Copyrighted, 1859, by BEADLI AND Am)“. En:ch m. aha P-nst Office M New York. N. Y., as Second Class Mall Mauer. Nuv. 2.1859.

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THE REPORTER CRAWLED FROM UNDER THE BED VWITH A HIGH 0F BELIEF.

 

Detective Dick’s Par-d.

Detective Dick’s Ford;

The New York Reporters in Colorado.

BY HOWARD M. BOYNTON,
AUTHOR or “ narncrrvn GERMAN JOE,” n'rc.

CHAPTER I.
THE REPORTER EN ROUTE.

,IN the parlor-car of a train speeding west-
ward over the Grand Trunk Rai road set two
young men, busil y engaged in translating a
cipher telegraphic dispatch. The elder lookinu-
over his companion’s shoulder, offered occasmna
suggestions, and when the translation was com-

plete, read it aloud:

‘ i “ NEW YORK, March 2, 1889.

‘,‘ RICHARD A VINTON.

“ Grand Trunk Dtp’)‘, Hamilton :—

“Latest advices here indicate that Theiss has
adopted a roundabout course of reaching Colorado.
Our correspondent at Indianapolis, whom y )1] had
better see, is certain that the man stop ed over
there yesterda , and will try to find out if he has
left the city. he of you had better go directly to
the vill-igein which the mine is located while the
olher tries to get on the track of Theiss. Keep us as
well p isted as possible on your progress in detec-
tive work out West. JOHN J. STRANAHAN,

“ Manayi 4g Editor Gazette.”

” W’ell, Bert," said the young man, to whom

, the dispatch was addressed. “We’ll have to
separate at Detroit, I guess. Which one of us

 bad otter track Theiss?"

_ " t makes no difference to me,” replied the

other, carefully adjusting a single-barreled

.glass in his left eye, and glancing out of the,

Window. “I can’t say, though, that I’d take
, great pleasure in going out to one of those uu—
' civilized mining-camps. If you’d just as soon
go to Colorado, I’ll try to hunt up the cashier."

“ All right, that, would suit me very well.
,' It’s lucky neither of us has any baggage to

bother with.” ,

“ Luckyi lshould think it was 'ust the re-
verse. Im a nice-looking chrome, am, to fol-
,lowa man into the wilds of Colorado. That’s
‘ the only drawback to the newspaper business;
' one can never tell at what hour or under what
1/ rfrcumstanceshe will be put on detective duty.
' .hen ,Stranahan sent for me this morning I

was preparing to start for Jacksonville—and

; here am on my way to Kalamazoo, or some

' other God-forsaken land, dressed for a fashion-

‘able watering-place.” n

, , His com anion glanced at the speaker’s long
cape-coat 1d gloves, cane and patent leather

‘ shoes..and then said, laughingly:

’ “You are one of the bi gest dudes in the
State. Why ‘on’t you get rir of those English——
Hello. here we are at Detroit. Telegraph me at
Denver-won kuow-goodby l”

.» one of thc young,r men hurried out of the car,
paying little attention to the disjointed remarks
e Oil the other who watched him until he entered

another train, bound for Indianapolis and the

 

South, and then consulted a time-table to see
what time the train he was on would arrive at
Chicago.

“ Ten o’clock,” he said to himself. “ I guess
I’ll have to spend the night there, and see what
time a train leaves in the morning- for Denver.
There will be plenty of» time, if Theiss hasn’t
gone straight out, to work up my end of the
case, and I guess Bert will be able to attend to
his ‘

When the train arrived in Ohio o,late in the
evenin , the youn man register at the Sher-_
man ouse, and immediately went to his room
to obtain a little sleep before resuming his jour-
nefi westward.

e was a good-looking young fellow, about
twenty—five years old, plainly but neatly dressed,
and evidently something of an athlete, as his
broad shoulders and manly hearing would seem
to indicate. The young man who had left him
at ludianupolis was his direct opposite in per—
sonal appearance, being extremely tall and
thin, and dressed in the latest style and cut of
English clothes. The former was named Dick
Vinton. and was employed as a reporter on the
New York Daily Gazette, and the latter, Bert
Carmly, better known among his acquaintances
as Lord Carnily, traveled in the interests of the
London Press. :

They had been partners for several years,
and, by a number of clever pieces of reporterial
detective work, had won for themselves the
sobriquet of “ the Partner Detectives." Al-
though differing so much in character and ap-
pearance, the made an excellent team, and it
would be di cult to find two persons better
suited to each other in their line of work—
Dick, headstrong, daring and reckless, and Bert,
his pard, long-headed, sedate and slow. I

At the time of which we write they were en-
gaged on a case of unusual importance.

In 1871 an old gentleman by the name of
Rogers, residing in New York City, had ur-
chased one hundred thousand dollars’ wort of
stock in the “Hollenhock Mining Company.”
an association which, at that time, owned and
worked one of the best paying gold mines in
Colorado.

After one or two dividends had been declared
tho directors of the company sent out a report
that the Hollenbock Mine had been exhausted,
and that shares could only be redeemed at five
cents on the dollar. Nearly all of the unfortu-
nate stockholders disposed of their shares at this
rate, but Mr. Rogers, although reduCed to
poverty by the collapse of the company, refused
to part With his. Rogers died soon after, and
bequeathed to his wife and daughter along with
a countless number of debts, the one hundred
shares in the Hollenhnck Mining Compan .

As the years rolled by, the ittle family sup-
ported itself as best it could, never dreamin
that the bonds were worth anything but stil
retaining them as a sort of memento oi the past,
and testimony to the fact that they had “seen
better tlnysfi' I

A few months before Dick and Berth started
westhrd, a man by the name of Allan Theiss‘
had called at the home of the Rogers family.
and representing himself to he a lawyer, of—
feredto attempt the collection of the face value.

 

Detective Dick’s Pard.

 

of the shares, keeping two per cent of the amount
for his trouble. ,
The widow gladly gave the bonds into his
‘ keeping, never dreaming that the man’s dis-
honesty might cause them still further loss.

A month passed and as no trace of Theiss
could be found, Mrs. Rogers began to make in-
quiries, and discovered to her astonishment and
dismay that the man, who had hitherto been
cashier in a bank, had defaulted for half a
million dollars. The widow was too poor to
employ detectiVes, but a slight acquaintance
with the city editor of the Gazette led her to
lay the Whole matter before him. And be,
seeing a grcat sensation ahead, placed the “ in-
vincibl ” on the trail of Mr. Theiss.

The had discovered the cashier in hiding in
New ork City and, becoming alarmed, be at
once started westward, as the reporterst bought,
for the village in Colorado in which the Hollen-
bock Mine was situated. - They had followed
him at once and their progress thus far may be
ascertained by the perusal of the cipher dispatch
which Dick received at Hamilton.

Vinton spent the night in Chicago, and the
next morning' took an early train westward.
He traveled all that day, and late the next after-
noon reached Denver, thoroughly tired out with
the wearisome ride across the plains. He en-
gaged a room for the night at the Weldon Hotel,
and while there, made the acquaintance of a
gentleman by the name of Austin, who was the
proprietor of a company of negro minstrels,
then one tour through the smaller towns of the
“Western States.

While they were dining together, Dick, who
had been wondering how he was to make his
entrance into society in the Hollenbock mining
town, asked:

“ Do you stop at a small place called Amacas,
about ten miles south of Junction City? I think
there is no railroad connecting with it."

“Yes, we make a onenight stop there. It’s
a small town, but‘ you can’t imagine how the
people in these mining-camps turn out to see
the show. Everything else closes while we’re
there."

“ When will you get down to that part of
your route?” .

“ Well, we play at Junita on Friday. Silver-
side on Saturday. Placer Ranch on Sunday,
Junction City on Monday and Amacas on Tues-
day. That‘s about the course as I recall it."

Dick was revolving a scheme in his mind as
Austin counted off the dates on _ his fingers.
When he concluded, the reporter said:

“ I want to get into Amacas Without attract-
ing attention. if I can. I am doing a little piece
of detective work which will reqmre secrecy,
and you can help me if you will.”

" I shall be pleased to—what can I do?”

“ Let me join your show.” -

“ Join the Show?”

“Exactly.”

” But how will that help you?”

“ I will go into Amacas as one of the troupe
of minstrels, get taken sick while there, and
then will have an excuse for not accompanying
yo‘u auyvfurtlier. See?”

es

“ If you‘ll let we join in with the others, I
, o

/rible dude.

 

guess I can pass oi! for a minstrel for a day or
two. I’m used to all sorts of disguises” .

“ All right, I shall be glad to help you. We
start on our trip to-morrow morning, but you
needn’t go on the stage until we get to Amacas.”

“ All right, that will do very well. I'llsee
you in the morning—goodnight." ‘

“ Good-night."

Dick went upstairs, and after telegraphing
his whereabouts to Mr. Stranahan, undressed.
and went to bed. He was much pleased with
the arrangements he had made with Mr. Austin
for accompanying the minstrel troupe into
Amacas——-where the Hollenbock Mine was situ-
ated—for it would give him an easy introduc-
tion to the persons he would want to meet there,
without exciting sus )icion.

“I hope my pard ert will he as fortunate,”
he thought. “ If he comes into a. mining—camp
with those English clothes of his, 1’“ bet he
will get into trouble the first day. But he’s
able to take care of himself, if he is such a ter-
I’d just like to see him braced up
against a flili~blouded desperado out here. He’d
lay him out if he did, 1’]! wager a hat."

And thus, recalling the many feats of prowess
which Lord Curml y had performed, and thankful
that the Englishman was with him on his dan-
gerous mission, the reporter fell asleep. It was
quite late when he awoke the next morning, and
he barely had time to eat his breakfast before
the troupe was ready to start.

Mr. Austin did not question him in ngard to

his business in Amncas, and Dick appreciated '

his good taste in not doing so. The trip from
Denver to J unita occupied the better part of
the day, the troupe reaching the latter city
about four o’clock in the afternoon. They im-
mediately paraded through the streets, headed
by a brass band, to notify the inhabitants of
their arrival, the facilities for advance adver-
tising being very limited in that part of the ’
state '

Detective Dick attended the evening perform-
ance, and committed to memory some of the
jokes and conundrde with which he,was not
already familiar. The next day he accompa-
nied the troupe to Silvei'side, and from there on
toPlacer Ranch and Junction City, reaching
Amacas, as Mr. Austin had promised, Tuesday
afternoon.

When the parade had been held, the proprietor
of the troupe“ gave the reporters little rehearsing
in the subordinate part he was to take in the
performance.

“.You’re only a sort of ‘super,’ but I guess
you’ll be able to sing a short song, won’t you?"

“I don’t know,” said Dick, doubtfully, rub-.5
bin 0. piece \of burnt cork over his'f co and
gee ". “ I never was much of a singer, but I’ll

ry. .
“All right: practice on ‘The Last Rose of/
Summer ’ until I come back." ‘

“ What!” gasped Dick. “You surely donft
menn—" ' '

“Why, that’s not so very old out here,” re-
plied Austin, laughing. “ Lots of the people
here have never heard it." v

Dick resumed his work with a sigh of disgust.

“ I believe he’s playing some kind of a game '
on me; If I try to get all that confounded old

 

I r ,could find no trace of Theiss there.

‘ 4 Detective Dick’s Part1.

 

chestnut, I’ll get booted off the stage," he said to .

himself, painting his lips a. bright red, under
the guidance of a. brother performer. “If I
have to sing at all, I guess I’ll try something
new!"

At eight‘o’clock the curtain went up before an
audience of about three hundred men, and the
reporter made his “ first appearance on any
stage,” by asking one of the end men why a
spool of thread was like an elephant. The time—
worn answer relating to the lutter’s inability to
climb a tree awakened uprourions laughter.
and the reporter was about to essdya. more diffi‘
cult conundrum, when the audience was thrown
intoa state of great excitement.

“‘ CHAPI‘ER II.
ALLAN THEISS.

WHEN Bert left Dick Vinton at Detroit he
traveled southward as far as Indianapolis and
there began his search for Allan Theiss. The
local correspondent for the Gazette,’n gentle-
man by the name of Halstel, was first inter-
Viewed by the reporter. He had seen a man an—
swering the description of the absconding
'ceshier in the corridors of the Dennison House,

' but was unable to follow him at the time.
B“Do you suppose he is in town yet?” asked
ert.

“I don't know—it was yesterday mornin
that I met him. I’ll go with you to the hote
Vand we’ll see, if he’s there now. As near as I
can discover he is traveling under the name of
Andrew Terry. That name was entered in the
clerk’s register, and he will know it the man
has left the house." V ' - _

The two walked together to the hotel but

The men
by the name of Terry had left the night before
' -—-the clerk did not know where.

“ Well, this is a pretty bad start-off,” said the
reporter. “It’l’d only got here yesterday we
might havo cuu ht him. ,Now, it‘s totally im-
possible to tell w ere, or even in which direc-

" tion he has gone."

But Bert had been confronted beforer'Vch
worse difficulties than that which he now faced,
and it did not take him long to make up his
. mind as to his future actions. He first tele-

graphed tovthe Gazette office his inability to

rid Theiss in Indianapolis, and then took atrain
‘ for Chicago, reaching that city about noon the

next day.

He at once began a Search throughout the
. hotels, and at last mode a discovery which put
him on the trail of the cashier. At one of the
smaller hostelries he fodnd the name of Andrew
.Terry on the register and at once inquired of the
clerk: ‘

_“ Is Mr. Terry in?”

u ,' ’nn

,“ Has he left the hotel for good ’1?”

“Yes.” ‘ ’

“ When 3”

9 About fifteen minutes ago."

“Where'bas‘ be gone?“

“ I don’t know.” '

Bert glanced anxiously about the room. _

, “Does any one here know which way he
went? I'm very deairhus—” _ _, ,

 

“Bill!” yelled the clerk, interrupting the re-
porter, “ where did you take the man with the
red side—Whiskers a few minutes ago?" I

A colored gentleman, dozing on a pile of
trunks opposite the desk, straightened himself
up with a suddenness that caused him to topple
over and almost full to the floor.

“ What’s thet, Bah?” he inquired, scrambling to
his feet. « V

. “ Where did you take the entlemun a few
minutes ego—the one with r
kers?” ,,

“ Yes, sah; de depo’, nah,” replied the confused
darky. “He changed his whiskers, sch.”

The clerk looked at him sternly while Bert, in
spite of the seriousness of the afluir, laughed
outright.

“He did, fo’ a fact,” said the colored man,
earnestly. “When he went in de kerridge his
whiskers wuz red, but when he got out at de
depo’. iley wuz black—black’rn yours, sub.”

“ Where did he go?” asked the reporter, anxv
iqusl . “Did you see him buy a ticket?”

“ cs, sah; he’s goin’ to Kansas City. His
whiskers wuz—9’ ,

But Bert did not stagto hear any more about
Mr. Terry’s whiskers. e hastened to the Grand '
Central and consulted a. ti me—tal)le,.to see what
time the next train would leave for Kansas
City. He soon discovered that the cashier, if
such the gentlemen he was in chase of proved to
he, could not have taken a train westward as
yet, and at once began a. search throughout the
depot. He had seen a. photograph of Allan
Theiss. and was quite sure that he would recog-
nize him without difficulty if hemet him. But
he was evidently not in the waiting‘room, and
as fully an hour would elapse - befOre ' a train

would start for Kansas City, Bert walked to the ‘V 7 ’
Sherman House to see it any telegrams had been 

sent him from New York. He found none, and
returned to the station in time toboard the train
as it pulled out. ' ,

c He walked slowly through each car in search
of the cashier, carefully examining every person ‘
who could possibly be Mr. Theiss in disguise,
but without success. If the man Terry_ was on
board, Bert concluded that he must Either‘be
admirably disguised, or else turn out to be some
one else besides Mr. Theiss. _

“ The fact that he changed his whiskers makes
things look suspicious,” thought the reporter,
seating himself in the smoking-car. “ And then
his description tallies exact y With Theme” I
think they must be one and the summbut it’s ,
strange he isn’t on this train if he’s gomg to i .«
Kansas City. Can it be that-" .

Bert was just about to remark that a black- ,
whiskered individual in the next seat was acting '
suspiciously when his thoughts were interruth , A
by a. sudden, violent shock and the next instant
he was flying about in the car mi it rolled sud ' “.
tumbled clown a steep embankment, reaching '

the bottom at last with a crash that sent the re~ ‘\ ‘

porter heels over head between the seats with a

score of other passengerson to of. him. For a

moment he was too dazed and ewddered to m. ,
nlize the on use of, his violent gyrations and was ‘
called to his senses finally by the liberal prov .
faulty of an extremely fat man who lay with ,
his headunder the stove and supported unaided «

 

,hair and whis~y ’ i

 

Detective Dick’s Pam-d.

 

, at least a dozen men and a number of trunks
- ’ . and mail-bags.
- f Carmly struggled to his feet, and shook him-
self to ascertain the extent of his injuries. Bo-
yond a few bruises he was unhurt and at onco
went to the assistance of his fcllow-passengers.
i The car, and in fact the whole train, had been
i derailed and was lying on its side at the foot of
5 a steep embankment.
.; Groans, curses and laughter came from the
heap of humanity in the corner as with no litlle
difficulty Bert started in to release the fat man.
lle pulled the unfortunate passenger out at lust
and with the inmates of the other cars went out-
side to see how much damage the wreck had
done. No one had been killed except the en-
gineer and it seemed almo<t miraculous that so
many people had escaped entirely uninjured.
Bert who had no baggage with him assisted
the others in the search for theirs. The black—
whiskered indivilual he found tearing about
among the mail-bags and debris for a suchel
which he said contained valuable papers.
Carmly proffered his assistance and before long
became satisfied that the man rcally was Allan
Theiss. The reporter finnlly discovered the
sachel and carried it outdoors while its owner
was still rushing about in the overturned car.
He opened it, abstract/xi one of a large numbcr
of papers that it contained and placing it in his

 

~—..~....,, y 3.“... .,_ u.

Car‘(O-"’

)cket ave the sachel back to Mr. Theiss, who
reath asigh of relief when he caught sight
of it.

W......m...~ F ..

.a_ -t

“ I‘m very much obliged to you, young man,"
he said. “ These Western railroads can’t be de—
pended ou at all—not at all. Hereafter I shall
go West in a horse-car.”

His attempt at witticism and a glance at the
false whiskers which had become twisted all
out of position, caused the reporter to laugh
heartily.

“ The roads are safe enough," he said. “But
the employees seem to be very careless. It‘s
simply wonderful that so many people have es-
caped here. We must have rolled fully 11 hun-
dred yards.”

“ I guess we did,” replied the cashier, afi‘ably.
“I’m none the worse for the adventure, how-
ever, and am ready to go on to Kansas City.
Which way do you go?”

“ I’m bound for Denver.”

“ There’s where I go the day after to-morrow.
Can’t you sto over and go out with me? It’s :1
Ion ride, am company is very pleasant.”

“ all, I don’t know,” said Bert, doubtfully,
although he was really not at alldoubtful about
accepting the invitation. “ I’m in no hurry, for
at present I‘m out of work. I guess I’ll be able
to gait over night, instead of going straight

v a»... .........—A "-

-~x~,«m,‘.« ~ New»... '

 

‘7? i. , ‘.:

 

All the afternoon the passengers on the Wreck—
ed train camped near the railroad track, and it
was nearly dark when the relief train picked
them up and continued its journey westward.
Ca,rmly and Mr. Thciss had become fast friends,
the former using every endeavor to ingratiate
himself into the cashier’s good graces. 0n the
way to Kansas City a lively conversation was
kept up. and the reporter told Theiasa fairy tale
in response to the cashier’s questions regarding
his business in the West.

 

 

“ I’ve been a commercial traveler,” he said,
“ until very lately. At present I’m out of work
and looking for a job.”

“ How would you like to go to Colorado and

work for me for a few months? I’m engaged in
stock and mining speculation out there, and
could use a young fellow like you."
I “ I’d like to go very much,” replied Bert.
“ I’ve never been VVost before, but I think I
could, soon learn enough of the business to satisfy
you.

“ I’m sure of it," said Theiss, enthusiastically.
“ Here’s my card.”

He handed the reporter a bit of pasteboard on
which was printed:

“Andrew Terry, representing the Hollenbocl:
Mining Company, Amacas, Col.”

“ At present I am engaged in disposing of the
company’s stock,” he said. “The concern has
been idle for some time, but we are goingw
float it again. Themine we are working is near
A macas, and was, discovered in in 1870. It’s
very valuable, but the directors sort Lf worked
on imposition on the stockholders, and broke
things up—you understand?”

Bert nodded.

“That’s one of the ways money is made out
here, I suppose,” he said. “ It’s certainly a very
good one.” "

“ You bet it is,” replied the cashier. “But
now as to your work. If you come in with me,
I’ll have to let you into some trade secrets.”

“ Of course,” assented Bert. _

“ And you’ll know enough to keep your mouth
shut, won’t you?” ‘

“ Yes, sir i” said the reporter, with great em~
plmsis.

“ All right, it’s a bargain," and Theiss started
in to outline the dutieg of his assistant, and had
scarcely finished, when Kansas City was reached.
In his conversation, be carefully refrained from
saying an thing that would arouse Bert’s sus-
picions. he work which he laid out for the
reporter was that which usually falls to the lot
of a private secretary, and Carmly rejoiced
greatly over his good-luck in falling in with the
man so readily.

'The two stopped at the same hotel the next
night, and in the mornin continued their jour-
ney westward, reaching $cnver two days later.

They at once set out for Amacas, Bert being . I

unable to discover anything on the way that
would tend to criminate the cashier. The paper

which he had taken from the sachel and which .  ‘

he still retained, was a certificate of stock for a

one hundred-dollar share in the Hollenbock

Mining Company. .

