. Published Weekl b Beadle and Adam! P I
Vol: I 23%33'. ND. 93 \szumysl‘" NEW YORK. ’ FiverCcefits. N0. 68:

DYL, THE GIRL MINER; or, HUSEBUD nos 0N HAND.

BY EDWARD L. WHEELER.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 “Ready, gents?” cried Simmonds, briskly. “ One, two, three 1” The word had scarcer passed his lips,/
ere the knives left the hands of the duelists and went Whizzing ominously through the air. '

 

Idyl. the Girl Miner.

 

ldyl‘, the Girl Miner:

ROSEBUD ROB 0N HAND.

Rosebud Rob Novels, No. 2.

BY EDWARD L. WHEELER.

“DEADWOOD mos" NOVELS, “nossmm
non " NOVELS, E'ro., ETC.

AUTHOR

 

CHAPTER I.
ma sron’r AND THE GAMESTK’JR—THE UNKNOWN.

THE opening scene is in Hayward City A- a notable
mining-town which has contribufed its share toward
making for the Black Hills country a reputation and
notoriety second to none in the world as a (llSil‘lCi-Of
mineral wealth and picturesque scenery, and With
the most motley group of Cilizens Within the scope
of a. continent. ,

We conduct the reader into a strange scene oath-
in the walls of an establishment known as the “Full
Hand "—an enormous hand, manufactured of wood,
holding a pack of cards, and hung above the eu-
trnnce. giving the p1 ice its n ime.

It was exclusively a. gambling; den, run upon a
large scale. No liquors were soid within the walls,
and it was fre uen'ed only by the better class.

The “ Full and " was not divided. but left in one
long parlor, which was handsomely carpeted and
the walls hung with flue pictures. The tables and
chairs were all the best of their kin'l, nni everything
about the apartment was suggestive of elegance.

It is evening. and about the marble-top marbles
under the brilliant lump-chandeliers, are ga'hirei
men of all ages; but it is notic 3able th-it all are Q'll at
in demeanor. and moreover. generally well-dresse 1.
Many, judged by their attir 1, are Eisterners. while
others. at a glance, are children of the Western
plains or mountains.

One flzure of the throngr attracted special atten.
tion—that of a. woman in In’ll‘ attire. .

Everybody knows and recognizes her by a nor], as
she saunters about; indeed. it must be a. stranger in
the country of gold who has not seen or. at least,

.~heard of the twin dare‘rlevils—Calamity Jane and
Baltimore Bess.

It was the latter who was now saunterinz about
the arlor of the Full Hind, watching now and then
the iffererit games, or the votarics thereof.

, She pauses before a table where two men are
playing poker, and looks on complacentiv. Aglance
tells her that they are strangers in the mines.

The one is a young fellow of p ‘l‘lIQDS twenty-five
flours—a brawnv. stalwart son of the West, whose

mbs speak of iron and muscle.

He was clad in a hunting-suit of some coarse dark
stuff. liberally [ringed with fur of the mink, while
knee-boots. a bet of weapons, and a black slouch
hat completed his ou‘flt.

r Hls face was one that many would fancy—a dark
face. with Spanish blood coursing thioush the veins
—a face that though dark was capable of expression
soft and tender.» The features were all well‘cast;
the eyes were as black as j~t, wi'h a shrewd, wild
light in their glance; and a pointed mustache, and
long hair that swept the shoulders, were of a corre'
sponding hue.

The man's companion was a florid, fat-faced indi.
vidual, with sandy hair, colorless eyes. and a luxuri—
ant pair of “Burnsides.” which ever and anon he
stroked complacently. His clothing was all of the
finest texture and out; his shirt-front immaculate,
and dried with diamonds, and his vest-front ornar

m
S

wanted. with a. golden cable-chain. Ajaunty Derby
hat and a single eve-glass completed the make-up
of a genuine English aristocrat.

 

 

 

And it appeared that the Britisher was no novice
at card-playing, for he won with a regularity that
was astonishing—to Baltimore Bess, at least, who
was an authority in such matters.

"See heer. Spanish!“ she said, with a. whistle
denoting surprise, “ how much has that chap Wi‘ thei-
slusgins w0n out o‘ yer pile?”

k Tb? Spaniard looked up and surveyed the girl

cen y.

“ A s uare hundred, miss,” he said, after a mo-
ment. ‘Why?”

“ Because i do hate to see an Enzlisher get ahead
0’ us Americans. Did ye evyer beer ther story about
tlier American who went over to see John Bull?
Wal, this chap war sown around by an obliging'
citizen, and expressed his opinyun o‘ everythingI as
worry appropriate. Finally they entered 9. 0s

ital among the sick and dyin . There, 10! an’

ehold. war the pictcr 0’ George Washington hung
up in plain View. '

‘- ‘ What think you of that?’ the Brit. demanded,
maliciously,

‘* ‘ I think it worry appropriate ter ther occasiop.’ ‘

war the Ynnk’s re 1y.

“ ' How so?’ the rit. ng‘in asked, in su rise.

“Ohl thet‘s easy enuff. Thet picter ung upin
an English sick room, ar’ a wen-y expressive em-
blem. Ye know thar nevyer war a teller as made
John Bull much sicker then thet same 'Geor e o’
hatchet fame l’ An’ thet’s my exact ideal" cone uded
Bess amid roars of laughter from the bystanders.

The Spaniard also smiled. as he noted his oppo-
nent bit -his lips. -

The game went on and the Spaniard lost at ever
turn, while the Englishman smiled and stroked h s
beard with the grandiloquent manner of a conquer-
or.

. "The game is mine, Sir Spaniard." he said, rak-
Hilz‘wlll the pile with a flourish. “You are broke,
e

“ You have all mv money," the Spaniard replied,
bitt Arly. “ l' was a. fool to wrestle against fate But
it is no time to backout now. I must have buck.my
money. It is not mine. but Berenice’s. Will any
one loan me ten dollars to turn the game?"

There was no response.

No‘nle were there, evidently, who cared to back the
gam \ er.

“You had a boy with you a hit mo. Just for the
novelty of the thing, put him up,” the Englishman
said. with a strange glilter in his eyes. “ He is a
gefit-lOOkiug lad, and I’ll offset him with a hundred

o are."

The Spaniard started violently, and shut his teeth
together savagely. A terrible spell seemed to be
working upon him. His chest heaved, and his breath
came sharp and uick. ,

“Curse you!" <3 gasped, with a shudder. “You
have it all your own way. If I lose~what then i”

“Why, naturally. I have the boy. What I winl’
make it a point to keep. Come, decide at once. If
you wish to risk the boy. put him up and win back
what you have lost—if you can. Otherwise, I‘ll bid
you a gleasant good-night." '

The paniard bowed his head upon his hands, a
itnoment, evidently struggling with the tempta-

ion.

Then. a moment later, he rose to his feet, his dusky
face pain and stem. and aterrible glitter in his eyes,
as he gazed at the English gamester.

“ I am obliged to make the venture!” he said,
hmkilv. “ It is a terrible thing fora father to risk
his only child upon agnme of chance, but the money
I have lost belonged to Berenice. I mimt win it back,
or my wife will ne‘er again look upon my face."

There was a pathos in the tone of the speaker
that impressed the bystanders deeply, and they gath-
ered about the table, of one accord, with bated
breath to watch.

Giving a peculiar whistle, the Spaniard called to
his side the wager he was to make against his Op 0-
nent—a bright- aced, sunny-haired little boy of ve

   

 
    

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, fi»aom'rs«sm.msmw‘{w~ .2? I

    

 

 

E:

 

Idyl, the Girl Miner. ' 3

 

or six years, who was clad in trowsers and _'acket,
with tiny top-boots upon his feet, and a small ur cap
upon his wav golden hair.

A sweet litt e fellow he was, and a murmur of ad-
miration escaped the lookers~on as the Spaniard
raised him upon his knee.

“ Gentlemen i“ the Spaniard said “ I am about to
risk my little son u on a game of c ance. My name
is the same name t at, years ago, threw the south-
western gold mines into a phrensy of excitement,
and 1 am the son of the noted road-rider, whose
name I bear—Jot quin 111m it Le I"

A low murmur ran through the room, and curious
glances were leveled u on the Junior Joaquin: for
there were men in the en who had lived in the days
of the SPHlOI‘. and had had dealings with him that
caused his dark face ever to be in their eyes. After
a. moment, Joaquin. Jr.. went on:

“I am going to risk my son. in order that I may
win back that which was intrusted to my care by a
loving wife. Little Pet.” and the man ooked into
the pretty up-turned face 0t lis child, with a tear
glistening in either eye—“ Little Pet, do you under—
stand? If I lose this game, that man across the
table owns you, and will take you away from me and
mammal“

A startled, scared look came over the face of the
child. as he regarded the English gamester through
his big blue eyes. He did not seem to understand
the full meaning of the words—it was more his child~
ish fear of strangers which caused him to blanch.

“ Come!“ the gambler said, cris ly. "If you are
going to play. drop the boy, an deal the paste-
boards. 1 lrave other business to attend to, to-
nightl"

Joaquin kissed his child twice upon the forehead,
and then stood him up on the floor by his side.

He turned to the game, like one moved by me-
chanism. .

The crowd about the table had increased In num-
bers, and all stood with silent interest to watch the
game. ,

Baltimore Bess raised Little Pet up in her arms.

“ Ye urty little picteri" she murmured, stroking
back t e soft sunny hair. " So they‘re goin’ ter
gamble you ofl’. eh? Et’s a blasted shame, an‘ ef I
know it Baltimore Bess ’ll be around ter purtcct
you, Do you love momma, Pet?" ,

“I love momma and papa?" the little fellow said,
throwing his arms about her neck. " And I love you,

00!

Something'like a tear came into Bess’s ieye, but
she quickly brushed it away.

The name, was now opened.

The Englishman was cool. confident.

The S aniard was nervous. and trembled visibly,
althoug he endeavored to shake 01! his agita-
tion.

He was conscious that all eyes were upon him—
conscious that he was losing that which, next to a
loving wife, he held dearest to his heart.

At last, he threw down the only card in his hand,
and staggered to his feet. with agaso. While the
cool. cynical voice of the Britisher said:

“I am the winner, sir. and the boy is minei”

“Yes, yoursl" Joaquin said. hoarsely. “ My Goii
what a fool I have been! What a madman to be-
lieve I could change my luckl"

A hush of death prevailed within the room. Every
eye was turned upon the Spaniard.

His face had grown strangely white. his limbs
seemed momentarily paralyzed; he reeled like one
in a state of intoxication.

“ he boy is minel" repeated the winner, a spice
of t e malicious in his tone. as he glanced at the in—

‘ Docent child.

“ You need not fear for the welfare of your oil'-
sgarinz Sir Joaquin. As it Imp us that I am an
lish lord. I’ll bring the little ellow up. and make
a t tle for him.”
“ A title 1” Joe uin gasped. glaring at him wildly.
“ A title! That oes not give me back my child!"

l

 

“ Well. no. not exactly," the other returned, with
a sarcastic laugh. “There is no law that can take
him awn from me now!“

“Ho! oi“ exclaimed Baltimore Bess. “Thet‘s
ther wrong kind 0’ fruit fer buzzards to eat. John
Bull. Ef ther court ain’t 017“. PM got the lad, an'
possession’s two or sev’n‘l p‘mts o’ ther law. accord-
in’ terther hymn books; au’, as thar’s none thet
know better how ter handle a six-shooter, I'm bet-
tin’ ther galoot ye kall Joaquin, he hes his b‘yee, e1
he wants etl”

The Englishman adjusted his eye-glass and stared
at the dare-devil in astonishment.

“ Ohl ye needn't peek at me thr'u’ thet small~sized
windy-pane," the girl continued, unabasbtd. “It’s
me, way down ter Iowa—jim- a, you beti Baltimore
Bess is my fronticepiece, of ye want ter know et.
Here, Joa uin, junior. take your child, and I’ll darei
—-ayi don le-darci—any man present ter try ter
hinder onl"

The paniard started forward, half—eagerly; but
the next moment he staggered back again, D 3 face
stern and pale as death.

“NM.” he said, a hoarse menace in his tone. “I
will not take the child. The Englishman won, and I
never squirm out of my wagers. If, however, I can
raise money enough ’twixt this and morning, I will
play to win him back."

“On the contrary, you will do nothing of the
kind," the lord said. with a chuckle. “I refuse,
hereafter. to flip so much as a. single card with you.
Come! bid your child adieu, for wish to retire to
my hotel!"

A murmur of indignation was heard on either
hand; but it did not seem to affect the winner, for
he] smiled evilly and stroked his luxuriant “ Burn-
sr es.’

Joaquin gave him a glance which was far from
loving. and then. turning, imprinted a hasty kiss
upon the child‘s ffrehead.

" Good-by. my poor boy i" he gasped. in a choked
voice; then he staggered toward the door,-tears roll-
ing den 1) his brown cheeks.

“Papal pupal“ Little Pet called. struggling to go I

to the floor from Bess’s arms.

At the door Joaquin paused, and gazed back. Ev-
erv eye was upon him.

Every man in the room was watching him, with a
spice of pity at heart. ' j .

The strong man gave a last, farewell glance at the
child, his features working with emotion: then he
turned his black, gleaming eyes upon the En lish-
man. whose gaze wavered, and face grew 3. 5 ads
less florid.

It was a terrible glance of undying hatred that
glowed from the Spaniard‘s eyes, and every man in
the room felt its deadly magnetism.

Then. after a moment. the man’s chin had drop-
ped until it rested upon his breast.
chanically, opened the door. and was gone, out in
the blackness of a moonless night. ’

When he was out of sight, Baltimore Bess turned
and faced the Englishman. who was regarding her
\xilithka cynical glance, which brought a flush to her
c ee 5.

“Tell me your name!" she said, in her decisive

wa .

‘yOh, certainly!" was the reply, and the foreigner
laid a card upon the table near by. “ My name is
Cavendish—Lord Byron Cavendis . at your lady-
shin‘s service. In what way can I serve you?"

“ Serve me?“ cried Bess. scornfully. “ W’en et
cums thet er Englisher hes tor serve me, I kick the
bucket, you bet! Joaqum said you should have the
boy. and so here he is. But, mind you, in taking him.
if ye ever so much as harm a hair of his precious
little head, I’ll trqpsform ye inter a monument- fera
hole in ther ground, quicker’n a bullwhacker evyer
soaked ‘izeni" I . \

A l6u cheer from the crowd was sufficient guar-
antee that the general spirit was in keeping with
that of the dare- evil” 7

He turned me- ’

 

 

4 ' Idyl, the Girl Miner.

Lord Cavendish smiled defiantl , as he seized J on-
quin’s terrified child, and raised iim in his arms.

’ “Don‘t fear that the child will suffer harm by
being in m, possession!" he said, moving toward
the door. ‘ Au revnir, all!”

He turned to make his exit, but in doing so, ran
fairly against an individual who had just entered.

“Aw! I say. it‘s deuced unkind of you to mistake
me for a battering-ram. Aw! Who is the awful
swell, anyhow?” and an eye-glass was poised in front
of the new-comer‘s left optic, while be surveyed the
Englishman critically. _

His lordship had also stepped back a pace in order
to scan the dindifled character, With whom he had
collided.

, For the individual in question was made up on de-
cidedly dandyisli principles, to say the least. _

His immaculate white shirt and vest, and his
fashionably out clothing were all of the best mate-
rial, while the polished silk hat, a flaming rel neck-
tie, a onderous gold chain strung several times
across Eis vest, n liber l1 display of flashing Jewelry,
and a, gold-headed cane. to say nothing of the ox-

uisitely fitting patentlcnthers upon his feet, Were
tine general items of his outfit

Evidently the English lord was in a degree startled
by the apparition, for‘ he completed his survey With
a contemptous humph.

“ Who in the name of the queen are you?” he de-
manded. sharpl .

“Hallol by al ther Wildcats thet evyer chowed
mother-in—laws. Ef I don’t know that gallus galoot,
may I never ag’in be called a man 0 ther replay.
Et's Rosebud Rob, the, Sport. an‘ l‘ll bet my 0 ips on
it. you bet. Hyar, old pard. just lend us yer paw
w’ile [wring ther gri out 0’ ct!" ~

“Aw, is t at you, ~ssec?” the Sport said, shak-
in;r hands with the girl. " Glad to see you! But,
owl I say, by Jove! who is the individual who
bumped against me?"

“H‘in howl Din‘t ye know, Rosey? That‘s the
RIIOOE who sets himself up ter be a lord uv creation.
C'iveudish is his name. He do luk like a caven sort
0‘ dish, don‘t he, nowl" ' _

"Awl“ the Sport said, with a grand sniff. “A
most deucsdly insolent puppy—ah! ’pon honor; a
cross between the mongrel our and the—the coyote
——-ahl Hal hal Good joke, eh? Deucedly pomted

okei"

j " What do you mean by insulting me, you fool?”
Lord Cavendish growled, advancing threateningly.
"Do you know an Englishman of blood never re.
ccives insult. without retaliation ?”

“Ale is that true? R‘ullv, you must excuse my
ignorance pertaining to English blmd. Aw! you are
so deucediy clever, my lord, what do you say to tak-
ing a scull—just for exercise. you see?"

And in his hands the dandy sport held a glistening
pair of revolvers.

Otvcndish saw them—saw that matters had an un-
healthy outlook for him, and with a curse, he seized
J oar uin's child in his arms again, and left the gain-
i‘ng ouse.

 

CHAPTER ll.
THE nunnir or CASCADE CITY—IDYL.

MANY miles to the north and west of Hayward
City, among the mountain wilds, was one of those
hidden valleys, so many of which have puzzled the
surveyors of Jenny’s r:xpedition, as in many in-
stances they closel resemble each other.

The mouth of t ie one in question. at its southern
extremity, was narrow, and choked with dense
growths of chaparral, and very few would have
susoected the existence of the valley, or have at-
tempted to penetrate into it. Beyond the chaparral
it ran on northward, clenrin ug of timber and be-
coming grassy and level at l e ottom, from whence
it gradually sloped up into rugged foothills, and
emerged into mountains of almost perpendicular

rock.
The valley was several miles long, and finally end.

 

ed in the face of a large waterfall, or cascade, which
lea ed from crng to ledge, until it fell at last in a.
wi e, glass-like sheet into the valley, and rushed
away in foam-flecked rapids through a narrow
channel.

It was the picturesque beauty of Nature‘s scenic
hand, and one standing among the distant crags
that sided the valley could but be impressed with
the combined grandeur and beauty1 of the scene.
The cr stal waters tumbling down t e rugged rocks
from air above with musical din; the little valley,
with its rushing waters. its flowered banks, and
green and autumnal variegated colors—the single
little log-cabin with its weH-weeded garden etch
which nestled down almost in under the she ow of
the falls—,all these items lent to the scene a. peculiar
charm, that was pleasant and lulling to the human
sense.

At least it was so to a single person who, posted
up among the cm s, was idly surveying the view
through a powerfu field-glass.

He was a fair-skinned. fair~haired young fellow,
stalwart and well-proportioned. with a face attrac-
tive in its regularity of feature, the expressive brown
eyes, and a firm mouth, slightly shaded by a mus-
tache. A guess at his age woul have given him not
more than three-and—twenty years.

Neatly attired, and armed with wea us of a supe-
rior make. he looked wholly unlike he sportsman
occasionally met with in the Western mountains.
There was that in his dress and bearing which spoke
both of refinement and a genial nature.

He evidently was much interested in the scene be-
low him, for he gazed upon it long and admiringly.

“ It is bcautiful!" he finally murmured, lowering
his glass and recasing it. “ lf I were an artist I
should never stop short of painting the views here-
abouts. In my 0 inion, the spot below there dis-
counts any views have yet seen in America. , And
the cabin yonder, under the shadow of the waterfall,
seems singularly out of place, for I see no signs of
human resence. Just such aspot as that would I
select or my future home, were I not—well, if I
hadn’t :1 Sir prefixed to my name, and were not ex-
pecting to step into an obligiog uncle’s shoes. With
a pretty wife, why couldn’t a fellow have a jolly life
down in this secluded mountain nook? I'm going
down into the valley," he said at last, slinging his
handsome rifle behind his back. “ Even if the cabin
is untenanted, a fellow could spend an agreeable day
on that green grass. Wonder if Cavendish will miss
me? HHe’s able to take care of himself; so here
goes.

And the young baronet began to clamber down
from crng to Crag. in order to get into the valley.

It was no cas job, and several times he nearly lost
his footing, an: was on the eve of being precipitated
to the rocks below.

But he was quick, and possessed of considerable
strength, and after a series of harmless tumbles and
slips. he descended a grassy slope into the heart of
the valley.

Pansng a moment to rest, he made a discovery
which he had not observed through his glass.

ln spots the bottom of the valley was sandy, and
these spots were staked off by little flags upon
sticks. There had been channels opened here and
there, and rows of sluice-boxes constructed, with a.
head-gate to turn off or on water from the rushing
stream. _ .

In fact, everything was handy for wash-mining,
and ininers' implements lay scattered about upon
the ground.

“ Weill welll So it chances that I have ‘ stumbled
down and struck it rich.’ as these artistes-in-digg‘lng
have it," the young baronet said, with a. puzzled ex-

)ression. “Some one has got a mine here, all h
imself. Secluded, and most charmingly locate:
too. I wonder what lucky mortal may be chief
here? Surely, there is but little chance for discovery
—}yet. a freak caused me to penetrate this solitude.
A 2 the cabin, yonder; and, as I live, there-s an old

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Iayi. the em Miner. ‘ ‘ '5

 

man sitting in under the willow, by the door. Hur-
rahl I’ll strike for him, as sure as my name is Tom
%omerset—with a Sir at the extreme forepart of
1

And, true to his word, the young tourist started
off on a swift stride toward the cabin, which was
several hundred lyards away.

As he approac ed the cabin, he perceived that it
had a home-like appearance. A door and a couple
of windows fronted westward, and aportico shadow-
ed the door, while over all towered a large willow.

A little pebbled path ran down to the edge of the
stream, and on either side was bordered by beds of
cultivated flowers, which sent forth a delicious er—
fume. Back of the cabin was a well—kept gar en,
boasting of potatoes, cabbage, corn, and many other
products of eastern gardens, and everywhere were
neatncss and thrift.

Under the willow-tree, in a great rustic arm-chair.
sat an old man—«a cripple, evidently, as a pair of
crutches lay upon the ground by his side, watched
over by an ugly-looking canine companion, of a de-
cided bull-dog appearance.

The man was thin and emaciated in form and
face, with a hollow look about the eyes, and a sunk.
enness of the checks, that bespoke the working of
some disease. His hair was snowywhite, but of
heard he had none. As for his garments they were
of the commonest material, but, at the same time,
clean and unpatched.

As Tom Somerset approached in his free graceful
stride, the old man attempted to rise, but sunk back
with a grasp of exhaustion. ‘

“Pray do not be alarmed!“ Sir Tom said. reas-
suringly. “I have not come to do you harm, but,
rather, to beg your hospitality, for a. few days, for
which I will pay you liberally.”

“Who are you?“ the old man demanded, sus i-
ciously, eying the baronct with a keen gaze. “ W y
have you come here?"

“For no bad purposes, let me assure you.” Somer-
set, said, taking a Seat upon the rocky doorstep.
“ I am an English tourist. who. in company with an-
other companion, has been doing the American con-
tinent, and seeing the sights. Yesterday. I started
off in this direction. in search of gold, game or any
thing that might tend to interest me. And it turns
out that I dropped right down into this lovely re-
treat.” '

“Then you_ like the picture?" the cripple demand-
ed, waving his hand about him, with an expression
of ride upon his grizzled features—" you like it?"

‘ Most certainly. Any one with half an eye for
beauty could do no less than pay Nature an ad-
miring tribute,in recognition of the loveliness of
this spot.”

The enthusiastic speech of the young stranger
seemed to banish any prejudices the old man may
have had.

“What is your name. young man?" he demanded.

“Sir Thomas Somerset, at your service—usually
abbreviath to plain Tom Somerset, as I am, in no
particular, proud of my title.”

“That at least shows good sense on your part "
the other replied. “My name is Abbey—Jason Ab-
bey, though by the few who have ever visited me
here. I am known as Old Elk, the Hermit.”

” Then you have lived here lon , sir?"

“Ayl—long as ten years: he ore the gold fever
broke out into a blast in the Black Hills, I worked
my way here, and built my home with the inten-
tion of becoming a recluse from he wiles and vil—
lainy of a wicked world. Since the day I first en-
tered it, I have never left this valley, but twice. So
you see, I have been a hermit, in the true sense of
the word, young man.”

“Indeed, yes. You must have had strong cause
for isolating yourself so long from our fellow-men.”

“Yes, there were deep and s tong causes—and
many of them. One, I was tired of sin and the sin-
uing; an unseen hand pointed out to me the uiet

peace of this life, and With my child, then but ittle ,

 

 

better than a babe, I came. With my child and with‘
my Grd, I have led a blessed life, and have been far
hapfiier than I should have been, had I not come I”

‘ ut, how have you been able to maintain your-
self, all these years in what is yet literally a howling
wilderness?” I

“Until within a year past, I have been in good
health. and gained a living with my rifle, and such
vegetables as I could raise with my little spot of
garden. Since I have become afilictod with consump-
tilon and the rheumatism, my child has taken my

ace.

“ How old is your son ?”

