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Copyrighted. 1886, by BRADLI AND ADAMS. Entered at the Pm“ Office at New York. N. Y.. as Second Clnn Man Manor. March ‘3‘. 1886.

. 1’ blished Weekl b Beadle and Adams ,
V01. IX. 3.35513- “ No. 98 Wuzumysru NEW YORK. ’ le’r‘ljceenm No' 

 

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“One! git read . Two! say er kitteuchismsl Three! balance 'erself fer the final
y Hang-OE. Andlastly—‘Kenolm ’

 

2 Deadwood Dick’s Double. ‘

 

Deadwood Dick’s Double;

R.

The Ghost of Gorgon’s Gulch.
i run or WILD-CAT our.

BY EDWARD L. WHEELER,

AUTHOR or “ nasnwoon DICK” NOVELS, “ BOSE-
BUD non” NOVELS, era, are.

CHAPTER I.
THE COLONISTS.

THROUGH the dyin sunlight of one of
Autumn‘s most beaut' 111 days, a “ train” of
white-topped prairie “ schooners” wound
through a tortuous and wild mountain gulch,
over an equally rough and rugged stage road,
or trail, drawn by horses that looked gaunt and
weary.

There were four wagons, drawn by two teams
each; then there were three persons in advance,
upon horseback—a lady and two gentlemen.

Each wagon was manned with a stalwart,
sturdy driver, and that there were other persons
beneath the canvas canopy was evident by occa-

 

. sional shouts of laughter.

The trio in advance were armed with rifles,
but did not appear apprehensive of danger, as
they rode leisure] along.

he eldest of't e party was Judson Elliott,
the leader of the band of colonists, whose pilot
he now was; the next eldest was Alf Montague,
also one of the party, a stalwart, good-looking
fellow, a ed six-and-twenty, and some twenty
ears “ udge” Elliott’s junior. The last was
thel Elliott, the colonist’s daughter, and one of

' the prettiest, most vivacious little creatures ever

seen in the wild mountain districts.
She was just at the threshold of blooming
womanhoed~eighteen—small in stature, as com-

 with the brawny, stalwart son of Old

irginia, Alt Montague but most racefull
formed and developed. ’ g y

Her face was clear and finely-chiseled. her eyes
a dusky beaming hrowu, her hair of the some
hue and grown-in great luxuriance, although it
was now tossed in wild disorder over her shoul-
ders, by the ruthless mountain breeze.

She was attired in acoarse but serviceable
gidh‘ilg habit, and wore a jaunty straw but upon

er .
Judson Elliott was a man of stately bearing,
whose habitual graveness would have led one to
believe that he was ever brooding over some
great trouble, either of the past, or that was
oreshadowed in the future. He was rather
. repossessmg in appearance, his countenance
tokening a man of sound sense and judg-
ment, mastered passions and an iron will.

His eyes were dusky, and hair of a like hue.
while his sweeping heard was liberally sprinkled
with silver threads.

Montague in face was not unhandsome, with
his “character” features, brown eyes, hair and
mustache.

At least, so thought pretty MissEthel, who
worshiped him as the hero of her life. It was

pull?“
9 w

 

quietly considered that they were lovers, al-
though no public announcement had been made
to that effect. Young Monta no had followed
the colonists all the way from irginia, and the
wise ones of the train predicted a wedding as
soon as the colony should be planted. ,

Among those comprising the colonists there
were the Elliotts, Judson, Ethel and Royce, her
brother; the Hansons, two females and four
males; the Warwicks, three females and two
males; the St. Celtons, two females, four
males; and Alf Montague and Lewis Lyons—-
the latter a roving genius who had joined the
train in Kansas.

For three months the colonists had been un-
ceasingly upon the road, and now they began
to look forward in hopes of reaching t eir des-
tination.

Gorgon Gulch, through which they were toil-
ing, was one of the labyrinthiun tributaries to
the many approaches to the great Carbonate
regions surrounding Leadvillc, and they had
now left that enterprising city about ten miles
to the south.

“Cat City cannot be very far away, if we
have been rightly informed,” Judge Elliott
said, as they rode on. “ We were told that it
was five miles from the forks, and it must be
that we have come that far already.”

“That is my idea of it," Montague replied,
“and I have been eagerly watching for the
last hour to get a glimpse of the promised
land.”

“ Now, don’t set your expectations too high,
Alf,” retty Miss Ethel said, smiling, “.for
something tells me that you will get disap oint-
ed. I do not imagine that we will find a hila-
delphia or a. New York, up here among these
frowning mountains.”

“Nor I, but we have been assured by the
land-agents that we should find a. small village,
and plenty of land suitable for agricultural pur-

oses.

p “As undoubtedly we shall,” Elliott agreed,
gravely. “By the way, yonder is a bend in
the canyon, and beyond it seems to be lighter.
Perhaps we are at the end of our journey?”

With considerable eagerness they spurred
forward around the bend, leaving the train to
follow at its leisure.

Beyond the bend, where the canyon-gulch
narrowed down to a mere gap, they soon be-
held their destination. ,

No town. however, not even. a Village was
there—simply a. large, rude cabin. by the trail,
and a shed that probably answered the purpose
of a barn.

That was all. ,

The cosey little village they had been adVlsed
0111’, was dissipated in the bare reality of what
t ev saw. _ I

The country was nearly in keeping with the
other prospects, To be sure, the gulch had
widened into a pocket valley of several hundred
acres, but the land was for a most part timber-
ed and rocky, and a wild-looking place at the
best. ‘ '

The valley or pocket was basin-shaped, moun-
tains of stupendous size rismg on every side,
and looking grimly uninwting with their dense
covering of scrub pine timber. Across the

Deadwood Dick’s Double. ' \ 3 ;

 

valley was another gap similar to that through
which our party had entered, and this was t e
continuation of the Gorgon Gulch trail to the
northward.

Involuntarin the three colonists drew rein,
as they arrived at the edge of the valley, and
exchanged (glances—glances of mingled aston-
ishment an dissatisfaction at the prospect re-
vealed.

Was this the place that they had traveled so
many miles to reach?

Was this the (said to be) famous Wild-Cat
City that they had been led to believe was a
village of great promisell It would seem so.

Some months before, Judson Elliott, while in
New Orleans on business, had encountered a
glib-tongued individual who claimed to be a
mighty speculator of valuable Western lands.
Particularly was he eloquent over one iarcel of
territory containing a village named ild-Cat
City all of which he claimed to own by right of
abso ute purchase, and was willing to dis ose of
at reasonable figures, or exchange for astern
estates. ,

Elliott was the possessor of a small and not

. very productive farm in Northern Virginia, and

having always had a. desire to locate in the
booming West, he proposed that the agent take
a look at his land with a view to exchange.

The agent did take a look and as a result
tracked the Cat City tract for the estates of
Elliott, Hanson, Warwick and St. Celton, iving
them some cash and a deed of one hu'ndrc acres
of land each, in exchange for their respective
farms.

That was the explanation of the formation of
the Elliott colony and its journey westward.

The agent had described the land as fair and
level a valley as ever the sun shone upon, free
from any obstructions whatever, and ready for
the low.

“ t is just as I expected; we have been sold 1”
Ethel exclaimed, breaking the silence. “ We
have left a cosey home for a bowling wilder-
ness!”

“By Heaven, you are ri ht,” the Judge re-
plied; “ but here we are, an must make the best
of an unenviable situation, instead of cryin
over spilt milk. I had no idea of being cheate
in this manner. Let's ride on to the cabin, and
see who is usurping our premises.”

Accordingly they galloped forward until they
reached the great two-story log structure, and
drew rein before one great oor, over which was
a rude sign:

“ Car Crrr CASINO.”

Two men stood before the door, with hands
thrust in their leathern breeches pockets, and
grimy clay ipes in their mouths—the one a
typical Cali ornian, buckskin clad, with long
gaunt features, a hook nose, sandy hair an

card and big feet—the other a fat, greasy, flat-
faced Chinaman.

The arments of each were dirty, their bat~
tered w its plug bats were perforated numerous-
ltzewith bullet holes, and both were armed to the

_There was something sinister in the expres-
sion of the Californian’s countenance, as our
colonists rode up, but he nodded, good-na-

\

 

turedly, and even condescended to remove his
i1: lfrom his mouth and stare hard at pretty
it e .

“Good-afternoon,” Judge Elliott said, how-
ing. “Could you tell ’me if this is the place
called Wild-Cat City?”

“ I reckon I can,” the Californian replied.
“ You’re right in ther heart 0’ ther great me-
tropolis, of ther old court knows herself, an’ this
hynr ranch of mine, it be ther capitol. ”

“But, my good friend, we were led to sup-
pose that there was a little village here, with a
population of about a half—hundred souls?”

“ Ken’t help thet, pilgrim. Ye kin see ther
size 0’ ther city ’thout gittin’ up on the mount-

ing an’ lookin’ over et wi’ a spy-glass, an’ as .

ter ther souls I reckon me an’ my man Sing
Song be about ther likeliest an’ earthliest in-

_ habertants, bein’s we’re the founders o’ ther city

as ye now parseeve it. ”

“And do you mean to say that you and 'our
companion are the only inhabitants?” on-
tague asked.

“ We allow we aire," the Californian aver-
red, with due self- ride. “ I’m old Bill Myers
frum Californy. e kim down heer an’built
the city, all by ourselves, an’ when et grows a.
leetle, we calkelate ter be jin’t Mayor an’ Boss,
we do. Oh! Cat City hain’t no New York, ner
Leadville, but et’s bound ter blaze, byme-by.
Ther stage halts beer fer dinner, on ets way
north, an’ occasionally sum pilgrim smells ood
liquid paralysis down this way, and stops "er a.
sample. So ye see Cat City hain’t no dead
town et.” .

"‘ Not half so dead as it ought to be,” All!
Montague granted. “How about it, Judge—-
what shall we do?”

“Stop here,” was the reply. “We’ve made
our bed, and may as well occupy it. B the
way, Mr. Myers, suppose you can ta me
about how many acres of land there is in this
basin?”

1 “Some’res about four hundred acres, I a1-
ow

“ Ah! then we have not been much deceived
as to the alrount of the land. You see we have

urchased this basin, or four hundred acres. of
it, and have come to take possession. I presume
you have no objections?”

“Waal, no, not so long as ye don’t disturb '

me, an’ m shanty, heer. But, I allow mebbe
ye won’t 1i 9 to locate, fer all.” ' ‘ x

“In what respect?”

“Oh! beca’se thar’s anuther galoot what
claims ownership, an’ he makes et red-hot fer
’em as tries ter squat beer.
Deadwood Dick, an’ he’s a hard customer ter

handle.”

“ Oh! I think I have read of the fellow. A
road-agent, isn’t he 3”

“ Yes, he used ter be, but they say as how he
has retired, now, He claims ter hev staked out
this valley fer his own use, an’ won’t allow nary
a usurp. ”_

“ How is it that you are here, then?”

\

He calls himself .

“ Oh! he see’d et would be an advantage tar

hev a howtel, heer, an’ so let me plant my ranch
fer half 0’ my roflts. That’s how!”

“ Well, Mr. eadwood Dick and our colony
must be enemies then, for we shall certainlytake

 



 

L_.

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- - --~‘/~o; .. :~__i._. r4. -:—fl‘-é1‘-"‘;T~ .i‘ '

 

4 ' Deadwood Dick’s Double.

 

 

possession of the tract,” Judge Elliott said, de-
cided] . “We traded for it, and we shall hold
it, be ore the muzzle of the rifle. Alf, ou may
ride back and hurry up the teams. e must
strike tents yet to-night. Perhaps we can get
something to eat at this tavern?”

“ Most sartengly you can,” Myers hastened to
assure. “Jest dismount ther leddy an’ fetch her
in. We’ve ot good b’ar-stake, an’ fu‘st-class
whisky, an’ on’t you fergit it.”

“ You may 've us the bear-steak, in prefer-
ence to the whisky,” the Judge said, gravely.

A dismount was made, and Ethel and her
father were conducted into a sort of waiting-

i room adjoining the bar-room.
The train soon arrived, and the wagons were
' corraled in an open space not far from the
Casino, and the weary horses turned loose to

raze. \
Tents were then taken from the wagons, and
- while the women were taken to the Casino, the
sturdy colonists began to erect their temporary
homes, until they could have a chance to rear
permanent structures of a more substantial
character.
Not long was it ere the white tents were
dotted about, and bright camp-fires blazing be-
r fore them, around which the colonists were
grouped in clusters, discussing the prospects of
'\ their new homes. 5
} Not a very cheering prospect was it, to say the
least, with a howling wilderness surrounding

em.

Judge Elliott and Ethel stood in the door of
the. Casino, conversing with the man Myers,
when hoof—strokes were heard coming down the
trail, and a horseman soon dashed up at a gal-
lop and drew rein near the camp-fires.

“ Ah! as I expected,” old Bill gruuted. “ Et’s

 / Chris Carleton, one o’ Deadwood Dick’s tellers,

\

an’ as tough a cuss as evyer sipped lik’er. An’
I’ll allow he’s come down ter tell ye ter get up
an’ sit.”

“He shall have his answer, then, as soon as
he asks for it,” Judge Elliott replied, decidedly.
“Be he as fierce as an African lion, he cannot
scare me I”

- “Nor me, papal” Ethel said, with a merry
laugh. “I can be as brave as a soldier, you
. know.” I
The horseman evidently made inquiries of
' those about the camp-fires, for he soon turned
and galloped toward the tavern.

He drew rein as he beheld the Judge and his
daughter. .

“I’m searchin’ fer ther man thet heads this
colony,” he said. “ Ef you’re ther galoot, why
you’re ther one I want.’
, “Well, sir, I am undoubtedly the party you
seek,” the Judge said, stiflly.

CHAPTER. II.
T H E w A n N I N G .

“AND, if you want to snag yourself against

a small-sized hurricane for instance, here’s me!”
' Ethel exclaimed, bravely. . .

The rufllan uttered a low cry of admiration
and amazement as he saw her.

He was a man of medium stature, clad from
head to foot in black—dyed buckskin, and nrnicd
to the teeth—an evil-looking personage, with

 

swarth skin bead—like black e es, and hair and
mustac e and imperial to match. While hover-
ing upon his face was an expression so evil and
sinister as to need no other proof that he was a
thoroughbred villain.

Qut in those far Western tracks of gold and
peril, a man is never judged so critically by his
deeds as by the expression of his countenance.
It is by this that the character of the “ beast”
is taken, and the mode rarely, if ever. fails to
be correct in determining the nature of the par-
ty in question.

No second glance. therefore, had a person to
take to assure himself Chris Carleton was a.
man of evil inclinations, to say the least.

Judge Elliott knew it at once, but did not
tremble.

Many a rough and lawless character had he
encountered during his life, but never had he
been overmatched. A

“ I am Judson Elliott. the leader of the
colony,” he repeated folding his arms across his
breast, “ and if you have anything to say tome,
why say it, and be gone I”

‘ Oho, don’t git f(gluite so authoritative, now!”
Carleton sneered ercely. “ Ef ther old court
knows herself, we ginerally cum an’ go when we
please. And, as remarked before, ef you’re
Judson Elliott, leader 0’ these squatters, you’re
ther very galoot we want ter see. My name’s
Carleton—Chris Carleton, fer long, an’ I’m sort
0’ lieutenant to Capt’in Deadwood Dick,’ who
owns these lands in these hyar surroundings. an’
I’ve cum down ter Warn ye ter git up an’ git!”

“ Then you have put yourself to considerable
trouble for nothing. as we flatly refuse to git!”
the Judge answered positively. “ As a colony,
we have purchased and paid for the lands in this
valley, and we intend to hold our own, no mat-
ter what claims others may have.”

Carleton uttered an oath.

“You’ll mighty quick change yer mind 0
that,” he said, fiercely.

“ Heer’s a leetle dockyment frum Capt’in
Dickey, telliu’ ye what ye kin expect of ye don’t
puckachee 1”

And as he spoke, the lieutenant drew an en
velope from his pocket, and tossed it toward the
J udge, who, in turn, caught and opened it.

Within was a sheet of paper, written over me
straggling hand, the contents of which were sub
stantially as follows:

To fill whom it may concern :—

_“Know ye, by these presents. that I. Deadwood
Dick, alias Edward Harris, road-agent and outlaw-
at-large, do claim right of

having duly surveyed it and staked it out as my
claim. from the Government. Know ye. also. that
said tract of territory being mine, I will not tOIENtB
intrusion. or usurpation in any way or manner what-
ever. Parties who squat upon the tract W!“ be duly
warned by such a document as this. to vacate.
within ten hours after its receipt. If they refuse, I
shall forthwith declare war against them, by caus—
ing bonfires to be built on the surrounding moun-
tain-tops, after which they need look for no mercy
from my band. Cat City belongs to Deadwood
Dick, and not to you. and, therefore. if you value
your lives and your liberty. you Will pack up your
efiects and told your tents and steal away.

“ Remember! Yew-lives shall pay the sacrifice if
you remain ten hours in the valley after the recep-

ossession and absolute ‘
ownership of the tract of and in Car City Basin. 

 

 

 

 

Deadwood Dick’s Double. \ 8

tion of this, and you shall know that Deadwood Dick
never commands but to be obeyed, or the offender
punished.

“ (Signedz) DEADWOOD DICK.”

Word for word the Judge read the warning;
then handed it to Ethel, while he turned to the
courier: -

“ You may go, sir, as soon as you choose, and
tell this Deadwood Dick that we will not van
cate!’_7 he said, sternly. “ I have‘no desire to in-
cur his enmity—neither am I afraid of him. We
have the deeds for the four hundred acres of
land in this valley, and we shall hold them at the
muzzle of our rifles. Go, tell him this, and tell

him, also, that he had better think twice before -

he attacks us. This is all I have to say in behalf
of the colonists.”

“Keerectl Ther Capt’in shall know yer re-
ply,” Carleton replied, with a sinister leer.

‘ An”, by ther way, ye’d better get out yer hymn-
books 0’ glory, for we don’t ginerally allow
much time for caInp-meetin’ when we light
down on a gun .”

And with a brutal laugh the avant courier
dug his spurs savagely into the sides of his horse,
an dashed away over the northward trail.

~ The colonists had by this time mostly ath-
ered by the tavern door, and at a request JEudge
Elliott read the warning of the noted mountain
outlaw.

There was a murmur of indignation in the
crowd when he had finished.

“ This is about the cheekiest thing I’ve heard
of yet,” Alf Montague declared. “ You colo-
nists gave up your homes in exchan e for this
tract, and you are fools if you don’t ght for it.
That’s my say, and I can back it to the muzzle.
If Deadwood Dick wants war he can have dead
loads of it, so far as I am concerned. Eh! boys—-
what do you say ’4” '

“Ayl ayl” was the hearty response from a
dozen throats. “If Deadwood Dick wants war,
we’llygive him his fill l” ,

“ .es, we will!” Judge Elliott assented, a15-
prowggly. “ I am not generally in favor of
pitch attles, but right is right, and in fight-
1n for the possession of this gulch, I candidly
be ieve We are but doing right. There are four-
teen men of us, strong and rugged, and I trust
that we can give the rival claimant all he wants.
To—morrow we will build a block-house or fort,
where we can better protect ourselves.”

 

Ten'miles up Gorgon’s Gulch, to the north of
Cat City a simple and unpretentious cabin stood
in a little clearing on the mountain-side. The
clearing was planted with garden vegetables,
With here and there a bed of cultivated flowers.
A little Vine-wrenthed porch shaded the single
door; a little path led throu h the wood to the
stage trail a score of rods elow; a bubbling
mountain brook gurgled down across the clear-
an‘ through its pebbly channel, with musical
ve emence.

It was a cosev, pretty spot for a home—a

lace where two lovuig, contented hearts might
well and dwell, and never know the pains or
cares of a bustling, restless world.

Upon the bright sunny morning of the day
followmg the colonists' arrival at Cat City, a

 

young woman of pretty face and form stood in
the doorway of the isolated cabin, in a listening
attitude.

That she was 9 cting some one was evi-
dent, for she starte forward with a little joy-
ous cry as a horseman suddenly dashed from
the Woods and across the clearing to the door,
where he drew rein and leaped fromthe saddle,
to receive her into his arms.

A handsome fellow he was, at a glance, with
a smooth face and dusky eyes, which corre-
s ionded in color with his garments, which were
lullack, from the top-boots upon his feet, to the
jaunty slouch hat upon his head.

“ Dickl Dick! I am so glad you came, today,
for I was gettin so lonesome, with no one to
talk to,” the litte woman said, returning his
warm caress. “ Tell me, did you succeed in your
case?” -

“ Of course, ma petite Edith ” the new—comer
replied, leading the way into the cabin. “ Did
you ever know Phineas Porter to lose a case he .
undertook? The missing money had been stolen
by a ,s’tep-son, who of course had a woman in the
case.

“And now, you will stay'at home with me
ever so long, before you go away again, won’t »
you?” Edith said, coaxingly. “ 1f you, but
knew how lonely it is when you’re gone, you’d
not go away.” ,

“ I dare say it is, dear, and I would be with
you ever, were it not for my calling.”

“ Give up that calling, then. There are others,
in plenty, to fill your ilace."

‘ Perhaps so, but do not think you under~
stand my nature, even yet, darling. I could ,
not exist without excitement. It has been the
one demand of my past life, as it must be of the
future. When I have plenty of excitement, I
am at home; when excitement flags, I am dull
and stupid. Since I left road-a ency, though
firmly resolved to quiet down, I ave found it
a tough struggle, and were it not for Vi hat little ,

do in the detective line I should expire, I .,
fear. This is not because do not love you—
indeed no, for you are the sweetest treasure of '
my life, Edith. But you know I have been
Wild and untamed so long that restlessness has
grown to be a second nature to me.” a

“I an pose you are right, my husband, but
~—but—’ and here the little girl-wife broke down
and sobbcd as if her heart would break.

“There! there, et, don’t cry, please don’t,” ,
Deadwood Dick said, gatheringher to his breast.
“ I have but one more case—then, if you say so,

I will not leave you again." " -

“0h! Diekl will you really, truly? I should
be so much hap ierl" and Edith’s pretty eyes
brightened won erfully. “ What other caseis
this of which ou speak?"