They arrived at Amacas Monday afternoon
the day before Austin’s Minstrel Trour‘e plified
their one-night engagement in the villa e. rt

accompanie his emplo er, for such r. Theisa'

bud become, to the resii once of Mr. Bollenbock,
the president of the mining company.

He resided in the largest house in

Amacas,
and was reputed to be immense!

and occasionally lengthy visits from
men from the ' e acted as resident

.

        

wealthy. He
had but one relative livin with h m,hisdaughter,v
and they lived by themse ves, receiving frequent '
gentlo- . ‘

 

 
  
 
 
 
   
   
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
  
   
  
    
  
 
    
  
      

\

  

 

6 Detective Dick’s Isak-d.

 

erty in and ubcziit Amucas, and received a
prinCely salary for his work.

When Thciss called with the reporter, Mr.
Hollenboek received them with open arms and
was evidently much pleased With u. report which
the cashier handed in relating to his success in
floating the company’s stock. Bert was {1111,1110
to hear anything of the conversation which (-115
sued, and, when it was over, accompanied Mr.
Theiss on a tour of the village.

The latter had exchanged his small sachel, at
the residence of Mr. Hollenbock, for one consid-
frpbly larger, and which he handled very care-

u ly.

“ I want to go to the cabin of a man named

Cody,” he said, leading the way down the princi-

. pal street of the village. “ If you‘ll come along

with me, you will get an insight into the way
these fellows live. You are to stop with me at
Holleubock’s, and, after to—morrow, you‘ll have
work enough to keep you busy.”

“ Where is the mine?" asked Carmly, inno-
cently. ,, -

“ Back here a ways,” replied Theiss, nodding
in a direction that might include several square
miles. ” We are only just starting it up. This
manCody, or ‘ Doc,’ as he is called, is superin-
tendent of the mine, under old Hollenbock. He’s
a man you ought to know.”

They soon reached Cody‘s cabin, and found its
owner stretched out on a bed, inside. He did
not seem particularly pleased to see his visitors,
merely nodding, in response to the reporter’s in—
troduction.

“ Here‘s something I wish you would keep for
me, Doc,” said Theiss, handing the sachel to the
man. “Put it where it will be safe for a few
dafis, will you “i”

00 drew from under the bed a stout wooden
box, deposited the sachel inside and shoved it
back with his foot. ,

_ “ It‘ll be safe there. I reckon,” he said.
\ “ What’s in it-nnythin’ valuable?”

“ Well, yes; but not very much so,” answered
. Theiss, slowly. “ Just keep your eye on it for a
‘ day or two~I don‘t want to keep it up at Hol-
lenbock’s.”

_“ All right,” replied Cody, carelessly; and

Bert wondered why the cautious Theiss trusted
' this rough looking man so implicitly. He asked
‘ no questions, however, and, presently, accom—
panied the cashier back to Hollenbock’s house.

CHAPTER III.
‘ DICK MEETS DOC CODY.
': THE miustrel show had :‘cm‘t'cly gotten under
waywhen a pistol-shot was heard, and one of
the merry singers fell heavily from his chair to
the stage. Instantly the whole audience was
thrown into the greatest confusion. A dozen
men made a break for the door, while the rest
Surrounded the window through which the bul—
let had come.
On the stage the wounded minstrel was being
,cared for by his companions. Austin, terribly
alarmed. and unable to account for the unusual
proceedings, rushed out of the doors, and in-
uired the way tor'Doc Cody's—the only prac-
cmg physician in Amaoas. 'He found him
. aslee , and, after barely escaping with his life,
‘ for t e doctor had taken him for a burglar, the

r /

 

/ r V,

 

two started back to see how seriously the man
was injured.

The hall was almost deserted when they re-
turned. All the men were out searching for a
(slew to tho would-be murderer. On the stage
the Wounded mun lay, with his head pillowed in
a brother performer’s hip, while two others
were washing the burnt cork from his face.
They permitted DOC Cody to roughly examine
him

“ He’s a goner, I reckon,” said the physician.
“ Bear a hand here, till we carry him over ter
my cabin. He’d die easier thar; keerful now,
don’t mind ther bleed.”

Supported between four strong men, the un-
conscious form of the minstre was carried
down the street, and into Doc Cody’s cabin.
Here the bearers laid it on the bed, and left it
in Doc‘s charge, volunteering their services at
the burial. When they were gone, Cody care-
fully washed the blood and dirt from the
wounded man’s face, and brushing the hair buck
from the place where the bullet had struck, was
pleased to find that the missile had merely
plowed a deep furrow in the side of his head,
and not entered the brain as he had supposed.

He bound up the wounded place. and adjusted
his patient comfortably in the bed, while he set
about to resuscitate him. A little Colorado
whisky poured between his parted lips, brought
the man to consciousness.

“What’s the matter?” he asked feebly, making
no attempt at rising. “ Who hit me?” '

“ I dunno,” replied Doc, preparing sleeping
accommodations for himself. “ It wuz a bullet,
I reckon.”

“ Did somebody shoot me?” .

“ Well, slightly. I didn’t see ther racket my»
self but the boys sent fur me when you wuz
hurt. My name’s Doc Cody an’ I’m ther only
saw-bones in ther place.”

“ My name is Vinton—Dick Vinton. I was in
the mlnstrel tron e that played here to-night.
I was sitting on t e stage when all of a sudden
something struck me in the head. It didn’t hurt
then—but it does now." '

“ lt’ll pain you fur sum’ time, but the bullet
only jist raised ther skin. If it bed been an inch
or so over it ’u’d laid you cold.”

Detective Dick looked about the plainly fur-
nished room and then into the face of thejlmn
beside him. It was a face combining in itself
the expression of great good—nature, honesty and
recklessness. The reporter, whose infiury he
could in nowise account for, felt that oc was
a. man to be trusted. ‘

“ Do you know who shot me?” be 8.811811
abruptly.

The other shook his head.

“ The boys air' out lookin' fur ther son-uv—u;
gun new.” he said, seating himself by the re-

orter’s side. “ I reckon it would go hard With
im of he wuz ketched.”

“ I can’t imagine why any one should want to
shoot me,” replied Dick. “ I’venever been here
before in my life. Where’s Austin-the man—
ager of the minstrel troupe?” _ , I

“ He’s comin" around to see you in the mornin’.
I told all ther boys ter keep away tonight.
’lowiu’ that you’d wanter rest easy, even at you
didn’t die befor’ than.”

  

 

 

  

   
   
    
  
   
   

Detective Dick’s Pard. '7

 

 

Dick shuddered as he said:

 “It was a narrow escape. I only joined the
L r troupe at Denver—I’m not a regular singer.”

“Must hev been mighty hard up ter lake tcr
sech bizness,” remarked Doc with a laugh.
“ But lay down now an’ 0 ter sleep—that’s what
I’m a-goin’ ter do. We in chin in ther mornin’
—-you’il feel better ti. en.”

“ But, isn’t this your bed i” asked Dick.
“ Where’ll you sleep'I’

“ Down hyer,” said Doc, stretching himself
out on the floor without even removing his boots.
“ Jest blow out that glim an’ then go ter

slee .”
“All right but I’m awful sorry to incon-
venience on y—”

But a oud snore from Mr. Cody interrupted
him and Dick sunk back on the soft pillows and
soon fell asleep.

He awoke quite early the next morning.l His
head felt much better, and as he opened '8 eyes
he was greeted with the savory smell of frying
bacon.

“ Good-mornin’,” said Cody, pleasantly. “ l’in
jest gittin’ breakfus’—how d’ye feel?"

“Splendid,” replied Dick. “ My head aches
a little, but otherwise I’m all right. That break-
fast of yours smells first-class.”

“ It is,” said Doc, skillfully throwing a flap-
jack into the air and catching it as it came
down. “ Thar ain’t nol hin’ in the world that
kin beat good bacon an’ flap-jacks fur a hungry
mans Do on wanter git up?"

Dick rep by throwing aside the bed-cover-
ing and sitting u in .

“ I'm a little d1zzy~ What’s that?"

A loud knock on the door startled Cody into
drop ing one of the cakes into the fire.

“ ou go to the door," he said, grasping a
long knife from his belt and trying energetical-
ly to save the burning flap-jack.

But when he looked up his companion had

disa red.
‘. “ are I am,” said Dick, poking his head
from under the bed. “ I don’t want to be seen,
and if it’s any one is here to see me just tell
them I died last night will you!”

Doc looked puzzl , but he nodded with a
smile, and the reporter crawled back under out
of sightas another loud knock was heard.

“ Come in,” yelled Cody, resuming his culi-
nary operations. “ Howdy, Mr. Terry?"

The cashier responded gruflly that he was as
well as usual. .

“ I come here after that sachel,” he said, clos-
ing the door behind him. “ I’m gomg to send
it out to Denver with that young man who was
with me the other day.”

“ Who is he?" asked Doc.

“ He's a young English drummer by the name
of Carml . Pretty sound man—but kind of
dudish. can trust him, though, and that’s
everything.”

Doc was about to go under the bed after the
box in which he had placed the sachel, when he
suddenly halted and looked uneasily at Mr.
Terry., He remembered that Dick was in bid-
ing under there and had requested that he should
not be disturbed.

_ The cashier did not notice the other’s em-
‘ out.

 

 

 

 

   

 

“ They said around to the house last night
that a young man who was singing in the mint.
strel Show up at Uncle Sam’s had been shot and’
brought here. Where is he?”

“ He’s dead,” replied Cody hollowly. “The:-
boys carried him out only a little while ago.”

“ Do you know who he was!”

“ No,” replied Doc absently, trying hard to
think of some way out of the difliculty. “ Say,
Mr. Terryfi»y he finally blurted out.
can’t it that sachel now.” »
“ hat!” exclaimed the cashier, staggering ; 
backw“ Do you mean to say that you haven’t ' L 
got it.

“No, not exactly,” staminered Cody. “But
you can’t git it jest this minute. Ef you’ll go /
away an’ cum back in half an hour I’ll hey it
fur you.”

Terr looked at him sharply as he replied:

“ I on’t know what you mean, Doc, but I‘ll
do as you say. There’s five hundred thousand
dollars in that sachel and you’re the only man
in God’s world I’d trust with it.”

“ All right,” said Doc in a relieved tone of
voice. “You can have it in a little while, but
just now I’ve got good reasons— Hello! what’s
the matter now l”

The door suddenly flew open and BertCarmly,
very pale and excited rushed in.

“ Quick, Mr. Terry,” he cried. “The devil's
to pay up at old Hollenbock’s, an he‘s started
out to look for you With a gun. ou’d better
light out for he’s in a terrible rage over some-
thing.”

The cashier turned pale as death. ,

“ Get me a horse,” he cried to Bert. ‘r‘ Go
and hire or buy one anywhere—quickl"

He drew from his pocket a roll of bills and
handed them to Carmly who immediately dis»
appeared. Then turning to Cody, he said éx—
citedly. , ~
“ et me that sachel at once. There isn’t a > ‘
moment to lose—for this is a matter of life and
death.” ,

Doc hesitated for a moment and then dived
under the bed. Just as he did so there wasa
tramp of horse’s feet outside, a couple of pistol.
shots and loud yells, and then the horseman gal-*
10 ed off as Cody crawled back again. '

0 one was in sight. Terry had mysteri-
ously and suddenly disappeared and no trace of '
him was left. .

“ Well, this is kinder stran e,” muttered
Doc, hurr ing to the door and 100 'ing out. “ I ,
wonder W at in blazes all this funny—bizness is.
about. I reckon there’s trouble ahead fur some
one.

He shut the door, locking it on the inside, and
called to Dick.

“ Come out, sonny. No one’s here now."

The reporter crawled from under the bed with
a sigh of relief. - .

“ That was pretty close,” he said, seating him- 1'
self. “ What’s all this trouble about any way?"

“ I dunno,” said Doc, mournfully trying to re»
suscitate some of the scorched flap-jacks. “ I »
wish some uv these lunatics Would wait till a
man had breakfast before beginnin’ their dumw
ed rumpus. Ever sauce I worked for old Hol-
lenboek I’ve been in hot water of some kind.” '

“ Who’s this old Hollenbock?” asked Dick, seat.»

   
 
  
   
  
  
 
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
   
 

8 I I fletective’ Dink‘n Para;

K _ mg himself opposite Cody at a small table and.

' commencing to out his breakfast.

' ~ “ Oh, he’s an old Dutch fraud,” said tho latter
‘- with great frankness. “Ho un’ some other
" domed fules air runnin“ a. mine out here near

,Los Perces Creek. It is one uv the best payin’

gold~mines in the State, but they only began to

work it a few weeks ago. When they first sold
stocks in it about a dozen years back, old Hol-
lenbock and the rest uv ’em bu’sted up the com-

’ ’ny, and ever sence they’ve been huyiu’ up all

be old stock awful cheap. They’ve not it about
all in now, and ther old man an’ this feller

’Ierr own the whole thing, I reckon.”

- “ nd who is Terry?” .

, "‘lglv' itu . He cum hyer from ther East

about a moat ago, and some then he an’ old

Hollenbock hez been thicker’n hops. "

‘.‘ Do you work for them?"

I, “Yes, I’m superintendent of the mine. It
; ain’t exactly in workin’ order - et, but it will be

by the and uv this week, an’ reckon it’ll be a
payln’ kind uv job for me. I don’t like, par-
ticly, to work fur sech durncd rascals, but
everything,' goes, out hycr, you know.”

‘ Dick smiled as he answered:

A “I suppose so; but are you sure all the stock
of the original company has been bought up?”

' “ I‘m pooty sart’iu uv it. They wuzn’t a—goin’
terstart ther mine until it wuz all in old Hol-
leubock’s paws. This fuller Torry hcz been
travelin’ all over tlicr kcntry buyiu’ up ther
stufll dirt cheap. All titer stockholders wuz
glad ter, git rid uv it—thinkin’ that the mine
wasn’t or no account."

’The two finished breakfast. Dick thinking
carefully over the information he had just re-
ceived. He had heard the conversation that
passed between Cody and the cashier, and
thou , ht it very probable that it the sachel un-
der 9 bed really did contain five hundred thou-

 dollars, that the money was that which
inhale} had stolen from the bank in New York

Dd , He Was greatly surprised, as well as
“muted, at hearing Lord Carmly‘s voice
whonha entered the cabin so abruptly, and

*1

could not imagine how he had gotten into

Winds confidenoe to Such an extent.
‘ “We’re getting on finely," he thought as be
.A he] ed his new-found friend clear up the break-
_dishea. “I guess the invincibles will not
firm down Theise for robbing the bank. but
i: , up this fraud in tho/'Hollenbock Mining
Cfifimy-«so celled—as Well. What a ‘sweep’
it” be for the Gazette, eh?" _

CHAPTER IV.

BERT FALLS In WITH HOLLENBOCK.
n. ConY’s description of Caleb Hoilenbock
on old Dutch fraud " was impolite, but ac-
 . ,Holleuh_ock was Amocas's first settler.
came West in i870, and a year later, while
' ii ‘ ing in the, Vicinity, discovered the mine
, ,helnamed'after himself, and at once
. m. g. minpany to operate it. He grew
1, Aim), as property increased in :value in our]
, “ma-ambled) he had tried to name Hol-

 

n

or Andrew Terry, as he knew him-about a.
month before our story opens. The cashier
seemed to have plenty of money, and, although
he could give no plausible reasons for his visit
to Amucas, soon became acquainted with the
wealthy old miner. The acquaintnucvship soon
led to something more, and ere long he was
taken into confidential partnership with Mr.
Hollenbock. ‘

When he returned with Bert, he hadyheen ah-
sent for a few days on a. journey to an Eastern
city. He had employed ’the reporter on the im-
pulse of the moment, scarcely knowing what
work he would be able to give him to do.

Hollenhock was inclined to look upon Bert
with disfavor and on the second day of his stay
in Amucas called him into his library for con-
sultation. '

“ I dou’dt know v’nt for Mr. Terry prought
you here,” he Said, seating himself and motion-
iug for his companion to do the same. “Budt
id seems to me that we ain’dt godt no use for
you. don’dt id?”

f ;;1 don't know,” replied the reporter, doubt-
u y. ,

“I vhas not sure dot Terry himself knows
what he vhas aboudt,” continued the old gentle-
man. “He certingly acts very queer all the
time, you t’ink so?”

Bert shifted uneasily in his Seat and glanced ' ’

out of the window without replying.

“ He vhns a vcrry intelligent man,” resumed
Mr. Hollenbook, slowly. “ Budt I can’t miter?
sthan v'y he coome oudt here to this place. I
but an idea mcbbe he’s done somet’ing wrong in
do East au’he’s here hiding.” ' V

Carmly could have enlightened him on that .
point but he only shook his head absently. ‘

“ I don’t know anything about him.”

“ I vhas t’ink dodt vey myself,” saidthe other,
rising to his feet and walking HE and down
nervously. “ An’ Vhat I vant to now peside
vhos—are you honest i”

The old man knitted his heavy brows and
stared fixedlyinto the reporter’s face. He seem-
cd to be satisfied with his scrutiny, and again
out down.

“‘Pecause, of on vhas berfectly honest, I
might hat use or you myself. [hat in this
house alarge sumo: money in cash and bonds
v'ich I would like to hat taken to Denver. on?”
de msited in a. bank to my credit, understhanl?’ .

ert nodded. ' ' '

“ I will undertake to deposit them safely if
you care to trust me with them,” he suid,‘ ,

simpl . ’ »
" All righdt, dodt whas jhust v’at I Vant. I’m ,
gittin’ pooty old myself lately, an’,I,can’,tgedt
arount like I use to. El you vhas sthay horn,
mebbe ve can use you anyway, eh? I Wllgo
an’ ring you t’e money oudt 312’ you jean smart
for enVer tonight.” i , ' 1 ‘ i 
The old man hobbled from the main,  and in a
few minutes a terrible uproar came {11001 across
the hall. Bert darted outside 'almost running,
into Mr. Hollenbock in 1135 ha. ‘70 discover the,
cause of the unusual commotion. r ' -‘

" “Id vhas zonal”, named the, old mama '

falling into a chairand "Bimini: vacantly at the-
rennrter“ “ I but peen robbedl” ‘ _ r - ‘ -
“olmw  , '

 

 

 

Detective Dick’s Para. 9

 

“ I hadt nearly fife hundred thousant tollars
in a black sachel in my safe in the room shust
across the hall. It vhas mostly in Government

onds \"ich I godt lasdt veek from a man in San
rancisco in payment for some mining-stock.”
“Are you sure it’s gone?” asked Bert, dazed
by the theft of so much monoeg.
“ Of coorse I’m share. D is man Terry took
77

id.

The mention of the cashier’s name seemed to
arouse him to action. He started to his feet and
ran out of the room, with Bert at his heels.

“ Hello, Bill l” he yelled to a man who was
saddling a Couple of horses in the rear of the
house. “ Get a dozen men and coome here—
quick!”

“ Bill, who was a tall and powerful black
man, put his head inside the ham door and said
something to the men within. In a few minutes
the came out, mounted on Hollenbock’s horses,
an surrounded the old man.

“ Go oudt undt catch dodt man Terry 1" he
shouted, waving his hands and dancing about.
“He haf stole a sachel full of money—here!
gezlt me a horse."

The old man forgot his age and infirmity in
his eagerness to recover the lost bonds, and in a
few seconds was himself leading the way toward
Doc Cod "s cabin. Bert had hurried on ahead
to warn heiss of his danger and pomibly save
his life.

The result was something he had not calculat-
ed on. The sudden appearance of Hollenhock
and his party, after Carmly’s wnrnin , caused
the cashier to take to his legs and run or his life
down the road. The others set after him, shout—
ing and elling as they run.

In a ew minutes he was 'run down, yanked
into a saddle, and carried back to Cody‘s, a.
prisoner.

“ V’ere ish dodt money you took?" asked Hol-
lenbock, excitedly, jabbin Theiss in the back

* with a revolver butt. “ "at you do vith id,
eh?"

“What money?” asked the cashier, coolly.
“ Did you think I had taken any money?”

“Didt I t‘ink so? Veil, I like that,”a half-
dozen vigorous punches with the revolver butt;
“ V’y did you run avay from me shust now,
aind t id?”

“‘ Well, I—thnt is—you 'ses, I thought you
were after something else," stammered Theiss,
in conflwion. “ I didn’t take any of your money,
but I did do something else, and I thought meb<
lie—that is—pf course—perhaps you wouldn’t
like it.” ‘

A malicious grin spread itself over the features
of the old miner as he replied: _

“Dodt vhas very nice, budt v’at vhas it you
did, I dunno?”

The cashier looked around among the faces at
his side, but saw nothing of pity there, and then
blurted out:

“ I was to have eloped with Bonnie.” .

“ V’at!” roared Holleubock, almost drivm
his revolver throufih the man in his rage ant
astonishment. “fun vhas goin' tor take Bon-
nie?” -

“That's what I said," muttered Theiss sullen-
ly. “ But I didn’t take any of your money—I’ve
got enough of my own,”

 

“Vell, py t’e great almighty Moses!” yelled
the old man. 5‘ Ef you bet nodt more nerve
than a press monkey, I vhas a sucker. "

They had reached Cody’s cabin by this time,
and the doctor himself stood in the doorway
looking at them.

“What air you doin’ with him?" he asked
noddin toward the trembling prisoner. “What
hez he een doin‘?”

“ He haf sthole five hundret thousand tollars
from me,” said Hollenbock, excitedly, dis-
mounting and approaching the cabin. “ Haf
you seen anyt’ing uf id i"

To every one’s surprise, Cody replied:

“Yes, he brought it here day before yester-
day fur me ter keep. It wuz in a black sachel.”

“Yes—yes—dodt vhas id,” screamed the old
man, hopping about in front of the cabin while
two men eld the cashier, who showed signs of
violent insanity. “ Vhere ish id—gedt id fur me

nick.”

