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82.50 a year. Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., at Sficond Class Mall Rates. September 2. 15184.

“35 wummmm

 

 

Single PUBLISHED ‘VEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS Price I
VOL  Number. No. 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. , 5 Cent’s- NO' 

KINGBULT CHRIS, The Young Hard-Shell Detective; $325303”

BY MAJOR E. L. ST. VRAIN,

AUTHOR OF “SANCHO PEDRO, THE BOY BANDIT," “BEDTOP RUBE,” “ LEADVILLE NICK,” ETC., ETC.

 

 

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KINGBOLT CHRIS, “THIS HYAR IS THE WAR, 0’ RACESE”

 

 
 

 

 

‘ Kingbolt Chris. ‘

 

 

 

“ Kingbolt Chris,

The; Young Hard§Shell Detective;
: - on, '

, ~i esteem nan mom slow-coach.

 

, ‘BY MAJOR E. L. 81‘. VRAIN,
hereon or “ roMBsroNn TOM ” " DURANGO

’ DAVE,” “ {insomnia max; “ Rumor
. am," "sumac mm,"

'. _ ,,‘ ETC., ETC. ,
E ' ‘7 .8..— « f
3  CHWERI; ,
 '. THE SKELETON‘U‘R‘DM'THE RIVER.

 ‘3 HERE you, Chris King, stir your stumps and
j'throWIhut pick this way! You’re slower than
'»  earls equinoctial.”-

' mfiyar’s ther pick, but you’ll have ter cool off

a trifle store you git it. I don‘t approve o’ a man

' gettin’ in a spasm in sech weather. It’s bad fur

mgrblogd!"  - b. t I
r . n '  worry 8. you " me, you young
. I, and over the rpiokabeforeLcome up

a...

     
 

      

, and thrash you. Here’s a stone in the way
which we must turn over.”
,, withers tepth‘tor blow it out. You’ve
‘” énn‘uglr'b? titer raise ClipperatorlsN ..”.-.
,It was ood—humoredywar of _ "do
' ‘ encasement“ agree“
had been called, handed the pick to is olden
companion.

The scene was the bed of a small riveriin'
California, or. more properly, where a. river
had once been. It had flowed on peacefully
ever since the town of Gold Bar had sprung up
not far away; but it had been the general
opinion that it they could et at the ground
thus covered, the miners won (1 fix? nuggets of
gold lying around loose as thic as cobble—

. stones; - ,
-.Consequently, the course oi! the river had
been turned where a good chance oflered, a
short distance above. Indeed, the signs indi-
cated that the original course or the stream had
bent where they now sent it, and that the chan-
nel lttook. when Gold Bar sprung into exiscence
gadkbeen made during a: freshet not many years

ac .

Be that as it may, the new course and the old
formed the two arcs of a circle, for they joined
half a mile below.

When the old bed was barred the miners were
disappointed. {No nuggets were found lyin
around loose, and they were left to the know -
edge thatig gold was had from the place it must
he by the regular process ot-labor.

They were at work there. the day on which

we open our story ,but only one of the diggers

tianotice “this point. .'

  

be " I r fl’Wal, that’s

  
 
  

  

 
 
 

slow space lay a

rred to disturb its rest.

occu
where it would if the limbs had been properly
composed before it waslcovered tromyiew.

 

   
 
  
   
  
 
 
 
 
   
   
    
 
  
  
  
          
 

.. I“ grow than or——

m it

oh Was Isl
Ev dentl nothin bodiew,
y Eacg bone lay”

“I reckon that’s ther remains 0’ one 0’ them
old-time people about which we ain’t got no
hist’ry,” said Alf Tarbell.
mound-builders, or whatever the is called.”

“ Nonsense!” said Eager. “ e ain’t been
that more’n ten or fifteen years. You kin tell
by ther state 0’ preservation 0’ that remains.”

“ You can’t tell nothin’ about it," said Tar-
bell, doggedl . “ Ther time a human bein’
lasts after hes buried all depends on ther na-
tur’ o’_ther s’ile, and so on. 'This skelington
may have been hyaLr only five year, or it may
hev been five hundred. Sometimes s‘ile, an’
other things, is or each a natur’ that bodies ’11
last in perfect preservation fur titty years."

“ Tell. that tor ther heathen!" scoffed Eager.
M“You can’t stuflmefl‘ -' ~—

“ You’re a big enough goose ter be stuffed."

“ Wal, you ain’t man enough ter do it."

“I’m man enough to punch yer head of you
say whatI stated ain’t' a fact!” belligerently
declared Tarbell.

There wss a prospect of speedy war, but the
voice of ngbolt Chris broke in cheerfully:

“Thar’s a pile o’ logic in what ye both say,
but you orter take example from ther skeleton
an’ ease 03 on yer wrath. Ther deceased is
ther man most int’rested in thor case, au’ he’s
ez uiet en a lamb.”

e remark was made with adry gravity
which mode the men smile, and they forgot their

 

 

- tisiuéss. v . .

The skeleton was lifted from its lonely bed
and laid out on the bank with a care not to be
expected from such rough men. The bones
were firm and white, for it had rested so far be-
low the bed of the river that no water had
reached it.

It was hard to form a theory how it had come
where they found it. No one except Alf Tar—
bell believed that it history dated back tothe
first settlers of the country; it was the general.
opinion that it had not been in the. ound more
than ten years; but none of them ‘ ad ever be—
fore known a man to be buried so far below a
river-bed.

Still, there were waysvto account for its pre-
sence there. The theory that the river had oc-
cupied the channel from which they had lately
turned it but a few years received confirmation.
The body mi ht have been buried by some of
the first golfi-seekers of California, and then,
when the river took the new path, a body of
earth had probably been washed over thegrave.

Kingbolt Cbrls' examined the skeleton with
more t an ordinary interest. for, likethe others,
he did not ut'flrst arrive at the explanation just
given, and in so doing his fingers touched some-
thing hard and sharp onvthe side of one of the
fleshless ribs.

He looked closely at it, and then,,dr_awing his
knife. glued out a substance ho was nothing in

r mg. _ -
the point of aknife! ., ' 

 gt.

rib? id

 

 

f Ewes , »_
sorter curious,” he
p’int o’ a bowie. in, this

 

 

“How come the-r g
be my suddenly dross and, just astho men
were about to resume shovelin ,lesped down

 

  

 
 
   

31:: the grave and began lumbl again the loose.
‘58it.out-fitharwa , outram .'  9 I‘-
‘flD’mwm cantata? ditched mfiryufid‘ie
fig“  also er Inkellngtting”  Tar-
'  7 t the . ‘ oul’d

hr “1);: andrry

’t u‘tord‘, ’ , er..’

mid‘l‘arh 7’5 , , gtin’

 is; ten but  ' on gas

than dynmfitamhen'

 
 

'd ' comet omaw’itm   ‘
 , olaekelingytdn” 
Math...“  1 . .
v;,»“-.¥oo’ll tenured with: , ftoo‘smart,”
' dafihfie. y. “I meant er men that
> is him." r
“Come

now ain't ye drewin’ it a. Icetle too
strong? how d’ye know he was killed

an

 

“ He was one o’ ther"

scientific" Quarrel vnndlurned their attention to i'

" store in the pinch“
figs; sign

. :bined. ,

‘ neared the boy, and‘his ace-bore s,

“ ’Csuse I found ther p’int o’ a knife in one 0’
his ribs, an’ when I s’arched hyar I found ther ' '
rest 0’ ther. thing. See it? It’s rayther rustyrr
but you kin see it’s a knife, all semen, an’ ther '
p’int is gone. Now, I orgy ther skelington Was
murdered, an” buried hyar with ther knife still
in him.” ‘

By this time all laughing had ceased among
the miners, and the entire party crowded
around the boy, while he went overthe ground

again.

Whether his theory was correct or not. he
carried the crowdalon with him, and in five
minutes each and all 0 them were willing to .
declare that their excavation had brought to I
light a foul murder. No one suggested that it
nughthave beeh a case of suicide, and that the
river “depOSit had buried the body; all accepted -
Chris 5 theory, and quite an excitement sprung

up.

“ Somethin’ ought ter be did about it,” said
Eager. I .

“ What’r ye goin’ ter do?” asked Tarbell, who
was not yet ready to abandon his theory as to
the vast age of the skeleton.

“Find out who be war, an’ who killed mm.”
b  Call Montezuma oz a witness,” scoffed Tar-

e . '
“This hyar is witness enough," said Chris, as
he heldu the knife. ,
“ How e yegoin’ ter use it?”

“I’ve diskivared a name on ther handleglre.

': liedgthe’boy. “Look at itli’A fA. G. Ransoth ‘
ow that was either ther skehngtdn or him'who
killed him.” '

“That’s what ye 'call a clew, is it?"

“ That‘s goin’ ter be ther means 0’ hangin’ “
ther killer.”

There was a good-natured laugh at this. The
men were beginning to recover from their '
solemnity, and were inclined to drop the matter
entirely, and the feet theta boy should put him— , ’
self forwardthus rather pleased them. j

“You kin laugh all ye wanter,”sa.id Chris,
.with a show~of anger, “ but I’ll keep ther knife,
an' I’m goin ter know who ther killer was."

CHAPTER II.

. SOMEBODY ELSE Wms THE KNIFE.
ALTHOUGH the miners had so readily accept- - ‘
ed Kin bolt Chris’s theory that the unknown ’ I
had died by violence, they were not inclined to
accept as true his statement that he would be
able to find the assassin, if thero‘was one, by
means of so slight a. clew. Nor must it be so -
osed Chris was as sanguine as be pretended.
' 9 had made his assertion without any great.
amount of meditation, and he realized that the

chances for solving the mystery were poor.
When the miners began to laugh at him,
however, his interest became keener, and he . .V

'd it itlwas possible to learn anything

 

 

 

wonders
about the ' matter.

“Thor knife is marked A. G. Ransom, plain;
enough,” he thought, “an‘ I reckon that was ’
either ther skelington or ther killer, though it '
ain’t noways sarta‘in. Et‘ it was, somebody in
Californy oughter remember him. 'Reckon I’ll
assert an advertisement in ther 01mm icle."

The news of the discovery in the river-bed
was soon carried to the neighboring village, ‘
and nearly all'Gold Bar turned out ,and came
down to the excavation to look and question.
So many came, in fact, that the superintendent
of the miners was obliged to keep them all back
until his force could put in the two hours of
laborng time left them that afternoon.

. en work was over Kingbolt Chris prompt~. «
1y lo the place and walked oward the village, -
going ahead of the body of miners. He‘was
walking toward the cabin where he made'hiS'
quarters when he was accosted'by a well dressed . f

. men of about fitty years. , _
, Josiah Mendick was one of the leading man .
of Gold Bar. He was Eroprietor-of the leading
he Complete Outfit,” RS’ .
over the door mnounced it~andx
ough be had rivals in the business, histra’de '

 

was greater than that 01 all 'therothers com:
He was also u tfial—iustlce in an irregu- ‘
Jar 'waynnnd was usually called Judge Men— '
k ' ‘ """ v? I 
new-n. ‘d  he 1
' mlfir‘ifendly '

 it’s a- boss of about, my‘wlor,” Chris
'I'm' . . ‘ _  v ‘,

“» I-hntre justhe'ard about the Wary“ in the

old river-bed.” : . , v
“Hey you? WELther remainfhwaigxnv m, ;

“Ah! is it you, Christo

on tango dowh nn’ sot on ’em.”
“ Who has the knife?” 7
“ thev that ther' honor—an’ ther knife, like»

'3'

W158

 

 

 
  

 

Kingbhlt Chris.

3

 

«—

“ Very good. Well. I’ll take it.”

it Hey?”

“ I said I would take the knife.”

“ How (1’ ye know ye will?"

“Why, it’s my place to have it. I am chief
fidiciel oficer of Gold Bar, and when a crime

3 been committed all evidence must he placed
in my hands."

“ Do you think A. G. Ransom was murdered?"

Mendick started a little and then laughed.

“ What an abrupt way you have, Christopher.
How do you know the man was named Ran-
sow?"

“ Straws show which way the wind blows, an’
this hyar knife tells a tale, too. But tbat_don’t

‘ count. I’m sorry ter discommode ye, Jedge,
. but findin’s is keepin’s, an’ I’ll hang outer thei-
knife.”

“ That is impossible. I must take charge of
that. and of the remains.”

“ You kin hev ther skelington, but honors

~ must be divided, an’ ez long on I found that
knife I’ll keep it.”
I Mendick frowned.

“ See here, you young rascal, I have no time

to bother with you. I tell you to give that

: knife to me, and if you are stubborn I shall
compel you. You’ve been flattered and humor-
ed so much in Gold Bar that you have ot alto-
gether too stubborn and opinionated or your
own good. Give me that knife at once, or I'll
have you arrested!"

“Put a pnnctooation p’int thar, boss, an’ let
us take a chnw o’ ther weed afore 'we go any
furder," said Chris, coolly. “ I obéecl: ter be

. ’rested. In ther fu’st lace thnr ain t no recog—
nized form 0’ law in old Bar, an’ you ain’t no
more gedge nor I be. Secondly, I ain’t did
nothin ter be ’rested fur. I found a knife in
ther river, an’ as a quinsequonoe that knife’s
mine. You hereby asseverate you are a jedge.
We], I assevernte I am a. detective, nn’ propose
ter hang outer what evidence I kin collect, an’
of I: bring ther depredator of ther crime ter
jes-tice, ’I shall pocket ther reward. See?”

“ Do I see? I see I shall be obliged to thrash

. you yet, you young houndl" said Mendick,

. angrily. -
, , “ Not of this court knows herself. I may re—

: mind ye 0’ spring wheat, but I object her bein"
thrashed.”

“ Give me that knife!” belligerently com-
manded the judge.

“Why don’t ye ask fur ther earth? It.

strikes me you are a lectle too brash fur yer
owu good, 311’ oz a free-born American citizen I
object ter bein’ lntimidaterated.”

Mendick stamped his foot angrily. >

“ Do you know who you’re talking to? I'm
the Jud e of Gold Bar!”

“ Gla ter meet ye. I’m a devouriu’ lion with
e. brown stripe on my back, an’ claws fourteen

' inches long. I’m a hund’ud-pound can 0’ dyna-
mite, full-proof, an’ liable ter s’plode er shocker:
up.' Ef I combustuete, I shall blow Gold Bar
sixty-seven foot inter ther solid surface 0’ ther
sun, whar that ain’t a well-ventilated room in
ther hull hotel, an’ they’ll melt you up fur tal-
» lex- cand]es—-" -

' Twice, Mendick had atte‘m ted to stop the
even flow of Kingholt’s mount as, but when the
boy got in motion he was as hard to stop as a
political speaker, and the judge finallylbecame
so angry that he made a rush for him, resolved
to take the knife b force. ,

, Chris stopfied ts king, but he was by no means
captured. 6 avoided .Memlnck’s rush without
trouble, and then made off at a run which
showed the men how useless pursuit would be.
He attempted none.

I . “Strikes me this is much ado ’bout a knife,” -

Mthorught the boy. “I never knowed old Men’-
dick ter hev so much int’rest in any case arose!
» Why did he want ther knife so bad? Strikes
me their is somethin’ mysterious about it. '33::
it‘be he wanted ter gobble it, an’ git it out o"
' ther we l" . A
 Nobo y exce t Chris, of all the I pulation of
7 Gold Bar, wo d have entertain such a wild
 thought. Judge Mendick was a very respecta-
ble and popular mun, and.it was generally
athought that he ough by rights, to be in the
a. Presidential chair at ashington.
‘ Kingbold Chris, however, was not a. boy of
much sentimentality. Young as lie-was, he had

discovered that the proper way to get along in ,
the world was to take men and women an be

‘ gtbnnd» them, and be rated the judge the equal

,  ‘20? Onwarmod Jones, the hustler, and no better.

A flair-alsoth the habit of jumping to conclusions,
and though he made some blunders, he often
, hlt'v near obscure facts.
, ' Ont present occasion he had what seemed
a very wild idea.

‘ help,”he was saying, “an

 

“I see a. toad under ther barrel-1” he said,
shutting one eye tightly. “Thar 'edge had an
obéect fur wantin’ that knife. e did that;
an it rollers he knows somethin’ about ther
case. It won’t be lost time ter look up his past,
an’ see of he wasever seen with a man named
A. G. Ransom. Strikes me I’ve heard it said
he was an ’arly settler in this h or State, an’
it me be— We], I opine el’
enoug ter let him hev that knife, I’d never
hev see’d it ag’in. Hello! whats ther tumult?”

Kingbolt had been walking rapidly along,
but his meditations were suddenly interru ted
by the sound of angry voices. He paused or a
moment, and then hurried on past a cabin and
saw those who were disputing.

Four persons were visible.

The first was a young girl of about Kingbolt’s
own age, and a very pretty girl at that. Near
her were two stout young fellows of nineteen
or twenty years; roughly-dressed, brutnlvlook~

'ing rascals of, the worst type, of “ border ruf-

fians,]’ if their faces furnished a. criterion.

A little apart was the fourth person, a youth
of nineteen, Whom Chris at once recognized as
Ralph Mendick, the son of the judge.” Unlike
the other young fellows, he was respectebly
gsaagsed, and his face was frank, manly and

He was facing the trio firmly. r. p
“ The young lady has agpealed to me for
I . if you think I am
gomg away and, 1gomg to desert her, you make
a. big mists, e. see you are strangers in Gold
Bar, and [.want to say right at the beginning
that you can't come here and work innny law-
lessness. It is true you are two and I but one,
but here are more men about here whom I can
easiIv call.” ' . .
“ t’ll be wuss for you of you call ’sm I"
rowled one of the young rougbs. “ I’m Strong
3111,. an’ I’m a. walkiu’ terror when my mad is

up. Ef you 1001 ’round hyur any more, I’ll take

ye by char slack o’ yer neck an’ wipe that ground
all u with ye l” - r .

“ our threats have no effect," said Ralph,
boldly. “Forthc last time, I tell you to re-
leaSe that girl." .

“ I’ll see e in Tophat fu’stl I, tell ye she’s my
sister, an’ olinh at that. Dlye 8’ I’d hurt
berl No; but I won’t see any ushy young
bulclf’ like you take charge 0’ a weak-minded

a .

“ I am not weak-minded, nor am I his sister l"
the girl exclaimed. “I never saw him until
two days ago, when Ihired him to uide me to
Crescent Bend. I have found that havo been
taken out of my direct course,.and now I ask
the honest people here to rotect me."

“ Rest assured, you shal be protected,” firmly
noswored Ralph, "You are among those who
tolerate no such work as this. Leave her, you
fellows. or I shall call for help!"

Strong Sen-l drew a revolver with e jerk.

“ Utter one squeak, nn’ I’ll put a bullet thmugh
ye!” be ferociously said.

And he levaled his revolver at young Men-
dick’s head. , ' » _
' Scarcer bad he done so, however, before
there was an unexpected interruption to the
tableau. Some one shot out from behind the
cabin, Strongflaul received a thhin which

cent his revolver, flying one ,way an himself

the other, and then Kingbolt Chris stood re
Vfleeled to all, n good~nntured grin on his sharp
ace. _ _ . ,,
“ Count me in fur this soar-eel?’ he exclaimed.
“I’m a steel-bound, tripltfilolated champion 0'
innocence, an’ 1711: hyar n“
We, Undo Col”-  _ I
7  lgonsmm‘utlfi , 
' meow churn invesmsms. r’ '

Tim coming of thehby materially, changed
the, a, set OI-IJKBII‘S" Strong Soul’s revolver
bed fa n nearer Ralph Mendick. than its own-
er, and when he slowly arose he saw that the
turn of the tide was againsthim. His com—
panion had a revolver, but he did not seem in-
clined to use it, and the girl improved the

chance to slip away from’ the roughs end. take _

position near her champions; , _ . V .
Strong Saul glared angrily uncuris. 
fl 1911
shouted. , _ _ , I I I .
“No, ye won’t! * I may look brittle. but I’m
a tough colt inn fragrant, pastuignn’ it takes
a good man ter [saddle me. You  not

.betoobrssbl” , ,. , , ,
“That’egood adviceflseid Ralph. “Young.

lady, I think Is‘ ak thetruth wheel say you
want no more 0 these fellown? 7 , . . ,
“I certainly don’t,” she answered, quickly.

’d been soft'

. They were reluctant

'serted Chris.

taken by 1'.
win’ my bugle fur _

reek» or all ter piecesrru'r‘ thetl” he, , , . , A
y ' ' ' _ town. it bad beenhisforrunelo anyone old
man from drowning in. the river. near where

 

“Then, the quicker you go, the better.”

Ralph addressed Strong Saul, and Chris
added: .

“Show us ther nails on ther bottom 0’ yer
boots, au’ then vanish forever from our view.
Git up an’ dust, afore I blow ye up with a. can
0’ dynamite I bev in my pocket.”

The young roughs ware not frightened, but

they saw other men of the town approaching,

and they concluded that discretion was the
wiser part of valor. The had had :1 definite
object in guiding the girl Gold Bar, instead
of to Crescent Bend, and they did not intend to
abandon it, but the only way to succeed in the
end was to keep themselves clear of the honest
men of the Bar. . -

“ We’ll go,” Strong Snul therefore said, sul—
lenly, “ but don’t ye think you’ve seen thcr last
0’ me. rm 3 red‘bot terror, I be, an’ I lam
them as treads on me." '

C directed a menncing glance at Kingbolt

r15. , , _ .

“ I thought ye had a sort 0’ sheepish look,”
said the latter, coolly. " Don’t get [her hallu-
cineration inter ya: head that I’m afeerd on ye,
though, fur I’m a. good deal 0’ .3. terror, myself, 
an’ that ain’t no name when I git, on myear an’
bowl. Better keep away from me, pursue yer
family from puttin’ on moul‘uin’ fur their pet
soul ' '

. The last words,ch s ken in an elevated
voice as Strong Saul and in para, strode away.
to.  they were too
wise to stay, and Woeiéred themselves, fortu~
hate in getting off so cheaply. ' A

“ I think you will have no X further trouble,”
said Ralph,_flflflreesing the young lad . .

.1? For which I owe thanks to you we. I do
thank you earnesfly, for I had grown terribly
afraid of those men, and I am sure harm would
have come to me had I not escaped.” .-

“ You kin bet all yerloose bits on that,” as
, "Them galoots is had from ther
ground up; I believe they hey actooelly p'izoned
ther air ’ronnd hyarq’. . '

 hegneezed itwice in sugcessfin; f _ i

‘. ow f, on appen to eve em or your

rides?" axial Ralph, who was unusually

oughtful for one of his years.

‘.‘ I left San Francisco a few days ago to join
my father at Crescent Bond. He wro e that I
would be met at Swingfoot City, by two guides
and these were the men who a peered.
did not like them at the first, and . soon came
to the conclusion that they were des rate
characters; while, on our arrival here dis-
covered that, it was not Crescent Bend at all.
Immediately after, I new you andappealed far
your aid.”  . 1

“Well, those fellows were doubtless impos-
tors. I do not believe they were the men your
father sent." .

_ “ But they hadn letter from him.” ,

“ Perhaps it was stolen. But let that pass.

You are new among friends,and I’ll see to it

' yousu'e well used. My fatheris Judge Mendick,

and he will be pleased to, give you shelter for
the" night or longer, if, yousayso, and tarnish
%eu W113; neet'guides when youstart again for \
semen Benet, v: ' r
“ I must, go there tomorrole father will ’
be looking for me, but I willsclipt 5§nr cfl‘er‘
with my Ithgnksjort}? lag t. : r-u are
war in ; ave/not , to you my name,
butsit’ileulo Van hem."y _ , I . V’ . _
Ralph’s tutu fancy had been s can deal
younglsdy, end he felt 1kg say-
ing it was a namefit for so pref.th frtvbut he
repressed the inclination and we as more
matur—cf‘fantandsemible rep!  {w I
The two took leave of King olt Chris in a
 manngrvnnd then wolked'cn toward
11%Mendiclr's.  .', ~
“ al, et zhsr.,mntmee’s:over,1 reckon I’ll
amble on ter the: fold}? said Chris. ‘}I- don’t
see on I'm called on ter make an {order efforts
in that direciion, fur young eudick'ishead—

over-ears,.so quick. ,Hopether old gent will be r, l I

more polite: terher that; he was is: me, or,
mebbe I’ll .be’v tor. (if-round sn’ apply, user rod-

.0’ erection. New up Old Leather:

 The last words would have beean riddle to a
stronger, but Goldfier rejoiced in a. citizen
who was known thin, name. With him '

Chris had’made his home ever since he to ' '

the skeleton had found, and he suggested
that theboyoome noblemath tollve. - -
,0nly an eccentric be “knight-is would have
accepted «theinairitetion, (0:; 31d Lasther was ,
not only eccentric but vicious; but Kingbolt
WenHud remained. like disliked his host he
never said '30 outside, though it was known he

 

l ,

r the river: but at the last question

‘ " «we the ho watched mm

1

Kingbolt 

 

I

kept his own supply or food and did his own
cooking. '

He soonfirrived' at the shanty, and entered.

Old Leather sat in the chair where he was
nearly always L0 be found, for his trade was
that of a cobbler; but last and hammer had
been laid aside for the time being, and he was
eating his supper.

e was a. tall, bony old man, without an
ounce of superfluous flesh and a skin almost as
stronglyoolored as the soles he put on his boots;
while his face w a cross-grained, surly one,
with small, jet-b ac]: eyes looking out under
shfiggy brows.

ingholt greeted him good-naturedly, ' and
received in reply a owl which did not disturb
him in the least. If: got out some food for him
self, began eating and looked over at Old
Leather, who was just finishing his own meal.

