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1' Yum No. US \VILLIAM 51.. NEW Yuma “W "W"-

“STOPI” SHE SAID, AUTHORITATIVELY.

 

 

 

Deadwood Dick’s Device.

     

 

Deadwood Dick’s Device;

The Sign of the Double Cross.

A WILD, STRANGE TALE OF THE LEADVILLE
MINES—0F MEN OF STEEL—~OF TOUGHS AND
TIGERS—0F ROAD-AGENTS, REGULATORS, AV-
ENGERS, ADVENTURERSf-AND OF THE THRILL-
ING LIFE IN THE NEW ELDORADO.

BY EDWARD L. WHEELER, v

AUTHOR or “ naanwoon DICK” NOVELS; “ BOSE-
BUD ROB 7’ NOVELS, are, ETC.

 

 

CHAPTER I.
DAVID HOWELL’s WILL.

A STORM was upon Leadville.

Such a storm as is not usual in that high
latitude—a regular tornado of wind, to ether
with a. copious shower of rain, and the p ay of
lightning combined with the roll of thunder.
From noon of a warm sprin day it had been
gathering in the heavens, in t reatening puffs
of black and gray, with the pur le tinge to the
horizon gestive of a conceale riot.

Then ha the heavens grown darker and dark
er, as well as the day. At the first rumble of the
heavy thunder men came from the mines, and
shook their heads doubtfull . They had about
as well run the risk of their 156 below ground as
face the elements above.

Business was suspended in the town until
lamps could be lighted; indeed, few could do
any hing but stand and watch the strange shapes
and colors of the clouds that every instant threat-
ened to spill their contents over the mountain
metropolis. .

A man was riding toward the town from in
the direction of the mountains, at a rapid gallop
—a man enveloped in a heavy cloak, with a
slouch hat so drawn down over his face asto
hide his identity, which evidently was his pur-

pose.

As he rode he' glanced Skyward occasionally,
as if anxious that the storm should hold off
until he reached the town, yet distant a couple
of miies.

The narrow road or trail over which he gal-
loped, was lined with stunted pines, and an un-
dergrth of young Chaparral, which gave it a
gloomy a carance, even in daytime, to say
nothing 0 its night somberness.

There was an occasional cabin scattered along
the trail, but they were generally vacant, hav-
ing been built and deserted by stampeders—a
class of miners who invade every strike, but
alpull out ” at the first warning for better pas-

res.

The horse u n which the rider was mounted,
was a large horoughbred bay, with an abund-
ance of life and sth, and it needed but a word
from its master to uicken its pace.

“ 0n! Spot! on, o d fellow, or we’ll surely get
a ducking!” the rider said, studying the angry
face of the betwens 't‘? do lnot care abori: offer-
us myself ‘as a targe or a umcane. is go-
ing to be a’ herd pull torthetown, down there

\

 

on the plateau, and the morning’s paper of to-
morrow will have a. whole column of obituary
news about broken window- anes and disman-
tled roofs, if I mistake not. ellol”

He involuntarily drew rein as a woman glid-
ed from the chaparral, in front of his horse, and
waved her hand for him to stop. He had not
the slightest idea as to what she wanted, but
courtesy combined with curiosity, caused him to
give her audience.

“Stop!” she said, authoritatively; and the
horseman saw her pull the vail down closer over
her face. “Stop a bit, sir! You are wanted at
the Dead Pine Tract.”

“ I, madam?” the stranger echoed, in evident
sur rise. “Pray cxplain—”

‘ There is nothing to explain, more than I
have told you. You are wanted at the cabin
of Dave Howell, on the Dead Pine Tract, and if
you’re at all anxious to strike a fat pan, you’ll
git along.”

And turning, the woman glided back into the

cha rral as mysteriously as she had come.
“ ell, I’ll be jiggeredl” the horseman mut-
tered, watchin her retreat until she had disap-
peared. “ If was inclined to believe in mani-
festations, I should sa I had received a call.
The woman was too 0 evei'ly dis uised for one
to recognize her, nor do I th' I have ever
heard her voice.”

A few drops of rain 11 n the leaves above
him, and a glance at thew ‘tish gray and pur-
ple sky, seemed to decide the rider as to his

course.”

“ I will go to Dead Pine Tract,” he declared.
“ it is a good way of avoiding the storm, and if
it is a trap for me, as I more than half suspect,
I’ve a pair of tools in my belt that have never
gone back on me, to my recollection."

And with a low lau h, the incognito gave
rein to his horse, and g oped away in a course
opposite to that which he had been pursuing.

The wind increased to a very gale, carrying
with it dust, leaves, sticks and rain, and the
thunder boomed a deep angry solo to the light-
nin'r’s flash. Still the lone horseman spurred
on, bravely fighting his wa through the now
fierce tornado, which howl around him like so
many infuriated demons.

At lost, however, he struck into a section of
timbered country. almost within sight of Load-
ville, which bore the name of Dead Pine Tract,
from the fact that every pine tree in the piece
of timber was dead—a tall gaunt trunk only
standing with seamed sides to tell where the
fatal lightning had left its mark during some
former storm.

Here the wind did not strike so heavil , for
the tract was protected on the east by an a rupt
line of hills that checked the force of the low-
flying winds of the howling land hurricane.

Threading the forest of dead pines by way of
a well-beaten trail, the horseman soon emerged
into a glade comprising some fifteen acres which
had been but rudely cleared of logs and debm,
and containing two buildings—a cabin, and a
large slab shed over the mouth of a shaft.

“ This must be the place where I am wanted,”
the rider muttered, guiding his horse up to the
door, and drawing rein. “ This must be the fa-
mous Howell mine, of which the Isadvillepar

    

 

 

 

 

 

     

  

Deadwood Dick's Device.

 

  

 

pers have been incessantly blowing. A rich
strike, too, they say—equal to the Little Pitts—
bur on Freyer Hill.”

T ere seemed to be no life about the prcm-
ises, judging from external a pearances; so, dis-
mounting and tethering his orse, the stranger
rapped smartly on the door.

After a few moments footsteps were audible
crossing the floor, and the door was opened by a
Chinaman—a cunning, mischievous-looking, al<
mond-eyed son of Confucius he was, too, clad in
the st le customary with his class.

“ hatee ’Melican man wantee?” he demand-
ed, looking so serious as to ap ear most comical.

‘I wish to know what ’m wanted for, as
much as anything,” the stranger replied, ban-
teringly. “ I was sent here by a vailcd wo-
man, who remarked that my presence was de-
sirable in this cabin. Show me in, you pig-
tailed rascal!”

The Celestial obeyed, and the stranger found
himself in a large rudely furnished room, con-
taining such traps and trimmings as you will
find in any miner’s hut—~12 c. cooking utensils,
while a table and bed occupied a large portion
of the space.

A man lay u on the bed, evidently suffering
great pain, for iis face was contorted, and his
eyes bulged wildly from their sockets. He was
very thin and bony, and his haggard appear-
ance was increased by the ragng condition of
his garments.

A man sat upon a stool by the stove, frying
some meat—a rough, common-looking person-
age, who did not look as if he was gifted with
more than an ordinary stock of brains.

The person upon the bed looked up eagerly, as
he heard footsteps crossing the floor, and saw
the stranger standing above him. His eyes
seemed to grow less wild in their glare, and the
expression upon his features less rigid.

.‘Who are you?” he demanded, in a hoarse,
gasping tone; ‘ who sent you?”

“ My name is Harris; Edward Harris at your
service,” the stranger replied, turning down his
collar and raising his hat, thereby revealing a
handsome, manly face. “ I came hither at the
instigation of a vailed woman, who intercepted
me back here in the forest.”

“It is well. She kept her word to me. Your
name is Edward Harris, eh ?”

“At your service—at least, such is the name
I choose to sail under.”

“Harris! Harris!” the old man muttered,
thoughtfully, as If trying to recall some past
and gone memory. “Edward Harris! It seems
to me that that name has reached my hearing
before—ah! yes! I knew I was not wrong;—
Edward Harris—Deadwood Dick!” ‘

“The same, originally l” the stranger by the
bedsuie replied. “Have you a grudge against
Deadwood Dick?”

“None!” the old man answered, with a chuckle.
“Deadwood Dick never did me any harm, and
is not likely to, since he was lynched. but a few
days ago, in Leadville. As to the similarity in
your names, it is not singular, for Harris is not
an uncommon name.”

‘fPerhans not,” the stranger replied, with a
smile. “If there is anything I can do for you,
be pleased to state what.”

    

 

“ Yes! yes! I had almost forgotten that time
is flying, and ushering me into eternity. For,
as you may have observed, I am dying, young
man—dying. and suffering the most acute pain.
Life won’t ang to me much longer, and I may
as well sum up In business, at once.
married, Edward arris?”

“ I am a widower,” Deadwood Dick replied, a.
cloud comin over his face.

“It is we . I know you would be a kind
husband; your very resence seems to tell me
so. Now listen, and shall tell you my plans.
I am known as a miser, in this section of the
country, because I chose to remain a recluse,
and refused to share my gains .with the world-—
with the world, understand you, which grasps
everything in its wa with a merciless gripe.
Never did a hungry unian leave my cabin, or
a. distressed one—yet they call me a miser,
because I would not share with the rich—be-
cause I couldn’t find it convenient to let a, pack
of greedy relatives step into my shoes.

“ I have a brother and his family, who are
anxious to have me die, so that they can step
into my shoes. They have even so spies to
watch me, and see that I leave my property to
no one else but ihtm. But those ies have
relinquished the job, and I have yet 1i e enough
to outwit my eager relatives. Ay! I’ll cut them
(if without a penny, for I hate them, even as
the hate me.”

I e paused for a moment as if racked by pain
or passion.

“ Until a few days ago, I had a child to watch
over me, but they-came and took her away,
supposing that my will would place her in os-
session of my property, and as her guar ian
they could have the handling of it, and ulti-
mate] swindle her out of it. But, we shall see
llztnl ‘alked in their designs. Be seated, young
rran, and you, Cherub, bring the table nearer,
with ink, pen, and paper—also the little tin safe
I keep in the red chest.”

While Edward Harris became seated, the
Chinaman hastened to obey the old man’s orders,
and the table with the requisite articles was
£07m drawn up close to the bedside. ‘

David Howell was then bolstered up with pil-
lows to a sitting position, so that he could wr to,
with the table as a desk.

Before beginning operations, he drank'deeply
from a bottle he had in the bed; then be seized
the pen in a hand that trcmbled like an aspen.

Write he did, however, upon the paper,
although it was after a scrawling fashion.
Steadily, although death seemed to cast its
hovering shadow over him; nor did he .eak un-
til he had finished; his whole soul seems to con-
centrate with the words that formed at the point
of his pen upon the paper.

When he had made the last stroke. he laid
gm pen aside, and handed the paper to Ned

arms.

“ Read it aloud! I can better tell then, if it is
as I desire.” he said, sinking back exhausted.
upon the pillow.

Deadwood Dick did as directed, although he
grew greatly surprised, as he read.

The document read as follows, having append-
ed thereunto the date, and place:

Are you

    

 

4 I Deadwood Dick’s Device.

 

" Being in sound and sane state of mind, and
knowin that my death is but a matter of a few
hours , David Howell, miner, ni.‘ the town of Lead-
ville, State of Colorado, do make my last will and
testament, and adp‘pend my signature in the resence
of witnesses, an n the presence of my .

“ To Edward Harris, more widely known under
the nick-name or nom, de plume of Deadwood Dick, I
do bequeath the whole of my real estate and personal
property as it stau 's. unincumbered by debt or mort-
gage. said real estate being tract of land known as

e Dead Pine Tract, containing fifteen acres, and the
Howell carbonate mine. together with one cabin and
one shed, and personal progerty embracing the crui-
tents of said mine, shed an ea in, such as took, flx-
tures, furniture. etc.

“To said Deadwood Dick, I do bequeath the guard-
ianship of my daughter. Stella Howell, who, at the
time of this writing. is in tho custod of her uncle,
MajorM rton Howell of Leadville. 01.; said Dead-
wood Dick to assume er grotection and support un~
til s‘ie is of legal age, w en. it there be a mutual
agreement between them, they shall marry, and
keep the bequest amon them and their posterity.
in case of no marri e. t 8 first clause or my will to
hold good, making dward Harris, alias Deadwood
Dick. my sole heir.

“ To my relatives at large. I leave one penny apiece,
which my heir will hand to them, when he reads to
them this will. and also my dying blessing, which I
have no doubt they will appreciate.

“Signed upon my death-bed.

“ DAVID R. HOWELL.

.. EDWARD HAnms,
Wines?“ by { Moss MOBRAY.“

Ned Harris and the miner at the stove a pend-
ed their si tures, and the last will an testa-
ment of t 6 owner of Dead Pine Tract was

9.

“It’s as it should be,” the dying man said,
when the last stroke of the pen had been made.
“It places the property forever out of the reach
of In designing brother, who has been figuring
for i the best he knew how.”

“ True!” Deadwood Dick said, “but you are

lacing your property and the life of your child
£1 the hands of a man you know little about,
just to spite your own kindred. Is this not very
eccentric?”

“Perhaps so, young man, but it is my will. If
you are the orlginal Deadwood Dick I have no
tears for my Star, or for my wealth, for often
have I heard of Deadwood Dick as a man, who.
though a road-agent, was a man of honor and
integrity. Besides, you are the one man to hold
your own, here on Dead Pine Tract, for blood
will he s illed ere the dispute for the ownership
will en . Mark you, ou will have to play a.
stron hand or they W111 oust you. They will
fight ke devils for the mine, and if you Would
keep it, the name of Deadwood Dick must again
ring abroad, a synonym of terror. ”

A quiet smile stole around the lips of the great
ex-road-agent. .

“ Let them come i” he said, coolly. “You have
made me legally your heir, and I shall hold the
mine as you have directed. Your daughter shall
betreated with marked care and respect, and
you need have no fear that she will come to want,
whil': in my care. Is that all you have to
as

Z Nearly. The tin safe the recontains the Re-
corder’s deed of the claim, which you may need
to fight with! Beware that they do not steal

 

them from you, for then they would have you
in their power, completely.”

“ Never fear,” Deadwood Dick replied, with a
cool laugh. “I can fight them to the death,
for having died once and returned, Phenix-
like, to life, I don’t calculate that death ought
to have so many terrorsto me, as it once did.”

“ How did you escape?”

“ That is a little secret I don’t care to reveal.
I was brought back to life by my dear friend,
the Girl Sport, otherwise known as Calamity
Jane. She did a good job, and shall yet be re—
warded. Now, about this mine—have you any
hands at work in it?”

“None. I discharged them all this morning,
when I felt death coming over me. The China-
man, here, I givoto you, with the assurance
that you can place implicit trust in him. Mose
Mobray, yonder, has been merely a worker for
me, to cook my mess, since my Stella was ub-
ducted.”

“ They shall remain upon the Tract, if I find
them faithful,” Deadwood Dick assured.

The storm now burst forth with rodoubled
fury, and the new heir to the Howell mine sent
Cherub to take his horse in under the shelter of
the shed by the shaft-mouth.

As the storm waged wild. the dying miner
seemed to grow proportioname wild and rest-
less, groaning aloud, and sometimes shrieking in
agony, either caused by pain or a tortured
consolence. .

The man Mobray administered such medicines
as were at hand, but they seemed to have little
or no effect. -

To Deadwood Dick this was a new epoch in
his strangely eventful life, and he could but
wonder how the venture or adventure was go-
inglto end.

is mind reverted to the strange vailed wo-
man who had summoned him to this dying
man’s side and he wondered how she was con-
nected with the future, for he felt that she was
Eiestined to appear again, either as friend or

0e.

The tornado finally spent its force, and the
wind went down, while the sun burst forth over
a sceneof havoc and desolation, caused by the
storm—trees torn down or uprooted, buildings
unroofed, and aneless, and a profusion of debris
hurled everyw ere.

The sun also shone in the window of the cabin
on Dead Pine Tract, and lighted the path of
David Howell from one world to another, for,
as the storm abated, he sunk rapid] , and
breathed his last in a few minutes after t e sun-
light came to beckon him.

 

CHAPTER II.
DEADWOOD DICK STANDS ms GROUND.
AFTER arranging with the miner, Mose Mo-
bray, to see that the dead man was decently
interred, Deadwood Dick mounted his horse and
rode away toward Loadville. His first motive

was to ride to the house of Major Howell, and

acquaint him with the state of affairs. Donning
a heavy false mustache and goatee before enter-
ing the town, he rode in by the main street fear-
lessly. Handsome, dashm' E,

as he sat his saddle with t 0 best of grace an

dauntless he lookedd "

 

 

 

Deadwood Dick’s Device. I '5

ease—a thoroughbred knight of the road, such
as he had been in the ast.

But Deadwood Dic had been lynched, and
the throbbing, surging mass of humanity he
encountered more] gazed upon him as an or-
dinar “pilgrim,’ not dreaming that ho had
passe through the jaws of death and was back
among them a free man. For no one now
could dispute that he had paid the full penalty
of the law.

The Howells were a leadin family, both
financially and socially—for eadville mind
you, has its social wor d as well as its Elastern
sister cities, formed out of that class whom
fortune has smiled upon. And surrounded by a

eat superfluit of style, pom and splendor,
t ey set themse ves up as the ‘ superior class,”
ye gods!

It was among these aristocratic circles that
the Howell family moved, and being possessed
of considerable style, power, inf ueuce and
cash, the were looked up to as one of tho “ first
families’ in Leadville, and held themselves
austerer aloof from the commoner citizens and
their families; to such an extent, it may be
said, that they had but few friends and many
foes, who made fun of them from the street
corners as thefy ssed by.

_ U 11 one o t 0 most aristocratic streets the
llve in a modern mansion newly complete ,
and furnished throughout with the greatest taste
and elegance.

Deadwood Dick found the place by a little in-
quiry, and dismounting, he fastened Spot, and
ascending the polished steps, rung the bell.

An ebony son of Africa soon a eared.

“ Hero is my card,” Deadw Bick said, ten-
derin a card. “Please hand it to your master,
sir.

The negro skurried hastily away, leaving Dick
standing upon the ste  He soon returned
however, his face neariy disjointed by a huge

grin.

“De massa sa 3 as how I’se totell you he’s not
at home!” the fe ow stammered.

“‘ Then you go tell him he’s a liar!” Deadwood
Dick ordered “ and that I’ve important busi-
ness. If he on’t grant me an interview, I’ll
waltz in there and tumble him out of doors
head-foremost.”

The darky disap ared again, but when he
returned he usher Deadwood Dick into a long
elaborately-frescoed hall, and up a staircase
which was carpeted with velvet.

Upon the first floor front, in an apartment fit
for a prince, was the reception parlor and oflice
combined of the speculator. Into this Ned Har-
ris was us ered, and likewise into the presence of
Ma 'or Howell.

e wasa portly individual, with a florid coun-
tenance, steel-gray eyes and flaxen hair, and
mustache—a man who looked as it fast living
and dismpation had been his worst enemies. He
was clad in a suit of blue broadcloth, and worse
liberal display of jewelry.

He arose from his easy-chair with a cold bow,
as Elarris entered, and motioned him toward a
sea v.

“ B_e seated, sir, if you have business with me,”
he said, crustily, “ and be so kind as to state the
nature of your errand, at once.”

 

“ Yours truly!” Deadwood Dick re lied, care-
lessly, as he accepted the seat, and ok out a.
cigar-case. “ Smoke?”

“ No, thank you' I do not use tobacco.”

“ Don’t smoke? Well, you’re just like me—I do.
Sometimes I engy a good cigar, but tastes dif-
fer, I notice. on are the Honorable Major
Howell, I presume?”

“ Exactly so, sir.”

“ Then you are the man I want to see. I came
to bring you sad news—news which, if you are
possessed of a sensitive nature, must wring your

cart with grief.”

“ You probably intend to herald the death

of m brother? Major Howell interrogated,
ea er y.
I do. He expired not an hour since.”

“ Then, I am much obliged to you for your
interest in informing me. Havin known for
several days past that he must die, I am not
shocked.”

“ I observe not,” Deadwood Dick replied, con-
tem tuously. “ You will rhaps be more
shoc ed, however, when you ear the contents
of David Howell’s will.” -

“What! what is this you say? He did leave
a will behind?” the speculator gasped, with a
start.

“ He did, most assuredly. I was summonedto
Dead Pine Tract, and saw him draw, sign and
witness the document.”

The major sprung to his feet, excitedly, and
paced to and fro across the soft carpet. '

“ To whom did he leave the mine!” he finally
demanded, pausing in front of Deadwood Dick,
with frowning mien. “ Tell inc—did he leave it
to his daughter Stella?”

“ Be seated, and you shall hear,” Harris said,
taking the document from his pocket and un-
folding it.
will.”

And then in a clear, distinct tone, he read the
testament of the miner, word for word, until he
had arrived at the end. ‘

Then he looked up, to behold Major Howell
upon his feet, livid with passion, and his hands
opening and shutting like the claws of some in-
furiated beast.

“ You—YOU the heir of David Howell’s pro-

erty?” he said, in a hissing tone; 014 ? ’Tis
Raise, curse you—’tis false! That wil is a for-
ger —a damnable plot of yours to cheat me out
of t e mine I”

“ Beggin th pardon, all the same, you are
mistaken,” ea wood Dick said, coolly. “ The
property was legal] and lawfully willed to
me, an I am bean to keep it. Also, the girl
Stella."

“ You shall not have her. She is in in _
session, and ban me if I don‘t keep her. do

he mine, I’ll soon fire you out

as to you and
That I swear to by

and the mine will be mine.
all I hold sacred!”
“ I’m afraid we shall have to argue that case
and if so, it will be at the point of knife an
istol l” Deadwood Dick said, significantly.
‘ You probably have heard of Deadwood Die ,
and when I to you that I am be you will Iplease
do ourselt the justice to remember that am a
be man to fool around.” _
“You lie! you are not Deadwood Dick. Be

“Here is a correct copy of the.

VM-M__.~.<.~M .mw - .. ..  I I

   
  
  
  
   
  
  
   
    
   
   
  
   
  
  
  
   
  
    
   
   
  
  
  
  
    
  
   
     
   
   
   
    
   
 
         
         
   
     

Deadwood Dick’s Device.

 

wasnlynchod, in town,’here, but a short time

“ True, but like the Phenix he has risen from
his ashes, and now stands before you i”

“ Then, by Heaven, you shall go back to the
scaffold, and hang againl” the major cried,
savagely. “I’ll see that the noose fits tighter
this time.”