“ It ain’t here.”

“ V’at—v’at you say i”

“ I say it ain’t here. A young fellow took it
away only a few minutes a o.” -

“ V‘y you ledt him haf 1d, you fool !” roared
{ghepld man. “V’ere ish he gone? Who vhas

e?

“ I don’t know.”

By this time Theiss had managed to get con-
trol of his voice.

“ What in thunder did you do with thatsachel
of mine, Doc?” he shouted, while his captors
tried in vain to keep him uiet. “ Do you mean
you’ve let some one take t at f "

“ Yes—that’s what I said. I reckon the right
one’ll git it, though--that young dude you
brought out hyer hcz got it now.”

A sigh of relief escaped the lips of the cashier,
and even Hollenbock seemed to feel better at
realizing that the sachel was in Lord Carmly’s
possession.

“ Dodt vhas all right,” he said, turning to his
men. “ Coome, poys. ve vill 0 pack."

They started for Hollenboe ’s residence, pay~
ing no attention to Theiss’s pleadings. He as-
sured them that the sachel he had given to Cody
to keep for him was rightfully his, and that he
had brought it with him from the East.

But when in reply to Hollenhock’s question as
to the amount of mone it contained, be men-
tioned a. half-million dol ars, the old man sneer-
1ngly told him to go to the ‘ tuyful.”

“Maype you haf us have dodt you hat so
mooch money a-carryin' 1t aroundt the country,
budt I t’ink nod. Dodt money vhas mine an'
as soon as I gedt id I vill send you avay. fbaf
noddings to o mit such t’iefs as you.”

“ But when you t the money ” retorted the
cashier, energetics ly, “ you will see that it
isn’t yours.”

“ Maype I vill, budt I know better."

Theiss turned from him with a gesture of dis-
gust and rode along, buried in moody
tions.

“ Here I was, just ready to light out with
Bonnie and had everything ready for a splendid

ime,” he muttered to himself. paying no atten—
tion to Mr. Hollenhock’s questions, " when this
old fool gets some kind of an idea into his head
that I’ve robbed him of some of his money. He’s

 

never seen these bonds in the sachel and didn’t
even know that I had them, or I’d think he had

otten up some kind of a scheme to rob me.
Ee’s a cute old puss, but I don’t see what on
earth he’s driving at now—I certainly haven’t
taken an thing of his. Well, if Carmly‘s got
the sache , I’ll get it anyway. At present I’ll
try my best to escape, and once free, I’ll get the
bonds and take Bonnie with me out of this
accursed country. I‘m sorry I ever had any-
thing to do with this-Hollenbock Mining Com—
pany business, anyway.”

And meanwhile, thoughts of an entirely dif-
ferent nature Were )nssing throuzh the brilliant
intellect of Caleb ollcnbock. He had not the
slightest doubt but that Theiss had taken his
bonds and hidden them with Cody. As to the
cashier’s story of an elopement with his daugh-
ter Bonnie, he gave but little attention to it.
'Bonnie was as sensible in his eyes as she was
pretty, and the old man did not believe her
capable of falling in love with such a man as
Theiss.

“I vill keep him vith me until I gedt t’e
money back, an’ t’vn gedt rid of him," he
mused. “He vhns at’icf nll t’e vay t’rough,
an’ shust so soon as I see dodt young teller mit

der sachel, I vill haf noddiugs more to do with

Mr. Terry."

When the arty reached the Hollenbock man—
sion, the cue ier was escorted to a room on the
first floor, and in spite of his protestations was
locked up, and given to understand that he
would be held a prisoner until the money was
recovered. He had not been confined to his
room very long before the door was gently un-
locked and opened, admitting the pretty daugh-
tor of the old \miner, Bonnie Hollenbock.

"Why, Mr. Terry ” she exclaimed, hasten—
ing toward him. “ What does all this mean?"

“ I don‘t know,” replied the prisoner. mourn-
fully. “ Your father has somehow or other

otteu the idea that I’ve robbed him. He says—

h , what’s the matter with you?"

,T 9 girl bud burst into a fit of hearty but
subdued laughter. ‘

“Oh. it‘s too ggpd,” she exclaimed, dancing
around the bewildered man.

“ Is it?” asked Thciss, doubtfully. “ I don’t
see as it is—not for me.”

Bonnie came to him, and putting her arm at-
fectioname about his neck, said:

“I took the money.”

“ What l”

“I thought we‘d need some if we were going
to run away and get married, and when I heard
father say that there was so much money in the
sachel I took and hid it. Was that wron l"

The innocent blue eyes looked intp heiss’s
with an expression of reproach.

“ I don’t think it was—very,” she continued.
“ Father would have given it to me for the ask-
ing, and then—it would have been mine any-
way when he died.”

Such reasoning as this bewildered the cashier,
who was a practical thief and did not deal in
“aggraeufl d l I ” h

on i rig it— suppose, e said slowl .
“ But then it was unnecessary. I had plenty gt
money for both.”

Detective Dick’s Pal-d.

 

“I know, but then it was so unequal for you
to provide everything. What shall I do now?”
‘ Do—why let us get away from here as
quickly as possible. My moue , which I gave
to Doc Cody {or sate-keeping, as been confis-
cated by your father, so that it will be neces-

sary to get the other now. I’m sorry to place
you in such a position, though, Bonnie.”

“Don‘t mind," she said lightly. “ Wait here
a moment.”

She left the room and Theiss, when the door
closed, si hed aloud.

“Poor ittle girl! She thinks so much of me
—and I reciprocate the affection, I suppose. I
wonder why I have made such an impression

n her. Iguess it must be because I’m so
dlflferent from these people out here that it’s a
relief to see a civilized man. Well, let things
go as they will.” .

Bonnie. poor, unsophisticated 'rl, although
devoted to her old father, was tir of existence
in the lonely western village, and eagerly longed
for the excitement and guyety of city life as
portrayed to her by Theiss. And he, taking
advantage of this longing, had proposed mar-
riage to the girl and had been accepted. Owing,
however, to her father’s peculiar ideas of
matrimony the service would have to be perform-
ed secretly, and the two planned an elopement,
which was broken up by the disappearance of
the old gentleman 3 money. '

Theiss had not long to wait. The girl soon
returned, enveloped in along, black cloak, and
carrying a small sachel in one hand.

“I am ready,” she said simply, and the two
left the house together, and takingadeserted
and roundabout path, started to walk to J unc-
tion City.

 

CHAPTER V.
LUKE Carson’s amnou'r.

THE conversation between Detective Dick and
Cody was interrude shortly after the disappear-
ance of the cashier by the sudden entrance of
Bert, who halted with an exclamation of sur-
prise at the sight of his pard.

” Why Dick," he cried. rushing forward to
grasp the other’s hand. “I’m mighty glad to
see you—when did you at here?"

“ Several days ago. was shot and brought
to this hou<e for treatment. To—day, when
{23 ,came to warn Theiss, I was hiding under the

Doc regarded the two with undisguised
amazement.

“ Wa-ul by gosh i” he finally exclaimed.
“How in all that's wonderful did you two it
acquainted? An’ who is this Theiss yo’r talk 11’
about?" -, , .

’l‘gie detectives exchanged glances and then Dick
Sill 3

“ I’m sure We can trust Doc. Let's tell
him the whole story and perhaps he’ll be able to
help us.” ‘

,In as few words as possible Viuton told Cody
who they were and what their business was in
that part of the country. When he had con-
cluded, Bert suggested that they examine the
sachel under the bed. \

. They pulled it out, but before they could open
it a sound of horses hoofs was heard in front

  

 

  

 

W’A‘I—W

 

 
 

 

  

 

 _Mwwfwawefl Wm “

 

~Mww—

 

 

 

«mm.-. w.

Detective Dick’s Pard.

II

 

and Bert bolted out of the back door with the

sachel in one hand and Dick following close
upon his heels They ran for some distance and
finally reaching a secluded spot about a. mile
from the village, opened the sachol.

The cashier had told the truth in regard to its
contents!

It was nearly filled with U. S. Government
bonds of old dates, the principal and interest
of which would amount to nearly half a. million
dollars.

“ Phew,” said Dick when they had concluded
the examination. “I never saw so much money
as this in a. heap in my life."

“Nor I,” replied Bert. “The question now
is, however, what shall we do with ii?"

“I don‘t know. The money clearly is that
wich Theiss stole from the New York bank.”

“It must be, but what do you suppose old
Hollenbock is driving at? He says that he had
five hundred thousand dollars in Government
bonds in a. sachel too. Do you suppose there
are two sachels?”

“ There must be. Or else the old Dutchman is
trying to get the money which his partner stole.
It may be that Hollenbock is up to some such
scheme.”

“ I doubt it.” said Bert. “ He was too sincere
in charging Theiss with stealing it. It seems
strange that's. million dollars should be flouting
about in this way, but I guess such is the case.
Both men are pretty sure to— Quick, Dick, get
out of sight, here comes some one.”

.The two crouched down behind a. spreading
bush and watched two ersons pass in front of
them. One was Allan heiss, and Bert recog-
nized the other as Bonnie Hollenbock, but what
interested him most was the small black sachel
which she carried in one hand.

“ Dick,” he whispered when they had gone by,
“ you follow them, while I at rid of this
money. The girl is old Hollen k’s daughter
and she has got the other sachel in her band.
Theiss has been mighty sweet on her lately and
I suppose they are going to run off together. If
I were you I’d try to get that money—they can’t
go far away withOut it. Meet me at Cody’s
when you got through.”

With this hurriedly-whispered advice the two
separated. Dick hastening on after Theiss and
the girl, while his partner sat on the ground,
wondering what he was to do with his strangely-
acquired fortune. Viiiton followed the two for
nearly a. mile further. They seemed in doubt as
totheir course at first, but finally struck straight
out into the woods, following a. narrow path
which eventually brought them to a. large, well-
kept cabin, surrounded by a tall picket-fence.
Theiss knocked at the gate and was immediately
admitted to the inclosure and probably to the
house.

Detective Dick threw himseif down within a
hundred yards of the cabin and for a couple of
hours watched it in vain. At the end of that
time he was rewarded with a sight of the cashier,
who came out, this time accompanied by a
rough-looking, loose-jointed fellow, whom Dick
at once set down as the proprietor of the place.
They walked quite near the r rter, but he was
unable to hear any of their w ispered conversa-
two. When they had passed out of sight, Dick

 

arose and slowly approached the cabin. At the
doorway he gave a loud knock. repeating it a.
couple of times as only the echo answered.
Then he looked about him to’see if there was
any other entrance to the stronghold.

icoverin none, he made an attempt at scal-
ing the big picket fence. and after a half-
dozen failures was successful in doing so. The
inclosure on the inside was about six feet wide.
and ran entirely around the cabin. The build-
ing itself was very strongly constructed. and
reminded the reporter of the old Indian block—
houses he had read of in histories.

There were two entrances to the cabin, one
in the rear and one in the front, but in the sur-
rounding wall there Was but one. Vinton
boldly knocked at one of the doors, and was
almost immediately admitted by Bonnie herself.

She started back with a scream at sight of the
detective.

“ Do you live here?" she asked. quickly.
“ Luke said that only he and Molly were here?"

“ I don’t live here,” answered Dick. “But I
have business here now. Where has Luke and
Mr. Terry gone?”

“To Junction City—after a. minister,” she '
added with a pretty blush.

“We’ll, Bonnie, I’m sorry to interrupt the
nuptials, but I fear I shall have to.”

She stared at him, and shrugged 'her shapely
shoulders without replying.

“ This man whom you know as Terry is a
thief, and his right name is Theiss—Allan
Theiss!”

“It can’t be! How do you know? Who are
you?" gasped the frightened girl. sinking into
the nearest chair. “Who has told you all those
thin s?” .

“ know them to be true,” answered Dick,
earnestly. “My, name is Vinton, and I am a
detective from ew York. If you marry this
man, you will be as good as a widow within a,
few weeks afterward, for he is sure to be arrest-
ed and imprisoned for crime !”

The young man spoke so sincerely that the girl
was convinced of the truth of his remarks in
spite of herself.

“ You 58 his name is what?”

“Allan heiss.”

“ And he is a thief?”

“ He is indeed. He robbed a bank in. New
York of nearly five hundred thousand dollars.”

The poor girl burst into tears, and looked up
into the reporter’s face despairingly.

“ What shall I do!” she cried. " I can’t get
out of here, for the gate in the outer wall is
locked. How did you get in?" ‘

“I climbed over the fence, but you could

scarcely do that. I guess I can break down the

door, and we will be able to escape before they
come back.”

He started for the door, but suddenly paused-
snd looked around the room. In one corner a
triangular closet had been built, and into this he
plunged just as the door opened, admitting the
cashier. Luke Guvson, and Bert.

The latter had been discovered with the sachel,
and believing that it would be  under the
circumstances, had given it to Theiss without
comment. ~

The latter was much pleased, and brought

 

 

 

18 Detective Dick’s Pard.

 

him to the cabin as a safe retreat and a refuge
from the wrath of Caleb Hollenhock.

“Hello i” said Theiss, observing the pale face
of his intended bride. “ What’s the matter?”

“ Nothing," she answered, feebly, for the
Bresence of the three men and her knowledge of

ick’s hiding—place frightened her. “ I don’t
feel very well, that’s all.”

“ I thought perhaps you had already gotten
tired of me and wanted to go back to your fath-
'er’s. We didn’t go to Junction City as I intend—
ed, for we met this young man on the road with
my sachel and money, and brought them both
here for safe keeping.”

The girl nodded, glancing furtively at the
well-dressed young man, whom in her mind she
could not associate with such men as Luke Guy-
son and her promised husband.

“ We‘ll have to postpone the Wedding cere—
mony,” said the latter. “ But, to-morrow, we’ll
both go to Junction City, deposit all these bonds
in a bank, get married, and then take a long
wedding-tour.”

He now had both sachels in his possession, and
at once placed all the bonds in the larger of the
two, giving the other to Mr. Guyson.

“I want to put this in some safe place,” he
said. “ I guess I’ll let Bonnie herself take care
of it. Luke and I are going to have a little
game of cards.”

He handed the sachel to the girl and then took
a seat opposite Guyson at a small square table.
Luke invited Bert to join them, but he declined,
professing ignorance of the game, and proceeded
to strike up an acquaintanceship with the girl,
with a View of warning her of her peril. But
he had no opportunity of doing so for some time,
and finally wrote on a slip of paper:

“ Don't marry that man—he is a thief,” and
handed it to Bonnie.

She read it, but to his surprise did not seem to
be greatly agitated thereby and tore up the

aver nonchalantly. Then she arms and walk-
ng across the room placed the sachel on the in-
side of the three—cornered closet in which Dick
Vinton was confined, locking the door as she did
so. Then she handed the key to the cashier say-

m :

%The money will be safe enough in there
until to—morrow. I’m going up—stairs now to
lie down."

The cashier, who held a pair of jacks and was
trying to hint! his antagonist out of three
queens, merel ’ nodded, placing the key in his
pocket, While . rd Carmly regarded the game
with growing interest.

In the closet, Dick Vinton was slowly but
surely being suffocated.

He had just determined to make a fight for
liberty when onnie placed the snchel beside
him and locked the door. As he moved slightly
to make room, he felt behind him a projecting
window ledge and at once saw what the young
lady was at. When she closed and locked the
door he turned around and examined it more
closcfy, and found to his delight that a small
window opened from the closet directly into the
open air. It was evidently placed there to ad-
mit light and was bid by a heavy square shut-
ter which moved on squeaky hinges.

It was a pretty close shave but Dick deter»

 

mined to attempt it. He first opened the sachel
and threw the contents out of the window,
placing inside a pair of old boots which were in
the closet. Then he poked his head and shoul-
ders through and wiggled like an eel until he
fell head—foremost to the ground. He hastily
arose, closed the shutter and picked up the

papers, and at once set out for Doc Cody’s ’

cabin.

His departure was wholly unnoticed by the
people inside. Bonnie had gone up-stairs with
Molly Guyson, the wife of Luke, who with
Theiss was deeply interested in the game of
cards.

Bert wandered about the room, inspecting a
few cheap prints on the walls, and occasions 1y
sto ging to watch an unusually exciting deal.

“ ay, Mr. Terry,” he finally said, ‘ am I to
stay here?”

“ Not very long,” replied the cashier. “You
did me a good turn in finding that sachel to-
day, and I shall see that you are taken care of.”

“All right,” responded Bert. “I supposeI
can take a walk to the village if I want to?"

“Yes, but keep clear of old Hollenbock and
his men. If they see you they will be sure to
ask about that sachel."

Bert promised to do so, and left the cabin,
starting at once for Doc Cody’s. He could not
imagine where Dick had gone, and thought it
possible he would meet him at the redoubtable
doctor’s cabin.

“ I’m sorry I lost that sachel,” he said to him-
self, as he walked rapidly along, taking note of
the path to insure a speedy return. “But I
guess I’ll be able to get it again. The thing I
must do now is to warn that foolish youn lady
of the character of her future husband. §f she
persists in marrying him, then it will be her
own fault. I think she isn’t aware of whats.
rascal he really is.”

Carmly hurried on toward Doc Cody’s, reach-
ing the cabin late in the afternoon. Just as he
crossed the threshold he caught sight of Dick
Vinton.

(Ic‘Ihe two exchanged greetings, and then Bert
sai :

“ ’m awful sorry, old man, but I lost thosa
bonds.” “

“ Well, it doesn’t make any difference. I’ve
got them now.”

“What!”

“ I’ve got the bonds—all of them, old Hollan-
bock’s and the ones Theiss bad.”

“You must be mistaken, for I saw them
locked up in a closet in a cabin, away back in
the woods, not more than an hour ago. And
I’ll bgt a hat that the key is in Theiss’s pocket
now.

“ I know it,” replied Dick, coolly, “but I was
in the closet.”

“ With the sachell”

“Yes, and escaped through a small window
in the rear with the bonds, leaving the sachel
there.”

Carmly looked at his partner with undisguised
approbation. ,

“ You’re a darling,” he cried. “But I must
get back—'ust imagine what a storm there will
be when T eiss finds that the money is gonel”

The two exchanged stories and then Carmly

 

 

i
E

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

fietective Dick’s Ford. 18

 

started back to the cabin in the woods, not with-
out some misgivings as to the result of the ad-
venture.

 

CHAPTER VI.
AN ADVENTURE IN THE WOODS.

THE largest saloon in Amacns was called the
“ Uncle Sam.” The proprietor was a rough-
lookin but good-natured man by the name of
Jim aters, better known among his friends
and acquaintances as Buckeye Jim, I: om his
having been born and brought up in the State
of Ohio.

All the entertainments—and they were quite
frequent—that were held in the town took place
at "Uncle Sam’s." No shooting afl’ray of any
importance was ever known to occur outside its
walls, and, as a gambliughouse, it was equal to
ang in that part of the State.

:1 the night that, and only a short time after,
Lord Carmly set out for Luke Guyson’s cabin,
the noisy festivities of Buckeye J im’s resort
were interrupted h the entrance of no less a
personage than old aleb Hollenbock. As it was
the first time he had ever been seen in that or
any other similar place in Amacas, the frequent-
ers of “ Uncle Sam's" at once ceased their noisy
carnusals and paid close attention to him.

“ Boys,” began the old man. “ I vhas in need
of help. My daughter haf peen sthole, unt fife
huntert thousant tollars along vid her, y dodt
schoundrel Terry. I vant you to go on t after
him. I’ll give (its thousant toliars to do first
von who fetches Bonnie back, and five more to
the V011 who will bring back my money.”

A crowd of men left the tables and gathered
about Mr. Hollenbock, who told them, rather
incoherently, as much of detail as he knew in re-
gard to Theiss’s escape with Bonnie and the loss
of the sachel. The girl was Well known and
much respected by the rough citizens of Amacas,
and this act, with the reward of ten thousand
dollars which her father offered, caused a speed
and almost total clearance of the saloon, muc
to the proprietor's disgust.

“ Who iz this young teller you’re kin’
uv’l” asked Jim, as Hollenbock seated imself
with a sigh. “ Where dld you pick him up?”

“Terry brought him from the East mlt him
vhen he coome a day or two ago. I reckon
they vhas in partnership in a scheme to rob me,
though the young man vhas an hones’-lookin’
cha .” a.

“Etn’ you don’t know where he’s gone now or
whether or not he’s got the sachel?” .

The old man shook his head sadly.

“I don’t care so mooch aboudt tfe money ash
I do aboudt‘a Bonnie,” he said, stifling a kind of
sob which arose in spite of his efforts to keep
cool. “I’m afeard she's gone off mit der rascal
11! her own free willl”

“ Eloped?”

“ Dodt vhas it, I guess. I thought she vhas
too sensible for sooch nonsense, budt dis man
Terry ish a goot-lookin’ kind of chap. an’ per-
haps she’s godt an idea she vhas in lofe mit
him. ain‘dt It?”

Jim could offer no consolation to the old man.

_“ I reckon she’ll leave him if he don’t treat
her right," he said, shortly. “She ain’t no

I slouch, Bonnie ain’t.

 

Hollenbock arose and hobbled slowly outside,
bewailing the ill—wind which ever blew Allan
Theiss to Amacas.

The men whom he had started off in a chase
after the cashier had already departed, some of
them on horseback and others on foot. He had
not much confidence in their ability to catch
the man, and depended more on Bonnie herself
than on the searchers. Still, he was thoroughly
in earnest in offering the reward, for his daugh-
ter was about the only thing on earth, besides his
wealth, which occupied space in his hardened
old heart.

He walked to his deserted home and at once
retired, leaving word with the faithful Bill to
awake him if anything was discovered relating
to the missing fortune or the missing girl.