“ You’re one o’ ther iu‘st settlers 0’ Gold Bar,
,1 b’lieve,” he carelessly observed. ~
- “I be that.” said Old Leather, forgetting to
be sniky. “ When I come hyar thar was jest
three cabins. Of them as lived in them, Pratt.
Wade, Smith an‘ Taylor, is hurled over yonder;
Gray an’ Simona: returned East and Abe Cor-
ton is all tbnt’s left in Gold Bar."
“Did ouever know a critter named Ran-
com?” 3 ed the boy in his previous tone.
“Bum? No; thor aint been no Ransom
in Gold Bar some I’ve been hyar. Thor never
 on! hold the town wn’n’tmore than a
month old when came.” I
“Did titer rim flow in ther channel than
ou‘tggwh’leh We hev turned it?” '
‘ ea.

“- Jedge fiendlokfiattn old nettlortoo Ain’t he?”
“Thesrjediei Lord, nol he's only, n h or
five 0113!! he ‘ hyer sign-e
Gold or we: tho’rt on.’ ' \ -
“Alone?” ‘ ‘
U to this time Old Leather had answered

civi y—something unusual for him-«and with

the interest of an old settler; whileChric knew

by his Illence on thatpolnt that he had heard

nothing about the finding of the skeleton under

_ eyes were
suddenly raised from molest» 5d half-nus
consciously picked up, and they shot a keen
glance at the boy.

“What won’t you said?" he asked, after a
pause.

I “12 asked of then
pro . ‘ b or first

_“ hat’a’t at tor you?” ' v‘

‘ Old Leather spoke With' a growl, and his
vicious'eyeeglnred at Chris as though he felt
a strong desire to eat him up, but the boy was
not in the least alarmed. He did, bewever, see
somethingworth of notice in the old man’s
sudden change manner, and, with his habit
of leaping to conclusions, the boy thought:

“Thor’s escrow loose in r, sure as smoke.
I'll look inter ther merits o’ ther case a few
miles.” ‘ 7 , r .
t Aloud he answered: - ' 4

“It’s this ter’ me, old-time pal-d: I’m thinkln’
o’ writin’ a hist’ry 0’ Gold 3”; nu songs! in.
maselv eithey’wonld uy'in t r at
11335;» language: an’ mtisflcsmuntho mar
«rock 0’ ther biz. I ain’t goln’t‘er write a
§‘o-as~youvplease bist’ry, like some folks do.
I thzlngtmmmn’te ‘ no" u
a re r we
hound? Ymrgfiw a hist’ryt W’
‘ write yer own um!”

ammo wry,” ,
bite! hmd into the air, and outehiu

you yam:
,: ’9 can

it in

mouth. at it fell. on: I put in thorium o"

cutest cinnamylike your-n on’ ther

. t promin
33$; we all right. Idon’twnnt tet' write my
, o . . _
I “You’ll be hung some day!” growled Old
Lea her / ‘

t i
“I never stabbed a man with a knife an’
ad and '

or the!“ river,” said
many; , , ,. .

0mm - ‘ -, .
The cook-lef- la wont rattlln
floor and heater atthenpeaker wil y. ‘ ,

u “ Whmwh—whatli’ he atom meme. r
“Th—tb-n—thiei’" mnwered Klugbolt.’ as he,
took the rusty knife from his pocket and held it
» up before Oiti Learner’s eyes. - -*

‘ “What’s that?" the, cobbler naked. ;
the? men that

“That’s ther knits that killed
ww'burled under tum-river, th
inter a new'obonnel that-flowed
, om Jack Built,“ Klngh'olt e a med.
Old Leather still glared at I the rusty knit
keenly. Ho not
that the an“; hand on the cobbler“! knee
trembled, and there was every evidence that
something had frightened him a good deal.

deadman had been, and who kill

fiedge was alone when he-

Chris, -
V thnt

tothel

 

Was it the knife?

“ What man be you talkin’ about?” he growl-
ed, but there was a. qua‘ver in the growl.

“Thor one we found buried under ther river;
the!“ one who was murdered an' buried that.
D’ye ketch on!” V

‘ No, I don’t. Tell me what ye mean?”

“I will, thou h I give ye fair warnin’ it’ll
chill yer young lood, an’make each indivldooal
hair turn a hand-spring over t’others till you
think yer scalp is galvanized.” '

And, with this ominous preface, Kingbolt
Chris told the story of the skeleton found under
the river.

CHAPTER IV.
OLD LEATHER WANTS m RUSTY KNIFE.

CHRIS told the story in his most graphic way,
makin his reasons for believing murder had
been one as strong as possihlegand, so well
did he succeed, Old Leatherjh’ad no argument
to present against his theory. -

“ It’s mighty strange!” he said, still looking
at the knife.

“ Trooth always was flycr than fiction," Chris
replied. '

“ Let me see ther knife l”

The cobbler held out his hand, but Kingbolt
motioned him away.

“ This instrument 0’ death is ter be seen, not
taken. You, kin look at it iron: at distance, or
near at band, but I am its lawful guardeen, an:
I‘m "goin’ to:- heng enter it.”

He showed the knife, but still retained it and
closely watched Old Leather as he did so.
Dried-up as was the old man’s face, it was still
capable of expression, and Chris knew he was

more doe l'y unwed than he would have wished

known. an and consternation, if not hon-or,
were expre on his face.

What it mean? When he announced his
intention to the miners of lenrnin - who the
him, the
had laughed at him for thinking a crime- f
cri’meJthere was—so long past. could be no-
ravele’d, and hisown faith was by no means so
front as he would have it seem; but here, with-

n an hour, two men had been found who ex-
hibited what he thought was too much interest
in the matter for honest men to show.

Judge Mendick and Old L ‘atherl They repre-

sented entirely diflferent grades of Society, and

he had never seen them together—cool they

have been partners, end knowing to thatcrlme ‘

of tbe’long ego? .

Gradually; however, a eculntive, cunning
look came r the old man’s ac’e.

“ It is an odd stor ,” he said, “an’ 92 it may
be we} tel- keep ther nlie, l‘ll put it away safe
fur you."

And be once more

“ I’ve got a safe
proof,”
pocket. -

“ But you may lose it,” urged, Old Leather.

“Thai 9 my hunt.”

“ Or hev it stole!”

tout his hand. I
my own, an? it’s burglar—

- “ EB anybody is brush enough ter try it, he’ll

git his cranium cleaved. You make anote 0’
that, will ya?"

“ But you’ll be held ’s sible for it."

“ Who’ll hold me? t’ll take a mighty lgood
man ter’ do it, when I git steam up, fur ’m a
fort Jinn power locomotion, now on
gain lo. But, see b or, 0. I... What cl ye know

.. ' about this ruetykni ~an’ekelington,anyhowl"
said om, throwinng I

“ Me? I don’t know nothin’.’,'

“E! yeah my son Pd chastise on; din-n my
slimming!“ I wouldn’t. . you’re too
old to lie‘ then-heyday 0’ ye:- lyln career is
over, an' liovember hen nipped ther «top. You
don’t lie pooty, nor natural, nor in time an’
tune. You give yemelt dead away’l”

“Now, you see hyarl” cried Old Leather.
angrily “I ain’t oln’ tar stand no each talk on
that. fain’ttet‘ insulted :3; no hop-o’~my-
like you: not by a. underin sight.
You (it np-nn’ go t'er bed."

“ I homily schedule my retirin’ at an hour
tar su nay-elf, Old Leather, but on long on
you’re so cranky, I ain’t ’oin’ tar waste my
eloquence enter ye. I’ll see morecongeneral
s’oioty. Scions!”- ‘ 5,;qu

And the boy arose and left the cabin.

“ I’ve run enter. that butt eend o’ Mull-fledged
mystery. The:- shellngton wa’n’t no focal} o A.
D. 1850. but u roduct o’ tber nt Century,
nn’ both Jada audio]: an’ 0 6 Leather could
tell a heap a ut it of they’ll tor unfold their in-
formation. But they won’t. Why? Stands
tar reason they‘ve got a guilty secret to: hide.
fiegnlt, I‘m. 11" terabandon minin’ operations
an' new t or Gold’Bar Bed-rock Detective
Bureau; C. King,‘Px-endent an’ Manager!”

said the boy, as he put the knife in his»

kin’

And Kingbolt walked down the street with a.
thumb in each arm-hole of his vest.

He went straight to the Delta Saloon, which
was Gold Bar’s chief place for the destruction
of'liquor, money and brainswtbe three usually
vanish together—and walked in. He did not go ,

toimhibe, but he knew he should find‘nearly' ,’

'allofIGold Bar there, and he wanted to hear
what was said.

The majority of the miners were there,
though it was a place Judge Mendlck never
visited, nor was his son allowed there. .

Kingbolt Chris was soon the focus of interest. ‘

It had been noised abroad that he had declined ' ' '

to give the old knife to Mendick, and runny of x
the miners amused themselves by trying‘io '

frighten him—a task about as homi‘ul as would
be an attempt to overturn the mountain.

Whey they saw the folly of tryin they
abandoned it, and after Chris had playe a few .
games of chess with a friend, he left the Delta
and started for home. , .‘ '

He had, however, barely passed out when a

man moved to his side; Chris looked at him .

doubtfully, for'he had reason to believe he was
making enemies in Gold Bar, but the man
spoke pleasantly. - '

“I wanter about a column 0’ words in yet
left ear, young pard, ef you’ll give it to me.’

“ I ain‘t goin’ ter give it away ter any han-
gnroo in Celiforny,” was the sturdy reply.
" Mebbe it’s big enough for five, but I use it fur
a blanket at night, an‘ cz cold weather’s comin’
on, I ain’t in’ ter hev cold feet an’ git ther m-
fluenza. gift you kin shout, all ther same.” ,

“ Took ye a mighty long while tor say so, but
the:- shortest way across ain‘t alloys ther quick-
est we ' home. What I hev ter orate is this:
You did right not tor let any one hev that
knife.” ‘ .

Kingbult Chris grew really interested.

“ Mebhe you want it?” he suggested. _

“No, I don’t; jest you hang outer it like a
barnacle. You are a keener, an' I'say tor you,
use yer wits we] nn’ don’t let no hvln’sou git ’
ther drop on you."

The man’s Ivoice was earne

“ I don’t recognize yer
“ Who be ye?” . ,

“My name is Iron Ike, more gmerally know-
ed on Ther Solid Man from Slow-Coach. Prob’ly ,
you’ve beam 0’ me.”

“ Can’t say I hev, Isaac.” ' '
“Wal I’m all my name implies: I’ma Solid
Man, 1111‘ when I puttmy shoulde’r tor ther wheel ;

ther tire bends.” V '

“ How about yer cheek?”

“Come, now, don’t ye try tel~ querril with ‘
me, furl ain’t that kind. I’m yer friend, an’
don’t 6 forglt it. I’m a stranger in Gold Bar,
but Ive come ter stay, an’ ez I see trouble
a-loomin’ up for ye, I’m goin’ tar help ye all I
kin.” r  i ' ”
His voice was earnestfand Chris was; rather

st. ‘
phiz.” said Chris.

- favorably impressed. '

‘f How do ye know trouble is o-loomin’?‘ ‘
“Fur one thing, you’ve- got Strong Saul an“
his pard, Turk Tucker, down on ye: an’ than-
may trouble grow outer this knife biz.”
‘ In what way?” '
‘ ‘-‘ D'ye s’pose Jedge Mendick is fgoin’ter he
blufled by you?” ,
“ He can t hev ther knife, anyhow.”
» “HQ wants it, an’ he’ll try for it, an’ it’s ter
your good tor keep yer eyes open. rMind what

say, on’ look out for that knife. Ef ye need , .,

help, come ter me. 'I‘m an imported mael-
strom, a whirlpool '0’ first water, but l’m so

slenderly hooped that when I bu’st out I’m was
than seven blizzards. Jest arable underamy’ '\

win , chick whendye see a cloud in that went.
“ never nowe a smart chick ter git under

a master’s wing yit, an” I reckon l kin keep my ' '.
I

send up. E2 for you, ye seem‘ter mean we
an' of ye git into diifikllty, mention my name ,
an’it’l basil right. So—lon !"

And Kingbolt walked rap dly away.

“It’s dumed qua’r what an lnt’rest
apron up about that rusty old knife." he ‘
was t inking. “Thor foundation oiling Bar
s’ciety is stirred u , an’ I mckanC. King lllbe

rx -

Limp

amuch—sought-ar erindivid efore many duh. '

4 That‘s all ’cause I’ve struck out far an elf ant.

become a detective. But what 0"1‘ er Solid

' Man from Slow-Coach? Is he friend or fool I

b’lieve he’s lnt’rested in ther old knife, hisself..

Burn yer picture, C. King, ye want’ter look 1

wild or somebod ‘ll sotdown on yo!"

When the youzh reached home he found Old
leather had retired, so be made‘ no talk but.
want quietly to his own conch, which was at the
op to side of the room.

 

a plan torhis propond detective work, but

1

ebad intended to remain awake and (chili _' \

 

 

'  , ‘Durn my silk hat of I like eech groom-map!"

 

 

 

 

   
 
 

  
 

l

King'bolt Chris.

 

5

 

 

found under the river.

When he awoke it was with the dim idea that
something was wrong, but he was a young man
of a good deal of presence of mind, and be quiet-
ly opened his eyes just a trifle and looked out of
the cover.

The first thing he saw was alight; the next,
Old Leather.

The cobbler was usin the lamp to narrowly
‘ , search all around, but 9 did not seem to find
what he wanted, and a grim smile crossed King-
bolt’s face. .

“ Ther old sinner is arter ther knife !" he
thought. “ I’ll lay still an’ let him s’arch."

CHAPTER V.
A MYSTERY or THE NIGHT. ~

Kmonom CHRIS had made no mistake; the
'cobbler was looking for the knife; but while he
had seen Chris put it in his jacket-pocket at
supper-time, the jacket was not now visible.

is was simple enough, for the boy had put

'it under his banket when he retired, but it
took Old Leather some time to arrive at the
ex lanation. '

, hen he did he aused, looked keenly at
Chris, held the light c one to his face and tried
to make sure that he was asleep. Chris bore
the test well and did not stir in the least, and
the old man seemed satisfied.

He set his lamg down and began running his
hand slowly an carefully under the blanket,
but ‘he had progressed but little when a hand
dropped 11 n his head, four fingers Were twist-
ed into his hair, and be receiveda twist that

v made him howl. . ,

“Hil Help! Let go!” he bowled.

“Nary let go!" exclaimed Chris. “Whar’s
my seal in’eknifel I’ll lift yer scalp in ther
tremor o e. mule’s of! heel. Down, an’ wipe up
ther floorl”

He had swung off of his bed and rolled Old

, Leather over but as his only object was to give
him a scare, he pretended to suddenly recognize
him and aroso.

“ Great snakes!” he ejaculated. “ It ain’t no
assassinator, arter all, but Old Leather. .By
jinksl that war a narrer escape; I nigh-about
raised yer ha’r afore I diskivered yer identiky.”

“You almost pulled my head ofl!”groaned
the cobbler. .

. “Never mind that; it don’t count. Rise up
an’ The yer voice with mine in a pairo’thangs-
givin’ that no devestation ain’t done. But, [

L., what was ye arter ’round my

 

“A drink 0’ water,”said Old Leather, rue-
“LE‘ s’pose ye think my boots on] need a
ump set up in 'em ter be a fort - out well.

ate whar ye’re off. Don’t yer hink ekin
_ , bamboozle me: ya wanted .ter steal my ife.

- The joke was over, and Chris spoke sharply.
“‘You’re wrong, Chris: on r’ally be—”

 “ Wron yer grandda I What was yer in-

,. sinervatin yer dirty paw under my blanket
fur? Old Leather, fur a man 0’ yer maturity
{e’readisgrace ter polished society. A thief
n fiber night is a cattle fit only fur ther butclr
er. ,

v - “.1 meant it fur yer good,"ssid the cobbler,
, iulllfml . “You’ll git inter trouble about that
‘ m e. .

' “Somebody else will, of I ain’t letalone. I

, ive ye fa'r warnin’ ter keep 09!, an’. ekuow

' ’m afifty’pound porcupine, with quil eleven
, incheslong, no t at when I git my back up

ye’dthink a n legun was at work. That’s
. all I’ve got ter say, but ef you show up on my

'si ‘0’ the shanty ag’ln, thar’ll be ther wu’st

first 0’ May cleanlu’ out ye ever see’d in yer

' :life. Sea-long!”

Chris turned his back to the cobbler, and the
latter went grumbling back to bed. His fight-
‘lng da swore about over, and he would not
have ared attack the active boy, so he decided
toxmake no further move toward the rusty
knife urign the handle of which was the name,
f‘A i} .neom.” :

 

‘ /' The/following} morning Ralph Mendick was A

 late at the breakfasbroom, but when he enter.
I ed he saw the judge there alone, reading a San
Francisco paper. '
"‘ Where is Miss Vaughan!” he asked.
‘I‘ She has not yet appeared,” the elder Men-
dick replied, without raising his eyes=from the
Paper.
» Ra] h, said no more, though he was rather
mugged, but when. ten minutes later, break-
fau was ready, and the housekeeper entered,

 

'mlt, ut We.must j

 

sleep overcame him before he was aware of it,  the judge laid aside his paper with the dignified
and, he forgot all about the skeleton they had 1

air of a man who feels that he has climbed to a
hight from which he can look down upon the
world.

“You had better go and notify the young
lady that we await her presence, Mrs. Schell, ’
he said.

Mrs. Schell went. Ralph had conducted Lulo
Van han directly to the house after rescuing
her rom Strong Saul and ll‘nrk‘ Tucker, and,
as he had expected, she was kindly welcomed
by his father and made . to feel at her ease.
The judge saidshe could remain with them as
long as she chose, but if she. felt able, and re-
ferred to do so, she could o to Crescent nd
the next day and he won! see that she had an
honest and capable guard.

Thus matters stood when the family retired.

But when Mrs. Schell returned, matters took
a new and unpleasant turn.

“The young lady is not in her room,” she an-
nounced. \

“ Not. there i” ejaculated Ralph.

“ No, sir.”

“ Good heavens! have those roughs succeeded
in penetrating to the house?"

‘ You jump at conclusions,”said the judge,
reprovlngly. “Of course no one has been in
the house. The young lady has gone fora walk,
or something 0 the kind. She will return
shortly. We will wait for her just five min-
utes. ' ' ' ‘

This calm dignity angered Ralph, who was-

by no means ready to accept the same explana~
tion, and as the minutes wore on and she did
not rena pear, he became, more and more anx-
ious. 0 him, the idea that she had one for a
walk seemed absurd; and when the fi eminutes
were up he began an investigation.

One - thing favored his father‘s expressed
theory. The had had been occupied, but the
clothingwns turned neatly back, showing tilt
there had been no struggle; so far, it looked as
though no enemy had been there. ..

Ralph, however, was not inclined to give up
easily, and he looked further. Hehad no doubt
but the girl had been abducted, and if such was
the fact it seemed iprobable they had entered by
the windows of th s particular room.

He failed, however, to find any evidence to
this client. There were-no marks of a ladder at
the base of the house; no signs that people had
passed in and out over the casing. The win-
dows were ug, but Mrs. Schell stated that it
was she who ad opened them. She said that
they had not been tastened. _ .

Ralph was foiled in his detective work, but
his opinion did not waver. and by the time'
breakfast was eaten the judge was inclined to
share his fears.

That Miss Vaughan would 0 out for a walk
and remain so long was a ; it became clear

that she had either been kidnapped b enemies.

or gone to remain or her own free wil
‘ There is a possibility that we have been de—
ceived In this young woman,” said :Mendick,
gravely. .
“ In what way i" quickly asde his son.
ti “ I’I’er pitiful story may have been alla fabrica-
on. - ‘ v
' “ What could have been her object?” Ralph
demanded. a'tonch of resentment in his 
“ Should I find articles of value missing,” pur-
sued the judge, in a V demos manner, 5‘ I
should conclude that s e was one eta gauge:

thieves, that the two ruflians from whom, 011'

took her watcher-allies, and that ltwu al I
scheme ’50 gain entrance here for motives of
p on er. I v > r -

Ralph had listened with growlu indigna-
tion and at them! he huntout e ively:

‘-‘ ow can you entertain snchuu idea. sir!
Miss Vaughan bears ties-ampofiinnoconoe
upog her, and you have asunwhxight to accuse

'mel

Mendick smiled coldly. - . ' -
“You reason like arboy. When you are
thirty-nine years old, instead of nineteen, you
will have learned that fair faces do not always
speak correctly Jar-the owner's hesrt.’ The
your: woman had a plausible exterior,lad-
go her as the sequel
demands." « ’~ ‘
This cold-blooded reasoning did not at all
please Ral b. He had been very much attract.
ed towar Lulo, and he felt sure she had told
the truth and was in every way an excellent
girl. At the same time, he could not go“ it,
at that womanhood he decided to ta mew
urea to establish the fact, rather than‘to watt.
words‘in argument.
The judge went out after promisin toinst'l-
tute a searchnhlmseli, but he had 0 her work
on hand. During the night he had given more

, an.“ want her

 

thought to the matter of the river skeleton and
the old knife, and be resolved to have the latter,
whether the law was with him or not.

It was time Gold Bar bad a judicial head,
and as the people had assumed the habit of call-
ing him “ judge,” be determined to assume the
duties of the office.

Consefiuently he at once hunted up a man
aimed zekiel Cribbs, who was his humble and.
obedient servant in the fullest sense of the
word, and sent him with two other men to find
Kingbolt Chris and secure the rusty knife.
If the boy would yield it peaceably, all wall
and good; if not, they were to take it by force.

Cribbe went, but. after a long absence, re-
turned to say that Chris was not to be found in
the village. He had 'left the shanty before Old
Leather awoke, so the latter knew nothing
about him. ' .

 

CHAPTER VI.
mesons cunts rams m TRAIL.

WHEN Chris arose that mornin he had a
definite object in view, and after saving the
shanty he went at ». once to another one which
was much like it. .

Old Leather had said that Abe Carton was
the only survivor at the original settler-so:
Gold Bar, andGhris had decided to next him
and learn what he could though he feared that
would not prove a great? deal, nor of value in
any fly- ’ -  .,

Concumarmcahfomion, forbehad
come there with the goldq'ush of ’49,.und age

'had at last stolen upon end, incapade him

from furtherwmll. He remained in Gold Bar,
and had as much pride in the piece «numb it

v boasted a population of a million. v

He was an active old men, and it was because
Chris knew he took a walk every pleasant
morning that he was now out so early. He was
fortunate in finding him, and soon had the old
man deep in recollections of the past.

“Yes, my be ; I drove the first. nail ever
hammered in gold Bar—together with my

ds, I put up three shanties in one day.

but was the beginning of Gold Bar though

the soil had before been worked some all around
7’

“ Who by i” Kingbolt asked. , .

“Various parties. Jud Mendiok was one
of them. He was here wit two or three pards
something like five ears before Idrove the first
nail. but he says t ey neverytxjed the soil in
this immediate vicinity.” . r

Kin bolt shot one eye.

“ ngo was his penis?” he asked. ‘

“ I believe they have all returned East—I
don’t know their names. Waltl it strikes me
that Tom Biddle, over at Swin out City, was
once out with him. Yes, I . now , he was;
though I don’t know in what your.” _

“What sortro’ a file is Bldd 3” ~ _

“ What sow of a—«what 3’" questioned Corbin,
in a puzzled way, tor Chris was sometimes too
doe for‘hizn. ‘ r - . 

" hat hinders men?" ~ . ’ ,

“ Oh, I teal Well, he‘s a good fellow-ti: ll
when I tried caulkvith him. I soon round.
had a. ‘ indie. . nah m

> ku~ In

sham. Hanan-documbleomthqmtoo»

.casion,nnd he was soon mounted 

wa iaon {001431813 «.  .r , .

‘ ls’peee. illsawilds coccchusefihenut-
Wuhandealong, “ twh‘eu emanation
into:- that detective lamina. he‘s getter hatch
bolt 0’ ev’ry chance. Nobody wouldn’t make a
success it’theylet things go us’arebed-hter.
So I’ll try Biddle au’ see thermiilu E!  suc-
ceed in this -ventur’ I’m  tor ’srbhg;

‘ler detective agency, a e mpi in
bi: Lemme see—I’ll call it‘C. Ki ‘5 Hefd- .‘
Shell Detective Bureau.’ Thor’s not ln’. like
strikin’ ther public hard when ye hitlcm u tell,
We a. success in laminae.” » l
The youth straightened his small form [and .

looked as dignified as though “he were a candi~

date for Congress. ~ .

It was a long ride to Swingfoot Cl , and, de-
spite his early amt, it was two do och in the
afternoon when he reached that place. ‘ '; V

Esatonceioquired whereTomBidflewuto
be found, and was not at all abasbed whenho
learned that, in Swin out City, that gentle.
man was knewn as omas Biddle, lilo, _. ,
President at the Sierra summit Bank. he
had been President of the United States, Chris

 

 

 

 

 

\

 was in it but a

' of hieurl

'5. _' gloomy-lei.

' ./

' nothing about. '? -

   

 

6.,

i v- i t w ‘ , »
‘Kingholt Chris.

 

 

 

would have gone to interview him with the
same confidence.

He walked into the bank building and, paus-
ing, glanced about. The cashier looked at him
supercilioualy. but Kingbolt remained cool and,
seeing a. portly gentleman not far away who
had an air of authority, he walked to the railing
wnich surrounded him and coughed to attract

been buried on Cone Hill, it was not reasonable
tosuppose it was his body that was found in
the river bed, five miles distant. But the boy
had at last discovered who, and what, had been
the man whose name was on the old knife.

Had Ransom been the murderer, or— King-
bolt suddenly had another idea.

“ What become 0’ his outfit—420015, weapons,

his atttntion, but the gentleman was busy over“ an’ so on?" -

some papers and did not stir. .

" Elf it wouldn’t he too brash,” said Chris,
coolly, “ I‘d like ter i. quire ef this hyar is Fre-
sident Biddle.” '

The gentleman look up impatiently. .