“ You will do nothing of the kind," Dick re-

lied, with sudden flerceness. “ You will calm-

y think the matter over, and conclude that it
is best not to arouse my enmity toward you i”

“ Bahi a fig for you or your enmity, Sir Road-
agent. I have the power to have you taken
and strung up at any minute, and you’ll find
it out directly, too. As to my niece, I shall
appoint myself her guardian until she is of age,
or marries. Now, sir leave my house, or by
the Great Eternal, I’ll have you forcibly ejected,
in a manner none too gentle. ”

“ Then I’ll save on that trouble,” Dick said
rising with acool augh. “ I have no desire of
remaining where my presence is so undesirable.
Look out for me, however. If you intend to
fight with me for the Dead Pine ract, you will
have not only me to fight but a host of men as
firm and true as steel. Adieu, Sir Major!”

And turning on his heel with a haughty how,
the ex—road—agent uitted the room.

Major Howell f0 owed him until he saw him
leave the house; then he returned to his room,
cursing furiously.

“Ten thousand furies seize that fellow! He
is my enemy, henceforth, and one I need have
cause to fear, for he never leaves a wrong, un-
avenged, nor a fancied insult unpunished. Curse
’iml curse the brother of mine, who made that
will! But it must not be so—it shall not be so;
the Howell mine shall belong to me, and that

.before many days. I will wait until Alfred
comes, and he may have some lan to offer.
The mine is one of the richest in all eadville, and
there is room enough to put down several more
shafts on the same property. For that reason.
the bequest of David Howell is mine and clearly
mad was he, in willing the tract away from his
own relatives to a total stranger, and that man
the notorious Deadwood Dick."

 

The following. morning the Leadville News
contained an article something as follows, which
of course threw the town into a commotion of
surirlisse and profound wonderment.

T ' iswhat it said:

“DEADWOOD DICK AGAIN. ,

“Those who witnessed the execution of this not-
able criminal, will no doubt be astonished to learn
that he is still alive, and was in town last evening, a
flea man, for, having been hanged bv the neck once.
until Ergonounced dead, there is no law that can
touch m for past offenses. How he ever came to
life is a in story nobody can solve, unless he was
resuscitate by the notorious female, known as
Calamity Jane. Our new sheriff Lieutenant France.
has been meditating upon a plan of arresting Sir
Dick but has not arrived at a definite conclusion.
It is to be hop~d, however. that the peonle will take
the law into their own hands, and glve the notorious

hard another boost!"

The result of this piece of information was to
set the town literally on “edge,” and every man

v

 

and his neighbor kept an eye out for the ex-
road-agent, while hands were ready to give him
the second “ h’ist” suggested by Leadville’s
flourishing representative newspaper, the News.

The sentiments of public and paper seemed
identical.

That evening saw a. large crowd assembled at
the Coliseum, which is, or was then, the prin-
cipal theater of the town, and the only one giv-
ing a decent variety performance. Business for
several weeks prev10us had been falling oil', but
the new announcements for the week such as
the Fontainbleau Children, Miss Coral be Vere,
Fanny Farron, and a few others, served to pack
the rude little theater.

The crowd was largely composed of men,
although a few miners had brought their fam-
ilies along, to witness the sport, seeing no harm
in it—there being none in reality, except for the
fact that the (patrons were generallyarough,
lawless set, an that liquor was served among
the audience.

The performance was made up of several
negro farces, the Fontainbleaus in pantomimes
an dances, Coral De Vere in athletic feats,
and Miss Fanny Farron, the star of the evening,
in fancy pistol-practice, and later, in serio-
comic songs, after which the stock company ap-
peared a blood-curdling drama, the hero of
which was billed as Wildcat Jack.

To Fanny Farron, however was bestowed the
lion's share of the applause  the rough audi-
ence, for being an adept in t e art of pistol-
gractice, she easily won her way into their rude

ut strangely enthusiastic admiration. v

She was in one sense a beautiful woman. But
nineteen or twenty years had passed over her
head: she was spirited and rosy: her form was
an admirable embodiment of elegant woman-
hood and perfect grace of movement, while her
face was of nature’s happiest mold, the features
all pleasing and gifted with sweetness of ex res-
sion, that in turn shone from her dusky lue
eyes. Her complexion was light, and a wealth
of hair of corresponding color fell in a flossy
wave over her plump shoulders.

Taken at a glance she was a charming and
beautiful creature—at least, she so appeared, as
viewed from the auditorium of the theater.

During her pistol-practice the man, Wildcat
Jack, who was to act in drama, served her in
the capacity of assistant, and he seemed to mark
the triumphs with an envious eye.

He was a dark, swarthy-looking fellow, with
a brigandish mustache, and the general air of a
lawless character, which he was to impersonate
in the drama. But he was after the ty of his
audience, and was of course admired ythem.
Back of the pit, in the auditorium, was an ele-
vated platform, on a level With the stage, or
higher, where a bar was kept, and where late
comers who could not find seats, were permitted
to stand.

To—night it was occupied by several loungers,
prominent among whom were several who are
to play parts in this romance of the King City
of the Colorado.

Calamity Jane stood leaning against a pillar
that supported the gallery, watching the per-
formance with indifferent interest.

Old Avalanche stood near by, and another

    

~ 4

 

innikmwfln

  

 
     

 

 

Deadwood Dick’s Device. I 7

 

Bersonage, who was none other than Deadwood
ick, was seated near the edge of the platform,
smoking a cigar.

The stormy applause which had followed the

' conclusion of Fanny Farron’s pistol-practice had

not yet died out when apistol-shot rung through
the theater, and the bullet cut away the
feather plume that ornamented the ex-road-
agent’s hat.

At the same time a half-dozen men sprung
from their seats in the auditorium, and made a
rush toward the spot where Deadwood Dick had
flowdgained his feet, a cocked revolver in either

an .

“Hurrah! fifty dollars to the man who cap-
tures the outlaw, Deadwood Dick! Yonder he
stands, my hearties. Take him!” cried a voice,
and the new sheriff, Lieutenant France, leaped
to the front.

“ Halt! stand back there! If you come a step
further, I’ll fill you so full of cold lead that you
won’t be able to swim for a month. Stand back,
goutcgwardly dogs, if you don’t want to bite the

us !

It was Calamity Jane who gave the last com-
mand, in a ringing voice, and a leap brought
her btziside Ned Harris, who coolly stood 's
groun .

The tools of the sherifi’ hesitated.

Enough of the prowess of the Girl S rt had
they seen, since her coming to Lead ' e, to be-
lieve that she would shoot, did they disobe ; and
then, Deadwood Dick stood ready for the attle,
with Old Avalanche on his left, thus forming a
dangerous trio.

The whole audience had arisen to their feet,
and knives and revolvers were promiscuously
displayed, while a silence, almost painfully in-
tense, seemed for a moment to reign.

“ Surrender!” Sheriff France said, sternly.
“ ’Tis no use for you to resist, Sir Outlaw!”

f‘I will not surrender!” Deadwood Dick re~
fled, coolly. “ Neither am I an outlaw. By

nging, I ex iated m crimes, and having
beenpbrought ack to life, I am lawfully a. free
man

“ The hanging was but a farce, and you’ve got
to swing again!” France shouted, angrily. “ At
him, b0 s! He‘s your game, if you have a mind
totake im!”

“ Halt!” Deadwood Dick cried again, sharply,
and the men obe ed his command. “ If you
come a step furt er, you come at your peril.
As a free man, I have a right to protect myself.
If you make a move to lay a hand on me, your
life shall pay the forfeit, and the crime will rest
upon your own heads. Three we are, to be
sure, but you will learn that self-defenders can
shoot as straight and true as the pangs of
death."

“Bet yer boots on that!” Calamity added, a
sparkle of enthusiam in her eyes. “ Thai-’11
many a pilgrim kiss term flrma, before Dead-
wood Dic again stretches hemp!”

“Great ham-bone, yes. Kerwhoop! Come
on, ya infernal galoots, ef ye want to snag yer-
selves ag‘in’ a consarned cyclone—a ragin bull-
storm 0 boreal annihilation, imported right
down from the northern lattytudes and longy-
toads! Come on, I tell ye, ef ye want ter find
ther straight and undeviatin’ trail for Brimstun

 

Lake! We’re ther b’yes an’ gal as kin steer yer
cumpuss, ballasted Wi’ lead purgatory ets!”

But the gang hesitated; certain dea stared
him in the face who made the initiatory ste ;
conse uently none there were eager to court t- e
grim ing of Terrors.

Thus the situation was, when the curtain sud-
denly rung up, and Fanny Farron ste ped for-
ward to the footlights, clad in a da in cos-
tume, the skirt bein short, and the arms re,
but richly bejewele .

The orchestra struck up and played the ac-
companiments to a popular song: then the voice
of a star burst forth in a fascinating song, the
words and the music being singularly sweet and
entrancing.

One by one the crowd turned and resumed
their seats, until but a half a dozen composed
the tableau u on the auditor-um. By the magic
influence of or voice and her wondrous pres-
ence, the songstress had won over the crowd!

Only the few remained, and seeing that they
took no notice of her. the youn woman made a
motion to the orchestra and ey struck up a
piece of jig music.

Then, seizing a rope that was tossed to her,
she began the skipping-rope dance, her small
feet playing in perfect time with the music.

This was the act that moved the rough audi-
ence to a Wild tumult of clamorous a plause,
which continued so long as the little cot-like
fairy continued to dance.

Even Sherifl? France and his men were forced
to turn and admire and applaud! And durin
this juncture Calamity Jane touched Deadwoo
Dick upon the arm.

“,Now‘s yer time!” she whispered. “There’s
a door behind you; back out!”

“Never!” Dick replied. “This thing may as
well be settled here as anywhere else, and I’m
going to See it out if it costs my life.”

 

CHAPTER III.
'rnn BATTLE—DEADWOOD DICK’S WARNING.

“THEN I’m with you to the death 1" Calamit
said, sternly. “But don’t put too much con —
deuce in that woman, yonder. She is a viper— '
a she-devil, gifted with a leasant face and et-
tractive form. Look out or her!”

“ What do ou know about her?” Deadwood
Dick deman ed, in a low, surprised tone.
“When did you ever know her?”

“Never at all, but I am not a student of hu-
man nature for nothing. Mark my words, she
is a raud.”

T e fairy of the footlights now ceased her
dancing amid a tremendous tumult of a plause,
but1 instead of retiring, she advanced to 9 foot-
li ts.

gZ‘My audience!” she said, in a clear, ringing
voice, that had in it a subtle power of attraction
“I thank you kind! for your apprecmtion, an
I feel the. I have a eady warmed your rough,
rude natures toward me. This is just wha I

‘want. I want you all to be my friends, and to

all come here and hear me sin . But, there is
one thing I must ask of you— at on will lay
no hand of harm upon Deadwood D ck. If you
do I have sung for you the last time.”

Then she turned and tripped behind the scenes,

 

 

8 , I Deadwood Dick’s Device.

 

while the crowds in the auditorium booted and
applauded until grown hoarse.

Death to Deadwood Dick!” shouted Sherifl
France at the top! of his voice. “A hundred
dollars to the man that captures the road—agent,
dead or alive.”

This offer tput a new aspect on affairs.

A score 0 men sprung toward the platform,
with drawn revolvers.

“ Surrender!” ordered France.
to resist!”

“ No, ’tis not useless!” Deadwood Dick cried.
“If you take me at all, it shall be dead—never
alive I”

And raising a cocked revolver in either hand,
he shot down two of the foremost men uicker
than a flash. Then, in concert with Ca amity
Jane and 01d Avalanche, he ured in a deadly
fire every bullet counting a eath—yell.

The theater was a pandemonium of wild,
strange sounds; on every hand rung the deadly
report of revolvers. while apanic-stricken crowd
its? gled frantically to find egress from the

ui ing.

Bullets flew like scattered hail; wild yells and
screams of victory or agony played a weird ac-
companiment to the revolver’s crack.

. One by one the lam s were fanned out by the
flying bullets, until arkness reigned complete
within the theater.

But upon the platform Deadwood Dick still
stood his ground, while Calamity Jane and Old
Avalanche were at his side, fighting determined—
lfi, knowing that life and death depended upon
t 6 issue.

Below the platform the howling mob still
8111' ed, firing constantly, but not often coming
wit in a foot of either of the defending trio.
Yet so 1great were their numbers that the were
inevita ly bound to wipe out the brave efend-
ers unless hel reached them.

Deadwood ick realized this, but he was bound
not to surrender alive.

“Back! hack, on dogs, or every galoot’s life
shall answer for his fight!” he cried, in a ring-
in voice.

t this juncture Fanny Farron and a half-
dozen men reached the platform, by way of a
side hallwa from the stage, and joined their
forces with eadwood Dick and his crowd, their
weapons but adding to the horrible din.

The effect of the reinforcement was visibl
felt by the attacking mob, for they flinchedy,
and finally broke in wild confusion, each man
struggling to force his way out of the theater.

The result was that the whole audience were
soon flghtingfmong themselves.

“Come!” eadwood Dick now said, when he
saw this touching Calamity on the shoulder.
“ Fetch Avalanche and let’s hunt a way out of
here. We’ve iven ’em enough taste for one
night what wi h the scrimmage they’re now en-
gag in.”

Here! on must come with me !” Fann

. Farron sai , touching him upon the arm. “
W111 show you to a place of safety, until you can
escape from the town!” ‘

And seizing him by the coat-sleeve, she led
the way back throu h the side hall to the sta e,
behind the curtain,  and Old Avalanc e

mixing up the rear. Behind the curtain the

“ :Tis useless

 

lamps were still lit, and they were enabled to
see each other.

Fanny Farron was still clad in her stage-
dress, with a heavy waterproof thrown about
her shoulders, and a closer examination reveal-
ed that she was even as handsome as she had
appeared upon the stage. Her skin was fair
and are, her teeth even and white, and her
mout sweetl fascinating in its expression.

Deadwood ick azed at her, admiringly, for
a few moments; t en turned to Calamity and
Avalanche.

“ Are either of ou hurt?"

“ I am not!” t 9 Girl Sport refillied, coolly.
“Old Avalanche must answer for 'mself.”

“ Great ham-bone that shivered the timbers
of old J oner, no, I ain’t harmed,” the Annihila-
tor replied, with a chuckle of triumph. “Didn’t

it stung oncet, though the bullets hummed ther

oxology around my years like fun!"

“ Then I guess it is a lucky termination of the
battle, for us,” Dick said. “Lady if ou will
show us the way to the open air I shall much
obliged to you.’

Fanny Farron bowed, and led the way throuvh
a wing entrance out into a back yard in t e
rear of the theater. An alley led from this to
an ad 'oining street, which they soon gained.

“ ou had better all come to my hotel, until
the storm blows over,” the actress said, address-
ing Deadwood Dick. “ You are at liberty to re-
main there until it is safe to leave the town.”

“Thanks, lady, but I must decline your invi-
tation,” Dick answered, a spice of bitterness in
his tone. “It is as safe now as it will ever be.
To—night I have been forced again into crime,
and am an outlaw, by the decree of the poo le.
Let them look out, for I will not stop now, ut
they shall learn to fear my name as an omen of
death. I thank you lady, for theintervention
in my behalf, to-niglit, and will repay you if
ever the chance occurs. For the present I will
say adieu!”

 turning, he strode awa in a northerly
direction, followed by Calami yand Old Ava-
lanche.

Fanny Farron watched them a few moments,
and then turned away with a low laugh in
which was triumph.

“At last I have met the man after my own
heart—wild and free,” she muttered, a flush
burnin upon her cheeks, and astrange gleam
inher usk blue eyes.

“He is he man whom I could marry and
love unselfishly—and he is the man who shall
yield to my fascination. The first seed planted
to-nifiht, the germ will quickl form, from
whic will grow the sprout of miration, and
then the stalk of love. Ha! ha! my Deadwood
Dick ion little know that you are idolatrously
loved one woman, and that woman, pretty
Fanny arron.”

On the steps before the Clarendon, where she
boarded. the actress came face to face with the
actor, Wildcat Jack.

“Ha!” he exclaimed. springing forward. at
sight of her, and raisin her hand to his lips-—
“la-Ex? and safe, ma.be e Fanny; and I am so
g

“It is not our fault that I am alive!” the
actress repli , jerking away her hand. “ You

. shall not long be i

Deadwood Dick’s Device. 9

 

are a coward, Jacques French—a coward, and I
despise you. Why did you leave when I wanted
you to take part in thefi ht?”

The man shrugged his s oulders, significantly,
and forced a sinister smile.

“ It is my policy, ma’m’selle, to let every man
fight his own battles. I find it 26 best, all
around.”

“ Bah! If I had our cowardly nature, wo-
man though I am, I’ poison myself l” Miss Far-
£0118 alissured, contemptuously, as she entered the

o .

Frouch followed her up to the arlors.

“ I hope 2e ma’am’selle will orgive me l” he
said apologetically. “ I didn‘t like to fight ze
roa —agent, for he looked like a bad man.”

“ Pshaw! lay aside ,your mongrel French!
You know I despise it, the actress said, impa-
tiently. “ Why did you come here to torment me,
Jacques Frouch? ou know I dislike to be an-
noyed by your presence. You had much better
be study ing over and perfecting your dizzy
drama.’

“ Hang the drama!” the actor growled, chang-
ing from his French accent to the pure Ameri-
can tongue. “It pleases the ruiflanly element
we cater to, and that is sufficient. I come again
to wait u on you for an ansWer—-”

“ Stop! ’ Fanny Farron cried, sudden] stamp-
ing her foot, her eyes blazing. “I will {war no
more of your proposals of marriage. I have al-
ready refused you a score of times, and let this
be for the last time.”

“ No, not for the last time. You will yet
change your opinion, and render a decision in
my favor!” the Frenchman said, cooll . “You
love me now, if you would only own 1: e truth!”

“ I do not love you," the actress cried, vehe-
mently. “ I shall hate you if you continue
your annoying pro ls. At every stand you

ave d ged my ootsteps for the last year.
What sa isfaction can you derive out of constant
refusal?”

“The satisfaction of knowing that I will
eventually win,” Frouch replied.

“Then let me tell you that disappointment ~

will be the crowning of our hopes. Were I ten
times to marry, it woul not be you.”

“Perhaps you would choose that pay road-
agent devfl, to whom you did the who e of your
actin this evening!”

“ ou couldn’t have guessed closer !” was the
cool answer. “He is the very man I am going
to maguy, if I have to spend a whole season in
Lead e in order to do it. He is a man—the
one man in a hundred whose glance has the
power to stir my heart or set my pulses bounding.

0 him I have already given my heart, and he
orant of the fact.”

“ We shall see h m mar you—in your mind i”
the Frenchman mutte , with a villainous
chuckle, as he turned and left the room.

On the following morning the news of the
fight in the variety theater was fully ventilated
by the Leadville News, which was the principal
organ against Deadwood Dick. A_ column of
description of the affray wound up With an offer

 

/ of two hundred dollars reward for the arrest or

ca ture of the famous Prince of the Road.
ut this time there were two 51de the case,

 

for upon every approach to the town a notice
was posted as fol ows:

“ FAIR WARNING.

" Whereas: Having recent! expiated 1!) crimes
by bein duly hanged, in Lea ville. and hav ng been
restore to life after having been pronounced dead.
and thereby rendered a free man by the law or laws
of the United States of America; and-—

“ Wherms : As a free and lawful and law-abiding
citizen, I was set Upon and attacked by the eople,
in the Coliseum Theater, on the evening of he 6th
lust, for the purpose of again being hung. contrary
to the law and its mandates:

" 12¢ solved .' That I issue a proclamation, claiming
for myself entire innocence in causing the aforesai
riot, and charging the loss of life upon the people,
an —-

“Resolved.- That, as the people refuse to receive
me back as a citizen among them. preferring to raise
their hand in war against me unto the deat —

“Rwalvul: Finally, that I shall meet them as
they Lave met me—that it shall he a bitter, bloody
war to the knife. until they shall cry ‘enough‘ or
the name of Deadwood Dick shall have become a
thing of the past—a memento of a reign of terror
that a vengeful populace brou ht u on their own
heads. Every man, woman on: ild w 0 shall raise,
or shall have raised a hand of hostility against me.
shall die, and ye all shall know how and a by by the
gig; of the Double Cross, which shall marl: their

0 es.

“ Beware! for such is the warnln I ve to all.
Let me alone, and l‘ll let you alone. ick e me, and
I‘ll tickle you! ,

“waoon DICK!" V

 

Major Howell read this notice, as he was rid~
ing out of town upon his horse, toward the Dead
I’ine Tract.

“Curse the luck! I dare not venture there
alone, now, lest the young rufi'lan attack me.
He is to be feared. evidently, if that row at the
Coliseum is any illustration. Instead of lgloing
to the Tract, I will hunt up Alf, and we w’ see
what we can do.” '

Riding back into town, he hitched his horseto
a post on Chestnut street, and proceeded tomake
a tour of the saloons and gaming dens for it
was in one of these that he expected to find his
son. And in Ipassingralong the street, he caught
a glimpse of anny arron, standing in the door
of a dry-goods store.

With a start of surprise the speculator half-
stopped, to gaze at her a moment, his face flush-
in strangely. .

fiut, as she paid no attention to him, he finally
continued his walk, his face still wearing a puz-
zled expression.

“I could have sworn that it was she, at the
first glance!” he muttered, hoarsely, “ but I am
probably mistaken. Her face is the same.
nearly—curse me! why should I not know, for
certain?” ‘

But know he evidently did not. for a frown
rested upon his face as he hurried on, from sa-
100n to saloon.

Mr. Alfred Howell was not to be found, so
easily, it seemed. _

He was a sea eat of a fellow, With little or
no honor, or pride, and an inordinate assmp for
gambling and strong drink. A bi ter disap-
pointment was he to his mother and sister
while the major got along the best with him 0
any of the family.

In the Casino, he was at last, found, engaged

 

 

10

at a game of poker with a Chinaman: but he paid
the wager, and threw up the game at a beckon
from the major, and the two retired to a private
stallhwhere they could talk unobserved and un-

hear .

Au odd-looking individual this son of the spec—
ulator was—so odd as to attract notice, in any
crowd. He was short and fat, with stumpy le
that had a tendency to bow ; a capacious stemac ,
and a face that was so fat and swarthy as to be
repulsive. Black eyes, hair, and mustache gave
him the additional appearance of a first-class
desperado, to say not ing of a greasy buckskin
costume, and extraordinary broad-brimmed
1337. and an infant “ battery” of weapons in his

t

He was the superintendent of several of the
Freyer Hill mines, over which the major exer-
cised control, and was generally known and fear-
ed as arlawless character.