Meanwhile Bert was plodding on toward
Luke Guyson’s cabin. He did not think that
the cashier would discover the loss of the bonds
before the next day, and it was scarcely proba—
ble that he would do so until he reached J unc-
tion City and o sued the sachel. Dick’s move
in leaving the utter and only taking its con-
tents was regarded by Bert as extremely wise
and well worthy of his long-headed partner.

As he was thus musing, a. sound of ragidly
advancing hoof-beats startled him and he ast-
ened to crouch down behind some bushes and
await the passingJ of the late riders. As they
came in front of im he recognized the faces of
a half-dozen men whom he had seen lounging
around “Uncle Sam’s,” and rightly concluded
that they had been sent out by Hollenbock to
search for Theiss and Bonnie.

They were galloping straight on toward
Luke's cabin, and evidently suspected the cash-
ier’s whereabouts. Bert. when they had passed
by, sprung to his feet and ran after them,
anxious to see the result of the night‘s adven-
ture.

The Guyson stronghold was soon reached by
the horsemen, and a few minutes later the
reporter came up, pantin like a race-horse,
just in time to hear a gru inquiry from their
leader.

“Say, you Luke, cum out byerl”

‘ But Luke, whether or not he knew the mis-
alon of his late visitors remained under cover
and they shouted for im in vain. Colonel
Clavin, the leader of the horsemen regarded »
Guyson’s silence as sue icious under the circum—
stances, and at once ntroduced more radical
methods of bringing about an interview.

He rode close to the entrance in the picket
fence and flrsdasoore of shots into the air,
yelling like a Comanche warrior as he did so.

These tactics, practiced for about fifteen min-
utes, had the desired eflcct.

A door was partially opened on the inside and \
Luke, in a very aug tone of voice, asked:

“ See b er, you b asted fools, what in blazes
are you oin’now? I’ll shoot a couple nv on
of you don’t light out’er hver pooty qu ck.
Mebbe a man ain’t got no right any more to
sleep or—” -

“That’s all right,” interrupted the eclonel,
coolly, filling the empty chambers of his re-
volver. “I reckon there hain’t no call for yo’r
shootin’; we jest cum fur to make a leetle friend-
ly call."

l
a
I.
1

 

 

{L's—n.1,... mi .,_ .. ..

 

 

14 Detective Dick’s Pas-d.

 

“ Yo’ did, eh?” came a growl from the inside.
“ Wn-nl. then, ou’d best go back whar you
cum frum, fur huin’t a-receivin’ callers this
time n-night.“

“But we ill" a-goin’ ter insist on it,” con—
tinued Colonel Clavin. “ We feel kinder socia-
ble tor—night, an’ we’re comin’ in ter see yo’.
There hain’t no use fur you ter object, becuz we
mean biz, straight through, and we’d ruther
cum in through ther door then shoot our way
through the fence.“

“ You will, eh I” roared Luke, taking the lat-
ter part of the sentence as a threat. “Well, I
reckon it’ll be ther biggest job you ever tackled.
l haiu't a—goiu’ tor be imposed upon by no such
dumed fools ez you be, an’ ther .u’st man thet
shows hisself ’ll git a bullet straight atween ther
eyes—now you hear me talkin’l” ~

The colonel did not attempt to argue the mat-
ter with the angry man, but at once dismounted
and directed his followers to do the same. They
led their horses to the nearest trees, and than
commenced the assault on Luke’s stronghold.
Under Clavin’s direction, they used a narrow
log of wood as a battering-ram with such good
effect, that the door was soon forced from its
hinges and thrown backward intothe inclosure.

As it fell, a dozen bullets passed through the
opening, and the assailants fell back in disorder.
Their leader, however, was not discouraged by
their first failure, and a second, and this time
successful rush was made for the broken door-

way.

Bullets flew thick and fast between the two
parties; Luke, Theiss and even Molly usingboth
hands in ulling triggers against the intruders.
Bonnie, s tting up—stairs, heard the noise of bat.
tle. and at once divined its cause.

It was all over in a few moments. Colonel
Clavin staggered back from the doorwa , the
last man of the attacking party to fall fore
the pistols of Luke Gu son and his friends.

The latter at once se about repairing the dam-

. ages the assailants had done, while Theiss made

hurried preparations for departure. Ho secured
the sachel, and, after paying Luke well for his
trouble, hastened aWay, forgettin , in his selfish
desire to save his own skin, that onnie was do.
pendent upon him.

Luke did not urge him to stay, and was, in
fact, glad to see him go. His departure would
permit of plausible lying as to the cause of the
defense of his castle against the attack of the
wipes] and his men, and this was all Mr. Guy-
son cared for 'ust then.

Durin the attic. Lord Carmly had remained
an invi ble but deeply-interested spectator of
the whole thing. When it closed, he started to

return to Doc Cody’s cubin, but, remembering

Bonnie, went back to find her and, if possible,
escort her home.

As soon as Luke caught sight of the reporter,
be growled:

” Did ou send these fellers hyer?"

“ I di not," replied Bert, truthfully. “ I saw
the fight just now, but I didn’t know haw it
started, or what it was about."

“ I believe you lie,” returned the man, fierce—
ly. “I’m in a nice fix now, ain’t I? What’ll
become uv me when the people down tor the vil-
lage hear of this?”

i , s

/’

 

f‘ I don’t know,” said Bert, coolly. “I cer-
tainly didn’t send these men here, however.
Where is Terry ?”

“ He just took the sachel and sneaked.”

“With the girl?”

“ No; she’s lip-stairs.”

“ Well, if he’s gone, I suppose Bonnie might
gs well be taken back to her home,” suggested

ert.

“I guess not. I’ve kinder got an idea that
I’ll keep thet gurl myself.”

H You 11)

“ Thet’s what I said, an’ don’t you go blabbin’
ther fact uv my doiu’ so all over town, neither.
l11M yggu do, I’l settle you mighty quick, d’ye

yer

The reporter wa completely knocked out, but
he turned away, muttering loud enough for
Luke to hear:

. "' I guess I’ll leave this country the first thing
in the morning. I can’t stand such shooting and
other deviltry as this.”

. “ That’s right,” responded the other, approv—
ingly. “If you light out of this country to—
morrow, you’ll do the sensiblest thing you could
do. This hain't a healthy place fur sech tellers."

Bert walked away in the darkness without
replying, leaving the victor of the late battle
nursing the wounded of the defeated party,
while Colonel Clavin departed for Amacas to
get medical assistance.

CHAPTER VII.
A PRISONER.

_ DETECTIVE DICK spent the night at Doc
Cody’s cabin, and in the morning awaited the
return of Lord Carmly. But as the hours
passed, and the’ reporter did not put in an ap-
Eearance, Dick started out to search for him.

0 soon heard of the battle between Colonel
Clavin’s forces and Luke Guyson the night be-
fore, and knowing of Bert‘s proximity to the
cabin, feared that something had befallen his
partner. He secured the assistance of Doc
Cody, who left the bedside of a couple of the
wounded men, and the two set out together on
the doctor’s best horses for Luke’s cabin.

“Bert isn’t the kind of fellow to at into a
muss of that kind unless he was forc to,” said
Dick. “ If he had reached the place before the
colouel’smen, he was probably made to take a
hand by Luke and Theiss. In that case he may
have been shot, but I think it’s more likely that
they reached the cabin first.”

“ Then where do you suppose ther oung fel-
ler is now?” asked oc. “D’ye think he'd stay
at ther house all night?" 7

“ No, I shouldn’t be sur rised if he has under-
taken to follow Theiss. he cashier must have
lighted out as soon as he possth could after the
fight, and if Bert was able to, 1 now he’d follow
him, even if he didn’t have the bonds.”

The two rode rapidly along, and reaching the
vicinity of Luke’s cabin, dismounted. and tied
their horses. Then they cautiously approached
the scene of the late conflict.

Everything had been repaired. The gate was
closed and fastened more firmly than ever in its
old pOSItlol-L Only a thin line of blue smoke

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date ctive Dick's Pard. 15

 

that curled in an uncertain way from the chim-
ney-top, gave evidence of life.

“ What shall we do, Doc?" asked Vinton, as
the two halted for Consultation. “Had one of
us better go right up and knock on the door!”

Cody shook his head.

“ Luko’ll think we’re after him instead of the
other teller,” he said, SIOle. “ I guess we’d
best wait hyer fur a spell an’ see what turns up.
If Bert goes back to my cabin he’ll wait thar
fur us."

The two men lay down on a grassy spot and
kept their eyes fastened on the entrhnce to
Luke’s stronghold all the morning. Toward
noon their faithfulness was rewarded by a
glimpse of Guyson himself.

The man opened the gate, and directly in
front of it commenced to dig a hole. Several
times he looked about him to see if any one was
in the vicinity, but seeing nothing returned to
work. In a short time he had a hole nearly
five feet deep and about half as broad dug in
the soft earth.

He looked at his work comglacently for a mo-
ment and then returned to't 8 house.

“ Wa-al, uv all things," muttered Doc Cod .
“ What on 'ath d’ye s’pose he's goin’ ter 0
now ?"

“ I don’t know; bury some one, I should
judge,” replied Dick. ‘

“ Must. be goin’ tor stan’ him on his head,”
said Doc, with a chuckle. “ Here he cums hack
ag’in.”

Luke came out of the doorway bearing under
each arm asmall, dark-colored keg. He again
scrutinized the woods and bushes in the vicin-
ity, but seeing nothing, set to work again. He
first placed in the bottom of the hole a round
metal cylinder, and in it set the two kegs.
Then he leaped inside himself, and for nearly
half an hour was busily engaged in error: ing
them. When he came out be dug an inch- eep
ditch in the ground from the hole, under the
gate in the fence to the entrance of the cabin on
the inside.

In this he laid a small black cord and covered
it with earth as far as the gate. Then be filled
the hole he had dug, at first throwing in the
loose dirt with cat care so as not to disturb
the mechanism 0 his work, and lastly covering
it all over with sticks and leaves and clearing
up all signs of the disturbance. ’

Having done so, he entered the inclosure, and
closed and locked the gate.

“ Gemmin Moses!” gasped Doc, springing to
his feet. “ id you ever seesuch devilishness in
yer horn days?" i

“ I don’t knew," replied Dick. “ I can’t tell
what he’s been doing.”

“ You can’tl Don’t you know an internal
machine when you see one?"

The detective started back.

“Do you mean to say that Lake has built a
mine in that hole?” he gasped.

Cody nodded.

“And is going to set it of! in case he is attack-
ed ain’l" I h
su pose so. t'll blow da light throng a
hundred, men of they try to breyak in the gate,
and he sets the darned thing off.”

“ But won’t it hurt the cabin—blow that up

l

 

too?” asked the reporter. “All that powder, I
should think, would kill Luke as well as the
others.”

” Not in the way he’s got it fixed. The thing
only works up an’ down, so ter speak. It’ll fly
up’ards, but that round iron he put in fu‘st will
save him from bein’ blown up.”

Dick looked at Cody in horror.

f‘I didn’t think such deviltry existed I” he

said.

“It don’t—outside uv Colorady,” responded
Doc, grimly, leading the wa back to where
they had left their horses. “ bet Luke Gu son
would do enything ter save his own skin. e’s
be’n mobbed half a dozen times, and so he built
this fort out hyer fur pertection.”

The two were startled by a pistol-shot from
the direction of the cabin, and turned hastily
around, springing behind a couple of trees as

the did so.
C’i‘ackl Crack!

Two more reports rung out, and this time
they caught sight of Lord Carmly standing on
the roof of the cabin with a smoking revolver in
one hand. Dick tried to rush to his friend’sas-
sistance, but was held back by Cody.

“Stay hyer, you fool! Thet feller’s all right,
ez long ez he’s got ther shooter.”

Bert stood on the sloping roof of the cabin
for several seconds, peering about below him.
Then another shot was heard, and the young re—
porter threw his hands above his head, stag-
gered forward, and fell to the ground within the
inclosure.

For a moment the two witnesses to the trag-
edy stood still. Then Doc Cody spoke.

‘ Git onto a horse an’ ride to Amacas,” he
said, hoarsely. “Bring a down uv ther best
men on kin find thar. I’ll watch hyer, nn’
shoot uke of he shows hisself.” '

Dick, wild with anxiety over his partner’s in-
jury, spruug into the saddle of the seam of
the two horses and set out toward Amacas on a
flying gallo . Cody remained behind. resting
his cocked inchester across a limb of a tree
and leveled Straight toward the entrance to
Guvson’s cn bin. '

For nearly half. an hour he remained sitting
perfectly still, awaiting an appearance of Luke
or the return of Dick Vinton with the reinforce-
ments. At the end of that time he lay in an in-
animate heap upon the .ground, while Luke
Guyson stood above him with a heavy club in
his band. The man had left the cabin by climb-
in over the fence in the rear, and sneaking up
be ind the scout had dealt hi aterrific blow
on the head, knocking him as less and almost
lifeless.

Luke picked up the burly form of the uncon-
scious man and carried it within the cabin, re-
turning presently to secure the remaining horse.

 

We must now return to Bert for a few min-
utes, and tell of his unpleasant adventures with
Luke Guyson on the receding night. The lat-
ter after ermitting him to set out for Amacas,
had thong t better of his decision, and had run
after him and brought him back.

“ I reckon I’ll keep you hyer fur a spell,” he
said, leading the ,way to his cabin. ‘ Ef yon ‘
git inter old Hollenbock’s hands, there ain’t no

 

 

\:
> .
,7
i
A
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T




1,6

Detective Dick’s Paul.

 

tellin' what you’ll let him know about this leetle
circus hyer tor—night.” '

Bert protested his willingness to keep his mouth

shut in regard to the subject, and at once quit
the town it necessary, but Luke evidently had
some purpose in view for retaining him, and
would not listen to his assurances. The reporter
resolved to attempt the rescue of Bonnie, and if
possible deliver her ca tor over into the hands
of the law. He was earnt that the cashier
would escape, although, knowing that the bonds
were in Dick Vinton’s possession, he thought it
hardly probable that Theiss would be either able
or willing to go far.
. He was given the bounds of the cabin, but
warned not to communicate in any way with
his fellow-prisoner. Bonnie, who was confined in
one of the largest rooms on the second floor.
Mrs. Guyson, who had the young lady in charge,
was an aged and sonewhat decrepit woman who
could offer but little resistance in case her
prisoner attempted to escape.

And this is just what Bonnie determined to do.

She was armed with a revolver which she had
brought from home, and resolved upon using it
if occasion required.

Quite late the next forenoon, Bonnie heard
Luke working in front of the house, and at once
I made preparations for taking French leave.
She ratpped loudly on the floor, a signal which

. never ailed to bring Mrs. Guyson to the door,
and Kresently the woman entered. Before she
coul say a word. she had been thrown down
and Bonnie was busily engaged in tying her
hands and feet. »

“ Don’t you scream,” said the plucky young
lady, showing her revolver. “You and Luke
have no right to keep me here like this, and-

I well, I declare l"

Bonnie stopped short and stared at Lord

' Carmly, who had just appeared in the doorway,
' with mingled dismay and astonishment.

“ That’s all right. ’ Bert assured her. “ I’m a
prisoner here'as well as yourself, and just came
up $0,580 where you were confined. Can I help

on

The two bound and gagged Mrs. Luke very
eflectnally and then made ready to leave the
house. A window in one end of the room opened
toward the rear of the cabin, and Bert carefully
raised this.  *

, “ It’s about fifteen feet from here to the
round," he said, turning to Bonnie. “ Can you
ump it."

She nodded. ‘ i

“ Isn’t there a rope, or something, that you
could lowar me with?” she asked. ' if there
isn’t, I’ll jump, for I’d rather die then stay here

> any longer.” .

“ I’m afraid not,” said the reporter. “ Luke
has been very careful not to leave anything of
that kind within reach." ,

He was about to assist Bonnie to the window
led e when a thought occurred to him.

‘ ‘ by not get on the roof?” ’

“ The roof! How would that help us!”

“ It’s slanting, you see, and this window is
right near the pea . If we climb up on that we
could crawl down to the edge and jum clear
over the'fence and outside oi! the inc osure.
Wait until I go first.”

 

Bonnie handed him her revolver.

“ Take this,” she said, “and use it if you have
an opportunity."

The reporter put the weapon in the side pocket
of his coat, and rising on the, window-ledge,
reached up and grasped with both hands the
edge of the roof. Then he gavea mighty spring
and landed on the top of the house with a loud
thump. Luke, working in front, ran around
and caught sight of the escaping prisoner just
as he arose to his feet.

He sent a bullet whizzing toward him and re-
ceived two in return. Then, taking more careL
ful aim, he brought his prey tumbling to the
ground. '

Bonnie, terribly frightened, remained near
the open window for a long time, fearing that
her attempted escape, as well as that of her un-
fortunate companion, would be discovered. But
Luke did not come np-stairs, or in any way give
evidence of his presence, and so, after a time,
Bonnie mustered up courage to follow Lord
Cnrmly’s example and perhaps meet his fate.

It was with great dilficulty that she reached
the roof in safety. and when she did so her ten—
der hands were sex-alched and bleeding, and her
arms were nearly broken with the strain. She
looked into the yard, but Luke was not there,
and then out toward the woods. In a few mo—
ments her captor came into view, bearing in his
arms the unconscious form of Doc Cody.

Bonnie did not hesitate for a moment. She
let herself slide to the edge of the roof and then
boldly leaped into space, striking the ground on
the other side with great but not fatal force.
As soon as she was rested sufficiently, she set out
on foot for Amucas. , ‘ .r .

The journey was a long and tiresome one to
her, and it was late in the afternoon that, weary
in mind and body, she reached Doc Cody’s cabin
and, entering, lay down on his couch. She did
not want to see her father until she had want
some one out to Luke’s cabin to rescue his two
prisoners, and thought she would take a few
moments rest before doing so. ‘

As she lay there, thinking over rather inco—
herently the incidents and accidents of the past
few days, Dick Vinton entered. \

“Why. Bonniel” he cried. “ How did you
get here?” ’

“ I escaped from Luke only a little while ago
and came to get some men to go out there and
gaze the lives of that poor young man and Doc

0 y.

“ Cody—do you mean to say he’s been taken
in by Luke Guyson?”

“Yes, he brought him in just as I escaped.
Doc was unconscious, and bad either been shot
or knocked sanseless with a club.”

“And Bert—how is he?” _

“I don’t know. I saw him fall, but I Can’t say
how badly he’s injured. Why don’t you get
some one and go to his rescue?” ,

“ That’s just What I have done and twenty
good men are on their way to 'Luke’s cabin

110W.
Then he halted, turned pale, and almost fell to
the floor as a thought struck him:
“ The mine! I didn’t warn the men about it
and Doc isn't there to keep them from Walking
right into the trap.”

 

i

 

 

 

. In; «M». Y '

 



Detective Dick’s Par-d. 17

 

For a moment he stood still, and then sprung
to the door.

“You wait here, Bonnie; I must ride on and
try to catch these men before they reach the
filing. The bonds are in a box under the

 

CHAPTER VIII.
A RIDE ron LIFE.

A FEW few minutes later Detective Dick was
mounted on the flectest horse in Buckeye Jim’s
stables, and running swiftly out toward Luke
Guyson’s cabin. He was not an expert horre-
man by any means, but managed to stick in the
saddle as his steed rushed on, over the logs and
stones that covered the road through the
woods.

He was almost in sight of his destination when
aloud explosion greeted his cars, and he knew in
a moment that the mine had been fired. The
report was immediately followed bya tusilade of

istol-shots, accompanied by loud shouts, and
ick reached the cabin just as the short but de-
cisive battle was brought to a close.

In front of the entrance to the inclosure was
a deep ragged hole and the explosion had torn
up one entire side of the surrounding fence.
As Dick dismounted, the men whom he had
sent from Amacas came out of the cabin, two
of them carrying in their arms the struggling,
cursing captive, Luke Guyson. Another hast-
ened to bring into service a rope which he had
thoughtfully brought along, and the entire.
party went further into the woods. The re-
porter knew that Luke’s hours were numbered
but he did not care to see the well—deserved fate
administered to the outlaw, and so hastened in-
to the cabin.

“ Bert,” he exclaimed, at sight of his partner
lying on an improvised couch on the floor, “ are
you much hurt?”

“ I’m afraid so, old man,” answered Carmly.
“ Luke shot me in the shoulder and I broke my
arm in falling from the roof of the cabin.”

” And haven’t you had anything done for the
wounds?”

“ Not until Doc came in. He’s sort of fixed
them up."

At that moment Cody himself entered. He
looked considerably the worse for wear and a
wide bauda e stained with blood was wrapped
around his sad. He was glad to see Dick and
said so.

“ We’ve had pooty lively times aroun’ hyer,”
he remarked, seating himself at Bert’s side with
some splints with which to set the broken limb.
“ But on ther whole I’m kinder glad uv it, fur
it’s rid us uv one ’er ther wu’st men that ever

V disgraced Colorad‘ .”

Y

“ Why, is Luke dead?” asked Carmly.

” Wa-al no, bht he will be in a few minutes, I
reckon,” said Doc grimly. “ One uv ther boys
wuz sharp enough tar bring a rope."

A faint smile stole ovor the wounded man’s
face as he asked: v

“ Are they going tolynch him?”

“ Sumthin’ like thet. I’d like ter take a

. hand in it, but I’m afeard uv leavin’ on.”

Dick watched the rough but skill ul Work of
Cody as he placed the splints on the broken arm
and bandaged it in position.

 

“How did the mine explode?” he asked sud-
denly. ‘ ,

Doc nodded toward Bert.

“ He set it off.”

“ Before the men got here?”

“Sart’inl Ef he hadn’t. I reckon some uv
them would he whar Luke’s a—goin’ by this
time." .

Presently the men from Amacas returned to
the cabin.

“How’s ther kid?” asked one of them step-
ping to Bert’s side. “ Is he goin’ ter pull
through?”

