friends must. see him, Juan, you know where to
find him." I .

The boy nodded gravely and took a seat on the veranda
ready in case any of the friends of Delisle made their appear-
ance, and the two gentlemen rode away among the foothills,
each engaged in the study of the other. From the expres-
sion of both faces it was plain that the impression was mutu
ally agreeable; each was satisfied that the other Was a noble-
man.

“ You are but young, Senor Delisle," said the Californian,
as they rode along through the breezy foothills. “ Might 1,
without giving offence, ask your age ‘3”

“ Twenty-five last May," replied Deliale, promptv.. “ Young
enough 'to lack experience and to rely upon older men for '
the knowledge which years of experience must have im-
parted.” V ,

The Californian bowed and looked pleased, for he had
come of a race in which the young deferred to the, ex-
perience of age—a quality very rare in this fast century-
when toomauy of the young look upon their elders as “ old
fogies."

“ I,have not intruded upon you without a purpose, my-
young? friend,” said the Californian. “ In the land from v
which you have come did you not make deadly enemies i"

“ Yes."

“ May I ask from whence you came i“

“ From the South Sea islands, where my father was a
trader."

“ Can you tell me more or do you fear to trust me i"

“ I never do any thing by halves, and I claim the ability
to read the human face. You, senor, with whose name even
I am not acquainted, would be cut into inch pieces sooner
than divulge that which has been imparted to you under the
seal of confidence, and your word of honor not to reveal it
until I give you leave."

“ You have my word. We are now upon my ranche, and;
in this open plain no one can approach without our knowig I
edge. Shall we alight here to allow you to tell your story?" '

 

now If CAME new. 15

‘ The two descended, picketed their horses and sat doWn on
' s mosey knoll, side by side.

“ In the islands of the Australian group, where we were
located for a few years, my brother—who is of ratheraquick
temper—became embroiled with at man who had the command
of a society known as the ‘ Red Dukites.’ The Dukite is a
serpent of the South Seas, and from the strange persistency

{with which these serpents follow the trail of a man who has
killed one of their kind, this society took its name. They
were a sort of secret brotherhood, with laws unlike those of
any ’other secret organization in the world, the fundamental
principle of which is the aveuging of a brother’s blood.

“ These Dukites hated us, as they hated all outsiders; and,
singular as it may seem, the leader of this strange society was ,
a white man, and many others of the order were of the same
race. My brother, meeting with two of these men while en-

. gaged in collecting sandalwood, had some hot words with
, them, and was threatened by them with dangers which he
could not avert. It passed off for that time, but meeting one
of the men again, in the village, they had a struggle, and my
brother shot the Dukite through the heart. It was said, al-
though I was not a witness to the struggle, that there was
something unfair on my brother’s part. It is said that the
members of the Dukite society, like their serpent prototype,
always go in company—a single companion always being at
some point near, at hand, on the watch. This was the case
in the present instance. The man slain was the seatind om-
cer of the society, and the one on the watch was his ‘ double'
-—also a white man, whose face I have never seen, but who has
made himself our deadly enemy from that hour."

“ Go on.”

“ The first warning we had was the day after the death of
the Dukite. A paper was pinned upon our door, bearing a
picture of the Red Dukite, with erected head ready to strike,
and u. few words in a native language warning us to la pre—
pared for death, for the Dukitt-s were on the trail, and we
were doomed. Two days after, my brother, passing through

to thicket of cane, was set. up0n by two masked men armed

:with long knives. “ He had a pistol, but they closed with him
before he could fire it, and can it d ~him away, after binding

 

a 18 m rwsnvn Annexes.

his arms. It was their intention to take him to their place
of meeting in the mountains, and there sacrifice him to up
passe the manor of the men he had slain. By great good-
fortune, I met them on the other side of the canes, and as one
of the men lifted his knife to plunge it into Oscar’s heart, I
broke his arm by a well-directed shot. The two men plt’tngrd
into the canes and escaped.

“ A second time they seized my brother, upon the sea-shore,
whence they hurried him into a boat and put out to sea. This
time he would certainly have been doomed, but I was coming
into the lagoon, the same day, with a cargo of goods from
Melbourne, where I had been to trade. In the darkness of
the night we struck the boat, cutting her in two, and leaving
them floating on the surface. We got out our lanterns, and
found my brother clinging to a broken fragment of the
wrecked craft, but not another man was to be found. They
swim like ducks, and had reached the shore.

" My sister was the next attacked, and I managed to rescue
her just in time. It was plain that we could not remain on
the islands, and one night we placed our valuables on our lit-
tle sloop and embarked. But my brother foolishly sent a de-
fiance to the Dukite whom he most hated, which told him
where we had gone. We were in Melbourne nearly a week
longer than we expected, and the Red Dukite had taken ad-
vantage of the time lost to trail us. And, senor, when we
entered the Lick House from the packet, my servant placed
in Oscar’s hands a parchment upon which was printed in red
ink the sign of the Dukites—the threatening serpent ready to
strike. We know that our enemy is on the trail.”

“ Hush," nuid the Californian. “ Here comes a stranger,
and we must wait until he passes before I can tell you why
I came to you.” ‘

A stockman’s hut obstructed the view at a distance of half
a mile, and a horseman was spurring rapidly down the Fund
toward them. As he came nearer, it was plain that he was
admirably mounted, for his horse covered the ground in gai-
laut style. It was an American horse, seventeen hands high,
with splendid action—the model of a trotter. The stranger
was of powerful frame, singularly handsome, and wearing the
peculiar drooping mustache generst worn by high-east.

 

A nsmnxunn LIEENESS. 17

Brahmlns. At the first glance, a locker-on would have taken
him for a. Hindoo, but a closer look revealed the fact that the
olive brown of his complexion was the work of the sun, and
not of nature. Ashe reined in his horse before the pair seated
on the knoll, he looked at them in a quick; searching way.

“ I crave your pardon, gentlemen," he said; “ but may I
ask if I am on the road to Tampa City 1’”

.He spoke English well, but in a slow way, which was
either the result of habit, or from the fact that he had not
used the language much of late, notably the fact when an
Englishman gives up the use of his native tongue in ordinary
conversation for long years.

“ You are in the way, senor,” replied the Californian, po-
litely. “ I give you good-day.”

“ The same to you, senor," replied the stranger, whose dark
eyes seemed to scan the face of Delisle with intense earnest-
ness. “ Is it far to the city f"

“ Perhaps five miles."

The man thanked them and rode on rapidly while Walter
. looked after him with a doubtful expression not unmixed
‘ with fear. What was there in the sight of this man’s hand-

some face and his melodious voice to arouse such strange

thoughts in him f Why did his mind go back at once to the"
island-studded lagoons of the South Sea, the lofty trees and
the spice-laden breezes of the tropics.

“I have seen that man before,“ he muttered, “ but where
it was I can not tell. In South America, Panama. Melbourne
-—where? Confound the luck if I can place him, and I
would give a thousand dollars to be certain of my man."

"‘ There comes another,” said the Californian, “ and Santa
Mnrinl He is as like the other as one bullet from my rifle
is like its fellow.”

I It was true! The man who now advanced was mounted
on a fine AmeriCan horse, wore the drooping mustache, and
had the same olive-brown complexion as the man who pre-
Ceded him. He, too, pulled up and asked the way to Tampa
City, and his voice could hardly be distinguished from that of
‘the first stranger. As before, his gaze rested longest upon
Delisle, and the same glitter came into his eyes. Then he
rode on and the two men looked at each other in wonder.

 

18 mm mm “moms.

“There is something in this deeper than you imagineJ
Senor Delisle," said the Californian. “You have made me
your confidant, and now I will return the favor as far as I
can. Do you remember a young Mexican on board the
packet who became quite intimate with your party under the:
name of Estevan Cordoval ‘1’”

“ Certainly,” replied the young man, his face lighting up
with delight. “ A really fine young gentleman.”

“ Thanks; you honor me in saying it, for Estevan is a son
of whom I am proud. Yesterday I received a letter from
him sent by a special messenger. He told me that he had
made your acquaintance on the packet and that you had
honored him with your friendship. After you had left San
‘ Francisco he discovered the following facts:

“ You have been followed from the South Sea Islands by
these men who hate you. They were on the same steamer
with you when you left Melbourne, twelve in number. ’l‘hese
twelve men have money in abundance, and have sworn to
their comrades that they will never return to them until they
have avenged, in the person of your brother and his family,
the murder of their omcer. The arrangement of their plan
be can not tell you, except this: you are the first victim and
your brother the last." ‘

“ Why am I the first ?"

“ Because they fear you most. They say that you are
active and bold, and that until you are destroyed there can
be no safety for them in carrying out their plans. Not that _
they hate you as much as they do your brother.”

“ Then Oscar and the family are safe until I am under the
sod? So be it. Iaccept the gage thrown down by my secret
foes who have driven me to the wall. I will live—I will
pit myself against the twelve who have handed themselvu 1
against me and I will beat them if my life is spared."

“Brave young man I Do you then offer yourself as a sac-
riflce to save those you love? Then I give you my word that ’ '
the power I have in this country shall be used to assist you.
But, when do you expect your father and his family I” '

“They may come at any moment.”

“ Then they, are in danger from this hour and We must»
work. Ha; what is that?"

 

sesame mum ‘ 10.x."

Something white cemefluttering through the air and fell at
their feet. It was a long arrow with a paper impaled upon
the shaft which Senor Cordovsl detached dud held up. And
there, imprinted in full upon the sheet, was the serpent sym-
bol of the Red anites, and underneath these words in‘ the
language of the South Seas:

“ The Dukites are silent and know how to be patient.
When the time comes, they strike; when they strike, the blow
is sure. You in your pride of youth have laughed at the
Dukites and their power, You shall feel the weight of the
Dukites’ arm. Guard your breast if you can, for soon the
doom shall cover you like a pull. Beware the sting of the

serpent I”

o H a PT E R I I.
SHOWING THEIR HAND.

. Tu new friends looked in each other’s faces in dismay for
they had scarcely expected the blow to full so soon. But
Walter Delisle was not a man to remain long inactiveI and
he sprung to his feet suddenly. a I ‘ .
“ If the Dukite has it sting. at least I know the ,sntidote.
Senor, there is danger in the very air we breathe, and I was
not wrong in saying that my brother would yet destroy our
family. When I think that his thrice-eccursed folly has
brought this evil upon us, I am almost tempted to forget thut
he is my brother; but I can not do that."
“ I fear that there is little brotherly love between yell."
said Senor Cordoval. ‘ ‘
“ You are right, senor; and yet, I would have loved hitn
but he would not‘permit it. I have no other brother, and if
he would give back my nfl'ection I sltould be glsd ; but he is
cold and proud in his self-conceit, and we can never love each
other much. What shall we do, now that we know thet the
enemy is on our trail l'" ~
“ I do not know whether it tie_sufe.,to move. even now," re-
pliedetlte Californian. “ You are armed t“.

 

m TWELVE Amounts.

Delisle showed e pair of elegant pistols and a long knife.

“ Good at close quarters, but you must learn to carry a rifle
and to use it.” '

“ I have little to learn in that respect,” said Walter, quietly.

“ You don't know our western marksmen, I think,” was
the reply. '

_ “ I have no doubt you can shoot well, but can you drive a
nail at a hundred ,ysrds, or crease a mustang on the jump 2
Until you can do this—until you can hit the eye of an Indian
in the glare of the camp-fire, you can not equal our men. But
come, we met be on the way.”

He swung himself quickly into the saddle, and bursting
suddenly through a thicket on his right, he rode away acre.
the plain toward the white-walled ranche, which now could
be seen, three or four miles away. People in the East have
no real conception of the extent of these great stock-ranches
in the West, where a man has a long ride to reach the end of
his own land, and Senor Cordovsl was one of the largest land-
owners in the State. They passed corrals filled with great
beeves ready to be shipped to market; other corrals in which
hundreds of horses bounded to and fro, shaking their tangled
mouse and neighing wildly, as the horsemen went by. They
ware still a mile from the hacienda, when they heard 3 clear
hallos, and a horse came through a mezquit hedge on the
right, bearing on his back a young girl wearing the rich cos-
tume of the Mexican maiden of high rank. She rode “ en
Amazon," curbing her powerful mustang as she saw the two
gentlemen.

She wasarnre beauty, this child of the West. Dark, flow-
ing locks rolled almost to her saddle; her dark eya Were seas
of liquid fire; her sweet face was full of enthusiasm, and her
grmeful form swayed to the motion of her horse. The scar-
let magzu t "ich she wore set ofl' her graces to advantage.
Beneath true, she wore a silken vest of blue over a skirt of
the same color, and dainty Turkish trowsers, fastened at the
ankle, could not entirely conceal the symmetry of her limbs.
Natty little boots, armed with the spur which Mexicans are
too fond of using, were set into her stirrups, and the hand
which grasped the rein so firmly was small and shapely.

“Hold, m!” with s merrylsuglr. “was: super

 

mou mun. 81

any fine!" (Here is a very fine pair i) “ Why do you leave
me alone at the hacienda, when you know that i can not en-
dure solitude t"

“You must excuse me this time, my daughter,” replied
Senor Cordoval, fondly, “ for I had important business at
Tampa. Senor Deiiale, you see my daughter, of whom her
brother must have spoken to you, for her name is ever on his
lips. Zoraya, this is Senor Walter Delisle, the friend of whom
Estevan spoke when he wrote last." ‘

The senora put out a pretty little hand with a royal grace,
and it sunk like a feather into the extended palm of the
young man, who held it fully as long as etiquette would al-
low.

“ I am delighted to meet the sister of Don Estevan, senora.
I assure you that he sung your praises from morning till
night, and my own sister is wild to know you."

“ Why did you not bring her with you i” cried Zoraya, im-
pulsively. “ Ah, to have a friend, one of my own age, who
would take delight in my pursuits—that would he happiness
indeed !"

“ It will not be long before she will be here, as I expect
them at Tampa every hour. When they come—"

“ They shall not stay at Tampa i" cried Zoraya. “ Father.
assure Senor Delisle that all will be welcome at the Hacienda
de Cordoval."

“ It is not necessary {or me to say that they will be wel-
come,” answered her father. “And, indeed, I think she is
. right, for more reasons than one, and for the present there is
no place so safe as my house. I base a hundred men in my
employ, and at least thirty of them are Americans, for, when
it comes to lighting, I have but little faith in my own country-
men, and the Indians have taken pleasure in driving my cat-
tle the wrong way, many times, until my American braves
persuaded them to stop. But we waste time here, and you
must be hungry, utter fasting so long. Let us go to the ha-
cienda, at once."

Waller was ready to agree to any thing which would keep
him by the side of Senora Zoraya, and they rode away at a
foot-pace, the young man listening with eager attention to the
sparks othumor which fell from her tongue, for Senora Zo-

 

   

    

3.3

raya loud to talk! But, that is not singular; few women dit-
t’er from her in that respect. The ride to the hacienda win
all too short, and they rode into a spacious courtyard, ant-
rounded by adobe walls—a court which had stood for gene-
rations-for the family was one of the oldest in Upper Cali-
fornia.

“ Welcome to the home of my fathers, senor I" said the
aner, quietly and gravely. “ I am one of the few among
my countrymen who have had the wit to see that the so-
called conquest of California was the best thing that ever
happened to us. Enter.” ‘

They passed into the spacious room, furnished in luxurious
style, for the Californian was rich enough to command any
luxury he wished. They seated themseIVes, and while the
elder gentleman touched a bell and ordered dinner, Zoraya
took up a guitar and sung to that pleasing accompaniment the
.ancient war-songs of the Cid, and Walter was really annoyed
when dinner was announced. The meal was of the richest
description, and when it was over, the gentlemen adjourned
to the azotea for a siesta and cigars.

Zoraya would have accompanied them, but at a sign from
her father, much to the chagrin of Walter, she remained be-
hind. From the azotea they looked out upon a broad plain
stretching along the base of the foot-hills, and beyond the
blue peaks of the Sierras rising against the summer sky. They
had scarcely reached the roof when Senor Cordoval touched
his companion on the arm and pointed to‘the south, in the
direction of Tampa City. “ Look there l"

Two men were meeting in the midst of the plain, about
five miles distant. But in that clear-atmosphere objects are

,seen more distinctly than in other lands, and even at that dis-
tance, Walter could make out the two persons who had
passed them on the plain.

To make sure he took up a glue which lay upon the para-
pet and leveled it at the pair, and their faces were brought

' into View with a precision which was startling.

“ Magnificent glass, this," said Walter, as he glued his eye
to the tube. “ Yes, senor, you are right; those are the Very
fellows who passed as and they seem to be hailtelloWs-well-
met, 100. They are making aignais now.”

an Tm“ amortize.

E .

 
    

m 3mm assassins. 7”

' As he spoke other men appeared lrom every direction.
until twelve were grouped on the plain in close conference.
By the aid 0! the glass Walter was able to make out the
fact that they were dressed exactly alike and had the same
cut of heard as the first two.

Twelve menl Twelve of the Red Dukites had been
deputed to hunt him down, chosen doubtlem for their vigor
and skilL He knew well that such a striking similarity of
face was not natural, and there was something here which he
could not understand, but of one thing he was sure: the
mystic band were before him I

“ Oh, it we had only an excuse to call out your men and

sweep those murderous scoundrels from the face of the~

earth l" he said. “I am sure they are my enemies, but how
can I prove it.” '

“Time works wonders,” quietly responded Senor Cordo-
val. “ I will put a scout upon their trail at once."

He stooped over the parapet and whistled, and a man who
was making a lazo in the court below looked up.

“Conre up here, Pedro.”

The man laid down his lazo and ascended to the azotea.
He proved to be a native Californian with a sallow face,
sharp and cunning.

“You see those men, Pedro 1’” said his master, painting
to the party on the plain. “ Take the glass and look at them."

The man obeyed and studied the party for five minutes.
Then he returned the glass to Walter.

“You will know them when you see them again, Pedro i”

“Si, senor.”

“ You must follow them and when you have satisfied
yourself where they are going bring me word at once. It

' you do your work well you will earn titty dollars; it you do

it ill—you know what will happen then.”

The man shrugged his shoulders and rapidly descended
from the roof and soon after they saw him leave the haci-
enda, admirably mounted, and ride away, making a great
circle so as not to appear to have come from that direction.
For half an hour the twelve remained in consultation and then

4 Pedro rode out of a thicket and passed them quietly, without

seeming to look at then.

u

 

    
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
   
 
  
   
  
    
     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
     

o

   

_ ‘3“ ma emu ammo

2“ That fellow is a good scout," remarked the sexiest; “ I
have tried him in many ways and have not found him want-

'lng. Ha; they are stopping him."

They saw Pedro halt and turn back and enter into con.
versation with the strangers. The conference was not of

'long duration and they separated, the twelve riding off to-

yvard the mountain-passes and Pedro keeping on his Way.
But, searching the ground carefully, Delisle saw him riding
along the rocky bottom of a crevasse, keeping a course parallel
with that taken by the hand. All were lost to view behind
the foothills and Walter laid the glass down. ,

“ I fear that your scout, brave as he is, will he no match
for the Dukites,” said he. “I tell you, sir, that the Thugs
of India are not their match in subtlety and that wonderful
race can not shed blood more coolly than they. You
brush a fly from your face and kill it without thought; the
Dukite brushes a man from his path as coolly and feels the
crime as little. They are wonderful men and I have a great
work to do to cope with them all.”

“Is it not strange that they showed themselves to usso
plainly ii"

“ They have some object in that, sir. When you see
them again they will be as unlike what you have seen as
possible, for they have ways of changing their appearance-
of which you and! know nothing. However, as they are

gone I think it will be safe to go to Tampa City."

“ We will go with a party and if your family have come

'we will have them up here at once. Bola, John Dean!

Get nine of your fellows and prepare to ride with me to
Tampa.”

The one addressed—a muscular, wiry man of middle age, '

who Was crossing the cuurt-yard—looked up at the summons.
It was the sort of face which you or I would like to see at
our side in the tug of battle, strong, hold, self-reliant—the
type of men who make the name of trapper and scout a ter-
ror to their savage enemies.

“ All right, senor; any chaince of a muss? I’m lit'rally
epilin' fur a fight of some kind, an‘ I don‘t keer a dern who

- it u with. I ain’t snuffed out an Injun iii—Lord love your

heart—when did I raise any am .. It’s a week, earth)!



{tyne-.31 .

 

A nonmemm’e ‘ s 253 z '

 

" Get the teen, John,” replied the senor, laughing. “ Yet:
they have a chance if you are careful of your opportunities."
, “Anybody—u Chinaman, a Digger—I dunno but I'd eren
5, fight a Piute, I sw’ar."

 The man disappeared and in a remarkably short time 1
party of ten servitors—ull of them desperate Indianvflghters-
7,2 were gathered in the court below. They were armed will
'74" rifles, hatchets and long bowies. Revolvers had not yet come
into general use and the Western men as a rule despised the
pistol as a weapon. The senor and his companion descend-
ed snd they rode aWay, the men laughing and jesting at the
, prospect of a fight. '

 “I’m a man that likes my employer," said John Dean;
' j “ but one thing he must do—he‘s got to give me a chaince
‘ fur a tight now an‘ then or I spile; Whar’ sr' we bound,
 senor ?"

' “'We are going to Tampa."

“ Waul, one thing we kin do, boys. You, remember them
plugs down to the mill laughed at us 1111' said we war servints.
I reckon we'll hev to lick them, anyhow.”

“ Bet yer life, old hose," responded the men. “ We’ll

make up a little party, somehow." ‘
t b “ Oh, them chaps are willin’, ther the willin’est lot I ever
knowed in all my life, but we kin chew ’em any day in the
week—now you hear me. Whar’s Pedro. senor! he's the only
Greaser I ever knowed that c'u’d scout, an’ he’s a hull, mule
team on' that. Pedro is.”

" I’ve sent him out. on a scout, and no doubt he will meet
4,4 us at Tampa."

.  “ You orter hev let me go with him,senor. Pedro is gOod
' on the scout, but he kain't fight fur shucks; he‘s too cussed
ti”: light, ho is. What's that noise ‘2"

V They were riding through a pass under the shelter of an

overhanging clitl'. There Was a rustling sound overhead,‘ and
the next moment, to their horror, 21 hunmn body came whirl-
ing through the air, and struck the earth at their feet with a.
(lull thud, the face turned up to the sky. At a glance they
recognized Pedro, the Mexican scout. A long knife was
driven to the hilt. in his heart, pinning a paper to his breast,
upon which Walter saw the fatal sign of the Dokites, the
“lining serpent !

 

, ‘ eke 7, y, uh,

 

 

 

 

'90?“ m swam-c amazes.

I

“ You send your spies on the trail of the anites,” cried I
resounding voice. “ This is the beginning of vengeance; the
worst is yet to come.”

The men flung themselves from their saddles and scaled
the clifi’, but when they reached the summit, no man was ‘ to
be seen. The mark of the Red Dukite was set upon the first
victim!

 

CHAPTER III.
.ucx Dean’s vxsi'ron.

Jae: DEAN the stockman came down from the clifl with
a dark scowl upon his hard face. In his rough way he had
loved the Mexican, because he was a man after his own heart
-—-one who loved to take a trail and follow it to the end.
An American upon the Pacific coast has little liking for s
“ Grosser,” but in this case the attachment was deep and bind-
ing, Together they had trailed the Klamath, the Shasta and

the Modoc in their mountain homes; and, fighting under the.

shadow of so brave a man asJack Dean, Pedro had been
brave enough. Now he lay dead, the long thin strip of steel
planted in his heart, and the flaming serpent, with its erected
head, pinned upon his bosom. '

“I heard him, the low cussl” muttered the stockmaut
" Red anitcs they call themselves, eh? Does any man here
know what that word means i”

“ I can explain it,” said Walter, who knew the wisdom of
having such men as the stockman and his friends upon his

side ; and in as few words as possible he told why he had ‘

left the South Sea, and explained the working of the Dukites.

“ Adzack‘ly l" said Jack as he drew the blade from the
bosom of the Mexican. “ Here I sw’nt‘ that this blood shall
never be wiped from the blade until the last of the twelve.
Dukites has gone under. Then it shall be buried, planted to
the hilt in his heart.” '

“ We foller suit, Jack," added the man who stood'next to -

him. " What do you say, Sandy t”

 

 

 

 

A common; 373-“ 3

“ Hoot aWa’, chiel i" replied the man addressed—a genuine
Scotchman with the red hair, powerful frame and “ canny "'
ways of his race. “ Dinna fash yersel’ about me. Gin I leave 4
, Johnny Dean ua doot I’m na better than a deed man. I’m
-' V wilye, eoul au' body."

The restvelasped hands in- silence; they needed no word

I to seal their faith.

“Then we are eleven and will match ourselves against the
Dukites. For, when such brave men take up my quarrel it
is but just that I should cast in my lot with theirs,” cried
Walter.

, “ He‘s a brave chiel 1" spoke out Sandy McGregor, “ an’ na
~ '43 doot he’ll mek a gallant fight against these dour deevils we
"‘ nmun fight wi’. I mind weel the day the lust of the clan
 ‘ MeCallum an’ McGregor met, there was wigs an the heather
that day. ‘Blaw up yet ehaunter, Sandy, an’ gi’e them a
 taste of the “ Rant," ’ says the bonny chieftain. An' the pipes
  ne‘er sounded so weel as they sounded that day, an’ the wail
" rose in the MeCallum cabins when the fight, was dune.
Wae’s me, the gude auld days lung ayue l”

“ Hold your pipes, Seotchy i” cried Jack Dean. “Mr. De-
lisle, you are our leader, mind, an’ what you say we’ll do.
Shall we try to follow them now '1’"

“Better not, I think. I must get: my father and family
safe to the hacienda first.”

“ I’ll take Pedro across the saddle and carry him. Poor
ind; 'twas an unlucky day for him when you sent him out,
senor. I Was crazy fur a muss not an hour ago, and now—
it’s no use talkin‘. Help me to lift him, Sandy."

The two raised the dead form of Pedro, and laid it on the
horsennd the .party rode on. About a mile from Tampa they
met one of the carts going to the hacienda, and the body was
_ placed upon eome straw and sent home. The party dashed

into the open space in front of the hotel where they were
_ greeted with derisive cheers by the mill-men, who, for some
reason. were “ down ” on the stockmeu of Senor Cordoval.
Jan Dean for a wonder paid no attention to these demen-
straticns, although at any other time he would have been ripe

. I and,,ready for a fray. '
“I kain’t alford to git rubbed out now, boys,” he said,

 

 

 

 

88"”: um 'rwnrme AVERGEBS.

quaiy. “ Take it easy; one of these days you’ll sup on cold
lead for this, but jest now I kain’t throw away a chuince.
Only don’t pile it on too thick or we mont forgit ourselves.”

“ Thnt‘s the first. time you ever took water, Jack Dean,”
said a burly mill-man who was seated on the rail of the veto
ands, “ and with nine good boys at yer back it looks odd.” ‘

“ Dave Carroil," answered Dean, “ let me say a word to you.
Our boys hev got some work to do that. they must ’tend to,
1111’ they kain’t fight until it’s done. One of our boys hea bin
murdered, an’ we ar’ bound to hunt down the man that did '
it."

