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, yCopyx-izhud. 1890, by BIADLI um Anna. Entered at the Post 0am a: New York. N. Y.. In Second Clan Mall Matter. May 21, 1890.

No. 332. 33-53. Published Weekly by BM“ “‘1 Adm  V01. XXVI.

No. 98 WILLXAM ST.. NEW YORK.

§
.2:

 

 

 

 

 

I, ‘

THE OVER-CONFIDENT VOLUNTEER WAS KNOCKED END OVER END.

 

 

Dakota. Dan in Canyon City.

 

Dakota. Dan in Canyon City;

COLORADO WES CHECK.

BY PHILIP S. WARNE,

AUTHOR or “ PATENT-LEATHER Jon,” “LITTLE
TORNADO," “ ALWAYS 0N HAND," ETC.

CHAPTER I.
A CHALLENGE EXTRAORDINARY.

Tm: door of the Little Brown Jug Saloon flew
open with a bang.

At a bound 8. man leaped to the middle of the
floor.

“ Whoop!” he shouted. “ Hyar I am ag’inl—
the rampagious, ring-tailed ructionl Gaze on
me, gents! Size me up, an’ reach fur me!”

The men who had been lounging in listless at-
titudes, waiting for the nightly revol and its ex-
citement, straightened up with awakening inter-
est. Was the dull monotony of the day to be
broken into?

Ham Burgess, the proprietor of the Little
Brown Jug, rose from behind his bar with a bot-
tle in one hand, and a corkscrew in the other.

He gazed at the intruder with the black frown
of a sullen nature.

“ Who be you?” he demanded.

“ Dakota. Dan, at your sarvice."

“ An’ what in Cain do ye want hynr?”

“ I’ve come to clean out your dirty leetle camp,
stranger!”

“ Waal, you’d better begin next door.”

“ I thought that this hyar [nought be the head-
Oenter of the burg."

“ You’ll find that it’s worse’n that, of you
don"? dry up your dog—gone foolishness an’ dig
ou

“ Eh? That thar begins to sound uateral. You
have the look of a pnrty likely man to begin
on.’

“ D’ye want me to come out to you an’ throw
ye through the door?”

“ That’s jest what I’m hungerin’ fur!”

“ Waal, by hokeyl you’ll git it, an’ that
mighty suddentl”

And dropping his bottle and corkscrew, Ham
strode out from behind his bar, looking as if he
could eat the stranger who had challenged the
camp.

“ hoopl" yelled the other, again. “Watch
me, gents! See how I finish him off! It’s a
twist 0’ the wrist, an’ owr he goes!”

Ham Burgess “ made” for him with a. vicious
thrust.

“ Take that, you blatherskite!” he cried.

“ Out on a fly!" laughed the stranger in re-
turn.

A skillful party, a slug straight from the
shoulder, and Hum “ went to grass.”

“Whoopl, Hain’t you got no more meat fur
me? Don’t send a boy to mill. Whar’s yer
men?”

“ Hyar’s fur ye, my bonny buck l”

And one of Ham’s patrons leaped to his feet
and 'O‘ined in the fray. .

“ o lovemps, pardner!” cried Dakota Dan.

 

“ Send ’em home hot, like rolls from the bake-
shopl"

“ Hyar’s fur a roll, thenl"

“Eh? That thar’s a leetle mistake 0’ yourn,
ain’t it, mister?”

And catching the new volunteer’s right on his
left, he let fly a. counter like a thunderbolt, cry-
, .

ng.

“ Look out fur this scorcher!”

The over-confident volunteer was knocked end
over end, until he fetched up under one of the
tables.

By this time Ham Burgess, raging like a mad
hull, was on his feet again, and “ went” for the
intruder for all he was worth.

“ Dot an’ carry onel" laughed Dakota Dan.
“ That thar shanty don’t cost you nothin’. But
this hyar is gittin’ slow. Ain’t thar no more of
ye that’s hankerin’ fur a leetle fun? Come,
come, gents! Try to make it lively fur a stran-
ger as never struck your town before.”

“ By gum! of that thar’s all you Want to make
you happy, you kin git as much of it at Taylor’s
Bend as anywhar in the mountains.”

And another “took a hand.”

“Now ye’re talkin‘l 0h, reach funme, gentsl
I’ve come across the divide jest fur to see of you
had any lively communities over hyar.”

And in answer to this appeal several more
jumped for the stranger.

For the next few minutes a truly lively scene
ensued.

There were no less than seven men to one;
and yet they seemed to have their hands full.
He knocked them about and tumbled them over
one another like ten-pins.

“ Git hold of him I” shouted one who had felt
the irresistible impetus of his “ bunch of lives.”

Two jumped for him at once.

One was knocked sprawling; but the other
got his hold.
1j'I‘hen it promised to be “ all day ” with Dakota

:11).

Clutched on all sides, he was borne to the
floor, where he rolled his assailants about in as
line style as he had knocked them a. moment he-

em.

But numbers prevailed. Although they fell
over one another until he was completely buried
under their bodies, yet they had him at their
mercy, and were punishing him severely, when
there came an unexpected interference.

CHAPTERJI.
A Q U E E R r I s H . -

“HOLD on, gents! This hvar’s gittin' to be
too much of a good thing! Man to man’s the
square thing; but I’ll be hanger] of I’ll stand an’
see a mob set down on a better man than
they’ve got in the place.”

And up from the corner where he had sat un-
observed sprung one who had thus far taken no
pn rt in the scrimmage.

seizing whoever happened to be uppermost”
he threw Dakota Dan’s assailants to the right
and loft.

Before others could interfere, he had dragged
the whole pile off of the intrepid Dan, and
“ snaked ” him to his feet. _

“Stranger, this byar, to my way 0' thmkin’.

 

,‘4,4

 

 

.. in. “M; “Jan

Dakota. Dan in Canyon City. , 3‘

 

is a good place to git clear of,” he said, as he
squared himself to meet a. furious onset in which
every man in the room seemed to have joined.

Yells and cxecrations resounded on every
hand; but brushing the blood out of his eyes,
Dakota Dan laughed.

“Whoop! this hyar’s what I call jesta leetle
chunk out 0’ Paradise! Pardner, you know
how to handle yourself, I’ll be sworn! We two
air enough fur all these cusses kin fetch on.
Let’s polish ’em off, now we’ve started on it.”

Catching up a chair, he dashed it to the floor
with sufficient force to break it to pieces; then
seizing a leg, be dealt about him with a. dexter-
ity that soon made an abundance of sore heads.

“Whoop! I've come to clean out yer camp;
an’ the spillin’ of this hyar ranch into the streets
is only the first bite in the pie!”

Now the battle began again, a. dozen to two.

But they were two exceptional men. They
had muscle; they had skill;'above all, they had
nerve!

“ Now, thenl Both together! One more
charge, an’ we’ll put ’em on the outside.”

They made the charge—a furious assault, and
those terrible chair-legs did terrible execution,
for the floor was soon paved with men.

"Now for a cleanout!" and Dan, dropping
the chairJeg, seized oneof the roughs nearest
the window. The Queer Pard, apparently
without the least feeling or excitement, grap-
pled the body on the other side.

“Now, give him the grand bouncel" shouted
Dan, and out of the shivered sash went the now
howling man.

Another quickly followed, and another until
six had been piled on top of one another out in
the street.

This was too much for the rest of the now
demoralized crowd, who as fast as they re-
gained their senses and t eir feet, fled through
the back door with bloody heads, yelling with
fury and pain.

The rout was complete. Dakota Dan was for
following them. ,

“ Let us put the whole camp in our breaches
pockets!” he cried. “Did you ever see such
coyotes?”

But the other was more discreet.

“See hyar, nrdner—you ain’t yerself,” he
protested. “ hem galoots is an ugly gang.
They’ll soon fetch more 0’ their own sort; an’
they’ll stamp us out. You hyear me x? I know
’em of old !” and seizing Dakota Dan by the arm,
be fairly dragged him away.

Dan was about to resist, for he was in that
state of liquor in which a. man refuses to listen
to the plainest dictates of reason. when be for
the first time looked squarely at the man who
had come so opportuner to his assistance, and
saved him a drubbing that he might not have
got Over in a day.

Perhaps it was the magnetic gaze of the
stranger. Anyhow, Dakota Dan submitted to
belod away. ‘

As expedition was necessary to escape, they
“cut and ran.” After the exhibition of their
metal which we have just seen, there was noth-
in};r discreditable in this.

Once clear of Taylor’s Bend, Dakota Dan
turned and looked his companion over again.

 

“ Blow me l" he said, with a. laugh, “ but
we‘re a. pair of assorted sizes!”

The stranger smiled grimly, but made no ver-
bal reply.

He was long and lack, where Dakota. Dan was
short and dumpy. He had long, straight black.
hair, and a drooping mustache, which height-
ened the effect of his gaunt face, dark, sallow
complexion, and hollow eyes, while Dakota Dan
was as fresh as an applo~blossom, with sandy
hair that curled close to his head. His face
was round~just the face for cod—nature. He
always swore that he couldn’t eep the pucker
out of it. On the other hand, it looked as if the
stranger never smiled. And he spoke in a. deep,
sepulchral V0100 which seemed to come from the
depths of his hollow stomach.

‘ Beg yer pardon,lpardner,” said Dakota Dan,
with a merry twinkle in his eyes, “but didn’t
you never have a squar’ meal!"

“Am I so thin as that?” asked the stranger,
with a far-away look.

“You do look hungry, au‘ that’s a fact. I’ll
be hanged—cf you’ll pardon me l—but it makes
me feel uncomfortable ’05:; to look at you. I
soy1~come with me, an 1’l1 fill out yer waist-
band, ef it takes all the commissary department
0’ Canyon City. I don’t mind tellin’ of ye that
I’ve taken a likin’ to ye.”

The stranger extended his hand.

fc‘iI can heartily return the compliment,” he
sal .

“ Then we‘re pards—eh? Is it a go?”

“ If it suits you.”

“ Put ’or thar fur the warl”

And the two men struck hands on it.

D “ But what’s your handle, para?” asked Dakota.
an.

The stranger looked away from him with a
dreamy light in his eyes. '

“ Eh l—what’s the matter with him i” thought
his interrogator.

As he did not seem about to reply, Dakota Dun
kept on to cover the awkwardness of his strange
silence: .

“ Over to the States I used to hail to the name
of Dan Lowden; but out hyar in the mountains
they call me Dakota Dan. What did you say
I might call you, sir?”

The use of the title “ sir " at once caught the
stranger’s ear, and he understood its si nificance.
In the rough-and-ready good~fellows ip of the
West, no one uses this formality where there is
to be any intimacy of friendship.

He turned quickly and looked at the man
who had withdrawn his hand with sudden cold-
ness.

“Beg ardonl No offense!” he said. “ Call
me Saun arson—George Saunderson.”

“ Wasl, Saundersou’s a. good name to go to
bed with, as names go,” said Dakota Dan, at
once recovering his cordiality.

And again they clasped hands—this time with
apparent frankness on both sides.

CHAPTER III.
BAPHEAD SAM.
“ Ho, Dick 1"

With one hand on the Windlass, the speaker
leaned over the mouth of the mine shalt, and
shouted lustily.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dakota Dan in Canyon coy.

 

 

From the depths of the earth came back a hol—
lOW reply: _

“‘Hallol, What’s the row now'im

“ Hyar comes Dakota Dan.”

“ All right! I’ve no objections." '

“ But he’s comin’ in bloomin’ style. A spring-
wagon aii' four—in—haucli”

“ The deuce you say i”

“ Yes. Come up. You never seen nothin’ to
heat it. The boys air showin’ up all ’round. I
reckon they’re goin’ to give him a boom.”

A mumbling sound came up from below, as of
some one muttering to himself. Then came the
order:

“ Haul away l”

A shaking at the rope that disappeared in the
darkness of the well showed that the speaker had
got into the bucket.

. “ Bear a hand h or, Slippy!” cried the first
speaker, Shep Lam art. I
Sappy—or Saphead Sam, as he was called—
rinned in the painful way that indicates im-
cility of mind, and promptly grasped his
crank, while Shep seized the one at his end of
the Windlass.

Presently the bucket rose to view, bearin'; a
man in the rough dress of a miner, with a.
burninfiaoandle stuck to his hat by a piece of
moist c 

Unlike hep, who was a rollicking blade, with
his hat alwa s cocked on one side, Dick Mosier
was a wizen ittle specimen of humanity. with a
shrunken body, and a halt in his gait, while his
face wore a sour, irritable expression.

He frowned and blinked his eyes, dazzled by
the broad light of day. '

“Is that him?” he asked, looking away to
where a cloud of dust was rolling up behind a
perfectly “stunning outfit,” from the oint of
View of the mines—«four spirited horses revving
a light “democrat” wagon, in the one seat of
which set Dakota Dan and his new pan].
“ What’s that thing he’s got with him?"

" Blow me el’ I know?” replied Shep-a ques-
tion and answer that had passed between many
others of the boys. - '

Then, followed by Saphead Sam, they made
their wag toward the center of the camp, where
Dakota an was already tasting the deligits of
popularity. \

crowd of the “boys,” constantly increased
by fresh arrivals, were gathered about, shaking
h m b the hand, and slapping him on the hack,
acco ing to their degree of familiarity.

But they were greatly interested in the horses
too. The lifted their feet, and examined their
teats, an stroked their necks and flanks. all
the while peppering the lucky owner with a
running fire of uestions and observations.

“ Hello, you 0 d rooster l” shouted Shep, strik-
ing his palm into Dakota Dank? With a report
like the crack of a pistol. “Whar have you
been this dog’s one? A-linin’ of your pockets,
too. I’ll be hloymd l” ~

v There was nothing of inquisitiveness in this,
but only hearty congratulation. ‘

On the contrary, the corners of Dick Monet‘s
face were drawn down with envy, as he whined:

, “ Whar in thunder did you make sich a raise?
Mons must stick to your hide like fleastoa

dog: sick.”

    

 

“Never you mind, Lim Mtge-fetch; ,
cried Dakota Dan, cheerily. ‘ It ain’t none" 
your money, an’ don’t ye furgit itl” ‘ -; ;:

The crowd laughed—not at the halt that had

secured Dick his descriptive title, but because: h ’

of the well-known fact that money never seem— .
edto stick to his hide, nor indeed, to any
other part of his person, for any great lenght of}
time.

“Waal, boys.” said Dakota Dan, “to tell
you the downright truth, I’ve been goin‘ about
the country breakin’ hanks.”

“Burglarizin' of ’em’!“ asked Limpy, in an
effort to “ git squar’." ‘ .

“Faro banks. my soul” said Dakota Dan.
“Not the kind that made you leave the States
without stoppin’ to pay your wash-billl”

A ain the crowd laughed.

“ on’t you go fur to chin it with Dakota
Dan,” said Shep Lambert. “He’ll‘floor ye
every time he reaches for yel"

“The loudest bray always goes with the
lon est ears l" retorted Dick.

,T eimpartial crowd now laughed with Dick 7
as heartily as they had laughed at him.

Dakota Dan generously joined them.

“Hal hal he! Tally one fur Limpyl He
fetched me thar, sure l”

But now another claimed his notice. *

“Whatl you, Sappyi" he cried, turning to
gras the hand of the incompetent.

“ es—mel” replied Saphead Sam. bobbing
his head repeatedly and grinning his delight.

He stood with his head thrust forward in the
painful way liar to imbeciles, and laughed
with the jar y ejaculations with which they
express mirth.

‘Helhel Sam's powerful glad toseeyel I
knewed it was you when you futt struck the I
grade. Hel he!” ’ ‘ '

“ By jingo, Sappyl ther’s some good in that
thar knowledge—box o’ yourn yitl" exclaimed

Dakota Dan, putting his head with the blunt, 

patronage of one of his rough good-nature.

“ That’s them as lays claim to a good deal more
savy than you do what don’t know their friends
when they see ’em.”

“ Sayl” ejaculated Sam, suddenly advancing:
his lips close to Dakota Dan’s ear and dro‘ lug
his voice to a confidential whisper, thong he
glanced at Saunderson in a way that directed
every eye toward him, and even painted at him.

“ Who’s that tharl Is be your friend? I don’t
like the look of him, I don’t!” ‘ ,

Saunderson had alighted from the wagon, and, ,
stood a little apart from the crowd, wit folded
arms and knit brows,'his eyes fixed on vacancy.
It was plain that he took no interest in what
was going on about him. In his deep abster ,
tion, his gaunt face was peculiarly somber and ,
forbidding. . - . -

“ What’s the matter with him!" askengakota .
Dan. willing to humor the imbecile’s conceit. ;

“ He’s ton still. Lonk out fur them still kind. ,
He’s all quiet enough now, but at night-1 Saul"

Sam interrupted himself with asharp ejacu'm ‘
lation, while his eyes grew suddenly r,”
with fright, and his voice more hoarse wi mya- I
tery. . . . ' - , r - ' ,
The men who had cauzht the drift of the im- I
becilo’s words drew nearer, and followed the

  
   

  

‘Dalrota Dan in canyon City. ’ 

 

direction of his gene with gathering frowns of
.' suspicion.

’ Waal, what is it?” asked Dakota Dan, with
a touch of annoyance.

“ You know the ugly teller that comes
in’ around sometimes, makin’ eyes at me
told e about him."

“ hat’s be got to do with my pard?”

“He’s 0’ that thar kind! Sometimes that is
two of ’em, ur three, ur half a. dozen. Reckon,
n0w, this hyar might be one of ’em. They’re
still, like him, in,the daytime; but at night—at
night, when it gits dark, ye know, an' the thun-
der sw'ars, an’ the lightning hisses, an’ the wind
yells an’ the trees cry an’ shiver an’ run aWay,
' an’the ole mountain turns over in' its sleep—
then they’re—” '

He used, stared at Saunderson, then put hi
lips c ose to Dakota Dan’s ear, and ejaculated
with startlin energy:

“Devils! es! yes! yes!” he reiterated, .mp-
idly. “ At night you kin see the horns stickin’
up through their hair !" ‘

r . 9‘ Dry up yer infernal nonsense 1” growled

Dakota Dan, pushing the imbecile away, as
Saunderson at this moment looked in his direc-
tion. ' '

He encountered the dull, suspicious frowns of
the men, who dropped their eyes and turned
away in the awkward manner with which men
or their class betray to another the fact that he
has been the theme of conversation; but he did

rowl-
l’ve

' not seem at all moved by the patent dislike of

his partner‘s friends.
Dakota Dan walked up to him.
\ “It’s time I was givin’ you a. knock-down
to the boys,” he said.

CHAPTER IV.
run UNDERTAKER.

En ut his hand on Saunderson’s shoulder,

I, 5 [and in this friendly attitude turned toward the

crowd.
“Gents,” he said, “ this hyar is my pardner,

. George Saunderson—a mighty handy man, as”

the best of on will l’ern, of you ever give him
reason to ta 6 hold on ye.”

“I am glad to know those whom Dakota
Lowden calls ,his friends,” said Saunderson,
speaking in the most monotonous of his grave-
yard tones, and permitting not a muscle of his
face to relax.

The boys had to take a second thought before
they r ined Dakota Dan under the
name of an Lowden. The thing was too
still and formal to suit their notions of good-
fellowahi . Saunderson did not improve his
place in t eir esteem.

‘ \She Lambert was the only one who offered

'_ him t e free hand of feflowahip, who leaped up-
- : aha box andlcried:

,. “ Hurrah for the Undertaker! May he stand
, ,' byanofa Dan until his feet go out o‘ sight be-
"lund the swell of his paunchi” ' . .
~ There was nothing of the spirit: of a gibe 1n
thiai It is customary in the West to nickname
men from any personal peculiarity, all in the

Innkest good-nature. \
To call Saundarm the Undertaker was a
 Wand while the toast was cheeredto

 

the echo, the boys actually felt more kindly to
ward him.

But his unfortunate mien spoiled it all.

“Thank you, gentlemen,’ was all that he
said; but he said it without the movement of a
muscle in his face, save those directly employed
in articulation.

“ He’s mightily stuck up—that’s my opinion I”
growled Limpy.

“ Ye hyear me, gents! That softy’s got more
in his pate than most folks gives him credit
fur l” muttered another.

Dakota Dan felt that his pard had not had a
very favorable “send-off.” He therefore told
at length the business-like way in which he had
disposed of the men of Taylor’s Bend.

This was end as far as it went, but it was
received wit little enthusiasm.

That night he took his melancholy friend
“ the rounds ;” but he did not “ take ” with the
ladies.

“ Where did you strike such a graveyard?"
laughed Colorado Kate, tossing her auburn
hair back from her shell-like ear with coquet—
tish grace,

She was the belle of Canyon City and did
and said pretty much what she liked. I ,

“Why, you ought to cotton to him,” said
Dakota Dan. “I thought that blondes were al—
ways taken with brunettes.”

“ The rule don't apply to strawberry blondes,”
laughed Kate, saucxly, “ unless they are of the
masculine persuasion I”

And she gave Dakota Dan’s sandy looks a
tweak with her finger as she ran away. \

Dan laughed. ,

“We’re both off the same piece, my beauty!”
he called after her; “ and that’s enough to make
me happy!”

While the smile of admiration was yet on his
face he turned toward Hank Sullivan, the ro-
prietor of the “ boss” lay—out of Canyon ity,
and cried:

“ Was ole man, air ye ready fur me?"
“Wud en’t I be ready fur all me fri’nds?”
asked Hank. '
“ But you onderstand when I open on ye I

propose to‘take ye in, body an' breaches!" 7

“That’s roight fur yen. Faith, l’m niver so
happy as whin I’m bein' tuck in by a gintleman
loike ersilf.”

“ ou’va heard 0’ my luck? I‘ve come to
Canyon City fur a big dash, an’ then I’m goin’ ,
tackle onto Colorado Kate, yonder. an' settle
down fur life." ’ ‘ _,

Hank smiled, but it was a rather sickly eifort.
The fact was that he had had a presentiment of
coming evil. and the conviction grew upon him
when he heard of Dakota Dan’s unprecedented
rug ,9: luck, that he was destined to “ clean him
on

“He will, unless’I fit: him!” he mattered to
himself, as he gazed after Dakota Dan, who '
was moving off jauntil . “At midnight, is it? 
Divll swape me but Ill do it! Och, murthorl
what will become 0" me‘ sowl,‘I dunno, a! the
Ould Boy ketches me at its”. . ,

But shortly before midnight he sluggg away .7
from his establishment on an errand bcded
no Tgood to a otaDan. -

he night was a forbidding one for such

’

 

 
  

 

M ' ,,Wsndering a

Dak’hta. Dan in Canyon City.