“One in w ich the knife and revolver will“
have to take the place of the cunnin and craft
of the detective, I fear,” Deadwoo Dick re-
plied, grimly. “I just got news, at Turke
Canyon, this morning, to look out for mysel .
Some rasoal, thirsting for notoriety, has hitched
onto my title, and under the name of Deadwood
Dick, is committing numerous depredat_ions,o£‘
a criminal character, thereby imperiling my

ety.
“Oh! Dickl What will become of you? The

 

. .~.x -—..-_v- r. .- “mus. .. . aw. i

a

Deadwood Dick's Double._

 

people will think it is fyou, instead of the double
of yours, and your sa ety will be gone.”
I ‘ Perhaps, yes. But. when they catch the
Old Original nappin , it will be time to fear.
This Double, as you ave appropriately termed
him, is the very man I must seek, and induce to
relinquish the use of my title. I will hunt him
, down as I would a bear, and slay him if he re-
fuses to exonerate me from all blame. No
{ doubt there will he need for me to lie low as I
am pretty generally known as Deadwood Dick,
and an effort may be made to take me. You
have nothing to fear, however, as no one will
i disturb you, and you need not fear but what
I can take care of myself. You are not
afraid to remain here alone for a few days, are

I you?”

‘ - t “ No, Dick' not if it is necessary that I should

i do so. Old Daggers will stay with me, and I

I shall not be afraid.”

" “True, Daggers is a faithful, noble dog, and

I worth his weight in gold. Where is the old

if V fellow?” and putting his fingers to his lips, Dead-

{ i wood Dick gave vent to a shrill whistle.

3; ~ A moment later, a great shaggy mastifl? of

if ‘ unusual size came bounding into the room. At

3“ ‘, sight of Deadwood Dick he gave a joyful bark,

‘ and risin upon his hind feet he walked for-

‘ ward, an placing his front paws affectionately

: , about the ex—chief’s neck, and rubbing his nose

.3 against his master’s head.

{ , It was an act of almost human aifection and

tears sprung into Dick’s eyes, as he patted the

r ‘ noble animal softly.

. ’ “ Noble fellow!” he murmured; “ you are in-
deed a true friend. With two such loving pets
as. you and Edith, any man might well be

i, _ happy. But I must not tarry longer. I must

!: away to hunt down in Double. ‘Be he a giant

, ' or a devil, he must rop my name and repair
the injury he is doing me—or die 1”

i. , “Bravo, husband! Your words I enthusi-

.’ astically echo. As Deadwood Dick you are a

i free man, and therefore let no one stain your

5  name again."

,i ,' “Nor will I. Here, Daggers, my boy; do you

I ' see your mistress yonder?”

l‘ -V The sagacious mastifl! wagged his tail in as-

sent
i’ “ l”all now I am '

. , gem away, to be gone
some time. What will you 0 when I am away,
old fellow!"

Leaving Dick’s side, the doHr went over to
where Edith was standing, an seated himself
upon his hauuches in front of her showing his
long, pearly teeth, and uttering a deep growl as
he did so.

Deadwood Dick rose with a smile.

“No need for me to remain longer, Edith,
dear, when you "have so brave a defender.
Take care of yourself, now, and if you see any

_; ska—H aw»
i

' i

 one approaching the cabin, close and bar the

5. door. A kiss, pet, and then I am oil to trail

‘, inv Double. ” '

 " Edith vouchsafed the token of affection cheer-
fully, and then after holding her for a moment

1" in is arms, Deadwood Dick left the cabin.
5, 1 His horse was waiting bin} at the door, and he
 v, vaulted into the saddle with the same ease as
1?": when, a few years before, he had held full sway
"..~ as Prince of the Deadwood Trail.

, l J.

 

“ By-by, darling l” he cried, waving his hand;
“ do not fear for me, nor for yourself, for I do
not think any one will seek to disturb you.”

“I hope not. By-byl” Edith returned and
then he galloped away across the glade, and
was soon lost to view in the woods below.

“ Poor Dick,” the little wife murmured
“Will his life ever be free from peril? It would
seem not. Hardly does he cast aside one ob-
struction or-danger, before another menaces

him. But, brave as the bravest, he battles on.
(liloble Dick. I love him more and more every
ayI

“And cast your affection upon a worthlessI
roving Vagabond,” a cool voice exclaimed, and
a man stepped from around one corner of the
cabin with a low laugh.

Edith stepped back with a little cry of alarm,
for she recognized the sinister face ‘as that be-
longing to one of the most notorious ruflians in
the region—and that man Chris Carleton—the
lieutenant of Deadwood Dick‘s Double.

CHAPTER III.
THE rmsr BLOW.

BRIGHT and early in the morning of the day
succeeding their arrival at Cat City, the colo.
nists were up, and to work, with a, will.

The rin of the ax and the echo of the ham-
mer, toget er with the zum-zum of the saw and
the shouts of stentorian voices, were heard in
the valley. Men were hurrying to and fro;
others were felling the great pines; others still
were dragging them forth from the forest, with
the aid of horses.

Everywhere were bustle and activity. and
signs that civilization had struck Cat City and
Gorgon Gulch.

Before noon the unmistakable shape and forma-
tion of a staneh log fortress began to loom up,
not over a score of rods distant from the Casino,
and by early sunset, through the united efforts
of the plucky colonists, a two—story structure.
sixty by a hundred feet, with a thatched and
slab roof, stood frowning down upon the stage
trail, ready for occupancy. To as sure there
was no floor in it, and but a rude chimney, and
the cracks and crevices had not been artistically
plastered; but for all these deficiencies it offered
a. protective shelter to the colonists. And they
proceeded to take possession of it forthwith.

The wagons were unpacked of the effects that
had been brought along—each containing a few
pieces of furniture bedding, and housekeeping
essentials—and sai effects were moved into the
fort, to be distributed around by busy feminine
hands, while men corraled the wagons in the
rear of the fort, and secured the horses for the
night in one end of the long structure, which
had been divided off for their accommodation.

When all was arranged to general satisfaction
the colonists gathered before the door of their
fort. and sent up three loud long cheers that
awoke a thousand startled echoes throughout
the valley. ,

, “ Hurrah!” Alf Montague cried, enthusias—
tically. “Send along your Deadwood Dick,
now. if he wants to fight. We’ll guarantee to
give him all he wants, too. By the we , boys,
what are we gomg to name our fort? name

'9-

 

 

Deadwood moie- Double. {or

 

she must have, or we shall not be lucky. What
shall it be?”

“ Name her Fort Ethel,” Fred St. Celton said,
“in honor of our gallant leader’s daughter.”

“ Ayl ayl that's the talk—Fort Ethel it is,”
the co onists agreed, with one exception, and he
the dark-faced fellow who had joined the colony
in Kansas—Lew L ons.

“I don’t see it!’ he grunted. “Thet ain’t a
high-soundin’ title enough fer a fort. Give et
sum big name, like Fort Fortune or Fire-
brand.”

“ See here,” Royce Elliot cried, “ what do you
mean? Do you cast a slur at my sister, you

ilgrim? If t at’s your game, I’ll break every
one in your body.’ '

It had been observable that Lyons had been
paying considerable attention to Ethel in the
last few da s, and having become unpleasantly
familiar, s e had twice repulsed him,‘ since
when he had been moody and silent—a black
shadow, as it were, in the cheerful party.

Royce Elliott, ever watchful, had noted the
state of affairs, and had kc t his eye u_ on the
man, Lyons resolved to “ brash” him, should
he overste his bounds.

Lyons ushed now at the words of the other,
a gleam of hatred coming into his eyes.

‘You can name your cussed fort what you
please, for all I care,” he growled, turning

away.

“Fort Ethel it shall Jae, then,” Alf Monta e
cried, “in honor of the ca tain’s daughter. y
the way, boys, I do not ike the looks of that
Lew Lyons. It appears to me he’s just one of
the kind of fellows who would stab you when
your back is turned.”

“Exactly my opinion,” Charley St. Celton
agreed. “He has got ‘snake’ written in his
eyes, plain as the nose on old Bill Meyers’s face.”

This created a general laugh, for the nose of
the Casino’s illiterate host had been the butt of
man; gokes since the arrival of the colonists.

“ are say that Ltyons is no prime favorite
with an of us,”Ju ge Elliott said, gravely,
“ but it isn't advisable for us to incur his enmi-
ty. I‘d rather have the love than the hatred of
such a man as he, an time. He might be able
“is”°rsidsrafim-3’d k- h

apa srig e crie , o in erro -
ish face out of the door. “Bon’t gmake agiily
more enemies than possible, for we shall have
enough as it is.”

As the sun went down there was a perceptibly
anxious expression upon the faces of the colo-
nists, and many glances were turned toward the
surrounding mountain-tops.

They were looking for. and expected to see.
the fires that Deadwood Dick had promised
should appear. . .

Nor were they disappomted.

About nine o’clock in the evening, fires ap-
peared, one by one, upon .the neighboring cliffs
and peaks, and burned brightly. _

From the door of the fort the little band of
colonists watched them, with the dawning reali-
zation that they were the signals for the begin-
nine: of abitter struggle for the possession of the
little gulch valley.

0d Bill Myers and Sing Song came over
from the Casmo, and stood watching the illu-

 

mination grimly, as they smoked their clay
pi es.

P‘ I reckon thet means bizness, Jedge,” M ers
observed, with a strange chuckle. “ T em
ar’s Deadwood Dick’slast warnin’s fer ye ter
git u and git.”

“11316 will avail nothing," Judge Elliottre—
plied. ‘We will fight for the possession of
thisnvalley as long as we draw t o breath of

l e.

“You bet we will,” Alf Montague assented,
decidedly. “We’ll hold the fort as long as
we’ve hands left to fight with.” ‘

The fires soon burned down, and were not re-
kindled.

At Judge Elliott’s suggestion two of the St.
Celtons were detailed for guard, to keep watch
in the neighborhood of the cabin during the

ni ht.

éi‘hen the others of the party turned in.

Morning dawned, -w1thout any important
event transpiring. Nothing of the enemy had
been seen by the St. Celton boys, and the light
of 1(lay revealed no suspicious movement in the
va ey.

“Perhaps we shall not have much trouble,
after all?” Judge Elliott said, as he dropped in
at the Casino for a cigar. “The note and the
fires ma have been ventured to scare usaway.”

“Mob 2 and mebbe not,” old Bill replied,

ruffly. ‘I opine ye’ll beer from Deadwood

ick yet.”

Judge Elliott was not so sure of this.

dare attempt an open attack, when he saw how
strongly the colonists had rooted themselves by
building the fort.

After breakfast, Royce and Montague shoul-
dered their rifles, and set oil? to explore the
wooded portions of the gulch, where the farm-
ing‘ tracts of the colony were to be located.

hey soon became separated, however, and
when. at noon, Montague returned to the fort.
he efpund that Royce Elliott had not yet ar-
riv .

No particular attention was aid to this fact,
until young Hanson went for a ucket of water.
to the spring in the woods.

He soon came running back to the fort, then,
with the announcement that Royce Elliott was
lying insensible in the woods, near the spring.

A half-dozen of the colonists, headed by
Judge Elliott and Alt Montague, instantly set
out for the spot, and on arriving there, found
young Hanson’s report continued. ,

Royce was lying stretched out n the
ground, insensible, not a dozen feet rom the
spring. His face and body appeared to he
bloated, and a hasty examination resulted in
the discovery that he was dead!

He was taken up and carried to the fort and
a more careful examination was made of his

rson. No wound or bruise of any kind could

found upon his body, yet be was dead be.
yond all peradventure, there being nowarmth
in the body or beating of the heart. ’

In some inexplicable manner he had been
stricken down in his rimo. ~ .

Judge Elliott and Ethel were nearly-distract-
ed over their sad loss, and the rest of the col
onists shared with them their grief;

. He be- ‘
lieved that the rival claimant would hardly

 

 

seesaw? >

3“?"

fem? "I-

 

 

" ransom mans-um: r

B Deadwood Dick’s Double.

 

R0 09 had been a prime favorite with all,
and 's sudden death was a shock not easily to
he put aside.

' Alf Montague and Lyons were the coolest men
of the lot.

Montague was deeply grieved, but his was
the grief that found expression in grave silence.

Lyons did not appear to be in the least af-
fected, but set in a retired corner and cleaned
his rifle, while the others were weeping over the
cold remains.

.Old Bill Myers and his Celestial companion
came over from the Casino and viewed the
corpse.

“Ye can set et down as ther furst blow o’
thet cuss, Deadwood Dick.” he said to Monta—
gue in an undertone. “Ken ye find how he
was tuk off?”

“No. There is no signs of wounds or vio—
lence to be found upon his person.”

“ Mighty queer a
to the spring, did ye?”

“ Yes—not a dozen feet from it.”

“ Have any of ye dxunk water frum .it since
ye found him i”

“ No.”

“Then don’t ye, jest yet. Mebbe thet ar’

. water has been grinned.”

“ Poisoned ?” ontague gasped.

»“Yas, p’izened. I’ve heerd o’ sech things
bein’ done afore now, an’ I reckon Deadwood
Dick ain’t purtickler how he gits rid o’ e.”

“By Heaven! perhaps you are rig t. This
thing must be investigated before there are any
more victims.”

The young colonist quickly communicated
the suspicion of old Bill Myers to the others,
who were of course surprised, and yet saw a
likelihood in the suggestion.

Young Hanson was immediately sent for some

' ' of the water of the firing, in order that it might

beanalyzed. Fred t. Celton wasachemist, and
declared that he could soon tell whether the
water had been poisoned or not.

In the meantime, while Montague and Tom St.
Celton were removing the body of poor Royce to
a bed a paper dropped from his pocket, which
was the key to the mystery.

Upon‘ it, in letters of blood, were written the
words:

“ oisonl—my First Blow—tremble for the sec-
ond! meoon Dicx!“

That was all, but it explained the cause of

' Royce’s death, in accordance with Myers’s sus-

 

picion.

We must needs return to the day before, when
we left Edith, the wife of the original Dead-

' wood Dick, confronted by the rutfian, Chris
. Carleton.

, She was not frightened—only startled by his

sudden appearance.
“ What do you mean by this intrusion, sir?”

1. she demanded, bravely, for although she knew
him b name, she could form no idea of What

erran could have brought him hence.

“ What do I mean?” Carleton demanded,
pausing and thrusting his hands in his breaches
pockets, with a leer upon his evil visage. “ Well,
now, if ye really want to knew, I’ve cum down
to talk bizness to ye while Deadwood Dick’s

3M

out thet. Found him cluss.

 

away. Ye see I’ve had several glimpses of ye
0’ late, when I’ve been prowlin around, and
I’ve gone dead sot on ye, fer a fact. So I come
down here, ter-day, ter get e tcr onhitch from
Dick, as it war, an’ hitch on 0 me.”

“ Sir! do you mean to insult me?" Edith cried
flushing angrily “Begone, sir, or I will yell
for .my husban . It is not too late to make him
hear!”

“ Ye can yell as much as ye please,” Carleton
assured, grimly. “I don’t care a cussed conti-
nental about yer lovey-dovey Dicky, ou bet.
Yure ther stool-pigeon I’m after, an’ ’11 make
et plain ter ye thet l’m all fair an’ squar’. I
don’t mean ter insult ye, but purpose ter hev
ye shake Dickey, fer myself. I’m a good sort
o’tpilgrim, an’ hev tuk a notion thet ye’d make
a ne arnament ter my shanty. Tharfore, when
ye’re ready, we’ll go over an’ get married at
Blind-Man s mine.”

“ No! we will not!” Edith declared. “You’ve
entirely miscalculated, if it was your plan to
come here and frighten me, for I’m not a bit
scared.” '

“ Oh! you ain’t, eh?” Carleton grunted, admir-
inglfi. “Well, ou’re a spunkey little piece, an’
al t- o more va uable for it. um! git on yer
togs an’ prepare to go along with me.”

fbon’t stand there waiting until I do,”
Edith returned, coolly. “And, by the way, if
you value your anatomy Very highly, I should
advise you to pull 01w, lively, before I set my
dog on you.”

“ Is he savage?”

“You probably will find out, if you don’t
take/leg—bail for security. Daggers, do you see
that ruflian? How would you li e to chaw him?”

The do wagged its tail appreciatively, and
uttereda ow rowl.

“You see— 6 is willing to make a meal of
you,” Edith continued, “ and unless you are out
of sight inside of five minutes, I’ll set him onto
you.

“Fer true?”

“ Stay and see!”

‘ ‘ Cuss ye. I cum prepared for take ye along
wi’ me, an’ I ain’t a-goin ter give up. ’llshoot
ther dog.”

“Then I’ll shoot you while you areshooting
the dog.”

The rufl'lan swore frightfully. He saw that
there was no show for him except to ignomini-
ously retreat.

“ Never mind! Ye hold ther trump card,
now, but I’ll beat it yet," he growled, as he be-
gan to back off, for he evidently had no relish
for the dog.
and maybe when ye ain’t expectin’ me. Fer I’ve
sworn ter possess ye. and I ain’t a-goin’ back on
my word 1” .

He then turned and strode rapidly away,
swearing at every step.

Edith re—entered her cabin home and closed the
door, satisfied with having bafl‘lerl the rufiian’s
evil plot.

 

CHAPTER IV.
THE GHOST or ROYCE ELLIOTT.
FROM bitter grief the feelings of the colonists
turned to sternest Indig'nation. And why should
they not? ‘ '

‘ \

“I’ll cum back, sum other time, _

 

 

    
    
  
  
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
  
  
  
  
   
   
   
   
 
    
   
   
   
 
   
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    

   

 

 

Deadwood Dick’s Double,

 

A terrible blow had been struck them, through
one of their number, and that blow from the
hand of a foresworn enemy!
been used—that most silent and deadly agency
of the coward assassin. Had Royce Elliott fallen
by the shot of a rifle or the stab of a sword, his
friends would not have been nearly so horrified,
as they would then have believed he died defend-
ing himself.

The spring water was soon brought, and Fred
St. Celton made an examination of it, as well as
he was able with what few “ tools " he had
brought with him from the East.

“ The Sfiu‘ing has been liberally dosed with
arsenic,” e said, after awhile, “and it is cer-
tain death to him who drinks from it.”

“ Then, take warning, and drink none of the
water,” Montague warned.

“ No! don’t tech that pesky stuff.” Bill Myers
advised.
to the Casino, an‘ thar yo ken git three fingers
o’ paralysis fer a doller—ther best article ’twixt
beer an’ Washington; ain’t ct, Singer?”

“ Muchee goodee fire—water,” Sing Song
agreed, smacking his lips.

“Something must be done to avenge poor
Royce’s death ” Alf Montague said. “ Are we
going to stand idle, and let an assassin pick off
our best men? By no means! “To must strike
back to the death!”

“ Truly spoken,” St. Celton responded with
an aggoving nod. “We must fi ht this Dead—
woo ick with red-hot irons. 6 must meet
ingenuity with ingenuity, craft with craft, and
brute force with brute force. Otherwise, we
shall be defeated, in spite of ourselves. But all
this action must be postponed until poor Royce
is buried. And that will needs be soon, for you
will observe that his body is bloating even after
death, and mortiflcation will soon set in.”

Montague gent] apprised the judge and Ethel
of this fact, and t was decided to ury the re-
mains at sunset, that same day, as when night
once more set in it was apprehended that Dead-
wood Dick would flll the valley with his merci-
less agents, and there might be no chance to give
a}: murdered boy a decent interment for several

3. ,

retty spot was selected in the edge of the
we I , within sight and gunshot of the ort, and
during the afternoon the colonists dug a grave
there, and a coflin was fashioned by chiseling
out a trough-shaped receptacle from the body
of a thick pine log. The body was then placed
in this, a. short but eloquent funeral service was
read by Mr. St. Celton, after which the mourn-
ers took a farewell look at the cor se, and the
rude coffin was closed by nailing a s ab over the
aperture, upon which the loving hands of Al!
Montague had chiseled the word:

“ ROYCE.”

Just as the sun was dipping its fiery crest over
the western mountain ridge, the remains were
home from the fort to the newly dug grave, and
after an earnest prayer, were covered forever
from view, amid the sobs of the grief-stricken
father and sister and the surrounding colonists.

It was a discouraging blow to their_hopes and
ambition. but the strong determination of Alf
Montague re-nerved them all, and instilled into

Poison, too, had .

“Ef ye git thirsty, jest waltz over-

 

their hearts the will to stay and fight it out to
the bitter end.

Guards were posted for the night, and every
preparation made to repel an attack should one
come.

Evcn Old Bill Myers apfieared uneasy. and
closed his cabin early in t e evening and put
out the lights. -

Tom St. Celton and Will Hanson went on guard '
duty, in the close vicinity of the cabin. Both
were brave, stalwart sons of old Virginia, aged
twenty-two and three respectively—boys who
loved adventure, and had never known what it
was to fear.

The night was very dark, although the great
dome of the heavens glittered like a coronet of

riceless diamonds. The blackness seemed to
over close to the earth, and it was impossible
to see any distance before one’s face.

About midnight, while pacing to and fro in
front of the fort, Tom St. Celton chanced to
glance in the direction of Royce Elliott’s grave,
down 2y the edge of the forest, and to his un- ’
bound surprise and horror, there saw a sight
that sent a c will of dread and terror down the
spine of his hack.

Beneath the tree where Royce’s grave had
been located, stood a horseman, in the blackness
of the moonless night.

Not an ordinary horseman, or St. Celton
could never have seen it, from the fort, on ac-
count of the loom—not an ordinary horseman
but a spectac e so frightful as to have unnerve
the stron est disbehever in the supernatural.

A white orse, and a white clad rider sur-
rounded b a strange, weird halo of whitish
light, sto there beneath the shelter of the tree.

silent and ghostlike, and the face of the spectral
rider, as p ainly perceptible to St. ‘Celton was
exactly like the death y face of Royce Elliot,
the eyes being closed, and the £88 slightly
parte , the same as when they h laid him
away in his rude coflin. ' , '
Tom St. Celton uttered a horrified exclamnr, ‘ ,

tion, and hastily aroused young Hanson, who r‘

was dozin in the doorwa of the fort.

“ For od’s sake, 100 there!” the 01mg -
colonist ga d. ointing toward the w .

Hanson s eepi y arose, rubbed his eyesJ and
then stared hard at the ghostly spectacle, a.
nervous tremor perceptiny shaking his form. . .