“ My son? ha! hal Inevcr was blessed witha scn.
Idyl is a girl.”

“ dell”

1. “yes. Does the name strike you as being pecu-
air

“I must admit that it docs,” Sir Tom replied. “I
can‘t say that 1 everheard a name applied to wo—
man so odd and yet so pretty.”

“And Idyl is as odd and eccentric as her name—as
fearless as a lionmas brave as they make ’em. She
will be in from a hunt. scon.”

“ But you have not yet told me if you would ive
me the hospitality of your board 1” Sir Tom remiu ed.

“ Ahi I had forgotten it. Y—yes. you are welcome
to stay. as long as you behave yourself, and don’t go
to getting 5 oony over my child. Remember, the
first word 0 compliment or love you speak to her,
I will cause you to repent, even 1 ough you know
not how. I welcome you as my guest—no more."

“You reed not fear that I shall entangle myselfin
Cupid’s net l” Sir Tom replied, with a laugh."

“ By the way. who is the other companion, of
whom you spoke?” the Hermit asked. _

“ 0111 Lord Cavendish. I left him in Hayward,
to his cards, “in; and cigars. while I explored the
mountains and enjoyed their wondrously fine
sceneryl” .

Old Elk bowed his head forward upon his hands,
and was silent for several moments. He seemed to
be trying to recall something which had been fami.
llarto him in the past, but had grown dim and indis-
tinct.

“ You say your name is Somerset?" he at last in-
terroga ted, looking up. “ I once knew of the Sth 1--
sets of Derbyshire—”

“You then knew In father. no doubt," Sir Tom
repiled “ for he live when you must have been
born. IIis name was Sir Gerald." I '

The old man shook his head with a smile. ,

“ It might have been, but my memory has so (Te
sorted me in my latter years, that I can rarely rev
member any of the scenes or assocmtions of my
earlv life."

“You must be pretty well advanced in years,
then?" v

“ Nay; there is many an older man than I. whose
head is brown instead of white. I am but forty-five,
sir, though you would 'udgc me past seventy.”

“Indeed I should] hat, may I ask, has been the
cause of your premature age?"

“ Ahl it was that which brings many a man to his
grave. The double scavengerswtmuble and corn
sumption—the latter perhaps caused b incessant
worry superinduced by the former. Bu , think not
that I am even unhappy, wreck. as I am. I am ha];-
pier now than many a man With erect frame and
fine appearance. There 15 One above whom I am
proud to call my Father; besides. I have carefully
reared one of the flowers of all women, in my Idyl.
You shall see her presently." .

“I am already eager to see her—am anx1ous to
meet this paragon of the wilderness,” Sir Tom mut-
tered under his breath, while aloud he said:

“ I shall be much leased to meet your daughter.
sir; and I trust whi e I sto , I may be regarded, not
as a stronger, but as a son 0 you. »

“ If you need my assistance or money—"

“Hal hal you would offer me money,_eh?" the old
man chuckled, as if there was something amusmg

   

 

\

e - Idyl, the Girl Miner.

 

 

to him in the aim le idea. “Why, young man, I
dare as. I am wort more to-day than you, with all
your tit es and lordly estates! You see those claims
down the valley yonder, which appear asif they had
never been more than staked off. Well, sir, I have
worked them patches of sand for eight long years—
,washed out the gold grains, and boarded them away
in amounts which would make your eyes sparkle.
My riches are buried where no one but myself can
ever find them. without directions from me.”

“ But how, pray, could you have worked so long in
one or more beds of sand? There must be a. bottom
where there is no gold.”

“I’ll tell on the secret," the old man said, in a
whisper. ‘ Every new moon the water of the cas‘
cade increaSes in volume and washes through the
valley, in some places overflowing the banks by two
feet. When the flood has subsided, those 5 ots
where the water overflowed are covered with go den
sands."

" Ah yes! I see. So, when you wash out one for-
tune, the tide brings you anot er.‘

“ Exactly.”

“ Well. you have indeed a bonanza. Is there no

uartz ore in the immediate vicinity of this vallev
t at would pay better than this surface dirt?” Sir
Tom asked.

“ None at all. The quartz formation abruptly ends
many miles from here, and. also, there is no fairly-
paying surface dirt until you strike this valley. Con-
sequently, few but huntch enter here.”

“ I suppose you have to bribe them to keep the se-
cret of your fortune, eh?”

“ Not at: all. Those who have come have been so
well received, that they would be more than ingrates
to betray me in my solitude."

“ Besides, what could they do to remain? You
have all the best portions of the valley staked oll’,
eh? You were first, and, consequently, are last pos-
sessor.”

“Of course. They could ill afi‘ord to try and rout
me out of my snug little hermitage. Besides. the
mines yonder, and all the tools, belong to Idyl, to
whom I sold out my interest.”

,. “And she now does the running in place of your-
“ self. sir?"
, “Exactly. And fully as well, too. But, come in-
to the cabin, young man and I'll see if we cannot
hunt you up something fit to eat. As the day has
several hours of light yet, it is not likely my child
will return immediately.”

“Pray do not put yourself to the least trouble,”
Sir Tom replied. “ Before I eat, I must beg to leave
you, until I can fetch a noble horse, whom I left in
the mountains. By that time. perhaps, Miss Abbey

I will have returned. I shall not be long, I trustl”

And then the young baronet strode away down the.
valley, whistlin,r mei'rilv. It was evident that his
spirit was free and unfettered. and the same might
have been safely added concerning his heart.

The old Hermit of Cascade Ranch, as he had
named ,his possessions, gazed after Sir Tom with a
keen, scrutinizing glance—~23 look full of questioning
anxiety, and maybe a tittle of suspicion.

“ A fine-feathered birdl“ was his muttered obser-
vation; “ as a rule, they are of little value A bar-
onet and undoub‘edly wellvheeled, or else he would
not be traveling in this country. He is well-edu-
cated, refined, and liberal. Ahl young man, I shall

' study ou deeply, and solve your worth. If you
prove o be your father‘s own son. I have such a
grlze for you, at no true man could fail to worship.

orald Somerset, of the bygone days. is dead. Poor
fellow. He was a noble and generous soul. and if
his bov is the same, it shall not be ill for him. He
shall. if he so desires, woo and wed my child—my

recious Idyl, whom I regard as the, fairest and
oveliest creature of her sex Then. when I have
seen her married to aloving husband, I shall give
her my treasured wealth, and be content to ass out
Of 51119 Bonn“? existence, into a sphere of ll 0 which
is of the Godly."

 

As he ceased his mutterinzs, the old recluse bowed
his head forward. and seemed wrapped in thought
of a deep, ay, sacred nature.

"Papal" exclaimed a cheery voice, “papa,fwhat
is the matter?”

 

CHAPTER III.
JoAQUm’s COTTAGE—nsnsmcs’s RESOLVE.

A NEW road had been cut through the mountain
wilderness. Men were at work upon it—men in
masks. too, who seemingly were chary toshow their
faces to the light of day.

The road wound from one side of agiant moun-
tam, in a semicircle. around to the opposite side,
where it ended, uncomplelcd, on the Jagged rocky
blufls which arose to the east of Cascade Valle .

At the eastern commencement of the me the
stage ttrail ran through Blind Canyon and connected
with i .

The length of the new road, so far as constructed,
must have been eleVen or twelve miles; while it yet
lacked a couple of miles of debouching into the little
canyon where Jason Abbey held his own.

The ob'ect in the construction of the highway was
evident, or nearly midway between its two termi-
nations stood a little shanty, in front of which agate
was stationed. Back of the shanty was a larger ex-
tension, which was built against a face of rock. A
neatly painted sign hung over the door of the shanty,
hearing the inscription:

“ Joaoum‘s TonnGATE."

A woman sat upon the ste s of the shanty. glanc-
ing ever and anon up and own the newly-finished
dugway, while her deft fingers plied the needles that
were working into shape a beautiful nephyr shawl.-

A plainly-attired, unpretentious little body this
woman—young. even below the age of nineteen, if
one could judge by appearances.

Just of the medium hight and developmentwas
she, with a cleancnt brunette face; eyes and hair as
black as jet, and teeth pearly white. There was an
expression of quiet content, mixed with matronly
anxiety about her face, which was peculiarly attract-
ive. Then, occasionally, she would allow a pensive
smile to steal about her lips, and her eyes would
brighten up wonderfully.

“Dear Joaquin, and Pet!“ she murmured softly,
ashthe needles clicked merrily together. “ How I have
missed them both. Joaquin promised me his stay
should be short—vet, he has already been gore over
a. week. Can it be that he has gone back to the
gaining-table again? No. God forbid! He promised
me with the last kiss that he would not play agame,
and I cannot believe he would break his word.

“And, yet, I cannot account for his tardiness.
He was to take the last inonev. which my father left
me, and purchase powder with which to complete
the blasting of our road. Then. we shall begin to
realize the returns for our investment. The labor-
ers can be discharged, and with the income hrought
in by the toll-travel, oh! how nicely we could live!
Poor Joaquin! where would he have been now had
not awoman’s guiding hand hired him away from
the gaming-table? He was Sgoing down-hill to de-
struction at a rapid pace, when I first met him.
Now—"

An anxious cloud mantled the young wife‘s brow.
The “ Now ” was suggestive of manv a change.

As the wife sat pondering over these questions
her gaze fell upon a horseman coming up the mud
and she arose to her feet with a little Cry of delight
and waved her zephyr-Work in the air, for she recog
nized in ‘the new-comer her husband, as well as his
snow-white steed.

But the enthusiastic glow suddenly died out of
her face and eyes, and she reeled back, a sudden
compression of her lips making her appear grim
and stem.

She leaned against the door-post for support, and
glared toward the approaching horseman, as if she
were uncertain whether to stay or fine.



 

r
'l
‘i

Idyl, the Girl Miner. ‘ '7

 

“gas she dreaming—or had she suddenly gone
ma l
Little Pet was not with J oaquinl

Nol not with him; and the sharp eyes of the wife
detected the hesitation of the husband in approach-
in —saw a guilty flush upon his face, asullen gleam
in is dark eye.

She set her teeth hard together, and nerved her-
self—a bitterness of death was gnawing at her heart-
s rings.

Nearer and nearer the horse of the husband ap-
' roached until it stopped in front of the gate, and
begun: Muriete sat with folded arms, and bowed

e .

He knew that the, to him terrible accusing e es
of his wife were upon him; he could literally eel
them penetrating into his heart and mind. And, he
sat, si ently guilty; bitterly repentant, fiercely re—
vengetul~upon his foes.

“ Joa uinl”

Beren ce spoke the name with its full Spanish ac-
cent—s oke it in a tone of immeasurable contempt,
mingl e ually with stemness and in—in a tone
that cause Muriete to tremble visib y. But he cum-
manded himself by a. master effort, and raised his
eyes to meet her burning gaze.

“ Berenice, I return alone)” he said, hosrsoly.
“ Do not ask me what has become of the child,
for—for—J’

“ You would not tell me. eh P" She finished, with a
frightened gasp; “ but you shall tell me. Joaquin --

ou shall tell me where is our child—our little dar-
‘nsglPet, or I’ll—"

e hesitated to complete the sentence. and thrust
g revolver she had drawn back into the folds of her
ress.
“Go onl do what was then uppermost in your
mind," Jon uin said, with a bit or laugh. “ Take
my miserab e life, and you will save me the trouble
of committing suicide,’

A horrified. frightened expression came into her
eyes as she listened to him. He spoke in that same
reckless way—With the same biting: bitternt ss which
had been characteristic of him in the past. when the
devil had levied a mortgage upon his soul and body
-—and she had bought him over.

“ Tell me wlzere is our child?" she gasped, when
she could find power to speak again. ‘-

“ Dead 1" he replied, with another bitter chuckle,
“dead, foreverio you and me! Do not chide me,
Berenice, but hear me. out. I have been lying in ti e
mountains three days and nights trying to summon
courage. to ap or before on, and, at last, I am
here. That terrible gaze ta e away—I cannot hear
it. It will drivo me furious in five minutes. The
words you would say repress, lest I refuse to tell
you of your child!" ' »

Berenlce bowed her head with agroan of anguish.
She yearned. yet feared, to hear the worst.

“As I said, the child is,forever dead to you and
me." Joaquin Went on. “I gambled him away. as
well as the money which you gave me to purchase
powder with. lshall not attempt to apologize for
myself. I broke my promise to you in a weak mo-
ment, and gambled away your child. I ask you not
to forgive me—I crave but one boon from youl”

“ W at?" Berenice asked. calmly.

She had just found a new-born power of control
over her heart—over her emotions.

“You shall knowl” Joaquin said. leaping from
his saddle to the ground. and drawing a revolver.
“ Hero, take this Weapon, and put a bullet through
my heart l"

His bitterness of tone was proof enough, that he
was in earnest. He was not the man to joke, in such
a moment as this. _ .

Berenice shrunk back with a little cry of horror.

“ No! nol” she said. with a quiver. “Joaquin
Muriete. I will not take your life, nor that of any
man. Though as fierce blood runs in my veins as
in yours, I will not do murder by way of satisfying
a revengeful craving. God joined our hands to.

 

gether as man and wife. The bond is henceforth
broken. Our paths diverge, here; you go your way,
I go mine i”

“Berenicel”

“Nayl do not speak to me, in that way. I no
longer can be moved to even res ect the man who
would gamble away his child!” s e cried, assion-
ately. " All the love for you will I crush on of my
heart- all wifcly afiections will I smother, until you
bring me back my child! Don’t think to beg—’tis
useless. I go, now, never to return, until you bring
me back that of which you have robbed Incl"

She turned back into the shanty, with a cold bow,
and after she was gone. Joaquin. Jr., sat down up-
on a little bench, which stood near at hand. and
bowed his head, while tears coursed down his brown
cheeks.

He spoke not—only a shudder. now and then, he-
spoke ihe agony he was undergoing.

Berenice came out, presently, with a firm. decided
step, in which there was no faltering. A hooded
cloak was fastened about her shoulders, and she
carried a. little paper-enveloped bundle.

“I have taken what few clothes I may need to
wear." she said. pausing a. moment, and azing
keenly up and down the road. " You are we come
to tho rest—can even gamble them away, if you
choose. Goodby, forever pu‘haps."

" Bel-Price 1”

She did not reply, but walked away down the
eastward road, leaving Joaquin gazing after her like
a man bereft of his smses.

At last sl'e came to a bend, around which she would
pass from View of the shanty.

Would she look back?

Would she care to gaze back toward the man who
had caused her so much needless pain?

Joafiuin leaned forward, his gaze fastened eagerly
upon or, his heart beating wildly, his breast coming
in nick gasps of hor e. ,

carer—nearer she approaches to the bend. Hal
she» goes on and passes out of sight, without turn-
ing her head in the least.

Then, there rises an awful cry upon the clear
mountain air—a weird, anguished shriek . which the
canyon curt} ms catch up and propel alon in mourn-
{1ul detonatmg echoes, like the wail o a broken

cart. .,

Joaquin Muriete lies flat upon the ground, as bereft
of consciousan as the gray mountain crags that
loomed around him.

His horse gives a whinny, and like a faithfuldog,
nrproaches his master. He smells the body over-
even seizes the leathern waiSI-belt by his teeth, and
raises Joa uin part] from the ground.

But as he limp ody‘sags back a wonderful un-
dorszanding seems to possess the noble animal, for
with a louder whinny he leaps the gate and dashes
up the more‘newly finished part of the road, until,
at last, he brings up at a point where scores of mask-
cd men are digging on the mountain-side.

“Hellol Joaquin‘s horse b all the miracles!"
exclaimed one stalwart, smoot faced fellow, paus-
ing in his work, as the animal a reached With
whinny and rubbed his nose upon is shoulder, afte
which he trotted brck in the direction whence he
had come. “ What ails the beast?"

“ Somethin‘s up—gone wrong!" spoke another.
“If I‘s you. Lieutenant Phil, 1‘ go see what it‘s
about. That beast o‘ J oaquin‘s ar‘ a l‘arned animal,
an‘ e ken bet he wouldn‘t playsech a part ef some-
thin warn’t out o‘ kilter. you hear mel '

“True enrugh, Abcr," was the reply. “I thinkl’ll
run down to the gate, and see if everything’s right
there. it‘s getting on toward night; half a dozen of
you may follow me on foot."

And. calling the white, the lieutenant vaulted
in‘o the saddle, and dashed dewn the res . ,

In the meantime another horseman from the op-
posite direction came up the new hirhway. and lea
mg from his saddle on arriving in ront of Jon uin's
cottage approached the body of the fallen chic .

 

 

8 ._ ‘Idyl, the Girl Miner.

He was none other than the young barouet, Sir
Tom Somerset! _

After leaving the cabin of the Hermit of the Cas-
cade Gulch he had re-entered the mountains, and,
though he had found the horse, he becamepuzzled,
and ally quite lost. Chancing into Blind Canyon
he had stumbled into the newly-made toll-road curv-
ing around the mountain.

‘ This takes me in a westward direction, and may
eventually fetch me nearer to the valley of the Her-
mit,” he had said. after which he proceeded to fol-
low the road, which resulted in his panning before
Joaquin‘s cottage. and finding the young chief lying
senseless before his own door. .

"Hello! I wonder what ails this poor fellow?" the
baronet muttered. ” I see no 'signs of his haying
been foully dealt with. Here is water handy; I’ll
see if I cannot resurrect him from this stu or. 1an!
was the woman I met with down the roa anything
to him ?"

Raising the body in his arms, the baronet dragged
it within the shanty, the first room of.which was
neatly but rudely furnished. Here he laid him 11 on
acouch of skins, and seizin a basm, proceede to
catfih some water that tric led down across the
roa .

Returning to the shanty, he then bathed the
chief’s forehead. and poured a. few drops of Nature’s
sparklin liquor between his lips.

Joaqu 11 gave a shiver, and opened his eyes direct-
ly with a start.

“ Hal who are you?" he gasped, as his sharp, wild
gaze fell u on the stranger. “ Tell me—who are you,
and what 0 you want?"

“My name is Somerset. at your service!" Sir Tom
re lied. " Chancing to become lost in the moun-
ta us, I followed the new road, and came to where
you were lying in front of this shanty. I dragged
you in here. and set to work to restore you to con-
soiousness."

“ Y‘esl" Joaquin mused, passing his hand over his
forehead. “I remember now—I fainted. I thank

all, Mr. Somerset, for manifesting so much interest

my behalf. But stoE! Before you go, let me
ask you a question. W ich direction did you come
from?” a

“ From the east, sir.”

“Ha! I thought so. Did you—did you see any-
thing of a woman going eastward along this trail?”

“ I did, sir. She was alone, and carried a bundle
of clothing. I made an attempt to ask her concern-
ing my shortest route to Cascade Valley. when she
uttered a Wild laugh, and sped on as if all the evil
spirits were after er!"

“ You speak of the Cascade Valley " J oatgiin. J r.,
said. as he faced moodily up and down t e floor.
“ What wou d you have there?"

“Nothing more than a few days of rest, I assure
you," Sir.T0m replied, feeling a trifle nervous in
spite of himself, for there was that in the demeanor
and flashing eye of the chief that would impress one
not too favorably of the calmness of his heart. “ I
chanced down there earlier to-day. and engaged ac—
commodations for a short stay. I am now endeav-
oring to find how I can easiest get my horse and
in self back into the vale."

or some time Muriete did not speak. but paced
to and fro With a keen glance anon at Sir Tom, who
was awaiting the issue.

At last however. he walked to a desk in one
corner of the room, soon to return with a. small
golden stiletto lying in the palm of his hand. It was
a mere toy. such as might be attached as the

‘ charm “ to a watch-chain, but Joaquin gazed at it

sternly.

“Take this," he said, handing it to Sir Tom.
“Taken. and never be without it. Night and day
have it fastened in plain sight. Now go! No, stop!
I will first tell you my name. It is Joaquin Murlete.
Jr. Perhaps you may hear the name again. And
mind you. offer no harm to that little fairy of Cas-
cede Gulch, if you would live. Go now! Mount

 

your horse and pass on up the road. If you are
stopped, show the stiletto, and demand to be shown
the easiest way into the Cascade Gulch l”

Sir Tom bowed respectfully, and steplpmg from the
shanty left the gate behind him, on t e back of his
trained horse. .

From the doorway Joaquin watched him until he
was out of sight; then stood gazing off among the
I’llllg eld mountains, where the night was gathering
t ic y.

“ Ohi thou Godl" he murmured, “I am all alone
—-deserted by my wife—separated from my child!"

CHAPTER IV.
CASCADE orry meme mmsnm.

Sm. Ton Sonsassr galloped awe. up the new
mountain read, his mind busied wit the mystery
concerning matters at the cottage.

“Joaquin!” he muttered. “I have heard that
name mentioned in connection with the goldrfever
in California. This Joa uin and that cannot be the
same—probably are fat er and son, as the present
one is a young man of nearly my own age. ha!
here comes a. horseman, and he is masked, at that!”

It was the man whom we have prewously men-
tioned as Lieutenant Phil. He was mounted upon
Joaquin’s white horse, and bound toward the toll-

ate. But he drew rein in the middle of the road as
ir Tom came up, and in one hand he held a pistol
road for use.

“ alt !" he commanded. “ You can go no further
without paying toll. As I am actinigigent for Muri-
({Ite:s toll-road, I’ll be lenient, and c rge you only a

,.

 

Sir Tom laughed. .

"I guess you are playing with the wrong trigger,"
he said, drawing the golden stiletto. “ Joaquin him-
selfdassurcd me that this would pass me over the
1-08. ."

“Hal the signal—sign. Very well. sir: since you

possess that, on are at liberty to pass on. But tell
me first, who has hap ened at the gate?"
:‘You, perhaps, can st learn that," Sir Tom re-
plied. “ found your chief lying in front of the
shanty, but succeeded in fetching him back to con-
sciousness. I left him at the shanty.“

With a how the lieutenant put spurs to hisiiorse.
and dashed on toward the toll-gate, while 811' Tom
continued upon his journey.

He had no difficulty in passing the men who were
working upon the road, after he exhibited the six-
letto; and one of them pointed out the easiest way
of descending into the valley beyond.

So bv the time it was fully dark he rode up in front
oflthfe Hermit’s cabin. and dismounted with a sigh of
re l8 .

The evening was warm, and the old man satin his
arm-chair under the weeping-willow, smoking away
at his pipe. _ .

“ So you have arrived. eh?" he said. raiSIng him-
self upon his crutches and hobbling forward. ‘ Take
the bridle from your horse. and turn him out to
graze. There‘s supper for him in the valley, and
supper for you in t e cabin.”

Tom made haste to obey—and then followed the
Hermit into the main apartment of the cabin, which
answered equally the purpose of kitchen and parlor:
he was, however, disappointed at beholding nothing
bearing the least resemblance to a woman.

Upon the table was a common tea-set. and a meal,
consistin of bread, milk, butter and cold meat
with wi! pear-sauce. It was common, but looked
mighty tempting to Sir Tom. who had not tasted
food since early morning, and ver’yY sparingly, then.

"Be seated, and help yourself,’ the Hermit said.
pointing to the table. “ It isn't a repast fit for the
Queen. but we manage to subsist upon it. We ate
before you came.”

It was upon Sir Tom’s tongue to ask where the
other one of the “we” was, but be restrained his
im atience, and finished his meal. .

fterward they adjourned to the open air to

 

.... . “we...”

.. .. “4.4:? .: ‘

um.“ ;. .v .-

 

.‘
l
l
l

’ Idyl, the Girl Miner. 9

 

c—_._..

smoke, for Sir Tom carried a stock of choice cigars.
The old man occupied his chair, while Sir Tom seat-
ed himself upon the doorstep.

“I see you are to have a highway ut through the
valley," he obsorved. carelessly. “ presume you
are already cognizant of the fact 9"

“Yes,” the Hermit replied, with a nod. “I am
poworless to help it. My hermitage will soon be a
matter of the past."

“ The road will naturally bring in prospectors and
adventurers. and Will you not be in danger of being
robbed?"

“ Robbedl" the old man echoed, with a start-a
“robbedl Of what?”

“Of everything—of your hidden wealth—of your
claims, yonder—«ayl of that you prize most, your
daughter, Miss Idyl.”

" But who would rob me. young man? Who would
molest a man who has no enemies?“

“Oh! there are hundreds—thousands who would
do it for the sake of gold, or to satisf evil desires.
You have been so long shutout from t is world, that
1 fear you would harbor evil, unsuspectingly l"

“ Hal then you mean that your coming bodes me
evil, sir?"

“ No; on the contrary. my coming insures you a
true and lasting friendship. but I was referring to
the class of adventurers who must soon come into
this ulch. You will awake some morning to find
a m niature city surrounding you. peopled b a
hetero eneous swarm of humanity. You wil be
astonis (1d Men, seemingly iriends, will plotagainst
you. This one will scheme for the mine—that one
will castan envious ego upon your child—another,
still, will plot for the mind treasure for which on
care most, perhaps, next to your daughter. nd
some time one of the enemies will strike your death-
blow, and your child will be left alone in the world
in the midst of evil men, defen-elessl"

“No, nol—not quite thntl" Old Elk replied, with
a chuckle. “She is not defenseless who has a strong
arm, adauntless courage, and a will to fight for her

hts. And that same has my Idyl.”