 
  

 

enterprise as he had undertaken. The sky was

covered with hurrying clouds, and the abrupt

appearance and disappearance of the moon

through occasional rifts, filled- the wilderness

with restless shadows, while the muttering of
’the thunder up among the peaks made the
canyons re-echo with Weird sounds.

A hundred times he was on the point of turn-
ing back to the security of the camp, with its
li hts and companionship. But every instinct
pg cupidity urged him on; and with the first
:and second fingers of either hand crossed, and
:tracing the holy symbol on breast and lore-
head, while he muttered prayers tothe saints,
:and repeated charms against the ower of the
Evil One, he crept forward, starting at every
unexpected sound and movement. w

Further and further into the mountain wilder.
these he penetrated, his blood running cold. his
teeth chattering, his hair standing on end, when
suddenly a. tall, gaunt figure loomed directly be-
fore him!

Shrinking from it with extended hands, the
fingers spread, he stared at the horror with dis-
tended eyeballs.

The flying rnck for an instant unveiled the
moon, and revealed a. wildlyvdesolate gulch, in
the midst of which these two stood face to face.

One remained speechless, motionless, looking
coldly into the eyes of the terrified Irishman.

He uttered a. shriek of horror. '

“ The Undhertakerl”

He did not believe that it was Saunderson in
the flesh, but only his spiritual presentment.

, All of the half-whispered stories, their eerie
significance eked out by side glances of dread,
w ioh bud. floated about the camp, rushed upon
his mind; and half-dead, he fell upon his knees.

The ghostlylight which hnl shown this por-
tentous specter was as abruptly blotted out,
leaving all in darkness.

CHAPTER V.
r HOOUS-POCUS.

"‘ WELL, what is the matter with you?” asked
:3 voles out of the darkness, with a touch of im—
:patience in its hollow tones.

“Och. mu rtherl the saints betune me and
‘harrum'! Whativer has come to me at all. at
.4111!" whined Sullivan. “ Av at pl’aze yer river-
aence, sure it’s mesilf that niver done no one the

ataste as a. han’s—tum o’ harruml Don’t put the
.epell an me!"
’ “Don’t be a fooll What do you take me for?”
rilemanded the Undertaker. contemptuously.

“ Be :the soul 0’ me body! an’ is it yersilf,
TMisther‘Ssundereon? Blessed be God, sot! sure
E'thon ht it Were yer ghost l—sainm deflnd us!"

A be hter interval of moonlight had revealed
:the U11 ertaker more clearly.

, ‘“ An’ phwat wogld yez be doin’ hour in such a
Waste av a. height r
“ What are you doing here?"
“ Mesilf'is it? Ari-ah, thinl phwat is it but
an achin’ tooth that I have, that bad ye’d think
.I’d go crazy widths sin av it. Ph wat do I do
thin? Faith, annyth ng 'fur a diversion. I go
bout till ye'd think I had the load
or Shah Dhu an me sown—God foreflndl”
_ “ Very well. I wonit interfere with

exercise.”said the Undertaker, dryiy.

;

 

your

' blackened by time.

 

 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
  
   
   
  
  
   
   
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
   
 
  
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
   
   

And he coolly walked on. '

“Now, be the 50wl 0’ me fut, phwnt will the?
loike av him be doin’ heurl” mused Sullivan, _.
gazing after him. '

The Undertaker was wrap in a long cloak,
which flapped in the wind, 3 ving his retreating
figure a weird appearance.

“Sure, it’s liflrhan’ cousin to the devil he is, at
the Paste calkillation!” muttered Sullivan, with
a. superstitious thrill. “ I wondher would he he
knowin’ to phwat I have on hand?” ' , .

Still there was a vein of practical skepticism '?
running throuéh the Irishman’s , religion and
superstition. is animal courage was not easily
denoted. Money urged him on, and he per-
sisted. r '

Assured that the man he had encountered was
in the flesh, his only fear of him was that he
might follow him and spy upon his actions.

Against this he took precautions, following the
Undertaker some distance, to be convinced that
he had no notion of turning back. ‘ »

The Undertaker never so much as looked ,r
round. ' .v' ‘ ‘ ‘

Sullivan thereupon returned upon his previous
course, now advancing more boldly, with a sort
of defiance of the invisible powers.

Just about midnight he came to a glade in the
heart of the mountains, shut in by crngstumhle'd
about in the wildest confusion.

Here he found a rude tent, made of buflalo:
skin stretched upon a semi-circle of saplings so
as to be a. mere shield from the wind, leaving the
front open. . ,

Before this structure burnt a fitful fire, which _
now flared up, illuminating the interior of the, . ‘
tent and the circumambient crags, and anon . ‘
died away, until all outlines became merged, so
that objects were only distinguished usiighter'or
darker spots with no definite shape. ‘

From a. tripod hung over the fire a pot, irdm ‘
which an odor of simmering herbs reefcd the ,
nostrils, whenever the shifting wind gore it that 7

we . . ,
‘Sshllivau approached until he stood withinten ’

feet of this fire, when he paused until a flurry of
wind fanned the embers into flame. ’ v j

Their lurid light fell red upon a. figure that
crouched under the shelter of the tepee, such us
it was. . L, ~ ‘ ,.
It was the figure of an o‘:d Indian hag. who sat
with her knees drawn uprto her chin and clasped
by her skinny arms. ~ r_ 2
She was dressed in a raglan of scraps of part:
colored calico and skins. tricked out with eatti- ‘
ers and wampum and stained quills, and~ with
dried insects and reptiles dangling from every
point. In a word,’ she was en Indmn enchan-
tress, whose native ugliness was enhanced by

every available art, to inspire the beholder I t
su erstitious dread, '
he set as motionless as an old heattheuflidol, 

 
  
   
 
  
 
 
     

She was known as Washikitwa’, and was
reputed to he a hundred and fifty years old.- >
It was believed by many that she could f‘pow-
wow ” disease out 'of the body or into it at will,
and that from her could be procured charms .
for almost anv ‘pu ' to work in . to an
openier to win thelove of one’s heart’s dew.
a re. . ' - ,v

 
 
  
   
 
   
 

    

 

 

 

Sullivan had heard all about her in many a
midnight grouping of marvel-mongers. He
was now to put her skill to the test.

When he had assured himself that she sat
there as he had been led to expect, and that
there was no one else in the vicinity, be ad-
vanced boldly, yet respectfully, until he could
have touched her with his outstretched hand.

She made not the slightest motion to indicate
that she was conscious of his vicinity. She
might have been asleep. Her eyes were closed.

‘ But ph wet n’ade has the owld divil av eyes,”
reflected Sullivan, “ whin the loike av her kin
see out o’ the hack av her head as aisy as wan
av nz wid our two p’apers peeled as el’ane as
inions?"

At the feet of the bag stood a bark receptacle
not unlikearude basket, save that it had no
handle.

Into this the Irishman dropped a. coin known
in the West as “ two bits."

It produced no perceptible effect on the
seeress. ‘

He dropped in another and another and yet
another, with an interval between each reluc—
tant sacrifice of money.

“,Divil sw’ape the owld h’athen l” he muttered
within himself. “Faith, she’s the wan that’s
knowin’ the vully 0’ silver! Be this an’ be thntl
av she don‘t come roun’ purty soon, sure I’ll
grab it out ag’in.”

However, he dropped a fifth coin into the
basket, when, like the darting forward of a
snake’s head, her hand shot out and clutched
his wrist.

So unexpected was this move, and so like the
grip of some'enimal’s claws was the clasp of her
skinny fingers, that the Irishman shrunk away
with an only half-suppressed yell of alarm.

But she held him fast with a strength of
which her attenuated frame gave no promiso.
Indeed, she drew him toward her, and passed
her other hand over his face.

He could not repress a shudder, as an icy chill
shot through his body.

“Oh, mushal whatever will become 0’ me,
wid the han’ 0’ the she divil an’ me sowl foriver
mo-ur
“ ’Stl” sibilated the hag, with a. hiss like a. ser-
pent’s.

Then speaking in English, yet with a marked
Indian accent, as if she had learned but a few
words by rote, she went on:

“ Lizard’s tongue—fry in skunk’s grease!"

Into those words she contrived to infuse a
devilish malignity by the manner of their de-
livery. Then she flung his hand from her, and
returned to her former position.

Glad to escape, Sullivan took himself off as
fast as his heels could carry him, stumbling
over the broken ground. '

Reaching the camp, he never stopped until he
had rushed into his saloon, diving into the
crowd as a frightened animal plunges into the
heart of the herd for security.

“ What’s the matter with the man?” shouted
Shep Lambert, who had 'ust been dancing a.
quadrille with Colorado ateuvnth very re-
markable balancing and SWng'ng of corners.
“ He‘s seen a ghost, I’ll sw’arl”

It looked not unlikely. He was as pale 'm

mots. Fan/in Canyon flit?»

 

7

death, an icy sweat was oozing from every pore,
his eyes bulged, and he trembled and panted
with fear.

“ Will ye]. have done?” he cried, angrily.

And going behind his own bar, he drank two
glasses of neat brandy without water.

The boys crowded around him, plying him
with awkward questions to answer; but he
plan“in their curiosity by only swearing at
t ieni. ,

“ I’ve seen a man look like that when he had
dropped his meat out in the dark I” said Dick
Mosier, as a feelei'.

Others caught at the idea. Had the Irishman
killed his man? There was nothing improbable
in that.

“ Ye’d betther stop till mornin’, before ye go
out to look fur it,” said Sullivan.

But even as he spoke his jaw dropped, and his
face assumed a set expression.

The boys turned toward the direction in which
he was staring.

The Undertaker was just entering the door at
the further end of the room.

 

CHAPTER VI.
AN UNPOPULAR MAN.

AT sight of him a dead, frowning silence fell
upon the crowd.

Not appearing to notice the effect of his en—
trance, he took up his stand in a corner, out of
the way of every one, and folding his arms, si-
lently overlooked the dancers.

W hat was the baleful influence of his gaze? It
seemed to magnetize every one that it rested on.

The women grew pale and nervous, and gazed
at him timorously while they clung to the arms
of their escorts. Then with slight shudders of
dread, they asked to be taken oil? the floor.

“ W'hat‘s the matter with ye?" growled Big-
Fisted Frank, who was not in the humor to lose
the dance for which he had “plunked” his two
bits.

“I cant dance with that monster looking at
me!” replied his more sensitive partner. “ Ugh!
I believe he has the gift of the evil eye!"

In two minutes’ time the floor was deserted,
and the musicians—a fiddler, a cornetist, and one
who wrestled inanfully with a Violoncello that
groaned and wailed as if in mortal agony—stop-
ped and stared in wonderment.

The Undertaker stood staring straight before
him, like one who was immersed in thought so
profound as to make him oblivious to what was
going on about him.

“ He don’t see nobody I” whispered one of the
women. “ Jest look at him! He don’t know
this minute that we’ve quit dancin’l”

“Waal, by Judas! it’s mighty nigh time that
he did know itl" cried the dissatisfied miner.

“ Bounce him 1” suggested Limpy, with the
venomous snarl of a snappish cur.

“ That that’s jest what we’re houu’ to do I” said
the Big Fist.

“ Hold on, gents! This hyar ain’t right,” in-
terposed Shep Lambert. “ Remember, that’s
Dan’s pard."

“ An’ is he to sp’ile our fun jest because he
hap ens to be Dan’s perd, I‘d like to know?"

“ ut what has he done to you, or anybody?”

“firem-

n

 

  
 

i

w‘i‘ We can’t o ouwith the dancin’ tell he gits,”
' _,  the Big It. “ The ladieswon’t have it.”

*8

 

Dakota Dan in‘Ganyon City.

 

   

 

“ The ladies won’t dance with him a—lookin’ at
’em. Ain‘t that enough :2"
“ Nonsensel Can e do ’em any hurt only

lookin’ at ‘eml”

" Ask them that question. All I’ve got to say
about it is, that I’ll be eternally blasted ef I’ll
have my fun knocked in the head by any galoot
that walks on two legs!” .

The angry miner raised his voice defiantly, as
he shook his head from side to side. He meant
to attract the Undertaker’s attention. He
glared at him, awaiting even so slight a provo-
cation as a glance.

Had Saunderson looked that way, he would
have demanded what he was staring at, and
then proceeded to pour out a flood of abusive
epithets upon him.

But the Undertaker did not give him this op-
portunity. He stared straight across the room
at the opposite wall. ‘

Finding himself in a hcipleless minority, for
others joined with the Big 'st in expressions of
dissatisfaction, Shep said:

“ Stop gloweriug at him—your ugly mugs are
enou h to drive the devil out of your company!
——an I will go an’ git him out o’ the room
quietly.”

“ I don’t care how ye git him out, so long as
the dance goes on i"

“ E! the time ever comes to set down on
you,” said Shop, with an angry look at the Big
Fist, “ I hope that George Suunderson may be
of the crowd that does it!” ’

“ He has his chance. au’ you, too, however
you want to take it l” retorted the other.

“ When I do want to. you bet you’ll know itl”

said Shep, as he walked ofl.
' He was about to o to the Undertaker and
invite him out to loo round, when the door of
the saloon opened, and in walked Dakota. Dun
briskly.

He cast a rapid lance about the room. espied
his partner, turne round, and with a lighting
of the face which shewed that he had been look-
ing for him, started in his direction, when Shep
call to’him.

"Deni Dani Look hyar, directlyl”

Dakota Dan stopped on the point of address
in; his partner, turned round, and then with a
look of questioning advanced to meet his friend.

“ What’s up?” he asked, looking from Shop‘s
flushed face ‘ to those of the crowd, and discov-
erin that something was amiss.

“ an, the boys is talkin’ about bouncin’
the Undertaker I" cried Shep indignantly.

“ The deuce they are!" replied Dakota Dan.

And though he dropped his voice below its
usual pitch, there was an incisive ring in it that
“ meant fight.”

' His eyes contracted, his lips took a hard set,

, and his nostrils quivered, as he walked straight

forward to the crowd.
“Cheese it, Frankl” said one of his compan—

ions in an undertone. .“ We ain’t buckin’ ag’in’

ta. Dan, 9 onderstand l”

. aka
' , “ What's this about my poi-d!" demanded

Dakota, Dan, with an abruptness that showed
that he was not to be trifled with on that

r
I

 

  
 
 

    
   
   
 
   
   
  
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
  
  
  
   
   
   
   
  
  
   
 
    
   
  

 

“ Won’t have what!” ‘ i , ,

“ Won’t have none 0' his gawpin’.” _ ' 'I _

" Have you got anything to say ag’m’ it!" I
asked Dan, pointedly. .' _

It would be time enough to interview the-
lndies after he had had it out with Big-listed.
Frank. . .

“ All I’ve got to say is, that I want the dance" ‘
I’ve {gaid furl” said the Big Fist. doggedly. I . f

“ ou shall have it, fur all that my pard Will ’. r
interfere!"

He then turned to the women who looked‘ati
him with the submissiveness with which women »
oi, their class recognize a master. He had never '
treated any of them harshly, but they knew that;
his will was law. ~

“ Well, ladies, what is it?” he asked, the stern- -
ness with which he had addressed Big-listed. ' »
Frank giving place to smiling suavity. " ’

“ Dan, we’re afraid of himl”, said one of '
their number, going up to him with a little .
shiver. “ See how strangal he looks and acts l”

“ Nonsense! We can’t a 1 look alike. Go on .
and "behave yourself, and he won’t trouble.-
you. i .

He then turned to the musicians.

“ Come! come boys] What are you stopping -
for? I’m in the humor fur a spin myself."

And he fllliped his two bits norms the room;
to the proper tunctionary, and flung his arms
about the waist of the woman who had come up.
to him. "

The selection was entirely without thoughtfi.‘
He was only th'nking of starting things along * . _
so as to spare is partner having his feelings; .
hurt. It was chance that put in his way a .
black-eyed little beauty of whom Colorado (
Kate was intensely jealous. “ 

The music started up, and everything was in ‘a
a Whirlin a moment; but a pang shot to Onions '- ,
do Kate’s heart, whitening her lips and good»
ing her to a show of reckless gayety.  .

“Come!” she cried to the man nearest her,‘.
who happened to be Shep Lambert, “let us not .
lose all of this!” ,

Nothing loth, Shep whirled her away. I

“ He took her right from before my focal” ‘ ,,
Kate kept saying to herfielf. with set teeth. .'
“ And she dared to flash 'her black eyes atom in \
triumph!" ~ ‘ -- ,

This was only too true. Bessie Bright-eyes as :
the boys called her, was so full of mischief that '
nothing delighted her so much asto flaunt her ‘
conquestsin the teeth of a jealous rival. 'j '

During the dance she managed by her sprigth
ly chat tokeep Dakota Dan’s eyes upon berm,
until she said: ,

“Don’t you think that an uninterru tediou-
of red heads around the breakfast tab 9 would  z
be a very nnpicturesque spectacle to begin the 7
day on?” , .

He followed the‘direction of her laughing eyes  o
and saw Colorado Kate. v . f 1

“ Her face is as red as her, hair, ain't it?” per- » .-
sisted the minx. ' _ i ’ ’ ‘

Dan laughed; and Kate saw him»! ' ‘ . 

Then her face suddenly grew white ,with '1

fur . V V ,
Liter. Bessie Brighteyee took advantage of a". ‘
moment near Kateto whisper-In. hex-ear: ,

 

       
         
       
       
   
 

  

  
  

 

 

 

 

Dakota. Dan in Canyon City.

 

 

"I have about convinced Dan that fami—
lies ought to be contrasted l" _

All of this prepared Kate to fall into an error
when, having sought her out and made his peace
with her, Dan told her of his run of luck,
and added:

“ I mean to scoop in Hank as a finisher; and
then if I can persuade a certain bright-eyed lit-
tle miss to go to ’Frisco and help me spend my
pile—”

“ No doubt she will be easy enough to per-
suade!” interrupted Kate, passmnately.

“ Do you think so?” asked Dan, with a merry
twinkle in his eye.

“Jud 'ng from the brazen way in which she
has con ucted herself this evening!”

And Kate’s eyes blazed as they searched out
Bessie Brighteyes, where she was keeping a
crowd of the boys laughing uproariously.

"However," she added, viciously, “she is so
impartial with her favors that it won’t do to
take too much for granted.”

“ What spitent cats these women are!”
chuckled Dan to himself.

Aloud he said:

“ I’ll trust her!”

Then he laughed light-heartedly.

It was “ nuts” to one so fond of teasing as he
was, to lead Kate on in the mistake into which
he saw she had fallen. All the While she was
betraying her partiality to him. It would be
all the more piquant when he came to undeceive
her.

This seeming confirmation of her fears goaded
Kate to frenzy.

“ He shall never take her to ’Frisco !” she cried,
when he had again left her side.

” That he sha’n’t, alanna!” said a voice in her
ear; and she turned sharply around to be con-
fronted by the smiling “mug” of Hank Sulli-
van.

 

CHAPTER VII.

BOUGHT WITH A PRICE.
“WHAT did you say?” she asked, breath-

lessl‘y.
“ ust phwat you said, my dear i”
“ And what did I say?”
“ That Dakota Dan shouldn’t take that black-
eyed hussy to ’Frisco.”
“ on are very much mistaken. What is it ix)
Av

me—i’

“ Now, look ye heur, Kitty, mavourneen.
yez play shy wid me, off he goes to ’Frisco,
d‘ye moindl—an’ the divi! can’t shtop the loike
av him. An’ who oes wid um? Who but
Bessie Bright-eyes? idn’t he say that same?
But av ye’re fair an’ square wid me, faith we’ll
putt our two heads thigither, and divil a stop
does he take out 0’ this camp wid wan or an-
other.”

“How can we prevent it?” cried the girl,
desperately, catching hold of the Irishmnn’s
arm.

“Just look at that-now!" cried Sullivan,
with a broad grin of satisfaction. -

“Speak! Speak!” inelsted Kate, shaking him
impatiently. .

“ Phwat would 9 be willin’ fur to do to k’ape
him heuri” asked ullivan, playing shy the mo-

0

 

Erlendt he saw that he had the game in his own
an s:

“ Anything! anything!” panted the girl.

“Ye know he’s had the divil’s own run 0’
luck lately?"

“Yes! yes!”

“ An’ he’s goin’ fur to lay fur me whin he git!
the feel 0’ winnin’ an umz"

“ He told me so."

“ Faith, he had the impidence ,to tell me that
same!”

“ Well? What of that?”

“ It’s wid the money he’d be scoopin’ out 0’
me till that he‘d be goin’ to ’Frisco, d’ye moind!
Phwat else ?"

“ Then don’t play with him!”

“ Hey? That’s a foiu’ way out av it. Sure,
don”t Iplay wid ivery wan that putts his money

“ “That do you propose to do, then 1”

“ Me, is it? Divil a bit! Faith, it’s phwat
you intend to do."

“ I have told you, I will do anything to pre-
vent it.”

“ Annythingl—just annything at all?"

“Anythin I“

“ Listen, 3. anna! W’u’d yez ruin the like av
him?”

And bringing his face close to hers, the Irish-
man pant/ed:

“ Hah? hah? hah?”

He had risked everything on this woman’s
jealousy. If she betrayed him, the boys in
their resentment might make the camp too hot
to hold him.

She started back, paling to the lips.

I “IWhat do you mean?” she asked, breath.
ess y. .

“Just phwat I said, no less!"2

“ Would I ruin him?”

“ W’u’d yez be after for takin’ the mono
out 0’ his pocket, an’ puttin‘ it into mine P
that plain to yez, misthress?"

The girl flushed hotly.

“ Do you take me for a thief?”

‘K N

“ What then?”

“ Fur s. woman in love!”

“ ‘I in love—”

“ Not wid Bessie Bright-eyeS."

He “had” her.

She sat panting.

“ Do yez moind phwat he’s up to this blessed
minute?" asked Sullivan.

She knew only too well that Dan was again
in the company of her hated rival.

How be bent over her, when she caught him
by the ear and pulled him down to her, so that
she could whisper some nonsense at which they ‘
both laughed.

“ Do you want me to rob him?” asked Kate,
in a husky voice.

“ Divil a bit! Do yez take me fur a theta?"

Kate turned sharply and scanned the Irish-
man’s face.

“What are on trying to get at?” she asked,
her eyes spark ing with angry suspicion.

Sullivan saw that it had occurred to her that
he was trifling with her.