When seated, Major Howell ra ped for the
drinks by way of getting on the rig t side of his
dutifui son, by his first wife.

“ You’ve heard about the fight at the variety
theater?” he interro ated.

“ The devil! yes. was in that row, and near-
ly ot my brains blowed out!”

‘ How did Deadwood Dick escape?”

“You can’t prove it by me. Reckon he had
help frum th‘er stage."
‘ I would give a thousand dollars if some one
had killed him. As it stands he has possession
' of the Dead Pine Tract, and We cannot easily
disltfiige, him, short of an army!” '
o?

“ Of course not. Have you not seen the post-
ers he has u , on the outskirts of town?”

“ Yes. at of them?”

' “ Well, do not they go to show that he means
business?”

“ Probably. But he shall not possess Dead Pine
Tract, long. I’ve seen Beautiful Bill, and sever-
al other toughs, and I allow we can soon get
enou h together to take the Tract!”

“ gave you sent a spy to keep watch of mat-
ters about the mine?”

“ Yes. I sent Yuba Sam. He will report as
soon as anything of importance occurs!”

“One thing more I wanted to ask you about.
Have you seen a female in town who resem-
bles—3” and here the major lowered his tone to
a whis r, and uttered a name.

Alf owell lau hed.

“ Why, yes. T at’s the singer at the Coliseum
—-Fanny F‘arron, she calls herself.”

“ What do you think about her? Do you not
believe she might be the party I mentioned?”

“ Pshawi no. She’s gone to the dogs, long
ago. This irl is not the same.”

“I wish fhad proof of it.”

“ Pshaw! Take my word for it, she’s a thou-
sand lea use from here ” the son persisted.

“ Has eadwood Dick yet communicated with
Stella?” _

“ N at to my knowledge. I have directed Mrs.
Howell to keep her indoors until we can dispose
of this road-afnti”
. “ That’s rig t. If she but gets. a glimpse of
Deadwood Dick’s face my goose is cooked for
getting her for myself. ’ ,

“Perhaps you won’t care about marrying her

 

Deadwood Dick’s Device.

if she does not get her claim on the Dead Pine
Tract, eh?”

“ Perha not i” the gambler chuckled, villain-
ously. “ y game’s to play where I win the
most. Hello! What’s that?"

Two men had entered the Casino, bearing be-
tween them the body of a third individual, who
was evidently dead.

“ By Heaven!” Alf Howell cried, springing to
his feet; “it’s Yuba Sam, whom I sent to Dead
Pine Tract!”

“Yes, and he’s got the sign 0’ the Double
Cross plum u on is forehead I” added one of
the bearers. ‘ We found him a-lyin’ on the
trail, back beer a piece, wi’ a bullet—hole thr’u’
his buzzom."

It was even so.

Yuba Sam had died of a bullet-wound through i
the region of his heart, and u n his forehead
was slashed with a keen-bladed nife two bloody
crosses.

Deadwood Dick had opened his campaign of
terror! _ _
CHAPTER IV.

DONE IN DARKNESS—THE sron'r vs. BEAUTIFUL
BILL.

NIGHT’S grim shadows again settled down
over LeadVille. The heavens were overcast
with skurrying clouds, and darkness reigned
su reme, in the absence of the moon.

ew people were to be seen abroad exce t
in the heart of the town, for, terrified at t e
threat of Deadwood Dick, they preferred re-
mainin indoors, rather than running the risk
of the sadly vengeance of the famous Prince
of the Road.

That Deadwood Dick was abroad at night
none could doubt, for the night was known to
be the time of his numerous depredations—a
time best suited to his wild, dark nature.

And he was abroad, too.

Down from the North he galloped at the fore
of a motley gang of masked menhwho were
thorough] ectiipped as to weapons and horses,
and were nis ed equestrians. ,

Down to the edge of the town the rode, and
then drew rein at the wave of the nd of the
young chief.

“ Remain here ” he said, dismounting, “and
keep my horse. will go on foot. If you hear
three pistol-shots in succession, let loose my
horse and follow him. He will bring you to

“ All right, chief. It shall be at your wish!"
res nded one who was evidently a lieutenant
of eadwood Dick’s newl organized baud. '

“ In case we are attac ed, shall we stand our
ground and fight, chief 1”

“ Ayl fight as you never fought before—fight
to the bitter death!” Deadwood Dick replied,
fiercely, and then he turned and strode away
togard the  h led

nierin oug a sparsely sett street
he hurriedg along, a heavy cloak thrown aroun
his shoulders,_ and the mask removed teinpo-
rarily from his face so as not to attract suspi-
cion, should he encounter an one abroad.
Hurrying along, he soon enter another street
which was the one on which stood the Howell
11183151011.

 

Deadwood Dick's Device.

11

 

And this evidently was his destination, for he
paused before it, and looked up and down the
street.

No one was in sight upon the highway, and the
lights Were all out in the dwellings in the imme-
diate vicinity.

The Howell mansion looked as somber as
though death instead of nocturnal repose reigned
inside.

“ This is the place, and the business lies before
me, although it is a ticklish piece to handle!”
Deadwood Dick muttered. “ The first impor-
tant step is to gain access to the house. and the
Second is to find my new ward, without raising
a racket.”

Evidently resolved upon making the attempt,
he ascended the steps and gently tried the door,
but found it locke . This was no surprise, for
the far Western people are in favor of locked
doors, which is the safest lan to adopt.

Selecting from among a unch of keys, several,
he tried them, one after the other, and the last
one was the one to turn the lock.

“ So far so good!” he muttered, with a satis-

e ression. “ I should feel like a thief of
the nig t to enter any man’s house, thus, but I
am now only in quest of that which was intrust-
ed to my care and protection.”

Removing his boots, he took them in his
hand, and o ning the door, he softly entered,
and closed it hind him.

All was dark as Stygia, but remembering
from his previous visit, the location of the
stairs, he soon found them, and paused upon the
stages to make his arrangements.

fore him he had a rather delicate job—
that of finding Stella without alarming her,
and getting her away from the mansion. It re-
quired all the stealth and caution of his nature
to :perform the act, without arousing the house.
ying the boots to his back, he drew from
beneath his cloak a dark-lantern and a revolver.

With these in hand, ready for use, he stole
softly up the stairs, finally arriving upon the
landing without having created so much noise
as a cat.

Here there was a diversion of hallways, in
several directions, and he knew not which to
tsatléfi to bring him to the sleeping apartment of

a.

After some deliberation he finally concluded
to pay each room a visit, and chloroform the
inmates if necessary. for he had fetched along
plenty of the liquid drug for that purpose.

Stealing along, he soon came to the door of a
room which he right! conjectured was the bed-
chamber of the ma or and his wife, for loud
snores came from the interior.

Gently tr ing the door, he found that it was
unlocked. e glided into the room, and to the
bedside. A sponge saturated with chloroform,
and held over the noses of the sleepers, had the
effect to put them into a state of quietude from
which there could be no immediate wakening.

“They’re disposed of, and now I wonder if I
hadn’t better leave them a visiting card, so that
they may know I’ve been here!”

Drawing from an inside pocket a silver hand-
stamp he pressed it against their foreheads, and
as a result came to relief the sign of the double
cross in letters of crimsnn,

 

“Ha! ha! It will be many a da ere the
can wash that stain from their skin, ‘11 wager!’
the Prince of the Road muttered, as he turned
from the room.

The next room he visited proved to be occu-
pied by tho 5 culator’s son, and the next b a
servant. Sti 1 not despairing, Deadwood D ck
kept on leaving his strange device upon the
forebea of each chloroformed sleeper.

At last he came to a room that was locked
and on listening he found that it contained
sleepers.

To unlock the door was buta short job, and
with the stealth of a cat ho crept into the apart-
ment.

A lam was burnin upon a dressing bureau,
and its ight was su cicnt for him to see by,
without the use of his lantern.

The room was large, and rich] furnished,
and contained two beds, each of w ich was oc-
gupicd—oue by two young ladies, and the other

y one.

The former Deadwood Dick concluded were
the daughters of Major Howell while the latter
was the daughter of the dead miner of Dead
Pine Tract.

Gliding to the bedside of the two sleepers, the
ex—Princo of the Road applied the chloroformed
Sponge, but not the stamp containing his strange

ev1ce. .

When the were properly drugged, he turned

toward the one sleeper, but gave a start of sur-

rise.
She had partly risen in bed, upon her elbow,
and was gazing strai ht at him with her bi

blue accusin eyes. t first Deadwood Dic
was confu , but he quickly regained his self-
possession.

“ Fear not, my lad !” he said, respectfully,
but in a low tone. “ t is not my intention to
harm you, but rather, to rescue you from your
imprisonment here!”

‘ Who are you, sir?” the maiden demanded,
sternly. “Why do you come here like a thief in
the night, and to my bedchamber?”

“My name is Ned Harris, lady, and I come at
the instigation of your father 1”

“ Ah! my father! they told me he was dead—
dead! Oh! God help me.”

And tears sprung to the eyes of the maiden,
and dropped upon her cheeks.

“ Be calm, lady. Your father is indeed dead,
but be appointed me your protector until you-
can choose one that suits you better. Here is
his will, which on ma read. I will nowretire
to the hall, w ' 6 you ess yourself for your de-
parture.”

“ Must I go with you, then?”

“It is necessary that you should, lady, for
your life even is not safe here. Have you any
objections to accompanying me?” ,

‘No! oh, no! I am so glad to_‘fet away
from here. Please retire, and I m soon be
read .

Deadwood Dick accordingly left the room and
closed the door behind him. _

In the hall he waited until the door opened,
and Stella glided out to him.

“ I am ready, now, sir. I read the will, and
am willing to go with you!”

“Very well, my lady, You shall not mg.

 

 

12

Deadwood Dick's Device.

 

Blace whateVer confidence you may put in me!”
eadwood Dick replied.

They softl descended to the street, and hur-
ried away t ough the night, which was dark
and foggdy.

Nor i they pause until they came to where
a line of grim masked horsemen were waiting.
Then it was that Stella Howell gave a. start of
alarm.
“Be not afraid, lady,” Deadwood Dick said,
to guiet her apprehensions. “ These are my men,
an they will offer you no harm.”

“ Your men, sir? I do not understand, quite,”
Stella replied.

“I will explain more as soon as we reach
camp. Please mount my horse behind me. Fal-
fiongr, will you be kind enough to assist

er

The lieutenant bowed, and tendered the re-
quisite assistance, after which the cavalcade
galloped awe. .

Away to t 9 Dead Pine Tract, and to the
cabin which once was that of David Howell,
but now belonged to the outlawed Deadwood

Dick.

A t change had already been made upon
the ct since the reign of its new owner.
The cabin had been enlarged to a building of
several rooms, thereby supplying quarters for
the band, and several cabins were going up near
by. An engine house was being constructed
near the mouth of the mine to furnish shelter
for new machinery that was to take the place
of the horse-power for hoisting, which had previ-
ously been employed.

To the cabin the cavalcade rode, and then
dismounted, Deadwood Dick conducting Stella
to a suit of rooms which he had had furnished
especially for her accommodation. Here he
is t her, with a few instructions, and then de-
scending to the ground he gave some additional
instructions to his men, after which be mounted
his thoroughbred steed again, and dashed away
into the black starless night, as Wild and weird
as the night itself in those lonely mountain

regions.

“ A bald-headed spider
Walkin’ wid a crate ,
G‘wine tar get a-homo. bymeby:
' Old Kaiser’s bull purp,
He war Dutch, .

G'wine ter get a-home, bymeby.
A three-legged ’possum,
Settin‘ on a bench.

G‘win tar get a-home, bymeby.
He fell in lnb
Wld a nigger wench,

G'wine to: get a-home, bymeby.

" An' it’s g‘wine ter ge' a-homs.

G'wine ter get a-home—

" Whoopvi Kerwhoopl three cheers fer Royal
American Star Jangled Scanner! Three howls
fer ther Pet Elephant 0’ ther Leadville trail—
ther man thet never told a lie! Beautiful Bill
forever.”

And straight down through Chestnut street
ranced the famous Ieadvifie giant, Beautiful
ill on a tear. such as he seldom ever had ex-

perienced before.

Full up to the neck was the giant, with bad
Whisky, whose assimilation Within his capacious

 

 

stomach was beginning to tell on him, in more
than one way.

His eyes were bloodshot, and his face was red
and of the most brutal expression, while his
le s were growin more unsteady each moment.

11 either hand 9 grasped a cocked navy rc-
volver, which he flourished around in a manner
that was unpleasant to behold. And there was
consequently a general dodging among the
crowd that swarmed in the streets, for none
were there who cared to become a target for
the ruflian’s bullets, half-crazed with drink
thou h he was.

Sti 1. they followed and watched him with a
sort of curiosity, for well they knew that the
giant was searching game, and that a row anda
fight would be the result. And perhaps no town
0 its size in the whole West can “ pan out ” so
big a crowd on so short a notice to witness a
street brawl as the famed city of Leadville.

“VVahoo! wahoo!” the giant bellowed, cut-
ting a. pigeon-wing, and then turning a clumsy
hand-spring in the middle of the street. “ Ha
I am, ye durned galoots, ther Original Pct E e-
Ehant, ri ht fresh frum ther flock—ther hatless,

ootless poller uv ther Colorados! Hero I am,
ther great model 0’ beauty—a conqueror—a
king among fools. Hist!” and the rufflan
crouched low and peered around him—“ hist! I
say. Wharfrom came thet zephyr that sed sum
ongainly galoot was sp’ilin’ fer a fight—war ac-
too y dyin’ because he couldn’t get a feller uv
my social status tcr measure muscle wi’ him?
Fur luv or money! that’s fair, now. Sum pil-
grim who wants ter fight me for luv or money,
jest step forth—waltz right out heer, and try ter
flumigate ther great Apollo 0’ ther Colorados
——ther Pet Elephantum 0’ ther Leadville trail.
Beautiful Bill am I—a solid man, whose bank
account ar’ good for half a millyun, any day.
A king 0’ this benighted region, am I, and yet
despite my gold, my honors an’ my gray hairs,
I can’t get up; a decent respectable dog-fight wi’
no pilgrim. t’sa shame—a cavortin’ outrageous
shame. Fer Lord’s sake, sum 0’ you chicken-
livered honey-combs cum out heer an’ gouge one
0’ my eyes out—ram yer fist down my throat—
spit terbaccy-juice in my 011' ear, or do sumthin’
ter relieve ther monotony o’ ther situation, or I
shall spile fer want 0’ amusement or exercise.
Bet five—ten—flfty—a hundred thousand dol-
lars I can polish ther proboscis uv ary galoot
like a meersham, in two wiggles uv a mule’s
tail in fly time 1”

Strong was the temptive argument offered by
the bullwhacker, but none were there among
the crowd to bite. at his bait. A terror was he
to the town, this ruflianly character. and all
were afraid of him, for he was a reckless cut-
throat of the most brutal species, and had been
known to kill half a dozen men in a. single
brawl, and come out unhurt.

Poor encouragement was this for an ordinary
mortal to battle with him.

And the giant knew that he was universally
feared, which made him doubly ugly and bother-

some.

In the middle of the street he now stood. his
hat gone and his feet bare, while his cotton shirt
was torn .into shreds—there in the street he
stood, glaring around, in searchof some victim ~

beadwood Dick’s Device.

i3

 

upon whom to vent his desire for a fi ht, for
“ s ’ilin’ ” for a fight he truly seemed to e.
uddenl his eye gleamed with savage exul-
tance, as e saw the little actress, Fanny Far-
ron, quit a. store on the right-hand side of the
street and hurry along in the direction of the
theater where she was to play.
“Kerwhoop! lookee that, will ye pilgrims
an’ feast yer optics on thet purty litt e piece 0‘

caliker, 'a—goin’ u ther street! Hain’t she
scrumptious, thoug an’ as part as ary year-
ling pack—mule on t or trail? ake way thar,

while I chase ther gaudy butterfly, an’ Slp ther
hunny frum her lips. A kiss I’ll have, by all
ther thunderin’ catamounts, an’ thar’s nar a
galoot ’cept ther Pet Elephant as can have a ite
out o‘ my cake nuther. Kerwhoop! hayr goes
fer a (gennywine feast frum thet leetle beehive!”

An away ranced the ruffian in pursuit of
the actress a the top of his speed, staggering
from side to side like a rickety wagon, and al
the whfle bellowin at the top of his voice.

Pretty Fanny arron saw in one terrified
glance that she was pursued, and turned to flee

ut a. hand touched her on the arm, and a coo
voice said:

“ Don’t run, Miss Farron, but stand your

ound, and I will teach this fellow the lesson

6 deserves.”

Accordingly the actress did not run, but look—
ed up to find a stranger standing near—a hand-
somely-dressed fellow, with the characteristic
coolness in his carriage and face, of a thorough-
bred sport. Stalwart was he, and handsomely
proportioned, with a blonde head of hair, a

londe mustache, and luxuriant side-whiskers
of a corresponding hue, while the color of his
eyes was somewhat hidden behind a pair of
gold-rimmed lasses.

A jaunty erby hat was perched upon his
head; his coat, pants and vest were of spotless
duck, the bottoms of his ants being carelessly
thrust in the legs of a pair of spurred cavalry
boots. A massive gold chain ornamented his
vest front, and in one white jeweled hand he
Elfld a. serviceable riding-whip of braided buck:

in.

_Up came the bullwhacker, his eyes agleam
With triumph, and his thick lips smacking with
an afipreciative gusto for the feast he anticipated.

“_ 0! ho! thet’s right, my daisy!” he roared,
seizmg Fanny by the arm; “ het’s her ex-
chequer, my daisy! One sweet smack frum
them lips—”

IIe did_ not finish the sentence, for the S rt
seized him by the throat and with strengt he
did not appear to possess, hurled him back to the

ground

With a grunt Beautiful Bill came down heav-
ily and the revolvers he held in his hand went
flying far over the heads of the crowd.

A moment the giant lay quivering upon the
earth—then he scrambled to his feet with a fero-
cious growl. as if intent upon the instant anni-
hilation of his assailant. _

But, no sooner did he regain his feet than the
dandy sport proceeded to lay the whip over his
head, shoulders and back, rapidly, every stroke
of the little instrument drawing blood to the
surface of the giant’s swarthy skin.

In vain did he lung'e forward to get a hold

 

upon the Sport, but blow after blow beat him
back, while terrible howls of pain escaped his
1i 3.
And the crowd cheered wildly!
CHAPTER V.
A DUEL IN THE s'ranar——DEADWOOD I)ch
AGAIN. .

WITH 9. strong arm did the Sport ply the
whip, and in a manner that every blow counted
by raising a bloody streak where the last struck.

And in vain did Beautiful Bill seek to escape
the little instrument of torture, and to at a
hold upon his assailant. But it was one o the
efforts impossible. .

“Curse ye! quit! quit I” he roared, in pain, as
bleeding in fifty places or more, he dropped on
his knee, unable longer to stand.

“When you apologize to that lady, I will let
you off i” the Sport said coolly, as he continued
to deliver his unmerciful blows with mechanical
regularity.

“ Yes! yes! I apologize! I apologize, fer insult—
in’ther loddy!” the giant bellowed, in actual ‘
agony. “ Quit! quit, or ye’ll kill me!”

“ I should be doing the countr agreat service
if I were to cud your misera ile career!” the
Sport said. “ Get up now and see if you can be-
have ourself.”

An ceasing his castigation, the blonde stran-
ger stood with whip in hand, gazing coolly at the
man he had so thorough] cowed. '

Beautiful Bil! rose 5 ow] to a. standing
position, and glared at the port in a savage
manner.

“ Cuss ye i” he growled, his repulsive features
working with rage and wearing an ex ression
of undying hatred—“ cuss ye, say. on ggt
the best 0’ me in thet tussle, but I’m bound 1'
have satisfaction, an’ don’ e fergit it. Beauti-
ful Bill am I—ther Pet E e hant o’ ther Lead-
ville trail—ther handsum polio o’ ther Cplo-
rados, an’ thar’s nary a galoot a-goin’ ter chmb
mean’ say he war in conqueror. No, sir—es,
nary a time, and on et yer leetle ducat-s on't.
D’ye licer, ye ban box son of a swill-tub—d’ye
beer, I say? Yo’ve got ter fight me—me, ther
great, roarin' three— orned Pet Elephant o’ther
Leadville trail i”

“ Fight?” the Sport said, smiling. “ Why, cer-
tainly. I shall be only too happy to accomir odate
you(i Elease to name your weaponsde am‘
rea y.

Beautiful Bill started.

And the crowd cheered!

Here was a man just to their likin .

Here was a man who was nota raid of the
“ Pet Elephant” of the Leadville trail.

The giant was taken aback at the rom t
acce tance of his challenge. for he h co -
granary expected that the cool stranger would

ac out.

“ What’s yer name?” he demanded. “I gin-
crally know who I fight with.” _

“Oh! as to that, on may call .me Pacific
Pratt, for short,” t e Sport re hed, _ coolly.
“ Come, if you want to constitute e active part
of a first-class funeral, Just name your tools and A
square yourself in sh 9. I’ve no time to’ spend.

in bandying words W]. h a man of your beastly ‘ '

character.”

 

., we...” .._ l —sA .. _.....n..

i
5
I
,

 

 

14 Deadwood Dick’s Device.

“ Then ye shall get yer stummick full jest as
soon as ye want it!” the giant growled. " Fer
we ain’t a- oin‘ ter settle thes yere little debate
wi’ no revo vers, ner wi’ no toothpicks, but ar’
a—goin’ ter wage fist ag’in’ smaller, an’ smeller
ag in’ fist until one or t other or" satisfied!”

“ Whic suits me to a dot 1” Pacific Pratt an—
swered, as coolly as ever. “ Couldn’t have met
my desires better if you’d ’a’ tried. Get ready,
sir, and you shall have the pleasure of testingt e
friendship of my knuckles in short order!”

“ Kerwhoop! better git ready, yerself!” the
giant roared, beginning) to strip to the waist.