“In the name of Heaven, what is it?” he artic-
ulated, faintly.

“It’s Royce Elliot’s host?” Tom St. Celton
replied, huskily. “Don t you see? It‘s his face,
just as it was, when we put him in the coflln.”

“ My God! you are right, Tom. He looks as
natural as in life. What shall we do?” ‘

“ I hardl know. Go in. soft] , and,arouse .
Fred and ontague. Don’t awa e any of the
others." ‘

Hanson obeyed, with alacrity, and soon reaps
cared followed by the young chemist, and
ontague. _
They both turned pale, and trembled violentl ,
as thiey beheld the spectacle in the edge of e
woo s.
“This is too horrible to be true)” Fred St. ,
Celton gasped. hoarsely'. “That is ca
Ro ce Elliot either in1 9 or death and I an;
We satisfied that he was as den as ever 0,

\

   

 10

Deadwood Dick’s Double.

 

l!‘ mortal could be when we buried him. Montague,
’; for Heaven’s sake, tell me what you think.”
i 3 “I don’t know what to think,” the young
, 1 man replied. “That is certainly Roycc’s face,
' or we are all in a horrible nightmare. Hand me
7 my rifle, some of you. I’ll soon test the matter,
i‘, .» beyond doubt. ”
I "No! no! you must not shoot. You would
 , arouse those within the fort. It would not do

’ to let Ethel or the Judge see this sight, nearly
. distracted, as they are. We must keep the mat-
: _- ter a secret between ourselves."

. v' . “ You are right; I did not think of them,”
, Montague assented. “ Ah] look yonder!”
4 g V . They had been gazing toward the fort an in-
stant while speaking, and on looking again in
the direction of the forest, they perceived, to
, thleéig astonishment, that their specter had vau-
 is l
'i‘ 1 Gone, and left no trace behind to tell of its
" . sudden flight.
,1 ~ “Thank Heaven! it is gone!” Montague said,
; \ with a sigh of relief. “Boys, I’d rather have
}, 'ven one year of my life than to have seen
ii 3 - t——-that—-”
i1 ‘ 1“ Ghost!” Fred St. Celton finished, “ for it was
. nothing else. With Royce Elliott dead, and in
3‘ his ave, how could itbe aught else—that which
i we ave seen?”
, “ Don’t ask me—I do not know,” Montague
I " replied, rubbing his hand across his forehead.
‘9 ’ 7 “This has been a greater shock to me than it
1. may seem to you. I am all unnerved, and as
weak as a child.”

“ It has been a shock to all of us, I guess,”
St. Celton replied, “and I repose, since the
specter is gene, that you a] go into the fort
and lie down awhile. I will do guard duty until
. , umorning.” -

l A. , And accordingly it was so arranged.
i - ' ' Fred St. Celton paced to and fro about the
' little fort until day daWned, but saw nothing
»more of Royce Elliott’s ghost.
, The colonists were astir bright and early. and
,  ' as there had been no sign of hostility on the
" ' r art of the rival claimants of the gulch during
,. he n' ht, their hopes began to grow that the
: strugg e was over. v
Leaving four of the party to guard the fort
and the women, the other nine started forth,
, I with chains and surveying compass, to lay out
i: ' the respective farms for the four families—~the
' ' ' glows, the Hansons, the Warwieks and St.

 

,
i
l
x
i
i

 

:- equal sections, and then apportioned as could be

g 3 agreedupon.

' ' A measurement was made both ways across
the tract, and the center thereby determined
upon, from which stakes were driven, or trees
jgarked to the mountainous limits of the gulch.

 The divisions were so made that the stage
» mil crossed two of the tracts, while the re-
maining two were some distance from it.

To arrive at artair distribution of the lands,

- straws were draivn by Judge Elliott, James
Warwick, Henry Hanson. and Edwin St. Celton.

The result awarded Elliot _and St. Celton the

t ' western tracts, through which the stage trail

, :ran,t 7 ttle fort coming upon Elliott’s land
. and , s tavern ’upon St. Celton’s part,

H

I;

:« eons. . .. .

 The valley or basin was to be diyirled into four
‘ ,

i

 

 

 

 

The allotments seemed to be satisfactory, in-
asmuch as all hands were to use the fort so

long as there was any danger of hostilities from

Deadwood Dick.

The Warwicks and Hansens set to work in
getting out timber for cabins and outbuildings,
but Judge Elliott made no move in this direc-
tion on account of Royce’s death, and the St.
Celtens did not appear decided what to do.

During the day Fred St. Celton and Men-
tague paid a visit, on the sly, to Royce’s grave,
and closely examined the grounds in the neigh-
borhood.

Horses’ tracks were visible, near the grave,
and the indications went to show that the 1 had
come from, and departed through woods.

“ If I were a trailer, I would attempt to fol-
low that trail,” Montague said, “but as I am
not I guess we shall have to wait until there are
more of these visitations.”

“Yes; but betwixt you and me, Alf, We must
lay aside all cowardly and superstitions fear,
and tackle the thing, whether it be a ghost, or
devil.”

“I agree with you there. If we capture
this ghost, it Will either be to get scared worse
than ever, or to make a surprising discovery.
But candid] , although no general believer in

ghost] fol ere]. I believe it was the disem-
bodli1t “spirit of Royce Elliot which we saw last
mg .

“There seems to be little doubt of it, since he
was most certainly dead when we placed him in
the rough coffin.”

The two ylonng men walked slowly back to«
ward Fort the], each gloomy and silent over
the mystery that now enshrouded the val-

ey.

About noon the stage arrived from Leadville,
on its way north, and three passengers disem-
barked from it, and stepped off at the Casino.

They were roughly ressed but honest look-
ing fellows, who claimedvto be hunters, but as
each carried a pick, pan and shove], it was easy
to see that they were also in the habit of com-
bining the profitable pursuit of prospecting with
the pleasure of hunting.

“ Let them go,” J iidge Elliot said, in answer
to a question from Montague. “If they dis-
cover gold in this valley, they cannot hold the
claim ”

And so it was decided to put no restrictions
upon the movements of the new-comers, who
gave their names as Jones, Allen and Gray.

They lounged around the taverntduring the
day and drank freely, and spent their money
with a free hand. Toward night Jones, abrawny
six-footer, walked over to the fort and offered
the judge a hundred dollars for a building lot
alongside the stage road, but was refused. at
which he did not appear very much pleased, and
stalked away, swearing mildly.

That night they filled up chock full of Myers‘s
“liquid paralysis,” and howled around the tav-
ern in high revelry until sunriss. when they
made their appearance, armed with their W68:
pons and mining implements.

“What do you propose domg, gentlemen?” St.
Celton. the elder, asked, as they were about to
set off down into the heart of the basin.

“0h, we’re gom’ml‘ dig fer grabs ter go

Deadwood Dick's Double. K A 11'

 

arfishin’ wi‘,” Jones replied, with aleer, at which
the others laughed, significantly.

After they had gone, St. Celton, Sr., shook his
head, doubtingly.

“ I don’t quite like this business,” he said. “ It
looks to me as if this was a little game of Dead-
wood Dick’s origin, to get his men into the val-
ley without our knowledge, so that he will be
better prepared to fight us.”

“ True! it does savor that way,” Judge Elliott
assented, “ and when those fellows return, we’d
best order them away.”

“ But what if they refuse to go?”

“ Then, we'll take charge of them.” .

Nothing more was seen of them, however, un-
til noon, when the man. Allen, on me from the
woods and departed on tho northward sta go.

An hour later, when the southward stu go pass—
ed, the giant, Jones, was seen to emerge from the
woods and board it.

That left in the valley, out of the three, only
Gray, a sharp-eyed little Missourian.

The colonists had watched the movements not
a little anxiously, for they felt that something
was brooding of importance.

“ Look out for an invasion, now!” Alf Mon-
tague warned, as he saw Jones depart. “Those
fellows have discovered gold in this valley, mark
my word for it, and they mean to bring back a
gang of roughs with them big enough in num-

ers to take and hold the land!”

“We shall see about that,” Fred St. Celton
said, a little fiercely. “ Perhaps it is just possi-
ble that two can play at that gamel”

 

CHAPTER V.
A VILLAINOUS PROPOSAL.

“ WHAT do you mean ?” Montague asked.

“I will show you,” Fred replied, tightenin
up his belt. “ Fetch me a horse, some one, an
I will ride to the nearest town and bring back a
gang of miners who will fight for us!”

“ That won’t do,” Judge Elliot replied—“ not
if we can avoid it. We would simply have to
give up our lands in either case. There is, I be-
lieve, a better plan for us to pursue. Myers has
been telling me that this Deadwood Dick lives
upon the stage trail, about ten miles from here,
and that he has a retty wife, of whom he is
passionately fond. cw, if we could ca ture

er and bring her here as a prisoner, I ancy
that we could manage Mr. Deadwood Dick just
about as we please.”

“It’s a capital idea," Montague assented,
eagerly. “Deadwood Dick’s wife once in our

wer, we will have him boiled down fink—that
is, if he cares anything for her.”

“ Myers avers that he does care very much
for her, and rather than that she should suffer,
he would, undoubtedly, suspend hostilities.”

“But surely, papa, you would not_think of
harming her?” Ethel interrogated, anxrously.

“ That de ends somewhat upon circum-
stances,” the irginiun replied, a little sternly.
“ If the road-agent devil persist in annoying us
and killing our men, either her life or his must
pm’ the forfeit."

“ Who will volunteer to go and fetch the
woman?” Montague asked. “ The sooner We

 

can get her here the better, as I imagine to-
morrow will see a change in the situation of
affairs.”

“ I will go, for one,” Fred St. Celton respond-
ed. “ I only want a couple of others to accom-
pany me, as three can handle a woman better
than a. dozen.” ,

Young Hanson and Warwick flnally volun-
teered to go, and it was decided to start at once,
as night was drawing on, and it would be safer
traveling. The swiftest horses were accor ~
ingly selected, and their feet muffled; then.
vaultin into the saddles, the three colonists
were 0 .

After they had gone, the remaining colonists
made preparations for another night’s watch.

About sunset Chris Carleton rode into the
valley and dismounted before the Casino, with.
as much coolness as though he were not an out-
law and a member of Deadwood Dick’s laud.

Entering the tavern, he drank deeply of
Myers’s whisky, when he left the place, and
mounting, rode over to the fort.

Judge Elliott and Montague were standing in .
the doorway as he rode up watching his move-
ments, for they were resolved it necessary. to
Erotect the interests of the colony by shooting

1m.

“ ’Evenin’,” Carleton granted, as he yankrd
his” horse to a. standstill. “Bin 8. fine day, ain’t
it?

“The day has been pleasant,” the Judge ro-
plied, stifl‘iy, resolved to keep his temper and
wrath in abeyance as long as possible, despite
the great loss he had suffered. '

“How d’ye make it jibe?” the outlaw de-
manded, coolly twisting the ends of his mus-
tache. “ Gettin’ most reddy ter vamoosel”

“ By no means, sir. If you came here to test

us, you can 0 away knowing that we will fight "

for this val ey as long as we have a grain of
{Jwge’n an ounce of lead, or a drop of life~
oo .
“ Waal, that ain’t percisely what I cum fer”

the ruflian replied, with apeeuliar grin. “ e _ - » 

see at kinder ’peared ter me like as of ye had
ther best side 0’ this question for a pistolic de-
bate, an’ I cum down ter see of we copldn’t
strike a bargain.” ,

“I do not know about that. sir. There is
none of us that owes you any goodlwill, and
consequently we shou d advise you to keep
away. ’

“Well, ef ye’d/ruther hev my enmity than
my friendship, jest say so, an’ ye ken have dead
loads of et.” ‘ . .

“We crave for neither, sir—simply for peace-
ful ssession,” the Judge said, decidedly.

“ eow, that’s ther very thing w’ot I want, f

too,” Carleton assured. “ tell ye what, ef ye
don’t make terms wi‘ me ye‘re losin’ yer last
chance 0’ winnin’ the game.

an’ children here in this valley who’d obey
Deadwood Dick’s very back an’ nod. Then ye

Before sunset ter- W
morrer, tbar’ll be over a hundred men, Wimmen I

r
':F

ken’t say yer soul’s yer own. Yer only hope '  "

hops inter view jest now. Ef ye make terms, I
hev ther fiower ter check the stampede into this
valley. f not, thar’ll be lively times hear, an'
ther basin will fill wi’ spilt blood 1”

“Do your worst, we fear not,” Montague '-

 



\l

 

 

Iran-

 

  

Deadwood Dick’s Double.

 

cried. “Carry the word back to your chief
' that we defy him.”

“But, hold! First let us hear this fellow’s
terms,” J ulge Elliott said. “ Perhaps they will
be such that we may accept them.” ‘

“Now ye tork bizness," Carleton avcrred.
“ I ain’t no swine, an’ I allow I know w‘at’s er
fair shake as well as ther next one. An’ so of
ye’ll dig ther wax outer yer ears, an’ listen, I’ll
tell ye w’ot I’ll do. Et depends muchly on me
Whether ye hold this valle or not. I kin stop
the influx 0’ Deadwood Die ’3 men, or I kin in-
crease ’em, a hundred fold. My terms are that
you will each give me ten acres off 0’ yer farms,
where they corner in the middle 0’ this bacill—
give ’em to me as my own, rightful property,
an’thet you, Jedge, shell give me over thct
darter o’ yours, ter fill my shanty as Mrs. Chris
Carleton I”

V “By heaven! I’d see you at the further end

of the earth, first, so far as giving you my

, child.” Judge Elliott cried, sternly, “and I am

v squall sure that none of us would part with
any 0 our lands for the sake of securing the
good will of a man of your type. ”

“ Then ye refuse ter cum ter terms?”
“ Absolutely i”

, “Cues yel e’ve sealed yer fate then. I will
not hinder t e vengeful work 0’ Deadwood
Dick, an’ he’ll massacre every mother’s son 0’

.. ye. An’, as for that pretty female posey thar
wi’in the fort. I’ll pursess her yet, an’ don’t ye
forgit it, ef I hev ter wade in blood over my
boot-tops ter git her. I’ve sworn ter et, au’
ye’ll find me true ter my oath.”

Then shaking his fist at them, the ruflian

, wheeled his horse and spurred away.

With an exclamation Montague whipped out
his revolver, but the Judge laid his hand upon
his arm, reprovingly.

“Stay! do not shoot him, and hasten the
trouble upon us. We are ill impaired for battle
even with our full force, an three are absent.
Wait! There will be fighting enough to do,
hereafter.”

“You are right,” the young man replied.

v “ Let the rascal go. A just fate will soon over-
take him.” .

, .And so Chris Carleton was permitted to ride
' out of the basin gulch unmolested, which was a.
kindness he did not deserve, to say the least.

A No other incident of importance occurred
4 that day, and night settled her somber shadows
'1 once more over t 0 land.

Two of the younger St. Celton boys volun-

. tested to do guard duty, and accordineg were
permitted to do so, while the remainder of the
colonists turned in for the night, as the ab-
figetees were not expected before morning, or

1‘.

It was just early dawn when Montague was
amused by the howl of a. coyote near the door
of the fort—a mournful, snarling sound that

'  chilled him.

, He partly arose, andytouched the senior War-
wick, who lay near by.
“ Did you hear that?” he demanded, in a low
us.
“Yes,” was the reply. “It was some wild

 ' ' Q‘Exactly, and its presence here has a signifi-

‘ ;

/

 

 

cance. There is_ trouble, and you and I must
make an investigation. ’Sh! don’t make a
noise!”

d Both men softly arose, 'and stole toward the
cor.

Montague lifted the bars and flung it open, at
the same time drawing his revolver.

The next instant both he and W'arwick leaped
back with startled yells.

The sight that stared them in the face was too
horrible for belief at first sight.

J ust in front of the door, not more than fifty
feet distant, two poles hadlbcen planted into the
ground, leaving about ten feet above-ground.

Upon the top of those poles were stuck the
borliless heads 0 f George and Charlie St. Celton !

The heads had been cleanly severed from the
body, and thus perched as a ghastly warning to
the colonists, for upon the forehead of each was
slashed thc lctters “ D. D.”—signifying “ Dead-
wood Dick.”

The bodies of the unfortunate young men
were nowhere in sight.

The startled yells of Montague and Warwick
s edil brought the rest of the colonists from
t eir s umber to gaze transfixed with horror
upon the awful sight.

How can we picture the terrible grief of those
colonists especially the father, mother, sister
and brothers of the murdered youths?

Indeed, it would be a task not pleasant to un-
dertake, and therefore we pass over the scene of
bitter mourning: and lumentation that followed,
as briefly as possible.

The two ghastly bonds were taken down and
buried in a box near the fort, being the second
solemn occasion of the kind since the colonists
arrived in Cat City valley.

The sun rose bright on this day, but the pio-
neers could see no signs of hostile presence in
the valley, although, by Judge Elliott‘s orders,
no one had ventured beyond gun-shot range
from the fort. '

Unanimously chosen as commander of the lit-
tle fort, . the J udge determined to execute his
duties to the best of his ability.

About noon the stages arrived from the North
and South, but neither unloaded any human
frei ht in front of the Casino. ,

hat was the meaning?

Had the plan of invading the Gulch been aban-
doned, or had Deadwood Dick stolen in and.
taken possession during the night?

It was a puzzling problem to solve, but Alf
Montague decided to tackle it.

It was necessary to make a scout to ascer‘ 1i ‘1
the “ lay of the land,” and arming himself well,
he decided to go alone.

Accordingly, early in the afternoon he ant
forth, promising to come back as soon as pos-
sible, for Fred St. Celton and his party had not
getfrcturned, which left but seven ma es at the

or ,.

Taking the road going south, he followed it
until he had entirely left the valley. This was a
maneuver to outwit any of the enemy—if there
were any such in the basin—41nd make them be-
lieve he was going to Leadville.

He then dropped upon all-fours and crept care-
fully back to the edge of the basin, where he

paused,

  

  

Deadwood Dick’s Double.

18

 

A skirting fringe of bushes ran from the
mouth, around the eastern side of the mountain’s
base, to the northern continuation of the gulch.

He finally, by crawling upon his stomach,
gained the :rotection of this cover, which was
precisely w at he most desired; he then crept
on, upon his hands and knees, until he gained a
position among the foothills, directly opposite
the fort, across the basin.

Here he pauscd once more to make observa-
tions. '

Without being seen he could see down into
the valley, but could see no signs of life. All
was silent except the trees that were occasion-
ally fanned by the breeze.

“By Jove! I believe there are persons in the
depths of that forest yet, and I’m going to sat-
isfy m self on the p’int, if I have to run the risk
of my ife.” .

He accordingly crept down from the foothills
toward the heart of the valley, which was
thickly timbered with pine and spruce ever-

eens.

grWith the stealth and caution of a skilled
trailer he moved on until he had arrived near
the center of the forest, where he paused.

Before him lay a little glade that he had
never seen before, across which ran a little
stream of glistening water.

Near this was built a rude but of limbs and
brush, thatched over with moss, leaves and
grasses—a hastily arrangled affair at the best.

Montague paused in t e edge 'of the glade as
motionless as a phantom—paused and gazed
and listened to ascertain if any person was
within the rude hut.

But his patience finally became exhausted, for
no signs of human life was he able to discover.

The grim pines sighed and soughed, as they
were wont to do, in the embrace of the breeze;
the little creek babbled noisily over its gravelly
bed: the insects of the forest droned and chirped
as usual and the birds sung musically, but not n.
sound or sight of human presence greeted the
watcher.

“I’ve half a notion to go forward and take a.
peep into that shebang, anyhow,” he muttered.

‘I sha’n’t more than get salivated, as they say.
for my cheek, and the satisfaction of one’s curi-
osity ou ht to compensate for the pangs of one
bullet. guess I’m mistaken about there being
invaders in the gulch, if this but has anyx sig-
nificance. It was probably built by that ray,
J fines and Allen.”

“ Ye’r’ darned right, thar,pardner,” a cool
voice exclaimed, and, wheeling around, Monta-
gue found the little Missourian, Gray, standing
close behind with a. pair of formidable six-
shooters in his grasp, already cocked. “,Ye’r’
darned right thar, 01 hoss an’ sence ye’ve cum
down ter visit us, I opine shall oblige yer tor
accept my hos itality ontil _ther rest 0’ ther
,ang arrives. y name’s Gil Gray, an’ I’m a
t oroughbred. Drop yer weapons, or I’ll punc-
turate ye I"

 

CHAPTER VI.
surrnav SAL APPEARS. I
Monraenn clearly saw that he had run him-

filf into a. fix, but did not propose to cry about

 

He was the coolest, always, when danger
natamced, and the best prepared to cope With
0 s.

He perceived that the little Missourian had
him “ covered ” by his weapons, and that resist-
ance was, for the time being, utterly useless.

Still, he resolved to hold parley for awhile, in
hopes, Micawberlike, that something would
“turn up ” to relieve him from his dilemma.

“You don’t mean to take me a prisoner?” he
demanded, as if in great surprise. “What have
I done to you?" ‘

“ Waal, I opine that ain’t my say. Bob Jones

the be my right bower, an’ I act accordink to '

his instructions. He sed latch onter yer, of ye
poked yer nose down this way, an’ you bet I
mind like‘an angel.” ‘

“I perceive you do. But I don’t see what
your pardner can want with me.”

“ 0h! Ye’ll find that out when he comes
along wi’ ther Capt’in an’ ther rest 0’ ther gang.”

“ Then you belong to Deadwood Dick’s infernal
crew, do you?” Montague demanded.

“ It does me proud to announce that I do,”
Gray declared, with a chuckle. .

“Then you’re the precise aloot I’m anxious
tor tackle!” a strange voice cried, and to the sur-'
prise of both, a new-comer stepped in upon
the scene, and “covered” the Missourian with a
cocked revolver fully as dangerouslooking as
his own. '

Not a man, mind you. but a woman, oung
and comely—a strange creature, attir in a

semi-male hunting suit, consisting of fringed v
, a»

brooches, top boots, long hunting-shirt, an
jaunty straw hat upon her head.

