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No l “.50 Published Weekly by Beadle and Adams, l'rh-e. V01 

3 "en’- No. ‘43 WILLIAM Sr. Nuw Yunx. F‘Ve 05""-

 

 

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$33 GATEERED UP THE LEATHER CORD. AND WITH A DEXTEROUS THROW, CAST THE LOOP om
THE YOUNG BOLDIER'S HEAD.

 

2 7 Mustang Rider Roy.

 

Mustang Rider Boy;
EHE BRIGANllS OF TEXAS

BY ALBERT W. AIKEN,
AUTHOR or “KIT CARSON, mm; or GUIDES,"
“ YOUNG DICK TALBoT,” ETC., ETC.

CHAPTER I.
IN THE .iAws or DEATH.

ALONG the bank of the Rio Gl':lll(lt¥—th(l river
that separates the State of 1‘0an from the lio—
publit' of MexiCo—wiilked i1 youngr mnu. The
doubledmi'reled shot—gun carried upon his shoul—
der proclaimed him in search of game; thodress
of the hunter—the whiteness of lfis skin—told
that he was an American. Besides, he was on
the Texan Side of the river. In person the sports-
man was a tall, well—built young fellow; possibly
live—and—twenty ears had passed over his head;
his face was 0 the Anglo—Saxon tyne; light
yellow hair curled in little l‘iuglots tight to his
head; his eyes were dark blue, approaching n
gray in tint, save when the sunlight shouo upon
them; a mustache and little lingerie] of the
same tawny hue us the hair grace his lip and
chin; his features were regular and pleasing,
and the squarenoss of the chin told of firmness
and of self-reliance. For dress, the hunter wore
toe blue uniform of qu'lo Sam, and the single
bar upon his shoulder toll that he held the rank
of lieutenant in the Army of the Republic.

It was evident that the officer was not on duty,
for he was without sword or sash. and wore an
undress blouse instein of the regular uniform
coat.

The bank of the river was fringed with tini-
ber, and from the tiii'ibei' extended. inland, the
prairie—a rolling one, fragrant with tall grass
and mauy-hued lloWers, for it was in the pleas-
ant month of June.

As yet the hunter had roused neither bird nor
beast to test his marksmanship; still on he went
up the stream. At last he came to where a lit-
tle creek—now nearly dry—ran from the prairie
into the river. It required but u moderute jump
to span it, and, its the other bank 100de firm
and solid the sportsman determined to leap
across. 80. norviug himself for the effort. he
sprung over. The leap was a good one, and he
struck fairly upon the low yellow bunk, oppo-
site, and found himself up to his knees in the

u' .

“ The deucelmhe cried in voxntiou. “ This is

tfini’ce pickle. I’ve got more than I bargained
or.

He attempted to draw his legs from the mire,

and gain the firm ground. but. on making the
elfort he found, to his astonishment. that he was
unable to move an inch; his feet and logs seemed
glued in the soft earth. Then, to his horror, he
became conscious that he was gradually sinking,
and the truth flashud upon him—he was in a
quicksaud. Though he had often heard of such
snots yet this was the first one he ever had seen.
Slowly, little by little, he felt the ground giving

 

way beneath him, and it soon became evident
that, unless he could contrive some means to
escape, the United States Army would be one
lieutenant the less, in an hour’s time”.

What was to be done! No trees or bushes
were within reach. As n first expedient, he fired
off both barrels of his gun in quic ' succession;
the sound might attract some one ti his nid. but
travelers along the ho n k of th 3 [tie Gi'uude were
few and far between. Some hoi’dsmnn scouring
the prairie in quest of cattle possibly might heul‘
the reports, yet there was but one chance out of
a hundred if he would soul: for the muse.

Inch by inch the young; officer felt himself
sinkingr into the grave. He wns, indeed, in the
“jaws of death.” Vuinly he trim] to throw him-
self ovor on his side so as to oppose more resis-
tance to the action of tho treacherous morass,
but the quicksnuds clung around his legs with a.
giant's power.

In agony the young soldier groaned iiloud. He
was a brave man—had won his guule on the
bloody fields of the Mexican war, then but a few
years past—had faced death at the mnuon’s
mouth—had sought for it amid Canolles’ glitter-
ing lances—had escaped all the perils of the but-
tle-field to perish now so horribly—to be swal-
lowed up in the ninw of the bottomless quick-
snm E

The banks of the little stream. like those of the
Rio Grande, being fringed with» bushes, shut
from the eyes of the soldier the view of the dis-
tant prairie. Assistance might be passing at
any moment and yet the soldier. unable to see,
could give no warning of his awful position.

The quicksuud had reached his waist; at the
rate he had been sinking, nu hour niorewould
bring,r it above his head.

Desperately and almost without hope, the im-
priSonvd man cried for help. The prairie winds
bore inn-k the echo of his voice and seemed to
mock his despair. .

At last. hoarse with shouting and almost'
frantic with agony, the young man resigned
himself to his seemingly inevitable fate. '

Still he sunk. The surface of the quicksand
had reached his breast. The little glade which,
when he entered it, seemed so fresh in its henna,
now wore to him the aspectof a/ tomb. e
watched with painful intensity the yellow wall”-

‘rising so steadily around him; be counted the

moments when those ands would enter his
mouth and choke the breath from his body.
The agony of such a death was appalling, even
in the anticipation of it. 7

Then he thought of the wonder of hisicom-
rades when his absenco should be discovered
that night; of the search that would be made,
and tiiel‘i'uitlossness of that search.

“ I shall disupmanrOm the world utterly,” he
said, bitterly. “Well. there is noneto mourn
much for me. On! Why didn’t I fall in Mexico
ggoqyously, insteadot dying, here, the death of a

g , ,

Then to the listening ears of the doomed man
came asound rolling over the broad expanse of
the Wall‘IF—n sound that caused his heart to
heat qllleel‘—-llH blood, almost stillml in its
flow by the nenr upproach of the grim king of
terrors, to leap Wildly in his veins. And what
was that sound~the sound that promised hope

\1, i

 

Mustang Rider Roy.

8

 

and help to the death-encircled man? It was the

clear-ringing “ thud ” of a horse’s hoofs striking

the firm earth of the prairie.

Eagerly the young soldier shouted, and the
free winds seized, upon the hoarse voice and
_bor_e it far away over tho swells of the rolling
prairie.

The minutes were minutes of torture to the
helpless man. Would the horseman hear the
slouaud, or would he pass on and leave him to
( ie .

The sound of the hoofs’ beat came nearer and
nearer, and each stroke upon the soil raised 'a
new hope in the breast of the sinking man.

Then the heart of the young soldier leaped
with joy, for, on the bank of the little creek ap—
peared a horse and rider—the horse a cream-
colored mustang—the rider a Mexicali girl of

. surpassing beauty.

The soldier thought at first that an angel from
heaven had descended to his aid, but the clear,
musical tones of the girl’s voice convinced him
that she was but mortal.

. “1 Senor, you are in the quicksaudi” cried the
‘gir .

“ Yes, can you aid me?” asked the soldier.

“ Yes, senor, I can save you."

“ How!” asked the soldier. anxiously.

“ With my lasso," answered the girl, and then
she gathered up the leather cord, and with a
dexterous throw cast the loop over the young
soldier’s head. .

“ Fasten it beneath your arms, senor,” she
“ The other end is fast to the horn of my

I will then start my horse and pull you

'
said.
saddle.
out.”

The soldier obeyed the imtructions, the girl
started her horse with great caution, and, in a
minute or so, the young lieutenant stood on the
bank of the creek. saved .’

Lieutenant Philip Wane—for so he was called
—had looked on many a beautiful girl in the
course of his life,'but nevsr in his eyes bad girl
appeared so lovely as the Mexican maid who
had saved him from his terrible danger. «

“ Are you hurt, senor.” asked the girl, gath-
ering the lasso up into little coils.

“ No," returned the lieutenant: “ I attempted
to jump across the creek, and had no idea that
the shore was a quivksand.”

“ You are an American soldier?” asked the
girlkglancing at his uniform.

u es.”

.“Do you come from Sante Fe?”

“Yes, but some time ago. At present I am
stationed in the little village yonder,” and the
soldier pointed down the river.

“ Tacos?” asked the girl, in wonder.

M  ,1
- “I did not know any soldiers were stationed

' r pgflTalcclis; I live scarcely a mile from there,”said
g-ir .

The young oflicer could not repress a smile of
gladness when he discovered that she lived in the
neighborhood. 

. “ Very likely,” he said, in reply to her speech.
"We came but yesterday."
‘ “ And do you intend to stay?” asked the girl.
. , “Yes; for awhile at least."
“ I am glad of that i” cried the girl, quickly.

And the lieutenant was glad of it too, although

he did not say so. He already was half in love
with the girl who had rescued him.

“ Then you do not regard Americans as your
foes?” the inflicer asked.

"No; why should I?” replied the girl. “I
have never met with any thing but kind treat—
ment from them. Besides I am an American
too, now, for I live on the Tcan side of the Rio
Grapde, and of course I must love my broth—
ers.’

Wenie, as he gazed upon her fair face and
sparkling black eyes. in his heart wished
that she would extend a. little of her love to
him. -

“ You say you live near Tacos?” he asked.

“ Yes, only a mile on the El Paso road. You
will come and see me, senor? My father will
be glad to welcome you. My name is Juanita
Torres.”

“ And mine, Philip Wenie, a. lieutenant in the
United States Army. But I haven’t thanked
you yet for saving my life. Only for you I
should have been buried in yonder quicksand,”
said the officer. earnestly.

blushing at the earnest gaze of the young oflicer;
" any one woulddiave done the same. Besides,
my horse did more thanKI, for I but cast the
lasso to you, while he pulled you out; so you see
you owe him the thanks, not me.”

The lieutenant shook his head gravely.

“ I'm afraid that if you had not come along
with the horse my chances of safety would have
been small. I assure you I shall never forget
the service, and pOSSibly, some day, I may be
able to repay it."

“ Now, it you say a single Wind of thanks. I
shall be angry. Are you going to Tacos?” she
asked. \

“ Yes,” he answered. .

“ Well, I go a mile that way with you, and I
will point out my father’s house to you.”

“ With pleasure!” cried the lieutenant, de-
lighted at the chance of remaining in her
society. \

So together they proceeded in the direction of
the town.

The lieutenant had the greatest desire in. the
world to appear to good advantage in the 9 es
of his fair companion. but, as he was covere to
the armpits with the yellow mud of the nick-
sand, he could not help, confessing to h mself
that he was not in the best possible condition to

-and handsome girl. _

“ How came you to discover main my perilous
position 3" he asked, as they proceeded slowly
along, the girl accommodating the pace. of her
steed to that of her companion on foot. /

“ I heard the re orts of your gun, and I
thought it was the, athflnder,” she answered.

“ The Pathfinder?” said the lieutenant, in sur-
prise. ‘ '

father’s chief herdsman. He promised me some
game for supper; so, of course, when} heard
the shots I thought it was he, and thinking to
surprise him. I rode directly where the Sound
came from; but there, instead of the herdsman,
I found you.”

 

make an impression upon the heart of a young ~

‘f It was indeed} lucky chance thatsentyouto ‘

“ Oh, please don’t speak of that,” said Juanita, I.

/

“Yes, senor; Manuel, the Pathfinder, is my '

’. \

 

Mustang Rider Roy.

 

my aid. Another half—hour and tho quieksnnd
would have closed over my head. I shall never
forget the service you have rendered me," said
\Venie, warmly.

“ Yes; but you must forget it, or at least not
speakof it. You will make me thins I have
done smlething noble, instead of which I have
done nothing but a simple duty. ’I‘hutis my

house, yonder,“ and the girl pointed to the left.

“ Goo i-by.
rode oil’. . I

Wenie looked after her, his heart in a blaze
with passion’s fire.

CHAPTER II.

THE EXPEDITION TO TACOS.

THE lieutenant watched the girl until she dis-

appeared in the distance, hid from view by the

' swells of the rolling prairie; then he continued
on his course to the village.

The 01111:; man, like all other youngmen, had
t Lucie {himself in love a so We of ti-nes or more,
~.but never had be seen a wonnu who had so com-
pletely t'iken p.)<sessioi) of his heart as this fair
young Mexican. He determined to follow up
tha acquaintance thus so strangqlv begun.

In a short time the lieutenant reached his
qu irters in the vilhge, changed his clothes, and
soon removed all traces of the dunger that he
had pruned.

Tue village of Tacos was but a. collection of 'i.
few scotterel houses clustered around what had
formal'ly hem the missionhiuse, for, like neur-
lv all tha Mexican settlements on the Indian
frontier, Tum had'hean originally fonndel by
the priests—the men who, with tha Bible in one
had! and the sword in the other. dared thy
perils of the wildenn ass to estiblieh the tru 3
faith. But the Maximo revolution, which
broke the, Sp inish yoke, rlil lunch to dimith
the po ver of the priesthov) l. and. after that
time. ne'irly all the fr mtier missions had been
abandooel; So tint. when the chpany of Fel—
eral unvzlry. sixtv stronz, fllel by fours irto
Twas, thw faunl tnt the all mission-how)
and its adjoining huilrlinzi. with a few repairs,
would servo a. l niruhlv Eor' quarters.

Now then. what hrodght a company of United
Statei soliiars to t‘itt insizuitinnt valley?
True, it was on the Rio Gran 1e. the frontierline
between Mexico and Tex-n: but as there was
peace between the two countries. an “ army of
observation” W IS hardly heeled. th'y'fih ask‘) l
the soldiers themelves they could not have an-
swered Sitisfiotorily, but had you put the ques-
tion to the om ier in covnm'ind 0f the expedition.
Mlel‘ Curtin. an elderly, gray-haired soldier, a
m lj ll‘ by hrevet. who had greatly distinguishol
himielf durin: tha lat: war, you would have
learnel that the cavalry were there to watch the
“ Brigsn is of the Prairie."

Who were they?

All nlonz the frontier, from the Gulf of
Mexico in the south to the boundary line of New
Mexico in the north. 'here existed a. band of rob-
bers—man bound together by fearful oaths—-
whodeoredated alike on Mexican and American
soil. The horses or beeves stolen in Mexico
would be hastily driven across the Rio Grando
to Texan soil and disposed of there; the plunder

Remember—come!” and the girl

 

I . A

secured in Texas or New Mexico would be
taken into Mexico and sold there. The actunl
number of the band—that is. those who did the
plunderingmwns supposed not to exceed thirty,
but it was currently repormd that they had con-
foderates—mm high in reputation among their
neighbors, men of wealth and settled position—-
on both sides of the Rio Granule, who aided the
robbers in their escape from justice, and us~ _
sist‘ed them in dispming of their ill gotten booty.
So formidable had this bond become, so during
their outrages, that they had received the title
of the Brignnds of the Prairie. Indeed, on more
than one occasion they had met the Mexican
troops and boldly given them battle until the
stolen herds were driven safely away. .It was
to watch these daring villnins, and if ssihle
to bring,r them to justice. that the Uniter States
soldiers had been disputched to Tacos, in whose
vicinity. it was under~tood. the hendquurtersot‘
the outlaws were, while it was also a favorite
point of theirs for crossing; the river.

Lieutenant \Vcnio had hurdly finished chang-
ing his‘ clothes when an orderly informed him
that Major Currin. the officer in command of
the detachment, desired to see him.

The lieutenant proceeded at once to the quar-
ters of the major.

The major. who was seated at a table. writ—
ing, was a toll, powerfullyvhnilt mun, probably
fifty years of age. His figure showed no sign of‘
decay. and the iron-gray hair and heard alone
told of age. .

“Sit down. lieutenant,” he said, indicating a
chair: “ you’ve been out this afternoon l”

“ Yes; you remember I asked permission,” re-
plied the lieutenant.

“ True; so you did. I had forgotten.
an orderly to your quarters about three.”

“ Anything particular. nmjor?”

“ \Vell. yes, there is,” the major answered,
slowly. “ By the way, did‘you go up the river,
as you proposed f" .

“ Yes; I had quite an ndventure, too,” replied
the lieutenant, and then he briefly related how
he became fast in the quicksand and was re-
leased by the girl. .

“ Aha!" cried the major, “ that was quite.
a; ag’veuture. Was the girl an Amazon of red
s in.

1‘ Far otherwise. and very pretty,“ replied the
lieutenant, warmly. “ One of the prettiest
little oval faces that my eyes ever 1’60de upon——
not so dark in complexion either as most of the
.Mexican women, but of a. hn i as though she had
been tanned by the sun. Then her hair is as
black as jet: her eyes as dark as her hair; a good
full eye with an honest look: and then. in figure
she’s a little fairy of a woman, with such adainty
little hand I” ,

" Why. lieutenant." cried the major. in aston-
ishment. “I should judge you to be in love wilh
the hdy!” '

“So I am.” replied Weuie, honestly; “ that‘s
the honest truth. I am in love with her.” '

“ You learned her name?”

“ Yes—Juanita Torres.”

“Ahl”nnd for a moment the ma'or was si— -
lent; then be said, abruptly: “ I now her
father, Juan Torres, very well. His house is ‘ -
about a mile from here, on the El Paso road—s I

/

I sent

 

Mustang Rider Roy.

wealthy man, and one of the largest cattle-
raisers in this part of the country."

“ You know him i” said Wenie, in surprise.

“ Oh, yes; very well. Before I entered the
armyl resided in Santa Fe; I was a trader then;
this Torres also lived in Santa he. he and I were
rivals for the hand of the same girl; she was a
Mexican like himself, but preferred mo to him,
and we married; my Wife. had a sister a few
years younger than herself; this sister Torres
afterward marm’ed." ,

“ Why, major!" exclaimed the lieutenant, “ I
ucver knew that you had been iizarricd. I nevrr
heard you speak of it before.”

“Because the subject is somewhat painful;
but as you are in love with this man’s daughter,
it is my duty as your friend to let you know
with what sort of a man you will have to deal.
'This Torres, like nearly all his nation, was of a
treacherous and revengci'iil nature; I do not
think that he ever forgave me for marrying
Inez—that was my wife’s namcannd though he
had apparently consoled hii'nselt' for her loss by
marrying her sister, yet in his heart I am satis<
tied he cherished plans of vengeance against me.
A year passed, and the world went well with
me: an infant son was born; my wife, to my
eyes, grew more and more benutii’fll each day.
I was as happy as man could be, but when my
lliy was some eight months old a terrible blow
fell upon me. 'lho nurse, with the infant, went
out one afternoon as usual; the child and nurse
never returned. The 1mg of the infant broke
my Wife’shezirt—she sickened and died. This
sorrowful event is the reason why you have
never heard me speak of my married life.
try to keep my sorrow locked fast in my own
breast.’

And the grim old major bent down his head
in evident pain.

“ And did you not discover the fate of your
child?” ~

“ No, never,” the major answered‘, sadly.
'“Both nurse and child disappeared as utterly
as if the. earth had opened and swallowed them
up. The search for them was long and fruit-
less. At last all came to the conclusion that
the nurse, wish the child, had wanderer] too far
out on the prairie and had fallen a prey to wild
beasts.”

“ And did you, too, come to that conclusion?"
asked the lieutenant. .

o

“ No?” cried Wenie, in surprise.

“I believod that the child lived. I believe
that tho child,'no'w grown to man’s estate, is
still living. I did not blame the wild beasts of
the prairie for the loss of my boy; I ascribed
the calamity to a. human foe.”

“ To a human foe?" cried the lieutenant, still
more astonished.

to a human foe,” repeated the major,

. “ To one who bore me a secret
hatred, a hatred that he did not dare to show
openly, but a hatred which he wished me to
feel, and so he struck me in my tendercst points
-my wife and child: he stole my child, and it
killed my wife. Could vc geauce go-further.”

“ And did you not hav " suspicion as to who
that foe was?“ asked We 6. ' ,

“ Oh, yes; during of search he was by my

 

B

side, the mest nntiring of all—the last man to
give up the child as lost, and then he piously
said that it was Heaven’s will."

“ And that man’s name i" asked the lieutenant,
anxiously, for he had a shrewd suspicion as to
what the name would be.

* “ Was Torres—tho father of the girl who
saved your life, and with whom you are in
love,” replied the major.

“ But had you any proof that ho was guilty?”

“ No; if I had, I would have killed him with
my own hand,” said the old soldier, fiercely.
“ The villain, if he did commit the deed, cover-
ed up his tracks too well for mortal eye to dis-
cover them; yet in my soul I felt sure then, and
do still feel sure, that it was his hand that dealt
me the terrible blow. After this occurrence-—
as you will prolinbl suppose—I had but little
taste for busmess. gave up my. store, and de-
voted myself to discovering traces of my lost
boy. For three years I kept a steady watch
upon all the movements of Juan Torres, but in
patience availed me nothing; no clew could
discover. Then I gave my child up as lost, and
I sought forgetfulness of my misery in the
bustle of the great Eastern cities. Years passed;
the war came, I enlisted at once. I won my‘
present grade; and now you know the history
of my life. When, at Santa Fe, I was ordered
on this expedition, and I learned that Torres
had a lmcienda near here, I thought erhaps
fate might place in my way, after this apseof
years, some clcw to tell me of the fate of my
lost boy.” ,

“ Major, I hope sincerely that such will be the
case,” said the lieutenant, earnestly. " You
have my deepest sympathy.” ‘

“I hope so,” replied t e major. “You see,
howeVer what my opinion is regarding the
father of this girl. B the way, to judge fI‘( m
your description, this uanita must he strikingly
like my wife, her mother’s sister; you can judge,
therefore, how beautiful 'my wife must have
been when I married her, and you can also
judge how deeply I felt the blow that tore her
from me.“ i

“ Yes,” replied the lieutenant, and i his own
mind he fully realized how hard it won d be for
him to part from the beautiful Juanita, should
he succeed in once winning her.

, “ And now, to business,” said the major.
“ Have you any idea why we are detailed for
duty bore at Tacos?” '

None in the world,” answered the lieuten-

nt.

“You have heard, of course, of the Briganda
of the Prairie?"

“ Yes.” ~

“ Well, our present occupation here is to hunt
down and destroy the famous hand of robbers.”

“Is it. possible!” cried the lieutenant, in glee
at the prospect of active act-vice.

“ ea; I have already explained to Lieuten-
ant Williams the object of our expedition. Th
of course, must be kept a profound secret, fori
these fellows should once guess our desi n, good-
hy to our chance of breakingiJ up t a band.

in information received at eadquartersbt

is believed that the hand have a refuge some

where near here; it is even intimated that some
wealthy Mexican in the neighborhood iii one 0! .V

 

Mustang Rider :Roy.

 

‘1"! - leaders of the brignnds—mot an acting
in: 191', but a planning one.“

“ But, major, how do you expect to detect
theta? follows for they will most certainly keep
quiet while the troops are in the neighborhood?"
asked the licutcnmit.