“ Yes. What is it?” ,

“It’s me, oz much on anything, au’ as I’ve
come on biz, l’ll wall: in.”

And he unceremoniously invaded the mag~‘

mate‘s quarters. . «

“Do you want to make a deposit?! sharply
asked the great man.‘

“No;1’m squand’ring my inheritance, ter-
day, instead 07 addin’ to it. My biz is with you,
privately, an’is as follers, ter wit: I’m com-
pilin’ a hist’ry o’ ther struggles an’ triumphs o’
ther ’arly settlers o’- Calitomy, from ther time
Columbus landed It Elan Francisco, In ’49, tor
that present epigram. We propose ter make it
a work 0’ compendium aire,’ an’ we shall
send it clean tor Turkey tor hev it boundin
bong-up style. It will he emblazmed. mth
numerous steel mgr-mink, which we buy cheap
from them that steal ’em, ant—'1 ‘

‘I‘hus for Mr. Biddle had listened in utter
amamment, bottle broke in 0an can flow of
words at last. ’ . r
“Good heaven“ what are are you talking
about. boy? Are you an escaped lunatic, or
what’s the matter with yum” '

“I’m in my usual health, than]: 19—th
nothin’vther matter with me. A ’zaminetlon
o’rmy pulse will show it keepiu’ fu’stcleu
time

Biddle smiled, despite his first vention.

“I see you want, somethln , so make your
oh not known at once. Don smoke any more
to k about your history, but come ht down
to bottom facts. What do on want ’ »r

“.l‘ll question ye in aj loin] way. You are
any Vt; thfir ’arly prospocnors, ’long hyarl”

‘ ea.

f‘ You don’t look like a miner now?”
“I abandoned the life long a . Infect, I
ear. That was ourteen years
ago. I left ' co with two companions and
spent a year along in this section, but pay-dirt
Was scarce and ‘I abandoned the life, aslrsaid
before.” ' ‘ '
h‘fidfilow me tor inquire who was yer pards

t an. - ‘ ’

“ Josiah Houdini and Warren Elwood.”

4‘ What be they now?” , '

“ Houdini: in at Gold 'Bar. Elwood Iknow

“ When did you we the: latter last!”

“When '1 severed my connection with the
two. ‘ I left them prospecting together.”

“ An’ you've never seen Elwood sauce!"

“ No. Mendiclr told me he returned East.”

nbmwthls-ty mote”. .Elddle and Hwood
had tiny: been on tonne but with Mou-
dlck the form but little qua)»
rels. They to more

_moed
mm “sinumm their W351,
Elm: mwm Md
a air . ' ‘ ‘ some
who:  p south. two when they
“an: “rich.” / - .

Like all old Californians, Biddle lib-d to tell:
experience, and in so . he tora
got-that auditor was a boy.

can tow hetero simch himond he

' “mommy r

“Did ye ever knowa. man named Ransom,
A. G. Ransomw- Chris.

“No. Wait! a name is familiar-gee;
thmwusneh a man in a prospecting-party
wléieh oerfpednear on]; a

tee es s. or e .

 cm%§h.mvi . d

“ in port a aran expertmon’ than
poor Bansamywac killed there y.” ‘

“ An’ barium—whorl” «
“ Do ya): know where Cone Hill is?“
u a“ , I . !
“He was buried on the south side of that

k. Elwood Mendle and mysellrwent, over
is selected unpleasant a spot as
wo'could. piled heavyrocks upon the green to
keep away wolves, or otherprowlors, and there
newts new.” r ’ .

Ilngbolt's face had fallen. If Ransom had

T sharp,-

“ I suppow his partners took them.”
th“ Elwood or Mendl'ck didn’t hev a share, did

eyl I . .

V “Not that I remember. Fourteen years is a.
long time to recollect such trivial matters.”

It did, indeed seem a. trifling affair to him,
but Chris looked at it in a different we. . He
failed to get any more information from iddle,
however, and as he was not ready to tell him of
the skeleton found under the rivar, he pouche-
lantly observed that he had “ 'just dropped in fur
a leetle chat on old times,” and received a. smil—
in good-by from the president, who had taken
a ancy to him. Then he left the bank.

CHAPTER VII.
A COMPANION on Tim ROAD.

“ WAL, I don‘t seem ter hev made no t
stride toward me desired eend,” tho ht hris,
an be walked down the street, “ but t or Hard-
S‘nell Detective Bureau ain‘t ter be blufled of!
easy. I argue ther case like this: Ther skeling—
ton is Warren Elwood. Artur Biddle left him
Im’Mendick alone, ther latter killed ther dis‘
eased. Mehbe ’twas fur his gold; mehbe they
had a quarrel about suthio’. But what does A.

 

that either Mendick or' Elwood became possessor
on’t arter A, G. Ransom was killed, tbar Would
bell tin my path. All samee, I still b’lieve
Men ick did it, ful- he was awfully fluatrated
’ho’ut sothin’ when he ’costed me. But whar
does Old Leather come in?”

Thisqueetion was what Kin bolt, after due

reflection, pronounced a “stic er.” He never
wavered in his opinion that the cobbler did
know something a at the river tragedy—else,
,why was he so movad by the episode i——but there
was nothing to show that Bach a man had been
about at the time Warren Elwood disappeared
from California.
_ “ Wall. I don’t know whom Old Leather comes
m, but I’m goin’rter sift this matter, even if I
hev tar take a pawl. I’d like some good man
ter send ter J edge Mendick, who should per-tend
ter be an old friend 0’ Elwood’s, an’nsk Mendiok
what he is. or whar he went tor.”

Chris tried to think of a suitable man for this
ethos, but no one he could think of seemed the
sort of an ally he wanted. ‘ _

Although walking mechanically, he had gone
straight toward the hotel where he had put 11
his horse, and, as he reached it, he arouse
from meditation. Just-as he was entering he
saw two {moss walkin away, and, though
their bac s were tower him, be recognized
Strong Seal and Turk Tucker the young roogbs
from whom hound Ralph had rescued Lalo
Vaughan.

His first impulse. was to ire for an officer
and have then arrested, but a abandoned the
m after a moment’s thought, and entered the

Night was last a roachln . but as he intend—
ed to return to lip-old Bar, goordo‘ted‘n‘n early
supper, and then tool: his departure. - He had
traveled lathe darkness before, and was not
afraid of it.

'Eho read“ he had to travel was a wild and

mountainous ridges, while the valleys which
intervened were near-lye: nod rocky as
the highwland. It seemed just the place for
road‘agents, but nothing of that kind had ever
been seen inebhat section, and Chris set 033 with-
out a thought of danger. .

If anythini unpleasant did occur, he had a
revolver and new how to use it; '

Ha horse seemed to realize them was home-
ward bound.rund thawed a. desire to make good
progress. which Chris, did not check: so hey
went. off at n llvel trot, which only abated

Black Run. . .

By that time darkness had fallen, and the boy
let the horse chem his own pace, and settled
down to thought. » ‘

flow was he to take his next step in ferreting
out the mystery of the old knife? In his opin-
ion,“ it was important to learn if
Elwood lm-d, or had really been killed. there in
the bleak bills, as be suspected; and the only
gniwn way of doing this was to interview Men-

 

ic . ,
Clearly, ,he needed the services of a partner,

1

G. Ransom's knife .come in? El I could prove

lonely one. All the wayit wasxasucceation of .

Warren '

but who was fit for the office? If he admitted
any one as a sharer in the secrets of the Hard-
Shell Detective Bureau, he must be a good
man. - ‘
lie was deep in thought when his horse first
erebted his head and then neighed, and King-
bolt, looking ahead, saw a dark object in front,
on the trail, which soon proved to be another
horse. '
‘ He rode closer and saw a man standing beside
1t.
“ Hullo!” said the latter.
“ Hullol” slowly answered the boy.
“ Are you in a hurry?”
“ Wal, sorter. That’s one o’ my pecooliaritiel.
Why‘d’ye ask!” ' '

“ y horse has fallen lame, and I have a good
deal of trouble to get him along.”

“ Wal, what’s that got ter do with my hein’
in a hurry 3" ~

“ I thou ht perhaps we could join forces to
mutual a vantage. The animal is all right
when I’m not on his back, and as you are a good
deal lighter than I, it strikes me he wouldn’t
mind your weight.”

“ In plain U. 8., on propose we swap?”

“ Not permanent y, but only for awhile. We
could keep together on the trail, and help each
other, you know. It you will do this, Ill give
you a ten-dollar gold-piece.”

The manner of the stranger was very plausi.
his, and the offer he made was one which up
pealed to Kingbolt’s fancy a good deal. He was
not so well tocked with gold that he could
afford to throw any over his-shoulder.

“Wal, I’m alloys open ter indoocemunts, on?
We kin try ther ’sperimunt of a wish, butl’d
whisper in yer ear nforehan that I‘m a very
fly led, an‘ ez I don’t know ye from Settin’Bul ,
I prefer that you keep clos’t ter my elbow 22 we A
ramble along.” , V

" In other words, you don‘t want me to steal
your horse,” was the laughing reply. “Well,
that's all right, and I commend your thoughts
fulness. I’ keep beside you, though you will
soon see that my horse, despite his tempora
lameness, is by far the more valuable animal.’

“ I’ll take your word for it, or ther condition
0’ the:- night ain’t ’zactly favorable for an orp-
tical ’zammation.” .

The change was made and their journey re- '
sumed. The strange horse bore Chris without
any great trouble, though he limped slightly,
and he did, indeed, seem to be a fine animal.

'Ihey rode on at a gentle trot, and the stran-
ger talked pleasantly. He said he was looking
tor a 0d place to locate in California, one
where e could go into mining with some pros—

pect of success, and that he had been advisvd to l I

visit Gold Bar.
“ I don’t ’magine you’ll stay long,” said
Chris. ~ ’
“ Why not?”
“ ’Cause Gold Bar ain’t overflowin‘ with honey
an? ile. Ther name is a holler delusion. I’ve
been tar seVel-ial months, 322’ put out a good
’eal 0’ money Im’ time, but I don’t s’pose I’m
wu’tb more’n half a million now.” '
« “ More than how much?”
“ Half a million.” ‘ r
The stranger was silent for at least hall a
minute.
“ Your father must be a capable business
man it he has accumulated as much a that.”

“I he’basl Wal, you're shoutiu’ now. He’s ,j

a do y, be is, of he’s got half a million, an’d'd 1.
like ter make his acquaintance.” l

“ Whose acquainta ’

“ M parimt’s.”

“I on't understand.”

“ I thought not. You spoke on though I owed .
my prosperitly ter a. father who had reared mo
in the lap o’ uxury, but sech is not ther fact.
I’m a self-made man,an' ther fu’st, last an’ only-
one o’ my race. I never had no patients, an’
represent a distinct species 0’ the human race.” _

What’s your name?” asked the stranger,
laughin . » ' 

“G. gin

“Incite.

“ That’s a. good—- Wait a hit. What be we

'97

9;. What’s yourn i”

when they reached be rough district beyond, gem l“

“ To Gold Bar, 1 sup 2-." » '

“ Not at we pursue t at rowt. Sheer oi! a few
p’ints tor ther wind’ard, an’ keep that trail.”

“That’s the right we. ." ' .

" Wrong, d; this ls-ther way.”

“ I am p0 tive I’m ri ht,“ insisted Locke, .

“ Mehbe you kin te an ole settler tber color
0’ goldl Nonsense! I came ter Californy when
the: ‘F‘ortyniners did, an‘-—” ’

" Now, Jack I"

 

Locke s ke the words abs 1 and as he did '
'30 he drug; the black with 1.3%... hand. Inaj

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

stantly the animal shot up the gulch which
Chris had insisted was the wrong way, and the
' stranger kicked the slower steed he bestrode to
" kee by his side. .
' Igngbon tugged in vain at the bridle, and as
he saw that Locke only exerted himself to keep
beside him, a suspicion flashed upon him. ,
He had been made the victim of a trick;:’he
was mounted on a trained horse, and was bying
kidnapped for some nefarious p so. ‘

“Just you see hyar," he sai , turni g to'

Locke, “ this ain’t ther way I’m oin’ je now,
an’ of you don‘t stop this hyar ery, untamed
steed o’ yourn, I’ll cut his throat I”

The stranger thrust a revolver against the
boy’s head.

‘ Make one hostile move, or try to leap from
the horse, and I’ll blow out your brainsl” he
sternly said. -

 Chris sat still. Locke held the drop, and his

. f ' voice told that he would keep his threat, and as
v the Hard—Shell Detective was not yet readye‘tto
_‘ ‘ . surrender his life, he concluded to make the

I v of It.
‘ “You advance convincin’ arguments,” be
.4 said grimly, “ but I’d "like ter know why then-

' howlin’ blizzards you‘re engineerin' this racket.”
“ You will know soon enough.”
' “ I can’t know too soon. Spit it out.”
“ I won’t! Anything more you want?”

“Yes. Give me the earth, well-done, turned‘

over and battered on both sides.”

.“ Peace, fool l”

“ I object ’ter yer ch'ice 0’ words. Your
manners is too abrupt fur one who come in un-
invited. You’d better keep ter yersell‘."

Chris had not been talking without an object;

’ . ' he was gathering all his efl’orte for an attempt
‘ ' ‘ x 1 at escape; and an the last words passed his

lips he made an effort to swing ofl the black

horse.
, In vain! He had to deal with a man as sharp
as himself and a good deal stronger, and he was
' not onl forced down on the animal’s back in an
uncom ortable pasition, but kept there despite
. . all his efforts to escape.
"3 . There was a brief lull in events, and then
- they swept under what seamed a great shed,
v «I but Chris suspected it was a cave. For-
! V ’ , ward afew feet they went, and then a light
appeared: a man stood waving a torch; and the
goung prisoner, locking. recognized Strong
aul an his partner in villainy, Turk Tucker!

g g..

 

 

CHAPTER VIII.
mow Ian’s raonnLnsonm QUESTIONS.

.  DURING the day there was more or less activi-
' u glut Gold Bar. Judge Mendick having ordered

. 'ngbolt Chris’s arrest, had men looking for
him, but he was not found.

Ralph Mendick, seeing that his father was b
far too apathetic in regard to the missing ' ,
Lulo Vaughan. privately offered a rew to
1 some of the men he could trust, it they bonld

find her. But the , too, had failed.

. Who bones of- t eman who had been buried

under the river had been given a new resting.
, place by the judge’s order. There were some
who approved of kee ing them on exhibition
a while, but Mendick nghed at the idea, and
indeed, threw out several remarks to the efl'ect
that the theor 0t murder was absurd.

“ Even if t e man was killed,” he argued,
“what are you going to do about it? Eight or
ten, sibly twenty years have passed Since he
was uriedl California was than less civilized
than now. There is no record of the $1118 who

   
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
   
   

came and want. We had better be 6 ng old
"  and attending to other legitimate bus nose t an
, bothering about this case. ’

And he found many people who agreed with

in. .
r Over the Delta Saloon was a so-called “ lodg-
mimosa,” but it was all in one room, and the
mat

«

were‘oblong boxes, with pine boughs for
traces. Yet, simple as was the accommoda-
tion, it seemed to be all that Iron Ike, The Solid
Man Slow-Coach, required. At any race, he had
taken quarters there.

Shortly after dark he left the Delta, walked
to Judge Mendick's house and was soon in g
private roomlwlkthdthaéth non. ~
The udge on e a 1m somewhat en mi}-
iously,ji'or the Solid Man was unshaven up; an.
ehoru, shabbin dressvd. and none too clean,
_ but he made it a rule to hear all that his fellow-

townsmen had to ea to him.

 “You‘re Jud endick. what used tar be
called Bl Mendic , hain’t you?” Iron Ike asked.
« . ' “ That’s my name,” stimy answered the

“ . n m biz is with you." I’d like terin-

  arreaElw is.

 

Kingholt Chris.

Mendick started, and a book which lay on the
table beside him was knocked down thereb .
He slowly picked it up, walked to the mant e
and put it away, and then took another seat,
one where his back was toward the light.

“ Elwood, did you say?"

There was a general carelessness in his voice,
but Iron Ike did not fail to distinguish the fact
that his pompous air was gone. . ‘

" That war ther name.”

“ I don't think I ever knew any each man.”

“ Who was third man 0’ ther prospect party
you an’ Tom Biddle went out with fourteen
year ago?”

“ Ah! I remember now. Yes, Elwood was
one of us; a cod—hearted, jovial fellow, who
was liked by a . Did yousay you knew where
he was?”

" No. I didn’t. I asked of you. knew."

“ I don‘t. I haven’t seen him, not heard from
him. for many years. He returned East.”

“ Did he write ter you arterwards?”

" Once, only—from San Francisco. He said
he was to sai in a' day or so. I never heard
from him after.” , -

“ I reckon nobody ever did. He didn’t ever
git home.” .

“ Not reach home i”

H No.”

“ That Was odd 1”

“Mighty odd,” said the Solid Man, dryly.
“I’m an agent from his tamhly, a—tracln on
him, an" I mean ter do it, inch by inch. You
are ther last man, ’cordin" ter evidnnce, that
Iee’d him.” .

Ike was looking keenly at the judge, but the
latter’s temporary nervousness was over and he
met the gaze firing. _

“ It Will be dl cult to trace him after all
these years, I’m afraid,” he observed.

“I ook ter you ter aolva ther mystery.”

“To me?” '

“Yes.” '

“ Well, I’ve told you all I know; how he went
to San-4’ , ,

“ He didn’t go ter ’Friacol” broke in Iron Ike.
“ You’n me may ez we] come ter bed-rock right
away, ’squire. You know, an’ I know, that he
never went ter ’Frlsoo. When Tom Biddle dis—
solved partnership with you, he left ther two on
ye on her mount’n tergether. Bime—by you
showed up in civilized parts. Elwood never
did. Wk 3 That’s what I'wantter know!” ,

The 5 id Man’s manner ' had grown
sive, and he looked at Mendick in a way not to

be mistaken.
ri” demanded Mendick, af-

“Am I his kee
fecting resentmen . “He was a free a cut,

and when he ot ready to leave me, he eft.
He was a food fellow, but that was no reason
why I shou d hunt him up if he failed to write
when he reached the East. You are too fact-J

“.Wait a minute,” said Iron Ike, coolly.
“Thor’s more ter be e lained. Elwood war

. a married man, an’ when a come tor Gallium

he left his motherleeeho in charge o’ M
in Illinois. You say he nally decided terre-
turn East, but I kin prove for that contrary.
He decided ter etc in Calitorn , an’furthat
reason he cent East {at his boy, w 0 was then a
kid. Thor hofyee was bro t ter’Frleco by a
gold-ogeker’u ambly. an’ t r claimed by a
man whomid he war Elwood, 1 claim ’twa'nlt
Elwood, at all. Now, who was it?”

“Great heavens, maul” said the judge, with
what seemed a despairing gestnr .‘fhavo you
drank all the liquor kep at the Ila! You
telkxwllder than ailléna‘ltiti” Wt  t,

everyoumn; :a terli
an’ you can’t make me; I’m, goin’ onghywitll
this case." . '

“ What do on mean!” Buttered the judge.

“I mean t Iwanttcrkuowwhariether
son oz'Warron Elwood; that’s what I mean. old

man.
“ What in perdition have I to doabout WI

You’re an internal modest man,~youare; why
don’t you ak tor the earth?” I

“ Ne‘ver you mind that, but I’ll tell ye what I
think 1you had tor do about it. For one thmfl,
I thin you was ther man w'ot took away -
wood'n boy. Wh dld ye do it? That airis a
conundrum, but t’s my theory'twas tor pre-
vmt people in nirin’ fur ther dad.” ,

" What wou d I care how much they inquired
for him i” angrily demanded neudick.

“Now, you in ht down tel“ biz,” said the
Selig]i lion, as. Ede iberaleb rested his elbow;
on e noes an stared at companion. “
how a dimrecollectlon o’a man named Cain
Who talked aboutlther same as you do, an’,

.bimeby, when ther perlioebosot on ther trail,

it wasetonnd out that some y was killed.”
Thus far Judge Mendick had hoped toaVert.

\

 

:1

the storm, but as the last hope vanished he
arose to his feet, his face pale and set.

“You infernal dog!" he hissed, “I’ve heard
enough of your cheap talk. loan alreadyeee
your purpose; you want to blackmail me. It
won’t work. Ishall show you I am not to be
bearded in my own house. Take yourself off,
or I’ll throw you out 1”

Iron Ike arose, a good-natured grin on his

cc.
“ I think I bear on a~ehoutin’,” be observed,
“ but I reckon ye cn’t know who ye’re talkin’
to. I’m a brindled bull-dop, with three rows 0‘
teeth an’ all sharpened l ke a cross-cut saw.

fa

m

‘ You throw me out! Why, go pore, miserable

critter, etl was ter lay a
ye’d spread out jest like a pancake. .
by mighty l”

“Get out of my house!”

“Nary git!”

The Solid Man stood his ground, still smiling
in a jolly way, and his powerful form so im-
pressed the judgf with the idea that he wast.
solidman, that e, d anaturalgreluctcmto
attempt to carry on his threat. 1 ,

i‘é'l‘e line plainly .what you want," he snlleuly
n g . . r , \ , ,’
“None 0’ yer mono : bet er last hit on
that!” Ike xturdily re led. ‘ want tar know,
two things. First: hat becomeo’ 
Elwood? Second: What become 0’ Elwood’sr
son? Now. don’t go for ter deny nothinfi far.
of ye do I’ll come down on e d. Elfin
a chance. tor kick out o’ runes 
Tell me whar ther boys? is, en’you’ll seem
backin’ oflin ther shake o a lamb. ”, . , o

“I know nothing about the chllfi,_uve that
Warren Elwood casually mentioned that he
hqd a son. I never saw him, I did not hetero
smpect he was taken West, and I have. no.
knowledge, whatever of him.” .

" or what?” haughtily man. M
u 07  V '

The good~natnred smile had gone; and Iron,
Ike stood before the dismayed judge with the
manner of ahungry ' er. . .

“Ye wanttar go ,” he added, “far I’m
a'devourin’ lion when I it my back up. I’m
in ’nmest, too; on I said, ain’t no blackmailer;
I don’t want yer money an’ won’t hevit; but
of ye don’t go a bit slow I will put yer neck in
a noose l” , . , ..

- The judge’s face could outgrowpaler, but
a express an showed increasing consternation
.“ What do you mean?” he gasped.

“ I mean that I think ye murdered. Warren
Elwood I” .

It was out at last—the charge Hendick had-
expected—but he had before reached the depth
of dismay, and the plain charge served to nerve v
him to a clan rone pitch. He resolved that -,
Iran Ike shoal never have a chance tobab ‘
his ear cion to othen. . ., ‘

“ hadn’tc’ ed it afore.”the Solid lion

and on . a onc‘t,

a would,

“-

v continued, “I a cold ’a’ldoue so when that

boy found lher'knllc by that skeleton in the
river, That boy is against, an’he , ;.
tor his , away. ld man, that was
wood’s eke on, 1111' you killed himl” >
n “WIPE: “@353?
ow on _ow g. V . _ .
pltunaldmitatonco. 
i enemi- tbe ,
dashodhtzrthcflour. .ud  ~,  
W Wt . W. . rm . '
upon his breast, both hands clasped 
victim’lnesh and. engaged: in tho 6m
objectotmurder. . , aw... .. ‘jr
“um” he lain-ea, My. .‘ ',‘ Db. was this:-
youarel” I . ~  1
CHAPTER 13. _ ,r . -
- more“! can rm.m.wmz ~-
Ir anything had been needed to, 
Kifibolt Chris that huh-dam iatcabcd
g: theappearanco of-Strong Suland'

rky'I‘uckel' was euflcient to establillh the

 

 

 

. 1

point. From the time he had helped baa. _

them when Lula Vaughan was. their .M'
he had realised thattheir would homeom-
mm one: that-they would ravaged- lt mu

n Shine was poniblo- and who: talent“: lam
thecdveitwalnogreat cur-print _ , . 

“C. Ki . Engine you’re in a l V '
erated «dim , he in , “   V
will 'moat like y try tor nguivh that 
gains that bum in ya: head. but ya molt, co,

erggsican’beat yet on drum rural! leg, .
 - ’ ' . ' . l.‘

was v .. ,
“aquamarinsz ’ v L?” Q;

 

 

,th W. “A;ng

 

   
 

   
    
  
    
    
   
   
  
   
   
  
    
  
  
   
  
   
      
       
    
  

     
 

   
  

    

Klingbolt 

  

 

 

 

“Yes, pile off’n thar, you undersized baboon
or I’ll bu st yer cocoanut all ter smash.”

" " Fruit always comes down when it’s ripe, un’
ezl’m oty high that p’int, ye needn't pluck
me. ‘ yer I be in my glory.”

“ You’ve got inter a pooty scrape now, ain’t
ye?” mocked. Saul, waving is torch near the
prisoner‘s eyes. ‘
-' “ Ef you sez so, it gees that way," cheerfully
answered Chris.

“  cim’t scare that young blade,” said
Locke, with a tinge of admiration in his voice.

“ I’ll make him howl like a, whipped do i”
said Saul, with an oath. “ D‘ye know w at
yelre hynr fur, you spindlwshenked giraffe?”

