December 19, 1883.

No.

by BEADLE AND ADAMS.

1883,

Copyright

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N. Y.,

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Entered at the Post Office at New York

8150 a. year.

 

 

106.

fits.

Price
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NEW YORK.

.No. 98 WILLIAM STREET,

The Colorado 0

Sin 1e
Numfirer.

J UMPIN G JAKE

V01

 

 

THE WICKED MAN 0F
SLASHAWAY BAR.

0r,

Boy

II'GUS

BY BRYANT BAINBRIDGE p

..,¢ “fl

. . ,flrflA/Jrfilhfimuma
. a, -. _,

50¢


III/1742.7. ;

A‘l' FIRST GLANCE THAT HE MUST FALL SHORT AND DIRECTLY INTO THE TIGER’S CAGE.

mo SAW,

 

‘31“.

  

 

2

lumping Jake.

;

 

 

. Jumping J aka,
The Colorado Circus Boy;

on,

The Wicked Man of Slashaway‘ Bar.

 

BY BRYANT BAINBHLDGE.

CHAPTER I.
p A VILLAINOUS scnmm '
SLASHAWAY BAR was in a state of consrder—

 

,able excitement, and it was quite natural it

should be. From the time the town was organ-
ized, two years before, the only amusements had
been playing cards, drinking Tim Ryan’s bever—
ages at some other man’s expense and fighting
road-agents. ' ‘ '

At last, however, the evil spell was 'broken
and Slashaway Bar was‘ bout to plunge head-
long into gayety of a daleing and fashionable
nature. Such, at least, was the opinion of the
citizens who read the announcement; that
“Strong. Smith &: Drinkwater’s Combined Eu—
ropean, African. and American Mastodon Circus
and Menagerie“ was to’exhibit for a. limited
time in the “ Queen City of Colorado.”

The Barites had never thought of claiming

/ this last title before, but it was unanimously

' way.

' It won‘t work.

voted that it fitted and should be adopted.

More thanthis, it seemed that all Were going
to see the “show,” and as the miners read the
posters they were observed to have in nearly
every case a package under their arms, which
contained newly—purchased flnery, designed at-
pressly for the occasion.

Among those who read these esters was a.
tall man in a. long black coat. 9 was a straw
ger, and the sour face with which he looked at
the bills finally led onevblufl? miner to slap him
on the back and inquire if he expected any of
his family to go over the divide.

The inquiry aroused the tall man who at once
hurried away, and paused no more until he
reached Ryan’s “ Royal Hotel.” Entering, he
looked around the bar~room and then went to
Tim, who stood behind the bar.

“ Is Mr. Hendrix inl” he blandly inquired.

“ He is that, sor; he’s roight up in his room,”
Tim hastened to say, anxious to please; for
Hendrix was the advance-agent or. the long-
named circus, and it followed thatwboever in—
quired for him must likewise be a great man.

So Timothy called a Chinaman who escorted
the tall man up-stdirs, and left him beforea cer-
tain door. The tall man rapped, was directed
to “Come in i" by an unseen person, and then
entered. .

He stood face to face with a small, active,
dark~complexioned man who was plainly of
French blood. This was Hendrix. He sprung up
at sight of the tall man and put out his hand.

“ l dear Chapman, I am delighted to See
you; entail of nthusiaaznl” ’1

And lifeboat his visitor’s hand in His delight
until,  i , f an forcibly rescued it.
“1th it,” he tardy said. “ Of course
yonhve‘glad to see the man who is filling our

; ‘ algékregular. But of that we wil say
no V . tdownl’" . . .
V ,apman s ktiu an implotient, ifl'itable
Es hadwta 'n a chair imself, but the
Frenchman was dancing about in a spasm ot
politeness which was thrown array. He obe ed
the 1899:8933 order and then sat smiling hllm ly.

“Dnukwater received my note, I suppose?”
thetallg‘man continued.

‘ Hendrix’s fag? instantly fell. 7

“'He did, sit“.
: “ And you/have made arrangements‘for do-
ing as I'saidi” .  . , ~ '
‘We batman, butt-3’ .  .v. , J
. ‘f‘I-‘here grains) ‘buts” in the  <1 know
«baryon would? say; that the boy is 'useful to
gang: {afifiumg be“?muner%ted, might?
‘o ,v ,'_ ] and ’am‘ e
Unrtvaled Act on: get! thgoi pm
take mevfor‘a 3i y’fish and expect? bleed me.
. aka Merrill, or- acorn-Cam—
pani, he in mine to do with asl‘wish, and I
shall sickle my right. want you and

-

Drinkw or to understand that l”
_-" fiend had been trying in various we. to
interrupt this flow of sarcastic talk: is the
tall man kept on serenely to the end. ,
hWhen he had said his say, lie-gave Heudniifia
c ance. " ‘ I ' "

“My dear Mr. Ghapman. far he .it'frnm' nie-

to take part in such a trick as you mention. I,
for one, ask for no more money for Jacob. You
have already puid us royally. But one word

8' for me: you

! nbout the boy. lclaim he is all we advertise.
, As an acrobat‘ he has few equals'in America;

he would be in demand with the best circuses
g in the country if his worth was known. When
l we bill him as ‘Jncopo Campani,’ it is, of

course, a trick of the trade. He is not an Ital-
! ian, but an American. He is doing wonders in
his profession, however; his vaulting is some-
thing superb. If you doubt it, see for yourself.
Among the circus people, with whom he is a
favorite, he is familiarly known as ‘Jumping
Jake,’ or ‘Jake the Jumper.”

“ I am glad to see you out of breath," turtly
answered Chapman. “Yet, take a fresh start
and go again. You want the boy to live. Tell
me why.’ . ‘ .

"' There’s money in him,” Hendrix whispered.

“For you.”

“Ay, and for whoever can use him. Such
jumping as he can do is marvelous and a mine
oil wealth." r

“ Are you in earnest?" Chapman keenly de-
manded. ,

“ I am—I swear it!"

“ Well, it‘s a pity your profession should lose
such a shining light, but so it must be. Jake,
the Jumper, must die!”

The Frenchman’s face fell and he sighed an.
dibly.

“ Is your heart weakening?” Chapman angrily
asked.

Hendrix snapped his fingers.

“ Bahl you should know me better—”

“ I do. Enough! Well, I told you to have a
plan laid by which J eke should be forever put
out of sight while in this town, and a plan so
wunning that no human being‘ would surmise
his death was the result of anyt ing more than
an accident.”

“Mon Diem! have I failed? No; all is ar-
ranged. Jumping Jake dies, as you have
said!"

“What is the pier?”

“ I will tell you. One of the feats our young
acrobat performs is to take a run along a spring
board, and then turn a double somersault over
an open cage of untamed and hungry tigers.
He does this neatly and coolly; and has never
failed to succeed. When I say an open cage, I
mean that, while it has firm sides, after the
usual kind, we take off the top before Jake
jumps, and a failure on his part would drop
him into the midst of the tigers.”

“ Bah! they are old, toothless and lazy. You.
circus men are full of tricks.”

' “ [give you my word of honor that they are
oung, untamed, savage and hungr . No
eeper dares enter their cage. And w lie the
boy is vaulting they are tearing at their bars
and roaring ll 9 demons.”

Cha man’s eyes sparkled. He believed and
began ,to see the fiendish plan of his confed-
erate. -

“ And the idea—” he began.

. “Is to substitute a weak, decayed spring—
board for the right one, sothat when Jake Jumps
the board will break, and he will fall short—
fall into the ti =rs‘ denl”

Hendrix un. olded this terrible scheme with a
bland smile on his face, and Chapman leaned
forward and’took his hand. It was something
unexpected from him, but he was delights
with the plan, and said as much. ~

“ Make a success of this, and, I will give you
android Drinkwater flv hundred dollars to di—
vide betv’vean you,’.’ be t on added3 r .

This time it was the Frenchmans turn to be'
delighted, and the pair of villains Wound them—
selves up in the beetof spirits, and ended by
Sending for liquor with which todrink to the,
success of their plan. _ I I l I

It may have been a jud out that the liquor

was as vile as Was their so eme.

' Shortlyvhefore dark the “European, African
and American Circus,” arrived in town. They
came: with, a grand flourish, preceded by a band-
‘wagnn ,discoursing thrillin music under the
combined uptem- of a base mum's. snare-drum
and three brass instruments which were more,
remarkable for quantity than quality. v

Then came the: cages containing the wild
beasts, all of which were last closed because the
animals were so ferocious. At least. such was
the reason given, but Hendrix whispered to

(it man that half the cages were empty.

 "3-, L k at our wonders,” continued the
Frenchman. “There’s Hebe. the Fat Woman,
who ‘9 he four hundred and thirtyaiive
 f '1'. Rush, the, liVm skeleton..wh‘o,.

Wei" ' {sixty-one: Yuaef. t etattootd than;
B. med thetigervtamer~ Haland there comes
Jak v, the Jumper! Watch himl”

 

 

 

Riding onka large, black horse was a youth of

that-pit
he we ‘

 

about seventeen, or eighteen. ears, dressed in
a suit of black and red, with si ver trimmings—
Jumping Jake! ‘

He was a bright~iaced. keen—eyed youth,
with a s lendid form and head, the latter cov-
ered wit rings of black hair: and as the pro-
cession passed he held nine pairs of eyes out of
every ten.

Without leaving his horse he turned somer-
saults in the air until the people were wild with
deli ht. Hardworking men were they at
8133 away Bar, wielding the pick and cradle to
induce the yellow ’gold to leave its bed, but
they vowed, onennd all, that they would “ pony
up ther dmt ter s'ee that'youngster in ther ring
of it bu’sted them all tor smash.” ‘

And when Slashnway Bar said a thing, it
meant it. , »

A long, slab building at one pside of the town,
which was bein erected for a combined saloon
and dance'hal , had been hired by Strong.
Smith & Drinkwater, and to that point went
the procession.

Once there, Jake, the Jumper, leaped from his
horse and ran in.

“I say,”said the tiger—tamer, catching him
by Elli: arm, “s’p’ose we' go out on a t’ur ten
mg t. ‘

“No,” answered Jake, decisively. “ I have
one evening of rest ahead of me and I shall
make the most of it. Take Yusef and go on
on your tear, it your mind wanders that way,
and may you come in with-a whole, headl”

CHAPTER II.
THE JUMPER CHANGES 1118 MINI).
Jnnrmo JAKE went directly to the men’s
dressing-room and proceeded to put ofi‘ his pro-
feesional garments fora more sober suit. His
calling hada sort of fascination for him, hut
he was beginning to think, as he grew older,
that a man should have s. more earnest ambi—

tion than to be looked at by the multitude as a

curiosity and his gaudy dress at times annoyed
him.

He had cost himself down on a rude bed to
rest when the Living Skeleton entered the
room. The latter came noisily, and was so
evidentl in a passion that Jake had to take
noticeo him.

“ What’s the matter L. 8.9”

“ L. 84" we will explain, was the abbreviated
name by which the th rmun was known among
his comrades; v
‘ “One of those loafers outside run into me
violently, and when I remonstrated, winked at
his hackers and said he didn’t see me. Always
hitting at my thinness you see. But there
would have been bloodshed in the Tinth Man
had not held me back. I’d- have knocked lhe
tough through the wall; I would, in St. Jago!"

The Living Skeleton flourished in bony fist
and looked as fierce as a Malay pirate, tut Jake
was used to that. L. S. was always ready to
fight, his warlike ardor causing him to forget

.that he could scarcely have whipped a ten-year.

old boy.

He was still prancing around wbenthe Fat
Woman entered, accompanied by a small boy.
The latterwas a keen-eyed young fellow. and 8
stran er to Jake. '

“'1' is hyar‘ is the which,” said the Fat
Woman, with a beaming smile. pointin to the
Jum er, and the smanboy made a aep and
adm rln bow.' - ' j

‘ “ Hop 11" you’ll excuse ther intrusion, I’m yer
obedient sarvint nn’ I’ve got Snthin’ for you.
Hynr-kh'e tel”. ‘

J And the small“ boy helda note toward the

urn r. , ,

Altman smile buried the the Jumper’s
lips; . Noteswere'hls daily food; notes in femi—
mue, writing; notes from girls who, in these
wild estern towns, had been captivated'by
Jacopo Campam’s grace. , v

This particular note read as follows:

“Mg. Curmme mist  will not misconstrue :

‘ my motive in writing to you. As a stranger I should

remain unseen and unheard lind not circumstances
brought to my notice something you might to know.
Yaw: lift dream/a on it! This I cannot write, nor can
Iconic-to you. If you will accompany the bearer I
will be gladéto tell you all and defeat a wiéked plot.
Elem my boldn it, such a. is, and do not
neglect the wormngessf. . ,, r -. _A More."
JEOPPO ‘ ' i, :read’ / to ,t’ba'end in silence.
As he  7mg writing was plainly
-.l;;bnt,it‘wns, not the kind of a note
_ , Mahmud Unless there
  to‘ what did not exist, in fact, it
was somethingoixtof the ordlmil' line;
The Jumper looked at the smal boy. He had ‘
a keen, shrewd face; but it was an o est and
prepossessing one. , i

I

 

to receive.

  

 

 

 

l
\

 

 

, J umping Jake.

a .

 

“ What's your name?" Jake asked. ‘
“Jim Bangs, commonly called Weasel Jim,"
the small boy replied.

“Who gave you this note?”

“ That’s a secret only to be told when ye see
ther sender“ Proodence demands secrecism,”
was the clear reply. _

“Well, I believe I‘ll change my mind and go
out. I have a little business to attend to any-
how.”

“ Let me go with you: you may have trouble
fromthe toughs,” eagerly said the warlike Liv-
in Skeleton.

fiat the Jumper kindly declined to take a
partner, and with Weasel Jim as a leader left
the shanty. Jake knew ver little about the
reputation of Slashaway ar, but as few
Western towns are strictly perfect, he went
with a pair of revolvers in his pockets.

As he had been seen at the Bar only in his
professional dress, and it was a place where
people came and went, it 'was not likely he
would be recognized.

“Now, then."he said to the small boy, when
they were fairly clear of. the shanty, “I want
more light on this subject. I on’t banker to
run my head against a stone we 1.”

“Guv’nor, I’d like ter tell ther secret, but I
won‘t break m£promise She’s ther charmin’-
est gal at ther ar, an’ I won’t go back on her
nohow. That’s said an’ it lays.

“Well, heave ahead but if there’s a drop-
game tacked on'anywhere I shall forget that
bullets hurt and blaze away. "

Weasel Jim asserted that he was “square
from the ground up,” and the air went on. It
wasn’t far to go; a man could ave run around
the whoJe village in ten minutes, and the guide
finally paused at the door of a cabin and gave a
peculiar knock.

The Jumperloosened a revolver, but when
the door opened his hand fell. If the girl thus”
revealed was a decoy of scoundrels, then Jake's
eyes were not fit for readiu character. She
looked more like an angel, e thought, than
anything else, and as we must all admit that a
pretty girl pleases the eye, Jet us pardon Jumps
mg Jake‘s wild fancy. Pretty she surely was,
and her face was that of a reliable girl too.

Her face brightened at sight of the Jumper
and she stepped back and bade them enter.
The small boy motioned to Jake to go first, and
when be obeyed the door closed and he saw Jim
hucll not entered; be was alone with the pretty,
glr .

She seemed a little embarrassed, but she at
once addressed him.

“I need scarcely ask if (your name is Jaco
Campani, Ir if you receive my note, she sai .

“Because the reply would in each case be
‘Yes,’ " he- said, smiling.

“Then I beg‘that you will sit down and let
me explain what must seem to you a very
strange matter,” she continued.

“ But not at all disagreeable," added he, with
the gallantry of his eighteen years.

“It may prove so before the and,” the girl
said, with a perceptible shiver,‘

By that time they were sitting opposite each
other at a small table and she rapidly con-
tinued: . ,

“As there isno time to lose I will say that
my name is ldalah Arnold. My. father is a
miner of this town. We are not rich; our sur-
roundings prove that; and every day for the
last year it has been my custom to go to the
Royal Hotel and attend to the accounts of the
proprietor, Mr. Ryan. He does a good deal of
business, not only as a hotel-kee er, but in fur-
nishing articles for the miners. at that is not
to the point. To-day, while there, I heard
semething of interest to you.” ‘

“ I can’t imagine what it was,” said Jake, not
a little puzzled.

, “Do you know a man named Hendrix?’

“ Yes; he‘s our advanced: gent. ”

“‘ And a Mr. Chapman?" 5

“ No. I never heard of him.” 1

“Yet, he knows you, and,  Hendrix, he
held a lon talk about you to—dey.”

gave“, Sban b8 Pleased. to know what they
so . ,

“I hardly think it will please you, but you
shall hear.”

And then Idalah proceeded to tell 0: the in-
terview recorded in our ope‘nin chapter. Her
room. as bookkeeper, had adjo ned that where

gtheflot was (formed, and as they had talked
loud y, all he plainly reached bag; and when
she gamed the c ew tetheir words she had not
scrupled to listen further. , , ,, _ I

r J limping Jake did, indeed hear wl interest,
but,rbeyond a compression of his li , his face
did not change. ,

Q
4

  

“A very fine scheme!" he commented. “So
they intend to drop me among the tigers and
have me eaten up. Rather a scaly glot, but I
can’t say anything villainous from o] Hendrix
would surprise me. But, this Chapman—I
never heard of him. What the dickens has he
got against me?”

“You must be in his way, somehow.”

“Can he want to be vaulter and acrobat in
S., S. 8: D.'s Show?” Jake asked, with a gri—
mace. “Scarcely, and that’s the only way in
which I could cast a. shadow in his path. I am
neither rich, a prince indisguise nor a candidate
for the Legislature.”

“ He wishes you dead, anyhow.”

“ He can take it out in wishing. I’m not
ready to leave this world, just yet. and I won’t
leave it at his say-—so, Brother Chapman will
get left in this matter."

“Then you will run away?’.

“ Run? Not a bit of it, Miss Arnold; that
isn’t my way. I’ll stay and fight it out, and
I’ll bet they don’t get a man in my king-rowl"

“But, just think,” argued Miss Idalah, with
evident uneasiness, “ that both Hendrix and
Drinkwater are against you.”

“ Very true, but I am not afraid of them. I
mean to put wit against wit, while if it comes
to a personal collision, all the boys of the circus
will be with me. The Tiger-Tamer, Tattooed
Man Living Skeleton and Fat Vl’cman are all
my riands, and the first two are giants in point
of strength." ' '
would much rather have seen Jake save himself
by flight, but she was only seventeen years old
and felt that he might resent her advice.

She felt called upon to tell why he had been
invited to the cabin.

“My father ave me strict orders not to go
out, and I won d not have dared go alone, any—
way. It was lucky he was out or I should
have been obll ed to warn you by note, and I
feared you won d regard such a way as a joke."

Even as she spoke a rough voice soundedout-
Side the cabin and she sprung hurriedly to her
eer.

“ it is my father.” she said, “and he must
not find you here! Oh! what shall I do?"

Her alarm was so deep and sincere that Jake
remained speechless. He could not see why
the return ,oE Mr. Arnold should cause his
daughter such a panic, but the fact remained
that she was most decidedly frightened.

CHAPTER IE.
.4 A car IN THE CLOSET.

IDALAH’S loss of courage was but momentary
and she flung open a doc ear her.

“ The closet 1" she, exc aimed. ,“ Get inside
tl’iere quicklyl"

Jumping Jake saw a place he did not aspire
to occupy, but as the latch rattled he saw he
had no time for words or examination. One
quick rush he made, and then the door clozed
behind him and be was in total darkness exc pt
for a bar of light which struggled through a
crack and was like a yellow thread on a black
robe. « '

The young acrobat, lost no time in turning
about so as to use the crack as a means of ob-
servation. , 4 . r

The, outer door had opened and two men
were in the room he had justleft. One of them
was of middle age, with a werful form, a
huge head and a coarse, bruta -looking face.

His companion seemed about twenty years of
age and looked more like a dissipated city youth
than a Western man. He wore eye-glasses and
sported a small, straw-colored mustache, but
h‘s form looked as muscular as the average and
his manner was certainly confident enough. I

Further than this Jake had met had t mesto
see when the elder man addressed Idalab.