“ I’m talkin’ business," he said, earnestly,
“ an’ don’t ye furgit 1t! Av you mean busmess,

8

 

.  '

Dakota. Dan in Canyon City.

 

we’ll go whe—ur we won’t be so likely to be over-
heard as hour. It won‘t do for us to be seen to
' be too thick.” ' I

“ I do mean business,” said the girl, with sud-
den determination.

“ Then slip out 0’ this fur the matther of a
minute or twp. I’ll m’ate yez ferniust the big
pine at the back 0’ the house.”

He went strolling about the room, passing a
jest with this one, and a more serious remark
with that, until he let himself out of doors un—
noticed. ‘

Colorado Kate was at the place of designation
almost as soon as he.

“,Well,” he said, “now what do you want of
me? ’

“ To begin wid, I went yen to swear niver to
give me away. fool w’n’d know that you
could knock me wid the b’ys, av ye let yer
ton ue run."

“ ell, I swear it!”

“ Ye: Bible oath?"

And he produced a copy of the Scriptures,
dog-eured and coverless, but none the less the
sacred volume.

Colorado Kate shrunk back as he thrust it
into her hand.

“ What’s this?” she asked, sharply.

“ The Bible I” 

“ I didn’t know that there was such a thing in
the camp.

She was only trying to gain time. She had
been startled out of her self-possession by being
so sharply brought face to face with an oath
binding her to she knew not what.

“ Whin I want unnything bed, I always man-
age to get it I" said the Irishman.

“ But a Bible!”

“Thuur’s many a sthrunge thing.r that foinds

its way into the hands of won that kapes a gain“

blin‘ house. Sure, it’s only the pawnbroker that
b’ates us at the loike 0’ that.”

“ Where did you get this?”

“ From a broken—down person, that began by
mnnin’ away wid another man’s wife, nn’ ended
by blowin’ his own brains out, either he’d run
the length 0’ the divil’s highway, dhrinkin’ an’
gamblin’ an’ the loike 0’ that. But whin air yez
goin’ to swear?" ,

Kate took the book from his hand and said,
with a. perceptible shake in her voice:

r “I swear not to betray you, whether I do
glint you wish me to do or not. Will that

‘ o

1’

“That it will. Now kiss the book, colleen.”

She did so with cold lips.

Sullivan then told her of his visit to Washikit-
we. He would provide the charm; she was to
see that it was administered.

Like most women of her class, Colorado Kate
had implicit faith in the occult power of old hugs,

psies or Indians. She had once seen Washio
kitwe and been greatly impressed by her hideous
ugliness. _'
’ “But it won’t harm him otherwise?” she asked,
bmnthlesely. .

“ Not it! Don’t ye suppose thim koind knows
phwat they’re givin’ a. thing fur?”

"Kate stood silent. Loyal to the man she
loved and jealousy of her riv were struggling
ortthan otherheert. -,

 

Sullivan saw that this was the cri, mo-
ment. A sudden throb of generous impulse,
such as might come to any woman, mightylose
him all. '

“Look ye. darlintl” he said, in a wheedlin
tone, “it’s foine things ye’re afther fur loikin. H «
Phwat would set off yer beauty the loike av the
jewels ye’ve been heggin’ 0’ me. this tin wakes?
Phwat would be .so loike to bring back yer r
swateheart as to see yez outshinin‘ the best 0’
thim by r’nson o’ yer ornaments, the some as ye
do by netur’?” ' V

“ Will you give me the necklace?” cried Kate,
clasping her hands.

“ Who but you have I been intinding it for,
this long mime?” said the Irishman, with the
sliding cadences of blarney. “Sure, whaur is the?
next that “o’d be becomin’ to it?” .

He reached for her hand in the darkness, and
slipped one end of the necklace into her palm,
retaining hold of the other end, however. ,

“ Give it to me!" she cried, trying to unclasp
his hand. .

“ Whin yer work is done, me darlinti"

“ Can’t you trust me?”

“ Sure I can, thin !"

And as if moved by an impulse of confidence,
he let go his hold.

The necklace was of pearls.
it from a Mexican ranchers.
intended as a. gift to his bridel '

The girl kissed the benble and hugged it to her
neck, as women caress a kitten, with cooing
sounds of afi’ection.

“ I’ll do it I” she cried.

“ Sure, ye will i” corroborated the Irishman.

The bargain was struck. A woman was sold
to treachery. The price was the, gratification
of the two strongest passions of her nature-
jealousy and the love of fineryl

Sullivan had won
It may have been

CHAPTER VII.
‘ SPREme rm; SNARE.

INSTEAD of boarding at the hotel, Dakota Den
had at shanty of his own,which he occupied in
connection with the Undertaker. .

A Chinaman did their cooking and washing
and other household work. ‘ ,

Dakota Dan started out with a house-warm-
ing, which was honored by every inhabitant of ,
the camp. r A

The ladies especially graced the occasion with
their smiles, with much peeping curiosity and
merry laughter at the quaint arrangements of
his “ bachelor’s hall."

Colorado Kate was particularly gracious to
him, and he gave her the post of honor—-at
which Bessie Bright-eyes made a gnmaoe'ot
mock chagrin.

“ But a heathen Chineel" cried Kate, with or ‘
shrug. “ He’ll poison you!”

“Poison me?”

" With dirt!" ‘ -

“0h! That’snwoman’s notion. But really,
Sam is as clean in his—” . i

“ Don’t tell me: I_ know ’eml They keep it
out of sight—that is to say, so that amen would
not see it. But a. woman!»~ Faughl I say, -

‘ \ ,

 

 

 

Dakota. Dan in Canyon City. 11

Pi

 

‘1‘ ¥ou must let me cook you ameal of vict-
ua s.

“ Will you .7”

“ Of course I will!”

“When?”

“ \Vhenever you like.”

“ ’l‘o-morrowi”

“ Certainly.”

Dakota Dan was delighted.

" I wish we could git shut of this rout; and
you should do it at once.”

“ go-morrow will be time enough, thank

on!
y His eyes were sparkling with pleased antici—
pation.

She turned pale in spite of heme“.

” I’ve a mind not to eat anything between
now and then, so as not to spoil my appetite!” he
laughed.

“Do you fancy that I cook so ill that you
must be as hungry as a bear to enjoy it?" she
asked, covering her agitation with pretended
pi ue.

‘ You bet I don‘t! But I know it will be so
gpod that I shall want room to stow away a lot
0 it.

Kate was mollifled.

“But what do you want to cook!” asked Da‘
kota Dan.

“ Can you get some rabbits?"

“Any number of ’em."

“ Then I’ll make you a pot-pie.”

“ That'll be boss! Say, Kate l”

“ Well?"

“ You won’t mind my pard 3"

Colorado Kate hesitated. She did not like the
Undertaker. Above all, she was halt-afraid of
his silent scrutiny. ' ‘

Suppose he should detect her treachery? She
fancied him clutching her wrist, and looking
down into her very soul with his black eyes,
while not a muscle of his swartby face moved.
She could hardly repress a shudder at the
thou ht.

“ 1 9’5 a good fellow~better’n he looks,”
urged Dakota Dan. “xAn’ you kin see yourself
that he needs a square meal more than any
man in the camp. But then, if you’d druther
be alone—”

“ Oh, no!” interrupted the girl, hastily.

She bridled at the thought that Dakota Dan
did not prefer a tete—a-tete with her to even the
regalement of his partner.

‘ Look hyar, my girl! You ain’t mad?”

“ What should I be mad about?"

And she whirled upon him and opened her eyes
wide.

“ I’ll fire him—”

“ No, you Won’t!”

“ But really I don’t want him."

“'Well, I do !"

Dakota Dan felt uncomfortable. Of course he
knew that he had “ put his foot into it.”

Being a woman, Kate punished him merci-
lessly. She became as gay as a lurk, and ex~
cessively polite to him. She would not let him
say a word further, but drew him into the com-
pany of others where it would be impossible to
pursue the matter.

But Kate was a woman, and accomplished
he: ends in a womanly way. She did not want

 

Elie Undertaker, and was determined not to have
1m—

“ Unless I am'mistaken in the man !" she said,
to herself.

She sought him out and forced her society
upon him. She was the quintessence of sweet-
ness, and—how she “made eyes at him I" If he
had been a vain man, he would have thought
that he had made a conquest. As it was, he felt
decidedly uncomfortable.

He would have evaded her, but she was so
persistent that she left no alternative but to sub-
mit to be entertained or to literally run away
from her.

He frowned and answered her in monosyl-
lables; he fidgeted and looked away from her.
But she drew only the closer to him, and put her
hand on his arm to fix his attention.

“What do you think, dear Mr. Saundersonl”
she said to him, loud enough so that several
nleadr her overheard the tender address, and gig-
g e .

Wheroupon she flashed a look of pretended in~
dignation at them, turned her back upon them,
and lowering her voice, went on:

“ I have got your partner to let me come here
to-morrow and cook dinner, in the place of that
nasty Chinaman; and—and—l’

She dropped her eyes, and in apparent con-
fusion reached for the fan which hung at her
side, as she concluded in a still lower and hesi-
tating voice:

LI, particularly count upon your being pres-
on

She lifted her eyes with a quick, shy glance
which completely routed the Undertaker.

“Thank ou!” he said, growing red in the
face—as re as one of his sallow complexion
could get. ‘

“ You—you won‘t—disappoint me?” she asked,
with her face half-hidden behind her fan.

“ I—-I—of course—shall be delighted!” stam-
mered the Undertaker.

Which, being literally translated, meant:

“ I’ll be hanged if you catch me within five
miles of your dinner—party!”

Colorado Kate so interpreted it.

“ What have you been doin’ to my pard to
make him blush so?” asked Dakota Dan, w on
b? got her alone. “Everybody is making a guy
0 it.

“ Let theml What’s that to me!”

“But you haven't answered my question.”

“ But you haven’t given me time."

“ Very well! I’m waitin" your good pleasure.”

“ There’s nothing particularto wait for. I have
onlanade him promise to be at dinner to-mor-
row.

“ You thought I wouldn’t invite him on the
uare’l”

“I thought it would be better that I should
show him that Iwanted him.”

Dakota Dan was at a loss just how to take
her. He had wanted his pard, and he had got
him: and yet he wasn’t satisfied.

Sullivan, who had been on the watch, was
suspicious. He saw Dakota Dan's troubled face,

and the almost brusque way in which Kate
treated him. . V

“ Look hear, me beauty 1" he said to her, with
a touch of his native brutality, “ you'd ought to

 

«13 _ _
be comin’ the honeyfuglin’ dodge on him, in-
stead o’ playin’ ofiish wid 'um as ye are. Av ye
dish my bacon wid yer nonsense, ye’ll hear from
yours truly I”

“Mr. Sullivan, will you let me run this thing
my own way?” she retorted. “ If you don’t like
it, we’ll throw off, and you can have your dirty
necklace back!”

‘fArrah thin, darlintl an’ phwat would I do
wid it, at all, at all?” cried the Irishman, “ com.
ing down ” in great alarm. “ Sure, the divil
fly away wid the tongue that ’u’d say a word
ag’in’ the way you’re managin‘ it i”

“ I don’t propose to be run over by swine of
your make; and I’m about sick of the thing,
anyway 1”

“Sure ye are!” he agreed, coaxingly. “ But
thaurl av ye‘d be wantin’ a dress, or such a
matther. to go wid the necklace, faith, who has
the betther right’l-an' it’s Hank Sullivan’s
money that’s buyin’ itl Fifty dollars, or even
a hundred, nowl Thaur’s nothing small about
me! -

h And he forced a hundred dollars into her
and.

This, together with his humility, had a sooth-
in e‘fl’ect on the injured beauty; and she vouch-
sa er :

“ I am to cook his to-morrow’s dinner.”

“ The divil ye are l” cried Sullivan, in delight.
“Just look at that, nowl”

And he gazed at her admiringly.

“ Didn’t I know yez whin I says to mesiif:

“‘Who will be doin’ov it loike cutting but-
ther wid a hot knife but Kitty Terril?’

“But hwat were ye doin’ wid the Undher—
taker, I unnol”

“ Inviting him to be present at the dinner.”

“The loike av him? Faith, ye‘ll not be feed-
inihim an’——wa know phwatl"

nd he winked.

“ Attend to your part of the matter. and
leave me to attend to mine I” replied Kate.
“ Have it in readiness to give to me to-night."

“ Sure will Il”

“And now, the heel am seen in your com-
pany, the better.”

CHAPTER 1X.
TAKEN IN res: SNARE.

UPON repairing to Dakota Dan’s shanty on
the next day, Colorado Kate found him alone,
and in high spirits, in anticipation of what he
called their “ picnic.”

“I made the heathen slick things 11 likes
newly-polished door-knob,” he said. “ hen I
fired him for all day, so that we sha’n’t have
nothin’ to mar the harmon of the occasion l”

“ But where is your part V” she asked, looking
ab‘oiit as if in search of him.’ ‘

sup , now, vou can t be happ without
that rd 0' mine!” said Dakota Dig], with a
chop alien a r.’

" I could be much he pier with him,” she was
insincere enough to repfy. . _,

“Waal, you i have to make the best of your

pgintment, then; for he he made himself

~. :_“ whats» he zone, and why!”

Dakota. Dan in Canyon City.

“ Ohl you needn’t look at me in that way
if you thought that I fired him along with. thfifi
Chinaman!” .

“ A guilty conscience needs no accuser!”

“Honor bright, he went of his own accord!”

“ Without much persuasion from you not to'
go, i suppose.” ‘

“Wual, if he was bound to go, you couldn't
expect me to get down on my marrow~bones an'
beg him to stay I"

“ Oh! of course not.
for breaking his promise?”

“ Why, he was dog-sick. He looked sick.” .
b_“ I;I’e always does! But that’s enough of I

1m. .

She took off her hat with its waving plumes.

“ That’s a dandy, ain’t it!” observed Dakota
Dan, taking down a coat of his own and
throwing it into a corner. in order to furnish
her with a eg on which to hang the stair,
ed was “ fearfully and wonder—

But what was his excuse -

which he dec ar
full made.”

S 9 had abundle wrapped in a newspaper, .
“ woman-fashion,” the corner being brought to~
the center and pinned. ' ' r

Dakota Dan stood with a hand on either knee,
his eyes flashing and his teeth disclosed byan
expectant grin, while she unwrapped it. ,_

“ My eyel” he cried, as the throwing back at
the corner of the paper revealed a snowy
apron, the daintiest and most raceful in cut
that he had ever seen. “ Whar 1d you git that
dais ? Thar ain’t a [spot on it. nowhar; an’
it’s Jest as smooth, an’ white as a snowbank; No
heathen Chineeser ever touched that, I want ya
to onrlerstandl They do make things as yallor -‘
aslemon-peel, don’t they? I never thought of r‘
it before.’ . .,

“You may believe that none of those dirty
gllows ever touched his hand to it!” exclaimed , _

ate. r r
“Say, nowlI bet you done that—«didn’t you, : ,
Kate?” , ,,

“Of course I dill” she replied. “ Who , it
should doit, if not I?" _ _ . , '

“Nobody, by the livm’ jmgol” cried De
kota Dan, with great enthusiasm. “ Thar . ,
ain’t nobody in this hyar section 0’ countr that j
could touch one side 0’ that gay leetle p ece c" .
dry-iroodsi” a '

“ Not a. Chinaman, nnywayl”

“ Did you make it, Kate?” _ .-

“ Yes, sirl”—with some pardonabie pride in
her work. ' , >_
you could knock spots out ofab’iled._,
shirt. I’ll bet!” , 

“You wouldn’t lose any money on that
pro ition. ' . , ..

nifty, Kate!”

“What!” a . 

“You’re the nattiest leetle woman ,I ever .
knew l”

“ Nonsense! How many do you say that tovin
the course of a year?” . ‘ , ,

He looked at her with a glow In his eyes that 1
she had never seen there before.

She blushed, and turned away
feeling. - ' ,

If the matter had dropped there, she might
have broken, faith with Bank Sullivan, tossed

,

with a nervous ' ‘5‘

 

’the lizard’s tongue‘out of the window, and giro}:

 

 

 

Dakota. Dan at potpie as salubrious as it was
latable. But his propensity to tease got the
hgtter of his love for her, and he went on:

“ I haven’t said it to many this year.”

“ Maybe one before this,” she said, thinking of
Bessie Bright-eyes.

“ Not more than one before this l" he answered,
laughing.

She set her teeth, and gave the apron a vicious
little shake, preparatory to adjusting it about
her waist.

She had “laid herself out ” on that apron
just to show him what a handy little woman she
could be when she chose; and it had all come to
this.

“ Let me tie them strings, Kate 1”

“ Thank you! I can do it myself.”

“ Oh! I know how.”

“ So do I.”

“ Are you afraid I’ll git ’em dirty? I‘ll wash
my hands.”

“I won’t trouble you.”

” What’s the matter, Kate?”

“ Nothing. What should be the matter?”

“But you seem to git 03 at me every once in
a. while.”

“Because I won’t let you tumble my apron?
You’re a. considerate fellow, upon my word!
Do you know how long it took to iron that
apron l"

Dakota Dan looked at her helplessly. Before
a woman’s subtle weapons he was “ nowhar l”
Like a skilled swordsman, after each thrust she
recoveredso quickly and gracefully that he only
knew that he had felt the keen point of her ra-
pier, hut for the life of him could not tell just
how the pass had been made.

But when she began to roll up the sleeves of
her dress, he was soon lost in admiration of her
white and shapely arms.

She cut short his flattering speeches by setting
him to work fetching water and whatever else
she wanted.

The next hour was full of delightful surprises
for Dakota Dan. Everything that Kate did was
a marvel of neatness and skill.

He insisted on helping her, but with so little
deftness that he only succeeded in smearing him-
self from head to foot with flour, and doubtless
would have dropped the dough on the floor, had
she not “drawn the line ” there, and prohibited
him from touching it. .

Secretly Kate enjoyed this as much as he did.
It was like what she had imagined a honeymoon
would be. Nevertheless she scolded him almost
incessantly, in a make-believe fashion that only
heightened the fun.

When the pot-pie was cooking, and she had
not got a spot on that immaculate apron or any-
where else ou her dainty person—greatly to the
wonderment and admiration of Dakota Dan,
who contrasted his own besmeared and hespat-
tered condition with her freedom from soil—she
returned to the paper . rcel, and drew forth
another piece‘of spotless inen.

“Why, I thought that that was another
apron I" cried Dakota Dan, when She Shook it
out, and it proved to be a table-cloth. .

“ How man aprons do you suppose I wear in
the course 0 a morning?” asked the lady, d15-
daintnl of his masculine ignorance.

 

Dakota. Dan in Canyon City. I r 18’

‘J

That was deeper into the subject than Dakota
Dan had gone; so he only scratched his head,
while she spread the white cloth over his rude
pine table.

Then he ejaculated:

“ Wanl, I sw’arl”

“ I see you eat entirely of}? of silver 1” she said,
as she put two tin plates bottom-upward on
opposite sides of the board. .

He threw back his head, and feared until the
room rung again, and the lady was fain to put
her fingers in her ears, with a. grimace of pre-
tended distress.

“ How you deafen one!” she exclaimed.

But before she was aware of his purpose he
swooped down upon her, caught her off her feet
in his arms, and kissed her. Then he set her
down instantly, and stood off with a hand on
either knee, looking at her with a half-smile to
see what she would do or say.

She said nothing, but stood looking at him
breathless and pale to the lips. She had been
kissed many a time before, but never like that.
She did not know just what made the dilference;
but it left her panting and frightened, yet
thrilled with a divine ecstasy, and with a feel-
ing that she was on the point of bursting into

ears.

She had yet to learn that she had been startled
by the kiss which a man gives to the woman
whom he truly loves. It was the respect in it
that was new to her—more’s the pity!

“ You ain’t mad 2” he asked.

Thereat a wave of crimson swept from chin to
temple. It was the return of modesty with the
flowering of a holy love; and with it came the
deceit, behind which a woman instinctively hides
her glowing heart.

She dropped her eyes and said, somewhat un-
steadily:

“ Don’t do that again I”

Once more the outcropping of his true feel—
ings for her might have conquered her furpose.
She had not yet taken the fatal step. he pot-
pie awaited him free from any barbaric incan—
tation. But once more the spirit of mischief
interposed.

He laughed and said:

“ If it lied been Bessie Bright-eyes, she
would have boxed my ears, and let it go at
that I”

Like a flash of lightning her droo ing eyes
Ewept up to his face, and she grew w ite with

ury.

“ Save such experiments for Bessie Bright-
eyes, then I”

And she swept out of the back door of the
shanty to the shed where he had his summer
fireplace, leaving Dakota. Dan staring after her
dumfounded.

For a little while his face remained blank.
Then the muscles relaxed, and he began to smile
and finally to chuckle to himself.

“ Jealous!” he said, to himself. “ Doggone
her leetlc skin, she's purtier an' purtier every
time she changes her suitl But I'm a—crowdin’
of her too strong. It’s a hlarsted shame, I’ll
sw’arl These hyar women critters ain’t built 0'
cowhide an’ gristlo like us breeched galoots, so
it don’t stan’ to reason that they’d orter be
handled so loose an’ keerless. I’ll go an’ make it

 

Dakota Dan in Canyon City.

up with her. Blow me of the leetle cuss hain’t
got me whar I live!”

He followed her out. Her back was toward
him. She was busy over the cooking.

“Kate!”

He had got so far, when she took his breath
by turning round with a dazzling smile, and
sayin , as lightly as if nothing unusual had
passe between them:

“It’s done to a. turn. What! you haven’t
cleaned yourself up? What have you been do-
ing, whilel supposed of course you were get~
ting ready for dinner? Don't stand there star-
ing! Do you know that you haven't five min-
utes to get all of that flour of! of you, and to
wash your face and comb your hair! Y_ou
needn’t think that I’m going to have an untidy
man sit down to table with me, for I’m not used
to it, and don’t propose to begin at this late

(la 1’
fie looked himself over, once more helpless be-
fore her lightning—like change of front.

She hustled him into the house, and seizing a
whisk-broom—a rerit in Canyon City, except
among the “ bloods’—-begau the, process of
renovation herself, all the time talking to him
so rapidly that he “could not get a word in
edgewisc.

“ Now you’ll have to do the rest yourself!” she
said, bustling him out again—the tin wash-basin
standing on a bench outside.

He loved his face. head and neck, splashing
the water about like a. big Newfoundland dog.
Then he rubbed them round and round with a
coarse brown towel, but ignored the use of comb
or brush on his close-cropped hair.