In face she was handsome of feature, and r «

of complexion, although it was easily perce t-
ible that she had acquired and adopted the h h,
feminine art of painting and powdering. Riser
eyes were dark and penetrating, and a great
a
upon her head and forehead, and fell in waves
upon her shoulders. "

She was armed with weapons of the'latest im-
proved patterns—a rifle slung behind her back,

a revolver and knife in her belt, and the revolver  y ’

in her grasp.
In her left

hand she carried a. smali‘leather
sachel. ’

undance of yellow hair was frizzed and pufl’ed _

Steadin did she level her weapon at the heart ll

of the Missourian, and in a way that meant
business.

“You jest drap them patent perforators o’ .

yours, of ya don’t want me terrphgg ye wi’ a slug, ,

frum my rupp gun, beer!” she vised, coolly.
“Thes hyar hi h-handed leetle game 0’ yourn

don’t work wu’t a Canadian copper; an’ as I’m - V. I i

a Regulator an’ Adjuster on my own book, I
opine of ye don’t mind right peart, I’ll prepare
ye fer a leetle hole in ther ground. ’ ' a

“Who the deuce are you!” the Missourian
growled, flinching before the magnetic deadly
gaze of the strange irl—for she was little else,

, apparently—and a1 owing his weapons tfidrop
o

from a level with .Montague’s heart. Y‘ n
hain't got no bizness t/er lip in an’ stick yer paw

in my puddin’ l”

“ Mebbe not, but when I hain’t got no liberty ,  

I allus manufacterasuéfily, 6 see. Efge want
my cog, et’s Slippery S ocum, au’ on’t yo

 

. 14 ' Deadwoad Dick’s Double.

 

fergit it. Ever heer 0" me? I’m a hull circus,
an’ part 0’ a pcrnaggerie when ye git me wakeil
up, sure. Come! sling away them weepons, I

sa 1”

y‘Mebbe I will, an’ mebbe I won’t,” Gray
snarled. “ What do you intend to do with me?”

“ Hana you, on course,” Slippery Sal assured.

“Youm lend a hand won’t you, pilgrim?”
turning to Monte. e.

“I don’t know,’ the colonist replied, rather
dubiously. “ The art of hanging has never been
one o’ my accomplishments.”

“Bah! thet don’t make no diiference. Ye
ken’t learn any younger, an’ of ye ’re goin’ ter
squat around ther diggin‘s, yer ken’t put yer
waste time tei' better purpose than practicin’ on
sech ornery skunks as this. After ye it yer
handin, it’s fun. Remember poor Royce lliott,
and don’t crawfish fer a few compunkshuns,

' nohow.”

“ Bet a burro e won’t hang me,” the Missou-
rian growled. ‘ Listen! some o’ ther boys are
cornin l”

“ Then, that settles your fate, you cussed ruf-

' flan!” Slippery Sal cried, with sudden grimness,
and the next instant her Weapon twice spoke
forth its fury. _ _

Gray uttered an exclamation of pain and
rage and dropped—not dead, but mortally
wounded. .

At the same time there were a dozen rifle

"reports, the sound of vindictive yells, and a
v0 lay of bullets whistled through the glade.

Montague uttered a faint groan. Slippery Sal
looked, saw him fall, and. knew that he was
wounded. . ' ‘

1ghe outlaw companions of the Missourian now
.b st into the valley, 3. score or more, with
,fri htfnl yells and oaths. '
* li pery Sal uttered a strange, Wild, almost
v devilish-laugh, and bounding forward in the face
of the oncoming ruifians, seized Montague and
raising him from the ground, across her shoul-
ders. she sprung on, into the deeper forest, with

’ . the fleetness of a fawn.

Uttering discordant yells of vengeance the
outlaws dashed away in hot pursuit, but al-
though strong and stout, and unincumbered,
,they were no match for this strange female
‘Hercules.

An accustomed runner, evidently, was she, for
\ he kept on with rapid bounds despite her bur-
Sen, the heft of which caused the roses to spring
vividly into her fair cheeks.

Through the forest she went bounding and
leaping like a hunted fox—over fallen trees,
throu h' briers and bushes, bravely bearing the
wonn ed colonist out of danger.

At last she burst from, the forest, and a few
bounds brought her to the fort, the door of
which was .open to receive her with her burden.

‘Just as she entered the fort, the outlaws burst
from the timber, but on seeing that she had
escaped them, they beat a hasty retreat, out of

Bi ht. ,
_' 5‘ Oh! what has happened to Alf l” Ethel Elliott
" demanded, in distress, as Slippery Sal coolly un-

loaded Montague from her shoulder, and laid
' him upon acoufzh of straw. “ Is he dead—killed?

, sou: Alf! Alt!

“No,,he ain’t dead, nor killed, I reckon,?’ the

 

 

eccentric girl replied, with a little laugh, “but
I’ll allow he’d a-got bashed-up purty lively by
them toughs, of ct liedn’t been for a gal 0‘ about
my stutter an’ amiahility. My name’s Sal
Slocum. lcddies an‘ gentlemen, of ye wanter
know—Slippery Sal, for short, nn’ I’m allus on
my muscle, ready fer a skewrup. Hcerd ye
needed recruits, down heer and thort I’d cum
down an’ show my hand. dot anything to eat?"

“ Of course we have, and you shall have all
you want of such as we have, because you saved
Alf!” Ethel declared.

And the rest of the colonists warmly wel-
comed the odd stranger, who had risked her own
life to save that of Montague, Who was not seri-
oust wounded—u. bullet in either leg being his
only disabling hurts.

Slip iery Sal soon proved that she knew how
to ma 0 herself at home, and that she was not a
bit bashful. Moreover, she was tonguey and
witty, and her presence was the means of, in
a measure, cheering the colonists out of the
gloomy state they were gradually settling into.

Though bold and eccentric, her actions were
not censurable, and she soon was respected and
admired by all within the fort, but was equally
a uzzle to them.

i he could sing, or dance, or joke, u on an in-
stant‘s warning, and yet. at times a su den wave
of thoughtfulness would seem to steal over her,
ani thus she would remain until the cloud lift-
ed. a few minutes later.

Fred St. Celton’s band had not yet returned
with the wife of Deadwood Dick, and considera-
ble anxiety was felt lest they had been entrapped
or ambushed by the outlaws, and either taken
prisoners or massacred.

When asked her opinion about the matter,
after an explanation had been made to her,
SlipBery Sal shook her head. .

‘ on’t allow they’ve see’d any trouble from
ther gang, ’cause they’ve bin hyar in the valley
since last midnight, or at least a sheer o’ ’em.
What aire ye goin’ ter fetch Deadwood Dick’s
wife here for?”

“She is to be our prisoner. We are oing to
use her to protect ourselves with. Eit er this
Deadwood Dick must withdraw his claim from
the valley and cease his hostilities, or we shall
be compelled to hold his wife as a hostage.”

“The plan won’t work," Slippery Sal said.
“ When you deal with the genuine Deadwood
Dick, you deal with a gentleman of honor, and a
man who fears neither feller—man or devil.”

“ One would infer that you do not believe our
present enemy to be the genuine Deadwood
Dick,” the Judge said, in some surprise.

“ Thet’s about the size of et, yes. I’ve heard
tell on ther real Deadwood Dick, an” I’ll allow
he don’t head a. gang 0’ cut-throats. now. This
fellei; who’s claimin’ the gulch ain’t the gen—
ume.

“ I cannot believe that. Deadwood Dick has a
hard reputation, and it is said, never lets human
life stand in the way of his ambition.” ‘

Sli pery Sam turned away.

“ ebbe not," she said.

Night drew on and began to close in over the
gulch basin. With its approach camp-fires be-
gan to. gleam here and there on the edge of the
eastern forest. I

4

’3

Deadwood Dick’s Double. : ' 15

 

Montague, supported by a pair of hastily-
formed crutches, watched them from the door of
the fort, in company with the Judge and Ethel,
and several others among whom Slippery Sal
was prominent.

“ I don't believe but what we’ll see trouble to-
night,” the youiiicolonist replied, in answer to
an inquiry for is opinion. “The devils have

ot possession of the timber, and can worry us
if they try.”

“Yes, they’ve got ther dead-Wood on yo, but
that ain’t no reason why they shed lick, if ye
play er keerds sharp,” was Sal‘s opinion.

“ ow do you mean?”

“Oh! I ken’t tell ye, jest yet, ye know, but
take my word for et, thar’ll be a red-hot chance
ag‘in’ t em invaders by an] by."

This was all that was said just then, for
“ General ” Elliott, as Sal had christened him,
gave orders for closing the fort.

It was decided not to post a guard upon the
outside of the buildin , owing to the tragic fate
of the two St. Celton )oys. '

Slippery Sal and Judge Elliott volunteered
to keep a watch within the fort, and give the
alarm should any suspicious sights or sounds be

hear .

The Girl Sport. as she characterized heiself,
was a person of keen sense and judgment, de-
spite her strangeness of vord and manner, and
gave little bits of advice, occasionally, in re-
fiard to different things, that showed that she

ad had experience—that hers was an told head
upon young shoulders.

The Judge took more than a usual interest
in her, evidently, for be frequently drew her
into conversation, and his eyes were upon her,
when she was present.

But Slippery Sal failed to notice this, evident-
ly, for she treated one and all alike, with the
exception of Lew Lyons.

‘ To him she seemed to take an instant aver-
sion, ‘which, however, was not singular as none
of the colonists were particularly fond of him,
Willis Wig? t to part1 l l

yons i no appear care en ar ,
and if he meditated mischief, he was frustrateyd
by being closely watched.

About midnight, when Judge Elliot had step-
ped Without the fort for a moment, Slippery Sal
crossed over to where Lyons was lying, and
peered down sharply into his face. The man was
eVidentlysound asleep, and the Girl Sport had
opportunity to closely inspect his face without
his knowing it.

“I thought I had seen him before, when I
came here, but guess I’m mistaken,” she mused
as she finally turned away and went back to her

in 1.

it this instant Judge Elliott came rushing into
the fort in a state of great excitement.

“Wake up! wake up—all of you i” he cried,
wildl —“ wake up, for God’s sake, and tell me
that am dreaming, or am I going mad! A
ghost— Royce Royce! my dead boy!”

One b one the colonists collected by the
Judge’s Side. and followed the line of his pointed
arm down into the basin, where the grave of
Re ce Elliot had been made.

here they saw what Montague, Hanson and
the St. Celtous had seen the night before—the

 

ghostly horseman by the edge of the forest, sur-
rounded by the mysterious halo of light:

Plainly perceptible to those at the fort, the
face was an exact counterpart of what young
Elliott’s face had been in life, except that the
eyes were now closed, and there was an unearth-
1y 'Fullor upon the features.

ransfixed with horror, the colonists gazed at
the frightful spectacle in mute silence.

There was something so very terrible in the
thought of Royce Elliott’s coming back to haunt
them, that they could but stand and game in
speechless horror.

Montague and Slippery Sal were the coolest
ones of the lot. Montague was not so greatly _
agitated as when he had seen it before, and as ,
for the Girl Sport, she was perfectly cool, as .
she gazed keenly at the spectral apparition.

Lew Lyons was the first to speak.

“Curse the thing!” he gasped, white with\»""'

terror as he reached for his rifle. “I’ll dro
that ghost, or waste my lead, one or the other] ’
He raised his rifle to his shoulder and took
aim, but Slippery Sal suddenly sprung forward
and knockcc the weapon out of range.
“ Cheese it 1” she said. authoritatively. “ Don’t
you dare to fire, of ye don’t wanter die 1”

CHAPTER VII.

‘ EDITH HARRIS.

BUSINESS was there in the words of Sli pery;
Sal, and although it was in the mind' of
to disobey her, he hesitated, and flinched before
tlig deadly gaze that came from her midnight.
or s.

“ What the hang’s the difference to you, what
I do?” he demanded, with a. savage growl. _'

“ A good bit,” Sal replied, coolly. “ Ye . r
don’t shute that specrit, not if I kin be p lt—vfer ,
two reasons. Fu’st: I’ve got a purtickler river- 1'
auce fer speerits un‘ ghosts; an’ seckont~kuow-
in’ well ye couldn’t tech yonder ap rition, ye’d ‘
better kee yer fire fer thar’ll be
afore day reek. 'l‘hem words down thar aint \
so dull aii’ gloomy fer nothing, bet yer dirty
socks on that I” -

“ The girl is right,” the senior St. Celton 'de
clared, approvingly. “ Nothin
by wasting powder on yonder t ing, be it spirit,
man or devil. My dear Elliott, what in the
name of Heaven can it be? Do you think it is
the host of your dead son?”

 

” es! yes!” the Judge groaned,huskily,l “itis » . ~ 1‘

his ghost come back to haunt me.
what have I ever done to merit this blow?”

“ Do not take this matter to heart so, Judge " '
Montague said, babbling forward upon  s
crutches. “If yonder specter is indeed a spirit
from the other world, . .
come to haunt us for any particular sin, but is
sent as a warning of danger, and also to watch
for our welfare. I have soon the thin once be-
fore, fogether with young Hanson, an Tom and r
Fred St. Celton, but refrained from mentioning
the fact, lest it should give you undue annety
“51 glble'h" s1 Sal i d inti

a see i pery or e , p0 n
down into the basil: excitedly. “ Mon er
words are right. It comes as a} warnin' am
my cats at it don’t! See! it holds aloft a
banner.” ‘

4

yons 1 .

shtin’ ter d9. ‘ v

can be gained 

am sure it does not, 

 

 

' l

A ‘ x can help it, but we must use

. claim
' u

16

They all looked, to find that it was even so.

The right arm of the specter had suddenly
stretch out from the shoulder, and the hand
grasped an illuminated banner, on which was
inscribed in letters of fire, which shone brightly
into the night the following words:

“Look out} Danger! Be firm!”

That and nothing more.

Then, after a moment, the apparition sudden-
ly began to fade from view, until it was quite
lost rom sight, although it did not seem to
move from the one side where it had first ap-

re .
When it was gone there was a general sigh
of relief among the colonists, as they tumed
back into the fort. The Judge and Ethel had in
a measure conquered their agitation, but were
grave and silent, which showed that the sight of
the specter had affected them more than was
ap arent.
here was no sleep in the little fort for the
remainder of that night, nevertheless the ghost
did/not make its up earance.

Toward daybrea hoof-strokes were heard,
and it was discovered that Fred St. Celton and
hisTEarty were ap reaching the fort.

e door was t rown open as soon as they
arrived, and they were heartily welcomed.

Mounted u u an extra horse was Edith, the
pret wife 0 Deadwood Dick, now looking pale
and ati ed. Close beside her horse the big
mastiif, ld Daggers, kept vigilant watch of his
mistress, as much as to say:

“ l£00k out! If you harm her, woe be unto
you

“Here we are!” Fred St. Celton cried, as he

rode 2g and slipped from the saddle. " We
corral the game after a while, and induced
, her to cgme. And as tired and hungry as dogs
are we.

A general dismount was made, and Edith
was conducted into the cabin, closely followed
by the dog.

. “ You want to look out for her,” Fred St.
Celton said. “ She rotests the cuss who claims
the valley isn’t her usband, the true Richard,
and claims we are doing hera great injustice by
brinan her here as a prisoner.”

“ n so I dol” Edith cried, indignantlv.
“ You are all a set of cowards, or you would
seek the man who is harming you, instead of
causing trouble to one whom you wrongfully
deem to be a ruflian’s wife.”

“We, don’t wish to harm you, ma’am. if we

on as a shield to

protect ourselves against t e villainous on-

' slaughts of Deadwood Dick,” the Judge said,

gravely, but kindly.

,“ But you are wrong. My husband is not of-
fering you the least harm.”

“ Ah! I cannot credit that. ma’am. You

to he Deadwood Dick’s wife.”

Yes I do and am proud of being so."

‘,‘ And this man who aspires to drive us from
Cat City Gulch, announces himself as Deadwood
Dick. 50 you see we are not wrong." ’

“ But it is not the original Deadwood Dick, I
say,” Edith declared tears of vexation and in-
dignation standing in her eyes. “It is some
ingester who has stolen my husband’s notoriety,

isusing it to adevilish purpose. My hus«

 

Deadwood Dick’ Double.

band is even now absent in search of the usur-
per of his name to unmask him l”

“I dare say so,” the Judge replied, with a
(uict smile of disbelief. “ I am sorry to say
t at I cannot yet put faith in your protest, and
shall have to hold you as a hostage. Will you
promise to stay here peaceably, without attempt-
ing to escape, or shall we be obliged to confine
you?"

“ You can do as you please. I shall escape
at the first opportunity, and you’d better look up
your weapons where I cannot get hold of them,
for your lives will answer for this indignity, if
I get free.”

“In that case, we shall take care to not per~
mit you to do us harm,” the Judge said. “ I
have a air of handcuffs among my effects.
They wil just about fit you, I guess.”

“ Say, J edge, a1" them the ones you wore
when ye escaped from the penetentiary!” Slip-
pery Sal demanded with a quizzical dryness.

“ Undoubtedly," the Judge replied, smiling,
at which there was a genera laugh.

The handcuffs with a long slim chain attached
were soon found. The latter, being long enou h,
was removed, and after being secured about er
waist, was fastened to the wall. The handcuffs
were also placed upon her wrists, and she was
indeed a prisoner.

She submitted without further argument, but
the flash of her orbs evidenced the fact that she
1was greatly incensed at the indignity put upon

er

Daggers, the big mastifl’, watched the pro-
ceedings with a sullen look and a growl of dis-
satisfaction, and seemed to be anxiously waiting
for an invitation on the part of his mistress to
wage a battle with the offending colonists.

Great were the horror and grief of Fred St.
Celton, when he learned of the terrible death of
his two {ounger brothers.

And t e glances that were turned upon the
fair prisoner, as the ghastly crime was dis-
cussod, were anything but promising to her
future welfare.

Indeed, were they to be blamed for thirsting
for vengeance upon the ruflElan who was the cause
of all these deaths?

The dog, Daggers, lay down before his mis-
tress, as a. sort of protective guard; yet he gazed
keenly at Slippery Sal, as if believmg that she
was a friend.

Finally he arose with a whine, and crossing
the floor to where she was sitting, sat u n
his haunches, and looked wistfully up into er

ace.

“Git cut, you purp!” she exclaimed, making
a motion at him with a stick of wood, at which
he slunk back to Edith and lay down. “I
nevyer was partial ter dorgs, nohow. They’re
’most allus troubled wi’ fleabotomy, or sum sich
ailment.”

Banished though he was, Daggers was not
wholly abashed. for he continued to eye Slip-
perv Sal drowsily.

Morning at last dawned, without any hostile
movement having been made by the 1 us
who were concealed in the forest.

This was not according to the expectation of
till; colonists, and consequently they were puz~
z .

Deadwood Dick's Double.

1"

 

What was the cause?

If Deadwood Dick meant to fight for posses-
sion of the gulch, why did he not institute pro-
cecdmgs?

Or had he concluded to hold the Wooded por~
tion, and allow the colonists to retain the ground
thgy alread occupied?

hese an many other conjectures agitated the
minds of those Within the fort.

Shortly after sunrise, a band of horsemen
numbering a dorm all told, rode into the valley
from the northern gap, and took to the woods.

They were headed by a masked leader in
black, and this man the settlers immediately
decided was Deadwood Dick. '

“That explains the reason why we have not
been attacked before,” Montague said. “Now
look out for warm times.”

The settlers, by Judge Elliott’s order, kept
closely within the fort, as from the edge of the
timber a rifle-shot, well aimed, could kill a man
standing in front of the building, so that they
were obliged to use the western window as a
mode of egress.

Food was now becoming alarmingly scarce,
there being barely enough obtainable for an-
other meal.

A consultation was held as to the best means
of sgpplymg the larder, but none could be de-
Vise

To leave the fort in search of game was not
practicable, inasmuch as there was great danger
in so doing. And there was no other source, as
Myers had refused to part with any more, from
his larder.

“ Perhaps we can at least send by the stages
for the sup 1y we need,” Montague suggested.

“But w ere’s the money to come from?" the
Judge emanded. “ We all do osited our cash
in the bank at Leadville, and doubt if there
are five dollars among the crowd.”

“Ef ye want spondulicks, jest call on me,”
Slippery Sal said, slapping her hand upon her
breeches pocket, with a smile. “ I’ve made In
pile, you bet, and you ba’n’t starve of et s
money ye want. But let me put a flea in yer
ear, JedgHon’t e harm that lettle woman
over yander, ef ye on’t want me ter skulp ther
hull top 0’ your head off, I’m tellin’ ye.”

“You mean Deadwood Dick’s wife?”

“ Of course I do.”

“ Why do you interfere in her behalf? Is she
not the wife of a notorious outlaw, whose crimes
are known from the Atlantic to the Pacific?”

“ Thet don’t make!” Sal declared. “ E! I was
ther wife 0’ ther devel, d’ye suppose I’d be an-
swerable an’ ter blame fer all his shines? Not
by a. hanged sight! Besides. ye ken count
strong on what that gal sez. She ain’t no liar,
I’ll allow.”

“Perhaps not. Anyhow, we’ll not harm her
unless forced to do so. I am going to write
some notices and have them sent to the chief of
the gang, and see what he Will have to say.”.

About noon Slippery Sal shouldered her rifle,
and was about to leave the fort, when Montague
hailed her.

“ Whattlegou are not going to leave us?” he

term

“ I’ll $319“; I am, fer a time!” was the reply.
“ Got any objections?”

 

“No, only that we would like to have you
stay. as we may need help.”

“ Oh! when ye need inc, ye’ll find me in this
immeget vicinity,” was the reply, and then,
with a wild laugh she strode away, along the
westward trail. '

Not long afterward the Kansan, Lew Lyons,
followed in her tracks.

He was armed to the teeth, and had declared
his intention of going in search of game. ‘

But, jud ing trom the cunnineg evil expres-
sion upon  sinister face, the game he sought
was the Girl Sport.

The way in which he followed her trail, also
showed that he was “no slouch ” of a trailer or
plainsman.

Looking neither right nor left. he continued h

on. following closely the trail of Slippery Sal.

It led out of the gulch basin, through the
northern gap into the country that rolled away
beyond-1110untainous, gulch-riven, and rocky
in the extreme.

He finally paused—he had need to go no
further, if he was in search of Slippery Sal, for
she stood before him!

She had stepped suddenly from a clum of
bushes, and confronted him, a cocked revo ver
in her hand, and a deadly glitter in her eye.