“ Helm/you!” be roughly said, “ what're you
hangin’ around hyer furl “Why don’t ye speak
tor Claude Ritter an’ not stand like a post!

His questionsdid not dove-tail together‘Well,
but the girl seemed accustomed to, his roughness
and bowed. though coldly, to the dissipated-
looking young man. . _

“ Glad to see you, Princess," observed Bitter,
with a smile which did not improve his looks.

 

“ You’re as fresh and blooming as a ony.”
“Why don’t ya answer?" spa pe the elder
man. as Idalah deigned 'no rep y. “ Tell him

he (ices ye proud anlihank him right hearty.
Show or bringin’ up, will ye? Bitter, youare
, fool f you marry‘awomanybat never-mind.
al, we’ve got business to speak on. Chuck on
or headliner an? waltz over tar Granny Mlle
cr’s for an hour or 30.”. ’ ‘

Jumping Jake plainly saw that this big brute

 

, was Idalah‘s father, and He felt a strong desire

It was plain Idalah idid not feel at ease, and.

her-nod.

 

to walk out and cuff him for his ruflianly ways.
He saw plainly why the girl did not want Ar-
nold to know of- her guest, and another thing
was now clear.

ldalah was anxious concerning the man in
the closet.

She looked t0ward the latter place and hesi-
tated, but another outburst from her father
showed her there was no help for it. She must
go, leaving the bo ' acrobat in the closet and to
whatever ate ha in store for him.

Her face expressed her nneasine=s as she put
on her hat and prepared to go. She went, and '
the two men were alone. Arnold flung himself
in a chair.

“ Set down, Bitter, set down,” he said.
,“We’ve got rid 0’ that female property an’ kin
talk. Hang ther women; 1 never breathe free
when they’re around." ,

“ I wonder you ever married,” said Ritter.

“Hallo! what’s that [or you? Ain’t I. had
time enough (181' repent sence I tied (er ther
gal’s mother! Rather!”

“Tom Arnold, you’re an honest man, but you
have no taste for what‘s rule and rice,” said
his friend, putting his feet on the table.

“Taste fur thunder! But never mind, you
kin now free yer mind.”

“ One thing first; when am I to marry
Idalah?” - ‘

“Whenever you like.”

“ But she hangs 011 like a contrary mule.”

“ All women do.” '

“ But I rely'on you, Tom, to bring her to her
senses. Marry her 1 will if it tears Slashawav
Bar in pieces. You, Tom, mnsr, persuade her;

“ Persuade your grandfather! Bring around
your person. ’ an’ 1 ll see ter ther rest. Er ther
gal is offile I’ll—”

Tom Arnold finished the sentence by a signifi-
cant Working of his fingers around his own
throat. v -

“Don’t be a fool,” said Bitter, bluntl, . “You
ought to know that game won’t nor at the
Bar. Persuade or scare her into saying .‘Yss’
withouta murmur and all’s well. but the par-
son won’t ofiiciate at any forced marriage.”

Arnold medltated for a moment and then
added:

“ I reckon you‘are right, an’ I’ll take ther gal
in band. E! you want ter marry her, marry
heryyou shall. That is sworn to. You hear
me

Bitter acknowledged that he heard, and then

,the compact was cemented by a drink from a

black bottle. ' .

Jake, the Jumper, watched them fgom his
hiding-place with increasing disgust. ‘A more
gem)qu roman than Tom Arnold seemed to

he had never seen, and all his indi ation
was aroused. Just then he wished , e was.
Idalah’s brother that he might champion her
cause, but it was not certain he would not have
to fight Tom in his own behalf. ,

As for Hitter, he was evidently a fit oom«
panion. ,

How the 370an acrobat was to get out of the
closet be di not know. His time was his own
for the night, but he did not care to, pass it
there. The closet did not admit of any material
change of position, being barely wie enough
for him to stand erect. ’

“ I’m afraid I am in a bed fix.” be thought.
“RI, am discovered I shall be arrested fora
burglar, and for Idalah to testify in my behalf
would be to exp,- se her to b r hramltather's ah.
ger. And it’ll baa miraclei Arnold dpn’t want
something and come here to at it.”

The other men had aban oned business for»
the time while pa ing homage. to the black bot.
tle, but Tom final y aroused, locked up'the bot~
tle and abruptly said: . : ' '

“ Well what about our business?"

“ We’re going to have modest”; \

“ Sart’in we be. Who said we wa’n’tl” ”

“ In a few days," continued Bitter, “ Eavage
& Morgan will sand of! their gains. The gear.
terly wash ls fluighed and I hear the mine has
paid better than ever before. The team will
take it over the mountain.” , ’

“‘Aind we'll drop on it on the: way,” added

“ o; I haves better Ian. “When it goes, it I
will be well guarded, or Suva e 85 Morgan
fear roadoagents. {have said he team will
takenit gyer the mountain, but it will not.”

‘ 0 ' y ,

“No. ,l’revious to removing it, the firm will
store it in the usual lure. Good! we make
a note of this fact an save them this trou—
bleiofvtrans tatlcn by taking it nurself.”
Jake we hingtheplotters, saw that Arnold
oorldlall admired this plan, but there was doubt
on- 9 see. “

  

.34

 

Jumping Jake.

 

 

 

“ Can it be did 2" he asked.

“ it can, for I have bribed their watchman.
You know they have but one—Big Bill Benner—
and with him as a partner, to unlock the gates,
we scoop in the fortune and jump from poverty
to riches. How does it strike you?"

Arnold took his companion’s hand.

“ Bitter, you’re a brick,” he terser com~
mefited.

“ I hope I am,” the younger villain modestly
said,“ and I can swear I take to this kind of work.
I never sli ped up on a job but once. That was
in New ork—and my first. It made me an
outcast from the East, but I’ve got some brains
in my head since then.”

'The men continued their conversation, speak-
ing wholly on details, while Jumping Jake he-
gan to think he had run against a good-sized
norther by coming to Slashaway Bar. The plot
to murder him' the scheme for marrying Idalah
a ainst her will; the proposed robbery—all com:
bined made quite a ripple in the young acrobat’s
life. What would come of it he was not yet in
a position to know.

Already he was growing tired of keeping in
one position,,and there was no certainty that
Arnold would leave the'cabin that night. What
was to be done? .

Anxious to do something, he turned to inves-
tigate the wall behind him, to see if there was
really no hope there, and in so doing his head
struck against some hard article which immedi-
ately fell to the floor with a startling clutter.

J ake’s hair almost stood on end.

“ Thunderation l” stormed Arnold “ ef that
cat ain’t in ther closet. It’s Granny litiller’s, an’
I hate it like sin. Now, I’ve got it in my grip,
as ’twere, an' I‘m blamed at it leaves that shanty
alive.” _ . . ,

The fellow arose, took two long strides and
laid hold of the closet. He gave a jerk, but it

did not open. Jake more troubled tha .‘if he
had been Granny Miller’s cat in reali y, was
holding fast to the inside. a

He wished to avert discovery, but if it must
come he had his plans laid.

“Dum ther door!” roared Arnold, and then
he gave another jerk which was more successful.

The door flew open, and that, too with a and-
denness which destroyed Arnold’s balance and
left him sprawling on the floor.

Then the “ cat’ appeared.

Out shot the Jumper with the marvelous
agility which had given him a wide reputation,
and with an accurate calculation he drove one
foot into Mr. Arnold's stomach.

Nor was this all. ‘

Arisin from him as though he had been a
spring - ard, the youn acrobat turned a
somersault in the air, an , shooting over the
table, encountered Bitter. .

That person had seen him coming, as through
a glass, darkly, but whether he was a cat, a
man, or a blizzard, Ritter could not tell, so
rapid] did Jake move. But as the latter came
down is feet struck Ritter full in the face, and
down he went to keep Arnold company.

One more leap too .the acrobat to the door,
and as he shot through there was nothing left to
ten his victims what sort of an epidemic had
prostrated them. '

For Jake, mindful of the fact that delay was
dangerous. made his we back to the circus-
shanty just in time to decide a dis uted point in
a game of filter being played y the Living
Skeleton an be Tattooed Man. ,
CHAPTER IV.

mama JAKE COUNTERPLOTS.

' ONCE in his own quarters the youn acrobat
had a chance to think calmly, and suc thought
was certainly needed. He had three important

_ subjects formeditation but strangely or other-
wise, he thought first 0 Idalah and the danger
which menaced her from hein forced into a
disc able marriage by her fa er.

Ja e’s ympathles were all with‘ the girl, and
his anger arose to a white heat as he thought of
her peril. It' was certainly a shame that one so
ladylike, refined and gentle should be misused.
Jake, thereupon, registered a resolution to help
her as the solution of question third would
probably‘onable him to do.

Question second was in regard to the contem-
plated robbery of Saw o 85 Morgan. How
could it be prevented? C early by warning the

‘ firm; that was simple.

Question third referred more closel to the
Juniper himself. Granting that Ida ah had
made no mistake and that dunes-agent Hen—
drix had plotted with a. stranger to kill him
(Jake , two questions arose: Why did they wish
him ead, and who was the mysterious stranger
v-Chapmani

 

He devoted considerable time to studying this
mystery, but it was a loss of labor. He had no‘
idea who One man was, and could not see wh
the man shou (1 wish him dead.

Naturally, Idalah had not‘ been able to re-
member all she overheard, but she remembered
that the two plotters had s oken of money pre-
viously paid Hendrix and rinkwater by Chap-
man, and it seemed it was. no new spite he held
against “ Jacopo Campani.”

“It may be am a lost prince, or the heir of
a cool million," thought the youth grimly, “ but
I’ll be shot if I believe it. Stay; this Chapman
must be at the Royal Hotel; why not amble
over there, and try to get a look at him?"

The idea, once formed, grew upon him, and
he made still another change in his toilet—one
calculated to sink his identity as the “ cat in the
closet ”-and again left the circus-grounds.

‘It was not far to the hotel, and when he saw

that the bar-room was well filled, he coolly
sauntered in. Every one was busin talking,
the chief topic being the coming of the Circus,
and Jake was not made a target for curious
eyes.
The place does not re hire a description here,
being of the usual kin , while the people were
the rough, free-and-easy and untamed children
of nature common to the land of gold.

For the first time, Jake began to see that he
might not so easily find Chapman. He, did not
want to inquire, and as Idalah had not seen the

man, the youth did not know how he looked.

With this matter under consideration, Jake
was standing at one side when a tail, well-
dressed man entered the room. Jake noticed
him at the first, chiefly because he had a ver
supercilious way of pushing through the crow .
Evidently he believed his good clothes made him
a. man superior to the others.

At the bar, however, he paused.

“ Ryan,” he said, “ I want avbottle of whisky,
some hot water and sugar carried to my room.
I do not care to drink here.”

He looked disdainfully at the common peo-
ple, but Ryan was all blandness and polite-
ness.

“Certainly, Misther Chapman: it shall. be
done. Oi will attend to it at wance.”

The tall man went on, but Jumping Jake had
made a discovery; he had seen Chapman, his
mysterious foe. And the man was a. stranger
to him. Possessing a faculty for remembering
faces, he knew he had never known Chapman;
if he had ever seen him before it must have
been in his infancy or only casually.

Why, then, did the man hate him so bitterly?

“ The idea grows on me that I am a prince in
disguise,” the youth grimly thought. “Jucopo
Campani, keep your eyes open and you y
yet be sitting on the throne of the Napoleoxigfi

Finding nothing else of importance on his
hands he looked curiously about the room. He
saw but one familiar face; the Tiger-Tamer was
seated at a table playing poker with the gentle-
ness of a lamb.

Jake was about to go tohim when two per-
sons pushed ‘past him roughly. He looked and

saw Tom mold and young Ritter. Both
seemed in an ugly mood, and t ey went straight
to the bar.

“ Give me a int 9’ melted lead,” said Arnold,
brusduely. “ ’ve got a pain hyar what’s need-
ful 0 help.”

He laid his/hands on his stomach where Jump-
ing Jake’s heels had struck, and Bitter caressed

‘his nose in a mournful way. Jake smiled but
‘kept his eace.

Arnol drank and then turned his face toward
the crowd. There was an ugl look thereon,
and the se uel proved that it did not belie his
tem r. ovin suddenly forWard he paused
besi e the Tiger- amer. -

“ I‘ve been licked onc’t tor-night,” he an-
nounced, “ but I’ll sw’ar ther man don’t eat
beef t at kin do it ag’in. Do ye take it up, my
boots 1”

H slapped the Tiger-Tamer on the shoulder,
but med,turniug a little, looked at him from
head to foot with unwavering calmness.

“ I don’t see nothin’ tor take up," he replied.

Arnold can ht the double meaning and a fresh
fury shot to h 5 face. With a quick and skillful
movement he can ht Hamed’s'chair and jerked
it from beneath h m, and Hamed only escaped
a~fall by a quick leap.

He turned about calmly, but Jake, who knew
his reat power. was not to be deceived.

“ bar I hail from,” said the circus-man,
quietly “ such thin ain’t rulable. El Slash-
away her says ’tis t or fashion hysr, all right:
otherwise, this rty must set down whar he
meant mo ter so —on thor floor!"

“You ain’t got ther means 0’ puttin’ me

thar,” Arnold declared, determined to have a
fight; “ No calf kin bleat out loud at ther
ar. ’

“ Ther Bar shall vote,” said Hamed. “ Which
is it, men—was ther act squar’ or notl” I

“ Not squar’, an’ you’re a fool ef you swaller
it,” some one answered; and there wasa gen-
eral echoing of the verdict.

“ So I thought,” flamed evenly said. “ Crit-
ter set down!”

lie pointed to the floor which, having been.
occupied all the evening by smokers and drink-
ers was certainly not in a condition to make a.
good seat, and Tom Arnold declared with a
profane addition that he would do nothing of:
the kind.

“ If you mean fight, sail in; otherwise, cave,”
he said, with a swagger.

“Ther Bar has voted; you heerd it; but ef
you ain’t satisfied, we’ll change. Ther ayes
had it; now, ther nose has it i"

As Hamed spoke he thrust out his hand,
caught Tom’s nose between his thumb and
finger and gave it a twist which whirled its.
owner around sideways.

Arnold righted himself as soon as possible and
rushed at his man, but he was shown a sample
of the Tiger-Tamer’s power not to be despised.

Hamed caught him skillfully and in a resist—

less hold. One moment the two were mixed in
a hard grapple, and then down on the floor. sat
Tom Arnold with a force which made the
glasses jingle on the bar.
” It was a bitter discomfiture, for jeers arose
from the crawd and Arnold was compared to a
map, but he was not allowed to rise just then.
When he tried it flamed tipped him over and
planted his foot on his breast. . ’

“I‘m no!) a fighting man," said the Tiger-
Tamer, “and exercise 0’ this kind ma be car—
ried ter excess. Better lay where you e.”

He had done everything easily, but what he
had done was astonishin . Men at ‘the Bar
knew Tom Arnold, and oy realized what it
was to thus put him down. 4 '

The rufiian squirmed under the hostile heel
only to labor in vain, but the scene suddenly
assumed a new aspect. Jumping Jake saw
Bitter draw a. knife and, partially concealing it
in his coat-sleeve, work around to the Tiger-
Tamer’s back. '

His movement was not to be mistaken; if he
did not intend to commit outri ht murder there
-was lawless work planned by is unscrupulous
brain.

He had nearly reached his man when his way
was barred by Jumping Jake. .

“Hustle out of thisl” the young ruflian or-
dered, not recognizin his previous lssailant.

“ I’m not a hustler, ’Jake coolly said, keeping
his place. ‘ ' '

Bitter drew back his arm and shot out a vi-
cious blow, but Jake easily dod it. i

“ Stand back!” he cried, “ or ’11 return your
compliment in kind. Assassins don’t deserve
too much clemency.” »

“ Who’s an assassin i” Bitter surlily demanded,
checked for a moment. '

“ You intended to be one.” ,

“ Take care; that’s a serious charge.”

f‘I can prove it. What have you up your
sleeveil Drop the knife!”

"You’re a liar if you say I carry one. Boys,
you know me in the Bar; do you take me'for a
cut—throat?"

It'was plain from Ritter’s manner that he
was losing his ambition for a fight. He had
neither the muscle nor the brute courage of
Arnold, and the bold stand of his younger op-
ponent bad alarmed him not a little. As a re-
sult, he looked to the Bar to back him.

There he met with disappointment.

“ We take you for a cut-throat on the sneak
plan,” some one answered, and the cry was
generally echoed.

“ You touch the ri ht note, gentlemen," said
Jumping Jak “an if you say the word I‘ll
prove it. I this fellow has a knife up his
sleeve with w ch he intended to stab the con-
queror of his friend in the back. Once more, I
call on him to drop it i”

" I’ll See you in perdition, firstl” Bitter furi—
ously excls med. “

 

CHAPTER V.
m can: os- nouns:

Jan, the Jinn r,'was laced in a position
far from agreeabe. 1t been the licy of
those attached to the circus to kee thg peace
wherever they went, while at the Ear both he
and He were gain

at a llo road
which amt lead to in l. g. p on a

 

One moment he hesitated, but as a twinkle of

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Jumping Jake.

5

 

 

'satisfac‘ion appeared in Bitter‘s eyes his re =olu-
tion was taken.

“Since you have failed to stab my friend in
the back,” he said, “1 suppose I might drop the
mitter; but it standsasa question of veracity
between you and me. Allow two men to look
in your sleeve and, if they don‘t find any knife,
I’ll withdrew my charge. ’ '

“No human being shall 100k in my sleeve!”
Bitter declared, his voice defiant, but his eyes
plainly looking for a loophole for swap".

“ Go fur him, J akeyl” cried the Tiger-Tamer,
still keeping his hold on Arnold.

The words were 3 at on his lips when Jake
moved. Ritter had foreseen his purpose and he
tried to draw a revolver to a head, but it was
knocked from his hand by one blow from the
acrobat and he was seized in a resistless grasp.

One moment they were twisted up in a con-
fused way and then Bitter went spinning back
and Jake held up an ugly-looking knife.

“ That’s what he uses on men’s bfcks,” he
announced. “I took it from his sleeve; you see
what his style is."

The youth had undoubtedly won a stron
point and black looks were turned on Ritteran
his older friend, but just then there was an in-
terruption. Some one hai conveyed word to
the town’s sheiifl that a fight was going on,
and he now up cared in the door.

The scene c anged. There were men there
who hated law and order, and were opposed to
seeing _a good fight interrupted and the princi-
pals jailed, and there was a crash of glass as some
one sent the lamps flying and the room was
plun ed in darkness.

“ at out o’ h or on therjumpl" some other
person said, in ake’s ear, and the latter saw
the wisdom of the advice.

It would make it bad for him to be arrested
in Slashawa Bar.

He turne to Hamed, found him without
trouble and the two glided away together.

“It ain’t my style tor skulk an’ run," said
the Tiger—Tamer, “ but ther good 0’ ther circus
demands that I keep .ther peace an’ I’ll do it of
I have ter fight for it.”

" Do you suppose those men will know us if
we meet again?" Jake ‘asked.

“ They’ll be foolsef they forgit," said Hamed,
with a rin. “ I put a plaster on my man’s
back. hat floor wasn’t overly clean.”

The two had not stopped while talking, and
by that time they were well beyond the hotel
and near the circus shanty. When sure there
was no danger of pursuit, Jake stopped and

took Hamed into his confidence in regard to the '

plot of, Chapman and Hendrix. Lacking any
more reliable ally, he felt it would be well to
have the Tiger-Tamer on his side.

 

The following day found Slashaway Bar as
usual. The trouble at the hotel had been quiet-
l y settled, and there was no whisper to tell Jake
and Hamed that their identity was known.
Torn Arnold and Ritter were not seen near the
circus ground and it'looked as though no one
had connected the two men of the hotel fight
with the characters they really filled.

The hour for the performance drew near.
The long—named'circns did not depend so much
on quantity as quality, as the people found
when they went in to view the anim'als and
curiosities; but the Livin Skeleton and Fat
Woman, and two untam Bengal tigers were
duly admired. Other beasts which seemed to
hiave been too much tamed made little impres-
s on.