" Kate.” he said, in a more subdued tone than
he had used before, “ I shouldn’t ought to have
crowded you 30—”

“ Nonsense 1" she interupted.

“An’uyou was foolin’, 0' course!”

“ Wi you come in before the dinner gets as
cold as a stone! Talk about women! I never
345w such a man for chin-music in all of my born

a s ‘

e laughed softly, and followed her, into the
house!” ‘
.“Waal, I sw’ar!” he cried, when he can his
sight of the table. “This hyar’s somethin’ ike
livm’, this is! A woman’s a. great institution,
hang me if she ain’t!”

And the change in the appearance of his rude
home that a few deft touches had made was
worthy of his praise.

“Sit down! sit down i” cried Kate, fairly
pushing him into his seat.

Then_she took hers, and began at once to
serve him.

She was excited. Her eyes blazed, her hands
trembled, and she was very pale. But he
attributed it, so far as he gave it thought at all.
to pleasurable excitement over the success of
her dinner. ‘
toWitth his eyes fixed upon her face, he began

on .

She sat breathless, watching him with a look
in her eyes that vaguely impressed him as
strange, it was so lassy.

g .He kept talking her, praising the dish.
She did not seem to heed what he was saying,

 

but at the third mouthful half—started from her
seat, with a gasp. . ‘

“ What is the matter!" he cried, dropping his,
knife and fork. ’

" Nothing! nothing!” she answered him, bur: ‘

riedly, and lowered her eyes. “Go on. Don’t
mind me."

“ But you ain’t well.
self 'est to gor o my—"

“ o! no! here’s nothing the matter with
me, I tell you i”

“ Then what made you jump so?” .

“ Well, if you must know!” she cried, thh a
hyslt’erlcal laugh, “there's a pin sticking into
me

“Waul, I sw’ar! of a. women don’t beat—
Hawl haw! haw!"

And lying back in his chair, he gave vent to
one of his roaring laughs.

“ I say, Kate!’ he cried, when he could fetch
breath, “ we‘ll have that thar pin out before we‘
go any further, of it takes every man in the
ranch to find it!" .

And he pushed back the chair, as If to go to
her assistance.

" Dan Lowden, if you don’t stay where you
are, I’ll—"

“ What’ll you do?”

“I’ll scream! Don’t you dareto touch me,
sir! There it is now, you mean thing!” ‘

And giving a quick bitch to her dress, she
held up a pin, to convince him that it was out
without any help from him.

“ Now sit down again, or I won’t stay with
you!” she threaten . ‘

He complied, only observing:

“ You hain’t eat nothin’ yourself 91:.”

She began to eat spasmodically, ut the food
choked her. It was not that what she had on
her late contained any of the Indian hag’s re-
puls ve rescription. She had put that all on
Dakota
tirely free from it. But the thought of her
treachery and of his blind confidence brought
her heart into her throat. ’

When it seemed as if she could endure it no
longer, and that she must drop her; head on the
table and burst into tears, or cry out and warn
him, they were startled by the sound of some
one stumbling our the threshold. z

They Icoked up at the same moment, and saw.
Hank Sullivan standing in the doorway.

CHAPTER X.
A WOMAN'S HEART.
" Cowromvn his ugly mug l” Was Dakota Dan’s
reflection.
" He has come to see for himself that the
thing is done on the square i" thought Colorado
Kate. “ He might have trusted me!"

You’ve overdone yer-

Irishrnan. “Sure, but it’s ill-luck that sent the
loike’p’ me to break in on a family gathenu’, so
t is! r  ‘

And he winked at Dan as if the joke were be»
tween them.

“ No intrusion at all," said Dakota Dan, with
the lie for politeness‘ sake which we all tell

haps too glibly. “ Come in! come _iul and we‘ ',

can give you some of the best pot—p10 that even
made your month we ~ ‘ ,

\v

1

\

en’s plate, the poupie itself being eu— 1 3»

"it’s beggin’ yer pardon I am!” said the,

'1’

V

c

 

 

 

4

f

i.
g.
l‘
y
l
i
l

Dakota. Dan in Canyon City.  JB

 

At that the Irishman’s jaw dropped, and he
looked at Colorapo Kate inquiringly.

She understood the look, but was willing to
punish him for his distrust of her; so looking
him steadily in the eye—a look which might or
might not be significant, and if so, he could not
tell of what—she seconded Dakota Dan.

“ Yes, yes, Mr. Sullivan," she said. “ Don‘t
hesitate on my account. Indeed, I shall take
it as a slight if you refuse to partake of my
cookin .”

“It’s not an Irishman that ’u’d luck in yer
swate face and do the loike o’ thatI” he replied,
gallantly.

Then he crossed the threshold, staring at the
pot-pie as if fascinated by dread.

Colorado Kate placed another plate, while
Dakota Dan drew up a chair.

“ May the iver blessed Virgin spaur me 1”
muttered the Irishman, as he allowed himself
to be placed at the table. “ Sure, it’s a. judg-
ment sint an mel”

“I know that you have an excellent appe-
tite,” said Kate, piling the savory viand on his
plate.

“Och, murtherl” he cried, in dismay. “Do
yez take me fur a hog intirely?"

“ Nonsense! I’ve seen you eat before.”

“ But I’m just afther from ’ating till I’m that
full—”

“ You’ll have room fora mouthful; and after
you've eaten a mouthful, you might as well go
on and have a good dinner.’

He stared at her open—mouthed.

She looked straight into his eyes with what
seemed to him a menace.

“Divil sw’ape the loike av her!” he groaned
within himself. “Faith, phwat is she afther
fur doin’ but k’apin’ her agreement wid me,
feedin’ yan omadhaun an’ the divil‘s broth, an’
thin makin’ all aven by doin’ the loike by me?
The chuirm will work as bod fur me as fur him;
an’ divil a taste av luck will Ihave over him
fur me necklace an’ me hundhred dollars! Ochl
bod scan till the loike av me, that iver I came
hour at all, at all!"

Meanwhile Dakota Dan was laughing—

“ You might as well knuckle down. When a
woman gives the word, there’s no takin’ water.
She has filled me up until I am as happy as a
king!”

The Irishman began to eat, praising the food
extravagantly, yet making a wry face at every
swallow. Between each mouthful he looked at
Kate appealingly; but she appeared to be in gay
spirits, and quite ignored his glances.

Perceiving the Irishman’s disc-omfiture. yet
ataloss to know from what it arose, Dakota
Dan seconded Kate, as she urged more upon
their reluctant guest.

“I intend to go fur you tonight,” he said;
“ so it’s only fair to give you a good feed to start
out on. You’ll need it.”

“But it‘s a shame to ate you out 0’ house
an’ home, an’ thin take yer money afther—
wards!"

“ Don’t mention it! If you clean me out with
as little compunction as I shall you— What’s
the matter?"

“ A cramp in me stomick—no less I”

And with a dieawoy look he‘ dropped his

 

knife and fork, and clapped his hand overhis
abdominal region.

“ Arrah, thin, darlintl” he said to Kate, "sure
you’ll be excusin‘ me—J’

“ Oh, certainly, if you are really sick."

“ It’s the quare feelin’s I have.”

“ Take somethin’,” suggested Dakota. Dan,
tendering a glass of spirits.

1Thereupon the Irishman did an astonishing
t iing.

“It's beholden I am to yez,” he said, “but
that would only aggravate the matther."

Dakota Dan stared.

“You must be in a bad way,” he said, sig—
nificautly.

“It’s only in passin’ that I bethougbt me to
dhrap in, an’ give yes the toime 0’ day,” said
Sullivan; “ an’ now I’ll be goin’, av it pl’aze ye,
wid manny thanks fur yer hospitality.’

To one familiar with the effect of the imagin-
ation on the body, it will not be surprising that
the Irishman was visited by a genmne qualm at
the pit of his stomach. He hurried away, he-
moaning his untoward luck, and alternately
swearing vengeance on Colorado Kate, and
pleading with the saints to protect him from
the power of the devil and his servant, Washi‘
kitwa.

Upon reaching his saloon he took a strong
emetic, and paSSed an hour of utter wretched-
ness. Then, fearing that this would not en-
tirely relieve his system of the charm, he followed
it up by giving the rest of the day to religious
devotions.

He left Dakota Dan and Colorado Kate look—
ing at each other and laughing.

“ What is the matter with the old fraud?"
asked the former.

“ How should I know?” responded Kate.

“ I’ll bet it is some superstition about eating at
my board!” laughed Dakota Dan, who was pos-
sessed of that hard, practical common sense
which does not easily) yield to the supernatural.
“ He’s afraid it will ring him ill-luck.”

Kate was silent. The smile died out of her

face.

“ I’ll make him look worse than that.” chuckled
Dakota Dan, following out his own thoughts so
that he did not particularly notice her. “ He’s
a surly dog, and he’s fattened on the boys until
he deserves to have some one squeeze him fur all
he’s worth.”

She looked at him. He held such an easy mas-
tery over the ordinary things of life, suppose he
was strong enough to resist the power of the In-
(lian hog and her incantations? A keen regret
of what she had done seized her, and imparted a
wistful look to her eyes.

Dan saw it, and it sent a. wave of tenderness
through him.

“ Kate.” he said, “ when I clean him out, as
I'm sure to do, I mean to pull out 0’ this business
for good an’ all. A man can’t be lucky forever.
It’s playin’ hog that knocks the strongest run.
But when I’ve got my pile. I shall want some-
body to help me spend it. I've got my eye on a.
friend 0’ yours.”

“ No friend of mine, if you please!” said the
girl, lowering her eyes. and striving to prevent
the fading of the blood from her face from be-
traying her.

 

  

Dakota. Dan in Canyon City.

  

 

“Who ain’t?" asked Dan.

“The person you are speaking about.”

“ How do you know who I am speaking
about?”

“ Haven’t you already told me?"

“ Not I!”

“ Very well.
about it, then.”

“Kate, you didn’t take no stock in that non-
sense, did you?”

" In what nonsense?”

“ About Bessie Bright-eyes.”

.  Instead of replying directly, she set her white
8 lips, and said:
" “ If you have nothing more entertaining to
talk about—”

“Hold on. Kate!” be interrupted. “ When
a. woman gits on her high hoss, she always rides
at such a furious pace that she never sees any-
thing by the roadside. Don't you suppose I’ve
got eyes in my head? Am I the man to ask
sung, a woman as Bessie Brighteeyes to marry
me

“ Marry you i” repeated the girl, breath-
lessly.

And she looked u at him in a frightened way
and began to tremb e violently.

“ Why not?” he asked.

*1 ' And going round to her, he threw himself on
\ his knees at her side, and wound his arms about
her, repeating, with a. great tenderness in his

voice, and his eyes once more aglow:
" Why not, my darling? Where have your
eyes been, that you couldn’t see that it is you
5, I love—that it is you alone who can make my
2'- home happy and bright as you have made this
 ' rou h barracks to-dayi’

“ on’t touch me!
j, struggling to rise from the chair in which he
v held her, and tugging desperately to free herself

r from his clinging arms.
“No, I’ll never let_you go again!” he cried,
t laughing at her futile efforts.

Indeed, instead of releasing her, he drew her
closer down to him until she felt his warm
breath upon her lips. V

"w; “I can’t! I can’t! I can’t!” she cried, dis-
-’ tractedly, strug ling with all her might to keep
him at bay, Whi e her heart, like a traitor in the
camp. was sapping her strength and giving her
over to the enemy.

“ But I say you can. and shall!” he persisted,
drawing nearer and ever nearer the goal of his
happiness. “ Why can’t you?"

It was not a question asked for information.
It was only a murmur of triumphant ecstasgn
with his lips hovering so close to hers that e
A could feel heir warmth, yet coquetting with
r the kiss that he was to have presently, when the
gen hltls of anticipation had been exhausted to

e u
“ Marry you? Oh, never! never I” she subbed,
her heart breaking with the thought of the bar-
rier she had placed hetwaen them when her

t’s desire was so near. '

I ,. Yet even as she a oke her face sunk upon his,

and her arms cl . about his neck, as if bya

mei- not her own, and from her eyes gushed a
of despairing tears. ,

“ Why not!” he asked again; and into his

3

 

We won’t say anything more

Let me go!” she cried,

 

 

   
  

  

  

   
 

   
  

 
  
  

  
    

.up to any one else!”

voice came a. tender gravity that fell like cool
dew upon her hot heart. , -
He thought that she referred to her past life
as shutting her out from this happiness which
came to other women. And so she did, In

    
         
   
 

rt.

“ What is it a man wants?” he ,went on.
“ Somebody that will love him. Ain’t that
about the size of it? And you love me, Kate. I
don’t have to wait for you to say it in so many '
words.’l

f‘ c(l)!!! you don’t know! you don’t know!” she
crie .

And with a sudden wrench she tore herself out
of his arms and sprung to her feet.

“Kate!” he exclaimed, with a great surprise
and a. great dread in his voice. ,

She did not heed him but tore the pearl neck-
lace from her throat, dashed it upon the floor,
and stamped upon it. 

He stood aghast. Was the girl taking leave of
her senses? _

“ Do you know what that is?” she cried, spurn-
ing the bauble again.

:; Your necklace. What is the matter with
it?

“It is the devil’s bribe! And I have sold my
life happiness to him for that miserable thing!’

In a sudden paroxysm of despair she flung her-
self upon the floor, giving way to such a passion
of weeping that he was frightened. .

“Kate! Kate!” he cried, kneeling and gath-
ering her up in his arms, “ What in the World is
the matter with you?” '

“ Kill me! kill me!” she cried, wildly? “ I de-
serve the worst you can do to me! on don’t
know what a. viper you are holding in our arms!
This is no place for such a wretch as I”

And again she struggled to free herself.

He placed her in a chair, and then holding her
by the shoulders so that he could look into her
face. said uietly:

“ My gir . tell me What this is all about.”

“ Oh! I can never tell you !” she sobbed, trying
to hide her face from his searching gaze.

Then suddenly slipping from the chair to her '
knees, and clinging to h 5 hand, she poured out
all the wretched truth, amid broken sobs and
ejaculations of self—abasement.

But long before the confession was over he
had lifted her to his heart, saying:

“Not that way! ,Here is your place from to-
day on, no matter what lies in the past, or
comes inthe future!”

When she was done he asked:

“ And is that all?"

“ Oh! is it not enough?” she sobbed. “ I have
ruined you i” “

“ You have made my fortune for me by giv-
ing me yourself! I’m the happiest man in sev—
enteen contiguous counties, and that's what’s
the matter with me I"

“Pl’3ut you will lose everything, and through

    
     
     
   
 
 
    
  
    
   
   
    
  
 
 
   
  
  
  
   
  
   
   
  
 
 
 
 
         
      
       
        
   
 

     

‘f I’ll risk that, fur all the pow-wowin’ 0’ that
old humbng Kate, you done this thing for love
of mes—because you was ready to break my
neck, if necessary, before you would give me

        
     
  

“Oh! I c

 

ouldn‘t bear to have you go away“
with—withf’i , _V I ' a

 
   
  

 

 
  

   

Dakotavngn in Canyon city. : r' r I? \ '

 

   

for course ybu (fpuldn’tl An’ now you see
you

"And he chuckled softly to himself.

‘ Got you that time 1—didn’t I, sweetheart?”
And he kissed her very‘geutly.

' “ Dan, I don’t deserve thisl" she whisper-
. clinging about his neck with a strength that
V is like to strangle him; but he voted it a
pleasant death to die, and so did not interfere
with her.

Then she remembered that she had broken her
. oath to Bank Sullivan.

“ But ” she said, " I~ don"t care what comes of
t! It can only be with you a little while like
this, {’11 take the worst that can possibly follow
1 without a. murmur 1”

',."‘Weall” he exclaimed, with huge satisfac-
_ tion at what her words implied
put up love much to beat that,

not in this world, leestways!”
He was not e mil to a nice balancing of the
. circumstances w ich make an oath more or less
i binding; but he disposed of the matter sum-
marily: ,
“I wouldn’t trouble my leetle head, if I was
‘ou, about a promise given to such a galoot as
ank Sullivan; not to say that we’re about as
nigh man and wife as they make ’em, short 0’
the Simon pure article, with the person an’ all
the et—ceteras; an’ of course thar ain’t no secrets
between man an" wife! What. you want to do
is to play 01! on him that you’ve got me outside
0’ his little tid—bit—which the same ain’t no lie
, 5,; ' -'-—an’ then we’ll flax him!” ' ~
 After that, time passed on golden wings, so
' ‘ that it seemed as if they had had scarcely a mo-
ment together, when the Undertaker made his
appearance, and they awoke to the fact that the
sun had set!

a
E
H
3
so
5’.

 
  
 
  
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
 

’m thinkin’-—

 
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
  
   

 

CHAPTER X1.
z.- “CLEANED OUT.”
g ,_' THE Ace of Hearts, as Hank Sullivan’s saloon
‘ ‘Wns called, was packed, it being generally
'  ' known that Dakota Dan had fixed upon that
', night to “ clean him out."
} , ‘Hoorayl Hyar he comes 1” shouted the eager
’1 . voice of one on the lookoutl"
 Those who had secured good places to watch
3 the game did not hazard their loss by leaving
 them; but others who stood near the door
, i forced their way out. '
'3 . Down the street came a procession formed of
1., Dakota Dan’s most intimate friends.
‘ V The hero of the occasion walked in advance,
V his cheerful smile contrasting with the abstract—
!" -.; zed gloom on the mac of his partner at his side.
I , “Hoorayi hom‘ayl hoorayl” was the greeting
‘ shout sent up by a score of throats.
' Rats were tossed into the air, and eager hands

     

 

"_ .wsre stretched forth on every side to grasp.

-' those of the general favorite. '

' - He received the boxeterous good wishes with a

confident smile, and replled_ to the chafl that

was fired at him in the same Jolly vein.

.  _V “He’s too sure” was the criticism of envious

' \' :Dick Mosier. “ When a man starts out with such

, ‘leourish of trumpets, you may look to see him

rm out at the little end of the born I”
“tYon‘look/as it you’d like tosour his luck,”

Wilma! Dan’s triends.

       
  
  
    
       
 
  

  

y

  

“ they don"t

 

But this was only a ripple, quickly borne
away by the strong set ol! the tide .of popular
enthusiasm.

There was a crush at the door as the proces-
sion entered and forced its way through the
room to the fare-table, and the din was deafen-
ing. ‘

The ladies waved their haudkerchiefs and
smiled their sweetest. They had been given
places immediately about the table by the gel-
lantry of their host.

Sullivan received “the chem ion hank~
bu’ster,” as Dakota Dan had alren y been dub-
bed, With the stereotyped smile with which pu-
gilists greet each other at the opening of a mill
which doesn’t happen to be sold.

“It’s wishin’ you good luck," he said, buta
little nervously.

“ Is that square, Hankl” asked Dakota Dan,
with e eculiar smile.

“ We 1, av course I’m not fur wishin’ the
money out 0“ we own pockut; but av ye kin get
it, ye’re mightily welkimto ut, the same as army
other gintlemaii.”

“Exactly. Wee], then, what are to be the
terms 0’ the game?” .

“ Just annything at all that’s fa-ur.”

“ It’s stem to the rack until one or the other
of us is clean bu’stedi"

“ I’m agreeable.”

“ No limit to stakes?”

1 “ gnly that you're not to double when ye
ose. -

‘I‘fiOf course. I haven't come hyer to rob

e.

“ Nobody’d think that.”

“ Very well, thenl Go ahead with your rat-
killin’l”

Dakota Dan unslung from his belt two buck-
akin bags, of which one had rested on either

1!).

£

‘

That’s my pile, gents!” he declarel,as«he
flung them down upon the table with a bang.

A shout went up at sight of them, and eager
eyes glistene‘d on every side.

Hank Sullivan looked at them covetously, yet
with a secret sinking of the heart.

If they contained gold its value must be in
the neighborhood of twelve or fifteen thousand
dollars. I

Dakota Dun untied one, took it by the lower
corners, and with a tip let the yellow tide flow
out upon the table. .

Again the room rung. this time With a. half-
frenzied yell. The men ‘ave themselves over
to the“ fascination of at glittering dross.
Some flushed purple; others turned livid with
excitement. .

Dakota Dan. who was perfectly self-possessed,
sat down and built several piles on various
cards of the “ layout.”

Into his eyes came a clear, steady light-a
keen, alert watchfulness. He was ObllVIOIJB to
everything about him save the game he was
playing.

At his back stood the Undertaker, with fold-
ed arms.‘ silently overlooking the scene, at
with eyes that did not seem to note what; t ey
rested upon. _ ,

“That hung-dog cuss will kill Dan’s luck,
as sure as you live!” growled one of Dakota ~

r

 

 

 

 

  

Dakota Dan in Canyon City.

 

   

Dan’s friends, with a. sullen frown. “I’d jest
as soon set down with a skeleton lookin’ over
my shouldsrl”

“Cheese it, will you?” muttered Shep Lam-
bert. “I reckon Dakota Dan knows what he’s
about, as well as you kin tell him."

But those who heard the first remark frowned
in sympathy with it.

“ Whether the galoot is all right or not,”
rumbled another, “ he shouldn’t ought to chance
it when thar’s so much up."

“ VVe’ll have to bounce that rooster fur good,
one 0' these fine mornin’s——you hyeer me i’”
added a. third.

‘ A general growl was the response in his vicin-

 

y.

In the midst of these men stood Saphead
Sam, the imbecile. The patronage of Dakota.
Dun and the good-natured indulgence of the
boys enabled him to get as good a. place as any
one. And now he drank in their words, open-
mouthed; and his love for Dakota Dan was
quick to take the alarm. However, he waited
for older, undue he rightly felt, wiser men than
himself to take the initiative steps for his prc~
tection. '

Meanwhile Hank Sullivan was slowly, yet
skillfully shuffling the deck. .

On his right hand set his croupier. On the
left sat Colorado Kate.

Just before the opening of the game he had
interviewed her.

“ It’s all square?" he whispered, hurriedly, his
eyes ablaze.

“ I did my part,” she had replied.

“ He ate it? You swear it?"

H Yes."

“ But, death to my sowll ye gave me the same
dosel"

“ Don’t be a fool I”

“ Phwat’s that!”

“ I tell you he ate it all. There was nothing in
what I gave you. Didn’t I eat the same, and
do you suppose that I fancy such a dainty as
you £repsredf"

“ ate,alanua, you swear this?" Don’t do-
save me, colleen l”

“ I have not! Now go along 1"

He had looked searchineg in her face. She
had stood the ordeal without changing color;
but in order to do it, she had had to affect
a or.