“ You don‘t lay it to any of my crowd i” said Carroll,
knitting his brows.

“ Not a bit ; we know who did it, an' it ain’t any man you
know, so don’t git hufl'y on that. When we started out to-
day we was fixed fur a fight with you, but this throwed us
03‘ the track.” -

“Nufi' sud," cried Carroll. “Boys, cheese that now; the
one that picks on J 901‘ Dean’s crowd has got to fight me. It
don't interiors with business when you hunt your man down,
Jack i”

"In course not; I’ll give the word when the work is done.”

From that moment these rough men fraternized with the _
understanding that, at some future day, heads should be
broken in n friendly way over the business. While this was
going on the great lumbering stage drawn by six horses came
into the “ plum " at a gallop, and the passengers began to
alight. Mr. Dnlisie and Oscar were on the box and Don Es-
tevan Cordovnl, a handsome young man, richly dressed,
handed out. Mabel and Mrs Deiisle. Pat came down over '
the wheel, grinning widely as he recognized his young mas.
ter advancing through the crowd.

The arrival of the mail-coach in a frontier town is an
event, and the plaza was crowded. The (River, with the air
of a mun in authority, issued his orders to the hostiers with
native grace. interiardlng his remarks with a choice selection
of American oaths. For the “native American” is gifted
with a genius for profanity, deny it ye who will. Senor
Cordovai was introduced to the family and at once invited
them to Visit his hacienda

 

 

 

 

m2 maraan . 39

“ I think it best, father,” said Walter. " Something has
occurred which makes it necessary."

“ Some more of your foolish fears," said Oscar. “ I should
be sorry to think you a. coward, Walter Dclisle.”

“ You at least have little cause to say so, Oscar,” was the
reply. “ Run your eye over that paper which I recieved to-
day and then tell me if you still think I have not any cause
for fear."

He placed in his brother’s hand the paper which had
fallen ut his feet, pierced by the arrow, and even Oscar started
and turned llVltl as he recognized the fatal sign.

" Those fellows must have the aid of the evil one," he
ttlutlercll, looking at his father, to whom Walter was explain-
inbr the steps he lltttl tukt-n. " 1 did think we should be sale
here, at any rate. Well, father, what is decided '2”

“ We go with Senor Cordoval, who has kindly placed his
hot 5-: at our disposal," replied Mr. Delisle. “ You will un-
dehlnnd it better when Walter has time to explain to you)

Oscar drew back, grumbling, and Estevan went away to
I order horses. In a few moments the party rode out of

Tampa with five horsemen on each flank. and Watching
as they rode through the passes for some sign of their ene-
mies. But the Dukites made no sign and the party rode into
the court safe and sound, where the horses were tuken in
charge by men who came up at the motion of Uordovsl'a
linger.

“ You have a fine old place, senor," said Delisle, looking
admirineg about him. “These historic spots have u l‘ul‘e
interest for me, who have been so many years literally an
outcast. or rather an exile, from my native land. But, wny
was it necessary to build these huge walls ?"

“ The Indian of the past is not the Indian of the present,"
was the reply. “ The Indians of this region have sunk step

t by step until from n warlike race—the peer of the Conmnches
—they have dropped to their present level. In the days
when these walls Were built they were not too strong to re-
sist the sudden attacks of the mountain tribes." _

At this moment Zorsya, who had been waiting impa-
.tlently for them to come on, darted from the main entrance

and threw herself into her brother’s arm, which opened It

 

    

  

80 was man amenns.

once to receive her. No brother and sister ever loved more

fondly than these two, and for a moment nothing was heard

save the delicious sobs which joy wrung from the bosom of
this sweet girl.

“ There, there, mt‘o care I” said the young man, as he re-
moved her clinging arms; “ you forget that I must make you
known to my friends. Walter you , already know, but here
I give you a lady friend—the one you have so long sighed
for—Miss Mabel Dclisle. You have heard me speak of Zo-
raya, often enough, Miss Dclisle."

“ So often that I already love her,” replied Mabel. The
impulsive child at once embraced and kissed her, and the two

V were fast friends. Mr. and Mrs Dclisle were warmly re-
ceived, but as Zoraya placed her hand in the burning palm of
Oscar a shudder passed through her frame. “I hope that
our meeting is not prophetic, my dear sir," she said. “A
shudder passed through me when I touched your hand; is
there any meaning in it Y" '

For him—yes; the touch of that small white hand, the
flush of those speaking eyes, had done their work. Oscar
Delisle loved her with all the power of his flery nature, and
woe to any man who dared to cross his love! It was a
passion at first sight—a consuming fire, which would end in
supreme happiness or utter misery. They entered the haci.
enda chatting merrily, but Oscar saw that it was by the side
of Walter she walked, and that her face lighted up whenever
he spoke. r“

“ If he has dared l" he muttered between his set teeth.
“ If she should love him, the little affection I have for him'
will turn to undying hate. Let him beware i"

“ I’d like to speak to Captain Dclisle if he has the time,"
said Dean, who stood in the doorway as they passed through.
Walter stopped at once and Mabel laughed merrily.

“ Captain Delisle? Ha, ha, ha! You have received your‘
promotion suddenly, brother.”

“ You may laugh if you like, Mabel, but I am proud of
the title, for it makes me the leader of brave men. Go on,
sister; I will join you in a moment.”

The party passed on into the reception-room, leaving Wal-

Jer with the stockman.

     
   

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

  
 

 

  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  

 

  

 

A wmme. 8t
“ Now, look here, Cap,” said Dean, in a tone of cummin-
flon; “you must take keer of yerself. Wimmin are the
devil! I guess I orter know for I’ve bed four wives in my I
time an’ eVery cussed one made it mighty hot fur me. A
burnt child dreads the fire; don’t you hev nothin’ to say to
’em."

“ What do you mean, Jack i” said Walter, laughing
heartily.

“ Never you mind; elf you don’t know now I ain’t going
to tell you. What I want ter say is this yer :—-you ar’ capt’in
of our party an’ we’ve got work to do, an’ I'don’t want you
to go tbrowin’ away time on a pesky girl. Not but Zorayor
er,’ a buster an’ a mighty nice little gal, but she’ll draw you
ofl‘ the track ef you don’t take keer."

A hot flush mounted into the handsome face of Walter
rDelisle. This rough stockman had penetrated his secret at a
glance and knew how deeply he was interested in the pretty
little Californian.

“ That’s another thing, Cap—don’t git mad with inc—but

I in two weeks' time thet brother of yours will be lit to take

your life out of jealousy; he will, by jinks.”

“ Oscar i” -

“ You bet ye—Oscar. I never see a man look at a gel as
he did at Zoraya, 1111' he’s got a nasty black drop of blood in
his veins som’ers or other."

“ Don’t be troubled about me, Jack. While those twelve
men live there is no safety for any of us, and I never put my
hand to the plow and look back. I‘ll stand by you to the
end."

‘ “ Nufi' sed,” was the reply. “ I’ll go to my but now, fur
(know you'll keep yer word "

Jack Dea’n left the hacienda and rode quickly across ti 9.
plain to the stock-hut where he slept. It was close to one
of the main corrals, and he dismounted, took off his saddle
and bridle and let his horse run loose, for he knew that the
trained animal would not stray far from the: place and would
come at his whistle. Two of his friends were seated at a
little table, deep in the mysteries of “draw poker,” and I
rather pretty Mexican woman, Jack Dean’s fourth, in 
gaged in preparing supper.

     
    

  

 
  

   
 

831 m 'rwnLvn “menus.

  

" Evenin', boys, evenin' l How’s the luck f"

“ The chiel has strappit me I” answered Sandy McGregor,
as his opponent raked the pile on four kings. “He’sa '
deuce laddie, and I’m sair afraid he keepit some cairds in

 
       
    
 
   
  
 
 
 

his sleeve."

Jack laughed and the men drew back from the table, at -
vhich sign Mrs. Dean put on the dishes and prepared the 1-52
evening meal. They went to work in a hungry fashion, ,

 

Sandy performing in a wonderful manner. Then the ta-
ble was cleared away, Mrs. Dean began to tinkle a guitar and
the men were sitting down to cards when they heurd the
beat of hunfs and some one rattled on the door with a whip-
stock.

“ Open the door, ean'uimal” said Dean. “ Cospettol
Who can it be at this time of night 1’”

,The door swung back on its leathern hinges and the light
of the lamp fell upon a tall man mounted on a long-limbed
horse. lie was bending forward to look into the room.

“ Can I get to stay here all night, stranger 1’” he said.

“ We’ve got mighty cluss quarters here, stranger," an-
swered Jack. “ Why don’t you go to the hacienda l"

“I don’t take much stock in big bugs," replied the man.

“1 can cump down snywhar, you know—the floor is good
enough for me. Or if you don’t want me in the cabin I can

camp on the grass, but I'd like to toast a piece of venison at v
your fire."

“ You nr‘ welcome to what we’ve got, stranger," replied
Jack. “ l kin give you a blanket on the floor.”

“ Goml enough for me. I’ll picket my horse out on the
grass 'Jllll come in.”

Mrs. Dean put the remains of their supper on a little ta-
ble and when the stranger came in he'accepled her invitap
ties: to partake, in the off-hand way peculiar to the prairie-
man. When he had finished he lighted his pipe and drew
up to the table to watch their game. Jack, who was looking
at him intently, could not but admire the muscular framed
the man, who was wonderfully strong of limb.

I, “ Take a hand, stranger ?" he said.

‘fDon’t care, though I don’t know the game very well, but

I'm always willing to rt~k dollar for dollar."

      
   
    

 

     
 
         
     
   
   
        
      
   
       
   
   
   
   

       

 

mimosa-nun. "V8!

The cards were dealt and for a few games the stranger
'Lost, playing rasth and risking his money on weak hands.
Then the luck began to change and he Won steadily, until the
three friends found their funds running low. As the stranger
leaned forward to take his winnings his sleeve caught upon a
corner of the table and stripped the cotton shirt above his el-
bow before he really knew what had been done, and the keen
eyes of Jack Dean saw, imprinted upon the arm, the fatal
sign of the Red Dukitel Quicker than thought a bare bowie
was at the throat of the stranger, while Sandy McGregor
seized his arms and pinioned them behind him.

“ I reckon you’ve got to the end of yer rope, Mister Duk-
ite," growled Jack. “Curse your bloody heart, I'll teach
you to come into my ranche."

“ Do you want to rob me i" demanded the stranger, coolly.
“ I thought I had got among honest poar men."

“ And so you hev, stranger, an'I judge it ar‘ company thet
don’t agree with you. Will you tell uswhat that mark on
your arm means i"

“ The snake Y" demanded the stranger

“ You bet 1"

" I don't know what there is in a mark on a man’s arm

that you should jump on me like tigers.
" “ I’ve been all over the world and I got that mark in the
South Seas. A native put it on my arm for me but I nevar
supposed my life would be in danger on that account. Do
you murder every sailor you find with an anchor on his
arm.”

“ You play the game down mighty fine, boss,” said Jack
Dean, without lowering his weapon. “ What did your native
call the sarpint, might I be so bold ez to ask ?”

“ The Red Dukite.”

" You‘ve got the name mighty pat,” said Jack, slowly
“ See here; I’m goin' to take you up to the hacienda and
show you to Walter Delisle. Ef he don’t know you I reckon
we‘ll let you go loose}?

.1 " You are very kind," replied the man. “I don’t recog-
nize your authority in any way, but you are stronger than I

' am. I will go quietly." ' '

“ You promise that."

 

5

56.584 an: own amen”.

(S Yes),

Sandy McGrcgor,l,obeying a sign from Jack, released the
arms of the stranger which he had drawn over the back of a r
chair in a very awkward manner. The fellow rose 'quietly

, and drew down his torn sleeve which he buttoned again.
This done he called for his coat which was handed to him by
Jack Dean who helped him to put it on, laying his bowie on
the table while he didso. The other men were looking on
carelesslywhen they saw Jack go down under a blow which
would have felled an ox, and the next moment the stranger,
whirling the bowie above his head, sprung through the open
door. They ran for'their rifles, but when they reached the

, door the beat of flying boots, and a wild, exultant shout told
them that their guest had escaped. It was nearly five min- v
tiles before Jack recovered his senses sumciently to sit up and
then it was with a swimming in his hegtd and a deadly taint;-
ness which quickly compelled him to lie down again.

“I’ve been kicked by a mule," he said. faintly—“ been
blowed up in a steamer, shot through the right lung, been in
twenty-two airthquakes, been bucked forty feet above the
back of a Mexican plug; but seek a crack as that I never
experienced in all my life. It’s just awful and no mistake. '
Whar is he Y”

“ The daft callant gaed awa’ like a wnrlwind,” explained
McGregor. “ Hoot, men, but ye s’u’d ha’e seen him flee awa’
ower the grass! ’Deed, man, but he’s no canny, that chiel
wi’ the snake.” '

“It’s only one thing more against him," said Jack. “I
say, Scotchy; take my horse and ride to the hacienda and
warn 'em to take care. Call out Walter an’ let him know
first.”

" I’m no see sure it w’u’d be safe to gang noo," replied the
prudent Scot. “ They've gude strung walls to ’fend them an’
we have none. Gin the daft body came back wi mair help
wut wud ye do then l’" t .

“ Nevor mind me, Sandy. I‘ll be all right in an hour's ' 3i
time." ' I

, "Let Billy gang; he’d be ower glad to get a blink out of A
the can of the young leddy’s maid. Ye mind her, Billy; aha
gi'e yer hail-t a sair blow." r '

 

 

 

 

 

 In some. I 88

 ,“ I don’tcare if I go.” confessedBilly. “ Can you 'whistle
the horse up, Jack 1’"

z u r The injured man raised his fingers to his lips and emitted
a sharp whistle which was answered bythe Ineigh of the
trained horse, which came bounding back a moment later.
Billy Blake loaded his rifle, swung himself .into the saddle

‘ ._ and rode aWay at a swinging pace. He was a gallant young

. f; ' fellow and had little fear of the ordinary dangers of the bor-

 der for he had a strougurml wasp“ dead shot and knew that
he bestrode one of the best horses in California. The night
was not dark and objects could be easily seen at a distance
of two hundred feet. The young stockman rode on at a
brisk trot until he saw a dark form start up suddenly from
the grass befdre him and run on rapidly. He urged his horse,
but to his utter surprise his utmost efi‘ort did not sumce to de-
crease the distance between them.

“ Halt, there; I want to whisper in your ear, stranger.”

But the dark figure still ran on beforehima and if any
thing gained upon the horse.

“ If I shoot you‘ll come down| my boy,”‘ cried Billy.

, “You‘d better pull up, now mind, I tell you." '

A mocking laugh was the only response, and that dark
figure still fled on before him through the gloom of the night.

.. Billy leveled his rifle but it was not in his nature to shoot a ,

‘ ‘man in the back. and he again called out in a tone of warning :

“ Turn back you," was the reply. " If you follow me, you
come to your death."

“You will have it," cried Blake. “When you pass yonder
tree, I will fire.”

The man kept up his headlong pace, but. just as he reached
the fatal tree he paused and his hand went back over his
shoulder. Even in the moonlight Blake saw something leave
his hand and fly out before him. Mechanically he halted

V and followed the dark object with his eye, when there came

,  a sharp whistling sound and the dark object, which was noth-

'  ing morenor less than aboomerang, struck him just above the
*V eyes with terrible force and he was stretched senseless on the

ploin. The fleet-footed enemy came back and placed his

* . . manpon the bosom of the fallen man. He could feel no

  beneath his palm

 

 

 

 

 

m TWELVE ' means.

“'Desd l' We will teach them what it is to follow than“! ‘
of the Dukites." - - : ‘
When morning broke, its rays fell upon the still cold face
of William Blake, a bloody mark upon his brow and on his
breast the fatal sign of the serpent! The Red Dukite had '
again planted its sting in the breast of a victim.

\

CHAPTER IV.
on: anemone “sesame.

\

Tim hacienda De Cordoval was wrapped in the mantle

of silence. Not a light gleamed in a window, not a step
sounded in the long corridors or in the lofty rooms. All
had retired to rest—Mabel sharing the couch of Zorsya, who
would not be parted from her new friend. Her apartment
was upon the second floor, a spacious chamber overlooking
the gardens at the back. In the dead hour of night, when
the two beautiful girls who had talked themselves into slnm- -
her lay clasped in each other’s arms, the golden locks of
' Mabel mingled with those of her darker sister, a hand was
laid upon the gauze curtains, drawing them gently aside, and
a dark, sinister face looked down upon the sleeping pair.
The moonlight falling upon that face added to its devilish
beauty, for it was the face of Lucifer after the fall.

“ I could wring their proud hearts to the quic ,". he
thought, as he lifted a thin-bladed knife which he carried '
in his right hand, “ but eVen I, sworn as I am to evil, could
not look in those faces and strike. Ha; she wakes! Sleep

,-—I command it 1"

He stretched out his hand and made a few passes over the
head of Mabel, who had partly started from the couch, and -'
she again fell back, utterly powerless before the will of-thil
wonderful man. ‘

“ So the strong conquers the Weak," he muttered. “_Wonld
the charm work with Walter Delislel If it wouldth
I doubt—our work would be done this night. But. the:

 

snowman  81

that in his breast is a will more powerful even than mine.

, which will neither bend nor break. If I conquer him, it can
only be with -my- dagger in his heart.”

For full five minutes the man stood looking down upon
the sleeping maidens, who had remained subject to his will.
There was an expression of doubt in his face as he looked
.at Mabel Delisle. You might almost call it love, so strong

‘ was iL

“ We have the power to spare one and one only of this
fated family. If I have any voice it shall be you, fear not,
sweet girl. I would give the best years of my life to know
that our work was done and that she would love me. Then
in yonder sunny isle—but I dream and my work is still to he
done."

A low hiss called him and he left the room silently, leav-
in; the girls wrapped in slumber. He had willed that they
should sleep for five hours and then awake, freed from the
mesmerie influence he had thrown about them. In the pas-
sage he met a second man who had warned him by the ser-
pent hiss that there was work to do.

“ Speak,” he said. “The girls will not wake.”

. “ Senor Cordoval sleeps in the chamber which opens into
the library on the ground floor. Our hated enemy is in the
,room at the right of the main entrance. We can reach him
first if we will."

“ He is reserved tor a worse fate; go on,”

“Mr. Delisle and his wife occupy rooms at the lower end
of this passage. Estevan Cordovsl sleeps opposite, and Wei-
ten—"

‘ “ What of him? Is he alone too ?" hissed the man who
'seemed to be the leader.

L 5‘ “ Yes; he sleeps at the back of the main salon. If you
' wish to justify him, now is the accepted time."

By way of answer the man pressed the cold blue steel
blade to his lips and signed to the other to lead on. He
. too had drawn a dagger like that carried by his companion, _
the handle of which represented the coiled body of the Duk-
.ite. There could be no question but that these were the
chosen avengers who had followed the Delisles from their
Held-home. As they passed through the long hulls each

813 8

 

88 ran 'rwitLvn smeans.

man covered his face with a crape mask. They passed 
down the staircase, their‘feet awaking no echoes upon the
stained floors, pushed open the door of the main salon and
crept in silently. The door of the bed-room stood partly
open and the Dukitcs paused and looked in, while the leader,
touching himself upon the breast, signified that he would,

 

strike first. They approached the bed with the blue blades , Tir-
glittering in the moonlight raised above their heads. Walter 
lay there sleeping. his broad breast rising and falling with . g

each respiration. But these men, recognizing in him the "

most. pOWerfnl bar to their designs against Oscar. neVer
thought of pity. The bright blades glittered in the moon-
light and the strong right hand of the avenger descended.
There was a sharp metallic ring and the blade was shivered
to the very hilt upon the concealed vest which Walter De-
liale, living as he had in constant” danger of the assassin‘l
dagger, had learned to wear night and day. He was upon
his feet instantly with a sword in his hand—for he always
kept arms beside him in his bed. The weapon was one of
those frail but pointed blades which are manufactured espe-
cially for the use of “Knights Templar," of which body
Walter was an active member. As he sprung from the bed
he lunged out and the hilt knocked against the breast-bone"
of the second assassin who was springing upon him with the
design of stabbing him in the throat. The man uttered a .
hollow groan and dropped dead at the feet of the slayer. _ f ’4'.
who, without attempting to remove the blade, snatched up a ’
bowie from the table by his bed, and uttering a shout to
alarm the house, sprung upon the man who had struck him
first. But, that wily villain had seen how useless it was for
him to struggle against a man clothed in mail, and spring-
ing back had closed the door so quickly thattle blow which _ -2'
was launched at his back was arrested by the wood through - 4
which the heavy bowie passed as if it had encountered pa-
per. By this time the house was in an uproar. Servants
variously armed were pouring down from the dormatories \
and Don Estevan and Senor Cordoval rushed in with swords
.n their hands to find Walter bending. over the body 0! the
man whom he had pierced through the lung.

“ Search the court-yard; send out horsemen to scour “It;

 

 

 

m mass or run rwnnml ‘83

O
prairie about the hacienda,” cried Walter. “I have made
this one safe, but one has escaped.” ,

The dying man made a feeble effort to strike him in the
breast with his dagger, but the Weak blow barely penetrated
the cloth and touched the until.

i “ Curse the mail vest l" hissed the bafiled assassin. “ But
for that; the strongest enemy of the ‘elected twelve’ would
now be dead with the sign of vengeance overhis heart. Be-
ware the eleven who still live—but most of all beware of the
chief 1”

He grasped the bloody handle of the sword with both
hands, and tried to drnw it from the wound, but the cfl'ort
was vain. Walter laid his hand upon the sword and stopped
his hand. ‘

“ Not yet; I know enough of wounds to be sure that when
that blade is removed your life'goes with it. Who are your
companions, and where is their secret haunt. i"

“Yes, you dog," hissed Oscar. who by this time was in the
room, “ speak, before I tear you limb from limb."

“ Whatever happens to the elected twelve you at least are
doomed, murderer of our brother. I spit at you, and laugh
you to scorn."

By a mighty efl‘ort he tore the blade from the gaping
wound, a great gush of black blood followed, and the first of
the elected twelve lay dead at. their feet.

“A most determined villain," said Senor Cordoval. “If
the other eleven have this man’s determined courage, and I
do not doubt it, it will not be an easy task to defeat them."

“’They are villains, it is true,” replied Walter Delisle, “and
I have esotiped them twice by great good fortune; but they
are as brave men as any now upon the earth. Why should
they not be—men of all countries and all crecds, handed to-
gether with two objects, that of personal ambition and the
good of the brotherhood. I should have said one object, for
every personal feeling sinks into insignificancc in their eyes
compared with the wants of the order. 1 tell you, sir, that
this. order is grand in its conceptions, were it not that it lacks
one thing which has made another order glorious." ~

“ And that—"

“ Is ‘ charity toWard all mankind ’. But, what shall we do
with this body—for the ladies must not see it. i"

 

 

 

 
 

450 * m 'rwnxm: lit/means.

fi

“ The men are coming back,” was the reply 0! Senor Cd-
doval. “ I hope that they have caught the other."

“ Never think it, sir,” replied Walter. “A Dukite always
provides for his escape, and if he is not cut down in the be-
ginning he will get. clear." ‘

Some of the men came in hastily, and announced that not
the slightest trace of the Dukite was to be seen. In some
Way unknown, he had seemed to vanish from off the face of
the earth. Senor Cordoval told them to take up the dead
form of the Dukite and bury it upon the plain outside the
walls. Walter had thought it strange that, in this tumult. in
the building, nothing had been heard from Zoraya and Mabel,
and one of the maids sent up to their room soon returned
and announCed that they were sleeping, and her utmost efi'orts
could not rouse them.

“Go up to them, mother," cried Walter, deeply agitated.
“See it there is any thing wrong, as I much fear. Perhaps.
they have been drugged—the Dukites understand drugs better
than any men on earth."

Mrs. Delisle left the room in great haste, and hurried up
to the chamber in which the girls slept. As she looked at
their faces she started, and turning hastily, sent a servant after
Walter whom she met at the door.

“Unless I am very much mistaken you will understand
this." she said. “ Come in and look at them.”

Waiter entered and lonked into the silent faces.

“ Mesmerism i” he cried, turning pale, “ and we have driven
away the man who made them sleep."

“ It is a question of power of will, is it not, my dear
Walter l" t
‘ “ Yes; the strongest will rules the weaker. If his will is
s'ronger than mine I can not wake them; if mine is most
fiiowerful his will must bend to it. I will make the trial tint

on Mabel. Mabel l"

The girl did not stir, but a singular expression flitted across I
her face. - .

l , “ You have been put to sleep by a strong man but his will
must bow to mine. He has told you to sleep; I command
you to wake.”

She stoned slightly and muttered htokrnly and again sunk

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

wm. aoanm mu. ‘1

 

  

hack. Waiter compressed his lips, and laid his hand upon,
her forehead with a strong pressure.

“ Wake, Mabel; I will iti"

There was a violent struggle in the mind of the sleeping
girl. The powerful will already in possession of her intellect
struggled hard for the mastery, but a still more pOWerinl op-
posed it. A moment more and Mabel started up, icoklug
wildly about her.

“ Where is he; what has happened 1 Ah. is it you. desrl
Walter l‘”

“ i am here, my dear girl. Be calm and tell me what you
have seen, is you will."

“ A man stood there looking at me, and when I was about
to cry out he commanded me to sleep."

“ Did you see his face?”

“ I can not recall it, but it seems to me that Pshouid know
it in my sleep."

“ That is enough for the present. I imagine that it will
not require so strong an efl'ort to awake Zorays as my will
has conquered his."

‘He touched Zorsys lightly on the forehead and com-
msnded her to awake and seeing that her eyes ware open-
ing he at once left the chamber, accompanied by the servants
who Were without the curtains.

“It seems strange that you should go into that room,”
hissed an angry voice in his car. He looked up and saw 0s-
car looking at him in a threatening manner.

“ I don’t think you know what you are talking about," re-
plied the young man, coolly. “ Mother sent me and it was
needed, for both Mabel and Zoraya wore in a deep meemeric
sleep."

“ Pshaw A capital excuse, I should think. Mother is
always on your side and I should be glad to know by what
right you call the senora by her first name."

“A slip of the tongue, certainly,” replied the young man,
laughing. “But, once for all, no other man in this house
could have roused them from that sleep, and I telieve that
no men in the world could have done so. Laugh it you will
but it is so." _

" You must not cross my path in this as you have every

 
  
   
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
   
   
 

 
 

42 ' an 'rwnnvn emanate.

thing else in life,” cried Oscar, with a fierce look. “ It yon
do, woe be to you." ~

“ I believe that you are going crazy, upon my honor. I
will not talk with you any more upon the subject until you
are master of yourself, as you certainly are not now. Don’t
you see that the servants are looking at you Y”

Oscar drew back and wane: went down to the lower
floor where he found the rest of the gentlemen in close con-
sultation. _

" We must open the campaign at once,” said Senor Cordo-
val. “ I am not the man to allow my house to be invaded
in this way, nor will I endure it. Tomorrow fifty men will‘
be in the saddleto commence the search.” i

“ You will look in vain, then,” said Walter, “ but, take
your own way."