Omitting all previous details, let us, say that
it was when “Jacopo Campani," the so called
Italian acrobat, Came on the ,scene that the en-
thusiasm of the audience aroused. Jum ing
Jake was found to be all that was claim; for
him, and‘ his acrobatic feats were astonishing to
Slasliaway Bar. -

NJ!’ was Mr. Chapman less surprised. He sat
among the audience, a quiet spectator, but he
found that Hendrix had told the truth when he
.eulogizmi the youth so highly.

The Jumper was certainly a wonder.

The time approached when he was'to perform
what was deemed hlfigreatest act. The untamed
Bengal tigers wereln anugly mood. They were
hungry, and their roars, had slightly disturbed

‘ even the miners’ serenity. Now, Jumping Jake

was to take a long leap OVer their den.

The cage was whee-zed into place and the top
removed. The fierce brute: ulled at their
chains and the audience instinct vel y looked for
'the nearest way of escaped in casethey snapped
the chains.“ . _

, Everything was arranged for J :ike’s loop.

'The spring-board “in put in plat-e a- d men ‘

 

he must cover. One false move would cause
him to fall short and drop in the cage with
the hungry, roaring tigers.

Chapman chuckled inwardly. Hendrix had
assured him the spring-board had been tam-
pered with, and he had no doubt but the tigers
would be tearing the young acrobat's flesh in a
few moments. ‘

Jumping J a'ke had been given a. short breath- I

ing-Spell and he now came on the scene in good
condition. Mr. Drinkwater himself always
supei-inmnded this dangerous act, and be was
at his post as usual and thrice as calmly as
over.

Then Drinkwater explained the feat and the
miners sat in hushed expectancy.

The Jumper stood at the further and of the
board and viewed his course with an unwaver—
ing eye. The hungry tigers roared, but it
was familiar music to him.

“ Now!" said Drinkwater, .with a gentle
smile. '

Jumping Jake ran li htly along the board,

his movements greeted y a reverbei‘aiing roar
from the cage. The. open top was like the
yawning crater of an active volcano.
-' With a graceful run Jake reached the middle
of the board and lanched himself upward for
the turn in mid-air; but as he did so there
was a sharp crack and the excited miners saw
the board part like a pipe-stem.

And they saw, too, that the young acrobat,
instead of taking along and graceful leap, per—
ceptibly failed to get the necessary impetus;
they saw at first glance that he must fall short
and directly in the tigers’ cage, and as the hon-
gry hrutes roared louder than ever, a stifled
groan a so from the audience.

Down ame the Jumper, and every spectator
arose as he fell fairly in the cage, midway be-
tween the tigers.

With a terrible roar the brutes leaped from
their corners toward him and a wicked smile
stole to Drinkwater’s face.

But what followed amazed him. The tigers,
which had alvmys been able to meet in the cage
by reason of the length of their chains, this
time failed to do so. As they leaped forward,
they were arrested and jerked back as though
their chains had been miraculously shortened.

And Jumping Jake? ,

W hen he alighted in the cage, it was square]
upon his feet, and then, without losing his bat -
once, he arose in his old, graceful way, and
somersaulted out of. the cage withouta scratch
from the Bengal ti ers. ..

One moment the ash bun over the'audience
and then a cheer arose whic shook the build-
ing. Jake, the Jumper, had the sym athy of
every honest man in the place just is en, and
the showed it. not only by cheering, but by
shu ing his hand. .

Mr. Drinkwater, baffled and angry, was try-
ing to‘control his face and was pressing for-
ward to join in the hand—shaking when a heavy
hand fell on his own shoulder.

“You’re my pris’ner, my snaky chap,” said
a rut! voice.

rinkwater looked at the speaker.

“What?” he demanded. ‘

“I say you are my ris’ner. Sech doin’s 92
these can’t thrive in lashawa Bar while I,
Golfer Bu’rke, hold ther plow. t’s ther suit a
Jacopo Campani as. you snaky chaps!”

And the young acrobat, parting the‘ crowd
with his hands, cried:

“Let no man leave the building. This acci-
dent was a put-up job on me, ad the menawho
took part in it are wanted. Guard the doors!”

Something like a suspicion of the truth fell
upon the miners and they obeyed the order.
“Back among them was a man with a scared
face, but he dared not try to break through.
This._was Chapman. ,

Drinkwater and Hendrix had both been
arrested, but their angry remonstrances were
cut short and J aim was given the floor. .

Men of Slashawa Bar!” be said, in a ring-
ing voice. “ I accuse t e manazersof this circus
of plotting .a ainst my life and call on you for
justice. I wil show you that the spring-hoard
was tampered with, and that it was the inten-
tion that I should fall into the tigers’ cage and
fall Victim to them.” ‘

An anzl‘y murmur arose from the miners and
Sherifl Burke deemed it prudent to get his
EEISOUBPE into a recess where no one could harm

em. ‘

“Raise your carol, Jampo,” he then said.
“Tell what you know an' no mpre. Justice
shall he did while I lmld ther plow " . ’ '

.“I’ll lell whsr I know." said Jake. “I re-
epived n HUT“ rigc- [ mop h‘TP ".‘Il‘l ing me

“rm

 

\miutterhd to t:.eznsii1..-suih.ysuwlhlydistance i that a plot ‘55.? W foot “gm... my mg; m,“ ;

the s ring-board was to be tampered with so
that {would fall short in my leap and drop in
the tigers’ cage, there to be devoured by them.
I resolved to test the truth of this information,
and for this purpose took Hamed, the Tiger-
Tamer, into my confidence. Early this morn-
ing we discovered that the genuine springboard

i had been removod and an inferior one put in its

place. More than this, there was no doubt but
the second one would break under the strain put
upon it."

Thus far the accused men .had heard in silenge,
but Drinkwater now interrupted:

“I trust none of you will believe this absurd
story. There has been no such plot as isclaimed.
If the boards were mixed it was by accident; I
know nothin about it.”

“ You sti e your carol!” advised Sherifl’
Burke. “When your turn comes you kin
crate; jestice shall be done while I hold that

low.” . ‘

p “ Whose dut is it to look to the board?"
cried Jake. “That of men selected by Drink-
water. Who oversees my dangerous leap at its
time of performance? Drinkwater, himself. '
Now, I’ll tell on why I went on with in art;
’twas because I was bound to prove what now
charge. I said Hamed was in my confidence.
So he was, and it was he who arranged an
ingenious way of taking up the chain, oi short—
ening it, so the tigers could not get at me. You
saw how it worked; I went into the Cage, but
the shortened CUBIDS held the tigers back and I
came out all right. That, however, don’t change
the complexion of the deed. What do, you say
of a man who would deliberately put another in
a den of tigers?”

An angry about arose from the miners and
more than one brawny fist was shaken at the
head of the circus.

And about the same time Chapman found a
hand laid on his arm. '

" You’re wanted, too, ole broadcloth,” said}
rough-looking man. . “I'm Deputy-sherifl
Sparks, and when I git ter whirlin’ tber fire
flies;

Chapman assumed a very haughty and indig—
nant manner, but he was among men who
couldn’t be easily frightened. The rich man
rules the large cities of the East, but he can’t
always get his grip on the mining-towns.

Still protesting, Chapman was taken near his
partners in crime. Once there he received a.
hint from Drinkwater, who, looking him full in
the face. said aloud:

“Sheriff, you may do with us ns you see fit.
This is not t 9 time for a defense, but you can
rest assured this ridiculous charge will be
exploded in due time. Take us away 1"

And Burke obeyed, keeping his grasp alwa s
on his man, but declaring justice should
done while he “held the plow.”

- ’

CHAPTER VI.
non rnnrmxxrv to common.

JUMPING JAKE had thus far carried every-
thing before him. He had come out of 'Chapo
man s trap in safety, and won Shashaway Bar
over to his side, but he was not one to let mat-
ters rest. > .

He had asked the sheril! to put the manor:
in separate rooms when be confined t em, and
thus it was that Chapman had been but a. few
minutes alone, when the door reopened, and
the young acrobat walked in. I

The two looked at each other in silence for o
while. Twenty-four hours before Jake had not
known there was such a person as Chapman in
the world, but he now saw in him his worst
enemy, without having the remotest clew to
the cause of his enmity. - it

“ Well," he said at last, “ you see Ihave called
on you.” , a ’

“liwgthpnt an invitation,” Chapman haughtily
rep e . r

“ Precisely.
to kill me.” V

‘f Bah l—this is rubbish. I supprse you. think

on on his ail me, or something of the

ind. Well, I am a stranger in this place, and

as the rufianly sherifi had things all his own

way, I have” kept quiet. .Yon will see at the

gratiowever, that you are making a big mi»
e

“ What shall you do?" . , ‘

“ Ishall prove my unblem bed churn ter in
that even Slashaway Bar wi I believe, Jim “I
show you the conse uencvs of pe’i'jur' .”

“Suppose I wit draw my i-hrrge'l" Jake
slowly asked. ' '

“That‘s another ques‘ion,” Clwlrrrn mid,
“it- unaiiari. «i uickress. ,

"Ami throw al the blame on Drii kwah r3”.

Neither did I invite you to plot

  

 

\

6

Jumping Jake.

 

Chapman opened his lips, closed them, and
then reopened them for an answer.

"From my point of view there is no blame
anywhere. It seems to me but an accident.”

" We will not speak of that. Suppose I with—
draw my charge against you?”

The man was very near fallingimto the trap,
but prudence came to his aid. e saw where
a sting might be, if it was not, and hastened to
avoid it.

“I don’t ask you to withdraw,” he haughtily
said. "I will not hear of a compromise. My
character has been unjustly assailed, and I wi I
right it to your cost.”

‘ You prefer to fight?”

“Yes.’

iiike coolly sat down on the edge of the
ta 9.

“If you say ‘war,’ so be it. We’ll go in,
tooth and nail, and the top out shall take the
medal. Seriously, Mr. Chapman, I want to say
you are in a serious situation, and it behooves
vou to go light and look out for‘ oursslf.
Slushawny Bar Won’t stand any fooing, and
your hold is to compromise with me.”

“ Oho! so it’s blackmail, just as I thought.”

“No; it’s not blackmail. I don’t want a red
cent, or a white one out of you; but what I do
call for isa showing of hands. Why do you
wish me dead?"

“ Why shouldn’t I after what you‘ve done?"

“ What have I done?"

“you’ve sworn a false charge against
me. -

“Nonsensel—I don’t speak of that. Look
further back. Why did you hire Hendrix to
kill moi”

“ Idid npthin of the kind.”

‘.‘ ’Tis falsel p in your room at Ryan’s
hotel you and Hendrix arranged the prelimi-
caries."

Here. Jake repeated all he could remember of
what idulsh Arnold told him, and Chapman
could not but see that there must have been a
listener at the interview. He was alarmed, but
nothing was further from his thoughts than a
confession.

“This is a pretty tale,” he sneered.

“We shall prom it if need be. Come sir,

nobody values your hide more than yourself;
confess and get out of the fix as cheaply as
possible. What old grudge do you hold against
me?‘ .
“Your impudence is great. What grudge
should I hold against you? What are you to
me? From my point of view it would be like
the sun hating a tallow candle for me to give
you a thought."

Chapman spoke haughtily, ostentatioust

laying with his gold watch and chain, but
um ing Jake was not to be deceived.

“ ewon’t peak of what might be, butof
what is," he co lly said. “For some reason you
wished me dead and hired Hendrix and Drink-
water to drop me in the tigers’ cage. The game
didn’t work and I am right-side u with care.
Consequently, I say, make a clean roast of it
and We will settle aflairs up to mutual advan-
tage. If you refuse, sir, Ill press the case to

the furthest limit!" ’ '

‘ “Press and be hangedl" Chapman hotl

cried. “Bee here—get ontof this cell or I’l
, kick you out l?‘

There wds an evil light in his eyes and there
’could be no doubt but he meant what he said.

r Jumping Jake, however, met the threat with

his mum coolness. ,

“That’s as you see fit; of course you run your
own engine.” he carelesst observed.

The words mmed to rouse Chapman to a fury
.and he dashed at the youth with his fists dou-
"blod. For the moment be for 0t his desire to

have Jacopo Cam ni go out o the world with-

out his visible he , and there was murder in
his heart, but Jake wasn’t inclined to play the
part of a martyr.

As the man rushed forward the young acro-
bat stoo d for a moment and then arose high
in the a r with a graceful hand-spring shooting
over Chapman’s bead ina Way wh ch made
good his claim to be the champion acrobat.

“You‘ll find me around this side.” he then
coolly observad. “ You must have mislaid
me.

Chapman uttered a curse as he wheeled, but.
the evil light was still in his eyes. Again he
rush atthe youth who, this time, had adiffer-
out in view.

He made a faint of leaping in the old way, but,

. checking himself. sawChupman ut u hisvarms
and that leave his front ungun ed. ' twee the
chance for which Jake waited, and with a skill-
ful stroke at his enemy’s stomach he laid him
on his back. i' '

 

A moment more and Jake was at the door.

“ If you change your mind,” he said, as Chap-
man slowly arose, "send for me; but bear in
mind that if you try this trick again when I
call it’ll be more than a rap in the stomach
you’ll get.”

Chapman did not answer.
a blow which left a pain behind it, and he be—
gun to realize that victory is no't always with
the strong and mature. He did not care to try
the Jumper again.

“Remember,” added the latter, “that if you
see fit to make a clean breast of it and com-
promise, I am ready to hear you. Otherwise, I
shall push the case.”

His enemy growled a curse, and then Jake
went out and closed the door behind him.

He Went directly to the circus shanty. There
he found things had settled down to a quiet,
but far from unguid, state. The. Fat Woman
and Living Skeleton were having an earnest
talk at one side and flamed and Yusef were
conversingdwilh Grout, the ring-master.

Lacking any official head, the latter had as-
sumed charge of the circus, but all knew the
concern was at a standstill until Drinkwater
got 'out of prison, and Jake thought Grout did
not look at him with a friendly eye

He was, however, kindly received by all, out-
wardly, and he knew the other performers were
with him through thick and thin.

In a short time word was brought to Jake
and flamed that the village judge, whose name
was Kerrigan, wished to see them at his office.
They went, and found the office to be as small
as was the judge. And besides being small, Mr
Kerrigan was fussy and suspicious.

Piniuly, he did not look on the Jumper with
much favor.

" 1 want to know on what grounds you abut
three men at a slap," he said. “I want to
know if the sherifl has proceeded according to
Hoyle.”

“ He considered the evidence sufficient—”

“'His opinion is superficial, nerel super-
ficiil. I want to know if I on: tisfle .”

Jake saw that he must humor the judge, so
he told the stor as he had explained it at the
circus— round. 9 was resolved not to men-
tion I slab, and rather hoped she would not»
come forward to testify, so he said, as before,
that he had received his warning by letter.

“Humphl humphl humphl” muttered Ker-
rigan, when the story was told. “Evidence is
insufficient. You receive an enormous letter ”
-—the judge meant an anonymous letter—“ and
find youi‘ spring-board changed. No grounds
for arrest; no court of Coke and Hoyle would
convict; sad mistake on Burke's part. ‘

He looked over his spectacles at Jake as
though he was a convicted criminal, and shook
his head dismally.

“ ,I’Vhy,” began Hamed, “ ther case is as clear
as—

“I want ter know what I think, not what
you think,” irritably interrupted Kerrigan.
‘Bein unable to prove a case you may be con—
fined or a year at hard labor for S ashaway
Bar according to Coke and Hoyle.”

“I’d like ter soother man that kin confine
me!" the Tiger‘Tamer h'otly re licd' but Jake
pulled at his sleeve and he adds : “ long es
your honor is on :11 side."

“Hold! holdl” said Kerrigan. “Am not sure
I am on your side. I want to know what I
think before I decide. Go away i” ‘

Thus summarily dismissed they went. Earned
pamd along toward Ryan's hotel for an even~
ng drink, and to impress the public still fur—

He had received

ther in their favor, but Jake started back to the ‘

circus shanty.

He had gone half-way when a figure sprung
from behind a cabin and stood in his path. The
darkness did not enable him to get a good view,
but he saw that it was a women even before he

spoke. .

“ Hold on, boy 1” she ordered; "I want to
speak with cu.” .
’ “ Certain y," said Jake, politelg.

“ Don’t play any airs on me. on are Jaoopo
Cam ni, are you not?”

.. 3:, ..

“,I thought 30. Do you know what you’ve
done?” -

" To what do you refer?"

She stamped her foot angrily.

“You have shut u Che man; he was my
best friend !" she ang ly dec ared.

“Your worst one must be a poor-specimen
then,” J slid could not helps’aying; ‘

“Silence! How dare you apes thus? I say
Chapman is my friend. How dare you insu t
him Besides you are mad; mad, I say. ' He is

yOur friend too.”

 

“As a. friend, he don’t pan out heavy then.
But, such remarks won’t do any good. If you’ll
tell me who you are, and what you‘re driving
at, I can talk more to the point.”

“It’s none of your business who I am."

“ You are dealing in em ty words, madani—”

“Empty, are they? ou’ll find them any»
thingelse. Do you hear me! I nary our own
life and safety depend on that o Chapman.
While he lives ou are safe; with him dead you
are doomed.
prison before another sun goes down. Do you

our me? I say he must and shalll”

CHAPTER VII.
FRESH TROUBLE son JAKE.

Jourmo JAKE bad been.using his eyes as
far as was possible while talking, and he had
come to the conclusion that the unknown Wo—
man was middle-aged, small, thin—faced, nerv-
ous, and excitable. More than this he could
not see the use for further words with her.

“I don‘t run the judiciulmill of Slashaway
Bar," he said, when she finished her last speech,
“ and it don’t rest with me to unlock the prison~
door. This much I will say, however; show me
good reason why I should intercede in his be-
half und I’ll do it. As things stand now, I don’t
know him or you.”

“You’ll find us both out if you don’t turn
back!” she declared, again stamping her foot.

“Why not divulge now?"

“ Because I won’tl"

“Very good; I advise you io go and get
quarters at an insane asylum," said ake iartly.

With these words he began moving away.

“ Do you defy me-i' she called offer him.

" “I defy nobody, but as for renting here, like
a country tragedisn, for an hour, I won‘t do it.
Good-nightl”

She did not call after him again and he soon
disappeared in the darkness, but he did not by
any means intend to lose sight of her. The
mystery surrounding Chapman and his unex-
plainable hatred was one he was anxious to
solve, and he intended to know more of the woe
I118".

Accordingly, he quickly doubled on his truck,
and came around to the opposite S do of the ca-
bin just as the woman was moving away.

There was nothing about hiI‘ manner which
showed she was afraid of being pursued, and be
moved along in the rear with considerable con-
fidence. ,

She walked rapidly, not once looking behind
her, and Jake easily saw that she was still act;
ing under the nervous excitement he had no—
ticed. ,
' It was riot a long walk she led him, but he felt.
somewhat surprised when he sawber enter the
cabin of Tom Arnold. Events began to thicken,
and links he had thought distinct to unite. What-
was the avowed friend of Chapman doing -alt
Arnold‘s home? ’Had she learned of Idalah’s
share in Chapman’s downfall, or—

As the door, promptly opened to her knock,
and as promptly shut closed behind her, a fresh
question occurred to jumping J eke.

Could it be he had been made the victim of a
hitherto unsuspected plot, and that Idalah was
the tool used by other and older heads?

\One moment Jake considered the possibility;
and then it was rejected. He remembued the
face of Idalah, pure. refined, and gentle, and
her manner, and he turned from the suspicion.
No; whatever was the truth,‘the rl was not;
:0 be considered a plotter; she ad told «the

ruth.

“ But that’s no reason why I shouldn’t know
what’s goin on in Tom‘s cabin, if I can find
out.” he doc dad, as he moved forward again.

The cabin did not prove to be well adapted
for his purpose. A light showed from the ini-
terior, ut Idalah’s womanly taste had placed
curtains at the windows, and the door was
cloned. '

Jake, however, was.not eaail discoura ed,
and he went down on his knees fore the cor
where a ray of light shone through. By means
at: this crack be gained a slight view of the in-

nor.

Toe first thing he saw was young Hitter, who
was tipped back in a chair with his heels on the
table, at it was not until he aroseand went to
the fire to relight his. pipe that Jake saw any
one else. His going, however, showed Tom ‘Ar—
hold and a woman in close conversation.