‘ You are such a. snide yourself, that you sus-
pect every one else of the same.”

“ Theurl thaur, darlintl” he had replied.
soothingly. “I bel’ave yez. Comol Ye shall
have the best s’ste in the room. An’, hark ye!
—sv.I ol’ane ’um out, be me sowl, I'll add a bun-
nit till the dress; do ye moindt—an’ a ribbon ur
two till the bunnit—eh’!"

Thus assured. he had gone to the task of the
evening, and she had taken up her st at his
elbow, never to take her eyes of! is hands.
after the exchange of one lightning glance, full
tharged with the electricity of love with Dakota

an!

Trust her love-sharpened glance to detect any
fraud on the part of the dealer, if he dared to

attempt it. And she would cover his heart with
._ her revolver and unmask him—she was fully re-

. solwd on that.

  

 

But Hank Sullivan was too knowing a. bird to,

     

that every one of an's friends 'had an eye
on him. He trusted to the natural chances of
the game in/fuvor of the bank, and to the charm
of the Indian hag. ' v

It seemed as if some influence of this kind

set such a. trap and s ring it himself. He knew- ‘

were at work; for from the very first he won‘ »

steadily; though of course Dan won many of the
turns. '
The Contents of the first bag went over .to the
side of the bunk.
Dakota Dan coolly rolled his cigar to the other
corner othls mouth, untied the second, and rip-
pled its Jingling coins over the board.

Sullivan was jubilant, though he strove not to I

let his face betray the fact.

f‘ Bedud! the colleen was honest wid me,”
he thought. “The chairm is workinl—loike a
chairml'

On the other hand. Dakota Dan’s friends, who

had come in full confidence that he would “ walk '

away with Hank Sullivan from the word go,"
were furious, and, furthermore, suspicious of
some malign influence.

“ Didn’t 1 tell you he was blowin’ too loud?"
chuckled Dick Mosier.

“ Bahl” growled Burt Younger, who stood at
the head of those who were ready to back
Dakota Dan through fire and water. “It’s that
vampire yonder l”

And he glowcred blacker than ever at the .j"

Undertaker.

, :-

m...» ..,. fig;

«x...  gnaw.

Ssphoad Sam’s jaw dropped, and he looked Hi

from the speaker to Saunderson. It was evi-
dent that he was “ taking it all in,” though no-
body noticed him.

-“ I tell ye what it is, boys,” ursued Burt
“ we ain't doin’ the squar’ thing y Dan, lettinl
the thing go this hyar way i" .

“ What do you propose to do about it?” asked
a. man at his elbow.

“ Fire that guloot out an’ give the man a.
show!”

“ Dakota. Dsn won’t stan’ that. He’s boun’
to back his part1 tell the last dog’s hung.”

“ Then he might as well throw his money into .
the street! That’s all I’ve ot to say about it.”

“ Look a-hyar,
interposed Shep ambert. “ You hain’t got
nothin’ ag'in’ Ssunderson but his looks; an' he’s
as han’some as the most 0’ you, any day!"

“Would you have that walkin’ graveyard I
standin‘ over ye when your money was up?” '

demanded Burt.

“ Wan], 1 allow it wouldn’t do no hurt of If

did.”

“ That’s
Younger. ,

And he was not the only one who felt that:T
Shep had avoided answering yes, or no.

Bigfistmd Frank laughed tauntingiy.

“ Fight it out among yel” he said. "But, all
the same, we’re ahead l" .1

Meanwhile the contents of the' second bag,"
were melting away. '

Colorado Kate was spray tosn anguish of?
remorse that blanched her lips. I

“ It is my fault!” she moaned within herself ’
“My hand has brought this upon himl. .Oh 

     

Dan l Dan I" I

   

 

isntsl this is all foolishness," "

purty fu’r fur a slide-out!” sneeredg‘.

man
tones.
m Of (
eant
be!

 
  

an

      
 

  

     

 
        
         
       
     
           
          
   
 
   
  
 
   
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
 
  
   
   
   
   
  
  
 
    
   
  
   
    
 
     
    
      
     
 
 
   

   

s‘.“ .  "

...s .m

:1. :WO
.:'. 2.?“ -.—-:.s

3”
at
all:

the . '_

Dakota. Dan in Canyon City.

.19

 

And she could scarcely restrain her tears.
So the second bag of gold passed slowly but
surely across the table to the side of the bank.
When the last stake was up the eager specta—
tors held their breath.
Several turns were made without afiecting
Dan’s bet.
The excitement grew more and more intense.

All necks were craned forward. Every eye was

riveted on the box.

At last appeared the card on which Dakota
Dan’s lust stake was piled.

The bank wonl .

There was a moment of profound silence.
Then the whole room burst into an uproar.

Cheers and inarticulate yells rose among
Hank Sullivan’s friends; but they were in the
minority; and the angry ejaculations of the
partisans of Dakota Dan overawed them.

There was a surging of the closoly-packed
crowd as they instinctively arrayed themselves
into parties. Then they stood eye to eye, with a
fight hung on a hair—trigger. »

“ Gentlemen!" prote<ted Sullivan, “ hasn't
everything been fair and above-board! Phwat
is it you complain of? Wasn’t my money up
ag’in’ his’é—an’ the cairds decided it 1”

Colorado Kate’s heart ached with the burden
of its secret. It seemed as if she must spring to
her feet and cry out:

“ No! no! it has not been fairl”

But she knew that Dakota Dan, having en-
tered upon the game with a full knowledge of
the conditions under which he did so, would not
take advantage of the revelation she could
make, and. would only be annoyed by her inter-
ference.

Dakota Dan himself rose and turned toward
the crowd, sayin , calmly:

“Gentlemen, t is is al out of place. I hope
that my friends will remember that this is my
game-thanking them, of course, for their sym-
path .” .

" ure, ou’re the gintleman that’ll say that
I haVe ta en no advantage of ye,” suggested
Sullivan. '

“ The deal has been perfectly fair, so far,”
admitted Dakota Dan.

Then he turned to a man who had stood
neutral in the excitement that had just pre-
veiled.

“Conger,” he asked, “ what should you say
was a fair estimate of my turnout?”

“ 303895, harness, and wagons?" asked the
gun addressed, in deliberate, deep-chested

nes.

Of course_he knew that that was what was
meant, but it was only his habit of gaining time
before expressing his decision.

“ Everything,” answered Dakota Dan.

and after a moment’s reflection, said, slowly:

“ Waal, of I was tradiu’ in bosses—the which
I ain’t, not jest at present—an’ of I had the
money—which the same I’m a long ways from
havin’!—-—I’d ventur’ mebhy eighteen hundred on
the outfit. E! I had cleaned you out o’ the snug
ile that’s on the board tbar, I’d allow ye
two thousand, at the least calculation
that thar fa’rr’

   

Cougar rolled his quid into the other cheek“

 

,in his packet. Another men might have exprew .

He appealed to the crowd to pass upon his ar-
bitration.

Murmurs of approval came from all sides.

“ The bosses alone is Worth an even thousand
dollars a span, in rope halters!” declared Burt
Younger.

“ Call it fifteen hundred," said Dakota Dan,
quietly. “ I paid more money for ’em; but I
ain’t beggin’ nothin’ because I’m down. What
do you say i" he asked of Sullivan.

“ I’ll make it two thousand," he replied, mag-
nauimously. “I don’t know nothin’ about 1he
valley 0’ horses mesilf; but Joe Cougar wouldn’t
tell no lie about it—I know that; an’ I’ll stau’ be
phwat he says."

“ Fifteen hundred will be enough, said Dakota
Dan, quietly.

And to the crou pier:

“ Put that amount on the queen for me, if you
please.”

This was done. and the game was about to pro-
gress when Burt Younger interposed.

“ Fiold on, Dani I reckon your friends has got
a word to say. We’re all agreed. This h at
thiner can’t go on no longer as it’s been goin’l

“ What is the matter?" asked Dakota Dan,
turning toward them calmly.

“ Ef you’ll jest step this way, the which we’d
druther not spit it out in meetin’ without your /
leave." ‘

Dakota Dan went apart'with him, with aques-
tioning look in his eyes.

“ It‘s the Undertaker,” he said, without pre-
face. “ You can’t afford to have him stan’m’
over our shoulder like he's been doin’!”

“ ousense!" exclaimed Dan. “ Haven't you
got over that tom—fool notion yet?" ‘

“ Wan], of you say so!” exclaimed Burt, shrug.
ging his shoulders, offended at the way in which
his good offices were received. “ It’s your
money i”

“It is my money i” said Dakota Dan, raisin
his voice so as to address the crowd; “ an’
say, once for all, that ,1 won’t hear to this
thin l”

“ ' hat settles it!” said Burt.

And putting his hands into his pockets, he
walked back to his place.

“The man's bewitched!" he growled, as he
passed once more among those who had sympa-
thized with him in his suspicions.

Saphead Sam drank this in open—mouthed, as
before. He looked at the speaker, who was a
leading man in the camp«then at Dakota Dan,
and lastly at the Undertaker. ' i

Saunderson stood as when he first entered the
saloon. l! he was at all moved by the losses of
his pard. he did not show it by word or look. He
had not protested when the least of Dakota Dan's
friends was roused; he had not taken sides when
it looked as if they were coming to blows over
the matter.

The game was renewed; and once more Dakota
Don was “cleaned out.” . _

His friends now stood in silence, looking at him
as at a man who had brought ruin upon himsalf.
by his own ‘ohstinac . .

“Whar’s his par , that he don’t lank him a
stake?” asked Burt of those around im. ‘

The fact was that the Undertaker hadn’t a cent

  

  

 

 

Dakota. Dan in Canyon City.

 

 

ed his inability. Saunderson said nothing, and
so became the victim of a misunderstanding that
hurt his standing with the boys more than any«
thing else could have done.

“Will the ladies oblige me by withdrawing?”
asked Dakota. Dun, without a change in the quiet
exrlpression of his face.

hey stared at him, for the moment at a loss.

Colorado Kate caught his eye, and rose.

Her example was followed by the others, and
they went out, wondering what was about to
happen. ,

The crowd too stood agog.

CHAPTER XII.
THE TABLES TURNED.

“ YOU will excuse me, gentlemen!” said Dakota
Dan, with a faint smile.

Thereupon, to their astonishment, he proceed~
ed to undress.

“ What is it?" cried Burt Younger.

“ A prize-fight!” suggested Dick Mosier.

" He’ll want a man of his size, then,” said
Big—flsted Frank, giving the impresslon by his
tone and manner that he would be willing to
stand as Sullivan’s champion.

“ I’m not on my muscle, if that’s your game,”
said the pro rietor of the Ace of Hearts.

A thrill o eager expectancy ran through the
room. Nothing ever interested the boys more
than a square knock-out.

Bets were the first thing in order on an occa-
sion of that kind.

“ Two to one on Dakota Dan, no matter who
tackles I” cried Burt Younger.

He always held it the first duty of a gentle—
man to back his man, no matter what the pros-
pects of success. '

Not heeding the crowd, Dakota. Dun .Ltripped
“ to the buif, ’ and piled his clothes on the fare—
table.

“Put up whatever you like ag’in’ them,” he
said, coolly.

Sullivan stared.

“ Hold on I” cried Big—fisted Frank. “ You
ain’t boun' to do no sich bloody thing as that!
Luck is luck, an' won’t stan’ everything. The
gentleman is tryin’ to get a dead open-an’
shut."

Hank Sullivan’s friends all united in this pro—
test; aud even Dakota Dan’s felt that their
champion was “ crowdin’ tho mourners ;” so
their support was not so hearty as it would
otherwise have been.

“Still,” persisted Dakota Dan, quietly, “I
think Mr. Sullivan will accept the bet. ”

“An’ turn ye naked into the street? Not I,
faith! Annything in r’nson—I stnn’ by that.”

And the Irishman’s indignation was beautiful
to behold.

D“ What's the matter with it?” asked Dakota
an.

“No gentleman would take the clo’s off an—
other’s hack.”

“ Oh! you needn’t have any tender considera-
tion for me, if that is all.”

“ Moreover, as our fri’nd heur said, luck
wouldn't stan’ it, an’ you know that well
enough.”

“ Then it’s your own pocket you’re lookin’ out
fur, after all?”

 

 

“Only to the oint of what’s r’asonable an’
fair. I don’t tn'e advantage 0’ no man, an‘I
don’t want no man to take advantage 0’ me."

“ Ah! I understand you to say that it is a
question of fairness?"

“ That’s whaur I shtondl”

“ Will the gentlemen fall back as fur as possi-
ble, un’ allow me to have a word w1th Mr. Sul-
livan in private?” asked Dakota Dan, going
round to the other side of the table.

They complied, wondering what influence
was to be brought to bear on the Irishman to
move him from the position in which public
sentiment upheld him, while every considera-
tion of self-interest was against “ tempting
luck " in this unheard~of way.

Sullivan waited apprehensively.

With a peculiar smile Dakota Dan walked up
to him and whispered into his car:

“How about that lizard’s tongue, my Chris-
tian friend?”

“ Fur the love 0’ Godl” gasped the Irishman,
starting back as if stung by a scorpion.

He turned livid, and stood quaking in every
muscle.

The boys stared at him in utter astonishment.
What could be the purport of the half-dozen
words that could have such an eifect as they
saw?

“ Phwat do yez knows about that?” asked
Sullivan quaveringly.

“ Everything,” replied Dakota Dan, coolly.

” Who told yez?”

“ A little bir( .“

“ Thaur could be but wan.”

“ You’re sure about that?"

“ An’ it's perdition on her sowll”

“ On her soul? What are ye talkin’ about,
man i"

“ Didn’t she swaur?”

” What?” -

And with his lips to the Irishman’s ear:

“An Indian hag? Hal ha!”

Thcn aloud:

“But, come! this ain’t to the point. Do you
accept the bet, or don’t you?“

Sullivan looked at his opponent.

An unvarying smile that unnerved him rested
on Dakota Dan’s lips. He read there the alter-
native. He knew that if the thing was “ blown,”
the boys would not leave of his establishment one
slab leaning against auotherl

1“ If the cairds goes ag’in’ ye, ye’ll stan’ it?” he
as (ed.

“ Certainly,” answered Dakota Dan.

“ An’ not squeal?”

H No."

“ Nnr—nur blow P”

“Nor blow.”

“ I’m takin’ it, an’ thankin’ ye kindl l”

He was completely “ broke up." The ys won-
derineg saw that.

” It’s something snidel You may bet on that!”
growled Burt Younger.

“ Then Dakota Dan’d orter let us into it," said
another.

Sullivan saw that his credit was undermined
even without a word. The black frowns of sus-

.plcinn told him that he had made a paying in-
s

vestment in silencing Dakota Dan

tongue,
whatevar came of it.

 

.. 1mm .rzemnsfad“ A

 

 

 

 

 

Dakota. Dan in Canyon City. 21‘

 

“ But that sha—divill Bod scan till her! she
thricked me either all! Wait till I got the
weight 0’ me hond an her 1”

The game was renewed, and from this point
Dakota Dan steadily won, until he had got all
his own back, and stranded Hank Sullivan high
and dryl

The Irishman had not a dollar in the world
that. he could call his own, nor a thing save the
clothes on his back that he could turn into
money.

“ I don’t want to send you out into the world
without a stake," said Dakota Dan, and be hand—
ed him a hundred dollars.

His friends refrained from cheering as the
defeated man walked out of the saloon that at
the beginning of the game had been his, but was
now the property of his adversary.

 

CHAPTER XIII.
A GLIB TONGUE.
CANYON CITY was shrouded in gloom, beneath
which smoldorcd a lever heat of excitement.
Immediately upon his great success, Dakota
Dan had installed his partner in the Ace of

_ Hearts. There he had sat every night smce like

a wooden man, sliding the cards out of the box
to the ri ht and left as if his movements were
control] by machinery.

“Ye hyear me, gents?” Burt Younger had
said, when on the first night the whole camp
had visited the place to see how he managed—
“ this hyar ain’t the fu’st time that gay and fes-
tive cuss has handled the pasteboards!”

" Not much 1” was the general assent.

“Waal, then,” said Shop Lambert, “that
only goes to prove what I said at first. Dakota
Dan knowed his man better than you could
tell him.”

“ He’s mighty lucky~cf it’s all luck I" whined
Dick Mosier.

“Yesterday you was growlin' because he
wa’n’t good—lookin’; an’ now you’ve all got the
bellyache because he knows how to deal! I’d
like to know what kind of a man would jest suit
you 1” cried Shep, in high dudgeon.

“ Jest you wait—that’s all I‘ve got to say!"
muttered Burt.

“Ef thar ain’t some powder burnt in this
hyar shebang one 0’ these fine days, I lose my
guess!” said Mosier, watching Burt Younger out
of the corners of his eyes.

“ It’s mighty good fun pleyin‘ in the fire—e]
you don’t get singed!” retorted Shep, the flash
of his eyes giving a peculiar significance to his
words.

There the matter dropped for the time.

The next day Dan failed to make his appear-
ance, and upon inquiry it was learned that he
had taken to his bed, sick.

“It’s a. little queer that his pard should keep
so close mouthed about the matter until it was
fairly umped out of him,” said Dick Mosier, in
his insmuatiug way.

“That thar ain’t the. only dog-queer thing
about this hyar fine gentleman!" chimed in
Burt Younger.

Thereupon the boys called upon Dan in a

They were let in by his Chinese servant, Sam

 

Ling, who stood beside the door with his junk
shoes set at an exact angle, his hands clasped
before his blue smock, and an exceedingly smug
and innocent look on his face.

“ Hallo, boysl” said Dan, with a pleased smile,
as he looked down the long line of his friends,
all wearing that decorous expression of coun—
tenance which people assume at a funeral. “ It
does a man good ’way down in his boots, to see
that his friends don’t furgit him the minute he’s
laid on the shelf.”

“ What’s the row, ole man?” asked Shep Lam-
bert, cheerfully.

“ Nothin’ to count. I only feel a leetle shaky
in the nnderpinnin".”

“ You look blue around the gills, an’ that’s a.
fact," said Burt Younger.

“ I’ll be all right in the mornin’.”

“ You’d orter have a doctor,” suggested Dick
Mosier.

“ My pard’s handy about them things. He
says he’ll give me a sweat to-night that’ll fetch
me out o’ hyar all straight as a string.”

This intelligence was received in dead silence.
Everybody’s face dropped, except Shep Lam-
bert’s. He f rowued'his displeasure and began
to talk in a lively strain. .

But Dakota Dan did not “come round ” the
next day, nor the next; and when it appeared
that he u as really “ booked ” for a spell of sick-
ness, the ladies made it up among them to call
upon him, and see that he was comfortable.

They came with a great fluttering and chat~
tering, “like a flock of white black-birds,” as he
laughiugly told them. But he was disappointed
to find them marshaled by Bessie Brighteyes;
and as they filed in, his eager gaze left each
face in turn for the next, in a. vain quest of Col-
orado Kate.

Every day since the first he had waited for
her with a heartsick feeling of neglect. Why
had she not come to him the moment she knew
he was down? Would he have treated her so?

he had chafed and fretted, which made him
only the worse; until now, at the first rustle of
skirts, he had raised on his elbow, all aglow to
feast his eyes upon her, with a feeling that
only the touch of her cold palm on his burning
forehead would make him well again; or if not
well, at least so happy that he would forget the
discomfort of imprisonment and pain.

When he saw that she had not come, he fell
back with something between a groan and an
oath, and lay with closed eyes.

The women ran to him with cries of dismay.
Then he rallied and talked to them with forced
gayety, telling them that he had only been
shamming, just to see how much his friends
really thought of him.

“1’11 always know who they are after this,”
he said. “ Tell that coquette, Colorado Kate,
when you see her, that I have got her down
in my black book!”

“ Why, don’t you know?” cried Bessie Bright-
9 es.

yAnd her face lighted up with the eagerness of
a gossip who unexpectedly finds that no one has
been beforehand with her in imparting a rare
bit of news. ’

'_1‘he other ladies smiled w1th sympathetic sur~
prISe. ’

 

q 122

" Know? Know what?” asked Dakota Dan,
with a sudden thrill at the heart.

i “ Just see that!” cried Bessie Bright—eyes.
" Those stupid fellows never told him!”

“Just like the men!" murmured one of the
ladies. I

“ Ha! ha! ha! That comes of havrng a pard
that wears bootsl" laughed the butterfly.
“ What do you fellows ever talk about I should
like to know?”

“ If you would do less taikin’ an’ say more,”
cried Dakota Dan, " I wouldn’t have so long to
wait heforeIcould make out what this is all
abouti" ..

“In two words, then—Kate’s gone I”

“ Gone?” cried Dakota. Dan, starting again to
his elbow.

“ Gone! Vamosed the ranch l-cut the campi
-—shook all of her friendsi—gotl”

The sportive minx bobbed her head at each
statement of the fact, smiling in high fun.

“ Gonel” repeated Dan. “ Whenl Where?
What for?”

“When? Why, let me see! I’m blessed if it
wasn’t the very night you took to your‘bedl
Did you ever think of thatfladies? He’s pining
for the loss of her. Hal ha! ha!"

And quite unconscious of Dakota Dan’s dis-
tress, she made the room ring with silvery
laughter. ‘

“ Go on! Tell me all about it!” cried the sick
man.

“Where? Was that next? Well, that‘s one
of the things that she left those particularly in-
terested in her whereabouts to find out. She
didn’t give me her address.”

“ Then you don’t know why she left?”

“ What does a lady ever leave for? or course,
to better herself. For particulars, see small bills.
In this case, Bill Harti"

“ Hank Sullivan’s side- ardner?”

“ You’ve guessed it! he told you i" laughed
the “ giddy girl.” “He raked her off the board
with his usual grace. But say, Dani—~is it
true that she tried to get you not to play
“iithllig’nk, the day you scooped him in so com-

ete
p At that, Dakota Dan sprung u right in bed,
and began to swear so furiously t at the ladies
—who, more’s the pity! were not altogether
unused to that sort of thing—shrunk away from
him in dismay.

“ Why. is it possible that you—that you—-
care i” cried Bessie Bright-eyes.

“Care!” shouted our tortured hero, and he
thought of the tender passages of that. to him,
blissful afternoon—all an infamous “sell” on
her part.