“ Very true; but there is a spy among them,
who. if tlm brigrinds have a headquarters near
here, will most surely find it out. These fellows
will not su<pcct that wc are sent here to operate
against them, and will not, probably, change
their programme on our account. By the way.”
said the major, suddenly, “ are you going to
visit this young lady whose actjyuaintance you
mndriu such it peculiar manner?

“ Yes. of course; [ again confess to you,
major. that I am too (looply intercstcd in her to
give her up,” said chie, candidly.

“It is but natural,” replied the major. “I
was young! self once; I can understand the
feelinr: but, enie, if you go to the house of
J unn orres, keep your eyes about you.”

The lieutenant looked at the major in aston-
ment. -

“ What do you mean?”

“Simply, that il‘ there is any man in this
neighborhood who knows anything about the
Brigands of ttc Prairie, I’ll be“, my commission
against a bottlc of wine that Torres is the man.”
The major spoke in a tone of conviction.

“ I hope not, for her sake!” cried Wenie.

“ Don't despair; the daughter may not take
after the father. I hope, for your sake, she does
not,” said the major.

And after a few more words the officers part-

’CHAPTER III.
THE GAY CAVALIER.

TEE shades of night had descended upon the
prairieiall objects were wrapped in the same
gloomy mantle; the moon—pale mistress of the
night—rose late, and her silver beams had not
yiet fallen upon the broad surface of the green
p ams.

We will leave Tacos to the darkness and the
gloom of the still June night, and take the road
hiding north, to El Paso; but. ere we shall
have proceeded amile or so on our way, we
shall come to a large hacienda—that is, in Mexi—
c U]. the house of it landed proprietor who raises
c'ittle—and that hacienda is the home of Juan
fl‘nrres, the wealthiest man for leagues around,
and the father of the pretty J uanltn.

The hacienda of Torres was, like nearl all
the Mexican houses,ra large square buil mg,
built of adobe—the sun-burnt brick of Memori—
and in its frowning grimness resembled a fort-
ress more than the peaceful dwelling—place of a
cattle- raiser. ‘

The house 'was a very old one, and around it
quitea deal of shruhbery had sprung up, mak—
ing. as it were, a fruitful basis in the grassy
wilderness.

The entranceto the house faced directlyto
the road, though a. hundred paces from it. and
the approach toit was through a little lane

tinged with half-grown trees and fullgmwn

3 es.

 

As we have said, the night was very dark,
and as the windows of the hacienda-7Mexican .

\

fashion—looked only on the square court- ard
in the center of the building, no rays of gut
came from the houseto illumine the darkness
that surrounded it.

Yet, in the darkness, close to the house, be-
neath thc shadow of Some little trees, as if seek-
ing concealment more than the inky blackness
of the night afforded, stood two persons engaged
in earnest conversation—one a man, the other a
woman.

The woman was but a slender girl of eighteen,
yet lithe and graceful in form as the bending
willow; the tiht of the pure oval face wasa
rich brown, as though the hot prairie sun had
kissed her oft and passionately; her eyes a jet
black, eyes full of passion—ful of fire: her hair
as dark as the hue of the ravcn’s wing; her lips,
little, pouting and exquisite in their color and
dewy freshness; her form, perfection itself—
that of a girl just budding into womanhood;
even the coarse garments that she wore could »
not disguise the matchless beauty of her perfect
form, and yet, this beautiful creature was a
peon girl, but one degree removed from a slavel

These peons form a large proportion of the in-
habitants of all the Mexican frontier towns.
They are the descendants of the Indians, civiliz-
ed and tamed by the mission priests—the free
spirit of the savage degraded to the menial
offices of the slave. Thus it comes that the‘
peons are the drudges of the Mex1cans. And
this lovely girl was one of that degraded race.
She was the waiting-maid of Juanita, and by.
name was called Rita.

And the man that stood b her side, holding
secret couvorse with her, shie ded from observa-
tion by the inky mantle of the night—who was
be? Not a peon, for the whiteness ofxthe fea-
tures—could We See them in the darkness—and
the richness of his attire, would guickly prove
that. No, he wnsa Mexican, an , judgin by
his garb, a wealthy one, for his embroi Bred
gantalzbns are of the finest cloth/his yellow

outs of the softest and best of leather, the frill-
ed white shirt that covers his manly chestis
made of the finest linen, the jacket is as richly
ornamented as the pantnloons. his broad-brim-
med sombrero is trimmed with gold lace, and
the handsome striped shawl cast carelessly over
his left shoulder has not a superior in price in
all the broad lands of Mexico. The face of the

oung man—~for he was young in years, scarce-
y reaching twenty-five—was a handsome one,
save that his full lips had sometimes a liar
curl, and his dark—gray eyes—almost Black in
hue—had an uncertain treachemus glance.

And the name of t is young Mexican, who
was so forgetful of the dignity of his race as to
meet the peon girl Rita. with love on his lips,
after nightfall and in the gloom of darkness?
He was called Roy Lara, a nephew of Juan
Torres. but hitherto a stranger to the hacienda
of that gentleman, for, seven days before, no
one of the household, save the master alone,
knew that such a person as Roy Lara existed in
the world. Without warning he had made his
appearance; Juan Torres received him with
open arms—called him his much-loved nephew—
and lamented that famll reasons had hitherto
lgept him astrangerto ‘ uncle’s hearth and

owe.

 

Mustang Rider Roy.

 

And in the seven days that Roy Lara had
spent at the hacienda of Torres he had done

. much; he had shown himself to be one of the
best and boldest mustang riders; with the pistol,
rifle or knife, few men were his equal; and he
had managed—how, even he himself could not
tell—to make his pretty cousin, Juanita, hate
him, and her waiting-maid, the even prettier
Rita, to adore him. Hence it is that we find
him now holding a love tryst with the peon

irl.
g “ Oh Roy, and do you really love me?” asked
the girl, yielding herself readily to the fond em-
brace of the young Mexican and holding up her
lips to receive his passionate kiss.

“ Do I love you, Rita?" he cried, passionately:
~“you are the light; of my heart. Till my eyes
fell u 11 your face I never fancied woman, but
now” feel that I am devoted, heart and soul, to

on.

“ Can I believe you?" asked the girl, striving
to see his eyes through the darkness—those mir—
rors of the soul, that are so hard to hide deceit.
But darkness hid the gray orbs from her View,
and, bad she seen them they would have proved
the tru.h of his wor s, for they were full of
passionate love. a

“ Can you believe that the stars shine when
your own eyes see them? Can you believe that
the waters of the Rio Grande roll onward to the
Ocean? Can you believe that truth is truth?
Then believe in my love.”

“ But I am only a poor peon girl.” she inur-

ured.

“What of that?” he said. “Love is not
measured by station. By Heaven, were there no
other way to win you, I would strip ofl’ this
gaudy dress I wear and in a peon’s garb work
daily in the fields for your sake. 0h, foolish
child! will you not believe I love you?”

“Yes, yes, I do believe it,” she said, softly,
clinging to her lover’s breast.

“That’s right!” he cried, imprinting a kiss
upon her full, red lips; “ but do you love me?”

“ Yes,” said the peon girl, softly.

“Better than any one else?”

“Yes, better than my own life.”

“ And when I will it, you will fly with me?”

“Fly with you?” she cried, astonished.

““Yes, fly wit; me,” be repeated. “ I cannot
make on min-.f‘iiere. If you love me you must
go wit me; you must follow my fortunes, for
good or evil, for life or death."

“ You are right: I will go with you,” she an-
swered. “That will prove that I love you, for
if I go with you I shall leave :11 brother, the
Path nder, whose love has been 31 in all to me.
Yet for your sake I will leave even him; I will
leave the whole world for you.” .

“ You are an angel of a girl,” cried the Mexi-
can, “ and now I am sure that you love me.”

“You shail see that I do,” she said, earnestly.
. “I shall arrange matters so that within a
week or so I can make you mine. I do not
think any one in the hacienda has any suspicions
that we care for each other.”

“ I am afraid m brother has,” she replied.

“Ah, indeed! but makes you think so?” he
asked, anxiously.

‘v‘ I noticed this afternoon that he seemed to be
watching us, and that was the reason that I

-m

shape.

 

avoided you. My brother has a hot temper, and
if be suspected our love and thought you meant
me wrong, he would kill you, for he is as fierce in
anger as a cougar,” said the girl, still clinging
to the breast of her lover. '

“ He is different, then, from pcons generally;
they are not given to brave deeds,” replied the
Mexican.

“ My brother is not like a peon,” the irl
answered. “ He has never worked in the fic ds,
but has always roamed over the prairies.
He is called the Pathfinder, for he knows the
land for many a league. He is ex )crt in the use
of all weapons, and so brave t at even the
Comanclies fear him.”

“There is no danger,” replied Roy. “I will
arran re your flight so that no one will suspect
that had a hand in it; and then, faraway
from this spot, we will find happiness—happiness
such as mortals seldom enjoy on earth.”

.“lAnd you will always love me?" asked the
gir . ‘

“Always!” be returned, passionately, and
sealed the pledge with a kiss upon the red lips so '
fondly upturned to his. .

Then, steps approaching up the little road
alarmed the lovers.

“ Some one is coming!” cried the girl.

“ Fly to the house, quick,” exclaimed the
Mexican. .“ I will remain here; the shadow of
the trees will conceal me.” i

“ No! no! If it is m brother I mulst meet
him. Go quickly!” crie Rita, and Roy noise-
lessly ran throng the darkness to the house.

Rita remained quietly in the shadow of the
trees. W uld she be noticed? Useless thought!

The no -comer, whose eyes seemed to have
the cat-like faculty of seeing in tho dai k, came
strai ht to her. ‘

“ ita,”‘he said, “what are you doing here?"
and the voice told her that it was her brother,
the Pathfinder, who spoke.

“The house was warm;
answered. ,

“ Are you alone?” he asked, suspiciously. .

“Yes; do you not see that I am?” she said,
reading her brother’s suspicion in an instant.

“ Rita, I have something to say to you,” and
her brother’s voice had a touch of sternness.

“Well?” she asked. '

“This stranger, Roy Lara, has [his thoughts
upon you.

“ Do you think so?” asked Rita, her voice he-
traying no emotion.

‘ And you love him I”

The darkness concealed the start that the '
peon irl gave at these words. ‘

“ on do not answer,” said the brother, utter

pause.
“What should I say?” demanded Rita. “It
I deny it, you will not believe me.”

“For I know it is the truth- my eyes, that
can read the dimmest trail on the prairie and
can tell where the wolf has passed, are not de- »
ceived when the king-wolf is around in human
Do you know why Roy Lara comes
here?" asked the Pathfinder. I
U Na.”

“ It is to marry Torres’s daughter, Juanita.” '
“ It is impossible!" cried Ri . i
“ It is the truth. Would to Heaven it were '-‘

here it is cool,”she

a.

 

8 I Mustang Rider Roy.

 

not, but it is the truth,” said the herdsman, sad:
ly. “ She is far too good and pure for such as
he. Alas! alas l”

" What difference does it make to you?” asked

ita, in Wonder. “ You are not her keeper 1”

“No, not her keeper. She is 'my keeper. 1
love Juanita, myself!" and the stately head of
the n sunk upon his breast as he made the
con ession.

“ What?" exclaimed Rita, in astonishment;
“' you, a peon, dare to love the (laughter of our
master?"

“ Why not?” returned Manuel. “ Do not you.
a. pew, love the nephew of our master~a man
that seven days ago you had never Seen—who
may be, for augbt you know, stained with the
blackest of crimes? Juanita and I have been
brought up together; five years her senior, I
have watched Over he ' like a brother, but, till
this man came to woo her, I did not dream that
I loved her. But now I know that it is so.”

“My or brother!” cried "Rita, caressingly
passing or arms around his neck.

“ Yes, Iain poor." he returned, bitterly; “poor
in birth and poor in love. But. sister, remem-
ber my warning; beware of the love 0! this
man!” v

“ I shall remember, brother,” she said, as to-
gether they proceeded to the hacienda.

Then. like a snake, from beneath tliecovert of
the bushes, crept a listener—a man who had
heard alhthat had passed ——a man dressed rough-
ly and poorly. ,

“ So," he said to himself; “ a sort of a trian-
gular love affair! Geidi Ali’s fish that comes
to my net. This may aid me in some wa . Aha!
Tie, the Rat, thou art rightly named, ml must
have had the devil for a godfather. But, now,
toeuter the enemy’s camp.” And with a firm
step, the roughly-dressed fellow approached the
door of the hacienda and knee ed loud and
lustily.

CHAPTER IV.

THE LEADER OF THE BRIGANDS.

IN his private chamber—lighted now by wax-
candles stuck in massive gold candlesticks—sat
the owner of the hacienda, Juan Torres; a man
well in years, yet showing few traces of age.

" Small and slender was he in figure; his face was
of the true Mexican type. sallow and thin, lit
up by piercing black eyes; the lips—over which
curled a. thin mustache, black in hue like the
hair of its owner, but streaked here and ,there

with silver lines—were thin and closely com- -

pressed—lips denoting treachery and low cun-
ning; his garb was that usually worn by Mexi-
cam of the better class, for. though the hacienda
of Torres was situated in Texas, yet, like many
others on the Texan frontier, he was, to all in-
tents and purposes, as much a Mexican as though
he lived miles westward from the Rio Grande.

. The other occupant of the chamber was Torres"
nephew, Roy Lara. Roy bore but little resem-
blance to his uncle; his skin was much fairer;
he was much larger built in person; the eyes
alone betrayed the relationship. '

“Sit down. Roy,” said Torres; “ I desire to
have a. few words of explanation with you)"
“ I am completely at your service, uncle,"

 

retitirned Roy, carelessly flinging himself into a~
sea .

“Now, to begin at the beginning, we com-'
nieiicc about the time of the earliest remem-‘
bi‘nnce, which was when you were about six’
years old," said Torres, watching his nephew's
face with his cold, glittering eyes. .

" Exactly,” responded Roy, with a look of
astonishment at the strange beginning; “ though »
I don’t really see what you want to go quite so
far back as that for.”

“ Wait and you will see," said Torres, coolly. r
“ At the age of six years where were you?” »

“ Living,r with an old peon woman, my nurse, ,
near the city of Mexico, in a miserable little -
hovel,” replied Roy, with a shrug of his shoul-
der, as if the remembrance did not please him. .

“ That is right,” returned Torres' ‘ your his- ~
tory was an extremely simple one. ‘four mother, ,
my sister, married a man who deserted her and 2
her infant child; she died, on were left; you.
had no claim on me, for I had, disowned my sis-
ter for her marriage. What would have been”
your probable fate in this world had I not ex--
tended to ou a helping hand?" and the 6 es of‘
Torres loo ed searchingly in the face of y as:
helput the uestion. -

“ I shoul probably have starved,” replied}
Rov, bluntly.

“ Right; the chances are that you would have!
done so, but I gave you my hand, and you:
lived; therefore, you owe to me your life; is it
not so?” asked Torres. ‘

“Yes, I acknowledge the debt,” replied the
young man.

“Good. Then, at the age of six, I took charge
of your fortunes. I sent you to school till you
were ten ;_ then I sent {Em to, the prairie to learn
in the school of life. on were an apt scholar.
When you were sixteen, few men'on the fron-
tier could ride or fight better than you.”

“That, I believe, is true,” said Ro , honestly,
and without a tinge of boasting. “ have never
yet met my master.” _

But, to proceed, ever since you were sixteen,
you have been one of the Biigands of the

mine; ou have distinguished yourself—”

“ Yes,’ intermpted Roy. dryly; “so much so
that my head on the other side of the Rio Grande
is wort a hundred ounces.” ‘

“ That shows how den erous the Mexican
Government thinks on. on know that, ten
days ago, at our race on the Rio Pecos, Miguel
gEXiC’l’a, chief of the Brigands of the Prairie, .

iec.

“ Yes, from an accident in the shape of a. .
loaded pistol in the hand of a drunken brigand,” '
observed Roy.

“ Such accidents will happen in bands like \
ours. Garcia’s death leaves us without a chief. ,
You are aware that our band in principle is a-.
republic; the next chief will be elected within a -.
week; forty of our band have the right to vote -
for that chief, and of the forty votes I controll
twenty that I can surely count on.”

Rov stared at his uncle in amazement. .

“ Why, then that gives you the power toy
elect the chief that controls our band.”

‘ Exactly,” replied Torres, “ and I want a.
chief who will set my will. Garcia was a. W-
h‘eaded fool, who imagined that he alone. had:

 

Mustang Rider Roy.

 

brains: he crossed me once too often; the result, 4

his death.”

Roy made up his mind that, of all the scoun—
drels he had met during his career—and the
number was great—his uncle was certainly the
greatest.

“ Well, uncle,” said Roy, “1 don’t exactly un—
derstand what this has to do with me.”

“Sim 1y that I am about to make you chief
of the rigands of the Prairie,” said Torres,
calml‘y.

“ hat!” Roy started, as it he had received
an electric shock. “ l chief!”

“ Yes; you are ‘devoh-d to me; you will do my
will; you shall how-hint of tho hrigands; lwill
be the brain of that chief. Is it a bargain?”

“Yes,” cried Roy at. ole; “ I agree."

“ Now, for another subject,” said Torres.
“You know it is my purpose to form a union
between you and my daughter?”

“Yes; but as the young lady seems to have
taken a violent dislike to me, I don’t exactly see
how you are going to carry out the idea.”

“ Boy, you know that I am rich?"

“ Yes,” replied the young man.

“ All I have will go to my daughter’s hus-
band.” ‘

“ Well, I am perfectly Willing, if she is,” said

0 .

“yShe must be willing!” cried Torres, fiercely.
“ She has the stubborn spirit of her mother, but
[will bend her to my will. She must marry

ou.

“Good; force is a great persuade-r.
she almost hates me,” observed Roy.

“ You have not tried to win her love; you
gaze been blindly infatuated with the peon girl,

1 a. '

“The deuce!” cried Roy to himself, “what
her eyes that precious old man has i”

“ by do you seek this girl?” asked Torres.

“ We , honestly, I love her,” said Roy.

“Yes as a child loves a new toy; and, like
the child, you will soon tire and throw it
away.”

. “ hat’s extremely possible,” said Rov, coolly;
Ethel; has been the case with all my loves be-
ore.

“Be careful,” said Torres: “this girl has a
brother, a stout fellow, who will probably call
you to account if you wrong his sister.”

“ I shall act cautiously, rest assured,” replied

I know

0V.

“ By the way. did you know that there is a
detachment of United States soldiers in Tacos?”

“ The deuce! no !" cried Roy, With it start.

“ Yes; a full company of cavalry.” '

' “ Can they suspect our retreat on the Rio
Pecos?” exclaimed Roy.

“No: there isn’t any danger of that being
discovered. One of the officers has seen
Juanita."

“Well, what of it?” asked Roy.

“She saved him from the quicksand by the

' , bank of the Rio Grande; he was sinking when

she came to his aid. She invited himto call
here.”

:‘ He won’t discover anything.”
, y. are you blind?” asked Torres, impa-
./ Gently. “Juanita is half in love with this offl-

991‘, whose 1,119 she has saved; give them but a

 

few opportunities formeeting, and not all the
persuasion and force in this world will make
Juanita marry you.”

“What is to he done?” asked _Roy.

“ As yet, nothing. ercn Juanita told me of
this chance meeting I told her that the visits of
this oilicer hero would not be pleasant, and that
[should not receive him. I shall instruct the
servants when this (.fl‘lcvr comes to give him such-
% reception that he will not repeat his visit,”said

()l'l'i‘S.

“ Bravo!” cried Roy. “ Ah, uncle, we shall
win the game."

“Yes, but we must play with loaded dice,”
returned Torres, coolly. “And, to commence
at once, tell one of the servants to send Juanita
to me. I shall tell her that she must lcok upon
you as her afiianced husband; and, boy, becare-
ml in regard to this peon girl, Rita. .Do as you
will with her. but mask it from the world.”

And with this sage injunction in his ears, Roy
withdrew.

“Strange how I love that boy,” the old man
murmured to himself after Roy had left the
apartment. “I love him far better than I do
my own girl; it is for her sake. Isuppose for
[Heaven knows I hated the father With all my :

ieurt.

The entrance of Juanita put an end to his
meditations.

"‘ You wished to see me, father,” she said, and
it was plainly evident from her manner that
there was but little love between the father and
daughter.

“ Yes, my child,” snid Torres, looking intent-
ly in his daughter’s face; “you have grown to
Womanhood; it is time to think of a husband for

on. ‘

y Juanita trembled at this beginning, She had
understood fully the meaning of the glances
that Roy Lara had bestowed upon her; and in
her heart she hated him. Why, she could not
tell, for he never offended her in any way, but
some secret instinct warned her against him.

“How do you like my ne hew. Roy Lara?”

iiestioned her father, when e found that she
( id not speak.

51 do not like him,” answered Juanita, hon-
es y.

“1 am sorry for that, for he is to be your
future husband.” returned the father.

“WhetherI love him or no?” asked Juanita,
in amazement.

“ You are a foolish child; you do not know
the meaning of the word love!” cried Torres,»
tedtily. ' .

“ I know that I can never love my 0011811.)!” ex:-
claimed Juanita, passionately; “ I know that I
hate him.” ‘

“Hate him!” cried her father; “why do you .
hate him?" _ I

“I do not know,” replied Juanitap.“ but his
very presence is distasteful to me.”

“ Dlo you love any one else?” questioned Torres,

uiet .
q A hirning blush spread over J uanita’s cheeks
and forehead at the question. ‘
1 “ 130, no,” she murmured; “whom should I
eve? '

“ How can I tell?” said Torres, cold! . “ Yo ‘
ladies of your age sometimes take ancieu  .

 

Mustang- Rider Roy.

 

their heads; but, fancy or no fancy, you may
consider your fate settled; within a week you:
will be married to your cousin Roy.”

“Then you do not care whether I love him or
do not love him?” asked Juanita, in amazement.

“ No,” replied Torres, shortly.

“And does he care as little for my feelings to—
ward him?” demanded the girl. _

“ He loves on, and will marry you, let that
suflice.” said orres, determiiiedly.

“ Father, hear me,” exclaimed Juanita, all the
strength of her woman’s nature aroused, “ I do
not love Roy Lara, and of my own free will, I
shall never marry him.”

“ You are a foolish child,” returned the father.
“ Go to your room; you will think better of
this; time will convince you that you had best
submit and do my biddin .”

“ Never, father i” cried Juanita, as she left the
apartment.

CHAPTER V.

THE MEETING ON THE PRAIRIE.

Tim next morning came clear’aud beautiful.
After breakfast, Roy saw in the court-yard a
man whose face seemed strangely familiar to
him. The man was evidently a stranger; his

dress was poor and well worn; in size he was-

about the medium hight—iii face a Mexican,
Roy called Torres’s attention to the man, and
asked who he was.