‘ Which, if true, causes me to admire her already,"
Sir Tom muttered, under his breath. Aloud, he
said:

“Perhaps you are right. sir. but a single woman
against a trio or more of evil men has no advan-

es. certainly." ‘

‘ Why do on say all these things to me?" the old
man deman ed, petulant] . “They do not serve to
increase my peace of min ."

“ A fact which I well understand, sir. But I wish
to arouse you to a true sense of danger. for I feel it
in my bones that danger will come. You must be
on your guard if you intend to remain here."

“ And on tell me this without a selfish object be-
hind it a i" _

“I tell you it with no object in View. except to
keep danger away from a helpless man and a weak
womanl" Sir Tom replied.

“Then. you are as noble as you seem to be!” the
other replied. "and I thank God that he has sent
you as a friend and counselor." ‘ .

At this liuncture a peal of merry. girlish laughter

rung out ust behind Sir Tom, causing him to invol-
untarily ea to his feet with a start.
"Halhal a! Aweak womanl Hal hal hnl Did

you hear him. papa?"
And the next moment a trim, girlish fl re ste -
god/out of the cabin, half-convulsed wth lau -
r, which, evidently was not affected; but wh ch
brou ht unconscious hlushes to Sir Tom Somerset‘s

chee 3.

~ “Did you hear him. poppy!" cried the sprite.
again ‘ He called me a weak woman! Hal hai
9.!

And a. fair, roguish face. and a pair of sparkling
brown e es were turned full upon the baronet, who
was gazaig at her in surprised admiration.

The Hermit had not underestimated the attrac-
flow of his child' She was seventeen years of age.

 

or thereabouts, with a well-rounded, willowy form

erfected in each graceful contour, as was revealed

y a neat-fitting, semi-feminine hunting costume of
p iable deerskin; a bust, and a pair of shoulders
and arms that would have been a soul tor‘s pride to
model after; a pure white neck and som just a
trifle revealed by an open collar, which was spotless
and pretty.

A prou little head, with a profusion of wavy hair
flowmg back upon the shoulders, and a face that
was pretty and fascinating in every lineament. The
e es, too, were such as could express in one moment
t e roguish merriment of a happy nature-in the
next could flash with scorn and contempt, or fire
With an or and resolute will.

In ad ition to the deerskin costume. there were
dainty boots upon the shapely feet, and a slouch hat
set Jauntlly back from the fair, open forehead.

No weapons wore this gazelle of the wilderness, to
outward view—unless, as Sir Tom inwardly conclud-
ed, they were her mischievous eyes.

After the last words uttered by the Hermit’s dau h-
ter, there was an awkward pause of a moment; ut
the old man at last came to the rescue.

“Sir Tom,” he said, “this is my child—my Id 1,
ldyl. Sir Thomas Somerset, of Derbyshire, Englan .“

if Sir Tom, with all his grand London life and
social training, made a graceful acknowl ent,
it was not more gracefully done by him than y the
Hermit‘s daughter.

In an instant she had thrown ofl' her girlish mask,
and no society belle ever made a finer bow.

“1am happy to welcome you to our wilderness
home, sir,“ she said, frankly extending her hand.
“ 1 am sure papa and I ought to be proud of bein
honored by your coming—we have visitors so se -
dom you know." ‘

“ t would need scarcely human presence to make
me enjo the wild spot on have chosen for a home,
Miss Ab ey; yet the wi d, romantic beauty. together
with the gresenoe of your father and your charmin
self com ine to offer for my visit all the leasure
cou d desire. And now, let me apologize or my un-
complimentar reference to you as a weak woman.
15 it not cnoug for me to say that I have changed
In mind entirely?“

‘ Quite enough, sir. I thank you for the unneeded
com liment. Now, you will excuse me, I hope, for
the uties of a housekeeper demand my attention."

Sir Tom bowed respectfully, and his eyes followed
her until she was inside the cabin, flitting busily
about her duties.

Then he turned to the Hermit.

“ Well?" the old man grunted, interrogatively as
he took an extra long put! at the cigar Sir Tom had
previously given him.

“She is a beauty, indeed," was all the haronet
said on that subject. for he seemed desirous at
changing the channel of their conversation.

They sat under the willow, and talked on various
topics until the moon showed her face over the
lniciluntain range with a brilliant flood of yellow

g t.

Then the Hermit directed Sir Tom which room to
occupy and hobbled away into the cabin, With the
announcement that it was his bedtime.

Sir Tom. however. did not creep between the
sheets until just before day-dawn, when the moon-
light had gone.

He sat in the Hermit‘s arm-chair and gazed off
down the valley. while he smoked and cogitated
over the events which had occurred since his dis-
covery o! the valley.

He held three faces before his mind's eye, and
with a singular sensation which he could not accoun
for, studied them. They were the faces of Joaquin
Muriete. the old Hermit, and Idyl—the Hermlt's
daughter.

We pass over a month before we look down again
upon Cascade City, as the Hermit had, from the
first, named the spot he had selected for his home:

 

 

 

' do . Idyl, the Girl Miner.

I

We remember Sir Tom Somerset’s prediction; we
look with the expectation of seeing changes, and we
are not disappointed.

The old Hermit’s cabin stands in under the shadow
of the great cascade the same as before, surrounded
by its arden andbeds of flowers; and, on warm
days, t 6 old man still sits in his arm-chair beneath
the giant willow, as of yore.

The rushing stream darts through its channel with
a roar only second to that of a cascade, and there
are no changes—no inventions yet to turn it from
its course. .

0n the shores, however, there are changes. Within
a month.

A quarter of a mile from the hermitago there are
shanties and cabins scattered on the shore of the
stream, and here and there the gulch valley, to the
number of a couple of score.

, Men are seen, too, digging about. here and there:
horses are grazing further on down the valley; a
general appearance of new settlement is seen about.

To the cast, a stage-road winds down into the val-
ley from far up amon the rocky crugs.

A month has passe with these changes.

Sir Tom Somerset still lingers at the Hermitage,
which, we may add, has been enlarged to tho dimen-
sions of a frontier hotel, with a bar. and boarding
and sleeping accommodations attached.

queer, een-goggled little old lady had come
over from eadwood, and induced the Hermit into
the venture; had enlarged the place at her own ex-
pense, and in consequence, was doing a thriving
usmess.

But, the old Hermit shook his head, as, with Sir
'I‘om, he sat in under the willow one evening.

“I don’t like the change a bitl" he said. “The
old quiet of the place is gone. and disorder reigns.
Why, would on believe it, Sir Tom? I could not
sleep last nig t, for the carousal in the bar-room,
which lasted till near daydawn.“

“ The same with mel" the young baronet replied.
“You made a wrong move, when you let that wo«
man build on against you.“

“Yes! yes! I see it. now. Experience is a good
e e-opener, Sir Tom. I thought to relieve Idyl, my
c M. of the indoor work, so that she could be as
free as the eagle. Well! welli I suppose we shall
have to put up with it. The thing won‘t last long,
if the do not get gold, which they are not likely to.
Do t 5 show any disposition to crowd over onto
Idyl’s c aims!“ ‘

‘So far, no. Ono can‘t tell what they may do.
though they appear like peaceable fellows. I guess
they are a little more encouraged, so far, today.
Several of them have struck a sand streak, with
go] len grain to it.”

“Humphl It’s about time for another moon-tide.
Has Idyl washed out all the paying, in her
claim?"

“ I hardly know, Mr. Abbey. You have probably
noticed that your daughter has given me the cold
shoulder of late, and therefore, I am in the dark
concerning her."

“Eh?” the old man grunted, leaning forward, and

- erlng into the baronet's face—“ given ye the cold
shoulder, has she? Weill well! What have you been
doinir. Sir Tom i“

' " Alas! you’ve propounded a poser, nowl I‘m in
total ignorance as to the origin or cause of Miss Ab-
bey’s coolness toward me!”

‘Where is the child now?"

“ That I am unable to tell you. unless she is in the
bar-room. Of late she goes there at the close of
Bach _day’s labor, and has her gold weighed, I be-

ever

The old man arose and hobbled into his portion of
the cabln. A door had been cut throu h the wall.
and communicated with the bar-room of rs Matro-
vis‘s establishment. _

Into the bar-room the Hermit made his way upon
his crutches.

There were several 0: the miners clustered at the

 

bar, who had come to the valley, and they regarded
him with curious glances.

Paying little attention to those at the bar, the old
man approached where Idyl was standing at- the
weighing counter, watching the clerk, a Mr. Sam’l
Skinner, as he weighed out the dust and grains of

go] .

Idyl looked up with a start, to behold her father.
and he noticed then what had escaped his notice
heretofore.

_ The roses had gone out of her cheeks wonderfully,
injhe last few days, when before she had been so
bright and blooming. There wasa restless, wearied
light in her eyes, too. which had not been there be-

re.

“ldyll” the old man said, touching her on the
shoulder, “ when you have done here. come into our
part of the cabin. I want to speak with you."

She nodded, without 5 eaking, and the old man
hobbled back into the ol cabin, which was reserved
as his own. After Sam Skinner had finished weigh-
ing her gold, ldyl rejoined her parent, who was sit-
tigig out under the wilow tree, in his great arm-
0 all‘.

“ Well, poppy, what is it?” she asked, evidently
trying to restore a lost girlish enthusxasm to her
speec . “What do you want or me?”

“ Sit down and I will tell you. Now. why is it that
you are so cold in your demeanor toward our guest,
Sir Somerset? Tom is a good boy, and I supposed
you were getting along finely together, until—"

“ He told you to the contrary!” Idyl finished
scomfully. "‘ I am sure Mr. Somerset is very kin
to enlist your sympathy in his case. Tell him I ad-
mire his pluck!”

She would have turned away, but at this moment
the Hermit called her back.

" ldyll ldyll child, stop! You must tell me what
has caused your coldness toward Sir Tom. He is a
noble fellow—is rich and inherits proud blood. I
had hopes for you in that direction, my ct."

“Then I must banish them for you, ather. Be-
tween ine and Sir Tom Somerset, there is nothing—
never will be. If I were inclined to marry any one,
there are scoresl would choos i from before him 1"

She turned and went around the cabin toward the
saloon.

fl‘lie stage was just coming in. laden inside and out
With assengers, both male and female.

Be tsaid, to her credit the green-goggled propri-
etress of the only "ranch ” in Cascade Gulc was
a shrewd woman: and when a few of her dollars
caused a glowing report of the “ red-hot times" at
Cascade City to be published in a Deadwood paper,
naturally there was a stampede at once for the new
strike._ and the population was largely increaSEd at
every in-coming stage. and Mrs. Matrevis reaped a.
rich harvest from her bar, and her lunch-counter.

 

. CHAPTER V.
mu sponr‘s DEBUT—A srmos om.

TH}: stage drew up before the portals of Mrs. Ma-
trevis’s establishment and began to discharge its
freight of humanity. which consisted of all classes
and types. such as yet is found in any mining strike.

Idy stood at one corner of the cabin. watching the
busy throng which unloaded. with a curious gaze.

It all seemed very strange to her. after having
been reared in the solitudes as a hermlt's daughter.
She could not remember of having ever seen so
many men at one time in hei-life as were disembark-
ing from the f ;ur-teum stage. driven by sturd Jake
Johnson, whom the Abbeys knew. as he ha often
bfell in the valleys hunting ere he had taken to the
5 age.

“Abig heap on ‘em. Miss My] "the brawny son
of Wisconsin said, touching his hat respectfully, as
he approached where Idyl was standing. “Nevyer
heerd that ar‘ stage grunt so as she did under that
cargo. .Whoop 'em up, Eliza! but that ar' a heap o’
eccentric cusses wens ’em. 111158. 8111’ et ye don’tsee

 

 

 

Ic'yl, the Girl Miner.

11

 

high times beer at thcr Cascade my name ain't Jake
Johnson— on bet on that!”

“Vghnt 0 you mean, Jake, by high times?" Idyl
aske .

“How do I mean, leetle gal? Waal, now. I don’t
mind tellin’ you thet an artist in gi-ave-diggin ,
wouldn’t do so bad ter set up a coffin an‘ toom -
stun facto eround hayr, bein‘s my stage tor-night
hes fetche in about as tough a crew as evyer sot
fut in thur diggin’s. Thor‘s Cross-eyed Mike, from
Deadwood, ter start wi’. After him thar’s ther
gallus coon they call Rosebud Rob, ther dare-devil
gal Baltimore Bess, an” a con le as calls ‘emselves
Professor Bomberscoot, an' irs. General George
Washington Bounce. Durn my buttons of thet lat-
ter critter hesn’t made luv ter ev‘ery consarned il-
grim aboard ther stage, durin’ ther trip. A reg‘ ar
old husband hunter ar‘ tbct woman, you bet 1"

And happy Jake Went whistling away, while Idyl,
out of curiosity. stepped into the bar-room, to see
what was going on.

She often dropped in, since the coming of stran-
gers to the gu or; and on'several occasions, her
quick hand had dashed away a pistol or knife. that
had been poised by some angry minor to take a com-
rade‘s life.

And, those who knew her had got to calling her
.the An e] of the Gulch.

The ar-room was new full, to overflowing, with
humanity, but she managed to gain a position near
the protective hand of genial Sam Skinner, where
she could watch those around her.

After a long ride, the ma'ority of the “ new citi-
zens ” repaired to the bar, w ere they proceeded to
wash down the dust of the journey.

Amon others who came under Idyl‘s gaze, was
a well- ormed, ex iiisitely—dressed dandyisn indi-
vidual, whom every ody called Rosebud Rob.

His was the appearance and genuine make-up of
a s ort. His garments were elegant. both in quality
an fit. The patent-leathers upon his feet, the flash-
ing diamond upon his shirt-front, together with the
white slouch but u n his head, and numerous other
appointments, inc uding the cable-chain of gold,
w icli was strung several times across his vest-front,
all added to his appearance as that of one of those
individuals occasionally encountered in the mines,
and dubbed by the miners as “ sports."

The handsome, mustaclied face of the Sport, with
its self-reliant expression. in whose hidden meaning
were courage and resolution. and the keen dark
e es, with their magnetic influence, all attracted the
a teution of Idyl, from the instant she had caught
sight of him.

Her thoughts were upon him, as was her gaze,
when there came a loud, bawling shout through the
bar-room and a brawny giant of a fellow pushed his
wa roughly through the crowd toward where the
gir miner was standing.

“Hooray!” he bellowed, at the top of his brazen
lungs, with a broad oath, “who sez Cascade City
hain't got purty weemini Whar‘s that same galoot
as durst say that thar ain‘t purl angels hyarjn
thes hemisfeerl' I‘m Cross-eyed ike Gasket, pil‘
grims, of ye wanter know who I be; l‘m ther man
who keeps tally 0‘ his conquests 0’ death and luv
wi' a conductor's bell-punch, an’ when I roar ev’ry
galoot’s a-tremblin‘. Jest a bit ago, sum one whis-

ered thet thar warn‘t nary a purtv female bird in

her diggin‘s. Hooray! whar’s (her man now?
Jest feast yer eyes on thet leetle baby yonder. my
royal Bengal tigers. Jest score at down, how sweet
she aire will ye?"

And the giant bully stood glarln at Idyl, with n
wolflsh, greedy gleam in his eyes, t at sent a thrill
of terror through her frame, and caused her to
tremble violently.

“All I hev ter do," continued the bully. “ar‘ ter
kiss a woman, an' she ar‘ henceforth a worshiper o'
my beauty ferever, you bet! An‘ ef ye don’t b’lieve
21:,“ jes't watch me fetch that leetle heifer yonder to

e, '

 

A cheer went up from the giant‘s backers, as
with a hitch at his breechcs, he spat on his hands,
and advanced a step toward Idyl.

But it was only a step!

“Stop!” she cried. suddenly leveling a pistol at
his heart; “ stop. you big wretch! One step more,
and, as God is my {udgea you shall have the whole
contents of my revo ver!’

“ Stop, you cross—eyed son of a huzzard!" cried a
second ringing voice, and Rosebud Rob ushed
through the crowd and stood by Idyl’s side, his arms
folded across his chest, but a. handsome revolver
nevertheless, clutched in either hand. “ If you want
tip lfiiss anybody, come and chaw a piece out of my

p

“Hip! hooray! them’s m
a. third voice, and the well- nown face and fl re of
Baltimore Bess was ranked on the defensive. ‘ Come
along, ye cross-eyed kangaroo ef ye’r‘ anxious ter
test our in tall har nevyer war a single knave as
ked beat a nil hand like ours.”

“ Oh, ho! that’s yer game, eh 7“ the giant growled,
seeing several of the miners step over. “ Waal.
we’ll see about thet. I ain‘t fer fightin’ a bull regi-
ment, but of any 0’ ye valiant pilgrims want ter
step out nn’ measure length wi’me fer cash, why

sentiments, too,” cried

' thar‘s uo flunk in me, you bet!”

“Do you mean that for me?" the Sport demanded,

1fliislteniiig the rosebud more securely in his button-
0 e,

“ Perzactl for ye,” the giant replied, with a leer.
“No more un would I luv than ter scrunch ye all
up inter hash an” toll my bell‘punch over yer funeral
remains.”

“ Then if you’ll step outside, I allow that I am
most happy to accommodate you,” Rosebud Rob
said, coo y.

“Don’ti—oh, don’t fight! please," Idyl cried, in
su den alarm, tugging at the Sport’s arm. “Don’t
fl t that great monster. He will kill you. Oh!
how can I forgive myself for getting you into this
trouble?" 4

“Trouble, lady? Why, you are not in the least to
blame—and as for the trouble, ’tis fun instead of
trouble, I assure you. I have had my eye on this
tough for some time. He is guilty of many crimes,
and the sooner he cease to exist as a roman, the
better for the safety of the people!"

He then turned to Cross-eyed Mike.

“lam read , on big booby. I guess it is light
enough outsi e or our purpose. Get your rifle. and
PH 'oin ou. directly !“

“ 01 up yer horses!" the giant roared. “I
hain’t a-gom' ter grip no shutin’-iron, nor nuthin’
like et, Itell ye. Ther rib-ticklin‘ carver is my belt
ef ye please!"

"Very well !” Rosebud Rob replied, calmly. “I
am equally handy with it. But, as you have chosen
the Weapons, where it was my lace, permit me to
an which way the fighting she] be done?"

‘Yas, go ahead,” Gasket replied, with a brutal
chuckle. “I don‘t keer w‘ich way, so long‘s I git
one pass at ye. That will settle tber debate, an’
i’ll ring my bell~punch 0‘ death fer ther sixtieth
time!" .

The punch in question was a. nickel-plated affair,
with two thumbsprings, each of which when pressw
ed rung a. bell within, and registered one upon a
die]. It was similar to those used upon many of the
street-car lines in our large cities, and was worn by
the whim, strung across his breast, making a pecu-
liar ornament.

Every time he took a. human life, as he had in
scores of instances, the ruflian was credited with
ringing the bell. Upon the outside was the inscrip-
tion— ‘ Death."

Nearly every one shuddered when he announced
his desire to complete his third score of deadly con-

uests.
q Rosebud Rob did not shudder, but a feeling of nt-
ter loathing and hatred for the human brute enterq
ed his heart, to be succeeded by a fixed resolve,

 

 

12

Idyl, the Girl Mine 1-.

 

“ As we are to use knives for this contest, we will
rem ‘in in this room, gentlemen,“ he said. coolly.
“ Pl use pass to one side of the room, so that none
of you may get hurt. Sir Tough. you will place
your back against one end of the room, With me on
the opposite end, The distance between us IS about
twelve yards, I should say. You are to be prov1dsd
with live knives, and I with an equal number. At a
given signal by the bartender. who is a disinterested

arty, we will hurl the knives at each other. With the
ntent, of course, to kill. I trust the spectators wall
see that there is fairplay. Both men must stand up
to the work, or be held up, until the best man has
hurled his last weapon.”

A deathliks silence reigned in the bar-room, at
the conclusion of the Sport’s words.

Every man stood leaning forward, with expecta-
tion written upon his face, and hated breath, await—
ing the issue.

Cross-eyed Mike glared at the Sport a moment,
half-admiringiy; then turned with a fierce, ugly
lau h, and threw oli' his jacket.
| “ 'm ther huckleberry fer thet kind 0’ bizness!”
he said, grimly. “Ef ye wanter see sum hi h old
fun, feiler-cityzens, ye want ter watch me spli open
ther skull o‘ thet scrumptious alloot wi’ ther rose-
bud fastened inter his buttonho e. I kin do ct, as I
kin chow ven‘son, w'icb ye know 1 ken do thet
same."

'lghe space was cleared, as directed by Rosebud

o .

Knives, to the number of five to each. were pro-
cured from the spectators.

Before tak‘n his position, Rosebud Rob glanced
keenly about im—the longest, perhaps, into the
pretty, scared face of ldyl Abbey.

The girl-miner stood one side. with very little
color in her cheeks, and a. tremor agitating every
muscle.

She drooped her gaze beneath the strange, inqit-
ing one of the Sport. When she glanced up again
he had turned and placed his back against the cash
ern wall of the bar-room.

Cross-eyed Mike had done the same, and stood
with a knife in either hand, while three others were
stuck in his belt.

‘ The bartender had mountcd the bar; every man
nearly in the room had drawn a weapon, to enforce
fair play. .

Baltimore Bess stood near to Idyl, and as she saw

\the white face hastened to give assurance.

“ Don’t git skeered, little gal, for thar ain’t no
harm'goin‘ ter cum tor thet Sport, an’ don't ye fergit
it. A tough customer in battle, ar‘thet same Rose-
bud, an' I’ll bet high he sp‘iles the beauty 0’ thet
brute, kerslap. ”

“ Gents!” cried the barkeeper. standing to his full
hight, with adpair of large-caliber revolvers inhand,
“ airs ye rea y fer ther sermon ter begin ?"

“ All ready heeri" the giant announced, with a.
hoarse chuckle.

“ Ditto here." Rosebud Rob assented, coolly.

“Kareetl Step one pace forward, so as yer arms
kin hev full play."

he order was obeyed.

“Now right hands raised, ready to hurl a knife
apiece!"

The right hands were raised, and the heavy hunt—
ing-knives poised for the hurliug. according to each
man’s notion. Then there was a breathless pause,
of several minutes‘ duration.

Simmonds. the barkeeper, gazed over the crowd
of expectant faces below—saw that every man had
drawn a weapon to insure fair play,

" One!" he cried, suddenly and sharply-4‘ let ’em'
Two.

drive when I say three, gents. Take keer—
rnnnnl"

The words were barely formed in sound, when
there was a sudden move of two ri ht arms and the
weapons of the contestants went urtling through
the airwith an ominous w iz

n .
. m: a, frightful howl-o: pain comes from the cross-

 

eyed giant. and he leaps about like an infuriated
wild beast.

The keen-bladed knife of the Sport has neatly
shaved off the right ear of his opponent, close to the
skull, and then buried itself in the log of the wall.
While a shout goes u from the spectators, as Rose-
bud Rob is seen stan ink erect, unhurt, and as cool
as an iceberg, to all appearances.

Gasket’s knife had gone wide of its mark.

“Order!” roared Simmonds. from on top of the

bar. “Git back ter yer place, Cross-e e or ou’re
aldeadl man. Some one stench the ow 0’ load,
p ease ”

Ready‘hands bandaged up the giant’s wound, and
beneath the gaze of a dozen or more revolver muz-
zles, he cowered back to his end of the room, and
drew a second knife, with a string of curses.

“Get readyl" cried Simmonds. “ Each man has
an equal show, an’ I'm goin‘ ter see the contract
kerried out ter ther letter, of ther old constitoochin'
knows herself. Don’t yu second ther motion, teller-
citizens?”

A shout of approval went up from the crowd.

Baltimore Bess was in ecstasies, while Idyl stood
with a pale face, and dilated eyes. She had never
witnessed such a terrible battle; she conid not speak'
when she would have left theroom, her limbs refuse
to move.

“Hurray! warn’t thet did skientiflc, now?" Bess
cried, excitedly. “I tell ye w’at, thar’s nothin’ like
bein' a man. I wouldn‘t e a woman no quicker’n
I’d chaw my own head off. you bet. Just watch
thet S ort. now. He’s gittin' ready for ernuthor
fling. en ter one he cuts thet tough’s head clean
5%ar‘ off."

he words startled Idyl back into herself once
more; her limbs no longer refused to move. She
glided to the side of the Sport, andlaid or. . hand up-
on his arm. a pealingly.

“Don’t!” s e said, in a low, tremulous voice—
“don’t kill the man—~for my sakel"

“ For your sake?” Rosebud Bob said, gazing down
into the retry face. with sudden admiration in his
eyes. “ or your sake, miss? You must have some
purtickler paSSion, then, for sech cowards as thet
cuss, yonder.”

“No! noi I despise him. even more than you do.
But I don’t want murder done here, in Cascade

City.”

‘I‘ Bttit it wouldn’t be murder, I reckon, to drop thet
ga 00 "

I“ Yes, it would. Promise me not to kill him, to
night." »

l promisel" the Sport said, watching the girl,
as she hurried back to the side of Baltimore Bess.
‘ Cum. young feller wi’ ther rosebud—are ye
ready?” Simmonds cried.

“ Quite ready 1" the Sport replied.

“ An’ ye, Cross~eyes?” '

“ Give’s the word l” the giant said, with a voice
like a bull‘s roar.

' He had poised his knife. and was evidently count-
inz upon a sure stroke for victory.