‘Better write up tyer o ituary of ye ain’t pre-
pared it already, er cert’in it is thet ye’re goin’
ter git beauchifully salivated by me, ther great
roarin‘ Pet Elefant o’ ther Leadville trail—ther
A 110 o’ ther Colorados!”

ot a reply deigned the Sport; he simply dis-l

icarded his duck jacket, and rolled up the sleeves

of his boiled shirt, which displayed as handsome—
ly developed a pair of arms, as one could ask to
see. Then he stood coolly awaiting the motions
of the giant bullwhacker who was stripping him-
self of his shirt.

Soon he was read , and turned to face his op-
Eonent, with the g are of a wild beast in his

loodshoot eyes.

A man of powerful frame was the giant, his
bony, knotted breast and ponderous arms quite
a. curiosity, in their way. Few were there who
would have dared to engage with this terror-
goducing bullwhacker as the Sport was. about

do. Surely, said the crowd, Beautiful Bill
Would win, and the dainty Sport would go to the
ground, a crushed and pummeled mass of hu-

’ manity. How could it be otherwise, when the

giant was twice as muscular as the Sport, to all
appearances, and superior in Weight by a full
hundred pounds!

Forward surged the crowd to form a ring

around the twain, but Pacific Pratt waved them
back authoritatively.
K “flack! back!” he cried, sternly. “Leave the
street open, and keep at a distance. You can
see ljust as well, and will greatly accommodate
me

This was enough. Willing were the crowd to
oblige this sportive individual who had come
down among them with “cheek” enough to
tackle the Leadville ‘ant. Beautiful Bill.

Among the crow were several lockers-on,
who watched with more than ordinary interest,
it seemed. They were Calamity Jane, 01d Ava-
lanche, and the variety actress, Fanny Farron,
whostood near the Girl Sport, with an eager,
excited look upon her face.

“Jest look at the Sport!” Calamity said, ad-
dressin the Annihilator “ ain’t he scrump-
sh 't he a regular aisy? An’ ten to one
he’ll wax wigwams right out 0’ that big blun-
derbus uv a giant.”

“Great ham-bone, yes. He’s a fine lukin’ bird
C’lamiiltg'é but then ye know fine feathers make
fine b , all except buzzards.”

“ Do you not know who that Sport is?” Fanny
Farron asked venturinato address Calamity.

“I heard im give is pronoun as Pacific
Pratt!" the Girl Sport replied. coolly, for she
cared not to make friends with this actress,
when voice was as musical as the trill of a bird,

 

and whose face and form were attractive to the
e e. To Calamity, her presence suggested a
t ought of snakes!

Fanny Farrou, if aware of Calamity’s aversion
of tone, did not choose to notice it, for she chat-
tered on glibly:

“Pacific Pratt, eh? Ha! ha! I think Iknow
better than that. I knew the fellow the mo-
ment he offered to encounter the iant for me.”

“ You did?” Calamity said, indi erently.

“I did!” Miss Farron assured. “I wonder
that you have not already recognized him!”

“ I? How?” and the Girl Sport gazed more
keenly at the actress, and then at Pacific Pratt.
“What do you mean?”

“I cannot explain. If you were sharp at
guessing, you needn’t ask?’ was the reply, and
then the little queen of the variety stage, turn-
ed to watch the combat. No disgrace was there
in this, apparently. for other women had paused
in passing along—and some of them were lead-
ville’s aristocrats—to watch the contest of skill
and strength.

Of course there was betting on eve hand,
and among the supporters of Beautiful ill, Alf
Howell, the gambler, was prominent and con-
spicuous.

“A thousand dollars, here, to bet that Beauti-
ful Bill punches the bandbox galoet clean out of
time, and sweeps the street with him!” roared
the ugly son of the speculator, as he elbowed his
way about through the crowd. “A hull fthou-
san' ter bet that ther bullwhacker is ther winner.
Who takes it?”

"I reckon I’ll take you i” Calamity Jane said
promptly producing a wallet that was we
filled. “ ’m the very customer to grapple such
bets as that.”

“ You?” Alf Howell ejaculated in amazement.
“Why, as I live, it’s a girl in breeches. Say,
leetfil: one, hadn’t you better run home to your
ma.

“ I think not. I’d rather bet with you, and win.
Come! put up or shut u . Avalanche here will
hold the stakes for us, reckon !”

“ And I’ll see fair play!” Fanny Farron said,
drawing and cockingarevolver, and ste ping
nearer. “ Avalanche must give the stages to
whichever wins.”

“ Who told you to mix our lip in this con-
clave’l" Alf Howell deman ed, savagely. “You
better mind your business, or I’ll be the death of

on

“I ain’t afraid of it. You go on and plank
your cash, or I’ll put a pain through you so
quick, you’ll behave you ar’electrotized.”

Howell deposited, with a savage growl. He
had a notion to back out of the bet but this
unexpected movement on the part of the actress
had made it necessary for him to proceed as he
hag commenced. d

a amity a so eposited her we er in the
hands of Old Avalanche, and ther? timed to
note the result of the fight, which had now

begun.

Yes, the Sport and the giant had confronted
each other, with bared arms and clinched fists,
and were sparring—the Sport scientifically while
the giant succeeded only clumsily.

Too ponderous was he to be spry, and the Sport
warded 03 his Wild lunges, With the greatest of

 

 

 

 

i

Deadwood Dick's Device.

16

 

ease, while he occasionally put in a “tester” u
on the ' t’s face, with staggering eifect, elic1t-
in a c eer from the crowd.

o novice was this Pacific Pratt, evidently,
if he was a. sport. His every movement was
graceful and quick, his blows were surely
planted, and he was never for an instant off his
guard, while his eye coolly met that of the
giant, without flinching, behind the gold—rim

glasses.

In vain did the Pet Elephant of the Leadville
trail endeavor to grapple with his opponent, in
order to crush him in. a bear-like hug, but each
lungs was coolly met, and the giant driven back,
beneath the shower of blows precisely directed.

It soon became evident to the crowd that
Pacific Pratt was a pugilist extraordinary, and
that he was merely playing with the giant, and
worrying him to a greater rage, for the Sport
did not ap ar to use much exertion to kee
him off, an a smile constantly lingered beneath
his blonde mustache.

Whatever was his intention, he was each mo-
ment succeedin in arousing Beautiful Bill to a
greater pitch 0 fury, the culminating point of
which did not seem to be reached—not until’
the rufl‘ian was stretched out insensible u n
the ground. Boiling with terrible rage di he
seem to be.

“Great ham-bone thet hed ther pugilistic en-
counter with old Joner!” roared the familiar
voice of the Annihilator, “jest luk at thet S ort
polish of! ther proboscis uv thet bullwhac er.

rdyi I wouldn’t be in Beauchiful Bill’s place
fer a mint 0’ money. Oh! magoozzlem Marier!
Old Mose w’at cavorted thr’u ther scriptural
bullrushes. See ther Pacific cuss punch st to him!
Hooray! bet my old head ag’in’ a drink 0’ tar-
antler that William oes ter grass, less’n a. thou—
san’ wiggles o" a lam ’s tail. Thet ar’ beauchi—
ful flsticular demonstration o’ ther Sport yander,
but at don’t hold a. sarcumstance ter w’at I’ve
seen. Fer instance thar war my old Billy goat,
Florence Ni ht—in-a-ga1e~—a famuss anamile war
that same orence you bet. She’d jest poise
her head, wiggle her stub and pitch inter a bat-
tle hot an’ eavy, would she. Hev actooly
known her ter lay out her level score 0’ In 'uns
in a day, an’ then gambol away ter cou u
ther Widder Briggses pet cat—an' et warnt
much 0’ a day fer Injuns, nuther. Then thar
war In old mare, Prudence Cordeliar w’at I
s’pect is now ornamented wi’ win , an’ be a-
sailin’ around among the saintly c erubims up
in hoss heaven. She war a great mare, war
Prudence—know’d more’n one minute than an
ordina hoss knows all his life. Fact, by gra-
cious! ev actooally known thet hoss ter stretch
out her hind but so quick thet a shoe’d glide oi!
an’ skip around ag’in’ ther skull o’ ther ’tarnal
red heathen, until at salivated an’ give ther
death grip fer more nor a dozen. An’ yet that
ain't a sarcumstance dun up in a brown rag, ter
what ther Annihilation used ter do when all ter-
gether, an’ I tell ye w’at ther men ain’t so brave
as the used ter be, tho’ thet Pacific Pratt ar’ an
exce ion ter ther rule.” '

.“ a! just look at that!” Calamity said, ex-
citedl 7., “ If that wasn’t a beauty I don’t want
a can .

, For the Sport had dealt the giant a tremen-

 

dous “ stem-winder ” upon the nose, which seem-
ed to complete] flatten that member to the
rufiian’s face. or, now that he had seemingly
got his hand in, did the Sport stop, for one blow
after another did he deposit on t e same spot in
rapid succession, in the mean time coolly ward-
ing off the iant s lun es. Spat! spat! spat, and
the nose of eautiful ill grew fla ter than ever,
while bellows 01' pain esca (1 his lips, and his
face was bathed in oozing b ood.

At last came the climax.

The Sport dealt the giant a terrible blow upon
the fore cad—a left-handed one at that.

Down went the Bullwhacker upon the round,
insensible and quivering; while seiziéfiz is hat,
coat and whip, Pacific Pratt hurri 1y strode
away.

The crowd stared and wondered.

What was the cause of this strange action on
the part of the S ort? Was he afraid to wait
unti Beautiful ill should have returned tocon-
sciousness?

This would not seem possible, and be such
a master of arms. Yet, go he did, and soon
disappeared among the crowd,far down the street.

Then it was that all e es were considerately
turned upon Beautiful ill, who was leisurely
measuring his len th iii the dusty street, uncon-
scious that his va or as the boss of Leadville’s
electric city was a thing of the past.

And when all eyes rested upon him there came
a unanimous ejaculation of surprise, resultin
upon a discovery, and that discovery was the
u n the forehead of the giant were strange
b oody gashes of crimson, formed in the shape 0
a double cross!

This much was seen, then the words:

. “ Deadwood Dick’s device!” passed from lip to

p.

All eyes turned intuitively in the direction
Pacific ratt had gone, but he was ncwhere in
sight. His haste to depart was now explained.

Cleverlymdisguised as the S ort Deadwood
Dick had en among them, an had gone again,
leavin behind him his terrible device.

Excitement for a while ra ed intense but
subdued when it was ascertaine that the Road
Prince had made good his escape from the town.

“The money is mine!” Calamity Jane said
with a chuckle, “and you, Mr. Alf Howell, wi
learn to bet next time on the winnin g card.”

The gambler uttered an oath of rage.

“The mone was not fairly won !” he growled,
allowing his and to drop below his belt, “ an
I’ll be cussed of ye shall have it i” .

“ Look out! Don’t draw weapons around
here!” Fanny Farron cried, sharply, “or I’ll let
you' have t 6 contents of this, unreserwdly!”
And she held her istol on a level with his heart.
“Get out, now, efore I accidentally pull the
trigger!”

With a frightful malediction, the speculator’s
son obeyed, and the actress followed him until
she came to a cross-street, when she set out for
her hotel. ' ‘ ' I

Calamity Jane then received the result of here
bet from the Annihilator, and they separatism.
each taking a different course, the Girl Sport
going to her boarding-place. .

After leaving the scene of the fight, the Sport, -'

 

 

.1, .,, 

 

.» .,. «. N...m....n5‘. .

16 Deadwood Dick’s Device.

 

Pacific Pratt, hurried north through Chestnut
street and out of the town. Soon he came to a
cha rral or thicket of eve n oaks, from
wh ch he led a handsome coa -black horse, and
mounted. He then rode rapidl away, and in
due time entered the Dead Pine ract.

Ridtigg to the door of the large cabin, he dis-
moun , and giving the horse into charge of the
Chiuaman, he entered, and ascended the stairs
to the second floor. _

In lagging the door of Stella Howard’s room
he g ced into the room, to find her enga ed
at a book, several choice volumes having by is

forethought been prepared for her entertain-

ment.
“ o I find you pleasantly occupied, eh?” he
said, smiling. “I am glad that you find some-
thin to kill time.”

“ am not hard to please,” Stella re lied,
glancin up, apleased look in her eyes. “ gen—
erall d some mode of killing time.”

“ 'ch is fortunate. I often wish that I had
not been born of a restless and rovin disposition.
{was’afraid you might find it do] and lonely

ere.

“Oh! no, indeed! Dead Pine Tract has been
my home so long that I like it here. Only it
seems lonely without papa.” ‘

And tears rose in the eyes of the beautiful
maiden for beautiful she was—petite but well-
rounded of form, with a fair, prettin chiseled
face, a sweet mouth, and expressive blue eyes,
that had the power of being rkling in mirth,
and handsome in sorrow; w ‘e soft luxuriant
masses of chestnut hair fell over her pretty
shoulders. No ravishing beauty was this ward
of Deadwood Dick’s, but a simply quiet and
duiignifled beauty, whom it was easy for one to

wire and love.

‘ True, you must miss your parent, my dear
lady, but Ishall try to make my espionage of
yourself pleasant, and render you cheerfully
content,” ick said, respectfully. “And when
you are in need of anything, or some one to
converse with, you have to send to me to insure
instant attention.”

“Thank you,” Stella answered. “As my
rotector, I shall of course consider you my
riend, and shall, as such, not be backward in

making known my needs.”

Then Deadwood Dick went on to his own
rooms, where he threw himself down upon the
parlor sofa to rest.

But, ere he was permitted to dgreet Morfiheus,
one of the men entered, an handed im a

ca .
U n this neatl engraven was the name:
In ‘1 MISSyFANNY FA’RBON.”

 

CHAPTER VI.
Inn acrnuss PROPOSES—BEAUTIFUL BILL’s
CHANGE.

“Miss FANNY Fmaou,” Dick echoed in
amazement. as he saw the inscription on the
card. “What in the world can bring her here?
How did she get past the pickets. Cotrellyi”

“I know not, your honor. I met her wan-
dering about, near the stronghold, and she re-
queisigeid me to fetch this card,” the road-agent
1'6

B'Very well. Since she has taken the pains

-

 

to come here show her in, and I will see what
she wants. dive the lieutenant my orders that

he allow no person to hereafter frees the lines

Evithout giving the countersign. his is impera~
we.

The aid bowed, and deported, to show in the
little actress from the Leadville Coliseum. Ere
she came, Deadwood Dick hurriedly removed
the blonde hair and heard that had given him
character as the S rt, and stored them in his
closet while, smoot -faced and as handsome as
ever, he awaited the coming of Miss Farron.

She was shown in directly, and advanced to-
ward him with outstretched hand, hcr face
assumingegne of the archly-bewitching smiles
she had 11 taught to master, as a part of the
secret of her stage success. ‘

“Oh! Mr. Harris, I am so glad I have found

ou at last!” she gasped, as if out of breath.
‘ Havmg heard that t 's was your home, I ven-
tured to come right on, as soon as our duel
was over with the bullwhacker, to t ank you
for protecting me from ublic insult.”

“I ask no thanks, la y,” Deadwood Dick re-
plied, a trifle severe; “in fact, I ask no odds of
anybody. It was a pleasure to assist a lady in
distress, but that was all, and you need feel
under no obligations to me.”

“Yet I do,” the actress replied, warmly,
crossing suddenly over and dropping upon her
knees in front of him—“ I do owe you a deeper
debt of gratitude, than I can ever repay on,
unless you will accept the boundless wealt of
affection I ofler you, and make me our wife.
Do not, start, or be surprised, Mr. arris, for
this is no spontaneous outburst from an impul-
sive imagination, but a strong, faithful love on
my part for you, which sprung to life when I
first met you. I know it is not the customary
thing for us women to do the wooing, but I am
a strange girl, they say, in more than one way,
and one o my peculiarities is, that I do not be-
lieve in ceremony. Free thou hts, and laws of
eticiuette to suit myself, are t e golden rules I
sha 1 continue to abide by!”

“ But, my dear Miss Farron, on do wrong in
loving such a man as I if you 0,.as you say!”
Deadwood Dick replied, in at rise. “I
certainly have no aflection or you 0 the kind
you mention—indeed, as a total stranger, almost,

have, never 'ven ou the second thought.”

“That dont ma e any difference. Let me
stay here at the stronghold a week, and if you
do not”love me enough to marry me, I’ll go away
again. .

“ Impossible, Miss Farron. I am not desirous
of trying any love ex riments, just now. Did
Icare to marry, I s ould prefer toselect m
wife, and todo the courting. One faithless ' e
has not left behind her in my heart a desire to
risk another.”

“ Then you refuse to listen to me—refuse even
to let me remain here until I can win your affec-
tion?” the beautiful_ actress cried, rising to her
feet, her face red With anger and mortiflcation
at her defeat.

“Yes, Miss Farron: I must, for my own sake
and for your sake. It would not be the proper
thing for you to remain here, even were I in-
clined to listen to your plea, which I, cannot, I
am sorry for your sake to say.”

4”.--

.\

 

‘1
1

 

 

 

 .n, -,.,.,w§_.m-..m_..;+,

Deadwood Dick’s Device. ‘1‘,

 

“ Bah! You dare to keep another girl here
and see no impropriety in that?”

“ Miss Howell is my ward, lady, or she would
not be here. She was left in my charge by the
will of her father, and I am responsible as her
guardian.”

Miss Fanny Farron bit her lip in vexation.
Such a. crushing defeat to her matured plans she
had not dreamed of, and consequently she keenly
felt the cut of the refusal.

“ Very well. If you will not let me remain
here I will go back to Leadville, Mr. Ned Harris,
but I go not as I came, your warm friend. A
broken heart I shall carry with me—a heart that
is rankling with hatred toward you. Look out
for me, for I shall stab you unawares, even
though it may not be soon. I shall watch until I
see an opportunity to torture you, then I shall
appl myself to the task."

“ ut why this anger, Miss Fart-on?” Dead-
wood Dick asked, earnestly. “I see no need for
it. If you love me, your love cannot be a. true
one, to canker so soon with enmity.”

“ You shall seel”the actress replied almost
savagely. “Iain alone in the world Iknow,
but not entirely friendless.”

Then she turned abruptly and quitted the
room.

After she was gone Deadwood Dick sat mus-
ing upon: the strange occurrence, his brows
knotted perplexedly. .

“Calamity Jane was right,” he muttered,
“ when she said that the actress was a devil, or
words to that effect. I would not believe then
that a creature so fair of face and artless of
manner could be the possessor of such a fierce
temper. But, such is life. I wonder if my
ward will turn out the same? No! I will not
believe that, even should Calamity tell me so—
Calainity whose perce tion is as keen as the
edge of a-razor. ew years ago, when in
Deadwood, I asked her to become in wife and
—she refused. I Wonder if she won] do it now?
She seems to hover around wherever I o, a sort
of guardian angel—though some wou d laugh
were they to hear me call her an angel. A Wild,
strange character she is—virtuous, and true as
steel, beyond peradventure, yet so wild and
strange as to seem a part of the wilderness
through which she roams. Has she a heart?
If so, it is buried deep under a cloud of ast ob-
scuri . Stella Howell—I almo fancy
that care for her, as a husband should care for
his bride.”

The day after the street fight between Beauti-
ful Bill and the Sport, Paciflc Pratt, Major

 

r Howell left his mansion and rode out of town,

down into the classic shades of timbered Stray
Horse Gulch. He was not dressed with his cus-
tomary neatness, and a handkerchief tied across
his forehead gave him the a arance of having
been on a drunk, and he ha andaged his has

to keep ofl’ the headache.

But such was not the case. The speculator
wore the cloth to hide the terrible sign of the
double cross, which Deadwood Dick had stung
ed on his forehead. In vain had he attempted
wash and scrub OR the stain. but it roved in-
delibly planted in the very flesh, an the more
be washed it the more distinct became the marks.

 

So, rather than to ap ar a marked man, he had
done the next best t ing—covered the strange
device from sight.

In no pleasant mood was the major, evidently,
this morning, for there was a save ’0 expression
about his mouth, and a gleam in is eye that
boded evil for some one.

Who that one was, we shall soon lcarn.

Guiding his horse through the wild can on-
trail, at a rapid pace, he at last came to a g ads
or opening among the pines. ’

In this stood a sort of a tumble-downhut, con-
structed of logs and stones, and having but one
door and no windows. It was a desolate-look-
ing place, at the best, with rank weeds and
briers growing up around it, which showed that
the tenant was in no way inclined to agricultur-
al pursuits, or husbandry. Over the door upon
a planed board, was the rather startling if not
unique inscription,

“ BEAUTIFUL BILL,
“ PROFESSIONAL CUT— THROA T."

“ This must be the place!" the major mutter-
ed, reading the si n, with a grim smile. “The
fellow is no snea of a rascal, anyhow, for he
boldly advertises his business. I wonder if he is
at home?”

Dismounting before the rou h door he knock-
ed upon it, sharpl , and then istened. Several
minutes elapsed; t en there were ste s, the door
opened. and Beautiful Bill stoo upon the
threshold.

No longer could he justly be classed among
men of beauty, however, for his appearance was
quite the reverse.

His forehead bore the sign at the double cross,
and his nose was all smashed out of shape, the
wreck being ornamented by a huge plaster.

These features, in addition to his naturally
ugly physique, gave him an appearanco at cnce
fri h ful and disgusting.

growl escaped his still swollen lips as he
saw he major. Evident it was that the Pet
Ele hant was in no mood to receive visitors.

“ as], what d’ye want?” he granted, sus-
piciously.

“ I want to see you on business ” the irsjor
said. “Let me come in, and we’ll ave a glass
of Kentucky from my private bottle, and I will
explain the nature of my errand.”

“Wan, I s’pose ye can come,” the giant
growled, opening the door, “tho’ this ain’t my
day for receivin’ visitors. Got in nose smash-
ed last ni ht, ye see. an’am sorter in mournin’.”

“Yes, know. I witnessed your fight With
Deadwood Dick. I marvel you did not do for
him.

Beautiful Bill chuckled, audibly. .

“I was a fool—that’s how I got salivatedl”
he said, feeling dolefully of the plaster_ on his
nose. ‘ I might ’a’ knowed I’d et blistered.

Deadwood Dick never met ther ga oot that had

lick him, nohow ye ken fix it.”

“What! do you with all your brag3 acknow-
ledge that the road-a cat can lick you?’

‘ I do—I acknow edged the corn, long are
this. Didn’t he cook my goose—didn’t he lam-
baste me for all I was worth, now? You’d be
willin’ ter sw’ar thet ye see’d him do it, and so

\

 

 

13 ' Deadwood Dick’s Device.