“ Oh, a poor devil who came along last night,
begging for work,” answered Torres, “ and as,
by his own account, he is a good herdsmnn, I
engaged him.”

“ It is strange how familiar his face is to me,”
said Roy, slowly, as it trying to place the fea-
tures in his memory.

“ It is a common face,” said Torres. “ It is
evident that the poor devil has suffered from
want in the past.” And so the subject of the
stranger, who was no other than the listener in
the bushes of the preceding evening, who had
called himself Tie, the Rat, was dismissed.

After breakfast, Juanita mounted the horse—-
the cream colored mustang—and rode off. At
first she role directly north, toward El Peso,
then, fairly out of sight of the hacienda, she
made a wide circuit round to the south and rode
toward Tacos.

What object had Juanita in this early ride?
She could hardly have told herself, save that in
her heart she had a secret hope that she
might meet the young offi :er'whose life she had
saved, and whose image since that momenthad
ever been before her.

Riding hriskly‘on, the town of Tacos soon rose
before her, and then to her joy, gallopin up the
road from the town, she saw the young ieuten-
ant, who, if truth be told, had ridden forth
that morning in hopes of meeting with the fair
Mexican ' l.

The delight at the meeting then was mutual.

“You are in the saddle early,” said the lieu—
tenant, as they met.

- ‘ Yes,” she replied, striving to conceal the
1;; which spark ed in her eyes. “ I love to
e.

“If you will accept my
‘ pleasedtoacoompany you,

escort, I shall _be
said the officer. ’

 

f  I shall be delighted,” replied the girl, truth—
u y.

So, side by side, the’lovers—for such in truth,
they were in heart, although tlieirlipshad never
declared it—rodo along. They turned their
course toward the river. and reaching it rode
alone: parallel with the Rio Grande.

“Pardon me,” said Wenie, as he noticed the
slight cloud upon the face of his fair young com-
panion, “ but you do not look welll this morning
—you seem sad; are you ill?”

“ No,” ’Juanita replied, with a half-smile;
“ but,” and she looked earnestly at the young
officer to note the effect of her words, “I am
going to be married.”

“ Married!" cried the lieutenant in despair;
girl his face showed plainly how keen was the

()W.

I“ Yes,” continued Juanita, delighted with
what she saw in the face of her companion;
“ married to 21. man I do not and can not love.”

“ Why, then, do you marry him?”

“ It is my father’s will; he forces me to it."

" Surely, your father should consult your
happiness before proceeding on a step like this,”
said the lieutenant, in amazement.

Juanita shook her head sadl . ~

“My father cares very litt e for aught else
but his own leasure. He intends to force me to
marry, whet er I will or no."

“By Heavenll’ cried Wenie, hotly, “ he is not
worthy the name of father. Is there no escape
for on?” '

“ can see none," replied Juanita. “ In seven
days I am to be married."

For a moment Wenie was silent; busy thoughts
were in his, mind. Should he stand tamer by
and see this beautiful girl sacrificed, and she,
too, the only girl that he fell: he ever had really
loved—sacrificed to a man she did not love? No,
he would speak, and win or lose all.

“Juanita,” he said, and his strong, manly
voice trembled as he spoke, “ I have only known
you a few hours, but it seems to me as if
years had passed since we first met. You
are the first girl that I have ever seen thatI
felt I could love with my whole heart. I should
have kept this a secret, but what you have told
me makes me speak. Juanita, I love you, and I
can not be distasteful to you. Can you love me
a. little?”

The two horses had stopped, the riders were
side by side.

“ No, not a little,” replied the
“ but, like you, with all my heart.

Overjoyed, he clasped her gently in his arms;
their lips met in the pure and holy kiss that true
love gives to true love. .

“ Mine! forever mine!” cried the lieutenant,
as he looked full into the dark eyes that now
gazed so lovingly into his.

“ Yes, forever and forever,” replied Juanita.

“But your father will never consent to our
marriage,” snid‘the lieutenant.

“ No, never.” “ _

“Will you go with me, then, and become
mine despite his wishes?” asked Wenie, anxiously.

“ Yes, to the end of the world. My father
does not treat me as a daughter; why, then,
should I give that obedience which should be
hm due?” s

’hlushing girl,

 

Mustang Rider Roy.

1

 

“ There is a. priest in the village; he shall
marry us, and once you are mine, I de-I'y all hu«
manpower to take you from me. Can you leave
your father’s hacienda to-morrow about this
time Without exciting suspicion?”

“ Yes,” answered the girl.

“ I will' meet you here. and in the interval I
will see the priest and pl‘epnre all things for tho
ceremony. I must lose no time, for, if your
father or this favored rival of mine——to whom
perforce they intend to marry you—should (lisA
cover our love, they may devise some plan to
separate us. Do you consent to this hasty
union?”

“Yes,” answered Juanita, trustfully giving
her hand to her lover: “ your will is my will;
whatever you say. I will do. But now let us
part, that we may not be seen together, und our
plot be suspected.” ‘

" Farewell, then, beloved,” cried the lieuten—
ant; “ remember to—morrow,”

“ I shall not forget,”exclnimcd tho girl, gaz-
ing with those eyes so full of love into the face
of her lover.

A warm pressure of the hands, and they part~
ed; the lieutenant taking the road to the vil-
lage, J uanitn that which 10.1 northward to her
father‘s house.

Hardly had she faced her horse about and
commenced her homeward journey, when, to
her dismay, she perceived her cousin, Roy Lara,
on horseback, approaching rapidly.

“ Could he have 59911 mo part with the lien-
tenant?” was the question that mentally passed
through her mind, and as Roy galloped up she
cast asearching glance at his features, trying
to read his mind in his face. The attempt wns
fruitless, though, for Roy’s face wore the usual
half-sneering smile common to it.

“ Taking a gallop, my fair cousin?” he said,
smilingly, as be halted his horse before her.

“ Yes,” she replied, curtly, drawing her horse
off to the left, as if to pass him; but, with a
quick movement, he wheeled his horse around
and rode beside her. I

“ Homeward now, J unnita?” he asked.

“Yes,” she answered.

She took but little pains to conceal her dislike.

“I‘ll keep on company, then," he replied.

~ “ By the way, ’ he said, abruptly, as they rode
along, “ you have had an escort this morning, I
presume. Was that not one of the officers of the
troops stationed at Tacos, that 1 saw you part-
ing with just now?“

Juanita felt that it would be useless to attempt
to disguise the truth.

“ Yes,” she answered, "it was.”

“Was it the some officer whose life you saved
yesterday, in the quicksnnd .3" he said, carelessly.

‘Lieutenant-- By the way, what is his name?”

“ Wenie,” she answered, and then the next in-
stant could have bitten of! her tongue for speak-
ing, for her quick eye noted the look of exulta-
tion that flashed over Roy'stace when he learned
the name of his rival.

“Juanita, do you know I’ve half a mind to be
jealous?” he said, slowly. “ To'see my afl‘lmiced
wife riding alone with n dashing young officer,
and be, too, but the acquaintance of a. day, is
not very pleasant.” ,

“Indeodl” and ~Junnitu’s lip curled in scorn;

i

 

“ mn I your ntlinncod wife? I was not aware
that you had done me the honor to ask for my
hand. ,

Tho coolness of the girl disconcerth the re-
doubtnhlo Roy, who was certainly not troubled
with lmshfulness.

“Your father arranged the whole affair,” he
replied, “and I thought, of course, that it in-
('ludcd your consent; lmtto make the matter
fully understood, Juanita, 1- love you, and ask
you to ho my wife.”

“Senor, I am sorry, but I do not return your
passion,” said the girl, coldly, “ and I must de‘
clino your offer.” ,

“ It is your father’s will!" exclaimed R0 .

“You will find that my father’s wi does
not bind my hundl” exclaimed Juanita, indig~
nnntlly, while the hot blood mounted into her
choc 

“ You refuse mo, then?” asked R0 .

“ Yes,” replied the girl, firmly, “ do!"

“ Perhaps you are in love with somebody
else,” returned Roy, sneeringly—“ perhu is with
this North American oflicer—this cursed ringo.’
Let him hewnro how he CI'OSEOS my path, for it
he does, not all the fiends below can save him
from my vengeance.” 4

“ Threatened men live long. senor; possibly
the life of this American] will not be shortened
by your words,” replied Juanita, in scorn.

“ We shall scel” cried the Mexican, hotly;
“ but his wife you never will be.” ""

“ Your wife 1 never will he!“ returned Juan-
ita, all the fire of her nature aroused.

“ That remains to he proved,” replied Roy;
“ but for this otlicer, I wil take care of him.”

J uanitn understood the covert threat, but she
had little fear; she frlt sure that her lover was
more than a match for Roy Lara.

“ I shall tell your father of this stolen inter-
view," continued Roy.

“Tell what you please. Ijudgc, from what
little I have seen of you, that it is like your
nature to play the spy; but the interview was
not, as you say, a ‘stolen’ one. I met the ofll-
cer, by chance, openly on the prairie. I did not
dream that my steps were matched, or that my
cousin would descend to play the spy upon my
actions.”

The tone of the girl was full of bitterness.
and the young Mexican felt keenly the sting of
her words. '

B this time they had reached the hacienda.
Both, dismounted. gave their horses to the charge
of the servants, and entered the house. Juanita
procoeded at once to her chamber, while, Roy
sought Senor Torres. ‘ . ’

“ Well?” questioned Torres, when Roy entered
his room, for ho sow plainl by his angry look
that something had hnppune . ' .

“Juanita has been riding with this ofilcer—
curse him l—upon the prairie," cried Roy, ,

“ Ah !”and the brows of the old Mexican grew
dark with anger. “How do you know?” *-

“I saw them part on the r0 d near Tacos, ' r f
and, judging from the time that J uanita left the '
house this morning they must have been to- .
gather two hours at least.” , '

“That is had," said Torres, musingly. “ Can
this officer he in love with her?” . 7 ‘

“Nothing more natural,” returned Boy; “ the ..

 

" ...l.-ir-jdnlxwgflinmafi'ifl- ‘7 

Mustang Rider Roy.

 

saved his life. At all events, I am sure of one
thing, she is in love with him."

Torres started, and his face plainly showed
his an er at this intelligence.

“ hat is to be done with this headstrong
girl?” cried the father.

“ Send her away until we can arrange
everything for tho marriage—send her to our
ranch on the Rio Pecos. Let hcrgo there at
night; he kept closely housed after she is there,
apd she will not suspect the character of the

ace. '

“ The plan is good!” cried Torres; “it shall
be carried out. She shall depart this very night.
This soldier shall be thrown completely OR the
track.”

“Do not fear him,” said Roy, and a peculiar
expression appeared on his face. “I shall see
him this afternoon; he has come between me
and my purposes; he is in danger."

“ Be careful. Remember he has many at his
back.”

" My mustangr is sw1ft; I can easily escape.
No one in the village knows me; besides, I shall
leave here to—uight."

R)y left the father to his reflections, which
were not almgether pleasant, and wont to his
own apartment. There he examined the charges
in his pistols, tried the point of his knife, and
made all preparations as if for a. deadly en-
counter.

CHAPTER VI.

A sonnma’s WAY.

TEE hour of two in the afternoon found Roy
Lara on his mustang and ruling rapidly toward
Tacos. He had determined to execute speedy
and certain vengeance upon the young officer
who had dared to come between him and the
beautiful Juanita.

Tacos was not without that usual ad'unct to
civilization. a little drinking-house; an to this
Roy directed his way.

The house was a little, one-story structure,
built of adobe, but not in the usual Mexican
fashion of asquare, with a court-yard in the
center,tor the windows looked directly upon the
street.

Roy’s keen eye noted the surrounding of the
house as he approached. He dismounted and
entered; his well-trained beast remained quietly
where he had been left.

The little room that Roy entered was deserted.
He seated himself by a little table close to the
window and called loudly for the host.

The kee er of the house, an oily little Mexi-
can, came ustling into the room.

“ Welcome, senor,” he cried; “ what will the
senor be pleased to have!”

‘fiAgimrdicnte,” (a Mexican liquor), said Roy,
“ and can you find a messenger to carry a mes
cage to an ofilcer of the garrison here?”

“ Yes, senor,” replied the host; “ [’11 bring
him toyou.” .

The host diaap red, but returned in a mo-
ment, bringing t a liquor, and behind him an-
other Mexican.

“t'II‘his is the man, senor: he will go," said the

i.

 

Roy looked at the Mexican, and to his aston-
ishment saw that it was the same fellow whose
face had attracted his attention in the court—yard
of the hacienda that mornmg. It was indeed
Tie, the Rat.

After placing the liquor upon the table, the
host discreetly withdrew.

“ You are in the household of Senor Torres?”
asked Roy.

f‘ Yes, senor,” replied the other, with a

nu.

“ What brings you here?”

“ I’m fond of liquor.”

Tho answer was suilicicnt.

“ Do you know me?” usde Roy.

“ That depends upon circumstances," returned
Tio, with another grin.

“ You are a sensible follow,” said Roy, “and,
at the present time, I am an utter stranger to
you; ywu never saw me before; you under-
stand?"

“ Yes, senor,” replied Tio.

" And if, in an hour or so, you are questioned
as to who or a hot I am?”

“ I shall know nothing!" cried the vaga—
hond Mexican, who formed such a contrast to
the other.

“ Exactly! I see that you understand me;
you shall not lose anything by it,” said Roy.

‘ Now, will on bear a message from me to
Lieutenant enie, one of the United States
officers here?”

“ Yes, senor.”

“ Say‘to him that a gentleman desires to see
him here on particular business.”

" Yes, senor: I’ll fly at once,” and the Mexi~
can departed on his errand.

“ Aha!” said ’l'i‘o to himself, as he walked
toward the quarters of the soldiers; “ what does
Roy Lara want with the lieutenant? I must
know."

Roy in the mean whiledrankalittle of the
potent li nor, loosened the pistols in his belt,
findisaw t iat his knife played freely in its scab~

an .

Within ten minutes Roy saw a manly form.
decked in the blue of Uncle Sam, pass the win-
dew, and in a second more’Lieutenant Wenie
entered the room.

Roy had chosen a position with his back to_
the window.

“ You sent a message to me, sir!” said Wenie,
addressing Roy, the only occu ant of the room.

When Wenie had received t )e message that a.
Mexican gentleman desred to speak with him,
his first thought was that it must be the father
of J uanitn, who had, by some means, discover-
ed the Secret of his daughter’s love. He was
surprised then, when he found that it was a.
young man about his own age who awaited
um. ‘

“ Yes, senor,” replied Roy, in answer to the
officer‘s question, “ I had that honor. Be seated,
senor.” he said, motionng to a chair on the op-
gosite side of the table. The iieutenant sat

own. ‘

The table was between the two men, the win-
dow right at Roy’s back.

“Nowvsir, your business with me?” asked
Wenie, unable to guess why theIMexifiiqn should
wish a private interwew With him,

\

 

Mustang- Rider Roy. «

 

“ You are acquainted with a lady called
Juanita Torres i”

In a moment the truth flashed upon the young
officer’s mind; the man before him was his
rival.

“Yes,” he answered; “ I am."

“ You are in love with this lady."

“ I am too much of a geiitleimiu to dispute
your word,” returned “'enie, bowing with mock
politeness. A red spot gathered in the cheeks of
the Mexican at this answer. ‘

“I suppose you are ilWfil'e that the senorita is
engaged to be married?” said Roy, striving to
presl-rve his coolness.

“How should i. be aware of the fact?" ques-
tioned Weiiie, blandly.

“ Possibly the lady herself may have inform‘

on.

“yPossilily,” returned the lieutenant.

“ Has she not told you!" suid Roy.”

“ Ah, excuse me,” replied Wenie. with formal
politeness; “ you put a direct question; you
really must excuse my answering it."

“ In six days the lady is to lie married,“ said
the Mexican, feeling that he was getting an ry.

" Indeed?" cried the lieutenant, coolly. “ Yho
to? Are you to he the happy man?”

“ That' matters not," replied Roy, shortly,
feeling that he was no match in coolness for the
American. I

“ As on say, it matters not,” said V‘Venie.
“ Only lywas about to congratulate you, if you
were to be the happy bridegroom."

The Mexican felt that. there was hitter mock-
ery iii the words so lightly spoken, and the
blood hogan to leap fiercely in his veins.

“Senor, you must give up all thoughts of
Senorita Torres,” he cried.

" Must!” returned the lieutenant, coolly.
"That is ii word foreign to me. But, senor, do
you not think that you are proceeding rather
i'ashly? You come to me and say that I must
give up all thoughts of a lady that perhapsl
never have thought of—et least you have no
proof that I have indulged any: expectations in
that direction.”

The lieutenant was skillfully leading the Mex-.,
can on, to see if he really had discovered any-
thin .

“ fiiiough that we have a suspicion, which,_ in
our minds, is as strong as a Certainty.” replied
Roy, his hand soaking the handle of his pistol-—
the movement concealed from the eyes of the
lieutenant by the table

“ We,” said the lieutenant. laying a peculiar
MEN’S.“ “P011 the Word; “and who—if I may he so
bold as to ask the question—does ll'P. consist of?”

“ Her father and myself!” replied Roy.

“ Ah, now I am su of it!" cried Wenie.
“You are. the gentleman to whom in six days
shit is to be wedded. By the way, I haven’t had
the pleasure of learning your name vet.”

“ Iiiy name does not concern you.”

“ Oh, yes, it. does.” replied the lieutenant.
“for I have an idea that you and I will meet
hereafter.”

“I think not.” snirl RDV. grimly. clutching
the butt of his pistol firmly as he spoke. “ Pat
you have not answered my question,” he em.

 

tinned. “Will you resign all thoughts of the
lady!” ‘ -

“First prove to me that l have thoughts of
her; then I’ll tell tell you whether I’ll resign
them or not,” said the lieutenant 'ocosel .
“ You are jesting with mel’ cried Roy.
fiercely.
“ Never was more serious in the whole course
of my life,” returned the officer.
“ You will find that this is no laughing
matter!" exclaimed the Mexican, thoroughly
angry, and only waiting for a favorable oppor-
tunity to put his plan in execution.
“ Laughing matter?" said Wenie, with a.
leculiar look—n look that boded danger to the

exicun; “oh. no! you will find before we are
thl'O’l’lgh thatI am as much in earnest as you
are.

“ If you do not give up the senorita, force may
he uscdl” cried Boy. in a tone of menace.

“ Force!” reiwuted VVenie: “ the very thou ht
that has been in my mind for the last five
minutes, and I’ve been thinking whether to
throw you through the donr or through the win-
dow." said Wenie in his quiet way. “ You
need a lesson, and i think I‘ll give you one.“
B‘Wl'hat! you give me a lesson, dog!" cried

0".

This epithet had hardly passed his lips, are the
firm hand of the American hnd dashed the vol-
sol of liquor full in his face. He]! blinded with
the drciich, Roy sprung to his feet, but before
the Mexican couh strike, with a powerful blow,
given with all the strength of the muscular arm
of the American, Weliie struck Roy in the neck,
right on the jugular vein. Through the open
window went the Mexican, stunned and sense-

less.

“ Well, he did go through the window, after
all,” said Weiiie. quietly to himself, as he looked
on his helpless foe. ,

The host. alarmed, rushed into the room. fol<
lowed by the Mexirnn, Tio, who, from the door-
wa . had watched the scene. I

‘ May the Virgin save us!" cried the host, as
his eyes fell upon the seusoless form of the Mexi-
can extended on the ground outside; “the man
is dead !”

“No, he’s worth a dozen dead men,” replied
gemiflcer. “Bathe his head; he’ll soon come

And. giving this advice, Wenie departed.

“Bring some liquor!” cried Tio; “but first,
help me to bring him in. That devil of an
American must have an arm and flat like
iron.

Together the host and Tio brought the sense-
less man into the house.

After repeated applications of liquor to his
temples, Roy slow] revived.

“ Ahl mv head!’ were Roy’s first words.

“ Santa. Maria!” cried Tio, “a horse couldn’t
have kicked harder :" and he lost himseltin ad- _
miration oi' the deftly-given blow. ,

Soon Roy managed tr- stand upon hia'feet and
comprehend what had passed. For the first
time in his life he had met his master. - Terrible
was the oath of vengeance that he swore.

Weak, and with his head swimming from the
effects of the terrible bunfet, Boy mounted his
horse, and, attended by 'l‘io on a patient little
mule, took the road homeward. But one thought
mm in his mind—vengeance! ,

 

Mustmng Rider Roy.

 

CHAPTER VII.

THE FLIGHT BY NIGHT.

ON the road to the hnriemln, Royarranged
his plans. First, Juaniiii must he removed from
the neighborhood of ’l'ncos—-—rcmovcd from all
chunceof ever again seeing: the young lieutenant
who had given him such a. terrible lesson Sec-
and, Rita, the peou girl must become his and,
in order to elfect that, she, too, must be removed
fr im the hacienda—«removed from the watchful
cure of her brother, Manuel, the hcrdsniun. The
much of the hrigauds by the Rio Pecos olfcrel
a secure retreat. Isolated from the world, Rita.
uni-e there, there was but little danger of her
being discovered. Then, too, there were brigunds
(-nongh there to hold the ranch against a host,
should it, by any fatal chance, he discovered.
B.it who was to convey Rita there? She must
huve. as an escort across the prairie, one that he
could trust. Roy’s eyes fell upon Tie. the ap—
p ireiitly halfrstarved Vagabond, riding demure-
ly behind him. And as Roy looked upon him,
"ruin he felt sure that he had seen his face
before. ‘

“ What is your name?” Roy asked, suddenly.

“ Tie,” answered the humble follower.

“ 'l‘iol” r '

“I Yes, senor; by some of my old friends in
Mexico I was called Tie, the Rat.”

“ Tie, the Rib!” repeated Roy; “ a strange
name! Why did they call you that?”

“ Because, I suppose, I possessed the rat-like

- facultv of living upon almost nothing, and get-

tl'lg it without paying,r for it,” responded the
Mexican, with one of his peculiar grins.

“ Have I not seen you before, somewhere?”
asked Roy.

A peculiar expression passed across the face
of Tie, unnoticed, however, by his companion.

“ Yes. senor," he answered.

" in Mexico?"

“ Yes, senor.”

" Where!”

“ Does the- senor remember a certain New
Year‘s night in the prison in the City of Mex-
ico?” askel the vagabon i.

“ Yes; ’twus on that night that I escaped from
it; you then must know who I am?” said Roy.

“ Yes. senor; one of the leaders of the Bri~
gands of the Prairie. I remembered your free
the instant I saw it. I escaped from the. prison
with you that night.”

“ I remember now,” cried Roy; “but you
were dressed then like a gentleman, and not in
wretched rugs like these."

“ Ah. Senor!” cried Tio, with a. sigh: “ For—
tune smiled upon me then. Since that time she
has frowned upon me.”