Was over such fiendish rfidyi How she
had hung about his neck— ow she had given
her lips to him. half-shrinking, half—yielding,
like a young girl with her first lov 1 And
behind er angel’s mask was a devil o decep-
fiionéd’After that, could a woman ever be be

ev

“ Carol" he cried. grinding the word between
his teeth and shaking his clinched fist. “ Let
mergit my clutch on his throat sn’ hers! That’s

" all ask! .

And he threw his legs out of bed, with the

 

 

Dakota. Dan in Canyon City.

evident intention of getting up at once and sets
tin out on his revenge.
, he ladies ran screaming out of the shanty—-
all but one, who had more presence of mind or
more determination.

Bessie Bright—eyes took the sick man by the
shoulders and forced him back.

“ Look here, Dan l" she exclaimed, “ this won’t

do] You’re in no state to be on your feet at all, .

not to think of going out of the house. I am
sorry that I said anything; but I never dreamed
that it was anything to you.”

A cloud had come over her gay face, and her
voice was low and vibrant with feeling, as if the
discovery that it was something to him had
shaken her heart with pain.

He submitted to her will, not merely yieldin
to the physical weakness that made his hes
swim, but suddenly prostrated by the convica
tion of how poor a thing revenge is where the
heart has been wounded as his had.

“ I might drain their hearts all round; but
would that give me back the woman I believed
her to be? Oh, Kate! Katei I loved you sol”

And he turned his face to the wall, that the
woman might not see the tears that no eflort of
his manhood could wholly repress.

She went on, as if she thought that, like a.
woman, he would wish to know the particulars.

“ I wondered why it was all done so slyly—-
why they didn‘t take the coach. But I suppose
they were afraid of being follOWed. It was the
merest accident that Isaw them—slipping away
in the night on horses.

“It was after midnight. Tom Coleman was

with me. and we had gone up to the gulch to Ken- 1

ned ’5 dance. Tom got so full that on the way
bac he insisted on camping out by the road-
side; so I had to leave him and come on alone.

“ Of course I was terribly frightened to be
out there alone at that time 0’ night; so when I
heard some one stirring, I crept into the bushes
all a-trenible.

“ It was a man and woman, leading some
horses into the road.

“I was on the point of speaking tothem to
get them to come on to camp with me, taking
the chances of their not thanking me for my in-
terference, when I recognized Kate’s voice; and
she was so nervous and excited that I guessed at
once that there was something up.

“‘He’il kill me if he ever gets his hands on
mei’ says she, while he was helping her on her
horse.

“ Then the man spoke, and I knew it was

Bill.
“ ‘ He'll find that two can play at that gamel’
es s be. l
‘She was so nervous and in such a hurry to
get away, that as soon as he got her into the
saddle she started up.
she came opposite me, and she says:
“ ‘I’ve got on my best dress,’ says she: ‘but
you’d better believe I wasn’t going to let myself
a ,seen walking ofl.’ with a bundle under my
I hated to leave that blue silk, though,’
‘ You’ll have to get me another just

arm.
says she.
like it.
so that none of those hussies should have the
benefit of iti’

“ That’s what she said, as spiteful as could be,

 

I had half a mind to slit it to ribbons, _ TI

  

 
  

He overtook her just as I I

    
    
     
      

 
   

 

Dakota. Dan in Canyon City.

‘23

 

  
 

?

3“But,”oontinued the narrator, interrupting
ulerseir, as it she had for the moment allowed
tarsal! to forget Dakota Dan’s interest in the
' ioman she was telling him about, “ I ought not
'0 tell you that.

'l“He told her that she could haveasmany
l=ressesasshe wanted. but it would he a long
' ay before she got another necklace to throw
hay; and she said she was afraid of something

" El'oouldn’t hear what, for they passed out of

*drsbot.” . ‘

 So ended Dakota Dan’s Idyl of a day in the

“'lackness of treachery and fraud.

.1 “Put your hand under my pillow,” he said,
'- unskily.

Bessie Brighteyes obeyed, drawing forth a

ffiiall package wrapped about with buckskin

"fid tied with a string of the some.

“Don’t open it,” said Dakota Dan. “Do
know whar the water goes down in a sink-
ole. about half a mile up the gulch? I mean
he llittle stream that comes down through the

   
 

    
     

“ Yes, I know,” answered Bessie.

“ Waal, I’ll be greatly obliged to ye, of you’ll

. throw that package down thar fur me. i may

never be out to do it myself, an’ it ain’t every-

body that I’d like to trust to do it fur me.

- ? D3)sz let the job out to nobody else. Do it your-

se .
l “ I will," replied the girl, with seeming earn-

,9estness and sincerity.

l , “ An’ now I won’t be keepin’ ye any longer,”

é She hesitated, and then putting her hand
. light] on his shoulder, said, hesitatingly:

i “1 event hurt you, have I?”

“—No! no! you have been very kind," said

Dakota Dan, without turning his face so that

she could see it.

[ She went out slowly and softly, and he was
alone.
2 He drew up his knees, covered his face with
r both hands, and so lay perfectly still, save for a

,) slight quivering of his body.

it
a.
S?
w-
o
8
U
E

The girl wentaalmost ran—straight to her
room, opened with fingers that trembled with
eagerness the package she had promised not to
‘ violate, and gazed with glistening eyes upon a

broken pearl necklace.

“ Well,” she cried, exultantly, “that’s as
' gieap jewelry as I will ever get in this world!
~‘ ank Sullivan can whistle for it!”

And she snapped her fingers, and laughed.

 

_, CHAPTER XIV.
. I, SAPBEAD SAM TAKES A HAND.

THE boys now insisted on Dakota Dan’s hav-
119; a doctor; but he swore savagely.

“ What in thunder do [want to be pawed

over fur by a galoot that doses ye with drugs
‘ tomake ye sick,so’s to feed ye 0n bread-pills
afterwards, 2111’ give yo 9. chance to get well in
“Pita of his draughts and blmd-lettin’; an' then
. callsita miraculous cure? Thar ain‘t nothin‘
the matter with me; an’ if thar is, it’s my own
100k9ut,” he Went on, with the inconsistency of
nan irritated man. “My pard's nursin' me
 m likin’. Then what is it to the rest of

70W." 7  ;

   
 
   
    
 

    

 

In this he unintentionally misrepresented the
Undertaker.

It was true that Saunderson was tireless in
his attentions to his pard, turning out at any
time in the nightto give him water or his
simple herb tea, which at most was expected
only to allay his fever. But he pretended to no
knowledge of the treatment of disease, and
confessed his entire ignorance of what ailed his
patient.

He had urged the need of a. doctor, but Dan
had insisted that there was nothing the matter
with him but malaria.

“ Hang his pardl" growled Burt Younger,
impatient at this persistent faith in the man
whom every one else vaguely suspected.

“ Thar’s one thing that thar ain’t no mistake
about,” said Dick Mosiei‘. “ He come hyar as
thin as a rail, an' he’s been puttin’ flesh on his
bgfnves ever sence, as fast as Dan shook his
0 .

Shep Lambert laughed scornfull .

“ He’s gittin’ better lookin’ eh? if still you’re
not happy! We’ll have to git up a leetle world
fur your especial benefit, whar a man sha’n't be
long nor short, old nor young, good docking nor
homely. But, by thunderl of they rule out
cranks, it’s my opinion that none 0’ you won’t
stand much Show."

As a fact, the Undertaker had fleshed up
wonderfully, While Dakota Dan was becoming
so emaciated that, as the boys said, it woul
take two of him to cast a. shadow. It was as if
they had changed places in this respect.

Ii; was noticeable, too, that he hadspecome
more cheerful, or, rather, more animated.
When he set out in the morning—he had a trick
of rambling off by himself among the crags—he
walkedwvith a more sEringy ste ,swinEing a.
grates uely-twisted stic that be ad pic edup
somew ere. The old dull abstraction was more
marked when he sat nightly at the famtable.

“Ye hyear me, gents? That that walkin’
hone-yard has brought ill-luck to Dakota Dani
Somehow or other he’s standin’ in his light!” in-
sisted Burt Younger, whenever the suh'ect was
broached, and it became the general t eme of
conversation.

Day and night, iii-doors and out, wherever
there were two or three men grouped together
there was discussed the calamity which
overtaken the favorite of the camp.

Every morning the boys went to see him in a
body. They were invariably let in by Sam
Lin , who stood aside, as we have said, with his
'uu —shoes at the same angle as his eyes, and his

ands clasped before his blue blouse, wearing
ever the same serene look of guileness innocence.
Sometimes, when he seemed not to be observed,
he Bagged his head on one side and heaved a
profound sigh.

“Even that pagan likes Dakota Dani" said
Burt Younger, and thereupon hurled an oath at
the absent Undertaker.

“ Whar’s that galoot?" he demanded, with a
scowl. .

“Sande-sum?” asked the pagan. with a side-
longYsglance out of the corner of his eye.

I i

“ Go up 9 gulchee—lilly time gone.”

“ May 1; e devil go with mini",

 

 

 

:24, N

'Dakota Dan in Canyon City.

 
 

  

 

,. Dan lay with his eyes closed, and his thin
arms resting outside of the blankets parallel
with his body, panting with the short respira-
tions of a very weak man.

“Jest look at him!” groaned Shep Lambert.

~ his brows knit with distress. “He can’t hold
out long like this!”

“Much hiscpard cares—out skylarkin’ by him-
self!” growle Bu .

Shep made no reply. The case was getting
so desperate that even he no longer defended
him as promptly as at the outset. Indeed, it
had been rather an upholding of Dan’s wishes.
Personally Shep liked the Undertaker little, if
any, better than the others.

Beside him stood Saphead Sam. He was very

ale and restless, and his eyes were unnaturally
distended, and kept roving about uneasily, while
he stared at Dan, and then at every one in the
room. catching at every syllable that fell from

their lips. .I
No one was particularly struck by this. As

he asked no questions, nor ventured any observ

vations, he passed unnoticed.

But that night, or rather in the small hours
of the next morning, after the saloons had
closed their doors, and the last of the revelers
had staggered to his bunk, or, if “ballasted
above the water-line,” had found free lodgings
wherever he happened to fall, the sharp crack
of arifle was followed by a wild yelling and
gibbering laughter, which roused the sleeping

cam .

“ What’s the row?” asked She Lambert of the
first man he met, as be rushed alt-dressed into
the street.

“ Blowed if I know! It’s upat Dakota Dan’s,
whatever it is.”

The sound of boisterous talking and the inter-
weaving of shadowy figures, only partially re—
vealed bv the flickering ight of a candle before
Dakota Dan’s shanty, toward which others were
hastening, sufficiently attested this. -

“ Has there been an y fighting?" asked Shep, his
mis 'vings shaping themselves on the incidents
of t e past month. “ I was sound asleep when
the thing commenced.” ‘

“ I on y heard one shot,” was the answer.

“ That s enou hl They’ve fixed the Under‘
taker! I was a raid they’d try it on.”

And he added an execration. ‘

As he'approached the spot, he made out Dako-
ta Dan am; up; on his own doorstep just as he had
turned out of his sick bed in the alarm of the
moment, so weak that he had to lean against the

' jamb of the door.

Sam Ling stood just within the doorway,
screerin the candle from the draught as much
as ssib 9, while throwing its light outside.

he Celestial was shaking with fear, the pupils
of his eyes being drawn down into the inner cor-
ners of their bias-cut openings until he looked
fairly crosseyed. .

Just before the doorway lay the motionless
body of a man face-downward, and about it
moved an excited group of miners.

Shep Lambert eard Burt Younger’s voice
raised above the rest.

“An‘ mighty well done, tool” he cried, with

an oath. ‘ I knowed it would have’to come out
sooner or later. It’s lucky fur Dakota Dan that

\

 

 
  
  

he’s got shut of him before he got him clean a
dear round!” ' f ’. 

“ a! ha! ha!” rose the shrill 1a h of Sap-
head Sam. “ Dan’s all right now! ay, gents! ,
he’ll be up an’ a-doin’, won’t be? We won’thave
no more—” . "

“ Who done this?” cried Shep Lambert, boar
1yz us he burst through the crowd.

‘Shepl Shep!” cried Dakota Dan, in a voice
so weak and tremulous, in contrast With his
wonted hearty tones that the boys only groan‘
ed, (‘l‘lthey’ve finished him l—they’ve downed my
par ‘ .

“ Who done it?” repeated She , glaring about.

“ I done it!” cried Saphead am, coming for-
ward proudly.

He still held in his hand the rifle with which
he had done the fatal execution. '

“You?” cried Shep. '

“ You bet I did! Ohl I’m more knowin’ than
Ilookl Eh, boys? Ha! ha! hal” "

“ Yes, by gee, you be!” asserted Burt Younger.

. “ Say, She'pl You fellers never dropped tohis.
léetle game, id ye? But I put this an that to— r
gather, an’ I got him down flnel You can't fetch
a vampire with no common bullets—I knowed.‘ -
that: but them’s the boys that hunted him whar .
he lived!” _ , .,

And divin his hand down in his pocket. he .
brought fort and shook in his palm a couple of
silver bullets.

“ Who put that tharnotion into his fool head?”
asked Shep, not angry with the imbecile, who
indeed could not be he d responsible; but scan-
ning the faces of the men, and especially Burt
Younger’s, with perhaps natural suspicion.

“Don’t give‘me the credit of it,” said But.
“ I hadn’t the sense to see through the doggone
fraud, no more than you bad. But jest listen to ,
what the man with more savy than any other ,
galoot in this hyar cam has got to so fur him!
self. Give it to ’0m 23.1 over ag’ln, am. It’ll
b’ur repeatiu’.”

“ Yes! yesl” cried the men who had not been
in time to hear the first narration. “Let's have
the story. What is it all about?" - '

“ Was], ye see," began Sam, assuming the air
of importance which his relation to the images? ‘
seemed to warrant, ” I stand by Dakota Dan l
the timel The man that strikes him hurts mel'
So when I seen this hyar galoot gittin’ fat while
Dan was gittin‘ thin, an’nothin’ bein’ done a t
it by nobody, I took it into my, head to we

  

  
  

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mi.

“ Wan], I noticed that every night helgot his
hungry look on, an’ every mornin’ he ‘waa as
free as a daisy——-" ‘

“ How’s that 1’” interrupted Burt Younger
“I reckon thar ain’t a man in the camp tha
hain’t seen the same thing. time an’ time ag’in
—an' never dropped 1” he added. in disgust
“ Come, boys, don t be backward about acknowl-
edgin’ the corn. Speak up, an’ own thatit took
a fool to Peru us our A-B—C’sl” ‘ 

“ Hang me of I ain’t seen the way healwayé '
went waltzin’ along in the mornin’l”orie‘d c109
Cougar. , a , >

And when so staid a manas he declaredi
favor of Sam, of course every one else
bered—hor persuaded himself that he did, w i
came to the same thing—something of the sort.

    
  
    
   
    
  
   
  
  
    

        

  

nan

er.
his

 

 

 
  
    
   
  

 

Dakota Dan in CanyonCity.

,4. . '

7"25

 

"_ Go on, go on I” said Burt.
And the boys echoed the request eagerly.
‘ “ Waul, then I seen that when the Undertaker
was lookin’ the freshest, Dan was the most

used up.” - h
“ How’s t t, be s?” interrupted Burt.
“ Co-rect,’ was t 9 response.
“ Drive ahead, Sap yl .
“ So I tell to watcfiin’ around hyar 0’ nights,
to see what the Undertaker done to him to make
him feel so bad.”
“ None of us hadn’t the gumption to do that,”
groaned Burt.
» ” Waal, what did you discover?’ asked Shep.
“Nothin' for three or four nights. Every-
thin’ was as black as a pocket in hyer. But last

'  I seen jest the tiniest bit of a. speck of
‘8

- an’ hooked, like claws. Then

‘ ,seensuch wnga!

‘ around in front of him
straight an’ his brows drawn '

1 escaped the and

t. It wa’n’t the size of a pin’s head. But,
gents, it was—”

Baphead Sam drew his body together in an
attitude of fear, and lowering his voice to a
hoarse whisper, said:

“ Blue I”

“ Aha! Ye all know what that thar means,”
cried Burt Younger.

'l‘h';1 men exchanged glances and drew nearer

e or.
tog] crep' up an’ found that the winder was
covered with a blanket, but thar was a leetle
hole through it. I put my eye to that thar hole,
311’, gents, I seen what I don’t never want to
see ag’inl ,The room was full 0' blue light-—
death lightl-«that wa’n’t comin’ from nowhar
in pertickler, but jest all through the air like.
An that was Dakota Dan a-layin' on the flat of
his back in his hunk, a—breathin’ hard, like a
drunken man; an’ thar cross-legged, on his
stummiok, sets the devil, hoof, home an’ tail I”
Low, rumblinig ejaculations of rage and fear
tors, who were drin ing in tho
marvel open-mouthed. *

“Thar he sets,” continued the imbecile, his
excitement growing more intense as be pro.
greased, so that he ' ustrated his narrative with
appropriate pantomime, bringing out the scene
Vividly before the imaginations of the men—-
“thar he sets, a-fannin’ of him with his wings-—

slow, like this h arl Fannin‘: him, an’ tannin"

him, so’s he won dn‘t wake upl
’ f‘ Gents, did you ever see the devil?” he asked,
interrupting his narrative.

'" What does he look like!” almost gasped one
of the men. ' /

“Waal, he’s black all oven—all but his eyes
an’ teeth an’ finger—nails. The ‘re an inch long,
9 has wings like
urslike at the joints. You never
He kin stretch ’em out so‘s
aegis; lllekss'n a: :11; five yardtgcrgstl An;

eag aggy on e ams, an
two leetle split hoofa. ,_

“An’ that he not, with his tail wrapped
an' his leetle stumpy

a bat, with

“horn: stickin’
down in the m ddle, an'the ends stickin’ up to
heatthe pagan’s hyar—"

‘ ' At this reference to 8am Ling every eye was
turned, toward him, to help out the imagiw

tionin 1 theictureofthedevilh-
its aid of in Margot eye: y

f 1/
’ . ry

 

 

Hsl shook so that he could hardly hold the
can 9.

“ Thar he sot,” continued Saphead Sam, and
every e e was drawn back to him, to the not
slight re ief of the heathen.

“ Did he have his pitchfork?” ventured one
of the men.

“Oh, yes! He had his pitchfork in his hand.
An‘ while he fanned an’ fanned, heprodded
Dakota Dan in the throat with one of the
points.” '

Every eye at once sought Dakota Dan’s throat
for confirmatory evidence. The found it, or
seemed to. There ware severe slight irrita-
tions there. Under other circumstances they
would have been attributed to shavin . Now
they were received as indisputable proo of Sap»
head Sam’s statement.

“ The tines were sharpened as keen as the
point of a needle,” went on the imbecile. “ Thar
wasn’t a drop otlblood drawn. But his eyes
be he to glisten, an’ his mouth begins to water,
an he clasps on to that spot with his lips! Gents.
you never seen nothin’ like it! Ef he was starv-
in’ to death—”

But Burt Younger thought of a comparison
which would convey amore vivid impression to
the minds of the men. ”

“Ef he had been on a two-weeks' tear, boys,
an’ hadn't had a drop fur twenty-four hours to
to r elf on l” he suggested.

be boys understood ‘how eagerly the vam—
pireI had applied his lips to the throat of his vic-
tim

“Goon, Sagpy— con!“ said Burt.

“ Waal, Da ota an gits weaker an’ weaker,
an’ jest as he’s at the last gaSp, whisk goes the
vampire’s tail! 0!! he jumps! out goes the blue
lights—43m it’s all as black as yer hat l"

At this efiective demuement the hated breath
of the audience exhales in a long-drawn sigh.

But Sam is not yet through;

" Then I heard Dakota 11 wake up an' call
his pard. He turned out of his bunk, barkin’
of his shine on a stool 111' two, an' asks him how
he’s comin’ on. You’d think his heart was
broke by his voice. Dakota Dan said that a
lime-kiln was a foolto the way he 1e1t,as if he
hadn’t hada drop of anything to his tongue fur
a dog’s age. Then he strikes alight to git the
water, an’ that he stands as fresh as if he'hwd
jest had a square meal, an’ Dakota Dan as white
an’ thin as if he hadn’t left a tin—cupful 0’ blood
in his whole body !” r

“ Gents, you seen how Dakota. Den looked this
mornin’,” Burt supplemented. “Maybe ye kin
tell us whether it is so that he called his pard as
Sa y says.”

5 the attention of the crowd was thus di-
rected I toward Dakota Dan, Shep Lambert
iprung to his side with a sharp cry, and caught

m. L
Dakota Dan fainted in his arms.

‘ CHAPTER XV. ,
A BLOW m ran mum. , 
DAKOTA. DAN was borne back to bednvhere
he was soon revived. In his Weak state the
reaction after undue excitement hadleft him
with no strength to sustain him. ' ‘ i.
Assured that he was in no immediate danger,

r

 

  
 
 

       

 

   
  
   
  
  
 
   
 

:

Dakota. Dan in Canyon City. , . i V "VI ; V I

 

the Vcrowd returned to the consideration of
the tragedy. ~

“ I’m a square-toad man,”,said Burt Younger.
“Inlways say what I mean an’ mean what I
say; an‘ thar ain’t no hack-down nor slide-out
to me nohow. Hain’t you always found me so,
She Lambert?”

“ ea, 1 have,” admitted Shep, freely.

" So fur, so goodl Do you think it’s in me to
h’ar down on the Undertaker, ef I didn’t believe
he was about as low down as they make ’eml”

“ I never denied,”- said Shep, “ that you
thou ht you was standin’ by Dan fur his good.”

“ utt ’er thar!” cried Burt, extending his
hand. “ I allow we’re all honest men, of we’re
only a mind to think so, an’ want to do the fa’r

‘ thing all round. Er we kin manage to pull to-

gether, we’ll come out 0’ this thing right side up

with care yitl"

f Shep took the hand as franklyas it was of-
ercd.

" N ow,” pu'rsued Burt, “ this hyar thing is so,
or it ain’t so; an’ Dakota Dan himself is the
man to tell us. Let us go in an’ put it to him,
ta'r an’ squar’. I, fur one, will stand by what
he saws." I

To avoid the excitement of forcing a. crowd
I: n the sick man, these two as representatives
0 the opposite interests went in.

Dakota Dan could recall all of the imbecile’s
stor .

“ {a it true that he put a blanket before your
winder?” asked Burt.

‘I Yes.”

“ What furl" _ .

, .“I’ never thought to ask him, an’ he didn’t

sa .

xH’ml Did you call him up last night, as
 said you did?" ‘

‘ . es—that’s so, boys. But—-"

“ An’ use the very same words?” asked Shep.