That the latter was the person be bid fol'»
lowed there the youth could not doubt, though
her back was toward him.

He listened, but not a distinguishable wordl ‘

reached his ears. - -
Plainly, he must get another position to over-
hear what they were saying. r ‘

oy, he must be released from ,

 

 

 

 

 

 

lie went to each of the windows in succes-
sion, but all were fastened.

The situation was most annoying, for the
Jumper felt that in their conversation lay the
clew to much that perplexed him. If he could
overhear it, he might be able to control a fu—
ture which possibly would otherwise go all
against him. '

Yet, the means were lacking; forteven if he
had felt justified in breaking a w1ndow, the
noise would have betrayed him. >

He had returned to the door when he heard
voices at both his right and left at the same
time. He was placed between two fires, and
the danger of being accused of unlawful work
aroused him to the necessity of escaping dis-
covery.

He‘saw but one way.

Arnold’s cabin was built with a roof
so nearly flat that it was sloped only just
enough to enable the water to .run oil. The
eaves, as he had seen on n‘formcr occasion,
came nearly down to the door, and the door
was surrounded b an outside casing. These
points, and his skil in jumping, be resolved to
turn to his advantage.

A short spring upward enabled him to catch
at the top ofdoor-casizsg, and then with one of his
acrobatic feats which had astonished so many,
he swung himself to the roof.

He was none too soon, as the, owners of the
voices he had heard quickly met at the door.
One passed quietly on, but the other knocked at
the door.

“Hallo!” thought Jake, “is all Slashaway
Bar coming here to-nighti Now, who is this!”

Bending over the eaves he endeavored to get
clock at the man's face, but though llle light
from the interior fell on his arments when the
door was opened, showingt em to be rough,
mining clothes, his face remained in the
shadow.

He was admitted without question, and J ump-
ing Jake was left to wonder afresh. His recent
interview with the woman convinced him that
his name must be among those mentioned insrde
and he felt interested. ‘

But how was he to learn anything?

A short examination of the roof convinced
him he was‘belpless in the case. Unless those
inside saw fit to raise their voices so he could
hear at the door he Would not be able to hear at

all.

Satisfied that this was so, he dropped to the
ground, went again to the door and applied his
cyeto the Cree . He saw Arnold and Bitter
seated at the table, and that was all he did see.
Both were talking and their words Were plain

enough. '
“I don't like whisky; it- makes my head feel

as though a rope was tied tight around it," said .

Bitter.

“ Bah! as lon ez I don’t have any sech feelin’
aboht my neck don’t keer a red,” said Arnold.
" Whisky is my p‘izen right along.”

And this was the important conversation Jake
hoped to hear. He listened for a moment longer
and then the truth fleshed upon him. Articld
and Bitter were alone' the mysterious woman
and the third man he silently left the cabin
while he was examining the roof.

It was abitrer disappointment, for the youth
had bOped to follow the woman when she left
and thus strike the desired .clew- but it might
not yet be too late. Desertlng his post, he ran
along the street, looking eagerly at every person
he saw: But not one of them was a woman;
Slashaw'ay Bar did not deal very heavyy in the
female aux, any way. '

Jumping Jake was finally obliged to confess
himself beaten. $0 trace could be found of the

‘ strange woman. though he visited Tim Ryanls
, hotel\and wandered about the village until

tired.

At last he returned to' the circus shanty,
where he found his fellow professionals begin~
hing to get anxious. Hamed and Yusef, who

 

were playing poker, had made several wretched ‘

Elays, and the Lian Skeleton had just nrmed
imself With a awe! and announced his intcu~
tion of goinaon the war—path.

The Fat omen was so delighted at J ake’s re-
turn that she barely restrained her impulse to
embrace him, compromising by shaking his
hand and that of the Livxng Skeleton at the
same time. .

A grand council of war was then held. it
was unanimously decided that the five persons
then present must “stick to eachother like, bro.

.thers,” as the Fat Woman expressed it. They

all doubted the loyalty 0f .Grout, Ihe ring-m”.
tar, and felt that he was likely to be the friend
of Drinkwater and his allies because then» was
money in it; therefore, the Banded Five, as we

l
l

l

Jumping J eke. .

Living Skeleton suggested they call them-3

selves, must be as cunning as serpents and as
dangerous as possible.

The Jumper went to bed feeling that these
friends, humble though they were, could be
trusted in all ways, and be resolved to show a
bold front in spite of sundry adverse circum-
stances; and if Judge Kerrigan went- against

‘ him he must make the best of it.

He awoke in the morning with the freshness
of youth and prepared for what the day might
bring forth.

Events developed with a rush.

He had but just swallowed his breakfast when
the Fat Woman rolled in to say that Sheriff
Burke was at the door and calling for him——
Jake—and that other men were'with him who
were plainly very angry.

A shadow crossed ake’s face. He scented
danger even then and felt that his foes in Slash-
awny Bar had put up some job on him; very
likely the unknown woman was at the bottom
0 ill. '

'It was his way to face the storm however,
and he went promptly to the outer oor. The
first person he saw was the sherifi‘. looking very
grave, and, just behind him were Tom Arnold
and Bitter.

"Thar he is!” shouted Arnold, explosivaly;
“ ther is ther etarnal young snake who has
stole my gal. Oh! you murderous tough, whar
is my gal, Idalah?"

And Tom shook his fist at the boy acrobat.

CHAPTER VIII.
A roan or THE TIDE.

THE youth was not surprised to hear Tom
Arnold cry out against him, for the fellow
surely had little reason to love him; but he
was not prepared to hear Idalah’s name men-
tioned. '

He therefore stood'speechless, and Ritter
took up the song.

“Look at the youu villainl That’s the si<
lence of conscious and etected guilt.”

“Oh. you go and run your head against a
rock, Rutter!’ said Jake scornfully. “ You may
butt inafresh stock of brains, and you cant

 

‘spill any (.05. Sheriff, they say you want to

see me.

“ So he does, an’ so doI—” began Arnold, but
Burke broke in:

“ You rest your lungs, old leather-head! I’m
at ther front now, an” the steers §0 92 I say
while my hand is on ther plow. on dry npl
Jacopo Campani, ter- wit, it air my painful
duty ter arrest an’ lock ye up, f<.rthwith.”

" On what charge?” terser asked Jake.

“ Abductionism.”

“ Abduction of whom i”

“ Idalah Arnold, ter wit, forthwith.”

“ Yes, an’ he won’t, git out rigutaway, either,”
added Arnold, still shakin his fist.

“ You hold yer bosses; in at ther plow now,
an’ I’ll knock you cl‘ar over a tombstone rac-
tory of you don’t keep still. Young ieller, be
you ready ter troll”

“ First. of all give me some light on this ridicu-
lous char e ” .lake replied. with some excite-
ment. ‘f hat in the world do you mean? If
the irl is abducted, I know nothing about it.”

“ ry up, Iyou boss-thief!” said Burke, check-
ing a speec from Arnold by a skillful left—
bauder. “Young man, you ax me too much; I
ain’t jedge 0’ Slasnaway Bar. an’ I can’t tell ye
how it come about. "Peter Kerrigan will ’luci-
date ther hull case, I reckon.” »

And this was all the sherifl would say, while
as for Arnold and Bitter, he closed in on them
when they became too familiar, and adminis—
tered a few oflicinl thumps which sent them to
the rear to stay.

Jumping Jake was marched to Kerrigah’s
office. 0.) the way be had opportunity for
thought, and he surely had enough to think
about. So it was claimed Idnlah was abducted!
Was thisa fact? Possibly, for her father was
not her friend, and he would not sample to shut

. hr!“ up in order to compel her to marry Bitter.

This might be the case, but Jake could not
avoid arriving at a different explanation.

He remembered the mysterious women and
what she had said to him. She was Chapman’s
friend, and a fierce. unreasoning. but devoted
friend. She had tried persuasion and threats
with equal lack of eflect to make Jake with-
draw his charge; and when she found all her
eflort‘unavailing she had parted from him with
the assertion thatrharm would come to him un-
less he let Chapman alone.

After this interview she went directly to Tom
Arnold’s cabin and talked with him for a con-
siderable time. Now. Jake was arrested,
charged with the abduction of ldalnb.

l

In all this the Jumper saw the hand of the un.
known woman.

“I am hemmed in by mystery,” be thought,
I as he walked by Sheriff Burke’s side.

Kerrigan’s office was reached in due time and
2; they found that august ofiicial in his chair.
,' He frowned more darkly than ever when he saw
l the young acrobat. 7

" Just as 1 expected!" he observed. “ 
I pected to see you rack again; you've gota bad
; lace and I expect Coke and Boyle will have you I
l in tow just as long as you live. I want. to know

what such young rufians are born for.”

l He glared at Burke as he spoke the last sen-
tence, but the sheriff philosophically rolled his
tobacco to the left side. - /

“I‘ll be chewed by a boar constrictor of I
know. jedge, but what does it matter! Our
bands are on ther plow an‘ We must tlar up ther
weeds.” .

“ Humphl humpbf humph!”

Muttering thus, the judge scowled at Jake
again. as though he thought him an especially
pernicious “ weed,” and then added:

“ 1 want to know if you’re guilty.”

“ If some one will explain the case I’ll let you
know. I have had no explanation, whatever.”

“ The long and short on’t is, Idalah Arnold is
stole and you done it. I want to know if you
den it?” ‘

“ certainly do deny it,” Jake indignantly
answered, “ and I call for your reason for ac.
casing me.”

“ Plenty of them, plenty.
you were seen carrying her 01!. T.
what’s ther name 0’ ther witness?”

“ Madame Lenoir, jedge, an’—"

“Tuer hull case is wnt’, and l'll read the
charge.” '

And the judge did as he said. Briefly, the
document be giioduced urported to be the afi-
davit of one udume noir, a resident of the
town. She claimed that, just as she was retir-
ing the revious night, she heard a woman’s cryl
outside er door. She opened it to see Idala
Arnold struggling in the arms of a man she
distinctly recognized as Jacopo Campani. the
circus rformer. Being of a chivalrous na-
ture a e rushed to the rescue, but she was
seized and hurled back with such force that she
fell and, striking her head against the side of
th: door, gist conscioltilsness.K “ed

secon per rea hy erri n purpo

to be the Jinn of one “ Big ggill Bonner.”
He testified that he was night watchman for
Savage &. Morgan, mine owners. and that, at a
stated hour the previous nighl, a horse pascal
near his post at a gallop, a man and woman in
the saddle. As they did see female vmce cried:
“Helpl Jumping Jake is carrying me off!”
He thought it a joke, and in any case could not
leave his post, but when be heard that .ldalah
Arnold was missing, he felt sure it was her
voice he had board.

For Malah was missing; Tom Arnold said so,
and he ought to know, and Jake, the Jumper,
found himself in a pretty net. ‘

Woman—stealing is a serious crime wherever
honest men abide. ' ‘ '

Jake saw more plainly than ever tracesnf
the plot destined to crush him. That the Ma—
dame Lenoir of the affidavit was the mysterious
woman he could not doubt; and he remem-
bered that Bi Bill ‘Beo‘ner was the man who
waste assist inlaid and Bitter in robbing his
employers’ mine, and. that Ritter had boasted
that he would do as be said. r ‘

Truly, they had chosen their tools well. ,

“1 want to know what you’re going to do
about this,” Kerrigan said, when the evidence
was in. ‘

" I’m goin to tell the truth, judge; If you‘ll
make inqui as you’ll find I have a pretty clear
record, and I ask you to believe me innocent
now. It seems I ave enemies in Slasbaway
Bar, and they have at up a'joh on me. This
cbavge is tales from ginning to end.”

Ju ige Kerrian grocned. . ,

“ if there was an inform-school near here
you should go to it. Iwant to know, what such
monstrouses of nature are born for." ,

He looked sternly at Sherifl Burke, who
shook his head.

. "You kain’t prove it. by me, jedge, for m
handh ain’t on ther plow as a encycloped -
grep .

“ Your claims are outrageous,” Kerrlgan re-
sumed. “first you charge three honest men
with conspiring to kill on, and when I shut
them up by 00 e and oyie, you fail tobring
proof. Themwhen the bottom tails out of your
coffee-can, you say other men have pl ttcd
against you. I want to know if you expect
any one to believe you I” '

The case is raved;
rnold,

fig

 

 

  
 

....-...t.,f.,:..-......



r' to stand by

8

 

Jumping Jake.

 

 

Jumping Jake did not expect anything of the
kind. Hesaw he was in the tails and handi-
capped so that there was scarcely a ghost of a
chance for him to win the race. His enemies
were powerful and numerous, and once behind
the bars he would be at their mercy.

The only friends he had left Were his humble
co-laborers of the circus, and they would be
hel less in such a. case.

' here was little he could say for himself, but
he made as eloquent an appeal as ossible.
Sierifl! Burke looked uncertain, but errigan
was all against Jake. He plainly said there
could be no doubt of the youth‘s guilt, and he
should confine him in jail and release Chapman,
Drinkwater and Hendrix at once.

It was done, and if any of the residents of
Slashaway Bar retained their admiration for
the agile leaper, they took care not to show it.

The tide had completely turned.

Even the Tiger- amer had nothing to say,
but he went back to the circus shanty with a
scowl on his face and called Yusef, Hebe and the
Living Skeleton into council. All these humble
people were devoted to Jake, and they vowed
him. The L. S. even volunteered
to lead a " mob ” to storm the jail, but Hebe
quenched his warlike ambition b reminding
him that such a. mob must be limited to the
number of four. Sober thought convinced
them that their only hope was to keep quiet for
awhile. ‘

Drinkwater and Hendrix returned to the
shanty and the former madealittle speech to
the people. He told them theta successor to
Jumping Jake would be found by the time the
latter‘s trial was ended, and that they would
then go on their way as usual.

1 And no one raised their voice against the
leader.

In the mean while Sheriff Burke had visited
Jake in his call. '

“ I'm byar ez a neutral," said the worthy
man. " l in neither your friend nor inemy, but
while my hand an on ther plow l’m hopin‘
'aatice will he did. Ef I kin help ye, so be it.

hat d’ye say i”

“What I want, sheriff,” said the Jumper,
frankly, “ is to get some tidings of Idalah.
Find her and I shall go clear. ”

He then explained his suspicion that she had
been imprisoned by her f ather, though be
neither ave his grounds for his suspicion nor
revgale Arnold’s designs on Savage & Morgan’s
go .
And Burke went away declaring he would
put his hand on the plow and “run her beani-
deep in ther furrer 0‘ jestice.’

 

CHAPTER IX.

ran rips eons our AGAIN, AND so DOES souls
THING ELSE.

J UMPING J AKE was left in an uncertain mood.
He was in a .bad fix and the powers were
Strongly against him; he was a poor and almost
friendless youth: against money, Cha man,
Drinkwater and Kerrigan- but he coud not
help hoping a little from Sherifl Burke. The
latter undoubtedly had a good heart, and
though anxious not to run counter to Kerrigan,
his superior, he seemedin earnest in his offer to
seriously search or Idolah.

The dc pass without éventsof importance.
Ju-lge errigan, Hamed and the Fat Woman
called on him,_but nothing of im rtance came
of it. The Tiger-Tamer and the attocs-d Man
were doing what they could for him, but that
wasn’tmucb.

Night name without a chan . The hours
passed on: eleven o’clock arriv and Jake lay
down on his rude bed.

Another hour passed and the Jumper was
asleep. He he an to dream too. He thought he
Was awakens by a sin ular scratching sound.
It came from the outs do of his cell,.~.hut he
could not tell the cause. The noise continued a
long time, and then a hole appeared in the wall
and at the hole he saw the head and bright eyes
of a rat. “Come.” said the rodent, “l’ have
maii’e this tunnel so you can escape. Follow
me ' i

The impossibility of going through so email
an opening, so troubled the dreamer that he
awoke in earnest.

He was in darkness, and was about to turn
over for another nap when a voice sounded dis-
tinctly, in the cell:

“Owner! 1 say, whar be you, guv’nori”

Something fami in about the voice caused
J aka to arise quickly. The words had come from
the window and he moved that way.

“Hello!” continued the, voice. “is that you,
Jumpin’ Jake—I say, is it you?”

 

 

“Yes.” quickly i'cpiied the acrobat. “ Who
are you?”

“lVeaSel Jini. Don’t you remember me?"

Jake did, indeed, remember the small boy
who had brou ht him the note from ldaluh and
had afterw guided him to the cabin. He
said as much and the voice continued:

“I’m hyar ter pull ye out. I hev dug a hole
’round ther bars,\an’ oosened ’em ontil ye kin
scratch through. Don’t lose no time in so
doin’. I’ve found out whar Idalah is, an’ we’ll
go an‘ find her. Come, quick; I’m al‘eard they
may diskiver us, ez I made some noise in diggin’
in. ' »

The dream of the gnawing rat had not been
all aflction.

.The Jumper did not hesitate. At the East
an innocent p rson may well reject a chance to
escu and remain for trial, but in the- West,
justice sometimes gets too hungry for even an
honest man‘s good.

So Jake, finding Weasel Jim had indeed made
a clear way, crawled through the window as
quickly as possible, and, preceded by the small
boy, dropped tothe ground.

He had barely done this, however, when a
heavy hand fell on each boy, and, looking up,
Jake saw Sheriff Burke.

“ Wal, wal, I should say ther plow was outer
kilter,” the official dryly observed.

The voice was not harsh and Jake took cour-
age. If it came to the worst be was resolved
to use his fists and heels, as he had often
done before, but if possible this must be
avoided.

“ Sin-riff,” he said, in a manly way, “I beg
that you won't take me back in there. “I’m
innocent, and 1 only seek to escape persecu-
tion.”

“Breakin’ jiil eza cardinal meandisamer,”
said Burke, stumbling over the word "misde-
uieanor,” but not speaking sternly. “Can’t
approve on’t while my hand is on ther plow.
l easel Jim, you owducious leetle varmint,
how dar’ ye engage in sech a roceedingl"

“Now, you see b er, Gifl urke, don‘t ye
put yer nose in," a vised Jim. “I’ve engaged
ter take ther guv’nor ter whar ldalah is, an’ [’11
do it in spite 0 you. .

“Siy that ag’in an’ I‘ll commit ye fur con-
tempt. My hand is on ther plow an’ don’t ya
furgit it. But, Jim, ye don't mean ter say you
know whar ther a1 is, do ye?”

“ Sart’in I do, aif. She’s up ter Rockefeller,
shut up; an’ I s‘pect Tom Arnold put her their.
Me "an’ ther guv’nor is jest goin’ ter rescue
her.

"So ye shall, b thunder! Au’I‘ll go ’long
with ye,I will. hoop her up ’an' get ther
bosses, Jim. an’ we’ll be 01?.”

“ Will you really aid me?" Jake asked, car-

neatly.
“ at your earrings, I will. Kerrigan would
rave au’ t’ar at he knowed it, fur of we git ther
gal_ from Rockafeller we must steal her, but
while my hand is on ther plow I’ll hev jestice if
I t’ar u three-foot trees in gittin’ it.”

And all an hour later the three left Slash-
awav Bar, bound on a mission which was cer-
tainly fraught with danger. Jumping Jake,
who ad known nothing or Rockafeller, found
out a good deal about it as they went.
town was ten miles from the Bar, but it was
vastly different in every way. It was common-
ly an d that every man and woman in the place
had from one to twenty deliberate, cold«blooded
murders on their hands. For women were
there, and more numeroust than at the Bar,
but they were the outcasts of more respectable
places and all bad. And the men were cut
throats of the worst kind.

If Rickafeller had been a large placeit would
have been the terror of Colorado, but internal
quarrels had kept their numbers down to a
com sratively safe itch and whisky had done
its 3 are to disable t em. ,

It was an interesting picture for Jake, but he
shivored' as he thought of Idalah in such com-
pany. The innocent girl was truly among
wolves. And then. too, he saw why Burke had
said the girl must be stolen if she was taken at
all; the bravest sheriff in the world would have
peen mad to try to make an arrest in Rockefel-
er.