‘f’Cordin’ter ,pearances, I’m hyar oz 9. nat'ral
curiosity, ter amuse ther multitude,” cooll re-
plied Kingbolt. “Et I'd known I was see an
a‘traction, I’d a’plied fur a position with Bar-
num ‘al'ore now. ’ .
7"“0hl‘ you’ve got a glib tongue, but I’ll take.
th’er ile 0E from“ it. I’ve seen sech tender shoots
eh More.” _

’ rk Tucker had 'led the flames away, and the
three man now marched Chris further into the
cave; Atone'corner a fire burned dimly, and
this, with the torch, which {was again thrust
 crevice in the well, served to light the,

‘ Ghris,’.who realized the danger but knew the

thei‘ ‘ W nce‘ creeping cool, looked keenly
.a’rou , noting; mm in}; against a‘ possible
cine ‘ ,h’utmeaeno comment. ‘ ' ~

v“ "course'I’doh’t need. ten interduca my—
self.” said Saul, when they were at a standstill.
“You remember ‘me 11:"me perd, an”, you
romrgcmmbsr that loam dealivgte ye fur.
so?  uso’thergel.” " ‘ f“ ”

" I 'h’ 've-‘I do remembérfsome casual ro-

zlml‘ks‘VEerj that efi‘ecliflflKingbolt’ ‘a’cknow‘l-l

ed ed. 9 "

5P1] make e remember, at ye don’t. It was
a cold filly wr" us'then', but'ther frost nips
t’othereur now, an’ on kin see ther-result o’
notm‘ h’ yer ow

“,On ther hull, I _ eckou you‘re right,” said
Km belt: “,anT-‘ef on sayt er word,‘I’ll slide

' on: ike ewch‘roach homey-eased pig. I’m

{sorter sociable in my na tur", but of ye say keep
m‘yermlf, wh , I’m gone in a shake.” ‘ ,
!“ You‘ve he :yer chance an’ lost it. You

wouldn’t mind’yer own business, an’ now‘ yer
soother result. We mean biz; ye won’t never

gdbut’o’ hye’r alive!" ’
“Thatvsol” ‘ “ ‘
"‘ Bet yerlest dollar.”
“I’m no gumbrelyman; I must respectfully
déclino sorbet,” Chris answered. r
Il'Wal; we’ll givelyee taste 0' our mettle right
away“. ‘«Locke, we’ show ya some red-bot fun.
 ready, Turk?" ‘ V? ' ‘ ' ‘ ‘
even ready,“ Tucker ansWered. ' ' l ,
“‘Tbenlther fun begins. I, ain‘t one o’therh
21% that. loose my deal by bein’ t’oo/durned
no “final shoved his prisoner up
afiinst’ ‘9‘ door the carefwhere‘ it arose in a
germanium!“ wall; and; hide j hlln’ Mud there.
hen he stgpppd‘beclrf' " "  ‘ . "
With-“beers emudlrf'diefiute atweenp Turk
wme’fw yawn emptiness, enter which
msmM‘mrem-ower: Now, we’re goin'
WW4“ ’p’lntf‘i‘l'Wd heV’ is live target
tfimfli W Any-waived therjone who
fu’st inflicts a mortflyownd'e‘tvthlémétnnoe,
b y;  ‘ ; man,» the:- boss.
' nevus-i , swan-n _. ., c,» u,  . /
.  we, a: '(ihris"was,‘the
idea a standing and having unwesflun at
landings: * «auscrpuvemreeilud us,
was one which made him start perce tihlyi‘
Sg‘IAha‘l I tho’rtfiyou’d ,cry-babyl’ chuckled
“ Ki. ‘1 ' »

“3H,. . 

“ Whit) you’re why men! breastf e-heaviu’

you jestiet me new,”ssldOhris,

. at“ .- f‘I’m’ award I‘m lubed company,
but-:3. ‘nofie’lo’

11g! seekin’. You drive on
he frcund when ther

mode  r - »
«‘3 (9‘ fine that spade Werv‘tharw ' ’
"1 waived , Stout Saul.” ‘ ‘ !

em vast-evenly tee dig

that,“ Wyerin-th’er cave.

hug what becomeonye ”' ‘
cm

H, ,

yqer {grave with
obody never’il

‘ so ’\ este‘d'Kin'gbolt.
“scene i” uterr‘upted Locke. 3' this boy has
' franchisees!» ‘go of! in such a way. He
 .y _ ., .,

‘ He ought tor keep her hisselfl’fl rufll fn~
to pted Sup]. “You hushgzp. Logic? run
t We, on! Ifiy’ther ve—Iiiécle him go-
Lm’homo empty. , Say no more. We’re gem"

, _ I biz. ‘yThér’ain’ta better
'rclein' is thoriuke‘ep ter yerself.” ' ‘

t‘ s mourn; willow over me, will,

 

ter shoot, an’ shoot ter kill. Kiugbolt Chris
dies. Turk Tucker, be ye ready?"

“ All ready.”

“Then perused!”

The two ruffians drew back to begin their
sport, but their intended victim was not so.
ready to stand there and be carved up to satisfy
their base desire for revenge. He saw that
they were fully in earnest, and he knew the folly
of uppeallngiK for mercy. He must either stand
still and be 'illed at their leisure, or help him<
self out of the fix.

He was resolved to make an attempt in this
direction, but no one knew better than he that
it would be one attended with little hope of suc—
cess. He could not retreat toward the entrance
to the cave, for Locke was in the way, while
the interior of the place did not oflfer any great

110 e.

gtill, it was his only chance, and be resolved
to make the attempt.

We have said the light was given the place
by a dim fire and a torch. Chris, studying the
situation. had decided that it the letter was ex—
tinguished there would not be enough light to
make the use of revolvers at all certalu, and he
laid his plans accordingly. '

As his enemies drew e remained for a mo-
ment perfectly quiet. Then came a. surprise
for the roung.

Kingbolt made a sudden leap and snatched
the torch from the crevice, and then, uttering a
yell which would have made an Indian wild
with jealousy, he sprung straight at Saul and
Turk, his torch held before him.

I He could not have had a more elIective wea—
pon, as far as it went. Neither man nor beast
can stand fire, and the desperadoes promptly
took to their heels.

Chris glanced toward Locke, but as that per-
son drew h revolver, he realized that, before he
could reach him, there would be great danger
otvbein shot down, so be promptly carried out
his firs idea. '

He threw the t ch after Soul, and then,
wheeling, darted oward the interior of the
cave.

When his two vounger enemies recovered.
their wits‘arlittle they vented their wrath in) no

entle terms, and Saul at once ordered a pursuit.

he torch was caught up, revolvers drawn and
the chase commenced.

“By ther great horn-spoonl I’ll riddle him
when I git my eyes on him!” declared Saul.

“ You haven’t got your eyes on him yet,” said
Looks), dryly.

“ It 8 al yer fault that be escagped. Why.
didn’t you shoot the‘r durned critter. ’ ‘

“For one'reeSon, because I didn't get my wits
soon enough; in the next place, becauseI was
reluctant to kill a mere boy like him." '

“ You’re a calf, Jake, Locke!" ' ‘ ' ’

I“ Look here, my young buck, you want ,to be
a trifle careful in choosing your words. You
are a bully, but u can t frighten me. Go
dew, or 1’! WI 6 t e floor all u with you!” a

_Snul knew h s companion we 1 enough not to
pick 11 thegantlet, buthe sullen] replied:

“ E he escapes, you’re in ther reg, too.”

“ I know‘l am, and far that reason I’ll do my
level best. He mustbe captured and held pris—
oner. lwas fool to agree to decoy him here;
hencefbrth, P 1 keep )to my'salf.”  ‘

During this conversation they had beenbnrr‘y-
in in pursuit of Chris, butas the way became
w d‘ and broken they pequ to listen.‘ The
fugitive had" been wise enough to ado tthe plain
of gain soft and slow, instead 0 plun ring
ahead w mantra ard tohnything. and all t eir
efforts to Incete h to had proved unavailin .

When thefihstened. no sound was audi e.

“ thet‘ ends! he’s outfitted m!”'said Saul.

j “" 0 must hafl'rnn'l‘lke‘ a. deer,” added Turk.

“ More likely he's hid somewhere,” said
Locke. , l _

Saul started. ' « ' ' 5

“ I reckon we’ve act ter keepda double watch.
El! be war ter find t er e], be git herout, too
at web a thing Wes possi le. Ther young boon
can’t keep her hissell.” '

And the‘three hurried on,

They he‘d barely started when a smell, sharp
face arcse above, a bowider. *

f‘ Now then, what’s ther‘ racket? About
what gal did Soul 0’ Terms speechll’y? Hes he
ot one shet up hynr?‘ ’Peernnces indicates it,

“mighty, an” know he’s jest mean enough fur
that. I’ve had‘prcof More. 0. King, ther way
’o’iescepe' is now open ter you, but ou’re an
reseller 0‘ law, en’th'er chief o’ ‘ther uni-Shell
Detective Bureau-e! thar’s crookedness afoot,
it’s yer duty ten- look inter it.“ ‘ ‘

So saying; Kin bolt moved softly after the
1three tongue. -‘ ' ~

 

He had but little fear of discovery; the cavn
was spacious and rocky, with numerous niches

 

to which he could retreat should they turn at v

bay; and if he had possessed a revolver he
would have felt comparativel at ease.

For about fifty yards he to lo“ ed the three

men, and then another dim light appeared.
Saul approached this and seemed to look down.

“ It’s all right,” he said. “ She’s still there 1”
- Who was there? Chi‘islelt a strong desire to
know,\and, reckless of the danger, be up
preached still closer. Then he looked and stood
dumb with amazement as he recognized the
face of Lulo Vaughan.

CHAPTER X. V
THE HARDSHELL DETECTIVE BECOMES A CHAM-
PIoN.

Kmonom Cums wasvarymuch astonished.
It will be remembered that he left Gold Bar at
an early hour that morning—before Lulo’s dis-
appearance was known—and, until he thus saw
her face in the darkness, he had not foremo-

 

ment suspected that she had been, abducted'

a mu.
gYet, here she was; he could make no mis-
take; and it was clear Strong Saul had in some
way turned the tables. y
Her prison proper was a pit in the earth, a
natural rocky well, dee enough so that she
could not ascend withou help, and once there

it had been safe enough to leave her unbound. ,

“Wal, I’ll, be chewed up fur a se’ssngp-
do , it this hyar ain't qun’r” thought Chris.
“ hat’s tlier whys an' whar fores on’tl She’s
been abductionized ag'in—” '

He paused suddenly as Saul abruptly turned,
and whisked behind a rock just in time to es-
cape discovery.

“We must go on, boyees," said the leading
rongh. “ E! that young hound gets out o’ hyar
safe an’ sound he’ll give that secret o’ ther cave
dead away, an’ we won’t hev no refuge arter
this. That won’t do; we must find him an’
give him a bullet that’ll settle his hashl”,

“Your bull-heeded scheme is likely to get us

into a pretty flx,” said Locke, bitterly, as they "

retreated. “I wish I had never
coy for you. We’ve got to kill 1;

e boy now, to
secure our safety.” A

The remainder of his remark was lost as he ’

'retree ted.

played the de— ‘

-“ Ef I hev my way about it, tbar won’t be no \

slaughter o’ innocents,” remarked Kin bolt,
raising his head once more. “ I ain’t rea y ter
be salivated et, not by a mile 0’ reasons; but I

reckon that ’ve got ter gitout 0’ this cave pooty . ‘

nick, or thar‘ll be mourniu’ in that Hard-Shell
etective Bureau." A
He arose, started away, and then suddenly

. paused.

“ Ther gull I’d forgot her.

By Gineral J ack— .

soul I ain’t goln’ away an’ leave her. She strikes 1'
me ez bein’ a clifiper, an’ ez a detective I can’t

leave her be. I’ ’vestigate.”

He went to the top of the 'pit and looked ’

own. . .
“ I Say, hullo, thar! I‘m a rampagin’ rescuer ,

come llur ter git you out.
o’ a wa ter do it?”
Lulo ed looked up qfiiickly, and an
sion of joy passed over or face.
“ Kingbolt Chris!” she exclaimed. . -
“ Sech is my title. reg’larly conferred by Yale
College; But, mobbeoJ’ , ‘ ;
‘»‘ Quick, Chris! There is a rope near you,

93‘er ,

somewhere; throw it down at once and help me,

out.”

Kin you Inform the 

Chris had not known of the rope, but the fact ‘

that there was one stirred him to instant action
and he was not long in finding it and helpin
Lulo‘to the surface. ‘ ‘ .
“Heaven bless you!” she said, “This Is the
second time you have come to my and, and I
can’t find words sufficient to thank yOu—” "
“ Don’t try jest now; we ain’t got ther earth
et. When we’re out o’ ther woods, you kin
holler. But I‘m afee'rd We’ll hev merry mischiei;
We’re hemmed in

in runnin’ thergantlet. »
kin I boast.

thcr innemy, an’ not a weepon

did not discover.” said the, girl, And she huh
ried] drew :1 small caliber Smith 86 wesso'd,‘

“ urrah!" said Chris, with subdued excite~
ment.
new look on ther sit.
he]? ter themselves now.”

e

flourished the weapon, end felt as wdrlikey ‘

as though he were a regiment of United States
tree 5. ‘ ’

denlyé I . ,
“ e‘re prepared to embrace ’em,”sald'King-

bolt, “but I ginerally chOOse my style fur a l
, , ,

I

‘f This hyar is ther ticket;ltp1ncesa. ’
Ther inemy had‘betterl V_

” usbl they are returning!” said Lulo;'sud7_ V

;

by: 7 I
“ I have a. revolver in my pocket, which they ,‘ fl

 

 

 

I ‘ . Chris

 _ pooty soon.

V 7 . falteth'er uiaseconce.”

'  

 

 

hu . Come this way, an’ we’ll try ter keep out
o' sight.” .

They retreated to the deeper _shadows. but,
meeting with a solid wall of rock, were obliged
to pause when altogether too near the enemy
for safety.

Saul and Turk approached alone. ~

“He’s gone inter ther furder art 0’ that
cave,” said the former, “au’ of ’5 sure the:-
wasn’t a hole fur him ter crawl out on, I’d let
him go fur a while. At any rate, I’ll go on
alone, an’ you kin stay hyar an’ watch ther gal—
Hullol"

Strong Saul broke off abruptly; he had looked
down into the pit.

, “Gouel” he howled. “Thar little cuss hez
been hyar so 500m Scatter, Turk Tucker, an’
leave no stone untamed. I’ll hev him ei I hev
ter blow up ther durned cave; we mustn't lose
ther money ofl'ered fur ther gal. I’ll break that
durned kid all ter pieces afore I git through
with him i”

The speaker started out frantically, almost

blindly, to keep his vow, but his course took,

,him directly toward the young couple, and his
ears were s eedil greeted by the click of a
revolver, to owe by Kingbolt’s sharp voice:

’“ Halt, that, an’ hands upl Keep ter yersell’,
or ofl’ goes yer wig!”

Saul answered with a roar. He was not in
condition to use prudence, and be bounded for-
Ward like a mad bull. Once more Chris shouted
a distinct warning, but it was unheeded, and he
no longer had a choice in the matter. If he
Would save‘ his own life he must use his re-
volver. " , ' '

He pulled whe trigger, and, as the report
sounded, accompanied by many an echo, Strong
Saul suddenly stopped, swayed to and fro,’and
fell to the floor.

Chris'realized that war was formally declared.
and, with somewhat reckless enthusiasm, he
s rung over the bowlder and rushed at Turk

ucker.

The latter had the reputation of being a brave,
hard fighter, but the fall of his pard had broken

hisheart', and he turned and fled toward the in.-

terior of the cave.

“Now’s our time!" said Kingbolt, seeing that
Saul did not stir. “Thar’s only one man nigh
ther entrance, an’ et we move in warlike array
we may be able ter pass ther rtals, O. K.”

As they turned sway King it’s foot struck

- against Soul’s revolver, which had fallen io'the

floor at the same time its master went down,
and he placed it in his pocket and hurried on,
followed by Lulo.‘

“You needn’t feel skeered,” he said, as he
noticed that she was pale and frightened.
“We are now two ter one, an’ I’m a wild
terror in alight. You‘ll find me a good man
tar tie to l” o ' '

, ' “I have already seen that
brave," Miss Vaughan answered,
you will do all you can. >

, thgggh, and I confess I am terribly t ght‘
en 1 .

you are very

. "‘ Gals an” men is difPrent,” said Chris, strok-
ing his upper lip as though a mustache had sud-
denly sprung into existence, “ 321’ it’s our

privilege ter- defend your sex. Don’t say uoth-,

in’; we re willin’ ter do it, an’ we‘re capable o’
doin’it.” ‘ 'V

A faint smile hovered for a moment around
Lul’o’s face, but ' it vanished as they neared the
mouth of the cave. There they expected to find
Locke on ard, and he had announced that his
safety an thatof his allies depended ogforever
silencin the boy. ' ' ‘ ‘

see Locke so soon as he expected, and its‘oon

became evident that if he was reallfyon guardv

C it must be at the very entrance itsel
' The stamp ot a horse’s foot at the rear gave
Kingbolt an idea. The would need the uni.
‘ mals'lf they succeeded n getting clear of the
cave, and a better chance than the
would never be offered.
Consequently, still keeping Lulo h his side.
. he went to the further side and tom: both his
' own horse and that lately besn‘odealay Locke.
He remembered that this animal h proved

stubborn on the bit, so he took it for himself‘

‘and gave the girl the other.

" ” I don’t know any better way than ter make
adash fur it," he then observed. “ We can’t
play hide—an’-seek with two bosses in tow, an’
‘, v , ark Tucker will zit over hisscare a‘a’ beeround
We’ll mount an’ make a dash, an’
at Mister Locke don’t keep her hisself he must

, *"l’aulorea iued her‘own inca bility ot plan-
ning, so she ielded to his i ea without argu-
vment, thong \ she had an unpleasant con-

l
v

and ,I know_
I am only "a 'irl,‘

pt his eyes Well open, but he did not. sen

present

 

sciousness that a stray bullet might end their

v careers.

They mounted and prepared for the dash.

“Now!” said Chris sharply, as he gave each
horse a blow. .

There was a rattling of iron shoes on the
rocky floor, a succession of sparks which flashed
up at the collision, and they sped forward.
Kingbolt crouched over his horse's shoulders,
and, revolver in hand, watched closely for
Locke. War was formally declared, and their
own-lives were worth more to them than were
the desperadoes’. ‘

"Halt! Hold on, there, or I’ll fire l”

The shout arose in the well-known voice of
Locke, but it came from the rear, much to their
surprise.

“ Hurrah l” yelled Chris; “We’re out o’ thei-
drag. Ali’s wal, an’ ther goose is suspended
’way up." ' v

Crackl crack! ‘

'Locke opened fire just as the fugitives were
passing out of the den, but the bullets went
wild and the noise served to frighten the horses
to fresh speed. .

." Hold hard I” yelled the Hard-Shell Detective.
“Keep yer grip an’ that earth is ournl”

It was easier to say “ esp? your grip!” than
to do it, as Lulo soon found, at she clun with
the strength of desperation and they . ashed
on along the trail. I '

Suddenly a whistle rung out shrill and clear.
The black horse erected his ears. It was re-

eated. Then the animal swung around on his

eel, and Chris, remembering his former; ex.
perience, knew it wasa trained animal which
was always ready to obey a si nal. He tugged
at the rein with all his strengt . , In vain!

Luckily, his wits did not desert him in this"

emergency, and he tore ofllvhis own jacket and
threw it over the horse’s head, doing all he could
to muflie his cars, at the same time pulling on
the right rein. V - .

His artifice was successful: the animal yield-
gd;hand in a moment more they were again in

lg r. '

“Jest keep yer eyes open, an’ I’ll play blind-
man’s buff with this quadruple," said Chris.
“He’s a tough sardine, from ther ground 11
but he's gota cubic yard 0’ acyclone on his
back, an’ of ther hoss holds tergether we’ll pull-
throulfih all right. Hello! that comes the: inemy
as“; ‘ f . ‘ - r .

As he spoke. a bullet whistled past, barely
missing his head.

CHAPTER Xi.
V mos man's men GRIP. '

“ LET her how] l" Kirgbolt shouted, defiantly,
as he turned his head for a moment. “I dunno
but a man kin run down chess, but I opine he
can’t this week, an’ along mp road. Come an?
see us, Locke; we’re at home an’ that latch-
strin iso’htl” ' x

" on't anger them any more,” advised Lalo.

l“ Bless yer dear heart, they’re full 0’ mad
clean up tar their chins, now an’ a leetle extra
pressure ’11 do em ‘good. I li a tot-have tufst—
class blowmt when I go tor a circus.”

Nothing could dampen the boy’s spirits, and
the fugitives swept along theatrajl at a rate of
speed which soon left the pursners in the rest.
It was not until they had flog: a mile, however,
that they ventured to also their speed. 2 -

“ We’re out o’ ther drag now,” said Ch ,
cheerfully, “an’ we’ll arable outer Gold Bar at
our leisure.” , , » s

" I don’t want to go there,” said Lula, quickly.
“l')on’t ye? Allow me ter inquire the’r rea‘
“I believe they are all bad people there‘—
nearly all. Judge’Mendiok betrayed me into
the lands-of my enemies.” , ‘ ~ ,

“Eh? What?" r - ‘ ~ . »

The girl repeated her assertion. ' '

“Did ther old. sinner d that? . By jinksl I
didn’t think it.” 4 »

‘ “He made me Very welcome at his house,
with outward show, but I am satisfied that he
intended treachery all the time. I retired feel-
ing that I had found a place of safety, but,
about midnight, I was awakened by the house-
kee‘per, Mrs. Schell, whoin formed me that my
fat er wds‘ Waiting for me below. I went
down as soon as I was ready, and there I found
J udg_e Mendick, Strong Saul‘and Turk Tucker.
The_3udge was as cold and calm as an iceberg.
He informed me that there had been a mistake,
that the young roughs had meant all tor the
best and that they would then conduct me to
my other.” v ._ y « .

‘hMendick’s a lousy crilterl”,muttered King-

.“ I begged that he wouldsend Tucker andthe

. sea now.”

, I'll show it, too, of ther’s further

 

other man away, andyvhen he refused I de-
clined point-blank to accompany them. Then
force was used, and I was compelled to o,
and thus we left Gold Bar. We came direct y
here. It’s no use for you to defend Mendick, for I
know he hates me.

“When I defend! him, you’ll be able to see
wings growiu’ out 0’ his ribs," said Chris.
“’Tner jedge is a nefarious desperader.
back their? Wei, 1 should smile. not! I I’ll take
ye direct ter Crescent Bend. Yo soy yer dad
is thar?” - '

“I received a letter purporting -to be from ‘
him, and telling me to join him there, but I be
gin to doubt if he wrote any. I fear it was a
or ery.”

‘ Shouldn‘t be a—tall surprised; but when kin
be old Mendick‘s reasons fur wantin’, ye out 0'
ther way?" I

“ That is a mystery to me, but 1 have a sus-
picioa that he is at the bottom of it all.”

” ’Twould be jest, like him. He’s a. biggun on
wheels as Gold Bar, but 1 thinkhh’sa villain
from ther ground 11 . Wal, we’ll go .at once
ter Crescent Bend. yer father live thar
reg’lar?" . , , « V ,

“No. He isa wandering man, and has been
ever since my mother died—goes tron: one mmfi

.iug-town to another, all the way fromYumn to

Deadnvood, which he can easil do, as he hose.
plentttnl sagply of money, hen .I rammed v
that letter thonght be had found a home
where he was willing to settle, but I am all at

“ So be I, on that {Vigil  admitted,
“ but‘vm’l} go On tar ther  saewhat we
kin l’arn. hereby take ye ’ficially underlay. ’
protection till that Secret is. dissolvadnan" you
in Jest bet yer last bit I’ll has yet“ inclines at
a distance. When .1 git mad m Muss than a
can 0’ dynamite under the: czar’s fireplace, an'
em ed work
ag’in" ye.” v ’

And they rode on toward Crescent Bend. ,

Let us now return to Iron Ike, The Solid
Man from Slow-Coach, whom we left under
the knee and hand of Judge Mendick, and inta
fair way to be. wiped off the earthly roll~cal1 m
a hurry. Ike Was the stronger man of the two
but the diflerence was not great, and be had
been we at stitch I; disadvantage that the
jud eve t in; isown way. , . ,

13%? the bee laid plans of men often'fall
through. .

Just at this critical moment the door opened
and Ralph Mendick entered. Neither of the
men saw or heard him. and he stood amazed at.
the extraordinary spectacle. It was one which,
though he could not tell the cause, spoke so
strongly of murder, that he lost but little time
before springing forward to grasp his father’s ‘
arm. ' _. , A .

“In Heaven's name, what does this mean?”
hecried. ‘ .r r. .r . V

The judge’s hands relaXBd,-and he turned a
are , teceupward. It was as th , he had

a isomersd by an olficerwho w ,sureiy
dmghimawaytojastiee. . ._ - . _.r --
taken a change,

nI‘ron Ike was not thaawiananc‘t

a at ‘choki, = , B  .. 1‘

enough mmpair {gm} or  fecal

ties,T ensueequickmofim. W

addendumtozlm feet. *2 _ q - .
The these stoodfacing mother» in momen-

b i 7 that: the Solid-.7 “an? _,lal1€h°d
am, y, ,. . « . .

“amnion-noted. it" Mimi’s "yer
kin bet your life ygdlr hmgred»-pamutgvon’t
thunkyoutmmfi x t l l w » 1

Ralph saw that his lather rm incurable»!
coherent speech, and his engenmed against
thfigmngenaocount A, if I Will

‘ ive an o  .flnor W
have-yonerrmdwoacgl’weaxoialmedg v

Again Iron Ike laughed—this thermock-v

i l . : ‘ w .
“gain I should smilal rWhy, that 3313’: man
enough iii Gold, Bar tor hold Thor Solid Man 0’
Slow-Coach When he git: his back up, an’. yer
kin wager yer skill, yer  won’t heck.ye up
in yet game. :Ther only matter he would. want
should arrest me wwld be Death.” ,. . .

“We willow whether youare topome into '
our home. and act the part of a bravo-ills:-
claimed Rel h, and he sprung to the window
and raised 1. 9 lower sash.

Another moment and his voice would have, ,
sounded the alarm, but the judge sprung for- ‘ ‘
ward and his arm. . 1

“No. no » hecriod: “do not  unmet
anyoneknow wfiareherew”, . A v . .M

'i‘ Obey me in this, I, implore you !”