“Halt!” she cried. “I was anticipatin that
ye wanted ter hev a set-to wi’ me, so jest
waited, ye see. Squar’ yerself. now, ef thar’s
any bizness in ye, an’ ye want ter face a catta‘
mount.” - '

" That’s ther very kind 0’ a beast I wanter en-
counter!” Lyons assured, with a leer.

sence yure so free wi’ yer chin musick, I thort
I’d foller ye an’ test yer capacity. I don’t gineral-
ly allow no galoot ner even a galootess to adul-
terate my say, and when sich party do chip in,
I allus scoop em up an’ scatter ’em at furst op-
purtunity.”

“ Korect! I never was in a more co-opera-

‘ o “ You .
hpped m a little too much, down at ther rm, and

tive mood than now. Ef ve want to sample my ,' »
muscle, sail right in an’ I’ll receive ye. Ef ye -

want knives, I’ll make my best sculptorial at-

tempt at carvin’ ye, or, ef ye want pistolic pre— -

ference, I’ll salivate
manner!”

“I’ll choose revolvers at thirty paces. for
me!" the villain said, with ‘
in his eye.

“All right—jest as 6 please. Pace ofl,”
Slippery Sal said: “an’ y the way, afore ye
get ter wake, jest nominate the spot whar I
shall lent ye, after I’ve sent ye off ! ’

“ ’llfost any place’ll do for me," Lyons gritted
as ‘he paced the distance, " an’ ef
ye knuckle I’ll bury ye in
mudhole.”

Then with weapons ready they took their
places.

ye in ther latest approved

utB the gulch,

 

CHAPTER VIII.
AN ono ENCOUNTER.
Born parties were apparently cool and self-
reliant, especiall Slippery Sal. She seemed to

have no dread o the unc rtain result, for there . 1 

was a twinkle of triump in her eye, and a faint
smile hovering about her lips. I ~
Lyons, too, seemed calm, although there was

\

a triumphant glitter _

er first convenient . '-

 

     
 
    
 
  
  
    
  
   
 
   
   
   
   
  
 
    
 
  
   
   
   
  
   
  
     
   
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       
     
         

\

\ a-techin’.

' - away.
" blessed privelege.
" next time ye wanter impose on an innercent,

Deadwood Dick’s Double.

 

a perceptible tremor to his arm as he raised and
cocked his weapon.

“Cum! ain’t yo nevyer goin’ ter git ready?”
Sal demanded. “I’m in a hurry todecido my
futur’ course 0’ proceediu's, an’ of [it don’t make
no difference ter you, I’d motion thet ye be
sumzat livelier—jest to make the thing interest—

In”.
laI’m reddy,” Lyons said. “How we goin’

'. ter et ther start off?”

“ ’11 tel] ye a plan thet’s jest as fair fer one
as ’tis fer t’other, ner thar ain’t a oose’s ounce
,o’ shinnanigan about et. We’ll oth 1a flat
upon ther round, on our backs, wi’ our eads
hen, when I yell ‘keno,’ thcr first
who kin spring inter a position for a shot is ther

best, feller, an’ scoops ther deck. \Vhat d’ye

sa i’

xI’m a reeable. I’ve see’d et tried before.”
“Then r0 1”

’ ’ The did drop, both flat upon the ground, on

their acks, with their arms stretched out, and
their heads touching. ~

“Thet’s ther kind,” Slippery Sal declared
from her p05ition. “Ye know ther shape ye’ll
lay in yer coffin now, pilgrim. How d’ye feel,

_ 'jest about this time?”

“ The same as before,” Lyons growled.

“An? ye wanter become my
ment, eh?”

“ I’ll kill you at sight ” was the assurance.

“Then, git reddy. Mebbe ye’ll disregulate

‘ my system wi’ yer cuds o’ afieckshun, an’ meb-
’ be ag’in ye won’t.
as s ,
"yer pra are an’ yer kittenchisms, an’ ask par-

Mobbe I ain’t an iron-clad,
meb e I am. Onel~ git ready. Twol say
ding. hreel balance yerself fer the final send-
otf, an’ prepare to cross Jordan afoot; and lastly
—‘ keno ! ”

That was the signal—the fatal word that was
to start the duel, and decide the fates of the tw0
concerned.

And they were ready—waiting for it, that they

_ might triumph.

yous made a lightning effort to raise himself,
and succeeded, but before he could face around
to get a shot, Slippery Sal had whopped over

. upon her face—a move the man from Kansas

had not thought of—and the next instant her
revolver spoke out spitefully.

With a groan Lyons dropped back, the blood
Spurting from a hole in his Slde.

“Curse you i” he gasped; “finish the job, and
put me out of m misery.” _

“ No! Iwon’t o ennything like it ” Sal replied.
“M name’s Sal Slocum, no slouc , an’ I ain’t
no' njine ter scalp a cuss after I’ve lamed him,
an’ don‘t ye ferget it. I’m a-goin’ ter leave ye
hear, an’ of ye want ter kick ther bucket, kick
if ye conclude to recover, it’s er
But, let me tell ye, t or

vartuous maiden] female, jest select sum one
w’at don‘t w’ar t e breaches, ner ain’t got no
red-hot in her eye, or in all probability yc'll get
planted I” . _
And then with a cool laugh the eccentric r1
ttgnrned away, leaving Lyons where he ad
en. ,

 

I‘ ‘I'At the tort the day passed without any par-

, r I . 3..

ast earthly ail- A

 

ticular incident, except when on the arrival of
the southward-bound stage a suiiicient purse was
raised to send to Leadville for a small supply of
flour, salt and beef.

About sunset, however, several of the outlaws
were discovered in the edge of the forest, and
Judge Elliott sent Fred St. Celton with a flag of
truce and a message to Deadwood Dick to ascer-
tain if a confab could be arranged.

Half-way between the fort and the forest the
colonist went, and then paused to see if a truce
flag would be sent out from the other side.

fn a few minutes a man rode forth, upon
horseback, with a handkerchief tied to his rifle
barrel, and a proached the spot where Fred
had halted. I’ e was masked, and clad in black,
and armed with a liberal supply of belt wea-
pons.

\thn he had arrived within hailing distance,
be reined in his horse, and bowed, waiting, evi-
dently, for St. Celton to speak.

Which he was not afraid to do.

“ Do I behold in you, Deadwood Dick, the
erEllll claimant for this valley?" he demanded,
coo .

" {lion do!” was the reply. in a hoarse tone.

“And likewise‘ the author of the ghastly
crimes committed against three of our colony?”

“ The same,” the outlaw re lied.

“ You are aheartless wretc 1, then,” St. Celton
cried, fiercely, “ and hanging is too good a death
for you to die. Do you propose to centinue your
villainous ersecutions?’

“ I do. he gulch is rightfully mine. I came
here and staked it out, and in this region we allow
that he Who gets first possession is owner. You
came here, evidently swindled by some sharper,
and took possession without any right whatever.
I ordered you off, and you refused to go—defied
me. Consequently, you have reaped some of the
consequences, but not all, for if you persist in re—
maining in the gulch, you shall all die—every
one of you 1” ,

“Then we will die 1” Fred St. Celton cried,
hotly. “ We won’t be bulldozed out of our rights
by a fellow of your lawless stamp. This is not
what I came to say, however. I ave here a a-
per from our leader Judge Elliott, which w' , I
think, explain itself.”

He extended the document in his hand, and
Deadwood Dick’s Double rode forward, and re-
ceived it. He then rode off at a proper distance
and perused it.

It seemed to give him considerable surprise,
for he went over it a second time.

It ran as follows:

“ Dannwooo DICK: Sta—inasmuch as you have de-
clared yourst our enemy, and have foully dealt
With three of our party, when they had harmed
you not, we have been compelled to adopt stringent
measures in order to protect ourselves against you.
Therefore, we have captured and taken prisoner
your wife. Edith by name. and unless you come for-
ward and swear by all your hopes of future salvation
that you will cease your hostilities toward us. re-
move your men. and yield Cat Cit Gulch to us, now
and forever henceforth. I will or er your wife shot,
until she is dead, in front of this fort on the morning
of the 20th instant, at ns‘iiprise. Today is the 16th.

Remember! This is fl
“ (Signed) J UDsoN muon-
“ Commanding Fort Ethel."

 

 

  
  

tax" A’ ’



 

 

DeadWood Dick’s Double. " 19

 

After perusing the notice the second time, the
Outlaw turned to St. Celton:

“ I will consider the substance of this,” he said
gravely. “ In case I agree, I suppose my vxife
will be turned over to me?” .

“ Exactly. When you have sworn to the ful-
fillment of the things specified in thatdocument,
Edith Harris shall he turned over into your
possession, and you shall be given ten minutes
to get out of range of our rifles.”

“ Very well. i will reflect, and re ort at my
convenience!” the outlaw replied, as e wheeled
his horse and gallopcd back toward the timber.

Fred St. Celton returned to the fort, and re- _

ported the result of the interview.

“ I think he will come to terms,” Judge Elliott
declared. “ But if he don’t he shall find that we
shall carry out our threat to the letter.”

Edith had been apprised of the plan, and re—
ceived it without a word; but when she learned
from Montague that there was a likelihood of her
being given over to the outlaw, a frightened ex-
pression came into her eyes.

“ For Heaven’s sake, sir, do not give me over
to that murderous wretch, whoever he may be!”
she cried, piteously. “ Kill me outright, rather
than that, for he is not my husband, and my
fate in his power would make a hundred deaths
preferable to me."_

“ That would not help us, Mrs. Harris, to kill
you, when there is a p05sibility of securing
peace by giving you over. I pity and sympa-
thize with you, secretly, but have no power to
act in your behalf. All the others, except Ethel,
second the Judge’s plan, and the majority of
course rules in such a. case as this.”

“Then you would not see me thus made the
subject of 'a bargain, but for the others—a hor-
rible tradck—the sacrifice of a weak woman to
an unholy ruflian. to secure peace?” Edith said,
tears standing in her eyes.

“Indeed I would not. If the outlaw is really
not your husband, it is an inhuman outrage to
trade you into his power even to secure peace.
I would fight against such a thing with my last
breath I" ‘

“ Thank youl thank you! Your words show
that you, at least, have a heart. Never mind.
Let them barter me if they will. Perhaps I can
esca from the other captor easier.”

“ trust and hope you can,” Montagugsaid,
earnestly.

Ho and Ethel alone were in favor of giving
Deadwook Dick’s wife her freedom, but, of
course, could carry little argument against the
rest, who, smarting under the blows of the
gulch outlaw were prejudiced against her
whom they fully believed to be his Wife. Night
drew on, and spread her mantle over all objects
within the mountain locked land: still no sign
was seen from the forest of the return of Dead-
wood Dick. _

A fierce storm was broodingalong the eastern
horizon, and gradually spread Its black vail over
the great dome above, the fierce roll of the
thunder, and the spiteful lightning predicting
that it was to be no mild affair.

Myers and the Chinaman, who had kept
131‘et Y closely housed since the advent of the
outlaws into the valley, came over to the fort,
just at dusk, and asked permission to stay there

 

over night, and were not refused,‘ as the Call-
l'ornian appeared friendly, and as yet had shown
no sign 0 treachery.

Fred St. Celton volunteered to go upon guard
duty alone, and was so allowed.

About ten o’clock in the evening all turned in
for the night, and be was left to look after the
safety of the fort. -»

As the storm had not yet burst, he remained
out of doors, and kept watch lest prowlers.
should get near, for he was troubled with a fear
phat an attack would be made by the out-
aws.

But the hours drag ed by until it was after
midnight, yet no attac ', and as it was beginning
to sprinkle he turned to enter the fort, when he
saw something ahead in the darkness, that
caused him to halt abruptly.

Two gleaming balls of fire they were, about
the size of a pair of eyes, but he could see no
outlines of head or face, and was unable to
getegmine whether they belonged to a man .or

'GflS .

Doubtful as to the practicability of advanc<
ing, he stood still in his tracks, and gazed stead~ '
ily at the gleaming, fiery orbs, that seemed to
havein themselves a mocking, triumphant ex-
pressmn. .

And the more he gazed at them the more be
felt like gazing at them—a strange, ecstatic feel-
in seemed laying hold upon him. »

as it a trance, or what? i

There he stood, while the rain—dro began to
patter down, faster and fatter—stood)s rigid and
silent, leaning partly upon his rifle, not so much
as a muscle in his body appearing to move
while his gaze continued steadfastly riveted V
upon the two gleaming orbs that shone out of
the darkness.

Finally they began to grow nearer and
nearer; sow was t eir approach, yet steady
until at last the owner, a masked man, loom
cut of the darkness and stood within a foot of ‘
the colonist. ‘ .

A man clad in black garments, with a. mask, ’
over his eyes, the lower part of his counten’ance
being exposed to view.

A moment his fiery eyes gazed into those of
the colonist—then he waved his gloved right
hand before his face in several gesticulations,
none of which Fred St. Celton seemed to notice.
Then, with a chuckle, the masked man passed
on and into the open doorWay of the fort, Fred
having left the door unlatched.

Upon the threshold the masked r stranger
aused. and peered into the great apartment
)efolrie him, which was dimly lighted by a single

can 0. .

Evident it was that he preferred to look before
he leaped.

The apartment was a large one. and the col-
onists and their families occupied beds dotted
about here and there—those old-fashioned. cur-
tain beds, which belonged to the days of our
ancestors. -

Therefore, while the prowler could see the
curtain bedsteads, he could not see the occu-

pants. , \
He listened several minutes, but as he heard

only the suppressed breathing he seemed reas-
sured, and stepped softly into the cabin~tort. '

 

“Y theknowl

 

20 Deadwood Dick’s Double.

 

'A glance showed him where Edith Harris
was‘confined, and he stole toward her with cau~
tious steps.

She was lying upon a hastily improvised
couch that had been furnished her, and was
evidently asleep.

Not so with the great mastifl', Daggers.

He arose promptly to his feet from a position
beside the couch, and sniffed the air inquiringly.
Then he wagged his tail familiarly, as if he
reco ized the intruder.

-“’ h! Dag, old boy!” the masked man whis—
pered. “Lay down, and be quiet.”

. As if fully understanding the words addressed

_to him, the dog obeyed; then the night prowler
stole forward and bent over the recumbent
’torm of Edith, as she lay in slumber!

/ CHAPTER IX.

A CASE or MESMERISM AND A WOMAN’S WIT.

“EDITH! Edith!”

It was the voice of the stranger hushed to
a whisper, that called.

Theslee r aroused with a start, and proba-
bly woul have screamed at sight of the
speaker but for his motioned injunction for her
to b; silent, accompanied by hasty, whispered
wor s.

“’Shl don’t alarm the others. ’Tis I, Dick-
your husband I”

‘ “ Oh! thank Heaven!” Edith breathed in re—

lief. “ I see now Daggers knows on, and
. would permit no other man to approac .”

“ True. Daggers is a faithful friend and pro-

. hector,” Deadwood Dick returned, in the same
arded tone. “ Tell me when you were‘brought
are and what for?”

.Edith accordingly narrated, in as few words
as possible what is already known to the reader
—how she had been captured as a shield against
the pseudo Deadwood Dick, and the proposed
barter that was to be made.

"‘ Curse them!” the ex-Prince of the Road
muttered, fiercely. ‘ “ I would be their friend,

‘ but they are taking the wrong course to win my
friendship. I scarcely know what to do in this
case.

“Free me, my husband, and let’s flee from

‘ this t!” Edith suggested, eagerly.

“ o, I' cannot do that. It would not be the
square thing. These colonists hold you and
treat you as a prisoner of war, and, under the
circumstances, they do right, as they deem you
to be my wife, and me the outlaw who is giving
them so much trouble. Do they treat you re-
spectfullyi”

“ Yes, I am treated civilly, although with two

7 exceptions, 1 am regarded sternly and unpity-

mglyi’
‘ “ eiy well. I See you are not actuall suf-
fering, except in spirit, and that fact ta es a
great weight from my mind. I must not tarry
longer, as some of the colonists may awaken.”

“ 0b! are you not going to take me with you,
mv husband?”

“ Not now, pet. We are miles from our
’ home and I would have no place to take you.
,' You had beet remain here, for the present. If
- they attem tto [kill on, be of brave heart in

edge that will be near and ready to

 

“ But in case the Double comes to take advan-
tage of their offer?” -

“G0 with him, the same as if you knew it
were I, and take assurance in the fact that I
your husband, so directed you,” Deadwood
Dick said. >

“I will do as you have told me,” Edith re-
plied, trying to be very brave, although the
tears would spring into her eyes.

“Of course you Wlll, my pet, and now good-
by until you see me again, which I trust will not
be a long time hence, ’ he said, kiSSing her, and
receiving in return her loving caress.

Then he turned to leave the fort, but stopped
short, with a stifled exclamation of disappoint-
ment, for not a dozen yards away stood Tom
St. Celton, holding a lighted candle in one
hand, and a cocked revolver in the other, the
latter being leveled at the breast of the ex-road
Prince.

A triumphant smile was upon the face of the
colonist, and he stood coolly gazing at Dead-
wood Dick, with the air of one who had gained
the complete mastery, as he imagined he had,
over the famous outlaw. So he thought, but
he reckoned wrongly.

Scarce were the men who had ever been suc-
cessful in holding Deadwood Dick long in abey—
ance to their will, and Tom St. Celton was no
exception to the rule, burly and strong though
he was.

The very fact that he stood gazing triumph—
antly at his supposed captured game, was
where he lost, for the eyes of Deadwood Dick
met his in a steady gaze, and after a moment,
feeling a strange sensation stealing over him,
he found it literally impossible to overcome the
fascigation of the gleaming orbs of the ex-road—
agen .

Rigid he grew in his tracks, vacancy of ex-
pression taking the place of brilliancy in his
eyes. Then Deadwood Dick stepped forward,
and waved his hand in front of his face, and
Tom St. Celton was effectually done for, for the
time being, although he looked grim and dan-
gerous, as he stood positioned in the middle of
floor in a warlike attitude. L

“Weapons keener than daggers have I,”
Deadwood Dick whisoered, triumphantly, as he
glided back to kiss Edith once more. “ Be of
good cheer, now, and I‘ll be on hand again, by-
and-by.”

Then he turned and stole from the fort—out
into the pouring night, with its crashing,\pound-
ing thunder, and its livid lightning.

As he passed the spot where Fred St. Celton
yet stood, he passed his hand several times be-
fore his eyes, and then darted on into the
stormy darkness.

So that ere Fred St. Celton had recovered
from the mesmerictrance into which Deadwood
Dick had first thrown him and afterward reliev-
ed him, that knight of the trail had successfully
made his escape. .

Although in a trance, Fred had been aware
that some figure had flitted past him into the
fort, and no sooner did he recover sufficiently
than he dashed out of the rain, into the great
room, to see if all was right.

Then he saw Tom St. Celton standing in the
middle of the. floor, holding a candle in one

u

Deadwood Dick’s Double. 81.

 

hand, and a revolver in the other, the latter
aimed at Edith Harris, who sat pale and awe-
stricken, upon the edge of her couch, with the
big dog, Da ger sitting close beSIde her.

‘ He lol’ ‘re exclaimed, as he behold the
sight—“ what the deuce does this mean? What
are you up to, Tom, old boy 3”

No answer. Poor Tom was incapable of mov-
ing‘ even his tongue.

hinking it queer, Fred :1 proached nearer,
and slapped him on the shoul er.

“ I say hang it, why don’t ou answer. a
fellow? What the blazes are you oing, standing
here inting your pistol at the prisoner?"

Sti 1 Thomas continued to gaze straight at
Edith, in avacant way, not moving so much as a
muscle, or paying the least attention to Fred’s
words or presence. ,

H V’eii, may 1 be kicked if this ain’t mighty
queer,” the young man muttered. “ He appears
to be awake, and yet is as mum as a deaf crab.
I wonder if I can’t bring him to his senses.”
And putting his lips in the region of Tom’s left
car, he gave vent to an ear-splitting yell.

But it had no apparent effect, except to arouse
the whole fort, the men hastily putting in an ap—

earance, while the females peepcd in alarm
rom their curtained beds.

“What under the heavens is the matter,
Fred?” the senior St. Celton demanded, as he ap-
proached, in company with the others.

“ That’s precisely what I’d like to know,
myself,” was the reply. “ Just look at Tom
standing here, as it struck dumb. You can’t
get a confounded word out of him, to save your
life.”

“ I can explain what may seem to you a mys-
tery, if you will allow me!” Edith said, speaking
from her place of confinement, in a tone that all
could hear. .

“The gentleman you call Tom is mesmerized,
and all your efforts to arouse him will be un-
availing, unless ou understand how to dowit.”

“How came e mesmerized?” Judge Elliott
demanded, sternly.

“ That is easil explained,” Edith replied,
cooll . “My bus and. the original and genuine
Dee wood Dick, is possessed .of wonderful mes—
meric power, and has it in his plower to put any
person into a trance whosa eye e can catch in a
steady gaze, and whose mind is weaker than his
own. He came here to see me to-night, while
you were slumbering, and as he was about to

depart yonder personage blocked his path in the

exact attitude you see him now, and was thus
mesmerized." ,

“ But how did this marvelous husband of
yours effect an entrance to the fort?” the Judge
demanded, with a frown. “Fred, you perhaps
can best answer this question l” _

“ I don’t know,” the young colonist answered.
“I believe I was mesmerized, too, when I come
to think of it. I remember of seeinga pair of
eyes staring at me out of the darkness, but sud-
denly forgot all about it, except iliat I felt
mighty funny. I also remember seeing some-
thing like a man’s figure flitting by me toward
the fort, but had no power or inclination to give
chase. A. little while ago I awoke to find my-
self standing out yonder, in front of the fort, in
a drenching rain, P

 

“ You were undoubtedly mesmerized, too, but
my husband probabl passed you out of the
trance when he too his departure," Edith
added.  ,

“This is the strangest piece of business I ever
heard of,” Judge Elliott declared, angrily.
“ You state that all our efl‘orts to restore this
young man to consciousness will be of no avail,
do you?”

“ I do, unless you have the proper directions.
He would not live long in that state.”

“ Where will we seek'these directions then?”