Ra id ridin took the trio forward so that, at
abou two do ock they approached the outlaw
village. Weasel im knew a ood deal more
about the place than Burke di , and be led the
wiay to a point where they could get a good
V cm.

Only two lights were visible, and Burke ex-
pressed the opinion that Rockefeller “ had
drunk itself drunk an‘ turned in.”

 

The,

 

., z

‘Vensel Jim had led them to a ledge which
owrlooked the village, and he explained how,
from that point,.he had seen Idalah conducted
inside one of the cabins. The discovery had
been purely accidental, for Jim had not then
known she was missing. and was only looking
on the village from curiosity.

“An’ you b’lieve you kin find that cabin
now?" questioned the sherifl’.

“ I know I kin, Gaff.”

“ Then heave ahead, but heave mighty sly.
You know my hand ain’t on ther pow now,
an’ of we git seen thar will be a tremenjus t’ar-
in’ up 0’ foreign s’ile.” 1

Jim led the way, and they entered the v1]-
lage. Each one was wall armed, but they de-
pended on secrecy to accomplish their work.

heir force was scarcely suitable for open war
on the outlaws of Rockafeller.

The small boy showed that he had a clear
head, and led the way without hesitation to a
cabin in the center of the village. To that
place he had seen Idalah conducted but a few
hours before.

Burke walked around the cabin, looking
closely as he went, but it did not seem to pre-
sent any vulnerable point except the door, and
when this was cautiously tried it proved to be
fastened.

“ Ain’t thar a winder?” Burke asked.

“Thar is some sorter a hole in ther ruff,”
Jim re lied. “ I reckon this byar isa big Injun
prison. edge."

“It seems they dare not trust each other,”
said Jake, taking the matter into his own hands.
“Very well; lacking better means 1 shall as-
cend to the roof, go down and uuiasten the
door from the inside. '

Weasel Jim eagerly requested this duty for
himself, but Jake would not hear to it. He
knew his small ally was shrewd and brave, but
he who entered the cabin should be able to fight
as well as to proceed cautiously.

Gaffer Burke did not ‘glve his consent to the
plan at once, for he knew Jake would run a
great risk by trying. There was no knowing
how many of the outlaws were inside, and even
if there were no men there, a woman’s scream
would arouse the whole village.

“ We], go of you must,” the honest sheriff at
last said, wringing J ake’s hand, “ but be mighty
keerful. Go light 62 a bed-bug, an’ remember
ter look out fur number one 9! it comes tar an
uproar.” - -

He then raised the Jumper to his shoulders,
from which point the latter easily gained the
roof. The danger was close at hand.

The youth found the roof quite firm, so that
his movements did not give forth any betrayin ,
sound, and though the night was dark, he. ha
no trouble in finding the trap-door which Wea—
sel Jim had described.

He had a fear that it, too. was fastened on
the inner side, but when be bent and lifted, it
arose all right. .

The we was open for him to enter, but-
what awa ted him below?

Intenser dark was the interior of the cabin,
and not a sound reached his ears. Yet he was
sure the place had occupants, and he remained
for some time listening.

All remained silent.

It is no discredit to our young friend to say
he hesitated st,this stage of affairs. Brave he
surely was; but with the outlaws of Rwkafeller
on every side it required more than ordinary
courage to descend into that dark and un-
explored place. He had the means of going,
but bad the means of getting out?

Putting all hesitation aside, be uncoiled the
rope Burke bad furnished, fastened it to the
trap-door, slowly lowered the loose end,and
then prepared to descend.

Slowly he went down, and was soon dangling '

in mid air, going to an unknown fate.

CHAPTER X. _

. ran OUTLAWB or ROCKAFELLER.

Kno'rs had been made at regular intervals
along the re a to aid the Jumper,and this,
with his well- nown skill in such matters on-
abled him to go steadily and safely until his
feet struck the floor. _ .

He was fairly in the lair of his enemies, but
he was far from being over the worst of it.

 

With darkness all around, how was he todis-

cover whether ldalab was there or not?

Once more he listened, and he felt sure he
could hear slow and re plat breathing,” of
some sleeper. Yet, he id not knew who it
was, or how many other sleepers migbtbeabout
him. .
He now regretted that a light had not been
brought from Slashawuy Bar, but it was too

 

'5
l
‘1
i
l
.

h
a

1.4“

 

 

 

' come for him to move

Jumping Jake.

  

9

 

 

late to think of it. He had matches2 however.
and dangerous as it would be tolight one, it
seemed better than to stumble about in the
dark. v

Cziutiously he drew the slender piece of
wood along the bottom of his boot. 1t flashed,
sp‘uttered, and increased to a steady flame. _

The first thinthake saw was a table, Just in
front of him, wit a kerosene lamp upon it, and
obeying his first impulse, be lit it as coolly as
though she place were his own.

The light came up brightly, for: a lamp of the
kind, and Jake looked quickly about him. He
was in a place so scantily furnished that it was
a brief work. The only thing of interest was a
bed in one corner. There Jake plainly saw two
persons asleep, and as their faces were Visible,
he was not long in recognizing Idalah Arnold as
one.

Her companion was a degraded looking crea—
ture. Probably she had reached middle age,
but a desperate attempt was made .to keep up
an appearance of youth. Her hair had been
yellowed by bleaching, and the red paint on her
cheeks shone in strong contrast to the pallor of
the rest of her countenance. .

She was not an inviting—looking creature, but
Jake was glad to find matters no worse.

He began to consider his next step. Both
Idaluh and her watcher were fully dressed, and
he Saw that_he had merel to overpower the
"unknown woman and then t ey could take Ida—
lab and hasten away.

Already he was movin toward the door to
admit Sherifl Burke, w en a sharp raping
sounded at that point. Jake paused in a arm.
Clearly this knocking had not proceeded from
his friends; one of the Rockefeller people de-
sired to enter the cabin; and with a momentary
panic, Jumping Jake thought only of escaping
discovery. I

Forgetting that the open window and dangling
rope would surely betray him he thought that
by hiding1 he might escape discovery and find
out just ow matters were situated; and With
this idea in his mind, he dodged under the foot
of the bed just as the imperious knocking was
ri sated.

t was followed by a stir above him, and the
unknown woman sprung to the floor, rubbed
her eyes, and then started for the door.

Jake watchedwlosely as she opened it, and he
then saw that she not only bad to remove a
bar but the man outside used a key. Ihen he
entered.

A man of medium size but remarkably com-
pactly built, with an evil face and a profusion
of bl .ck hair and heard, and wild, flashing
e es.
yThis man. standing near the door, shook his
fist. at the woman.

“Blast you. Yellow Mag, your heels are get-
tin' slow! ’ he ‘aaid.’ “ Durn ye fur a lazy
Wench! When I knock I ginerally hev ther
gates opened."

"I, was asleep, Brian—fast asleep.” she au-
swered, with an evident wish toavert trouble
but without any sign of fear. .

“ Makes no difl’rence; you've no business ter
sleep when Brian Doone is qutin’ ye. Ef ye
was asleep, how comes ther lamp lit? ,Ain’t it
11: orders for never leave a bleeze a-goin’?"

kellow Maglooked at the light reflectively,
“but Jake’s own gaze was thus called. to some-
thing else. For the first time he saw the dan—

ling rope, and thought of the damage it was
Eker to do him. He wondered the others did
not see it. and failing to discover Sheriff Burke
anywhere, braced himself for a struggle with
Brian Doone. .

“ Hang me if I didn’t put out the light,” said
Mag “That kitten must have got up and
lighted it." ‘

She pointed to Idolah, who was by that time
wide awake and looking at them with terror
expressed on her face. Up to this time no in-
dignity hed been offered her, but the untime—

,. ly VlSIt bf the black—bearded ruifian alarmed

er.

“ W81. it’s all right,” Doone said, with an
ugly smile. “ I can t scold ml: is pink 0’ beau-
ties ez she is, for—. Hello!”

He broke oi! abruptly as his wanderin gaze
rested upon Jumping Jake’s. rope. 00ml ering
that he suppOSed the roofway securely fastened,
it was a surprise to discover it open and the
rope danglin down.

Mag saw t too, and both stored in amaze-
ment: but the tableau was not destined to be
Ion —lived.

umping Jake clearly saw that the time had
To delay longer was to
lose his last chance, and it was not his nature to
letsuch a chance slip.

 

He emerged from the cover of the bed, and,
revolver in hand, crept toward Doone with a
quick but cautious step. The time allowed him
was but brief, but it was enough.

Light] as he stefiped, Doone finally heard
him an wheeled. e was too late. With a
strong band and sure calculation, Jake struck,
and the outlaw received the blow just back of
his right temple.

He fell like an ox struck down by a butcher.
Down at Jake’s feet he dropped, and the outh
saw that a second blow was not needed; oone
was insensible. He had been prettily disposed
of, but a fresh danger quickly arose. Mag, re-
covering from her momentary consternation,
ran screaming from the cabin, and Jake knew
the whole town would soon be astir.

The absence of Burke and Weasel Jim at such
a time was strange and ominous, but Jake did
not hesitate. He turned toward Idalah, and
seeing by her expression she had recognized
him, quickly said:

“I have come to rescue you, but not a mo-
ment is to be lost. Come with me.”

She sprung forward, placed her hand in his,
and'they ran from the cabin together.

At the door, h0wever, a new scene was pre-
sented to their view, and Jake saw Sheriff
Burke strugglin with several men. He saw
clearly why aid ad. not come to him, and re-
solved not to let the brave official fight alone.

With one word to ldalah he sprung into the
thilck of the fray. Burke greeted him with a
yo I.

“ Hooroar! Lay on well, pard, an‘ make that
plow t’ar up all creation I" '

Jake knew it was the outlaws of Rockefeller
who were against him, and obeyed Burke’s order
as best he could. He struck out with all the
power of his youthful arm, and, by his great
quickness, succeeded in avoiding the blows re—
ceived in return.

No: a. shot was fired by either party.

Three men turned on’the youth and pressed
him sorely. He was beginning to think of his
revolver when fresh cries aroused him anew,
and he saw Weasel Jim making a vain attempt
to rorect Idelah from a huge rufllan.

uke’s resolution was taken in a moment, and
with one of his wonderful leaps he shot clean
over the heads of his own assailants and rushed
to Weasel Jim’s aid.

An outlaw had just bent the small boy over
his knee, and was scientifically choking him,
when something like a lightning-bolt struck him
in the side and he turned a somersault and lay
down to rest.

Around ldalah’s Waist Jake swung his arm,
feeling like a knight-errant at buy, but jest
then the battle surged that way and Burke
cried out, sharply: ‘

"Into ther cabin, pards; it’s ther only re
sort.”

’Twas a desperate one, since the cabin would
be a prison as well as a fortress, but Jumping
Jake obeyed. He hurried Idalah inside, Jim
followed, the sheriff brought up the rear and he
door was slammed to and barred in the face of
the outlaws. ~

“ Whewl” breathed Burke, heavily, “I’ve
never had sech a set-to ez that sence ] put my
hand on ther official plow. Seven on ‘em had
hold 0’ me at onc’t, but I mashed three eg’in’
ther cabin-wall an’ chucked ther‘ rest ter glory;
Wh'oop her up ag’in! That's a good boy, Jim-

m I"

{is spoke to Weasel Jim wbo had run up the
rope like a cat,.closed and fastened the door
above and thus destroyed one resort of their
enemies. . '

The latter were hurling themselves against the
outer door, but they should have known how
useless it was. Had they not built the cabin
themselves and to defy just such attacks?

“My hand ain’t on ther plow in this hyar
town, ’ said Burke “ but I opine we hev scooped
in‘ ther first trick.’

f‘Two of them, sheriff, if I am any judge.”
said Jake. “ Don't you see Brian Doone here?”

“ So he is.” and Burke looked at the insensible
outlaw. “Now, then, this is cute, fur he’s thei-
king-pin o’ Rookafeller.”

’ “ gs that so?" Jake excitedly asked.
“ ure as sin.” '
' “ Then we have them on’the hip.”

“ Flow?”

“Why, don't you see‘that with their leader
as our prisoner we could dictate terms to them?
They have us shut up, but their hands are tied
while we hold Brian Doone in our grasp.”

“ Right you are, clean to the spiral column 1”
Burke agreed, and then he shook hands all
around. I '

In the meanwhile the tumult at the door had

 

ceased, and it was evident the outlaws were
taking wind. The little party of defendms,
however, became less sanguine after a little
thought. It was true they held Brian Doone,
but they were in the midst of his lawless fol-
lowers and it was a wild, long and dangerous
road back to Slashaway Ber.

 

CHAPTER XI,
emu DooNE’s one.

JUMPING JAKE did not forget Idalah, and be
improved the first chance to go to her side. Her
face was paler than usual, but she had a brave
nature, and she smiled as he approached.

“ I am sorry you are with us in this desperate
venture,” he said, “ but we shall do our best to
get out of it alive, and we certainly shall not
desert you.”

“ I believe you,” she promptly answered. “At
any rate, I am no worse off than I was before.
No worse? I am a thousand times better. That:
1 was alone with those terrible people, and i
saw no hope of escape. But how did you hap«
pen here?" 7

"One moment, first,” said be. “How came
you here?”

“ I was stolen from my home by two of
Doone’s men, but from the circumstances of the
case I cannot but strongly suspect—nay, 1 al-
n;ost”k'nou'—tbat my father was at the bottom
0 it.

“ What can have been his object?"

“ He is a cruel and unnatural father. He has
alwa s misused me, and of late he has sworn
that should marry Claude Bitter. I havens
steadily refused, for I think I am too young to
settle my future irrevocably, and Bitter is a
wild, lawless, and wicked man. Father has
daily grown more hitter, and now comes this
abduction. I believe he hoped by placing me
among these people to crush my spirit.” '

Jumping Jake thought he could $6 a double
motive, and then, as the lull continued outside,
he rapidly told what had befullen him at Slash-
awa Ber. ‘ .

“ .n conclusion," he said. “I think your fa-
ther has joined hands with my enemies, and.
besides corqueri: g you, it was thought by
throwing suspicion on me, sufficient grounds
would be obtained to ruin me.”

“And this man is my father!” said Idalah,
brokenly.”

“I doubt it. From th first I have thought
it strange you were so little like Thomas Ar-
nold, and after what has occurred, 1 more than
Evergoubt if you hold such a relationship to

"7'.

Before more could. be said, a sharp cry from
Weasel Jim caused them to turn. Brian Doone
had opened his eyes and was sitting erect. He
stared blankly for a moment and then leaped to
his feet, but he came up harmless enough.

Burke had taken the precaution to remove his
weapons and tie his hands behind his-back, and
he struggled in vain to free himself.

“Curses on you!” he roared “ whm on
that dares put strings on me? alto them 0 or
I’ll crush you inter powder !” '

“ Sing soft an’ low, brother,” advind Geller
Burke, with provoking calmness. “ We’re them
:2 don’t fear ye fur a cent, an’ while in band‘s
on that low I’ll v hoop her up 9: see fit.
Mark it own with a big-bladed pen!” '

Doone rolled his eyes around the room in a
fury. The rested on every one and the truth
seemed to awn on him at lost. He wrenched
at his bonds like a dog at a bone and than an
evil smile crept over his face. '

“ Them as gets tber swill laughs last,” he said,
slowly. “Ef you think tar get out 0’ Rocka-
feller alive you bev straddled ther biggest sort
0’ a mistake.” ‘

“ One thing goes in with that, like 92 adeatb‘s
bead hez two eyes,” Burke coolly observed. “ E!
we don’t get out o’ Rockefeller l pity you.” '

“You dare not harm me.”

“Like fur like is my rule, Brian Doone. Ef
I under you die with me. I’m a ce-lov-
in men, but I’ve see’d my share 0’ m d life in
days agone an’ when I hold ther plow I turn a
widevful-rer or none."

“1 know you, Gui Burke, an’ I won't fut-git
this,” the outlaw answered. “ I’ll have your-life
fur this some day; I swear it. v

“ 0h! n'evor mind whoopin‘ her up; I’d
b’iieve your word jest ez quick es your oath,"
Burke truthfully said. . .

Just then there came a heavy knocklat the I
door”. and when the sheriff answered it they re-
ceived a regular summons to surrender.

“ Doone.” said Burke, “ order your critters
tar air out an’ give us free passage.”

" Never 1” declared the outlaw.

 

 

    

1 O
“Jest as you say, but you‘ll squeal sooner or
later.”

And whenthe demand from the outside was
repeated, the sheriff olitely told the speaker to
“go to thunder.” C early, however, the order
was disobeyed, or obedience was delayed, for
the unseen went on to say that unheard-of onl-
amities would befall the little garrison if they
held out.

“ I’ve had the small-pox nn‘ whoopin’—cough,”
replied Burke, “ an’ I reckon I’m good fur an—
s other mild disease. Come right on, mister, an’
you’ll find me ter hum.”

Nothing could dampen the worth sheriff’s
good spirits, but as the war-clouch osed in it
became clear to all that they were in a bad fix.
They were matched against a town, and the
men of Rockefeller never gave quarter or
mercy. .

Doone, finding his wrath disregarded, sat sul-
lenly down in achair and said no more, but the
light in his fierce eyes told that a world of pas-
sion was surging through his mind. .

It seemed as though the men outside were also.
loss what to do. Probably, having built the
cabin themselves, they knew that on y desperate
means-like powder or fire—would enable them
to enter, and these they dared not use while
their leader was within. '

They were heard prowling along the roof, but
no real attempt was made to enter.

In this way an hour passed, and then Doonc
leaped to his feet.

"A murrnin on this inaction l” he exclaimed.
“I’ll break ther dead—lock of I have to give
way myself. Gaff Burke, give me ther gal an’
you may walk out soot free.”

“ When I walk, she walks with me," care-
less] replied the sheriff.

“ o be it then ’7 said Doone, savagely. “I
won’t stay cooped up n ar like a rat. Open the
door an' I’ll tell my, raves tergive you safe
passage.” ‘

“Sing soft an’ slow,” advised Burke. “ I
don’t see fit ter go afore day, fur ther road is
too fevor’..lo fur ambushes, an’ when i do go,
you keep me company half-way on ther trail.”

The furious look on Doone's face as he sunk
back on his chair showed that Burke had indeed
penetrated h 5 trick; he would have made a
show of yieI ing and then taken care that the
party never reached Slashawa Bar olive.

Bu detected thus, he reso ved to give way
entire y and let them depart. If they succeeded
in keepin gout of his clutches for any great
length of ime, it would be one of the few times
he had been foiled. .

He announced his unqualified surrender, and
the but awaited the coming of day.

0

 

uis hour soon arrivedzlhc door was thrown
n and Boone appeared therein. with the
erifl anda revolver just behind him, and as
several of the Rockefeller men were in sight
their leader at once addressed them. He ex-
plained the situation and declared his will that
they should give~his immediate companions
free pulleys, and there was no one to deuiur.

The party marched out with Burke and
Boone at the head, Jake and Idalah next. and
Weasel Jim as arear-gnard, and the outlaws
looked in silent rage at the little army which
had defeated them. ,

But no one uttered harm.

Our friends found their horses as they had
left them. An extra one had been brought for
Idalah, but no provision had been made for the
outlaw. ' .' ,

I “ You’ll have to leave me,” he grimly said.

V “Ef my boss ain‘t ood fur two, somebod ’3

been cheated,"said easel Jim. “Scrum le

tip 'hyar an’ we’ll get along like the Chinese
wins.

00d and Boone

Jim's idea was voted ,
espite his dark

was given the position,
acowls.‘ '

Then they made haste to leave Rockefeller
behind them. The trail was not bad though
often no more than a shelf of rock at the top of
n precipice, and they rattled along in a satis-
factory way. '

“You’ve got out 0‘ this with a whole hide,
Gal! Burke, said Doone, on the road,’ “but I
fiive on warnln’, the game ain’t through.

0 yevor did me hurm an’ lived ter crow
over in." i - ’

.“Fur my
roosters,”rep ied Burke, “ but we’ll ski
Ez fur your oath o’ vengeance, you’ll
ter hum ’most any time.”

“ Don’t think 1 she‘n’t look for you.”

“Pile right in jedge, whenever you feel like
havin’ a social chat.”

rt I Thave crowin’ mostly tor
that.
nd me

“ Curse you, ith our blood I want!”
“I‘m afraid you’l go down ter your grave

 

Jumping Jake.