 

mst s , ’ 

 

 

10' 

 

7 Kingbolt Chris.

 

 

 

Mendick had never before spoken to him in
such a pleading, helpless way.

“Itold on so,” said Iron lke, with his old
laugh. “ on see thar are times when outsid-
ers had better keep ter themselves, an‘ this is
one 0’ them. We don’t want no one b’ilin’ in,
do we jedgel”

There was a disagreeable, wolflsh look on the
man’s face as he turned to Mendick, for there
were still red marks on his neck and apain in
his throat. He would never forgive that as-
sault, and it Moudick was really in a hard spot
he had made his situation ten times worse by
an ering the Solid Man.

' Shut the window, Ralph, and let no one in,”
this father added, as he dropped heavily into a
c an:

The youth obeyed, actin like one in adrenm.

' He knew his father’s old mperious way, and
the fact that a stranger and enemy was in the
house and that the jud a would not have a call
made for aid, indicate that there was a Week
spot in the great man’s armor.

Ralph’s‘face bore a troubled look, which Iron
Ike did not fail to see.

“Livoarn' l’an, bo ée,”he said, coolly. “ You
think this old ram is an angel, but you’ll find
out difl’rent aforsther crush is over. I know
him better than on. an’——”

“ Forbsarl” s Mendick, homely.

“ Forbear nothln’l" Ike retorted. “I’m b er
fur his, an’ blzis all my cry. You know w at
I want. Tell me who:- Warren Elwood’s son is,
or’l’ll it out ther hull storyter this young
fellei'. on hear me?”

Handle-k had never been pin

“ Give me time, and 1’

ed.
urfi'rime is jest what I won’t give ye. You-
know whar ther hoyec is, an’ Pm goiu’ tor

know, too. Spit it out, or titer secret goes a.

flyin’ wharever thar's ears tor listen.”

I" How can I tell what I don’t know?”

“I ain’t hyar ter answar conundrum: but
r11 tell ya one thing-«I- can tell what i do
know I"

“ Believe me, I Will do all that money can do,
and bend every effort to satisfy your wish.
Can vou ask'morol"

r “ You’re a. wily rat, Si Mendick but you can’t
. pull ' thet- wool over in eyes. 2You had yer
and: on my throat aw ile ago *an’ was stran-
‘ gliug me, but the:- scene hes changed; now I’ve
got hands on your heart, an’ you’ll find my
grip an iron one 1” V
“ You lose your last chance by boinfi bull»
headed,” said the fudge, sullenly; “ I tel you
that fairly. But can’t tell god what you
want to know. I don’t know w are the person
you want is, but I have the claw to the riddle,
and by following it up I’ll learn all and give
you the benefit or m nveetigation.”

The fiolld Man ooked at the speaker as
though he would read his thoughts.

“Wat, I’ll'give you. show,” but ye had bet-
ter bewar’ haw ye try tar play therrootson me.
Bit you’re stavic’ ther business 08, thinkin’ tor
git that beito’ me, I tell ya fa’rly it won’t
work. Quarter-u htv ye got yergrlpon my
throat, but you 0 y opened my eyes; you’ll
never do it ’in.” ‘

(“I not

I \ tel-any

""I‘hat‘s' . . Cut, an’come ag’ln. I’m
no hog an’ I don’t want Menominee. you
-’ ‘Watl‘dawmran’l’m Was-Milt.

r our Ross, I’m gotn’; leave ya tar
thinkvit over; but jest you b’ar in mind that I’m
rank ole m an’ you. know what you’ll git
of which, Sexton!” . -
. ‘ h Solid Man moved towdrd Shadow-and-

tool: it leave «Mont another word. I
t  looked-at his rather in wonder and
mu e.

“What does it crimson?” boasted.

“Ask me no queationrnow—not one,” said
the older man. “Follow this fellow and use
that he leaves the house, and then go to your
i room. At least, leave me alone. Go! o!’

' ‘And he shoved the youth gentlyb firme
out of the room and locked the door after him.

“It has come at last!” he then muttered.

“ Murder will out, and I’ve got to face "the -
3 1

shadow of the put. " Face it? Hal he!

I will; I'll face itcand‘woo to those who m
again“: me. I’ll win, orvllll make tombston
thicker. than citizens in Gold Bar!” r

 

CHAPTER x11.
ow annuals ma. ,
. m following morning Kinzbolt Chris rude
into Gold Bar and returned the ham he had
hired, after which he walked slawly homewéh‘d.

law.
do my new," in;

 go'th time, nor do I

 

“Now, then, C. King, Esquire, you’ve got

work tor do,” he observed. " Tner Hard-Shell
Detective Bureau is gettin’ more an7 more busi—
ness on its hands, an’ it’ll get squeezed in ther
crowd of it don’t get in its work on some 0" its
cases right soon. Fu’stly, we want ter know
who was ther skelington found under ther river,
an’ who extincted him. Secondly: we want ter
diskiver who is labor inemy o’ ulo Vaughan,
an’where her patient really is. Which eend
ter be in at is a profound conundrum you must
grapp e with, C. King.” .

He was passing the post-office when he was
hailed by the presiding officer of that lace.

“.I say, Chris, what is Old Lent er’s rehl
name?”

“ That’s whar you’ve stuck me. It might be
Smith Jones or Chopyerheadoif, for all I
know,“ Kin bolt admitted.

“ Ain’t it anshaw i”

“ Can’t say. He he: never divulged (791' me.”

“ Well, I think it is, and as here’s a letter for
Joseph S. Hanshaw, I wish you’d take it over
and ask him. "

“Jest ez you say, fur, though I hev always
considered it dangerous ter meddle with ther
U. 8. mail, I 5’ use it’s all right when therP.M.
can so. Yas, 1’ 1 ex him.”

He resumed his walk, but had gone only a
short distance further when he suddenly en-
countered Judge Mendick. , .

“You’re just the person I wished to see," said
the latter.

“Be I? We], you do me proud,” said Chris,
keeping his eye warily upon the man.

“- I wish to reason with you about that knife.”

“ Which knife?”

~“ The one you found in the river.”

“ Oh! Wal, I’d nigh forgot all about it. I
don’t find it nowhar, about me, an’ I reckon I’ve
either last it or left it at Old Leather’s cabin.”

“Is that a fact?” asked Mendick, looking at
him keenly:

" ’Pears so, from what I sez. I hope ’tain’t
lost, fur I was thinkin’ o’ presentin’ it to char
John Smith Institute, of Washington, D. C.”

“ Boy, you‘re lying to me I” the judge sharp-

ly sax . .
“That’s all right, be, but arter I git ter be

eighteen years old I’m goin’ter thrash every

bipid that ssz that terms. I don’t up rove o’
'uveuile pugilists, or I’d go in now an" p ay Hall
olumby on yer cocoanut.”

“Enough of this. You are altogether too in—
solent. I desired to arrive at an amicable un-
derstanding with you, but I see it is impossible,
and I shall be obliged to chastise you, I fear.
For the last time, will you pivo up that knife?”

“Jedge, I’d like tar ob stage you; I would,
b’mighty; but (her case don't admit on’t. Ther
knifois not; in my possession, an’ I can’t stand
an’ deliver. ows’ever, at you kin find it,
you‘re at liberty tar, grapple on, an ther cheese
said tar that rat.” *

This was altogether too much for Mendick’s
temper, and he made a rush for the boy. Chris
stood still until he was almost at band, and
than, with a skillful dive, he shot under his arm,
and stood laughing on the other side. His laugh
vanished, however, when another pair of arms
was wrapped about him, and he looked around
and saw the face ofla stout Cbimmau. .

The latter he recognized as Quong Ho, the
porter of the find e’s store and it was clear he
was there as Men ck’s hel

to do.

“ Hold him!” exclaimed the judge. “ Keep a
fast rip on him, Quong Ho." ‘

“ifia gotoe hkn, all sumac,” the heathen an-

wared. .

“You’ll giteo blowed tar Dynamite Corner, at
you don’t leave 30. you chimohin retoaatcher l”
exclaimed Chris. struggling frantically.
yer, Jed , jest you keep away or thar’ll be a
vacant c air ’round hyar somewhar l’"

Mandick was hurfiedlyudvancing.

“ I’m‘ going to search you, you young scoun-
drell” be sad ,. with an air of determination.

Chris had concealed the knife elsewhere. and
there was nothing for Mendick to find, but the
boy objected to such treatment on general
grounds, and when his enem came near he re-
ceived a kick on the arm that 0 extended which
made him roar. '

“You keep yer distance, or thar’ll be a colli—
sion “warm the sun an’ ’arth," Chris cautioned.
“ I’m answerable ter law an’ jestice far 3! i do,
but not tar». you. p ter yerSeli, or all goes
yer sombrero!” ,

“ Hold his legs, Quong Ho," Mcndick direct-

ed. V , l V

“ Better hire a. boy tsr do it,” said Chrisxaesr»
1y: ufrmlng away. ‘

“ ou kleepee still i” ordered the Chiuaman,

8

per in all he wished.

“See:

 

“ else me tlakee you7’closs my knee likee small 'L
7

boys should he took. ,

“Oh! you audacious heathen! it’s a wonder
ther mere mention on’t don’t bu’st e. Me, me,
a free—born American citizen be too that way-
Hi! keep off!”

Mendick had again advanced, and as King-
bolt’s wrath arose to the boiling int, he made
such a desperate eflort that be Egoke Quong’s
hold. A moment they were mixed up in a tan-

gle, and then the Chinaman went over on his .

back, both hands pressed to his stomach.

His fall, however, left a clear field for the
judge, who had been watching for an opening,
and be rushed forward.

Kingbolt Chris, however, knew that he was
no match for him in point of strength, and he
adopted the only way he could see just then. He
made a dive and shot between Mendick’s lo
and though he made the passage safely, t a

shock threw his enemy flat beside his Chinese ‘, i

follower.

The shock was a considerable one, and he
arose. but slowly, though he was in time to. see
that Chris had made good his retreat. Quong

Ho was still rolling forlornly on the ground,

groaning dismallfy.

“ Silence, you 0011” Mendick ordered.

“Oh! me wally sick manee. Earth uake
ltrikee me in stomjackee, an’ kuo'ck bleat all
outee blody.” '

“It’s a pity it did’nt knock out what few
brains you have. Hang it! why did you let

. that boy go?”

“ Giles p’leece an’ have himee ’lested.”
“ Arrest your grandfather I” snapped the
judge. “I find the people like him too well. If

there was cause to arrest him I’d do it; bet your'

life on that.
dead-wood on me.
dared!”

At that moment Chris was nearing pld
Leather’s cabin, whistling cheerfully, and he
walked in with as careless an air as though he
had been away but an hour.

“ How’s peggin‘, tar-day 2”

Old Leather looked up surlily. He had once
thought Chris a smart and promising boy, but
since he was taken by the hair and rolled over
on the floor his views had changed.

“ Peggin’s wal enou h.”

“That’s good. I li'e her see acheerful out»
look in ther sole department. By ther way, I.
b’li’eve your name is Joseph S. Haushaw, ain’t.
it?‘

The cobbler looked up in surly surprise.

“ Wal, what on’tl” he asked.

But there isn’t, and he’s got the
Pa wring his neck if I

“If ’tain’t, nothin’; if ’tis, I’ve got a letter \

for you.”

“A letter fur me? I guess not. I ain’thad
one fur twenty years. What’s more, 1 never
expect one.”

“ Still, h er’s one fur Jo. Hanshnw. Ef him _ ,,
ain’t you, ’ll take it back ter ther P. 0. depart—'

ment.” ,
“That’s me,” Old Leather admitted; and he
laid down his hammer and took the letter.

He opened it slowly and clumsily, and looked
at the sheet oregaper inside with an air which
speedily betra the fact that he could not
read. Chris at ed if he should act as an inter~
preter. 01d Isather’s gaze was quickly and
suspiciously raised to his face "

“ N01” he surlilégeclared.
car’ 0’ my oWn le rs, I reckon.”

“ Hope thar ain’t no sickness in yer fambly.” I

“ It’s none 0’ yer business whether that is or

not,” the cobbler declared, as he put [the latter '

carelnll away in his pocket.

Chris at the matter drop, but he did not for;

at it. There was a new expression on ,
that’s face, and the boy suspected he was
afraid of the letter. That he had been unable
to read it Chris was ositive,while if he was an.
honest man he mm d not be afraid to have
his room>mate do so.

“ Old Leather's a crooked one,” was Kin}; '

bolt’s. verdict. “I’d give a dollar, myself, tar,
know what that letter says—it’s a~worryinl
him, an how. ,But of he can’t trust me how‘s
be goin tar know its contents! Who  he
trust? I’ll watch an’ see." '
Resolved to carry out this idea, the boy soon
left the shanty and, goin _
down where he could wa h the door, bu

the
cobbler did not at once come out. . ‘ ' '

The day fpassed without event of importance, ‘

and Chris ound that people were losingintch
est in the skeleton foun under the river. It;
had created quite a ripple, at first, but when
it was buried it was the old story of “auto!

sight, out of mind.” and some of them were ready ' ,
'to laugh at the idea at murder advanced by the ,

boy.

.“ I’m able her take '

a little aparté lay‘

*Mu
. 1+

e:

g ‘4

: .
g :

4v
1
SD
or

 

 

ill
at

no
if
Ir

cups.

‘1¢"@

 

. 0 d Leather would

‘ .

“ Kingbolt Chris. ‘

). wumawr‘w. .11va

11,».

 

All scouted the idea of any developments in
the case.
Kingbolt, however, kept his eyes open, and

' he was so sure that Old Leather would that
“ evening seek some one to read his letter, that

he resumed his secret watch as soon as it was
dark. He was not disappointed. The cobbler
soon came out and started down the street, and
Chris followed cautiously. It was well he used
precautions, for the old man seemed to fear pur-
suit and frequently looked around, but the
young detective was not to be caught.

“ Thunder an’ beeswax!"

Chris breathed the words when he saw Old
Leather pause at Judge Mendick’s door and rap
for admission.

“ So ther jedge is tber man he feels that he
kin trust, is he? ’ How’s this? I never knowod
that two men tor speak— Now, hole on, hole
on; an idea begins ter percolate through my
head. Thar war a skeleton found under ther
river. 1 ’spect it was that o’ a man named
Elwood. I also ’spishion that both Mendick an’
Old Leather know more about Elwood than
they will tell. Now, tber one goes ter ther
other ter hev a letter read. Result, ther jedge
is ther only man 0. L. kin trust. Why? It
must be because he knows so much about him
that he ain’t afeerd ter hev him know more 1”

This conclusion arrived at, Chris grew anxious
to get a look into Mendick’s house. He saw a
li ht in the judge’s Rigivate room and suspected

conducted there.

“.It’s a. nefarious projector.” he thought,

‘ “ but ,I’hn a—goiu’ tor hev a look inter that same

room 1

 

CHAPTER XIII.-

‘ man TROUBLE FOR ma YOUNG DETECTIVE.

WHEN Kingbolt Chris made a resolution be
was not long in seeking to carry it out, and he
hastened away to where he knew there was a
ladder. vWith this he soon returned and, setting
it up against the wall, mounted toward the
window of the judge’s room.

0n reaching the level his first glance showed

‘ him that the window was not only closed but

fastenedhand his hopes of hearing anything at
once vanished. His means of observation were
none too good, either, but there was a small

,crevice at the bottom, where the curtain was

not pulled entirely down, where he managed to
look inside.

As he had expected, he saw Mendick and Old
Leather, and the former held a aper in his

,hand which was undoubtedly t e cobbler’s

letter. He seemed to have just finished reading
it, and the two were talking earnestly.

Old Leather‘s face bore an anxious look, but
Mendick did not seem to share his fears, and
Chris soon came to the conclusion that the
letter was not important. He was also shrewd
enough to suspect that his landlord’s only cause
for fear was the fact that he had received a
letter. at all, after having been almost lost to
the sight of men under his real name.

The Vspy was very much annoyed because he
could not overhear what was being said, for he
felt sure it would prove of interest, and there
was that about the men’s manner which con-
firmed his suspicion that they had at one time
known each other better than casual appear—
ances would seem to indicate.

He was still watching when a voice sounded

‘ just below him.

“ Hallo, there?”
:. Chris started and looked down, and he saw

. Ralph standing at the fool: of the ladder. At

the same moment a well-known click broke the
ilsnce.

“Surrender, or I fire!” young Mendick
added.

"Pranciu’ thunderl I’m bottled up)" tb ht
Kingbolt. with some dismay, but not or
thought followed: “Ralph’s a good feller: I

‘ I . reckon of I open his blinkers a bit he’ll not only

let me go, but will think less 0’ his precious dad.
I know he’s interested in Lulo Vaughan—4’

“Come, hUI'I'YJJp!" ordered Ralph.

“ I reckon you mean hurry down,” saidChris
coolly, “ an’ byou perceive that I’m upcoming
with all possi 9 speed an’ endurance.” '

“ Kingbolt Chris!” Ralph exclaimed.

“ I’m that same gopher.”

“I didn’t think this of you.”

“ Didn’t think Whato’ me?"

“That you would descend so low as this”

“I didn’t descend low; I ascended high,”

practically corrected Kingbolt.

“This evasion will do you no good,” said
Ralph, sternly. “I have caught you in the
Very act of attempting to enter the house secret-
 thersis but one interpretation for the

one point th

 

“ What’s that?” '

“Burglary! I am very sorry for this, Chris,
for I have always thought well of you. What
could drive you to such an act?”

“ S’pose we stick a pin thar an’ begin over
ag’in.” coolly suggested Chris. “ You was never
made fur a joodiclal character, my frien’. l’ll
trouble you car ohsarve that thar's a light in
that room. Thor jedge is thar, too. D;ye s’pose
I’d burglarize the ranch at such a time. ’

The argument had due effect on Ralph.

“ But what were you doing?” he asked.

“Ef you’ll take ther trouble for climb up.

thar you kin see fur yerself that to side- d
Old Leather, is thar. O. L, is a fox3y bladigaznl
needs watchin’, an’ I hev my eye on him a good
’oal. Shall I tell on wh ?’ ‘

“Yes, but not are. am convinced that I
havegwronged you, and I earnestly ask 'our
pardon, Let us go away where we will be
safe, It you are through, we’ll remove the
ladder.”

It was done, and the two were soda engaged
in convorsation, but Ralph did not wait for
Chris to open. A ,

“ I have a few questions to ask on.” he ab—
ruptly said. “ You remember Lu 0 Vaughan?

“ A few,” Chris acknowledged.

“ Where do you suppose she is? What is the
m story of her disappearance?’ .

‘What’s your theory?”

“I am puzzled and a l at sea. The case has a
dark aspect which troubles me. I can’t get rid
of the belief that she has ain fallen into the
hands of her enemies, and (2 some member of
my father's house was knowing to her re-
moval.” ' . ,.

“ What of ye found it tor be sol”

“ Then that person becomes my enemy,” said
Ralph, in a. ringing voice.

“ S’pose that one was yer par-lent?"

“ Even then. my remark holds good.”

Kingbolt shifted his weight from one foot to
the other and scratched his head awhile before
answering. ,

“ Wal, yer s’ ishion. is correct. I’ve scold
the: gal sence; ’ve did battle for her, on Don
Quixote did fur-—fur— Never mind; she’s now
safe but it ain't no thanks ter your patient.
Ho delivered her inter lher hands 0’ ther Philis-
tines, an’ it high about proved a fatal deliver.”

“Are you in earnest? Did my father really
do this?

'“ So Lulo told me,” Chris answered, and then
he gave a brief sketch oihis adventures on the
mountain, as well as a careful repetition of
what Miss Vaughan had said about her compul-
sory departure from the judge’s house. ~

“ My suspicions are, confirmed,” said Ralph.
in an unsteady voice. “ I have tried to believe
my father innocent, but I felt positive some
one in the house was knowing to her departure.
What can have boon his object?"

“ That’s jest what I want. tar know,” an—
swered Chris. “ Kin your parient know Lulo’s
father!" ‘

“ I never heard the name until I saw the girl,
and I am all at sea. I am glad I know the
truth at last, and I shall not let the matter rest
here. In this world a man is a mean wretoh if
he is not honorabley and because I find my
father trippingvl am not goingbto silent ao-
quhsoe in his nefarious Work y remain 11¢ a
stifik. I’ll know the truth if I can.”

9 spoke firmly, and Kingbolt shook his hand ‘

with warmth. .

V“ You’re a man arter- m own heart an’ I’m

glad tor see a take eecz a stand. ou’re a.
credit tor the on species.” .
The two friends than grappled with and fined‘
to solve the mystery, but t is was notso easily
done. Neither could see a reason why‘Judge
Mendick should be Lalo Va hauls enemy. On
were ngr however—Aware
was a Secret w ich it would pry them to know.
It was an hourlaten when t ev separated and
each want his ‘way. No conclusion had been
arrived at, but they had agreed that both
should watch, and then compare notes.

“It would he more’n he bargains fur of he
should prove that his parient killed Warren
Elwood,” thou ht Chris; “butI reckon each a
thing ain't pro 1e.” . ~

He was moving toward the Delta Saloon when

two men suddenly sprung out from behind a

cabin and seized him. v

Chris was about as quick as an one could he
usually. but he was taken 08 ' guard, a
the men moved so expeditiously t at, before
he could even utter a c for help, his mouth
was muffled and hishan s tied behind him.

Then he was deliberately “run out”.ot the
town, In a double sense.

At that pace it did not take long to pass the

 

village, and they were soon moving toward
hi her ground. ‘

ris had already recognized his captors, and
he knew he was in the worst kind of a fix. They
were Turk Tucker and Locke, and he needed no
words to convince him there was murder in
their hearts. .

Not until a mile had been traded did they
pause. When they did it was in a sandy gulch,
and he knew it was one of the loneliest looalities
an where near Gold Bar.

a bandage was remOVed from his mouth.

“ I s’pose ye know us,” Tucker said.

“ y eyes are footy good fur one o’ my ad»
vanced age, an’ do recognize yer bloomin’
faces,” replied the young detcctive, as coolly as
ever. . .

“ D’ye know why ye’re here?”
“ ’Cause I can’t be p it.”

“ Strong Saul is dead!” ,

“ So is strong Samson.”

“ You miserable leotle whelp, ye needn’t think
yer smartness will save ye! You killed our .

rd, an’ we’re goin'ter give e like. for like.
$ou hev only yet-self tor than fur it: E! ye
had kept her yemlf, e’d hev beenalénxiilght, but
ya had fer b’ile in w r ya had no , an’ yo
see ther result.” , .

[“We won’t argue ther pros nor coma,” and
Kingholt, evenly, “ but at Haul o’ Tare-us has
fine over that deride, it’s all his own fault.
em ez let me alone git along all right, but >
I’m rank p’inen on’ a med rattlesnake With nim—
ttzen] rattles when I’m moi-lasted. , i tell ya that
1r y. , _ _

“Why do you waste words?!  in Locke
impatiently. “I know thisboy well enough 
besurohewill not budgeahair. Death hasno
terrors for him. The long and short, of it is, we
are goingto take a tooth for a tooth and kill
you. That’s why you are kidna , ” i I

“ I admire er frankness, but ther abduction-
izing part sin 1: agreeable,” said Kingbolt cairn-
ly. “ I shall engage counsel, look for a flaw in.
ther indictment an’ more fur a new trial.”

“ You can have that in the next world.” ,

“ I’m afeerd not, fu§you wouldn’t be admit—
ted en a prosecutor. our testimony would be
throwed out.” , ,

“ I am not going to waste any words,” said
Locke, angril ,. “ Your ton no is sharper than-
a file. Lead im this way, V k.” .

The order was obeyed, and Chris was con~_
ducted several yards further down the gulch.
When they paused it was at a place where the _
sandy soil had been thrown back and a pit of
oblong shape excavated.

“ Do you see this layer!” Turk asked.

“ I reckon "

“ Do on know what it is?”

“ like a hole in the ground.”

" It’s yer grave l”

“ Go way 1” said Chris, contemptuousl .
“D’yo s’ 9 I’ll own a on concern ‘ o
’8 “W Wm out. an’ther—J, , '

“ Words are useless,” sternly interrupted .
Locks. “I warned ycuwerwm going tokill
you, and so we are» Here in tblsgnlcn you die,»
and in this graves“ shall bury you.”

onlmna'xiv. r
m 0mm man. or momma ma:
C138 wouldmbe an em to so than:
in was agond  A , . "
enemies wero men who no _ not hesitate as,
anything, Ind ’

 

ream-f

.The boy 1131111111613 but ‘mind lie-x
mained active. As he, , acid, he " had.
too much tor think about uamt deal‘
steered." Had his hands been at i my; he.
would certainly have made an aflort whim“
{he scale; butuitwu, hemmed 

“ I s’poso I otter he dul telnl fur yer

romise tor bury me, 92 it’s  ghty unpleasant

a'd' panonter laysround loose; but
of you’ll give me charge 0’ aflairs I’ll save or ,.
expense. It costs up’ards o’ a hundred d is
forgiven man a stylish funeral.” . _ I .-

“All'the expense we shall undergo will he the
usepéospadew fgrafeivaminumséhtyfl a“

" on t a i a in ca
when (yam: slug. Suiting gs , didn’t ye!" 
in Turk, bitter-lg. . _

“ E5 he’d kep tor hisaelf he‘d liVed tar been I_‘

rimt, fur all 9’ me, but when he went ‘

'Pa .
uter slashin’ around on my toes, my coma jestrix

upan’crled fur gore. Be I a stickwostun
tot he whangerl around that-amayl’.’ _,
“We will not argue the cantor it'wouid ho,

\

 

 

 

 

    

12- "

‘Kingbolt Chris.