“Ready, zentsl” cried Simmonds, briskly. “ One,
twr», three!” ,

The word had scarcel passed his lips ere the
knives left the bands of t e duelists, and went whiz-
zinz ominously through the air.

Every one, perhaps. exce t the contestants, shud-
dered as the missiles of dea h shot forward.

A wild, awful yell came from the giant while the
cronzd broke into a simultaneous shout of astonish-
men .

What did it mean? Was the cool Sport, who stood
unhurt at his end of the room—was he possessed of
the art of witchcraft? It would seem so.

None such knife-throwing had these denizens of
the Black Hills ever witnessed before.

For this last shot was no less than wonderful.

The Sport, upon hurling his weapon, had given it
a send-off something after the manner in which the
native o: the South Sea Islands hurls his boomerang;

Idyl, the Girl Miner;

13

 

it had made a peculiar curve in its flight and the
sharp blade, in passing close to the giant's lace, had
completely clipped of the mtrtma end of his nose]

CHAPTER VI.
OLD FOES MEET—ROSEBUD ROB AGAIN.

Yrs, it was ven sol

The man With the bell-punch was minus one ear
and the end of his nose, of which he was ever proud,
as he had got it colored as finely as ever the Jolly
German colored his meerschaum.

And with bowls and oaths of despair and rage, the
iant, blood-blinded. as it were, drew another knife
rom his belt and poised it, waiting for the signal to

hurl it at his cool and defiant yonn foe opposite.

The latter was similarly prepare , and at the word
they let fly. . _

Cross-Eyed Mike‘s weapon Just grazed the left
shoulder of the Sport. ' .

The knife of Rosabud Rob went wide of its mark,
and a murmur from the spectators was sufilcxeut

antee that they did not believe the Sport had
made the miss without a pu se.

Agaid the duelists took their stand.

Again they hurled the knives, Gasket‘s weapon
carryin away a piece of the Sport's coat-sleeve;
while t elatier‘s knife Went quivering into the log
wall, not an inch away from the one previously
thrown. I

But one knife apiece now remained to be thrown.

Cross-Eyed Mike grasped his. with a chuckle.

“ l'm jest gittin’ my hand in l" he said, fiercely.
“I’ll split the cuss‘s skull open this time, an’ then
gobble up thet bit 0' feminine kaliker over yauder,
arfter I’ve tolled my bell-punch l"

Pretty ldyl shrunk nearer to Baltimore Bess, as
she heard the rufllan’s threat and caught his gloat-

ing lance.

Ԥ)on't be skeered, leetle onel" Bess whispered,
reassuringly. “ Ten ter one Bobby puts in his work
beauchil‘nl this time. ‘waxt you sn‘ me, I‘ll bet
ihar’s nary a pilgrim in these hyar mines as kin lay
over thet same leetle‘SportQ‘ ' '

The men took their relative posmons; the word
was given by Simmonds; the missiles flew through
the a r swift , .

- There was a groan and a heav fall at the giant’s
end of the room. The butt 0 the knife~hilt had
struck him endwise. between his organs of sight, and
ended the duel, as had been the intention of the
Sport. for be cast a contemptuous glance at 818
fallen bully, and turned away.

A shout of defeaning applause rent the air, and a
crowd surrounded the Sport, with expressions of ad-
miration and congratulation. ' .

Idyl now took the opportunity to sh from the
room, and run around to her own part 0 the cabin.

She found Sir Tom Somerset sitting in the door-
way but Old Elk, the Hermit, was nowhere in sight.

“ here is papa!" she demanded, breathlessly
pausing in front or the young baronet, as he did not
arise to let her pass. ' '

“ He retired some time ago, I believe. MISS Idyl,"
was the reply. “I suppose you know it’s past his
bedtime.” . -.
' “ No! what time is it? I was 50—”

u Eng).

 

cased in a low saloon brawl. that you had
forgotten yourself " he finished. with biting sarcasm.
“ It is twelve o‘c ock. Miss Abbey—high time, I
should say, for you to be in bedl”

A flush of resentment went rioting over her pretty

ace.

“Sir? .You use strange words—and you a guest
at thatl”

“A psyin one. newever," he returned, light] .
“I am un or no obligations to either you or r.
Abbey, except for the first few days of my stay
here. ’

“Why do on remain?” she demanded, suddenly,
turning the ull power other eyes upon him. “ Wh
do on remain here, where you cannot derive muc

oyment!"

\

 

“I remain because I want you." he replied, in a
low. passionate voice: “because I am determined to
win on yet, and carry you away when I go."

“ hen let me dissipate any such a hope," she re-
plied, coldly. “ I can never be anything more to on
than a friend. You had better know this now t an
later. Go back to our English home, and forget
that on ever met I yl Abbeyl"

" 0! no! I cannot, Idyl— ‘

“ You must, I say. You are only making yourself
miserable by remaining here. I Will plainly and can-
didly tell you, once and for all—I do not love you,
and can never be our wife."

She pushed by im then and entered the cabin,
leaving behind her one of the most wretched beings
in Cascade Cit , unless we were to make allowance
for the Man- ith-the—Bell»Pnnch, who had suffered
the loss of his ear and nose-tip at the hands of Rose-
bud Rob.

But Sir Tom was not the one to be put of! lightly.
He knew that there was worth to a woman like Idyl
Abbey, and that the possession of her was, in every
sense of the word, worth working for.

On the following morning. ldyl was up with the
first streak of dawn in the east, and after a hasty
breakfast, was out at her claims, working away in
golden sands.

The day was one of those mild Indian summer
days, which serve to charm and lull the senses. A
misty haze hung above the gulch, through which
the sun enetrated mildly.

The va ley was thronged to-day, throngcd with
would-he miners and speculators. with roughs and
shn pers, whose business was doubtful. at the best.

The girl-miner accomplished but little, in the way
of washing out wealth, for she was repeatedly bolh-
ered by ersistent inquirers, who were eager to pro-
cure a s me out of the golden cake.

General expressions of disappointment were heard
on either hand.

Th: gulch was no bonanza, after all the excite-
men .

Two men were talking the matter over,,:as they
stood near where Idyl was working.

“ The irl here has got the best art, evidently,”
said Lor Byron Cavendish, watc ing her with a
bold, insolent store, which caused her to feel uneasy
—for she knew that his eyes were turned upon her,
even though she did not look at him. "The girl’s
got the best claim, and consequently there is a poor
show for the rest of the fellows."

“ Unless their digging results in a bigger dis
covery," re lied the second individual, aMr. Charles
Devere, of star City.

“I would give a good deal to 03593 this claim l“
Cavendish muttered. lowering is tone. “ I Could
then get back some of the money I have lost lately
at the gaming-table. Is there no way we could de-
throne this girl and get. the claim in our possession?
A couple of clever villains like you and I ought to
manage it all ri ht."

“Hardly,” Devere replied. “If the irl was here
first and staked ofl‘ her own, she can ho d it, in spite
of the—the devil l" with a sardonic laugh.

“ Have you learned her name yet?"

“I believe they call her ldyl." '

“‘lldyll a strange name; likewzse, a deuced pretty
gir .’

“ Yes. remarkably so."

“ Could we not persuade her to sell out her claim
at a nominal figure, do you think?“

Devere shook his head.

"She’s no fool. I’ll guarantee." he said.

Lord Cavendish, however, had a conceited notion
that American women were possessed of, an intellect
on}; a trifle above the beasts of the forest.

5 regarded them as beneath his serious notice,
unless there was a bargain to be made.

Of Idyl Abbey. however. he had a little more ele-
vated opinion. She was unusually pretty—perhaps
had money saved ug; andthst was an tem of e.
cided advantage in t e Britisher‘s eyes. '

\

 

 

14

“ Aheml Is this claim for sale. rung lady ?“ he
Ventured to ask finally. in his oilies - tones.

“Not for sale!" Idyl re lied. briefly, for she liked
not the appearance of the 'ai-onet pr his companion.
“ I hare answered this same question for a matter of
ten or fifteen times to-day.”

“ Ohl well. you needn‘t be so Independent about
itl" Cavendish said, insolently. "I’ve seen Indian
squaws twice as polite as you.” '

“ Sirl" and Idyl flushed hotly. “if you come here
to annoy me, you are unWelcome. You Will please
takegyour departure!" . _ h

“ h? G0 at the order of a mere chit of a girl like
you?" his lordship exclaimed. “Perhaps you do not
know who I am. young woman?”

“ Well, now, then, who are, mt ?" Idy’l demanded,
picking up her rifle and leaning upon III. while she
surveyed the two men coolly. “Go ahead and give
us a nil account of yourself." A

Cavendish uttered a. polite English oath, while De-
vere simply whistled.

It Was a picture neither of them could help admir-

in .
g‘A-ahi aheml my pert miss my name is Caven-
dish, atnyour serv ce—Lord I§yron Cavandish, of
n

n.

" Very well!" the Angel of the Gulch replied, cool-
1 . “i see nothing of special importance in that
fist. You’re no better than any one elsel"

” You shall find out about that l” Cavendish raved.
his face growing florid with mortiflcation. “ Come!
let’s go back to the hotel, Devero I‘ve a thoughtin
my mind concerning this girl. which I want to whis—

er in your ear. Good-day, Miss Independence—alt
Irevoir.’ ' _ .

ldyl watched them walk away, her eyes dilating
widely. I .
“T ey are a pair of villains,” she mused, a feeling
of uneasiness stealing over her. “Cavendish? ahl
that was the name of Sir Tom Somerset's fellow-
tourist.” . .

She went on with her work, but it was With a
feeling of unrest.

 

Lord Cavendish and the man, Devere, went back
to the "howtel," as Mrs. Matrevis's. establishment
gas characterized upon a creaking Sign up over the

cor. «

“ The' irl’s a regular spitfire!" the Britisher
growled, n vexation.

“She rather cooled you off," Devere laughed.
" Takes a woman to make a man feel that he isn‘t
0‘ much account, anyhow."

“ Hang the womenl I want that spot of land and
I‘m going to have it by hook or by crookl ho is
the girl‘s father, and where does she live, I won-
der?‘ ‘

“ There‘s her father, now," and the man from
Custer City pointed a short distance away. where
Old Elk was sitting in his arm chair, beneath the
willow, engaged in smoking his grimy; pipe. “ That‘s
her father, an’ she lives wi’ him in t e cabin, I reck-
on."

Cavendish gazed closely at the Hermit as he ap-
proached nearer, and finally he gave a violent start,
and an expression of incredulity came over his fea-
tures.

‘ Jason Abbeyl Can it be possible?" he cried,
leaping forward with an oath. _ ‘

“ Ay l” the old man cried, seizmz one of his crutch»
es, and raising it on the defensive; “Jason Abbe, !
Keep back. Ronald Dorchesterl keep backl or I w ll,
flash your brains out, as old as I am, and not half
the man I was ten years agol"

Cavendish, alinx orchester, laughed sneeringly.

“ Don't fear, old fellow! I wouldn’t touch a liairof
your head. were every hair-a golden chain. evere,
I‘ll see you later." .

Devere bowed. He recognized a polite hint for
him to be gone, and he accordingly strolled toward
the cascade. to pass away the time.

After he had gone, Lord Cavendish had brought a

 

Idyl, the Girl Miner. .

chair from inside the cabin and seated himself in
front of tho Hermit, just out of reach of the oaken
crutch. ‘

A wonderful change had come over the Hermit in
the last few minutes. He had straightened up from
his habitual bent position, with tense muscles and
clinched hands.

His face, though shaded by a grayish pallor, was
resolute in its expression, and his eyes had a steely
glitter that they ad not ossessed before.

“ Well?” Cavendish sai , with a. complacent smirk,
as ho stroked his luxurant side~whiskers. “ It seems
that I have found your hidingI-place at last. when I
was least thinkin of you. a! hal your surprise
must have been a out e ‘ual to mine."

“On the contrary, I ave been expecting this,"
the Hermit replied, calmly—ago calmly as to causethe
visitor to glance at him the second time. “I had
been looking for you during the past two years,
knowing there was no gold excitement without its
influx of blacklegs and unprincigled knaves.“

"Hal ha! a good way of brus ing a fly OR of my
nose. isn’t it? Well, well. fire away, old man. I can
stand any amount of verbal abuse. By the way, I
see you have rown old in the last decade—older
than I, even, a beit our nges used to be the same.”

“ Yes. own old,” was the slow reply; “ but it is
better to nigh uuto a glorious hereafter. than to
have oue’s soul burdened with crime, Ronald Dor-
chesterl” :

“ Indeed! Is that so? But, my dear Abbey, re-
frain from calling me Dorchester. My name, for the
past few years, has been Lord Byron Cavendish.

ou see an old uncle died and bequeathed me his
wealth and title. Not but what Dorchester was ever
an honorable name; but, you see, it seems a little
odd after all my lordly career."

The Hermit somehow managed to articulate a.
faint laugh of scorn at this juncture.

“I see you are the same conceited scoundrel of
oldl" he said, “ But come! I do not care to pro-
lon this interview. State your business, and gel"

“ shall take my time to that," the other an-
nouncen. decidedly. “I propose to have a social
chat with you."

:‘ You; have a social chat with me?“ the Hermit
cried, his voice rising with trembling anger; “you.
who stole away my bride from her first-born child?
Iplaced my curses upon your heads then, as I do
now. Because I won a woman you would have
ruined, and made her my wife, Roland Dorchester.
vogvowed to wreak vengeance upon me and mine.

on have done so—what more do you want?"

“I want a continuation of the same, unless we
can come to a settlement!“ the Englishman replied.
with an affected yawn. “ You do not ask about
your wife, Jason, as I supposed you would 7"

"Ask about her!" the Hermit hissed, with an in-
tense bitterness of tone—“she whom you enticed
away from her husband and child. I have no wife,
you accursed villainl The hour that Hellice Abbey
left my roof she ceased to be anything to me or the
child she bore me." ‘ v

"The girl down the gulch yonder is that childgl
presume?” ‘

“The same." 

“I should have judged so. She seems to assess
many of your wife‘s traits of character. or in-
stance. at her age in life. 1 see that she has got so
far advanced that a couple of roughs were fighting
over her in the bar-room last evening.”

“A couple of roughs, sir?” exclaimed a. cool, Cyni-
cal mice, and a trim, daud ish figure stepped around _
the corner of the cabin. ‘ Allow me to correct your
mistake. and at the same time fender you an invita-
tion to meet me, at your earllest convenience. A.
‘ rough ’ implies that which is of no credit to a
thoroughbred entleman. and I thought it might be
Just as well to ave a pistolic debate on the subject
now, as at any later period." .

Cavendish uttered an oath and leaped to his feet.

Before him stood the Sportive notoriety, Rosebud

1.154, the Girl Miner.

13

 

Bob, the same cool sharp. whose‘ name was being
handled in awe by the gossipy miners, wherever his
advent had taken place. .

A flush of malicious anger dyed the florid countea
nance of the Englishman to a more apoplectic hue as
he surveyed the Sport.

“What do you mean, you accursed eavesdrop-
peri‘: he growled, savagely. “ I'll teach you mana
nersl ’

“ My challenge just now would seem to imply that
Iwas willinito take a few lessons from you, my
lord," Rose ud Rob replied. satirically. _

“ What! I fight £021.?” Cavendish gas ed. as if
seized with sudden error at the though "Why,
you insignificant pu y, I’d disdain to touch the
point of a weapon Wit you—I would, ’ron my hon-
or. You see, I never flght.except witha entieman.”
J‘Indeed? Then you are afraid to fig t With me,
e 7

“ Certainly not."

“Then why don’t you accept the challenge, you
cowardly sneak?"

Cavendish trembled with suppressed rage. To be
called a " cowardly sneak " was the hight of insult;
yet he was aware that he must not fl ht with the
cool Sport if he would reserve his own ife. He had
witnessed the, strange uel of last night, and he had
no desire to measure skill with so wonderful 9. marks-

man.

“You shall be satisfied." Cavendish gritted, “ but
not now; another time will do just as well.”

“ Certainly,” the Sport replied. with a quiet smile.
" I‘ll give you time to square up your earthly ac-
counts. and to determine which way you would pre-
fer to be sent ofl. Until then Ibid you an affection-
ate adieu.”

And. with a mocking laugh, the dandy of the
mines walked away, whistling a strain from La Son-
nambula in a peculiarly piercing tone.

Cavendish watched him with a black frown for
several minutes. then turned upon the Hermit, with
a sarcastic chuckle.

CHAPTER VII.
L BUSEAN‘D-EUNTER—TEE HUNsz mmm.

“THAT’S the individual who took the art of your
daughter. friend J ason,” he said, resuming his seat.
“ No doubt you are deeply impressed with his flashy
appearance and apparent bravado!"

" At the very least. he has evidently more manly
rinciples than you!" the Hermit replied. bitterly.
“Ronald Dorohester. tell me what you want—then

go. Your presence is gall and wormwood to me.”

“That is why I am delighted to stay with you,"
the, villain replied; “but as I do not wish to be undu-
ly hasty in worrying you out of the world I’ll state
my business and go. We may as wellbe friends as
enemies. I hear you no articular ill-will, and I am
sure you could learn to ave me as a scam-law, in
due time."

“ What!“ the Hermit gasped. half starting from
his seat. “ Are you mad. man i”

“Perfectly sane, ‘I assure you. Your girl is a
pretty lass, and would make me a good wife, no
doubt.” _ .

“Stop! ’Tis certainly madness to discuss such an
idea. Ronald Dorchesfer. Before I’d soe my Idyl
wedded to a Scoundrel like you. I'd cut her pure
white throat with my own half-palsied hands!”

“ Ha! ha! bravely spoken. my dear Abbey; but in-
dicative of a weak mind nevertheless. Were there
an asylum for the demented Within easy reach of
this desolate spot. I should Certainly see to your re-
moval there at once. ,By‘therby. do not get excited
but consider matters from a rational standpoint. and
when I return I shall expect to find you willingto
com y with all of my requests!"

:3. 1 Ronald Dar-cheater!" the Hermit hissed, as
th'é'haronet arose and walked away. “ You’ll never
convert me into a tool to serve your. purposes. My
exrerlence with you has been too bitter—too bitter
tor me not to be on my guard.”

 

Cavendish, as we will continue to call him, walked
around the cabin to the eastern side, where was the
entrance to Mrs. Matrevis‘s saloon. He was on the
eve of entering. when a touch u on the arm caused
him to wheel about, with a. grun of inquiry

But an expression of mingled curiosity and dis-
gust came over his features when he saw who it
was.

It was the eccentricity of whom Jake Johnson had
2: oken to Idyl—the husband-hunter, Mrs. George

ashington Bounce. ‘

Of all females she was. perhaps, the most eccentric
and ludicrous-a. pleating of any in the mines.

What little 0 er features were to be seen were
sharp and angular, with a hooked nose, sharp. bead~
like eyes, and a mouth of broad-gauge dimensions.
Iii addition, her countenance was libelall washed
With that article of the feminine toilet nown as
“ lily-while," and the cheeks tinged with rouge. An
olden-time “ sky-scraper ” bonnet, surrounded wher
face and covered her head, being plenufuny adorned
with artificial roses and loud ribbons. In form she
was long and lank. and her dre of huge— red
calico, with something like two yar s of train be ad.
and a scant red shawl over her shoulders, gave her
a. strange, rotesque appearance.

And who. such a creature could want with him was
beyond Lord Cavendish’s powers of comprehension,
to sa the least.

“ ell, woman, what is it?" he growled, grumy.

“ Sliure an’ phat is it?" the woman replied. “ Faix,
an’ there’s nary a woman in the town better than
mesilf, of I do say it.”

“Hang your nonsense. Tell me what you want,
or go alon with your accursed balggage."

“A div' a bit 0‘ ba gage hev at all. yer honor.
It’s a poor lone widdy am. shure. who be hufletin’
the es of adversit '. wid nary a hope for ther future
excep to find a oine gentleman to take the place
lift vacant in me bladin’ heart by the dith 0‘ Mike
Maloney. Ochl wurra! a divil uv a. {oine husband
was that same Michael. but now he’s a bod-carrier
up forninst the angels 1”

“In the name of Heaven, woman. how does this
concern me? I never saw you before!"

“ Shure, but the same nade make no difference, at
all. l'm a poor widdy. an‘ ye be a bachelor. Take
me to your arms. along with all ther luv 0v the
Maloneys, for centur'es to come."

“ Nonsense! This woman is mad. Get away. you
Irish vagrantl" and giving her a push. he managed
to dive into the. tavern. and escape to his room.

While outside, Mrs. G. G. W. Bounce. glared around
her for another victim, upon whom to pounce. »

Rosebud Rob was standing at short d stance awa ,
conversing with Idyl. Seeing which Mrs. B. m
for him unceremoniously.

“Aha! me darlint, it’s mesilf as hev found yezi"
she exclaimed. with a radiant‘g'rin, as she endeavor-
ed to throw herself into the Sport‘s arms. “ Shure.
an‘ it’s liuntin’ I’ve been these menny days fer yez.
Divil a hit will I give ye up n0w."N‘-: v

“ Confound it. what do you mean you old lunatic?
I‘m no darlint o‘ youisl" Rosebud b replied. push-
ing her away, at arm’s length. ” Who are you,
anyhow ‘2”

“Och! divil a soul knows better than mesilf who
I .be. Mrs. Gineral George Washington Bounce at
ver service. tlio’ it‘s formerly the wife av Mike a-

onev that I was. Sbure Mike he died from a-carry-

in' the hod.,he did, an‘ thin comes along an Ameri-
can spalpeen. bad luck to him. an’ he fluthers one
eyeat mesilf. an‘ he sez, sez he. the omadhaun:
‘ Cum wid me, Biddy ye flower av tha Emerald
sod. to that land av the frae American. an‘ be the
wife av Gineial George Washington; share We a
divil av a foine time we‘ll have, oiitlrel ‘! Poor de-
luded fule that I was, I kim over the b g puddle, an‘
we landed at Castle Garden, one mornin’ in the
month av August.

“ $92 the gineral to me, thin: .

“ Biddy, me treasure, 31st be afther loanin’ mettle

 

16 Idyl, the Girl Miner.

 

five hundred that yez got from the sale av the wee
cot on the ould sod, an‘ w'ile I run forninst the bank,
ye'll be rollin’ away to me palace, on tha avenue.
Au’, shure, I smelt nothing at all. an‘ be tuk the
money, put me into a cab containin‘ a man, wid
brass buttons on his coat—his liveried servant I
helave he called ’im—an’ furst I know’d I was in a
place tha called the Tombs—an‘ they sad as how I
was ’rested, bedad, for sth’alin'. An‘ whin [told the
spalpeens that I was Mrs. Gineral George Washing-
ton, tha mother av._ine counthr , they all laughed,
an’ a big polaceman told me to ‘ ounce'. I ‘ bounc-
ed ’l but everywhere 1 wint, an’ told ’em who I was,
the ‘d simply say ‘bounce.’ an’ it‘s mesilf as kim
to ha final conclusion that ‘ Bounce ’ must be a
parth o‘ my name ontireiy."

“Hal hal this is rich!" Rosebud Rob cried, laugh-
ing heartil ,as did Idyl, for in the relation of er
narrative, t e “widder” had adhered to the broad
Irish twang, and had pitched her vows to a sharp,
indignant key.

"My good woman, what became of the ‘ general ’,
and what brings you out here in the mines? ‘

“Ochl wurral shure, an’ they told me tha same
‘ginerai ' was a noted—corkleg, I think tha called it,
an' that he had swindled me out 0’ me money. Jest
as if I didn‘t know the samel But divil a bit keercd
1,, There was niver a Maloney. nor the son ov a
Maloney, noor the. wife of a Maloney, as would cry
fornins spilt milk; an‘ I set forth in s‘arch of anither
husband tor take the. place av poor Mike Maloney,
that is deceased."

“ And you have been unsuccessful, so far, Itake
it?" the Sport asked.

“ Faix, an‘ it’s mesllf that has that same. Divil a
man hev I met wid a heart in im at all, or an eye
for thrue beaut av tha desolate, soul-yearnin' Wid-
dy av George . Bounce.”

“ Well, well, this is real] sinful, that no one can
appreciate your manifold 0 arms. Did you try the
man you met at the saloon door a bit ago?"

“ Shure, an‘ there‘s nary a men in the camp I
haven‘t altered mysilf to. But. they all say ‘ git
eout.’ or ‘bounce, e Irish vagrant,‘ an‘ sure it‘s a
sick ould place, out rely.”

“ You must not be discouragedl" Rob assured, a
sparkle in his eye. "The man you met at the door
is an English lord, and no doubt if you ush your
case, on can strike a tender chord in his eart, and
the u timate result will be, that you discard the
American name of Mrs. General George Washington
Bounce for the aristocratic English title of Lady
Byron avondishi"

“Arrahl an’ do yez raelly think that same, yer
boner?"

“ There can be no doubt of it. my dear woman.
Cavendish seems to have a passion for comely wo-
men, and your case bids fair to win, if you onl hang
to your work with the perseverance of ahu -dog.
Take my advice—don‘t give him a minute‘s peace
until he makes ~you his wife. Assn encouragement
if you succeed, ’11 give you a hundred dollars out of
my own pocketl"

“ Ochl now, but it's foolin' wid me ye be, er hon-
erl" and Mrs. G. W. B’s face became glo ously il-
luminated.