“I could tell you how to do it, if I chose,”
Edith replied, coolly. “ My husband taught me
once, that I might know.” -

“Then tell us at once. It will not do to let
him remain thus.” ’
“ Mr. Elliott, you hold my life in your hands,

and propose to use me to whatever urpose ma
best serve you, even if you have to ill me. Te 1
me, is this not so?” 7

‘ You have undoubtedly struck close to the
truth; yes,” the Jud e replied. “You being
the wife of a bloody- anded, outlawed ruffian, V
you cannot expect to have much respect or
were shown you.” ' ,-
“ ixuctly,” Edith replied pale, but very
calm. “ I supposed that was how you regarded v
me. I am a prisoner of war and you hold my
life at your disposal. Vonder, helplessly,
stands another prisoner, Whose life I hold at ~
my disposal. Thus the case is pretty even, I
believe!” ' i '

The colonists exchanged glances. They saw ,
that it was as Edith had intimated—they had
not all the power on their side.

“Surely you would not let this young man
die in this condition, when you could easily
save him?” Judge Elliott said, endeavoring to
ar no the point.

‘Surely you will not let me die or fall into
the ower of a ruthless wretch whom you are
afraid to battle except by doubtful stratageni,”
Edith returned, coolly. “ The matter is just .
about as broad as it is long, sir, and I think,
ugon reflection, that you will conclude that it is
a visable to come to me for terms, since the
tables have turned half-way.” '

“Well, what terms do you impose?” the Judge
demanded, vexed that his p an should be thus 5 \
baffled by a woman, and a very young one at

that.

“I will tell you,” Edith replied, calmly. “ I
have been thinking the matter over, and think a
better plan can be arranged. If t '3 man who.
calls himself Deadwood Dick comes or me, you
are to say that I am not willing to go with, ’him -
except on different terms—that he must firs
prove himself capable of taking care of me b ’
fighting a duel. One of you must fight wit
him, or if you are all cowards, and timid about
fronting him, free my hands, and I will meet
him myself. In this way you can provide for
peace, without sacrificing my life or putting
me in the power of that rutfian. E01; unless he
kills his opponent. I am not to be given up to
him, and yet he is to grant you peaceful pos-
session of this valle .”

“But. there wil no one volunteer to fight
this rufllanl” _ ‘ _

“ Then I cannot save the life of the entranced.

 

 

\

22 Deadwood Dick’s Double.

 

colouist," Edith said, firmly. “You have no
mercy for me, and I must force you to have or
else you must lose one of your members. This
is final 1”

The announcement of course was not favora-

v bly received by the colonists, but it appeared to

131413 the only chance for saving Tom St. Celton’s
e.

Montague and Ethel were both secretly pleas-
ed, but refrained from expressing their senti—
ments at thattime. They both regarded Edith
Harris favorably, and saw that she was but
justly defending herself.

Finding that there was no other plan left, the
Judge ordered a canvass among the colonists, to
see who should encounter the bloodthirsty gulch
outlaw, and Fred St. Celton finally volun—

red.
Whereupon Judge Elliott reported the fact to
' h

it .

“Very well,” she said, calmly. “All you
have todo is to swear you will carry out the
plan, and I will tell you how to bring yonder
young gentleman out of his trance.”

“.I swear, upon my honor as a gentleman, to
have the plan suggested by you. carried out to
the letter, in case you free Tom St. Celton from
this mesmeric trancel” Judge Elliott said, Sol-
emnly.

“ 00d! Hurrah for the Judge’s resolve!”
Montague cried.

“ It is well,” Edith said. “I think upon re-
flection on will all admit that it is better for a
man to ght the battle. than a woman’s life and
a wife’s honor. Mr. St. Celton can be brought

‘ out of that trance in only one manner, except by

the mesmerizer in plerson—and that way is by
standing him upon is head for a few moments,
and tickling the bottoms of his feet. It may seem

, a very simple plan, but trial will convince you of

its efficacy.”

Accordingly the directions were followed, and
five minutes afterward Tom St. Celton was
able‘to walk about in fqu possession of his

‘ senses.

Morning dawned before they were scarcely
aware of it; a. wet drizzling day was the promise
succeeding the night’s thunder-storm.

.. Soon after. sunrise Deadwood Dick was seen to
ride from the forest toward the fort, masked
and armed, but carrying atruce flag, and it was
surmised that he was coming to accept the
Judge’s proposition.

CHAPTER X.
ran DUEL.

-Fn0u,the fort the colonists eagerly watched
the approaching horseman, for his coming was
a matter of considerable moment to them.

Should he agree to what the Judge would

ropose, there would be a duel, and perhaps
the loss of another man to the colony, for,
thou h brave to a fault, Fred St. Celton was no
due st, having never been engaged in such a
contest.

Nearer and nearer the outlaw rode, until he
drew rein before the door of the fort. And

 

- about the same minute Slippery Sal made her

appearance upon the scene, coming in by the
northern trail. . _
As the mitlaw drew rem, the colonists crowded

/

 

without the fort, eager to gaze upon the rufllan
who had caused them so much sorrow, but their
eagerness was because of a bitter craving for
ven eance.

“ am herel” Deadwood Dick’s Double an-
nounced. “I have come for my wife, pursuant
to the agreement in a letter which I received.”

“Very well. We are n'epared to give upyour
lady, sir, but not on t 0 same terms which I
offered, as she objects. She declares that you
are not the genuine Deadwood Dick, and that
she is not your wife.”

“Ha! ha! that is a well—manufactured lie, but
will not pass muster. Perhaps she refuses to go
with me, then?”

“ She does, until you prove to her satisfaction
that you are man enough to protect her. In
order to do this, she has suggested that you fight
a duel with one of our party.”

“ Ho! be! Is that so? What member of your
gang would be my opponent, then?” and the
gaze of the outlaw swe t the crowd sharply.

“I am the man, Sir utlawl" Fred St. Celton
said, stepping forward, with great coolness. “ I
have volunteered to meet you with pistols, and
am ready at any time.”

“Hurrah! That’s ther checker!” Slippery
Sal said, coming 11 . “ Thet‘s ther way I like
ter heer things wor . You’re all solid, St. Celt,
an‘ I’ll bet a yaller dorg on et, ev’ry day in a
week.”

“I will not object to meeting this gent,” the
pseudo Deadwood Dick declared, “but I first
want to understand the business. If we fight
and I win, I am to have possession of the girl
and this valley?”

“Exactly. And if St. Celton wins, we like-
wlise 133123111 possession of both,” the Judge ex-
p ame .

“ All well. I will meet your man in duel, with
that understanding: if I fall, I am to withdraw
my men, and all claim upon the valley—if he
falls. I am to have positive and undisputed pos-
session of the valley, and of my wife, Edith, whom
I dearly prize.”

And so saying, the outlaw waved his hand in
the air, and a moment later a party of horse-
men rode from the forest toward the fort—a
dozen, all told, masked, well-mounted, and
well armed. As they drew near, the colonists
drew weapons, suspiciously, but the assumed
Deairlwood Dick smiled beneath his mask and
sin :

“ Have no fear. They come under my truce,
and will not harm you, except you try to play
gum games.”

The outlaws soon arrived and drew rein, and
then their leader turned to them. 1

“Pards,” he said. “I am about to fight a
duel, and I desire that you see fair play. My
opponent stands yonderh Our weapons will be
revolvers. In case I fall, these colonists are to
retain possession of this valley, and we are to
disturb them no more. If, however, he falls in
the contest. we are to have the valley and
the possession of my wife. Do you ‘under—
stand?”

There was a silent nod from, the outlaws,
which signified that they did, whereupon the
outlaw leader turned to St. Celton, saying:

“I am ready, now, sir. Please take‘your '

.al'.‘ outta: -

Deadwood Dick's Double.

 

choice of distance and position, and let’s get to
business.”

“Very well. A hundred ards apart, face to
face, will do me,” Fred sai , quite as calmly as

his op out.

Acheg the distance was measured—fifty
yards ale the stage-trail in each direction,
from direct y in front of the fort door.

At her expressed desire, Edith Harris was
allowed to come without the fort, Montague and
Ethel keeping her company.

When all was in readiness, the two duelists
drew their weapons, and walked to the respec-
tive ends of their line, where they faced about,
preparatory for business. _

The settlers had also drawn their Weapons as
had the companion outlaws of the bogus Dead-
wood Dick, each party seeming to suspect the
other of premeditated treachery.

“Now, then, get ready, gentlemen,” Judge
Elliot cried, stegping forward. “ At the word
‘Go,’ you will 0th fire. It is not necessary
that your aim should [)0 deadly, but one or the
other must fall from the effect of wounds, ere
the case can be decided.”

“Kerect! and I’m ther gal as hnin’t afeard
tor bet my head thet St. Celton wins. He’s a
nervy cuss, you bet, au’ et takes a hull horse
ter git around him, an’ don’t ye mind et. Ef I
war goin’ ter stack my chips on either 0’ them
galoots I’d say ther outlaw is a-goin’ ter git
scoo fer every consarned cent he’s worth.”

“ ‘et ready!” cried the Judge, and the cooked
weapons of the duelists came to a level. Both
men were apparently cool—not a. perceptible
sign of agitation or fear did either eVince.

“ One! two! three!” counted the Judge, in
measured tones. “ Go I”

Instantaneously the weapons of the duelists
rung out clear and spiteful, but neither man
left his tracks, although the outlaw flinched 9.

tr e.

“ Hurrah! ther furst fusilade didn’t drap a
man!” Slippery Sal cried. “Not a pilgrim!
But that ain’t nothin’. See’d a duel oneet, over
in Nevada, whar two cussss stud an’ plugged
away at each other fer a. hull half a day an’
nevyer drew aounce 0’ blood. An’ now, ef
we’re goin’ ter hev a repetition o’ thet affair, I
argy thet we sail in an finish up ter suit our
own complexion.”

“ One—two—three! Go!” again cried the
Judge, and as before, pistols cracked sharply.

Still neither party fell, although it was St.
Celton’s turn, this time, to flinch slightly.

“ Cum! cum! fer Heaving’s sake, don’t keep
us in suspense!” Sal cried, impatiently. “Jest
open an artery, so we kin see ther red. Ef ye
don‘t. we shall all die of ennui J”

“ Yes, entlemen, please be brief in this mat-
ter ” Judge Elliott added. “ It is no child's play,
an the sooner decided the better. ’3 _

Then, after a moment, for the third time came

“ One—two—three! Go!"

And for the third time the weapons shot forth
a tiny flash of fire, and the bullet wended forth
on its deadly mission, while a shudder ran
through the little knot of colonists. '

For there seemed to be the sound of death in
the crack of the weapon.

- the order:

 

A moment both men stood defiantly erect
after the exchange of shots—then, with a. stifled

curse the pseudo Deadwood Dick dropped for- '

ward upon his face, while a loud cheer burst
from the lips of the colonists at their victory.

A movement on their part to approach the
fallen outlaw was checked by the leader of the
mounted ruflians—a burly fellow, Whose voice
sounded alike to that of Bob Jones.

f‘ Hold up!” he commanded, riding- forward,
With the others at his heels. “ 'l'he duel‘s up
and thet’s all ye‘ve got tor do about et. Well
take keer o’ ther Capt’in, an‘ ye needn’t bother
yersol’s!”

“Very well,” Elliott said. “ We’ve won,
and shall expect your early evacuation of the
valle .” ,

“ hat’s jest as the Capt’in sez,” was the re-

ply; then the outlaws raised the wounded out-
aw, and carried him away in the direction of
the forest to the east, while the colonists turned
to look after Fred St. Celton, who had drawn
near, only a. couple of slight flesh wounds the
worse for his encounter. ,

“ You did nobly, my boy 1” Judge Elliott
exclaimed, warmly grasping his hands, as did
the others. “ But for you we should have been
in honor bound to give up the valley which you
have clearly won for us I”

“And I want to thank the gentleman for so ‘

bravely preserving me from a most terrible
fate,’ Edith Harris added, coming forward, and
touching Fred’s hand, reverently. “But ,for
your success, sir, I should now be in the power

of a ruthless wretch. who regards neither the .

laws of God nor man.”

“ I am glad that I was able to so serve you
lady,” St. Celton said, gallantly; “but, unless
guess wrongly, we have not seen the last of the
rufflan and his band. Foiled in his attempt to
kill me and get possession not only of you but
of the valley, he is not the man to back elf,
as long as he has a foot of ground to stand up-
on. ‘
“ Then you think he will not keep his promise,
by vacating, eh i” Judge Elliott demanded.

“I am almost sure of it. He is as evil at
heart as a man well can be and if I mistake
not, he will now resort to other means to gain

sole possession of this valley, which undoubtedx

1y is rich in mineral wealth.” .

Fred St. Celton’s views were hared by Mon-
tague and several others; consequently, Jud
Elliot gave orders for all to keep closely with n
the fort, until it was known for certain what
course the outlaws were going to adopt.

If they broke their promise by continuing to
Occupy the valley. it was the determination of
the colonists to resist to the bitter end. .

By the noon stage Montague was dispatched
toLeadville for a resh supply of ammunition
and provisions, and in the mean time those re-
maining at the fort ke t close within doors, and
on the watch for hosti e movements.

But, night drew on, and no sign of them was
seen. except the smoke of camp-fires that rose
above the trees in the basin. ‘ '

“Don’t ye fergit it, you’ll notsee ’em leave
the valley yet,” Slippery Sal averred, “an’ I
reckon it behooves me. in ther interest 0‘ hu-
manity, to explorate an’ See w’at ’em cusses ar’

I

 

.1

 

84

Deadwood Dick’s Double.

 

doin’. So, of ye need me, all ye’ll hev tar do
will be fer screech ‘ Sal! ’ an’ I’ll be on deck!”

And. then, taking her gun, she departed.

The night shadows were hovering dense and
dark over the valley, when we penetrate the
deep forest, and arrive at the outlaws’ camp,
consisting of a large rude cabin, hastily erected,
with a large bonfire blazing in front of it, and a
corral, near by, for the horses.

Inside the cabin the outlaws were congregated

—some were rolled in their blankets near the
fire; others were gambling and drinking; some
were reading and some were cleaning their
weapons.
Their captain was pacing to and fro, a dark
expression about his mouth, and coming from
his ges that gleamed through the holes in his
ma ‘

That he was not sorely wounded was evident,
for his stride was strong and his movements

c.
Without a word to those gathered around
him, he continued to pace to and fro, until an—
other outlaw entered the cabin, the mud upon

/ his garments telling that he was but recently

' \

from the saddle.

“Hal Davis, is it you?” the chief demanded.
“I am glad. What news brings you from the
old camp, up the Tortoise, for it is of there I

, ' would hear?’

“The news is not of a pleasant nature, Cap-
tain,” Davis replied, unbelting himself. “ The
sheriff and his posse have cleaned the place out,
find oply two of the boys escaped with their

ves.

" Furies! this is bad businessi What else?”

“Much. The sheriff is scenting after your

A trail, and as he comes this Way, no doubt but

he will locate you.”

-“ Curse him, let him come. We’ll be in wait-
ing to receive him, after we’va cleaned out the
accursed colonists. \Vhat else?”

“ A letter, chief. It was handed me just after
I entered the valley, with the instructions to

've it to you.”

“ Ah! what kind of a man was the giver?” the
outlaw demanded.

“ I do not know, as it was so dark that I could
scarcel see him. I am of the impression, how-
ever. t at he was masked.”

With eager fingers the outlaw chief tore open
the envelope, and hastened to peruse it.

Written in' a plain but elegant chirography,
it was easy to decipher, and he read it over, his
face growmg dark below his mask, and his eyes
gleaming with a suddenly wrought fierceness.

This was what he read:

" Sim—You are using my title, without any an;
thority or permission from me. and I muSt request
you to drop it. at once, or I shall'be under the neces-

' sity of dropping you. Understand me—I mean busi-

ness Your career of outlawry is adding stain after
stain to my somewhat famous title. and I again
command you‘ to ‘ cheee it.’ and pick up another
name. Also. you’d better get out of this part of the
country immediater unless you are a candidate for
a. tamed-rope picnic.
“ I advise you to puckachee.
” Dawwoon DICK."

A growl of anger escaped the outlaw as he

flung the paper upon the floor, and ground it

WW his heel.

 

“ What else, Davis?” he demanded, as he
turned to the courier who still stood in waiting.

“ A man, chief, whom I found wounded, near
the trail. He belonged to the colony, and wants
to see you.”

“ Is he here?”

“ N o. I left him where I found In, and
pfiogiised to notify you at once," the courier re-
p e .

 

CHAPTER XI.
VILLAINS PLANNING.

“I WILL go,” DeadwoodDick’s Double said.
“This man may be of use to me in fi hting
these accursed colonists. Direct me, avis,
that I may find this fellow.”

“ You will find him, chief, in Gorgon’s Gulch,
beyond the basin, to the north. Walk five
paces from an old pine stump, due northward;
then turn eastward, and enter the thicket. You
will find the chap in a small glade in this
thicket.”

“It is well. I will go at once, under the
cover of darkness. If aught should happen of
importance previous to my return, give me the
alarm in the usual way.”

Donning a heavy coat, and pulling the slouch
hat he were down over his eyes, he then looked
to his weapons and stepped out into the night. ,

A rapid gait soon took him away from the
camp, when he slackened his pace and exercised
more caution in his movements, for it was very
dark, and the outlaw knew not how many foes
might be lurking in the gloom.

He was not a (particularly brave man, this
brigand who be appropriated the name of
Deadwood Dick. Indeed, at heart he was a
thorough coward, but by a rough, boastful
manner, he contrived to produce the impression
that he was a hard customer.

With cautious steps he strode along through
the forest, on the alert with both eye and

ear.

Finally he reached the edge of the timber,
whence he could command a view of the fort,
find here he paused, and gazed keenly about

1m.

Not a dozen yards distant to his left was the
grave of Royce Elliot, and his gaze wandered
to it as a chuckle escaped his lips.

“I fixed him cursedly nice,” he muttered,
“ and wish the rest of the gang were served the
same way. But, never fear! They shall not
long usurp my rights. I’ll crush them, one by
011?, £13m not a shadow of them shall haunt the
gu c 1

And gritting his teeth, he took his course
once more across the valley toward the north.
ern gap, to find the man Lyons.

In due time he arrived at the spot mentioned
by Davis, and found a man lying upon a plot of
grass, apparently asleep. \

A slight shaking, however, aroused him, and
he uttered a fierce growl at being disturbed.

“What d’ye want?” he growled, angrily.
“ Who are you?” ~

“I am Deadwood Dick,” was the repl , as
the ou'tlaw produced and turned on the Hg is of
a small bull’s-eye lantern. “One of my men
stated that you wished to see me; so I came,"

beadwood Dick’s Double.

 

“ Oh! you're the chief o’ ther gang, eh?”
Lyons demanded with a can.

“ I am the chief,” was t 9 reply. '

“ But not the original DeadwoodDick?"

“ What does that concern you, Sir?”

“ Not much, only I reckoned I twigged you.”
the Kansan re lied; “ don’t make no diflerence
who e be, so ong’s you’re not over scrupulous,
whic I opine ye ain t.” '

“ Not over scrupulous, I presume,” the road-
rover replied. “ I you’ve anything to propose,
I’m open.” ‘

L ons raised himself to a rest upon his elbow.

“Ive ot a wound that has made me rather
lazy; stil , 1 am better than a half-dozen dead
men. I was dro ped by that al who hangs
about the fort under the name 0 Sllp ry Sal,
Who she is, is more than I can tell. ut, that
ain‘t to ther p’int; I want that gal, Ethel Elliott,
the Jud e’s daughter, and I’m goin’ ter have
her, ef I ave to work till I’m gray as a badger.
But I’ll allow et ain’t no healt Job for a man
ter tr ter gobble outer her a one, an’ accord‘
inglgII, won’t help. D’ e see?” _

“ ou want my ai , eh?” Deadwood Dick’s
Double demanded.

“Exactly, an’ at ye aire a mind to,.we kin
work the game successful. You’ve a notion af-
ter the woman, Edith Harris, I take et, and ef

e wanter go in snacks wi’ me, we’ll capture ’em
0th at the same time.”

“ Good. I’d give much to get the woman Edith
into my power. But how would you manage it?
I have no access to the fort.”

“That need make no difference. I have, and

that will answer the same purpose. Say we
select to—morrow night as the time for the
job. When the fort is asleep, I will silence the
guard, and you can be near, ready to enter.
After that, it will be an easy matter to creep
up on the girls, and gag them and make our
esca .
“All right! I’ll be lurking in «the vicinity,
soon after dusk, with horses ready. In the
mean time, do not be surprised if I attempt to
take the fort. ‘ All you need do is to keep out of
rifle-range.”

“Ha! ha! yes. I’ll look out for myself. By
the way, lend me a swaller from your canteen.
and then I’ll rest a little longer before attempt-
in to reach the fort.”

Beadwood Dick’s Double passed over the
can, and Lyons took a big swig before returning

it.

Then the outlaw departed, directing his foot-
steps toward the fort; but he passed wide of
that buildin , and entered the forest at the
some point w ere he had quitted it. But he had
taken only a few steps into the forest, when he
paused abruptly, an exclamation of horror leap-
in from his lips.

e tried to retreat, but he was rooted to the
spot, and could not. He would have drawn his
Weapons, but his hands were as powerless as his
feet.

Before him, not a half-dour: yards away
stood the ghost of Gorgon’s Gulch—the spectra
horse and rider that twice had been seen in the
edge of the wood by the colonists, but never un-
til now by the ho a Deadwood Dick, It stood
in the center of a ittle natural glade Into which

pm.

 

the outlaw had taken several ste before he had
noticed it—stood there, grim an ghostly, the fig-
ure in the saddle being a perfect counterpart of
what Royce Elliott had been in life, exce t that
the eyes were now closed and the lips ‘ghtly
parted by the falling of the lower jaw, while a
strange, whitish halo of light surrounded both
horse and rider.

The fact that the outlaw was none too cour-
ageous, and was inclined to be en erstitious, but
added to his terror, for he rea ‘ y reco '
the'Phantom Horseman as the victim of his dia-
bolical scheme, and quaked with fear at bequ
thus confronted by a spirit of the dead, for suc
he really believed the apparition to be.

For several moments the specter remained
motionless, but finally it bzgan to come nearer
upon its snowy horse, until but a couple of yards
intervened between it and the outlaw. - *

Then the horse came to a halt, and, trembling
from head to foot, the outlaw gazed with a hor-
rible fascination at the white-robed thing, be it
spirit or human.