“Wear, yes-almost word fur word as Sam
put it. But, boys, that ain’t to say that thar
was anything crooked ur orner about Saund-
erson. He was a squar’ man, e thar ever was
one. You may put yer money on that.”
Burt looked at Shep. ‘ . r
A loom frown and a compression of .the
li s ow that he had nothing further to
0 er.

Burt turned without a word further, and
walked out of the room. .

She was about to follow him as silently,
when akota Dan called him back. '

“It looks mighty bad, I know,” he said;

N _ ,"but do what you kin fur him.”

“I will,” saio She .

“Ween” asked gun, when he made his ap«
pcsrance without. »

“ I reckon thar ain’t nothin’ to do but to give
him decent burial,” he said.

Burt shook his head.
“ We don‘t bu that kind!”
“ What’s that asked Shep, sharply.

“ We’ll take him out yonder among the crags
an’ leave him to have u out with the coyotes. i

 reckon they’ll find him a dose:”

  You
' (CI

“Dan’s pard?’ cried Shop.
1%” laughed derisively.

a ow that that’s about uyed out?" he

 .“We‘owe it‘to the/10010 the camp that

.’

 

he ain’t Dan’s murderer.
save him even now.” . , . .
The crowd began to speak all atimce. 1:) their
eagerness to indorse this sentiment, and their
expression of opinion was plentifully interlard—
ed with oaths of bitter indignation. ‘

Shep Lambert found himself unable to stem’

the tide of univerSal hatred. The most that he
could do was to prevent them from carrying out
a proposition to drag the hodg to the plaCe of
abandonment by a rope about t e neck. ' '

“Dan’s last words to me was to do what I
could fur him, an’ I promised him I would.
Now, gents, you needn’t touch a hand to him.
Leave it all to me. I’ll carry him whar you say,
an’ leave him thar; but let the thing be done
without no unnecessary pnttin’ upon him.
We’ve got to tell Dan all about this, remember,
when he comes round; an’ he won’t thank the
man that abused his pard.”  ’

That carried the day. .

Shep made a litter and put the body on it, and
Saphead Sam taking the other end, they carried
it at the head of a gloomy-brOWed recession,
their way lighted by torches, out o the camp
and far up the gulch, where they abandoned it
among the crags. ,

In silence they went; in silence they returned!
Then Shep Lambert said: . ' V

“ Gents, I’ll take charge of Dan, an’ you bet
thar won’t be no hocus-pocus in the way of his
gittin’ well under my management!” "

This gave general satisfaction. Everybody
had rfect confidence in Shep Lambert.

“ n' now, Shop,” said Younger, “et thar’s
anythmg in this camp ur out of it that kin be
got at, that you want, jest say the word, an'

every man in the camp will ‘be at yorur orders .;

to git it! You onderstand that, 0" course.”

“ 0’ course 1” assented Shep. “ To begin with,
then, I want a woman, andl'a woman that knows
how to cook—nice leetle things, ye onderstand,
that’ll be temptin’ to a sick man’s appetite.

What he wants is nursin’. This hyar heathen

is all right fur men'in their full vigor, what kin

chaw wrought nails an’ git the good out of ’em: .- ' Ll /

but what does he know about . gruel an’ sichl I

tell you, gents, thar’s virtue in spoon-victimls,~

when a men’s flat on his back. And he wants a
woman to lift his head u when she ves him a
drink. an’ to turn his pillar over w on it‘s coo

side down, as it is the heft o’ the time." > i“ ,4 v
The unusual excitement had brought out most is ,

of the women, and they stood about with shawls

over their heads, shivering-with nervousness, ; 2

since it was not cold. ,
Bessie Bright-eyes offered her services at once,

with the confidence of one used tohafi'ng the

lead conceded to her. But Shep said; .

“Your call is with well, man, my dear. » An’ '~

it would be \a pity to take you away from the
he s. This hyar istho style we want.”

ad he selected the most gentle-mannered  fl

Sam Ling,r received his dismissal. with "the liti—
ruflled meekness of his race, his 9 eadowncast,

   

It was impomibletodlscover‘wm er’he under; .

stood that there was no Objection to him except
that he had not the advantage 9! beinga~>wb~

man. -' .
Every one in  City felt a gnawing n

,. . 5 l I
It’s ten ouoif we -

 

 

 

 

    

     
 

 

       
 
   
       
    

   

   
  

 
 

Dakota. Dan in Canyon City.

 
  

“I

27'.

  

 

  

 

Every morning Dakota Dan held a “reception,”

lis
in Which his friends passed in single file through

. N i
a if we
' ' curiosity as to the ultimate fate of the Under-
) their V taker; but it is doubtful whether the boldest of
their them could have been hired to go alone, even in
rlnrd. . broad daylight, to the spot where his body had
' ‘ been left.
stem» Saphead Sam’s very simplicity, however,
[at be sharpened his curiosit and blunted his fear:
gout so, shouldering his ri e, loaded with a silver
[(26 of bullet, lie/might have been seen prewling about
' v . the spot before the sun was an hour high. What
int 1  was his surprise to find not a trace of the
Duld, - ‘ body!
him, > He ran to the camp with this proof of the
Say' supernatural character of the man who had
ions come into their midst almost as strangely as he
Jim, * a. , had gone out of it.
her, ‘ The whole camp poured pell-mell up the
the gulch, to find his statement true.
~ It still further confirmation was needed, it
was found in the fact that Dakota Dan began to
and mend from that night.
'ied The boys were delighted as they marked how
on, , rapidly he convalescedt
mp' “ Why, ye kin see him grow better!” shouted
lit;  « wBurt Younger “Won‘t this hyer camp have
, . one glorious drunk the day he in st putshie foot
5d; V , ' outsnde 0’ that thar door! An’ we won’t have
_ . . 4 . long to wait, nuther. Ye hyear me, gents!”
pet; ,  The whole camp joined in this jubilation.

his shanty, in at the front door and out of the

I

y back, to haven look at him and congratulate
73 him on his improvement since the day before.
.9 Outside they shook hands, swinging round
1! and round, and executing akind o grotesque,
s triumphed dance.

But though his body grew strong, the wound

, tohis spirit caused by Colorado Kate’s treach-

erydid not heal, and the old light did not return
to his eye.

Thus matters progressed, until at the end of
aweek the day so eagerly looked forward to
arrived, and Dakota ‘Dan “set his foot outside
his door.” .

It was celebrated as Burt Younger had pre-
dicted. The whole camp “ took a day off.”

Dakota Dan’s shanty was the scene of the
revel, and all day every one was in and out at
pleasure. ,

An hour before sundown they “let up on
him,”so that he could get much needed rest,
and transferred the rejoicing to the Ace of
,Hearts, which had been under the care of Burt
Younger since the tragedy.

There things were “ boomin’,” when the more
or less tipsy crowd were startled by the sudden
appearance of Saphead Sam, who rushed into

their midst, shouting: '

“Gentsl entsl t ar’s somethin’ wrong over
tovDakota un’sl Don’t stop fur nothin’ but
jestng over thar as quick as ever ye kin."

" hat’s the matter?” cried Burt Youn er.

‘ ‘ “ Ivdon’t know. But they’re ‘aopukin over
r- . thug-all hands of ’em—fltto turn their insides
_ ,rUut. '
’ The crowd was sober with consternation by
 this announcement. v ,
"Fur God’s sake, boys!” cried Burt. “some
:o’you take a. boss an’ strike out for Twin Bluffs
- e doctor!” ‘

 

"ml". ‘ . .

    

    

 

And he ran at the top of his speed to Dakota
Dan's shanty, followed by the crowd.

Bursting into the house. he found Dan, Shep
and the nurse writhing in anguish, their livid
and clammy faces and protruding eyes making
a horrible spectacle of distress.

The close agreement of symptoms proved that
their illness must have a common cause.

“ In heaven’s name, Shop! What’s the matter
with you all?” cried Younger.

“ Burt, we’ve got our dose!” gasped Shep, be-
tween two parofiysms of violent retchir: .

   
  
   
   
   
 
 
  
  
    
  
  
  
   
 
   
  
  
   
   
 
 
 

“ But how? but have ye been doin to yer-
selves?”

“ It’s our supper done it, I reckon. Oh, my
God 1” ‘ \

There stood the fatal meal, half eaten. Who
could have guessed that in those tempting viands -
lurked the seeds of death in one of its most hor~
rible forms? I

“ P’isonl” gasped Burt, for the moment para-
lyzed by the shock of that fearful revelation.

“ P’isonl" passed from lip to lip, as the men
stared helplessly from the food to the sufferers,
and then at each other.

Among their sturdier bodies white-faced wo-
men squeezed their way, to utter cries of sym-
pathetic distress and to make distracted eflforts
torelieve the sufferings that lay beyond their
reach. . .
“ 0h, something ought to be done—something .r
must be done!” cried one of their number. ' " '
wringing her hands and appealing to the equally
helpless men with streaming eyes. “We can-
not see them die—oh, so horribly—before our
very eyes 1”

“ Somethin’ shall be done!” cried Burt
Younger, rising to the occasion. “ Have out
every boss in the camp, men; an‘ the i’u’st man
inTwin Bluffs to-night will never be furgotten
in Canyon City! Tell the doctor it's p‘ison—an’
that his time’s worth a hundred dollars a minute
to him, fur every minute he cuts inside of an
hour! But, my God I” he groaned, “ whar will
they be in an hour’s time?" ’ ’

He himself set out to take the best horse he
could find and join in that desperate race against . I ‘71
swift-footed death! ' " " 

But even as he strode toward the door, a wild « ,
shout was set up outside. v v 

Be it rung across the threshold to see the fig— v 7* 
ure 0 a woman with streaming hair rushing 1 
toward the shanty, through the crowd.

“Cl’ar the way!" went up the shout. “ Fur
God’s sake, let her pass!”

The crowd fell apart as she’sped forward, to
close in‘behind her, forming asurgiug, jostling
mass that in vain sought to follow her flying

 
       
     
       
         
       
       
   
     
      
      
       
     
       
       
      
      
   
 

steps. V

‘ Who is it?” ,

“ Has she brought the medicine?”

“What’s the matter with her? Didn’t you
seal She was all covered with blood!”

“ What did she sa 1" I

A hundred quest ons sprung up all in an >
instant, which nobody thought of answering. ,

But the woman sped on until she stumbled
across the threshold and sun]: upon her knees in . ‘
the middle of the room, gaspin : .

i I am too

    
       
      
      
    
  

    

“Dakota! Dakotal Oh '
latol—toolatelttoolal’ol own”

l-.

  

-. 5 “am-u

.,4_; 1.14:, w;

 

 

 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

,zmew‘TyL-l'rvge—é? awe venom .{Mangfiruiwu

‘88

   
 

And her distress died away in a long—drawn
wail of inexpressible anguish.

She would have sunk forward on her face, but
that Burt Younger sprung to her side and caught
her, crying:

“ Kate! Kate! can it be you! Merciful heaven!
where have you been, and what has happened‘to
you? Has the world gone mad? What is comm’
upon us all?” .

The woman had no answer for him. She
hung unconscious across his arm.

But some haltecaught articulations haunted
his memory. What was it she had tried to say?
Was it really. her speech, or only his own
thoughts, that echoed through the chambers of
his bewildered mind?

“ Sam Lingl—poison!”

CHAPTER XVI. .
THE TEST OF GUILT.

AGAIN the room was filled by the eager
crowd, and the doorway made a spectacle of
heads craning one above another.

For the moment the old interest was lost in
this new and strange development.

From Bessie Bright-eyes‘s account the story
had spread through -the camp that Colorado
Kate had e10 ed w1th Billy Hart, the seemingly
needless stea th of which was afterward ex—
plained by the women who had seen how Dakota
Dan was affected by Bessie’s announcement of
the fact. ‘

And now Kate was back, covered with cuts
and bruises, and with her clothes half-torn off
of her. as if she had passed through a terrific
struggle. And of all persons. she had rushed to
Dakota Dan.

What could it all mean?

The sight of her for the time overcome Dakota
Dan’s terrible pain, and he stretched out his
hand toward her, crying feebly:

“ Kate! Kate!”

But she was past knowing aught of him—even
him she loved so truly.

“ What did she say?" he asked.

“She came to warn you of that yaller—mug-
god heathen!" said Burt. “Thor's been a deep
fights goin’ on hyar, right under our noses! He

paisoned all of you—why, the deuce, his
master, only knows—~an’ cut an’ hacked her al—
most to pieces!”

Burt groaned as he said it, still holding her in
his arms. ’

“ M God!” escaped from Dakota Dan's tremu—

 

. lous lps.

Then he said: .

“Fetch her hyar, Burt.”

Your: r complied. I'

“ Put r on the bunk, hyar, beside me."

it was done. . .

Her disheveled hair, sudden in places with her
own blood, stained his pillow. ~

Ila put his arm about her, and drew her be-
smlrched face down to his, kissing her now uu«
responsive lips, her cold check, her closed eyes,
her marble-like forehead. ‘ .
, “We kin die together, my darlin’!” he whis-

, pere'd into her unconscious ear, at so low that

no one else might hear. “ forgivo me fur
error doubtin' you im- a minute! I might have

known that ,somethin’womathin’ or other was

Dakota. Dan in Canyon City.

 

  

up, only that you— Why, it was like sum ~
shine! I wonder of I would be (001 enough to' a .
believe it because somebody told me it was = ,

black!" .  1'

But Burt Younger’s inference had assed from i I
lip to lip, increasing in volume an gathering ""1
fury with every repetition.

“ It’s the heathen Chinee! He has ’isk‘ t1 ‘
Dakota Dan an‘ the rest, an’ hacked 01(31in ‘
Kate all to bits!” ,

“ It’s his revenge because Shep Lambert fired ”
him!" was the ready explanation of his motive.
“ N o sooner do we git shut of the Undertaker,
than he puts in his bid.”

Then suddenly rose a terrible cry—a cry
compared with which the yelping of wolves as
they strike the trail of a wounded deer is music!
It shot up into the air as if the hatchway had ' .
been lifted from the mouth of, the nether pit! ’
It sent a thrill to every heart, and silenced all
other sounds! The crowd stood breathless!

Again it rose, the multitudinous voice of V 7 »
murderous hatred! Then came a response—the ’* , .
shrill shriek of human terror! /‘ , ' v 'A ‘

The spell was broken. The crowd burst into
one roaring voice of ruthless rage, and rushed . .,-_ ' - .
away like pent waters o’erleaping a dam. ‘ y  

Away! away sped the mad chasel—one help-  ? "
less wretch, wildeyed, panting, frantic with ter-' 1 v r I
ror, leading a bowling, yelling, shrieking mob——
purple in the face, with e as glaring like those
of a beast oflprey, almost earning at the mouth  ,
with fury! ’ * 2 ’

With fierce cries and savage execrations they ’- ‘
incite one another on, until they close. in upon
their victim. _

He is down! They swarm about him like dogs
that have brought their quarry to bail A score
of hands seize him! They. fall over mil _They
trample him under foot! They snatch him up
again—not to save him from harm, but that be
me. not escape them too easily through the gates
of ( oath! - V . >

He is but a. shrinking, quivering mass of flesh, ’ i,- \  ,
through which the soul seems to ooze at every v‘

asp! - ' I w
They drag hip back to camp and to the shanty -.
where his supposed victims lie. _'

It is a horrible pilgrimage! He runs the gant-
Iet of glances so fierce that it seems as if they
must saarl—of execrations so bitter that the
wonder is that the quelling soul can sup rt them
~«of blows that torture, yet do not kill

Burt Younger-‘3 purpose, to send after the doc-
tor as many riders as there were horses in the
camp, having been interrupted by the unexpect-
ed appearance of Colorado Kate, was recalled
as soon as he had placed her beside her‘lover.

While Sam Ling was leading nearly the whole ' .
camp at his heels. Burt detained as many as he w
wanted, and hurried them into the saddle. , _'_

But there was‘ one beforehand with them.
While they were goiugB for the_animels, the H u
were sul'pi‘ised to see essie Br lit-eyes d
away on the fleetwt of Dakota Dan 8 four,

“I will show you that a woman can outstrip
you all!” she cried. “Overtake merwho can?) ,

They cheered her. The men of Canyon City '
were proud of their women. ‘ r  ; 

“ Thai-'3 pluck rurye, as wall as good looks” '
cried one. , " ,_ ‘

          
      
      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    
       
     
      

 

       
     

 

        

 
  

Dakota. Dan in Canyon City: »

 
 

 

   
  
 
 
    
  
 
 
  
 
 
    
  
  
   
  
   
 
  

 

~ '“God speed you!” called out Burt Younger,
- king after her admiriugly.
She dashed through the crowd who were
dragging back the cowering Chinaman.
, Ceers greeted her approaching; cheers fol-
.Jowed her speeding away. .
" They kept on to the shanty.

- i‘etch out that thar grubl” was their do

hands fetch out the suspected food,
and while some hold up the shivering wretch to
i ‘keep him from falling- intn a heap on the ground,
others repare to force the food down his throat.
f‘Ho don. boys‘i” interposed Burt Younger.
‘Youll choke him that way. Let him eat by

5
s

x - “That’s the ticket! Ef he’s innercent, an’
. hain’t doctored it, good fair steak won’t gag
himl” ’
The tin plate bearing the remains of Dakota
Dan’s supper was held before him, a knife and
fork were forced into his hands, and every eye
, glared upon him to note the effect.
.TheChinaman unquestionably stared at the
 with protruding eyeballs, and shrunk back
gem“ he thought that they intended to poison

At that a fierce yell of conviction went up
from a hundred throats. It did not seem to oc-
‘ our to them that under precisely those circum-
Vstances perhaps few men would have eaten with
any sort of relish.

“Jest look at t

. snoozerl" shouted one of
their number. “

e knows that he put enough

 

’  throat!”-
In that hour of insane fury this suggestion
was actually proceeded upon. While the
Chinaman’s head was held back, and his mouth
was kept open by the insertion of a stick be
tween his teeth, the food was forced down his
I gullet with a ramrod.
In this way, though halfdead, he was made to
" rewive as much of the various kinds of food as
the others had eaten.
. ‘ That nothing might be omitted, the tea of
. which they had drank was cured into his
_ “ mouth; and of course compell him to swallow
 it, since no one can voluntarily suspend the
I ‘ breath to the point of suffocation.
1‘} g In a few minutes he showed the same symp—
 ;4 ~ tomesd as the. others. He was undoubtedly poi-
son . i '
,  “That clinches itl Boys, let's burn the rat-
~ eatin’ whelpl” '
‘ But before this could be acted upon—and the
' chances were favorable to an adoption of it, bar-
barous as it was—a party of horsemen swept
B cam . , .
At sight of them the very skies were rent With
the about of welcome that went up!
' Those in the rear of the cavalcade were swing-

  

  
 

8
E’-

  
   
  
 

ilmgs. They Were the men whom Burt had sent
_ fer: the doctor. already returning before they
“' ‘ ijould have had time to cover half the distance
‘ win Bluffs. '
Verthaless the physician rode In advance of
whinmshowed that they must have met

  
  

 

   
 
   

 

i‘  ; 1in thar tolay out an army. Ram it down his-

ing their hats and yelling at the top of their,

 

But who was it riding abreast with the doctor?
He sat in his saddle erect, in a firm seat.
face was cold and emotionless. He—

“ Geutsl it’s the Undertaker!”

CHAPTER XVII.
THE UNDERTAKER VINDICA’I'ED.

COLORADO Kara had recovered consciousness. -
Her first act was to Wind her arms about Dakota
Dan’s neck, laughing and crying together, while
she rained kisses upon his face and poureda per-
fect flood of endearing terms upon him. .

“ Oh, you have got me back again!” she cried.
“ Are you glad? Have you pined for me as I
have hungered and thirsted for you?” ‘

“ More than I can ever tell you in all our life
long!” he answered.

7 At that she nearly smothered him!

“And you didn’t believe her?-not one word?
Oh, Dani I have been so tortured with the fear
that you would acce t appearances against me)?

But here his ma ady helped him out of an
awkward answer.

The pain he had fought against new overcame
him, and he writhed again.

Returning to consciousness in his arms, she
had not recalled her first fears; but now she
sprung up with a horrified cry.

“Oh! you have taken the poison? I am too
late with my warning? 0h, Dan I"

But the clatter of hoofs broke upon her ear.

“ Thank God! they have come! It is the doc-
tor l” she cried.

At a bound she was through the doorway.

The .horses were drawn up sharply, scatter-
ing the dirt in every direction, and their riders
at the same instant swung themselves to the
ground.

“ Come in! come in! You have not a mo-
ment to sparel He has taken the poison! 0h! *
do not let him die!” she cried, cute ing the doc-
tor by the arm, and fairly dragging him into
the shanty. '

She/had but one person in her thoughts. She
did not let 0 of him until she had brought him
to Dakota en’s bedside.

A rapid yet perfectly self-possessed examina-
tion satisfied him of the condition of his pa,
tients, and he began the work of neutralizing
the oison. '

“ e will live?” gasped Kate. ,

“ We have every reason to hope so,” replied
the physician.

iSihe fell upon her knees in tearful thanks-
g v ng. ‘ \

Meanwhile the Undertaker had dismounted,
and would have entered the shanty, tosee his
partner, but that Burt Younger, who thus far
had stood staring at. him in half-increduloua and
altogether apprehensive astonishment, sprung
before him.

“Hold on, boss," he said. “This hyar may be
all right; but we want to know it before you go
in thur.”

_, Saunderson yielded without protest, and step
ped hack to his horse. »

He was pale with the loss of blood, or, as one
of the men hinted to his nei hbor, from not
having had an o rmnityda 1y to replenish
his stock in his pee in: way. >

. His eyes were sunk deep m his head, and glit-

 

t

 

   
 

I?
i ,,

flags-x- 2—01“. '-

 

».,.,...n. Méwli- in. fijrwWezw<l,iws-q-M,

     
   
   
  
    
    
  

 

 

Dakota Dan in Canyon City.

  
 

, ,

 

tered as they had done when he first made his
up )earunce in the camp.
ut he was unquestionably alive in the flesh.

Saphead Sam stood staring at him. He had
his rifle in hand: but he had lost faith in it.

“ it was silver. ' I cast ’em myself,” he kept
repeating. “ But he’s come back to life! I
never heard of such a thing. ’Tain’t no use
to try to fix him. Nobody could hit him fairer
than I did.”