The morning came and as its first rays shone upon the
earth the band rode out at the haéienda gates in gallant

v array. When they reached the place where they had buried .
the Dukite, the night before, they found only an empty hole,
the fresh earth about it bearing the marks of many feet.
Walter pointed to the opening as a proof of what he had
said.

“ They have taken away the body to bury it according to
their rites,” he said. We shall look for them in vain.”

_ At this moment they were joined by the Scotchman and
Jack Dean whom they meant to take up at their cabin. The
latter bore upon his saddle in front the motionless form of
Billy Blake, whom he had found upon the plain.

“ Oneumore count against the Dukites l” fairly howled the
stockman. “ Are you ready to march i”

 

CHAPTER V.
m 31mm BY ems.

I! the heart of the mountains nature had scooped out a
deep bowl, the bottom a tangled mass of pines and dense
shrubbery of mountain growth. A deep, dark, dismal place
in which the foot of man had rarely rested—a place from
which the Indian shrunk with holy horror for he knew that
the bad spirits of the mountains dwelt in this dismal spot.
Even the miners in their search for gold avoided the lo-
cality for they saw little hope for them in the dry bottom
' where there was neither water nor quartz. The Shastas and
other Indian tribes had seen the spirits which inhabited the
place and feared them.

It is night, dark, lonely night, the clouds hiding the face
 of the moon; a single man comes stealing down the moun-
tain side and disappears among the pines; there follows an
"'interVal'of silence; then another man passes. In this way
ten forms go down the mountain-side and are hidden by the
pines. Half an hour later a single man, tall and strong, goes

down the path alone and no one follows him.
Eleven 1
The number of the Red Dukites since one has fallen upon
the sword of Walter Delisle at the hacienda. A single spark
of light is seen gleaming like a star threading its way in an
erratic manner among the trees. Suddenly it goes out and
-all is darkness in the deep vale. Then a twolfvh man cornea
stealing down the mountain and is lost among the pines.
Who is it that dares follow on the Dukites’ trail, in their
secret haunts?

_ A great cave, the roof hung with stalnctites of rare_l)eauty.
A fire blazes in the midst of the vast room making it glori-

l,’ on: in its beauty. Ina circle about the fire, near which

> stands a heap of resinous pines covered by a blood-red cloth,
eleven men are. seated in a circle. Each wears a mask and

 

44 run 'rwnnvn avenues.

a white robe, upon the breast of which is worked, in red, ‘
the fatal serpent sign, and in the red belt above the waist is

seen the slender dugger with the coiled handle. Only one

has no dagger and that one is the chief, who is seated high

above the rest wearing a sort of helmet, upon ‘the front of

which are three words in an unknown tongue. ‘

“ Are all here P" demanded the chief, in adeep tone.

“ All," responded the brethren.

“ We were twelve,” continued the chief; " I see but ten
brothers of the serpent before me. Where is the twelfth 1’"

“ Here i" cried one of the brethren, throwing of the red
cloth from the heap of pine which was indeed a funeral- -
pile. Upon this heap, clothed in the robes of the Dukite
but without a mask, lay the man who had been slain by
Walter Delisle. The blood which had been drained from
him by his terrible wound had left his face of the color of
impure wux but there was a certain majesty in his appearance,
even in the repose of death. ‘ ’

For, notwithstanding the fact that his had been a life
full of evil and violence, it. was a bold face—that of a man
who had not yet reached hi thirtieth year. The eleven .
looked at the still face for a moment, and then each covered
his eyes, crying out: ' ' ‘

“ Woe, woe, woe, to the accursed racel Death to our en
emiesl In this world woe, in the world to come—tormentel”

“ I must speak and tell how this happened," the chic} said.
“ We two were deputed to put to death Walter Dclisle. Feta
has been against us and we have failed, utterly. I went first
to the cabin of the stockmau, Denn. In playing cards my
sleeve cnught upon the rough table, and the serpent sign was
revealed. I was taken but escaped by stratngem, dealing
Dean n blow which he will remember for days to come. My
companion was on the alert, and watched the cabin. Soon
he saw the younger of the three men leave it to warn the
people at the hacienda that. we were on the track. He ran

on before the horse,and when he had tempted the young man 
near enough, threw a boomerang and brought him down. We .

climbed a tree at the south west angle of the hacienda wall, 
dropped our ladder into the courtyard, and descended easily, .;

enough and entered the house I put the spell of Ileepm 

 

 

A OOUNOIL or scenes. (8

 the young girls while he"-‘-—pointing to the body—“ discov-
ered the place in which they all slept. Then we struck at
 Walter, but he wears a Vest under his shirt. Remember, it
5' you strike at him to strike him in the throat. l-Ie seized a
 sword and killed my friend, and I fled, for the house was
‘v already in confusion. How they buried our brother and we
d' raised and brought him here, you already know. If I have
" not done well—if I'have failed in any thing each brother has
' a dagger, and my breast is bare.” '-
' “ You have done well, oh_ chief,” responded the solemn
voices of the ten brothers. “ No man could do more| and
v we are commanded to flee when there is no hope."
" Enough, then. Let us take counsel, here above the dead
,. form of the man we have loved, and who has (lied for us. It
 was decided to slay Walter Delisle first. Let us see if we
lgcan not first torture this hated race in other ways. I have
3 not been idle, and have both seen and heard much which will
. J do us good. First, we know that the father and Walter De-
V' llsle love Mabel dearly. If any thing were to happen to her,
T It would cause them great agony."
“ It is good ; let their hearts be wrung to the core.”
“Zoraya Cordoval is beautiful. The first glance of her
- ._ eyes has made the two brothers love her, and they are already
' It dagger-9' points. Let us stir up strife between them, and I
, know that there is evil enough in the heart of Oscar Delisle
. to cause him to kill even a brother if he stands in the Way.
If we could do this it would be well.”
.A murmur of approval passed through the circle at this re-
7; finemettt of vengeance, and a clapping of bands was heard.
“ I ask you then, brothers, whether it would not he better
,to drop violence until they sink into repose, and work in on
those lovav and hates? While thvy stay here, and titty men
‘ are ready to spring into the saddle when VValH-r Delisle litls
' his hand, we can do little. Why not send out fHIll int n, the
most subtle among us, to worm their way into the cz-ntidenre
. cot our enemies and wait the time to strike a blow ‘f"
E ' There was a hurried conference among the ten, and taen
"one of them spoke up quickly :
 “I weak for the brethren. Let the chief name those to

 ffio the work.”

 

 

 
 

 

46 - 'mn TWELVE AVENGERS.

“ Number three, four and eight are the men I have chosen i. ‘
and I also will go. To number three I give the work of be—
traying the maidens."

“I accept the work,” replied a melodious voice, “ and I
will not fail to do my work well.”

“ Accepted and recorded. Number four I give the task of
working among the stockmen, because he has lived among
them. These fools think that. the_Dukites dwell only in the
South Sens.~but We know that their members dwell in many!
lands, nnd are ready to do the work of the order."

“I obey," answered number four. I

“ Accepted and recorded. 'I‘o number eight I give Walter
Delisle, and it is a dangerous mission, for he is a man worthy
of the name. whom it is not easy to deceive. You accept, \ "
number eight 1’”

u I do."

“ Record it. As for me, I i have chosen my work, and
while I retain a general supervision over the actions of the, '
others, my Work is with Oscar Delisle. You shall see him
wrought up to that pitch of fury that he shall be ready to
stain his hands in his brother’s blood. If I can accomplish
that you will say that I have done well ?” y

“We will,” responded the robed brothers. “We know
you, and what you promise you will be sure to perform.”

“ Once more I soy to the rest, keep close. If you need
any thing, you nre unknown in Tampa, and any one of you
Can) go for what you want. ’l‘hemenns to buy it lie at your
feet in the wealth of this strange valley, where gold may be
had by simply picking the nuggets out of the soil. Number
three, I have chosen you in the place of my dead friend." '

“ And I will be as true to you as he was," responded the‘ V
lume melodious voice. “ Grout chief, you have only to com-
nmnd and your servant will obey. Only let me warn you to .
beware of one thing, the love of the profane. It is written
in our laws that none of the Duliites may wed 01118de the ’
society."

“ Why do you say that l’” demanded the chief in achangedl
voice. v
“ Zoraya. Cordovnl is beautiful-"
“ I Could kill her without mercy."

 

 

  

 

: EXPLANATION. 47

I _ - “And Mabel Delisle: what of her i"

' “Say no more or you may go t0o far. As for Zoraya she

4 Is the magnet by which I will draw both Oscar Delisle and
his brother to their fate. Yet I would give much to know
that Walter Delisle was a sworn brother, for with his will
joined to mine We could make the world bow down before
us. I do not wish to say it, but he is stronger even than I.
You remember I told you that I had put the sleep spell upon
the maidens i"

‘ “ Yes."

“ Last night, long before the hour I had appointed for their
waking, I felt his will struggling with mine for the possession
of these maidens. I fought hard, first for Mabel and then
for Zorayu, but Iths Vuuquished and felt them puss away
from me. Had I been upon the spot with my eye upon the
sleepers, and tny hands weaving the mystic signs nbovu them,
I know not who would have been victorious, but he is con-
queror now. Silence all i"

He raised his hand above his head, and made a sign which
all understood. In an instant the band were scattered in con-

_i fusion, and the chief stood with a single companion, the man
known as “ number three,” beside the dead form of the Dulcite.

“You felt it too, great chief ll" murmured the sweet vou-c
of his companion. “ Be at ease; it will not be long before
the brothers bring good tidings."

The eyes of the chief glenmed like sturs through his mask.
The minutes passed slowly by, the fire burned low, when there
came a confused sound of hurrying feet in the. passage which

_led to the outer world, uud a mnu with every mnrlr of object

i' terror upon his face, broke into the lighted cave where he
} Was at once seized by the strong builds of the chief, and
a,»

 

hurled to the earth.
“ To me, Dultites l” shouted the Cilitf. “ I have him
fast.“ I
The men poured into the room and the prisoner was seized
stud dragged into the circle of light, which, falling on his face,
revealed one of the stockmen of Cordovnl, a. hull-breed Shae
ta. His face was literally CthuiSCtl with terror, for, although
,' .«J'ekillfnl. scout he had a cowardly heart.
“ You have (lured to act the spy on the councils of the

 

  

  

‘8 m rwnuvn .avamom

 

Serpent Brotherhood l" hissed the chief, “ and you have come —
in time. They who struggle with the serpent may find 9
themselves in his coils before they are aware. Who sent you ;
to spy upon us i" _

“ Mercy, mercy; I could not help it, for they swore to kill >
me if I did not come." i '

“ They—who are they ?” .

" Senor Cordoval, Jack Dean and the rest. Do not kill '
mo and I will join you; I will be your friend if you will
only spare my life."

“ The Red Dukiles want no cowards among them," was
the chilling reply. “ My brothers you havo heard it said that ,
our brothers sleep more peacefully if we lay beneath them .
the yet warm body of an enemy. The Spirit whom we serve ,_
knows our wants and has given this coward into our hands. ,
Who has a dagger I” \

Ten blades gleamed in the light of the lamp and the spy ‘
sunk under twenty stabs, bleeding at every pore. He did not '
struggle, for many of the keen blades had been sheathed in ,
his heart. They lifted the yet quivering body, and while ,5 .
some removed the form of their friend, the spy was laid upon ‘~
the funerl pile beneath him, when the other was replaced and '
then the band marched in solemn procession about the pile, ’
singing a funeral dirge in astrange tongue. Three times 3
they madeacircuit of the pile, when the chief applied a .
torch and the resinous heap at once burst into flame. The 't
Brahmiu wife, who threw herself upon her husband's funeral—
pile was not more devout in her sorrows than these strange .'
men. The murder they had just done was nothing to them
——it was a duty, necessary to appease the manes of their tie.
parted friend. Willi them there was only one vengeance,
the blow of the dagger, and life was an empty mockery at "
the best. Solemn and slow the funeral dirge rose about. the
pile as the white-lobed men, still holding their bloody (lag.
gers, circled about the death-pile. The terrible beat. con- ,
sumed the two forms, and when the solemn march was ended
and the fire had gone out they marched about a little heap _

. of ashes smoking on the floor, all that remained of the half-  ’
breed spy and the first tau who had fallen 01 that terrible j .
band. "

 

 

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find —

you

kill 4

kill
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0! THE TRAIL.

C HA? '1‘ E R v I.
name 'vorcss.

‘ Tm: avengers of Billy Blake and Pedro were in the foot-
hills, eagerly searching for traces of their enemies. Walter"
had little hope that they would succeed, but as they were de-
termined he took the command and the search commenced.
'l‘he half-breed alone of all the scouts sent out struck the true
trail, and we have seen how little he gained. His ashes
mingled with those of the fated “ number twelve " in the
mountain cave. No other trace of their enemies could he
found and the scouts came in, one by one, utterly disheart-
cued.

“ We'll have to give it up, I‘m afeard," said Jack Dean.
“ The skunks have found out that it ar’ too hot for ’em an’
hev dug out."

“'l‘hut is not my opinion,” replied Walter, “but while
there is a well organized company like ours upon their track
you will see nothing of the Dukites. My advice is to return

‘ to the hacienda and keep the scouts at work until they have

a trace.”

“ I don’t know but you ar‘ right, Cap, but I ‘hate orfully
to be beat. I’d give all the dust I’ve got fur a. lick at that
skunk that came to my cuhin.” _

“ You will have 21 chance yet. The Dukites never forgive
nor fnrget, and you will hear from them again before many
(lays. You may he sure of this. Are all the men in ?"

“ That half-breed Jutin ain't here, but I don’t set much
more by him, an' he may never come buck. He’s a cowardly
hound, any way."

“ 'l‘hnt snakes no difference here," rejoined Walter. “ He
is one of us and as such he is worth waiting for. We will
give hint five hours. In the mean time, let the scouts be at
work."

The search was fruitless. Old mountaineers as they were,
not one of the men knew any thing of the existence of the

  

  

 

' 50 THE TWELVE AYENGERE.

cave which held the anite secret. As the five hours drew
nigh to a close the men came in, one by one, until all save
Justin again stood in the silent glade.

“It's no use,” protested Jack Dean. “I did think the

half-breed had got skeered an' pegged out, but now I donlt ’

think it; the cussid Dukites have got their claws on him.”

“ Ha, ha, ha 1” roared a voice under their feet. “ They
follow the Dukites, they dare follow the Elected Avengersl
Ha. ha, ha I"

The camp was in confusion and the stocktnen. starting to
their feet, looked wildly about them in search of the owner
of the mysterious voice. They clambcred up the rocks and
searched in the crevices but nothng rewarded their search.

“Dig for us l” cried the same voice. “ Delve in the bow-
els of the mountains if you would find the haunts of the Red
Dukites. You are drones—you ‘are fools! Where is tho
half-breed, Justin? Where is Billy Blake? Where is Pedro,
the Mexican scout? Let all men who follow us beware 1"

“ Hold me, some chap 1" howled Jack Dean, as he danced
wildly about on the rocks. “I’m so durned mad I know I
shall bust. I feel it in my bones. on, let me once get my
claws on you and won’t I make you sweat blood for this i"

“ Ha, ha, ha; Jack Dean, do you remember the blow I
gave you in your cabin on the night when Billy Blake was
killed? Does your head ache? Is the hand of the Red
anite heavy it"

“ Oh, come and see me l” bowled Dean. “ Come all at once,
the hull durned Caboodle, an’ I’ll make the liveliest times you
eVer heard tell of.”

“We are not fools,” was the reply. “You have enm-
menced the search for the Dukites, and we laugh at you.
When you find us we shall know it. When you can burrow
in the earth like moles and dive into the sea without harm,
then you can cope with the Red Dukites.”

“ l’ll match you yet, you red fiends,” yelled Deanl as the
voices seemed to recede before him. “ Come out and face
as.” ~
Mocking laughter was the only response and the stockmen
again began a frantic search of the rocks in the hope that

some opening might be found. There was one crevice from »

    

. (1...;4 _

  

 

 

 

 

s rim: museum. ' as

which a thin smoke slowly rose, and they searched it without
avail fora large opening. This smoke might arise from a
dozen causes, and yet Walter was in doubt.

“Boot and saddle, boys,” he said, nfter a moment‘s thought.
“ I begin to think that we are no match for theDukites on
their own ground, and this business really puzzles” me. ’l‘ln-y
have got hold of Justin in some way, and I have no, doubt
that he is dead already, for they never spare an enemy cum:
in their hands unless he is worthy to be one of them, when
they place every inducement before him.
yielded to their demands, would at this moment he a. chief
among them, ifnot the chief.” ‘

“Did they want you 1‘" cried Senor Cordoval. “ That is
very strange as they hate you so much. I am really very
much in doubt as to what they mean, by making you sucn a
proposition.”

" Yet the man who proposed it placed before me riches
and power. if I would join them. He proved to me, beyond

a doubt, that these promises could be fulfilled and I have no .

doubt they would have been if I lntd yielded."

“Pshaw l" sneered Oscar. “How you do wish to be re-
garded as a. man of unspeakable virtue, Wallie. Every man
has his price. The choice of riches and honor before you,
you would have chosen as any other man."

“ In other words—"1 began Walter, with a quickening pulse,
his hands convulsiver clinched us he faced his'brother.

“ Silence, Oscar I" cried the father, as the young man was
about to retort. “ If you open your lips I disown and disin
herit you, and you know that what I promise, I fulfil."

Oscar stopped, a flush of furious passion on liisdnt'k face.
He knew his father well and that. if he dared speak he would
be disinlierited from that hour. Ytt furious passion was tug-
ging at his heart, and he was in n mood to commit almost
any act. His eyes, with him the best index of his intense
passion, turned bloodshot. An ensnnguiued mist swam be-
fore them_nnd for a moment he was litterally a madman.

Lumyself, if I had-

'.-'.‘>

“ You Were about to insult your brother, Och," said the 

father, quickly, “and it wns time that I interfered. You
mustjemembur that- I know that Wultcr speaks the 1mm.
,Dil‘l'he not show me the letter he rrtmirell l"

 

  

 

  

I! ’m mnvn amen-ms.

 

“ A letter i” sneered Oscar. “ Let it pass, father; I won‘t
say any thing to bring down the pride of your pet. How
long are we going to stay fooling here it Our astute young
captain does not seem to accomplish much."

“ Hear us, Oscar Delisle i" cried the hollow voice beneath
their feet. “ You have committed three crimes which in
themselves alone deserve death. You have murdered a man
‘who had done you no wrong—like acoward, tiring before the
time."

“ Liar i” shrieked Oscar.

“ You know it is true, you villain. You have robbed an
old man of a treasure which he valued more than life itself,
for it was his all.”

“ Again you lie l” screamed Oscar. " I have not done this
and you only say it because you hate me."

“ It is as true as the records of the anites,” replied the
voice, “ and you deny it becaue you wish to appear well in
the eyes of Senor Cordovai. Fool! Do you think that Zo-
raya will care for you when Walter love her t"

A look of shame mingled with rage appeared upon the
face of Oscar Deiisle. He gasped for breath and his hands
'opened and closed in a convulsive way.

“ It tears your proud heart to have this known, base dog i"
cried the invisible Dukite. “I can see your face full of
deadly pain, and know that you are almost ready to take
your brother's life. Liar, you seek to deny that we would
have loved your brother it he had loved us. It is false; we
would have made him our chief, would have placed him,
with the consent of the greatest among us, even above him
who is now our chief."

A. hiss like that of a serpent came {route the closed lips of
the tortured man, and the Dukites laughed in chorus.

“ You (lemons, you hounds! Oh, to be among you for a
moment, sword in hand.”

“ You are not yet appointed to die, Oscar Delisle. When
the time comes We will give you the rest you seek. Where
is Mary VauVern, the beautiful maid of Tasmania? Who
was her destroyer and sent hot to rest under the salt
sea? _Who but Oscar Delisle, the white curse of the South

M l"

      

  

 

 
 

 

 

A! min-nouns“ stratum. / ‘58

“Great heaven, Oscar i" cried Mr. Dellsle, in a voice of
wonder, “ what do these charges mean ?” V /

“Do you wish to have me swear upon the holy book. that
these charges are false? They are, and my word ought to
be enough. But if you require it I will swear." .

“ I remember Mary Vuuverne, a beautiful girl, and wondered
what had become of her. If you have injured that beautiful
child you shall rue it,“ cried Walter.

“ A moment since when I doubted your boasting words, my
father interfered with threats of disinheritance. Now, when
you ofi‘cr me a deeper insult he is silent."

“ Because I fear that there is cause for the accusation."
groaned the elder Delislc. “ Who was the man you killed,
whom you said was a Dukite? The brother of Mary Van-
verne, the White Maid of Tasmania, as brave a youth as ever
trod the earth. Where was Mary last seen? With yon,
upon the sea shore among the coral reefs. This much I know,
but whether you have wronged her, or whether, as you say,
she was driven to her death by hopeless love, I can not tell.
This much I do know, the girl was pure as an angel of light.”

“ And so she was for all the wrong I did her,” replied Os-
car, hoarsely. “I have offered to swear to it, and I can not
do more than this if you cast me out forever."

“ We must be satisfied with that,” said his father. “ Come.
Walter; if there is no means of making out the mystery 0!
these voices, let us march at once."

“ There is something in this deeper than we can fathom,
at present," replied Walter. “Mount and follow me."

The cavalcade rode down the pass, followed by a burst'o!
taunting laughter, at which the old rocks rung again. The
night was coming on when Walter, who rode in advance, felt
his horse tremble beneath hitn, and then stop suddenly. A
dark form lay extended on the grass beneath the hoofs of his
horse—a form which remained motionless. after the hoots
touched it. Walter called the party to a hall, and leaping
from the saddle bent over the prostrate form.

“ It is a maul" he said. “ and he seems to have lost his
senses. Hi; wake up here, my manl He don‘t seem to have
been drinking, and yet-arouse,_pld maul » What is the inat-
tn with you t"

 

  

54 ' I. ' TEE rm“: amazes.

"the man moved feebly and stretched out his arm in an an»
easy, groping'way, as it he were dazed by a fall.

“I—I don’t know where I am,” he said, feebly.
are you, Dolf? Help me up, for I have had a fall.
mare’s knees all right?"

“Never mind the mare now,” said Walter. “She is all
right, and if you will come with us we will show you where

Ihe is."

“I’ll go,” replied the injured man, rising with the assis-
tance of Walter's strong arm. “I believe she threw me, but
I don’t lay it up against her for she is a good beast. Where
is Dolf? I don’t see him anywhere, and he promised to meet
me here.”

At this moment the beat of hoofs was heard,and a stranger
came up at a gallop, leading a mare by his side.

“ Strangers,” he said, hurriedly, “ have you seen a man—
why Abe, old boy, how are you ? I reckon you have bad a
fall, for I found the mare on a wild gallop over the prairie.
Ar’n’t you ashamed, an old mustanger, to be thrown by any
. piece of horseflesh going l”

“ She stepped in a gopher hole, Dolf," replied the injured
man. “These strangers found me, and now they’ve done so
much maybe they’ll tell us how to get to the hacienda.”

“ Which one '1’” said Walter.

" De Cordoval; we are old mustangers out of a job, and
we reckoned we might have something to do there. We
know horses, gentlemen, and that’s what the senor wants."

" You are in luck, gentlemen,” said Walter. " Here is the
Matter to speak for himself. You had better ride with us to

the hacienda where you will be welcome, and tomorrow you
may be able to do something."

“ If you are the men I t‘nink you are,” said Senor Cordoval,
“ you will be welcome; Iwill give you Work to do, and
enough of it. Ride on, gentlemen."

, An hour‘s ride brought them to the hacienda,and the stock-
‘ men scattered to their several cabins with the exception of
those who had quarters in the hacienda. Jack Dean took
,charge of the strangers, and led them to his cabin, Sandy Mc-
Gregor and himself being all that were left of his party. AI
they entered the cabin the two atockmen looked at their new

“ Where
Are the

  

 
    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 
 

ere
Lhe

   
 
 

y and in his deep-set eyes.

ems-eoon renews BB

companions. The one who had fallen was tall, steeping
lslightly from being much in the saddle, with a pale face
I closely shaven, and a very decided look about his firm month
In short, he was a bold-looking
Mellow, just‘the sort to please the eye ch as bordermen. The
i second was amen of slighter build, with a fair complexion,
, blue eyes and almost girlish expression. The stockmen fell
f. in love with him at once. ,
i “ We are happy-go-lucky fellows, I .tell you,” said the

4 Ilighter of the two. “ Any cards, stranger? I’d like a game
i for love as I ain’t got any money to throw away."

i “ We had a game the other night with a big thief that
gave me a lick in the jaws that made them sing hallclujah
for two days, and they ain’t fairly quit aching yit. I’d like
to git hold of the low cuss i” said Jack.

An almost imperceptible smile crept over the face of the
elder of the two strangers

“ He gave you a good one, eh ?"

“ Good one; th'underi It sent me on my back quicker
than seat! I thought lightning had fetched me, that time
sure i"

“ What sort of a man was he ?”

‘ “Taller than you at" but straighter in the back—a hard
one to tackle. He tore his sleeve on the table there an’
showed a red sarpint on his arm, an’ we went for him but he
tooled us; didn’t he, Sandy ?"

“ Aweel, yes, men; he fooled us sairly.
.eoul 0' me body but I'll mek him sorry."

“ Where was this mark l’" demanded the man called Abe,
stripping his sleeve to the elbow. 3‘ A red snake with his
head up, just below the shoulder here i’”

“ Aye,” said Sandy, laying his finger on the naked arm of
the speaker. “ Yc ha’e a bonny aerni, men, an’ a Hair stung
muscle. Na doot ye c’u’d gi’e a men a dial 0’ a pelt aif ye
Were. sae minded."

“ I’m not a baby," replied Abe, making the muscles rise
and fall in great snaky folds. “Now I’ve seen this chap you

. are speaking of within a week, and I had a little turn up
With him." /

4. “Did you lick him 2”

Gin I meet him

 

  

    

\
m TWELVE amen:

‘ Doll said I did, but I don't know. He gave me some-
thing to remember him by."

“ He was a bonny lad if he was a veellin,” protested"
Sandy. “ I hope to meet him ae day. Weel, weel, it’s a eat:
world we leave in, I gar ye understand." ._

“The cards were brought out and they had a merry time,
the free-hearted stockmen furnishing their adversaries with
money enough for s “ stake." They played until the " was
sma’ hours ” as Sandy said, and drank punch brewed by that
worthy, who, at the last, was heard to sing:

“ We‘re us that too. we‘re no that. (on.
But just a dropplc in our e‘e;
The day may dew, the cock may crew,
But still we‘ no taste the barley bree l“

The newcomers exchanged glances of satisfaction, for lt

had been their plan to make the two stockmen boozy.

Bandy McGregor was not. drunkl

C H A P T E R V I I .
rm: nunnnnn nonuns nnwm.