" Well. since you know our secret, join us;
become a. Brigund of the Prairie; what say
you?" asked 

"I shall be elighte'l, senor,” responded the
other.

e“ A brave future is in store for you." said
“And now you can do me a. service.”

RD .
. “yCommaud me, senor," cried Tio, quickly.

9‘ Are you accustomed to the prairie“! Can

‘ Em find'your. way by night, with no other guide

1

an the stars?” .
V‘ers, senor,” replied the other, readily.

 

“ Do you know in what direction the Rio
Pecos runs!"

“ Yes, senor; it is
parallel with the Rio

“ Right. Now the service I wish you to do is
this: there is a. lady in yonder hacienda. whom I
wish you to conduct to a ranch on the Rio
Pecos; the ranch is about a hundred and fifty
miles from here. I have a. rude map at home
by which I can show you the exact position of
the place. Do you think you can conduct the
lndy there?”

“ Oh, yes, senor; without a doubt!” cried
Tio, and he could liardly‘bonceul his exultation,
for he understood fully that that this lonely
ranch on the Rio Pecos was the headquarters of
the Prairie Brigandsl Tie the Rat huda strong
desire to penetrate to that Stronghold.

Reaching the hacienda, Roy, after warning
Tio to keep his tongue between his teeth regard-
ing: the expedition on foot, sought Senor Torres.

Eagerly the old Mexican q'uestioned him con—
cerninp,r the young officer.

“ I have not been able to accomplish any-
thing," was Roy’s truthful reply.

“ Juanita must be got out of his way to-
night,” said Torres, thoughtfullv.

“ Have on thought of a plan?” asked Roy,

“ Yes; shull tell my daughter to prepare for
a. journey to Santa Fe, and start away the mo-
ment the shades of night close over the prairie.
That report spread among the household will
put this officer on the wrong track, it' he misses
the girl and makes inquiries after her. You
Inuit depart at once for the ranch; reaching it,
select ten or fifteen men and return to escort us
acress the prairie.”

“ Where shall I meet you?” asked Roy. _ _.

“ At the ol'lruined ranch, twenty miles from
here, on the El Paso road. When I reach it to-
night I will Iiult, wait for your arrival, then
send back my people; they, of course. will think
that We have kept straight on for El Paso."

“ Excellent," cried Roy. “ This North Amer-
ican will be th own completely oi! the trail;
but if he shoul ‘happen to have a mountain-
mau in his company—one used to trailing—ha

($9 the east of us, almost
rande."

“might be able to follow us.”

“ There is little danger of that.” said Torres.
“ These are regular troops, and the mountain-
nien, used to the free life of the prairie, are not
nut to exchange it for the dog’s lie of the com-
mon soldier.”

“ You will wait at the old ranch till I come,
then?” said R0 .

“ Yes,” rep ied Torres. “ Make a detour
when you approach, so as to come from the
north—the El Paso way. It is ourpeople that
we must deceive; they \must think that we are
going to Santa Fe.” _

“ I’ll to horse at once and set out!” cried Roy,
and forthwith he left the room. He did not go
to the stables, however: but Iii-weeding cau-
tiously, he entered a small room adjoining that
of J uanita—the room of the peon girl. Rita.

“ Where is your mistress?” he asked, cautions-

1 .
y“She is sleeping,” replied the girl. _ -
“Good; we are not likely to be disturbed, .
then. Rita, are you pgaipared to fly to-nighti", ,
“Tonight!” exclaim the girl, in surprise, , L

 

  
 
 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

Mustang Rider Roy.

 

 

“ Yrs, to—nigbt,” repeated Roy. “ I am about
to set forth now; that will remove all suspicion
tliit I have anything to do with your flight.”

" But am I to go alone?" asked Rita, in won-
(191'.

“ No; of course not," replied Roy. “ Have
you noticed the stranger that come yesterday——
the common-looking fellow in tho garb of n
hcrdsuan?” ' ‘_ r

“ Yes,” answered the girl; “ you mean 'l no!”

“ I see you know his name; he is the one I
mean. At nightfall he will be Waiting with
two horses outside the hacienda, just beyond the
spot where we held our last meeting. You will
go to him. Mount one of the horses: he Will
not as your guide and protector: you will fly-—
ily. to finally find shelter in my arms]?

“ Ah, how happy!” murmured the girl.

“ You will do this?” he asked.

(6 Yes], -

“ Be sure you are not observed? Then press-
ing a farewell kiss upon her red lips he left her.

On his way to the stables he met TlO.‘ To
him he explained the plan of operations, pointed
out the two mustangs to use, ordered his‘own
mustang to be saddled. and then. with ’l‘io, re-
turned to the house. In his room he gave the
lierdsman a rudely—drawn map, and pointed out
the route that he must follow. .
Tio declared that he could find the road blind-

fold.

Then, satisfied that everything would pro-
gress favorably Roy swunfihims‘elt into the
saddle and gal oped off, hen ing his course ap-
parently for El Paso.

Torres summoned his daughter. Upon her
appearance he informed her that she must pre-
pare toset out at night for Santa Fe. _

The words struck acid“ to the poor girl’s
heart. Resistance to her father‘s command she
knew was useless. , And then, Juanita thought
of the despair that would come upon her lover,
when, in the morning. he sought the meeting-
place b the flowing Rio Gruiide, and she came
not. T let! the thought flashed through lll‘l‘
mind, could she not convey the news to her
lover that she had been hurried off to Santa
Fe? Yes, she could do that, and he might follow
and save her.

Briefly Juanita responded to her father, and
said that at nightfall she would be. ready.

Once in her own room Juanita puzle hm-
brain how to convey the news to her loy: r.
Then she suddenly thought of Rita, her \vnit lug-
maid, and of her brother Manuel, the herdsninn.
If they WOUId. they could aid her. Yet, she
felt a reluctance to confess her love to her wait-
ing-maid. for, of course, Rita would suspect the
truth, but, for her lover's sake, she resolved to
brave all.

Opening the door that led'm be;- waiting-
maid’s room, she called her. Rita came instant-

] .

y“ Rita," said Juanita, a sli ht blush baginning
to bloom upon her cheeks, ‘I wish you would
do me a service.” ’

f‘ Senorita has only to command,” replied the
pepn girl, simply. _ _

,‘I am oin away to-night—gomg to Santa
Fe. Thai-g is same one in Tacos ”-—and Juanita
hesitated slightly—“that I wish to inform 0!

my departure. I wish to send a note, and
neither my father nor my cousin must know of
i

\ It was all plain to the shrewd eyes of tho poon

girl: her mistress Ind 11 lovcrin Tacos; it was

that lover that she wished to Won]. The heart

or ltitn boat for joy; if Juanita loved some one

in Tacos, she did not tlu-ii love Roy Lara, and

the pcon girl iclt that the oung Mexican was

all her on 1i. Little did uniiita realize the

powerful ally she would have in Rita, in all ,
schemes, the object of which was to unite her

and her lover.

“ Do not fear, senorita,” cried Rita; “Iwill
speak to my brother and he will take your letter
safely, and no one will know of it.”

Then, suddenly, to the mind of the peon girl
came the thought of her brother’s confession of
his how-less love for his master’s dun bier.
Would be than take the letter that might the
means of bringing her to anotlwr’s ui‘ms’l No!
no! ltitu liuly t'rlt that lur bn lhcr‘s interest
in hopping in: k ti o, lultvr was fully as great as
her; to how it dc liverwl. “lint, then, was to
be done? Suddl nly she thought of the Mexican
who was to not us lur guide and escort in that
night’s flight; ha Would take it—would imagine
that it was in r_owu message, for she need not .
mention her mistress-ls name. Yes, she felt that
plan would do.

Meanwhile, Juanita, at the little table, had
been writing her note—the first note of love in
all her life. It began:

“ My Own Dun Pump:—
“1 have just been told by my father that I must
go at once to Same Fe. “'e start at nightfall. I do
not know the meaning of this strange journey. I
think, though, that in some way my father has
learned of our love, and it is done to separate us.
romei es. too,l think that we are not going to
Santa e, hut Iliut I have been told that was my
destination, so that. if Iconlrived to communicate
with you, it might deceive you, and prevent you
from following me I elieve me, Philip. I do not no
of my own free will. but because I am forced to.
shall iievm' cease to love you as long as I live, and
will be faithful [0 you forever and forever. Do not
give me up. but follow and rescue me from the
hands of my cruel relatives.
“Your Jams." _

The little note was sealed and then addressed,
“ Lieutenant Wenie.” Rita. with the note,
In stoned to find Tia. That worthy readil
“greed to take it. and an hour afterward T o.
wns in Tacos. Unfortunately, Wenie, with a.
squad of men, had gone down the river after
romc stray horses, and so it happened he did not
receive the note till near ten. Bitterlyhe de-
plorrd the ill-luck that gave his opponents such
a start.

At nightfall precisely, Senor Torres. his
daughter, and a large escort set out. Almost at
the same time. too, Rita and 'l‘i'o were galloping
across the prairie eastward. I

Major Curtin sat up late that night, carefully
examining a paper spread oht on the. table be-
fore him. This paper was a rude map: on it,-
was traced the courses of the Rio Grande and
the Rio Pecos. The ms was enacth like the
one that Roy Lara had 3 van to Tie, the Rat, to

 

uide him across the prairie to the much of the
grigands. _ I :

 
 

  

 

Mustang- Rlder Roy.

 

  

CHAPTER VIII.
THE PATHFINDER ON THE TRAIL.

TORRES and his party reached the old ranch.
There they halted until the next day, when they

were joined by Roy and some fifteen stalwart
fellows armed to the teeth.

Roy explained that the Comanche Indians
were on the war—path. and he had engaged his
e~ic wt in El Paso; so those that came with
Torres were sent buck to the hacienda, and he
and his daughter proceeded on their way with
t-l? escort headed by Roy.

The Pntlifin ler, who was one of those who ac-
companied Torres as far as the old ranch, when
he returned to the hacienda was astonished to
learn that his sister was not there. Those who
had remained behind had noticed her absence,
but had thought that she had accompanied her
young mistress.

The peon felt at once that his worst fears in
regard to his sister had been re'ilized. Yet,
Whither had she gone? That he could not guess.
Had he not scan Roy Lam at the head of the
escort with Torres, he woull instantly have sus-
pected that she had fled to join him; and then
the thought flashed into the inintiof the con,
might it not be so now? Possibly Lara bar pro!
Vida-l some retreat for his sister, where, at his

' leisure, he might visit her. rPhe thought was
madness to the mind of the young herdsmnu.
He instantly resolved to learn the truth, to trail
the living girl to her refuge; but, how hai she
gone? and who had she gone with? for it was
plainly evident to Manuel that she had not flel
n me. '

Then Manuel looked through the householl to
see who was missing; all were there save the
stranger who had come but recently. and who
hurl said he was called “Ti‘l, the Rat."

It was plniu.then, to tho Pathlinlci} This
man was a tool of Rev LIP-L. mi'l be instantly
concluded that it was all u prearranged plun—
ths entrance of Tio into the hacienda of Torres,
and the flight of his Sister.

“But they cannot hive flown away!” cried
Manuel to himself. “Their horse; must have
left their hoof-prints on the prairie. I’ll track
them asithe wolf tracks the wounde deer, and,
like the' bio thound, I'll die on the trail but I’ll
run the game to earth.”

Bronght‘ up from his earliest infancy on the
prairie, possessing the Indian gift of marvelous
ear and eye—which even the deadening influ—
ence of the half-civilization that he had passod
throu%h had not tampered withi—the Pathfinder
could ollow‘a. trail with the unerring skill of n.
Comanche. ’

, Burning then with the desire for vengeance
the brother proceeded to his task of mingled

love and hate.

: The prairie just around the hacienda had

been trampled ‘over by so many steeds-the
horses of the cavalcade—thnt to find a clew to
the presence of the two fugitives was quite out
of the question. So he went a thousand good
yards from the house; then he commenced to
trace a. circle around it. carefully examining
the soft green sword as he went. Not a blade
of grass-not a wind-blown leaf from the shrub-
bery that surrounded the hacienda—escaped his

The Pathfinder had completed a quarter of
the circle, when suddenly he stopped' his keen
eye had caught sight of hoof—prints. blosely he»
examined them; ten minutes’ careful inspection
of the trail convinced him that it was the trail
he sought.

The herdsmun returned to the hacienda, took
his rifle, a supply of ammunition, his horse
from the stable, and then set out upon the
prairie trail.

Once out where the grass had not been train-
pled, Manuel followed the trail easily. \

On pressed the herdsman, till the shades of
night came and forced him to relinquish the
chnsie. Manuel slept that night beside the
trai .

The morning sun found the herdsmnn again
upon the track, and are that sun shone at mid-
day over the prai:ie, the trail had struck the
wooded-banks of the Rio Pecos and had turned
northward, following upward the course of the
stream.

Manuel proceeded with cautioh; he felt that
he was on the eve of a discovery. Asudden
turn rot the stream brought to his view a
large ranch—the house built of hewn timber,
and surrounded by a. heavy stockade fvnce.
Evidently the place had been built to stand a.
sieve.

X little log-house on the outside of the stock-
ode and near the bank of the river attracted
Manuel’s attention. nestled as it was down
among the trees that grew on the bank of the
strenn. yet it seemed to shun observation.

The Pathfinder concealed his horse carefully
in the timber, and then, on foot, taking advan-
tage of the trees and shrnbbery to shield him
from observation, scouted in toward the lit'le
lone house. He soon gained a position which
commanded a full view of the hut door. Hardly
had he gained his position when from the (loiir
of the stockade came Roy Lara, and advanced
toward the hut. Every musrle iii the body of
the pcon thrilled, as, from his covert unseen, he
looked upon the face of the man who he felt
convinced had decoved away his sister. His
hand sought the rifle; the life of Roy Lara
would have been worth but little had the steady
arm of the peon leveled the long piece; but a.
second thought restrained him: so he watched
and waited.

As Roy Lara. approached the house. a man
with a. gun in his hand rose from the bushes
near it—the man'was Tio, who had apparently
been on guard. '
“Has any one attempted to approach the
house, Tiol’ asked Roy.

“ No, senor,” replied Tlo.

“ You are tired of watching, I suppose.” .
“ Yes, senor; I haven’t got over the elfects 0
that night ride yet.”

“ What is the girl doing?”

How the brother’s heart beat when he heard
Roy ask the question; for, from his hiding-place
he could both see and hear—nearly every word
distinctly. He had little doubt that the girl re-
ferred to was Rita.

“She‘ was asleep on the bed, senor, thehst
time I looked in,” responded io.

“You need not watch longer,” said Royr

 

‘ attention.

  

“ Go and refresh yourself.”

   

  

 
    
 
    

__ .Vr

NH: “~77— veem» ~ 

  

“ 17::

 

 

   
 
  
    
  
    
   
   
   
  
  
  

 

Mustang Rider Roy.

 

To did not wait for a second bidding, but
hurried at once toward the ranch.

Roy, with a, careless glance around, entered
the little house, and the door closed behind him.

For full five minutes Manuel waited; then uii-
uble longer to endure the suspense, he deter-
mined to satisfy his mind as to whether his sis-
ter was in the house or not, whatever might be
the cost.

Cautiously he left his covert and stole round
to the hack of the house. thus shielding himself
from all chance of discovery by any one coming,r
from the ranch.

Behind the house, fastened to a tree, Manuel
found two horses; he recognized them at once as
being from the stable of Torres, and guessed
rightly that they were the two that had con-
veyed the fugitives.

Approaching the but with the caution of the

-- panther stealing upon its prey, Manuel discov-

ered a little opening in the timbers, by which he

commandeda full view of the interior apart-

iigent. The room contained Roy Lara and
ita.

. When Roy Lara entered the room, with a
scream of joy, Rita had flung herself into his
arms. , ~

“ You are come at last 1” she cried.

“ Yes, dear one,” he replied, soothingly. “ Did
you fancy that I was never coming?” ,

“I have not seen you for so long," said the
girl, sorrowfullr.

“ Why, it is but a few hours siiiCe I had you
in my arms,” he answered.

“ The time has seemed very long to me,” she
said, niournt‘ully. ,

_“Cheer up, Rita," he said, imprinting warm
kisses on her fresh, red lips. “Now I am by
your side, never again to part from you.”

“ That makes me feel so happ_ ,” said the girl,
looking up into his face, trusting y. “ When you
are by in side I feel a paradise; when I “am
alone I ave no desire- to live. We shall be
happy now, shall we not?” she asked, reclining
trustfully on his breast.

“ Happy!” he exolaimed, “ yes, as happy as
the day is long." Then his warm, kisses again
greased the dewy lips—kisses that were given

aok with interest. For the moment they were
lbappy—happy in the happiest of all dreams—
ove

 

The sudden opening of .the door rudely dis-
turbed the lovers: Roy Lara was by a wei'fiil
arm stricken to the floor, even as N) 1nd been
stricken by the American, though this time the
blow was not finite so heavy, nor so skillfully
struck._ He stil retained his senses only to see
over him the frowning face of Manuel, the
herdsman.

 

CHAPTER IX.
A RIDE FOR urn.
FULLY did Lara comprehend the peril of his

position.
“Utter not one sound of alarm. Rita I” cried

the Pathfinder: and Roy, as he looked into the

fierce eyes that glared so threatenineg into his
own, to t that the Indian was indeed in savage

 

 

earnest. The fierce light gleamed in his eyes
like that of the cougar when it is about to
spring upon its prey.

“ Oh, my brother. spore him I" cried the peon
girl, stretching her hands imploringly.

“ Listen to me, sister,” he answered. “I am
about to take you from this wolf. If you refuse
to go I’ll kill him on the spot, as I would kill
any beast of prey.”

“No, no!” she cried; “spare him. I will go
with you.” '

“ I will spare him on one condition: that you
go with me quietly and without any attempt to
return to him; but, first to secure this dog, so
that he cannot give the alarm after our depar-
ture. Bring the blanket from the bed.”

Rita obeyed his order, trembling with excite-
ment and fear.

“Cut it into narrow strips, three or four
inches wide,” the Pathfinder continued.

Roy made no attempt at resistance; though
young,r and powerful of muscle, he felt that he
was no match for the desperate brother.

Then taking the strips which the peon girl
had cut, the Indian bound first the hands and
then the feet of the Mexican, rendering him as
helpless and as powerless as an infant: and, as
a final precaution, the peon rolled up a piece of
the blanket in the form of a hall, and with a
strip of the same fastened the hall securely in
Roy’s mouth, thus gagging him most efl'ectnall .
Lara, after the Indian had finished his his ,
could neither move nor speak.

The Pathfinder then cast a hasty glance
through the (our. No one was in sight.

“Come,” he said to his sister, sternly. “I
will take you far from this den of infamy, and
from this man who would destroy you.”

With one farewell glance at the one whom she
idolized, and without a word, Rita followed her
brother to the horses. The chance of escaping
unseen was desperate; the must ass within
full view of the ranch. be Pat finder felt
that] their only hope lay in the speed of their
Ste . 5.

By the side of the beasts Manuel spoke

gain.

“ Rita,” he said, “ I know that you are blind
to your own good. I know that this Mexican
snake has fascinated you to your ruin. 1 have
sworn by the bones of our mother that I will
saw you from him.” .

Once mounted, they proceeded slowly past the
house. Beyond it lay the open space, over which
he must cross to gain, the prairie, full in view
from the ranch. I .

“Be ready, sister, for a sharp gallop,” he
said, as they entered uplon the open slpace. No
one was in sight. The sort of the athflnder
beat high with ,hope; he had gained the edge of
the prairie, when, through thedoor of the stock-
n’de. came a noisy group—a half-dozen or so of
the brigands. The instant their eyes fell n n
the peons they comprehended that com th 3
was wrong; they knew that their young chie
had a girl in the little log-house, yet here she
fives, on the prairie with a stranger, apparently

ying. _

With anild yell, some of the brigands'ruahed
to the stable for horses; others fled to the
log-house to discover what had become 0! Lara, ‘

a

 
    

   

;

“18'

‘ show

tofind him bound and gagged. They released
him at once.

Wild with rage, Roy sprung: to his feet.

“ Horses!" he cried. "‘ Pursue them at once!"
then dashed from the house.

’Twas the custom of the brigands to keep :1
dozen horses or so suddled at all times, ready for
any emergencies; so that Roy, rushing from the
house. found the horses ready on the prairie. '

Switching a carbine from one of the men, Roy
vaulted into the saddle, and, at the head of ten
of the brigands armed to the teeth, rode after
the fast-flying fugitives.

So quick had been all these movements—so
little time had they taken, that the pcons had
hardly ten minutes’ start; and, on the broad,
open prairie, here with scarcely a liillock to ob-
struct the View, they could easily be seen at a
distance of five miles, instead of the two which
separated them from their pui‘sncrs.

On went the chase—each p.1rty urging their
horses tenths utmost. _

Five—ten miles have the horses of the pursued
nn-l the pursuers passed over. Then, turning in
the. saddle, the Pathfinder measured the distance
between himself and his pursuers. The brigands
Were gaining ground! and his ear catching
the heavy breathing of his horse, convinced him
thalt the pace was telling hard upon the uni-
mzi .

“A few miles more and they will overtake
us,” murmured the Pathfinder, between his
teeth. “ Caramba !” and he hissed out the oath
from his firm-clinched teeth, “ if I die, other
blood besides mine will re lden thil prairie: My
poor beast is nearly done for; I’ve a. mind to
pull up and make a fight for it; there’s not
more than a dozen, and my rifle and revolver

fire good for six lives, to say nothing of my
nife. -

And what were Rita’s thoughts? Alas, poor
girl, her heart was so full of anguish that
thought had almost ceased. She knew full Well
t'isit, in the event of a conflict, she must lose
either a lover or a brother, or both must perish.
To x beautiful but hapless girl wished that she
was in her grave.

“ Ouramba. I” cried the bandit chief in'glee. as
he saw that he was gaining upon the fugitives;
“ another half-hour and we shall overtake
them.”

“ Their horses are tiring.” cried Tic, who rode
next to Roy, foremost in the chase. “

“ Yes, their horses are winded, while ours, as

, yet, are fresh,” responded Roy.

“, 0a itann, will not this peon be likel to
fight?” asked, one of the brigands, a uge

red-hooded fello w, who answered to the name of

Legro. A

“ Well, are we not too to on‘cl” demanded

.Roy., "If the dog shows his teeth, we‘ll pull

them out for him.” _

At which piece of pleasuntry the brignnds in
hearing laughed loud and long.

- “ Ab. comrade!" cried Tin, quietly to himself,

' r “the process of extracting the’ teeth or yonder

dog ay be more difficult than you iinnwine, rind
- no cost more lives than one. By tho~ ieard of
. my grandfather, if there is to he a. fight he'll not

4 be apt to spare mei that’s certain; so. for the-

n the roan", And having

Nonmka

 

Mustang Rider Roy.

come to this conclusion, Tio, without attracting
attention, quietly tightened the rain on his horse
and let the others pass him. He soon was the
rearmost rider. Intent noon the chase, none of
tho hrignnds noticed this little maneuver.
Si};er located in the rear, 'l‘io chuckled to him-
se .