“Of course; thcr’ ain’t nothin’ ther matter
with him, ’ceptin’ ther broken arm. The shot
don’t amount to much,”rcplied Doe. “I wish
some uv you fellers would rig up a stretcher uv
some kind ter carry him inter town on.”

There were plenty of willing hands about, and
a stout structure was soon put together with the
aid of a shutter from the cabin, two long poles
and some cushions which the trembling Molly
produced. On this the form of Lord Carme
was laid and the men took turns in carr ing‘ it
to Amacas and into Doc Cody’s cabin. Idem it
was left in his charge and the men dispersed,
very Well satisfied with the result of the after-
noon’s work.

Bert was tucked up in bed, his wounds care—
fully dresscd and he was advised to go to sleep
by the faithful Cody, before Doc would con.—
sent to have his own bruised head attended to.

“ I s’pose it’s some satisfaction to a man like
Luke Lxuysou,”he said, directing Dick in the
preparation of some linimcnt, “to kick ther
bucket in such a way ez this. He‘s b’en taken .
of‘f’n ther ’arth arfter killin’ three men an’
woundin’ a dozen. An’ then it took allAmacas,
pooty much, ter put him down. He wuzn’t no
slouch, Luke wuzn’t.” '

Dick said nothing about his meeting with
Bonnie. The others supposed she had gone di-
rectly from Guyson’s cabin to her home, and
Vinton, when he saw that she had not waited
for him to return, imagined that the girl had
repented of her folly and sought the protecting
arms of her father. It was not until the next
morning that he looked for the bonds which
he had placed in Doc’s strong box under the bed.

He found, when he did so, that they had been
taken away.

“Bert,” he said to his partner when he had
made the discovery, “I’ll have to leave you
here in Doc’s charge while I go out and see what
I can do toward finding Theiss and the bonds.”

“Why, I thought you had the bonds,” ex-
claimed Carmly. “You-surely hav,’n‘t lost '
them again 1” ‘ '

“ That’s just it,” said Dick. " I left them in
a box beneath the bed here yesterday, and I ~
£1st found out that they had been taken.

onnie was the only person besides myself and
Doc that knew that they were there.”

“ And you think that she took them?” ,

“ It looks that way. I’ll go up now and see
the old man, and then start a ter Theiss, for we
Want him as badly as we do the bondl. Good-
by; I’m sorry you can’t help me finish this

thing, but I reckon I’ll be able to run the cashier ’

down, and then we’ll write up the story to-
gether. It will make a good one.”

 

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18 Detective Dick’s Par-d.

 

“I guess it will; good-by,” responded Bert,
reaching out his hand. The two Shock, and
then Dick left the cabin, feeling that he had

v progressed in his search but little, for although

he had evidence enough to convict the man, he
did not have either the cashier himst or the
stolen goods, And then the wrong-doings of
the Hollcnhock Miningr Company would have to
be exposed to the public gaze. and the injured
stockholders, especially Mrs. Rogers, shown
how they had been cheated. All this Dick
would have to undertake alone; but he did not
flinch, and walked boldly out toward Caleb
Hollenbock‘s residence to see Bonnie, and ask
her squarely if she knew anything about the
missing bonds.

The old man himself came to the door in re—
sponse to the reporter’s rap.

“ Goot mornin’,” he said, looking at the stran-
ger with a trifle of suspicion. “ V’ot you vant?”

“ Mr. Hollenhock?” risked Dick.

“ Yaas, dot vhas mo.”

“ Is your daughter Bonnie in?"

“ No, sir, she hat nodt peen in for two days,”
replied the old man. “ Do you know anything
aboudt her?”

“I saw her yesterday, and she said she was
coming home. an‘n’t you seen her since she
went away with Theiss—I mean Mr. Terry?”

“ No, sir, I hni‘ nodt."

Detective Dick was deeply disap inicd, and
was compelled at once to connect he girl with
the missing bonds.

He told the old man how he had met the girl
in Doc Cody’s cabin, where he had been stop-
ping. since shot while singing in the minstrel
Lrou e.”

“ ' "en you vhas dodt man who got shot?"

“ Yes.’

“ Unt you hat nodt seen anything of tar

'sachel mit dcr money 1”

Dick hesitated a moment, and then decided to
tell the story of tho nasault on Luke’s cabin,
and the rescue and subsequent loss of the bonds.
He did so, and when he concluded, the old man
looked at him in amazement.

“ Veil, veil,” he exclaimed. “ Dodt Terry
vhas tellin’ t’e truth, an’ bore I but peen t’ink-
in’ he vhas lyin’. Poor man, he had! got no mon-
ey now, ain’t id 3”

“ That’s so,” said Dick. “ When he tries to
deposit. the contents of that sachcl in a bank, I
guess he’ll et into trouble. But I must go
now, and if hear anything of your daughter’s
whereabouts, I will let you know at once."

“ All right. I cannot see whatever bossesses

, dose young gurls nowada s, to act so. T’ey haf
l’

no more sense t’an a pig.’

The old man re-entered the house, and Dick
turned and wulked down the street toward
Buckeye Jim’s saloon. He had no definite idea
of his immediate action, but hoped to find about
" Uncle Sam’s” some clew to the hond’s disap-

mnce. He could not help connecting them
u some way with Allen Theiss, for he did not
believe, that the girl alone, would take the
money.

He walked into the saloon, and had just en-

,ter‘ed into conversation with the proprietor

when a stranger entered. He was a young man
of twenty or twenty-five, and had the appear,

 

aucc of having just stopped from a fashionable
New York or London promenade. His loud
chock suit, high hat, cane, and patent-leather
shoes attracted the attention of the inmates of
the saloon, who gathered ahout him speedily,
and hogan to ply him with questions as to his
name, residence, and destination. To all of
them he gave a haughty, milid-your-own—busi-
boss kind of look, and walked up to the bar.

“I desire to rcgistah here,” he said. “Are
you the Fl‘opriemh?”

“ Wel , I reckon I am, about as much ascnny
one else,” responded Buckeye Jim, playfully.
“ Hev you a cardi”

The new—comer did not see the wink which Jim
threw to the ystanders, and so drew from his
pocket a bit of pasteboard, on which was en-
graved: “ Mr. E. Burr Elwell, Private Detect-
ive, New York,” and handed it to Jim.

“ That is my name, sir.”

“ All right," said Jim, “ that goes. What kin
I do for you i”
“ I want a room for a few days. I am here

on business of some importance, and I desire to
remain incognito for the present."

“ All right,” said the proprietor of the Uncle
Sam, with a chuckle. “You kin stay in ther
house all the: time of you want to. Have you
enny valuables?"

“ Eh? Valuables?‘ ‘

“ Yes; watches, diamonds or money.”

“ Why, yes, of course.”

Jim stretched his hand across the bar.

“ Give ’em hyer.”

“ What?’

. “Hand over your valuables.
uv ’em till on go away."

Mr. E. arr Elwoll backed away from the
bar, clutching his watch-chain with 0th hands.

“ Aw, weally ou cawn’t have m watch, you
know,” he sai , plaintively. “ ou weally
cawn’t.”

“But them’s ther rules," said Jim, bringing
into sight a huge horse-pistol. “ We don’t allow
no funny business out bye ', sonny, an’ if you
want to fight, you mought ez well begin with me
ez any one else}?

“ But I don’t Want to fight.”

“ I ain’t much uv n mun myself, but I reckon
thet urfter you’ve done me up, some uv ther rest
uv ther boys will givu you a whack at them.”

“ I tell you I cawn’t fight— I weally cawn’t."

“ Do you mean to insult me?” roared Jim,
bringing the pistol down on the bar with a
thump. “ You ain’t a—goin’ to work off no bluff
on me, d‘ye hear!”

The young num shivered, looked about him.
an! then brought from his pocket 3. Waterbury
watch, and laid it upon the bar.

“I don’t want to insult you,” he protested.
“ I’m not used to the customs of this rt of the
country, but if you weally insist on aving my
wn”tch, why. of course, you know—you’ve got
it!

A snicker broke from the crowd of assembled
sports, and Dick laughed outright at the cum
man’s discomfiture. But Buckeye Jim d (1 no
relax in muscle of his face as he gathered in the
watch.

" ow,” he said, savagely, “ take of! your
clothes.”

I take charge

/

4 r

so r. ’ifi'fi 3 x i

 

 

 

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we...“ . .

 

 

 

Detective Dick's Paul. 19

 

“ Sir! have you the audacity to request—4‘

“I don’t request nothin’," said im. “I tell
you to take off your clothes—an to be spry
about it, too. I’m a—ruunin’ this shanty, an’ I
ain’t a-goin’ ter bcv no handy—legged son—uv—a—
gun insult me with his boots on. P991 off your
duds, store I put a charge of buckshot inter yer
carcass.”

“ But, weally, 1—"

“ Are you a—goin’ ter undress or not?”

“ I cawn’t, weally—J’

“ One!” began Jim, ominously.

“ But, I say—”

” Two l”

The young man hesitated no longer, but,
hastil getting out of range of Luke’s pistol-
barre , began to disrobe. He had removed his
outer clothing. and would soon have been en-
tirely undressed, had not the entertainment been
brought to a sudden and unexpected close by the
entrance of no less a personage than Allan
Theiss. He advanced toward Buckeye Jim, oar-
rying in one hand, with as much care as if it
contained the fortune it once had, the small
black sachel. '

“Well, Jim,” he said, pleasantly. “What’s
the trouble?” 7

“ Nothin’,” muttered Jim, keeping his eye
fastened on his victim. “ Only this ’ere young—
ster come in here a few minutes ago and started
in ter lick the crowd. He ain’t done it yet, but
he’s gittin‘ ready.”

The cashier turned about and looked into the
face of the much- rsecuted young man. As he
did so, he started k, and is right/hand flew
back to his hip pocket.

“ Elwelll" he cried. “ You blanked fool, what
are you doing here?"

“ Nothing, sir,” groaned Mr. Elwell. “ Really,
Mr. Theiss, I mean you no harm. I have met
misfortunes at the hands of these hrutes—”

“ What’s that?” roared Jim. “ Jest say that
over ag’in’, and say it slow I”

“ I‘—-I have been rather roughly treated by
these—these gentlemen, an’ am not, therefore,
prepared for entrance into good society, but I
weal‘lfv assure you—~”

“ ou can’t assure me anything,” interrupted
Theiss, roughly. “This is the second time I
have caught you following me over the country,
and it’s going to be the ast. Why don’t you
stay where you belong and attend to your own
business, instead of bothering me like this?”

Mr. E. Barr Elwell did not reply, and a second
later two pistol—shots rung out in the crowded
room. -

CHAPTER IX.
HE. E. BARR ELWELL, PRIVATE um.

ALLAN THEISS had made an o in attempt at
shooting the young man. But t e first bullet
flew wide of its mark and when he was about to
pull the trigger for the second time a sharii;
report rung out and his revolver flew from h
hand. Turning quickly, he saw Dick Vinton
standing at the end of the bar, just replacmg a
smoking pistol. . ,

“ What do you mean by this?” cried Theiss,
takinia pace in the reporter’s direction. “ What
right ave you to interfere in this thing, I want
to know?" ‘ ‘

 

 

“ I didn't intend to let you murder the man,
that’s all," replied Dick calmly.

“ Wlx) said I was going to murder him?" de-
manded the cashier, picking up his revolver.
“ And if I was, it didn’t concern you."

“ Perhaps not, but it concerned him,” nodding
toward the man, who was taking advantage of
the situation and getting back into his clothes,
“and he doesn’t seem able to take care of him~
self. I sha’n’t let you kill him while I’m here.”

“ You won’t?”

“Not if I can help it.” ‘

Thciss looked the re orter over from head to
foot before replying. hen he asked slowly:

“ Do you know this fellow?”

Dick shook his head.

:: Did’you ever see him before to—day?"

:‘ Eon, don’t know anything at all about him?”
I o ' .

“Then why did you want to keep me from
settling this little dispute? I’m a gentleman,
and I've got a right to shoot a man with whom
I’ve got a standing grudge, without your blank—
ed interference.”

” I know, but this thing was too one-sided,”
responded the reporter, anxious to end the
argument. “I don’t want to see a man mur—
dered in cold blood right before my eyes, and
what is more, I won’t.”

“ All right; then you and I must have this
thing out right here and now."

’I‘heiss carefully rested the sachel on the bar
and cocked his revolver.

“ Are you ready?” he asked, as Dick made no
preparations for the impending conflict. “ I
want you to understand that I’m in earnest, and
intend to shoot you for interfering with my
little trouble just now.”

The cold, matter-effect tone which the man
used convinced the reporter of his sincerity and he
regretted exceedingly that circumstances should
have involved him in a quarrel with the ver
man, of all men, whom he most wished to avoi .
But he had plunged into the affair and would be
forced to go through it as well as possible. To
“that end he retreated a few paces and with his
‘hand loosely grasping the butt of his revolver
in the sidepocket of his coat, stood facing the
angry cashier.

he latter quickly, raised his arm and fired
point blank at the reporter. The bullet struck
the bar, chipped 011 a piece of wood, and glanced
harmle-sly through an open window. Dick
covered the man with his revolver, anxious to
avoid bloodshed if possible.

“Throw up your hands,” he commanded.
” And la your revolver down, or I’ll shoot.”

Theiss ad no intention of doing anything of
the kind, and lowered his revolver to re-cock it.

The next instant he lay upon the floor with
Dick on top of him, and the crowd applauding,
with shouts of approval, the reporter’s brilliant
and timely knock-out. The cashier stru gled
desperately and swore until he choked, but ick
did not release his grip.

“Will you behave yourself if I let you up?"
be asked, hanging the man’s head down on the
floor. “ Will you at up your pistol and leave
this young man ans myself alone?”

A string of curses preceded the cashier’s

 

  

   

20

Detective Dick’s Pard.

 

 

 

denial, and Dick proceeded to drive a nail in the
floor with Mr. Theiss’s head. The crowd looked
on with approval and encouraged both partici-
pants with words of sympathy and advice.
Buckeye Jim was eSpeciully interested, for a
fight was, of all things, the best entertainment
he could provide for‘his customers.

“Go it,” he shouted leaning far over the bar.
“You can‘t hurt the floor.”

Theiss groaned, struggled and cursed until he
was tired out and then lay still.

“Just wait (bang) until I get up, you (hang)
blanked young (bang, bang) idiot. I’ll show
you (hang) WllO’i hoss here.”

Dick punctuated this and much more of the
cashier’s conversation by pounding Thais-5's
head against the floor. He was getting tired,
and the under man showed no signs of giving
in. Finally he resolved to furnish amusement
for the spectators no longer and called to Mr.
E, Barr Elwell, who had by this time resumed
his clothing.

“Here, you take your turn,” he said, as the
“ private detective” approached. “Sit on him
until he apologizes if it takes all night.”

The young man, anxious to redeem himself in
the eyes of Buckeye Jim and his customers,
threw himself upon the prostrate form of the
cashier and commenced Dick’s tactics, with some
variations of his own that caused the on-lookers
to howl with laughter.

“You will shoot me, oh?" he asked jumping
up and down on the defeated but not dishearten-
ed man. “ Well, I guess not to-day. Mebbe you
think I‘m going to stand all your abuse in
silence, but you‘ll find pretty soon that I ain’t.
You've just about run to the end of your rope,
and I’ve got a warrant in my pocket for your
arrest for robbing the Cayuga bank in N ew York
City. I’ll serve it now and take you back with
me. you confounded— O-ouchl”

. The cashier with a mighty wrench throw the
oung man half-way across the room and
ounded to his feet. There was blood in his
eye and as he drew from his pocket along-
bladed knife, the inmates of the room settled
back against the walls.

Without saying a word he sprung toward
Elweli who was still spinning around on the
floor from the force of the blow which Theiss
had dealt him.

In another instant the detective would have
been a dead man.

Detective Dick rushed forward to assist the
unfortunate Mr. Elwell, but before he could
reach him the door of the saloon was darkened
by the form of ayoung man whom neither the
detective nor the cashier had ever seen before.
He could not have been more than twenty years
of age and dressed throughout in an untrimmed
suit of buckskin. He wore a brod-brimmed felt
hat on his head and carried a repeating rifle in
one hand.

At sight of Theiss with upraised knife rushing
upon t e defenseless detective, the new-comer
threw the rifle to his shoulder and brought the
barrel on a level with the cashier‘s head.

“1101’ on thar,” he exclaimed. “ Let up on
that or I’ll shoot! Whut d’ye mean by tryin’
ter kill sech a little fellor anywa I”

For the second time that y Theiss was

brought to a halt on the very point of committing
a murder. He glared at the man who had
dared to interfere and tried to step out of range
of the threatening rifle barrel us he growled:

“ What business is it of yours who I kill or
who I don’t kill? I’m old enough to attend to
my own affairs, and would like to have you
attend to yours.”

“ That’s all right,” replied the young man,
good—humoredly. “ I don’t mean no offense,
but as I come in to see this man, I had ter save
his life or talk to a corpse. Jest ez soon 92 I git
through with him, I’ll turn him over to you."

A growl from the cashier was the only re-
sponse, as he took his sachel from the bar and
walked out of the room. A sigh of relief escaped
the lips of the detective on the floor. He arose
and looked first at Dick and then at the young
scout. as he said:

“ That’s what I call a narrow escape. Had it
not been for my presence of mind and the bra—
very of you gentlemen, I might have received
great bodily injury. As it is, I am exceedingly
thankful that you were able to render me this
undoubted service”

'With an elaborate how, he handed to Dick 3.
card similar to that which he had tendered
Buckeye Jim some time before, and shook hands
effusiver with the new-comer.

“My dear Robert,” he exclaimed, dramati~
cally, “ I can‘t say how glad, I am to see you.
Together we will be uble to clear this town of
the bi gest piece of rascality that ever was per-
mitte to exist under—~”

“ Shut up,” interrupted the other. “ Do you
want to give the whole thing away before the
men are in town? You are the durndest fool I
ever seen in my life. If all the detectives in the
East are like you, I wouldn’t give a copper for
the whole lot. '

This frank remark caused Mr. Elwell to tem-
lporarily subside, and Dick promptly introduced

imself to the young scout.

“ My name is Dick Vinton,” he said, extend-
ing his hand, “ and I came here a few days ago
on business. I was just fortunate enough to
save this young man’s life, and I shall be pleased
to make your acquaintance.”

“I’m called Buckskin Bob,” said the other
simply. “I'm here to help this oung aloot‘
on some business matters, but I don’t now
nothln’ about him. Whar be you stayin’i”

“ At Doc Cody’s.”

“ Is that so? Why thar‘s
this,” indicating Mr. E. Barr lvvell with a con-
tem tuous wave of his hand, “ wer’ goin’.”

“ hen you can come with me,” said Dick.

“ Doc is at homenow, nursing a young man who
was shot yesterday.” ‘
' The three walked out of the saloon together,
and on the way to Doc’s cabin, the detective
moralized on the great difference between life
in New York City and Amacas, He took upon
himself great credit for having come through
the affair with Theiss alive, and was not disposed
to regard his trouble with Buckeye Jim in a
serious light.

“ I’m a private detective on the New York
City Secre. Service, stall at present, and am'
placed out here on I'm rtant and responsible

 

 

business,” he said proud y. “ I have secured the

 

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Detective Dick’s Pard. I t 21

 

services of Buckskin Robert and will be pleased
to use you it I can.”

A snort of disgust escaped the scout, but he
said nothing, and when they reached Cody’s
house, he walked in without ceremony.

“Hello, Doc,” he said cheerily. “ How are

0 in

“ Well, Bob, whut brin s you b er ? I
thought you wuz down in rizony ter ther
Indians." .

“ I have been a scout for about Six months,
but I’ve come here on a little business matter
which concerns you Just at resent. This here
is a detective from New Yor ," nodding toward
Mr. Elwell, who was searching through his
pockets for another card, “ and he’s kinder in-
terested in it too. Kin I talk business to you
afore these people?”

Bob looked at Lord Carmly resting on the
couch in one end of the room and then at Dick
Vinton.

“ hy, sart’in,” replied Cody. “They’r’ all
right."

“Well, then,” began Buckskin Bob, closing
the door and taking a seat, “there is a party
of men on the way which will be here in a few
days to raise Cain with old Hollenbock an’ his
snide mining company.”

“ In what way?"

“ They’r' a— oin’ to take charge of ther mine
themselves. here’s nearly twenty of them and
the ’ve all bou ht stock in the old company and
sol it when t econcern bu’sted up. Some of
’em hez lest diskivered the fraud old man
Hollenboc worked on them. and they are about
as mad as they kin be, an’ shoot straight. They
air‘ a-comin’ hyer, an’ it won’t be healthy for
any one to try to stop them from taking posses-
sion of the. property which belonged to the stock-
holders of ther original company.”

“ But mebbe there ain’t no law which ’11 allow
them tar do it,” interposed Cody. “Since then
a new company hez been formed an’ new stock
issued.”

“ I know that,” replied Bob, “ an’ so do ther
men, but that don’t worry them none. They’r’
a- om’ ter take the lawin their own hands, and
wi only reclo‘Enize the old stock. The new stuff
won’t be wo burnt powder after they strike
ther town." .

“ Well, what hev I got her do with it?” asked
Cody. “I hain’t interested in neither the old
nor the new com ’ny, -an' I don’t kcer what
becomes uv old Ho lenbock or his'mine."

“ I know, but you are workin’ in it, an’ when

I the boys come ter turn the men out there’s sure

ter be trouble. I cum ter warn you tor be on
the ri ht side uv ther fight an’ save yer own
skin. here won’t be no slouch of a racket be-
tween the two rties, I reckon, fur old man
Hollenhock’s ot etc of money, and his men will
stick to him i: rough thick an thin.”