Not a movement of the specter was there, ex-
cept that the lower {aw suddenly closed, with a
snap, and a moment ater the lips begun to move
and form words that the outlaw hard with in-
creased horror. l

“ Aha l” the specter spoke, in a strange, chill-
ing tone: “aha! I have thee, now, 11 an
murderer!
thee—ever since thou deprived my earthly ,
of its life; Knowest me, thou cringin ‘cur? , I ” r
fimthoyce Elliott, in the spirit mstea' of the- ‘

es 1 \ I ‘

A faint gasp came from the wretch, but th t ‘ f I
He shock in every limb, but afl'rig t . _

was all.
had scaled his tongue.

“Thou knowest me,” the specter, continued,
with a frightful laugh; “ thou could’st not forget
me so soon, nor the agency thou hadst in
causing my spirit to take its flight from the
earthly tabernacle for the realms above. No!
no! thou well rememberest me, and'tremble at
my approach like the monster thou art, to
thy very heart’s core. Aha! I see thee even .
withoute es. And thoufearest me! Well thou
mayest, or I have come for thee—come to

transport thee to the border of 6 lake of fire that ', ;  

burneth with brimstone. Art thou ready to 0?”

“ No! no! Spare me! spare me!” the out aw  . “

gaspgdmis terror becoming greater each moment.
‘ I g our forgiveness—anything—Jeverything
—only on’t kill me!” '
“ Didst not thy hands poison the water that
killed Royce Elliott, villain?” the specter cried
sternly. “Didst not thy hands beg to behead'
the St. Celton brothers? And yet t on beggest
for mercy, thou craven !” V
“Ay! r11 own my guilt—I’ll admit the truth
of what you sag—but still I want to live that I

may by good eeds atone for the  Spare
me. and ask of me anything you wi , and I will
grant it.”

There was an awful moment of silence, during
which neither s ke. /.

If his ghosts 'p had heard the words of the ,
outlaw he was evidently giving them considera-

tion. ,
Finally the deathly lips moved again, and the '  ‘-
specter spoke: . ‘ 1 ‘

d .
For days I have been searching‘gr ,  "

 

 

30 Deadwood Dick’s Double.

“ Thou shalt have a reprieve of life upon one
condition, which is: that thou shalt forever quit
this valley and withdraw your claim. Refuse,
and I will smite you down where you now
stand I”

“ I promise that. and swear to it ” Deadwood
{Dick’s Double said, eagerly, “an , with our
permission, I will away to order my men mm
the valley at once.”

“Ayl go, and see that another sunrise does
not find you within this valley. Go!” and the

cter’s fore-finger pointed in the direction of
t e outlaw camp.

Without waiting for a second invitation the
miscreant found strength to stride on into the
do tbs of the forest, leavin the ghost of Royce
El 'ott in possession of the g ade.

Straight to his stronghold the outlaw went,
and aroused what of ths foHOWers were not
awake.

“ Awake! Get ready!” he shouted, standing
inthe center of the cabin, and blowing upon a
small bugle when not speaking. “ Loo to your
arms and prepare to steal a march upon the
fort within the hour. Sufficient] long these
colonist dogs have usurped my rig ts, and now
they must go, or die, and I’d rather kill ’em
than not. o—night they will not be expecting
us, and it will be our very opportunity to sur-
round and take ’eml”

In the mean time the colonists were doing the
very reverse of the scoundrel’s calculations—
were watching for an expected attack.

Every one within the fort was expecting an
attack, and was prepared to fight for the pos-
session of the gulch.

“ I tell ye what, feller-cityzens,” said Old Bill

‘Myers, removing his grimy clay pi e long
enough to peak—“ I tell ye what, to] er—city-
zens, ef ye don't see thin smoke afore mornin’,
I’ve lost my reckonin’. ere’s me and my right
bower, Sing Song—we’ve tramped tergether
these three years, an’ Sin , he’ll tell vs I nevyer
in that mm time predicts wrong. Eh? Sing?”

“No wrongee—Myers muchee sure,” the
Celestial replied with a nod.

4 " I, too, am of the opinion that there will be
an attack before morning,” St. Celton, Sr.,
added. “And ten to one we shall be con-
quered.” .

“Never!” Fred St. Celton said, fiercely.

“We may get whipped but never conquered

by this outlaw demon. here is one right hand
thfiip‘will fight when the rest of the body is

oo (

i “ And here another!” Edith Harris ,said,

,eagerly. “ But place a rifle in my hand, when

it comes to fighting, and I will show you that I

am lgya .” .

“ ou shall be testedl” Judge Elliot said.
“And if you turn out to be as you have all
along claimed, we shall have many apologies to
ofler on.”

“ one of which you need offer, as they are
not asked for. You have treated me as a pris-
oner of war, and I have not suffered. There-
fore I shall not be revengetul.”

“i wish Montague and the girl Slippery Sal
were‘here, and I think we could defy t em for a
time at least,” Warwick said.

“ e can, as it is!” Edith declared, coolly.

 

“ Don’t fear for your personal safety, for, should
gre .t danger menace, you can depend u on it
that my husband, the genuine Deadw Dick
will be on hand.”

Somehow her words inspired hope in the
hearts of the colonists, even though they were
doubtful of there being any difference in their
Breient enemy, and the other Deadwood

1c .

That there were two persons bearing the same
name was beyond their understanding.

Slowly the night dragged away; midnight
came, still no signs of the outlaws.

By hav1ng all lights extinguished within the
fort they were able to see the lay of the coun-
try without, and distinguish objects a short dis-
tance away.

About two hours before daydawn, when the
night was the darkest, dusky objects were seen
moving in the clearing, to the east of the fort.

“ The outlaws, sure pop!” old Bill Meyers an-
nounced. “They’re creepin’ up, thinkin’ ther
fort’s asleep. Git reddy now, ev’ry mother’s
son an’ darter 0’ yo, and we‘ll see ef we ken’t
wake up the varmints. Fill every loop-hole,
an’ pick out yer man, an’ when ye heer my
clarion note ag’in, give ’em salt an’ pepper till
the ’re thoroughly seasoned fer cayrte feasts.”

he loop-holes were promptly manned and
“ womaned,” for that matter, and the approach-
ing figures were covered. as one by one they
made their appearance out of the gloom.

Five—ten—twenty—thirt there were, all told,
although there appeared to e a hundred of the
dusk_ forms.

“ owl git ready I” cried Myers. “ One! two
-— ‘ee—flrel”

CHAPTER XII.
ms: OLD ORIGINAL TO THE FRONT. ,

THE cry of Myers was instantaneously an-
swered b the crack of a dozen rifles in concert.

Then, mm the black night without welled up
another cry—a wild yell of pain and rage com-
ing from the outlaws, for almost every bullet of
the colonists had taken effect.

“ Hurral thet’s ther way ter give ’em jessyl”
Myers cried delightedly. “ See! they’re retreat-
ing! Give ’em another blizzard before they get
ouzof sidghtfll’ th t

ccor ingy e repea ing—rifles ke again
spitefully, and another dozen of sight; outlaws
went down, either dead or wounded. Deadly
practice was this, and in consternation the re-
maining rufflans disappeared from view.

Enough had they had of the colonists to con-
vince them that everybody in the fort was wide
awake and prepared for all emergencies.

“It’s no use wasting more life!” Deadwood
Dick’s Double said, with a bitter curse. “ Get
back to the stronghold, and wait until to-mor-
row .night. Then I will turn a trump card, for
which there will be no alternative. Enough of
this shabby kind of warfare has there been, and
we'll now come down to business."

Under the same cover of darkness a horseman
left the gulch basin, a few moments after the
conclusion of the brisk battle. passing through
the south gap over the Leadville trail.

Once out of the b88111.th put the spurs to his
horse, and they flew swdtly down through the

«b

«b

.5

Deadwood Dick's Double. 9"

 

gloomy canyon-like seam in the rug ed face of
nature, the horse evincing an unusua_ degree of
knowledge in selecting the easiest portions of the
trail, and the rider sitting in the saddle With ap-
parent ease. On down the can on they went,
until its intersection with the ’ennedy Gulch
trail to Fairplay was reached; then the horse
was reined in, and the rider removed a mask
from his face, and stored it away into one of the
pockets of the jacket he wore. Once the mask
was removed, a handsome face was revealed-a
peculiar face, adorned with imperial and mus-
tache, and lighted by a pair of magnetic black
eyes, which shone brightly with a resolute ex-
pression. V

Armed with rifle and revolver'was this night-
ridcr, and evidently familiar With the country
around him, for he soon turned into Kennedy
Gulch, and struck off in a gallop again,

For an hour he rode thus, and Just as day was
beginning to break in the east, he dashed down
a little descent, right into the heart of a little
can?) that was pitched in a sort of a tree—strewn

c at.

The embers of a camp-fire smoldered at the foot
of an old hemlock, and around them, upon the

round, a party of men were rolled in their
glankets, fast asleep.

But they hastily arose, a round dozen of them
in number, as the horseman dashed up, and
wea us were plentifully drawn.

“ ou needn’t mind about pulling your pop
guns, gentlemen!” the new-comer said, with a
smile, as he drew rein. “ I’m not a dangerous
cha . nerally, unless ye r’ile me.”

“ ell, you knew it’s always best to be
read in case of emer ency,” re lied the leader
of t e arty—a smal , wiry fe ow, with iron-
gray hair and mustache, and an eye as keen as
a hawk’s.

“Certainly,” the stranger replied, bowing as-
sent. “ If you never allow yourself to be taken
at fault, ten chances to one you will never be
taken at all. I believe I have the leasure of
addressin John Webb, the sheriff 0 this coun-
ty, have not?”

‘You have, sir. My name is John Webb.
May I also ask your name?” .

“Yes. I am Edward Harris, alias Dead-
wood Dick, ex-road-agent!” the stranger re-
plied, coolly, at which announcement the sheriff
and his men stared.

“ You Deadwood Dick l” the ofllcer ejaculated
allowing his hand again to drop upon the butt
of his revolver. ‘

“Yes, I am Deadwood Dick; but you have no

wer to arrest me. I am a_free man, and have

he papers to prove it._ It is not as an enemy
that I come, but as a friend.”

“ Well, sir. let’s hear your errand. I’ve heard
so many evil reports of you in the past that you
must really excuse me for standing on my guard,
you know i”

Deadwood Dick laughed _ ‘

“You do quite right!” he said. ‘ You would
do wron to trust even Yourself too far. My
errand  briefly state, You are doubtless
aware of the location of Cat City and Gorgon’s
Gif‘lch. some miles to the northeast?”

“I have heard of the same—yes” . . .

Well, not long ago a party of Virginians

 

traded their homes for the Cat City Basin, and
emigrated there with the intention of coloniz-
ing and settling the tract for which they had
traded.

“But they have been bitterly opposed by a
gang of ruflians headed by a fellow who calls

imself Deadwood Dick, having appropriated
my old title, and by his crimes under that
name endangered the freedom granted me by
the. Governor. Learnin that you were in tb s
Vicinity upon an outlaw unt, I came hither to
see lf_ could not prevail upon an to scoop
in this gang on your way, and t us not only
relieve me of an unpleasant position, but also
to rescue these colonists from an unpleasant
situation.”

John Webb gave vent to a strange, prolonged
whistle.

“Why, hang it, this is the ve chap I’m
hunting for, but have not been a le to find.
He’s been raising the devil generally, 11 around
Fairplay, and only last night we too his old
stron hold, and licked out a lot of his men.
But supposed all the time that tber was
but the one cuss sailing under the name of end-
wood Dick.”

“Then you thought wrongly, for I am the
original, and a free man. Who this other cus-
tomer is I have yet to learn.”

“ Wel , we’ll find out, directly, perhaps. Dis-
mount and accept the hospitality of my mess
and we‘ll arrange our plans. I

Not long after the defeat and retreat of the ’

outlaws, day dawned upon the little gulch basin
and with its coming came Lew Lyons, hear-
ing the binquuartei-s of a fine buck—deer upon
his shoulders.

Thou 'h somewhat suspicious and prejudiced
against im, the colonists were glad to welcome
the fresh meat, for there was little to eat with-
in the fort. and the fresh juicy venison was
tempting in the extreme. Therefore the dark-
broned son of Kansas was vouchsafed a more
cordial reception than usual.

He, too, seemed in a more amiable mood, and
chatted and conversed in altogether a better
humor than he had therefore.

When uestioned as to his movements dur-
in his a sauce he did not vouchsafe much.
in ormation, merely saying that he had been up
in the mountains. '

About noon Montague arrived on the north-'
ward-bound stage, and brou ht an additional
stock of edibles and ammunition, so that the
fort was now pretty well prepared to resist a
siege, should there be one.

The day passed swiftly, stillI no further signs *

of the outlaws were seen.

Night drew on, and once more settled its
shadows over the valley.

And still no perceptible appearance of the

nemy.

“ I am of the o inion that we’ve successfully
squelched ’eml” o (1 Bill Myers declared. when
it came time to turn in. “Anyhow, I don't
believe they’ll come swoo in’ around the tort
to—night, after ther hll they that night.” ,

“I don’t know about that, ontague de-
murred. “Maybe they calculate we think
that, and will be sure to come.”

e

 

88 Deadwood Dick’s Double,

 

“It won’t do no harm to set a guard, at
least,” Lyons said, it being his first manifesta-
tion of interest concerning the safety of the

fort.

And so it was decided, Myers and Sing Song
being chosen for guard duty during the night.

They accordingly took their stations outside
of the cabin, which the tavern-keeper averred
was the safest place.

The rest of the colonists then turned in, and
were soon asleep, little dreaming that it was a
bad move for them, or that their chosen guards
would not prove equal to the position.

For be it known, both Myers and his Celes-
tial servant had a particular and indiscreet
weakness for the hitters called “ bug-juice.”

Not only did they banker after it, but im
proved each shining moment to gargle their
throats with it, when not otherwise busily en-

garged.

he darkness without the fort was very
dense, and its density seemed to cause a thirstl-
ness in the windpipes of the two guards, which
gradually increased until M era was obliged
to step over to the tavern a ter a little brown

Ju .

8n his return he and Sing Song both sampled
the contents, and were evidently well satisfied,
judging by the we they smacked their lips.

T e one sample owever seemed but to create
a demand for another to “ wet up the darkness,”
and accordingly the twain took frequent pota-
tions from the jug. The liquor, instead of
being enlivening, seemed to conduce to sleepi-
ness, and before the second jug had been
brOught over from the Casino, and finished,

.both Myers and his com anion were stretched
out upon the ground in a runken sleep.

Shortly after midnight the door of the fort
was cautiously opened, and a head was thrust
through the a erture; then, a moment later, the
form of Lew yons followed suit.

A chuckle escaped him as he noted the points
of the situation, principal among which was the
condition of the guards.

“ Sound asleep, and—hello! here’s a couple of
jugs, which accounts for it. Ah! things are
working finel . The guards are out of the wa
-—the dog is rugged, and now all is in readi-
ness exceplt Dead wood Dick, the second.”

“And 6 is here,” a low voice re lied, asa
man istepped anouncl the corner of t e cabin.
“ Is the coast clear?”

“Perfectly so. All we have to do is to step in
and take our game.”

“Which may not be so easy as you think
for,”?t’he outlaw replied. “Where do the girls

' slee

“ our game sleeps upon a couch in the fur-
ther end of. the cabin. My game also sleeps
alone in a curtained bed near by.”

“ Good enou h. so far. How about the dog?”

“I drugged im a bit ago, with a piece of
pr red meat. Did you bring the chloroform?”

“ 0, but I have some ether, which is e ually
good. Get a light stalk or sapling abou ten
eet long, that I can fasten a sponge u on.”
Lyons softly obeyed, and the out aw then
fastened a large sponge upon the end of it, and
‘ soaked the sponge liberally with ether, which he
carried in a. bottle.

  

 

He then removed his boots, and equipped with
s onge and pole, followed Lyons into the fort.

ithin all was dark and silent, the suppressed
breathing of the sleepers being the only sounds
audible.

Softl the two villains stole toward the couch
where dith Harris slumbered, all unconscious
of the danger that threatened her.

When they were but a few yards away, they
paused and waited until their eyes had become
somewhat accustomed to the gloom; then Dead-
wood Dick’s Double shoved forward the pole so
that the sponge was directly in close proximity
to Edith’s nose.

For several minutes he held it there, and when
he finally removed it, the poor woman was quite
overcome by the powerful drug.

“ Lift her and take her outside,” he said to
Lyons, “and I will see what I can do with the
other one. Get far enough from the fort so that
in case I give an alarm you can reach the timber
with her.” I

Lyons gently raised Edith in his arms, and
bore her cautiously from the building.

Then Deadwood Dick’s Double stole across the
floor to the curtained bed which Lyons had des-
ignated as the sleeping-place of Ethel Elliott.

Before parting the curtains, he paused and
listened to assure himself that all was right.
The regular breathing satisfied him on this
score, and he finally parted the curtain and
peered in. ~

Ethel had thrown herself upon the bed with-
out disrobing, and now lay sweetly sleeping with
her head resting upon her arm, instead of the
pillow. Her face was turned toward the prowl-
ing outlaw, an he paused a moment with an in-
audible excla tion of admiration.

Then after a. moment he shoved the sponge
forward beneath her nose, and allowed her to
breathe the drug with which it was saturated.

At last be calculated that she was bereft of all
power, and removed the sponge, preparatory to
carrying her away a helpless victim.

But at this juncture he heard a stir, and peer-
ing through the curtain, he saw that Fred St.
C(felton was up, and was ineving toward the open

oor.

A smothered oath escaped the outlaw, for he
saw that unless prevented the young colonist
would discover the condition of Myers and the
Chinaman and at once give the alarm.

Should he do this, escape would be doubtful
and discovery inevitable.

Resolved not to be baffled, when he had the
game so nearly in his own hands, the ruflian
drew a knife. and glided noiselesst in the wake
of Fred St. Celton; his movements alike tothose
of a cat in the act of pouncing upon a rat.

A single step the young colonist took without

the fort—then the murderous knife of the as- .

sassin was plunged to the hilt in his back. ,

With a low groan St. Celton sunk forward to
the ground, but to make doubly sure the fatality
of his terrible deed, the outlaw leaped upon him,
and fastened his bo‘ny hands about his neck in a
vise-like gripe. Several minutes he remained
thus: then arising with a horrible chuckle he
softly re-entered the fort. and removed Ethel El-

liott from her bed and bore her out and away '

into the black night.

    

 

 

‘1
i
I
.
l
. i
i

   

-,,I.,..4-..¢1.éém . r

Deadwood Dick's Double.‘

so

 

The next morning the corpse of poor Fred was
found lying partly across t 6 threshold, by the
horror-stricken colonists, and‘ upon the floor,
near by was a sheet of paper, hearing the follow-
ing words, in cramped chirography:

“By this time I'll allow thet ye‘ll opine I mean
bizness. I’ve sp'iled another 0’ yer men, freed m
wife, an’ hitched outer one o' yer )urtiest gals. whic
ain‘t bad fer one night‘s work. ehbe ye‘ll take my
advice and skin out. now, sonce ye‘ll observe the I
ain’t no slouch on my muscle. Ef ye’re gone, pack
an' pilgrim, afore sunset. so good. bur of ye persist,
prepare ler get took off, one by one. Ye ve got
several samples. Truly yours,
“Dunwoon Dion.”

CHAPTER XIII.
CONCLUSION.

SHALL we pause to picture the grief and hor—
ror of the ill-fated colonists as they gazed upon
the inanimate form of the fourth of their party
who had fallen a victim to the cruelty of the ter-
rible scourge, Deadwood Dick’s Double?

With heavy hearts the mourning colonists
raised their stricken companion and bore him
within the fort, and endeavored to restore him
to life; but it was a hopeless task, which they
were finally compelled to give up, and prepar-
ations were made for the burial.

Mr. and Mrs. St. Celton were wholly ros-
tratcd with grief at this last blow, and ob iged
to take to their beds, and the remainder of the
colonists were more or less affected.

Nothing of old Bill M are or Sing Song could
be seen or found, and w at had become of them
was destined to remain a mystery, as they were
never seen in Cat City Basin a min.

Doubtless they had awakan to a realization
of what terrible harm their spree had precipita-
ted. and thought it best to slide out.

Toward noon a party of horsemen were seen
entering the gulch by the south gap, and in a
few moments they drew rein before the door of
the fort.

There were thirteen in all—stench and stal-
wart‘looking fellows, who looked every\ inch as
if they were born to fight.

The colonists crowded without the door to
learn the meaning of their coming.

“ Good—morning,” the leader of the party said
—a wily little fellow with iron-gray hair and
mustache, and a keen eye. “I am John Webb,
sheriff of this caunty, and hearing that you
were in trouble, I thought I’d ride over with my
posse, and see if I could extend you any assist-

ance.

“For which I thank you in behalf of myself
and companions. We have been troubled much
since coming here. and last night an additional
blow was struclgdbjg tile, accursed outlaw and

iii Deadwo in .

m“ girdldl you err there!” Webb declared, nick.
l . “The man who calls himself Dca wood
Sick, in this gulch. is an impostor, as has been
Proven to my satisfaction. This man, at my
fight, here, i the original character of that
1 9.

And as he s he he ointed to the handsome
knight of the psgddle, 1who formed one of his
corpxainy. th s

- 5537 you so?” Then 9 woman we
fight,” the “[180 said, turning to his party. “ If

this is the original Deadwood Dick, I wishto
apologize for the trouble we have made his wife,
under the belief that she was the wife of the
gulch outlaw."

“None is needed, if you treated her respect-
fully as a prisoner of war,” Deadwood Dick said.
“This Double of mine has caused you serious
trouble, and you were )erhaps right in holding
my noble little wife. ut now that-you have
been satisfied on that point, I trust you will be
willing to yield her to my possession.”

“Willing I would be, 811‘, if it were within
my power, but it is not,” the Judge said. And
then he related how they had found Fred St.
Celton’s cor so, and how the papers of the bogus
Deadwood ick had explained the abduction of
Ethel and Edith. -

Both Deadwood Dick and the sheriff listened
with stem faces and flashing eyes, and when the
Judge had finished his recital, the oflicer tight-
ened his belt, suggestively.