“Now, then,” he cried, jocosely addressing
his speech to the animal on whose back he sat,

J‘let the sport begin as soon as possible; you
But may the good

and I are out of danger.
Mother of God protect that brave soul!" he
ejaculated. with real fervor.

Still hotly on, riding for life, pressed the pur-
sued, and still hotly on their track followed the
brigands.

A stumble, and the horse of tho peon went
down upon his knees. A yell of joy burst from
the hoarse throats of the pursuers. Quickly,
however. the practiced hand of the Indian
pulled the horse to his feet, and still onward
over the prairie went the race for life.

“This cannot last much longer!” cried the
peon. as he noted how rapidly his enemies were

gaining upon him, and what Signs of distress

and exhaustion his horse was showing.

Eagerly the hunted man surveyed the broad ,

prairie. Mile upon’ mile it stretched on, one
vast, unbroken plain. It never before looked so
boundless and forbidding.

What would not the Pathfinder have given

then for one little clump of timber—a single'

wooded knoll—in which he might seek shelter—
which he might turn into a. fortress, and from its
cover defy his foes!

He felt that he was doomed. and only for the
iron will that clinched his firm-set teeth, he
would have groaned aloud in agony. Then,
when he looked upon his sister, the knowledge
that his death would give her again into the
hands of the man he hated, Roy Lara, the Mex-
ican, was maddening.

Convulsively the Pathfinder loosened the knife
in his belt; the dread thOught was in his heart;
he would kill her rather than she should fall the
prey of the man who had charmed her as the
serpent charms the bird.

“ Yes,” thought the desperate brother, while
still he rode furiously onward, “I will stab her
with my own hnnd if the worst comes to the
worst, for there is no way to save her. Surely,
our parents will look down from Heaven and
bless the deed! It is not murder; it is but
saving the lamb from the wolf.”

V CHAPTER X. ,
'THE COUGAR snows HIS TEETH.
“PREPARE your weapons, nienl” shouted

Ro .

I}; was evident to the brigand that a few mine

:tesd more would give the fugitives into his
an S.

Eagerly the brigands unslung their carbines.
Human bloodhounds, this chase, which must end
in death, was to them but pastime.

Tic. safe in the rear, watched the proceedings
with interest.

“ By Old Nick himself, the patron saint of

those fellows, but this will be as rare fun as a, ’

bull-fight,” he cried.

 

Mustang Rider Roy.

_

Again the brave Pathfinder’s horse stumbled
and went down upon his knees.

“ By heaven!” cried Roy, “ he's thrown!”

And it was apparently so, for when the horse
r1 vse to his feet his master had disappeared from
his b wk, and the pm'suers could discern a dark
mass, evidently the form of the Pathfinder, ex-
tended upon the prairie. ,

A yell of joy burst from the throats of the
brigands at the sight. .

“Bah!” cried Tio, disgusted, “there is to be
no light, then, after all—no fight! I wanted to
see halt a dozen of these fellows laid out on the
prairie. \Vell, there’s one consolation, there’ll
be more for the soldiers to kill."

Rita had dismounted. apparently to help her
brother. and yet Roy noticed, as he rode toward
them, that she remained standing by her horse,
not twenty paces from the prostrate man.

The brigand suspected some ruse, The. thought
struck him how improbable that the hcrdsmnn—
notoriously one of the best riders around, and
used from boyhood to tamingr wild steeds of the
prairie—should be thrown from a tired horse,
and 'knocked senseless, too, by contact with the
prairie’ssoftsurface. Instinctirely Roy slackened
the speed of his horse; the. b 'innnds. With a sort
of vague apprehension of anger, followed his
example.

The rulfians were now within rifle range of
the Pathfinder. anal were approaching at a
gentle gallop. Tio. still in the rear, and scent—
ing danger from afar, had slackened the pace of
his horse to a walk.

Suddenly, then, from under the belly of the
peon‘s horse—which Was standing broadside to
the brigands—came a little puff of u bite smoke;
the sharp report of a rifle followed, and the
brigand who rode just behind Roy ri eled in his
saddle, clutched vacantlyat theair, and tumbled
from his horse, shot through the breast. Roy
saw that the shot had been aimed at him.

“Bravo!” cried Tio, safe in the rear; “the

I Pathfinder begins to show his teeth. Now draw
them, Senor Brigands!”

Maddeued with rage, Ro rose in his stirrups.
“Forwardl” he cried. “ hoot down the man,
but spa re the girl l”

The hrigands rushed onward, impatient to
avenge their comrade’s death.

“Reserve your fire till within pistol range!”
cried Roy. “ He is defenseleSs: don’t let him
escapel Make this his last trail!”

As the brigands galloped rapidly toward him—
reservine; their fire in obedience to the orders of
their loader—the moment they got Within revolver
range the intrepid and self-possessed peon opened
fire. Crack! crack! crack! Three little pufi‘s
of white smoke, the three sharp reports. and
three brigands tumbled from their saddles, one
shot dead—pierced through the temple; the
other two badly wounded.

lnstinctively, and without waiting for orders,
the riders pulled up their horses and discharged
a scattering fire upon their desperate game.
But, so confused was their aim, that not a single
shot struck the peon or his horse. behind whose
body he was now sheltered. ’

i The hrigands had halted on receiving the
. deadly fire, and two or three showed a disposition
W wettest. Almost mad with rage, and wild at

I
|

 

.,: ,_

the thought of losing; four of his comrades, Roy
urged them on.

“Cowards!” he cried, “ will
one man? 0n and crush him!‘

But his men hesitated: they had guessed, from
the rapidity of the lire, that the Pathfinder was
armed with a revolw-r, that Wonderful North
Ann-rican weapon ot which» they had heard sq
much and knew so little.

At this moment the hunted peon again opened
fire. Twice he dischurgcd the revolver, thus
emptying the chambers of the weapon. Each
shot was aimed at Roy Lara. for, could he (llS-
able that rufliau, the others would retreat. The
second shot toppled Lara from the :~8(l(ll(‘. The
Pathfinder gave vent to a iierce shout of joy,
which was ansuercd by a cry of dismay from
the atlackingr party—tho members of which
speedily retreated out of range, bearing their
stricken leader with them. Fortune, however,
favored the hrieand chief, for the hall’had mere<
1y passed through the fleshy port of the shoul-
der, making but a slight wound. _

“ Are you hurt f” inquired red-bearded Legro,
as he paused with the wounded leader at a safe
distance from the deadly tire of the peon‘.

“ Not seriously: the. hall has only cut through
my shoulder. My horse, starting at the mo-
ment, ca used me to lose my seat,” answered
Roy. as he sprung into the saddle again.

“ Cm'amha I ” cried the. peon, in despair;
“ Satan himself aids this man. Four times
have I missed him.”

Rita, who had lrecn watching the combat with
straining.r eyes, now fearing for her brother,
now for her lover, (pposed to each other in this
deadly combat, Vi hon she saw the hrig‘and leader
fall—dead, she imagined—killed by the hall
from her brother’s pistol—could not endure the
fatal sight; her scnses failed, and, with a faint.
shriek. she fell aprarently lifeless upon the
grcuud.

The moment the hrigauds retreated, the Path-
finder proceeded to reload his weapons. His
rifle loaded, he felt in his pouch for the bullets
of the revolver, when, to his dismay, he discov~
ered that he had noxhing but rifle-bullets, too
large to lit the other weapon.

“By the Virgin!” he (Tied, in dismay, “my
revolver is useless. I have but my rifle—one
shot—one life, and they are yet seven toone.
Should they make anotlu r attack I am lost.
I’ll load the barrels with powder, though; the
dog.r may frighten with his lark if he cannot
bite. In an hour the sun will be down- night
will come: if I can but baffle them till then,
amid the shades of darkness I can escape.”

Loud and hot was the discussion among the .
Mexicans. They already had lost four men out
of eleven, which left but seven in the field, and
one of these—Roy, their lender—was already
wounded.

“If you had closed in upon him whenIor-
dered, he would now be in our power or life«
less!” cried Roy. bitterly.

“ Pardon, capitano ! ” cried Legro, who was a.
sort of a leader among the hrigands, though
hearing no rank. “ The fiend is armed with re-
volvors: besides, we’d emptied our piGGOS. and
before we could have cut him down with our .

you retreat from

sabers, he could easdy have shot us down, one? I  , . ,

1 r  I

 

20

Mustang Rider Roy.

 

bv one. 'He shoots with wonderfull skill, that
I’ll swear.”

“Bubl” cried Boy, in anger: “ho hnd fired
five shots; that is the number of chambers a
revolver has; the chances are a hundred to one
that he was helpleSS when we retreated."

“ Perhaps,” growled Logro, snllcnly; “ but,
tlpn, he may have two or threo more revolvers,
and What man wants to run into certain death“
I You no ltving mun, but I don‘t want to be
shot down likeadog in cold blood, Withouta
chance for my life.”

“ Yes, yes, that’s true! that’s so l” came from
the lips of three or fourof the brigunds. who
felt but little relish to again encounter the Path-
finder with his death—dealing weapons at close
quarters.

“ It is clearly impossible to gain anything by
making a direct attack,” said Roy, musingly.

“ Oh, clearly!” cried Legro, and the rest of
the band echoed his words. ,

“ In a short time night will come,” said Roy.

“Yes, and then good-by to all hopes of kill-
ing this vipér,” responded Legro. “In the
darkness he can easily escape. He knows the
prairie like a bee, and will disappear like a
snake.”

“ Could we not place lsentinels around and so
hem him in?” asked another of the band.

“ N o!” cried Rev. “ At whatever part of the
lip! be attempted to break through, he would
11 I l but one man to oppose him. One shot then
\wml'l open the way for the peon’s flight. I
have a plan, though, that may succeed."

I. And eagerly the brigands gathered around to
lsten.

CHAPTER XI.
ran wow AT BAY.

“ MY plan is simple,” said the leader. “Bt-'
fore we failed because we all attacked together
in one body and from one point. Now, my idea
is to surround and attack him from all points.
His attention bein thus diverted, for he cannot
watch all of us at nee. some one of our number
maybe able to disable him, or, at all events,
disable the horses. That would place him with-
out means of escape.

“Now,” continued Roy, “there are seven of
us here. “’9 will form a circle around him,
keeping out of range of his fire. Then, whnn
the circle is complete, we will all dash in upon
him imultaneously, I will give the signal for
the advance by discharging my pistol. R'Hllem-
her. disable the horses if you can not the min.
and do not expose yourselves reclilcsslv to the
fire. We can not afford to lose more men.”

Which caution was entirely unnccewiry, for
none of the cut-throats had any desire to expose
their prfiiaolous lives within range of the peon’s

re.

“ ow, then, prepare for the attack!" cried
Roy. ‘Tio, you remain here; this will be your
station; the rest follow me. Remember, men,
the signal for the advance isashot from my
pistol. I

And Tio was left, much to his own satisfac-
tion, just where he proposed to remain—out of

n reach. -
. Boy, with the brigands, galloped of! to form

 

the circle—which would soon be a circle of fire,
eager to consume its prey—around the death—
doomcd mun.

Some five hundred yards or so, Legro dropped
out of the ranks and took his station there; the
rest of the band rode on. Another five hundred
ynrds another brignud stopped, and so they
went on, until, at last, Roy alone was left to
gallop onward. T hon he, too, stopped, wheeled
his horse around to face the prey, and the pcon
was completely encircled by the prairie bandits.

This mum-uver had not con unobserved by
the Pathfinder; he understood its meaningonly
too well. -

“Ah, the cowardsl” he cried; “ they intend
to dash in upon me as the Indians surround and
dash in upon the wild buffaloes. I fear my race
is run. I am almost powerless for defense, too;
one load in my riflo 15 but one life. If I had my
revolver charged, I’d make some of them rue
the attempt to run me down like a wild beast.
But let them come!” cried the brave brother,
defiantly, as he drew back the hammer of his
rifle and leveled it across the back of the horse,
direct at Roy. “ He will never touch Rita’s
hand again.”

The hrigand captain looked around the cor-
don of men; motionicss they sat in the saddle,
carbine in hand, waiting for the signal.

Sharp and shrill rung out on the air the re-
port of Lara’s pistol.

Seven horses felt the spur stroke of seven pair
of heels, and the brigahds rode in to the attack.
thNai-row‘ grew the circle as they closed in upon

9 prey.

The Pathfinder reserved his fire till Lara was
fairly within range; then the sharp report of his
rifle broke upon the air. Full at Roy Lara’s
heurthad the bull been aimed, but the brigand
captain was fated not there to die. The chief
had caught the glint of the: fast-dying: sun on the
shining; rifle-tuhe—hnd guessed the moment of
the. discharge, anal, causing his horse to rear,
the beast had received the ball full in his chest,
and, with a convulsive groan, had fallen upon

his knees, then rolled ovor on his side, mortally

wounded. Roy nimny disengaged his feet from
the stirrups, and, as the beast fell, leaped from
his back to the ground. Losing»;r his balance,
however he fell prostrate.

A wild whoop rung from the lips of the peon
as he witnessad the fall and supposed death of
his enemy. Quickly leveling the revolver and
wheeling upon the foe advancing in his rear. he
fired. The blank charge was as fully effectual
in one sense as if it had contained a ball, for the
brigands advancmg in that direction turned
their horses about and retreated far more rapid-
ly than they had advanced.

Wheelingr quickly, the Pathfinder fired first at
the brigan'is approt-hing on the right. than at
those on the left. Panic-stricken at their leader’s
fall. they fired their pieces at random at the
single foe; then, following the example of the
others, retreated fast across the prairie.

Boy, by this time, had gained his feet.

A cry of rage broke from Manuel’s lips. a...

“ Is this man a fiend,” he cried, “ that I can-
not kill himl” . '

And what would not the icon have given
to have had his loaded rifle in is hand again-

 

?

Mustang Rider Roy.

21“

 

to have had one more chance at the life of
his foel

Roy snatched up his curhiue from the ground,
where it had been thrown by the shock of his
full. 011 ifoot then, carbine in hand. reckless of
the consequence, he (hushed in upon the peon, us
though singlehunded he would crush him; but
there was method in the madness of the leader.
The moment he arrived “ilillu range he leveled
his carbine and tired; the shot struck the Path—
finder’s horse just behind the shoulder; the
wound was mortal, and the horse sunk upon the
prairie, stricken unto (tenth.

Manuel discharged two barrels of tho‘ rchlly
harmless revolver lit the hrignud, and he, think-
ing: that he heard the whistliinr of the halls
about his head, and conscious that he had dc-
privcd the peon of tho means of flight. retreated
across the pruirio to where the. hrigunrls, liii
assembled together and Well out of reach of the
pcon’s lire, were watching ‘he mad movements
of their leader. int when they saw the horse
oi‘ the peon i'all—snw Ri-y i'clrcutunharmed-—
they sent forth u. shout of triumph. They
admired foolhurdiness in others, though they
had but little inclination to indulge in it them-
selves.

Thanks to the blank cartridges in the In-
diun‘s revolver, Roy Lure. rejoined his band
unburxm d.

“ Catch me n horse, some of you," he said.

A brig-and dished oil“ in chase of one of
the riderless horses. The horses had not strayed
far, and the fellow speedily returned with one.

Roy, uguin in the saddle, prepared to as-
sail the single foe, who still so bravely held his
own.

“ That was a daring attempt, capitano i” cried
Legro, in admiration.

“ If you heal hut closed in upon him, the affair
would have been ended,” replied Roy; “ but as
it is, I have cut oil his retreat. One horse re-
mains for the two; either he must abandon the
girl or sucrifico his own life.”

“ Why, capituno. the bullets of [his red devil
seem to have no cli‘cct upon you. Twice he has
failed to kill you,” suid Legro.

" I was not horn to die hy the hand of a pconl"
exclni med Roy, scorn fully.

“ Recharge your pieces. you that have fired.
We’ll dash in upon him again. If we cnuuotkdl
him we can disable the other horse, and then he
is wholly in our power.”

1 Tdho brigands who had fired proceeded to re-
on . .

The carhiucs charged, ncniu they gather
around their lender to receive his lust instruc-
tious.

The Purhfiuflcr, who had reloaded his wen.-
pons. still usuur, hut powdcr alone for his
1'9v()lvcr,f()l‘ want of bullets. lmd waited pu-
tii-ntlv for some new movement on the part of
his relentless foes. By iii“ death of his horse he
was uncovered on that Side to the tire of the
attacking party. I

A sigh escaping from his sister’s lips aroused
him. Rit'l was recovering from her swoon.
The Mother hastened to her Hide; the brizends
were s‘ill quiet, apparently holding a council,

“ Is he dead?” were the’ first WQI'dfi till“? came
1mm the lips of the peon girl.

I

 

“ No; he is unharmed. The Evil ()ne protects
him,” answered the brother.

“And you have not been wounded?” she
asked.

“ No; but the struggle Will soon be over.
The. next attack will prohnhly cost mo my
life; then you will he free to go with this
mun, tor Whom you are willingr to peril your
soul!”

“Oh, my brother!” cried the girl, rising to
her feet. “ Would that I had been dead and in
lliy'(l]'l’l,let grave em I had brought you into this
pcri .

“ Would you rather die with me than lead {1
life of shame?"

“No, no, brother!” cried Rita. sinking upon
her knees with uplifted hand. “I am not pre-
pared to die! Spare mel”

“Spare youl’ exclaimed the Pathfinder:
“spare you, so that when I am cold in death
you will rush to tho arms of this fiend? Spare
you, so that on may hrng disgrace to the

100d of your dead mother? No!”

CHAPTER XII. ‘
THE MASTERS OF THE PRAIRIE. c .

“SPARE me! spare me, brother!” implored
the kneeling. girl, and then her eyes wandered
wildly across the prairie toward the hrig‘ands,
as though she expected that he) would come
from them to save her from er brother’s
stee . -

“ See!” she cried, suddenly. “They are re-
treating! See Manuel, brother, they are fly‘
ingl

Astonisth at this sudden maneuver, the
Pathfinder turned his gaze. upon his fees.

The girl had spoken the. truth; the hrigrmds
were in full rcirent. Spurting their horses like
men mad, they were flying at their topmost
spced across the prairie.

“Strange, I cannot understand“ the meaning
of this!” cried the perm, as he watched the rapid
and unceremonious fliiri‘ht of his foes. “What
can have cnuscd it? hen the peou swept his
eye around the horizon to see if he could discover
the reason for this unaccountable proceeding on
the purt of the hrigands.

The Pnthflndor’s searching glance soon dis-
covered a body of horsemen advancing from the
was ..

‘_‘ sire the very powers of evil against me!" be

-u- .

“What is it?” exclaimed Rim, gazing in as-
tonishment into her brother’s face.

“ See there!” he cried, pointing to the body of
horsemen advancing from the west.

III‘Iflsee a body of horsemen advancing rap-
u y.

" Yes; they ride “ith the speed of the wind,"
glonmily replied the peon.

“ Dcur brother, you are saved then 3”,

“ No; I am lost l” returned Manuel."

“ Lost?” cried Rita. in astonishment.

" Yes; we are both lost!” despairineg cried
the peon. “Look again! Can not you guegs
who they are?”

“ They are not Mexicans. for they do not wear
snmbreros,” said the girl, still shading her eyes
with her hands and gazmg intently at the fast-
approachiug, strangers, “They are not North

 

22

Mustang Rider Roy.’ '

 

Americans, for I can not see the gleam of their
sabers." ‘

“ Would to heaven that they were the soldiers
of the Republic; thcn we should be saved. Now
we are lost," returned the dejected man.

The dark mass had now uppronclu-d so ncar
that, to the eyes of the girl, it began to scpuruto
into single horsemen. “ They arc Indians,” she
cried. suddenly.

“ Yes, Comanches.” roturnw] her brother.
“‘ ‘Tis a foray against the frontier. It was their
nppc-irnnce that caused the spccdy I‘otrcat of the
Mexicans.”

“ What can we (10?”(lgestioiiorl Rita.

“ Nothing. In a few minutes we shall be
prisoners in their ban is. lb-sismncc is useless,
and would only exuspcrutn them.”

"What will be our fate!” nekod Rita, anx—
iously.

“You will become the wife of some chief, and
they will make a. slum of mu,"

“ Oh! such a fate will ho terrible!” cried Rita,
in anguish. -

“It is our destiny; wry are doomed,” replied
Minuel. “ But in thcir llilll l.~' as prisoners,
there is still a. chance for cs-upc. The Indians,
evidently, are about to n‘t'wk sinne frontier
t nvn, perhaps Tacoq; if so. t1” moldicrs there—
of whom they can hav: no lill‘)‘.\'l:‘, lqc—will give
them a. warm reception. uud .vc stind a faint
chance of release; tn-‘l‘nl‘rn‘m do not breathe a
word of the pl'esonco oi the North Americans in
the, village.”

“ I will not," replied Rim. “ I would do any
thing—«into anything to escape from this dread-
ful fate.”

On came the red Warriors. the misters of the
prairie, sweeping down upon the two poous as
the eagle sweeps down upon its prey.

On they came at the best Spa->1 of their hardy
little ponies, gany adoruel with tho bright war-
paint and the many-c )l ircl to trim»: that formed
their head-dresses an l flutte-rcl from their long
latices waving proudly in too wind.

It was quite a. large war-party, numbering
perhaps fifty warriors, led, too, by chiefs of
note.

The party were on their yearly foray amainst
the Mexican frontier settlements. Their course
was to be marked with blood, and the smoke
uni flame of the burning ruins that they left in
their track.

V It was apparent that the party had not struck
a. blow yet, for no trophies of victory mlnrled
their persons. They lmd probably crossed the
Rio (irando below El Pnso and struck inland to
avoid observation:

Upon approaching within rifle—shot of' the
poonn, the warriors sepa 'uted, and branching
out to the right and left, incloscd the two in a
circle, and then halted.

The Pathfinder discharged his rifle in the air.
Ell-i revalver ho had previously cast down in the

grass so that it shou d not fall into thcir hands; .

then he drew the knife from his bolt and threw
it far from him on the prairie, and held out his
hands signifying that he was unarmed.

Two of the Indians, appurently the chiefs of
the party, advanced.

As a rule the wild master of the prairie de-
spises his “civilized” broth“. the Mexican, and,

>

 

not without reason. But the two chiefs havin
notcd the bodies of the slain brigands, hag
quickly arrived at a. correct solution of the situ-
ution.

The two chiefs who now approached were
strikingly alike in person, though one was old
and the other young—evidently father and
Still.

“Did my red brother kill these men?” asked
the elder chief, speaking excellent Spanish.

“ Yes,” replied the peon.

“ Alone?”

it Yes.”

“\Vab!” ejaculated the young chief.
brothcr is a. great brave.”