Doc arose and paced slowly up and down the
limits of the cabin as he answered:

“I don’t keer partic’ly who runs ther mine,
an’ I reckon that ther people who put their
money in it at first hez the most right to it, but
I ain’t a-goin’ ter help neither side. EE there’s
tor be some shootin’ I’d like ter see it, but I
sha’u’t shoot myself."

“ Then you won’t help old Hollenhock?”

 

“ Nary a help.”

“ Good boyl Now just keep your eyes open
fur a few days an’ you’ll see one of ther biggest
circuses that ever struck Boone county. Ther
men will be here shortly, and you kin bet that
they’re prepared to take ther mine if anythiu
short of the United States Army is back of it.’

 

CHAPTER X.
ranmnmo roa THE ASSAULT.

DETECTIVE DICK listened to Buckskin Bob’s
story with deep interest. It not only settled
beyond any reasonable doubt the fate of Mrs.
Rogers’s stock in the Hollenhock Mining Com-

an , but also gave him an inkling as to Allan
heiss’s whereabouts for the next few days.
He knew that the old miner would be glad to
make friends with the cashier, now that he had
discovered that his daughter and not Thciss had
stolen the five hundred thousand dollars. And
that the cashier would be equally pleased to
renew his intimacy with Mr. Hollenhock, the
re rter had no doubt.
Vhen the young scout had finished his story,
Dick took him aside.

“ You say," be said, “ that all the stock in the
old mining company that was urchased when
it was first organized in 1871 wi l he recognized,
and that no attention will he paid to the later
issues?"

“ That’s just it,” replied Buckskin Bob. “ The
men who are coming here to take charge of the
mine are all those who were taken in by old Hol-
lenbock in ’71.”

“But how will they know who were the origi-
nal stockholders when Hollenhock has bought
up or collected all the old shares and destroyed
them?" ».

Bob drew from his pocket a. piece of parch-
ment on which was a long row of names.

“ Here’s the list of every person who owned
stock in the first comp’ny," he said, “an’ also
the amount. The men air a-goin’ ter work this
thing on ther square, an’ each one will only claim
Jest what he originally owned. Ef some 'uv ther
stock ain’t claimed at all it will be divided up
amongst them.”

The reporter ran his eye down the list until he
came to this entry:

“Donald M. Rogers, New York City, $100,000.”

“ That’s it!” he exclaimed. “ There is Rog-
ers’s stock now.”

“ Rogers—why, do you know him?"

“ Not the old man, but his wife and daughter.
They are living in poverty in New York City,
and I came out here to see it anything could be
done with the shares they owned in the Hollen—
hock Mining Company. This man in BuckeyeI
Jim’s, who tried to lay out your friend Elwell a
little while ago is named Allan Theiss, and he
came to the Rogers family about a month ago
and took the certificates of stock, promising to
collect their face value.”

“And you followed him out hyer ter see that
he played square?” asked Buckskin Bob, restrain-
ing Mr. Elwell, who was extremely desirous of
outlinin his important part in the aflair.

“ Yes ‘ replied Dick, “ and I found that Theiss,
who cal ed himself Andrew Terry out here was
the confidential agent of Andrew Hollen

22 Detective Dick’s Pard.

 

and had traveled all over the country buying up
the stocks for a song or getting them into his
possession on various pretexts.” _

“And more than that.” said the detective.
“ He robbed a bank in New York City of five
hundred thousaan dollars. I have been em-
ployed on the case, and accidentally stumbled
upon his connection with the mining company.”

“I knew that as well,” replied Dick, coolly.
“ My partner on the bed there and myself are
also engaged on the case.”

Mr. Elwell received this statement with con-
sternetion.

“ But, my dear sir,” he protested, “only
regularly employed detectives can compete for
the reward.”

“ What reward?” asked Dick.

“ Why, didn’t you know that twenty-five
thousand dollars had been offered by the Cayuga
Bank for Theiss’s arrest and conviction?"

H No.”

“And then why were you working on the
case?”

“ We’re interested in it in other ways,” said
the reporter, “ and are not after the reward."

The detective looked relieved.

“Because,” he said, “after my having run
him down in this way, it would scarcely be right
for you to step in and claim the reward which I
had rightfully earned.”

A contemptuous sniff broke from Doc Cody.

“See hyer, you durued little ijitl” he roared.
“ Do you see that man lying thar on the bed
with his arm broke an’ :1 bullet in him? An’ do
you see ther broken bend I’ve got?”

“ Why-er~yes, of course,” answered the de-
tective, in a. frightened tone of voice.

' “ Well, we’ve got them a-tryin’ ter ketch this
mad Theiss. We hev been a-workin’ on the
case afore you left dresses. an’ we hain’t n-goin’
terullow no sech handy—legged galoot ez you
to stop in an’ spoil our fun~seei”

“ Aw, weally, this isn’t fair, you know. I’m
a regularly employed detective, don’t you know,
and I have the first right to— Hold on, my
dear sir, I’ll go!”

Doc stepped toward the detective, and that
worthy hnstil retreated outside of the cabin.

“ Robertl" e cellel, “ be prepared to assist
me at any moment.
low Mr. Theiss, and when I need your help I
will call and let you know of it. Good-morning,
gen tlemeu l”

The entlemen did not return the salutation
as Mr. [well walked away, swinging his cane
with a gracefulness that he thought would im-
Erms the citizens of Amacas with some degree of

is importance. ’

Luck favored him this time, however, for he
ha'l scarcely reached the main street before he
caught sig t of the cashier walking rapidly
along, and still holding the sachel in one han .
The detective quickened his pace and followed
after Mr. Theiss. Tho latter hastened along,
outside of the village limits, and, reaching the
woods, struck out in the direction of Luke Guy-
son’s cabin. Mr. Elwell entertained all sorts of
ideas as to the cashier’s possible business in the
wilderness, the most probable of which was that
he was either going to hide, orimd hid, the stolen
bonds somewhere in the vxcuuty.

I shall now'attempt to fol- ,

 

“ I shall follow him,” he said to himself,
stumbling along through the woods, “ until I get
conclusive evidence of the whereabouts of the
money. Then I shall serve the warrant, take
him and the bonds back to the city, get a pro-
motion and twenty-five thousand dollars. That’s
the programme, as I see it, at present; and if
those fellows with Robert dare to interfere with
my plane, there will be trouble. I'm an author—
ized detective, and they have no right to meddle
with my aflnirs.”

Thus thinking, the detective hastened along
after the cashier, every step carrying him dee. er
and deeper into the woods. At last, Theiss
reached the cabin and entered, Elwell following
close upon his heels and halting on the outside of
the picket fence. The detective waited there for
a few minutes and then entered and stood close
to the open door of the cabin, listening to the
voices of the men inside.

“ What in the world have you been doing
here, Luke?” asked Theiss. “ The ground is all
tore up, and you look as if you had been run

through a fifty-horsepower thrashing machine”.
“ I hev’,” said Luke, in ‘a deep, guttrual tone, ,

which is only produced by a tigIhteuing of the
cords of the throat. “ I reckon ’ve bed a. time
uv it some you went away.”

“ How’s that? Did the men come back?”

“ Not the same ones, but others. I hed fixed
a. couple or kegs uv powder in front of ther gate
to set 03, when ther fun commenced, an’ thet’s
whut’s tore up ther ground.”

“ And you blew up all Amacas, I suppose?”

“Nerya man. Thet young feller you brought
here set ther darned thing off too soon and es»
caped with ther gal. Then ther men got in yere,
grabbed me an’ tied me fas’ ter a tree out in ther
woods. El! Molly hadn't u—cum pooty soon I’d
a-be’n a goner. A man ain’t expected for hang
by his neck on a. rope for mor’n twenty-four
hours, I reckon."

“I should think not,” said Theiss sympathet-
ically. “ And so Bonnie got away 1”

Luke nodded, for his organs of speech were in
somewhat of a demoralized condition.

“ And Carme went back on you?”

Another nod.

“ Well, that was too bad. What do you pro-
pose to do now—stay here?”

“ Yes. I reckon so. I he'r people in Amacas
think that I am dead, an’ I won’t be disturbed.
They know Molly lives ’ere and won’t suspect
nothin‘.” .

“ All ri ht. I’ve made friends With old men
Hollenboc again, and will try to get on the
right side of his daughter who has mysteriously
disappeared. She didn’t go home from here,
but went to Doc Cody’s cabin, so her father says.
If I can find her. I’ll bring her here at present.
I want you to take charge of this sachel. It
contains papers worth a good deal of money to
me, but to no one else.”

“ All right,” said Luke. “ I’ll take keer of it.
It’ll be s'afe ’ere I reckon.” ‘

" I guess so. I must go back to town now,
but will be here to see you at almost any time.
Hollenbock is getting ready to'start up his mine
again and I’m helping him. It’s a paying con—
cern I can tell you. Good-by.”

“ So long,” uttered Luke with a hoarse growl,

 

 

 

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Detective Dick’s Par-d.

88

 

gently stroking his swollen neck. “ Ther sachel
ll be ready fur you Whenever you want it.”

Theiss with a satisfied smile on his face
walked out-doors, narrowly escaping a collision
with Mr. E. Barr Elwell as he did so. The latter
worthy went a little distance from the cabin
and sat down, evolving in his mind a dozen
schemes for getting possession of the stolen
bonds, for he had no doubt but that the were
contained in the sachel. The one wbic best
suited him and which he finall Selected in the
assortment, he at once prepar to put in opera-
tion. He hung about in the vicinity until late
in the afternoon and then boldly and rapidly
walked into Luke Guyson’s cabin.

“Are you the man he left the sachel with?”
he be an hurriedly.

“ ho'r you talkin’ about?” growled Luke.

“ Theiss—I mean Terry. the man who left a
sach with papers here this morning.”

“ Well, what uv him?”

" He wants it.”

“ Ther sachel?"

“ Yes. he just sent me after it from Mr. Hol-
lenhock’s.”

Luke looked sharply at the young man as
he limped to the corner closet and brought out
the sachel.

“ Who are you, an how?" he asked.

“ I’m from New ork and am working for
Mr. Theiss—I mean Mr. Terry,” replied the de-
tective, not knowing which name the cashier
had assumed. “And he sent me here for it.
He wants to get something out of it and I will
probably bring it back to-morrow morning.”

Luke surrendered the sachel without further
comment and the detective walked out, compli-
menting himself highly upon his adroxtncss in
outwitting the desperndo. . .

He consumed nearly three hours in getting
back to Amacas and Doc Cody’s cabin, but the
journey was finally accomplished and he burst
in upon the party just as they sat down to sup-

er.

“ I have it,” he exclaimed, holding up the
sachel. “This contains the five hundred thou-
sand dollars which Allan Theiss stole from the
bank in New York City.” .

He seated himself, and as Dick Doc Cody and
Buckskin Bob gathered about him, and Lord
Carmly watched him with deep interest from
the bed, opened the sachel. '

A roar of laughter from the doctor and a dis-
gusted snort from the scout accompanied the de-
tectivc’s mouthful exclamation:

“They have played me for a sucker—there’s
nothing but a pair of boots here i” I

After a moment of intense silenca Dick asked:

“ Where did you get it?” . ,

“Out in the woods. I followed Tbciss this
morning (“it to the cabin of a man named Luke,
where he and kept a girl confined. He left this
sachcl there saying that it contained papers
worth a great deal of money to him. I thought
of Course he meant the bonds and sol waited
around for several hours and then went in and
told Luke that Theiss had sent me after it.
And here I am."

“ You're a darned fule,” was Doc’s only coin-
iiient, as lie returned to the table. “ Dick him-
self put them boots in than”

I

 

 

“ And do you suppose Theiss has carried that
sachel all this time without discovering what
its contents were?” asked Bert. “ It doesn't
seem 'ble.”

“ I now itdon’t but I guess that’s about what
he‘s done,” re lie Dick. “The question now
is, where has onnie gone with the bonds? She
certainly must have taken them when she left
the cabin.” ‘

Dick searched the sachel but nothing beyond
the pair of boots was he able to find in it, and
he was bound to accept the only available ver-
sion of the affair—that the cashier had not discovJ
ered the change. The reporter was in great need
of an assistant, but the injury which had befallen
Lord Carmly would unfit him for duty inside
of several weeks at least. Doc Cody would be
forced to attend the in'ured man, and Dick did
not feel like trusting r. E. Barr Elwell with
any very responsible work. He turned there—
fore to Buckskin Bob, and told him his story,
and the progress he had made in running down
the absconding cashier, and straightening out
the trouble of the Hollenbock Mining Company.

CHAPTER XI.
ALLAN THEISS ON DECK.

WHEN Allan 'l‘heiss left Luke Guyson's cabin
the evening of the first assault, he set out for
Junction City, intending to cover the whole dis-
tance on foot. But he was enabled to obtain a
ride for nearly the entire ten miles, reaching the
village about midnight, and engaged a room air
the Peerless Hotel. _

The next morning he arose uite late, and
after breakfast started out to nd asuitable
bank in which to deposit the bonds, which be
supposed were still in the sachel.

Besides the latter he had in his pocket several
thousand dollars in cash, and being something
of a gambler, first sought a taro-table. The

 

cashier wasa. mean man, but absolutely reck-'

less and nnprincipled. He would have readily
committed murder. if in doing so he would be
enabled to cover up the tracks of his theft; and
to such men gambling is an attraction as well as
an expensive pastime.

It did not take Theiss, long to find a een-
oovered table, and once in front of it he egan
to play the bank for all it was worth, never bet-
ting below the limit. And, strange to say, he
won. After several consecutive losses r he han-
dled his money recklessly, placing largé bets all
over the table, and collecting his winnings with
the turn of every card. For three hours he
played steadily and then the game shutdown.
He had broken the bank, and when he went out
cashed in over twenty thousand dollars in chips.
This money, with what he already had, made a

large roll of bills, in fact, several large rolls, v

which the cashier placed in the pockets of his
clothes and returned to the hotel, resolving, now
that he had won, never to play the game again.

Several of the bystanders had witncswd his
good fortune, and among them were a couple of
men who had for years been trying to make a.
fortune at the gaming—tables. They saw with
envy his steady winnings. and when he was
forced to quit at last, they followed him out into
the street and to the hotel, each with an un-
spoken resolve in his mind.

.,

24

Detective Dick’s Paul.

 

Theiss was leisurely eating his dinner in the
deserted dining-room of the Peerless House, con-
atulating himself on his great 'good luck and
geling a sort of satisfaction in the fact that he
had been the menus of knocking out at’icast one
ainbling house, when? he was suddenly seized
rom behind, thrown backward to the floor and
a ag placed in his mouth.

‘ Don’t struggle, or we’ll knife you i” hoarsely
whispered one of his assailants as he ran his
hands deftly through the cashier’s pockets, ab-
stracting therefrom not only all his winnings,
but every cent of money he had about his
clothes. Thciss could feel the point of a knife-
blade restingr on the back of his neck, and knew
well that to resist meant certain death.

“ We’ll leave you a couple of thousand,” came
the same hoarse whisper. “ With our luck
you ought to win a million before nig t. We’re
poor suckers who need the money more than
you do. Good—by.”

An instant later Theiss leaped to his feet, tore
the gag from his mouth and rushed out of the
room to the clerk’s desk in front.

“ I’ve been robbed l" he cried, excitedly.
“ Two men just held me up in the dining-room
there, and took nearly thirty thousand dollars
from me. Which way did they go?”

The clerk gave a hasty description of two
men who had just left the hotel and it tallied
exactlv with that of the cashier’s assailants.

“Where’s a. police station?” howled Theiss,
grabbing his hat and the ever present sachel.
“ Show me the way and I’ll put officers on the
track of the rascals." .

The two hurried to the Police Headquarters
only a short distance away and the entire force
w-—three including the chief—was soon at work.
and everybody in the village know that a bold
robbery had been perpetrated on a respectable
gentleman by the name of Andrew Terry. The

to rietor of the Peerless Hotel was especially

' indlgnant that such an occurrence should have

taken )luce in his old and respected house, and
ofllcre a large reward for ,the capture of the
thieves.

Theiss was almost frantic with rage and might
have done something desperate had he not sud-
denly received a. reminder that he himself was a
fugitive from justice, and a thief of no smaller
on iher than those who had just robbed him. He
almost ran into a young man on the streets of
Junction City whom he recognized as a detect—
ive from New York City by the name of Elwell.
The sight of him changed all thu’cashier’s plans
at once, and having communicated the robbery

, to the police, he invested some of his remaining

’ money in a horse and started back to Amacas,

' \

intending to remain there until the detective
went away.

His mind was somewhat confused with the
adventures and incidents of the day but be de-
termined to get to Buckeye Jim’s saloon before
dark if possible and put up there for the night.
In the morning he would go and see how Luke
Guyson was coming out of his troubles and then
try to renew his friendship with Bonnie Hollen—
Lock, and through her with the old gentleman.

How much of this programme be was able to
em [out the reader is already aware. After
leav ng the sachel with Luke Guyana, Theiss re-

turned to Holleubock’s house. His adventure in
the morning with the detective from New York
City and his two rescuers did not suit him at all.
He well knew that Elwell was in Amacas with
a warrant for his arrest, and although he had
great contain t for the young man himself, he
feared that e would obtain assistance from
some of the citizens and cause no end of trouble.
Therefore, as a safe-guard, he had deposited the
sachel in the cabin in the woods, trusting t') the
lie he had told. Luke in regard to its value, to
prevent that worthy from ahscouding with it.

That night he ate supper with Mr. Hollenbock
and the two mapped out their future actions in
regard to conducting the mine and the sale of
what little stock there remained on their hands.
The old gentleman was much pleased with the
cashier’s ability and business sagacity, and now
that he had discovered his error in thinking him
a thief, was even willing to have his daughter
become Mrs. Terry.

“ Budt tor funniest 17in}? aboudt der hull
business now,” said Mr. ollenbock. “ Vhas
der fact dodt Bonnie has godt der bonds, bofe
mine unt yours.”

Theiss opened his mouth to contradict the old
gentleman, but at once shut it again.

“ Yaw," continued Mr. Hollenbock. “ She
took der bonds from unter Doc Cody’sbed in
his cabin down yere.”

“ When?” asked the cashier in a surprised tone
of voice. “ How did they get there?”

“ Veil, early dis mornin’ a young teller come
to der house oop, unt says he, ‘ Vhas you Mcestcr
Hollenbock unt [says I vhas. T‘en he vants
to know v as Bonnie in, unt I told him she
vhasn’t, unt hadn’t peen in for some tays. He
said his name vhas Vinton unt’dodt he hadt
got shot on t’e stage uf der minstrel show oop at
Buckeye Jim’s the udder night. He sait he
vhas stopping at Don Cody's cabin unt Bonnie
came there yesterday unt took t’e bonds from
unter t’e bed avay.”

“From under the bed?" asked Theiss, whose
brain was in a whirl. “ Who put them there?”

“ T’is young teller, Vinton.”

“ And how in blazes did. he git them i"

” From Luke Guyson.”

The cashier gazed at the old gentleman in
utter amazement and then leaped to his feet,
grabbed his hat and started for the door.

“ Coome pack,” cried Mr. Hollenbock. “ V’at
vhas t’e madder mit you, ain’t id?”

“ I-I don’t understand, that’s all,” replied
Theiss, sinking into a chair again. “ I don’t
see how this young man could have got them
from Luke any way?”

“ Budt he says he didt. Aboudt a tozen men
from ter village aroundt vent ofer to Luke’s
cabin unt raised ter tuyful. T’cy hung him,
burnt t0wn his cabin and tore 00p dor whole
place. T’is man Vintou vhas dare, I lieve,
uut he brought ter bonds ter Doc Cody a cabin
nut hid them the b d unter. T’en Bonnie godt
avay from Luke out came to Doc’s blace unt
took for papers avny ag’in."

“ But how in blazes did she know they were
there? Where has she taken them? Who is
this young fellow anyway?” asked Theiss,
pointedly. “ I be en the whole story is a
. fake,” '

 

\

 

The old man shook his ead doubtfully.
“ I don’dt know nod ings about anyt’in 3,”
he said. “ T'e Young feller seemed ter pa te lin’
der truth out I vhas— V’y, vhere ish you go-
in’ now, don’dt id i” .

The cashier hastened out of the room Without
replying. The conflicting stories in regard to
two fortunes completely upset him, and as soon
as Black Bill could get a horse saddled he start-
ed out toward Luke Guyson’s cabin. He could
not make head nor tail to the old gentleman’s
story, and was unable to connect Bonnie in any
way with the bonds, when he had so confident-
ly supposed that they were in Luke’s possession
in the sachel.

And why this young man Vinton should have
interested himself in the case, or Bonnieshould
have gone to Doc Cody’s cabin, he was’ unable
to determine. And the reader may he sure
that after his visit to Luke Gnyson‘s cabin his
peace of mind was not materially increased.

Luke was surprised at seeing the cashier at so
late an hour,‘and was himself on the point of
retiring when Theiss abruptly entered.

“See here, Guyson,” began the latter at once.
“ Just let’s see that sachel of mine a minute.
I’m afraid there’s been some funny work around
here and I want to see what it amounts to. ”

The other looked at Theiss in amazement and
digggdsglly ” he groaned. “ Go an" git my gun.”

“Whistle. that for?” asked the cashier, 91mph
eioulil’ly. “You don’t want to shoot me, do

on y i r _ v _ V
“ No, but I want to But some buckshot in my-
self. I’m an ijut, a lasted ijut,’ said Luke,
moumfully. ” I give thet sachel away not
mor‘n an hour a o.” _

“ What i” T 9 amount of surprise, auger
l and dismay crowded into that one small ex-
? ~ ' clemation caused Luke, to look nervously about
3 ' him for a weapon 0! some sort. .

' “ It’s a fact,” he muttered. “I thought it
5 was all right.” I .

“All right, you blanked lunatic, didn’t I tell
you not to let anyJ one touch 11;?”- roared the
cashier. “Who in lanked blazes did you give
itto?”