" Not a bit of it. You do your work, and I’ll stand
by my word, as sure’s my name is Rosebud Rob, ‘ a
man to suit all circumstances.‘ "

“ Thin, by the hand of the Virgin Mary! it’s nlver
a da shall 30 b but I pop the momentlous uestion
to t a lolkes 0 his lordshl i" cried Mrs. ounce
decidedly, and the next In nute she had wheeled
about, and was pacing rapidly off toward the hotel.

When she was out of hearln . Rosebud Rob burst
into a shout of laughter, w ch lasted for several
minutes.

“ You'll see fun hereafter." be said at last. "If I
do not mistake that woman’s metal, she’ll make it
red-hot for that British rascal."
my.» on think this strange creatureswormm, sir!"

    

i“ Eéhf not a woman! Do you really believe it,
m 55 ’

“ I asked you if you thought her such, sir! I pass-
ed no opinion."

“True. But—but hang itl she looks and acts like
one. I don't believe but what she’s pure quill l"

“ Perhaps you are right. But you will have to ex-
cuse me now. Imust go to work, or in day will
have been idl spent, for interruptions ve been
numerous to- a ."

"Ahl I will go, then. Pray excuse me for my
thoughtless intrusion; it shall not be repeated."

" I did not mean you, sir, particularly, Mr. Maple-
ton. You I regard as a friend since you so bravely
came to my rescue, and friends and strangers, you
know, one cannot afford to rant equal rivile es."

Rosebud Rob bowed, bu excused imsel and
sauntered away. He saw that the girl miner -
sessed a maideniy modesty, and it was not for 
to confuse it by intruding.

 

After escaping the daughter of Hibernia, Lord
Cavendish hastened to his room, which was directly
over the saloon, and found Devere there, engaged in
reading a yellow-covered novel.

This man fr m Custer City was in no single partic-
ular a great v lain. His was an easy nature, and. in
his bringing up. he had never been taught what it
was to be scrupulous. Anything which oflered him
the easiest way to attain an easy livelihood was what
he liked best, and he had come to Cascade City to
“make a stake,” without considerin how it was to
be done. He and Lord Cavendish met on the
way, and, for a stipulated sum, Devere had consent-
ed to serve the Brit-her.

“ Well, my lord you evidently met an old ac-
quaintance in the ermit down there?" he said, look-
ing 11 from his book.

“ es; an old enemy," the baronet replied. “ I
should as soon have ex cted to find him here. as
I would to find the deVil in a church-pulpit. But
as it turns out, it ma be a lucky chance that caused
me to stumble upon im."

“ In res ct to the girl?" '

“ Exact y. She is pretty, and would not grace a.
palace so badly, after all.‘

“ Especially when she has a princely fortune back
of her beauty.“

“ A fortune?"

“Yes. Had you not heard the little story about
the old Hermit‘s hidden treasure? They say he’s
been wasth out gold in this valley for the ast ten
years, and t at he‘s got it hidden away, by he bag-

11

‘: Hal I had not heard of this. Is there any truth

in the report?”

“ As to that. I am unable to say, Probably the re-
oat would not have originated Without some foam
a on.

I The Englishman knitted his brows together, dark.

y.

“ If this be true, Devere, you and I must have that
treasure," he said, in a low tone.

“We must first find out where it is secreted, and
then the old man must die a seemingly natural
death. Then, we can take the girl and the old,
return to the old world, and live like nabobs. ow
like you the picture?"

“The picture is well enough, if executed ri ht.
But, there is the stick. It's easy enough to talk, ut
not to act. I have just been reading of a notorious
villain, at heart. who laid a ian to ruin a young man.
and get possession of his ortune. He maneuvered
like a good fellow, but finally was foiled. and brought
to spacedy justice, as villains usually are."

“ ooh! if you get your brain full of such non-
sense, you may calculate to be defeated. I am no
fool to imperil my neck and consequently, we must
work in extra cards, n the game. There’s that

 

rough customer they call Cross-Eyed Mike, for ex-
ample." .

    

  

my“.

 wax.-

N1
1

Idyl, the Girl Minéi‘.

 

 

     

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

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19 I,

“Humphl I judge he is about done for, for the
present, what with the loss of an ear and a nose."

“Nevertheless, we could not get a better man to
serve usnthat is, if we can get him. He has the
savage ferocity of a bulldog, and the memory of a
tobacco-fed elephant." _

“ But a bigger coward at heart never lived!”

“How do you mean?"

“ I mean what I said. He is a coward, es ecially
whethhe meets such men as that Sport, sebud

“ Curse the Sport!" Cavendish growled, with a
frown. “ He is an obstacle in my path—an obstacle
which must be removed ”

"You fear him then?"

"Ayl [’1] Own that I do. There is only one other
living man whom I fear more."

“ Who is that?"

“ His name is Joaquin Muriete."

“ What! the toll-gate keeper on the new road i”

“ The same. I never go to bed at night but his re-
vengeful face rises before my mind’s-eye like some
evil hantom.”

“ hat have you to fear from him, my lord ?"

“It matters not now. Some other time I‘ll tell
you."

And rising abruptly, the villain left the room.

A week passed.

Matters at Cascade City had assumed a change of
aspect. inasmuch as the population had increased to
a con le of hundred souls. and every incoming stage
adds to thi; number. The commercially-inclined
men had arrived among the rest, and several little
stores and saloons had gone up, as well as numerous
dwellings.

Evidently Cascade City was to be a minin -town
in earnest, for some paying spots of sand ha been
found down the valley], and all available territory
had been leased off at igh figures.

But in the midst of the increasing tide of prosper-
ity, when men could gamble if they could not mine
themselves rich or poor in a single day—in the midst
of all the hustle and excitement there was many a
complaint raised, many a dark threat made, against
one man, and that man Joaquin Murlete, Jr.

Since the'opening of the new road, and. by the
way, the only direct route to the new strike, the
travel over it had been considerable, owing to the
lnflowing of the miners.

No other route was there, without making a detour
of twenty or thirty miles, and this was not desirable.

Yet, not a stage—not a person assed over the
road. unless he aid toll at the litt e shanty on the
dug-way. Five ollars apiece for each human pass
iniby the gate, was charged, except in the case of
Ja 9 Johnson, stage driver. Why he was left out,
no one could right] guess.

On several occas ons there had been resistance on
the part of gangs of miners and roughs. against pay-
ing such an enormous toll, but when dark-faced
Joaquin‘s whistle had called a score or more of
brawn masked men to his backing, the toll was
inevlta ly forthcoming.

If Joaquin Muriete had constructed the road. why
had he not the right to charge each person toll that
passed over it?

This was the concession of a few, but the general
verdict of the Cascade-City-ites was that they were
being robbed by the highway toll~gatekeepen

And it had been bold yannounced that it would be
worth the life of this man Joaquin, for him to set his
foot within the precincts of that mining-town.

Yet the chief was abroad at times when he was
unexpected.

Byron Cavendish was returning to his hotel. late
one night from a gambling den down the gulch.
when he card a footstep in his rear, and turned
just in time to catch a faint glimpse of a dark figure,
which had been following him.

With acurse. he snatched a pistol from his belt,
and tired; but his only answer was a mocking laugh.

, l

 

Idyl, the Girl Miner.

While, the next minute. there was a whiz and a
whir, and he uttered a piercing yell, as an arrow
tore into the flesh of his right side.

He. heard another mocking laugh, and then a
horse (lashing rapidly through the valley, and he
knew that his assailant was escaping.

Not possessed of the coura e to extract the urea-
pon, he staggered on to the ar-room of Mrs. Ma-
trevis's establishment, where ready hands oflered
him aid.

And. after the blood had been stanched. and the
wound dressed, a piece of paper was discovered
wrapped around the shaft of the arrow, and handed
to the baronet.

It contained a single line, written in a bold hand,
and these were the words:

“ The 10m 0/ October. Beware 1"

CHAPTER VIII.

“A rmrm MOTHER KNOWS no BARRIER BETWEEN
neassm AND CHILD.“

THE Sport, Rosebud Rob. independent of the ac-
commodations oflered by the boarding—house keep—
ers of Cascade City, had reared him a. shanty of his
own, in the gulch, and ke t barhelor’s hall

Since that afternoon w en Idyl had spoken of be—
ing disturbed in her labors, he had never visited her
at her work. But this did not hinder their fre uent
meeting. The Sport was usually sitting in his r oor-
way as she gassed homoward at the completion of
her day‘s la ors. and it was rarely that they did not
have a short chat.

After one of these interviews one evening Rosebud
Rob was not a little surprised to receive an inter-
view from the young baronet, Sir Tom Somerset,
who siill lingered in the mines, although he was
growing ale and thin.

He no ded carelessly, and drop ed upon the grass
before the door of the shanty Wit a Sigh.

Rosebud Rob knew nothin of him. except what
he had learned from Idyl, an that was by no means
satisfactory.

The girl miner was ever reserved'in her speech.

“You are Rosebud Rob, eh?" Sll' Tom said, star-
ing straight at the Sport.

“ I have the honor of being called that same," was
the reply. “ In what way can I serve you, sir?”

“ There is a way—but of that never mind at pres-
ent. I came here, as a man. to ask you a ew nes-
tions, and i trust you will answer them in a straight-
forward manner. Will you not?”

“ Rest assured on that," Rosebud Rob replied.
f‘Anything in my power which I can do for a suffer-
ing fellow-mortal, I always am ready to offer.” ‘

“ Then, tell me! how much do you care for the
girl miner?"

“ Miss Idyl?”

f‘nExactly. How much do you really care for that

u. n

“ See here; ain’t you striking out a little too fast?
Not being a minstrel eniinnn. I don't propose to
digest such conundrums aslthat.”

‘But vou must tell me.“

“Well, if I must, supposin’I were to say that I
regard her as a very dear friend.”

“ No more i"

“ There you are again, pushin‘ beyond the bound-
aries. I told you I regarded her as a very dear
friend. If I war dealin' in sentimentalism, an‘ boast-
ed 0’ her boin’ very dear as a sweetheart, most
probably I should hev sad it squar’ out."

“ Very well. This girl lovvs you!"

“Phewi What's the matter with you? Are you
a kind 0‘ matchmaker—a matrimonial huckster fer
ther girl. or what?"

“The girl loves you." Sir Tom repeated, coolly.
“I know it, even though she never said so. to my
knowledge. The girl loves you, and, you don‘t care
a snap of your fin er for her, while I do. Now, I‘ll
tell you what I’ll 0. You step out of the field—-

  

 

 

 

 

\ g. 1” I

Idyi, the Girl Miner. 19

clear out of her sight for good and leave me. to win,
and I’ll make you a present of a thousand poundsl’

“What? You buy me off? Offer me a paltry sum
of money to clear out, just so you can step in and
win the girl?”

“Yes. I am confident she would turn to me if
you were out of the wa V.“

“Well! well! well] this is about the most cheek
pro osal I ever recelVedl" Rosebud Rob exclaime .
Wit- a laugh.

“ Nevertheless, you accept my offer, sir?" Somer-
Iet said, eagerly.

“ Nevertheless, I don’t do anything of the kind!”
the Sport replied.

“And why not?"

“ Because, if ldyl Abbey cared a cent’s worth for
you. s‘hlefi not neglect you for a miserable coot like
myse

Sir Tom bowed his head upon his hands for a mo-
ment, then arose and walked away.

“ That fellow‘s a goner, surel" the Sport mut-
tered, as he gazed after him through the gathering
gloom. “Cupid’s struck him slap in the heart. wit
one of those confounded arrows. Well, that's the
way it goes, anyhow. Here I‘ve been idling away a
week or over. when I should have been at work.
And all because of a retty face. Work is now be-
tore me, and I must de ay no longer.”

He rose from the step impatiently, and entered
the cabin, closing the door behind him.

His quarters were not furnished in a very palatial
manner, for atable, stool and cot~bed constituted
the furniture, unless might be mentioned a stock of
fire-arms, and a few cooking-utensils over by the
fire-place.

A bull‘s-eye lantern set upon the table and lighted
the apartment sufficient for the S ort’s purpose.

He first. sealed himself at the ta le, after which he
drew a packs. e of papers from his pocket.

"Here is t e ma given me by the Detect ivo-
Avenger, Nugget ed," he muttered. spreading a.
sheet of paper out before him, " and this is what I
want. It is the complicated key to the Secret Mine,
which I am the owner of when I find it. But it‘s a

uzzle to study out. Every timel‘ve tackled it so

ar I’ve got disgusted and thrown it aside."

On page 17 we give a facsimile of the rude map,
which had been given the s ort in Deadwood, as
related in No. 64, of headle’s ocket Library.

“ Now, who in the name of Old Harry can make
head or tail out of such amess?"1he Sport muttered.
“ Here on another pa er is the key. according to N u g-
get Ned’s understan ing which for sur asses mine,
if he knows how to find t e secret miue y this trap.
The directions are as follows: ‘Start S. 17., and go
N. E. to main trail. 00 N. W. to Crook; "game due
11m (0 blind canyon ; N. W.. 01w 7Il071nl(ltl([~‘.;lfl7ld
valley; full»; search} Now blast my eyes. If that
isn’t a fine way to give a ellnw information. I’ve
found the valley and the falls undoubtedly; the
next thing is to find the secret mine. He gives me
the interesting advice to search for it. But where
in the deuce is a feller to search? In the earth,
where all the other sanguine mortals are digging,
orin the waters? Hal a thought strikes me. The
fallsl What were they inscribed upon the map for,
if not of use?" _

Li hting a cigar, he continued to go over the map
care ully.

“ In under where the falls of the map would seem
to pour over the precipice is a figure x1" he mur-
mured—“ very small, but yet discernible. I wonder
if any importance is attached to that? By Jovel I
believe I’ve at last stumbled upon the right clew.
The secret mine is somewhere about these falls,
and in that mine men are working in golden rock.
unbeknownst to the world at large. And I am the
only living man who has the knowledge of this
mine, except those miners, whoever they are. I am
the.capt‘ain of a band of unknownsl" . .

“Nol you err there. I am the captain in your

steam"

 

The words rung through the room in a strange.
cool voice, and Rose bud Rob wheeled around, to
find that he was not alone.

A man stood close by, with folded arms, and
masked face—a man, about whose mustached month
there hovered a peculiar smile.

It was Joaquin, J r. l

Rosebud Rob gave vent to a prolonged whistle. as
he saw him, and proceeded to make a critical sur-
vey of this man, whose presence was so gratuitously
vouchsafod.

It was one of the Sport’s traits of character never
to be surprised at anything. but he could not help
being curiously aroused at the coming of the masked
strau er.

" V all?”
you I"

_“ Sorry I haven‘t a card!” the other replied,
With a second smile. " My name, however, is
J as uinl"

“ hatl the famous bandit?"

t “ The son of the famous bandit—the toll-gate
maul"

“ Ahl yes. I have heard of you.“

“Did you ever hear any good of me. Sir Sport ?"

“None to speak of. T ey say you gambled away
your child)”

"Ha! Who says that?"

“ Oh! I heard of it down at Hayward, the night
the affair occurred.

“ You were there, then?"

“I was.”

“Then. maybe, you can tell me what became of
in boy?”

‘ Sorry, but I don't know."
~ Something like a moan escaped the Spaniard's

ips. .

“ Probablv he is dead. I have never been able t
learn a single tiding of him." '

“Nor of our wire?" '

“ No! S e has never‘been seen since she left me.
You heard the story, then?" ,

"Yes. a dozen times. But to'business, my dear
sir. You so. you are ahead of me, as captain of
these men 0 the secret mine?“

“lam. I was a member of Nugget Ned’s band,
and after he had departed for the East, I told the
bargain he had made with you to the boys, and was
elected to the office of commander." ~ '

“ Consequently, should I proceed to act further in
this matter—”

“You would be silenced!"

Rosebud Rob whistled again.

Here was another or his air-castles smashed at the
beginning,

.“ I am not surprised,” he said, with a grimness to
his tone. “Everything I take hold of in a specula-
tive wa literally burns my [1 ers. So it has been
with th s last case. And now, 1-. Joaquin, what is 7
your business here with me?” ‘

“ My business is to get ossession of that map and
destro it,” the Spaniar cried, suddenly springing
tower the table.

But the strong gripe of the Sport was at his
throat, and he was hurled halt-way across the
room.

" If you will be so kind as ‘to remember the little
Scriptural fact. the Wigner belongs to me," Rosebud
Rob said, coolly. “ en you get possession of it,
it will be yours.”

“Curse youl" Joaquin breathed, fiercely. “.Yon
vigould" have me for an enemy instead of a friend,
t en?

" Suit yourself, sir. Friends and enemies are two
things I regard as they should be regarded— for in-
stance: there is an individual stalking somewhere
about this town as a living specimen of how I quit
accounts with enemies." . 7

“ I think I have seen him. if you refer to the tough
called Crosstyed Mike " Joaquin said. “You re-
fuse to give up the map? ’

“Most assuredly I do.”

he said, after a pause. “who are

I

  

 

90 Idyl, the em Miner.

 

“Then allow me to bid you good—evening. When
we inset again it will be in a different manner, I
mm.

__—a_

About this same time, three men were seated in
the room of Byron Cavendish putting their heads
together in the formation 0! vi lalnous plans.

The work must be done at once," Cavendish him-
self was saying. in a savage tone. "I‘ve got to make
my stake and clear out.”

“Why so! You are not such a coward as to fear

that Spaniard. J oaquin?“ sneered Devere, contemp-
tuous] . .
“ It i: not him alone. that I fear, although his hat-
red is notto be despised." Cavendish replied. “It
is this infernal Irishwoman, who has been following
me around. wherever I have gone, for the last week.
Curse her!”

“Ha! ha! ha!“

“ Well, what are you laughing about? I don‘t see
anything so funny about it. now."

‘ Well, why don‘t you marry her?"

“Marry the devil l“

“ Nol no! you're already joined to him. But, you
see, marry this old lunatic. and make her serve your

urposes. After you have done with her. Cross—

yed Mike can easily tap her upon the head;" and
the man from Custer City nodded toward the third
man of the party. who, as he had intimated, was the
bully. Cross-E ed Mike.

The bully o be i punch fame sat in one corner
upon a stool, and was rather an amusing-looking
specimen of humanity.

His head and face were nearly covered with stain-
ed bandages, which plast:red his wounds onlv leav-
ing his eyes, mouth and chin exposed to View. Every
once in awhile he woull give vent to a groan of
pain and rage. while his huge bony hands would

, clinch and unclinch in a way that boded no good to

g

the cause of all his suflerinz and mortiflcation.

" Ef ye want any funerals ’tendecl to, yo kin bet
hhyar‘s w’at is in ther right speerit fer ther biznessi"
t e lent announced.

“ oh shall work directly at good salary!“ Devere
re’plled. “And now. my lord. what do you say to
marrying this old Irish vagrant, who styles herself

rs. ounce? Of course, it Would only be done in
the name, and after we've used her, it will be easy
to put her out of the way."

‘ But in what way can we use her?" the baronet
demanded, disgustel with the idea.

" Easy enough. She sits and talks much with the
Hermit. Get her to pump out the secret of the cache
containing the treasure.‘

"Y83, yes; but will she do this?—and think of the
trials i am to undergo!” gasped Caven'llsh.

"Pshawl what of that? Will the gold not repa

on for that, and more? Come, don‘t be a foo .

on are dead broke and I’m depending on you for
cash. It’s your only hope of finding out about the
treasure."

" And how about the old man and the girl?"

" I‘ll attend to that. The Hermit‘s doom is as good
as sealed now. I have got on intimate terms with
the cook below, and she is in possession of a vial of
li old one drop of which. placed in the old man’s
co ee, when I may see fit to direct, will insure his
death within an hour.”

“ Devere, ou are a villain."

“ Not par icniarly so, my lord. I am servin you
for money. 915:! I should not plan thus. Half 0 that
treasure which the Hermit has stored away will
amply compensate for a little work like this!”

“ See beer, Capl Jest hold yer bosses a bit. Ye
seem tor be countin‘ on half 0‘ that auriferousi"
Gasket grunted. sus ectingly.

“Yes. Half is to e mine."

“Karect. An’ ther Englisher he ar’ oountin‘ on
t’other half, I calkylate, haln't he 7"

“ Certainly.“

“ Wu I war thinkin’ thet same. an‘ I‘m a sinner

of! don‘ fail ter see whar my hair cums int 'l‘wo

 

ha‘ves make a hullI an‘ ye ken‘t squeeze anuthel‘
sheet-in. nohow.“

“ 0h! as to that, we will pay you a fair sum out of
our individual shares after your work is done."

“ No ye won‘t. I kick!"

“ what?"

“ I kick, like a yearlin‘ steer. I hawk llk a boro. I
squeal!"

‘ What do you mean, you fool!"

“I illustrated plain enul'f, didn't I? I ain‘t doin‘
hezness after thet same style, you bet. Oh! no-a
nary time! I has a third outen thet, or I don‘t work
a muscle.“

“ Nonsensol Are you crazy, man? We can get a
dozen to do the work for a drink of tarant’ler.”

’l‘he ruman grinned broadly, and winked his cross-
eyes knowingly.

“ Stave ahead, of ye want to. I‘ve got inter yer
plans, an‘ 1‘” expose ‘em all, sure’s I'm ther forty-

mph 0' a modern Patience on er monument. Here
go!“ and he arose as if to depart.

" Stopl Sit down!" both men cried in alarm.
“You shall have a third, if you serve us faithfully.
Now for our plans."

“ First, you are to get the Irishwomau overl"
said Devere. “ All do endsh on flndin out where
the treasure is hid en. 1 now a l'e low up the
gulch who once studied for a preacher. but got
suspended from the pulpit for stealing on over-
coat. He knows all the crooks an‘ turns in the pro-
fession, and can splice you so it won't be holding in
aw.

" Are you sure?" Cavendish demanded, dubiously.

“ f course. The next thing, this meddlesome
Sport must be ut out of the wayl"

" Not by moi ’ the giant growled, quickly.
had my till 0’ thet sardine." .

“Very well; I’ll attend to that, then. The girl is
left for you. She must be captured and carried
into the mountains. There’s an old hut over beyond
the west range that would be a capital prison to
leave her in." ,

“'l‘hen l‘m ter nab her an' skedaddle at first
chance, oh?“ the giant asked, an evil glitter in his
e

u live

88.
" Yes; but mind, you‘re to offer her no rudeness
or insult."

" Bet yer ile I'll handle her like I would a baby!"
was the rep y, as the man rose to leave the room.
“ I'll lay fer my job ter oneet, and return."

After he had gone, Devere said:

“He’ll do his art all richt. never fear. After we
get through wi h him. it all depends on our gener-
osity whether he gets a third of old or a third of
cold lead, Hui ha! I think the utter would serve
our glans furthest."

“ istl" Cavendish said, in a low tone. “ There is
a knock at the door."

“ The deneel Who can be coming here at this
time of night?"

Both listened. Again there came a soft rap, evi-
dently that of some person who was timid.

“ It’s a woman's rap," Devere whispered. “ Shall

I let her in?"
“Ye-s; we will see what she wants. Perhaps it is

the girl, Idvl."

“ Never fear. She'd not come here. for she fights
Shift“: brim", h d h d 1 ed a,
s ng, e approac e t e oor, part y open
and peered out into the dark hallway.

A muffled figure pushed forward [past him into the
room—~the figure of a woman, evi entlv, envoloped
in a long. hooded cloak, with a thick vail tied down
over her face, which served the purpose of a mask
to her identity.

“ Excuse me. pray l“ a low. musical voice ex
claimed, " but I came here in the hope of finding a
man whom i wish to see.”

“Ah. ladyl be seatedl" Devere said, settingachair
forward for her to occuéw. “ Perhaps I or my com-
panion may be able to ll out the bi] .”

” Is his name Cavendish!" the woman demanded,

 

H‘N‘" ‘_““7

  

 

«each.-. “,4 ‘1’ __

 

  
   

 

Idyl. the Girl Miner.

  

21

 

pointing toward his lordship, who started strangely.
an apprehensive pallor coming upon his florid coun-
tenance.

“ I have the honor of being Lord Byron Cavendish,
my lady," he said. wirh a profound bow.

‘ Then you are Ihe man I seek. I have come for
my child!" and throwing aside her vail. Berenice
Muriete stood erect, with resolute face and flashing

eyes.

Cavendish hissed a curse through his teeth. but a
warning glance from Devere caused him to check
his anger.

“ You, madame? Who are you, pray?"

“Why ask that question i" the mother cried. vehe-
mently, “ when you know full well that I am the wife
of the reckless fool whom you robbed of his child at
the gaming-table, in Hayward? I am Berenice. Joa-

uin 5 wife, and I have come for my little son—my
et. Do on hear? I have come either to possess
myself of iim, or to take your worthTess life. You
are two to one, but I can murder you both. A frantic
mother knows no barrier between herself and child I"

CHAPTER IX.
"To-Monnow NIGHT AT MLDNiGn'r "—mn manmon.

“ Fumes take the woman!" Cavendish gasped.
“ She is mad!”

“No. she is perfectly sane,” Devere replied, a sin-
ister smile illuminating his face. “ I’ll vouch for
that. It is her motherly eagerness to again get pos—
session of her child which causes her agitation. I
am almost positive we can strike a bargain. The
child is alive yet, my lord. is it not?"