 

shankerin’, then,” the sheriff candidly an-
sWered. ;

Jumping Jake had not bad faith at any time
that Rockefeller would keep the peace as agreed
upon. He had watched sharply by the way,
but no grim rifiemen appeared on cliff or in
thicket, and the place where they had agreed to
release Brian Dooue drew near.

Burke reined in his horse at last.

“ Here we part," he said, to Doone. “ It
looks a leetle rough, but I’m afoard you’ll hev

'to huff it back ter yer moral town.”

The outlaw silently dismounted, and, folding
his arms, stood facing them.

“ Gol” he said, in adeep voice.

And they went, not at all unwilling to lose
such a companion on the trail.

“Ez bad a customer ez Colorado kin boast
on,” the sherill’ muttered.

“I fear we are not yet out of the woods,”
said Jake, quickly. “The trail has been
crooked and like a. half circle in shape. What

’ if some of Doone’s men have gone a more direct

route and are in ambush at the front?"

“They won’t ketch us ef they be. I, too,
think that’s Doone’s object, but we’ll strike out
on a new route an‘ save our bacon. Ther Phil-
istincs ain’t got us, yit.” ,

CHAI’l‘ER'XII.
TROUBLE CONTINUES.

THE deviation was made as the sheriff sug-
gested, and he led them alon'gu road which,
though rough, was for safer than the regular
trail to Slashaway Bir. N I sign of the Rocka-
feller outlaws was seen, and as they neared the
Bar their hearts grew lighter.

When they sighted the leage, they had rea-
son to supposo their troubles were over for a
time, for the testimony of ldulnh would prove
Jumping Jake innocent; but us they were
winding throu h the last of the gulches which
hemmed the air in, they were aroused by a
shouting in the! rear, and looked around, to see
thusef, the Tattooed Mun, running toward

em.

They paused, and he came up panting.

“ Don’t go any further,” be said.

“ Hallol What’s up now?" asked Jake, who
knew Yuscf was no fool.

“They‘re buntin’ for ye all, an’ ther red flag
is out.” '

“They’d better take it in afore it gets wet,”
retorted the sheriff. “ We], I’m goin’ thar ter
makey ther crooks straight an’ ther cranks
clvi . ’

“ But you're outlawed l” urged Yusef.

“ What?"

“ i say you’re outlawed.”

“ Whnr—when—how .7" stammered Burke.

“ Ther jedge 0’ ther Bar—I believe his name
is Kerrigan—bas put u an official placard, in
which he says you lie ped Jncopo off, an’ be
tharin declares you an outlaw, nn’ offers fifty
dollars for your capture.” .

The returned adventurers stared in amaze-

 

ment. * ,,

With Burke it was something else, and his
face was pur le.

“ Outlaw I” he shouted. -“ I’m outlawed
from the Bar, an’ Kerrigan did it? An’ they
want me ther, an’ofler fifty dollars fur me?
Tarant’lers an’ toe—cornsl Ill beshot ef I’ve
see’d each a. cold do y sence I put my hand on
ther plow.” , ,
it was a picture to see his rage and chagrin
“ Hold on sheriff; it’ll be a i right when we
brin back inas Idulah,” said Jake.

“ o, it won't,” Yusef quick] added. “Tom
Arnold now says she stole a1 ther money be
had-a hundred dollars, I b'lieve; an’ that Jake
didn’t abduct her, but they runned away to-
gether, an‘ stole ther money together.”

There was a momentary silence, during
which all remained mute from amazement.
The evil clique at the Bar was indeed making a
relentless crusade against them, and the utter
villain of the whole business was now almost
be on belief.

dalah. began to indignantly deny the charge
of theft but was cut short by Jake who assured
her they did not for amoment credit it; Yusef
explained that flamed, Hebe, the Living Skel-
eton and himself had been out watching for
their friends’ return; and Burke fell into deep
thought.

He amused in a few moments, however.

“if Ken'igan offers fifty dollars reward for
me I’m gwine inter town tor ’arn it: I am,by
thunder! And I’ll make Rome stand on its
hind legs em’ howl. But oz fur you once. no!
It comes'home ter me straight that we must
now buck cunnin’ u ag‘in’ cunnin’. ’Tnin’t no
sorter use fur you rgo in on yer muskle an'

 

 

git l'unned into ther jug. I know a hole in ther
hills—a rcg’lnr underground pulace—whar ye
kin hide un’ thumb yer noses at Kerrian an’
his crew. Strikes me we had best go in fur ther
hand that wins in ther eend.”

Burke’s remarks were voted good and they
retraced their steps for a fourth of a mile and
then turned to the left and entered the cave of
lwhich Burke had spoken. We will describe it
ater. '

There was much about it that was comfort
able and convenient, and there it “as agreed
they should make their home for tie present.
How many supporters they could command at
the village was, as yet, uncertain, though Burke
pro sed to learn.

“ usef, Hamed, Hebe and the Living Skel-
gtol? I can rely on through thick and thin,” said

a e:

“ Judgin‘ by ther size 0’ ihcr last two, I should
say thick an’ thin fits well,” said the sherifi,
pre aring to o away.

6 uent, uscf hearing him compan on the
first of his journey, and Jake, Ida ah and
Weasel Jim were left alone in the cave. The
latttr “us the only really happy one of the
party; he had a boy’s imagination for under

round dwelling-places and a boy’s freedom
rom rheumatism.

Gaffer Burke went on toward the village. It
was important that the Tattooed Man should
not be known as his active friend, so they
separated in due time and Golfer marched on
a one.

Oddly enough, since he was so much looked
for, he' reached the village unseen and, once
there, the fl'W who saw him did not see fit to
touch so noted a fighter. He went diuctly to
Kerrigen’s (fllce, marched in and fourd the
judge and Drinkwaier together, and then let
the but: of his rifle fall heavily to the floor as
they looked at him in mute sui prise.

“I’ve come fur that fifty dollars!” he an-
nounccd.

Kerripan glanced about as thou h looking for
some hole through which he mig t dodge and
flee from the wrath to come.

“ What fifty dollars?” be feebly asked.

“Thei- fifty you (fl'ered fur my capture,"
Burke sternly replied.

“ Have—have you!"

“ Don’t you see I hev?” ro red the sheriff.‘

“See hyar, old Kerrigan, b you drunk or
crazy? You outlaw me. do yel—me, ti er noblest
Roman 0’ you all? Whatd ye mean? Durn yer
ole pewter-head. I say what d’ye mean?”

Burke pounded the floor with his rifle and
then made a pretense of raisin the Weapon to
a head. The result was nerve ous. Kerri an
tipped over the table and la shivering behind
it, while Drinkwater held a 0 air before him for
protection and begged for mercy.

“.Get up, you bleaiin’ Chive-l” said Burke,
contemptuously. “Get up an’ talk business;
that’s what I’m hyar fur.” '

The valiant pair resumed their seats, and then

the sheriff came down to ted-rock.

“ What’s ther charge ag’in’ me!” he demanded .

“Helpin’ (fl? Jake, the Jumper,” Kerrigan
feebl said.

“ ho rays Ihelped him offi”

Kerri-gun hesitated; he had put his name
bravely to the placard handing Burke, but be
dared not shun der the res onsibility with his
don hty ear-associate before Jim.

“ t is generally so believed,” he muttered.

“ General thunder 2’? said Golfer, politely.
“So I am accused of hel in’a pris’ner out o'
jail! . I say it’s a lie. I’ve ad my hand on lhe‘r
glow for some time in this hyar burg an’nobody

ez r‘ared ng’in’ me before. It’s a pretty pass
when a. sheriff is thnsly accused. No;l did
not help Jake out; he owes nothin’ tar me if:
that line. What’re you gcin’ ter do about it?"

“ I don’t know,” was the feeble reply.

"You don’t, eh? Wal, you bev offered a re—
ward for my capture; you must hev had some
dim, tar-away idees in your noddle then.”

Drinkwater had been coaxing up his own
coura e, and as Kerrignn looked like a. wilted.
weed e came to the front.

“ Against you, personally, we have no enmity,
Mr. Burke,” he said, “ but we do wish to root
out the evil—doors of Slashawa Bar and our
placard was ut out under the m reunion that
you were in eague with thein.‘ e are your
friends, still, but that young hound, Jaco
Campani, and his desperate girl-ally, must
brought to justice.” ‘

“‘Wc! wel wel’" mimicked Burke. “A
body, ,would think you owned ther Bar. Who is
' we

“The people!” frowned Drinkwater.‘ “Fm
my own part, I speak for the circus. I find I.

o

 

an

01

m

 

5‘.

‘01

 

Jumping Jake.

 

11

 

have been sheltering a young million in thel

person of Jacopo Campani and I am resolved
not‘ to abate one jot or tittle of righteous zeal
because he "is my hired man."

“ Look a little out that your ‘righteous zeal’
don’t run ye inter a sled l" cautioned Burke.
“S‘nce I’ve had my hand on ther plow I’ve
see’d some dramaros from real life, an’ I’ve
see‘d ’em as kicked like a flint—lock gun.”

With this mystic caution, Gaffer turned to
Kerrigan. '

“ How is it, jadge; am I an outlaw?” he grimly
asked. . ’

Kerrigan wished to reply affirmatively but
dared not.. .

“Since you are not in lea us With the des-
peradoes, we shall be glad to. ave you back in
your old office,” he meek ' said. .

Gaffer had expected t is ever Since he saw
how the interview was going, and he was wise
enough to take what the gods bestowed and not
ask too much. As sheriff of Slashaway Bar he
could do his young friends a good deal of 006,
while, if he insisted on pardon for al, he
would probably lose what he had gained. He
therefore said that he would at once resume his
duties.

“Of course we ex set you to hunt down
Jumping Jake,” adds Drinkwater, looking at

him eenly.

“Hallo!” quoth Gafler, “another back
county heered from. We], I should whisperl
Allow me ter ask what in thunder an’ blue~
edged lightnin’ you mean by ‘wel’ Are you
mayor, or alderman, or taxpayer 0’ this hyar
town! What is it ter you, say? Has Jake

'stole your money? Ef so you ain’t but just

thought on’t. Do you mean ter raise a riotan’
run ther Bar, or why’re you so rabid ag'in‘ ther
boyee?" .

“I believe in. justice,” said Drmkwater,
an rily. .

‘ You do, do ye? Wal, I swow it never
occurred to me ufore that you was tuk that
way. But whether you be or no, hark ter my
bazoo: While my hand is on ther plow in this
hyar burg no outsider don’t help me team my
cattle; an’ I‘ll punch ther‘head o’ ther man who
steps in ther furrer I turn. Ye hear me?”

Bevond a doubt Drinkwater did hear, and he
looked angry enough to annihilate a few oriii-
nary Colorado sheriffs; but this particular
sherifl showed toomuch ooura e and muscle to
be interfered with safely; an so peace owe
more rr‘ig“ed in Slashaway Bar and Grater
Burke stood at the plow.

CHAPTER XIII.
Mu nsruaxs roman am.

Tim managers of the circus showed no intent‘on
of moving on and their only visible ambition seemed
to be to unt down Joke, the Jumper. Mr. Chap—
man kept his mm at Ryan‘s hotel and to
hen very peaceful and worthy man. When asked
about the charge laid at his door by the ypun acro—
but. he said it was purely vicious and hat, aving
been righted, he had no di. sition to pursue Jake.
but would rat r give him time to repent. Some of
the miners 1’ ed to see how the charFe against
Chapman had been aprovcd false more y because
Judge Kerrigan had sinisscd it, but no such views
were given publicly. v . n

\.. Drinkwater and Hendrix were open enough in
their )ressions. The said Jumping Jake had
difirace the circus an must be pun ed.

amed, Yuaef, Hebe and the Living Skeleton
held their and waited for the time when they
could aid t eir young friend. I

And Sheriff urke, thoroughly amused, resolved

to at at the bottom of the mystery, if possible.»
e did not go near the care where he had left his
£32m: friends a sin that day, but be sent a young
h'ril nam Kitty O'Neil, to keen Idrllah com-
pan , and than devoted his attention to looking out
or he plotters of the liar.

After (1er he went himself to the cave, There he
found Idalah, Kitty, Jake and Weasel Jim. makln
the best of their situation. and, despite their limi
means, alto comfortable. .

He '00 Jake aside for a serious talk.

“Have you gained any clew ter ther mystery?"
he asked.

‘,‘ None. How can I? I am a humble young fel-
low, an attachee of the circus as far bac as can
remember almost. They have billed me as ‘Jacopo
Oampanl, but I am Ame and my name is J boob
Morrlll. I have no reason to think I am a rich
man‘s son. Yet. suddenly Chapman appears. From
the talk between him and Hendrix it seems the cir-
one people have been k‘ee lug e for min for a
lo time. And, finally, w on b sees fit to have
me illed, they come cheerfully to the scratchuand
try to put the shoe on."

‘ Bu et don‘t fit.“ said Burke. grim! . “Wal,
but what of the woman, Madame Lenoir?

“Here mystery on mystery’s head accumulates.
The madame is also my foe. Why? Because she'is
Chapman’s friend. or more? She told me once that
my safety depended on that of Chapman. Was this
the truth or a studied lie? Here i am at fault.

‘ “ mightily mixed," said Gaffer, helplessly.

 

 

“ Next, it seems she is a friend of Idalali's father.
Failing to move me by argument or threats she ‘
went to Arnold‘s cabin and engineered the job w ich
turned the tide a ainst me. Why was Arnold so
ready to aid her? do not believe he has ever dis»
covered it was 1 who twice was arrayed agai t him
in fight. If this is true, why is be my enemy. And
why did Madame Lenou‘ go to so humble a man as
Arnold for an ally?”

“ Hol‘ onl hol’ on E" said Burke, with an air of des»
peration. “I can‘t guess these hyar riddles an‘ it
ain‘t noways fair for chuck ‘em. at me. They’re
enou h ter make a hose sour on his feed.”

“ eh. I am going to solve them," said Jake.

going into Slashaway Bar in disguise and
get at their secrets.”

"In disguise?"

Lt  it

“Now, bol’ on," said Gaffer. “ This dis uise busi-
ness is ri ht easy on a. stage—I‘ve sec‘d t done of-
ten, at t. Louis—but ther is. more on it done in
yarns than in real life, now you bet. Do on s’pose

on could dis uise yourself so that Drin a ~an'
endrix coul n’t recognizcyoui I reckon not . "

Jake smiled quietly. '

“I’ll bet I can disguise myself so that even on,
warned of my purpose, cannot recognize me. 0 do
it I shall put on a wig, darken my face so that it will
apgear deeply bronzed, while as for expression—"

9 paused, and without throwing his features into
any grotesque position so completely changed his
general ex prosaion that Burke stared at him in utter

wonder.

“ Well, I‘ll be shot!“ he muttered, \l'ifhan expres-
sion much as though he was shot.

“ What?” questioned Jake.

I;"Why, you don‘t look like ther same critter, at
a .

“Therein lies the downfall of Drinkwaler&00.
When I go to the Bar as Lem Rogers, the cowboy,
the woo will grow over their eyes without pulling.

 

The following morning a muscular young fellow
sauntei'ed into Tim Ryan's saloon and walked
straight to the bar.

"Give me some whisky with heads 0’ live coals all
over ther to '._" he swaggeringil said. “ I’m from
whar men rink ’cause they ' o it an‘ frequently
mix rattlesnakes an‘ ther like with ther p’izon afore
they pour it down. ,Ef you wanter see life, pards,
go tcr ther cattle-ran es; that’s whar they whoop
em up an’ don‘t mindt er sting o’ bullets. I’m one
0‘ ther sort, an' my name it are Lem Rogers—some
calls me L litninzfrl Lem."

. While tal 'ing t e selfiatyled cowbow had seem-
ingly taken two big drinks of *whisky, the we in
which he closed his flu ers around the glass hi ing
the fact that he b taken little more than a
ih'mblefull. ‘

his done he wheeled and faced the crowd, one
elbow resting on the bar. Looking at him they be»
lieved they saw a man of about twent -tWO. His
long hair was a homely flaxen shade, his droo ing
mustache was almost white, while the bronze 0 his
face was such as a cowboy ought to have. Add to
this that he looPed strong and fit to care for him-
self in any trouble, and we have the pen-picture of
Lightning Lem.

Knowing him as we do to be J she. the Jumper we
will say nothing had surprised Burke more t an
that by the disguise his young friend had seemed to
increase his we ght about fifty pounds. .

“ l’m a tough chap wlfen ther harness chafes." he
added, as the crowd looked in silence. “but use me
well an‘I never break a trot nur chuck my hoof
over ther dash-board."

As no one seemed dis d to dis uteihis asserted
fact, Lem looked higgl plea and asked the
cmwd to the bar. And i us he was introduced to
the pea in who lived in the town.

Slior: y after Tom Arnold entered th room,end it
came to pass that the cowboy was niroduccd to
him. Tom did not suspect is identity and they
were soon on . ood terms. w ile by some means
Lem conveyed e impression that he was a. despe-
rate character.

All this was an inducement for Arnold to talk and
say something of importance. but though m fur-
nished whis freely, and Tom as freely m e way
with it. he ld not show any disposition to betray
valuable morets. But he did, at last, invite Lem to
his house. The invitation was not refused.

"I s’ you're a. man 0‘ fam‘ly," said the self-
styled cowboy as they went. . ,

‘Dum o’ a fam’ly hev I got. No- I‘m a single
man an' always was,” ‘Arnold replied. “ Don‘t
want no women nur whinin' youngsters ’ronnd
mc.‘

“ Do yer own cookin‘, I s‘pose?"

“Yes, an’ hev fur ten ear."

The ease with. which i e fellow lied was mm
hie, if not pleasmg to Jumping Jake.

‘fWas under ther impression somehod said ‘twas
your gal what rum-led away," stube . but care-

esley, said Lightning Lem.

“ f i had one, I‘d be glad ter how her run away,
but i ain‘t got none, an‘ don‘t s’pect ter have."

There was a. touch of surly resentment in Arnold‘s
voice which told that it would not do topress him
further. and Len let the matter drop. .

They entered Arnold‘s cabin, sat down at the
table, and began smoking. Lem looked curioust
at the closet Where. he had once been confined and-
mlstaken for a cat. but there had been a. vast change
since then. What would be the next turn of the
tide he had no means of knowln .

gout stirring, bade the algilicaiiteuler.

Iherwith you. What ave you

 

Smoking had scarcely been an. however, be-

fore there was a knock at the door. Arnold, with-

Tlie door
swung back and reveals Madame Lenoir, Chap-
man‘s mysterious friend, ‘

_S_he entered promptly. but, seeing the other
VISIIOI‘. aused and looked at him keenly. Jumping
Jake fe t that the time was at hand for him in use
all his shrewdness, and he clun
pression he had assumed as Lig tning Lem, from
the cattle-range. .

Madame Lenoir, plainly failing to penetrate his
disguise, turned her gaze to Arno d.

“ I want to see you privately,” she said. '

“Sart‘in': 1‘" step outside." Arnold replied.

“ Not fur me," interrupted Lightning Lem. “ I’m
a. tough an’ a t‘arer, but I know ther claims 0'
female kind. I‘ll at? out, an“ air my heels, an‘
when you want me je sound theralarm."

And with a bow to Madame Lenoir, he went out.
Before oing, however. he had noticed that one of
the win ows was ‘ a favorable condition for watch»
ing, and he turn but we . ‘

One glance showed him that the madame had set—
tled down to the table, and convinced that he was
unsuspected, he applied his eyes to the small open»
ing at his disposal. _

‘Weli." said Madame Lenoir, abruptly, "what
have you to repozt?“

“ Nothin‘, in particular." Arnold replied.

The woman struck the floor with her heel.

“ Chapman won’t be leased with this report."

“ Can't help it. If I ad ther machinery 0’ Slash-
awaly Bar at my disposal I could cut a swath, but
all kin gamble on is my own muscle."

“Bahl I hate such agents as we have here. If
Che man and I were in charge. those you idiots
Klan dfisoon be found. The grave is waiting for

em

 

CHAYTER XIV. _
BRIAN booms WALKS IN.