 

:a waste of time,” said Locke, curtly. “We
hays settled this matter. and the sooner it is
cover, the better. Kneel downl”

“ What fur!” ‘

“Kneell” ' ‘

Locke grasped the youth, and forced him to
his knees, but Chris was by no means resigned
to hisi'ate. He'promptly dropped lower, rolled

,upon his back. drew up his knees like a flash
and sent out his feet directly toward Locke’s
stomach. ‘ ‘

The whole maneuver was executed so quickly

that the man could not'get out of the way, and _

in a moment more he was knocked backward as
though hit by a batteringoram. His heels
struck the loose earth, and then he fell sprawl-
:inEIupon the ground.

a was still there, when Kingbolt Chris
bounded up and, lowering his head, made a dash
for Turk Tucker. '

 latter had his TWQIVOP, butvhe for ot to
me It, and he barer escaped the rush. hen
he did, he recovered his balance as soon as pos-
sible and s 17an forward to seize Kingbolt, but
thelptte; new the importance of forcing the
fight while he had'a chance; and he was dashing
"into close quarters in the same style as before.
Turk’a better we > would have been to avoid
«min, but he wins a gry at the tbméght of being
driven by so small a customer as his, and, as
bolero said, he received to seize him. , '
The two , “6" together with a tremendous
shochnnd', Very much to Turk’s Sn rise his
‘ extended hands, proved a. weak guar .

earns betwesnthem,'anilitheu it see to Turk

tha‘tan “sinuous; or somethin% of that sort,

hithmi in the stomach: He won over helpless-
1y,h.nd Kiogholt sated himself from a'fall by
hisusualqulckuess. “ " ’  -- . ‘

' But the delay had been total; to his chances.
Just as hem about tb'take‘ to his he‘els a
air of, strong arm encircled his body; and

cké’s voice hissed: Q "~ ‘ ~

“That’s enough, you young hound! You’ve
'hndbeyowm racket, but I’ll showyou it won’t hold
was r. ' ‘ " -

Chris struggled in vain; he could not break‘

I that hold; an Turk came to time with a series
or remarks too prorane for repetitgon. ‘

“He’s wome’whanr a tiger-cat, said Locke;

“ and the sooner we at this job over, the bet-

, tor. He don’t play t t g'ame'a'gai‘n. Get your
revolver ready and when I give the word,
blaze away w thout more delay. '

“You’re a not 'n’sneakin' hulks; dam in
boots of you ain’t!”oommented Chris. “Ha -
n’t you dare forgive a small kid a show? Un-
gugng my hands, an’ 1’11 fight ye buth sn’ enjoy
It ' i _ 4 ,

, “ Wenhall do nothin of the kind. (We have
, been such 11 of you an your we 5; if it’ll be of
any house onto on, ’1! on [1, rather light
a common mun."  on should are beenn tiger.
"Comegl‘urkgwrastls around and get down to

flow pierce the "EaidShell Detective was
.tor‘eao down upon his knees, and as Locks kc

2 fast ,hold \u n. him; he had no chance or

'  It loo ed asthough he was doomed to

, ' hileclu‘gdf‘h.a.tulonelytinlcb:g be guided in film:
sun ( item 4, t emu: are ,4wou,

‘ . gage}?de on  hand, gor once, hisytoiiziza lost

 show, pduowurdly fair; heidid'n‘ot-ewu
mksfiopzosror’  shanghai r ‘ns'edv that'lt
 134% $0,ch uphgghoidonlifo.
and,st y: ‘ "nothhii anywhsrssear the
1 thatwmegnowdomsu.  ~ 
’ k a _ " 'hii revolver, and the end
‘ ‘ r, ,: the'uhex‘pected’ofcsn
_ ’ ‘ . , ulytuok anew turn.

- ,haunam’w’ho ,stlrsfliies, at'my

nymph voice-w» I ,sound _ from a
Edut‘bohindthe'smdsingrgnyd as refineries,

hey an Q men standing there in the bri ht
 t,4withtw:.vrovolversbearingtull u on
‘ m.' r . Hi / r . l ' V_

‘I‘t‘wusfro‘u harm Solid Man from. Slow-
Cos h;  '

w mean when,“ he added, in the same tone.
AlHawtuppl .. f' r r -. '. 4-” ..
’I‘he‘rs was «in undmiyltig menace which they
over-snot mad enough to duty. and Turk lacked
tagygguragejm try a snap-shot. Both men
:0 . ‘ . ‘ ~' ‘ ‘
“say whariyou .sre,” he added. “Knig-
bolt? I‘ll, to them an’get their was ons.
gang: your hfldflu‘e tieel‘an' you can’t.
.ers _"
, Chris weekend the Solid‘Man outbis bands,
stin: some thug keepingocloso which of the
' ‘ What the Bands does this mean?” blustered

    
 

 

  

hrls ~

ome *

 

Locke. “ I warn you that you’d better keep to
yourself.”

“ Your opinion don’t count fur rotten eggs in
this court,’ said he, coolly. “ You’re so mean
ye p’izon ther air ’round where ye stand.”

"Let us alone, or I’ll murder oul”

“ Oh! you hush your cackle. don’t keer one
snap fur it, an’ ez yer voice ain’t no ways melo-
dious, I won’t hear it furder. Ther tables is
turned, an’ I’m goin’ter feed ye on yer own
fodder. You thought it was nice an’ manly ter
bulldoze a boy, but that boy is bound ter come
ter ther top 0’ ther heap ev’ry day in ther year.
Git ther weepons, Kingbolt.’ ‘

Chris obeyed, and the roughs were rendered
wholly be] less. They were full of wrath. but
neither he the courage which had kept Chris
upin his time of trial. ' They dared not defy
the ready revolvers of the Solid Man.

“Thar they be,” observed Chris. “Look like
a pair 0’ plucked turkeys, all ready fur market,
don’t they? Nobody wouldn’t think now that
they was 0130’!) hold assassinators. I’m afeerd,
ger’l’ts, my grave will be lonely atom I move
m . ,

LEE jestice was done,” sald'lron Ike,vin-a
voice which vibrated with anger, “those
wretches would occu y it their own selves, but

'I ain’t ther men to 9 col: ’em in seen a way. I

kin kill a wolf. but not a skunk. We will take
them to Gold Bar an’ see what jestice kin do fur
them that.” ‘

The faces of the prisoners bri htened per-
cep‘lggtliy,‘but in the moonlight thec ange passed
no ed. ' ‘ -

“You’d better let us go ” said Turk. “I’m a
rambpnctious tiger when I’m down on a man,
an— - J v ' .

“ Oh! cut it short,” said the Solid Man, indif-
ferently. “ I'm not in the least ateerd o’~yer.
I know yer ways. ' When ou’ve got a boy ter
misuse you’re that chief o Tecumseh Holler, I
plainly see, but or ‘sand’ peters out when a
man stands up a' ore ye. Now, turn yer faces
down ther ulch an’ amble. El ye try tor cut
an’ run, I’ll ncrease yer weight by a. half-ounce
0’ land. You hear me?"

They did ,hear him, and it was in a. manner
as meek as that of a. cow that they obeyed his
order. The return to Gold Bar was be on,
with the prisoners in front, and Ike and hris
closel following.

“ or ways 0’ ther world is strange,” said
Chris. “One moment We is up; that next we

is down; an‘, then that’s another revolution, hn‘ .

we don’t know which side‘up We’ll land. Hyar-
after, I’m goin’ tar kerry an obituarlzr notice in
my oeket, an’ et I git wound up I inogit due
0 t in ther daily papers. Thar is some facts
not glam-ally knuwed ter ther public, an’ it
makes a. man mad ten read the: notice 0’ his de-

cesso, an’ see errors in it whioh he can’t correct, '

’canse 0’ a luck 0’ telegram ‘ communications
whar he’s gone tor.” l n I

The irrepressibb boy talked on steadily, and
seemed to, have entirely recovered from his
rough experiencb, and thou h Iron Ike Amado
few comments. hooonld‘ not elp-thlnkin that
the youth had a nature which would me 9 him
the one man in a thousand. . ‘

Gold Bar was reached in due time, but when
the Solid Man e‘slled on the citizens for oificers
and a jail, they were at first a good deal at sea.
Never since the place was started had they had

either. Still, the fact that the life (it Kingholt‘

Chris, the favorite or either! been attempted,

stirred up a. general rush of feeling against the

prisoners, and a [place ‘wys‘ soon improvised,
guards selected; and the men put where they
were near likely to swipe at once. - ,

Iron a superinmnded everything. and when

it was overlooked for Kingbolt, with whom he‘

wished to have a serious talk, but the boy had
gone away with some of his friends- ‘ ~

Consequently, the Solid Man decidsd'to look
him up and at once toceeded todo so. Had he
remained at the gel it would have been far
better (or the interests of justice.

Turk Tucker had kept his eyes open, and
when he saw that His was out of the Way he
turned tonne of theguards. ' 

“ Who’s er foremost citizens?” he halted;

“Jedgc endicl: takes that place, by long
odds,” was the proud reply. . -

“ Then send fur him. " r '

“ Eh?” '

if“ ”ud word tar him that I want ter see
“m   _
The guard sneer-ed and declined, but Turk was
in earnest and he soon made It understood.
The guard became mad, and, thinking the in-
terview would only show the prisoner still more
plainly that he'was’in a fix from which hecould
not escape, he decided to obey. V

 

It wasless than half an hour later when Meir
dick appeared. He looked worried and nervous,

but, without a word to his subordinates, went , ' '

lat once to the prisoner.

CHAPTER XV.
TURK TUCKEn‘s FRIEND.
THE faces of the prisoners brightened at sight
of the judge, but the look was not reciprocated.
On the contrary, the great man would have
been delighted had he heard that both men had
just dropped dead with heart-disease. '
He closed the door behind him and looked at
them with a scowl.
“ Grind {or see ye, jedge,” said Turk, with a
I'm. .
g “I can’t reciprocate,” growled Mendick.
“What the fiend do you mean by getting into
such a scrape?"
“ Couldn t help it.
don’t like it any more’n you do.”
“ W'hy did you try to kill that boy?”
“‘ Self‘d efen se—” .
“ Nonsense! Speak to the point, and truth-
fully. if truth is in you."
“Wal, he selivaied Strong Saul, an' we was
a-tryin’ fur vengeance,” ,
“ Is Saul really dead?” ‘ 4:: ‘
“He is that, an’ ther boy did it.” y
“ He died like a. idol," interrupted Locke.
“Kingholt Chris wounded him but the injury
was one from which he would-
in two weeks only for his own folly. When he
learned that the boy had escaped he just went
wild~flew into such a fit of passion'that he
burst a blood—vessel and died.”
“It’s all one,” said Turk, doggedly. “Ther

 

young devil wounded him, and that’s why he‘

went over ther divide.”

“Enough of useless talk,”'said Mendick, cold- I

1y. “ What do you want of me?”
“What do we want 0’ you 5’ Wal, I reckon
we want you ter get us out 0’ this scrap .”
“ You had no business to get into it. ’ .
"“D’ye s‘pose we walked in on purpose?”
"'Well, what have I got to do with it, any-
way? You were not in my service at the time;
you endeavored, as you confess, to satisfy your

own desires for revenge, and this is the result. '

Did I have any part in the affair?” _

Mendick spoke coldly, and it was clear he in-
tended to rebufl! them if he could. but neither of
them had any fear of that. They knew the
ground that was under their feet and his. -

“ We thought ye might be willin’ ter do some-
thin‘ fur old times' Sake,” said Turk.

“Well, I can’t; you must rely on yourselves.
There is a strong feeling against you, and for
me toraise my voice in your behalf would not
only do no ood, but it would plainly reveal the
fact that I find an interested motive, and ruin
me. Since I can do you no good, I may as well
keep]? in self." -

" al, ’m glad we’ve got your voice in the
matter, fur we kin now speak plain. Thar help
we'wantain’t open aid, but we do want ye ter

contrive some way for us ter go free More

mornin’: You kin do this, an’ at you don’t we
shall’open our months 2111' tell folks jest who is
at ther bottom 0’ all this funny business. We
wouldn’t hev had no spite ag’in’ Kingbolt Chris,
of ye hadn’t hired us ter steal the: gel, Lu‘lo
Vaughan.”

The judge had expected just this danger, and-

his‘rfiouth closed tightly.

.. 0

your word against mine?” he finally asked.
“‘13! they

knows whar ther gal is, an’ t y hev only tar

find her‘ter prove that you delivered her inter

our hands arter she went ter our house.” ,
Mendick was cornered. an he knew it. He

remained silent for a moment, digging his heel,“

viciously into the floor, and then re lied:

“ You seem to think I can easily tee you, but _, "

I am. not so sure of it. Some cunning trick

must be used or all is lost, and discovery means.

ruin to me. I will, however, try to release you

on one condition.”
“ What’s-that?"

“ The man who brought you into Gold Bar—o

 

You kin bet yer boots we '

'ave recovered ' I

you suppose the people would believe ‘ I I

v:

 
  
 

 

don’t, we will sag that Ki‘ngbolt‘ ‘ ‘
8

Iron Ike, he calls himself—is my deadly enemy. -‘ ‘ V,

I would give some money to know he is dead. I
will attempt your release on condition that, be-

fore you leave Gold Bar, you will put him your " '

of the way.”
“Never ter return?"
" Exactly." _
“ Judge, you’re a brick. We’ll do it!”

“I have two revolvers with me and I’ll give"
onetoeach of you, but beware how you use 7 1 .
them until you are clear of the jail. Tousethem  ‘

here would be to wholly betray me.”
“ You kin depend on us." , - ,

 

 

 

 

 

 

l

 

' - You can 850

Sn
,'/

   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

   

new

,4 U W

4/_,”.

' Kingbolt Chris.

 

13

 

 

It was five minutes later when Mendick left
the place, and at that time the Solid Man had
not returned.

 

Iron Ike went to Old Leather's cabin, but he
failed tofiud Kingbolt Chris there, and he saun-
tered back toward the center of the village in a
thoughtful mood. He had a case on his bands
which required to _be handled with care, or it
would go against hlm, and he Was trying to de-
cide what was the best course for him to pur-

e.

He fluall reached a decision.

“ I’ll cal on old Mendick,” he muttered, “au’

' ef sech a. thing’s possible, I’ll bring him ter time.
He has got waked up on this case, an’ nothin’
kin make him more so. I’ll make him think

' ther seven plagues 0’ Egypt has come ag'inl”

With this ominous declaration, the Solid Man
went at once to Mendick’s house and rapped at
the door. It was opened by Mrs. Schell. the
housekeeper, who looked at him coldly and
calmlyxwith her deep gray eyes.

“ E nin’ marm,” said a, removing his hat
and in a deep bow. “ Is his supreme high-
n ther jgdgewon deck l”

8% do you mean, sir?” she coldly asked.

“ s eminence at ther hearthstun’, or is his
feet txeadin‘ other paths at this evenin’ hour?"

“ Judge Mendick is not in,” was the frigid

"flirty"

’ i3‘é74'"‘;g‘

“ Do you doubt my word?”

“ You must be a mind-reader, marm, fur that
leetle idee dill percolate through my head-
P’r’aps ye mean he’s only at hum ter his bosom
friends. Wal, that takes me in, so you kin show
me his beautiful phiz immediate.”

“ I have told you once he is not at home,” was
the haughty reply, “and he would not see you
if he was. You have been here once before, and
we have had quite enough of youand your style.
as soon as you see fit.”

She m e a. motion to close the door, but he
thrust his boot into the crevice, and then pushed
his whole body through.

“ I’m not ter be bulldozed by no returnin’
board,” he declared, with a. frown. “ I’m Iron
Ike, The'r Solid Man from Slow-Coach, an’ I’m a

‘ malignant tever which no quinine kin cure.
Look out fur me, fur I’m contagious when I git
mad.‘ I feel sure his serene majesty. the jedge,
is in, an' I’m goin’ ter see him of ther old ship
holds tergether. You hear me? Ef ye do, take
notice that I‘m a bad man with double teeth,

' un’ don’t—J’ _

‘ ' The Solid Man showed no sigh of getting out
of breath, but every moment Mrs. Schell‘s
anger was increasing, and she su’ldenly whirl-
ed, caught up a broom and made a dash for the
unwelcome visitor. ' r

Iron Ike may have been the chain ion fighter
of California—being? stranger in Child Bar, no
one could prove to t e contrar '——but this mode
of attack was new to him, an he whirled and
made a dash for the door.

Mrs. Schell brought down the broom, but it
merely brushed the coat of the flying culprit,
and he went out like a missile sent from a can-

non.
. “E ‘pluribuster Jones!” he ejaculated, when
he saw there was no danger of ursuit. “This
layer beats ther six da a“ racer , au’ makesmy
back teeth chatter. kin now catch a dim,
far-away idea 0’ ther joys o’ married life. By
ther ’tarnal, of 1's ter marr , I’d take that wo-
man for m better-half. he’s a clipper with a
gong-bell ur a tongue, au’ what she sez goes as
t lays. Wal, I should smile!"

Despite the last assertion, the Solid Man did
nht mile; on the contrary, he shook his head
solemnly and walked away as though on route
to a funeral. ,
’ His serlo comic mood soon vanished, how-

» ever. I q

f'This‘ hyar woman is a Tartar,” h‘g mutter.
ed, “ an’ she‘s tor be found sneezin’ whenever
Mendick takes snuff. I marked her as a tough
one when I fu’st see’d her, an’ it becomes clear
ter my ideas that ther has pm; 11” u m.
his lectle racket. Does a suspect jest who 1
. aml [should remark that 123501;“;- glow
or I’ll never find Warren Elw s Ion. glam-’3
,In‘ revolvers!" .
, as it a presentiment of owl, or somethin
else, which made him suddenly realize that
t danger lurked in his path. Just along a;
. 0 war between him and Mendick continued!
625 ‘that as it may, he took the precautions of
w
’ that til: cartridges were in place, and thus it
' was that!» was ready for what soon followed.
The mean no longer shone, but it had barely,
, set. and the character of the night was a cross

 

E‘teredlke

his revolvers and feeling to make sum ‘

 

between light and darkness. Around the cab-
ins, however, were dark shadows, and Iron Ike
did not suspect that real den or was near until
a bullet whizzed past his hea closely followed
by a report. V

It was a close call, but he had seen wild scenes
before then, and he rallied at once. He was
none too soon, for a second and third bullet fol.
lowed the first, and he felt a sharp sting on his
left arm.

By that time he had made out two forms in
the dark shadow, and he blazed away at them
in return with the rapidity and coolness of an
old hand. ‘ .

Almost ’the first shot was followed by a gasp-
ing cry from the shadow, and one man went
down in a heap.

“ Next!" cried the Solid Man, still blazing
away. ”

But the remaining man did not wait for
his turn; he wheeled and fled atapace which

soon left the purauer tar lathe rear; and Ike res .

luctantly retraced his steps.

“ Wonder who went down i” he muttered.
“ He laid still enough ter stay ther—some tool
0’ Mendick’s I dar’ say.”

He bout over the fallen man for a moment,
and then started back in surprise.

“ Turk Tucker 1" he exclaimed.

 

CHAPTER XVI.
RALPH amumox'e mission. .

YES it was Turk Tucker but only what was
mortal of him. It needed hut a brief examina-
tion to show that he was dead: the bullet had
gone true and ended an existence which had
been acurse to all honest pie; and he. at
least, would never bring furt er trouble toKing—
bolt Chris.

Iron Ike did not think of that just then.

“ Turk Tucker~hyar I” he ejaculated. “ By
ther Eternal, thar hez been foul play som’ers.
How did he git out o’ jail? I reckon I’m wanted
elsewhere.”

Pausing no longer be strode rapidliy toward
the improvised jail. He was thorou h y an ,
for the quickness with which the to low ha es~
caped seemed to indicate that he had been de-
liberately released, and he wondered if the band
of J urlge Mendick was in the work.”

When he arrived at the jail he found the
guards composedly smoking and watching.

“ Whar are ther prisoners?” he demanded.

“ They’re on duty,” said one of the miners,
with an attempt at facetiousness., “ They’re
mighty-mum; we ain’t heard a word from them
fur some time.” .

“Good reason why,” retorted Ike. “ You
infernal fools, they have esc'a 1”

He dashed open the door and entered. The
prison-room was empty. A hole, in the floor
showed how they had escaped; they had first
gone down to the cellar, and then out through
the wall. ~

The guards had followed the Solid Man, and
exclamations of surpriSe fell from their lips
when they saw that the prisoners were real y
gone. A z

“ Hush your whine!” said Iron Ike, impeo
.rlousl .i “I want business hyar, orno talk at
all. ell ms of you really know nothin'how

tingy we ’ . .

a locked at them as though to read their
minds, but they were innocent and did not
w“: t t ithon

_ ey never wen on w t he] "he r-
sisted. “Thor way their bands was  wd’dld
defy better man than them. Theyhad help.

Who was it?”
,” Manned one man.

“ Pards 0’ thelm, I s’
“ Pards o’ thunderi' r a blind man you see
one punk-but

wal. 0,’ course ‘twu
who was ther maul” '

It was a question the homutmiuers could not
solve. Josiah Mendick had layed a lone hand
and left no signs, and the id Man was the
only person who suspected the truth. He was
disapfmiuted and angry, but he knew it would
not 0 to move against the great man of Gold
Bar. To make an accusation would he to make
94de Bar his enemies, for Mendick was their
1 .
“ He's won another move in that game,” mut-

road that has no tnrnin‘. I’ll 1: him yit. He
thinks ther earth is his, but I’m swingin’ around
ther circle, an’ when ther (ll-a ~rope techesmy
hands I shall ketch on an’ hold One thing,
Turkkaer’l lopin’ is over.”
This was a consolation not only to him but to
  an my Wt “I n
, a n 9 ate n.room.
Solid Man had made Numb-friends, and

»

.had found refugeilan

grinding his mthg‘abut it’s along ,

 

. Mair“ "one s

as he saw his hold on their sympathies, he went
quickly at work to strengthen it.

He was weaving a web which had no ordinary
motive as the root, and the more backing he
could command in town, the better it would be
for him. .

While he was thus preparing to work to Men-
dick’s harm, the judge was at home and in his '
own room. - In rescuing his tools he had become
covered with, loose earth, and he made all pos-
sible haste to get rid of it Mrs. Sahel] he could
depend upon, but he had doubts in regard to

p .

The latter was notat the houso. He had
worked in the store all day, and then looked up
as usual, but he had not returned home. Men—
dick, who was beginning to feel like a cornered
rat, meditated on this fact with suspicion.
What kept his son? Had he,=too, turned against .
him?

When Ra] ick left the store he went ,
at onceto ca ‘nofamanwhokeptagood
horse. This animal the youth had previously
engaged for an indefinite time, but it  only
“1251: occurred to the owner that it won singular

our for the son of the judge to oout. He
made some curious inquiries, but e was not
satisfied, and Ralph started of at a brisk trot.

He had set his face toward Crescent Bend,
and he had two hours of steady riding ahead of
him, and that, too, a a ,wild road,
but he had no fears. e had span-
relvfolvers, and he felt capableof caringtor him-
se .‘ _

Theyoutb was in an “enviable mood. Re
wasoneiuwhom hmwasiubomandhewas
a practical believer in the justice of the old.
filmmand to do justice, though the heavens

 

l. .

Much to his regret, he had been compelled to
think ill of Judge Mendick. He believed that a
son owed to a father, and in had tried
to do his duty. but the way had proved a rough
one. Now, with Spartan firmnem. be bad re-
solved to know the truth concerning Lulo
Vaughan, and if he found his father asguilty
as he believed, he was determined to oppose
him. ; _ . _

Such a degree of confidence had been estab-
lished between Kingholt Chris find himself that
the boy had told him where Lulo was to be
found, and he was en routeto interview her.

His ride was a wild and 1011er one, but no
adventures happened by the, way, and, in due
time, the lights of Crescent Bend 8 _ red be»
fore him. The hour was lasts prose mg when
these lights would be extingni for the night,
but he had timed himself well.

He inquired the we to the house where Lalo
wassoon in her, resence. ,

She looked at in doubtfully. for ough he ‘
had been kind and at when was a
guest at his father’s ease, the judge had been
the same and his hoapitalit had has): proved
worse than a sham. She 6 fried to think
well of Ralph, but she wavered attimes. , "

“I have come on an awkwarderrand," said
the. youth, with some emlurrassment, when
greetings were over, “ but I am going-to ungs
into business at once and anther—lg,» your
aid. I have seen bolt 0 since he .
bmnghtyonhere, mallet-as sitcom an idea
of how you left cartoon”. .

A reaction in Lulo’s mind began to set lain
favor of Ralph ,: -

“ Yes, I told him,” she answered.

“ There is a mystery about the affair which I
would like cleared up,” said Balph,manfully.
“Haveyou gayidaafihymyfather shouldact

sostrangely

.“I confess I have not.”

“Nor 1—4 want you tobalieve W Idid
not is Myonmgonem ‘ house

mpec our

until I awoke in the morale and found on
m sterlously missing. My other and fits.
Sc 11 denied all knowledge of you, and it was
not until I had a frank talk with Chris that
I knew the tsetse! theme. I wish {ouan
now tell me in detail what happened.

“ Wouldn‘t that be unplemntl”

“Unpleasant!”

‘5 Ya.” ‘

“What do you mean? .

“ Judge Mandlck is your father-J

“ Relationshipodoes not serve to make wrong ,
right. I wish know all,” 'Mph Emlyn»

swered. .
Thus urged, Lalo told the of her mid-
new

3“” imme“’°”:3:h.““ “- ‘ to...
‘ a: - , _

final and Task Taoism; Balfi line, ned,but he
ined no light thereby; in d, it only served

splunge him deeper “mystery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 .Kingbolt Chris.

 

 

 

“Have you any idea. what object my father
can have in this unjust persocutlonl” he asked.
“Frankly, I have not. I am wholly at sea.