“Does my brother live in the lodges of the
Mexicans?" asked the old chief.

“ Yes,” the peon answered.

“ Yet they are dogs. and try to kill him?”

“ A man may have foes even among the
people in whose lodgcs he dwells,” said the
hcrdsmall.

“ My brother speaks straight; his skin is red
—his heart is not white. W'hy will be live in
the lodch of the palc-fnCes?"

“ He was born there,” responded Manuel.

“Let him be born again, and this time a.
Comanche," said the old chief, tersely. '

“ It is good.” said the other chief, “ the Iron-
pan is a great chief; he will be a brother to the
red warrior who has dWelt in the lodges of the
pale-faces.” ‘

“ And the Gray Bear will be his father,” said
the old chief; and then his eyes falling upon the
girl, he asked: “ S uuw?” _

“ No; sister,” rep ied Manuel.

“ Wuli! she is as fair as a prairie-flower,” said I
the old chief.

Rita. at heart trembled at the compliment,
though outwardly she preserved her calmness.

“ Does my brother know the white lodges by
the big river, there?" and the old chief pointed
southwest in the, direction of Tacos.

“ Yes: Tacos,” said Mnnuol.

“Ugh! hood!” said tho Gray Bear; “my
brother will lead my wurriors there?”

“ Yes," Manuel promptly replied.

“How long!" questioned the chief.

“We shrill reach there bofore light in the
morning," Manuel answered.

“It is good!” answered the chief. “Let my
red brother take his rifle ngnin; the Comanches
are his brothers; he is a great warrior: the
Gray Bear will fight for the Long-rifle,” the ln- .
dirm bud already named the new recruit to the
Comanche ranks.

So a horse was brought and the Pathfinder
mountnd and set out with the old chief in ad-
vance of the war—party. Rita was placed in the
cenfm'of the Warriors. And so they took up
their line of march for Tacos.

H 

CHAPTER XIII.
THE ATTACK 0N TACOS.

WE will return now to Lieutenant Wenie.
then he receive 1 Jimnita’s note on his return
from his expedition down the river, his conster-
nation was great. VVenie saw plainly that his
love for Juanita was suspected by her father ’
and that he had taken the girl away to prevth

 

1..»th

Mustang Rider Roy.

 

her from communicating with him. What was
to be done?

Vaiuly he pondered over the affair. The
Mexicans had four or live honrs’ start; should
he follow in pursuit? and then what excuse had
he should he overtake them? True, he loved
Juanita, and she loved him, but he could not
very well take her by force. from the arms and
protection of her own father.

The lieutenant was puzzled; ho resolved to
seek the advnce of Major Curtin. Repairing to
tho major’s quarters, he found him there as
usual.

Briefly to the major the young oilicer cx-
pluined matters—related how he had met the
senorita. on the prairie. and how she had agreed
to become his wife; and, lastly, he told of the
flight of Torres and his daughter, and showed
the major the note he had received.

The old soldier read the little note carefully.

“It is cVidcut,“ he said, thoughtfully, “ that
the girl loves you.”

“ l’d stake my life upon her truth!” cried
Wenie, warm] .

“ Well, [ believe you could do so with safety,”
replied the major. “ It is plain that the girl
takes after her mother, who was a good woman.

' and not after her father, who is a black-hearted
scoundrel. I am fully satisfied, VVcnie, that
that man knows something of the fate of my
lost boy, and one of these days—not for distant
either—I may have him in so tight a place that
he will gladly tell all he knows.”

“But. major, what do you advise me to do?”
asked Weiiie.

“ At present—nothing,” was the major‘s curt
reply.

“ Nothing l”rcried VVenie in astonishment.

“ Nothing,” re eated the major. “ What else
can you do? on can’t follow on this man’s
track with a body of United States soldiers, and
say to him: ‘1 lova your daughter; give her to
me or I‘ll take her.’ There’s nothing in the
Army Regulations that provides for any such
action as that ”

“True, true l” replied lVenie; “ you in": right.
major. But if they take her to Santa Fe, there
they may force her to marry this Roy Lara that
I have told you of.” said chie. . I

“ Well, in the first place,” replied the major,
thoughtfully, “I do not think there is any
danger that the girl will be taken to Santa Fe;
and then, the next thing is to force the girl to
consent to the marriage. and, from your descrip-
tion of the lady, I fancv it will he no easy mat-
ter. Theynre not likely to use actual violence
in the aifair. though I have no doubt that both
ol’ these men ‘are capable of it. Take my word
for it, she will not he taken very far from here,
and they Will have to keep a close watch upon
her to keep her from communicating with

on.”

y “Then you think that she will contrive in
some way to let me know where she is?” said
Wenie. . I

“ Precisely so,” responded the'major. “ But.
lieutenant, you need not remain entirely quiet
and do nothing. You can bribe some Mexican
in the village here to viSit Torres’s hacienda on

, some pretext, and in a careless way question the

servants and. the inmates of the house in regard

 

to the whereabouts of Torres and his daughter.
In that way you might be able to pick up some
information of value to you."

“ Your suggestion is good, major. I will act
upon it the. first thing in the morning,” said
\ ’enie, rising to depart.

“ By the way, lieutenant," said the major, “I
have discovered where the hiding—place of these
lii'igaiids is located.”

“ Indeed!” cried Wenie, in astonishment.

“ Yes; a secluded ranch on the bank of the
Rio Pecos. l have a rude map of the road
thither, and of the (leftllh‘esof the place. It’s
quite a strong place, defended by a stockade
wall, «lllllll'cglmble, except against artillery or a
sudden or unlookml-for attack.”

“ When do you propose. to inch against them?"
asked “ionic.

“As soon as I receive further information.
My spy is even now in the brigauds’ streng-
hold.”

“ Is it possible?" exclaimed W'enie. “ He
must be a daring fellow. But good-night,
major.”

“Good-night, lientcnant,” returned the elder
officer. and Wenio r‘cpaii‘ed to his own quarters.

The licutciiaut’s slunihers that night wvre far
from pleasant; his rest was broken by con-
fued dreams; and when the morning came
and he awoke, he felt but little refreshed by his
night’s rest. ’

The morning duties over, Wenie sought
among the Mexicans of the village fora ines—
seuger to visit the hacienda of Torres, there
to gain tidings, if possible, of Torres or his
slaughter.

The messenger was soon found, who, for a
goldenvonncc—to him a fortune-undertook to
perform the task.

After receiving his instructions from the lien-
tenant, tlzc Mexican departed on his mission.

Long seemed the hours to the lieutenant, nu:
til the Mexican returned, which event occurred
about noon. \ '

The messenger had learned comparatively
nothing—that is, nothing that could give the
anxious lover a clew to the destination of his he-
loved J unnita.

“ The Mexican told the lieutenant of the sud-
den departure oi Torres with his daughter, and
and an escort, for Santa. Fe; the halt at the
ruined ranch and the appearance of Roy Lara
with his armed followers; then how the escort
from the hacienda was sent ack, and how
Torres and his daughter had proceeded on their
wav with Roy and his men. ’

chie paid the Mexican his promised fee-—
much to that worthy’s delight, which he showed
by instantly going and getting gloriously drunk;
and the lieutenant went to the niajor’a quarters
to tell him what he had learned.

Curtin listened attentively; when Wenio had
finished, for a moment he remained silent; then
he abruptly cried:

“Lieutenant. it is as I suspected. I did not
want to tell you of my suspicions last night, be-
cause I had really no good reasons for them, and
I thought you felt had enough without my say-
inc.r anything to make you feel worse.”

“What do you suspect?" asked Wenie, in
alarm. ‘

 

Mustang Rider Roy.

“Well, lieutenant, I hardly suspect no :r; I
am sure of it. This stoi')’ of the up!) dirt”! 1‘, oi"
this Larzizit the ruini-d runs': w in n lmlyof
armed men, opens my eyes at (llll‘l‘. This ,l.‘i.r.'l,
lieutenant, is I‘lli‘ of tho in-inmpnl h-ndurs ol‘ the
Brignuds of the Pl‘:lll‘it-§ Torres, ns 1 sus :celod,
is secretly in l-agun with the. lirigmids. Tho
armed men that Itiy L-‘irn. healed were the
bi‘igands thcniselvr-s.”

“ Then you think—” and Vi'enie hesitated to
utter the fearful words

“I think,” said the ll‘ifljfll‘, slowly, “that the
girl Juanita. is now at tho stronghold of tho
briznnds on the Rio I’m-us."

“Then we have an excuse to i‘rsmin llx"l',”
cried the lieutenant, e. glviiai of joy huh-mg up
his features; “ we can iltl-‘l("i invsn villains, (lir-

stroy them, and free her; that is strictly in the ,

line of our duty.”

“You are right!” exclaimed the major, “ and
we will perform that duty. IstimiH have pre—
ferred to wait until I heard again from my an;
hut. as it is, the case \nll hardly lM-{II’ do], ,
therefore, we will set out at once. The bii—
zmide’ stronghold is, I should judge, a swore of
leagues from here; but, by crowding tho, hoi- :,
we can reach it by sunrise. The nitirk must [IO
a surprise, or else within their stock-ado they
might be able to hold us at buy. I will give the

orders instantly for the movement."

But, as the major r05) from his chair, a
Mexican, breathless with haste, rushed into the
room. .

“ What the deuce do you wantf" cried Curtin,

annoyed at the unceremonious entrance.

“0h, Senor Major!” cried the Mcxican, and
then aused for breath.

“ ell what is it?"

“The ndiaiis! the Com'inchesi”

“ What!” And the major started in astonish-
ment. .»

“ 0h. senor, they are on their way to attack
uz—u large wur-party—a. hundred \vurriorsf”
cried the Mexican.

And then, when the in::ss-~‘n:“r llilil I'l‘POVI‘l‘GKl
his breath. he told how hunting- nfrur stray
cattle on the upper Rio Grnndo, ennrunlud in
the shruhhery by the river’s hunk, he hntl
seen the Imll'l‘ls cross the river, and strike iii-
land. Tacos, being th's nearest town. Wis,
of course, the Objective p not of the expedition;
and the Mexican had hastened Lit once to give
the alarm.

“This puts a stop to our exrwrlilion, linu-
tenant,” said the major, “for we must attend

. to these rad demons first. We’ll give them such
a. neception that the story of it shrill strike ter-
ror throughout their tribe. Itis very evident
that they do not know of our presence here.
Thev will not ntt'ii'k us till about iiiidnigiit, or
early morning—that is their favorite hour. ’I‘o-
night, \Venie, we’ll nttv-nvl to these red-skins, to-
morrow to the yellow-birds!” -

So the major and lit-uti-nniit went forth to
prepare for the expected attack.

Each house received 'ts complement of sol-
diers; those at the no. 1 end of tho town. the

int supposed to be the i.rsit likely to fCl‘l the.

when attack, had a. double number. Forty
men were ’ambushed in the homes—the reiiiaim
mg twenty were posted in the corral backpf the

 

mission, ready to mount and dash upon the
sivugcs upon their retreat fro n the cross—fire of
the houses.

\thn the Hliudi-s of night descended upon the
\‘illzign, few \i'oul'l' hum supnosed, so calm and

NHL nus the little street, that each dwelling

' a 1'4 irtro-s, lil‘lal ling with weapons and teem-

ii with urnii-il llll'll.

'l‘ho hours p:L~.~:~d rapidly on, midnight came,
the major and the lieutenant iiiadont‘iiml iii-
spoittiou of their lllt‘li, urging lHCI‘CUSL‘tl caution.
No: ii gun woe to he tirrrl until :1 shot from the
iiiuj ir’s l‘l,‘\'UlVl‘l' guvo the signal for the attack.

The iii-iior himself took post upon the flat roof
of the ii.‘ iii—iioiwo, lying: at full length behind
the low r ll". Cont'val-‘Il from sight, he com-
mando-in. i'irll vi .v of the single street upon
which Tu "is was liuilt.

The hour»- it i,~»:--'l slowly uwny; the first gray
. ' 's of the mining; morn began toline the
«intern clouds, win-n, to tho watching ears of
tho llllllilfl', came the tramp of many hoofs. A
h-w ll‘lll-lfi‘i more mid the street below was
tilled r. it 1 nitii'k i'oi'iiis‘.

Thu Conrail-ho»: had come.

The iiiar'ivuj,r light was in the [eastern sky
when the lndinns entered Tacos. I’No sound of
nlarni he 1 been given, the town was apparently
buried in shnihcr.

The Commit-hots gained the little square before »
the m. .siou-house, the center of the town; then,
rising in his rude stirrups, the Gray Bear gave
the loud Wéil'-Wl10l)l), the signal for slaughter.
Hardly had the sound of the loud war-cry of the
red chief broke on the still morning air, when it
was answered by the shrill crock of a. revolver.
Up into the air (:UllVlllSlVL‘ly went the arms of
the Gray Bear; he reeled from the saddle, and
fell heinllong to the earth, a. lifeless mass.

Hardly hail the crack of the revolver answer-
ed the yell o tli ‘ li‘.(litll], when a sheet of flame
burst tron (nu-h side of the little street, and the
curbin' -li:lllr‘: ('ullii‘, thick and deadly among the
red 'urriors. Punks-stricken, they turned to
fly, ll:ll'~lly returnng the fire of the soldiers.
But the major, heading the squad of mounted
men, «lashed upon them; the soldiers ured
from the houses; and the Commit-hes, di aining
to ask for quarter, were out down like shee in
tho slaughter-lion, mid of the band that r0 9 so
bol-lly to the uttuck on Tacos, hardly ten of
tlieri ever crossed the Rio Gruiide, to hear back
to their trihe the story of their defeatb the'
blue-routed chiefs in the street of the little fiexi—
can village.

The loss of tho soldiers was but slight—a
Single mun killed and ten or so slightly wound-
ed. Few of tin: lnrlinils l.eiu;: armed with fire-
arms, accounted for tlir slight loss on the part of \
tho troops.

But the Pathfinder :in:l his sister—where were
they? They “1-!” ii ll n'n'm: the ten who fled,
or the party that lay \Mdill led or dead.

CHAPTER XIV. '
A DESPERATE GAME.

THE pistol ohot ol’ the major warned the Path-
finilt-r that in some way the soldiers had learned
of the aprirnm-h oi' the savages. and were ro-- '
pared to receive them, As they had ridden into .

 

Mustang Rider Roy.

 

the town, Manuel had endeavored to elude the
vigilance of the Indians, by whom he was sun
rounded, and give some alarm to arouse the
citizens and soldiers; but the savages kept a.
wary eye upon him,nnd he fclt that tho. attempt
would cost him his lil'c, and not he of much sor~
vice to his friends. He. felt sure that the sol-
diei‘s, once aroused, could easily heat oil‘ the. lu-
dians. So he wisely rodo quietly into the place.
The Single shot revealed to him the trap that tho
Comanches had so unwittinle stumbled into.

To think was to act. with Mnnuc-l. instantly
he tumbled out of the saddle to tho ground, just
in time to escape the hullcis hurlcd so thickly
into the ranks of the Indians. The nioincntho
struck the ground he ran to the shelter of the
nearest house. and thore rcinaincd till the brief
fight had ended. Ho know that all efforts of
his in behalf of his sish-r \vonld ho fruitless, and
be trusted to Heaven to prowct her, and a good
Providence answered tho cxpw-tntnm.

The escape of Kim was almost miraculous.
In the center of tlic suvag'l-s, their bodies were
the ramparts that sliicldcd hor from the deadly
fire that mowed them down as the grain falls
before the sickle; and tlwn the hilly lndinn
pony that she rode, scared by the firearms, car!
'ried her rapidly up the street, for from the
scene of slaughter. She. could not control the
heast,'so, with a prayer upon hor lips, shc leap-
ed boldly from his back. The soft cnrth re-
ceived her yielding form with scan-con ln'uisc.
Regaining her feet, she hastvned hack to the
town, and snon was in her brother’s arms.

The soldiers chased the pn'nic-strickvn Indians
far over the prairie; and then, at last, growing
“‘Eiiltll‘y of slaughter, tho major checked the pur-
su .

The sun was just rising as the little squad of
troopers rode hack into Tacos.

The lieutenant approached the major.

"There’s ten of the Indians whose wounds I
think are not mortal. [’Ve had them tnkcn into
the little drinkingshop. I suppose we'll have
to take them to Santa Fe as prisoners,” said
Wenie. .

“Yes; I will dispatch acourmr at once to
Santa. Fe, with an account of this affair. It’s
about the soundest thrashing that those maraud-
ing tigers have ever received along the border.
Thev’ll‘ not be apt to make another raid across
the io Grande, in this direction for some time,
I’m thinking." .

“I’m afraid that our expedition to the hri-

ands’ retreat will have to he delayed another

ay.” said Wenie. not feeling ovor-pleasrd at
the idea either. ,“We will have to bury these
dead red-skins, and attend to our own wounded
men, as well as to the wounded Indians."

“That’s true,” replied the major. “ Perhaps.
it is better as it is. In the mean time I may re-
ceive some information from my spy that will
greatly aid our attack.” .,

Though chafing at heart at the delay. yet the
lieutenant calmly proceeded about his duties.

By afternoon, Tacos had‘ resumed its wonted

tenant VVcnie. He was speedily conducted to
the liuuienunt’s quarters.

“ Well?” said tho. lieutenant, as the Mexican,
who was not i‘miuirkalilc for his good looks, up
puul‘l‘fl licl'ore liiin.‘

“ You are Lieutenant VVcnie?“ asked the
Moxicun.

“ Yrs," answered chie.

“ Will tho senor look at this?” asked the man,
drawing from his breast a little note.

The licutcnunt’s heart gave 0 leap of joy
when his eyes rested upon the delicate inscrip-
tion 01’ the note, for he saw that it was Juanita’s
handwriting.

Eagerly he tore it open.
sen tcncc:

It contained a. single

“ You may trust the bearer." .

Tilt-re was no signature, but each letter of the
delicate handwriting was graven 0n Wenic’s
limit. He knew full well that the note was
written by his heloved.

“ W hon- is the lady?” the lieutenant question-
cd, cagurly. »

“ At tho hacienda. of her father,” answered
the Mexican. I

“ Ali!” cried Wenie, in joy; “ she has return-
ed thcné” . '

“ Yes; the senor brought her back this morn-
ing early and secretly,” said the Mexican.

“ How then. did you know of her return?" do-
mandcd Wenio.

.“ Tho senor employed me to watch her.”

“ And you have betrayed your trust?"

“ Yes, scnor; I felt pity for the poor senorita.
Besides, I am to have five golden ounces.”

“ If you can prorure me an interview with
her, you shall have ten,” ci‘icd Wenie.

“1f the senor found it out, I shall lose my
place,” said the Mexican.

“ I’ll find you another,” replied the lieutenant.

“ I promised the senorita to find you and tell
you of lwl‘ return; but, to carry you back with
me is dangerous."

“ Romender. ten golden ounces,” said Wenie.

The Mcxican’s eyes sparkled. Wenie renewed
the temptation.

“ Ton golden ounces will make a gentleman of

on. v .
5 “Yes, senor.”

“ it is a fortune.”

“ Yes, senor.”

“ You accept?” , .

“ ch, senor."

“_You are a worthy fellow i” cried Wenie, full

of oy.

“J Remember, I’m to have another place if the
senor turns me 4 if,” said the Mexican.

“ Yes, yes,” replied Wenie.

“When do you Wish to go?”

“ At once.”

“ Impossible, senor. Remember. the hacienda
is on a prairie: your approach could easily be
seen: in an hour it will be dark. Cats can see
in the night, riot men." _ _

“ Bht there is a moon,” id Wenie.

appenrance, though here and there bloodstains l" “ The night will be clou y.”'replied the Meri-

. ‘on the wall: and on the earth still bore witness
to the terrible struggle. "
. Just as the dusk of evening was coming on. a

..Mexican rode into Tacos, and inquired for Lieu~

 

CD“.

“ In an hour. then, you will come?”

“I will wait here with the senor, if the senor
will let me,” replied the Mexican. '

 

26'

“ (.k-rtninlyi” cried Wenie, p wing rapidly up
null down the floor, hardly able to conceal his
impatience.

How slow, to VVenie‘s mind,tho hour rusiu
passing. Never before bud ‘un hour :Hulll-‘(l so
long—never were the shades of night so tardy in
descending.

To while the time away, VVenio questionwl the
Mexican as [o Whither Junialuhud hwn carried,
and as to the reason of this suddm return: hut,
.the Mexican lanewnothiuz exempt ihut’shc had
returned, and ha'l wnployuil ill“ to warn the
lieutenant. He further expiuiuwl that she was
afraid to write more than the brief line for feur

(

f...» *tory account, the lieuten-
ant. was" perforce obliged to he Content.

Five midutes alone remninc l of the hour.

“Will you tell the boy try-saddle my horse?
you will find him just buck of the house," Wouin
said to the Mexican. After he hud dep n'ted on
his errand, the lieutenant throw oll’ his uniform
coat, buckled a. belt around his waist, to which
was attached two holsters, each carrying a re—
volver; then he slipped on his louse undress cont
0 and was prepared for the night-1dventure,
Though apparently unurmurlA-the skirts of tho
coat concealing his revolver—in reality he was
fully prepared for danger. H~ h'rl determined
that if ,he could possibly carry off Juniutn thth
night, he would do so. He was reudy now to do
battle with a score for her sake.

Hardly had the lieutenant finished his proxy;
rations, when the Mexican returned, an'l after
him came the servant with u hors -.

Wenie leaped into the s‘rlllw the Mexican
mounted his mule, and the two set out.

As the Mexican had foretold, theniqht was
dark. Heavy banks of cloud; c lvered the sky;
only now and then at rure intervals the moon-
beums shone down upon the prairie. ».

“It looks like rain,”suid \Veuio, us they gal-
loped onward.

“ The senor does not four the min?”

“ Not on this errand,” replied the liouteuuuf;
“a min of liquid fire could hardly keep in.)
back.” .

On rode the two. Tacos was left behind, and
they galloperl over the pruirin. Alro'i-ly they
had accomplished half the distance between tho
town and the hacienda, when somothin’r peculiar
about his Mexican guide attracted \Veuie‘s at-
> mution. A suspicion of treachery shot Harm
his mind, for. lover though he was, yet his p.14-
siondld not blind him; he was still the cool,
cautious soldier. What it was about thmquils
that had excited his suspicion he could not tell,
exceot thut it was it stealthy kind of a watch
that t‘nn Mexican seemed to be keepingr ahead—
}: watch that he seemed to wish the lieutenant“
not to see.

Weuie resolved to ho upon his guard. Cau-
tiously he slipped his right hand—the Mexican
was riding upon his left—under the skirt of his
(xii-it, and drew his revolver; as his arm was
hién» int; down carelehsly by his side, of fourse
the. exican could not see the weapon as they“
rode onward.