“ The ruflian has run nearly to the end of his
rope!” he said, gravely. “If you will furnisha
couple of men or so, I will lead an immediate
attack upon these outlaWS, and rescue the wo-
men or fail in the attemptl”

“Ay! we’ll do that very thing,” Deadwood
Dick assented. “ If we boldly attack the
wretches, it won’t take long to wipe them out."

Montague, the two Warwicks, and Lige Han-
son at ‘once volunteered to go, and bringing
foghktheir horses they mounted, ready for the
at c . 7

Then brave John Webb, known throu bout
all the Colorarlos as a. fearless ofilcer, ed a
charge down into the basin—into the forest, and
to the very outlaws’ camp.

Gathered outside were the followers of the
counterfeit Deadwood Dick, with drawn wea-

ons, and no sooner did the sheriff’s posse our ’
into the glade than they were greeted y a-
deadly vollc .

Fortunate y, however, not a man was disabled,
and the next instant the returned the salute
deliberately and with Withering effect, every
bullet counting a disabling injury or a death.

But a handful of the outlaws now remained,
and with Lew Lyons at their head they at-
tempted to rail , but the sheriff and his men
dashed forwar and cut them down without
Quarter, till not an able outlaw remained stand~

mg.

Short and decisive had been the battle, and it
had resulted most Victoriously in the favor of
the right. . '

The bodies were gathered together, but noth-
ing of Deadwood Dick’s Double could be found.

A search of the cabin resulted in the finding
of Ethel Elliot, unharmed, and she stated that
the outlaw chief had on] a few moments be-
fore taken his flight, wit Edith Harris in his
power.

Directing the sheriff to return to the fort,
Deadwood Dick mounted his horse and rode
rapidly away through the forest, declaring it
his intention to pursue, overtake, and capture
the outlaw. -

John Webb and his men returned to the fort,
Montague, of course, escorting Ethel.

Their coming was warmly greeted, and it

 

was with a sigh of relief that the colonists heard '

 

a” "t.

. mama”...

 

30 Deadwood Dick's Double.

 

of the breaking up of the terrible band that had
caused them so much harm.

Shortl afterward the sherifl’ dispatched the
captur outlaws who had not been killed to
Fairplay, under charge of a part of his men, he
with the balance remaining to learn of Dead-
wood Dick’s success in capturing his “ double.”

At sunset poor Fred St. Celton was buried
not far from the grave of his old companion,
Royce Elliot, and sorrowing friends watched
his remains laid forever away from the sight
of man.

Just at dusk a little party upon horseback
rode into the basin through the northern gap,
and drew rein before the fort, and proved to be
Deadwood Dick, Edith. Chris Carleton, and—-
ahzfill we relate itl—Ruyce Elliot, alive and
we

Wild exclamations of surprise and wonder
came from the colonists at sight of their sup-
posed dead com ions. and rising in his stir-
rups, DeadwoodpaDuick motioned them to be si-
lent' whereu n he spoke:

“ you wi 1 permit me,” he said, “I will ex-
plain. Mr. Elliott is alive and well, as you see.
After you had buried him, I took the liberty
to resurrect him, and by administering proper
remedies, succeeded in restoring him to life.
I then enlisted him in my service until this
gang of outlaws should be destroyed, and we
manufactured the ghost business with the aid of
simulation. white robes and plenty of phospho-
rus. I now surrender him to on, alive and
. well. Also to Captain Webb I and over my

risoner here—Chris Carleton, alias the bogus

eadwood Dick. Let the law unish him as he
deserves. Now, having tendere you this explan-
ation I will beg to leave my wife in your care a
few do . while I am off on private business in
the North.”

Edith was warmly welcomed. as was the re-
turned Royce Elliott, and after many thanks
had been lavished upon Deadwood Dick, he was
permitted to take his departure.

The next morning Sherifl! Webb and his men

, set out for Fairpla with their prisoner but

their absence was s ortly after made good by
, the reappearance of Slipper .

A week pleasantly passe at the fort. and as
there were no outlaws to hinder them the colo-
nists got to work, and activitv soon teamed
evggywhere throughout the gulch basin.

eeks flew by; aying gold was struck; shan-
ties dotted the val ey everywhere, and one night
Ethel and Montague celebrated their nuptials,
midst the best wishes of many warm friends.
. And the Jud e, who had been vigorously court-
ing Slippery al for some time, ound opportu-
nity on this occasion to draw her aside and pro-
pose immediate union.

And shall we record the answer?

Oi! came the blonde wig and on went a long-
haired black one, and a false mustache and im-
perial, and as Deadwood Dick step ed forward
and encircled Edith’s waist with ‘ arm, he
gave the Judge his answer:

“ I highly appreciate your afie‘r, friend
Elliott,”he said, “ but, asyou percewe, I am not
at liberty I”

 

m: END.

 

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«v~"1.

 

 

 

 

1 Deer-hunter, the Boy Scout 0! the Great North Woodl.
ll_\' 01] chum...

2 Buil'ulo Bill, from Boyhood to Manhood. By Cal. l'ren-
Ila! lntrrahani.

8 Kit Cnrnon King offluhlee. Bv Albert W. Aiken.

4 Gertltrrlllall ie, this Evy-Interpreter til the Pawnee]. By
. 4 l' .

B S'imhlltl‘tl.

, Old GrlzIIy’I Buy Yard. By Col.
m: leg in unaui.

6 Detulwoot Dlt-k an nlloy. By Edward L. Wheeler.

7 Wild “Ill, the l’lltni Prinre. lly Col. 1'. lngrnlmm,

  

    

N The Prairie Rnnelt. Br Jnuph l-I. Bad -r, Jr.
0 Barium Joe I The History 01 a “ Border Buy.” By A.
, 'mt. .

0 Tent: Juek. the MariangKing By Coi. i'. lugrahmu.
I Charley Skylark. N nr\' or School-day Scrum“ mm
I!

8

l

 

 

Cnllruu Cup-nu. liy M- ' ii. a. Stud-lard.

Murlponu Mural]. it, nrwph E. Bittlurr. Jr.

km in: Bel “\ Jul... .7. Rim-hall.

.It rim: .‘teel, King ul‘ lint mph. ll\ J. R. llmluor, Jr.

15 \\ hie-Awnin- Geur-e. “\ Edward WilietL

Iii ' ‘lte “0y \\ iznrtl. i'-\ "‘Irl't' ltinguuhi.

1’? Peter I": perurunn. lhu til-ur-nhurn fruitiGuihltin. lly
Noah Nut .‘ P

18 Adrli‘t on t to rnlrle. and Ammo",- “ n . ,.
on the lluil'alu flange. liy Uli Cmnnoa. “ t“.

19 The Fortune lluuter; ur, Raving Jun as Miner,
anlmv, Trapper and llumer. By A. H. Phat,

20 Trn per 'l‘mu. thn Wawl imp, Iry 'r_ (j_ “,lrbmmh'
21 Yel 0w "ulr, the [lay Cliiei'ul' the l‘nwneel. Br Col.
Pam... ingrahum. -

22 The Snow 'l'rull. By T. C. llarbaugh.

23 01:1 Grllzzly Adams. the Burr Tamer. By Dr. Frank

ou'e .

24. Wood: and Waters. By Capt. Fr Iderlck Whittaker.

25 A Rolling Stone: invidentn in the Career on See and
Land Hi Col. l'rrntisa lngraham. liy “'m. R. Eyltrr.

26 Red River Rm‘e It. iiy C. Dunning- Clark.

21’ Pluzu uuti l’lulu: or. “'th Adventures «it“‘nurknkin
5......" (51.3. 5.. Hall.) By Col. 1’. inizrahaln.

28 The Swur PH «Q. The Rmnantic Life or Col. Mon-
etary By Ca vt. Freilerh-k VVhitt her.

29 Snow-Shae. 1 out. My 1‘. C. llttl‘hnugh.

30 Paul tle Lucy, the French lieaut Charmer. By C.
Dnnnimr (llar .

31 Round the Cnlup Fire. Bv Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

82 \Vhlte lle r. the indian Medicine Chief. By Col.
Prentiss lugrahem.

88 The Boy Cru-utler. By (‘a it. Fred. Whittakrr.

81 The Chn-e 01' the Great W lte Stag. and, Camp
nntl Cunne. liv C. Dunning Clark.

35 Olti Tar knuckle and Ill: Boy Chums. By
Rutter Sifll'llllcll.

88 The flushing Drtuzoou; or, The Story ot‘ Gen. George
A. (Inner. lty Cant. Fred. Whittaker.

8’? Night-llmyk Geor . liv Col. Prentiu lmrrahnm.

Bill The Boy bxllen oi’ ilrerlu. iiy ’l‘. C. Hnrhaazh.

89 The Young Bear lluuteru. Ry Morris Redwinz.

40 h‘mnrt film. tln- Lml with a Level Head. By Ed. Wing“.

4| The S< ttler'n Sun. liy Edward S. Ellie.

42 \Vult Fer unon’l Crulne. By C. Dunning Clark.

48 Rifle and evolver. By Ca rt. Fred. Whittaker.

4

  

 

   
 

 

«l The Lost. lioy “'hulern. iv 1‘. C. Harbaagh.

45 Bruueo Ililly. the Saddle Prince. Hy CnL lumbar".

46 Dick. the h‘townwuy. “\"Charlal Morris.

4‘? The Colorntlu liuynt nr, lain on an indigo Plantation.
lly Jueeph E. “minor, Jr.

48 The l’umpun Hunters. Bv'l‘. C. Harhauzh,

4 t The Adventurous Lite of Nebraska Charlie.
By Col. Prentiss lnurahaln.

50 Jack. Harry and Tom. the Three Champion Brothera.
[ly Capt. Fred. Whittaker.

51 The Youu Luutl-Lubber. By C. D. Clark.

52 The Boy 1 oteetlven. it v ’i‘. C. Harnnugh_

58 Honest llnrr t M, The 'oantry Boy Adrift in the
Cll-v. Bv Char a: Morris. .

54 Cnliibruln Joe. the Mynturiom Piaiasnnm. By Col.
Prentiulngrahaln.

55 Tip Trey-gel. the Floater. Ev Edward .“Ylllgn.

56 The Snow lluntern. By iarry do Forrest.

5? Harry Some", the Sailor Boy Magician. By s, w.

Pearce.
68 The Adventurous l.li'e_ of Cu tuiu Jack, the
Border Boy. By Cal. Puntm lngra nun.

 

  

//

   

59 ane Tim. the Male Boy of the Mines. By C. Mnrrln.

60 The Young 'l‘rnll Hunters. ll ' 'l‘. C. "urhuuuh.

61 The Tiger lluuterur or. The Cu nrndo liuyl in El...
pliant Land. at Jun-ya E. Imam, Jr.

62 Heater Carver, tlm ‘ Evil Spirit" oi‘the l’lainu. By

(Ml. l‘ru'nliua in r nlnun.

I l Iek lklorbe Sill], the Bandit Wrecker. By linger
. tarhuc .

(l4 Youn Illek 'l‘nlbot. B Albert W. Aiken.

65 The fiuy Pilot. liy Co . l’rentiau hmraham.

66 The Desert. Iiuvert ur, Stowaway Dick Among the
And... My mum... Murrll.

6? Texas Chm-lie, lilt- lioy Ranm-r. By Col. inuraham.

08 Little Rifle: or, The Yqum Fur Huntcrl. liy Captain
“ liruin " Adams.

69 The You! Nihilint. By Charles Morris.

70 l'onv the ‘on'lun'. Ry .\lnjur H. il. Stoddard.

71 km? Ilubsnrtuml Ills Bear. By Captain “ Bruil "

t RI".-

7’2 The lye Ele hunt. By Capt. Frederick Whittaker.

715 The \ oung . lmme-Iluulern. liy W. H. Manning.

74 The lloy (‘urnl - Fluhern. liy R gar Starbuck.

75'- Iieyoh‘er Billy. liy t'ul. l’relttiu~' Inuraham.

70 The (‘uutlor Killern. By '1'. (‘. llarlmagh.

T? Llsltl ,Litlr‘nheeln, the Young Tiger Fighter. By linger
.‘iar aw .

’28 Fluihont Fred. By Edward Wiilett. Ruddy Oct. to.

79 “nune, the Hunter. By Captain F. VVlllttttlter.

30 Kentucky Ben, the Lung Mile of the Canada. By
Roger Starhtick.

81 The Kit Carson Club. By T. C. Hurbaugh. .

B2 Little But-k, the Boy Guide. By Barry ltinggnld.

33 Pony Bob, the Rockies: Rider 0! the Radial. Hy Col.
l’rentiu lngralmm.

R4 Cuptuln Flyby-Night. By Joaeph E. Badger, Jr.

8.”) Cuptnlu Ralph. the You": l‘Iirpiorer. By C. D. Clark.

86 Little Dun Rut-kn. By Morri- Redwing.

82' The Menagerie lluntern. By May. ll. Grenville.

H8 The Boy Trumps; or, Life Among the Gipllel. By
J. M. livfl'muu.

B9 ’Long-hnre “10. By C. D. Clark.

90 Rfiwllllz Rifle, Cuntur’l Little Scout. By T. C. H“;
Mi]; 1.

91 Oregon Jonh, the Wizard Rifle. By Roger Starbuck.

92 llurrienue Kit. By A. F. Holt.

93 Jumping Jake, the Colorado Cirrus Boy. By Bryan;
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94 Sam Spence, the Brnlrlhnrn Boy. 1;,— Ed, “'“lgl‘.

95 meow to fillyerinr or, A Yankee Buyto the Roman. ‘
By Charles Mnrril.

4
96 l‘izhtlu Fred; «r the Castnwa aol‘ Grini CM .
By '1'. L‘Fllarbangh. ’ y 3' up

97 Cruise of the Fly-away. By C. Dunning Clark.

 

  

‘93 The Boy Vigilante-n. By MAJ. H. B. Stoddard.

99 The White Tiger-a. Hy Capt. Chariel Huwnrd.
100 The Snow-Shoe ’l‘rull. By St. George Rathhune.
101 Mariano, the Ottawa Girl. By Edward S. Film.

102 The Flynn")? Aflnut. By C. Dunning Clark.
Ready 1\ arch ‘I .

108 Put Mullouey’n Adventures ByC. L.Edwardn.
Ready April 8.

104 The. Boy Pro-vector. By Roger Starbuck.
Ready April 10. r

105 Mlnouee. the Wood Witch. By Edwin Emenon.
Ready April 11.

106 The Boy Cruisers. By Edward Wiliett. , .
Rctnly April 2-]. ,
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Ralph Roy. the i3qu lluccnnser. ilv C l. Ingmhum, “WI “54‘ Ml'l‘filltl‘r- B)“ Cnptuiu hlnyua
Nick 0‘ the . l in. By 1‘. c. Harbuuuh. 9., m I“ 1.3"“ “9‘1"”1‘.“ "Muller.
Yellowstone . uek. Hy Jnm-h E. “mm-r, Jr. ,4, T.“ Erma)" "‘3 ‘det'; “N T. C. "nrlmugh.
Wild Ivun the Buy Claude Duvul. By 1-1.1..Wheeler. 52 S  ’3“ V me" By (’i'l' Fr""““1"“"lh"'“:
alnmofld {élrlgx By (guru; helm“ [Humhlmh t; mumolgeiilsr, The (aptn'el oi the frontier. By
'een- ne rncelte ll. BOIC   ' ..
0,050“ so“ '0', Nlck(wl:ima:lvllrfiol;, spat.  83 (Illllaglllz'uthet, the Couhitrlelter Chief. By Edward
J. . C. Admm. . " ' '
neutlhpnee’ 1h, Demon". By E. L “mule”  :ll‘ille Dumb Page. By Ch t. Frederick Whittnker.
LIL-Io Juok. By an Canines. sci J '5; Bl?y M'"°"- 19y E mm, 5. 151m.
90 Rfimlr’lnu’ Ruhph Rockwood, the Reckless Rnnger. mid” “Egyfflwuy "‘ New ‘0’!“ BY Bu“-
v lrvN. 1' hr 4:. a w ‘
21 The iiory Clout‘h.K By Frunk S. Flnn.  '11)}:0‘lnllm'“ Cm’tnln‘ “3' 0"- Pre’m" “Willi”!!-
22 The Phantom Miner. B Eilwill’ll L. \Vhoelar. '8.) “if;  In“: !" Leudvnk“ “yE- LWhI'ulI-r.
The Sen-Cut. By Capt-in 'retlerick Whittaker. a" r ~ ‘ 0"} l “‘1' 'er‘. By Edw'm’ 5- EmI-
The Dumb s y. By on Comm. ' “WY, "'0 '1 (‘XIIII- flv (Wm-a Gin-um.
l W R“ 9. 13V Ham. 5,. (home. 91 Ministry“) 3 m, the Klllg of tin. i’luinn. By Jug. E.
. t - y A . _ ' mums , . r.
L4 fihwlslmh"! h“ ("9” ""nm’m” B} E‘l‘v'm] 92 The Ocean Bloodhound. lly Snmm-l W l‘u-nn-e.
Gin s-Eye, “1e Grant Shot of the West. By Cul‘l. J. 93 I h" "‘"d‘" ""4 “m” I" .' 15." Chm“ “' Ti!-
w. c A Burn. 911 lleudwoud Dick an Deteotive. By E .Wlm-ler.
g The 3;”, ounmlm 3‘. Ron" Shnmch 9» i§llck“;ll('krulil. Hy (:llpbllll .i. F. c, Adam,
D10]?! Duran,“ the puny Exp”... Rider. 3v cup," 96 eii‘tlx-kdfed Dick, the Sport. Detective. By E. L.
In erivr 'Ilillu er. . V '
0 Bob woo“; the Bard", Rum“. By E. I“ Whealm 9? The. Billl'k Blood of the Prairies. By James
Nightingale Nut. By T. C. llnrlmuyh l“ “‘1‘le-
‘3 Black John. the Road Aunt. By J. E. Budnr. Jr. 95 The *9“ 5“? Pllt- B}: Juan Lewis.
0muha on, 21.. Maxim! ’l‘crror. By E. L. Win-.1... 9" “a . v “HM”! “Imm- ,B.vE. LWheeler.
Burt Bunker‘ “I, Tmmwh By Gem“ E. Luwne. 100 hut '1 Inlnl: nr, lhe hits of the Sioux Cnptlve. By
The Boy lliflen. By A. C. lrmm. l‘ulwm'l‘ 5- ‘1 9~ I
The White 1; fl'nlo. By Geuru» E. Lulu... 101 lglurclmr "my. the Yum: Bear Klller. By Harry
1' Jim Bind be Jr. Bv Elwn rl l. “'1 >1 .  ""913"- ,
Ned "01:1, ’the Boy-Trhperr. By éx‘pfirl F. C. 103 ’ixlnte‘le-iiIow (Jill‘ki‘i; or,’l‘heHIIlf-bloodsVengennce.
Adnms‘ . y u \ . . Ayxm e (-
Deadly Eve. Hm Unknown Seoul. Bv Buffalo Bill. 103 0MP! H" “"1 5)‘“"- n." Edward L. Wheeler.
ygek “may. pet. By c“ L J. R C. Adm“ 104 The Black hvhoonor. By Roger Stnrhuck.
neudwood lnek’, Eagle.“ y E_ 10 When,“ 105 linminome'llurry, tlm Boulhlnck Delectivu. By
The Border King. By Oll Comma, UMP“! NINTH. _
01.1 lllckory, By Hm 5., George. 106 )Iglnt-llawk Ht. ll. ins. E. Emlynir.
The White lnrilnn. y Cnpi. J. F. C. Adnml. 107 Jack ilovle’n I end. ~ Edward L. “'heeirr.
" Buckhorn Bin. By Edward L. Wheeler. 183 Rock Mountain Hit. By T. (‘. Hnrbnugh.
6 The flhudow Shlp. By Col. Prunlin lngmhnm ‘i 9 'I he rnmleti "and. liv qulr Dumnut.
The Red Brotherhood. By w. J, Hummum 110 The Drond Rider. My Gx-nrue \l'. hrnwne.
Dnnd Jack. By T. C. Hnrbnugh. Ill Boll! Bob, the KIMnfllnuthim-ks. ly E. L. Whey",
lsl'llnlaliecalaln:nigiilkv  tame h [Big-‘65:". Jr- 112 The lleiplen ilund. lly (‘an May... Reid.
lingemdenth'er Joe: 3., pump  warne’ “8 Sour-Face Soul, the Sllrnt Hunt». lly Oll (‘nr-nm.
TMBmMermflwm mummsm n4 mM thuBmun .
54 gféaznnle‘che Slmr Iltg‘owr. By Ed. 1.. Wheeler. 11,112.? £33,131} can u r .3 y mung}.
Delnumll-‘e  By giltbgéméf' Adm)" 115 Deadwood Dick’s Double. By E L. Wheeler.
6 Mad Tom Wei-tern. By W. J. Hamlltxm. Remy M“"" 2"
Deadwood Dick on Der-k. By E. L. Wheeler. 116 Join: Collin. Skipper. By Capt. F. Whittaker.
gfiwfieyelilml-‘ry. 3y glllclgnmul. I 1 Ready March 31.
“.3 cm. may... I...“ 'B,.'“A“fl.'.'.."v“v'.“l‘ll{;'... 1" Elam012.7393’;;_fi“3{tm . By Hon- w- R Cody-
Conluroy Charlie. By Edward L.Wheeler. ' y l '
wnl some”. tiny My mum", By 0).”. Morm, 118 Will Wildfire, the Thoroughbred. By Chll.Mol’l’ll.
$01 91in cl? tll’le Gan"; TrnpneL.  A]. W. Alhan. Rudy APT“ l
one u o . y 3 Ward . ea or. ,
Lightning Joe, the T‘error ofthe Prnlrle. By Cnpl. Beadle.“ Pocket Library 1‘ f‘" "‘1' by "n N""'
J. . C. Adnull. denleri, five cenu per copy, or rent by mail on receipt of le
Khttlmiliarefoot, the \Vood‘Hnwk. By T. C. lllr- cen“ “ch.
Rollo the Boy Runner. By 011 Cnomn.
ldyl. in. Girl Miner. Bv Edward L. Wheeler. READ”: “ ADAMS’ P“"“'he"’
Detective Dick. By Chnrlal Morrll. 98 William tract, New York.

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