Jmipmo Jun-z began to be interested and listened
yet more eagerl . ‘

“ Wal, all you ve got to do is ter kelch them," Ar-
nold answered.

“Look you, Thomas Arnold, are you sure you do

not know where they are?” Madame Lenoir de-v
lmended, leaning forward and looking at him sharp—
y.
“I haven‘t a ghost 0‘ an idee." ‘
“Chapman suspects Brian Doone.“
“0‘ what?“
” Treachery~double~dealing " .
“ Bless your stars, he ain t no cause to. Doone-
is 02 squar‘ as ther rocks 0‘ ther mountains. Ain‘t I
knowed him fur cars? You trust Brian Boone,"

“ I don‘t trust im."

“ Oh. you don’t, eh? Wal, that‘s as you pleases,”
Arnold surlin plied.

“Look you, r, I know the reputation of Rocker

teller. It is said to be a perfeCt Gibraltar. Men
have let Doone alone because. even in numbers,
they dared not try to storm his stronghold Now
is it likely any little party could go there and steal
the girl?"

“ it was luck an’ cuntin’."

“Nonsense. You call Donne the sharpest man
in Colorado. and have him thus overreached. Baht"

“At any rate, he‘s no traitor," said Arnold, in a

e. 7
mg Then let him find the girl and this Jumping Jake
to make amends.
has sent them to omen] don’t understand it at all.
We] they shall ie together, too.”

“ by do you wanter kill ldalahj"

“ Because I hate her.“

“ A litile'wliile ago you was ex anxious fur her to»

live.”

“Our lens have changed; the death of that woo
man in ca all difl'erent. It is just as well nettle.
We ho a to present her to the women unedu
rude. ‘ l-hred and dl aceful That‘s why we
aide her?”

“Nothin’.” Arnold replied; she her. made her-
self. You could no more): her ignorant than
you could Solomon. She pick ufl l'arnin‘ like sin,
an’fot as fine an’ pert ea bough s e was schoolln
in ew York. When I sen her ter wash my mining
suit she said over ther substraetion table. en’she-
dropped on ribbins an‘ iber like ez nat‘ral en a hawk
on achicken." - ' I

“ And the ho was the same:” muttered Madame
Lenoir. “ l Hendrix has ut every temptation:
in his way and tried to make lmi orant, but he
is feirl educh and a model of hab ts. Blood will.
tell-lb ood will tell 1" - «

 8‘ ‘iidm‘lf" “.i ‘l‘fin'swm‘n' W
n ’o ‘erway ‘ 0 ma rig :

.“Hon Dieu! how difl‘emntl" {be women ex»
claimed. f‘ Thomas Arnold, we are all of '
fate. Circumstances can make, or iian us. I’.
was not evil as a girl. True I was wild and thogfilgr
less, but 1 would not have ed a. kitten. a
came my love for him; I lived in heaven for. awhile,
for I adored him, I adored ljlm 1”

She abruptly arose and” began pacing the floor.
while Arnold, awed for 0mm. watched in silemfi.

And Jumplanake watched too. his heart his
mouth, as the saying goes.
the verge of
dim suspicions of the main incidents; but names
must be called and more said before it would walk

of Idalali's name with
his. own had served to co him afresh and he-
kncw not what to think.

Only a. few turns did Madame Lenoir take, and
then returned to the table and sat down, her face as:
com as usual.

“ am a fool.’ she icil said. “I do not know.
Arnold. why I have talke thus to you. but you and
Brian Doone know as much as l. ' w, to businessr:

He was trembling on

him anything. The coup

to the facial ex--_

Mon Dieu/ it is strange how fate»

the mystery 0 his life; he had some-

 

 

r

 
 

12

Jumpingflake.

 

 

 

Chapman ofi’ers a hundred dollars each for the cap- ‘

ture of this Jumping Jake and Idalah. You and
Donne are the men to win it."

“I’m afeerd Doone ain’t let be controlled. He
has been king 0’ Rockafeller so long that he’s got
that cranky you must be well up in coaxln’ or
can‘t manage him no more'n a mule. An' he‘s Jest

howlin’ fur gore ’cause ther sheriff o" Slashaway ‘

Bar dared put his nose inter his town; an1 be sw’ars
he‘ll clean out the Bar, Brian do."

" He will be a fool if he tries it,” she harshly an-
swered. “Tell him so from me. Tell him, too. that
if he will find these precious runaways he shall be
Well aid. Will you do it?"

“ es; an’ I‘ll go fur ther cash, myself."

"Do so, and .use energy. Remember that Chan—
man c :nnot appear in the case himself; that we do
not trust Drin water or Hendrix any too much; and
that Judge Kcrrigan is only a 01 won over by a
.show of money. We depend on , Arnold."

The man declared that her ust was not mis-
placed, and then Madame Lenoir arose to go. When
.she stepped from the door Lightning Lem, the cow-
bo , was a dozen yards away, a parently’ fast
as 999 on the grass w th his extinguis ed pipe lying
beside him. .

Arnold called him in when she was no.

“ You look like a chap 0’ speerit," he observed.

“Wharlcome from we drink rattlesnakes right
:alive in our whisky ter counteract snakes in ther
boots," Lem modestly stated. “ I’ve made many a
breakfast on bowie-knives with ther blade baked jest
tor a delicate brown.” .

“ How are ye on a trail?“ .

“Kin see a foot- rint on a solid rock, five foot in
diameter, by look 11’ through from ther opp‘site
srlefi
“You’ll do," said Tom, admiringly. “ Wal, do ye
want ter ’nm afew dollars?"

Livhtnin Lem consi ‘ered the matter and then
said a di , “Er there was a chance fur fun in the

mine.

And thus it came about that Jumping Jake found
himself enga ed to hunt himself down—for Arnold
frankly said 6 wished to find certain antics and
would pay well for the serVices of a ski lful trailer,
such as Lem claimed to be.

It was too late for work that afternoon, so the two
soon separated. agreeing to in (t i I the evening at
Tim Ryan’s hotel. Jake left the cabin, found Sheriff
Burke and made his report.

" i mean tdwork Arnold," he added. “ Heis close-
mouthed, but pro or eloquence will bring him over;
I feel sure of it. n the meanwhile there is another

oint for rain. We need influential men on our side,
out we?"

“ Should say we do,” Burke acknowledged.

“‘Very well. Now, there is Tong Arnold‘s plot
ragainst the gold of Sitng & Morgan. 1 have done
nothing about that, yet, ut it strikes me the time
has come. Suppose you walk in on them and give
'.them the story, not forgetting due credit to me‘ ‘

Burke vote the idea a good one and agreed to
worry it out. Then they separated. Jake went to
the cave, found all right there and told ldalah of the
:talk between Arnold and Madame Lenoxr. “

both were perplexed by what he had overheard,
‘but lilalah readily acce ted Jake's view that she
'was not the den hter of mold. Accmding to their
r inlon, she 11 been stolen by Madame Lenoir-and
- van to Arnold to rear in poverty and ignorance
~50 asito make her unworthy'of hilr real parents.

But the way in which them—Jake's and Idalah's—
James had been associated lpuzzled both.

"‘Stlll," said Jake, “I wi be frank enough to say
ill; has occurred to me that we may be brother and
.s soer.‘ v .

Curioust enough. ldalah‘s, hoe sobered at the
rthough't and Jake found himself orrowfully won-
'iggrlng if she was reluctant to r .gard him as a

.silentiy hop ng she was .not his sister.

His meson was that he thought he would‘prefer
‘her in anotherrplationship. and he forgot that she
.mi ht mm: the same way.

is stay at the ewe was not a mm mm, for he
ith to get around to meet Arnolrl at Ryan‘s saloon,
:agd he“ wanted to work the fellow to all possible
.a van go.

when he arrived at the saloon he found himself
ahead of Tom, however, and sat down to await his

comln .

. Not fang 1193 he been in place when a powerfully-

built man w ked ,up to the bar and called for

llfiuor. The sound of his voice made Jake start,
- a d as he took a. good look he recognized him.

It wasn't/n Doom! , .

The outhwas amazed 0 see the outlaw in Slash-
~away r, and undiszu sod. Almost every man
there hated him, and while they would not have

- dared to meet him single-handed, or to heard him
in his den, nothing would please them better than
'to fight him intheir own town, with the odds large-
ly in their flavor. ’\

'He drank his li or and turned away, but Tim po-
lite hinted that 9 had forgotten somethlinz.

“ ,_ hat’s that?" Boone asked, in a loud voice.

“ Whisky costs two bits in alashaway Bar.”

“ That’s that tor me?"

“‘ Nothing, except that ye owe me fur dhe drink."

': i slm’n 1; pay, Doone coolly said. .

A“  l?! . ’
3" Thin, be me loife, out yez go on dhe sharp send
:av yer nose!"
‘ The:- man don’t wear boots in Colorado that kin
at me out,” sold the outlaw, in a still louder voice.
' Do you want ter try it?"
“ By (line
over the bar like 3 ca

other, forgetting that a little before he had been .
” M the rivals began operations.

Quick and stron was he, with a knowled e of
‘ boxing and wrestl ng; but as he made for rian
1 Boone he was seized tossed in the air liken ball,
1 and then planted on the floor, with the outlaw’s foot
in the small of his back. ,
I “Hele lies ther body 0’ Tim Ryan, publican an’
sinner!" said his conqueror addressing the crowd;
“an’ here stand I ter tackle ther next man over
ther fence. Ma 'be you hev heard on inc—my name
is Brian Doonei ’

 

CHAPTER XV.
susnswu BAR cars TAKEN BY THE 'rnnou.

SILENCE, utter and suggestive, reigned for awhile
in the room. If the men of Slashaway Bar had been
blind beforelthcir eyes were by this time fully opened.
Many of them had seen Brian Doone before, in one
way or another, and when he had introduced him~
self they did not need any proof of his identitg.

Many of them in days that were gone ad in-
timated that the would be glad to meet the Rocka-
feller chief in fig t, but it was noticeable that none
now leaped forward to improve the chance.

“ I’ve come ter town,” resumed Donne, after a.
pause: “ an‘ ef thaws a man hyar in boots that
wants ter tackle me, let him fling ther harness over
my back."

A grim veteran near Jumping Jake glanced about
the room and then whispered to a neighbor:

"There‘sa. pile o’ strangers hyar: ez l figure it,
Doone has brought his men along."

And Slasbaway Bar held its peace. ,

“ Whar is ther tailor who wants ter fit a. coat ter
me?” resumed the outlaw. his terrible eres rolling
from side to side, and Tim Ryan now ying like a
peaceful lamb under his heel. “If there is one o'
ther sort in sound 0‘ my whisper, let him come an‘
see me.“ .

But the bold men of the Bar (lid not stir.

 

“Up wbar ther eagle builds his nest an’ ther
mountain goat skins from Crag tor crag,” Brian
Dooue went on. with a burst of eloquence, ‘thar is
a. town called Rockefeller. You ones so you want
ter tackle ther king 0’ ther town. Wal, yar he is,
an‘ he‘s waitin‘ ter be tackled. Who chips in? What.
nobody? Thcn hear my edict. I’ve come ter town

tcr look for one.Burke. a sheriff, ’cordiu' ter my‘

swear that I will kill him. Tr‘ot out Gaff Burke an‘
let me t’ar off his spurs.“

“Don‘t got homesick, furhyar I are with my hand
on that plow!"

The words came from the door. and Burke strode
forward serenely and faced the king of Rockafeller.

The spectators hardly breathed, but from that day
Gaff Burke would be a hero at the Bar; it was
eighteen-carat gold to face Brian Doone, and if
Burke died at his hands he would get a monument
from his grateful neighbors—in their memory.

A look of grim satisfaction crossed Boone’s face. .

“Good!” he ejaculated. " I'm find ter see you.
Seein‘ me hyar you may diskiver am not bashful
ter keep my oath: I’ve sought ye in your very
stronghold.’

“ Come with me an’ I‘ll lock
served. “ Ther jail is waitin’.” ' .

"It‘ll keep on waitin‘ a long time. Ther man don't
live that kin take me that." .

“ Ther man lives tliat'll try durned hard. My
hand is on thcr plow an‘ I gineraliy turn a clean fur-
rer.

The men faced each other with grim determina-
tion, but neither showet a disposition to draw a
weapon. Without a word being spoken to that ef-
fect they seemed to mutually Agree that muscle and
skill should decuie the questpn. ’

S ) far as size went they were not bad] matched,
but Brian Doone had such a reputation t at it was
commonly believed he was more than a match for
anv two men on Sawtooth Divide

ye up,“ Burke ob-

hlm to scramble up and get behind the bar, and then
It was evidently to be
catch=as~catch-can, and they began circling around
and looking for an opening.

The crowd, residents and strangers, made a regu-
lar ring and watched the result. ’ ,

Brian Donne, however, in the pride of his confi-
dence, was not disposed to grant much delay. Burke
saw a twinkle a or in his eyes, and then with a
sudden- and' ag e bound. he leaped forward, his
hands extended for a clutch. .

Burke did not seek to avoid it, and wit a shock
like the collision of battling buffaloes. t e strong
men met. For a moment they were mixed up and
the result was uncertain. but as. with their ho (is as-
sured, they aused one second for the great effort,
it was seen t t neither had the advantage.

As fairly as though for a friendl wrestle they
w’ere bound together, bonds of steel n the shape of
their brawny arms holding them in 9.

Another moment and they were w irllng about in
a desperate grapple, arm to arm, shoulder to shoal.
der, and hi 0 ip. ,

No one n the room was more interested than
Jumping Jake. He had mounted a table to look
over the heads of those who formed the inner ring,
and Burke had an earnest sympathizer in him.

It was difficult to comprehend just how matters
were sltuated,‘so rapidly did they whirl about, but
as it was not a wrestle for gate-money it was not
likely to last a rest while. « . , ,,

Back and fo strugfled the men, and the crowd
shouted to Seehow wel they were matched. The
,could not withhold their admimtion, even though t
was a. struggle on which so much degended.

Jake w tched eagerly for the teen . and, all things
considere , he began to hope that Burke. havln a

 

howly poker, I will il'cricd Tim, leaping .

lox‘ijger wind than his rival, was going to win in e
en .
1 But the end was delayed, and they struggled

He removed his foot from Ryan‘s back, allowng ‘

 

on like gladiators, their faces red and perspiraticii '
covered. , , -

Gaffer Burke, however, was preparing fora grand
effort. Uncertain at the first, he had gained confi-
dence as the str gle went on and believed he
would yet place Br an Doone on is back. Already
betilmagined himself turning the key on the noted
on . aw. - .

Suddenly he put forth all his reserve power. He
moved With > .n'tling rapidity. Doone‘s bones
seemed to bend under his crushing hold. He whirl-
ed the outlaw about like a flash. No one could fol-
low their movements. All was confusion and un-
crrtainty. ‘

Then followed a crash that made the bottles
dance behind the bar and the king of Rockufeller
lay flat on his bac with Burke's foot on his
breast.

.“Stand back an? give him air i” cried the sherifl,
With pardonable triumph.

But Jnmtping Jake, from his perch on the table,
saw one o the strangers present a revolver to the
back of the sherifl's head. The act needed no ex.

lanaiion. As had been said by the veteran, Doone

ad brou ht some of his men along with him and,
their chic being down, the meant to end the battle
by recourse to revolver an knife.

Jake saw his friend’s danger and knew the wea-
pon was up to kill. There was no time to press
through the crowd and arrest the shot, but the young
acrobat knew abetter way. I

With along light lea , he went over the heads of
the nearest men and a ighted like a panther on the
outlaw s shoulders. The revolver went flying away.
harmlesst discharging itself. and Jake and his novel
steed fell to the floor together.

Behad saved Lurke’s life, but the incident was
enough to stir up the smolderin fire. Boone’s men
were there for mischicl and the mites knew it; and
the single shot was the signal for the affray. r

The outlaws turned like tigers on the miners.
Each selected a man and tried to make him a vic-
tim. A flerce blow was aimed at Burke, but he
warded it off, and knocked the fellow senseless.
Revolvers cracked and bowies hissed as steel
met steel, and Tim Ryan began hurling empty bot-
ties at every stranger he saw, with surprising accu~
racy.

Jumping Jake was still 'on the floor. His man had
turned on him like a tiger and they were in agrap 1e.
It was nota fair one; the odds of age and weight
were a ainst him and he only held his own by his
agility n liding from each hold the outlaw gained.

And wb le they lolled about more than one foot
was planted mom mtari upon them.

Confusion reigned in e saloon, and, if they .but
knew it, confusion reigned elsewhere. .

The outburst inside was apparently the signal for
ageneral attack on the town. Armed men sprung
up as though from the ground. Houses were at-
tacked and robbed. Stores were cleaned out syste-
matically. And the hand of the destroyer was
heavy on Slashaway Bar. c

It so happened that the 0111 persons in the circus
shanty were Hebe, the Fat oman, and the Living.
Skeleton. Amused by the noise, they did not at
first comprehend what was afoot, but the active
mind of L. S. was not long to be deceived.

He went to the interior (f the shanty and brought
out his sword—a gift from Jules Lujeunessc, the
celebrated French firming-master. I '

“You had better go backto your quarters, Mrs.
Hebe," said L. S., a warlike light in his iyes.
“ Otherwise you may see desperate work." r

“What are you
Woman anxiousl as ed. , -

“ Defend our a tars and our fires.“ be valiantly re-

lied. “The red~handed foe is at our ate, but, by
Ct. as 0! they will find that I stand ere evenas
Horst o kept the bridge." ‘
He Fot as near the accuracy of history as people
visual y do and looked like a lion—in a mummy's
s up.

But Hebe was not disposed to humor his heroic
m . .

ood. « ~

“You sha’n’t do it, L. S. l" she declared; and
then as a man was even runningtoward the shanty'
she lifted the wouldvbe wan-nor in her arms and
bore him away from the door. ‘

“There, ‘ou «stay here. L. 8.; I’m not fin§ to
have you nut," ole said, and, placin b n a
chair, she seized the sword and rushed k to the
can-once as fast as her pounds avoirdupois would
a ow.

But 1:. S. was there as soon as she and he wrench-
ed the sword e illi’ully away in turn.

"Back!" he said, tragically. “Do not unman
me by womanly tears. Rather, prm that-the vic~
tory me be to the Right, and that power may be in
lmy in; e arm. Away, or, by St. Jagol I'll o thee
arm 1‘ ‘

 

' CHAPTER XVI.
A “ can my " roe rm: omens.

Ten: Living Skeleton endeavored to look very
fierce. but the Fat Women was not to be thus in-
timidated. She‘had a warm, personal interest in his
welfare and, knowing she could worst half a dozen
like him without inconvenience, she resolved that
his desperate valor should not bring him to grief.

Again she raised him in her arms and bore him to
a chair inside the shanty.

“Woman, unhand me!" he cried, vainly sire
rung. “ This abuse puts the Dark
Would you have me degraded, dishonored? My
place is at the front. Give me my good word and

er me at the foe!" I -

"You first keep still!" Hebe replied. “You‘ll

work yourself into a fever and then have to take

I

oing to do, L. 5.?” the Fat

on to the blusg:

 

 

;
l
l
a
,3.

 

 

Jumping Jake.

13

 

n...

K‘pvermint ten and have a plaster on your back'
top still. or—"

, She paused as the door of the shanty was dashed
upon and several men entered. They reclosed the
door with a bang and put up the bars. and then re-
volvers and knives flas led in the dim light. A heavy
crash followed, showing that other men had hurled
themselves against the door.

‘It stood flrm, however.

,“Goodness graciousl” muttered Hebe, “them is
the rioters.“

“ Can you see now what you have done, woman 1?”
L. S. sternl demanded. “But for you no foreign
foe would ave been on our soil; they would have
found their rraves at our door. Give me the sword
and, by St. ago, I’ll cleave them in twainl"

sue arose like an old-time hero going to battle, but;

n the Fat Woman raised him bodily and bore
him further away.

The notice of the strangers had been attracted.
and, as two of them approached, the sight was so
comical that they burst into loud lau liter.