 

would the crowd, while as fer me ther great
Pet Elephant 0’ ther Loadville trail, I acknow—
ledge ther com. I ain’t no Christ , by along
shot nur no leetle George Was ingtun wi’ a
hatchet, but I do reckon ot’s my privelege ter tell
when I ot fairly licked!”

“ Wel —well, admitting that through some
weaknem and indisposition on your part, the
Efiort did whip you—he couldn’t do it again, in

robahility; perhaps—”

“ boa up thari I jest don’t keer fer him ter
try. I ain’t no hog, and know when I’ve got
enough. Jest luka this nose, will ye? Et luks
as ef it hed been thru a base-ball season in Chis
cago; then cast yer optics at my pretty fore-
head, and note what a beautiful motto is en-

aved thar. Fight ag’in wi’ Deadwood Dick?

0, sir-ee, bob-tail hossl You don’t ketch ther
Pet Elephant gittin’ used u ag’in, like he war
yesterday. Thet Deadw Dick’s a leetle vol-
caner, pilgrim, an’ of ye ain't purtic’lar about
attendin’ yer own funeral, ye’d better steer shy
0’ his nibses, an’ don’t ye fer it it 1” _

“He served you rough, Bi ,” the major said,
consolingly, “and I don’t blame you for not
wanting to tackle him alone. Here, take a suck
' from my bottle, and it will stiffen up your spirits.
. Now, gou of course meditate revenge on this

devilis road-a nt Bill?”

.“ Revenge?” t e 15et Elephant said, seizing the
major’s half-pint flask, and eying it grimly
after which he raised it to his lips and drained it
in a couple of long, strong pulls. “Revenge, did
ye say? Waal, I opine no, pilgrim. A wonder-
ful change hes come over me since that galoot
smashed my nose beyond all its resemblance ter

' Appoller—a wonderful change. I tell ye he jest
knocked ther fight all cl’ar outen me, an’ I’ve re-
solved ter haul in my sign out thar, an’ shut up
shop. When sech fellars as Deadwood Dick ar’
about, I opine Pet Elephants don’t quite saga-
ciate in this climate.

“Ye see that book, yander? Waal, thet’s a
Bible, w’at I brought fer three set-’em-ups, up in
town, an’ I’m oin ter study that till Ican reech
a fair shake o a sermon. an’ b’ild me a c urch,
hyar in Leadville, whar I can convert sech sin-
ners as I have been. Ohl you bet yer boots I’ll
make religyun hum !”

“ Then Boggmsitively refuse to reven e your-
self upon a wood Dick, for the ill he asdone

, flu?” the ma 'or demanded, rising with regret in

tone—for e had made calcu ation upon en-
listing Beautiful Bill in his service.

“I positively refusal” Beautiful Bill return-
ed. ‘ When I have a desxre to ram myself
ag’in’ an ’arthquake, next time, I’ll s’arch for
one o’ diflerent register, an’ don’ ye forget at.
As for that Deadwood Dick, I admire him, I do,
from ther soles o’ my stogy boots. Any leetle
cuss like him who can stand up an’ lick ther
great Pet Ele hant o’ ther Leadville trail, fu'st
wi’ a gad an’ en wi’ knuckles. deserves a seat
in ther presydental cheer. Why, he did lam-
baste me beautiful, an‘ did a fu’st-class Job, or
I shed never hev fergiv’ him. That’s stripes
on my back like on a h ena or a zebra, and,
,swaIl’l’er me fer a waterme on, of I ain’t proud uv
em

“You are a consummate ass!” the major
growled. “Any man but an idiot would seek

 

revenge. See! I too have the si of the double
cross stamped upon my forehea , but Deadwood
Dick shall pay dcarl for his cursed Work, mark
my word for that. have a hundred men who
Will follow me to his retreat, and help to kill him
and his gang!”

“ Planets of Venus and Jupiter! Ef ye don’t
git ther wu’st licked you ever war, I’m a sucker,
that’s all!” the giant replied, as the, major took
his departure. “ When ye git ther beauty 0’
yer proboscis altered inter a pi ’s-fut jelly, jest
cum erround, an’ I’ll shake hangs wi’ ye.”

The ma 'or rode away with a curse upon his
lips, whi e Beautiful Bill re-entcred his hut,
thoughtfully, and donned his belt of wea us.
There was a peculiar twinkle in his bl shot
eye, not often there, and an expression about his
mouth that was inexpressibly ludicrous.

“I’ll bet ther major gits lambasted like thun-
der—that is, if Beautiful Bill knows his P’s and
Q’s,” he mused.

Arming himself to his satisfaction, he sat
down to a table, and wrote with pen and ink
the following message, in a clear, egible, and
stylish hand, which bespoke that some time in
the past he had been the recipient of education
in penmanship, at least, which was more than
could be said of half the ruflians of his ilk who
infested the mines.

_ “ Lmvnuc, MAY—, 187——.
“ Ma. Dssnwoon DICK:—

"I allow ye'll be sum’at surprised when ye git
this. but 9 can bet er boots it’s all on ther squar‘.
Since ye icked me, don‘t cherish for ye no enmity,
nary a time, an' of ye run fer presydent alongside 0‘
Grant or any other galoot. hayr‘s w‘at'il vote fer e,
an' don'tye fergir. it. But this ain‘t w’at I write t is
'pistol fer ter remark. This morning ther pilgrim,
Major Howell. cum ter me, an‘ wanted ter draft me
inter a cam ign ag’in’ ye, but I wouldn’t 0. He
sed as how e war a-goin‘ ter lay fer ye, wi a bun-
dred men. an' lick out yer hull crew. I allowed ter
him that he couldn't tech one side 0’ you. an‘ I‘ll al-
low I orter know. So I tho't I‘d write an‘ warn e
ter luk out for ther major. Ef ye want an helix
don‘t be afeard to call on yours truly. Ye di a fair
job by me, an’ 1 luv ya fer it. an tharfore. wi’ a
smashed nose, an‘ across marked forehead, I remain

“ Luvinglg yours,
‘ norm 8

“ P. S. I cave. You‘re entitled ter boss ther town
an‘ I‘ll take or back seat. I ain‘t no swine. an' know
when I've got enough. B. B."

With this document safel stored in his pock-
et, the giant then left the ut and trudged to-
ward Leadville.

The very first man he met in front of the Ton—
tine restaurant was the famous Annihilator,
01d Avalanche, and up to him the Pet Elephant
pranced forthwith. ’

“ Lookee h ar,” he said, in a tragic whisper,
"you a risnd ter thet daisy, Deadwood

ic

“Great ham-bone! yes ” Avalanche re lied
“ but what of at?” ' p ’

“ Was], just lend me yer ear. I’m a friend 0’
the leetle cuss, too, since he lambasted me dOWn
hyar in ther street, an’ I want him ter get this
yere docyment.” _

_Avalanche received the message from the
giant, and read it. a puzzled expression coming
upon his grlzzled features.

“ Great aristocratic ham-bone! Did ye wn'te

Sir

 

 

 

 

Deadwood Dick‘s Devices 10‘

 

this, William?” he demanded, suspiciously eying
the iant.

“ did an’ don’t e ferfit it,” the Pet Ele-
phant replied, prou y. “ amachanged man,
now, pil im an’ of e don’t find et out, I’m a
jack-mu e. AChris un am I, Beautiful Bill,
clean from the soles of my stogy boots, ter my
sky parlor I”

 

CHAPTER VII.

A RETURNED MOTHER—AT DEAD PINE TRACT.

THE first person Fanny Farron met after her
return to Leadville from Deadwood Dick’s vil-
lage, was Jacques lz‘rouch, the actor at the Col-
iseum.

He was lounging upon the grass at the edge
of the town— ad evidently been watching for
gar coming—and rose to his feet as she came

ong.

The ex ression upon her face told very well
of the de eat of her plans, and a gleam of satis-
faction wns in his eyes as he saw it.

“ Ze ma. belle Fanny did not meet with ze suc-
cess she expected?” he said, with his sarcastic
broken French, which he knew annoyed her.
“ She did not find ze road-agent of ze same opin-
ion of herself, eh?”

“No, curse him!” the actress hissed, between
her white teeth, her eyes flashin venomously,
“ he refused me, and now he sha I feel m ven-
geance. I’ll fight him and kill that girl e has
taken to protect, before I leave IJeadville.”

. Frouch smiled serenely.

“Your spirit is admirable, my lady,” he said,
with a sort of triumphant chuckle. " Your act—
ing comes to you natural. But, I fear you will
have a serious task, combating against a man
so powerful and shrewd as the notorious road-
agent, Deadwood Dick. He is bad medicine.”

“ I do not intend to work alone,” was the re-
ply. “You must help me, J ack—you who have
the will and the ingenuity of a devil in your
heart.”

“ I, my lad .7 Why should I mix up in your
lover’s quarre s, pray?”

“ Because I want you to. You once told me
Eu had learned the drug and chemist trade in

ance, and could compound a slow lingering
poison, which would cause the patient the most
excruciating agony and at the same time refuse
to be ameliorated by an counter drug. Now,
this is the very article want administered to
that doll-faced ward of Deadwood Dick’s, and
you must do the job!”

Jacques Frouch shuddered a little, the cynical
smile on his face dying out.

“ I am surprised at you,” he said, after a mo-
ment’s surve of her. “ That is a terrible way
of getting ii of an enemy.”

‘ A sure way, however,” the actress replied,
cool] . “ You must do the job.” _

“ at by a big sight 1” the Frenchman said.
“ I ain’t in that buiness.” _

“ Then, if you refuse, your hopes of ever wm-
nin me are lasted.”

“ l have they not always been blasted?
Have you not always refused me?”

“Yes, but if you will serve me in this way,
I’ll reward you, and promise to become yours.’

Jacques French’s eyes sparkled greedily.

 

“Are you lying to me?" he demanded, suspi-
ciously.

“ No, upon my honor. If you will bring me
proof of the death of Deadwood Dick’s ward,
you can send for a minister as soon as you
choose thereafter.”

“Very well. You can degend upon me, and
if you back out, you shall die y the same agency
as your victiml’ he said, significant] . ‘ But,
this is not what brought me here. was sent
for you.”

“ Sent for me? Whom by, ray?”

“That I am unable to tel more than that
the party was a woman, and deeply vailed, at
that. She came to me, and desired that I should
fetch you.”

“Strange; I know of no woman here, who
could possmly be interested in me.”

“She is, all the same, judging by what she
said to me. Will you come?”

“ Of course. I’m curious to see a vailed wo-
man.”

Together they hurried down Harrison aVenue
to the Clarendbn Hotel, which they enter
find ascended to the general parlor on the second

oor. '

A woman clad in a dark robe, and with her
face deegly vailed. arose as they entered, and
advance a step—then paused, half-hesitatingly
in the middle of the floor.

“ Are you Miss Farron, the songstress?” she
demanded. somethin of eagerness in her tone.

“ I am the same,” t e actress replied. “ Why
do you ask?”

‘ Because I have an interest in you!” the wo-
man said, sinking into a chair. “Be seated,
pray, and we wil talk. In the first place, what
are the first recollections in your earl life—
that is, how far back can on remember ’

“Not very far,” was t 9 reply, and the ac-
tress exchanged glances with acques Frouch,
who had seated himself near the door. ‘fM
first recollections are of the sta e, on which
sun when I was but ten years 01 .’

“ ere ou alone—do you remember the
part who ad you in charge?”

“ remember her very indistinctly: a woman
who drank poor whisk to excess, and who beat
me around unmerciful y.” "

“ What became of this guardian of yours?”

“I don‘t know. She called hersefmy mo-
ther, but then, I never counted on that, and
was glad when she skipped out. They told me
she’d slid for stealing some money from one of
the actors.”

“ What became of you after this woman left
you

“Well, I shook _for myself, and took care of
m lf, an’ here ou see me.”

‘Yes, and gla I am. too, for I believe you
are not that scrupulous that you would refuse to
earn a pile of money in an easy way.”

“As to that, you may have read me lprett
correct!” Miss Farron re lied with a laug . “
certainly should not hesi to to ick up money
and examine it, if I saw it lying in my path.”

The vailed woman laughed, too, in a peculiar,

wiping way.

vident it was that she had secretly studied
the actress and laid her plans accordingly, pre-
vious to the visit.

 

 

’0 Deadwood Dick's Device.

 

“ It is as I thought then. For money you are
willing to work. All right. Do you know what
your real name is— our real name?”

“ No, unless it is arron.”

“Then let me tell you. Your name is Howell.
You’re the first and only legitimate daughter of
Major Howell, the s nlator of this place!”

“ I Major Howe ’s dau hter?” the actress
cried, in amazement. “ An yon—who are you,
woman?”

“ I am your mother I”

“ This is incredible, madam. Are you the
same? , woman that was my guardian in the
past

“The same. I would bare my face to on,
but for reasons all-sufficient to myself. left
you, years 0, in order to hunt u this villain
who marri and deserted me an now I have
found him, married again, with a family grown
up around him, and well to do.”

“Well, what do you propose to do?” the act-
ress demanded, in a. busmess—like manner. “ If
you've any lan to make some ,money for me,
speak out; ' not, git!”

“ I have a plan,” the vailed woman replied,
without appearing to notice the coarse sugges-
tion of the other, ‘ and you being my child s all
share equallflwith me, if you lend me such aid
as I des1re. ajor Howell will pay high to have
us lay back and not expose him as a igamist.”

“True. You have at him where the hair is
long; sure enough. ell, count me in, and let’s

0 work. I want money. I spent all of my
ast month‘s salary at the Coliseum, and am
~ dead broke. Haven’t even got a‘ copper.”

“ Be not in a hurry, or on will spoil all,” the
vailed woman replied. “ will prepare the way
first, and then wait on you again.”

Then, after a few other words, she took her
departure.

 

The sign of the double cross!

During the succeeding week this was the sub-
ject uppermost in the minds of the people—the
topic 0 general conversation, in Leadville and
its tributary mining cities.

For, every day was Deadwood Dick’s strange
device being found, either upon the livin or t 9
dead, through the mountain gulches an in the
mining villages ad acent to the carbonate re-
gion, m and aroun Leadville.

“The Double Cross " was upon every lip, and
the mention of it was a. synonym of terror, for
it meant the vengeance of the Prince of the
Road—the notorious Deadwood Dick, who had
hanged once to secure his freedom, and having
failed to get it at the hands of the people, was
causingea rage of terror and death that had
never fore n ualed. In justice to him-
self, said some, was t is daring1 outlaw fighting
but the masses failed to view 1: e matter in tha

light.

. ough the shadows of early evening, two
men left the town of Leadville on foot, and
made their way toward the north. Upon the
outskirts they were joined by a band of four-
acore or more of mounted, armed men, who also
held two empty saddle-horses in waiting.

These were soon filled, however, by the two
parties first mentioned and then‘ the whole cav-
alcade galloped toward the north.

 

For some time they traveled on; then, as the
moon hove in sight from below the horizon they
drew rein, at a wave of the leader’s hand, he
being no other person than Alf Howell, the
s culator’s son, and the man beside him was
t e major in person.

What was the meaning of this midnight ex-
pedition? \Vhy all those armed men on horse-
back, venturing into the wilderness—men whose
rough, slouchy dresses, and still rougher phy-
siques, renounced them to be of the most ruf-
fianly c asses?

There could be but one supposition—that they
were going to a conflict.

As they came to a halt, Alf I-Iowcll said:

“ Order, now! Are all thc boys hcrc’e”

“ All here ” replied one of the men.

“ Eighty- our, in all?"

“ Ayl Eighty-four, in all.”

“Good. Is every man properly armed, and
ammunitioncd?”

“ Ayl I’ve seen to that.”

“ Good, again. All dismount, now, and
secure your horses hereabouts. Before us lies
the Dead Pine Tract, which is our desti-
nation."

The order was ra idly obeyed, with as little
noise as possible. hen every man had tether-
ed his horse, and assembled in the little glade
where they had halted, Alf Howell, or Dandy
Alf as he was more familiarly known, said:

“If you are all ready now, we will divide
into four companies of twenty-one men a iece,
and separate. McNulty, you can take c arge
of one brigade and station yourself at the
northern ed e of the Tract, throwing out sen-
tinels everty ittle ways to prevent any one from
escaping mm the met. Shoot any one at-
tempting such a thing. Deems, on may do the
same on the eastern side with t e second divis-
ion, and Brocton can take the west end, ditto.
I will remain with my division hero on the
southern side. Let no man pass you or go in
or out of the Tract, unless he gives you the pass-
word.”

“What is the password?” asked McNulty. “I
have forgotten, if you told me.”

“ It is Sdcath I” the gambler replied, grimly.
“Now divide up, and get off to your posts,
where you will remain until you hear the blast
of a horn. Then make for the bi cabing in the
glade. If you are attacked be ore, however,

low your trumpets, and hold strong until we
arrive. I haven’t made all my plans yet, and
can’t give you further directions. Score off,
now, and get to yoW!”

This order was s ilv obeyed.

The three officers, McNulty, Deems and Broc-
ton selected their twenty—one each and departed
into the depths of the forest.

Dandy Alf then strung part of his men along
the southern side of the Tract, wherein was lo-
cated the new village of the daring outlaw,
Deadwood Dick, placing them at regular inter-
vals, and reserving the other portion in case of
emergency.

When this was arranged to his satisfaction,
he turned to the major, who was disguised and
masked.

“Now, the next move is to get into the out-
law’s camp, and procure the girl,” he said, sav-

. “1.4.3...” .

I

3‘»

 

()4

 

Deadwood Dick’s Device. 21

/

agely. “ She is likely to give us more trouble
than the whole gang of road-agents.”

“ Not if you manage it right. Gag her when
you catch her, and you can easily bring hgr
awa .

“ gut, how am I to get to the stronghold When
they have doubtless got pickets outposted, to in-
terce t new—comers?

“ at is a question we must devise a plan to
answer. By our united brains we ought surely
to overpower an obstacle of that nature, without
much trouble. Thought is a great invention, you
know!”

Then the father and son engaged in a whisper-
ed conversation, which was not audible to a lis-
tener. For there was such a listener, as was ob-
servable had human eyes penetrated a clum of
undergrowth not far from where the two 0 -
ells stood.

A bulky mass of individuality was curled up
in these bushes, and had been, ever since the ar-
rival of the band. It now be an to cautiously
uncoil. however, and finally isclosed the pon-
derous Leadville giant, Beautiful Bill. The Pet
Elephant it was, sure enough, and, having heard
all that he was able to hear for the time being, he
began to cast about him for escape.

No clumsy hulk was the giant, evidently,when
he chose to exercise caution, for he wormed his
way out of his place of concealment and into the
glade right past the sentinels. without being dis-
covered, a quiet grin the while upon his battered
features.

Straight toward the cabin rendezvous of Dead-
wood Dick he made his way, often having to lie

' flat upon his stomach, to avoid exposing his per-

son to the bullets of any pickets who might be
gazing toward him.

In this way he finally gained the cover of the
reat cabin: then in its entrance he came face to
ace with—Deadwood Dick.

“ Shoo! don’t make a noise!” the giant cau-
tioned, as Dick stepped back in surprise, and laid
his right hand upon a pistol butt. “ I ain’t no
spook ner no sggpernatural visitation, you bet,
but fienutiful ‘ illiam, ther Pet Elephant 0’
ther Leadville trail.”

“ The deuce! How did you come here?” Dick
demanded, sternly.

“ Waal, art 0’ the ways on my feet, an’ ther
other two-t ii‘ds on my hands an’ knees an’ stum-
mick!” the giant replied, with a in.

“Then, you are my prisoner. f you were not
content with the thrashing I gave on, a limb
of a tree will perhaps do you,” Des. wood Dick
said.

“ Hold on! I ain’t a-goin’ ter hang yet. Ef
I ain‘t an 'angel, I am a-goin’ ter try ter be one.
Didn’t ye git ther warnin’ I sent to you, wi’ Old
Avalanche?”

“ Yes, and threw it in the fire. You are not
sharp”enough to fool me with chat! yet, my pi];
grim.

“ Thar warn’t no chat! about it, _Dick in
daisy. jest as sure‘s my frontispiece_is Beauti-
ful Bill. Thet war a fair shake I give ye, ter
luk out fer ther major, an’ of ye didn’t mind it,
most likely yer fire is all dough.”

“What do you mean i”

“ Ohl ye’ll see, d’rectly, sure’s I’m one o’ ther
detached planets from Jupiter, Old Howell an’

 

a gang 0’ eighty galoots hev surrounded ye, an
ef_the,y don’t make it hot fer ye, I’ll lose my sur-
mise.

“ By Heaven! I don’t credit this. We’ve
seen nothing of them.”

“ Mebbe not: but it's a fact, just so sure as ye
gamboled my proboscis out o’ kilter. Jest feast
yer eyes on this nose, Dicky—ther ’reck 0’ for-
mer prominence. Don't et make ye feel bad fer
think thet ye war ther means 0’ sp’ilin’ a fellar
human’s beauty, fer nothin’? But I forgive ye,
my honeysuckle—I do, from ther soles o’ néy
stogy boots, because ye did afu’st-class job. a
licked me, and licked me ’til it did me proud,
an’ heer’s my fist in eternal friendship.”

And the giant thrust out his brawny hand.
Deadwood Dick hesitated but a moment, then
gras ed it and shook it.

“ ’ll trust you,” he said, “until I find you
treacherous—then, I’ll ut a revolver-bullet
through your thick skul . Excuse me if I am
more emphatic than polite, but I am obliged to
consider every man a treacherous rascal, in
order to make my general estimation of the
world correct. I considereve manm enemy,
until he proves, beyond a dou t, that e is my
friend.”

“Don’t blame ye a bit, an” at ye ever ketcb
ther Pet Elephant off his nut, jest salivate him,
kerslap.”

“Consider it settled. Though the belief is
with me that your motives in this action are
honest, I shall have you watched, lest the devil
in you, and which infests every man’s nature,
may accidentally leak out, when I am not on
my guard. Now, give me your advice as to
this gang of cut-throats under Major Howell.”

Beautiful Bill did so, givin an accurate ac-
count of what he had heard an seen while play-
inithe s y.

fter 9 had finished, Deadwood Dick accom-
panied him to the mess—room of the band, and
ordered the cook to give him some supper.

In the mean time, he ave orders to have
more pickets posted, for e was ill at ease——
more so than he had ever been before at the
prospect of a battle. His uneasiness was in a
measure caused b the fact that a part of his
men under an on“ e-lieutenant, named Farwell,
were out on the road, and might return unsus-

ectingly to the glade and be surprised and cut
0 pieces b the ruflians under the command of
the Howel s.