” It was, at last accounts." the English schemer
replied, catching his coadjutor‘s eye. ,

‘But was so securely hidden away that this wo-
man could not find it, were she to search a life-
time?"

u Exactly. n

" It is well. In order to obtain her child, she must
work for us, you see—must be our slave, to serve us
in whatever way We may choose."_

“Sir!” Berenice gasped, stepping back a pace.
“What vile plot would you instigate now? I‘ll never
lift a finger to serve you l“

“Then by heavenl I swear that your child shall
die before another (la is ended, madam!" Caven-
dish cried, triumphant y. “ I never knew how I was
going to turn the brat to account hardly, but I see
clearly enough now. You shall work for us, or in
own hands shall feed him to the mountain wolves! ’

A deathly faintness seized Berenico. and she reel-
ed back with a gasp and a low crv, as she heard the
threat of the unprincipled villain. She sunk upon
the chair, her eyes fixed upon the baronef, in a gaze
that caused him to shift uneasily in his seat.

“ You feed my child to the mountain wolves. ou
monster!" she breathed, as if she could not believe
that she had heard him utter the words arlght.
“You feed my innocent babe to the ravenous wild
beasts. if I refuse to do your bidding!”

“Precisely, madame. One. in this world in which
we live, is forced to look out forhis own ends at the
expense of his next neighbor. I am sadly in need of
aJittle help, such as you mightbe able to tender ine.
"I‘is nothing so terrible that you need shrink from
doing it. Your love for your boy ought to be strong
enough that you would fight through fire and blood
to regain possession of him i“

“Go on!" she gas ed, her hands clinchini.r and
bosom rising and fa ling heavdy. “Go on—ien me
what I would have to do to get back my child!”

“Certainly. madame. To begin With, let me as-
sure you that we are an unprincipled. unscrupulous
pair of knaves, even though it so happens that I am
an English lord.

“This fact, however, need make no material dif-
ference as to our dealings with you. If you serve us
faithfullyv you shall have your child back. rest as-
sured. Now, the case we have in hand is this. There
is an old man named Jason Abbey, who lives in the
lower part of this building. that has accumulated an

 

 

 

immense fortune, and secreted it where no one can
find it. We want it, and it is to be your business to
find out where itis cached. This you can easily do,
and report to us."

“ And you Will give me back my boy, if I do this?"
the wife of Joaquin demanded, er ands clasping
and her eyes glittering wildly with anticipation.
“ You will give me back my darling and let me go?"

“Find out for certain where the hidden cache is,
and silence forever the old Hermit-which job can be
easily done—and you shall have your boy and fifty
dollars. Do you accept?"

“Murder!” Bercnicc gasped; "foul murder! Ohl
no, sir. God help mel I cannot do that—I cannot—I
cannot do thatl"

“ Very well; that settles it!" Cavendish said. axis-
ing haughtily. “ There is no use for further parley.
Devcre. show the woman the door!”

“Ohl sir—mv child! my precious, darling boy !—
yon will not—oh! you will not harm him!”

“ You heard me say what I would do, madam. De-
vere, put her out, I say 1"

“Stopl” Berenice’s voice rung out in a fiercely
pitiful tone—“stop! I will do your will rather than
that my innocent babe shall die. Ma ,Godin hea~
ven forgive me for this weakness, but cannot help
it—oh l I cannot help itl"

And the cor woman broke down utterly, and
solibed as if ier heart were breaking.

_The two scliemers gazed at her a moment in
Silence; then Devere advanced and laid his hand up-
on her shoulder.

“ Pray do not give way to lamentations. dear
lady. Your work is not so terrible. after all. when
you consider the future prospect of reunion with
your child.”

She hurled him back, with a wild gasp, an awful
glare in her black eyes.

“Do not touch me. you demon in the shape of
maul" she cried, “do not lay a flnger’s weight up-
on me. You have uslied me as far as you can. I
will do what you ave said, no more. And, God
help you, if I do not then get back my child, 1 will
ltjea; your heart out. I Will rend you limb from

m .

"Never fear; we shall do our share of the com-
pact, if you do yours!" Byron Cavendish said,
eagerly. “I will see that the child is ready for de-
livery when your work is done!”

“It need take but little time for my work. then,
and you can send at once for my child. I have but
to do murder, for! already know where the gold of Old
Elk, t) e Err-mil. ix scented I"

“Whatl” the two men exclaimed, quick] .whlle
gey started toward her, with a greedy geam 1n

eire e .

“Ay IFknow where the gold is secreted!" Bere-
nlce cried, waving them back. “I accidentally found
out, a few days since, you villainsl"

"Then on shall tell us where it is now, or we
will mur er youl" Cavendish hissed, with deVilish
triumph, and he drew a revolver from his pocket, as
he spoke.

“ We are alone, and you are completely in our
power. You shall tell us now. and while we are in
search of the treasure, you can finish up Iyour joh!"

“ That is i t cxactl l" Devere added. ‘ ot a min-
ute is to be lost. Give us the secret at once.” .

A crafty. triumgiant smile flitted to the pale lips
of Berenice Murie . and transformed her, as it Were,
into an avenginz Nemesis.

“Not one syllable of that secret shall leave mi
lips now!" she said. solemn] . “I shall go on Wit
my work. The old Hermit s all die. and then I am
the only living being that can point out the loca-
tion of the secret cache.

“ It will be my hour of triumph then. I will hold
the secret, and you shall first deliver up my child,
ere you are let into it. Hal hal“ ‘

“Stop! You shall never leave this room alive,
woman, unless you disgorze nowl" Devere cried,
savagely. “ It‘s either death to you, or gold to us.’

  
 

I .

  

 

  

 

"so ‘ Idyl. the Girl Miner.

 

“ Kill me if you choose. I am strong now, where
I was weak a few moments ago. With me perishes
{our only hope of getting that fortune, for well you

now that Jason Abbey would never reveal the
secret, even to save his own child.“

The two schemers were staggered.

They knew that she was right—that it all remaln~
ed with her, whether or not they were to get the

olden gain for which they had plotted so thorough-
y. Their exchange of glances seemed a signal be-
tween them that it was est for their plans to trust
all to her.

“ You will, then, as I understand it. kill the Hermit,
and upon the delivery of the boy. yield up the secret
of the buried treasure?” Cavendish said.

“ I will I"

“ Very well. A woman‘s word should be sufficient.
When will you strike?”

“Tomorrow night. at the midnight hour; meet me
in the gulch' I shall be ready then!"

So much she said, after which she turned and left
the room, no attempt being made by the men to
hinder.

A dark figure cautiously preceded her down the
stairway, and out into the gulch, which was full of
shadows and might have screened a host of ene-
mies.

With hasty steps Berenice hurried along, until,
when she was some distance from any habitation, a
heavy hand was laid upon her shoulder, and she was
brought to a standstill.

Before her was the figure of a man, with flowing
hair and masked face. attired as a ranger.

She could not scream; at deathly faintness seized
her, and she reeled in her tracks, or the dark. ter-
l'gbllefyes that met here were those of Joaqmn Mari-
e A. v‘

" ‘Shl” he said, in a tone that she knew meant
command. "Make no violent demonstrations. I
mean you no harm; I merely want to speak with

ou.
‘.‘ Well?" she gasped, shrinking out of his grasp.
her tone cold, calm, deliberate. " I am listening."

“0h, Berenicel do not speak to me in that way,
for it tears 0 en the wound in my heart afresh. My
wife, I have can hauntin your footsteps to ask you
this once. in the favor o a true and just God, to
come back to me as a wife. Do not so no. Leave
01! this search for your child—leave it 0 me to find
and restore our darling to your arms Oh! for the

love of our Father, my wife, do not say no—do not 7

say no!" and convulsed with emotion. the strong
man drop ed on his knees before her, and raised his
eyes supp icatlngly.

“Arise!” Berenice said, not one touch of pity in
her tone—not one sign of relenting. " I will never
live with you until our little son is found. I have
sworn to this—I will keep my word. Go! Our paths
in life diverge here i"

“Stayl I would speak one word ere we separate.
This time, Berenicc. I feel that it will be forever.
Somethimr is constantly whispering in my ears the
sentence. ‘ Make thy peace.‘ Oh. my wife! it is this
which tells me that we are looking for the last time
upon each other‘s faces—that never again shall we
speak together, until after death shall have joined
"us in the other world. Berenice, shall we part in
anger? Oh, no! God forbid that such a thing should
be! But touch my hand with yours, and say you
forgive me—then I will let you gol“

The tones of the man were now too pitifully thrill~
ing for the wife to ’withstand. She hesitated but a
moment" then approaching him threw her arms
about hIS neck. and covered his lips and forehead
with burning kisses.

“Joaquin, my husband. I do forgive you, as I
blips God may forgive us both!" she murmured.
“ arewell—"

She did not finish the sentence. but staggered
from his embrace, on] to fall in a. swoon at his feet.

“Poor Berenice!” e said, hoarsely, as he knelt
by her side, " It was cruel In no to cause her this

 

pain and emotion, but I could not give her up with-
out her forgiveness. Ohl how I deserve her scam
and contempt] how I merit this desertion, as man
never merited it before! God bless you, my dar-
ling! I must leave you now. I must not tarry, when
other work calls me elsewhere.” .

He fixed her head so that she would lie easy; then
bending. he imprinted a last clinging kiss upon the
cold, irresponsive lips, after which he arose to his
feet and strode away from the spot. a different man
than he had been a short time before; for now his
step was firm, his courage strong.

“ It was a long while ere Berenice awoke from her
swoon, but it was to almost instant comprehension
of what had occurred and her surroundings.

“Joaquin has gone!” she moaned. "May God
watch over him, for I, too, fear we shall never meet
again!"

 

After the night, came the day.

The sun arose from behind the gigantic crags, and
looked down as smiling into Cascade Gulch, as
though nothing of villaiuy had over entered there.

The air was fragrant and balmy: the dreamy In<
dian summer haze hung over the ridges; the sounds
of nature droning. too. such soft. sweet music as
would almost lnll a person into sleep.

About noon, Rosebud Rob. while sanntering southv
Egalid through the valley, came unexpectedly upon

y .

She was seated in under the shade of a. large cot-
tonwood tree. which grew upon the banks of the
rushing stream, engaged in rendin ,from a novel
which she had borrowed of Sir Torn omerset, some
days previous.

She was half-reclining, with her head pillowed up-
on one hand and supported by her elbow. while her
wavy, silken hair blew about in confusion. as it was
lifted b the gentle breeze.

She id not notice the Sport‘s arrival. until he
had been gazing admirineg down upon her for some
moments.

Then. she flushed scarlet. and assumed a more
dignified posture.

“ Well! weill" Rosebud Rob exclaimed, in his
laughing. easy way, “ what is the meaning of this?
Has the girl-miner really taken a holiday, all by her-
self and laid the an and shovel aside?"

“ Yes, Mr. Map eton. I ant sure I ought to have a
holiday once in a. while.“

_ “True enough. Not one young lady out of a pos-
smle hundred, average them the world over. would
think they could labor as you do. and at the same
time be as cheerful. So you prefer the quiet, and
the companionship of a book, eh?”

“Yes. especially on such a day. Won't you join
me in my solitary picnic, Mr. Mapleton? See! I have
a lunch and some reading."

“Nothing would please me better. Miss Idyl. but,_

you see, I’ve got wind of a little circus, down the
gulch, here, and I've got to be present."

“A circus, sir?"

“Yes—that is, it will amount to about the same
thing. in the end. There will be some pantomime, a
little fun, and possibly some tumbling."

“ I must confess that I don’t understand you. sir."

“And I am sorry that I cannot give you any fur-
ther information,” the Sport replied. gayly. " Good-
dayl I wish you a happy time."

Then he was off, his quick elastic stride soon tak-
ing him out of sight, among the crowds of miners
that filled the gulch.

In a cabin. some distance south of the hermitage.
we will next meet the reader. ,

The lace is newly-built, with the rude simplicity
of the rnntier, and is untenanted, save by two men,
who stand facing each other, in one of the unfur-
nished rooms.

They were the two plotters. Devere and Lord Cav-
endish. and upon the face of the latter was a sul-
len. uneasy expresswu.

 

 

 

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Idyl, the Girl Miner; ' 23'

   

 

“I don’t face this business in the leastl" he
rowled, savage y. “ The idea of my marrying
hat Irish vagrant is perfectly preposterous. “ Sup-
osiug wind of such a thing should get back to Eng—
and. which is not unlikely, as my companion dw roy—

a e. Somerset, is in this very town? There’d be a
111le old rupture then in my social position—curse
itl”

“Pshawl I’ve told you a dozen times that it would
be all right. And it is imperative that you should
get her over on our side.”

, “And why imperative?"

“I will tell you. Several times I have discovered
that woman listening at our don-r, which causes me
to believe that she may have found out some of our
plans. As her mania seems to be for getting mar-
ried, once you get her under your wing as a wife
you can easily manage it.”

" Curse her! But there must be no mistake in this
matter. I am not» to be legally bound to her!"

“Of course not. Weslyn, who Will be here pre—
sent] . is no authorized preacher, so that though you
may a wedded in the regular style, it will not be
holding. They ought to be here now.”

“ Set ms to me you are mighty anxious to get me
into this scra e," his lordship asseverated.

"So I am, or all depends on getting that woman
over. ’l‘o-night, remember, our work begins.“

At this juncture the door opened. and into the
room bounded the eccentric Mrs. G. W. Bounce,
with a screech of delight, followed by a smooth-faced
gentleman, in black garb, who possessed a very
clerical aspect.

“Och! me own honey! me darlint, entirelyl” Mrs.
Bounce. cried, as she espied Lord Cavendish, and
rushed into his embrace. giving him a regular grizzly
hug. “ Och! me shamrock, I’ve come to yez, wid a
heart overflowing wid swate love. Divil a bit do 1
care now fer iliet spnlpeen who ran off wid me
money. for it‘s mesilf that has found a jewel phat
shines respliiidant, bedadl“

“Hang it, woman, release me!“ Cavendish growl-
ed, struggling to get away. but to no purpose. for
Mrs. G. W. B. hung on pertinaciously. “(‘onfouiid
you, Devere. will you stand there and permit this—
thisnccursed nonsense?”

“Nonsinse. d‘ye call it?” roared Mrs. Bounce. her
voice now pitched to a high key—-“nonsinse, is it?
Oh! no, me darlint, et’s the privileges av a swatc-
h‘zirt. entirely, to hug her bowld laddy, so it is, so
it is."

“ Release him. Mrs. Bounce," said Devere. “The
Reverend Mr. Weslyn has arrived, and will marry
you to Lord Cavendish, after which he will take you
to t' e hotel, where you will have a happy time, all
by yourselves, with no one to interrupt you.”

“Shure. an‘ how do yez do. Mr. Weslyn?" the
bride-prospective cried. leaving Cavendish to bounce

'into the arms of the minister. “ Ochl wurra, an’ be

in yersilf that is goin’ to bind me darlint closely to
no heart. forever?"
‘I believe I am to oi‘flciate in that capacity, mad-
am," Weslyn replied. shaking off Mrs. B., not too
ently.
gIn the mean time_Devere had found chance to
whis er to his lordship:

“ race up, old boy! Don’t be scared, but take all
with the resignation of a saint. When the knot is
tied, you can take your bride to the hotel, where I
will join you later. for work." _

Cavondish shuddered, and muttered a. disgusted
protest. _

It was a positive torture to him.

“ Are the parties both ready?" the Reverend Mr.
Weslyn ventured to ask. ,

“Both ready." Devere re lied. “Mr. Weslyn, I
make you acquainted with 0rd Byron Cavendish,
gf dF..‘iir:land. This Hibernian lady is to be his

11' e H

“Airch! an’ it‘s true fer yez, whin ye say them
some!" Mrs.:G. W. B. cried, bounding forward, and
thrusting her large bony hand into that of his lordv

 

     

 

   

ship. “Marry us now, er boner, and it’s a swato
ould smack ye shell hev mm the bride, bedodl"

It is to be infei rod that the clerical Weslyn had no
desires in this direction, any more than had Cavenv
dish, whose hand was suffering untold pain in the
grasp of the prospective bride.

Devere stood back at a safe distance, convulsed
with repressed laughter.

The reverend gentleman now produced a book
from in under his arm, and in solemn tonesbegan to
read a marriage service.

Cavendish was quaking and trembling in every
limb, while his bride stood squarely erect, with a.
stolid expression of countenance, which was com-
placency personified.

At last the ceremony was concluded, and Weslyn
handed Mrs Cavendish a. ccriificate, which he had
previously drawn up.

“ Dear lady, that is a. certificate of your marriage,
Allow me to wish you both much joy 1" ~

“ Here, tool" cried Devere, advancing. “My 10rd,
may the good spirit ever bless your union."

“And let me 0 next to offer my congratulations !"
exclaimed another voice, cool and triumphant in its
tone, and there stepggd from the adjoining room the
Sport of the mines, sebud Rob.

CHAPTER X.
LEGALLY sounn-JoAQUiN’s BLOW—CANNED.

A FRIGHTFUL curse escaped Cavendish as his gaze
fell iiipon the Sport.

" ow came this devil here. Devere?" he demand~
ed, hoarsely. I

"That I am unable to tell you, my lord. Isup-
posed the cabin untenanted."

f‘ And got very much fool-ed, as a natural conse- ,

uencel" Rosebud replied, with a chuckle. “Mrs.
neral George Washington Cavendish, allow me to
offer my congratulations, and at the same time
square u a debt. You know I promised you a bun-
dred do] are, providing you succeeded'in wedding
this aristocratic Briiish blacklegl” and with a bow‘,
lfie 15in a. couple of fifty dollar gold-pieces in her
an S.

" Och! shure an' it's a moighty foiue gintlemen yez
be, Mr. Rosebud: but divil a candle can the loikes of
yez hold to my swate shamrock be me side!"

Cavendish wheeled upon Devere. with a gasp, his
face as white as death.

“What—what does this mean, Devere! I have
been fooled—tricked into a marriage with this wo-
man—this Irish vagrant!" ‘

“Ohl wurral wurral d’ e mind what he says?"
Mrs. G. GJW. B. Cavendis cried, indignantly. and
clinging firmly to her newspouse. she gave him a
cougle of severe cuffs in the region of his ears.

“ ’ye moind how the spnlpeen calls his bride an
Irish vagrant, now? Ochl bad luck to yez, old man!
It’s mesilf that will have to break yez in to the double
harness, the same as poor Mike Maloney used to
break in the mules.~ Arrahl me darlint, it's many‘s
tha time that I’ll black the eyes of you. an‘ pull out
the Galway sluggins that row forninst the face of
yez. Nol yez don‘t, bed i“ asCavendish struggled
frantically to get free. “It‘s Mrs. Gincral George
Washington Cavendish as is good at hangin‘ on. an‘
by the same gloat av Patrick McHenry. I‘ll niver
part wid yez, mo swate elm-lint. from mornin' 'tiil
night.” And. as if to enforce her words. the new
bride forcibly threw her arms about his lordship’s
neck. and nearly smothered him With kisses.

“ Help! Take this she-cat ofl', somebody!“ he
roarodr, lustily. “Kill her—do anything to rid me of
her. Devere, curse you, you are the cause of all this
trouble!"

“Hold up, Britishl" Rosebud Rob cried. at this
juncture; “ don‘t lay it all on your pmner~in~cfime,
but give me credit for a lion’s share. Devere had
arranged that you should be wedded by an illegal
minister, but I willed otherwise i“

‘- What? what!" Cavendish almost yelled —-“qnd
this many-fl . '

        
       
     
   
  
    
  
   
  
  
  
   
   
  
 
   
    
   
   
   
  
   
    
  
   
  
   
  
   
   
    
  
  
     
  
  
   
   
  
 
 
   
    
 
 
   

 

V

24 Idyl, the Girl Miner.

 

" Is the Reverend Oalkins Smithson, a regularly or-
dained minister of the gospel!" the Sport replied,
triumphantly, “and, consequently, you are legally
wedded to Mrs. Bounce—now Mrs. Lord Cavendish.
Ha! ha! hal”

The Englishman uttered a nondescript sound, he-
tweena asp and a groan, and would have fallen
had not t e stout arms of Lady Cavendish supporte

m.

“ This is a damnable plot to ruin me i" he articu-
lated. hoarsely.

“It‘s an imposition—a cheat!” interposed Devere.
“I see, now, that this man is not Weslyn, although
the resemblance would deceive almost; any person.”

“ I am the Reverend Calkins Smithson!" the recent
knot-tyer said. removin his hat. “Learning through
the so-called Sport, of t is villainy about to be prac-
ticed u on an unsuspecting woman, I readily con-
sented o counterplot, and make the union aunion in
law and fact. As I am an ordained and licensed
minister of the gospel, the marriage between Lord
Byron Cavendish and the Irish lady is perfectly legal,
and binding."

“Arrah, me darlin’t! me shamrock!" Lady C. said.
giving her s ouse another desgerate hug. “ It‘s me-
self t at wi stick by yel till t a day of dooml”

“ Lord Cavendish," said Rosebud Rob. calmly.
“ you may as well make the best of a bad job, and
take your bride to the hofel. Tnis is no place to de-
tain a newly-married woman, whose romantic heart
craves to be alone with you, that she mav manifest
more of her unselfish affection. [tender you my
congratulations, wish you much joy, an i go on in
advance of you. Smithson, will you join me?"

And, with hows, the two men left the cabin,
and from the door Devere watched them saunter
away.

He then turned back toward Cavendish, who stood
pale and irresolute.

“It has been a bad ending,” he said, “ but all the
same, I am sure we have at Mrs. C. enlisted in our
interests. Take her to t 6 hotel and explain our
plans, my lord, and I’ll guarantee she’ll serve us a
good turn yet."

And then. he too. took his departure. and nothing
was left but for the Englishman to do as advised.
though it cut his pride as it had/never been stabbed
before.

Many were the curious and amused glances that
were leveled at him as he went through the valley
with the new Lady Cavendish clinging to his arm,
while behind her trailed the enormous train of her

' hugeaflgured calico dress.

And though his lordship tried his best to avoid
meeting any more of the miners than possible, he
was horror~struck to find a swarm of them gathered
about the door of Mrs. Matrevis’s establishment.
among whom he recognized Rosebud Rob, Idyl, and
Sir Tom Somerset, in conspicuous positions.

A sparkle of misohief entered the Sport’s eyes as
he saw them approachim. and fixing his gaze tri-
umphantly upon the Englishman, he cried:

" yar they cum, pil rims—the new Lord an‘
Lady Cavendish. What 'ye say, now? Git ready
-—three cheers for the bride!"

And three loud, long yells were given, such as had
ne’er before echoed through that valley, and they
caused Cavendish’s face to redden like a turkey’s
comb, while Mrs. 0. rather seemed to en oy it.

“Good for yez, me b’yeesl" she 0 ed. in her
shin? raspng tone. “ Bad luck to yez. too. fer ve
can’ hev the refusal at mesilf now, at alll It‘s the
true darlint‘of a real lord that I am now entirely.
bedadl"

. Another yell, then the ill-assorted couple had van<
ished within the hotel.

“ There! what do you thinkabout it, now? Do you

‘ envy Mrs. 0. her choice?" Rosebud Rob cried, turn-

ing to ldyl.
‘ 0h! nol indeed! I rather think she has got the
worst of the bargain." .
"Don‘t 100.1 yourself, there. She will make his

 

lordship toe the mark, every time. Somerset, I
would 5 eak with you."

And t e two youngi men sauntered away. When
the were out of ear-shot, the Sport stopped short,
an faced the baronet with a keen gaze.

“I have come here to ask you a few uestionsl"
he said, in his brisk way. “I want to now how
you are getting along with our pretty girl miner?"

Somerset smiled, faintly.

“A very good way to hit me a stab, that!" he re
plied, “ when you are doubtless aware that I am not
getting along at all.”

"Don’t misconstrue my motives," Rosebud Rob
replied, soberly. “ I do not wish to oppose your suit,
but propose to further it, having come to the con-
clusion that you are a square sort of pil rim, and
just the fellow to chaperon the girl thrqu life."

“But is it not impossible for me to wm er, when
she is lainly fascinated with you?"

“ Ps awl no. You see, I’ve a peculiar tact for
managing these women, who are eternally and for-
ever falling in love with me. If my flashy appear-
ance is the captor of so many feminine hearts, it is
but natural that l, a man to suit all circumstances,
should have a remed for the evil. Now, then. I
believe, that. if Miss dyl could be disgusted with
me, she would turn to you. and you could win her.
Therefore, here is a letter, for the purpose. You
note that it is directed in a feminine and, and that
it comes from Deadwood. Well, inelde, is a clever]
executed forgery, purporting to come from an a -
fectionate wife of mine, who s aks 'of our family,
and asks me to come back to er children and her-
self, at once, etc., etc. Now. sup osmg Miss Idyl
were to pick this n , and read it 9 cu believe she
would want anything more to do Wit that Sportive
individual they call Rosebud Rob?“

“ But this would be cruel deception, if the girl
really cares for out"

“ umph! all 5 fair in love or war. I regard Miss
Irlyl as an estimable young lady, but as I’ve no no-
tionof incumbering myself with feminine responsi-
bilities, for some time to come, why, I say to you—-
sail in and winl",

“ And .you really propose this scheme in my be
half i” Sir Tom cried, thrusting out his hand, warmly.

“ I do, believing you will take good care of Idyl, if
you get her.”