Tan carousal went on in the cabin and Jack Dean was
the first. to succumb; and at. 18.51, in beginning again, “ Wil-
lie brewed a peek of tnnut," Sandy went under the table and
the two new recruits lonked at each other across the board.

‘ They are tlzerel” said the taller of the , two.

men, that internal Scotchmnn, especially.”

“ We must not do it yet. You see our power, and that,
at any time we can have them in our hands as tamely as
now. No, no; let us be good stockmen for a while, and
earn our daily bread by the sweat of our brow.
our South American experience will stand I: in good stud

But, {
bleared as his eye was, and silly the expression on his (see, 7 V

“ What v
think you of the description of the man whom they tried to g
take 111 this cabin? Shall we do it? They are dangerous '

  

KW

 

 

 

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—’

t .z. ‘-

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Good tutti... [I

 
 

. a

f ’ were soon asleep.
1,‘ McGregor rolled over so that his face was turned toward the
 hunk in which the slighter of the two men was lying. Ho

mm
tan-w

no ms to mum 01

' here, since we have set up for stockmen. Now for a little
i lost.”

The two men lay down in the bunks by the fire-place and
No sooner was this done than Sandy

;,Was already fast asleep, but for half an hour Sandy lay silent
‘i'until the heavy breathing of Abe convinced him that he too

alt-pt, when the Scotchmun began to roll himself along the
 floor to the bunk occupied by the younger man.

His right.
arm covered only by the linen of his shirt, iorhe had thrown
06 his coat, hung over the edge of the bunk. McGregor had

a bowie with a needle-like point. and inserting this in the
’cloth without touching the flesh he made a slit about six in-
ches in length, beginning just below the shoulder. Having
done this he did not move, fearing that what he had done

‘ might disturb the slumbers of the young man. Five minutes

i'» after, satisfied that the boy still slept, he ritised himself cau-
\ tiously and parted the slit he had made in the cloth and

looked. Although he had suspected something of this, yet it

 ‘wns with a feeling of horror that he saw on the bare arm the
 blazing sign of the Dukites. The Scotcltman fell back on

the floor and rolled himself over and over until he reached
the door, when with a sudden bound he flung himself out
into the darkness, running like a hunted stag in the di-
rection of the hacienda. The old Highlander was fleet of
foot and long-winded and the run of a mile was nothing to

 

 

_ him.

1 people, came out nl. once when he ltenrd who wanted him.

In five minutes he was clamoring for admission at the
hacienda gate and when he made himself known he was at
once admitted.

“ Quick wi‘ ye, lads," he cried. as some of the men gath-
el'td about him. “ Rouse up Master Walter and tell him it’s
110 a time to dilly-dolly wi’ the girls. I want him."

" What have you got to say ‘2"

“ Dinna {ssh yersul’, chiol! If anybody info a chance to
lack a drop of siller, it's his houuden duty to mek it. Don't
Waste‘ time ltlddle, hut itn’e him out."

Walter, who was in the parlor with the rest of the young

“ Why, Sandy ; what’s the matter?"

 

    

THE TWELVE AVENGERI.

“I dinnalken," said Sandy, “seein’ ye are hevin’ yer 111-

Varsion wi' the bonny lassies—w’ether (r no yese thank me ,

ower muokle for mekin’ ye gang act, but there’s the deevil to
pay 00p till our hoose.”

“ What’s the matter, I say ?"

“Ye ken 'the twa. chiels we found the night oot on the
plains? I’m a. woe bit afraid they're no so canny us they
lookit til the outside, mon.”

“ Why 1‘”

“ Dinna ye think what I ha'e to tell maun be worth a trifle
o’ siller ?"

“If you have any really good information you shall be,

paid.”

“ What will ye gi'e me gin I deleever intil yer hand twa 0’ ~ ‘

they Daickits.”

“ Give you i
in my hands."

“ Five hoonderd dollars! My certie, mon, but ye’re ower
flush wi’ the siller. Get help then an’ coom'awa’. for the
deil's in it gin they twa dour deils at our house aren’a Duck-
its."

“Collect ten good men as soon as you can while I alarm
my father and the rest. Be quick 1”

The Scotchmzin, sure of the reward, now wasted no time,
and when the gentlemen had reached the gate he was there
with ten of the bravest men in the hacienda.

“ No homes," euid Walter, “and I will kill the man who
fires a shot before I give the word. Lead the way, McGregor,
oudmuke haste.” .

Stilllly struck at once into a long swinging walk, which“
caused some of the shorter legs in the party to stretch them-
selves to the utmost to keep up. At such a pace the distance
between the'lmciendn and the cabin was soon passed over,
and the party were halted within ten feet of the door, while
Bandy stole up to trike an observation.

Five hundred dollars the moment they are

door he saw Jack Dean still lying where he fell, while the
two men they sought lay in the bunks fast asleep.‘ A grin of
triumph passed over the face of Sandy as he thought of the
five hundred he would win, and turning he beckoned the rest
to come on.

Two men were placed at the window with or-

Gazing in at the open .

  

 

, vvat

 

 

"gm-«aroma;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  

5.9"

A DESPERATE s'rttueoms. '

dare to knock any one on the head who attempted to pass out
and the rest rushed in at the open door over the prostrate form

of Jack Dean. At the first sound of a step on the floor the
hunted men were on their feet with a long-bladed knife in
one hand and a pistol in the other. They saw at once that
in some way they had been betrayed, and as the one calling!
himself Dnlr glanced at his sleeve, he knew -how it was the
they had teen discovered.

“ Wait!’ said the taller man, straightening his bent back.
“ It may Save two or three lives if you give me a moment's
time. What do you want with us ‘2"

“We charge you with the murder of the young man known
as Billy Blake,” said Walter, “and with being accessory to
other deaths. I know your face, David Slocum, and you
know that you deserve death."

“ Gently, Walter, gently ! My pistol covers you, and you
know that I never miss. If we give ourselves up, what will
you do with us 1’"

“ We will take you to the hacienda and give you a fair
trial."

“ With yourself and men for judge and jury. That is a
magnificent idea, but it does not suit me. Once for all if you
will/send us to Tampa to be tried we will yield; otherwise

, We will fight it out."

At this moment a stout lnriat settled over the head of the
speaker, and he was drawn with sudden force backward, and
the t‘istol he held exploded without injury. At the same
moment the stoekmen darted upon the two men, and Dolf
was quickly overthrown, but not until he had seVerely wound-
ed one of his assailants. But with David Slocum the strut:-
gle was desperate Although his arms were bound to his
aides by the tale, and he had little use of his hands, he fought
desprrately with his feet and head, stamping like a wild ball
at bay. Half a dozen men were on him at once, but‘shaking

‘ Ilia huge 'form as a water dog does, he shook them off and
i managed to free his arms, but before he could raise them he

fejl umlnr a blow from a heavy pistol in the hand of Sandy
MLGregot'.

“Lie down, ye dour deevil l' roared the Scotchman. " Div
’6 theeuk I'm gun to lose my five hoonderd dollars t”

 

  

    

 
 

' w “I TWELVE AVENGERE.

David Slocum was down, his hands and feet bound, and I
the victors stood flushed and panting on the floor of the cabin.

“Seems to me you make mighty free with my rsnche,”
said Jack Dean, sitting up quickly. “What'n thunder are
you all doin‘ hyar? Any man would think it was your
runche nn’ not mine the way you kick up a shindy hysr.
Hullo, Abe; they’tfe got you in a tight hitch, seems to me!
I guess I won’t ’low any man that has got drunk with me to
he tied in my ranche.” .

“ Hnultl ofl‘ your hand, men," said Sundy McGregor, as
Jack advanced unsteadin to cut the bonds of the prisoner.
“Dinna ye ken that this auld beastie is grey wi’ wisdom?
That dour thief is ae Duckit.”

“ Duckit " was as near the proper term as the burr under
Sandy McGregor’s tongue would allow. Jack Dean stared
in surprise. and was sober in an instant.

“ But, see hyar; l understood that every Dukite had the
mark of the surpint on his arm an’ this big ’un aint.”

“ Strip his right arm to the shoulder," said Walter. “ If
the red serpent is not there David Slocum shall go free, vil-
lain though he is.”

“ You won't find any snrpint on him," Jack Dean declared.
“ I’ve seen his arm.”

“Did he take the trouble to show it to you, Jack 1’"

“ Yes. he did.”

“ Then he has some object in View for which I can not ac-
count. Let me look at his arm.”

The ltrrtwny arm of Slocum was bar-ed, and there was no
mark upon it anywhere. For a moment Walter was puzzled
and a look of hope came into the dark face of the prisoner.

“ Keep your werd now, Wult Delisle. You said you would
set me free if you could not find the mark of the serpent on
my arm!“ he said.

“ And I never broke my Word yet to friend or'foe. If
the mark is not on your arm you shall go free."

“ Here, boys !" said the prisoner, in a cheerful tone; “ your
lender tells you to cast otf these bonds and set me free.”

"‘Not yet, old fellow,” said Wulter, quietly. “There is
something about this that I don‘t understand, but I never al-
loir my thing of this kind to go without studying it s little.

 

 

 

 

 

t t

uuucum “momma 01

’ when we were friends I remember well that you had three

mOles in the shape of a triangle just. above the elbow-joint.
I would like to know where they are gone. Suppose you
take up tlmt other sleeve.” ‘

" What for ‘r” cried the prisoner, furiously. “Came you.
l(:' me alone." L .

“ Up with the sleeve, boys!" said Walter. “I think I see
my \tuy through this thing."

" ln spite of the struggles of the prisoner the other ‘arm
wus tum bare and a shout of laughter burst from the men as
the (WI) were htitl side by side. While both were bruwny
lllllllfi. nnl-ly proportioned in every way, the left arm was tlot-
It'd will: h!an nmles and covered with black hairs. He
gt'nunnl his teeth in fury as the atockmen laughed.

“ Twins, hy thunder l" roared Jack Dean. “ Something
must heV struck into that arm,slranger; ’tain't nigh so pooty
as t’other."

“ Oh—if my hands were free, if only for a moment!"
hisud Slocum.

“ A little turpentine here, Jack," ordered Walter, passing
his linger over the bare right arm. “I want to make a lit-
tle experiment.” ,

Juck brought a small bottle of the required article and
while some of the men held the arms of the desperate man.
the young leader Ppplied a little of the turpentine, and rubbed
it hard. A thin coating of paint dlsappenred from the arm
and the blazing serpent ot the Dukite appeared in bold relic!
upon the white skin.

“ I don‘t think we will let you go, just yet, Dave, my boy,"
said Whlter, quietly. “ Rope him well and away with him
to the lmciendtt—I have no doubt Senor Cordownl will give
him lodgings, as he intended.”

An hour later and the two Dukites, heavily manacletl, were
in the deepest cells which the ancestors of the Cordovals had
made beneath the hacienda. Manncles supplied the place of
the ropes, and a stout iron belt surrounded the body, and to

this was attached an iron chain which in turn was fast to a

ring get into the solid stone. Fate seemed to be against the
Dukilee, yet the sublime tau'th which had upheld them before.
was with them new. ’

 

    

'3! Tan TWELVE “means.
“ Wait and hope, my brother," said David Slocum. “Help
will come to us, even here.”
Dolf said nothing, but there was something in his eyfl
which told that he was losing hope.

CHAPTER VIII.
'rnn nuxrms 1N nouns.

“WE must look out for our recruits for a while,” said
Walter after the prisoners had been placed in the cells. “ I
never dreamed that we could have the luck to nab this man,
101', although I am not certain of it, I believe that he is the
master spirit of the Dukites."

“ You know him, then i’”

“ Know him?
South Seas does not know him? There is no crime of which
he is not capable, and yet I have never been able to trace a
single one to his door. He has the reputation of having been
a pirate, but there is no proof. Robberies without number
have been laid at his door, and yet he always escaped. Mur-
ders have been done and the burden of proof always declared
him innocent. That is easy enough when a dozen men were
always ready to prove an alibfi—men whom we did not then
know to be members of his infamous band.”

“ What was he 3”

“ He has been captain of a Whaler and after that of a fast
schooner, said to be engaged in the sandal-wood trade, but
in reality kidnapping natives to labor on the plantations
about Honolulu. He has lived in Australia, South America
and in China—speaks half a dozen languages fluently and is
a professor of mesmerism.‘ A man of wonderful boldness,
who, if he applied himself to honest pursuits might be any
thing he chose." ~

“ It is hard to see such rare talents prostituted to base pur-
poses," said Senor Cordoval, “ but while he is our enemy it is

    

1%
v;

 

Who of all the men who ever lived in the.

 

 

 

(SOMPLETELY CUMFOOZLED. “ .3 

good to have him in our power. It was very lucky that
Sandy McGregor kept his head clear last night.”

“ I thought so much of what he has done, that I gave him
five hundred dollars for it, and he has earned it well. Jack
Dean says he 'will sell his head for a football for he has been
fooled twice by David Slocum.”

“ Why was it that he wished to be tried at Tampa City ?”

“ Don't you see that? Half a dozen of his friends will
come in and swear that he was with them in a certain place

‘ when these murders were committed.”

“I see how it is. But, how can we, it he brings such
proof, hang him for the crime 1’” '

“ We will search every man who comes as a witness, and
all who have the Dukite mark will be detained.”

“‘Do you think they will come here, then r"

“ They are very bold men, and there are not many things
they will not do, the scoundrels. Let us lay out a plan and
keep to it and we shall come out Conquerors."

The night passed and Oscar rose from a sleepless couch
and went down into the court where he met Jack Dean.

“ Do you know that Sandy McGregor and that brother of
yours did a neat trick last night ?"

“ What trick 1’” said Oscar, carelessly, little dreaming what
the answer would be.

“ I hope to freeze if they didn’t nab the king-pin of the
Dukites, a chap they call David Slocum, and another of the
same stripe, a smooth-faced little cuss With a voice like a
Woman."

“Dave Slocum ?"

“ Bet yer life! Leastways, Walter. seemed to know him
an' that‘s the name he guv him. And, boss, you may kllucl-
me all full of holes ef you want to, for I ain’t wuth slluck
no more. I ain’t a patch on the seat of a pair of pants. Pin
a \mullet-headed galloot with a glass eye, likewise with at

‘ wooden leg. A grasshopper on a raft an’ a lien under a barril.”

“ But it can’t be; the news is too good to be true."

“ And Jack Dean was drunk—drunk—drunk ,- Jack Dean
Was drunk (:2 a b’iled owl, completely cumfoozled, an’ that
lorig-headed Scotchman hauled in the stamps. Yes he did;'
he raked the pile l" ‘

 

 

    

A u _ m mms AVENGEM

“ How was that ?"

“ He played drunk, the uncivilized gnlloot, an’ when they v 'I '

slept the sleep of innersence an’ purity, he crept in an’ opened
the sleeve of the young ’un an’ saw the red sarpint. Then
he crawled out unflgot help while I laid there drunk, nn’ they
nnbhed the gang. What‘s more—Walter guv him five hun-
derd fur the job."

“ Five hundred! I would haVe given a thousand—twe—
thrce—fivo, any amount to see Dave Slocum in the toils.
Why was I not called when the Scotchman came to the haci-
enda? Why am I always passed by when there is work to
be done i”

“ I reckon they didn't need you."

“ I’ll tell you the reason, if you want to know it: Walter
wished to appear as a hero in the eyes of Zoruya, and pur-
posely left me in the background. I’ll get even with my
good brother, some day, if it costs me my life. That he
should triumph—that he should be the one to laugh in the
face of my enemy in bonds— Where are the prisoners ?"

“ I reckon they are down in the cells.” »

“ I must. see them at once. It will be something to spit in
his face as he lies bound, and to laugh at hill), even if I did
not take him. Is he in strong irons, chained down like a
mad dog '1’" ,

“ I-Iu ain’t any ways likely to get away,” was the reply of
the stuckmnl). “ Iron on his hands an' feet an‘ iron ’round
his waist, with a chain in the wall, orter keep him. That's
Walter now, and you kin ask him what you kin do.”

“ Ask him what I can dol Do you mean to insult me Y"

“ Ska’culy ; but he’s capt’in, you know, an' we all obey or-
ders here.”

“ Who made him your captain 1*”

“'We did; hush your clam or he’ll hear.”

“ What do I care for that? I want him to hear me and
understand what I say, too. Walt, I hear that you have taken
Dave Slocum."

“Yot‘ have heard the truth, Oscar. I am happy to say
that we have him bound down in heavy chains in the cells of
the hacienda. That was it good night‘s work, and we but
to thank Sandy lie-Gregor for it all.”

      
  

 

 

r< fiT,(-I .

 

 

  
 

 

 

 

 
 
 

Ff'I'fi r'J- .

‘ speaking to his friend.

  

avnu'r'ro'rnom fl

  

“ You don‘t claim the honor yourself, then i" said Oscar in
s sulky tone. “ I’d be glad to know why I was not called

to share in the enterprise."

“ You were asleep, and I did not wish to disturb you.”

“I was not asleep. Who the devil can sleep when such
accusations are made and believed against him i’ This story
about Mary Vanverne and her brother drove me nearly'mad,
and l was sitting in my room when you left- the hacienda.
But, let that pass and take me down to see the prisoners.” t

“ What do you wish to see them for i" demanded Walter,
in an uneasy tone.

“ Never mind that; I wish to see Slocum and assure my-
self that we really have him safe.”

“ You might take my word for that, I think," said Walter.
“ But, since you insist upon it I will go down with you.”

He entered a low doorway at the south angle of the haci-
enda, and went through a long arched passage, unbolting
several doors as he went. At last he stopped at an iron-
!tudded door before which two stockmen were seated, each
with a rifle laid across his knees. A huge key was in the
lock of the door.

The two men rose and stood at the “ make ready," until

satisfied who the visitors were; then they grounded arms

and saluted.

“ We are going in to see the prisoners," explained Walter.
“Don't let any one else pass unless I give you leave."

He laid both hands on the heavy key, and by the efl'ort of
all his strength turned it in the lock. Then, shooting back
two heavy bolts he applied his shoulder to the door and en-
tered. The two prisoners, who were seated on the benches
which formed their bed, turned to look at the new Couture,
and Slocum uttered a growl like that of a wild beast as he
saw Oscar, who went quickly up to him.

“ At last, Dave Slocum i" he hissed.
Cells of the hacienda de Cordoval i"

“ I might have known that this base wretch would come
here to exalt over us, my brother," said David Slocum, slowly,
“ It is like the black dog to insult
his enemies when it is safe to do to. Oscar Delisle, your broth.
0! is a gentleman. It is through him that we are here, and

“ Well met in 'thc

  
 

  

     
 

    

06 THE TWELVE ,AVENGERB.
yet I can not find it in my heart to hate him as Iihnte you.
Look at his face, Walter Delisle, and tell me if it is not the
face of a villain.”

Oscar made a forward bound and struck the bound man
in the face with his open hand. With a leap like that of an V
imprisoned tiger David Slocum sprung up and struck at him
with his manacled hands, That moment would have been
his last for his skull would have been crushed like an egg-
shell, but, just at the right moment, Walter tripped his broth-
er and he fell, and by the sheer impetus of the blow David
Slocum fell upon his face with a resounding crash. Oscar
pale as death, rolled himself out of reach of the heavy irons,
and stood up with the look of ademon on his face. The
shining barrel of a pistol appeared, but with a loud cry of us«
tonishment and anger, Walter wrenched it from his grasp.

“ What would you doI madman that you are ‘2" ‘

“ Kill him like a. dog, as he is; he richly deserves it."

“Then you must kill me first."

“ Did you not see him try to murder me? He would have
done it, but for you."

“ You struck him in the face—the act of a coward. . I
never thought a‘brother of mine could be guilty of such an
act." I

“ Stand out of my way l"

“I will not.”

“ Give me the pistol."

Instead of doing so, Walter cocked it and held it at his
brother’s breast.

“ Stand back l While I live I will defend my pris-
. oncr.” I

“ You hound! You dare to come between me and the
Him I hate. Then you shall go first.”

He flung himself upon his brother, when Walter dropped
the pistol and caught him by the waist and for a moment the
two struggled desperately—one to pass by to the destruction
of the prisrmers and the other to keep him back. Driven to
madness by opposition, Oscar released one hand and struck
his brother in the face, while David Slocum at the utmost
limit of his chain endeavored to get a blow at either of the

two, but especially at Oscar.

   

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

norm AGAINST BROTHER. 87

" He has done it, my brother," the Dukite cried. “ With-
out our help these two are enemies and what we seek will be
accomplished.”

Up to this time Walter had not put out all his strength,
but with the blow he hurled Oscar to the earth and set his
foot upon him. Then too late he remembered that, after all,
this man was his brother and he would have given any thing

, to recall the act. The two guards who had darted in as
300!) as the confusion began, but not in time to interfere, now
' came up.

“ Give your orders, Cap," said one of them. “We are
witnesses that you Were obliged to throw him.”

“ I have no orders to give, only that on no pretext what'
ever must you admit him to this cell while these prisoners
are here. Get up, Oscar; you have done this by your own

; folly."
Oscar rose slowly and without saying a word shook his fln-
ger in a slow threatening manner in the face of his brother
and went out. i
' “ He's got a bad heart, if he is your brother,” added the
guard. “ Thunder 1 You ought to lick him out of his
boots."

“I am sorry that he drove me to raise my hand against
him,” said the young man, sadly. “David, I will see that
.he does not have another opportunity to insult you as he has
done to-day."

“ But for you, I would have repaid the insult in a way
which would have settled all scores between us," was the re-
ply of the Red Dukite.

Walter Went out and closed the heavy door behind him
As he Went up the stairs he met Mabel who was seeking him
~in haste.

“ What have you done to Oscar 2’" she said. “He has been
with father, raving like a madman, and crying out that you
have insulted hint.”

“ Is he with him now ?”

“No; he has taken his horse and is by this time on his
way to Tampa City."

He explained in as few words as possible the encounter

     
   

  

0 ma 'rwnmnt "means.

with his brother, and then hurried to his father's room, who
listened to him with a sad look in his face. i

“ You have done no more than any man Would have done
under the circumstances, except that you did wrong to set
your foot upon him. He is your brother."

" I did that without thought, to keep him down," protest-

“ Walter. “I was early for it the next moment."

“ With his hot, passionate nature it is impossible to say
what he will do,” continued the father. “ Let it go for the “
present, but you must conciliate him it possible.” i

“ I will apologize as soon as he is cool en Jugh to recieve
the only apology it is in my power to make to any man whom
I have never wronged more than he. What in to be done
with these Dukites Y" '

“ We will consult with Senor Cordovai and his son today, .
and make up our minds as to what is best to he done. You
have seen Mabel l‘”

“ Yes."

“Did she tell you where ehe.was going i”

“ She said something about riding to Tampa City to find
Oscar."

"Do you think it best for her to go it” .

“It might do some good, and for me I shall not interfere. ‘ f
I would go with them but—" . 7 "

' “ You must not go. Let Mabel and this sweet child, Zo-'
ruya, speak to him, and they will win him back.” .

An hour later, Zoraya and Mabel rode out of the hacienda
and took the road to Tampa City with only a Mexican boy
its attendant. The day passed; night was coming on, and "'
Oscar, sullen and moody, rode into the court, alone. ‘

 

C H A P T E R I X .
ma: UNLOCKED-FOR BLOW.

“Tm: sullen boor,” muttered Estevan Cdrdoval; “ he has
come back without the ladies. I crave your pardon, Senor
. V Oscar, but where did you leave your sister and Zoraya P"
. “ I don‘t know any thing about them. What do you
'1 mean l’"
' “ Have you been to Tampa City 1?"
“ Yes—all day.”
“ And have you not seen the girls to-day 2"
“ Certainly not; why do you ask 1‘"
' - “ Because they left here an hour after you did, meaning to
' 3} search for you in Tampa City, and they have not come back.
in I know not what to think, for Zoraya knows the roads well,
,  and Juan was with them.”
f" He shouted to a Mexican vacquero who was near by, and
L 3 lent him with three or four others to scour the prairie in
 search of the girls, with orders to one to ride to Tampa
" and inquire. The news spread like wildfire through the ba-
} cienda that the young ladies were missing, and all was con-
 fusion Mrs Delisle and the mother of Zoraya were wringing
' their hands wildly and crying out to the men to send help to
 their loved ones; while the gentlemen, more composed, but
' not the less troubled at heart, were making preparations to
f ride out in search.
'2‘} "The man I have sent to Tampa will make short work of
'lhe ten miles he has to go," said Estevan. “ Before we al-
low ()ursulves to give way to fear, let us satisfy ourselves that
3 they are not in Tampa City."
.' " They are not there—they are not there," sobbed Mrs.
 Delisle. “ Those dreadful Dukites have taken them.”
J This was the fear which really occupied every heart, but
5 which only the mother had dared to speak aloud. Walter
, 51‘; uttered a low groan and Oscar turned pale.
  " You have boasted of your love, for Zorayal” he cried,
818 8

 

    

    

70 ' was TWELVE AVENGERB.
fiercely facing his brother. “ Why don’t you do something
to save her now Y”

“ I have made no such boast,” said Walter, sadly. “,Al.
that man can do I will do for her sake nnd Mahel's. 0h,
Oscar, lny aside your hate,’ for n. time at least, and join with
me like a man in trying to rescue them if they are indeed
taken."

“ You will not find me slack in doing this," replied Oscar.
“ I hear horses' boots on the prairie."

Every one ran out into the courtyard, just as the vacquero,
who had been sent to Tampa City dashed into the open
space.

“ What news, Gozo ?" cried Etevan.

“ They are not in Tampa and have not been there,” replied
the vncquero. “ But, as I was passing through the gap
where Pedro was killed a. voice called to me and this letter
was thrown at my feet. The man who threw it ordered me'
to take it to the hacienda. if I-valued my life.”

Walter snatched the letter from the hand of the vacqnero,
for he recognized in it the form usually sent by the anites.
Tearing it open hastily, he saw the hloodred serpent and un-.
dernenth these words:

“ To OUR ENEMInsz—The serpent, when it receives a blow,
stings the assailant. 'l‘he Dukites have received such it blow,
and two goodly branches have been lopped nit. Two broth-
ers of the Order are chained down in the dungeons of the hu-
cienda and they have sent a. prayer to us for help. We give
it promptly. ’l‘wn birds have flown from their nest and
alighth among us. We make these fair Innidens’nnswer for
the lives of the two men you have taken by numbers. Re-
turn them to us, or a wail shall come into all your hearts
when we send you the dead forms of the two who have writ-
ten their nnmes upon this page.

“ We give you the oath of the Dukitcs, on this sacred sym
bol, that if these men come back to us before the sun rises,
unwatchcd by you, before the sun sets you shall receive in re-
turn, safe and well, those whom you mourn.

“ THE RED DUKITES,”

Below was written these words in the handwriting of
Mabel: '

 

“ We are prisoners andin dreadful peril. Save us if‘yon . f ~

can, for if we do not have help we have not long to live.
“ MABEL and Zomn."

    

    
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

   
 
 

 

 

 imprudent in future.