The hacienda. was in sight. Wenie began to
think his fears were foolish. A few minutes
more. and Juanita might be folded in his arms.

9

 

Mustang: Rider Roy.

,W-~.__._.‘ _.__ . m,.._._,- v..4~..:'..'.~a

Just then they arrived at a little house that
stood by the road. As they reached it, the
.liuxieun suddenly threw his urms around the
lii'uimmni, nurl essuyed to drag him from the
Huddle; oi; the sumo moment, five or six horse-
men (luslu-d around the corner of the house—
whu-h hud concealed them from view—upon the
two.

The truth flushed upon lVenie in an instant;
it was an ambusrarle.

Prompt was the lieutenant to art. Hardly
had the arms of the Mexican closed round him
ere the right hand, clu telling the revolver, came
down with crushing weight upon the Mexican’s
hood. The gripe of the arms relaxed, and the
treacherous dog tumbled out ,of th ‘ saddle.
Leveling. \Venie fired at the horsemen approach-
ing; two shots checked their advance and two
saddles were emptied. The horsemen fired; the
bullets whistled around the lieutenaut’s head;
one struck him in the side. and W enie felt
that he. was wounded. Quickly he wheeled his
horse and flew at the animal’s topmost speed
for Teens. A volley from the pistols of the
horsemen saluted his retreat; a ball pierced hi
shoulder.

The horsemen did not attempt to pursue him.

3 was plain pursuit was useless. '

“ Oh, Sutnn protects him i” cried the leader of
the‘ assailants. who was no other than the bri-
gund chief, Roy Lara.

The brignnds looked to their wounded; one
mun, shot through the temple, was dead. The
Mexican guide hudpnly been stunned, and was
now recovering. The other, who had fallen from
the snddle at Wenie’s fire, lay on the prairie
groaning with puin; it was Tio.

“ Are you bndly hurt?" asked Roy. ‘

“ Yes,” gasped Tio. “ I’m shot through the
lungs—leave me to die iu.peace,"und with a
convulsive gasp Tio sunk hack.

“ Leave him to his fate." said Roy, as 'he
sprung into the saddle. “ Poor devil! he insisted
upon coining to-night, though I never saw him'
eager for u fight before."

The hrigands rode fast for their retreat.

Roy's plun hurl fuiled. Longing for vengeance,
he had resolved to kill or capture Wenie. The
Mexican who hurl proved so treacherous to the
lieutenant. had been admitted to J uanitu’s pres-
ence apparently secretly, and had offered to!
carry a message to her lover. J uanita, little
suspecting; the haunt she was in. or the man she
was trustintr, had written the line that the
crafty Roy had user] as a bait to lead the Amer—
ican lieutenant into the snare which Roy had
designed should prove his death.

And now, after all his plotting, the Mexican
was riding, homeward; his foe was still alive—
unharmed for aught he knew.

Bitterly the brignnd cursed the evil fortune
which seemed to surround him, but still more
bitter would have been his curses could he have
looked that night, an hour later, into the quar-
ters of Major Curtin, and seen the man who was '
conversing with the major there—who was ap-

parentlv telling,r a pleasant jest, at which the '7

stern old Soldier laughed long and heartil -—thd
man was the spy who had just return
the brigands’ stronghold.

1
i

from .

\

a

n—. -
5..

 

may“. mswmug-gmu; V‘glihm at..-

 

CHAPTER XV.

ms: sunraisu AT man-r.

LIEUTENANT WENIE rode fast for Tacos; he,
felt some slight anxiety in regard to his wounds,
for they might possibly be serious, although the
pain was but trifling.

Arriving at Tacos, the licutrnant went at once
to the quarters of Major (furtin, and brieilv
telling that, astonished titlicer ol" the ambuscadc
that he had so luckily escaped, requested him to
examine the wounds. ‘

As the lieutenant had hoped, his hurts wm‘c
but slight, and the major, u ho was something,~ ol’
a doctor, speedily dressed them.

“ There,” said the mujol', \\ hcn he had lin-
ished. “In a week 1‘“ Warrant that hardly a
trace of your wounds will remain.” .

" They will not prevent, .my going with the
expedition to the brigauds’ stronghold, 1 hope?"
asked Weuic, anxiously.

“Oh, no!” cried the major; “ we’ll start to—
morrow, early.”

" Very well," said the lieutenant. “I will rc-
tire to rest at once. I suppose 1 had better keep
as quiet as )ossiblc.” ‘

" Decided

replied the major.

The lieutenant proceeded at once to’ his quar—
ters and retired to rest.

The major again spread upon the tnblo the
rude map, on which was traced the road that led
to the hrigands’ retreat by the banks of the Rio
Pecos. As the major bent over the map, to
heard a knock at the door.

“ Come in," said the majorfit little impatient

. at being,r disturbed.

An orderly entered.

“ What is it, O’Neill?"

“ A man wants to see ye’s, major,“ replied the
soldier, saluting.

“ What: sort of a man?“

“A little yaller Mexican, sur.”

“ Well, show him in.”

In a moment the stranger entered the room.
The major cast the glance of his keen eyes upon

him,

~‘ Weill" asked the officer. ,

‘Tbe senor is Major Curtin. ’ asked the
stranger. who was a. wiry little Mextcun. with
ayes as keen as a rat’s and as black as a Jet
bead.‘ r

“ Yes,” replied the major. .

The Mexican thcn took from his girdle a little
kWh-edger] knife: With the knife ho roccedcd
to rip openthe lining of his ragged jac (ct. The
major watched the proceeding with interest.

From its hidin -plnco between tho lining and
the jacket, the exicnn drew out a letter.

“ Will the senor look?” asked tho Mexican,
with a courtly bow, tendering the letter to the
oflicer.

The major had already guessed who and what;
the stranger was, an so the contents of tho 19b.
ter in the bold hand of his Excellency, the Maxi.
can President, did not su use him.

After reading the letter, the minor spoke.

“I presume, then I have the pleasure of ad-
. umssin Senor Castsllo, Chief of Police of the

Letty of exico?"

Mustang Rider Roy.

ly; you’ll have exercise enough tor
moi-row. I expect these fellows will show tight,”

 

“ Yes, senor,“ rcplicd the Mexican.

“ You will pardon my want of courtesy in not
offering you n chair,“ said the major; “ but your
strungc lll‘l‘rS—vr”

“ lion‘L spook of it, senor. If I' wear thc dress
of a beggar, 1 must not expect to be treated
as a gentleman.” mid the Mexican, gratefully
taking the offered chair. “ But now to business.
Of course, senor, you aro aware that thc Presi—
dth is as anxious to crush these Brignuds ol‘ the
Prairie, who plunder alike your pcoplo and
mine, as your Government; and as it. was ex-
trcmcly necessary, in order to main» the blow
decisive, that some one. should penctrato into
their stronghold. and knowing no one “hunt I
[holing more lit. for the milieu, 1 took it upon
myself. That is the reason, stnor, why 1 ho—
t-amc your spy and join see too in those rags. I
have just. rvturucd l'rom the brigands’stroizg-
hold, by the lilo Pecos."

“ All, iiulctd!" exclaimed the major.

“ Y« n rot-cited :1 nuts map, a low days ago,
tracin: out the route thithch

u \'i‘5.ll

“ I sent it to you," said the Mexican. “ I did
not dare to bring it in pcl‘soll; for of course you
are aware. senor, that. it the. brigands had dis-
covered my ()llj(‘(.'l. in melting; their haunt, my
life would have been Worth hut little.”

“ It was indeed a mission of danger,” replied
the major, ‘

" True; but the reward, if Isncccctl, is great,”
said the Mexican. “'l‘ln-u, besides, Ilike once
in a wltilc to throw aside the cares of ollh-c.
There is a sort of pleasure in liuuting‘hummi
game: it reminds me of what, I was licfoi’e I
canto under the ll(ll.lt‘t' ol‘ his ltlxccllcncy, General
Santa Ana. who was graciously plcasrd to cle-
vulp mo to my present position." , .

“ I had detcrminod to attack the briguntls t0-
morrow night,” said the major.

“ Good l”cricd the. Mexican. “ I will lead you;
they Will he likc rats in a trap.” '

And so the oiiicer and the spy arrangcd the
details of the. expedition—the raid that was to
bring death or captivity to Roy Lara and all
his hand. v

The. consultation finished, the Mexican bade
the major mind-night. and lct't the house.

Hardly had the Mexican gained the street,
\\ lien, in the darkness, he ran against some one
who was passing. A moment the strangcr look~
cd into his taco; than a cry of passion l ron on
the nip-ht air. A grip of iron cncirclcd tho Mexi-
cnn’s throat, - backward he was cast to the earth,
a knee uponliis chest held him tlrm; before his
eyes llashcd the bright blade of a knifc, that
even now was uplifted to strike him 111 the
throat.

Astonishcd at. the unexpected assault, the
Mexican had hardly made a motion of resistance
—~indced, had he resisted to the utmost ot’ his
power, it-wonld have availcd but little against
thmuuscnlar force of his unknown assailant.

“ Dog of a hrigand!” hissed a hoarse voice,
that the Mexican knew full ’well, “ prepare for
death. You was the guide that led my sister
into the hands of her betrayal“: now, Tio, see if

our rat-like cunning will save you from my
nifo.

The voice was the voice of tho Pathfinder, and

 

28

Mustang Rider Roy.

 

the Mexican held beneath his knee was, indeed,
no other than Tic. _

’I‘io. whom we shall hereafter call by his pro—
per name of Castello, had but feigned to be
wounded when, on the prairie, he had fallen
from his horse at the lieutenant’s fire. Having
procured all the information that he deSIrcd in
regard to the brigands. his next movement was,
of course, to impart that information to the
commander of the United States forces in Tu—
cos; but. in order to do so. he nuist-escupe from
the brigands, and, if possible, without causingr
them to suspect that they had harbored a spy in
their midst. How successful his plan had been
we have seen.

“ I am not a brigand!" gasped Costello. hard—
ly able to speak, from the grip of the Indiun’s
hsnd' upon his throat. “ I am Major Curtin’s
s y! '

“ The American’s spy!” exclaimed Manuel, in
astonishment. relaxingr in his grip upon the
throat of the Mexican. -

“ Yes, a spy," repeated Cnstello.

“ If you are lying—” said Manuel, fiercely.

“ By the Virgin, I swam I speak the truth!”
cried the Mexican. “ Roy Lora and all his band
are doomed."

“ Are you speaking,r truth?” asked Manuel.
removing his knee and permitting the Mexican
to rise.

' “ As I hope to be saved.” replied Costello, not
sorry to gem his feet and escape from the iron
clutch of the peon.

“ Doomed i" cried the Pathfinder. " Alas that
they are not!”

“Say not so, brave Pathfinder," the spy re-
sponded; “. forty hours will bring destruction
upon the Brigands of the Prairie. The Ameri-

’ cans ride for their destruction.”

“ It is but the justice of Heaven,” returned the
Indian.

“ If you seek revenge upon Roy Lara. ride
with us to-morrow and you shall have it,” said
Costello. “ The troops indeed, will need the
guidance of the Prairie Pathfinder.”

“Good; I will go with you. When do you
start I” v

“ At early dawn; but we shall not attack un-
til after midnight; you know it is a hard day’s
ride from here." I ’ '

“Yes; at early dawn, then, I‘ll be with you.
£1035, again to take the trail of the desperado

an

And then the two parted.

2V6 will now return to the retreat of. the brig-
an 5.

Lars. and his men had returned from their un~

successful expedition. cursing their ill-luck.
Torres listened to the tale of the lieutenant’s
escape with evident ill-humor.

“ This North American has as many lives as a
cat; twice you have failedu” ‘

“ The third time may he more successful.” re-
turned Roy. “ In. the end I maytriumph."

“‘ That is true.” re lied Torres.

” Your dau hter oes not seem now to be any
more favorab y disposed to me than she did be-
fore.” said Roy.

“ Once your wife, she will learn to love you,”

i
replied Torros.

 

“ Boy, you should have been my

son, for I think of you as one." I
“ A strange way you have of showmg it,” re‘
“ You might have reared man

spondcd Roy.
honest man, instead of linking'me what I a
brignnd and a. villain.”

“ Years have changed my plans,”7 the ld
mun replied, slowly. “When 1 reared you in
the school of vice I intended you but as a tool,
an instrument of vengeance, which I was'tors
upon another’s head, even if the struggle e.-.
your life; but as ou grew to manhood I learned
to love you. I oved your mother once, boy;
and your eyes are hers. Now 1 have given up
all thoughts of vengeance—~51] thoughts of the
vengeance that I meditated even before you
were born. Now I will try and make youa
better man. That is why I wish you to marry
my Juanita; but I will explain more fully to-
morrow. Good-night.” And Torres left the
apartment. '

Strange thoughts were in the mind of the
brigand captain. He knew that there was a,
mystery connected with his birth, and oficn he
had wondered wh his skin was whiter than his
Mexican companions, and yet his eyes and hair

'1.

‘ as dark as tlicirs.

In his heart, Roy L'ira could not help con-
fessing that he carell but little for the fair Mex-
ican girl; Juanita. Anothi-r face was before his
eyes; another love filled his heart. Rita, the
peon girl—she it was who held captive the hri~
gnnd lender.

“Shall F ever see her again?" he cried, pus-
sionately, as the l'emeinln'nnce of her beauty
and truth rose up in his mind. Bitter was the
thought that then she was in the hands of the
marauding red-skins; hitter was the thought.
that never again should he look upon that face.
And, with these gloomy thong! ts forhis com-
panions, the brigand captain retired to rest.

Midnight came. .All was still within the
stronghold. With their usual precaution. though
they little fearrd an attack, the outlaws had
posted a sentinel within the Slnf'kada, by the
gate. This sentinel was relicVed every two

urs.

wo o’clock came: a new sentinel had taken
his position; ’ was Legro. ,

Carbine in hand he paced up and down before
the gate. Careless was his watch. He did not
notice that a dark figure. which scaled the wall
to the right of him and dropped noiselessly to
the earth inside, was creeping cautiously toward
him. On came the figure, sinwly but surely,
stealing forward with all the stealth of the pan-
ther. Hid by the shadow of the wall from the
notice of the sentry, it came within six feet of
the end of the little path that measured the
beat; then the figure halted—waited until the
sentinel had turned his back. and then, w'th
the quick dash of the hungry tiger, the Pa h-
flnder sprungr upon the hrigand. The steel glit-
tered for a moment in the air. then was driven
to the hilt in the body of the ruflinn, which fell
heavilyflo the earth.

Manuel quickly 0 ned the gate, and the solé
diers, headed by Ma or Curtin and Lieutenant
Weme, poured in.

The surprise was complete. Taken detense-
loss in their beds, the br gands made but little

 

Mustang Rider Roy.

 

resistance. A few Scattering shots, [1 lenni
llt‘l‘t) and there of steel, and the strugge was
ended. -

Almost bloodless. had been the conflict; nearly
all the brigands had been (-apiiin-d—sonie half a
tlv-ltii only escaping. Among the pi‘iuulit‘l's was
tior.»rigand captain. Roy Lam.

i‘orres, rushing: from his apartment, alarmed
‘hy the noise ot' the attack. had lwoii slrurk by u

5 random shot and mo} lolly wounded.
-- "hi-n Major Unrtin heard ot this he hastened
. . .im at once.

The eyes of the dying" Mt'xit'un trimmed with
a strange. luster wlwu he guml on the face of
the man he had halt-d an lliiivrly,
“ Curtin,” he said, slo“ 1y, for life was ebbing
fast, “ l lave wronged y: u dim-ply.”
“ Make what amends you can, while life is
A left. you," solemnly replied the major, as he knelt

_ 3 by the side of the dying man.

"Your son, the child of Inez,” gasped the
Mo-xil-un, feebly.

" Dot-s he live?" eagerly qiwstioiied the stern
old soldier, now melted almost to woman’s ten-
uerni-ss.

“ Yes: and ~”

With his ear close to thelips of the (lying
man, the major llStt'lK'd to the SlUl'y of the past.

CHAPTER XVI.
Tm: Losr soN.

“'ITHIN an hour from the time he received
the wound, Torres, NH' Mexican. was dead.

Juanita, rising; from the side of hl‘l‘ dead
purvnt. found ('Iillh‘nllillOll in tho arms of her
lover Till'l‘t‘ was now no obstacle to her union
with the man she loved.

’i h» expedition, aim the
returned to Tacos.

'uptured hrigands,

Major Cut-tin sat alone in his quarters; a sad
leok was upon the face of the old boldier. It
had been noted by his men that, since the ca )-
tui‘e of the hrig‘iinds’ stronghold, :1 weight
seemed to he upon his mind.

The major sat. with his head resting upon the
table, supported hy his band; the gleam of this
light—for it was night—shone full upon his face
— upon the features that bore the marks of rare
and sorrow.

The major was talking quietly to himself—
muttvring is the hotter word—as though his
thoughts were so intense that they must find
vent in speech.

“ Let me see,” he muttered; “the old Roman,
Brutus, have his son to death. Rome, his
country, first, before ties of kindred. ‘Am I a
Brutus? No! no!" and the old soldier shook his
head sadly. ‘

The major’s meditations were interrupted by
the entrance of the orderly. O’Neill.

“ A Indy wants to see ye’s', major."

“ Who is she?”

“Don‘t know, sur, but she looks as if she’s
been eryin".”

“ Well. sh er in." -

The order! 'ithdrew. and a woman, with hm-
face cont-ealed in_ one of the shawls so common
to the- lower class of Mexican women, entered
the mm. ‘ ’

“ Well, madam?” asked the major.

 

The girl removed the shawl and revealed the
features of Him. the pron girl.

“ ()h, senor" slu- murmured, “ Roy Lara."

The major stark-(l at the name.

“ Well. what ot’ him?” he tiled, striving to
appear calm.

“ l hau- lu-r-ii told that he is to die.”

" It is likely.” rs-plud the (flit-«r. ’

“ Oh, senor.” cri- d Rita. wringing her hands
in anguish. “ his (loath \\ ill kill me also."

“ Ah!" the maior started; “you are called
Rita, lil't‘ you not?

“ Yes, N‘llOl'."

” Your brother has told me somethin ' a hunt
you and this unfortuiiateyoung man. on love

im.’ ’

“ Yes, senor; love him better than life!”

1 .“ You “ould forsake home, friends, all for
iiiii't‘

“Yes, senor; nlll” 

“This poor girl tent-lies me my duty," the
major muttered between his tvi-th. Then he
pucvd up and do“ n the room a moment, as if in
deep thought, and then he suddenly stopped he-
tore the girl.

“ Would you like to see this man?” he asked.

“ Yes! yes!” answered the girl. eagerly.

“ Come With me. then‘.” he said. casting over
llllS shoulders a long cloak and putting on his
int. ‘ ,

Rita followed the major down the street until
they arrived at the adobe house that held
Roy Lam a prisoner. A sentinel paced before
the door. .

The major and Rita entered.

Roy, bandcull‘ed, lav on a rude bank in one
('ol'llu‘nf the room. he moonl earns, shining in
through an opening:I iii the wall, revoaled to him
the I‘L’SHICG of his Visitors.

“ titai" he cried. Villh joy. and in a moment
the peon girl was folde to his heart.

The major stood quietly by and looked on.

“You will excuse me. senor,” said Roy: “ but
this girl is the only thing: that 1 have in the
world to love. She is- the only creature on earth
that loves me: can you wonder. senor, that I
am glad to see her?”

It was evident that the reckless hrigand cap-
;niln had been changed somewhat by his down-

a .
“.Are you prepared for death?" asked the
major.

“ Yes. srm r: I have but one tie to hind me to
the world—this love that has come to smile upm
me iii”m_v prison and light my passage to tie

rave. \

‘ “Suppose by any chance you should escape
death: do you think that. in the future, you
would live a dill'vrent life!"

“ Yrs, senor,” eagerly replied Boy: “I am not
all bad, and I feel sure that this girl’s love would
make me a good man. I was never born for a

hrigand, but was made one by anuiiele wlit‘so

memory I detest.” .

The majcr‘took from his pocket a key and un—
looked the handoufl‘s, as he said: “ Yes, I know of
Ton-vs and his great crime; know that. ho pur-
posely wrt-vked your life. hut it is notyot too late
to shake nfi‘ the fate whirh his evil heart design-
ed. Let what there is left. of nobility in your soul
grow and you are saved—saved I”

 

30

Mustang Rider Roy.

 

There: were mum in the soldier’s cycs, and his
voino was Ulmliwl by mnotion.

“fly and Rita gznmxl upon him with astonish-
i‘n ~nl‘. ‘ _

“ Now, girl, you follow inc;aml_von, sir, watch
‘.‘L)lli' oppirtunitv, \\'h<-n I ungngo tho svnlinel
in vonvurrution, t i slip out through thHloornud
.l-m'n ll1*stl'eet;tliu' >hnllowof the hon—cs will
1‘):l"|"llyl)ll. At the (‘llll of tho strcct want for
in i. ’

Toe 01 l salilicr llill not :‘ch his nsionishml lint
murs 1L rhanoo to reply, hut beckoning the girl
to follow. he loi't the hoiiw.

Tu-i major went diroully to tho sentinel and
ong‘igwl him in (toim-rsution. Rim, standing;
ilcitl‘ the door, sm‘vml us a mask for Roy. A
. ml more. and Lora rm 't liberty, :lllli glid-
in 4 “untiomly :lowu Lilv‘ \troct.

\Vith :l. hriwl" injunction to the scntr)’ not to
(iinhlii‘l) the prisom-r, tho major, with Rita, l'ol--
lowel the fugitive.

At too (‘Elll of the lilt'e stront they found Roy.

"‘ Wait.” raid the 0M mulwr. n4 lli' left them.

Cliupwl in l‘flf'll otw irugs anal lost In womlcr
tho lovers wuito’l the. ioturn of thnohl umjor,

in n Short tnno the ml licr rcturur-d, hailing
two hwrnux.

“Mount and llv ” ho H'rirl, in'ivllr.

'l‘nu moment they wm-c in the swlillu, he took
It 9;; oy the haul.

" Ham you money?" he ns‘mrl.

" Yes.” Roy unswcr-nl; “ l han loft!  ol'
uranit from '[‘orrus,on his hunkvriu Ncw Orleans,
Senor} inside my jut-hut, ilttsiillti hilillll golll in my
lu‘lt. '

r (in, than. to New ()rlu‘nii. null Ilvavnnspcvrl
you," uric-ll the major, 'purq Roy's hnnd
warnilr, “ Keep i'uith wuh lillw' girl; imnl on
nuns: lil‘e, anal—yon will saw. no» again! Go,
(i «'1 Moss you, my mu!”

(lil' went the Fugitin wondering at tho
sztr mgr) uriumr ol‘ tho oll Holllirr.