As for himself and those within the rendez~

vous, he had no fears.

 

CHAPTER VIII.
warcnmo AND WAITING.

DANDY ALF HOWELL concluded not to make
the attempt to reach Deadwood Dick’s cabin,
inasmuch as such an undertaking would incur
a great deal of risk of life. for be doubted not
that the new heir of Dead Pine Tract had taken
the precaution to post guards on the watch for
enemies. _ _

At the cabin Deadwood Dick was making
ready for the battle which he was sure would
come, and he meant not to be disappointed or
surprised. _

Several small homtzers he had had brought

 

 

, 22. ‘ Deadwood Dick’s Device;

to the Tract, and these he ordered now into the
second story of the cabin, with their noses
pointed out of convenient windows, one in the
east, west, north and south respectively.

They were mounted upon small trucks, and
being loaded heavily, were the very thing for
mowing down a crowd.

While Dick was superintending these arrange-
ments, Stella Howe] was by his side, watching
without a remark the preparations for battle.

“Why are you makin all these preparations,
Mr. Harris?” she ask , at last, impelled no
doubt by curiosity. “Are we going to have
war here, on Dead Pine Tract?”

' “ It would seem so, when we are surrounded
by nearly a hundred armed ruflians, under our
uncle and cousin!” Dick replied. “They ave
come, no doubt, to take possession of the Tract!”

“And ou will give it u to them?”

“ No, y—not while have powder and
lead to drive them back. Is it your wish that
they should have the mine, here, and all that
was our father’s?”

“ h! no, indeed. I want you to have it' I
’want every clause in poor apa’s will obeyed!”
the maiden cried, enthusmstically. “If you
have a place for me, give me a gun, and I will
fight as lon as I have strength.”

‘No 11 for that, Miss Stella! What you
could do in the way of fighting I will take 0R
your hands and do myself, with pleasure,” Dick
saidslgallantly.

“ on may rest assured that if the invaders
attempt to reach my claim they will do so at
the peril of their lives, for shall fi ht to the
bitter end, and render the name of eadwood
Dick a greater terror than it is.”

“You are a brave man.” Stella said, warm-
ly, “although if all the stories about you are
true, you are to some extent a wicked one,
Ivlvhigh I, am 10th to believe, you are so bold and

an -—

“No flattery, lady!” enjoined Deadwood Dick,
as she paused in confusion. “I know what you
would say, but I deny the accusation. Good
looks I never laid claim to, the Lord only knows,
and as for boldness, my life has made me too
hold, I fear.”

“A man cannot be too bold, in some ways—
in others he can be so without trying very har ,”
Stella replied, as she turned away.

After arranging everything to his satisfaction
above-stairs. Deadwood Dick descended to the
first floor, to find Old Avalanche in the mess-

'room.

“ Hello! ou, Alva—how came you here?”

“Great -bone, Dickey, my jewel—how
did I get hayr? How did ther old cavortin’ cy-
clone 0’ ther North-west get hayr? Moses thet
perigrinated oil! on ther ear uva bullrush! I jest
wafted down hayr on ther palatial car uv old
Aurora Bory Alice—a ginnywine thunderbolt o’
extinction—a. storm-cloud o’ etarnal annihilation
an’ extirpation, tac‘ by acious! Jest gaze at
me, Dickey, ye thorough red daisy—jest accel-
erate ther speed 0' yer glance enter my royal
nibs, and remark of ye don’t observe a teetotal
change in ther old ragin’ eppydemio o’ ther per-
rarersl”

“You do look somewhat enlivened, that is
true,” Dick replied, smiling at the old man’s

 

-‘

earnestness. “ Your eyes seem to have a brighter
luster, your mouth has resumed specie payment
and you seem all cured of your lameness, al-
though I can’t see that your ears have grown
much lately.”

“No, Dickey, old Perriwinkle! Them ears
won’t nevyer adorn my venerable sku 1, I reck-
on ” the veteran muttered, rubbing his horny
Balms over the spots where those useful organs

ad once upon a time grown. “But thet ain’t
no sarcumstance—great archi lagolo 'cal ham-
bone, no! Jest luk at me, ’m as resh as a
spring lamb-as frisky as ther little sheep Mary
had, w’at go read about in the Catechism. No
lon er is t er Great Annihilation a thing 0’ ther
pas , but ther livin’ reality in boomin’ condishun
—me, ther great devastatin’ ep ydemic 0’ these
boreal lattitudes an' ion , an’ my] mare,
Prudence Cordeliar, an’ my oat, orence
Night-in-a—gale. Yes sir-ee, bo tail boss! ther
great cavortin’ cyclone o’ ther West ar’ ag’in in
workin’ order, an’ hayr’s w’at hes grown six
yeers younger, inside 0’ five hours—fad, by
gracious.” ‘

“ Do I understand you, then, that you have
recovered your goat and horse, old man?”

“ Great International ham-bone, yes—recov-
ered ’em, es, on course I hev Dickey, my trans-
parent em lem o’ vartue-ye éoddess of Liberty!
0n course I recovered ’em, an’ this is how I did
it. War settin’ on ther steps down at ther Ton-
tine, when a galoot he came waltzin’ up on ther
to o’ a boss, an’ behind him dogged as sneakish
a ukin' billy-goat as ever chaw cast-iron, an'
don‘ {gferiit et, my posey. Great discomflted
ham- ne t at discombobberated ther terrestyal
gravytation uv old Joner! I know’d thet ana-
mile ther minit I spied her, an’ et po ped inter
my head ter hev sum fun. So I jest opped fer
my fut, an’ I sed, sea I, ‘ Qui vassenio lac manta
du diablo,’ w’ich war hose-latin fer Prudence
Cordeliar, yo consarned old son of a sea-cook, ye
old devil!’ Waal, sir, thet sagacious anamile
luked up an" glued her eyes outer me; then she
began ter whinny an’ elevatin’ her backsliding
propensities, she sent that galoot w’at rid her,
a-playin’ leap-frog t’other side 0’ ther street,
after which she walked serene] up ter me an’
shuk hands. an’larted as onlya 055 can lair, till
she nigh cried. An’ Florence she snickered too,
an’ thar on ther steps 0’ ther Tontine, we three
component parts 0’ ther great devastatin’ Anni-
hilation ag’in leagued ourselves together fer ther
purpose 0’ cavortin’ about on another toor uv
extirpation, in these yere pestiferous longytoads
an’ lattytudes.”

“Well, I’ve business for you, right here, it
you are sp’iling for a. fight,” Deadwood Dick
said, smiling.

“Great ham-bone, yes; I know all about it,
my daisy; an‘ ye kin reckon on ther Annihila-
tion for a part 0’ ther conflict. But, Dickey,
thar‘s one th' I want ameliorated—thet is to
say, chan . her g’ard at ther door, he ac~
tooally re used ter admit my Florence an'—”

“I’ll settle that,” Dick said. with a laugh.
“Come along, and the worthy 'int of the anni-
hilation shall have the best t e estabhshment
afl’ords.” _

And true to his word, Deadwood chk had the
venerable goat ed.th to the messaroom, and

 

 

 

Deadwood Dick’s Device. 28

 

furnished with a repast sumptuous enough for
aniy goat to eat.

lorence evidently had a retentive memory,
for she appeared to reco nize the Prince of the
Road, and rubbed about im,lovingly. She had
grown more venerable lookin of ate, if not
uglier, but had lost none of her ove for a scrim-
ma 9, apparently, for she e ed Beautiful Bill
wit a twinkle in her eye, w ich would seem to
express the sentiment that she hankered after
giving his giantshi an interview with her head-
gear—that knot sledge-hammer-like batter-
in -ram she knew so well how to manage.

he night wore on. .

Those within the Rendezvous watched and
waited, ex ting momentarily to hear the first
si al of t 8 attack; but still it did not come.

hat was the meaning of the delay?

Were the wolves of the Howells intending to
starve out the little garrison? Or were they
creeping up, previous to a big rush at the
cabin?

These were the questions not easy to answer.
for there were no answers to them at present
evidently. The moon had gone under a cloud,
and outside was impenetrable darkness.

Not a foot before his face could a man see
now; then the boom of thunder along the hea-
vens redicted a storm.

y trusting his men, Deadwood Dick did
not venture out into the night, but remained
within doors directing those of his followers who
were inside.

Avalanche, with many of the rinciples of the
true soldier, suggested several ittle additional
improvements in regard tothe defense, which
Dick accepted with hearty thanks.

At home was the Annihilator, with his many
odd, extraordinary stories and uncouth expres-
sions, now that he had Florence to gambol and
frisk at his side.

“ Great ham-bone! why don’t ther galoots git
up and ’tend to their kmttin’, ef the want ter
fight?” he ted, as he approached ick, who
stood in t e doorway of the Rendezvous and
gazed out into the black night. “ If I war them
pilgrims, I’d go bathe myself in the Sloughs of

espond, or sum other such a place, and then
dig me a hole in the ground, and crawl into it
and ull it in after me.”

“ ou’ll see ’em soon enough.” the Prince re-
plied. “ We shall have a. biglvshower soon, and
then can look out for ’cm. here’s Calamity,
Alva?”

“Ther Lord knows, Dicke , my peony. I
ken’t no more keep track wi that gal than I
kin o’ a bat. She’s heer, thar, and all overs,
jest whar her inclination leads her, an’ I reckon
ye 1358,61an be surprised ter see her beer to-
m .

uder and heavier boomed the thunder along
the heavens, until it seemed to jar the very
earth, while the lightning diifused itself in vivid
g ares.

On ascending the stairs Dick found Stella
Howell crouching in one corner of her room,
trembling violently.

“ Ohl Dick—Mr. Harris, I mean, I am so
glad on have come! I was so afraid of the
thun er.”

L And she glided forward and put her hands in

'\

 

his confldingly, while she looked intohisface
for assurance.

“Afraid, were you?” the Prince asked, smil-
in down into her dilated eyes, admiringly.
“ by a storm like the one that threatens us is
in pe ect keeping with my nature, my little
ward. It is grand. The crash of the thunder,
the vivid hiss of the zigzag lightning and the
weird sound of the falling rain, are the sounds
that thrill me with renewed life—fill my soul
with a yearning to o forth and ride madly
throu h the warring e ements!”

“ O ihow can on? I am always timid in a
storm like this. t must be nice to be so brave
and courageous.” ~

“ There is no bravery in not fearing the
storms of this life, Miss Stella. A man who
trembles not at the sound of his Maker’s voice
is not natural, or else he is a devout and sincere
servant of the Lord; one or the other. But as
unnatural and wild as they may be, I believe
there is no man or beast not in a measure sus-
ceptible to God’s influence durin a storm.”

“I agree with ou, indeed" tella said, en-
thusiastically. “ on are a philosopher in your
way, Mr. Harris.”

“Perhaps I ought to be. But don’t call me
Mr. Harris any more. It is a name that don’t
belong to me—Dick is what the call me—Dead-
wood Dick, and the name wi cling to 11189.3
lon as I live.”

_ i: t is just as well, so long as you are proud of

. “ I am not proud of it—or anything. I de-
spise a man who is proud of himself, his name,
or any worldl possession. He is as much to be
despised as t e buzzard who luts himself on
carrion, and then is in misery t e remainder of
the day. No! I am not roud of the name of
Deadwood Dick—I shoul be a contemptible
sinner were I. It is not a name to be proud of,
for there are many stains upon it, never to be

washed out; yet, outlaw, road-agent, dare-devil --

though I have been, and am now, I have been
driven on, step by step, b a people who have
no mercy—who refuse to at me alone, after I
had hanged and thus paid the penalty of crime.
So that, though my future respects mayrnot
be pleasant to reflect upon, have the consola- -
tion of knowing that no man has ever aid
nature’s debt by my agency, who was no at
heart a ruflian and a villain, and whose death
was not a relief to the community, and a favor
toever honest man.”

hf“ An must you always live this wild, strange
' e?

“Always!” Deadwood Dick replied, flercel- .
“I am an outcast, and as such I have only
remain. Society or the public at large refuse to
receive me. They are everlasting enemies.
where I will, they hunt me and turn me abroad,
because once I was a road-a ent. They curse
me, and drive me about, and have no chaice
exce t between this life and death."

“ , at least, pity you, and trust you,” Stella
said, utting her hands into his, warmly. “I
don’t lieve you are bad at heart.”

“Thank you, little lady. I he I am not.
But I came here to speak of anot er thing—of
your father's will, You have read it an
through?”

 

s4 Deadwood Dick’s Device.

 

“ I have-and know of what you would speak:
concerning my marria 6. My answer is yes!
It was ewdently my ather’s wish, and did I
loathe and des ise you, which I do not, I should
respect his wis es.’

‘ I thank you, my little one,” Dick said, bend-
ing and kissm her upon the forehead. ‘ Your
trust shall no be at fault. I shall send for a
minister at once, having one who has been regu-
larly ordained, in my band. He will marry us,
and at some other time, we will be wedded again
to make all sure. This ceremony will make you
egually my wife, and should I perish, the ruler
o my band, who will stand by you through
thick and through thin.”

After a few more words, the young chief took
his departure, just as the sound of a rifle-shot
rolled along out of the forest.

“ They’ve begun operations,” he muttered,
darkly, as he hastened down the stairs.

He found Old Avalanche and Beautiful Bill in
the mess—room, while the rest of the men were
positioned at loop-holes in different portions of

he cabin.

The storm had burst forth in all its fury, the
rain pouring down in torrents, and the thunder
rumbling heavily an accompaniment to the
lightning’s vivid flashes.

“ Great ham-bone! did (ye heer thet ar’ shot?”
the Annihilator demande .

“ Yes, I heard it,” Dick replied. “Where did
it come from?”

“ Ken’t say, tho’ I’ll allow they’re gittin' red-
dy fer a scrimmage.”
“ Let them come.
of it, I’m mistaken.”

A reconnoissance failedto see anything unusu-
al out of doors, for it was inky black.

Leaving the cabin Deadwood Dick visited each
of the out-posted sentinels, but they had no infor-
mation. They had heard. the report, but had
seen no flash, nor any effects of the shot.

Returning to the cabin, he found that Ava-
lanche had made a capture in the she. e of a
ragged, haggard-looking individual, w 0 look-
ed as if he had been in a hot conflict, but re-
cently.

He was a tall, brawny fellow, with iron-gray
hair and ragged uneven beard to match; eyes
black and complexion swarthy. His face was
severely scratc ed and bled profusely, and one
arm was worn in a sling.

His clothing and hat were of the most tattered
description, and were soaking wet and covered
with mire, as if the owner of themhad been roll-
ing in the mud.

‘ Great ham-bone thet bucked ag’in’ ther lar-
nyx of old J oner!” the Annihilator ejaculated,
pointing, as the chief entered, to the waif of the
storm who lay half-reclining upon the floor.
“Old Moses who war born in ther bullrushesl
Lookee hayr, Dickey, my jewel. Ha r’s a pil-
grim who begged ter kum in an’ let him,
do: I geeky he’s about canceled his yearthly

tes.

“ Who is he?”

“ Great ham-bone! he sez as how his name is
Mons’er Muckaloo, or sum sich like. an’ thet be
war traveliu’ toward Leadville, an’ then cum in
collision wi’ ther gang out yonder, an’ only es-
caped wi’ his life.”

If they don’t git the worst

 

l

Deadwood Dick turned and eyed the stran er
suspiciously. He was so rough and illy-clad t
a suspicion dawned upon his mind that he might
not be all he claimed.

“ What is your name ?" he asked.

“ M. Mulchfree,” the man replied, with a
slight accent of French.

“ What is your business?”

“ I am Eofessionally a Parisian chemist but
of late I ve been prespecting in the neighbor-
ing mountains for gold.”

‘ You met with r success, I should say,
jud ing by your clot es?”

“ es. I came near starving, and was makin
my way tova Leadville when I encounter
several rufiians in the woods back here, and in a
battle with them got a sprained arm, a bullet-
hole throu h my side, and my face scratched up
considerab e.”

“This robably accounts for the rifle report
we hear then. Alva, you may dress the fel-
low’s wounds, and give- him some fodder.”

Avalanche obeyed, and the Frenchman re-
ceived the attentions gratefully.

On raged the storm without, the thunder
rumbling and jarring and the lightning hissing
spitefully into every crack and crevice.

During one of these awful glares the door
opgned and Calamity Jane stepped into the
ea in.

CHAPTER IX.
A WOLF, msomsnn.

YES, it was Calamity Jane, sure enough, who
entered the rendezvous from out the terrible
storm. She had, in a measure, protected her-
Self, however, from its fury, by wearing along
oilcloth coat which reached nearly to her feet.
She threw this aside, now, and shook the rain
from her slouch hat. .

“ Phew! how it comes down,” she said, with a

uiet grin. “You ought to go out and wash
t e stains out of your character, as I’ve been
doing Dick.”

“ Thank you. I just came in,” Dick replied.
“ The rain, I am afraid, would have little effect
on the stains of in character.”

“ P’r’aps not. VVV hat are ye goin’ to do?”

“ In regard to a fight?"

H  71

“I scarcel know. Don’t even know how
matters stan in the camp of the enemy.”

“You’ll fight, of course?”

“Very likely. I never laid down my arms
but once, and submitted myself to be hanged,
and I shall not again, very soon. ”

“My words have come true. You remember
I told you you’d be an outlaw soon again, at
the head of a band of men. flex-e you are, in
the very position I predicted. with the people
warring against you.”

‘ Yes, you came pretty near the target, in
that shot,” the young chief replied, a dark scowl
coming upon his brow. “I might have been a
free man, today, had the people been at all
merciful. Instead, I am an outcast and an out-
law, and the people are pushing me on as fast
and far as they dare.”

“And always Will be. And the quicker you

 

1

 

Deadwmod Dick’s Device. 25

 

can clear out of the country to some foreign
clime, the sooner you will be rid of the curse
that now clin to you."

“ No! I wi never run for them!” Deadwood
Dick replied sternly. “I will never run for
them, a miliion to one though they may be.
They shall kee me here in America as long as
I have life, an shall feel the blighting influence
of in hand, because of their treacher .”

“ urra! thet’a ther way ter tor it!” the
Annihilator burst forth in enthusiasm,while his
eccentric goat ave an encouraging ‘ba-a-a!”
“ Great chicken- ivered ham-bone that war ther
last ailment uv old Joneri Dick ’s uar’ on
ther track, thar an’ I’ll bet my 0 d soc s on’t.
He’s bin treated like as’ef he war sum dishonor-
able coyote, an’ ef he ain’t got cause for revenge,
I don’t know myself. Eh? C’lamity, what dye

sa 1”

xI a ee with you, of course. You and I
never lsagree on any thing you know,” the
dare—devil replied, with a smi e, as she went up
and shook hands with the veteran scout.

“No, C’lamity, gal, we never differed in our
0 ines, ’ce t on one matter—ther breed 0’ my

orence ight-in—a-gale, you claimin’ thet ther
anamile war a ‘ sooner,’ while I claim he ar’ e
‘setter’l”

“Well we sha’n’t even quarrel about that,
Alva. Iorence is a sagacious animal, and ten
to one, there’s nary another to match him.
Hello! what have we here? Do my eyes deceive
me, or is it an a parition I see?” for the dare-
devil had sudde y caught si ht of the formid-
able proportions of Beautiful ill standing near
at hand.

“No, you behold the Pet Ele hant in the
presence of his tamer” Deadwood ick answer-
ed, laughingly. “ ith his spirit subdued, he
makes a ood pack-horse, on account of his size.”

Later alamity drew the chief to one side,
and nodded toward the 'ant.

“Keep a lookout for at big brute, for, clev-
er actor though he may be, you’ll find to your
cost that you are being seemed in him, and he
will attempt to strike on a death-blow!”

“Then you don’t be ieve in his sincerity, eh?”

“Not b a. long shot! I’ve seen too many
tou he of 's caliber to believe them thorough-
br white-winged flutterers, you bet! It’s easy
enough for the aloot ter pretend friendliness
ter on, but I to you thars nor a galoot as
wi stand up an’ take a bastin’ 11 e be got, an’
then turn around and luv ye fer playin’ the gad.”

“Well, ma be you’re pretty near right; still
I am 10th to lieve that the giant has any evil
intentions toward me.”

“Well, maybe he hasn’t, but time will prove.
There is another thing that I have to speak
about, and it i concerning the actress a the
Coliseum.”

“Miss Fanny Farron’!”

“Yes. She has some devilment on foot, and
on wantto look out for her. She is asreven e-
ul asa tigress, and is plotting to murder he

girl you have u irs.’

“By Heaven no! She shall never touch a
hair of Stella’s head.”

“I hope for your sake that she won’t; but
you must look out for her, or some one who

comes in her place. Has any suspicious char-

 

acter goon seen around here, to-night, in dis-
wise

“No. You, Alva, and the French chemist,
have been the on] new arrivals.”

::;l‘rhe Frenchc emisgai” h  ct .

es—a poor wretc ,w 0.8. r prospe ing
in the mountains with no success, was pullin
for Leadville, when he had an encounter wi
this enemy out here, and got considerably bruis-
e u .

“ on are a fool!” Calamity said, half-con-
temgtéuously—“ a consummate fool!”

“ hy so? What do you mean?”

“Why, that pilgrim is a clean, out-and out
fraud, and is no doubt a tool of Fanny Farron, .
sent here to do you iniury. I now believe it to
be the same galoot was watching mutilate
himself, back here in the woods. He scratched
his face until it bled, whacked his arm with a
club, and put a bullet through his side with a

istol. I reckoned another war was afoot, and
e was preparin to escape the draft.”

“It is no don t the same fellow,” Deadwood
Dick replied. “ Alva where did he go?”

“ Great ham-bone! ast I see’d o’ ther pikgg’m,
he had hobbled off to the pantry to get ad k,’
the Annihilator replied. “He asked me whar
it was, an’ I told him.”

A hasty search was instituted for the disguis-
ed villain, and he was at last found in one of
the adjoinin rooms apparently sound asleep
upon a pile o blanke s.

He sprung iuickly to his feet, however, as
Deadwood ic , accompanied by Calamity and
Avalanche, ap roached.

“Halt! dont move a muscle under ain of
instant death 1” the chief cried, sternly, eveling
a revolver at the Frenchman’s heart. “ I have
just learned a few things concerning you, and

on may as well surrender, for your game is
locked. ’ ,

“What do you mean?” the man growled, his
eyes glittering.