To an on ‘NOT TO Ba. 71‘
“‘Ten thousand demons l” screamed Oscar. “ Why did
you let the girls go when you knew that these villains were
threatening us, night and day? Of all the fool’s Work of
which I ever heard, of all the stupid actions—"

“ Oscar l” cried Mrs Delisle.

" Yes, Oscar and Oscar again 1 It don’t: make it nny the
less one of the most stupid blunders of which I ever heard
in my life. It is simply--”

“ Oscar,” said Mr. Delisle, “ you must bear in mind that
this is not a time for vaporing words. We have to make up
for the ‘ blunder,‘ as you name it, by setting the girls at lib-
erty. To do this, we must give up our prisoners:“

“ Never! Do you think that I would allow David Slocum ‘
to go free after all that has been done ‘2”

“ We shall take counsel together in u. manly and womanly
way. As you have made yourself spokesman in this matter
I0 far, permit me to ask why you would not give up the pris-
oners in exchange for Mabel and Zorayn ?"

“ I will tell yon," answered Oscar. in a pompous manner.
“You will all agree that it is important to keep these pris-
oners ‘9"

“ Certainly.”

’ “‘ And that they will give us a. great deal of trouble if they
are set free it”

“ Of course."

“Then listen to me. They have taken the girls and in-
tend to frighten us into giving up our prisoners by threaten-
ing to send us the ‘dead forms’ of the.girls if we do not
give up our prey. This is mere stage effect and we know
that these men, bud as they are, would not take the lives of
innocent girls." ‘

“Did you ever know the Dukites to full to keep a promise
if it Was in their power to keep it it"

“ Nonsense; we won’t give UP the prisoners, and as hr
the young ladies in will be a useful lesson to them not to be
When the fellows see that they can
not 'ft‘ightcn us they will send Mabel and Zornya back.”

-“ Senor Oscar," said Estevan Cordoval, “ it may suit you to

 speak in mm Gold—Ulnudcd way, of leavng mur sisters in the
,2 hands of these men, tut as for the I Would sooner go myself,

    

  

73 rim TWELVE Avnxcnns.
a willing victim, and suffer them to cut me piecemeal, than
permit those sweet girls to remain for a moment longer than
necessary in the hands of men who stand ready to murder
them. Let me remind you that a moment since, and many
times since you have been with us, you hinted at love for my
sister. hi this your love which would consign her to death
to satisfy a private vengeance of your own ?”

“ Buh l" retorted Oscar. “I see that you are all against
me and will do as you like. But, of one thing you may be
sure—David Slocum shall never go back to the mountains
alive."

Ills horse wns still standing in the courtyard, ready saddled.
He leaped into the saddle and rode out of the courtyard at a
furious pace before any one could interfere to stop him.

“ I am afraid that he will give us trouhle yet," said Estevan.
“By my faith, Walter, it seems strange to me that two broth-
ers should be so utterly unlike in churnctur. Vthl say you,
gentlemen; shall we go down and visit the prisoners ?"

Walter and his father, with Senor Cordovnl, followed the
young man into the prison where the guards sat below the
door.

“ Your work is ended for the present, boys," snid Walter.
“ You can go.”

The two guards, nothing loth, shouldered their pieces and
went out; Walter swung open the massive door and entered
the cell. Dnvid Slocum looked up with a smile as they entered.

“Give me the letter,” he Sztlll. .

thlll‘l‘ stnrted and looked at him fixedly.

“ You heard me, Walter Delisle. I want the letter which
the anites sent you when they had turned the tables on you.”

“Do you know in what way they have done this?"

“ If it had been my work to do I should have taken the
tw,o girls and held them as hostages. The Dukites generally
do the right thing at the right time, and hence I, conclude
that the ludics are in their hands."

Wnlter placed the letter in his hands and he read it atten-
tively. I ,

“ Well ?" he said, interrogativcly as he returned the letter,

“ We agree to the terms, but wlmt surety htth we that tho.
promise shall be kept with relation to the lmliu."

   

 

 

Pp

l9,

 

 

 

A star mom AMBUSH. 7!

“ My word I" replied David, drawing up his tail form. “ I
uevor failed to keep it yet, unle~s for such weighty reasons
as these on my hands and feet. Where is Oscar? I suppose
it'otiends him to the soul to think that we have escaped his
Vengeance."

“I warn you that he has left the hacienda, threatening
your life. If any thing should happen to you after we in
you go it is not by our wish or Sanction.”

He unlocked the fetter-s, and led the way into the open all"
The two prisoners drew in long breaths of the pure air the)
had lost for some hours.

" Prisons do not agree with me,” said Slocum. “ I would
not spend another day in one for the worthless life you seek
to take. Gentlemen, I agree to a truce of three days, during
which time on my word not one of my men will lift a hand
against you if you keep the peace."

“ Is Oscar included 1‘"

“ if he keeps the truce. If not, let him look to himself."

“ We can not control him, nor are we in any way respon-
sible for his actions."

“ So be it, then," said Slocum. “ Befng mid-day to-mor-

' row the young ladies shall ride into the hacienda, safe and

sound. Be upon the azotea at nine o’clock, and you will see
them coming.”

’i‘heir homes and arms were returned to them, and the two
men rode away quietly, as coolly as if on their return from a
friendly visit. The moon was up and shining brightly, and
the people of the hacienda watched them for quite a distance

' as they rode away. Suddenly the silence was disturbed by

the crack of a rifle, and they saw the companion of David
Slocum fall forward and clutch at his horse's mane to keep
himself in the saddle. while, with a hoarse, unnatural cry of
rage, Slocum set in his spurs and rode nft'zt' a. man who was"
Iapitlly disappearing in the darkness. But the horse which
Slocum rode had received a slight sprain, and the man who

' had fired the shot disappeared in the gloom. Walter Delisle

ran out alone and assisted the wounded man from the saddle
lust as Slocum came back.

“ The assassin; the cowardly hound, to shoot down men
who Were protected by a solemn promise l”

 

 

. 74 run 'rwmvr. AVENGERS.

“ I warned you to be careful, Slocum,” said Walter, “ but
from this hour he is no brother of mine—if it were indeed
Oscar." _

“ It was ,thnt villain nnd c0ward, for I saw him plainly.
ile fired at me and missed me. How is it with you, my
brnl lmr l”

“ Hil ~itzu‘d,” replied the wounded man. “It. is not. the
:lt'lil. of any one, snve that dog, 30 do not visit it upon the
dirk."

"er01; here, David Slocum,” said Walter. “I am as sorry
for this as any man can be, and if you will let me take this
man to the hacienda and cure him, he shall go back to you
sale as soon as be can walk, provided he will not take advant-
nge of his position in the hacienda to work against us.”

“ He is yours,” said David Slocum, who had been examin-
ing the wound as well as he could in the moonlight:
will take a week to cure this, and it would be death for him
to ride for us he is now. The girls shall come back, in spite
of this."

lie leaped into the saddle so lately vacated by the wounded
man ttnd was off like an arrow from a bow. At the com-
nmnd of \anlcl‘. three or four men lifted the wounded mnn,
cnrrird him into the lmciendu and laid him on a bed, and
Walter. who had dabbled in surgery somewhat, washed and
\il'CSN‘li the wound, which WHS in the right side. Having

u 

dune this he plucetl n gunrd before the door of the room and ‘

went down below. Shortly utter, Oscnr rode into the court
when: he was met by Senor Cill'dtlvltln

" Your cmnptmy would Imve been welcome here if you had
brthOtl in another manner, sir, ” he s-tid. “ As it. is, you may
remain here over night, but in the morning I must ask you
to find other: quarter's,"

“ Why; iK'HiUSC I shot that infernal Dukite ?"

"You shut u mun who \vzrs under the safeguard of my
hour-r and that of my son, your brother and your father.
When you did that you disgraced me. My respect for your
father and his family is great but I will not suffer this."

“ Senor Col‘dovnl," mid Oscar, in a very quiet tone, for

him, “ if you had been bounded and persecuted for two years, 3

u I have been, you would notwonder that my passion gets

a

 

 

 

3.9-3: saw--

a

5Q

er.
Ml“

for

~ the best of me sometimes when I meet these men.

» . doval.

 

m. .1
gen

 

A smamno msnrmox. 75

I mien-
ded that bullet for Slocum, but hit the young man instead "

“ If you apologize—"

“ I do, most sincerely, and I will try to be guided by you
in the future, as to my course. I covet your good opinion
of all men on earth.”

“I withdraw what I said a moment since," said St‘nol‘ Col
” You will of course do [no the honor to remain here
as long as it may suit your pleasure or conveniencu. An
apology for a wrong is the only atonement a gentleman can
make, but he should always be ready to proffer that."

“ I would be pleased to apologize to the man I have
wounded.”

_“ He is in your brother's care."

“ Every thing and everybody seems to be in the care of
my worthy brother 1" muttered Oscar, in a low tone. “ Walt,
you heard what I said; I want to apologize to the man I
wounded."

Walter led the way, without a word, and they entered the
room where the prisoner lay. Oscar approached the bed
upon which, white as the pillow on which his head rested—

' for he had bled freely—lay the victim of his hasty action.

He bent to look closer when he starled back with a look of
horror, doubt and fear combined, as if he had seen the face
of one lately risen from the dead. The wounded in in, imit-

‘l‘ising from his pillow, turned his ghastly face upon the man

who had wounded him with a lurid smile of hate, a smile
which had deadly threatening in it.

“ Stanley Vanverne i" cried Oscar.
out of their graves, then ?"

“ Yes, they do rise, Oscar Delislc. The man you shot in
he back at 'l‘asman’s Point, like a cowardly dog, as you are,
now lies here, again shot down by your felon hand."

“Stanley Vanverne!" said Walter. “Can it be possible
“lat you yet live 1‘"

“It is not only possible but a fact that he failed to take
my life, although he tried hard to do so.“

“ Then. since you are not dead, and the crime of your mur- ‘

“Can the dead Come

' d‘er is not upon his soul, why do you yet pursue him 3" asked

Walter.

 

v 76 ran TWELVE AVENGERB.

“Ask him! Look at his eyes half starting from his head,
his pule face, his quivering nerves! He knows, none so well
as he, that. while I live, there is no peace for him. Oh, that
I were not lying here, chained to my bed like a wounded
hound I Take him away or the very sight of him will kill
me.”

The guilty man, for he was guilty if we muyjudge by his
face, unable to bear the reproachful eyes of the young mam,
left the room, reeling like a drunken man. Welter looked
after him with sad eyes for he could not forget that this was
his brother, the one with whom he had played in his inno-
cent childhood. Vunverne noticed the look and a better ex-
pression came into his face.

“ By the sacred sign of the Order, Walter, I wish we could
be friends. You have a noble heart in your bosom, a heart
which might do great things for the Brotherhood if you were
one of us. And it" you knew David Slocum as he really is,
you could not help admiring him."

“I new-r could join an order which given countenance to
murder,” replied Walter, quietly. “ Say no more, Stanley, but
try to get well."

The night pnsscd and the sunlight crept slowly down the
slopes of the Sierras. As the top of the nearest peak was
bathed in golden glory they saw, filing out of a pass, miles
away, It. line of moving spots. Walter leveled a glass at
them—for the entire party were on the uzotea—und made
out thnt they were mounted, but whether men or women he
could not determine. Mrs Delislc and the Donn. looked at
the young man wildly us he still kept his eyes upon the mov-
ing figures.

“ l c.m't tell yet," he said, slowly, with his eyes glued to
the tube. “ In a moment more—I think I can catch the flut-
ter of n woman’s riding-dress, but it might be a. hlunket—no
-—ye.<! hip, hip, hurrnh ! It. is they 1"

A (1“1ljt'llltlti t-ry went up from the azotea and they saw
four persons separate from their escort and ride toward
the ' hacienda. ’l‘he gentlemen run down, mounted their
horses and rode away to meet them, ttnd “3 they come near.
to their surprise, beside Zornyu. and Mubel there was a. third
lady whom they had never seen before. L

 

 

I’OWIRFUL WWEBI.

CHAPTER X.

VANVERNE’s WIFE.

Tm; greetings were soon over nnd without waiting; for
much cxplannlion the party rode back. As they went Walter
looked closely at the person who was with them—2. lh'nullflll
child, seemingly not more than seventeen yenrs of ttuc With
the olive complexion common to the inhabitants of the South
Seas. Her hair was of that shining lustrous black t-‘o seldom
seen in that color of hair, and rolled in rich masses almost to
her saddle. Her form was light and full of willowy grace.

“You ask with your eyes why I am here, Walter Delisle 2’"
the said at length—“ although you do not speak in words. I
am the wife of the man who was wounded and tuken to the
hacienda."

“ Do women know the secrets of the Red Dukites l’" cried
“’alter in surprise.

“ You share the usual idea. of men that they alone can keep
secrets, because all ordem which admit women sooner or later
cease to he secret in their work unless they change it your by
year. But, you must not judge us by orders wimse suns mid
pnsswords are flung about the streets by boys nnd girls of tin
years of nge. VVotnen can keep secrets—some of them nt
least."

“ Be it so; why are you here

“I have mine to see my huslmnd."

“I have the word of David Slocum that nothing shall be
done. ngamst us for three days."

" His word film“ he kept good, sir. Whnt can a weak wo-
man do to harm you ?"

“ \Venk woman l’ Umph. Ihnve seen it great deal of
woman's Weakness in my time, nnd hum fut nd it more
powutfnl than the strength of men. You most expect that
We will watch you while you remain under our roof.”

“ Certainly; I run not in the least averse to that course, i!
I can he with my husband,“

I!!!

 

 
 

 

” . ’I'HIS TWELVE AVENGEBB.

The mothers of the rescued girls could hardly wait for
their coming, and they had hardly alighted in the courtyard
when they were clasped in those fond arms. Oscnr,who had
not gone out to meet them, greeted Mabel in a sulky fashion
and held the hand of Zoroer inn burning clasp. As he
looked up he saw the eyes of the wife of Vanverne fixed upon
him with ‘a strange expression. It was with dimculty that
be suppressed an oath, for he knew that this woman was
keen and cool, and no doubt possessed of his Secrets. ‘

“ You are not glnd to see me, Oscar,” she said quietly. “ If
it u't-re poor Mary Vanverne now——-”

" Keep silent, you tiger-mu !" hissed Oscar.

“ Or you may forget your man/toad nnd strike me,“ She re.
plied bitterly, her face wrenthed into a. snecring smile. “ Does
it. not surprise you, Mr. Delisle, that your son should meet so
many old friends of whom you knew nothing i"

“ Oscar has chosen his own friends." was the reply, “ and
if they have not always been of the best, he has no one to
blame except himself.”

“ Which reflects someth upon us,” said Mrs Vnnvcrne,
laughing. “ If Oscar has feasted his eyes upon my face suf-
ficiently I would like to go to my husband."

“Do you know what I will do with you if you betray me i"
whispered Oscar Delisle, in her car as she passed.

“ i can hardly guess; won't you tell tne ?"

“I will twist that pretty neck behind you i"

“Thanks—how good you are to warn me; very kind in
you, Oscar. My good friend, you ltnve greater cause to fear
me than I have to fear you. Ruin lmngs over your head,
and it will full when the finger of fate is lifted.”

S re paSsed on with the same smile on her face and follow-
ed Wulter, who led the way to the room in which Vnnverne
lny. \anter pushed open the door and passed in. while the
lady paused upon the threshold. It almost seemed to Walter
thnt he could hear the benting of her heart.

“ I have brought a. visitor, Stanley,” he said, gayly. “ Be
careful now; remember that you are not. strong.”

There came the rustle of a woman’s robe. a low tremulous
cry. and a pair of rich ripe lips were glued to those of the in-
Valid. Walter quietly left the room, unwilling to be 8 WW

 

  

 

 

oscAn runxous. 79

uses of the interview. He spoke to the guard at the door.
and told him to watch the visitor, and then went down into
the lower part of the buildiuu. Oscar was the first person
who met him.

“ How long is that fiend in the shape of a woman going
to stay here i’”

“ That will depend entirely upon the time it takes for her

ushend to recover from his wound,“ replied Wulter,

“ I warn you that it: her, you have the most. cunning devil
Austrhlia ever produced, and I wnnl you to be careful. She
will trick you, if such a thing is possible."

“I think We ought to he a match in cunning for one wu-
mnn,” said Walter, as he passed on. “ You have some
reason for hating Vauveruc and his wife which you do not
Cure to reveal.”

“ You lic l" shrielted Oscar furiously. “ Who told yon—“

He stopped in confusion, seeing that he had committed
himself, and in n rage caught his long: hair between his hands
and gave it a furious tug. Walter passed on with a. laugh.
leaving his brother stamping furiously in the hall. Zoraya,
who had not yet had time to exchange greetinus with Walter,
met him in the hall, and the little hnnd see-11nd to limit into
his as he clasped it. Oscnr glaring down upon them from the
Itaircase above noted with fury the looks they exclmngL/d.

“ I am mad enough to join the Dultitt-s," muttered the mud-
mnn. “I will do it, if they will take me and forgive what I
have done against them in times past. Then, my good trotti-
er, beware of me.”

Three days passed, and during this time they saw hut li tie
0f the Dukite and his beautiful wife. 'l‘heir meals were sent
up to their rooms, and once or twice she consented to come
into the parlors, where she vied v‘ith Zomer in old songs of the
almost forgotten days. On the fourth night the convalescent
Cdme down himself, walking fuelnly, and lay upon n Couch,
While the women gl‘OUpL’Ll in picturesth attitudes and chatted .
gayly. His wife sat by him, holding his hand and yielding
gracefully when asked to sing. OsCur, hovering in the bick-
ground, looked at the puir with the eyes of a demon, for he
lei: that the returning force of Stanley Vanverne was a threat

whim.

 

    

so THE TWELVE AVENGERI.

“ I believe the three days of truce which David granted
are up, Captain Delisle,” said Vanverne.

“Yes; and I am ready to take the field as Soon as, he.
Inaction tires me and I wish to settle our quarrel as soon as
possible and have done with it.”

" Slocum will not keep you long in suspense,” said Vnn-

Verne, laughing. “ It is comical, after all, to see us sitting
here so coolly and talking of this event when we are enemies.
You must send me out of this as soon as possible.”

“ Not until you are stronger," suid Walter. “If we all
suffer through you I will keep my word to your friend.”

“ I would give my life for you, Walter Delisle," cried Van-
verne, suddenly. “Do you hear me? I would give my life,
and the time may come when—my dear, let us go. And to-

morrow I leave this roof which has so kindly sheltered me, '

and with my will the Dukite vengeance shull not reach it.”

Kate Vnnverne, with tears in her dark eyes, gave an arm
to her husband and the two left the room. The night pnijEii
and at early morning when they went up torelievc the guard,
at the door of the prisoner, they found him lying in a deadly
stupor while an empty tlnsk lny at his side.

“ Dmgged i” said Walter. “ The work of the anites,
who have been here while we slept. Thanks to our pre-
cautions they dare not do any evil before Vnnverne nnd his
wife Were gone."

“ I believe that you connived at this escape,” cried 050:“:
fiercely. “You knew that Stanley Vunverne nnd his wife
hated me above all things earthly and would do nny thing to
kill me.” »

“ You know why they hate you, Oscar,” said his brother,
coolly ; “ will you explain it to us so that we can under-
stand as Well as yourself?"

“Don't say too much, my good brother," muttered Oscar-—
the words Coming through his clenched teeth with a strange,
hissing sound. “ From the cradle in which they locked you

until this hour you have been a stumbling-block in my p;ttli,.

and on end must come soon. I have had enough of ' this,
and if you will not lead the stockmen against the Dukites, 1
will do it myself.” .

 

“ You will, oh Y I wonder if they would follow you! '7

  

 

  

WELL MET. 81 '

 

 

try

 

 

"our 7».

 

But, in order to satisfy you I will say that as we are upon

the subject I will lead my Own men and that soon. And I
hope, when we return, to be able to say that we have wiped
out the name of Dukite from the face of our chosen land.
. Trust me, Oscar; there is no man alive who would be better
pleased to know that this has been done than myself."
“ Why don’t you let Mabel lead ‘1'” said Oscar. “Since a
woman must lead them, she is as good as any.“ —
Walter received the sarcasm with a quiet smile, and turned
‘ away. An hour later he was engaged in a close consultalinn
With Jack Dean and Sandy McGregor, who, for the last twc
days had been upon a scout, and would report to no one save
the “captain,” as they persisted in calling Walter. While
' this was going on, Oscar got out his horse and rode away to-
'thrd Tampa. City, against the advice of his father and Senor
COI'dOVtI-l.
‘ “ I am old enough to take care of myself.I hope,” he said.
“But you must remember that you have. enemies, and that
every step you take is in the midst of danger. Mabel and

' ' rayn—"

“I am not a woman if my brother is,” he replied, as he
‘ leaped into the saddle. “I shall return in the course of a
Week and by that time perhaps he will be ready to march.

' Heavy bodies move slowly, you know.”

“ I would be thankful it‘ you were animated by the saute
, sDlrit as Walter," was Iii; father‘s reply as the young man
rode away. He only replied by a laugh and they saw him
1mm the prairie and disappear in the pass ht-twecn tlte foot-
’hilla lle rode on carelessly, Whistling a love ditty, when,
in the narrow pass, lte met a woman whose face was eon.
Qealed hy a thick musk. He could make out that her fum
.7 Was graceful and that the eyes" which gleamed upon him
utrough the visor were bright and full of liquid light. Al-
‘Vuys ready for an adventure of this kind be halted, and, as
"19 lady approached, saluted her with an easy grace which
he could assume when he chose.

 " “ Wen met, sir !" she said, in a slightly tremulous voice.

a If V am not mistaken, your name is 03(2111‘ Delisle ?"
“I am glad that you know me so well, fair lady."
“ How do you knew that I am lair ?“

   

  

89 THE TW‘ELVE AVENGERS.

" Such eyes as you have, a sweet voice, a beautiful form-
must be accompanied by a. beautiful face,” he replied, gal
luntly. _

“ You are not changed," she said, in a and tone, “ and I
had hoped that in times like these, when your life is in dun-

ger at any moment, you would assume another tone. Mun,
wicked as you are, is there nothing in your heart of hearts
which speaks of one. you have wronged, and to whom you
hava not. made atonement? Have you nothing to regret 2‘”

u N0."

“ Let me recall a name to you—that of Mary Vunvernc l"

“ Mary Vunverue l"

“ No, not thut name, but Mary Delisle, your wife in the
sight of man us well as of heaven, whom you wedded hy
stealth when you found that your flatteries could not hreuk
down her purity. Neither force nor fraud uvuiled and you
made her your wife.”

“ Fulse, I tell you; fulse l”

“You want proof, then. You think you were wedded
without witnesses, but I tell you no. Here is the marriage
cet‘tit-icnte, with the names of three men who, unseeuby you,
witnessed the murringe."

“ The sly jade fooled me, then ‘P”

“ She only protected herself from wrong. And when you
found her in your way—when she itnportuued you to save
her from shume by acknowledging her as your wife, What.
did you do? You plunged her into the sea, down among
the coral-reefs and left her there to die.”

“ It seems us if my shame were to be trumpeted through
the world, no matter where I fly. GiVe me tlmt paper, Wt»
mun."

“ Wait; do you want another witness to the umrringe ?"

I“ Whom can you bring, unless the sen should give up its
dent] ?”

“ Behold 1"

She tore the musk from her face and with a wild cry he

-reeled buck and covered his face. for she looked at him with
the eyes of her he whelmed among the coral-reefs of thc
South Sea, his’wrougetl wife—Mary Vunvernel

  

  

 

I

 

 

 

 

  

WORKING OUT HIS DESTINY.

CHAPTER XI.
THE END APPROACHES.

Tm; man’s heart. was not of steel and it bent before this
blow, the most unexpected that could have fallen upon his
guilty head. He could not believe that she stood here in the
flesh, beautiful as an angel. looking at him in a wild. ques-
tioning way to see what. efl'ect the revelation had upon him.

« Mary 1” he whispered. “ Speak to me—tell me that it is
indeed the woman I once loved and in the end so hated." '

“You see that I am here," she said. “Oh, Oscar, you
were saved fr0m a shameful crime by an accident, for when
you had hurled me into the sea and fled, you forgot that I
had almost lived upon the sea. and when I went down in
the deep water at the base of the coral-reef it was only to
me in a place of safety under a shelving rock. I am here to
ask you to do me justice, and if you will it is in my poWet‘
to save you from the anites."

" What do you ask of me 9"

“ Tell all the world that. I am your wife; take away the
shame which hangs upon my memory like a pull. I know ‘*
that a new passion has taken the ploce of the one which first
induced you to turn against me, but that passion is hopeless.
Walter will marry Zoraya if he escapes the Dokite steel."

u; would sooner (lie any death than see him triumph l"
V’ns the fierce reply.

“ You know not what you any, Oscar. Hopeless as your
love is white I live it is worse than foolish to peril your life‘
in this world and your soul in thewnrld to come, by refuging
to listen to me. Great as my wrongs hath: been I am ready
to forgive all and save you if you wil acknowledge me be.
fore the world."

“ You ask too much, Mary.” if: said, with ll. sneer. “ Go
> your ways and leave me to work out my drstiny as I may,"
'l Your destiny is it ro’ttgltt already," cried a stern voted

   

  

    

  

 

84 ' nu: mus Avmmsns.

“Seize him, my brothers, and bear him away. Fate has
given him into our hands.”

Men seemed to rise from the rocks about him on every
side, and before he could turnto fly, strongr hands seizod and
dragged him from the saddle. Closely pinioned, he stood in
a circle of masked men, who glared at him with eyes in

I which there was no pity. He knew the men who surrounded
'him as the Red Dukites and felt that all hope was gone.

“ Since I must yield to the inevitable and have matrimony
forced upon me in spite of myself. it is best to yield grace-
fully. I acknowledge this woman as my wedded wife and
am willing to take her by the hand as such.”

His wife started impulsively forward, but was sternly re-
pulsed by one of the masked men.

“ No, no, Mary ; you have heard this dog say that he does
this upon compulsion and ought to know that he will repu-
diate the act as soon as he is free. We gave him a chance
of life if he would do you justice, and he refused. That
chance is gone forever, and it only remains for the Dukites
it) do justice." ~

“ David, as you hope for mercy, show mercy to others,”
moaned the unhappy woman, as she still tried to pass
him.

“ Such is woman’s nature, yielding to every wind that
blovvs,” replied the Dukite. “ Number three, take charge of
this girl and hour her away. We were mad to allow her to
come here, at all."

The musk designated as number three took Mary by the
hand nnd led her away, leaving“ Oscar Delisle in the circle of
his enemies. IIc frlt his danger, yet. in this moment bore
himself like a man for he had gond blood in his veins, bad

'nnd cruel as his heart was. It is n mistake to suppose that.
cruel men are always cowards for it is not always true.

“ I mo in your hands to do with as you will, gentlemen,”
he said, in a strangely quiet tone. “I am deeply grieved that.
it is out of my power to repay, in Some manner, the solicituda
you hive shown for my safety, but it is not. to be. As for
you. Duvid Slocum, I had thought you brave enough to givc
a man a chance for his life."