“ I dunno,” replied Guyson meekly. “'A let-
tle teller cum hyer this afternoon an’. sad you
had sent him furir. He was dressed In dandy
store clothes nn’ wore a high hat'an’m’T _

“ Elwell.” groaned Theiss. falling back into a

, chair. “ That fool detective from New York
has got the bonds and I’m—I’m thesucker now.”

He looked at Guysonin afeeble, doubtful way
and then arose, m . i _

“ I’m going now,” he said. steadying himself
against'the side of the door, “ and I’ll get that
sachel back if I haveto kill every man, Woman
and child in Amacas. If that dude comes around
here again ye" shoot him and I’ll stand the con-

nence. v

lowly and sadly the cashier rode back to

town. There was murder in his heart, and it
Would not have been well 1'0er. E. Barr EIWell
‘ had; he been visible 1: than. Theiss .oould
think ot'nothin to do nt‘force the detective at
‘4 the point of a p stol to surrender the sachel and
itsgontentsfind this he proposed to do at the
ear out possihlsmoment.   j 'e

. I

      
         
        
      
      
 
     
          
       
         
      
 
   
   
  
    
 
  
  
  
     
   
  
  
 
   
   
   
  
    
    
 
  
  
   
 
    
 
 

 

   
    
   
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
   
  

 ’ Detectiye Dick’s Pard. ‘

, had told him, but it did not change his"

: him,’ Theiss

 

'gfl'l‘hei‘

 
 
     

     

   

v.23 f

It was nearly midnight when he reached the .
Hollenbock stables and left the horse in Black
Bill’s charge. I Then he walked toward Doc
Cody’s cabin tosee that worthy and get from
him some explanation of the unusual scenes.
which had been enacted in and near Amman 
during the past few days.

A light shone hospitany through the single .-
window in tho cabin as the cashier cautiously
approached it. Thinking that perhaps some. ’
thing might be gained by so doing he looked in. '
and as he did so, saw something that made him -
start back and grip his revolver. The only visin 
blo occupant oi the room was the detective. who f
sat near the table, in the center of which lay the ,
black sachel—empty.

“‘ I’ll do it now,” muttered Theiss, stealing
around to the front of the cabin. “ 1 might as:
well settle this thing at once and forever. This
fellow’s blood must be on his own headon
mine. He had no business to follow me out 
and interfere with my affairs like this. and if he

oes home in a box he will have only himself to
ayrit to. So here goes.“ f'
be cashier saw that his shooting apparatus
was in working order and then he walked bold-
ly up and grasped the door-latch. It was 113%
locked and the next instant he had swung it
open and entered, revolver in hand." i ‘

CHAPTER XII.. ~ .
AN ADVENTURE in non cow’s CABIN;

“ THROW up your hands 1” v
, Sharp and clear the command rung out, and
the detective whirled around in his seat to con-
front the angry visage of Allan Theiss, and look
straight down the barrel of the cashier's six-a
shooter. Nd second request was necessary, t if ~r
the frightened man sunk on his knees to 
floor, and glared wildly about the room. . «‘_ r

“Wheres the bonds?” asked Thales, so
“ What did you do with the papers that 
the sachel?’ ' y - _' v '

The detective was almost paralyzed 
fright, for he knew the character of the man
who held the drop on him, and realized 
only the. slight pressure of a finger stood blith
him and eternity. , ‘ j '.

“ They were not in the sachel.” he said, alter
a moment’s Silence. “ When I got it from‘the
man out in the woods it only contained ape. _
of boots. I thought you had put up ajoh 0130392;
kind on me." ‘ L '3‘

Only a slight paling or the face betrayed
consternation this iece of news had we ‘
the cashier. He .lieved what the d '

   
      

   

    

  

  

  

  

an iota. Carefully steadying the revolw. V
line with the heart of the man crouching
paused a moment before. r

 

the trigger. V V v . .

'It is a'diflicult thingto commits. do] -
intentional murder; to send a bullet i V
throbbing heart of a man toywhom we is
as death is bitter; And the “tall, horror oi
crime settled over the oathier’s'mind as he V ,.
there, and for an instant paralysed the m’

     

of his 'arm. But the-rtesfi, Paswdfiw'
quickly as it cameya‘ giggling  
pulled tfls‘mssfll'é . ' ' " 

 

 

 

 

26 Detective Dick's Para.

 

row - confines of the cabin. but as it rung out,

the cashier was made conscious of the fact that

he had missed his man. Not through any fault

* ~ , of his, nor of the detective in front of him, who

" L for a moment had expected every breath to he

C ”’ his last, but throu' h the timely intervention of

‘ a third person. lord Carme had been awnk‘

ened from a sound slce beneath the bed-cover-

ings by the voices, an when he realized the

deadly peril of the young man, at once took

measures to save his life.

On a chair beside the bed stood a large bottle

, _ filled with whisky, which Doc kept solely (l) for

‘13. V medical purposes. Bert grasped the neck of

this and hurled it at Theise, just as he fired. It

was a poor shot, merely striking the point of

the pistol, but it was successful in disconcerting

his aim, and the next instant Bert had drawn

from under his pillow a revolver, and aimed it
at the cashier with his one good band.

“Stand back,” he cried, half-raising himself
in bed. “ Lav down that pistol or I’ll fire!"

A curse fell from Theirs’s lips, and he took a
step backward, lowering his revolver as he did
so. The next instant he was gone, and the de-
tective staggered to his feet, his face as pale as
death, and’beads of perspiratlon standing outon
his brow. All his false courage and self-esteem
was forgotten in the realization of what Bert
had done for him, and as he sunk into a chair
he held out his hand.

“ I’m a fool.” he said in a shaky kind of
, voice, “ and I’ll start back home to-morrow.
~ This is the third time today that my life has

been saved, and I sha’n’t let Theiss get the drop
' on me again. I'm very much obliged for what
you’ve done for me, and if I ever have an 0p—
portunity of returnin the favor, you may be
sure that I shall do it. There is no chance of

   
 
 
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

m ____” ’

hut here the detective's words were cut short
by the entrance of Doc Cody and his two
friends. who had stepped over to Bucke e J im’s
. , saloons. few minutes previous for a ittle re—

' freshment. Dick had found time to tell his

,whole story to Buckskin Bob during the eveuv

ing, and the young scout had at once pledged
.- his word to help him down the cashier, and
strai hten out the tangled afiuirs of the Hellen-
bock ining Company.

“I’m kind uv pussonally interested in this
thing,” said Bob. “ My father, who owned cue
‘ of the best ranches in this part of Colorady,
»‘ sold out his entire place to get money to invest
r in with old IIollenbock, He’s dead now, but I
reckon I’m jest about capable of keepin’ up ther
claim.”

“And you intend to join the party that is
,r going to raid the mine?” asked the reporter.

 “ I do, for a fact. Old Mose Homer is a-goin’
,ter lead ther party, and here won’t be no
funny bizness whnr ho is. The boys will he
' here tor-mormr, .ll. reckon, an’ then jest you look
" out far fun.”

- The prospects for “fun” of the ’kind Buck-
.skin Bob spoke of were certainly excellent. If
the men who were coming to contest Caleb Hol-
lenbock’s right to the mine were made of as
I good stuff as those who would defend it, there
1aggood outlook for the liveliest kind of a

t .

1 I

s

 

And so, in view of the impending conflict, the
men paid little attention to Mr. Elwell’s glow-
ing account of his adventure with the cashier.
To them, the life or death of the detective was
of little consequence, and he was soon made
aware of the fact by their total disregard of
him and his advice.

After a short consultation, in which all took

art the man retired for the night. Owing to

erts occupying the had, the other four were
compelled to sleep on the floor, and although it
made pretty close quarters, managed to endure
it unti quite late the next morning. Doc him-
self was the first to arise, and the savory odor
of frying bacon soon brought up the others.
After breakfast Buckskin Bob rode a little ways
out of the village to meet the in-coming party,
while ick prepared to pay his second visit to
Caleb Hollenbock.

The prolonged absence of Bonnie was unac—
countable, to say the least. She could not have
taken the bonds with the intention of joining
Theiss, for his having chased Elwell the night
before, under the impression of his having the
papers, precluded that theory, and if she had
not intended to do so, it was certainly very
strange that she had not gone directly home.

Thus mused Dick Vinton as he walker] to-
ward the Hollenbock stronghold. He did not
cure particularly to go there again, and was
afraid that by so doing he would meet the
cashier, but there seemed but one way of getting
information about the missing girl in case she
had returned, and that was to go directly to her
father. And this the reporter did, knocking
Eoldly on the front door when he reached the

case.

“ Vell, are you here again?” was the old
miner’s not very cordial greeting, when he

on ght sight of Dick. -‘€ V’at do you vant now, , v

ain t id l”

“ I came to see if your daughter had return-
ed,” replied the reporter, civilly. “ Has she
come back et’l‘”

“ Vell, I unno vhatpizness ed vhas of yours,”
said Mr. Hollenbock, suspiciously. “ You vhas
nodt interested in dose t’ings."

“ No, except that I met your daughter, and
feel interested in her welfare. If you don‘tcm'e
to tell me Whether or not she has returned, that
is your business, not mine.”

The reporter was about to walk away when
the old man recalled him.

“ See here, you,” he said, seeming to think of
something new regarding the case. “ Coome
the house in for a few minutes. I vant to talk
to you a leetle.”

Dick hesitated for a. moment, and then fol-'

lowed Hollenbock inside, and took a. seat in the
neatly furnished parlor.

“ Well,” he said, “ what do you want?”

“I vent you,” answered the old gentleman,
standing in front of the door. “ I vant to know
who’you are, unt vhat you are a—doin’ here—-
see? '

D‘ck molded, but did not reply.

“Id vhas cerdingly stran e dodt youtshould

sthay oudt hero shust for t e fun of de t’ingé »

don’dt id? I pelieve you hat some pizness m1
me! unt if you hat, I Oant to know id.” '

I told you who I was, and why I came

 

A .

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

  
  
 

;.«.,._»MWW—W \ V

 

, you woul

Detective Diek'l Paul.

27

 

here,” said Dick, calmly. “ The minstrel
show—-—” .

“Minstrel show noddingsl" interrupted Hol-
lenbock. “ I don’dt belief you come here mit
dodt minstrel show. I t’ink you lie, nut that
you but something vhich concerns me. Else v’y
you coorne here to se me!”

“I came to see y ur daughter. Itold you
how I met her out to Luke Guysou’s cabin,
and was anxious to see how she had escaped,
that‘s all. What business could I have with

ou!‘

y The old man shook his head doubtfully, and
then leaningvfut of the door, called:

“ Terry— eester Terry 1"

The cashier replied from the landing on the
upper story, and Hollenbock called him dovm.
In a few minutes he entered the room, at first
not noticing the reporter. When he did ’so, he
started back, exclaiming:

“You here! What do you want, I’d like to
know?”

“ I came to see Mr. Hollenbock,” answered
Dick, coolly, '“ on business which doesn’t concern

u. -
“Well, perhaps not. but I’ve a little score to

settle with you,” said Theiss savagely. “ I don’t

know who you are or what your business is in

, Amacas, but I do know that you’ve been making

yourself altogether too numerous about here of
ate. You interfered with my affairs up in the
saloon yesterday and now I’ll take the liberty of
interferin with yours. Mr. Hollenbock, I wish
go utside and call a. couple of the
men in here. ow that we’ve got, this young
rascal we may as well keep him, for I believe
he’s up to something that isn’t to our benefit.”
The old man hobbled to the back door and
presently returned with a couple of stout men,
who regarded the reporter with interest. Dick

did not know what to make of this sudden turn ‘

of affairs. He had walked directly into the
lion‘s mouth, and would be unable to defend
himself against such odds.

“ Get some rope,” was the cash ier’s next com-
mand, and Hollenbock hastened after it. “Now
tie this young man, and if ho knows what is good
for him he will submit peaceably.”

But Dick evident] did not know what was
good for him, for as t a men advanced u on him
he made a break for the door. One of is lists,
sent straight out from the shoulder, struck Theiss
square in the face and unfitted him for battle at
the very start. The other landed on Black Bill’s

‘massive jaw and must have brought stars before

the blinking eyes of that worthy.

“ Hold him,” cried Hollenbock from his posi-
tion near the door. “Dond’t mint his killin’
you—uthat’s right—now, altogether—down he

0e !

Dick fell to the floor with the two men upon
him. and their combined weight crushed out the
last s )ark of rebellion in him. '

“ old on,” he cried. “ Get off—you’re crush-
ing me.” '

One leg being free, he began to use it vi or-
ously upon the person of Black Bill. kicking im
in the ribs with great force and precision.

“ Get up,” he groaned. .I’ll die if you keep
me here." .

The fusilade of kicks, more than Dick's words,

i.

r umn by Dick’s flying feet.

 

finally caused the men to shift their position,
while Theiss slowly arose and reached for a

rope.

“ Hold him tight,” he said with a peculiar ac—
cent brought about by the loss of a. couple of '
front teeth. “ Don’t let him move while I tie
his hands and feet.”

The job was finally accomplished and the re—
porter lay bound and panting upon the floor
while his assailants, somewhat the worse for the
encounter, sat down to repair damages.

“He’s a. tough ’un,” said Block Bill, admir-
ingly, testing with one hand the amount of in-
jury that had been inflicted upon his spinal col-
“ He fights with all
four corners, he does.” And the other man,
holding a scarlet handkerchief to his nose to
stolp the flow of blood, nodded his approval.

heiss soon had his mouth in working order,
although it still looked as though it had been
struck by a flying ball club, and at once made
reparations for the disposal of his prisoner.

e and Black Bill bore the form of the reporter I
down-stairs and into a small room off the main
cellar. It was only about a dozen feet square,
and was built of solid stones. There was no
window, and the little light that found its way
inside came struggling in through the slatted
door. Had Dick’s hands and feet been untied
he could not have escaped unaided, and so, being
bound, there was absolutely no chance of his
freeing himself.

For some time after his captors had departed,
locking the door behi ‘ them, he lay still upon
the cold, hard cellar oor. He could not move
w1thout hurting his wrists, which were tightly
bound together behind him, and thus confined,
he gave up all hope of immediate rescue. -

CHAPTER XIII. ,

A FIGHT TO THE DEATH.
. Bucxsxm BOB left Doc Cody’s cabin early "
1n the forenoon and rode a short distance out ‘

 

of town to meet the incoming party, whose pur- * ’

pose it was to demolish Caleb Hollenbock’s claim
to the mine and set up one of their, own. The _
scout found the men—twenty in number—en— '

camped about three miles from Amacns, his I ‘

valley alongside of the road leading to Junction
City. .They' had arrived there quite late the
preceding night, and decided to await the morn-
ing before commencing operations.

When Buckskin Bob rode' up they gave him a.
a hearty welcome, and Major Homer, the leader
of the party, questioned him as to his success
with Doc Cody. After he had told them how
the landday in that direction, the men began to
make preparations for a descent upon the mines,
Nothing that would impede rapid riding and
rapid shooting was taken along. All the bag-
gage and camping utensils were left behind, t
and when the major drew up his line of battle,

nothing was visible but a row of Winchester

repeating-rifles, behind which glittered a brace
of navy pistols and a bowie-knife. Even Burk- ‘
skin Bob shuddered as he saw the weapons, for '
he knew the character of the men who were to
use them. , ‘
A few minutes later the party Ralloped off. '1
The young scout rode by the side ovalajor

Horner, explaining to him the number of men

 

 

 

 

, and almost silently.

 

28 Detective Dick’s Pan-d.

 

whom Caleb Hollenbock would be able to rally
to his defenSe, and the general make—up of the
field of battle. But theSe details did not interest
the major. He was not enough of a general to
take advantage of small things, and trusted en-
tire-ly to the marksmanship and bravery of his
followers.

“1 know them boys,"h‘e said to the young
scout, jerking his thumb over his shoulder, “ an’
I know that every mother’s son uv ’em is either
n-goin’ter git his cliim frum this mine or fur-
nish material fur a funeral.”

They rode steadily onward, exchanging but
few words, and occasionally examining the lock
or trigger of their weapons to see that there
would be no defects at the last moment. The

'ne was situated about half a mile back of

aleb Hollenbock’s residence, and was reached
by two roads, one lending directly to the house
of its owner, and the other connecting with the
road to Junction City. All about the mine
were built small log houses, in which the em—
ployees lived. There was at the time u. full
force of men on, about thirty in all, who had
just been summoned by their employer to com-
mence work. Half of this number were on
duty for twelve hours, and were then relieved
by the other half.

When the followers of Major Homer were

«Within a few hundred yards of the little settle-

ment, they halted, and Buckskin Bob dis-
mounted and went ahead to reconnoiter. Every-
thing ahout the mine was working peaceably
A large engine under a
shed pulled away regularly, and the creaking
of machinery to crush the quartz alone broke
the stillness of the warm spring air. All this
the gang scout observed and then returned.

“ ismountl” ordered t e major. “Tie your

' 'horses in a bunch to this tree and cook your

weapons."

The command was obeyed, and a minute
later the whole party, with their rifles resting
across the crook in their left arms and ready
to; instant use, walked cautiously toward the
In no.

The bloodthirsty appearance of the crowd as

. they entered the inclosurei at once put to flight

the few men visible. 0!! Hollenbock himself,
who after imprisoning Dick Vinton, had accom-
panied Black Bill and the cashier on a visit to
be mine, caught sight of the party, and with
his two friends, retreated into the nearest cabin.

A" few minutes later the peaceful scene had
become turned into a field of battle, and from
all directions came yells, groans nnd curses,

» , intermin led with the sharp crack of rifles and

the stem y reports of small-arms. The miners,
although disturbed at their work, were not un-
armed by any menus, nor at all disposal to sur—
render to their assailants without a fight.

An hour later it was over, and the sun shone

; - again upon the blood-stained ground with all its

wanted bril'iancy, and the air no longer
trembled with the hoarse yells of the conflicting

’ hosts, nor the sharp reports of firearms.

Major Homer and his men had won, but the
silent leader would never be able to take up
is claim. Neither would a dozen others of his

brave followers, who were now stretched life— ‘

.4

 

less upon the ground, in some instances with one
of the enemy lying at their side. But they had

conquered, and loss of life was not to be com-‘/

pared with the glorious victory they had won.

Thus thought the little party of survivors
as they took formal possession of the adjacent
property and made preparation for the disposal
of the dead and wounded."

Buckskin Bob sat down on the doorstep of
one of the cabins to gets. moment’s rest, and as
he did so he caught eight of Caleb Hollenbock
lying upon the floor within. A tiny stream of
blood trickled across his breast, making a fan-
tastic design upon his white waist-coat, as the
young; scout leaned over him.

“Hello old man,” he said, kneeling down.
“ where did you come from i”

The eyes slowlv opened, but for a moment the
injured man could not speak. When he did so,
his voice was almost inaudible.

“ I vhas struck py a flying bullet~through
the door there. Vere-vars ish Terry?”

“I don't know; are you much hurt?"

“I guess not; I’m sleepy, dodt’s all. I don’t
feel mooch pain, but I ‘vunt Bonnie. Say, can I
trust on? Who are you anyway?”

“ y name is Bob—Buckskin Bob and I will
do anything for you that 1 can.”

The old man tried to reach one hand down

into his pocket, but failed, and then motioned to ‘

his companion.

“In there—dock pocket—a key. Go to my
house, on ter top floor—~unlock—Bonnie—”

His voice failed him, but Bob understood
what he meant to have said, and reached into
his pocket and drew therefrom a small key.
Then he went outside, mounted. his horse, and
set out for Hollenbock’s house. The scout was
sufficiently well-acquainted with the nature and
effect of gunshot wounds to realize that the old
miner was fatall in'ured. It would beneces-
sary, therefore, t at e ride rapidly if he was to
bring Bonnie to her father before the end came.
And this he did, covering the distance between
the mine and the house in less than five minutes.

He dismounted, and opening the door, dashed '

up-stoirs. The rooms on the top floor were all
unlocked and in none of them could Bob find
the missing girl. Then he sought down-stairs
but without success, and finally became con-
vinced that Hollenbock had misdirected him.

“ It’s very queer.” he said to himself, as be
mounted and started back toward the mine on a
lively gallop. “Old Hollenbock certainly said
that this key would unlock the door of a room
on the top floor in which Bonnie was confined.
But he must have made a mistake somehow, for
she isn’t there."

A few minutes later he knelt at the old man's
side again; but this time no an5wer to his ques-
tions come from between the closed lips. Old
Hollentbck was done" ‘

Ho lay at one end of a row of bodies—mute
testimony of the flerceness of the morning’s
battle. All that could be done for the wounded
had been attended to, and the survivors were
holding a whispered conversation regarding the
immediate disposalof the bodies. Buckskin Bob
watched them 12. a moment and then rode
slowly back to Amacas andto Doc Cody’s cabin.
The doctor himself was busily engaged among

 

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‘ xv

 

 

 

 

 

   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  

 

Detective Dick's Pard. L 89

the wounded men and only Carmly was at
home. He greeted the scout with leasure.

“ I’m glad you got back,” he sai . “I wanted
to agok you about the fight. How did it turn
out

“ Well, we won,” replied Bob. dropping into a
chair. “ But there ain’t many uv ther boys
left, I reckon.”

“ Were many killed?”

“ Footy much all of Hollenbock’s men went
down, includin’ himself, an‘ there’s only six or
eight of our party able to stand up.”

‘ ls Hollenbock dead!” asked Bert. “ Why, I
ghoug'ht he’d be the very last one to get into the
ght.
Bob told of his adventure with the old miner,
and his search after Bonnie. \ '

“ I guess I’ll go over to the house again,” he

concluded. “ Mebbe I didn’t happen to strike

the right room, although I looked everywhere. ,

It may he that when Bonnie came home with
the bends she was locked up by her father. I
reckon thet ther old entlemen ain’t none too
good to keep the whole ot of papers et he once
got ’em inter his paws."