I do, however, believe that it was he who first
caused my capture by Strong Soul and his part-
ner in crime. I even begin to suspect the letter
purportin tobe'from my’fatber, the one which
summone me to this town, was 9. forgery.
Since you ask me to speak plainly, I Will con—
fess I ads” at Judge Mendick wrote it, lured
me’ to Sw ngfoot City, had his tools in waitin
for me and then made me a prisoner. Why
was taken to Gold Bar I do not know, but I do
remember I owe my rescue then to you.” '

' “What about'your father? It seems to me
there is a mystery surrounding him ?"

“Oh! no. He‘is what some people call ec»
centric. He‘has‘ plenty of money and a. passion
for mining-life. Consequently, he goes around
from one place to another, all over the West.
When I saw him last he promised this year
should be the last of his wandering, and when I

received the letter purporting to be from him,

summoning me here, I hoped he had at last

“settled on a place.”

.lDou’ fas Vaughan? ~

' object
v was bein

’ “ VyVasgit in his hand-writing?”
H ~ _ , 1 .
“ What is his full name?”
“ Douglas Vaughan."
“ Is he’well educated?" '
“ Very well educated.”

Hal "5th his head.- An idea which had

‘beeu ' his mind received a. denial, and he knew

not which way to turn. He could only account
for the persecution oi? Lalo by supposing

A efforts to move turther ahead with the
ster proved unavailing, though the conver-
se ion ad ' the efl'ect of convincing Lulo. that
Ralph was in no degree his father’s confederate,
and that he had her welfare sincerer at heart.
As the young man did not think 0 returnin
to Gold Bar until morning he was about to see
quarters at the hotel, but the honest miner who
was protecting Lulo asked him to remain where
he was over night, and Ralph did not refuse.
Be rather liked the idea. of being near 11qu

,for when: he had taken a strong liking. I

He retired and was soon asleep, being wearied
by his day’s work and subsequent journey, but
not many hours had passed‘when he awoke.
He had an idea that something was wrong, or
at least, that something unusual had distnr
him, and he arose and went to the window.
- The moon had that time passed so far below
the horizon that t of ht was dark, but, look.
ing out, he caught sig t of something moving
near the house, while, a. moment later, a dark
ed his window. 'He needed no close
examination to race ice it;-he knew a ladder
removad rom the house. -
"Instan y, he took the alarm, and he thrust

his head further out of the window.

. “ Who’s there?” he demanded. _

The words had barely passed his lips when

- the ladder was dropped, and he heard and saw

a man rennin - away at full speed. This- we»
enou h; Help twice fired his revolver to give
the 8 arm, and then began to drewhnrriedly.

the time this was done the household was

v satin The first mono! the minor was to see if

Validated-Ines; Quic’hwaeloh, we may in

.Lulo was safe, and than he game rushing into

i~‘m1ph’s’moms ’ -

“ Ther gel is gonel’I  exclaimed.

“Genet”, ,«, , «V, -. ,  I
' “Yet?!  M f. ‘g : , ‘
,“the’nfby-eay rife, Turk Tucker has a in

be
too late to save her i” _ . -
They hurried out, their molvors holder-cad
for use, it‘an looked for the abduction. The la _
den Window of which Lulo’s room had been

reached was fonndlying on the ground, but.-
th5011 in they madexevery
‘ hon} undue trace of the timer of the kl -

  the search was abandoned they-had

‘ the a arm and

remedy.” ‘ r  I -

5‘ “" bung teller,” said one of’ e men,

of assistants, for Mrs. Welch hadgiwen
pee lo had turned out generally,
but it was final y .
done that night. In the morning they vowed
to move en masse and show the roughs that

plant

I  could‘not' play their games in Crescent
r‘ i n disagreeable snrprises‘weited Ralph when

they athered again at the villa 6.

got to!“- wait for the:- goblins we mean-tar show

. rag-1i ht away that we ain’t blind an" that no-

m cm! n Gold Balm: kicnup

" What do you mean?” . ,
“ I mean that you are at ther, bottom 0’ this

Men- v
‘ dick knew and hated'her‘fnther, but where was

iblo. eflort the .

ecided that nothing could he

“ We’ve V

 

abduction. That’s why ye come ter Welch’s.
You let ther abductors in, ’cordin? ter a laid-out
scheme, an’ you got away With ther gal; but,
by the: ’tarnal, ye can’t git away with us. We
give ther rope ter sech varmints.”

“Hang him! hang'himl" exclaimed several
voices from the crowd. '
- “ Bet yer life we’ll hang him!
rope?”

The rope was brought, and despite Welch’s
arguments and Ralph’s assertions of innocence,
a noose was placed around his neck and he was
fragged to a tree they had selected for the gal-
ows. v

What’s ther

CHAPTER XVII.

KINGnOLT CHRIS ‘mscovnns SOMETHING.
THE following day saw a decisive change at

Gold Bar. The citizens were informed by J edge,

Mend’ick that he had a word to say to them, and
that he would prefer that labor be suspended
for at least half a day. '

The idea was pleasing to nearly all, and very
few people failed to assemble to hear what he
had to say.‘ He mounted a. dry—goods case in
front of his store and made a speech, which was
liberally applauded.

He referred to the recent lawless deeds in and ?

around Gold Bar, and expressed the opinion
that their village had assumed an importance
which justified them in forming a regular gov.
eminent, and be moved that a mayor, sheriff
and, some other ofiicere be elected.

Of course the people agreed with him; they

> wondered they had so long neglected this neces-

sary step; and it was moved that the election
take place at once. . .

Mendick was silent as to his preference for
mayor, but he asked that his -friend, Mr.
Cribbs, be (made sheriff. and the result was
clear from the first: By an overwhelming
majority, Mendick was made mayor and Cribbs
sheriff. .

The new officials entered upon their duties at
once. Ralph had n6t returned, and Mendick’s
store remained closed. but he cared nothing for
that; he had more- important business with
which to occupy his time. ,

His first step was to urge the arrest of Locke
—-—who had promised to keep out of sight—and a,
solution of the myste attending Lulo Vaugh-
an’s dies. arance.» e spoke of these matters
becausa e darednot neglect them, hoping luck
would favor him and efeat justice. Sheriff
Cribbs~ was his ready tool, and he knew he
would not find them if it was possible to over-
look'them. .

Next, he worked around to mention Kin halt
Chris. The men of Gold Barbed found a s ‘ele-
ton under the river under circumstances which
indicated foul play, but the boy had secured
dndyconcealed t e knife, instead ofplacing it in
the hands of those who would try to solve the
mystery; He had refused to surrender it; but,
in his opinion, Chris should be compelled to give
way to his elders. ' .

It was an artful address, which changed the
ouri-ent'of the miners’ o ‘nions.

They decided that 0 tie had been too for-
ward, and that he must surrender the knife.

Accordingly, they acquiesced in the sugges-
tion that, if the boyremained stubborn, Sheriff
Gribbs should arrest him. * ’ -

0n the whole, Mendick scored a decisive vi'c-
tory, and, though Well aware that there were
several dark clouds on his horizon, he‘ hoped to
addto his victories and make a clean sweep.
He had a scheme in mind by which he hope-alto
place Iron Ike in Captivity on a serious charge

afore darkness fell. '

While this, conference was being hol-den,
Kingbolt Chris and the Solid Men were having
a private talk outside. -

fWel, boyee,” said Ike, 9‘ ye .see 'sve’re left
with that feeble minority. Old. Mendi'ck sweeps
up tber leaves an’ don’tleave us so much ez tber
crumbs." V .

i‘ C’rectl” Chris agreed.
live on cake.” : _, , . r

5‘ We’ll live on air an’ die-on hemp, of ther
jedge—I mean tber mayor-hez his way,” grim—
ly added Ike. ' ‘ ’ ‘

r f‘ He’d better keep ter hisself. or thar’ll be :3.

"‘We’ve got ter

~ fn‘st-clasa riot ’round hyar," King-bolt asserted.

“ Even of he’s mayor, he can’t. hev ther earth-—
I won’t beer-no cheap talk from him}’

“.Put it that, pardl rYou’re a good one from
ther ground up, an’ we’ll yoke in an’ pull ez a
pear. Iéhev reasons ter b’lieve ye’re not only
true blue, but she oncogh not tar do anything
brash when it’s po icy ter lay low, eh 2”

. ‘f. agile give-away.” *
“ d, then. Wal, one word about the:

a

>Aftei Biddle left Mendick nn’ Elwood, tI

 

skeleton found under ther river. Hev you til,
knife still?” l
“ I opine I hev, a few.” , !
“See to it Memiick don’t getit. He’ll tl
hard, for he’s got his reasons. I b’iieve he kill
ther man found under ther river."
lke looked keenly at the boy.
“Possible?” cooll asked Chris. :
“I gave my Opinion. I think the case “5
right hyar. About fourteen year ago thr
men were prospectin’ through hyar. They w;
Josiah Mendick, Warren Elwood an’ Thom
Biddle. Ther last was no man fur ther biz, :i
he seceded an’ left ther fu’st two alone. Ni,
Whar they was located was another party;
gospectors. One 0’ them was named A. l
ansom. He was killed by a fallin’ rock,;‘
Elwood an’ Mendick attended ther funeral...
think one 0’ them then become possessor o’
som’s knife, but I hev no proof on’t. Yet. v ’
that knife—~ther same you now hev—Elna

5a.a\v,,,.__...

was killed. Yes, I’ve got around ter say i
last—the skeleton was that o‘ Elwood, ez I
prove by ther teeth." . '

Chris was listening and watching keenly.

“ Be you a detective?" he asked. -

It I be.” .

“ I thought so. Blaze away i”

“ Do you foller me?”

“ Yer discourse is tolerably plain.”

“Can you tell me how ter prove all this?”

“ Can’t say I kin.”

‘.‘ Wal, thar’s one missing link.” I

“ That’s what Darwin said.”

“ Don’t be so previous," said the Solid "
tartly. “ We’re talkin” biz now, not pleas

Ther missin’ link is a certain man I can’t fly‘

._. \ rm“. mom

gm

>4.»

pooty~ soon took in another ,pardner, a n
named Joe Hanshaw.” h
Iron Ike was looking at vacancy and did Y
notice Kingbolt’s sudden start, ut from t,
moment the boy felt that the Hard-Shelli
tective Agency had a chance to win glory. 
“Hanshaw seems to have remained vi},
them ez long ez the mined, for when Mendl'
turned toward ' isco, he——Haushaw—wl

with him. Elwood wasnot. Iargue tber 18;.

was killed hyar in ther mountains.
then went ter Sacramento, an’ when thar, _
in liquor, he give away the fact that one 0’ ll
pards had killed t’other in ther mountain!)
git his old-dust. Arter that, that is no tra
o’ Hans aw.” i

“ Dead, mebbe,” said Chris.

“,«I hope not, for I want ter find him. 

testimony, at it’s What I think, would half ‘

Mendick.” l
“ An’ you hev no idea whar he is?” l
“ None.” , l
“ That’s onlncky,” said Chris, shutting 0?
eye and lookinglat the sky with the other.

i
“I want yer elp ter find him.” l

“ Mine?” 2 ,
. (( Yas.” , 

' “ “That kin I do?” ‘ .

“ You an’ Ralph Mendick is friends. ,Now ,
want you ter talk ter him on ther sly an’
him u ter ask ther jedge what hez become

Joe Hanshaw. Tber youngster kin doit an’
won’t think nothin’ on’t; whereas, of anyb
else questioned him, he would tumble to t.
racket right away. See?"

Chris acknowledged that he did see, and, at ,
some further conversation. the two separatq
Kingbolt at once started for Old Leather’s cabi

“ C. King, Esquire, hyar’s a chance fur yl
ter win yer fu’st case with ’a blaze o‘ glnrl
Thor Hard—Shell Detective Bureau will sprii,
at once ter ther highest pinnacle o’ fame, "

ther skelington will sleep in peace fur ther .

 
    
 

time in many years. Thar's no time‘like t ,
present, an’ you better strike immejiate.” , ,

Thus soliloquiziug, the boy strode home a
entered the shanty. Old, Leather bad return
to his bench and was imi’ustriously hammerin
He looked up surlin as Chris entered, but sa’
nothing. ‘ ,1;

$0. L., I am ’pointed fer‘ter announce I ai
ther b'erer 0’ bad news,” quoth the young detei
tive. » '

bier. .
“Thar ain’t nothin’eatin’ me, our likely t:
I’m neither bread nor cheese. Nevertheless, tlmi
ossifers 0’ law are on’ yer track. thar’s a war;
rant out fur ther arrest o’JOe Hanshawr on a'
accomplice in ther murder 0’ Warren Elwoosé
an’ I reckon ther’ll be a hangin’-bee ef ye dot}
do somethin’ soon, with all yer might." ' :

Long before he was’through Old Leather he.i ‘
pedvhis hammer and was staring,“ the be V

dro ‘ g
wit wild eyes and white face.

‘ He was a 
frightened man. , , r

Hansha' ‘

"What’s eatin’ ye now?” growled the coil.)

‘K I
shril:
‘5 J
‘ It v
fectl
“ ’l
gest

woul
ther
was

ther
VV00(

men?

 

l

I

you ill
l

l
He’ll' 
rbe killi

,(
a easel
no thri
[‘hey 
Thom
r biz. :g5
le. Nil
partyl
id A. 
rock, !
herald

ll" 0’
(ct, v- '
—-Elw
say i
, 92 I?

nly. I

l
l
l
l
:
3

his?” ‘

lid 1h '
Jleast;
u’t fl
u, t’,‘_‘
. a u,
did ’
om ty

hell I
r . l

lW—Wl
her la,
Cansh ‘
hair,

a o' l;
:ain,

l0 trati

elal“; 
'l

 

“ I didn't lay a band on Elwood,” he declared,
sbrilly. ; ,

“Jest what I told ’em,”quoth Chris. “ Sez I,
‘ It was Si Mendick that did it, an’ 0. L. is per-
fectlv innercent.’ "

“ That’s ther fact. Mendick claimed ther big—

} gest share o’tber money, ’cause he said he was

an experienced miner, an' when Elwood
wouldn‘t allow it, he stabbed him threetimesin
ther breast. At ther third stroke ther knife
was left thar, nn’ buried with him, an’ that’s
ther knife you found. Ther skeleton was El—
wood’s.”

The cobbler poured forth his confession vehe~
mently, but Chris retained the composure a de—
tective should have.

“But that knife had ther name ‘A. G. Ran-
som ’ on it.”

“ It once b’longed to a man 0’ that name, but
he was killed, an’ then it went inter Mendick’s
hands." I

"Jest my theory ag’in,” quoth the Hard~Shell
Detective. “ I argued that way an’ I so infloo—
enced ther ossifers that they said et your state-
ment agreed with .my theory you would be all
hunki-dori.”

“That’s ther fact," said Old Leather, quickly,
“ on I’ll sw’ar ter it.” -

“Then let’s look up thegossifer-inchief, right
away. I know whar ter nd him, an’ ef you’ll
’com any me, we‘ll go ’thout any delay.”

“ urned et 1 don’t do it. I’ve carried this
secret on my mind long enough, fur’I’ve always
been afeerd it would recoil an’ hit me, instead 0’
him. Come on; I’m ready!”

Old Leather tossed aside his apron, 'put on his
hat and they sallied forth from the shunt , but
at the very door they met Quong Ho, the bins-
man, and a big negro whose name was John
Jay. The two had allied themselves to go in
Search of Chris, after Mendick decided to arrest
the boy, and they were’ahead of the sherifi? and
every one else.

“ Hi-yil hyar he is!” cried Jay.

“ Debbil ’Melican boy git wakes now, all
names,” said Quong Ho. “ Clome on, pardeel”

And the two rushed at Kingbolt Chris, an
ugly gleam in their eyes. . , .

 

CHAPTER XVIII.
THE HARD-SHELL DETECTIVE W’INS.

KINGBOLT was taken wholly by surprise, and
their hands were on him before he could make

, a movement to run, but even then he was not

easily subdued. He kicked, struck and scratch-
ed like a young tiger, and both negro and China.
mun received marks they were likely to carry
for some time to come. ’

But, just as he was subdued, their triumph
came to an untimely" end.

Iron Ike had been within sight of’the afl’ra ,
and when he saw how it was oing he promptly
hastened to Kingbolt’s aid. gThe first warning
the‘twc captors received came in theshape of
his stern voice. ,.

“Hands up, my prize chromosl Ilm a devour-
in’ buu~saw when git ter eatin’. un’ thar’ll be
a churchyard yawin’ fur you of ye kick uglin‘
ther fates. Hands upl”

He was never more dociler obeyed tinnithen,
for both were thorough cowards when cornered,’

but/Chris who hadbeen roughly bandled,»stood'
rubbing his aching arms, and glared at them’

fiercely. . ‘

“You’re ther two meanest skunks I ever
see’d," he declared, an’ I’ll make ya weep fur
this. Two on ye outer a kid 0’ my small
caliber! It’s a wonder 6' don’t ,hev galvanic-
,convulsions. I ain’t 303nm to fix ye nOW,

but I’m goin’ tel-take it outer ye at my ’arilest‘

convenience.”
Thin he turned to Iron Ike. . ,
' ow meter interdooce. tex- . ' .
show,” he said. “His 'testimofi?»¥w§ill‘r%eoflj§t
fihiit’wleI Wang afi’DI 103le tber fitm- G
ings ar— e . .which'is  ’ I
reau Don’t ye forgit it!” W B“

The Solid Man was 5111' rised, mu}... mm;
Leat renovation"

uteS' conversation with 0 d I
doubts. Then the man’s rough manner disap-

peared. be straightened his form and looked like:

a different person.

“ 1 am now ready to face Mendlckf’ basalt},
,dn good English.

” I am a regular detective of
the State of California, and though‘Mendick is
powertul here, I know Gold Bar Will array it.
self on the side of law and justice.”

“ Thai-'3 some sort 0’ a picnic goin’ on at the:-

‘ ‘Jedgels temple 0’ jestice; what is it!" Chris
asked ,

I Ikelooked sharply.

 

' Kingbolt Chris.

“Those are men from Crescent Bend,” he
said. “ Why are they here, in a body? Let us
go and see 1" ’ V

They went, and they found a most spirited

dialogue in progress, to explain which we must
.go back to the time when we left Ralph in dan-

ger of being lynched. ' '

He met with no harm at the hands of the men.
Some of the hot-headed ones would have carried
out their purpose. but, luckil , cooler heads
were there, and Ralph was reeased, and the
r0 8 put away.

he of the men had a fine bound, and this
was brought out and put. upon the trail. The
miners followed. and the hunt resulted in com-
lete success. Lulo had been abducted by
coke and another man, but, thanks to the dog,
their triumph was short.

The girl was rescued and Locke and his part
ner taken prisoners, whereupon the leading vil-
lain made a full confession. When Crescent
Bend knew what a villain Judge Mendiek was
they went in a body to inform Gold Bar, and
this was the scene Chris and Iron Ike came

11 n. ,

p'gbe Solid Man saw at once that Gold Bar
was reluctant to believe, and be promptly push-
ed to the front.'

“ I’ve a word to say here, fellow—citizens,7’ he
announced. , “ It won’t do any good for you to
pin your faith on Mendick, for he won’t be
with you long. I have a warranttorhis arrest
for murder committed fourteen years a o, and
so fades your brightest star. 9 killed , arreu
Elwood and buried him under t 9 river; ihwas
his skeleton you lately found. ‘I am a detective,
and have been looking up the case in a tibial?
way, which I may call a shadow-hunt; am
in disguise, and my real name is Douglas
Vaughan!” ' ~ "

He ceased speaking, but there was a cry from
the crowd, and Lulo, whom he had not before
seen. sprung forward with extended hands.

“ Father .” she exclaimed.

The detective looked dumfounded.

“What! you—you— Hal are you the girl
who has been persecuted b Mendickl I did
not suspect it before. eand your name

‘3 oken but once, and then {understood it'to, be

ollins. Great heavens! how'come here?”

Judge Mendick broke in with a harsh laugh.

“ I may as well tell you that. I heard that
Vaughan the detective, was on my track, and
I resolve to beat him in a game of wits. It
was my dgame to kidnap his daughter, andwhen
be close in on me I would say: ‘ Let me alone,
or your daughter dies 1’ But the whole business
has gone to the dogs. Your disguise, and
dialect, fooled me at first; I did not so t on
were a detective— Ah! well what’s the Ogle?
‘ Life’s but a fleeting shadow, anyhow."

“ What have on to say about the lost son of
Warren Elwoo ?” r

“ Dead!” Mendick declared. «

“Wrong, again. He lives! After you killed
his father you feared the presence of the son at
the East would lead to an investigation, and
you forged a letter-«you are var good attor-
ge’ry—and had him sent West. he ,child was
then but five years old, and had 3101: seen his
father for over two years. When you claimed
him,‘saying you were Warren Elwood, he did
not know he was being deceived. You took
him; you reared him as our own son; he is
now known as Ralph Men ickl” . -

Here was another cry firom the crowd, and
those who looked toward the point from which
it came, saw Ralph standing with a pain, wi-
tated face. 7
planing!) ’one. ’   - x a r

untnobod, ya last. ’l iaKing-'
bolt Chris, as a hill (01 owedgiggb'nth a rac-
tangulax; revenge: when I’ve been misused, an’
I demand satisfaction on them two chi-ohms
over thar, who has pummeledme all up inter a
sii‘l’ine steak. Ther dignity 0’ tber Hard~Sholl
Detective Bureau must be preserved at it takes
a rib. ’

“You were badly used,”isaid Iron lke, or

Vaughan, to give him his true name, and be
frowned upon Quon‘g Ho and the negro. “ What
satisfaction do you esire?”

Chris answered in a subdued voice, md the
detective laughed. Then an open cs was
made in the crowd, with a table in 1; center,
and Quong Ho and John Jay ordered W‘staud
upon it. After that, their left arm Were tied
tightly together at the wrists and each gifen a
short, stout whip. ‘ "

The cr0wd scented tun ahead—tor wombat
for the Chinaman and negro—and” smiles“ M9

onevery flaceexcept‘thatot Kingbolt Chili, 
remained as grave as a jud . and motian B
chair to bring himself into ew. ' " ’ ‘

, , y" '39:. I

at the navele was, not on an"

 

15

“ NOW, then, ther risoners at ther bar, Qnong
Ho, thes‘ Heathen hinee, and John Jay, tber
colored ‘ent, will take heed 0’ what I say. Ez
jédge 0 this s’perior court, an’ chief o’ ther
Hard-Shell Bureau, I order ye .ter flog each
other till I give ye leave ter stop, which I sha’n’t
do till ye smart ez much ez I do. Lay, on,
Michael Dufl,.an’.ma tber best man win! ’

Neither negro nor hiunmsn offered to strike,
and a big miner movvd‘ forward with a whip
larger than that held by either of them.

“ Do ez you’re told,” he said, “or I’ll chip in.
an’ ef I do you’ll think that shirts are droppin’
of! 0’ ye. Go it !" ' ‘

They hesitated no longer but earnestly began,
and the whips arose and fell amid the cheers of
the miners. At first the blows w: re light, but
each man began to think his rival was laying
on too hard, and it soon became a regular race
to see w ho could hit the hardest. ‘v r

“ Hooray !” shouted Kingbpit“ Chris, f‘this
hyaristher wards-aces!” . ‘ ~ r

It was a festive occasion which put a‘lighter
touch on what had gone before, for there
was no dis 'tion to torture either ngng ‘ H0
or John ay. The former had on ' is usual
clothes, and the negro a thick shirt, and had the

blows not been lusty ones they would scarcely '

have been felt. ' . ,

As it was, they Were made to. cannot
Kingbolt Chris announced himaal satisfied;
then they were released and? 13w! teak:qu

'awa .

GgldBar had lost its gunman, , there
was a disposition tofeel sorr  ~butafter

he. confessed his crime on one and I 5' sytn~
pathize with him. Old Leuthen h’ , ever, be-
came a most unpopular man. v 1

Unlike the long-lost sons of. the. a drama,
there was no great fortune awaiting lph El-

wood. li his father had leftahy great amount
it was lost to him, audit , found wanna..-
dick,'every time he visitedlsan Francisco, had
gambled so heavily as to lose nearly all he pos-

But Ralph soon decided that he had found a
good friend in Mr. Vaughan, and resolved to
remain with him. ' '

It was settled that the mulching morning
Vaughan, Lulo, Ralph, two assistants and the
prisoners, should leave for Swingfoot City, but
Mendick did not 0. He was found dead in his
cell. Poison had conveyed to him‘by Mrs.
Schell, who then fled, and was never again
heard of by our friends. ‘

King _ is Chris was invitedto accompany the
part , but he declined.
“ yint’rects are considers!) identi-

fled with Gold Burgh “xiii, ‘my 15111619-
mainan-growu wt rco . cos y
I might t rich by goin’ tar 1Ffisco,butl
don’t wan
an’ run ther Bard-Shell D. 13., an' at toughs
don’t 1m theirselves that will be a vacant
chair at their fireside. Much obleeged, but I‘ll
hang-enter Gold Bar!” ’ .
And he remained. ‘

 

Some yearshave  since t

mg of
our story occurred. Lockets .in "

prism. -
Old Leather, acquitted on‘teeh'nical grounds,

Dwuglas Vaughan ha given upidetectiye
WOl‘li.,fO§" what was once a passion with him
became dull enough when Lulo became Mrs.

Ralph Elwood and grand-children began Lto be
“infidel”? ' ' A I  i a

no as: .' 1 rew
and‘honest. he had not' ' gifts to make a
successful business man, and only " .

n  -‘ ma ' in iii/ouch
signehaabmghthim are”;  
ran mm. I?  '

 

The Dime Dammit. 31. . ‘
Containing twenty Minor Dramas, 18),:th
Burlesques. Forces. Dress  fleece, for
the Amateur Stage, Parlors, mofiiwd 
All enigma and by favorite f‘profe‘seofi.
teacher-sand amusing. , ;  ,7 . ‘ ’
For me by all  ox: amt. phat-paid. on
“whims—mounts. ,  1, V . , .‘ . '
BEADLE AND anus, mum;

98 William Street. New York.

that earth, nohow. I’ll stay hyar ‘

 

1K5 {me I

 

 

 

  
  
  
  

 

I W

in

 

BEADLE’S

HALF-DIME

 

 

LIBRARY.