‘5 What do you demand ?”

 

SEI.l-‘!!:HNESS. - 85

“ The chance to tight single-handed, with any weapons you
may name against any two of your internal band."

“ The anites will think of it. Bear hitn away to the
council-hull, and we will there decide his fate.”

With a. strong hand grasping either wrist. and a pitilesa
avenger marching behind With a cocked pistol in his hand,
they marched him away by dnrk and devious pnths until they
reached the verge of the Demon Bowl. Oscar felt a shudder
pass through his frame as he looked down into that dark pit,-
for he realized that a terrible fate awaited him there. There
was no mercy for him at the hands of the tnen he had so hit-
terly wronged in past days. Strange as it mny scent this

1 man was more deeply moved by the fact. that, his enemies

 

having destroyed him, would give up their designs ngninst
Walter and the rest, than by his own peril.

“ I’d like to ask you a question, Slocum," he said as they
prepared to descend into the “ Bowl.”

“ Ask," was the lnief response.

“ Having finished me, is it your intention to follow up the
rest of my family, my dearly loved brother among the rest 1’”

“ Why do you ask ?"

“ Because, after ull,he has wronged you more thnn I have.
You accused me of the murder of Stnnley Vanverne and he is
alive; you said that I had wronged Mary, and I have snid
that she is my wife before you all. My brother certainly
killed one of your number at the hacienda, and the rest exulted
in the work.”

“In other words you would not grieve deeply If you knew
that the Dukites had more work to do before their vengeance
l8 sated ?"

“ Why should he live on, happy and beloved, while I am
murdered for a crime long since atoncd for? Why should
be live to wed Zomya, while I um laid in a bloody grave hy
avengers' limits? 1 tell you that I could come out of my
gl‘nve to haunt them if this is to he."

“I knew thnt your heart was had, villain,” muttered the
Dllkllr, “ but. this hnst—ness is worst of all. life will speak of

r this in conned; go on.”

They descended the rugged slope. and wound their Wily

Alien; the low pines at the bottom of the h’owl, and “they

 

   
 

 
 

d8 ' m TWELVE avnnonns.

passed a little excavation the prisoner saw particles of gold
Ihining amid the dirt. ‘

“You are walking over a gold mine,” said David Slocum.
" In this valley is wealth enough to buy a kingdom, and when
we have justified you and all pursuit is over, we will Come
out of this valley armed with the lever of Archimedes, the
power which moves the world. I will build up an order so
grand that all the earth shall come and how at my feet as at
a shrine."

“Ten thousand curses! If I could see you dead at my
feet I would breathe out my life, gladly, die any death."

The Dukite laughed as they moved on silently, and entered

the dark passage which led to their secret cave. Here the
prisoner was strongly bound to a huge stalngmite which rose

from the'floor,and fora moment utter silence prevailed in the V

cavern. ._
“ Be robed, sons of the Serpent i” said the chief.

From various nooks and crannies the men drew out the _

white robes which they wore in council, and appeared before
the prisoner, each with the long dagger in his belt.

“Senselese mummery is wasted upon me, tools that you are i” ‘

cried Oscar.
once.
groan or cry from me it will be because I lose my senses.
Red spawn of the serpent, cowards and fools, I defy you to
do your worst 1” ,,

“ He talks loud enough," remarked the chief. “ Wait; the
council is not. yet ended, but you shall hear our deliberations.
Come about me, sons of the Dukite, and hear my words ”

They gathered around him "in a circle, and waited for him

,, to speak.

“ This man is tried and condemned alrmdy, and we need
only speak of the manner of his death.
in the body, but I know that he would die with sot teeth,
for he has a certain brutal courage which would sustain him
in an hour like this. You have seen how he hates his broth-
er and that he would die more easily if he knew that we in-
tended to pursue him. By our laws we have the right to
pardon an enemy by whom one of us is slain in self-defense

 we use that right and let Walter Deliele go free i"

“Whatever you mean to do with me. do it at

I have made up my mind to (lie, and if you wring a " ‘

I would torture him -

  

 

FUQQD

www—

“kn ~‘

' man's death.

'him his will.
then of the Dukites is more than his equal, but he shall die

 

a customer: accnrmn. , 87

“Yes, yes l" cried the Dukites. “The brood of the ear.
pent knows when to spare. Let Walter Delisle go free and
unharmed.”

Oscar writhed in his bonds and uttered a wild cry of rage,
for the thought that Walter would be safe—Walter, whom
he now hated—while he was doomed to die, drove him nearly
mad.

“You see, my brothers," continued the chief, “ the dog
Would be happy in the death of his brother, our enemy—but
a brave man. It is decided then; Walter Delisle lives.”

“ We agree."

“ Accepted—and recorded. Now as to the manner of this
He has asked as a mercy that he shall die fight-
ing, and has called me coward because I do not grant it. I
am not willing to accord him any thing, but sooner than he
should die making reflections upon the great order, I will give
But, he shall not fight two at once. Any

by my hands.”

“ No, no 1” cried the man known as number eight. “ You

. must not peril your life in such a cause."

“It is my will,” was the reply.

Every man was silent, for who among them dare dispute
the great head?

“ The council is ended.
die by my hand.”

“Not yet; I am in a trap, and I will not die easily. What
are the weapons ?"

“ These," replied the Dukite, raising in each hand the long
Dukite dagger. “ Number five and six, take your stations at
the entrance to the cave, and if he attempts to fly shoot him

Oscar Delisle you are about to

"down like a dog.”

“ I shall not attempt to fly,” said Oscar, grimly. “ I tight,
not for life but for vengeance."

The Dukite threw oii‘ his robe and mask and showed the
prisoner that he wore no defensive armor beneath his coat.

Then, by a single stroke of his dagger, he severed the

bonds which tied Oscar to the limestone column, throw one

01 the daggers at his feet and retreated. Oscar picked up

" tho knife and thetwe began to cirele about each other, wait-

 

'03 “mm rm“: amounts

' lng for a chance to strike a blow. The Dukite was by far
the heavier man of the two, but he lacked the activity of his V
younger antagonist. Twice Oscar ran in, but the blade of
blue steel was ever ready and he bounded back out. of dis-

' \ance just in time to-escapo the point when the long arm of
\he Dukite was extended. 1

“ You must look out, my son,” adjured the chief, taunting-
ly, “ or you may be hurt. Why don’t you come on ‘r"

“I am in no hurry,” replied Oscar. “ Ha; take that 1”

He darted in suddenly and lunged straight at the heart of
the Dukite. But, the thin blue blade seemed to wrap itself
about his own, and he could not disengage it. Before he could

' retreat the blade of the Dukite passed through his shoulder.

“ One l" said Slocum, as his antagonist bounded bank.

Was the Duklte playing with him? There was a smile
upon his hard face and he stood like a rock instead of fol-
lowing up the advantage which he had gained in the first
close encounter. Oscar showing his. teeth with a tigerish
gleam, the blood from his wounded shoulder staining his
white shirt, stood for a moment inactive; then realizing the
fact that he was fast losing strength, he again closet] with an
angry snarl and inflicted a wound in the wrist of his enemy
so deep that he could no longer use the knife. Leaping back
without turning on his heel he changed the knife into his
left hand and met Oscar as he again rushed on, eager to end
the fray. The knives ot‘ the Dukitcs flew out like bee-stings,
but Slocum waved thctn back. '

“ Let no man dare to interfere between us I” he cried. “ I
must do this work alone, and if I fall I charge you only to
attack him singly.”

Again they closed, and to the surprise of Oscar he found
that the loss of his right hand was no disadvantage to tho
Dukite. On the contrary, he seemed to fight with greater
skill, and a left-handed thrust is hard to parry. Oscar was.
wounded in three places in this encounter and beyond the
first wound, David Slocum was hardly touched. At this mo.
tneut they heard the sound of distant shouts and knew that
their enemies had in some way found unt- their haunt and
were upon them. . ,

"-Lwny with you, brothers l" cried the Dukitc. “ We

 

2mm. 89 3

 have beenbetrnyed and you must save yourselves. Take that x
5 for vengeance.”
He thrust full at the breast of Oscar, who, instead of try-
ing to parry, lunged in return; but at that moment, Mary
‘ Venverne, rushing in from some other part of the che, threw
' herself between the combatants, and to the horror of all, th
~ bhnle of Oscar Deiisle found a sheath in her bosom, and sht
' fell pros'trute at his feet. The cry which burst from the lips
-, of David Slocum was scarcely human, as, drawing back his
lntnd, he buried his steel in the bosom of his enemy and left
. it there, the diamond in the hilt gleaming as he fell. The
sound of strps came closer, and every Dukite except one,
planting his (tagger in the bretmt of the fallen mun, bounded
4 over the prostrate form and followed their leader into the
. darker Names of the cave. So quickly was this done that
“S no one perceived that Stanley Vanverne had caught up his
’ dying sister and rested her beautiful head upon his knees.
 He did not look up as the stockmen, headed by Jack Dean,
 Wulter and Estevan poured into the cave. They stopped
, ' short as they saw the dead form of Oscar, and the pale face
'5 which rested on the knee of Vanverne. '
7 “There he lies 1" said Stanley, in a fixed, stony way.
" “Only my dagger is not there and it ought to be, for he has
murdered this dear girl, his wife.”
“Stop not here I” cried Waller, pointing into the cave.
“ Torches, torches, and follow the Dukites to the death.”
They had Come well provided and in a moment more forty
; men, each with n torch in his hand, was following the trail
' of me DukilcS. Walter led the way, for all thought of en.
1 mity with his brother was gone at the sight of his bloody
form. They could hear the footsteps of the flying Dukites
as they dashed m, through the great cave, but the enemy
V had the best knowledge of the ground over which they passed
'nud they gained but little. Still they held on, four of the
bravest, ‘Vultcr, Estevan, Dean and McGreg'or, far in nanncn.
They cttme at last to a narrow passage through which only
one man could pass, and here the Dokites lntd posted three
of their number, Willing victims to save the_ rest.
“ You follow desperate men." said one of these. “I warn
on, if yet: would save bloodshed, to let us 50 in pence and

 

   
 

90 run 'rwnmns svnnonns.
from this hour you will never hear from us or feel our
p0wer.” .

“ Down with them 1” cried Walter. By this time the rest
of the party were up to them and in a body they dashed upon
the devoted trio. The fight was ghastly in its character,
but could only end in one way. Inch by inch these desper-
ate men disputed the narrow passage, giving ground only
when forced to do so by the repeated rushes of the stock-
men.

One by one they fell until only one mm and that one des-
perately wounded stood in the narrow way, His blude seemed
charmed and made a bloody road before him as he stepped
slowly back. A shot from the rear bvonght this brave fellow
to the earth, the blood bubbling from a death wound.

“ Saul 0’ William Wallace i" cried Sandy McGregor, “ but
the daft callant died grim l”

" Tell the chief how I died ard my name will go upon the
record which can never die I" he gasped, as his breath left
his body, and over his ghastly form the stockmen, now wild
with battle-fire, dashed. on to vengeance. Their work was
not yet done.

C H A P T E R X I I .
FAREWELL 'ro THE nuxrrns.

THE immoltxtion of the three hruve men had not been
enough, for again the stockmen began to close in upon the
trail. It was hard, for they caught the glimmer of light just
ahead, and knew that if they reached that light they would
be safe, for the stockmen could here be held at bay for a year
if need be. But, it was not to be; all these men could not
nscape and some must die for the rest.

Who should it be? The chief looked over his shoulder at
the coming stockmeu, and saw that it must soon come to a
hand-to-hand struggle. The blood dripping from his Wound-
ed wrist had satfit‘e‘d his powers, and he was in no c’dn'difidfl

   

     

  

A

 

~

  
  
    
 
 

 

     

  

 
  
 

   

 

_ t

t. 7?“) fight, so that out of the “ elected tWelve," only six re.
" mained lit for duty since Stanley Vanverne had been left
behind.

“ Some must die, great chief," said number two, who stand

 

WILLING worms. 01

 

“ You are not fit to tight, and I offer my-
Who will stand with me and keep this

next to the chief.
'Ielf for one.

" pass ?"

“ I i” cried the man known as numbcr ten, as be cast away
V his mask and drew a long, thin-bladed sword which hung at

his thigh.
.. W by have you thrown away your musk, number ten ‘i”

‘  demanded the chief.

"I shull need it no more, my chief," was the reply. “ When
we two turn back now, we turn back to die. ’I‘uke mt- by the

, 1 hand, and let thy honored blood drip upon it and Ishall fight
» more bravely.”

They clasped hands with the chief, received his benedic-
tiou us a father's blessing and bade the rest good-by. Then
they turned back to the narrowest part of the passage, drew
their blades, and calmly waited. The stockmen, rushing on
ittcnutiously, came suddenly upon the steel points, and a bat-

vtle royal began under the glittering dome. Those who had
fallen so far were more neophytes, but these two were chiefs
of the order, men selected for their skill and valor, and who
counted life lightly if by laying it down they could aid the
order. .

Packed in the narrow space the attacking party could use
their “ms to little advantage, and before the first of these
bran men went down he had sent five men before him to the
spirit land, There only remained thnt gigantic man who had
(met away his musk. Under the lightof the torches his hrgt',
ttmjestic fthc shone like one’naspiretl, and the SCOtt‘illtltttl, who
had drawn his old Claymore and rushed to the front, dropped
his point for u moment before making the-attack.

“ Shtnd hock, luddies l" he cried. “ He's a bonnie lad. an‘

V one fit to time by the hood of an auld Heelan'mon. Shall
we hn'e a tilt thegither, laddie ‘3" _

“ I’m a Scot, thysel',” replied the giant, “ of the tribe Mc-
Callmn."

“ McGregorl

Death to the McCallnm l”

   

  

 
  

'3 THE TWELVE AVENGERS.

    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
    
       

The swords clashed together, and the stockmen, holding
their torches, looked on while the {my lasted. The canny
Scot fought like a man who had learned his lessons in many
a. border foray, threatening now with the point and then with
the edge as he forced his enemy back. He had a toeman
worthy of his steel, and for five minutes the struggle was
doubtful, when Sandy, making it cut at the face of his adver-
sary, dropped his point. and drove it through the heart of the
giant, who (trapped at his feet with a gasp. But the check
llud been enough, and the four remainder of the Dukites
reached the opening which led into the mountain pass, near
the place where the mysterious voices had startled the aveng-
ers, and especially roused the ire of Oscar Delisle.

At the opening—which was so narrow that only one man
could pass through, crawling on his stomach—David Slocum
paused and shouted to Walter Delisle:

“ Do not. dare to follow further, for we can kill you, man
by mun as you come through the opening. We come to slay
Oscar Delisle, and our work is done. Astor the Dukitcs
they will live. and in the time to eome you shull hear from
them again. But we hold no enmity against you or yours
from th's hour."

He passed through the opening and was gone. From that
thour they never saw his face, but the order of the Dukites
yet lives, growing in power through all the East. Walter
knew that it would be dettth to follow them through that
narrow pass, and went his way through the long passages,
taking up the dead as they went. They found Stanley Vau-
verne yet kneeling over the dead form of his sister.

“ Walter," he said, rising, “ till we have done has been for
her and that grand old man, her fniher and mine, who was
as much murdered by the hard of Oscar Delisle as if he had
buried lns knife in his breast. I never struck him, yet it has
been through me that he died If you think me worthy of
death I ofi'l-r you my brenst. Kill me if you will.”

“ And kill me with him," said Kate Vauverne, as she tool:
her stand by the side of her husbqu “If he must. die I

t have no desire to live." .
“ Men,” said Walter, “ I will vouch for it that this young
man has not the hloud of one of our friends upon his halide.

 

 

 

 

 

   

ling.

In,
my
1' th
8 n
'as
:r-

  

 

‘-'/19-u A:

 

 

 

 

A SECRET [on A LIFE. 98

Even if he had this is his sister who lies dead— murdered I
fear by my brother.”

“ Let him go free i" cried the bordermen.

“He (llfl not intend the blow for her,” said Vunvernc.
“ “I! llnd 0110591] to fight with the Chief, and she ran hetwemi
them lu‘fnl't: he conhl stay his liziutl. Enough blood has been
slit-d, "Ltl l eive you the oath of the Dukite that you nutl
)“ttll‘s shall be safe from this hour.”

“ Ydt we llnve hillvd your brothers ?“

“ ln stzlf-tlcft‘nstt; it is wanton slaughter we hate and pttn-
lSlI. 1 give you a secret since you give me my life. In this
valley is u. gold-mine which will multe you all rich if you (th
keep the secret for tWo weeks. I only wait to see my sister
laid beneath the sod; then we will go."

The last Sltll rites have been pttid to the dead; the anite
has muttered his last fut‘eWeIl over his slnin brothers, "lltl is
gone HS he came. Alltl Walter Defisle, as he turned buck to-
anl the hacienda, felt that a great weight had been lifted
from his breast. They kept the secret of the valley well. and
when at last u. wandering “ prospector” found them at work
they had lifted the “ cream ” of the surface digging. But it
rich lend had been struck in draining, and a busy-quartz mill
now runs above the dark valley which was at once the Dukite
refuge and their grave. ‘

Walter Delisle became one of the richest men in a country
of riches, and two years after these events he led to the :xlllll‘
Zornya de Cordovnl. And he was not uhme, for svnrceiy
had the words which made them man and wife beeni-pulm-,
when Mabel and Estevan took their places. An hour lilll r
they were steaming down the Yulm on their WNy to Sun
FrancisCO—the Isthmus and the East. And there no hmg‘ .-
hangs over their hearts the sign of the serpent—the dreadful
Iymhul of the Red Dukite.

J :(:k Dean is still overseer for St-nm‘ Cm‘dOan.

Study McGregor has 21. rzmche of his own, not far from
the Yuba, and has taken :1 wife as thrifty as himself.

In the E‘t‘it the nrler still lives—in thg Well “is growing.
But men whisper that, under the hand of Stanley Vanverno,

 

  

 

9-1 mm "mm; AVENGERE.

it has changed its character, and that blood does not flow for
trivial wrong. A gray-haired, stately man in Melbourne yet
directs in secret the workings of the order, and that man is
David Slocum. Will the great time for which he hopes ever
come to him? We will wait and see.

 

 

Lu.” mad-wet]

 

 

lo:
‘0!

ll
31‘

 

 

 

 

 

 

.STAN

9D‘IM‘E "DIALOGUE

For School Exhibitions and Home Entertainments.

, Ron. 1 tofl lulu-in. 15 to ‘25 Popular Dialognu and Durant in ouch book. Inch volume 100

DARD\

S

limo pug-u, up; pout-pond, on roulyl 9! price, tun canto.

Beadle 62 Adams. Publishers, 98 William St., N. Y.

loin min tad to school! on

f wit, potion, humor and uniimuut.

Thou volumes ha" boondpn-pured with onpaclnl roi‘oronco to their ornilnbilltv for Exhiblilmw,

vu‘i‘iurt with or without the furniture of A llilfleflilltl Iliiieil in SCI: '
Ill AN YOUNG I’EOP la of ovary rgo.bo|h male and fainnlo. It is fair to nnnmno til...
I “gr books in tho mlrkot, nt uny vrice, contain Io may uui'ui and noilnbio diuioguu nuddrm

 

 
   

h

DIME DIALOGUES, N0. 1. -

Allin‘ 0 Lin Englishman. For tv-rou bnyl.
';m’. Conuntion.
i whim: .
S'hu Rohennzll. Fur Iix bnvg.
\Vilicli will you Cllouwl FM twnhoyo.
The Quun ni' May. FM two litLio 1min.
Tho Ten-Party. For (our indium.
Tiirn Seen" in Wodrieli Lifn. lllnlo and fomolu.
Mrflfinlflleo’ Cnnieuion. For mnlu nnd fomnlu.
In. Minion oftho 51mm. Fm young 1mm i

For mold and ionulu.

roofin‘ o! the Motel. For nine young: lmilol.
For two lndiu.

Hobnobbing. For five 5 culvert.

Tho Secrot 0f Sucoeol. ‘nr thrpo openlren.

Youn America. 'l'liren malo- nnd tu‘u Imnnloo.

Josep inc‘l Destiny. Four loin-nu, onulimlu. .

The Folly o! the lluol. For three main nip-aims.

Dngumtllm. For tiimo lull. lponkerl.

'l'hoivnnrnn: (‘onlnundenL Fm'tuo bnyl.

1‘lIo out Tum: Mm. Fortwn mnlnl.

Tho Your‘l Rue ioning. H female: anti 1 maln.

Tho Village with One Gondoumn. For olxht fo-
mnin IN on. main.

‘ DIME DIALOGUEB NO. 2.

Th. mum nleborty. 9 males and ‘l (omit.
Ciudonlin or Th. Littlo Glnu Slipper.
Doio Goo null Saying Boll. Suronichnrnchn.
Tho Mon Rule. Two mule! mid two I'omnlu.
1%er oftho l-‘Iiry Quinn. Sevoni lama]
Tnknu in and Dana For. For twn chonr'tur
'Iiu Country Aunt'o Vim to the City. For uv-

orol ohnrgctorl.

on Roman. For two main.

Tryin tho Chm-curl. For three main.
Tin u py Fomily. For uvorni ‘lnlui‘ll.’
Tiu knEIbow. hr uvoul Giilrncton.

   

'I'hojhy Queen. For no ontlro Ichool.

Dun Ronni: Convention. For ton fem—loo.
.Knuing Bad Company. A Yum. Form-amnion.
Tannin: Undo! Dinielltiol. 2 motion, 1 loin-la.
Natinul Ropmonutivu. A Burlnqna. 4 union.
mph“ tho D For numoroun mulcl.

 

DIME nmoouzs, lite. 3.

How to fit. ‘ Po nl-r' Storing. 'i'wo Ill...
The Now uni tlm id. For two mnlu. '
A Sonntion at Lust. For two molu.

’l‘ho Omani-om. For two union.

The Tum Men of Scion". For {our will...
Tlu Old Lndy’n Will. For four nmiel.

Tho Littlo Phil In lion. For two liiilo girll.
Hnw to Find on 1 air. For {in union.

The Vimm. For nix young indict.

A Conuuhlul Eclnzue.

The Public "Milli . Firomln rind onolonnlo.
Tho Englilh Trnvo or. For two lulu. -

Cook. For two males. ,
For two mule-i and two hmnloo. \

Tho Two mnnl. For two mnlel.

'l'llo Elmo. Socnnduono. Furtwo main. .

Showing tho White Youth". 4 main, l formula.

Tho Baltic Call. A Rociultivo. For on minim,

Tho Gout
MMtorpi

 

 

 

DIME DIALOGUES N0. 4.

flu but King. For tort or mnro per-om.
Seirtlu in Life. ’i'hroo umlul nnrl twn' i'mnnloo.
Faith, u to and Charity. Fur thruu little girll.
Dull All Joan. For two males nmi onofcnmie.
Tho . my. A Floral Fonc'l. For Iix liltio girll.
'i'ln Encirvntod Princolo. 9 mnlufiorernl {om-le-
'wnnr to \Vimm Honor iI Duo. '1 main, 1 t'evnni»

The Stu b‘etown Voluntur. 9 main, 1 i’onulo.
A Scene from “ i‘mll Pry.” For {our mules.

i‘i.i Chorrnl. For lhru male: Ind on» loumlo—
liar, Cluck null Broom. For tlm-a liltlw gil'lL
Tim lll 'llt “'uy. A Colloquy. For two Loy].
\l'lmt no Imi‘lflt’f Snyl. For two nmlu.

The (‘rlmu oi“ Dru“. A Colloquy. For twohnyg,
Tho Ruwsnl of Benevolent. For [our min:

 

'Qontln Client. Foruvemi mnlrt.ono fomnlu
analogy. A Diocuuion. For twenty main.

DIME DIALO

_t Thm Goo-loo. For Iclmol or nrlnr.
.uxtimont. A " m Poroum' " a. to.
Juliind the Curtain. For union Ind felnnln.
Tho Eta Pi Soclo'y. I-‘ivo boy: and s tonclior.
Ixnmimtlo-I Day. Fuuovornl fomnlo mull.
'l'ndinfi in "Tr-rt" Fnruvaroi mnleo.
ThoSc oni Boys Tribunal. For ton buyo.
A Tenn-o. Sunni moist and fomnlol.
Bow Nona Got In Amwor. For two (amnion.

Tho Letter. Fur two union.

GUES, no. 5. ;
Putting on Alru. A colloquy. For two union.
Tho Strnight Mark. For uvoml lmyl.

Two him of Lilo. A Coiloquy. Fur ton girls.
Extrlct from Marina Fnliaro.

Mir-t -Mmuy. An Acting Chumio.

The S 2 Virtual. For nix runny indies.

Tho {rhino-n at Homo. or two main.
Fuhioulhlw annl'romI-nh. For ti-ren girl-.

A Bovy a! PI (Inc). For night urlou little girl-

DIME DIALOGUEB, N0. 6.

Tho Way Tiny Keytn Scent. Mule ond fem-lo...
'l'iu Pan and" Difleuitioo. For flu moles.
William Toll. For n wholo ulmol.

Wm’l Bl: hmnln And tun moi-I.
41?". not Gold {but Gluten. Milo And found“.

Tho 'l'wn Counselor-o. Far ilrrro mnln.

Tho Vntuloo of Fall} For a number off-male;

Aunt Bouy’o Ben 1. Four {cumin-ml twnmnh 1..
Tho leal Suit. bar twn {om-in Ind on onlo-

lonto Clout. FA a numhor albo'

 

I ow. For girl-mules.
Wal- i‘ar “Mk-.39 ml an knoll.

. II.
fihrintmu him. Tw eyr:v.l_llt‘tlo girls.
The Tim. mm I--.' " a».

 

Dime School Series-Dialogues.

 

 

 

DIME DIALOGUES No. 7.

'11» two boners. For fourteen feumlel.

The onrth-ohlld la fairy-lend. For girla.
Twenty yen" heme. Two romaine, one male.
The way to Windlmm. For two malee.
Won: m. A poetic ramp at worxle. Two boyl.
The ’Olngiee. A bolloquy. For two main.
H-nv tn get rid of“ hore. For several huye.
Boarding-Ir:th ’l'wnmalx-e and two fenmlel.
Plan for the pledge. For two male].

The ille nl' drum-drinking. For threw bovs.
'l‘rn-a ill’lll'). A collnquy. For two femulul.
The two lecture". ll‘ar numeroua mules.

Two View: ufllt'e. Colloqny. For two female-
The rlglm of Inn-lo. For two lemaiee.

A hopeleu now. A quor in vene. ’l‘wogirle.
The would-be echuul-unc or. For two

Cumo to life we won. For three maln-

Eight u'cluck. For two little girle.

True dignity. A collu ny. F.»r two boye.
Grief two expensive. ‘ur two Inning.

llmnlut nnd the ghast. For we pursnnl.

Little rcrl riding lumd. For two lunmlul.

New application ohm old rule. Buys and girll.
Colored cumulus. A colloquy. For Me null.

DIME DIALOGUES Ho. 8.