“We’ll try of thar’s any vartue in fire, next
time!“ said one of the men, grimly.

“ Cap, what’s to be done with this chap?"
asked one of those who had Sam Ling in
charge. .

“ et’s tie him back to back with the Under-
taker, an' roast the pair of ’em l”

But Colorado Kate had come forth in time to
overhear this proposal.

“Good heavens!” she cried. “ have you all
turned into a lot of savages? You ought to get
down on your kneesand ask the pardon of this
injursd man. It Dan lives, you will owe it to
him.’

And going up to the Undertaker, she slipper]
Petr; arm through his, hugging it to her grate-

u y.

“What’s that?" asked Burt Younger.

“ To think that you would carry your sense-
less prejudice so far as to attempt his life! What
is the matter with you all?”

“ Senseloss prejudice? An’ him a-suckiag
Dan as dry as a squeezed lemon '4?”

“ Nonsense! How could great men like you
listen to so stupid '9. superstition?"

“ Didn’t- Sa py see him?"

“A fool! ou confess him one every time
you call him by the handle you yourselves have
given him.” .
“But wasn’t Dan gittin’ well right along tell

, this heathen devil downei him ag’in?"

“ Was there over such a chapter of blunders?
Why Sam Ling is as innocent as you or I!"

“ Come, nowlyou can‘t tell us that! We’ve
got him dead to rights. An’ you said it wds him
yourself.”

" I? Never!”

“ When you fu’st come in?”

“ Indeed I did not 1”

" Ask Burt Younger.”

“’Very well, ask him. - Do you mean to say
that I accused the Ohinaman of poisoning Da-
kota Dani” .

Burt was scratching his head in contusion.

“ Wool.” he said, “it sounded so to me, an'
that's a fact.”

Colorado Kate made an effort to recall What
she could have said. At last a light broke over
her face. -

,“ Why,” the exclaimed, “ I must have started
to tell you that Sam Ling was in the habit of
leaving Dan’s herb tea to cool at night on the
shelf in the open shed, where Big-fisted Frank
could get at it and dose it with paleon.”

“Big—fleted Frank!” exclaimed her hearers.
“ What call had he to drop onto Dakota Dan so

rou has that?”
" by. you know th he always hated the

L Undertaker, and the nig tthat Dan blamed him

so. he swore that he would get even with them

 

both; somehow. So he was just in 909%?an

}

stand in with Hank Sullivan, and has been play " v "
ing into his bands ever since.” -  ’ “

‘The p’ison might make Dan thin, but it  ' “
wouldn’t make the Undertaker fat,” objected ~ “Vi-V “
one of the men. ' alx

“ He was half-starved when he fell in with ‘1‘} , ‘
Dan. He had been out prmpecting, and hadn’t .‘
had a square meal for weeks. Is these anything  .
unusual in that?” ‘

" Wanl. the pagan owned up to his share in it, '
any way I” '

“ Because, after you had chased him like a V
pack of wolves, he was afraid to eat what you 
were so bent on forcing down his throat? Do
any of you eat in that way as a rule?" I

The men stood ahashed. Things began to take
quite a different appearance from what they had
supposed possible.

“ Then who done it?” asked one. ’

“The Big Fist. I reckon you won’t find him ,
hanging around, as you did the Chinamanl”

“Look a—hyarl How do you come to know
all "this, when you wa’n’t hyar to see it a-goin’
on

   

“ Hank Sullivan has held mea prisoner—7’

“Why, they had it that you had slid with
Billy Hart."

“ So said Bessie Bright-eyes. because Hank
Sullivan hired her to, and—— Well, never mind, ‘

 

 

why else. She had her own reasons. Can you
tell uie where she is now!”
“Give us the slip, boys!” .
“On Dakota Dan’s spriest hoss, tool” ’ v I 1",: h
“ An’ we cheered her!” .
“ Like blamed foolsl” j b
“ Oh, Lord! how she must have laughed in her ‘ o
sleeve!” . t‘
“ Well,” pursued Kate, "‘ Hank Sullivan kept v 11
me posted on what was going on here—it doesn’t 1’:
concern you to know why.” ‘ ' I
“An’ you mean to say that it was Hank an’ s
the Big Fist that was at the bottom of all this , ~ I
hyar?” asked Burt Younger, his keen chagrin 79’ l
appearing in the expresswii of his face. ' «s .
“ Of course I do." v ]

“ Ali" the Undertaker~—"

“It was lucky for me and all of those people ' ~
in there that Saphcad Sam’s bullet didn’t finish 3 ‘ W
him, as also that you hadn’t the humanity to I , i
put him under ground. He came to, and
though of course he didn’t know which of you
had shot him, he did know that his life wasn’t .
safe among you. So he had cut the camp for
good, when chance threw him in the way of
overbearing Hank Sullivan tormenting .me.
Then he dropped on him, and after as tough a;
fight as on ever saw, downed him for good and '
all in this world. Then he went for the doctor,
and I kept on here.”

Burt Younger walked up to the Undertaker
and took off his hat before him. , .

“ I hain’t got much to say,” he stamme , g? ,
“ but I jest want ye to know that I never? is t 
so ’way down in my boots sence the day I ,‘was '
horn! I don’t. know how to make it up: 'to“ye;,;
but I’m powerful glad that things ain’t no;
worse.” ' I  

For the first time since they had known him, .
the boys saw the Undertakersmile faintly. '

“ Let us say no more about it,” he suggested, ,
extending his hand.  1

H1

 

 

    
         
    
 

  

    
       
       
    

  

  

Dakota. Dan in Canyon City.

81

 

 

r “ What’s that?” exclaimed Burt.
  “ Why not? You ain’t too mud-J
'3 " ' “Proud! After what I’ve one to ye?"
' "  “ But we weren't going to say anything more
. about that, you know." _
" . “ Look hyarl I don’t deserve this!”
“ We don’t all get our deserts in this world,”
said the Undertaker, with a faint sigh.
“ No! by thunder, we don‘t! You hain’t got
your deserts sense you struck this hyar camp!”
And Burt struck his hand into that of the
man whose determined foe he had thus fur

 

 

  
 

 

an.

“ Maybe the boys will make it up to me when
they come to know me better,” said the Under-
taker.

“ El they don‘t—one and all l—we’ll break
their internal necks! Hyar, you fellers, walk
up to the captain’s otfice, take the hand of the
whitest man We’ve had in the camp senee the
fu’st pick was struck into the ground, and tell
r him that, you are ashamed o’ yourselves, as I
do now, an' as Colorado Kate said we’d orter
do!”

And the camp to a man filed past the Under-
taker, dofled their hats and hook him by the
» hand, declaring their regrets for the past, and
, pledging their friendship in the future.

Saphead Sam alone had not come forward.
He stood staring, as if unable to comprehend
the reason of this change of popular sentiment.

The Undertaker went up to him and extended
his hand. I _ I

“ No ‘doubt he was honest enough in hisstory,”
he explained to the crowd. “ You know the dis-
ordered state of his mind. It is not an unusual

 thing for him to see strange visions. Something

 he heard said must have worked on his imagina-
‘ ‘ ' tion, and his anxiety to protect his friend did the
rest.” ,
“ Yes,” groaned Burt Youn er, “somethin’ he
‘ ;' heard me say—the biggest 0010f the two, by
«’ long odds!” -
w . Through the open door of the shanty, Dakota
Dan saw ihe honors to his pard, and called out:
“Consul-n ye! ye wouldn’t take my word fur
n ' r ’1

 

  
  
 

’«

 

' t l

. Then the mistake Was explained to the China-
man, reparation was promised him, and, he was
given into the hands of the doctor.

, ~ ,Au eli‘ective antidote put all the sufferers “ on
5 their .feet "v again; and Canyon City had a
“grand blow-out ” over their recovery.

‘ Later, Colorado Kate, whose injuries. not so

‘ severe as they at first appeared, had been re

5 coived in her struggle with Bank Sullivan; told

. in confidence to her lover what she had not cared

to make public.

‘ 1: Bank Sullivan had had a, salon for her be-

fore Dakota Dan declared h ll. and by slowly

poisoning Dan he .had tried to torture her into
consenting to marry him—Sullivan.

_ 7 “. put you didn’t believe her, did you, Dan?”

‘ concluded Kate. « .

.Ilemme see!” said Dan, with a twinkle in his

, eye.” .“ Seen-ism me that I remember a young
lady who‘ once had a fancy that I had a notion

' fur Bee—e” ~

‘91! yon so another word, I’ll—V ‘ .

“.Waal. t let's don’t say uothin’ more

, pliant ilk-fiance We're so near squur’l"

 
 

 
   
 

 

 

 

     
  
   
 

  

    
  
 
 

   

 

At this juncture the “ queer pard ” came upon
the lovers unexpectedly, and stood looking at
them with a smile as kindly as it was quiet in his
eyes.

Next to Dakota Dan, he was now the most
popular man in Canyon City Camp.
_ THE END.

 

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171 Frank Morton, the Bov Hercules. ByOll Cuomes
172 The Yankee Ranger. ; ‘dwin Emerson.
173 Dick Dingle, Scout. liy Edward S. Ellis.

:4 ’Daudv Rook'n Solsenle. ilr G. W. Browne.

«5 Pine rub llr-tuotlro. By Edwnrd 1.. \Vln-oler.

:6 V} lii \‘Vlldlirc’n Pluck. lly Chnrlos Morris.

‘7 '1 he Boy (/‘onnnander. ily Col. l’rmltias lngmhnm
 'll;l|;: {lulllinc llunic‘r. lly Burton Suxc.

. a n .y lam-e; or,’ hr Mystic arlrsmnn. B J. E. Bud en
1 o The Boy Gold-Hunter. ily'f. c. Hnrimughy. “
181 The Sconcxrm-e Son. By Charles Morris.
182 'i he Dark-Skinned Econ By Liuut. Col. anultlne.
188 Juhez Dart, Detectiw. Bx )il Cmnm's.
184 Featherweight, the ‘ .py. 15 ‘ Eulwnl'd “111m.

85 Dir-on Bill, the Overlnnd l’rlnce. (‘nL l‘rmtixs lngmhnm.
86 ’Dainty Lance and llln Purd. By Joseph E. Bndgrr, Jr
8? The 'l'rnmicd Tiger King. liy Chnrlw Morris.

1 88 [he V ontrllo ulnt Detox-live. By Elltvnl‘d 1.. Wheeler.

89 Old Kooky’n I oyfl. lly Maj. Sum. S. Hall.

90 film Sins klua, Scout. By .Innms L. liowvll.

91 Dandy oek’n Rival. liy Gen. \andn ilmwnr.

92 Hickory flurry. Br Hurry t. Grnruu.

98 Detective Jonh Grim. ll} Idwnnl l.. Wheeler.

9-1 Pros cot. Pete, the Boy Miner. llv UII Connws.

95 The. ‘endcri‘oot Trailer. . ilnrl-nugh.

96 ’i he Dandy Detective. , ‘ ,n Morris.

97 Roy, the Young (‘uttlc King. ily Col. Prl‘ntlu ingrnhum.

98 Ebony Duu’I Monk. By Frnnk Duluont.

99 Dictionary Nat. Detectivo. By '1‘. i' llnrlmngh.

00 The Twin Horsemen. By Capt. u brick \Vhlthkm.

01 Dandy Dnrke’s Purdn. lly Wm. R. i.) ster.

02 Tom, the Texan Tiger. lly Oil Comm-a.

03 Rain the Office Boy. lly Clmrlos Morris.

04 The Yolan Cowboy. lly Col. i‘n-niiss ingrnimm.

05 ’l he Frontier Detective. By Edward L. Wiwuivr.

0‘5 \yhite leht'ilng; or, The Boy Ally. lly T. C. Hnrhlugh.

07 kentnck Tulhot’n Band. By Capt. Murk Wilton.

08 Tran er Tom’s Cnntlr- Myntcry. By Oil Control.

99 The . icnflcllgvr-Bo)’ Detective. _ (flmrles Mon].

10 The liunohhaok of“ i new. By 1 onh hi. ilndger, Jr.

11 Little Giant and "In Band. ily Philly .\ VVarur.

12 The Jilntown Sport. Ry Edwm-d .. ii he. or.

13 The Plrntc’n Prize. By C. Dunning Clark.

14 Dandy Dave, oi'h’hnntn. Br 'I‘. C. llurhuugh.

15 During Dull, the Bung-n". or, The llr-nnsr Dam-tiw.
Conlnus.

:6 The Cowboy Captain. By Col. l‘runtiss Ingmlmm

l

l

meuuugu

 

By on

7 Bold "end of the Rockies. lly Maj. Sum, S. Hall.
H The Minor Sport. By Edwnnl 1.. W .
9 llnck, the Detective. By Allmrt
20 Crack-Shot. Frank. By Charles M4 r .
22l .‘l crie the Middy. iiy Col. i’ruutiw lngmhnm.
222 Rosebud licn’n Boyn. liy (Ill Comm-s.
228 Gold Conrath Watch-Dom:- liy 'l‘. ('. Hurlmugh.
2 Frluky Fergus, the. Now York Buy. By G. L. Aiken.
Dick Drew, thu- Minor’s Son. liy ml 1.. Wln-rlrr.
Dakota Dick In Chicago. lly h-s Morris.
Merle, the liov (twist-r. By (‘01. P us-x lmzmhmu.
8 The Preach Detective. lly (ill lelnrg.
Did l[l kor) a Grit. Iiy John J. Mnruhnli.
Three Boy Sparta. By Capt. F- dm-ir-k VVhittnhor.
Florra Hum, the Detectlvo. By Ed :urd L. \Vlmvlcr.
.‘l orio Moute’n ’I‘rcnnu re. l'ly Col. l’runliss lngmlnun.
23 Rocky Rover Kit. By Ensign C. I). \\'nrrru.
234 Rnldy, illr‘ Mi) r ‘ 1'. By Capt. J. i". C. Adams.
235 Jack Stump’n Crulno. By linger Sturlmck.
236 Sierra Ham‘s Double. llv Edwnul 1.. Win-alter.
237 Nowflho Nod Detective. ily Churn!“ Morris.
iii-l Merle . ' ht Sea-Herapor. By f‘ul. i’l'cutias [um-non.
289 lion‘s Big Room. By Capt. Murk \Nillnu.
240 Silurp Shoot Mike. liyOll Coolnrs.
241 Sierra Sam’s Sentcuoc. liv Edwnrd L. Wheeler.
242 The Hour r Dote ‘tlve. R, r C “Mill”!le-
243 Dlltr'h Jul Dliom . By Ming. 1.. W. Carson.
244 Movie Monte’n Din no. iiy .ul. i’rvntins lngrnhnn).
245 llaldy’s Boy Partner. By Edward S. Ellis.
246 Dotcotivc Keen’n Apprcnlioc. lly Charles Morris.
24‘? The Girl Sport. lly Edward L. Wheeler.
248 (Hunt. Geor c’u Purd. liy liuvknkin Sum.
2419 Ranch Roi” Wild Ride. lly’i‘. ‘ llnrhnuzh.
250 Work! Moute’s Pardon. By Cu]. l’runtiss lugrshnm.
2rd The Deachtm-tivo. llv l‘hlwnrd Willi-it.
25': Donver Doli’M Device. lly itdw-rd [.. \illmolor,
253 The Boy Tondcrl‘oot. Br!" ‘ nrk “ iltun.

254 Black "Ill-4 lion. \

25' lolllesn. och-cum ‘ -, , .s.

25in \lorlc Monk"! Lllnt Cruise. . Pn-ntiso lngrnhum.

25"»? l‘hc Boy ('hloi'oi' - ' P Ilv \iil1.l€.l 9i. Vrnin.

25H Denver Doll nu Dot ‘ . . VVhri'l, .

259 Little Foxoyo, the p.. l-v 011 Uoonnxs.

260 Skit) the Clllill Boy. 1% ' lulwnnl Wlllett.

26] Blade, the Sport. By  C. Hnrlmugh.

262 “lily, illi' lloy Rover. By Col. Prentiss ingrnlmm.

268 Banter Roi”:- Buoy; or, Lige, thc Light-H0qu Keeper.
By Capi. J. F. 0. Adams.

364 Denver Doll’s Partner. By E. L. theler-

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265 Billy, the Baggage Boy. By Chsries Morris.
266 Guy’s. Boy Chum. By Capt. Comstock.
26? Giant Gear (5': Revenge. By Buckskin Sam.
268 Dead-Shot andy. 15y Col. Yrentiu lugrnhmn.
269 The Quurtzvillc Born. BE Edward W'iliott.
270 Denver Doll’s Mine. By . L. Wlmeler.
2'“ Ebony Jim’s Terror. By Oil Gnomes.
272 Kit, the Girl lictectiv By T. C. iiarhnugh.
273 The Girl Rider; or, Nimble Ned’s Surprise. By Jon. E..
Badger, r.
274 Dead Shot Duudy’n Double. BK Col. 1". ingmhum.
275 Fred, the Ocean Wail. By Charles iorris.
276 Deadwood Dick rapped. By Edwnrd 1.. Wheel".
27? The Idiot Boy Yeager. By Albert W. Aiken.
2’38 Arizona All’, the Min l5_\' 1'. C. llnrlmugh.
279 Colorado Jack. the TILLI’. Dr Frederick Drwev.
280 Dead Shot Dandy’s Lani: Deal. By Col. P. Ingrnhsm.
281 Ned, the Boy Pilot. 15g Jock i-‘nrrngnt.
282 Duck Hawk, Detective. y Edward 1.. Wheeler.
288 Roving Sport Kit. By Edward Willetl.
284 The Showman’n Best Card. By Capt. Fred. Whitaker.
285 old Rocky’s Pard. By Buckskin Snm.
286 Dlek, the Dakota Sport. By Charles Morris.
287 Ned, the Boy Ski per. By Jack l‘arnuzut.
288 Deadwood Die ’A Disguise. By Edward L.Whu1sr.
2S9 Colorado Nick, tho Lnssoist. By ii nj. H. B. Stoddard.
290 Rube, the Tenderi’oot. By Maj. E. L. st. Vrnin.
291 Peacock Pete, the Lendvllle Sport. By Albert W. Aiken.
292 Joe Morey, the Night Hawk. By Jim R. Badger, Jr.
298 Dwarf Jake, the Detective. By Ed. liett.
2941. Dumb Dick’s Pard. By Edward 1.. “'hueler.
295 “'hite “'ing, tho Ferret Flyer. By Charles Morris.
296 Govinda, the Tiger Tamer. iiv Capt. i". Whittaker.
29’? Arizona Giant George; or. The Bowel of Sardine-Box
City. ilv Buckskin Sam.
2 98 Daisy Doil'o Dash. By T. C Hnrhnugh.
99 The Balloon Detectiven. By Harry Eaton.
90 Deadwood Dick’s Minion. By Edward L. Wheeler.
01 Dund Duke. the Cowhov. By Mnj. E. L. St. Vrnin.
02 “lg fiensnon’r Bet. By '1‘. C. Harbnngh.
98 The Hotel Boy Detcotlve. By (J! Irles Morris.
04 fluid lloud’u Pard. lly BurkskinSnm.
105') Dusky Dick’s Duel. By ilurry llflznnl.
£06 Hpotter Fritz; or,The Stun> Detectivu's Decoy. By E. L.
\\ healer.
307 Nick, the Roy S ort. By Major E. L. St. Vrnln.
80$ Double-[Plated at; or, The Myntic Cnlil'omla Giant. By
Jim. E. linduor, Jr.
09 Did Greybeurd’n Boy. By C. Dunning Clark.
i9 Kli, the Girl Captain. By Col. i’n‘utlsginzmhsin.
ll Frio Fred ln'Toxan. lly Buckskin S .
12 The Detective Rood-Agent. ' L. Wheeler.
iii Honest Juck’u Protege. By 1’.  \i’nrm.
14 Clip, tho lioy Sher-iii. Ry Elln'nfii Wvllur.
[5 Tom. the Arizona Sport. By llujur E.L. St. len.
l6 ’l‘ho Street-Aral) Detective. liy t'hnrlrs Morris.
1? lilu-knkin lieu of Texan. lly BurkSkln Sum.
18 Colorado Charilc’u Detective Du- By E. 1.. Wheeler.
8l9 Frisky Frank in Idaho. in R «_ . nrhllc .
i 20 Cool Suln’n Girl l’ard. By ‘l‘.(‘. lnrb ugh.
21 Billy, the Kid from Frlnuo. ilv J. C. Cuwdrick.
22 Fred Flyer, Detectivo. lly Chas. Mnrris.
23 Dead Shot Ike in Montana. ‘ y Rum-r Ftnrhuck.
24 Kit, the Denver Sport; or, The Bummzn Miner King. By
Edward L. Wlleclrl’.
‘35 Dinky Darrell, the Cmnp Detective. By Edwin Emerlon.
2i Jiov, the Boy (Ii-ulnar. By Col. l’l'vntl»s Illuruhnul.
2’? Nut , the Roving: Miner. Br Hurry llnznnl.
28 Rocky Bcn'n Band. ‘ v W. J. Hamilton.
29 Dave. the Colorado Wrestler. Br Maj. E. L. St Vrnin.
30 The Denver Sport’n Racket: or, Kil's Bi: Boom. By
Edunrd L. Whnelgr.
831 The Count 1 etectlve; or, The sinugglur’l SIIar'ower. By
R0 "at Stal'lxul-k.
882 Do on: Dan in Canyon (lily; or. Colorado Kfltc’n Chock.
By Philip S. 'nrne.
333 Iiootbluck lion, the Dctrctivc; or, i’oolcr Jim nnd llis Pan].
By Ann..." - i’. Morris.
384 Frineo ’l om on Deck; or, The Golden Gate Smuggleln.
By Georze Humy Morse. '
335 Ben Bandy, the Boss Ford; or, The i'lm-ky Forum. By J.
Stnniey Hemirrsnn.
3156 Fred. tho, flport, In Brim-tone. liar Camp; nr,
Tho Bostnn \\‘rr~tl>¢r’s Coulmlrrlllo. ByLl-Id i.. “'hm'lvl‘.
38’? Daisy DaveV the Colorado (inlnnt; or. The Boss ol Dolul Lino
City. liy'i‘. 2. llnrhnuuh: Randy June 25
838 The Gold Bar Detective; or, lrnn lke the Solid Man.
ny Major  l.. Sr. Vrnin. Rendv July 2.
839 Rnrdo, the Boy)" Gypny; or, Reoklen Rolr’s Revolt. By
Wm. G. Patten. eady July 9.

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