Bob left his horse at the cabin and walked
over to the Hollenhock residence. On the out-
side everything was quiet, and the scout was
just beginning to wonder where Allan Theiss
had hid himself, when that worthy came rush-
ing out of the door, and ran rapidly toward the
street. Bob was about to follow him when
something very much like a groan came from
within the house. He noticed that the cashier
carried a small sachel in ‘his hand, and thought

erhaps that it contained the all-important
Bonds, but life was worth infinitelv more than
money, and so he turned and run into the build-

in .

Ehe groan, which was apparently more of an
eflfort to utter a cry than no expression of physi-
cal suffering, came from the parlor, and when it
was repeated for the second time, the scout
rushed in.

On the floor tied hand and foot and securely
gagged, lay onnie Hollenbock, while doubled
up in one corner of the room, with blood 18811ng
from a wound in his head, rested the unconscious
form of Dick Vinton.

“ Well, by all that‘s wonderful 1” gasped Buck-
skin Bob, drawing his knife and kneeling by the
side of the girl. “ How did all this (‘omn about!
Where did you come from, and how did this
young feller git hyer?"

As soon as her bonds were severed, Bonnie
arose to her feet. She was very pale. but cu-
tircly uninjured, and at once brought out water
and brandy to bring the reporter back to con-
sciousness. V

“ How did he git hurt?" asked the scout, ten-
derly raising Dick‘s head while the girl bathed
his pale temples. “ He looks ez ef he’d been
struck over ther head with a cyclone.”

“ Mr. Terry hit him with that rifle there,” re—
plied Bonnie, pointingr ton bloodetainml weapon

'1 ing on the floor, “and the poor fellow went

own like a log; 1 wish \mu would go after the
man; I can attend to Dick. Mr. Terry is ro~

' sponsihle for this. He’s a scoundrcl and a thief,

and has tried to commit murder. Ishall tell in y
father what sort of a man he 18 when I see him,

 

 

and I guess he won‘t dare show his face here
again." '

A score of questions arose to Buckskin Bob’s
lips and he was on the point of telling her of
her father’s death, when the thought of the
escaping cashier sent him out of doors in great
haste. He ran to Doc Cody’s cabin and leaped
into the saddle of his horse. ” ‘

“ I'll catch that man if I have to chase him to , 1’
hell i” was his muttered soliloquy as he started ‘
oll’. “He‘s a scoundrel ten times worse than
poor old Holleubock, and if I don’t bring him
dfivgn, my name ain‘t Buckskin Bob, that's
a .

A few minutes later the clatter of horse’s
goofs died out down the road toward Junction

ity. ‘

And as the scout started after the would-be
murderer, Bonnie strove to bring back to life
his unconscious victim. She was successful
after a while, and the reporter opened his eyes .
and gazed up into the pretty, anxious face of'his
nurse with a start of surprise. ,,

“It’s all right,” she hastened to assure him.
“ The man has gone and Buckskin Bob is after
him. He just came here and released me. How »
do you feel?” '

“ I’m all right, I guess,” replied the re‘porter, :
trying to collect his scattered wits. ‘ But
guess I was hit pretty hard, wasn‘t Ii” ‘

“ You was indeed,” said Bonnie. " When I
saw you fall I thought he had surely broken
your skull. Your head must ache terribly." ‘

“It does, a little." admitted Di( k, sitting up
and winking hard to keep quiet the throbbing
pain. “But I’ll be all right in a few minutes.
You say Buckskin Bob has gone in chase of'
Theiss’!”

“ Yes, he just left. I don’t know why he came,
but he seemed surprised to see on.” ‘

“Well, he called just in time." said the rev "
porter, rising to his feet a little unsteadily.‘ '
“ We were neither of us resting very comfort-é ,
ably I guess. Now, I’ll go over to Doc Cody’s .
cabin and got him to fix up my head, while you ‘
stay here and tell your father what has hap-

z-ned. As soon as I can find out anything about »'

he iss I will let you know of it.”

Dick walked out—doors and was somewhat  ~
freshed by the cool air. He bid Bonnie good-by,
and then hastened over to Doc’s cabin, where a
great but not unwelcome surprise awaited him. >

CHAPTER XIV.
DICK’S RESCUE.
WHEN Dick Vinton left Bonnie iu Doc Cody’s:
cabin in charge of the bonds, he had no idea that
she would become personally responsible for ‘
their being taken away. But the girl, desirous
of undoing the wrong she had done in robhi
her father, soon saw a way out of her diflflcu‘lt'yf
And that consisted in mere] returning to their
owners the papers which ha become mixed- by
such a curious chain of circumstances. .
She gathered them together, and placed tbOSei .
which belonged to her father in a package, sep«
nrzite from the ones which the cashier had:
brought. Then she left Doc’s cabin, and walked
home, where, after a stormy meeting with her
father, she was locked in a room, upstairs
Bollen‘bock took charge of the bonds, both onus,

 

 

 
  
  
  
   
  
   
   
   
  
 
  

 

.4!

...-.~,.._.._, M-
e,» .  i

“Win.   .-:-x‘=‘::.'::

 

 

— ‘MTT’V

30 Detective Dick’s Paul.

 

own as well as those belonging to the cashier,
and placed them in his safe, down-stairs, resolv-
ing to keep his daughter a close prisoner until
Theiss went away.

Bonnie was at a loss to understand his motive
for so doing, but was forced to accept the situa-
tion, and, for the next day, remained in her
room. When Dick called, and was overpowered,
at Thoiss’s orders, and cnrried down-stairs, all
the girl‘s regard for parental authority was
overthrown, and she at once resolvcd to tell her
father what she knew of the cashier, and try to
effect the release of the reporter.

And so, when the old gentleman accompanied
Theiss and Black Bill to the mine, Bonnie broke
the lock on her door and wont in search of Dick.
She found him lyin in the room elf the main
cellar. where he hm been left by his assailants
onl a short time before.

he girl called to him through the iron-barred
door, and received in reply to her questions such
disjointed and inarticulntc words as the re-
porter could force through his gagged mouth.

“I'll try to break in the door,” said Bonnie,
grasping the rusted iron liars and shaking them
vigorously. “I heard thcm struggle with you

in the parlor, and I have come down to rescue

you,"if I can. Father and the men have gone
out.

¢Dick listened to the welcome words of the
brave girl, and then began to roll himself to-
ward the door. After about fivo minutes of
twisting and contorting he managed to bring
his bod alongside of the door and within easier
reach 0 his would-he rescuer.

“ Wait there a moment,” said BonnieI ” I’ll
go up-stairs and get a knife and cut the ropes."

She returned almost immediately, and kneel-
ing close to the door, thrust her arms through
the bars, and, after a few moments’ work, suc-

' ceeded in severing the reporter’s bonds. Dick

arose with a sigh of rclicf, and stretched his
arms and legs in a walk about his narrow cell.

“ I didn't think I should be rescued so quick-
ly,“ he said, “ and especially by you. How long
have you been in the house?"

“Ever since I left Doc Cody’s cabin the day

‘ before yesterday," answered Bonnie.

"'And did you take the bonds?” asked Dick,
anxiously. .
Bonnie nodded, and then told the reporter of

her having brought them to her father and of

his treatment. ,
“That’s too bad " said Dick, sympathetically.

_ 1"“ Theiss is a rasca of the worst kind, and just

as soon as I get out of here I’ll cut his career
short, I can tell you. There's a warrant for his
arrest in Amacas now and a detective ready to
serve it.”

“But how are you going to get out?” asked

’Bo'nnie. “Father or Mr. Theiss has got the

key to the door ind I’m not strong enough to
break it down.”
'x A hasty examination proved this statement to

I . be correct. But almost immediately the nick
' mind of the, reporter struck upon another idea,

and u more fawn-able one. 7

“ Get a pick-ax and a shovel,” he said, “and
I_will dig under the door. The floor is of earth,
you see, and will break 11 easily."
, x The girl hastened up—s irs, and after a. time

 

returned with several gardening implements.
The two at once set to work on the hard ground,
the reporter digging as he had never dug be-
fore, to excavate a hole to liberty, before his
captors returned. And Bonnie, although un-
used to that sort of labor. realized the import-
ance of haste and worked with all her might on
the outside of the prison entrance.

It was half an hour tefore the two holes ran
together about a foot below the door and Dick
lay down on his stomach and wiggled through.
Bonnie threw down her shovel and accompanied
him up—stairs, where, after a. moment's rest,
Dick said:

“Have you any idea where the bonds are?
“I could find them now I might take those
which Theise claims. It would go hard with
us, I’m afraid, if he once got the papers in his
possession again.”

“ I think they are in the safe,” said Bonnie,
going up to a square, iron box, set in one corner
of the room. ‘ And if they are we can easil
get them, for I know the combination which
opens it.”

She was right. In the. center of the safe sat a
small suchel. which on examination was found
to contain the bonds. Dick Set it on the floor
and kneeled beforeit to separate the papers.
As he did so. a man with a rifle resting over his
shoulder stole noiseless] behind him, and an in-
stant later brou ht the etivgi stock of the wee.-
pon down upon is skull wit deadening force.

The reporter sunk to the floor without a mur-
mur, and his assailant threw his rifle aside and
seized the frightened girl. She tried to cry out,
but be tied agag about her mouth and then
bound her hand and foot.

Theiss, for the new-comer was none other
than the cashier, who had left the mine and
Hollenbock at the commencement of the fight
and hastened to the old miner’s house, now
took up the sachel and ran out of the room and
down the street. As he did so, Buckskin Bob
came in and speedin released the two prisoners
as we have already seen.

Severle hours passed while Bonnie remained
in the house, awaitin her father’s return. As

darkness approachei she began to fear that '

something had happened to him and was on the
point of walking to the mine, when one of her
father’s employees, a big, broad-shouldered fel-
low, called Jim Turner, entered. He took off
his hat and bowed awkwardly. ‘ /

“Good-evenin’, Bonnie.” he said, a nervous
tremor in his usually grufl’ voice. “ I hope to see
you well?”

“Yes, sir, Jim, quite well, thank you,” an—
swergg the girl. “ Have you seen anything of
PEPE \

Jim squirmed about in his chair and looked
about the room uneasil .

I “ No, not exactly—t at is, I mean,’.[ lust left
him,” he finally blurted out. “Hes , he
wnz shot this mornin’.”

“ Dead—shot!" gasped Bonnie, reeling back-
ward and grasping a chair—back for support.
“ Why--why, who said so?"

"I‘l‘ dazed mind could not grasp the man’s full
meaning and she only half-realized the import of
his words.

“I seen him.” answered Jim, plunging into

I

"I'm

 

3‘  ~1W‘WM“‘.

.‘Mt

 

  

 

Detective Dick’s Paul; V 31

 

., Viv  the disagreeable subject now that he had broken Walk so readin into the trap. He merely
~ the ice. “ There has been a fight over ter the shru god his shoulders as he answered:
n  mine betwixt your father’s men an’ some out- “ hat’s none of your business. I’ve got evi-

~ siders. The other side cum out ahead and the
old man went under. Ther boys are a~bringin’
him here now an’ I cum ahead, so as ter sorter
breaks things easy, you understan’.”

The sight of the body, more than any words
her friends could utter, brought )upon the poor
girl the full sense of her loss.

“ Carry him up—stairs,” she said in a hollow,

 unnatural voice. “ And then bring a doctor.”

‘ “ But he’s dead,” interposed Jim kindly. “A
doctor wouldn’t do him no good now.”

Bonnie looked at him steadily for a moment
and then,'with a low moan sunk unconscious to
the floor.

“She‘s fainted,” said Jim, bending to raise
the limp form. “I’ll carry her up—stairs while
one of you boys go out and get a woman to come
in hyer and take care of her. This hez been a
bad day fur ther Hollenbock family."

The man addressed did as he was told, and
presently one of the neighbors came in to per-
form the last services for the dead man, and
nurse back to life his overwrought daughter.

And Dick, meanwhile, had gone straight from
the Hollenbock house to Doc Cody’s cabin. He
was ver sinuous now to use the power vested
in Mr. . Barr Elwell and his warrant for the

 

a, ,é ~ ,Mfi‘ fihuafyg: ,v‘ on mun-l to

reward offered for his success in so doing, but
_wished to brin to a close the exciting adven-
tures that had efallen ’the ‘r‘ invincibles” since
ting had been placed on Theiss’s track.

e hastened to the bedside of his unfortunate
partner, and found there, besides Doc Cody and
the detective, no less a personage than Caleb
Hollenbock’s coachman Black “ill. The burly
colored man was seated on the floor with his
hands tied behind his back, and nervously eying
a istol in Doc’s hands.

ick’s-entrance caused quite a. commotion.
Bert ‘sat up in bed, exclaimingz‘

“Why, here he is now. How in the world
did you on loose, old man? This fellow here
fast said t at he had helped tie you fast, and

I ock you up in the cellar of old Hollenbock’s

house. Doc was just going to go out and look
for you.”

Bert talked rapidly, and soon explained that
Doc had overheard something which Black Bill
had told the cashier earlier in the day, and
which had aroused his suspicions. As soon as
possible, therefore, he had brought the colored
man to his cabin to have him explain matters,
and by the lavish display of firearms, and nu-
merous bloodthirsty threats. had forced from
him) the confession of Dick’s capture and im-
prisonment. Cody was just about to start for
the Hollenbock house when Dick came in. _

“I’m glad you’ve kept this man here,” said
the reporter,‘ nodding toward Doc's captive,

“‘lor it will be necessary for him to explain

Whgre Mr. Terry has gone, before we let lnm

0.

Black Bill glared at Dick angrily.

‘ ;. “ How’d yer know I know’d. anythin’ about
it?” he growled. “ Hez thet man he’n a—tellin’
you anythin’l” ‘

The reporter was surprised to see the mun

, l .

 

 

 

cashier’s arrest. He had no desire to claim the

 

deuce enough against on to send you to State
Prison for life, and un ess you are willin to tell
mgwhere this man Terry has gone, I s all use
it.

“ Is it about—about old man Hollenbock?”
asked Black Bill, hoarsely.

Dick nodded coolly, while the others paid rapt
attention. The face of the captive turned ashen.

“I didn’t do it, I didn‘t fo’ a fad,” he said,
earnestly. “ It was Terry, it was, hones’."

“I know that Terry shot him,” said the re-
porter, who was now sure of his ground. “ But
you were interested in it; 1 know you were.
And unless you tell me where he has gone, I
shall turn you over into the hands of the law.”

The colored man, believing that the reporter
knew all about the_part he had taken in the
tragedy, now gave in and made a complete con-

fession, which, reduced to readable language,

was about as follows: ~

He had entered into a deliberate plot with the
cashier to murder the old miner, and was to
receive for his share of the Work ten thousand
dollars in cash. Before they had had time to
arrange the details of the scheme, the attack
was made on the mine, and furnished an ex-
cellent excuse for the carrying out of their mur-
derous urpose. Theiss bad fired the shot, Black
Bill said),

ting his benefactor out of the way, 0 coerce
Bonnie into a marriage with him, and thereby
come into possession of all of Hollenbock’s prop-

ert .

lglack Bill concluded his story, but doggedly
declared that he knew absolutely nothing of the
cashier’s present whereabouts.

“ Arfter he shot ther old man,” said Bill, sul-
lenly, but with an evident determination to tell
the whole truth, “he seemed kind uv scart at
what he’d done, an’ lit out mighty quick. He
sed he wuz a-goin’ ter git a. sachel, er sunthin",
an’ take it to a bank whar it ’u’d be safe, an.’
than cum back 'arfter ther gurl. He wanted

me tér keep m eyes open an’sce how things.
turned out, an’ elp him git away with the gurl -

when the time cum. He was a—goin‘ fer marr

her whether she wanted to er no. And tbets 

all I lied tor do with it.” ,

This was the first intimation Dick had re-
ceived of the murder, and a pang shot through
his honest heart as he thought of Bonnie. He
muttered to himself, but did not s eak aloud,
the sentiments which Buckskin ‘
pressed when he set out on the cashler‘s traila
ittle while before.

CHAPTER XV. /
, CONCLUSION.

THERE is only one road leading out of Am-
acas, and that runs almost on a straight line to

unclion City, and there connects with a rail-
road to Denver and the East. Buckskin Bob
knew this when he started after Allan Theiss,
and therefore rode in the direction of J unrtion
City at a rapid pace, intending to head oil‘ the
escaping cashier

Theiss had started on foot, but the young scout .

. r\ _I

and without Hollenbock’s knowledge,
of the fact. The cashier had intended by put-’

ill had ex— "

s;
4,,

 

 

82

Detective Dick’s Pard.

 

Well knew that he could get a horse without dif-
ficulty, and so pressed on as rapidly as possible.
When about half the distance had been covered
Bob heard a pistol-shot in front of him and at
once drew rein. He saw, as he did so, that he
had almost run into the man he was pursuing.
Theiss stood with his back to a tree near the side
of the road, the sachcl resting at his feet, and a
revolver in either outstretched hand.

Before hiln, mounted on a powerful black
horse, was the detective from New York, a rifle
resting against his shoulder and the barrel on a
line with the cashier’s head. The two formed a
striking tableau, as, for nearly a minute, neither
moved. Then Theiss said something in so low a
tone that the scout could not distinguish t'_'e
words. But it was evidently a proposal for a
parley, for both lowered their weapons at once,
while the detective dismounted.

Buckskin Bob followed his example, tying his
horse to a convenient tree, and crawling for-
ward on his hands and knees. The two men in
the valley were having a rather exciting inter-
view, which, to all appearances, was settling in
favor of Mr. E] well.

“ I tell you Mr. Theiss," said the New Yorker
with emphasis, “that I’ve caught you, and you
might as well give in. I won’t consent to a
division of the stolen money because I'm not up
to such things just now.”

The cashier shifted his position against the
tree and half—raised his revolvers.

“ But, you idiot, don’t I offer you a cool fifty
. thousand dollars to tear up that warrant and go

about your business? If you don"t, you are sure
to run up against a bullet some time or another
on account of your foolishness.”

“And you are just about as like] to run up
against one as I am,” answsrcd t e detective
cheerfully. “ If you raise those revolvers of
yours I shall fire this gun.”

Theiss glared at the young man savagely, but
did not dare to make any warlike demonstra-
‘tions.

“ You’re a fool," he said abruptly. “ I’m
going on to Junction City and 1 shall shoot you
if you try to stop me.”

The cashier stooped and picked up the sachel
with his left hund, keeping a cocked revolver in
the other. Elwcll swung the rifle to his shoulder,
but as he did so Theiss had, sprung upon him.

‘ With a bound like utiger the cashier grasped
the Weapon from the detective’s hands and
swung it over his head. In another instant it
would have scattered the young man’s brains
over the round; but before he could bring it
down, a rifle cracked upon the hill, and Theiss
sunk to his knees on the grass. ‘ r '

He made a. feeble attempt to regain his feet
and then with a moan of pain, fell backward;
Buckskin Bob, whose timely shot had saved the
detective’s life, now came rushing down the hill.

“Is he badly hurt?” be asked of Elwell, who
Mas bending over the prestram form. and trying
to catch some almost inaudible words from'the
wounded man’s lips. “ I didn’t mean to kill
him." ’ , ,V

“I guess he is,” replied the detectch. “The
bullet struck him square in the temple, and——
he’s dead !"

A sigh escaped the lips of the dying man. and,

 

the form became limp in the arms of its slayer.
Elwell’s pale face and trembling hands showed
how unused he was to such scenes, but to the
young scout it formed a fitting climax to the
day’s adventures.

“I had to shoot,” said Bob, “because he was
just going to brain you with his rifle' but I
didn't mean to kill him. I shot too hastily; but
perhaps it’s better so.”

They laid the body by the roadside, and Bob
volunteered to act as guard while the detective
rode back to Amacas for help. It was dark
when he returned, and nearly midnight when
the little (procession wended its way into the
village an deposited its mouruful burden by
the side of the other corpse in the house of Caleb
Hollenbock.

Having done so, Bob and Elwell walked to
Doc Cody’s cabin with the sache] and papers,
and there handed in areport of the evening's
adventure. It was received without great sur-
prise by the reporters, who, since their visit to
Amacas, had grown to regard everything as a
matter of course, and due to t
phases of Western life.

The rest of the work was soon completed, and
Bert, Detective Dick’s pard, being able to travel,
the two, with Buckskin Bob and Mr. E. Barr
Elwell as companions, set out for New York.

Detective Dick was successful in selling the
stocks belonging to Mrs. Rogers for a good,
round sum, and found it necessary to go back
to Amacas several weeks afterward to see how
his friends were getting along.

He discovered that the funeral of Caleb
Hollenbock had been a most elaborate affair,
with a thousand dollar coffin and a five thou-
sand dollar monument above it. Bonnie had
sold everything belonging to her father and
was pre arin to join some distant relatives in
in the ast w ien Dick call.d.

Doc Cody had increased his practice since the

departure of the invincibles, owing to a couple I

of uprisings at the Hollcnbock Mine. At last,
however, the rightful owners of the valuable

pro erty succeeded in establishing their right i

to it. although as Doc expressed it, “every
ounce uv gold dug out'n thet mine hez h’eu
bought ivith an ounce in lead.”

When Detective Dirk returned after a Week‘s -

visit, Bonnie accompanied him, and subsequent-
ly changed the name of Hollcnbock to the more
euphonious one of Vinton.- Tbeynre living now

in the upper part of New York ,City, together I

with Lord Carmly, who is still a bachelor, and
who envies his brother reporter’s good fortune
in obtaining for a wife, the heroine of their
exciting adventures in the West. I.
THE END.

BEADLB’S BOY’S LIBRARY.

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