I The {niry ‘chool. For a number ni‘uirie.
Tue mmllinz nrliwr. ’l‘hrue girls nml two boyl.
Tll.: lune hull enthusi lIi. For thrun lmye.
The girl oi the eriud. For three girl-r.
The fowl rebellion. ’l'wu mnlx-e and «ma female.
Slaw but sure. Severnl rrmlee and lwu females.
Cnudlu’l valociped-v. Due umie and one lcnmle.
The figures. For m-vernl Iumll chil‘lru-n.
The trial of Peter Slop". For auvea boyl.

  
  

Gc plln..mnph. lllnlel and fcmnlel.
Tim Iw‘lety for i: Mural IIu >ruvemenl. ll‘ur Klrll.
A Imhluumn in (lili‘lllle. l‘IIh-u 'rln, nix huye.
Great expectation». For twu twin.

l‘lnying school. Five female. and {our mnlu.
Clulhrl fur the heathen. Una male, on. townie.
A lmrd use. For thrr-u ha I.

Giro-u. For ten l'emelee and one male.

 

 

DIME DIALOG‘D‘ZS No. 9.

Advertl-lng fur hel . For a nmnher of l‘wnnles.

America to Enxlnu , greeting. Fur two boys.
he old nml the new. Four female: one mule.

Choice ul'troden. For twelve little boys.

The lap-dug. For two femnlel.

The victim. For (our female! and one male.

The duulilt. For two bnye.

Thu true hllolnphy. For females end males.

A goal e nation. For two females.

The lmv or humnn kindnue. For two feudal.
Spuilell children. For a mixed lehuol.
Brutun and Cnniul.

Curiulnnua and Aufirllul.

The new ncholnr. For n number of girl!-
The lull-made man. For three malel.
The May fillien (No. 2.) For A school.
Mre. anh mnl’e economy. I buy: and 3
Should women be given the ballot! F

rh-
or

DIME DIALOGUES No. 10.

Mrs. Mark Twain's ahoe. One mnle. one female.
The olnl ling. School feulvnl. For three hoye.
The court of fully. For mnn glrle.

Grant liven. For le bnye am llxltll'll.

Bcnmlnl FM numerous mnlel and frmnlel.
The light of low. For two have.

The fluwur rhilrlrun. For twelve glrll.

The llazll uncle. For three boya.

A discussion. For two buye.

The rahearenl. For I "had. ’

The true we . For three boyl and one [If].

A prnctlcnl lfe lee-on. For three glril.

The Innan and the noldler: For two bnyl.
1116-1876. School feetiul. For two girls.
Lord Dnmlrenry‘e Vlait. 9 melee had 9 femlel.
Witchee in the cream. For 3 girll end i! boys.
Frenchman. Chanda. Numerous cheruldn.

DIME DIALOGUES No. 11.

#pnnmnru are very deceitful. For nix how.
no conundr'ml fmn ly. Fur mule and team a.
Curing ll. uy. Tum “mire and four funmlu.
luck mui t'w beau-talk. For five ehnrnctrn.
The win ' to II" it .nul not to dn it. Stem-lien.
lluw m wc-rlne ullh)'.ult‘. Mule and lemale.
Thu only true li . l-ur twu girle.
Chwic Cnllollulul. For two bnye.

l. Gum-Vim WM and Cristian).

ll. lawurlauu and quax-at. ,

   

 

Funhinnnhln dluipntinn. For two liltle (Ml. ‘
A Icl’mul ulmrnrle. For two boy- nmi two [lrlL
Jenn lngelow'e “ Soup of Seven." Seven

A duhnte. For four boye. '

Knurng Dick'l lennn. For three boys.

School chnrmle, with tnhlenu.

A very questinnahle nary. For two boye.

A Iell. For thr‘e melee.

The ronl gentleman. For two boye.

DIME DIALOGUES N0. 12.

'Vnnln-e nu-xrnnca. Foranvoral clmthure.
anlur: wanted. For level-n1 clmrautera.
When I mu your . For two girls.

The "Hull. precioue erltege. For two hoyl.
Thu rinnhle cure. Wu melon and four Icmnlel.
The fluwer-Knriion fnirlua. Fol five little girls.
Jnmlnm’e nnvel. Three train and two fomalee.
Beware oltha widows For three girls,

 

A fmnily not to pattern after. Ten chemten.
How to Hm'l-llgfl. An noting chm-ado.

The vncntion ernpnde. Fuur boyl and teacher.
That naught boy. Three fenmlel uni I male.
Mud-cup. Ayn noting chnmde.

All is not cold lhnt glitterl. Acting proverb.
Sic tramlt glurie muadl. Mting chnrade.

DIME DIALOGUES N0. 13.

Two o'clock in the monk: . For three milieu.
An Indignetinn meeting. in» several femnlu.
Before end behind the Icenel. Several nimrnct'l.
The noble“ ho . A number ofboye and teacher.

as Been]. ire-e piece. For girle and bnyu.
Not no bad II it “one. For eeverel character-1. an-tnlk.
a enrbdone reornLA I'M two melee and female.
en. torpedo: ’ “" ' A..

l

Worth. not wealth. For (our boy- end em
No Illcll word no lnll. For eevexai mules
The sleeping: hunnty. For a Achno'.
A n innocent lntrlgne. Two melon and a female.
Old Nnbly, the fortune-teller. For threeglrle.
I For urerel little be".
flit-ther inland. For neural little lirle.

. x...

 

  

  

Fer we on“ all (M.

 

 

  

L.

 

 

‘un. Jon-n Jonu. Thm put: null two ladies.
. Tit- born guulul.

ted
 91-33? 7

Blue School norm-mucking. ‘

 

DIME DIALOGUES No. 14.

For [our “arm.
10 than one linunur. For fuur gonu nndluly.
in on ultrth ll us! For thruu girls.
Tin flth not to in N. plupnr. l‘ur two boys.
Woman nxtnri will out lt‘urn Knln’ when).
Benedict uml hztchslor. For twu burl
Thu cunt m n then. lior tlvu per-or
'I‘lu lurprlla pnrly. l-nrnlx l". In g .
A punt-Al demunntrutmu. Par thwu boys.

DIME DIALO

Tlu fnlrlu' ucnpmlo. Numernun rhnruclern.
A t’n parpluitlu. For nix gentlenml.

A ml. curi- Fnr two lndiul and one “um.
'11:- d tnnrn in In nub. A number ol’boyt.
.Gont ulnun or mnukny. For two boyl.

Tln littla phlluwyhur. For two little glrh.
Amt Poliy’n lwan. For four lndtu.

A wind—ll“. Actlux Chlfldi.
Wlll it pnyl For two boys.

DIME DIALO

Polly Ann. For {our lulla- nml on: neutiomnn.
Z'ln muting of the wind: l-orn nclluol.
Th tltlny did. 1'0 x lmlnu.
Th- 6; who wlnl. For All untitlemunn
Good h ' day. A colloquy. l-nr thrcuglrla.

it For thru huyn.
Ivontlyutlngcommlttu. Fur ninn lndlu.
A wruur ' in ruguu. Forfuur boyl.

   

For: number.

  

 

  

Rcflnelnzut. Actin CWO. Sum] thnnctlll
Counciuncu. tin Mb tor. For lad and gent.
How to nntlt nothornlu py. h r two imp.
A cum iunivc arguinont. {or turn: girll.

A wolnun’t blindnnu. For three ulriu.

ltuur'a worn (Ten-puma) h-r L-ur xcntl.
Tim tutnl nmtn'nu For two )oung mutt-I.

E; vu nlul now. For an. unt nnnl on. lud)’.
Retribution. Fur A mun r u! boy].

G‘U'ES No. 15.

Thu llt‘ll' uHmv. For nnmoronl nulu.

Don‘t believa what you hr". 1‘»! time lmllt‘l-
Alum. rulo. For thrulndiu.

'l'he ulllel’l rnlolve. Extract. For twa nlniel.
'l‘ustlnx her trluuill. For uvorul nllnruttern.
The lurclxnnr‘n t uublcl. For two ‘Idltil-

‘l in: cut without An owner. Stun-l ch-lrncm
Natural ulution. For tho. [null-mun.

GUES No. 16.

Th. imp: of tin trunk room. For in girl].
'l'hu bunntqu. A Colloquy. For two little “ilk
Kitty‘n funnrnL For uvornl llttl. Kirk.
HIntllluelll. Chnrndo. For Mural chllrltlll'l.
Tuning her uholnr . For nutturuun nuhoinrn.
’l‘he wurld in whnt In mltn ll. Two glrll.
The old uni the mm. For [an null My.

 

DIME DIALOGUES No. 17.

LITTLE FOLKS, IPHKL‘HMI AND DIALOGl'llu

70 Iohnppy you must be good. For two httia
9:]: And on: hay.
lune-«tent glory. For I buy of Myl.
The Little pnnumnker. For two little girl!-
Vlltnt .‘m Irimdn. For two little glrlx. .
Inrthn ‘anuington tn pnrty. For two littl-
irlu in old-tlm: cnntutnn.

nvil than In In it. For two young born
“In and foolish Ilttio l For two xir
A child's lnqnlriu. l-‘orltnnlichiid nnd leltllll’.
Thu cooking club. For two glrln and othcrn.
How tn du It. For two
A lint-tlm! yearn tu coma. bay and girl.
Don’t truut Inca; For n lIllumllll bu”.

tlm ultiel. l‘ur two nun g r I.

Am” Fur thru “I‘Llu hoyl. r I

n: lilllv b0 n tltnucat " a Ilory 0 tie
61;“:th pudding; l'll M It In“: A Ill-lit mri'a
right. upench; .lnhuny’l opinion 0! grand—
motlun; 'l‘he boa-ting hen; Ha lumwn drr
rest; A nnntil boy’n viuw ol coma; Bobby’-

     

 

 

   

 

h!
3'
r:
5
Z.
3

 

nermun; Nobod 'I child;Nuttingnt grundpo
Grny'n; Little 0) ’l how Columbus
dllcnvttrml America. lrl’n view; le
tit hm ’I I watch on tlm A ittlu hoy'l

nt; The In dnl ht murdo
end nernwn; nw th- in y ulna;
oburrntiom; Thu nu! Ill“; A nlothur’l
love; Tho crouwnin' glory; Baby Lulu; Jock
liillinxl on tln bum ln-m, wron,nliluntor;
Diml yeltordny; Tho rhlehn'l Inittnlw; Th.
heir npynnnt; Doiivcr us from nil: Don’t
wunt to in good; Onl n drunken lullow;
Tho twn llttlu robinI; h nlnw ta not-damn;
A mmth tnlr thtl buy'ndoelunntmn; A
child'ntluln; do". ; 1h. gublin m Rub—
n-duh; Cnlnmny ; thtln chuhrbox; \\ lur.
us they; A boy's vluv; TL-n t‘VOnty [rust
Going to Ichool' A morning bath: Thu if
01 Dundu; A l‘uucy; In t o nunlilht; glt.
new laid egg; 'l‘ln little Inu‘lclnn; 1410 Ben)
l‘uilery-nluu; 'l‘lntn new.

   

   

 

 

 

 

DIME DIALOGUES No. 18.

For uvernl cimrnrterl.

Fury 'm‘". hnrn. ‘1 nmiu: and 1 female.

lg" to” "i lhm“!I  l“ tllreu miles

00 d ' Ill . or ‘ . I
(qu Ilrrn'l‘tjdlturl; desun’el another. hr 6 lldlel.
Courting Melinda. For 8 bays and 1 Judy.

Tin new Ichnlnr. For uneven-l buys:

Thu littla lntercauor. For four lmilftr. I
Amadeus. For 3 gentlemen nnd J lmlwn.

(live A dog I bml nnmn. FM tour gentleman.

Spring-tin.» with". For nix ltltlu girls.

but L'lmrila; or. the gipty‘n nvuugo. For nup
nwrmu t hIervfl.

A llllle trump. Fur three littlo boys.

iinrd timun. For '2 guutlumrn Int 4 India.

The [man Well worth lvumlug. L'or two unit-
und twn lunmlol.

DIME DIALOGUES, NO. 19.

Inwful m (a . Two frmnhn And two mnlu.
Abntmon’t‘. 3.. five llttla boys. ‘ 1
Who In m. uinul For tlm-s young 5 r I.
Cnilloruin uncle. Thu! mnlel And threu fun

30 kind to the poor. : lltflnnltélli; I’ll-y.
H” to la nro innurn . . .
yo‘r). Ilmlug chnmlz; {or (on: chum".
. r o I.
A m” ‘h'ntillnlrmo.‘I Furs: Chrllttnu r..-

lu. Mud with too much lore.

The reflnzd nhnplatonl. For {ow lull-I.
Remember Bnnwu. For throat nut‘un.

Modern education. Tum nul- nnd one o
For three Innlu.

 

The fniry’l wnrnin . In». F
'Annt Eunico’l exp‘mmant. ’1'» “'23:? ‘m‘

The m uteriaut G. G. TIM-mk- union lulu.
wvn 'u mph

 

y men «tummy
thm wh-

An oldt‘uhioud duct.
Tho auction. For Inn-nu m

 

    

'l'hm ml" mad that hula

“mm; min.
For two li

..-‘tornoon «tin.
lod’t pron“. For {our be
ud u not. For tucker-n
Full or: dream. For Inur lltt
nved by lovo. For two hovl.

Hunk-m hlantlty. Two male: and thru fomlan.
Couldn't rend Englllh. For 3 male! will tnunle.
A little Vunvlnn. For le littln girls.

“Sold.” For three boil.

 
   
 

 

 

 

mm. School Songs-mazon
. mm: humans, 80. 20.

Au Ilr wtla. For flu an!“ Ind throo fun-k.

Clty
nod on. boy. .

Thu ullly dilpuu. For two I1!“ and W.

Not one thorn I For (our wold clan-clan»

Foot- rlnt. For nunuroun churncurn.

Keep up: bonrderl. Two foxmlu and thrnmln-

A cure tor good. One lady Ind two gnntlumn.

'l‘hn croduluul wlu-nm. For two

DIME DIALOGUES. No. 21.

A successful donntlnn party. For Iavernl.
Ont ul'Leht nut oi‘ dug“. For dim m and

three (amulet.
L’Ltlu Red Rnlln Hood. Far two chlldnn.
ropnte. A dual.

’llnv I'll undo h in
Thu hmm on tho hh . For {our rumba.
Evidence numig‘i. For two mnlul.
Worth nnd wealth. For four laud“.
Wat-dull. For unrnl.

anrk uttlugn'retnrn. For {our unlu-
Cimlzrelln. For uvenl ehlldrt-n.

Too much for Aunt Mntlldu. For thru I'm-la.
Wit nunlnlt 'l’l. Tim. fmnlu undon- and-I.
A ludden recovery. For threa Innlol.

The double Itrntnuem. For four fem-i1".
Counting ehlckm bolero thq mm

For (our u.

DIME DIALOGUES, Ito. 82.

The Dark Cu pltl; or, the mlltuku a! n momma.
For thru gontlamon nnd two lndlu.

Thus Nu’Ir-dn-wull'. on. broth-rm luuou. For
two innlu nnd two fonmlu.

High nrt; or tho new mnnin. For two glrllo

Strung: ndventnru. For two boy;

The klug'n nilpper. For fnur glrln.

A partial “amplification. For two hnyl.

Monuieur ‘l'hlml in Ainnrlnn; or, Ynnltu VI.
Franchmnn. For tuur hurl.

Doxy’l dlplomncy. a fmmlu nml ‘ lneldent nll.‘

A Franchmnn; or, the oniivlttodnuut. For two

I and on. K011110111“-

Titnula’l bnnquat. For I umber of null.

Boy- wlll b. boyl. For two boil Ind on. girl.

A rnlny day; or, tho uhool-zir yhflolonhun.
For three young Indian.

God in love. For n number ofuholnrl. .

Tho wny ha managed. For 9 lulu. 9 [an]...

Fandango. Vuloul chm-nun, whttu udythu-

wlu.
Tho lltllo doctor. For two tlny glrl‘.
A Iwut revnn c. For {our
A Mny dny. 'or three llttlo Ir I.
Frmn tho mihllmu to tho rldleu oun- For N w
Hun not inch. Ford" boil.

 

DIME 'DIALOGUES, No. 23.

Rhndn llunt'l rnmedy. For 8 In nnln, 1 male.
llnn- Schmidt’s "commend. For two mnlu.
Choir and Grumbla. For two little boyl.
Tho p nntum donghnutl. For llx bull“.
I’nu it ply! Fur nix Innlel.
Cuxnpnny mnnnau nnd homo Impolltnnru.
two Innlu, two {amulet nml twn chlldrun.
Tho glad (hiya. For two little boyn.
Unfortunnt-s Mr. Brown. For I nmloJ fond”.
Thu rent out. For two [illi-

For

A bear garden. For that mnlel. two and“.
Th: buy but. Fur {our Ilttlo glrln.

Chocknmta. For numuroun durum:

School thna. For two llttln glrll.

Douh scene. 9 prlnrlpnl churncton Ind 111’“an
Dron nud gold. Sovnrnl chnmten, III-loud lo-

mnlo.
Confound Miner. For thru mm, two tong]...
[gnorzinrn vn. 'nlticu. For elovcu Educ

admin nll. ‘or tour funnies.

 

DIME DIALOGUES, No. 24.

The znddnt n! llbert . For nlna young hdlu.
’l'hr three grin-u. or three little zirh.

Tho umclc air-gator. For uvan innln.

A ntrnnga uncut. For three zlrh.

[in unjust innu- For four main.

'l‘lm nhup girl’s victory. I mule, 3 fern-let
The psychumetinr. 9 mntlmnen, 9 ludlu.
M "in in no word for lt. For four lndien.
\‘(ui-nuicsil. A numb" nf cllflrlwl’l, both ner.
51::qu urn the yumemukun. Seven young glrlt.

Thu le hrnvo min. For Ill boyI. '

Have you honrd tha nun-l

The true quoun. Two young glrll.

A IllL’hI lnlatnhe. 41ml", 1 malt, M It".
arnl uuxlllurlea.

Lazy and bury. Ten llttla (allovu.

The old nnd young. I nonunian littl. girl.

That portnl cnrd. 3 In-Ilel and 1 outlanuu.

Mother Guam and lur hon-rho d. A whal~
uhuol fancy dress dhlogun Ind trnyatin.

DIME DIALOGUES, No. 25.

Thu. loch:th n! tho doloctablel and he: mlur-
uhlu. For two lndlu and two gontlomvn.
\tht nnch would hnvo. 6 little boy: & tanrhor.
Bnnlhinu through the eluudl. For {our Indian.

T’ie lrisnd ln need. For (our mnlu.

The hours. For twelvo lltlle glrll.

In door. ud out. For he llttlo hoyt.

Dinghltu. For on. an]. and {our (Icahn.

Tho pound of duh. For thru buys.

Bonn of tho cddlorl. 'l mlnd chum
ood worth. A author of hoyl. '
(rind. For 5 number of mu. lll’ll.

The trim use of Ive-1th. For n wholn u:th

Gnmeater. Fur numnron- characterl.

Put yuurulf hi hi: plncl. For two boyl.

Littlo wit. hendl. For {our llttlu (ll-ll.

Thu Ngunerntorl. [or flu 1.

Crlbtrel’l wnolug. Sunni tar-ton.

lutuzrity tho bani: ofnllnuouu. Two mnllh

A crooked wny mud. “night. On south-ml
Ind on. lud‘.

How to “ Man In " you; homo. '1'!" m

nud out good-mun.

Th- om. Nah II‘I told by Hunted". everywhan, or will ho unt, mold, to a,

“all! rmlpt ohm", m nqu cuh.
own ‘3 ADAMS. P

nut-hon. 98 thh- I... 3.)" _

mum and country hum. Fortnight .‘

t

 

 
   

  

, .

 

 

 

:;

 

 “.mmmummmurmurs-mmuseums.mammawaunua'~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

— a,
' DI“ mum I9. 1,
” In) loth And III’ 1. Juneau’s andn, a
3:13). othh u A. Vilma omlon, " A Dutch um,  o, 
'- 3 Ha for tho Mala. w, Tru- utioullty, The rumor, mama“ PM,
It. I.» u 9.. mum-M. Our and a. , T a M u ..
7ft. Kuhn: maul/t. “ulna. |Phllm W a p Immomnty o! mrlotg
Ind-panda“, [Enduranc- the but. or!“ am uh- . W‘NW”'P°'|"{’ISV‘A
“a. (.1311! country, '1 ho wlr, [llbarzypl’v “1} wine, pound fool- Avhlon In aha forum.
In. in“ .qunlky of man, Chars: at light on]ch L‘rue clonnllnou, (uh, The pro»,
“New? or mu Kavo’n Alla! mu mum, Mt‘d'y nighl’n Ifl’jay’u, Woman'- rlglm.
II: but: of the war, Flu glut n‘nrund, “ In I JUII (nu ,' Right of lbw dvvfl‘k
' ‘ho uwmgamcnmi, U'ltxu ul Mr. Marin-m, Nu pace mu: opprn- My lmldur,
' mo nnuuuad, Prof. on phonology, shun, Woman,
’ ha nay-wry ox'llfa, Amli Loo .‘ ml. of nmmm, Alone,
I y “a. up. nnd dawn, vyanhmuaou’n nnm. \ llnumnuivmg “"3011, (ha rqbdllon of 1551.
a.“ _ '11. any great. “1' WM M’- 4 um. um wut «A new, ..Ummufl.
“" DIME NATIONAL SPEAKER, No. 2.
anu and in mm, tum-9M watch. ohm. Mnrdor wlll out,‘ \
“d. _, lOur muutry‘l tutu": “MWW “ nu". Uhvor Hand Parry, Sm" for tha bug]
' h. tummm‘l Inbon, Muthn [In I: nl. Uur don't-Kn, Earl rill" ,
.' m nmmummy. The buhfu m-n'n uory Svmm- o! bond, I0! kflldnul,
“- Lu uh. ehlldhu vup. 1"” mum-ohms mu, Thu mun mu, am. a! Ilup,
v Our country’l 8100': m“ “d W"; Th. ladopcndant armor Th. hu 0,
, Union I homha Sula: “I! NIIP'O, Mn. (Jr-mm ball, A H In): um,
haw-name. M“ Belutla of tho lbw. How tho mono mu, Punt, o! the IUUI‘IC.
Tho uhohr‘n dim-1hr. G's-Inna! x" um Fun". at thc “luau, m m.
I‘ll-cyclo- o! WIN-l. Th. '1" 0‘ “1v. lnyulty to "Duty. "mum and true,
A Chrluuuu :2 Ant, Cnown‘nzglory “v.8. Our country Int, In 'th warn: of th- Ill",
L mun, orChrlul-ulty, Thu. (coll. Ind llwnyl, 1.. .nd a. bun“.
Tho mu Mghu' luv, Wuhlngtou Brill-h Inna-nu. .Angup of the a.
F L. In OBI [rat and. Our great {uh-Hun“. Dar-gnu of Juktol. Huntington,
-' :1. mp And Lb. blrd, Eulogy on Henry Clay, NMNIMI hum. Th- Dvlu‘t-
. DIME PATRIOTIC SPEAKER, No. 3. _
5 f Amman“ the world, The Msh element, "Mary of our Mode". A. "mung

 

(trim of our Ilullun,

T. F. Menghar' (rm,
Duty of Chrhmn pl-

Trnin': Ipewcll,
We a!" to the Unmn.

D Low. 0! country,
Chrluy'a Ipauh,

. Rluht o! toll-pronun-

Our am [Hum Lu me nlunu. Lat much of Supm trlotl,
Kunun‘lnn'l Ippul, Brignnddor Hanan}, A. Dough“, Turkoy Dnn'l oration,
tacky walla-t. Thu dun, Llneoln't met-m, A furl-u Ina,
'l‘hnldlly h tnmn, Union Squm mocha, Hm! Doll Roland, Thu omu n nlm-ory.
" Tho-Innis". The Unhun, The va Your nnrl Ch. A [cram-"’1 lrihnlc.
A rt! [5th. 1861. Our cnuutry'l an”. King Cnnnn, LUMIOII, ’l‘hu liltln 7.0qu
> . cpl!" of MI. l'un unry of an 04‘ tr“, Haul-J nmhum, (fathom: uthcdhll,
‘44”): W my leg, The wad. 0! pam, Thu “ Sptculawn. '

' L Tho ptlflulu burlap,

DIME COMIC SPEAKER, No. 4.

 

  

 

 

  
  
  

i m'quv“ 0" 'h“ V” P“)? A none at was, Palm"! nump upon-h,
\ An I) um. y cannula-d, A sum Eulnglum, Wnnl'n nip-ta Nahm’d, Comic Grammar, No. 7,
» ‘ Indy ruling, Ibw ta he a. lirunmn, thrudy, Fur-well to flu: bottla,
‘ The wup and the hon, The Unlwd Shunt. Tho .nonntebnuk, The nor]: 10f,
Comic anmlull’, Nu. I. Put? nrc‘c ufhimsell‘, (‘Iunpouud intvrut, The much .I'Ichml,
, ' I’m not. It Ilnzln nun, Prm I'nl phranulugy, A normal: on the hut. Sllrk'l dOIMHUII 0‘ W".-
i A. Wnrd’n udrict, Belutiful, (II-l dn‘IJock, Tale at I has,
11mm on Pickwick, (Tnbbue, Tho (I: 81’ Iollot, The dvbnllnx dub,
Rumuo and Julia, Diugretnhh Hoopla, an O'Llnn. A tall unnon,
H upplunl, Whut in n mu: clur like! Crnclmfl. lnokflca-uekem Loctnro on lulnmgl‘n"
De“, b‘nuuy folks, ho In my ommncntl Mn.Cnudlo on U submit
DIME ELOO'UTIONIST, No. 5.
32" I. Prawn-1.21 a! 1'qu Enxrurmw. SEC. III. Tn: Couronn Eunrxrs n! m
" xlu In munch-Hon; lat-w ta avoid maul. 01lA1‘l0N.—R|Il0luf Compmitluu nu uppllml to

Ian-not. v11: Purity. l’roprlalv
At lppllud to Semen":-
lmn th of tummclumeuflnily ‘
Figurrl of Speech; the Exor-llum,lln

Worth and

och-l rule and abnorvutluul.
Prenhlon.

11. TH! An? 0! OununY.—§hnrldnn'|
II'. of the Pun-lam. Trnnqmll‘x _ erfxul-
um.\linh.Rnlllary, nnd'onnun'. Jm , all-:m,

   

I:

      

Gmrily, Inquiry. Anonlim, 514)\l-:-|V,l’vr-

l'oriiddlng. Amrmlnu, Dunylnz. Dilemma,
umbhonlng, Judging. Approving, Ao-
tth‘, Condomnlnl. Trucking, Pnnloulnz,

 

 
  

 

‘.
llon, tho Proponltlon, tho Confirmation, 1.1;:
Rafuuuon. tho Perorulon.