“Rest assured on that. And I feel almost sure
that I can win her now.”

“ Well, I wish you success. There goes Miss Idyl
out toward her claim, now. I will cut across. and
drop the letter as I pass along, where she will be
sure to find it."

And giving Sir Tom’s hand a irip of assurance, the
Sport was off across the gulc . whistling merrily,
while Sir Tom sauntered back toward the hotel.

Rosebud Rob was as good as his word.

He passed through Idyl’s claim in advance of her
and dropped the letter, after which he hurried on
toward a grocery store. which he entered, and as a
pretext, purchased a few matches.

ldyl came to her claim, and was about to gather
up her mining implements for the night, when she
espied the envelope, and picked 't up, curiously.

‘f Rosebud Rob," she muttered as she gazed at the
writing, “and in a lady‘s hand. tool He must have
droppled it when he passed. I will keep it and give
it to im to-night.”

She gathered up her “ tools," and locked them in a
plank shanty close at hand, and then wandered, off

oward the cottonwood tree on the bank of the
stream. Here she seated herself u on the grass, and
taking the envelope from her poo et. gazed at the
directions a few moments, thoughtfully.

” I wonder what ladv con-es nds with him?" she
murmured turning the enve ope over and over.
“ Would it be any harm for me to read this?" .

Curiosity and sight are the ministers of tempta-
tion; the more you see, the greater the curiosi to
see more. and it amounts in the agate acepitula ion
of reason and. conscience. '

 

 

r

 
   

   
   
    
 
 

 

 

 

f


3
i

 

 

Idyl, the Girl Miner. 25

 

Anyhow, the first she knew. Idyl had the letter
spread out upon her lap, and an expression of won-
der and an rise crept upon her face as she perused
it. It had een written some months before, and
ran as follows:—

“ DEAREST HUSBAND:

“I write to let you know that I am well, and hope
you are the same. Jimmy. our youngest, has just
recovered from a severe attack of the measles: but
Harry, Bobby, Dicky, Sammy and Thomas Jeffer-
son our other chexubs. are well and heart . Dear
husband, I long for you to return home, an -—-”

Idyl did not read an y further.

She was (quite satisfied with the revelation which
had dawne upon her.

“ Mr. Mapleton is married," she said, her face sud-
denly growing ale, “and he never told me of it! I
am now so gb that nothing but words of friendship
ever passed etween us, for, certainly, no good could
have come of it.”

A short while afterward Rosebud Rob entered the
saloon of Mrs. Matrevis’s establishment, and search-
ing about soon signaled Baltimore Bess, who was
sitting in one corner, qulte alone.

She nodded as he approached, in her cool, noncha-
lani way. ‘

“ We] , they say there’s bin a weddin’ hyerabouts,"
she observed.

“ Yes; I have succeeded in marrying the Hiberni-
an oi! to the Britisher. But, now, have other busi-
ness. Bess, old girl, how much are you good for?”
f A peculiar smile flitted upon the dare—devil girl’s

 

ace.

“ l’m glnerally gauged as bein’ death fer snmwhar
’twixt twelve an’ twenty toughs or a brace o’ cinna-
mons, when at cums ter squar’ work," she replied,
with a smile. "Leastwise, thar's them as scz l’m
puity nigh boss on shootin’."

“ Which is all the better for my purpose. As soon
as it comes dark, I want you to meet me over on the
western side of the creek, prepared for an excursion
into the wilderness, if necessary. Will on come?"

“Well, now. [shouldn‘t wonder if mought, ef
thar's goin' to be any fun afloat.”

“ Never fear. There‘ll be plenty of it, without
doubt.”

Then they separated.

 

Just at dusk the usual evening stage came lumber-
ing into the town, but it fetched not its customary
load of passengers, nor were there the usual smiles
upon the face of Jake Johnson, the veteran Jchu.
One of his horses was limping badly, and the coach
had evidently been used for a target for rifle-prac-
tice, as it was full of holes and cracks.

And when Jake threw down the lines and leaped
from his seat, he swore a good-sized oath that he
never wonld drive “the shebang " again. _

A curious crowd gathered at once, and after being
duly urged, Jake finally consenth to give his late
ex erienco, which must have been pretty hard,
in ging from appearances. _

“Ye see how at war.” he began, blowing his nose
vigorously, “1 war fetch' ’ in a mighty big load 0'
speculators from Dead 00d, an’ most 0’ ’em war
gurty well heeled, at that. An’ w‘en we got along at

oaqnin’s place, ther road war blocked wi’ a assel
o’ masked galoots, who war armed an’ rea y fer
fight. When I fetched up that stage ter a stand-still,

‘ as I generally do at thet p'int o’ ther cumpuss, J oa-

quin hisself, he steps forth, and demands toll—a
hundred dollars fer each an’ every galoot, myself
exce ted. Did they kick? Wal. now, you kin jest
bet t ey did thet same! Wouldn’t pay it. said every
man,,.an’ Joaquin sed they'd haff to turn back an‘ go
by some other route ter Cascade City, at they didn‘t
slap down the cash. Then thar war an‘ attempt ter
arty. when thet Joaquin he wouldn‘t argy wu‘th a
contvnental copper.

“Well, ther long an’ short 0’ at war, b’yees, that a

 

pilgrimfinally pulled a ‘ barker’ an‘ let drive at Joa-
quin hisself, an” then ther music begun. Them
road-agents they jest opened upon thet coach wi
their repeatin' rifles in a way 'twould make er hair
stand upon eend. They jest riddled thet o d shell,
an’ ef I didn‘t leap clean frum ther stage seat below
to ther bottom 0’ a precipice. ye ken call me a liar.
Arter aw’ile I heerd a cessation in thet shutin’. an‘
crecpin’ ter ther road around ther bend, I found the
stage and bosses, an’ kim on. An’ may I be tee-
totally cussed fer er turkey-buzzard cf 1 evyer drive
that stage ag‘in l”

“ Was the man Joaquin killed?” asked one of the
crowd.

“ Nary a time. Thcr bullet nevyer made him
Kine? though I ked sw’ar et struck him over that

ear .”

" iéu’t what do you suppose became of the passen-
gers ’

I“ Reckon some 0’ ’em war salted away inter eter-
nity, an’ mebbe some esca ed or war captured!"

A strong crowd had gat ered by this time, and a
proposal made to the eflect that a band should be
organized to hunt the road-pests out of their den
was greeted with tumultuous applause. According-
ly some three-score of volunteers were chosen, and
after armin themselves, set out on foot for the toll-
gatc throng the shadows of the falling night.

I Tgiey were headed by a fellow by the name of Bal-
an yne.

_A brave man he was, who was never known to
shirk at the approach of danger. and consequently
his followers e 5 less apprehension in going to bat—
tle with one of Joaquin’s type, backed as he was by
?s_i'cckless a set of men as ever roamed the moun-

ains.

On arriving at the spot where the toll-gate had
stood, they found itasmoldering bed of coals, as
well as the building which had stood in the rear of
l . . '

And nowhere were to be seen the Junior Joaquin
and his masked followers.

They had disappeared in the night, but whither
they had gone was a mystery. No tracks were dis-
covered leaving thc place; the road-agents and their
leader had literally stepped out of sight, as if the
world had opened up and swallowed them.

A few dead bodies were found close by, and upon
each1 of them were pinned a paper, containing these
WOI‘( s:

“This is not the end] A good beginning will make
a bad ending—for the enemies of

“JOAQUIN, Ja”

While these citizens of Cascade City were looking
after the man Joaquin. there were shadows hovering
about their own valley, which boded evil to co
ones.

One of these shadows turned out to be thej giant,
Cross-Eyed Mike Gasket.

The rnfflan was skulking about with uncommon
stealth. fora man of his size, and that he was all
ready for some piece of villainy was evident, for he
was fully armed, and a horse lay crouching in the
valley, but a few yards away, just out of the main
trai

As he stood in the dense pall of gloom. and gazed
about him, he listened with greedy zest for some
sound for which he was waiting.

In either direction, surrounding him, the lights
from the various tents and shanties streamed out
with brillianc . but could not touch him, as he was
sheltered by t e mantle of night.

“Tber gal went up ter ther grocery store!” the
giant muttered. peering expectantly to the south;
“ an’ I reckon she must be comin‘ back now, purty

uick.
q “ Ho! ho! won’t she be surprised to find me hyar,
waitin’ for her?—-me, that great illustrious atentee
of th er celebrated hell-punch! Guess she’ll e putty
nigh awed inter silence, w‘en she gazes at me.‘

And he chuckled, in anticipation of the eflright

 

  

 
    

‘ed, shoving his

26 Idyl, the Girl Miner.

 

poor Idyi must experience when she should find her-
self in his clutches.

With great patience he waited.

He knew that she must pass in that direction, on
hler return, and he meant to capture her as she came
a ong.

And he was not disappointedl

Soon his sharp sense of hearing caught the sound
of approaching footsteps, and drawing a large
blanket from h s shoulders, he crouched and waited.

Nearer and nearer came the unsuspecting victim
—then, she saw a shadow dart in front of her, but
are she could utter a cry of alarm, a heavy blanket
was thrown over her shoulders, and she was caught
up. bodily. in a strong pair of arms.

She struggled violently, but all to no avail. She
was in a clas of iron. and being borne swiftly away
———at first on act, but now on a horsel

CHAPTER XI. .
my: MOON-TIDE—BUNTING THE Hiram.
A MAN had been following not far behind Idyl. at
the time or her capture. and hearing the struggle.

‘ rushed forward, but just in time to hear the night

prowler dashing away on horseback.

"I Wonder what was the matter?” he muttered.
pausing to listen. The horseman was clashing west-
ward across the valley. “ Could it have been that
fellow. Joa uin? I almost wish I’d givon him that
map, for it isn’t a pleasant thing to have an enemy
after his particular pattern.”

And Rosebud Rob—for it was he, hurried on, little
thinking that the retreating horseman was carrying
away the girl miner

But, he was speedily aroused from his thoughts
of Joaquin, by coming in heavy collision with some
individual who was hurrying through the dark-
ness in a direction opposite to that in which he was
gom .

Asga natural consequence. both men were down,
in a style not the most graceful.

“ Contoundyour clumsycnrcassl“ the Sport ejacu-
lated, risin. to a sitting posture. " what do you
mean by to escoping a fellow in that way, without
warning?"

“ Hal l recognize your voice. You are Rosebud
Robl" the other exclaimed, eagerly. “ Is it not so?”

“I reckon ye might know by the perfume that ex-
hales from my buttonhole bouquet,” the Sport re-
plied. “ Who are you?"

“Tom Somerset. I have been searching for you.
Where is ldyl?"

t “ I’d‘on‘t know. Why? Is she not at the Hermi-
age

“ No. She started for the grocery some time ago,
and becoming alarmed at her absence, I have come
in search of her.”

Rosebud Rob gave vent to a prolonged whistle, in-
dicative more of comprehension than surprise.

" Aregou sure she didn't pass you as you came?"
he asks .

“Perfectly sure. I kept watch on either hand,
and paused to listen at every few steps."

“ Then she‘s a goner, sure. I saw a female come
out of the grocery and come down this way, but it
didn’t occur to me about its being Idyl. A few min-
utes ago I heard sounds as if a strug le were tak-
ing place, and got here just in time to car a horse-
man dashing away. So betwixt me and you. I
reckon the Angel 0’ the Gulch has been kerried oifl”

Sir Torn g 'oaned alou'l.

“ By whom? What shall we do?" he asked, excit-

ed y. I
" “ The best thinglfor you to do.“ the Sport observ-
ands Ihoughtfully down into his
breaches pockets—“the best thing for on to (in, is
—well. let me seal —to sail in and rescue er. There‘s
a noble scoge of territory now for you to embrace
and prove t at you’re really warthy of the little gal.
What a grand chance otters for you to fly like a
knight of chivalry to her rescue. and become a he‘
row Apollo in her eyes. If I were a candidate for

 

the matrimonial office. I‘d lose no time in hastening
on the trail of mine foes that I might smite theml
Oh, nol you betl”

“But—hut look at the difficulties that must be
overcome, the dangers that must be met, if atellow
were to attem t pursuit," Sir Tom said. winning,
and inwardly Wishing he possessed halt the coolness
of the S ort.

“All ‘ve got to say is. overcome and meet them,
air. If you don't you’ll never win the girl miner,
and you'll never become a man to suit all circum-
stances, like myself. Hal hal ha!"

And then. the Sport walked away. leaving Sir Tom
to reflect upon the advice he bad Just received.

The young baronet was not wanting for pluck, and
it did not take him many minutes to decide that he
should accept the tendered advice.

“ I’ll get me a horse, and 0 after Miss Idyl." he
said. “ That Rosebud chap as an idea that I am
not of any great account, and I’ll endeavor to change
his mind,"

And without delay he started through the ulch,
toward a stable where he kept his own trusty orse.

In the meantime, Rosebud Rob. in going in an op-
posite direction, met with an adventure, which was
at the same time unexpected and uninteresting to
him, inasmuch as he had work which demanded his
immediate attention.

He was suddenly pounced upon by a couple of
men who sprung out of the cover of the night, and
before he could defend himself, was borne to the
ground, and securely bound. Under ordinary cir-
cumstances, two men would have been severely taxed
to accomplish this feat with the Sport as a victim:
but. it being a complete surprise, they had it all their
own way.

N at only did they bind him. but they bandaged his
mouth so that he could not speak. Then, seizing
him. they dragged him aside several rods from the
m'iin trail. where they paused.

ngere then removed the bandage, but pressed a
pistol muzzle significantly to the prisoner s temple,
to enjoin silence.

“ So we've got you, eh?" he said, grimly. “I
thought we would. Surprise generally catches the
best fish."

" Yes, so it seems. Five to one you couldn't have
taken me fairly!" Rosebud Rob replied. " Perhaps
you will be so kind as to nominate your objective
point in taking me thus a prisoner."

“Guess it wouldn’t be no hard ob to tell you
that," Devere answered. “My par ner. here, Lord
Cavendish and I. have come to the conclusion that
you know entirely too much—ar’ much too clever
for our liking. and we have concluded to drown you
in the creek here. and rid the mines of at least one
nuisance. Ain‘t that so, my lord ‘3"

“That's it. precisely!" Cavendish responded. sav-
agely. “ We’ll see if you‘ll come any of your jokes
aftertyou are made food for the fishes. I wager you
won

“Don‘t wager on uncertainties. my lord!” the
Sport warned, with a laugh. “ I am inclinvd to the
opinion that I should enjoy the joke should one of
the fish attempt to sw low me. By the way, how
do you like married life, y dear Britisher?"

Cavendish, with an on . turned to Devere, who
was in an att'tude of lisre ‘n . '

“ Come! let‘s tumble this fellow into the creek)”

“ Stop!" Devere Commended, raising his hand to
enioin silence. “ Listen! do you hear that roar?"

They all listened. and all heard it very plainly. It
was like a great volume of water pouring over rocks
with terrific din. while, at the same time, a sharp
wind was blowing through the valley.

" What is it?" Cavendish demanded, in excite-
ment.

“ t is the coming of the so-styled moon-tide'lof

 

' This moon-tide, until lately. has been a cat
mystery in the Black Hills country. its causes will
explain in a future story—AUTHOR.

  

 my  . . a“;  . . ..

     
   
   
  
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
  
  
   
  
    
    
     
    
  
   
 
   
  
  
  
   
 
  
  
   
   
   
   
     
 
   
    
  
  
    
   
   
  
   
  
  

 

 

mi...

 

 

tw.m_.__m.. fi,

 
     
   
   
   
 
   
    
   
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
   
  
 
  
     
  
   
  
   
  
    
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
 
  
   
  
  
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ldyl. the Girl Miner.

 
 

   

Q“?

 

Water, which rushes through this valley every time
the moon fulls. It is said to be behind time this
month, but is coming now without doubt. Come!
we must get to higher land. Leave the Sport here.
The water will do the work for him, I’ll warrant!”

And turning, the two villains fled hastily from the
spot.

 

The moon-tide was upon the citizens of Cascade
city, without scarcely any notice.

' he heavens had clouded over all at once, and the
Wind had quickened to a strong gale, through the
little valley. Then had come the ominous humming
roar, and the cascade at the north end of the gulch
began to assume the proportions of a Niagara. as
great walls of water poured down the dizzy hights.

Like mighty breakers, the water seemed to roll
over the precipice in tenfold greater volumes than
usual, and plunge into the basin below with 3. din
that was next to deafening.

{The water, of course, could not be crowded into
the narrow limits of the stream, and, consetiluently,
began to overflow the valley bottom with a arming
ra idity and increase of depth.

eople ran screaming toward the higher land, in
terror; horses and oxen were heard nei hing and
bellowing in affright, and a perfect pan emonium
seemed afoot.

But it was only for the space of a few moments.

Then the strange tide had ceased to the ordinary
flow of water. And in five minutes, aside from the
rushing creek. only little pools of water stood in the
valley to tell of the remarkable flood that had been.

The citizens came straggling back from their
refuge upon the bluffs, and the subject of the flow
was d'scussed with WOnde—X‘ by every one.

And a curious fact connected with it, was that the
entire boitom of the valley was coated with fresh
sand, to the depth of several inches.

What would be the result? >

Would these sands yicld gold, as those had don

upon the claim of Idyl Abbey?

If so, the future success of Cascade City as a. min-
ing center, was already an established fact.

It only now required a thorough investigation, by
daylight, to learn the truth.

All night long, the valley was crowded by the ex-
cited populace, but strange to say, the particular
vicinity of the Hermitage and Mrs. Matrcvis’s es-
tablishment, was quite deserted, which was not in
accordance with the usual state of matters.

About midnight, three persons stood in a dark
shadow which lay behind and around the old Her.
mit’s cabin. They were each armed. and stood in
perfect silence like phantoms of the night.

"All is quiet and propitious for our work!" Lord
Cavendish said, in a low voice. “ The moon is com-
ing out of the clouds and will light our paths when
we get among the mountains—for it is there that I
believe the old man's treasure to be hidden.

“He must be in his bed, long ere this,” Devere
observed, clancing uneasilv about him.

“Yes. The cabin is silent. See, the door is even
left open, so that the girl. Idyl, can get in. Hal hal
are this, she is far away from here!”

“Where. can the woman he delaying all this
time?" Devore growled, his Impatience becoming
manifest. “ It is a (ins rter past twelve.”

“Oh! there’s no iurrv," his lordship responded.
“The woman will not miss the redemption of her
child. by staying away “

“ Where is the brat?” .

,“ Safely hidden—in the mountain-hut, where Cross-
eyed Mike has been taken the girl miner."

“ Who is caring for him?‘j

“An old squaw whom I hired for the purpose."

Silence now reigned among the three night-hawks,
Cavendish, Devere, and the Irishwoman, whom the

.baronet had married.

Evidently she had received instructions, for she
had nothing to say whatever, but kept close at the

 

side of his lordship, as if she were afraid he might
attempt to run away.

The silence about the cabin seemed e ml to that
among the hawks. Far down the ch torches
could be seen flashing, and voices occasionally burst
into loud, long shouts.

Suddenlya figure glided near to where the trio
were standing.

“ ’Shl” a voice exclaimed, and the cloaked form of
a woman was discernible although the face was
vailed. “ ’Shl don’t spealr aloud. Have you my
child here?”

“The boy is where I can produce him within a
few minutes,” Byron Cavendish said, in hushed
tfion‘es. “Go ahead, and do your part of the work

rs ."

“ I am repared to, so do not fear. Is the old man
in his be i"

“We suppose that he is—at least, we have seen
nothing of him since we have been in this vicinity."

“ Who is this?” Joaquiu‘s wife demanded, suspi-
ciously, pointing to the new Lady Cavendish.

“ A trusty ersou, whom I shall take along with
us," the Eng ishmnn replied.

“ Och! it’s his wife I is, onlirely," the late Mrs. G.
G. W. B. thought proper to announce, with due im-
portance.

“ You had better have left women out of the case,"
Berenice said, impatiently.

“ What are you but a woman?” Devere demanded.

“ I don't asp re to that title. now that I am about
to dye mv hands in human blood,” was the bitter
reply. “ But I must not hesitate longer. Have our
horses handy as soon as I come back from my eadc
ly mission.” '

She turned then and glided away, as silently as she
had come.

The two villains peered after her through the faint
moonlight, and saw her enter the cabin of the Her-
mit through the open door. '

“That means good-by to the old cuss!" Devere
muttered. “ His berth for a. trip over Jordan is
about as good as spoken for."

With eagcrimparicnce they waited. Every minute
was now fraught with interest to them.

Soon Berenice Muriete came gliding back into their ,.
presence.

“ Hal you have done the work?” Cavendish hissed,
bending forward eagerly.

"No, thank God! he was not there. He is notln
the cabin.’

“ What? Ten thousand devils} Has the otd wretch
esca ed us?" .

“ o it would seem. They say that he has been
gone since before dark." ‘

“Who says this?”

“ Those in the saloon.” .

Bpth Devere and Cavendish joined together in 111%
term: a broad curse.

“We are thus foiled in the outset,” the former
growled. “The old devil has learned of our plans,
and gone to secure his gold l”

“ And you are It (mi/o7- !" Cavendish raved. turning

upon Berenice Muriete. “ You are the snakein-th’e—
grass that has betrayed our confidence.”
. “Confidence? ha! hal What confidence have you
intrusted in me? You lie. when you call me a trai-
torl What object could I have? Am 1 not working
to regain possession of my child? Go bring your
horses, and we will start at once for the secret
cache. But. first, bring me In child."

“That is impossible; the c ild is far from here.

But guide us to that secret cache, and as there is a
God in heaven, I will show you where to find the
boy 1” Byron Cavendish cried, excitedly.

“Very well,” J oaquin’s wife said. ‘ We shall lee
how you will keep your word this time.“ .

Devvre now left them, but soon returned with four
fast horses, which he had provided, and in ten min-
utes more the whole party were mounted and dash-
in away.
ere co Muriote led. and Cavendish, Devon, and

  

 

28

Idyl, the Girl Miner.

 

the recent bride followed in her wake. At a gallop
the crossed the valley. fording the swift creek. and
go lydascending among the mountainous foothills

e on .

he moon had by this time fully emerged from
the clouds and was casting a. dim. whitish radiance
over all objects. Everything bore a spectral sem-
blance; even the four equestrians of the night seem-
ed like phantoms as they toiled up through the
rocky way. led by a trail that was extremely diffi-
cult and. in many places. dangerous.

But the wife of Joa uin ap arently knew it by
heart, for she kept far ahead 0 the rest. and dashed
on fearlessly.

The followers fared worse.

Cavendish was twice thrown out of the saddle. be-
ing a clumsy horseman, while Dovere‘s animal be-
came suddenly lame, and lim ed horribly.

For what seemed hours 0 time to the rear trio.
Berenice Muricte led on—on. through a wilderness
of rocks; now over rugged bluffs. along the edges of
frightful precipices; then suddenly down slicer dc-
scents into black depths, where 10 was impossible to
see a hand before one‘s face.

Would they never come to the end of this wild
journe P

“ How long. for heaven’s sake, must we continue
in this way?" Devere at last demanded, as Bercnice
slacked up to allow their approach. “I‘m getting
sick of it.‘

“Arrahl an’ it’s mesiif as has got ontirely the
same," the Irishwoman added. “ Bad luck to me, I
bel'ave it’s Mrs. Bounce I‘d rayther ’av' remained,
than to be skurried off into that divil’s own ratrate,
bedad."

“Shut up, woman!" Cavendish enjoined. “ What
diflerence does it make to an old wretch like you,
where you are?"

“Ochl do yez hear that? Oh! to the ould dogs
wid yez, ye murtherin’ spalpeen! It's meself as
will git off me horse, an‘ do no less than sp’ile vcr
beauty for yez. Oh! bad luck to yezl ye needn‘t
grin. Thar was nary a gal at Donnybrook F'air as
could handle a sthick aqua] to tha wife av Mike
Maloney, shure; an’ menny‘s the sore headhave the
some young bucks received for not civilly tr‘atin’
the had-carrier's darlintl"

“Here! no more quarreling!" commanded Bere-
nice, drawing rein, decisively. “I‘ll shoot the one
that persists. "

“Bad luck to yez! what business is it of yours at
all—f" the irate Lady Cavendish began, but the
gleam of a revolver from under the woman leader’s
cloak caused her suddenly to become mum.

“ We have no great distance to go yet. before we
come into the vicinity of the buried treasure,” Bert-.-
nlce said; “ so keep quiet, or our mission here may
be fruitless.”

She then dashed on again, and the others followed
as best they could.

They now rose gradually up out of a black moun-
tain chasm by a narrow, tortuous way. through
beetllng cliffs. The further they went the more rug-
ged and almost impassable rew the route. Briers
and undergrowth choked t 16 way, and tore and

scratched both the riders and the animals.

Devere growled constantly.

“ I’d choose a life of poverty ere I’d come out on
such a ja‘nt again," he said. with a fierce imprcca-

ion.

At this juncture. Bereuice gave a little exclamation
and drew rein abruptly.

“ What is it?” Cavendish demanded, riding eager-
1 forward. “Curse me if it isn‘t a horse tied beside
t e traill"

“Yes. a horse." Berenice said—“ probably the one
ridden by the old Hermit to his we re I"

“ Curse the maul I thought he was totally dis-
abled by rheumatism.”