“I mean to say, that if you don’t drop the
false hair you sport, instanter, and let us haven.
square look at you, I’ll salivate you in less
time than it takes to say Jack Robinson, twice!”
Dick replied. “ Calami , you assist him to
remove the superfluous air, and if he resists,
I’ll lug him.”

e dare-devil stepped forward to obey, but
the Frenchman waved her back, while he tore
of! a false beard and wig, and cast them on the
floor, with a curse. v _

And there stood the actor, Wildcat Jack, aims
Jacglpes Frouch. _

“ here! didn’t I tell you !” Calamity eJaculat-
ed, trium hantly.

‘He’s he cha what we see’d on the stage at
the Coliseum, a ew nights ago, and his name is
J ac ues French.” . _

“ ss ye!” the man said, an ev1l glare in his
eyes. “What do you mean?” _

“I mean to han (you up to the limb of the
nearest tree, if I fign that you have done any
mischief,” Deadw00d Dick replied, sternl .
“ Tell me what brought you here, you rascal.’

“I shall tell you nothing,” French answered,
sullenly. “You can go ahead and do as you
choose, but you’ll not flat a peep out of me.”

“I’ll know about at lrectly. Alva, you

 

 

26 Deadwood Dick’s Devic

 

may bind the villain, and station a guard over
him. I want to learn if he has done any harm,
before I hang him.”

Accordingly .the tool of Fanny Farron was
bound band and foot, and dragged into a strong
room, where he was left.

Shortly after Deadwood Dick, accompanied
by Calamity, Avalanche, and one John Rivers,
1:, member of Dick’s band, ascended to the rooms
of Stella Howell, and a marriage ceremony was
solemnized—the man Rivers officiating in the
capacity of minister, be having been a minister
of the (gospel until a foul suspicion of murder
was lai u on his shoulders, and he was forced
to flee, an forsake his calling. -

The marriage rites performed, there was a
eneral handshaking, and when Deadwood Dick
escended to the mess-room, he was vociferous-

,ly cheered and congratulated by those of the
band within doors.

Calamity remained with the young bride for
awhile, and sEoke in such glowing terms of
Deadwood Dic that Stella in no way regretted

, the step she had taken.

Morning dawned, a wet and drizzling, dis-
agreeable morning,’with a cold, grayish pallor
seeming to cling to everything, and a monoto-

nous dri l drip! of falling rain that rendered the
da lone 
ith t e dawn of day observations were

made that the enemy were still at their posts
in the edge of the dead pines, although they
were care 111 not to expose their persons as a
target for the rifles of those within the Rendez—
vous.

Some of the men were in favor of opening the
fight, but a word from Deadwood Dick caused
them to desist.

Not first would the Prince or his men be to

fire a hostile shot' if the people began the battle;
they must abide the results thereof.

About noon Calamity came into the mess-
room. her face deathly pale.

, “Quick!” she gasped; “come upstairs—your
wife is dying.” "

 

Let us look in upon the camp of the Howells,
about this time, and note the situation of af-

airs.

The Regulators, as they styled themselves
were still ivided upon the east, west, north an
south sides of Dead Pine Tract, Alf Howell and
the major commanding the southern division.
The men posted on picket duty were relieved by
their comrades every hour, and thus were kept
fresh in case of emergency.

Toward morning, when the storm was at its
fury, a messenger arrived in cam bearing a
note to the major, which read as f0 ows:

“Come immediately. There is trouble here, and
you are wanted!" ,1

As the note was signed by Mrs. Howell, the
major had hastened at once toward Leadville,
leaving Alf in command.

Upon arrivmg at his mansion he admitted
himself with a latch-key, and hastened to the
library, which he had noticed from without was
brilliantly lighted. Entering without ceremony,
he found himself in the presence of his wife
and two daughters-also two other females

 

one of whom was vailed, while the_ other he re-

cognized as the variety theater singer, Fanny
Farron.

“ Well!” he said, interrogatively, as he stared
around. “ I am here!”

“ Yes, you are here,” Mrs. Howell replied,
icily, “ and now that you are here, perhaps you
can explain yourself. This woman claims to be
a former wife of yours, and proposes to put for-
ward her claim upon you." -

“ My wife! ” the speculator gasped, wheeling
and facing the-vailed woman. ‘ By Heaven!
what infamous plot is this against me? My

first wife is in her grave, seventeen long years
71 ‘

ago.
“ No, you are mistaken,” the vailed woman
said, calmly uncovering her face. “ Your first
wife, and only lawful wife is still alive, and
stands before you i”

It wasa calm well- reserved face, that of the
strange claimant, wit traces still plain where
beauty had once lingered. The eyes were
dark and fierce, and the hair threaded with

gra .

Nng Howell staggered back, as he saw the
face, a strange, ghast y pallor sweeping over his
own countenance.

“ Aha! I see you recognize me!” the first wife
exclaimed, triumphantly. “ I thought you
would.”

“ Curse you!” the speculator gaspedz his fingers
opening and shutting convulsively. ‘ I thought
I was rid of you, you she-devil.”

“Look out, my dear major! Don’t call me
get names, or I will fly at you and tear every

air out of your head. Old she-devil, am I!
Who made me so, pray? Who deserted me, and
ran off with my hard earnings? Who but you,
you scoundreli”

“I didn’t—it’s alie !” the major blustered, edg-
ing ofl’. as the returned Mrs. Howell advanced.
“ I never stole your money—never even married
you. you old vixen!”

“Bah! you lie! you miserable thief!” No. 1
shrieked, growing momentarily more and more
excited. “Ihave a marriage certificate that
proves our union. Ha! ha! I shall have sweet
revenge upon you, now, when I find you so rich
and prosperous, and so willing to give up your
all to me. and start anew in life with your
family. I should be heartless, indeed, to trouble
you, after you have given me all your present
wealth. Ha! ha!”

“ Furies seize you, you accursed Virago. You
shall not have a cent of my money, nor shall
you disturb the peace of my household. I will
murder you!”

And suddenly drawing a knife from a sheath
upon his hip, the enraged speculator leaped
toward his first wife, with a frightful oath.

But, the cold, deadly muzzle of a revolver
pfering suddenly into his face caussd him to
s on.

The weapon was held in the hands of Fanny
Farron, and so firmly and steadily that the
banker dare not advance.

“ Halt!” she cried, cooking the weapon, coolly.
“ If Iyou offer to do my mother harm, I will shoot
you

“Your mother! your mother! What do you
mean?” '

 

 

 

 

   

a... ‘m

‘ i
" ~.~;:k.‘s$§r§uli "

 

Deadwood Dick’s Device.

“Just what on might infer from the words
I spoke. I ' put a bullet-hole through you if
you offer to make us trouble.”

“ Who are you, then, irl?”

“Your only 18 itima daughter, sir. Like-
wisea halver in t e division 0 the s ils,” the
actress rephed, . coolly. “Oh! you’ I find us
business, every time. You ma as well tell the
other females here. topack up 1: eir ‘ Saratogas ’
and scoot, for we sha’n’t have ’em around, you
can betl”

“Curse you! Leave the house or I will have
you forci 1y ejected!” the speculator cried,
trembling with furious emotion. ' “ Do you
think I shall tolerate such a scene as this in my
own mansion? Go! I say; and there can be a
settlement hereafter.”

“ Not much there won’t be! VVe’ve took the
fort, and now we’re going to hold it. So the
sooner you clear out your second brood the bet-
ter it will be for you, mark my word!” Mrs.
Howell No. 1 said.

“ He will not have!» clear us out!” Mrs. How-
ell No. 2 answered, haughti'ly. “We will go of
our own accor .”

And motioning to her daughters, she left the
room, followed by them, and they were shortly
after heard leavin the house.

“New, Major owell, we are alone—you are
alone With the wife and daughter whom you
deserted ears agfi. How do you like the situa-
tion of a airs? ow do you fancy the change
made in the internal arrangement of your house-
hold?”

“Furies seize you i” the speculator raved
chafing under the are of the'silvcr—mounted
weapon in Fanny arron’s hand. “What do
you intend to do. ’ _

“Well, since you have asked a scnSible ques-
tion, I will give you a sensible repl !” the first
wife said, with a grin, her eyes ashing tri-
umphantly. “I am a thoroughgoing business
woman—my whole life since you deserted me
has been devoted to business, as I have had
to depend on my wits for a livelihood. Now,
we can amicably settle this thing, if I mistake
not, or on can amicably shuffle off this mortal
coil, and I will lay siege to your possessions
when your bones are deposited in a box six feet
beneath the ground.”

“You won (1 not murder me, woman, would

an

“Yes, without the least compassion, if you
refuse to d) as I direct. Yonder table contains
writing materials. Go and sit down, and you
make me out a deed of all your real estate and
personal property, and write me out a check
for every farthingf'uyou have in banks or trust
companies. Do t 's and you are free to go.
Refuse, and you will never see the day dawn
againi’ I

“Curse you! you dare not kill me!”

“ Don’t you believe that! We mean business,
and shall not hesitate to take advantage of the
present situation. The hour is (propitious, and
we could easily put you out o the way, and
assume possession here. Come! go ahead! I
shall not give you more than half an hour to
write out the document.”

With a growl that might have come from the
throat of a lion, so savage it was, Major Howell

 

27‘

went to the table, and sitting down, wrote ra-
pidly, Mrs. Howell, the first, standing over him,
and giving such directions as she saw fit.

When he had finished, she took the document
and a check which he had drawn up, and scanned
them critically. ,

“ That will do,” she said, a moment later.
“You may go now, as I have done with you!
Fanny, here will witness the deed, which will
make it good in law.”

 

CHAPTER X.
A TERRIBLE DEED

“Yorn wife is dying!"

Deadwood Dick and Avalanche s rung awuyrp
the stairs, in pursuit of the dime evil, who or 1y
{mused to give vent to the exclamation. when she

iurried back up the stairs.

Straight to the room of Stella Harris, the new
wife of Deadwood Dick, went the trio

Poor Stella lay upon the b(d, writhing and twist-
ing in fenrrul agony. her screams most terrible to
hear, indeed. Her face and form were contorted
into unnatural shapes and expressions. resultin
from the excruciatiiifr pain she was suifrring, on
she rolled and tosse lrom one side of the bill to
1mm her.

“ In the name of Heaven! what is the 'mattcr
with her!" Deadwood Dick aspcd, shuddering as
her frightful screams rent t 1e air. “Tell me, Ca-
lamity—what is the matter with her?"

"God knows— don‘t: unlr ss it is from the rancs
or hydrophohia or poison. She is dying, Dick!" the
girl rcplied, tears standing in her eyi so. "There. do
not touch her; it will do no good. and you might or
hurt. IIricd to quiet er before Icalled you ut
found it no us». She is in terrible pain, and will
have to wear it elf."

“Death will only wear it off. and put her outen
her misery, of she‘s bin p’izenedl” Alva sold; “an‘
I reckon et be p'izen. f: r she cavoris around for all
ther w0r1d like old P. tor Mas‘ers who swailercd a
dorg button jest because Marier I’otiphar wouldn’t
j’ine harness wi‘ him.”

“Po/sin!" Deadwood Dick gasped. aghast. "Poi-
son! Who could he re infernal] devilish as to com‘
mic this crime? Not you. gir i" and sternly the
Prince of the Road turned his terrible gaze upon
Calami‘y Jane——“ not 1 0/1.?"

“Siri‘ she replied, stepping back a ace. her face
yhgtiednxing, and eyes dila ng. “Me—I ill her? God

or "

“ Now, lookee hayr; don‘t go for tcr ask my more
sech questions, Dicky," the Annihilator said, sol-
emnly. “ Ye know C’iamity wouldn tdo scchalhing,
or at least ye orter, after you've bin 3' rter pards so
long. 1‘d wager my las cud o’ tcrhaccy ag‘in‘ a
belt on Her smeller thet C'lumity never dreamed of
such a thin "

“Full we! I know it, too " Deadwood Dick rc-
spoudi d, as he reached forth is hand. “ You should
have shot me, girl, for the foul suspicion. which come
not from my cart. Shake. and forgive me. God
knows i am not responsible for what I say or (‘0‘
now, in this awful hour. Quick! somebody go for a
doctor. There's a fellow below who is an exp: rt
physician—fetch him !”

Without a word, Calamity sped .back. down the
stairs. but soon returned. accom tamed by that mem-
ber of Dick's band. who had s udicd and racticed
in the medical profession. before Circums noes—n
wrecked home and a faithless wife-drove him out
upon the trail.

“In; shook his head as he saw the horrible agony of

e .. r .

“ Can‘t do much for her, I’m afraid,“ he announc-
ed. “ Hus anything been given her that might have
contained poison Y"

Deadwood Dick turned to Calamity for the an-

swer.

 

 

 

  

    

28

Deadwood Dick’s Device.

 

 

“ Nothing," she replied “ since I‘ve been here, ex-
cept a cup of cold a Ibrought her this morning.
She even refused her breakfast, saying she was not
buggy."

“ ere did you find this tea?”
“In the pantry, below. It was standin cold in
an earthen teapot, and I an posed it was a lright.
“The tea was undoubted y poisoned," the ph si-
cian said, “ and the symptomslof the gatientfcon rm
my first conclusion. But,a drug has een used that
is rare in this country. Among all the common
mineral poisonshyou will find none that will put a
rson in such orrlble torture. ' The drug which I
lieve has been used in this case, is a preparation
known only to the most expert French doctors, al-
» though its use is large in Paris."
“Is there no antidote?" Deadwood Dick demand-
fid. his voice choked with emotion, and tears filling
is e, es.

‘ “ onel The poor lladg‘s suffering will not cease
until de“th claims her, w ich, God granting, may be
soon!" the physician said, reverently.

With aloud wail of anguish Deadwood Dick drop-
ped upon his knees by the bedside, and sobbed
aloud. Calamity, Avalanche and the physician also

we t.

gamble it was to see the poor victim in her
agony, such as mortal seldom knows here on earth,
as she tossed to and fro upon the bed—insensible
to the grief of those true friends gathered
around her—unable to speak exce t in a scream of
agony—sensible only to the awfu torture that she
experienced. Her hitherto fair pretty face was con-
torted terribly the eyes and lips being tightly closed
except when she screamed and features were drawn
out of shape.

“ Be calm, chief,“ the physician said at last: “her
pain is virtually over; she is dying. Scout, will you
call Rivers?"

Avalanche hastened to obey, and the minister
soon made his appearance by the bedside of the
dying bride.

With tears in his eyes he offered up an elo uent
and touching prayer—prayed long and earnes 1y to
God to stop the terrible torture and ease the spirit of
the dying girl in her last moments.

One b one, as they heard the news, the road-
agents 11 ed into the room and stood watching with
tearful eyes, for what was sorrow to them was
double sorrow to their chief in this hour of death.

John ‘Rivers’s rsyer was seemingly answered, for
‘ at last poor Ste la appeared to grow easier of her
pain, and dropped off into a state resembling
slumber, but w ich was in realit . death, all the
contraction of her features having me. peared, and
asmile of peaceful rest frozen upon er colorless

1i s.

I3.1‘hus died Deadwood Dick‘s bride, within the very

day of their marriage.

“ Weep no more, my friends," Rivers said, solemn-
ly. “ She has passed away to that bourne of ever-
lasting peace, where there is no pain, no d ng, no
marriage or giving in marriage. but where a l is life
and eternal joy in the sunlight reflecting from God’s
beaming face."

Then. convulsed with emotion, he left the room—
left the'mourners by the bedside of the lost bride.

Long they remained there in silent prayer then,
when they arose as if by intuitive consent. it was
found that Deadwood Dick had fainted.

’ Stron though he was. and generally amaster over
his emo ions. 9 had at last succumbed to this unex-
pected and terrible blow.

“ Gentlemen, if ou will carry him to his room,"
Calamity said. ad revising those of the band who
stood around. “ I will care for him."

Eager were they to obey, and the chief soon lay
upon the bed in his own room. and Calamity and
Avalanche were left to bring him back to conscious-
nose.

It was not a hard job, and they soon had him sit-
ting upright upon the bed, fully restored.

 

 

 

“You fainted," Calamity said, uietly, in answer

to his inquiring look around. “ ou had better lie
still for awhilv, until you regain your strength."
“l3ahl I shall never be stronger than now, to
strike the murderer of my wife. It was the ac-
cursed Frenchman's hellish work, and he shall pay
the penalty of his crime Come, Avalanche, I would
have you with me. Calamity, can I look to on to
care for her?" And the chief‘s voice grew oarse
with emotion.

“I will do all I can," Calamity replied, tears
springing to her eyes. “ You know I would not re.
fuse you, even though you—you suspected me,
Dick.’

“Tut, tut, Jennie, my dear girll Banish the re-
membrance of that wrong from your mind. I was
mad to think of such a thing. I now know that you
would sooner kill yourself than her.“

And pressing her hand in his, he turned and ac-
companied Avalanche.

Down the stairs they went, and to the mess-room.

The band were all assembled in the mess-room,
the pickets having been called in. E.=ch man sat
with bowed head; a. few were huddled together,
talking in low tones.

They all looked up, however, when Deadwood
Dick entered—Deadwood Dick, looking so pale and
calm, that they felt something was about to tran-
spire.

Nor were they wrong.

He paused in the center of the floor and gazed
around—saw sympathy plainly written in each face
——knew that each and every man there was ready to
strike for him.

" Comrades,” he said, after a moment, “you have
doubtless heard of the hellish crime that as been
committed, by which m bride has been stricken
suddenly down. You al know the measure gen’
erally meted out to a murderer. and it shallaypply to
this case as well as to others. Bring out the rench-
man who is imprisoned in the strong room.

A c iugle of stout fellows sprung forward to do the
chief’s idding. The door was flung open; then
they stepped back as if in surprise.

“ He is not here, chief l” they exclaimed.

“Not there!" Deadwood Dick crie.., leaping for-
ward. “ By Heaven! there is treachery here. What
has become of the man?"

“ Yasi w’at hes becum 0‘ ther galoot?" grunted
Beautiful Bill, stridin up. “ Show me ther cuss ef
he’s a candidate for udge Lynch‘s noose; let ther
Pet Ele hant o’ ther Leadville trail adjust his neck-
tie ter t like a hoop on a pork barrel! '

‘ What have you against the villain?" Deadwood
Dick demanded, sharply, turning so suddenly upon
the giant as to cause him to start in his tracks.

“Kerwhoopl plants 0' Jupiter and Satan! W’at
hev I ag‘iu‘ ther cuss—I, Beautiful Bill, ther Pet
Elephant 0’ thvr Lcudviile trail? Waal, now. er I
hain‘t hed my till 0' thet galoot, I'll BL“ out cheap
you bet! Skinned me eleven straii 1: games o
poker, he did, at two dollars a whac , an’ don‘t ye
fergit it."

“Man, I am tempted to believe that you set the
French devil at liberty!" the Prince of the Road
cried. “Can you look me straight in the eyes and
say that you didn't?"

“Can I? Great luminary planets o' Jupiter an‘
catapultian Satan, yer! Eye for eve, I do declare
that didn't hev anything ter do wi’ lettln‘ out ther
cuss, and didn‘t know nary a thing about it. Pile a
stack 0' Bibles and Webster’s Dicksyonarys on ther
ground as high as For his Peak. an‘ up ’em I‘ll
go, as spry as a spring itten, an’ standin’ on ther
e’ena’most to , 1’“ wave my banner an’ yell, ‘I
didn't hev no hln’ ter do wi' etl‘ Jah yer bowie in-
ter my pulsometer; agitate my spine wi' a bucket 0'
water drawn frum Greenland‘s icy river—ay, squirt
a stream 0’ seed terbaccy-guice plum in my eye, an'
still wi‘ martyr-like forty ude, ‘ll send forth the
cry, ‘I didn’t take no hand in that ar‘ deall' " the
giant cried, tragically.

 

 

 

 

     

Mfr-3'

«a, ~

 

 

 

 

9
5

 

. Deadwood Dick’s Device. 89

 

Deadwood Dick turned grimly to his comrades, his
face darkening. .

“ Search the cabin and the immediate neighbor-
hood, aml on may 'qt recover the prisoner," he
command . “Take un dead or alive. Ahundred
dollars to the man who returns either him or his
carcass here l’j

“Thet’s business!” Beautiful Bill cried, enthusias-
tically pounding his breast; “you hit me right thar
ter a capital dot, my beloved chief. A hundred
gold shiners more WI“ 1 add ter ther pile fur the
capture 9‘ ther French son 0‘ a horse-eater, an’ fer
tber pnvxlege 0’ placxn’ ther necklace 0’ justice about
his neckl”

f'You keep stilll You may get it about yer own
Wind ipel“ Avalanche cautioned.

“ eerect, my scrim d-up, leetle old sucker—kee-
rect. When his lor ship, ther noble Dick Dead~
wood shall ordain thet that proper moment has ar-
riv fer me, Beautiful Bill. Pet Elephant 0’ ther Lead-
ville trail, ter shuffle off his mortail stage-road 0’
life, I shall i 6 ready ter peregrinate—ter transport
myself with ther utmost fortitude ter ther realms 0’
Ju iter an‘ Satan.”

hurried but careful search of the rendezvous
was made, but nothing of the Frenchman could
be found ; neither did out—of—door search discover

m.

Somehow he had escaped, but how?

He could not have got out of the strong room with-
out hands and help from the outside, and such help
he had surely had.

But, who was the uilt man, then?

Was it the giant, espi e all his protestations of in-
nocence, or was it some other member of the band?

This was the momentous question which uzzled
Deadwood Dick, even as the escape of acques
Frouch angered him. ApEarentl there was no we
of throwing light upon alt er of he subjects, which
made it the more exasperating.

Calamity came down, after awhile, and the
Prince of the Road made known to her what had
transpired. I

“ Beautiful Bill’s your huckleberry. mark my
word,” she said, when he had done. ‘I calculated
he’d hit you a stab and he’s done it. He'll do it
again if you don’t lynch him on the spot.”

"I don‘t like to believe that he'd lie so to me."

“ Pshawl he can its as easy as he can drink whisky,
which ain’t no trouble at all, you bet.” .

Deadwood Dick was not uite satisfied. He bud
placed confidence in the g ant, since his “ coming
over.” such as he seldom placed in mankind, and
he could not well believe t at he was mistaken in
the honesty of the chap. A keen sense of percep-
tion generally served him in lieu of a. detective’s
jud ment.

'1‘ e day passed slowly away.