 

 

'1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road.
2 Yellowstone Jack.
‘8 Kansas Kiuf. By isumi
4 The “7 lld-l on

By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

a Bill, (Hon. W. F. Cody.

e llunters. By Captain Moyus Reid and
Captain Frederick Whittaker.

5 Vagabond Joe, the Young Wandering Jaw. By Oil Coomes.

6 13111 Biddou, Trapper.
g The Flying Yankee.

iluuiile number, 10 cents.
By Edward S. Ellis.
By Colonel Prentiss Ingrnliam.

Seth Jones; or, The Captives of tin— Frontier. By [2.8. Ellis.

9 Adventures of Baron Munehausen.

l

12 Gulliver’s Travel...

1 8
4 Aladdin; or,
ii The
6 Robinson Crusoe.
7 Ralph R0 , the Buy Buccaneer. By Col. Prentiss Ingrshsm.
S Slut l .
9 The Phantom Spy.
1 | The Double Dagg

 

55 Deudl '-Eye. the
56 Nick ‘ ’hiflles’ I’

10
l

I) Roar-lan Ralp Roe

Not Toddi

‘ or, The Fate of the Sioux Captives. By E. S. Ellis.
The Two ' '

)eteetlves. By Albert \V. Aiken.
A \‘oyage to Liliput, and a Voyage to
Brohdingnag. By Dean Swift.
The Dumb Spy. By 011 Coomcs.
i' re VVonilcriul Lump.
By Captain Frederick Whittaker.
(‘17 illustrations.) By Defoe.

Sea-Cat.

Dad I: 0 Sailor. From the Arabian Nights.
By Buil'nlo Bill.
By Edward I. \Vheelsr.
The Frontier Angel. By Edward S. Ellis.
3 The Sea \er eat; or,The Boy Robinson Crusoe. By J. Lewis.
Nick 0’ the i in; or, The Boy Spy oi"'IG. liy ’l‘. C. Hath-ugh.
l Diamond Dir . By Colonel Prentiss lngmhain.
r The 150 Cu tulu. B Roger Starbuck.
i Cloven loo , the Bud's 0 Demon. By Edward L. Wheeler.
Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. ByOll Canines.
Bufl'nlo Ben. the Prince of the Pistol. By E. L. Wheeler.
D The Dumb Po 0. By Captain Frederick Whittaker.
wood. By Harr ' St. George.
Keen-knife, rinc. of the Prairies. ny Oll Coonics.
Bub Woolf, the Border Riifliun. By Edward L. \Vhooler.
The ocean Bloodhound. By S. W. Pierce.
Oregon Sol. By Captain .1. F. Adams.
\Vild Ivan, the Boy Claude Du l. By E. L. Wheeler.
The Do ' By Frank S. Finn.
The Ill dell Lodge. By T. C. Hnrhaugh.
Ned “' lde4 the Boy Scout By Texas Jack.
Death-lance, the Deteiztit . By Edward L. Wheeler.
I Rovln lieu. By John J. Marshall.
Lasso uek, the Young hlnstauger. By Oli Coomes.
The Phantom Miner. By Edward L. Wheeler.
Dick Darliu , the Pony Express Rider. By Capt. “'hittlkor.
Rattlin Ru e. By Harry St. George.
Ava unehc. the Great Annihilator. By E. L. \Vheelor.
as! Eye the Great Shut oftlre West. By J. F. . Adams.
' ' ’1‘ Nut: or, Tim Forest Captains. Byliarbaugh.
trek John, the Road-Agent. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

BIS.

 

 

4
i Omaha Oil. the Masked Terror. By Edward L. VVlioelor.

) Burt. Bunke, -, the Trapper. By C. E. Lasalie.

The Boy liiiles or, The Underground Camp. By A. C.lron,

The White Bu n10. By C. E. Lssalie.

Jim Bludsoe In, the Buy Plreillx. liy E.L. Wheeler.

L lied Hazel, the Boy Trapper. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams.
Unknown Scout. By Buffalo Bill.

et. Bv Captain .1. F. C.Aduins.

 

b7 Deadwood Dick’s Eagles. By Edward L. Wheeler.
58 The Border King: or, The Secret Foe. By 011 Coomes.
39 Old Hickory; or. Dandy Eliis's Scalp. By Harry St. George.

0 The White

ndinn. By Captain .1. F. C. Adar-2s.

(fl Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Hills Team. By E. L. Wheeler.
l-2 The Shadow Ship. By Colonel Prentiss Inzrnhsm.

JTB The Red Brotherhood.
t4 Dru-d
I5 Ilurr ear
LG Single "and
In; Patent-Lent sci-Joe. By Philip 5. l’t’aine.
l l a
59 Gold Rille the Sin-r shooter.
i0 (Md Zip’s Cabin.

liy “H J.llnuiiitol1.

Jack. By T. C. Harbaugli.

Bill. By Joseph E. iiad er, Jr.

or, A Life for a Life. \' \V. J. Hamilton.
The Border Robin "on By llutialo Bill.

By Edward L. Wheeler.
v ('nplnin J. 1110. Adams.

i‘l Delaware Dick, ilk: Young Rnnger Spy. By Oll Coomes.

s

*‘l h! 'l '1 ‘l "l

n.

s 9 Sol Ginger
so Rosebud ii

Mud Tom “’cntern, tho 'i'ekan Ranger. By W.J. Hamilton.
Deadwood Dirk on Der-k. By Edward L. “'lieeler.
Hawk-eye flurry. By 0|] Coomes.

) The Boy Duelist. B Colonel l‘rcntiss Inn-ham-
Abe Colt, the woman er. By Al

bert W. Aiken.

'? Corduroy Charlie, the Boy Bravo. By E. L. \Vheeler.
7"; Blue Dis-k.

By Captain Mayne Reid.
the Giunt’i‘rupper. By Albert W. Aiken.
oh. By Edward L. Vi lieeler.

g1 Lightning Jo.‘ By Captain J. F. C. Adams.

2 Kit
53 Rollo, the Boy Ranger.
84 Idyl the Girl Miner.
55 llucir
s6 Dandy Rock, the Man from Texas. By G. Waldo Brown.
7 The Land Pirates.
8 PilotoIgraph PM], the Boy leuth.

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l
l
l
l
l

6
7
18
9
0
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2
8
4
5
6
1’
8T
9
0
1
2
8
4
5
6
1
8
9

 

9

0 The Dread Rider.
>1 The Captain of the Club. . By Bracebridue Ilemyng.
:3 Can adu. Clint. the Crmnterieiter Chief.
’4 Midnlg It 'uck, the Road-Agent.
,5 The Rival Rovers. By Lieur. Col. ilazeltiue.
96 \Vntch-Eye, the Shadow.
7 The Outlaw Brothers.
8 Robln llood, the Outlswed Earl.
9 The Tiger oi'Tams. _
00 Deadwood Dick in Lendt'ille. By E. L. Wheeler.
01 Jack linrknwny in New Y

5 01d Rube, the Hunter.
i

liurei’oot the \Vood-Hawii. By T. C. Harbuugh.
iiy on Gnomes.

By lidwsrd L. Wheeler.
Buckram. By Captain J. F. C. Adams.
By Cu tuiu Maviie Reid.

\' E. L. 'theler.
[iv the author oi “Jack Hurkuwny.”

Islam Jlnl.

By George Waldo Browne.

By E. L. Wheeler.
By Edward S. Ellis.
By T. C. Harbaugh,

The Do Mini-rs.

By Edward L. \‘Vliueler.

By John J. Marshall.

By Prof. Gilderslaoye.
By Georce Waldo Browns.

ork. llracebridgs Hemyng.
2 Dick Dead-Eye. lily Colonel Prentiss lngralisin.

8 The Lion ofthe Sea. By Colonel Delle Sara.

D4 Deadwood Dick‘s Device. By Edward L. Wheeler.
1? Captain H. Holmes.

6 Old Frosty, ths Guide. y T. C. Hnrhaugh.

’? (Due-Eyed Sim. By'Jsmes L. Bowen.

)8 During Davy, the o n Boar-Killer. By H. St. George.
D9 Dendwoortchk us Be active. By E. 1.. Wheeler. ‘
0 The Bl ‘ Steed ofthe Prairies. By J. L. Bowen.
1 The Sen-Devil. ' By Colonel Prentiss'lngrsham.

2 The Mad Hunter. By Burton Suite.

8 Jack Hoyle the Young Speculator. By E. L. Wheeler.

4 The Black Schooner. liy Roger Stnrhuck.

5 The Mad Miner. By George Waldo Browne.

The ilunsnr Co. tails. By Cnl. Prentiss lugrshun.
lit-Edged Die '. By Edward L. Wheeler.

'11] Somers, the Boy I). loctivs. By Charles Morris.
“stung Sum or. The King ot‘thc Plains. By J. E. Badger.
he. Branded lurid. By Frank Dumont.

unumon Chip, the Girl Sport. By E. 1.. Wheeler.

hil Hardy, the Boss Buy. By Charles Morris.
lowsi'Chnrley, the White Musianger. .By T.C. Harbsugh.
lopy. the Texan. By George Gleason.

out-ass. Bill. Miller. By Edward 1.. Wheeler.

ice uue Pete. By Charles Morris.

ll -F|re. the Boss of the Road. By Frank Dnmont.

he Young Privateer. By R. Cavendish. ' l
eadwood Dick’s Double. By Edward L. Wheeler.
eteetive Dick. By Charles Morris.

he Golden “and. By George Waldo Brown.

he lluntetl Hunter. By Edward S. Ellis.

as. Bob the King of the Bootblacks. By E. L. Wheelor.
ure Shot Seth. By Oll Comma.

uptnin Paul. By C. Dunning Clark.

lglIt-lluwk Kit. By Jose is E. Badger, .71.

e Helpless "and. By swam Mayne Reid.
Blonde lllll. By Edwsr L. heeler.

Judge Lynch J By T. C. Hath-ugh.

0 lllue Blazes. By Frank Burnout.

1 Solid Sam, the Boy RoadvAzont. By Ed. 1.. Wheeler.
2 Handsome flurry. By Charles Morris.

«3 Sear-Face Saul. By 011 Canines.

4 Dainty Lance. the Bov Sport. By Joseph E. Bsdzar, Jr.

 

g:

swine-412's:

=€H==

:Zom

 

)5 Captain Ferret, tin New York Detective. By Wheel-r.

By E. L. Wheeler.

» 236 Apo
23'? Lo

 

146 Silver Stnr. the Boy Knight. By Oil Coomes.

147 Win wndnre, the Thoroughbred. By Charles Morris.

148 Sharp Sum. By J. Alexander Patten.

149 A Game of Gold. By Edward L. W'iieelor.

150 Lance and Lasso. By Captain Frederick Whittaker.

151 panther Paul, the Prairie i‘irnte. By .los. E. Badger, Jr.

152 Black no“, Will VVildtii'e‘s Racer. By Charles Morris.

153 Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. By 011 Coomes.

154 The Sword Hunters. By Ca 1.. Frederick Whittaker.

155') Gold Trigger, the Slit-rt. By . C Harbauzh.

156 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood. By E. L. Wheeler.

15? Mike filers-y, the Harbor l‘uiice Boy. By Charles Morris.

158 Funny Frank of Colorado. By Butfuio Bill.

159 The Lost Cu tuin. By Captain Frederick “'hittsker.

160 The Bluek G nut. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

1 ‘1 A aw York en. By Edward L. lViiei ier.

162 “'ill “'ildilre in the “'0on. By Charles Morris.

1623 Little Texas the Young Miistunger. By 011 Cooines.

164 Dnud Rock‘s Pledge. By George Waldo Browne.

165 Billy a use, the Railroad Boy. By Charles Morris.

166 lllckory ffitrry. By Harry St. George.

167 Asst Scott, the Steaiuhoat Boy. By Edward Willott

8 Deadly Dash. Bfidnsepl) E. Badger, Jr.

59 Tornado Tom. y T. C. Harlmugh.

0 A Trump Curd. By Charles Morris.

'1 Ebony Dan. B Frank Burnout.

2 Thunderbolt "Ions. By Hurry St. George.

8 Dand Rock’s Rival. By Gamma Waldo Browne.

4 Bob ockett. the Boy Dodger. BVy‘vlcharies Morris.

5 Captain Arizona. By Philip 8. true.

6 The Boy Runaway. By Lieutenant H. D. Perry, U.S.N.

7 Nobby . iek oi’Nevuda. By Edward L. Wheo er.

8 01d Solitar the Hermit Trapper. By Oli Cootnes.

9 Bob Ruckez' ' the Bank Runner. By Charles Morris.

0 The Sea Trailer. By Lieutenant H. D. Perry, U.S.N.

1 Wild Frank ofMontnnn. By Edward L. Wheeler.

2 Little llurrinau the Be Ca tain. By 011 Coomes.

8 The Hidden llun . Dy har es Morris.

4 The Boy Trailers. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

5 Evil Eye. king of the Cattle Thieves. By Frank Burnout.
Cool Desmond. By Colonel Dclle Sara.

7 Fred “nlyor the Life Boat Boy. By Charles Morris.

8 Ned Ternpl t re Border Boy. By T. C. Harlmugh.

9 Bob Rocket the Crucksman. By Charles Morris.

0 Dund Dar-ire. By William R. Eyster.

1 Ruifu 0 Billy, the Bo ' Buiiwhrwker. By Capt. A. B. Taylor.

2 Captain Kit, the Wii -o’-the-Wis . By Lieut. Perry.

)8 The Lad Road-Agent. By P iiip S. Warns.

D4 Buiflllo lll'! Bet. By Captain Taylor.

{5 Deadwood Dick’s Dream. By Edward L. Wheeler.

)6 shadowed. By Charles Morris. v
? .ittle Grit, the “'in Rider. By Col. Prentiss inzmhnm.
irkansuw, the Man with the Knife. By T. C. Harbaugh.

‘eutlrerweight. By Edward Wiliett.
[‘he Boy lledoulns. By Capt. Frederirk Whittaker.
Fhe Black Hills Jezebel. By Edward L. Wheeler.
"rots ect Pete, of the Boy Brigade. By Oil Caoines.
l‘he lo l’ards. lly Joseph E. Badger, Jr.
Jold P lune, the Boy Bandit. By Col. Prentiss lnzraham.
lendwood Dick’s Doom. By Edward L. “'iieelsr.
:nrk l’ll‘llll,l:llelTl;](;er Karin. }By Charles Morris.
Ynv o l' c ', tie ny old luntcr. B i 'l‘. C. Hsrhan h.
[Braille lBlcr'cIurl‘eu.D By Oil Gimmes. 3 - g
r z, is I‘III‘U - y elective. By Edward L. “'heelsr.
210 Faro Frank oi’lligh Pine. By William R. Eyster.
211 Crooked Cale. By Josenli E. Badger, Jr.
212 Dullring Dave, the Dandy Detective. By Charles Morris.
218 Fritz to the Front. By Edward L. Wheeler.
214 \Voli’gnug. the Rohhcr n! the Rhine. Bv Ca 1i. Whittaker.
215 (‘aptulu Bullet, the Raider King. By T.  I-larhsugh.
216 Bison Bill. tlm Prince 01 the Reins. By Col. P. lagrsham.
21? Captain Crack-Shot. By Edward L. Wheeler.
218 Tiger Tom, the Texan Terror. By Oil Canines.
219 Despard, the Duelist. By Philip S. Wsrnc.
220 Tom Tanner. Si'ulawai: and Scapeizrnce. Hy Chat. Morris.
221 Sugar-Coated Sam. iiy Edward L. \Vlircisr.
222 Grit, the Bravo Sport. By Col Prentiss lngrnhnm.
223 Ozark Alf. King oithr Mountain. By Edward Wiiiett.
224 Dashing Dick. By Oil Co 'iries.
” Inns Charcoal, the Premium Dariiy. By Charles Morris.
~uoozer. tile liny Sharp. By Edward L. Wheeler.
Dusky Darrell, Trapper. By E. Emerson.
.ittle “'llililre. By 011 Coomss.
.rilnsou Kate. By Colonel Prentiss lugraham.
8i l‘he Yankee R ah. By C. Dunniun Clark.
231 l’lireky l’hll. all to Mountain Trail. By T. C. Harbauzh.
232 Gold-Dust Dick. By Edward L. Wheeler.
288 Joe Buck oi'Angols. Bv Albert W. Aiken.
234 (lid {oeky’s “Doyeen.” By Buckskin Sum.
285 Shh-low Sam, the Messenger Buy. By Charles Morris.

in Bill.- isy Edward L. Wheeler.
at: Star. the Cowboy Captain. By C01. lngrshsm.
288 The Parson Detective. By Oil Comm.
239 The Gold-seeker Guide. ili' Ca tuin Mayne Reid.
240 (Yin-lone Kit. By Edward l.. \thr er. ,
241 Bill Bravo and "in Rear Portia. By T. C. Hsrbsugh.
242 The Two “ Bloods.” l3 ' Charles Morris.
248 The Disguiaed Guide. y Oil Coomos.
244 Sierra Sun. lly EdWard L. Wheeler.

245 Merle, the Middy. By Colonel Prentiss lngmham
246 Giant. George. By Buckskin Sum.

242' Old Grizzly and Ills Pets. By Capt.“ Bruin ” Adams.
248 Sierra Sam’s Secret. By Edward L.Whoeler.

249 Milo Romer, the Animal King. By Capt. Fred. Whittaker.
250 The Midshipman Mutlueer. By Col. P. ingrahsm.
251 Light-house nge. By Captain J. F. C. Adams.

252 Dick‘ Dnshawny. By Charles Morris. '

253 Sierra Ham’s Pard. By Edward L. Wheeler.

254 The Half-Blood. By Edward S. Ellis.

255 Captain Apollo. By T. C. Harhaugh.

256 Young Kentuek. By Csptsln Mark Wilton.

25? The Lost Hunters. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams.

258 Slerrn Soul’s Seven. By Edward L. Wheeler.

259 The Golden Harpoon. By Roger Starouck.

260 Dore-Devil Don. By Oil Gnomes.

261 Fergus Fenrnaught. .By George L Aiken.

262 The Young Sleuths. By Charles Morris.

268 Deadwood Dick’s. Divide. By Edward L. Wheeler.
204 The Floating Feather. By Col. 1’. lngraham.

266 The Tiger Tamer. By Captain Fred. Whittaker.

286 Killb’ar, the Gulde. By Ensign Warren.

26’? The Buckskin Detective. By T. C. Harhsugh.

268 Deadwood Dick's Death Troll. By E. L. Whulsr.
269 The Gold Ship. By Col. Prentiss lngrahsm.

210 Blizzard Ben. By Captain Mark Wilton.

271 The “use Hunter. - By Edward 5. Ellis.

272 Minktlkln Mike. By 011 Commas.

273 Jumbo Joe. By Edward L. Wheeler.

274 Jolly Jim. By Charles Morris.

275' Arizona Joell. By Buckskin Sum.

276‘ Merle Monte’s Cruise. By Colonel Prentiss lngnhsm.
277 Denver Doll. By Edward L. Wheeler. '
2T8 The Three Troopers. By Major Lewis W. Cur-on.

 

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' 341 Tony Thor-rte, ihe Vagabond Detective.

 

279 Olid \Vlueh, the Rifle King. By T. C. Harbaugh.

280 Merle Monte’s Fate. Dy Col. Prentiss lngmham.

281 Denver Doll’s Victory. By Edward L. Wheeler.

282 The Type Detective. By Edward Willstt.

283 Indian Joe. By Major Lewis W. Carson.

284 The Sen. Marauder. By Colonel Prentiss lngrahsm.
285 Denver Doll’s Decoy. By Edward L. Wheeler.

286 Josh, the Boy Tender-foot. By Capt. Mark Wilton.
287 Billy Blue-Eyes. By Colonel Prentiss ingrahsm.

288 The Scalp King. By Capt-in J. F. C. Adams.

289 Jolly Jim’s Job. By Charles Morris.

290 Little Foxfire. By 0L1 Coomas.

291 Turk, the Ferret. By Edward L. Wheeler.

292 Sancho Pedro. By Major E. L. St. Vrain.

298 Red Claw, the One-Eyed Trapper. By Captain Com
294 Dynamite Dun. By T. ,C. Hsrhaugh.

295 Fearless l’hil. By Edward Willett.

296 Denver Doll’s Drill. By Edward L. ,theeler.

29‘? The Tarantula of Taos. By Buckskin Sam.

298 The Water-llound. By Charles Morris.

299 A No. 1, the Dashing Toll‘Tsker. By Edward L. Whaler.
300 The Sky Demon. By Oil Coomes.

301 LL‘deille Nick. By Major E. L. St. Vrain.

802 The Mountain Detective. By T. C, Harbsugh.

303' ’Liza June, the Girl Miner. By E. L. Wheeler.

304 The Dead Shot Dandy. By Colonel Prentiss 111ng
805 Dnshaway. 01' Dakota. By Charles Morris.

806 Neck-Tic Ned. By Major H. B. Stoddard.

80’? The Strange Para. By Buckskin Sam.

808 Keno Kit, the Boy Bugler‘s l’ard. By Col. 1". ingrslmn.
809 Deadwood Dick’s Big Deal. By E. L. Wheeler.
810 The Borrnncu Woli'. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

311 The Roving Sport. By Edward Wiliett.

812 Redtop Rube, the Vigilante Prince. By Maj. E. L. St. Vrsl'
313 Clmurron Jack. By Frederick Dewey.

814 The Mysterious Marauder. By Cal. P. lngrnhsm.
315 Ned. the Cnbin Boy. By Jack Farragut.

816 Old Eclipse, Trump Card of Arizona. By T. C. Hnrhsugh.
81'? Peacock Pete. By Lieutenant Aiired Thorns.

818 Ker-whoop, Ker-whoo! By Buckskin Sam.

319 The Block Rider. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

820 The Sea Sorceress. By Jack Farragut.

821 Deadwood Dick’s Dozen. By Edward L. Wheel".
822 Ncmo, the Detective. By Edward Willett.

323 Arknnsnw Jack. By Harry Hazard.

824 Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective. By Ln. Morris

325 Kelley, lllehey & Company, the Sleuths oi" Philadelphiti
By Edward L. Wheeler.

826 The Ten Pnrds; or, The Terror of Take-Notice.
llarhaugh.

827 Creeping Cut, the Cuddo. By Buckskin Sam.

328 The Sky Detectives. By Major Mickey Free.

829 Red-Skin Tons. By Harry Hazard.

830 Little Quick-Shot. By Edward L. Wheeler.

881 Block Nick, the Demon Rider. By Capt. Fred. Whittskor.
332 Eric Fred. By Buckskin Sam.

833 Brhnstone Bolt and "is ll it i ll .
tctte. By Majur is. L. st. Vruiui I: I n "z or” on”

834: Kangaroo Kit; or,T|ie Mysterious Miner. By E. L. Wheeler.
335 Old Double Flat. By Joseph E. Badger, Jr.

336 Big Benson. By T. C. liai'lmuizii.

38? Ben Bird, the Care King. By W. J. Hamilton.

338 A Tough Boy. By Philip S. Warne.

389 Kangaroo Klt’s Racket. By Edward L. Wheeler.

840 Clip, the Contortionlst. By Edward Willett.

By Charles Merril-
342 The Mountain Devil. By Harry Hazard.

848 Manhattan Mike. By Edward L. Wheeler. .

844 The Fighting Trio. By Buckskin Sam.

345 I’ltiless Mutt. By T. C. Hiirhuugh.

846 Rapier- Ruphnel. By Major II. B. Stoddard.

84’? Deadwood Dick’s Duents. By Edward L. Wheeler.

343 Fire-"eels; or, 01d Skinfliut the Death-Shadow.
linger Stiirbuck.

849 “’ild “7011', the Waco. By Buckskin Sum.

850 Red Ralph, the River Rover. By Red Buntiine.
851 Deadwood Dick Sentenced. By Edward L. Wheeler.
852 Tombstone Torn. By Maj. E. L St. Vrsla.

858 The Reporter-Detective. By Charles Morris.

854 Big Horn Ike, the Hill Trump. By Roger Surhuck.

355 The Kin ofthe Woods; or, Dluill Boone’s Last 'i‘rsll.
By Joseph ‘. Badger, Jr.

856 0001 Sam and Pal-d. By T. C. Hsrhnuizh.
35'! The Ranch Raiders. By Buckskin: Sam.
358 First-Class Fred, the Gent from Gopho‘r. By E. Lulli'hnln.

859 Durnngo Dave, the Young Wrutlsr Champion. By'hisi. E.
L. St. Vrain. ' .

860 ,Silyer-Mnsk, the Man of Mystery. By J. C. Cowdrick.
361 The Phantom Lighthouse. By Roger Starbuck.
862 Deadwood Dick’s Claim. By Ed'wsrd L. Wheeler.
863 Little Tornado. By Philip S. Wumo.

864 Snap-Shot, the Boy Ranger. By Buckskin Scan.
865 Baltimore Ben. By A. 1’. Morris.

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'866 VelvetFoot, the Indian Detective. By T. Quart-ugh.

86? Wide-Awake Joe. By Charles Morris.

368 Yr‘ekn Jim, the Gold-Gatherer. By E. L- Wheel-r.
889 Shasta, the Gold King. By J. C. Cowdrick.

870 Breaker Ben. the Reef-Runner. By Roger Starbuck.

an m 'b 'it or. i th I .
Bynfifljon L. Sisémino Young 1 srd Shell Dotectlvo.

872 Yreka Jim‘s Prize. By Edward L. Wheeler. .
8'38 Little Jingoi or, the Queer Psrd. By Philip S. Warns.
874 Gold-Dust Tom. ' By George H. Mono. ‘

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