“.But it seems that he can ride. Como! we must
dismount, too, and creep after him. I dare say he

 

has not been many hours gone. and he shall not
cheat me out of my child i"

“Hal hal” Cavendish chuckled. “How one of
these motherly women will toil for their first-
born, Devercl There’s something really strange
about itl”

“Divil a bit strange, at all at all!" volunteered
Mrs. C. “ Shure, an‘ it was four childers we had in
the little cot for-ninst lha ould sod, an‘ ivory one av
’em was health as a pig in tha sty, ontil tho. war all
seized wid der loody ould faver, bedad. an’ waited
on high. Och! niver fear, me jewel; it‘s some o’
the same foine days ye‘il be toddling about a leetle
descindant o’ the Maloneysi”

“You‘ll be in your grave ere that, never fear!”
Cavendish growled.

They all dismounted now, and after securin their
animals, crept cautiously on over the rugge trail,
Bcrcnice in the lead.

On—thcn. they all paused in front of a black open-
ing in the rocks.

 

CHAPTER XII.
'rnr: Gum's mm.

WE must return. now, and follow the ruffian,
Cross-eyed Mike. who, with poor, terrified Idyl clasp-
ed in ins arms. a helpless risoner, was riding with
might and main, out of t evaliey of the cascade,
toward the west.

He. however. did not take the trail which was
later selected by Joaquin’s wife, but struck into a
narrow gap or fissure among the crags, further to
the south. This entrance was not known to very
many. for it was guarded by 3. Che arral of trees.

Once into the fissure, it gradua ly developed into
a narrow, dark, almost subterranean ravine. which
ran for along distance, seemingly through the bowels
of the mountains. ere it began to ascend.

The giant rode through this. carefully, for it was
blockaded in many places by fallen rocks, and logs
from the dizzy hight above. It was intensely dark,
and he made but slow progress, until he finally
reached a sort of table-land. from which the coun-
try stretcln-d off toward the Inynn Kara. range. in
gifiiore broken confusion of rocky and wooded dead-
a s. '

As soon as he had made the table-land. the giant
dismounted, and laid Idyl upon the ground.

He had for some time past been aware that she
was unconscious bv the dead weight with which she
had rested u on is arm, and he now saw an op-'
portunity to ind her, in order to carry her with
more so. ety.

This he atonce proceeded to do, and after he had
accomplished the task, he dashed a little water into
llcr face. from a pool. close at hand.

h Presently she shuddered, convulsively, and opened
er eyes.

A look of utter horror came into her eyes. as she
behold the man monster. (liml revealed in the moon-
light. as be bent over her. wit a hideous leer.

“So I‘ve got ye, my daisy," he said. with 3 tr!-
umphant chuckle—“got ye as nicely in my power
as arv mice. As ye’ve heard me say, several times.
me, Mike Gasket, o'hell-punch fame, it aire ther
fate o‘ ther feminine gender.”

“ Why have you brought me out into this wilder-
ness?" Idyl demanded. her heart filled with terror
for her safety, for she had seen enough of this
giant to feel certain that he was not too good to com-
mit any crime. “Tell me. was it not Byron Caven-
dish. who hired ou to do this work i”

“ Wal, now. est reckon yc ain't fur off ther
groove. m gal. twar just about that same galoot
as persum ed me ter fetch ye away from ther d1;-
gin’s. you bet."

“I thought so. I have felt that that villain was
plotting evil against me, although I did not expect
this. What are you going to do with me?“

“ Ho! ho! that‘s easy enuff answered 1" the rufflan
growled. “ Thar’s :4 snug leetle but on ahead hyar
whar I'm goin’ ter leave ye in keer uv an old Injun

\

 

 

 

 

"4‘

 

et
L__"Uml

 

Idyl, ,the Girl Miner. 29

squaw, w’ile .i sot fer Cascade Citv, ter j’iiie Lord
Cavendish in s‘arch fer ther old Hermit’s gold, 0'
w'ich I’m a-goin‘ ter get a sheer, you bet yer bootsl”

“What! are these men connivmg to rob my poor
father of his savings?" Idyl cried, in an agony of
alarm and excitement.

“ Thet‘s ‘est ther ticket they’re votin’, an' so am I,
me lady. guess as how thar‘ll be no use fer us ter
stay hyar longer, so we’ll pull on toward the hut. 1t
can’t be fur away now."

And picking I yl up in his arms, as if she were no
lieaVIer than a baby, the giant clamhercd into his
saddle, and urged his horse off into a rapid gallop.

Struggle as she would, the prisoner could gain
nothing, for she was now securely bound in addition
to being clasped iii the ruffian‘s arms.

Finally a but of logs loomed up along the trail;
set-mg which the iaiit said. with a coarse laugh:

“ Hyar we aire cr yer prison now, an’ I’ll leave ye
ter ther tender mercies of an old hag until my re-
turn. Then you shall become Mrs. Cavendish. Ho!
ho! hyar we sire," and he drew rein in front of the
hut, or Indian lodge, which was built of a variety of
materials. such as ndobes. saplings and skins.

There was a single doorway. and in this stood a.
slovenly-clad Indian woman, who had been watch-
ing their a roach with evident curiosity.

As Cross-Eyed Mike dismounted, with Idyl in his
arm“, she managed to position herself so as to fill
up the best share of the aperture.

“Ugh! What pale-face want?” she demanded.

“Oh! that's all right. gclorious old flowrr o” thcr
wilderness,“ the giant replied. “ I‘ve fotcbed ye an-
other dainty in orsel for ye to keep watch over."

“ Wagh! don’t want ‘iiuddcr,” was the decisive an-
swer. “ White man got wrong place."

“ Ohl go ‘long now! Don't ye s‘pose this old race-
boss knows his course? Don't ye s‘pose Ireckog-
nize tlier Blue Bell 0‘ ther Crows?" _ _

The face of the squaw suddenly lighted With plea-
sure at the words. I

“ Ugh! me Blue Bell," she said, with (evident pride.
“Pale-face speak good to Blue Bell. She do what-
ebber he want.”

“Know‘d it.” the giant said, leer-Eng down into
Idyl’s face, as he. stood her upon her feet, first hav-
ing cut the bonds which bound her ankles.

“Ye parseeve it’s impossible for ther weaker sex
to resist me."

“There is one who very successfully curried you
off," Idyl returned, sarcastically. “If he were only
here now, I’d not be long a. prisoner.”

“But he ain’t hyor, ye see, an‘ consekently I‘m
goin‘ ter leave ye iii keer o‘ the beautiful Blue Bell
0’ the Crows for a few days. S’Ie‘ll watch ye."

“Ugh! Blue Bell do as pain-face say." the hag re-
plied. “ Blue Bell watch young St iiiiw berry much."

Scizing her by the shoulder ‘nsket pushed the
girl miner into the hut, and then handed the bag a
revolver. .

“You just keep every galoot away until I come.
and ye shell hev old ‘til ye :11" so doleed thet ye
ken‘t see nuterml y for a week. Don‘t let no one
approach ther place ucr git Sight 0’ tiier gal. D‘yc
hear?"

“ Blue Bell hear berry much. She do as white
man 58. ." ,

At this moment there was a childish scream from
the inside, and a grim expression came over the
squaw‘s face. , .

“What’s that?” Crosseyed Mike gmutrd, sus [-
:iously. “ You’ve got a boy in tliar, Blue Be ;

tain’t no Injun brat. niither.” .

“None of ale-facc‘s busmess." Blue Bell rephed,
angrily. “’ udder pale-faceleab boy."

“Phewl” and the giant gave vent to a prolon ed
whistle. “Ten to one it's thenboy Cavendish es
got, w‘ich b‘longs tor thet Jon Inn‘s witel’

” Ughl Cavendishl”. Blue Be assented, with nod.
“ He ay Blue Bell has gold for keepin’ pappoose,”

“ Hp aid you thet, d (l he?" i

 

“Wadi, now, just don‘t ye suck that shennanigum
for :1 cents worth, old beauty. Old Cavendish hes
bin imposin’ on yer conferdunce. He‘s broke—
liain’t got the scant o' a copper about his tags——
bank’s closed ter wait fer resumption, a sec."

“ Waghl mean he got no money?" he squaw de-
manded, wildly.

“Jest that. perzactly. But, don‘t git on yer ear.
I‘ll pay fer ther brat an‘ ther gal both, an‘ ye jest
keep all other hoomans away frum hayr. Heer's
ten gold dollars fer ye. Now, d’ye beer? of any one
comes nosin‘ around, Cavendish or no Cavendish,
you lug it to ‘em wi’ thet revolver.”

“ lue Bell not forgit if pale-face glb her drink
whisky,” was the cunning reply of the squaw. .

Fortunately the giant never traveled without a
pocket-flask, and this he now producod, and handed
it to the Blue llell of the Crows. _

She tipped it to her thick lips a couple of times,
and then handed it back empty. .

The giant stared a moment; then, dropping the
bottle, vaulted into the saddle, and gathered up the
reins to depart. .

“See tlict ye keep good care 0‘ them if he said,
pointing within the hut, “an’ ye shell hev a quart 0'
that stuff w’en I come back."

Then, plunging the 5 mm into his animal‘s flanks,
he dashed away over t 10. back trail toward Cascade
Gulch, leaving Idyl a prisoner in the power of the
old Indian hag.

Now unburdenod, the giant made the best of his
animal‘s speed. He was anxious, if possible. to get
back into the diggings before the two plotters should
start in Search of the gold, which was cached some-
where in the mountains.

It was now well on toward morning, and the moon
had gone nearly down, which of course increased the
gloom, but the rufflan pushed recklessly on, unmind—
ful of danger.

Horseflesh was of little value in his eyes. compared
with gold, and he was resolved to have a share of
the old Hermit‘s treasure, should it ever be found.

On. on he dashcd. lcaving the table-lands, and de-
scondingiuto the black (10 this of the ravine.

Suddenly his horse s‘uni led over some object. and
went crashing to the ground headforcmost, hurling
the giant far ahead out of the saddle, where he
studied heavily upon the rocks, and lay like one

on .

He was not killed, however, only unconscious,

Ho awoke after awhile, with a gas of pain, but
when he would have arisen to his free , he made the
startling discovery that he was securely bound, hand
and foot.

Following this discovery, lie crawled into a sitting
posture, and gazed around him in bewilderment.

He was lying nearly in the same spot where he had
fallen, as he was able to determine, for only a few
yards away lay his horse—dead! .

Ileyond this a little. camp-fire had been built, and
its blaze lighted up thodarkncss of the black ravine,
and around it a couple of persons were pacing, in
conversation the while.

The giant muttered a curse ashe recognized them.

One was the Spottvr-Sport, Rosebud Rob, while the
other was none other than the girl eccentric, Balti-
more Bess.

They seemed to have heard the giant’s expletive,
for they turned toward him, and then approached.

Without first 5 eaking, they seized him, and drag-
ged liim forwar into the flrelight.

.Then they let him go, and stood gazing down upon

1m.

“ Well, sir rufl‘ian." Sport exclaimed. after a short
pause. “ what have you got to say of yourself? We
are waiting for you to s enk, before we conclude
(tine ceremonies of to—nig t, by hanging you up to

rv.‘

“ Cuss ye i” the giant growled, his bias eyes glit-
terin wolflshly. " Let me up. W'at d’ye mean?” ‘

“ a meant has a few moments o. I don‘t
opine we‘ve change our mind any—eh, 7"

I

 

      
 
    
         
     
     
     
      
      
     
       
   
       
   
   
  
  
    
  
  
  
 
  
    
  
   
   
    
  
 
  
  
   
  
   
  
  
  
   
   
   
  
    
   
 
   
  
   
  
   

Idyl, the Girl Miner.

 

“Nary one bit!" the dare-devil assented. “We
two tellers hev assembled together in solemn'con-
clave. an‘ we do sw’ar, an’ agree. that a notorious
rough by ther appointive uv Cross-Eyed Mike, have
got ter go troutm up river Jordan. Them's ther
percise constitoos unnl plans an’ specifications 0’
this hyar court, you bet yer stogy boots."

, “Cuss yel" the giant breathed again. vainly en-
deavoring to burst the thongs that bound him. “ I
tell ye ter set me at liberty, or some ’un ‘11 git hurt,
now, purty uick. I don‘t want no more monkey-
mockm‘ nu her."

“Hal al that‘s the ticket we vote, tool“ Rosebud
Rob replied. “We want you to dish out your best,
in about the twitch of a mule‘s ear, or up you go to
8 0W '

“ What d'ye want, then?"

“You know that, without asking. We want to
know where you took Id 1 Abbey, the girl miner!"

“ Go find out—l'll not all ye!“ the giant replied.
with an evil grin. “She‘s wh 'ryou’d ncvyer find
her. of ye war ter s’nrch a thousan’ years.”

Rosebud Rob and Baltimore Bess both seemed to
agree that this was merely a parry, by an exchange
0 glances.

‘ You need not try that game,“ the Sport said.
“ We ain’t dealing in that kind of stock. You’ve got
to either tell us where the girl is, or swing, and that
in mighty short order, too. ' I won’t tolerate trifling,
in the least."

“ Oh! ye won't, won’t ye?" the giant sneered, sav-
agely. “ Wal, ye kin jest go ahead an‘ stretch my
neck asmuch as e please, forIwon't scare inter

r tellin' wu’th awha e."

“ Then ban: you shall, and we'll find the captive
afterward. Bess, gal. fetch the halter."

The girl dare-devil nodded, and advancing into the
gloom of the ravine. where their horses were con-
gealedj, she procured a long, stout lariat, and re-

ur le .

With a coolness befitting one of twice her years,
Baltimore made a noose with one end of the lariat,
and slip ed it over the giant's head, shirrlng it
snug] a out his throat.

“'1‘ ar, neow " she said, with a chuckle. “ How's
thel: flt yer notion for a Piccadilly collar‘l7 Fit’s yer
thrut ruther better then it do yer notion, ch?"

"Bess, you are incorrigible," the Sport said, with
a smile.

Then, turning to the giant, he said: '

- " Come! it you have any desire to live tell me
mhfyre to find the girl, within five minutes, or you

e

“ Will ye set me at liberty, of I tell ye?" the ruflian
demanded.

“ Not at present!" the Sport re lied. “You can
not catch me with chaff. you'll fin . i shall require

on to accompany me to where you have concealed
' he glrl—ay. p arhaps further. Do you know the
location of the treasure-cache of the old Hermit?"

“ Nar a know. Wish I did."

“ We] , will you tell me, or rather guide me to the
place where Idyl is concealed .9”

“No. I‘ll be hanFed furst.“

The giant was ev dently determined to die, rather
than to yield the secret.

Rosebud Rob saw this, and was at a loss how to
act, and so called the girl dare-devil to one side.

“ The rufflan is obstinate, even in the face of
death " he said, ina low tone, which he intended
should not reach the giant. “ I am puzzled whether
to lynch the devil, or let him go, or take him with
us

" Lynch him !" Bess said, sententiously. “Just
gov him another show, an’ of he don’t snatch it,
why, simply—l on him] Let me pull that rope, el’
ye're skittish a out it.”

“ Which I am not," Rob answered.

They returned to the roman, and seizing the lad-
at, dragged him to a place where a single tree grew
in the canyon, shooting out a few naked branches,

 

as if in preparation for just such occasions.

“Your time is u l" the S ort said, as Bess tossed
the end of a laria over a imb, and then seized it
again. “I ask once more, will you tell me where
Idyl Abbey is. or will you die?”

“Let her slidel" the giant said. “I'll see all the
mysteries o' Inferno afore I’ll tell—"

Time was not given him for saying: more, for Bass
gave a “reef” on the lariat, and the combined
strength of herself and the Sport was sufficient to
draw the giant into mid—air.

The larlat was then fastened, and hurrying to
their horses, the two regulators dashed away.

 

CHAPTER XIII.
CONCLUSION—“WHAT SHALL THE HARVEST an?"

WE will now return to the treasure-hunters, whom
we left in front of a black entrance which led into
the bowels of the mountains.

“This is the lace,” Joaquin’s wife said, eering
ahead into the laclmess. ‘ in here the old ermit
conceals his gold. “ ’Tis a catacomb of caves, and
we must go slow and sure. Each man light his lan.
tern. and prepare to follow me."

The order was at once obeyed.

Berenice leading. they entered the grotto.

At first it was low and narrow, but the further
they advanced it widened like a funnel and com
tinued in this manner for several hundred yards.

Then they suddenly found themselvi-s in a mam-
moth cavern where their lights were useless, for
plenty of this commodity streamed down throu h
a large hole in the dome above. This light to d
them that morning had dawned upon the mountain
peaks in the outer world.

The inside of this inter—mountain chamber was 8.
wonder in its natur 1 beauty. It seemed as though
the hand of man had been the architect. The floor
was nearly as smooth as a pane of glass, and must
have embraced several acres, from one side to the
other.

Commencing at the right hand a natural corridor
wound up the runged sides of the cavern, making
three tiers of galleries, and reminding the spectator
of a Roman ampbilheatcr.

The three treasure—hunters, headed byJoaquin‘s
wife, paused to gaze upon the awe-inspiring scene,
before advancing further.

“ This is magnificent!" the Enslishman muttered,
admiringly. "I don’t think i ever saw its equal."

“Arrah!” w‘at a mighty foinn place it would be
for rollerslmtin’. inrladc. outirelyl" assured Mrs. C.,
enthusiastic in her admiration.

‘-‘ There‘s no time for talk!” Bcrcnice interposed.
“ We must search for the treasure, although I fear
we are too late l“

“ How too late ‘3" Devere demanded, savagely.
“Explain yourself."

“ Easily done. I fear that the Hermit has already
secured his treasure, and taken his departure."

“ But he did not p'lSS us as we entered?"

“ No; if he has escaped at all it is by another wav.
There is another passage leading out of this cham-
ber, simi‘ar to that by which we entered. and he has
probably gone that way. We will first search the
cache to make sure.”

She led the way out into the center of the glassy
surface, closely followed by Devere and his lordship
and his wife.

Pausing in the center. as nearly as she could guess,
she glanced sharply around and soon knelt beside a.
crevic: in the surface, the shape of a square.

Drawing a knife she Set to work, and pried up a.
block of rock, and hurriedly pushed it aside. Then.
by the aid of a stra , she lowered her lantern into a
sort of pit below. to owing it with her piercing gaze.

A cry burst from her lips, and she drew back in-
voluntarily. .

{‘6 It is gone! The old man has been herel“ she
sax .

A savage curse burst from the lips of Cavendish,
and, springing upon the woman, he dragged her

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back upon the floor, and placing his foot upon her
breast. drew a revolx er.
“The fiends take you!" he hissed, fiercely, and be-

, fore either Devere or the Irishwouian could prevent,

he took deliberate aim and fired, twice, in succession.

Poor Berenice gave but a single answering groan,
then her spirit fled; she was dead. .

“In the name of Heaven, why (lid you do this?“
Devere cried, aghast. “You have not only done
murder, but you have forever killed our chances for
getting possession of the Hermit‘s gold.”

“ Bah! ’tis easy to track the ould divil now,” cried
Mrs. 0., excitedly.

"' f course," agreed the Englishman. “I intend-
ed to kill the woman all the lime in order to retain
gossession of the boy, which must yet fetch me a

andsome sum. Ha! look there!" '

He pointed to one of the upper corridors. where, on
locking. all beheld the head and shoulders of Old
Elk, the Hermit, suddenly draw out of Sight. _

The old man was hill]!!le the corridor from his
enemies, and had been making observations of the
scene below, when some unlucky chance caused
Cavendish to gaze. upward in that direction. .

y Heaven! ms the Hermit." Devei‘e cried, Jubi-
lantly. “ Hurrah! let’s i'oust him out of that! The
golden treasure is now ours.”

And yelling like so many savages the two men run
to the not of the natural ascent, and began climbing
upward into the galleries.

Mrs. C. did not follow them, but turned and re-
treated into the funnel entrance.

Eagerly on and upward the two villains clamhered.
their eagerness encouraging them to extraordinary
exertion. Pulling and panting they kept on until
butafew yardsiutervoned between them and the
old Hermit. who stood in front ofn large leather sack
which lay upon the floor. The old man stood Vrith
one of his stout oakeii crutches upraised, eVidently
determined to light to ilu- last.

“Surrender!” Cavendish cried triumphantly. cock-
inE one of his revolvvrs. whth Devere imitated his
example. “ Surrender! It‘s no use to resist“ _Wo re
two to one, and either you give up, or you die! ’

“ Them 5 our ti rms!” Dcvvre put in, wilh a mali-
cious laugh. "Pony up the wealth in that bug, be-

ind on, or you're a dead man!”

“ eep : ff, you human fiends—keep off, or I will
brain you!" I e llcrmit cried. in hoarse tones. " You
shall not have the gold; I will die in defense of it a
hundred times first i” '

Alas! it was useless, however, for_ him to resmt.
Both men fired at the same time, and with a groan,
he fell to the ground, blood Spurting from his wounds.

hen the human wolves rushed forward. and while
Cavendish seized the bug, Dcvere grasped the dying
Hermit by the heels, and both wvre dragged down
11 on the floor of the cabin from the galleries above.

ere they paused a moment, to gain breath before.
examining t e treasure, which was heavy enough
for several fortunes.

“ Where’s the Irishwoinan ?” Devere. demanded,
suddenly noting her disappearance. “ She must die
next, and then our trail is clear. Rosebud Rob dead;
Joaquin‘s wife (lead: the Hermit and the Irishcr
ditto, and we have triumphed i“ _

“Curse the woman! Let‘s first look in the bag!"
Cavendish growled. . _

And with eager hands, he cut the tie-string, and
pulled the mouth of the bag open! _

Then through the cavern sprung a howl of disap-
pointment,coming simultaneously from both men,

The bag was filled nuraly with. fine gravel, which

. would not ham axsayrd an mum of gold!

“We have been duped—cheated!" Byron Caven-
dish breathed, with a curse. ".The old Hermitlias
secreted his gold. and filled this bag. to baffle us.
Quick! before iii is too late. we will have the secret
from him, it we have to tear out his heart.”

\ ’ THE

 

“ Too late. there, even!“ Devere replied. hoarser
as he arose from the Hermit's side. ” The old man
is Ilflad /"

The baronet seemed transformed into aliving fury,
so frightful were his rage and disa intment.

" \\'e are foiled all around, and {giggold is lost 1“
Dcvere said. “ We have no choicebut—"

" To submit to arrest i” cried a, cool voice.

“ 1n the name of the law. we arrest you both for
the murderof Olk Elk, the Hermit, and numerous
other citizens l”

And scarcely before the two villains were aware
of it, they were securely handcuffed and confronted
by Rosebud Rob. Baltimore Bess and the lord’s
wife, who proceeded at once to (loft her disguise,
and there stood before them in person Mr. George
Pearsons. a noted Eastern detective, who, in con-
junction with Rosebud Rob, had been waiting for
this very hour to arrive, when he could effect their
arrest. Pearsons also had shadowed the young
barouet westward from New York. under the im-
ni‘ession that he was an escaped criminal from Sing
Sing; but he had been convinced of his mistake.

The Hermit and Berenice Muriete were buried in
the cavern; then, with the two prisoners, the trio of
detectiws set out on their return to Cascade City.

On their way they came unexpectedly upon Sir
Tom Somerset, leading his horse along through the
mountains. and in the saddle was seated ldyl, whom
the pluck Britislicr had found and rescued, as well
as Little et. Joaquin's child.

Idyl was not told of her father's death until she
arrived in Cascade City. and it was lucky, for the
shock and what she had endured totally unnerved
her, and she lay for weeks upon a sick- bed. Sir Tom
was head nurse, however, and much was owing to
him that she ever iecovered.

In the mean time, the two criminals received a.
miner’s trial, and. upon being pioven guilty, were
lynched without delay.

Idyl finally recovered, and one day asked for
Rosebud Rob. Upon his appearance before her, she

said:

“Mr. Mapleton, I have had a strange dream con-
cerning my poor father‘s buried treasure: that you
knew where it was concealed. is t! is so?"

“A i even so, Miss Abbey I and Pearsons found
out w ere the gcld was by trailing your father by
stealth to the spot, and when he had gone, we en-
tered the cavern, found the gold, and reburied it
in another place for safety substituting a bag of
gravel in place of it. It wiilgive us great leasure
ntotw ltjo place in your hands a fortune. I w' go for
i o— ay."

He kc t his word. and set out for the cavern at
03cc, pon arriving there, another surprise greet-
e um.

Upon the grave of Berenice Muriete a form was
lying, cold and silent.

II wris- Joaquin, Jr. .

“ Poor fellow i“ the Sport muttered. “He has not
long outlived his wife whom I believe he‘ loved sin-
cerely: I will leave him as he has laid himself. The
boy still lives, and I hold the map to the secret mine.
which, I take it. is beneath the falls. Heigh-ho! I
wonder ‘ what shall the harvest be!" " r

._.._.__

Securing the treasure, he returned to Cascade City
and delivered it to, Idyl.

Enough wealth was there to keep the girl miner
weighing for a week; and, it is said. she and SirTom
(for they are soon to be married) will be independ-
ently rich. Little Pet is to live with them.

The Spotter-Sport is still in Cascade City, as is
Baltimore Bess. Pearsons has come East.

0!! the S ort and Dare-devil Bess, we do not mean
to lose sig t. .

END.

 

 

 

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