Sh watch was kept from the Rendezvous for
the se f-styled Regulators who infested the woods
around the Tract. but nothing could be Seen of them.
Thoroughly hidden among the dead pines did they
keep. if indeed they were still there.

By Deadwood Dick‘s direction, some of the mem-
bers of the band set to Wrrk and manufactured a
cofiln~shaped box, out of such material, and with
surh tools as were on hand.

This was then filled with dry leaves covered over
with a white blanket, and the body of poor Stella
was laid upon them—her last resting-place here be-

low.

A beautiful corpse she made. for Calamity‘s deft
hands had been at work in arranging her body for
the grave.

Just as dusk threw its mantle over the earth. a
deep grave was dug beneath the floor of the cabin,
the flooring having been torn up for this purpose.
Whenlcom leted the coffin was lowered into the

ve. and ohn Rier read a short but touching
gunned service. after which the remains were covered
up. in the presence of many a. tearful eye, and the
floor replaced.

 

Deadwood Dick was seen no more for a couple of
hours, but when he again appeared, he was attired
in full riding costume, and was armed to the teeth.

“Now where?" Calamit asked. in surprise.

“To Leadville," he rep ied. “You need scarcely
ask what for; I am going to hunt down the murderer
of my bride."

“ But you are not going to attempt to go through
the Re ulators?” Calamity asked, anxiously.

“ Ba ll yes. I fear them not, though hey may
number an army. I am a free man, and the have
no right to stop me. If they do I shall ki every
man that raises a hand against me."

“ How about matters here i"

“It is of that I would speak. I leave everything
in your hands—in your command. in case of an
attack before I return. do the best you can—that is
3.111 could do. Don‘t touch the giant, unless you
have positive proof of the guilt in which you may
believe him concerned."

“Very wcll. 1 will take charge. and do as I be-
lieve you would do~ fight in self-defense, if it should
come to that. In case we have to light out, I’ll fire
the cabin. Should you not find us here on your re-
turn, look in the Leadville post-office for a letter for
Elijah Gofl’.“

“ All right. I will trust all to your management.
It is sufficiently dark now and I am off."

Shaking hands with Ca amit and Avalanche, and
addressing a few words to the and, Deadwood Dick
then left the cabin, and mounting his horse which
was held in waiting for him, he alloped away
toward Lead villes electric city throng the gloom of
the night.

 

A few hours before Jac ues Frouch had entered
the town, covered with dlr as though he had been
crawlin through the mu . Escaped had he from
the ren ezvous, in a way unsuspected by those with-
in the cabin.

He had found a board in the floor loose. and, care-

fully raising it, he had slipped beneath the floor and

allowed the board to spring back into its place. To
crawl from in under the cabin was butatrlfling
task, and in the course of an hour he had stealthily
made his way out of the Tract and into the forest,
without being once halted, forhe passed the Regu-
lators unnoticed.

Grimly triumphant over his success, he hastened
toward the town.

" Now for la Inlle Fanny l" he muttered, “ and the
glorious rospect of coming in for the larger share
of the larvest from her rich progenitor, Major
Howell. Hal hal 1‘“ then be independent of the
sta e and its mockerles—I shall be virtually made."

us musing, he made his way to his stopping-
place, where be repaired to some extent his personal
ap esrance after which he drop ed into a saloon
an imbibe astll'fdrink of wh s y. Then, in high
spirits. he made his way to the Howell mansion, and
mounting the steps, rung the bell.

CHAPTER XI.
ran mm or A norm AND A was.

Nor long had the Frenchman to wai , for the door
was soon 0 sued by a servant.

Pushing im rudely aside, Frouch entered the hall,
and listened. Voices were audible Coming from an
upper garlor, and accordingly Frouch ascended with
as muc iibert as though e were in his own man~
slon, leaving tge gaping servant to stare after him,
in bewilderment too great for e ression.

To the parlor the villainous renchman wended
his wa , and entered withoutthe usual formality of
knee ng. Indeed he alread considered himself
:lolnt 1lord and. master of t e situation with Mr,
Howe l.

The mother and daughter were seated near a man-
ble center-table as he entered, engaged over a late .
luncheon and a bottle of wine-some of the rare old ,
vintage the major had imported from the east for ,.
his own express use. A strong lip for spiritual con-

30 Deadwood Dick’s Device:

 

solation had these new heirs, and they meant to im-
prove the time are their sway of the scepter should
ceqse.

They sprung to their feet, however, when they be-
held Jacques Frouch smiling at them, from near the
doorway.

" You here?" the actress cried, coldly. " I thought
and ho ed you were dead."

“An consequently you were badly deceived."
Frouch replied. "Mistakes will happen, you know.
And now that I am returned, no doubt you arepver-
joyei to see me?“

“I must confess that I am not. You are nothing
to me !”

“Curse you i" the Frenchman gasped. his swart
face growing blacker; " is (/er tho game you are try-
ing to play with me? If so. you'll find it. won‘t work
worth a con‘inental cent. You )romised to marry
me if I would poison Deadwoor Dick’s ward, and
now you must keep your promise. You can’t play
none of your games on me."

“ But vou have yet to keep your part of the con-
tract “Miss Fanny said, crafti .

“No! by Heaven the girl isdead—was dying in
horrible agony. when I left the Rendezvous."

" Good! I am then rid of one obstacle siandine:
between me and Deadwood Dick, and now I shall rid
myself of another!” And as she spoke the actress
drew a cocked revolver from her bosom.'and quickly
leveled it at the heart of Wild J nck. “ Now you git,
or I’ll make a sieve out of you in quicker time than
you c n wink.“

“ Blast you! what do you mean. girl?"

“ I mean. that if you bother me any more. I’ll
make a candidate for a. coffin, just as you did Dead-
wood Dick's ward. Go! clear out! I want no more
to do with you. If you ever come here again, I’ll
shoot. you on the spot !"

“ You will never ive to do that. my beautiful liar.
Z9 devil will take your soul and burn it in ze sulphur
pit, and zat will b) ample revenge for za wrong you

lave done me. I go now—not because I fear you.
but to lay a trap for you that will never fail in its
bite. Ha! ha!"

And turning, the Frenchman laughing demoniao-
ally, left the mom, and, as the women supposed,
the house. as they resen’ly heard the door slam.

But not yet did too villain quit the house. Skullc-
inz along through the rear hallway, he at last gain-
ed that region of domestic bliss known as the
kitchen.

It was unoccu ied. and he had things all to him-
self. Entering t is pantry. he took from his pocket a
small bottle, and poured a few drops of it over
bread, meat, and such other provisions as were
standing around upon the shelves.

“‘The same that is good for the victim is good for
the 'plott 3r.“ he said. with a devilish chuckle. “ if
thev appease their appetites, you, Jacques French,
will have no revenue you thirst for. Now for to get
gutyf ze town, before as authorities want me. Ha!

a ‘ ‘

Hurrylnr stealthily from the house, he sought a
livery and sale stables in State street, and there pur-
chased cheap for read cash a fine saddle-horse.

I It was (in k when ie left Loadviile‘s twinkling

lights behind, but striking in'o the well-beaten trail
leading to F drplay. he giiloped oft at a leisurely
trait. Not- afraii was he of the darkness. for it cor-
re’iflonded with the has of his nature, and then. he
h once belo lw-d to an outlaw gang. whose depre-
datlons I were 0 iefly committed under cover of
darkness.

Fairnlav was but a few miles from the carbon city
of Leadville. and was peopled by even a ran-{her
clan of people. among whom the Frenchman be-
liede he might find protection should he be pur-
sue .

The road to the obj ~ctlve mining-camp was part
of the way along rages bluffs. and than cash: it
emerged into deep. silent bodies of pins timber,
where nature‘s sounds were seldom disturbed.

l

 

The timber was so black and grim in appearance
that Jac ues Frouch looked around him sharply as
he rode nto it, the thought of road-robbers coming
into his head.

It was just such a lo ‘ation as they might choose,
and he quickened the gait or his horse nervously.

Not really frightened did he grow, until he heard
hoof-strokes ringing behind him, and before him,
and it dawned upon his mind that he was being
hedged in. Whether by road-agents or by Servants
of the law he was unable to conclude. but he saw
the advisability of raining in his horse and dismount-
inz, under the pretense of examininza shoe upon
his horse‘s foot. This he did in hopes that he would
escape particular notice.

But, he was destined to disappointment. for. up
from the east galloped a sin le horseman, clad in
black, masked. and, armed to t e teeth—u from the
west came a dozen men to match. and all alted but
a few feet from French, who was in secret trembling
with terror from top to toe.

With the single nocturnal rider the band seemed
to exchange signals: then the single horseman role
closer to Jacques Frouch. a cooked revolver in his
right hand.

"Jacques Frouch!" a stern. cold voice said, “ you
are a doomed man. I have trailed you down to the
spot whereon you die. If you would make peace
with your God and Maker. I give you five minutes to
do so in. Then, you shall be lynched—the fate oi?
nearly every murderer in this wild region. Death
will be too good for you, hellish monster that you

are, and death you shall sutfer as you have caused .

others to suffer!"

The French assassin dropped upon his knees, and
began to beg piteously. He recognized the voice of
the speaker as that of Deadwood Dick, and knew
that he stood a slim chance of living, when one-3
trailed down by the noted Prince of the Road—n.
man who returned blow for each blow struck him by
his foes.

“Who are youi—i'or God’s sake spare me.”
Frouch cried. in a supplicatinz tone.

" No, I‘ll not spare you. for Dead wood Dirk never
spares a man Who wrongs him as you have. Y0!
imp}! die, and you have four minutes left to pray
I] .

“Spare me! I beg! I her! I‘ll not do anvthinr:
of the kind again!” the craven cried. in a. sniveh‘ng

tone.

“ No, I’ll warrant you won't!" Deadwood Dick re-
plied. "Hal who’d think you were the brave hero
of drama at the Coliseum, to see you here upon
your knees? Come, boys. get the rope read 1”

The road-azents—who were a body of Die ’s main
band who had been absent from the Rendezvous for
several days—obeyed with aiacrity. and a noose was
soon dangling over a limb, with the pulling end of
the rope in the hands of a half dozen strong]: hts.

Seeing that there was not the shadow of a. o
for him. J amines F‘rouch began to cry piteous y,
then curse, be ween breaths.

Nor did he stop until he was lifted bodily from the
ground, his head inserted through the noose, and he
was swung off into eternity.

The sizn of the Double Cross was then stamped
upon his forehead. after which there was a consul-
tation betwe°n Deadwood Dick and his men, and
they mounted and rods of! in dlflerent directions.

Straight toward Leadville the chief went. an uzlv
expression about his mouth, and a deadlv glitter in
his eves. Before entering the town he dismounted.
and left his horse in a thickat of maples, while he
also assumed a disguise, consisting of a change of
clothing. and a win and false heard.

When he had completed his disguise, he left the
thicket. and boldly entered the town.

Everywhme was excitement.

News had got abroad of the murdcr. hv poisoning.
of two females. in the mansion of Major Howell—-
also it was re rted that t -e major was missing,
together with wife and two daughters.

i
.x‘

 

 

 

Deadwood Dick’s Device.

81

 

  

Myste was there everywhere.

But. w en, with the crowd. Deadwood Dick en-
tered the mansion to view the dead. he saw two
bloaled. distorted corpses. and one of them be
longed to the variety actress. Farm Farron.

» Fate had overtaken her in the en .

  
 

 

 

At the camp. shortly after Deadwood Dick‘s de-
 parture. hosnle preparations were observed by
‘ Avalanche among the RegulatOrs on the edge of the

Tract for a battle. Bonfires were built in four places
——east. west, north and south from the Rendezvous—
and men could be seen flitting around them.

“Great domesticated ham-bone thet war awar-
hoss ter old Jmerl” the Great Annihilator ex-
claimed, calling the attention of Calamity Jane to
the fact.

“ Lookoe thar. will yel Old Moses uv tbor bull-
rushe=, don't thet luk as of we war goin‘ tor
hev sum fun? Kerwhoopi sdund ther dinner-gong:
—pcel forth yer hoss-anners, for we're goin’ ter hcv
er scrimmage—a renywine rantankerous old scrim-
ntialgera cavortin‘ old battle arfter ther anshent
s y 9.

“Royal planets uv Ju iter an‘ Satan! whar‘s ther
fl ht? Show unter me t nersmell 0’ fight. an‘ let me
in ale tin-r delicious odor—me ther Pet Elephant 0’
ther L adville trail—ther Apollo o’ the Coloradoes,
Beautiful William!" roaer the giant prancing up.
“Ready ar’ I fer sanguinary strife. frum head ter
heels, frum tooth ter toe-nails—an’ thar‘s nary a
mortal man ’cept one as dur=t breath ther word
‘flght,‘ when my noble presence looms nobly on

- hand, an‘ tbe’. galootorious Bilgrim he he Deadwood
Dick. Yes. sar. Deadwood ick—jest jot thet cog-
nomen in er bank-b olr. Deadwood Dick ct war
who licke me, my pilgrims—licked me as i never
war licked since my old mummy used ter whale me
over rher pate wi‘ tl‘er parental hootjack. Licked
me slick an‘ clean did Deadwood Dick, until I warn’t
wu‘th a stale cud 0' terbaccy. An‘ I ain‘t ateard tor

. own ther corn. but I do say thar’s nary another pil-

. grim as kin do ther some leetle job.”

“ Don‘t believe thar is." Avalanche rrplied. “ but.
my dear sweet William, ef ye war avoirdupoised
several hundred pounds less an' 1 war as young.’ in
yerrs as ye he. 1’ opine. right hayr. thet l’ ked slap ye
outer yer back so uick as My skipper sunk one 0‘
his fangs inter fres cheese "

“Here! no ouarrelimr, now. Get your weapons,
and prepare for a fight!” Calamity commanded.
“ Here come the helllons, now!"

It was “even so. From out the dead pines the

' ‘ Regulators swarmed. and rushed toward the Ren-

dezvous. Volley after volley the road-agents pour-
ed into them: then Calamlry led them boldl out in-

 

to the night. for their only salvation seem in cut:
ting their wry through to liberty.
r Foo met foe in a wild bloody aflray of death, and

then—-

Deadwood Dick received a letter through the
A Learlville nest-office the next day. and it proved to
'1. a be from Calamity Jane, written in a neat feminine

and.
It ran as follows:

“ The battle is over and as you probably know. we
had to puckachee because of overpowering numbers
of the enemy. We fit our way out, without losing- a
man. and foremost in the bot-Ila were the Annihila-
tor and Beautiful Bill. They were the heroes of the
fight. together with Prudence Qordelia and Florence
the goat. Major Howell and his son, Alf, fell in the
first charge. and 1 think were killed. We are in the
mountains. at your old stronghold. where you may
‘ easily find us. Truly yours,

‘ CALAxm JANE.”
* Rial-It here it is proper to end this romance, and
therefore we write
meant 07mm.

 

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35 JUST TO PLEASE Tun Burs and 52 other Songs.
36 SKATING ON ONE IN THE CUTTER and 52 others.
37 KOLORED KRAan and 59 other Songs.
88 NH. I>EsPEaANan and 53 other Songs.
89 THE GIRL I LErr BEHIND MI: and 50 other Songs
40 "1‘19. mrr A LITTLE FAm-m FLOWER and 50 others
41 PRETTY \VulLllELMINA and 60 other Songs.
(2 DANCING IN THE BARN and 63 other Songs. \
43 H. M. S. PINAroas, COMPLETE, and 17 other Songs
Sold everywhere by Newsdealers, at five cents
per copy. or sent post-paid. to any address, on re-
ceipt 0: Sta: cents per number.
BEADLE AN D ADAMS, Pwusuu,
98 WW Errmr, N" You. \1

 

 

 

32 OCTAVO PAGES.

/BEADLE’S 

POCKET LIBRARY. 

 

oooooooooooocoo;300_qo_ciqo

 

ISSUED EVER Y

V

_o_oooooooo6c

 

l Deadwood Dl k, the Prince of the Red.
ward L. Wheeler.

2 Kane a King; or, The Red RightHnnd. By Buf~
{u 0 Bill.

3 The Flying Yankee; or, The Ocean Outcnlt. By
‘01. Prentiss lntzrnhnm.

4 The Double Daggers. By Edward L. Whuelcr.
5 The Two Detectives. By Albert W. Aiken.
6 The Prairie 1‘ lot. 15y Bufl'alu Bill.

7 Tile Bull'qu Dcnrun: or, The Border Vultures.
By Edward L. Wheeler.

‘3 Antelope Abe, tthoy Guide. By on Coomen.
i] Ned Wyldc. the Buy Scout. By “Texan Jack”

(J. B. Omohumlrn).

10 ufl'aln Ben, the Prince of the Pistol. By Edward
L “'heelrr.

11 Ralph Roy, the Buy Buccaneer. By C i. lngrahum.

12 Nick 0’ the Night; or, The Boy Spy of’iB. By T.
t . Hurbnnuh.

18 Yellowstone Jack. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

14 Wild Ivan, the Buy Claude Duvul. By Edward L.
“'heeler.

15 Diamond Dirk. By Cnlunci Prentiss Ingruham.

18 Keen-Knife. Prince «f the i'rniril-u. By 0]] Comm-a.

17 Orerzon Sol: or, Nick Whimrs’s Boy Spy. By Capt.
J. F. C Adams

18 Death-Face, the Dctm-tive. By E. L. Wheeler.

19 Lam-o Jack. . |i_\' Oil Col-mes.

20 Roaring ll‘ulph Rackwood, the Reckless Ranger.
Bv iinrry St. George

21 The Boy Clown. By Frank S. Finn.

22 The Phantom Miner. By Edward L. Vtheler.

28 The Sea-Cut. By Captain Frederick Whittaker.

24 The Dumb Spy. By 011 Con-mes.

25 Rnttllug Rube. By Hurry St. George.

26 0111 Avalanche, the GreutAnnlhilutor. By Edward
L. Wheeler.

fl? Gla e-Eyc, the Great Shot orthe \‘Veni.
F. C. Adams.

28 The Boy Captain. lb Roger Starhuck.

29 Dick Darling. the Pnny Express Rider.
trederick Whittaker.

30 Bob Woolf. the Border Ruffian. By E. L. “'heciv-r.
‘i Nightingale Nat. By T. C. llarhuuyh

33 Black John. the Road Ann-nt- By J. E. Badger. Jr.

33 Omaha Oil, the Mask d Terror. By E. L. “'healr-r.

84 Burt Bunker. the Trapper. By George E. Larulle.

85' The Boy Rifles. By A. C. iron].

36 The White B Halo. By George E. Lunalle.

37- Jim liludaoe, Jr. By Edward l. Wheeler.

88 Ned Hazel, the Boy Trapper. By Capt. J. F. C.

dams.
89 Deadly Eye, the Unknown Scout. By Bufl'alr) Blll.
40 Nick Whifllee’n Pct. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams.
41 Deadwood Dick’n Eunice. By E. L. “’heuler.
42 The Border King. By Oil Comnel.
48 Old llickory. By Harry St. George.
44 The White Indian. By Capt. J. F. C. Adana.
45 Buckhorn Bill. By Edward L. Wheeler.
46 The Shadow Ship. By Cnl. Prentiu ingrnham.

By Ed-

By Capt. J.

By Capt.

 

WEDNESDA 

The Red Brotherhood. By W. J. Humiltun.
Dandy Jack. By T. C. llarhuugh.
Hurricane Bill. By Joseph E. Badger, .lr.
Single "and. By W. J. Hamilton.
Patent-leather Joe. By Philip S. “'nrne.
The Border Robin Hood. By Bull'an Bill.

Gold Rifle, the sharpshooter. By Edward L.
Wheeler.

01d Zip’s Cabin. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams.

" Delaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy.
Cuomen.

Mud Tom Western. By W. J. namiltnn.

Deadwood Dick on Deck. By E. L. Wheeler.

llawkeye flurry. By Oll Comnel.

The Boy Duelist. By Col. Prentiss lngrnhnln.

Abe Colt, the Crow-K ller. By Albert “7. Aiken.

Curduroy Charlie, the Boy Bravo. By Edward L.
Wheeler.

By 011

Will Some", the Boy Detectlve. By Chas. Morris.
Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapper. By A. \l'. Ailzcu.
Rosebud Rob. By Edward L. Vl'ht‘eler.

Lightning Joe, the Terror of the Prairie.
.l. i“. C. Adams.

Kit llarei‘out, the WoadJInwk.
lmugh.

Rollo, the Boy Ranger. By Oil Gnomes.
Idyl, the Girl Miner. By Edward L. “'heolcr.

Detective Dick; or, The Here in Raul. By Chm-lea
Ul'i‘lh'.

Sure Shot Seth, the Boy Riflemnn. By Oll Gnomes.

Sharp Rum; or, Th.- Adventures ofaFricnd eu Boy.
By J. Alexander Patten. .

The Lion oi‘thc Sen. By Albert W. Aiken.

Photograph Phil, the Boy Sleuth. By Edward L.
Vtheler.

Picayune Pete: or, Nicndemul, the Dug Detective.
By Churlve Murr 3.

Island Jim; or.’l‘he Petol‘tha Family. By Bruce-
hridge ileulyng (Jar-k llurknu'ny).

Watch-Eye. the Slnudnw. By Edward L. Wheeler.

76
7? chIf Dead Eye, the Boy Snnmgler. By Col. l‘. l...
gru mm.

78 Deadwood Dick's Device.

70 The Black Muatuugcr.
Reid and Flmlerick Whittaker.

80 Old Frosty, Ihu Guide. By T. C. Hurhnngh.
81 The Felt Viper; ur, The Midthipnmn’. Legacy.
Col. 1'. lngruhmn. Ready July 29th.

82 Seth Joncni nr, Thu t‘aptlvu at the Frontier.
Edward S. 1‘. lia. Ready August 61h.

83 Canada Chet the Cnnnterl‘eiter Chief. By Edward
1.. Wheeler. Bandy August 12th.

84 The Dumb Page' or, The Doga'n Dnnuhter.
Captain Frederick Whittaker.

By Capt.

By T. C. liar-

72
'f8

74
1'5

By Ed. L. Wheeler.
By Captain Mayne

By

By

By
Ready Anguxl l'Jth.

Beadle’e Pocket Library is for sale by all NeWI-
dealerl, flve cent: per copy, or sent hy mail on receipt .-( Iix
cents each. '

BEADLE 4k ADAMS, Publisher»,
98 William Street, New York.

 

 

 

 

o’o o 96 63 are