Little «livl Roy L urn, (lrwun that he \an‘intli’ml
til» son of the Americ-m n1;jor——tlio chill Stuh‘ll
hr Torres when on infant. 'l‘nis was the sw-rot
that thodying Mexi 1 mil rmwlml to (.‘iirtin.
Tole it was that 1111-. snvol Italy Lara, the Mn“-
t'inz Hitler.

Tue escape of tho fl]?,‘ltl\'0 was discowrcd in
1’- W m iruing, mt. us th.‘ in ijor mill carelessly
that p'i'sn‘t WIS us‘hlcrs, nothin: was done.
'l‘ua only lll Lil tout might have followed on their

, trick, tho l’utnlinrlcr, hml «‘lcpzn'twl for Suntn
ii‘o to hear the no : s of tho :lol‘nut of the hrignnls,
no] to return with furthvr m‘th‘l‘4.

Juanita llnll Wenio were mirriml: true lovo
m t its reward. Tho linutt-nunt. throwing: up
i. com  n. took char 1:1». of rho v.th Utah US
tiwhic‘u Juanita wns hone-H.11an he soon he.
came one of tue men whom Tcxuns were promlto
ii inor.

'l‘iio Brigmnl»: of the Prairie iicvcr renovcrml
from their (intent; from that time forth they [M‘-
(21229 a nmttar of history.

.iml thc i’nthlimlrrf .

i‘v’fiemhe return" i. r: won’t wan; given him lo
lz-nep ?.V the major. ’l‘li'ir. soiti'ut rmnrwml the

"r whiz-h hayl :iinrr‘ ll toliis vory soul when he
' of Rib :s (light with Roy Lim . The
-:r; on? Juanita. for a while oppressed him;

at La‘.‘i.;~r lit-arts of her and her devoted bus.

.mii

 

band soon won him from his sorrows, and he be-
came, thvncol'orwnrtl, the trusted (mom. and
frien I of the rich propi-u- o '—n friendship which
he. prized more thnn all things in life.

THE END.

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BEADLE'S rocxnr LIBRARY.

\._

252 Denver Doll‘s Devico: or, The Detoctive Queen,
B Edward L. “Wu-filer.
253 T 10. BO Tenderfoot. By Capt. Mark Wilton.
254 Black ills Bun; or. ltutch Jun on the War-
th. liy Maj. Lewis W. Carson
255 Jolly Jim. ltvtective._ Bv Charles Morris.
2536 Merle Monte’s Lust Cruisr; or. The Sun Robber
at Bay. By Col. Prentiss lngrulmni.
157 The lioy (.nief of Rocky Puss; or, The Young
California Pnrds. Ry Maj. E. L, Ht. Vrniu.
25‘? Denver Doll as Detective. Bv E. L \\'het-lvr.
259 Little Foxoye. tho Colorado Spy. liy ()ll Gnomes.
260 Skit. the Cnhin 130". Ry Edward \\'il|v-tt..
26! Blade, the S)ort- or. tht- tiiunt of (llt-m' Grit
(Yunlp. B .C.ilnrbuuuh
26:? Billy, the {My Roy-Ir. By (fol. l’. lum'nhmu.
263 Buster Bob‘s Buoy: m‘. Liz“. the Light-[louse
Keeper. liv (loot. J. l". (‘. Adams.
2!“ Denver Doll‘s' Pur‘uvr lty Edward L. \Vllt‘t‘ifll‘.
265 Billy, the liaggugt- ioy: or. ’l‘hv Young Railroad
Dereqtivv. liy (‘hurlt's ‘-lorri<.
266 Guy‘s Boy (lluuu; or. Thu lt‘orvst. Wuif‘s Musk.
By Capt. (‘ouistm-k.
267 Giant Grogo's Row-ugh. By lint-kskin Sum.
268 The Dt‘ndshot Dandy. liy (‘ol l’. Ingrzihutu.
269 The nurtzvillt- ltoss'; or. lturitu: lhu'id D‘ll‘kt‘.
By E( ward \V’illett.
270 Denver Doll‘s )liuv. lty Edward L. \\'honlt-r.
271 Ebony Jim‘sTt-rror; or. Ranger Rainholt‘s Rust}.
By Oll Cooums.
272 Kit. the Girl Doteotivo. By 'I‘. C. lizu‘hnugh.
278 The Girl Rider; or, Nimblo Ned’s Surprise.
Jos. E. Badger. Jr.
274 Dead Shot Dondv‘s Double; or. Bonito, the Buy
Yard. By (‘ol. Prentiss lugrnhmu.
275 Fred. the Oct-an Wnif; or. The Old Sailor‘s
Protege. E Charles Morris.
276 Deadwood )tck Trapped. By Ed L. “‘ln-elor.
277 The i tiot lioy Awnunr: or. (‘uptuiu Wild-Cat‘s
Bi: Game. liy Alhrrt W. Aikvu.
278 Arizona Alf, tln-_ Mint-r; or. Littlr Snap Shot's
Luck. By '1‘. C. Hurhuuuh.
279 (iolorndo Jtlt'k. tho ’l‘igwr. liy Fl't‘li. Drive)".
280 Dead Shot lhmtly‘s List Dual, or. Keno Kit‘s
New Role. By (‘ol. l’routiss lirrrnliam.
%1 Ned, the Boy Pilot. By Juck Farragut.
‘28? Buck HawaMnectivv; or. HIV Mrssi-uger Boy‘s
Fortune. Bv Etiwurd'LI thh‘r.
 Roving Sport Kit. 13y Edward \\'ilh-,tt. -
2.‘ The Showman‘s Best ('urd: or. Tho Mud Animal
Tamer. By Cnpt. Frt-d. Wllittukrr.
285 Old Rocky‘s Pard. By Buckskin Sum.
28“ Dick. tho Dakota Sport. liy (ilmrlns Morris.
287 Nrtl. the Boy Skippvr. liy Jack lt‘nrragut
238 Deadwood Dick‘s liisguisu. liy It}. L. “’llor'lm‘.
289 Cal )I‘dtlt) Nick. the Lussolst; or. Old Si‘s Protege.
By Major ll. H. Stoddard.
290 Rube. the Tl‘lldvl‘i’ooifl t'l'. the- lioys of Torpedo
Gulch. BV Major E. L. St. Vl‘illll.
291 Peacm‘k Pete. the Logidvillo Sport; or, Hawk. the
Boss Miner. llv Alht-rt W. Aiken.
29?. Joe Morrtv. thr- Night-liawk; or. Lht- lilxwk Rider,
By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
203 Dwarf Jake. th” Drum-twp; or. Kit. Konyon's
Man-Hunt. By Edward Willnrt.
294 Dumb Dick‘s Put-d. By Edward L. Wlmolvr.
295 White Wins. tho Ferret Flyur. liv Chas. Morris.
296 Govinda. the 'l‘iwr’anvr; Or. he American
Horseman Abroad. By Cnptuin F. Whittaker.
WI Arizom Giant Gnome: or. Tilt' lsoyot-s of sardine-
Box Ciry. By linukskin Sum.
598 Daisy Doll‘s Dosh. liy 'l‘. l‘. H 11-imu<rh. .
299 The Balloon Drtuntiws. By Hurry finton.
aoo Deadworid Dick's Mission. liy E. L. Wheeler.
301 leanidy Dukr. lhu Cowboy. By Major E. L. St.
. ra n.
302 Big Ii-Inson’s Bat. liy 'l‘. G. Hurbungh.
.803 The Hotel Boy Di‘,'0f!fin‘. By Uhurlns Morris.
30-! Bald Head's Pfli‘d. Bv Buckskin Sum.
8045 Dusky Dir-k‘s Duel. Ry Harry Hazard.
806 Spotterrr‘lz; or. The Stut‘u-Detective‘s‘flecov_
By E. L‘Wheeler. ’

 

307 Nick, tho Roy Sport. liy Major E. L. St. Vrnin.

3m Douhlv-Fislwl Mut: or, The. Mystic California.
(iirun. liy .los. 11}. Badger. Jr.

80‘.) ().d (irnylu-nrd‘s lioy; or. The Girl‘s Rusv. By
(1.. Dunning L‘l'u‘k.

{$10 kn, tht- (iirl Captain. liy Col. P. lugmham.

311 Fri” Fl'l‘d in 'l'vX' s. By Buckskin Sum.

31‘.) Till' ltrtt-rtivt‘ Road-Agent; or. The Miners of
Sussnirus ('ity, UV lCdn'urd L. Whonlvr.

313 livuwst Jnt-k's l'rotovo. By Philip S. Wax-no.

3H (llip. tlw Jiov Slu'rilf liyltldwul'tl Willett

315 Tom. liln- Arizona Sport. ByMnj. E. L. St.Vrain.'

315 The Strum. .\ruh lh-tt-utiv». By Chm-it‘s Morris.

317 Ihr-ksklu “('ll tnf’l‘oxus. liy Buckskin Sam.

318 (‘olormlo (Jhnr it"s Duturtivu Dunn; or, The.
(‘nttlt- K'nats. liy Edward L. Wheeler.

31!) Frisky Four in Idaho. liyRoxzrr Starbuck.

3‘10 Cool Soul‘s Hirl l’nrd. By T. (l. Iinrbaugh.

32‘] Billy. tlh- Kid from Frisco. liy J. (Y. Cowdrick.

3:22 Fl't'li l<‘lynr. lh-tochvr. iy Churlc-s Morris.

23‘ :)’!)"nd Shot. lku in Montana. By R. Shirhurk.

Kit. tho linuvvr Sport. liy Edward L. Whot‘lor,

husky llsu-rt-ll Iho Cnmp lh-teotiw; t r. The

Dandy s lmrhnt lhish. l'.\’ Edwin ltlumrson.

3‘34; Rt 13', lill' Hwy (‘ruis-d'. liy COIHIH‘I P. lngruhmu.

3327 Nod. Hu- lioviui.r ,‘iillt‘l' lly Hurry Humrd.

312$ Rot-ky lh-u‘s Bund; or, l;i;.:1’-to‘s liig llnul.
W. J. Hamilton.

3'29 lhu'v. thotiolormlo \Vrestlvr.
Vrniu.

35:.

By
By Maj. E. L. St.

B . 33L) Tilt' Dt'ln't‘l‘ Sport's Rnckvt; or, Kit‘s Big Boom.
y ,

UV Elln'urd L. \Vllt't lrr.

331 Tim Coast Dt‘tt't‘i.i\'0. By R0 or Starbnck.

32 ~ llzikutu lion in (Juuyon City. in’hiligs. Warne.

3% lioolhlurk Ben tho Detective: or. color Jim
and His l’ard. iiy Anthony P. Morris.

321i Frisco Tom on Duck. liy Gi'nrg‘o Henry Morse.

3:55 Re iillll'ly. the Boss Par-d; or. The Plucky
Parson. liyJ. Stitlllt'V Heirirrson.

335 Fr ll. lht- Sport. in Brimstone Bar Camp. By
Edward L \\"l1»t>lvr. 4.

337 llwisy lum- tht- Colorado (inl tot; or. The Boss
of Dow! Lint- (‘ity. Iiy ’1‘ (J. Harlnutgh.

3'13 'I‘lu' HON] Bur ih-lvctivl}. By Mini. E. L. St. Vraln

3:!!! Rmuio. the iior Gypsy. By Wm. G. Patten.

3-“) Billy Rubin-"s on: zit-ore. Bv (‘harles Morris.

:m Uolorndo ~‘.tuw‘:'\lmsh. llv Philip S. Warue.

312 Snup-Shot‘h‘mn. liy Bucksin Sam.

:ii'l Mike. tho liowu-ry lhrtuc'iv». By E. L. Wheeler.

3!! The Iii-u moor Sport. liv Edw' rd Willetr.

315 Jiqnv's. tlin llnr‘lpnu lien-(2t v: or. Captain
Frisco rlin R nul ‘A-rt-i-r. RyJ. C. Cowdrick.

346 Joe. the Chicago Arnh. By Charles Morris.

3” Mitidv lit-rounds l‘rizr. l§\v(,‘ol. 1’. lum‘ullam.

rm Sharp -.\'hoo'-\r Frank. lly Buckskin Sam.

31!! Buck. tho \liuor. ltyfilnj. ltl. L. St.Vrain.

ii‘fiil Nod. th‘:i Shh (lity Sport. liv Ed. L. Wheeler.

351 Rockv Mountain Jon. lty (lol. 'I‘. II. Munstory.

1." Now 'ork ’l‘ini. [iv (Thin-Ins Morris.

it?! This tiirl 1’“ it. [iv Roger Sturhuck.

3')! Joe. tho Boy Stom- Ilrivm' It ' Maj. Sr. Vrnin.

it? '1‘“th lt‘rnnk's (irony. iiv Hut: 8' in Sum.

Idaho Nod, Dt-tou ive. liv Edward L. Wheeler.

3",? (my, thu Boy .\l m-r. By 001 P. lugraham.

:55“: .it-r-v-y Jon, “M‘- (lltl 'l'ur. Hy Mrs. Orin James.

:5!) lmndv hit-Jr's lt-ish. liy Oil Comm-S.

3W) Jim‘s Div: Ronuuzu. t y W. J. Hamilton.

36! ()wgou Phil. to" Sport Ry l’llilipfi. \Vurne.

36?. Kit. t’lw lioovhl'u'k ll'n‘ t‘tivu. liv E. L. Wheeler.

3m 'l‘tw flown: lint-t '. My T. (i. flarhaug’h.

8m lt‘t‘itz‘s Old Sr .r liy Nod Bnmlme.

36.“) Cl"|(.'k Shot Hurry. livt‘ol. Prentiss Ingruham.

am) (told Host Rock. lly ti. Waldo Browne.

367 Frud‘s Bold (Luna. Mr Paul liihhs. - .

368 Jim. thu Sport. in Wnkr-up liy E'l. L. Win-«hm.

369 (hiyituin lilnkv-‘s Jonah. l:\' lingrt-r Starlluck,

370 I)t‘"\""' Klt‘s lloul-l» "y \lnior H. It. Struld’trd,

371 lllue liluzm‘ llit-k. My ’1‘. (‘. li'irlmugzh

:57“: The Sm ("it‘s l'rizv. l'.\' (W. l’rvuiis-V lnqrnham.

, 373 Lorry ()‘l.yi:h‘s llush. Hy -]“\‘"l):i i". linuderfion,

371 Jim, rhu Hnoi‘l's lzi‘r Room: or. The Bonanza».

‘aLKiug’s Rival. By Edward L. \Vluwler.

 

liy Hurry Hazard.

470 The Ranger Detective.
By Mrs. Ori'n James.

£54 The Darky Iletectiw.
437 Detective Jake‘s Cle'". ly ll. ll. Stoddard.
3 6 Detective Paul's Right Bower. liy C. 1‘. Clark.
8‘47 The Boy lletectivrs. lly 'I‘. C. Ilarllmigh.
875 Bowery llob. Detective. By Jo Pierre.
362 Kit. the Boothlack Detecti‘vr. By E. L. Whet-lrr.
356 Idaho Ned,1)et¢~ctive. lly Edward L. Wheeler.
345 Jaques. the Hardpan Detective; or. Captain
Frisco the Road A '(‘lllh By J. C. Cmvdrick.
343 Mike. the Bowr-ry Detective. By E. L. Wluwlr-r.
333 The Gold Bar, Detective; or. Jr in Ike. tho SJltl
Man. By Major E. L. St. Vrain.
333 Bootblack Ben, the Detectivu; or. Poole-r Jim
and His Pard. By Anthony I’._Morri<.
331 The Coa=t Detective; or, The Sinutzgler Shad-
.. ower BY Roger Starbuck.
325 Dusky Darrell, the Camp Detective: or. The
Dandy‘s Darim: Dash. By E'lwin Emerson.
822 Fred Flyer, Detective: or, Aht- Blizzard on Deck.
I By Charles Morris. I I
319 Frisky Fran! in Idaho; or. 01d Sktnflmt the
Shadower. By Razor 8’ nrlmck.
318 Colorado Charlic‘i Detective Dash;
Cattle Kings. By Edward L “'11- t‘ll‘l‘
310 T e Street Arab Detectye; ,or. DlCK Dprgan’s
Double Dealing. By Lharles M ori‘ifi.
312 The Detective Road-Agent; or. The Miners of
Sassafras City. By Edward L. “h pier.
. 306 Spotter Fritz; or. The Store-Detectives Decoy.
By E. L. Whveler.

or. The

303 The Hotel Boy Dete‘c tive; or. The Grand Central ‘,

Robbery. By Charles Morris.
299 The Balloon Derecdves: 01‘. Jack Slashor’s
Young Pard. By Harry Eaton. '
295 White Wing. the Ferret Flycr. By Chas; Moi-rte.
293 Dwarf Jake the Detective; or. Kit lwnyun s
Man-Hunt. Ly Edward VVllk’tt.
282 Buck Hawk. Detective: or. the Messenger Boy’s
Fortune. Ily Edward L Wheeler.
272 Kit. the Girl Detective. By '1‘. Q. Harbaugh.
265 filly. the Baggage Boy Detective. By Cha les
nrris. .
258 Denver Doll as Detective. By E. L. Wheeler.
255 Jolly Jim. Detective. By Charles M arts:

25?! DenVPrD ull's Derive; or. the. Dctvctivu Qu‘wi. ‘.

B Eiward L. Wliunlth'.

251- T ie Deaf Detective; or, Weasel. the Boy ’l‘rmnp. ‘

By Edward Willett.

246 D2tective Keen‘s Apprentice' or Ja,nws.l_titnpt~i-, 

the. New York Gunin. By Charles. .‘Ilal'lllw‘.

242 The Denver Detective; or, Dainty Dot. at (itlltl
Gulch. By T. C. Harbeugh. ‘ .

237 Newsboy Ned. Detective; . Two Philadelphia
Gamins. By Charles Mo 3. ’

236 Sierra Sam's Double‘ or. The Three Female De-
Motives. By E. L. Wheeler.

228 The Preacher Detective. 13g on Coornes.

219 Hulk. the Detective. By Al ert W. Aiken.

215 The Denver Detective. By 011 Gnomes. _

20!) The llusaeng’er Boy Detective. By (.3. Morris.

205 The Frontier Detective. By E. L Wheeler.

199 Dictionar Nat, Detective. By. T. C. Harbaugh.

196 The Den y Detective. ByCharles Morris.

193 Detective Josh Grim. By .E. L. Wheeler.

188 The Ventriloquist Detective. By E. L. Wheeler.

183 Jahez Dart. Detective. By Oll Canines.

175 The Arab Detective By E. L. Wheeler.

127 Tony Fox. the Detective By E. L. Wheeler.

105 Handsome Harry, the Bootblack Detective. By
Charles Morris. _

69 Dates ve Dick. By Charles Morris.

82 Will mars, the Buy Detective By 0. Morris.

, 13 Death-Face. the Detective. By E. L. Wheeler.

 

 

. W8. POCKET hth _’

{Detective Stories.

TVI'ZCZ TVasl: Sports.

465 The 'l't-xan Sport: t r, The )lustnnt.r Hunter.
Fl'Utlt‘l'lClC lii'takt-r.

:ti‘l llil‘ii. tho Fun Sport. 113' Rngor Starburk.

43.”) An irish Sport. Almond: (tr. l'ar. Malionry‘s Adv
Within 5. lly (‘. L. Edwnrt‘s.

4331 Jon, the lluvrr tip 1' . lly A. H. Post.

Bill (.‘I arlvy Skylark, the. Sp rt. lly Major Henry
Ii. Stutltinr l.

tiilt) [lick 'I‘alhot. the "port. lly Albert \V. Aiken.

377 The Deadwood Sports; or. Diamond Dick‘s Do-

i llVPl‘ianP. lly I.ietit.S.G. Lansing.

371 Short Ji'n‘s ill-,5 Boom; or. The Bonanz. King‘s
Rival. By Edward L. Wheeler.

3118 Short Jim in .llnke Up: or. Foghorn Fan to the
Front. ly Edward L. Wheeler.

:-:01 (hm-on Phil. the Sport; or,_'1‘he Marshal of Two
llite. By I’lrlip S. Warne. ’

350 Ned. the Hill) (‘ity S ort: or, The Detective's

Big Scmp. lly E. L. \ hoeler.

344 The Drun’mwr Sport; or,

Dilemma. liy Edward Wil'ett.

336 Fred, the Sport; or, In Brimstone Bar Camp.
lly 'E. L. Vl'heelvr.

3:30 the Denver Sport‘s Racket; or, Kit's Big Boom.
lly Edward L. Wheeler. ’

324 Kit. the Denver Sport. By E. L. \Vheeh'r.

By Maj r E. L. St.

315 ’l‘om. the Aria no. Sport.
Vrain. t
301’ Nick. the lloy Short; or. Three Plucky Paras.
. By Major 10. L. St. Vrnin. '
291 «gaggle-k Pete. tue Lmdville Sport. By Albt'l‘t
. Hell. .
28% Wild Welt. the Sport. By Edward L. Wheeler.
286 Die . the Dakota Sport. By Charles Morris.
Roving Sport Kit. llyEdu nrd Willett.
iliatl *. the Sport. llv 'l‘. (l. Hnrhtiugh.
l'hn (lirl Sport. lly Edward L. Wheeler.
'l‘urev Sports. By Cunt. Frederick Vt hittaker.
"318 The lliner Spur. By E. L. \\ healer.
2173"“1" Jimtown Sport By Edward L Wheel r.
197 The ’1‘ xtn Sport Unmasked. By Col. Prentis
lngrnhani.
1:30 t to d Triugnr, the Sport. By T. C. Harhmnzh.
103 Chip, the Girl Sport. By Edward L. Wheclrr.

By

Dasher Dick‘s

_.___..___ W ..

LATEST AND NEWISSUES

By Lieut. Col. Hazeltine.
By Barry Hazard.

xltill llwnnld’s Death Shot.
470 The Ranger Detective.

'471 Roving Rifle. the Crackshot. B T. U. Harbeugli.

472 Joe a d Jap’s Big Find. By Edward Willett.
47.3 Left-Handed Pete, the Double-knife. By Joe.
E. Badger. Jr.
474 (l psy Mag. the Moun'ain Witch. By C. D. Clark. '
475 ’l‘ 6 Mad Ski lpl‘l'. liy Rouer Sterhuck.
476 Sandy Bill 0 'l‘t‘XBfl. By Edward Willett.
477 Squirt: Baker‘s Ranch. By Mrs. H. J. Thomas.
478 The Ynnke - Potltller. By C. D. Clark.
4751 Niqk. the. Detective. By Edwin Emerson.
480 The Village Sport. By James L. Bowen.
481 Mustang Rider Rov. l'ly Albert W. MR! 11.
482 New York Ned in California. By W. J. Hamilton.
Ready April 52th.
A New [ha'lf Erny Wzvdnesday.
BEADLE’S Poorer LIBRARY is for sale by all News-
deult-rs, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on re-
cuip'. owx cents each.

1W En ADAMS. Publishers.
Williamstreet, New York.
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