‘ I [t- P'l- G ’ f M lunchnl Dvl lr
F lhauxr. fibuOriL’RofiL’tg Bonn {'Bonlfiau: 850.1%. Rlnlmmnbn Exlpcfltruwll’gag.
Md. Obatl r1: mmtn g AID lm— t I: In urn. x:
’f ' W" “ ° " ' hummusqu uy on Hanantlm Burial .1

Llnooln; the C. l nnd Ruponu ; the Buyonet
Chirp; Hhtory a! I Ll“; the Rule; thu

‘ D1 mluln .R lath": Grating Da- MID: Byrnn- Macho“: and tho Dumm-
r  ”&;,V:uontlo'n,fio Numb": Rt- Han-.lut't Solder-mom Thu”; Lack upf
'._ O ,Woldcr,A nlnuonflntltnda, yum; KIII RIM; tho Eyn; u

 

 

l 1' ll Prom] In
mW‘. win-“L new

W 1!
Ban onto Junk; nlmurlu o! Gum».
. Osmium a (loan MW

 

' " Dime Solioo! Berleu-Speakdrfl.

 

5m monous SPEAKER, No. 6.

A led fiery,

Ann-in: or‘ onion,

A Hugh: at ry,

C a» h

Gun is i

“villa ‘ P’

i).~\':il

i; w, r.’: Iectlm,
V9 ililli who,

i .m ii-umhle women,
in:er Liiintlrl,
(lam-natural,

Ruthiuh Klubcyenrtm.
nilinrkelliichtur'fl lush
.Auuu Blflow'e epidem-

How the money goon,

Iqu-‘.i-do-ri’e Fourth of
July oration,

ll yuu im-uu no, my no,

Jo Bo a eu imp your,

Lay uf the heupcckud,

Lot Skluuvr‘u elegy,

Matrimony.

N -thin;: to do,

Olll t'nudlv‘n umbrelll,

0M Grimm'e Ion,

" i'mhlle your on u-
nae.”

Plrod y on “ Araby’.
daughter,"

DIME STANDARD

The world we live in,
Womnu‘e china.
Author: 0! our liberty,
'l‘he rul eon ueror,
Th: cltlun’e cringe,

” Y.
The meghnnic,
Future A Neture’a God,
The modern good.
Ouinu’e Iddl‘ell to the
Independence bell—111‘!
John Bum, Gettylburg,
No Iect in he: ,
Ml» Prawn “petty,

HouJJLStubbe' ViOWI
on the eituntion,
Haul Sebwncklldxlltr an
wonrn’emfl'uue,
All fur a nomlueueu,
Ohl noun, (nun,
The eeu.the eel, the open
The “II-bungled npennur
Stuy when you belong.
I'l'e’n whet you mike it,
\f‘here’l my moneyi
5 much ih-m condom-e,
1 null reintion townier
The limit. to hyphen,

The power oi u ideu,
The beueflcenoe o! the
Suffrage,
Dream of the nvelen,
HowCyrue luld thee-bio
The preltiht bend,
Plrudoxicli,
Little Jerry. til. miller,
The neck,
Foggy though“,
The lndlu’ um,

ll'e,‘
The idler
The unbuilever.

Gnod-nnture I bleuln ,
won from herd-Ih-il
amnion. [ll-min,
'l'he vuiue of money,
Metduri lii'qllililifll'l'
He ull'l’l you are right,
Be ul mmd cheer
Crubhed iolhl. tehrew,
‘l‘muiuu 1 man ul in e
Fol-mere, [country,
The true mltneu of our
N.Engluud A the Union.
The unleen battle-field,
Plea lor the ltepubllc,

DIME JUVENILE

A boy’l philoeophy,
line out your row,
Six-yeur-nld’s protest.
Thu euicidnl cut,
A Vuieliictiun,
l’lbplvillfl corn,
The editor,
'I‘lm mule, in rhyme,
'I'lm fniry nhoemlker,
What wu learned,
l‘mil on,
$2“ horf’i h

a In! e n i e [II-I.
Tale of the Implu,
Bromiey’e speech.
The nme,»wnd
The ibiur'e child,
Shall «In whole:
A M deu’epeelnof ,

Playing bull,

Ah, why,

Live for nomethlug.

Lily of the hen-packed,
Thu outlidn dog,

“’0” uud lulub,

Lion in love.

Frogs usking for I king,
Sick lion,

Counlry and town mice,
Mun und womu,
Home,

The Lotus-pint",
Little things,

A 3037’: Ioliloquy,
Repentnnce,

A plan (or one,
Humbug pntrinlim,
glam altar Ohrldmu,

Poetry run mud, I

Right nmuu,

Sciuntific luctnru,

“In A “er,

The cuclumy,

Thu tannin“,

Fine thmgeent Thin,

The ieuturel’ quarrel,

Hunmriuuu vomithuck,

The hat]: of tttuuunull
strings,

Thu iuslui' the Inrpiute,

The uml'ch tu Museum,

Tim mysteriqu ‘uut,
1» Pump.

SPEAKER, m.

The two liven.
The; true nehoinr

bu, Judge: not infallible,

i-‘aunticltm, [ti-hue,
Instability ol' euccaul'ul
Agriculture,

lrelund, [query
The People ulwlye wu-
Muuc oi labor,

Prunin nud Auntie,
Withlug,

The Blarney none.

The Atudent or you",
The broken humanoid,

DIME STUHP SPEAKER, No. 8.

[fullney, Temptation! ohltlufi’ ,

Amorirn,

"might of reunion” e

Lile I qulut,

iiuumn nuture,

Luwyun,

Wrougenl’ the imllam,

figme in Duluth of Am.
uerienut’ war. [liberty

A Luy Sermon,

A dream,

Altrunnmicul.

The nquI, um,

Dutien nl‘ American citi-

Thu mun,

The nee-serpent,

The Ircl’lh,

'i‘hu Ihoeuluker,

i'hu u-ulul dunner,

’l'lm wutrrlnhi ' ‘

'l'u Ihv buchulofl' “i0”
league.

Ummi Stun-I President.

Vuuurics ul' 1w“;ng hr.
qumiun,

What i \muhiu'i he.

Yankee ulumlia Kaitlin,

x938.

lln Muehwture,

7.

The Bible, '
The purue Ind them
My country,

True moral romp,
WIut h wnri

Butter,
My Dnhornh he,

l‘l'ho race.

The pin end needie,
The modern Puritan,
i'mmorlulity of thin
Oecu union, ' '
[lien-u Hill and during,

A ¢wt at “an dumter. ;

ilrokeu resulutlmu,

There il no death,

Rue»,

A fruitful dI-eomee,

A Fruuuhmuu’l dinner

Unjust xmtlouul Mqui’l

'I‘he nut-tour conchluul.

Fhe cold wnu'rsnmu.
eruumeucy o tu

Libert ‘ o! Ipoeth, W

John ’ hompeun'e in": :(

Hume-cleaning,

It in not your whine-L

SPEAKER, No. 9.

How the mun becune
blue in

A Iuothcr‘l work,

The urine,

Who I‘llirfl'

A sheep nmry,

A little rorreepoudent,

0m: uomi turn delervue

My :lraluu, [nuotin-r,

Ruin,

I‘ll never use tobacco,

A Iuobulr,

The old bachelor,

Pu er to light,

Lit! e Jim,

Angelinn’l lument,

Johnuyshrimpe on book

ercy,
Choice of ham,
l’uor Richtnl’l u

 

 

$13-$33».

hort loge,
Std-rp- a mum

Who um rm "3",

Nothing to do,
Honesty but policy.
Hem/en.

Ho fur the fleldl,
Fulhlun on the brain,
0n Simughuin,

A smile,

Cnsahiuum,
Hmuwnpathlc soup,
Nun nud cyan,

t, [noun 1 ’

A hundred years to

The uuldunun and HO

Little sermons, [mor,

‘Snuflel on electricity,

The two crldla,

The mun Item

Do my little, duh-on.
Pine ‘

 

Barbell,
P

Little .
' (ha.
I: will.

[my in», ‘43: M.T"“"-"“'." '*

M 

 

/

Dime School Borin—lpoakern.

 

Dun Buihr’a oration,
Jinn: Von Splegal’i' 4th,
Jolh Billlnn'a nd. 1a,
1 A hard-11ml! nruwu,
, giro boon,
V I9 :wuzcr,
‘ ' Nonhul‘md um dull,
A lover'n luck,
 H nin Ad“! IhuS.
lion nnd ’nrudiu,
lczlun’n dlmdvnnr
[agar

l

, D I.
' 'Disllc
' lullh. >
3 Gnslmlinn l'lr-vullhus,

flock of uunous,

Spa-hing for “no llurifl,
baking a Illweal,

eu IIml nuw
Joah Billinzl' lecturing.
Docinr Del! 1”: nuu'i
Connignmeuu,
llnrll liwn, -
Dun Brynnl‘n speech,
A I'vlnred new,
l)v' _ nnl Muud Muller,
Nobody.
I‘r. n n! rlrculmlnucel
fin Id flll\ V

1
1m itching palm,

Drum -hcld lemon»,
Schullurl’l ph i lmonod.I
“ Worn-It’s righu,’
Lukc Lnlhar,

Tho hog,

Jack S mt,

New uzlnnr'. trngedy,
'l'llu uncianv. bnclxulnr,
Jllcnb Whinle'n rpucuh,
Jurk! r vnonlicnlq,

A word \sitll Snauh,
in! anrngnod,

A mula rhlv, [mu-n,
lush Billing: on Luz—

DIME SPREAD-EAGLE SPEAKER, N o. 10.

ll Trornnra,
Kiulnllu tlu trot
Smudnlonl,
Slight] mlnd,

- ackcr
Old hnchulorn.
Wmmm,
’l he Mun Nlnml,
l'uuplc will talk,
Mmeklnmar'l bnll,
\Vlm wnnldn’t ha fire'n.
Dun‘t dept-ml n duddu,
Mule at Ll ‘
’l'lu American .nalgn.

DIME DEBATER AND CHAIRMAN’S GUIDE, No. 11.

L—nnnuma 'nqcrl‘rv.

)1: mice and unululnuu,

gown-Non u)‘, !
ullllllullnll o ,

B

‘ rnment,

'- nl rnlus ol ur‘lul'.
'Locul rule. or rlelmte,

A .Iubjuu for din-union.
: n.—now 1‘" mm".

. Why than urn low good
~ «baton,
Fungal-Izo- ta ontor-

Icnl IIXCEuIl.
Th. laglc nl d'bnte,‘
a rhctorlc uf ulebuu,
ulmo to churn,
horprclimluury pre-

- m l
‘ om'ér ugnnuut,

fl

‘ I 0mm of the any,
kdntlwn Chlnu.
Ind v. love,
lm Bludm,
Inn to ynnrulffi
‘ll Sin’u reply.
Plan (or unllu
o Stanlnlnuu relen-

curl.- of on. Iran
novnr.
The‘ many of peace
0814),

Iowan: (mu-on.
"fly Bullurfly’l hull.
mph-I nncongenlnl w
Ermine“.
lye fur Imn h
vll nml religi
Irty.

ml! cammoner,
r and «blue-

 

Ink,
out llb- x

The

Summary.

m.-—-cnumln’n our»:

Ondmm-y Ina-ling- mud
Illumhliri,

'I’lu: organiznlinn,

Order of blmlhcll und
IvI’UCeedilml,

The " QIIen‘tlan." How
It can be lruuled,

The “ Quelliun.” How
to be ronnider (1,

Right: to Illa flnnr,

ngm- o! a wanker u
ngnlnu thn c mlr.

(Timing yous uml nnyl,

[nlerrllpllng n vole.

Orgnnlnzlon of Del“:—
arnrivo Bodlen, Con-
ventionl, Annual or
Gamrul Auumhlinl,

 

1

DIME EXHIBITION SPEAKER, NO.

The crlllcnl moment,
The aunt and thn want,
In than any mum in lll
Art In A nnliuu

finelnl science,
lnfluenre or liberty,
The pntrlol’l cholera,
Thu right 0! the poopl‘,
Tho crowning glory,
Thu pumpkin,

When \‘ml’na “W”:
What Englund has dons
Thu rigln uf Imnlrnllty,
'l'hu nnlionul (lug,

Our true future,

(in her In: n1. lt,

Thu rye-aural of that
deep,

Keep cool,

The prrcioul {rclghfi

kelch, 't

Thu Iword tho trua Ar-
I‘ll",

Ar nm e .

Baronflanznlkln‘l dull:

Obad Snipklns,

A clmlropho, v

Chcorfnlneu,

Monnlllnl.

The last 11y of tha lla-
fl

 

I’
unlucky love“,

Pmllmlnlry orgnnizn-
tlon,

Pam-mom orgnnln-

5'

Th. order of bualnesl,

Conrldorlng I'Ipul'll, pm-
pul, 6:1,,

Ol Aubnldlnry motions,

Tho due ornlcr u! can-
Iiderlng qua-Mom,

Commllleu.

Object: of n commltm,

'l‘hclr powerl,

llow nnmed,

When not to I",

Rulol 0! order and pro-
endure,

How to report,

Th. commluu of tho
wholo,

Grnvolnno,
All hnlll
Em-ncl nllnn orolenu,
Splrlto forgiv-
Anmuty Ind lav ,
Il-nnly.
Fulfil";

run all ell.
Lu lt nlonul 37’
Dllroncortml clndldale.
Mmul Mullar Altar

 

.\ ' cellnneoul.

' ‘reulmenv. «I petltlanu,

l‘nu uncurum orduhnu,

mm- Io I rhllrmnn.

n.—nxrnn.

Debut. ln full:

Which I. the greater.
Mum In his counlry
—Iho warrlnr, unlu-
mnn. or pan”

Dob-tel In brlef:

I. In tho rendlng a!
verb of flcllnuw be
condnmnudl

ll. An hwyer- n ben-
nflt or I cum to w
clely!

V.—qnonnonl All)
nun.

r
Lula.

12.

I
A MIN 0! Lab Erin.
Snflmc.
The Curran-Inn are,
A ruan of Iltuutln,
Lin]. Breach",
Hum Don-luluck'lwod.

nu.
'A victim of toothuho,
neu, Story 0! the twlul,
pm- A cold In ch. no",
lMy Incl. Adolphul.

Hnm Bralunnn,
Whull true Imp 1
Thu Irish 0! It. K

ody,

DIME SCHOOL MAKER, No. 13.

Thu/dust! ucrol,
Civll u-rvica reform,
The true pmluumn, Dolby link-do luv
The tragic pn. Jenn: forever,
sunm scuool. lecn Tl-e heart
A cry [or life, he VOTIJ'
Tho nnnllull, Benulllnl thoughts,
Gnurled llch, A pldurc or llle,
A good m“: B. mm to yonrulf,
To whom shall In {in young man,

thunk]! ml ll pmlng,
Relolullou, Thu apel n! nulumn,
Never mind, S I not hmhly.
The lllblo, curls".
Chrl-tlnufly our bul- The eternal hm

‘nrk, Llu for good,
The want 0! lb. hour, Tho Mil cw.

Thu mldnlghl tnln,
’l‘hc hquer vluv,

01’»

 

DIME SCHOOL‘BERIESrSpeakers and Dialogue,

:3

DIME DIALECT SPEAKER, No. 23.

Dnt’l wut’l do nutter, All nbout I boo,
Th. Mine alppi miracle, Sandal,
v’en to tth room: in, A durk side View,
Dun inns vat Mary he! To {outer my,
got, (Jn ourning German.
Put U’ll‘luherty an ‘70- Mury’uhmlll Vite um
mnn‘u rights. A henlthy vii oune,
The iunne rulerl, how Tobiusw tn Ipuuk,
they " sunk-u," Mrs. Grimu,
iiezukiuh Duwson on A parody,
Mutiwraliuvimv, Marl uud Mir,
He didn't IL‘” tilu fnrm. Bill Underwood, pilot,
Thu true story ol Frank ’Ild Gmuley,
1mm u»,
i would 1 were u Lo;
lgulu,
A pothotlc ltory,

tiun,
V" hhlur
words,

Greeu'l

i'he pill peddlcr's oru»

lull‘l’luiu lungunp by truth-

Lntut Chino-e outrage; My nelghhor’l
iTho Iunuitelt dentiny ol Cami-mod Myt‘hmg
I the lriellumn, Plcull,
‘Pemzy Mndnn, The Nureidfl.
{Syruy xrom Jolh Bil Legend. of Attica,

ii 5, The utu\\yi e V.
\De ciruuuntnncoo ch do A tioketor'n rubbiu,
I Iitiwuiiou, . The cumin“ nun.
.‘Dur‘l uulhu new under The illiguut nihil- a:
I lie quI Muhloou’n,
IA Negro religious poem, ’i‘hut little bery rm “
1'l‘hut violin, the corner,
‘i‘icuiu drlights, A geuewine info-Hui“.
Uur (unlilliuw'w view-I, Au invltulinn to m
Duxulmuy‘n wuui um. bird of liberty,
The crow,

mm, Uut welt.

DIME DIALOGUES No. 26.

Poor cnmiul. Three lndiel uurl twe gentleman.

Mon-mum end mule-hiiil. Six indie: end leverui‘

Ipeututure.
A tell. that diduot (nil. Six bml.
Twn Wu): ui woiug thin”. Two little zlril.
Don't count your chickous befuro they Ire
hutchenl. Four imiiel and a boy.

;Th.s h-nnn ufumrcy. Two very mull girls.

i‘mmite whnt you pram-II. l-‘our ledlee.

i’uhtlciun. Numeroul churuton.

The cumming ngout. Two molu and two
{unmiulr

Gruh. Two melon.

A flight lure. Three Vomllu Ind on. mlih.

All il lhlriu luve end 'll’. 3 indiel. ‘1 zentloiuen. I Embwllnd Iumhlno. Thu. young indict.
How uncle loll: got rid of tho legacy. Two mulel, iHew Jim Peter- died. Two melee.

with uverul trunt'ermutwul.

I

DIME DIALOGUES No. 27.

The mm 112151-3001! nnpl. For two 1.41.- It‘
1' I.

Pntuy O'Dowd’e umpeign. For three melon
end one {minim
Hnlty inforeueu not Iiwayl iult. Numerou-
yo.
Dilcuntented Annie. For lover-12M!-
A double Iurprlu. Four mole: and one iomnio.
Whit u'u Iti For five indlol.
Whnt will cure them! For n Indy nndtwo boyl.
Iml-pondout. For numeroul chnroclerl.
‘ ch wusun tire but. For {our boy-I.
Tried and found wanting. For ueverei melel.
A boy‘n plot. For uurnl chum:er

two 1‘ His g
"TI-m. ungrateful little nlnor." For two who.
lfl hurl thu money. For “are. little girls.
Appemuncu are dereltlul. For noun] ledloo
And one zontlemnu. I
ve'l protest. For two little girls.
Au onlurcod cure. For uvenl chunk".
Tho-u who prelcil 1nd than who perform. It
three which

A gentle conquett. For two young girls.

DIME DIALOGUES No. 28.

A tut that told. For Iix young ledin and twoan room for lhu than. For thru Ilttle bop.

gentlemen.
Oruuizlng n dobnllnz Iociety. For four bog-I.
The uwnkeuluz. For (our linhrglrlu.
The N'illtite proper. For 3 zcntiemen, ‘1 indies.
Exuvclsiulr an evil spirit. For llx lmliul.
llolh nhlea of the fence. For {our umlee.
The uphill u! the wood. For two trouva oi girla.

For uuu-emun thuncurl.
Fur Inur giril.
For two male- and two

Arm-rhnir.

Hemline ior menuure.

Savnd Ivy a drum.
{Uinliii‘l-

Au luiuilihle rig-n. For four bnyl.

A good uee fur mom-v. For rlx little girll.

Au nxruubie profusion. For lovernl thenctm ,

93' The above booh are laid by New-denierl everywhere, or will in uni, pout-paid, to NL‘

Manual, on receipt at price, l0 cents ouch.

BEADLE d: ADAMS, Pubulherl, 98 William St» N. Y-

 

 

DIME POCKET NOVEIJS-

PUBLISHED SEMIVMDNTIILY, AT TEN CENTS EACH.

1 ilnwke e Harri“.
2 Deud h‘ not.
The Roy )Ilnern.
Blue Dick.
Nat “’olt'e.

The “'hlte Trucker.
' ‘ tintlaw‘n Wli'e.
nil Tx-npper.

Lightning Jo.

The [~lunli l’irate.

The Boy Ranger.

Benn. the Trapper.

The Freueh bpy.

Lon'; Shot.

The (Eunrnuker.

Red llaud.

lieu. the Trapper.

“ I Haven.

The Specter (‘hlefi
{Hr-Killer.

Iii.

flHfiHHHflHfl
' IflafilthN—CQ‘INachhfl

Jo.
It. the Ranger.
The (hue-En l Trapper.
“ Godhold. ( - hpy.
t The Bluel. Ship.
Hingle l‘

e.

The 113'n(ic Canoe.

The Golden llnrpoon.

The Scalp King.

Old Lute.

" Rail-bolt. Ranger.
The Boy i’loueer.
Cur-mu. the Guide.
The Heart Enter.
\Vetzel. the Km
The linge ilu .
\Vlld hat. the Truppcr.
Lynx-cap.

’l‘he “’hite Outlaw.

The Dog; Trnller.

The Eli. King.

‘ Adrian, the Pilot.

The “an-hunter.

The Phantom 'i‘x-neker.

“net-ruin ill .

The “'oli' Queen.

'l‘mu llnwk. Trailer.

The Mad Chief.

The {Slum-i. “’oli’.

Arlmunsm Jack.

' lunchheard.

The River Rifles.

Hunter llnln.

(‘loudwoolL

Tin "exn- llnwkp

Her-lie.“ lint.

)ind V nlhuny’u Scouts.
- The i (‘iilfiAn Trapper.

The r lorldu Scout.

Ti- i~lundTrupper.
R ‘ Punt. the Guide.
'1 m
The )lun in Green.

4.3.1... the

“pen.
I The \ ouug Spy
The inaliun Ax

5

'Ezlu

I

re
2

lure r.

The Swamp Riflel.

" The Bullmm N-outd.
The Ducotnh Seourg
The Twin henuu. ‘
Buckskin Bill.

 

By w. J. Hamilton.

Red Brotherhood.
By 151m... u...
the Grent Silill’t.

liy mu D.
By i‘wger .
By c.

The Rh ni Lieu enantn ‘
15) (‘ Dunning Cl.

Br
’ J

()Yeellwuoti.

65 “'oii' Cap.

66 Ruttilng Dick.

ti? SiInrp-iiye.

til" Iron-Iiund

69 The Yellow limiter.

70 The l’huntonl Rider.

7] Deluware Tom.

72 Sih'er Rliie.

73 The Skeleton Scout.

7-1 Little Rilie.

”” The \i"ood “'itch.

' Old Rufl', the 'l‘ra Per.

7 The Scarlet fihou (
The Border Riiieumn.
0utluw Jack.
Tiger-Tali, Neminoie.
Death-Dealer.
Kenton, the Ranger.

The Npcuter ilorneman.

The Three Trapper-u.
Kuleoiah.
‘ The Hunter Hercules.
i'hil Hunter.
The indinn Scout.
The Siirl Avenger.
The Red Hermite“.
Ftnr-Faee, the Slayer.
The, Antelope Boy.
The Phantom Hunter.
Toln l’intle. the Pilot.
The Red “’lznrd.
' The Rival Truppern.
0’? The Hqunw Spy.
93 I’llnhy Dick.
99 Colonel ('rm'iietl.
{lid lienr i’uw.
Redlaw.
“'ild Rube.
The indlnn Hunters.
Henrrcd Eagle.
" ¥licklllyyius
‘ "u- m Inn .
Job Dcun. Dy
The “'ood King.
The Senlpcd Hunter.
Nick. the Scout.
The ’l‘exnn Tiger.
The Crowned Knives.
Tiger-"curt.

The Pearl i’lrutes.

Black Panther.

Abdiei. the Avenger.

Cut", the Creeper.

Two-ilnmied Mut.

M ml Trail flurificr.
5. Nick.

Kim Bird.

The Specter Riders.

Giant Pete.

The Girl Cnptnin.

Yankee Eph.

Slivernpur.

128 Squntter Dick.

N—n-U-t—n—u-U-n-d-nm

I;

macs—azxvqacvé-nn-

Iv't N: l»; N

0.5
T ..
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_._..____—.———.4—l..n_—__

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N

liv \i'. J. llmnillon.
rwn.
lh' Captain Bruin Adams.
_\‘ (7. Dunning elm.
gent.
r. Remly Fehrunry 1th.
rlmck. Rendy Februnry 2m.
. n J. i“. C. Adan
\' \V J. Hmnilinu.

CI‘I.

The Marked Avenger.

 

115' Joseph E. Bmiger, Jr.

129 The Child Spy.

130 Mink Cont.

131 Red Plume.

132 (llydc, the Trailer.

183 The Lou-t Cache.

134 The Cannibal Chief.

1 Karaiho.

186 Scarlet, Moeeaxdn.

13'? Kidnapped.

Muid oi'the Mountain.

The Seioto Scouts.

Border Renegade.

l The Mute Chief.

- Boone, the Hunter.
Mouutula Knit.
The Red Scalper.

" The Lone Chief.

The Silver Bugle.

{‘nl uza, the Cheyenne.

The Turn led Trail.

The 1' Men llnnd.

The Lo elndian.

Tile Branded Brave.

Riily Rowlezn.

The Valley Seoul.

Red Jacket.

The J nlzle Scout.

(I'hcraiq‘e Chief.

The linudltllermit.

The PM rlol- ficoutl.

The Wood Rangers.

The Red Foe.

ilenutlful l’nknown.

Cunebrnke More.

ilnnk. the Guide.

The Border Scout.

\\ iid Nat.

lluld of “'yoming.

The Three (‘npth’em

The Lost linnter.

Border Law.

The Lifted Trail.

The Trader Spy.

The Forest Specter.

The Border Foes.

Border Vengeance.

Border Rennie.

The Son.- of Liberty.

'1 he EAL-It Bride.

Keel-en.

The, Toni.an Spy.

The Prairie Scourge.

Red Lightnin'r.

2 Brave Heart.

. 8 )ight-ilawk Kit.

Muutnng Sam.

llurrleaue lull.

The Red Outlaw.

The Swamp Scout.

’1‘ he Shnwnee‘u Foe.

)iohuwk Nat.

(Did June.

I The ifrnirie Rifles.

192 Old kyle, the Trailer.

H
‘57.;

511:5!
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'13-“

lIII'ITI’39103’1’593*1*)$33
p “‘321'135

1.111
631'1939'

1
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‘O‘GIX

Ready November 15th.
andy Nm ember Nth.
Ready December lfilh.
Randy December 27th.
Randy Jnuunry lUliI.
Rendy January 9-19.11.

Randy Mm]. 7th.
Ru-nd) March let.

By Cnlonel l‘rvntiss ingmhmn. Randy April ~ilh

um... w. mums...
. Hmuiltun. 1mm 3m 3011..
many June 13m.

Remly April 181.11.
B\ cumin. 15min Adams. Ready May 9d.
' Remly May mm.

BEADLFi AND ADAMS, Publishers. 98 “'llllxuu Street, New York.