“Take him across your knee, ole ady!” advised

one.
“ Won‘t he hev his hair combed t"

{1&5 Put him to bedl"

‘These jeering remarks so excited L. S. that he
made a real: effort and escaped from Hebe’s hold.
Eben. se zing his sword, he made for the men with

0t astc. ’

Their laughter increased, and, as he came near,.

one of them made a sudden kick in air which caught
L. 835 sword and, roving too much for his stren th,
spun him around h e a top for a moment and t on
drogped him on the floor.

.T e blood of the Fat Woman fired at the outrage
and she caught up a broom and sailed down upon
them like a heavy ship. They saw her coming and,’
so large was she. saw nothing else except that dan-
ger was abroad.

And as one man they took to flight.

But the avenger was on their trark. ’

There was a sweep of the .broom and one of the
fellows uttered a bowl; a. second sweep and his
companion joined in the chorus.
like the colored troops, fo ht nobly, but the
superior agility of the pursued k them out of the

wa .

3’} this time there‘ was a. tremendous racket at
the door. It seemed that the strange men were of
Donne‘s band and that they had been driven to this
shelter by the Barites.

And by the shouting outside one would easily be-
lieve all the citizens were out.

The outlaws wens not blind to the danger and‘
they held a council. The' result was soon seen.
Leaving the door to care for itself~it had been barri-
caded as far Womble—they fell on the circus
goods and be an to destroy ind scriminately.

,, With axes t ey; smashed everything that could be

smashed, and t a various animals were killed in
their cages—all exce t the two Ben al tigers we
have be ore seen. ese raged in their cage and
roared so that the Rockafeller men saw fit to give
them a wide berth.

But of all the circus goods the alone remained;
they and the human beings. It ad been no more
than awanton destruction, but when they turned
their on Hebe and L. S. the latter pair began
to toe uneasy.

“Shoot ’em:” said one man.

“Tie them up an‘ chuck ’em in the tlgers’ den,"
mdsu'tniiher' th- ban

" a rotor ers i: an’ burn ‘eml”

“ But tbat'll burn us tog." , '

“ We hev got ter come ter- ther scratch sooner or
lattil'é" Why not fire that shanty an' then make a
rus

The idea was voted good, and the place was tired
in half a dozen places.

In the mean while the poo le outside were get-
ting angry because theycaul not enter. Some of
their number had gone for axes with which to beat
down the door, but the axes did not appear and
the were getting im atlent.

thting still rage tlmu h the village, b t the
strife was going against nan Doone, an the
Barites wished to capture the fragment of his band
the had cornered in the shanty.

Vlith an ax they could easily ave entered; with-
?E‘tfi it the style of the place rather put them at

t.

Suddenly some one run up with a ladder on his
shoulders. and the men recognized Lightning 143m;
the cowbow.

“We must take them from the roof and lose no
timcl" 3%? Jake, anxiousl , and f0 etting his dia-
lect. “ era‘s: man an womanrii there. unless
the are murdered already. At any rate let us go
to t g rescue. We can enter at the roof.’

“ Who wants fer pm his head what an be blowed
off?" one man" cautiously asked, “Them outlaws
shoot str ht. -

ms wo 9 produced an lmpression,but aid“ was
given Jake the ladder. As he ran u the
crowd had 0 think! to say. First, therepwas

smoke in the air. indicating that the shanty had been
may secondly, Lightning Lem would get his last
hurt if he tried his chosen way of entering. , .
But Jake. kno Hebe WI... 8. must be there,
did not hesitate. 9 Wed t root. and tore
away the coverigf- 4 Clng of smoke rushed up
and near blind hlm- €thMN. too it saved his
life. for 17111199 "web “we l’ahl'ank'h the smoke
went. wild. mde “3“ " 130°? Chance for aim had
been given tbe’outlaws. ,
f PE‘Jumgf‘: gggd “8 ‘1 He lgle‘yvhglsdcircus
1 on We use” ll
know exwfly 110' 1° bdp "'"n- Even if light:

’ found men read! '45 “"0" him in a 195-9 down the

The Eat Woman, ‘

 

interior of the shanty, it was a leap even he did not
care to take. and the smoke gave him no chance to
take aim at the outlaws.

While he hesitated it arosa. more thick]
him. A. voice shouted to him to descen . but he
was bitter against the man who would not follow in
such a cause, and he kept his place. /

Suddenly, however, the roof seemed to sway under
him. and before he could retreat, it gave way
entirely for a s ace of four feet around him, and he
went shooting ( own, whether he wished or not.

Taken by surprise. he tried in vain to et his
balance 50 as to strike favorably; it was c car he
must alight as chance would have it. .

He passed the cloud of smoke as he went lower,
and his gaze rested on an outlaw, but before he
could see more he struck the fellow Squarer on the
shoulders, and both went down together.

Only one arose; Jake came up unharmed.

The interior of the shanty was an un repossessin
place just then. The flames licked t. e wafls, an
smoke was thick, and in places stifling.

The outlaws stood near the door, heir teeth set,
and their weapons out, prepared for the rush they
knew must come. The fatwoman had put L. S. into
a corner, and was coverin him-with her ample
person, her broom still held rmly.

Something—it may have been pit or admiration
—had caused the outlaws to spare t em.

And the roaring of the Bengal tigers was enough
to chill even stout hearts.

Before Jake could decide what to do a crashing
sounded at the door. It needed no ex lanation: the
axes had been found and it would not long before
the fort would be stormed.

Crash! cra‘shl crashl

Blows sounded in to id succession and the red
li ht of the burnin uildigg sent out brighter

cams when the lig t glanc back from the ax-

lados that cut through the door. I

Jumping Jake waited. Matters were well enough
as they were without help from himif the door went
down quickly.

But the roars of the t ers suddenly changed
inflection and the youth loo ed to see them rushing
from the smoke. They Jud broken from their
cages. As they leaped forward their roars were
blood—curdling and .for once, Jumping Jake felt
weak in his boots. He knew the fierce brutes of old,

they could not ave been controlled under the exist-
ing circumstances.
be fire had driven them mad.

The outlaws had not been deaf to the renewed
roarm , and they turned to see the beasts rushing
towar them. _ Their resolution was taken in a
moment. Casting ofl' the bar from the door they
darted out. Better]: far the men of Slashaway
Bar than the untame tigers.

As they went two lithe, striped bodies shot out of
the door and the shanty was cleared of all hostile
elements. Jumping Jake moved forward just as the
Fat Woman hurried toward the door with L. S. in
her arms. .

“I’m afraid he’s gone; the smoke hasstifled him,”
she anxious? said. *‘

“ No. by t. J ago nol" whispered L; S. “Give
me my sword and 1 ll carve my bigness in the foe
ten times over." v .

Nothing could blunt the edge of his courage.

_ The trio emerged from the shanty. No one was in
Sight. The tigers had cleared the field of the rival
elements and their roaring away at the northwest
proved the were making for the hills. The Jumper
pausedtc eliberatc.

The shunt was doomed; that much was sure.
Wrapped as it was in the grasp of the flames noth—
ing could save it. The circus was doomed; to it had
come at once a hot night and a “cold day.“

While Jake still he tated three persons appeared
on the scene—011a man,

me Lenoir and a
stout unknown ru an. ‘

 

CHAPTER XVII.
, mun ranssnn.

THE coming of his enemies did not: fill Jake, the
J umper. with any feeling of dismay. It was true he
was outnumbered and the faces 0 the trio, if noth-
ing more, expressed their enmity. but he was not
re uctant to speak with Chapman and he had
leafined the way of that part of Colorado pretty
we .

It was each.man for himself. and it would be a
£08315; fellow who didn't play a trump card to meet

“ Surround himl" exclaimed Chapman; “don‘t let
him escape I" I .

Hold on tthere, my Moses in the bulrushes," said
Jake, romp 1%. “I there’s any surrounding to be
done claim t eflrst act. Stay wh re you are or—
Easy, there and hands up; Ihavc 11 covered!"

It was a fact, for as his enemies gan closin in,
with their hands at their belts, he snatched on his
owa Smith & Wessons and covered Chapman and
his male ally.

And Hebe, the Fat Woman. catchin ' ht of her
broom. which somehow got outsi cutie shanty,
deserted L. S. and faced Madame Lenoir with the
broom well up.

“Hould on, dhere, e painted-up cr’ature!“ she
cried, breaking into a ong-buried brogne in her ex-
citement. “Sthand where yen are, or I'll swaps ye
tcr Cork lf vez tech a hlfl‘ av dhe b’ el”

“ By St. Jago yes!“ added the ving Skeleton
. “ I’ll cleave you from skull to stomach if i
but draw my good bladel"

Chapman was wise eno _
on the revolvers, if not on t e broom. and he paused
and looked for help. The light of the shanty made

 

|
around

and even it they had been subject to the will of man I

all plain and distinct. while distant yells. told that
. Slashaway Bar was getting its fill of Wild adven-
' ture.

“Now let us talk sense," said Jumping Jake,
sternly. “You have shown yourself my enemy-
Very good; i don‘t care a cent for that; but I ask it
asa favor and a right that you tell me what com
the shoe pinches. Why do you hate me? Come,
and show your hand i” \

“ I‘ll show it before we are through,” the man de-
clared, angrily. “I‘ve marked you for death, you
inipcrtinent rascal. and I’ll see that the game goes
throu h. I’ve waited for this time for years.“

" \\ lat harm have I done you?”

“The harm came in before you were born, Re~
member the good old Bible rule that the children
shall suffer for the sins of their parents. That‘s all
the explanation you’ll ever get; Iswear it.” ‘

“You look like a. hard swearer but *ou can t
come in. Well, it seems the mask is 0 at last.
You have sworn right along while setlmg your tools
on me that you have no spite at heart, but you‘ve
found slipper ice, and showed the bottom of your
feet. One thing more; you have now found one
particular child who don’t propose  suffer for the
sins of 1his parents unless another Judge than you
as. 's so.

a n‘ b dhe powers, I‘ll lay dhis sthick over dhe
back av he first divil among yez that teches dhe
b’ye!" Hebe clearly announced. . '

“ Bob," said Chapman, in a rage, turning talus
mfilan. " wade in and clean them out.“

“You go an‘ git thcr young tough‘s shooters
first.“ the fellow replied.

“ Bah! you’re afraid.” .

“ Lam a bit skeery o‘ rushin bull-headed. on them
sixes with two lintiu‘ eyes ike ther kid‘s alund
them," was the rank reply. “Ther boy is chock—
up with grit an” fight. But. look here. ole Silk-en’-
satin, er you thinks I’ma coward, 1’“ agree ter leap
enter you like a fly on a quartered beef l_"

What would have come of this mutiny isuncer-
tain, for at this n'mnent several of the .men of the
grid appeared in sight, with Judge Kemgan at their

8 1

Chapman hailed the official and pointed to Jake.
We should have mentioned before that enough of
his di ' h been lost in the burning building to
mg? is identity clear]: flaw ' r d

‘ eres ‘am ani, c cum! on .' announce
the tall man. 1)“He cargo out of the buildin with
Brian Doone‘s men,Yand there can be no don t but
he'is one of them. on know your dut . judge.” 4

“ Yes and I'll do it; the mflesty of t. 0 law must
be vindictiveated," said Kt 2' gun, with his usual
happy choice of words. “ Sui-w lllld him, men, and;
see that he don‘t escape. Close in E"

A defiant smile crossed the Jumper'l face. He
had no notion of being captured, and did not be-
lieved all Slashawa Bar could seize him With a.
clear field at his bac '. .

He wheeled andthen stood dumfouuded.

Another force of men had appeared at his rear.
and he was already surrounded. _

“ Sr ize him i” shouted Chapman. “He is the man
who set 'his fire, and he is Brian Doone s right-hand
man. Take him, and or alive!”

Jumping Jake logked keenly about him. Neither
Sheriff l'urke nor one of, his humbler friends was in:
sight. His only bucking was the Living Skeleton
and Fat Woman. Yet, he was far from beng re-
conciled to surrender. He knew he was me—
cugod, not prosecuted, and be resolved to no age:
su mit. .

Twenty men were about him, but he had no
thought of yielding. instead, he gave all his atten-
tion to escape.

One keen tglance he took and then, with the speed
of a young ecr, he rushed at the weakest point in
his assailants’ line. ' r

“ Don‘t fire; takehim alive!“ ordered Chapman.

The miners prepared to receive and seize him.
honest enough in their belief that he was a des—

hrate character; but what followed dumfonnded

em. .

Almost to the hands of the nearest man Jumping
Jake run at full speed, but Just as the fellow thought-
to rnsp him, the young acrobat 3 in the air
wit a greaLbound, the like of which as never be-
fore seen in Slnshaway Bar, and sailed over his head.
like a bird upon the wing. '

And then. never losing his balance, be dashed:
awa toward the hills.

Si once, deep and profound reigned for l, mo-
ment; no one had thought of this possibifity, and
all were astonished. Then Chapman recovered his
presence of mind.

“ Pursue! pursue!" he shouted. “ Fifty dollars to
the man who captures him 1“

But not a man stirred. The Jumper was dread
vanishing in the darkness, and wit the h with
their gulches, caves and pockets before him, It was
foil to pursue that night. And they said as much.

0 apman was furious. and in his wrath
ly began a solitary pursuit himself.

Madame Lenoir came to him with herva mov~
i convulsivgfi.

‘Do you yourselves menr’she denuded.
gnaw man are pacedxbgéo take one beardlcss boy?

y my P, am mp to put on male garments
and take the trail myself, and alone."

“Ef you didn‘t make a betteHooking man nur
you are a woman, you’d scare ther birds dead,” said
an ungallant voice from the crowd.

But the I e did not heed it.

"Is there nothing can be donef"she asked,“

 

h to look with respect .

Chapman remained sullenly silent.

“ hev a dong." said the radian. “ what flu tailor
a trail in air oron water. Pay me a X (whim, ter
guard against possible death by lead, an’ I ll agree»

leer. '

 

 

 

’ its?

' V would have pr0ved sufficient

' details from t e village, but he put all anxiety as
- and la

 
 

Jumping Jake.

 

14

ter hunt down yer Jumpin' .l’acopn ni’orc ter-mor-
rer's sun is middle—u. cd.‘

“So be it,“ said O inpmun, quickly. “ Sea to tin:
dog, and get ready to start. The young dmnou
must be hunted down. rleud or nllvo!"

If Chapman had been wise hc would not iiuvo
made that remark. As bus been said, the majority
of the people of Slaslmwny liar were well meaning,
and had been misled in the game, and this class
was’set to thinking by the last words.

Chapman had prol‘esscd to have no spite against
the boy acrobat, and Kerrignn was the man who
run the Bar; why, then, was 01m man putting up
.his money for a capture, dead or a ire ?

The slip of his tongue set the minors to thinking,
and sober thought usually bears good fruit.

While they were talking the matter over, Sheriff
Burke appeared. He had a handkerchief lli‘d
around one temple. and sundry abrasions on other
parts of his face suggested that n roll of court-plas-

er would, come in handily: he looked like a man
who had taken his turn as a ten-pin in an alley, and
got knocked down and badly ste ped on.

“ Hev any on you need a smnl outl'iw. 0‘ about a
hundred an' ninet pounds avo’dupus?” he ques-
tionad. “I’m look 11' fur Brian Doone."

“You look as though you'd found him," laughed
a man.

“You ought tor see ther other teller " Burke la-
cidly remarked“ “Wal, boyees, yo nl know w at
happened ut'Tim Ryan's hotel. so far ez I‘m con-
aarned, but you don't know Brian Doone nn' me hev
been lightin right along reg‘lur ever sence. We've
fit over every inch 0' ground from hyar tor Rocks-
fuller, and bled ev‘ thing from ther r'ale article
tor teeth an‘ toe-unis. Our last ex l'ite was ter
fallovera. precipice seven hundred eat from top
tor bottom. Took me three quarters 0' an hour ter
fall, 1111‘ I seek! a. panorama. on ther way. Knocked
ther ground senseless whar I struck. But whar's
Brian Doone?" *

No one could tell him. K

“ Wu], I‘m goin' artel' him tor-mortar. l've
gut my hand ter ther plow, on I‘ll find him or

u‘st: Boyees, I want ye at ther first glint 0'

do. .
ind they agreed to follow where he led.
But as soon as it was fairly light. another am’
left the Bar. -In this crowd were Chapman, 9 —
n and Drinkwnter, and Madame Lenoir wished
em ood luck when they left. I
At t a head of all was a sleek, iank hound, which

. Bob Stiver held in with a string, and which they

hoped would follow relentlessly on the trail of Jump-
infiJake and hunt him down.

ad their ui'pose been known to Horned or Yusef,
there would ave boon a. dead dog at hand, but these
two honest men had fared rather badly the- night
before, ahd were taking their rest.

And the bound led the way along the gulches
with the unfailing sugacity of his breed, along
whore Jake had gone and to the vicinity of the
cave.

He pausedat last‘st a her. of stone! and called

yfor their attention, coking at the pile.
Lead the fool on: he scents a. mouse," said Chap-

man.

" Fool yourself I" retorted Bob Stlver. “ i tell you
Death-Mouth makes no mistake. Pull usidc them
domicks, you fellers, on" I'll show you. thcr hole
whnr Jum ing Jnko has hived. My dog knows what
his bread 3 buttered for."

After that the could not doubt. The rocks we 6

illed aside, an sure enough there was an openi
u the earth. : '

This mode of concealing it had been suggested by
Burke after he took his youn friends inside, and 1t
d ad it not been for the

02

“here we arc," shld Chapman, a. little uneasily.
"Now who wants to take a ten-dollar note and go

" I’m that aloot," Stiver promptly answered.
r And thus t ey invaded the cave.

Insi 6, Jake the Jumper, IdaIah, Kitty O‘Neil and
Weave Jim were just liovin breakfast. The for-
mer had reached the cave wit out mishap, and get-
1M8Hlfl6¢fleep before day, had come out’of the
press in far better condit on than was to be ex-

He was an] anxious to see Gaffer Burke and get

do
bed and josted with the girls.

But easel Jim had not been named without a.
thou ht. He was a small boy, but he had a. big
11 And it being his fashion to always keep wide
awake, he did not sit down like a stone in the cave.
Half adozen times durin the night he had gone to
the cave entrance to see t at no one was getting in‘
and now, taking a slice of the bread and a piece oi
meat in his hand, he walked away on the some er-
how hun he would have:

run t n to imagine y
, 1199:3er Burke had broughtlzri no food.

He had not reached the entrance, however when
the sharp yelpof a hound reached his ears, followed

by an command in a. man's voice.
Wease im was sure this was not Burke, and in
hot haste he turned and fled toward his com-
ns. "
“They are trailln' us with a dog!" was his start-
alnahouncemeiltdfitt hrl lied dJ k
a wpae s e ,an aesrun
, to m. mama caught ug’; his mm:- p « g

“ What" he tersely demanded.

" Cb». man “ Weasel Jim replied. at a venture.

“l’lls op t e dog." '

With these wo s the Jumper ran toward the
entrance at full speed. He knew the d was worse
than ten men. The cave was a wonderful ly spacious
attain. with nooks and corners of every description

' and it would be no easy matter for men in find
i them if they hid. But the dog’s scent could not be
deceived. ~

' The youth had not gone for when he saw a glim-
, mcr of light. The enemy had fired some pine-knots
j  nearly falling into a chasm, and this was asure
s 0 - a. 9.

By the light Jake soon made them out. He saw
the dog, With the big rufiian leading him, and he
saw Chapman and Kerrigan close behind.

There was no doubt as to the complexion of the
par 3'.

He had been clearly shown that he must shoot the
dog, but how was he to take niml All was darkness
where he stood and the s hts of his rifle invisible.

As though in answer 0 his uestion came the
voice of Weasel J im. Jake turne . The small ho
had a torch which he had hid, partially, behind his
hat. It‘s light was a godsend.

And Jake knelt, and, with the torch- ht on his
gun, filmed for the shot on which so much eponded.

 

CHAPTER XVIII.
wmou omens THE REGISTER.

IT is necessary that we go back in our narrative
fora few hours and recorddin incident of the previ-
ous night which has a bearing on our story.

When Sheriff Burke told. Suva c & Morgan of the
Blot which had been laid to rob 1. cm of their gold,

0 did it with the understanding that the fact should
be kept quiet for awhile; and the firm readily agreed,
having a. desire to catch the robbers in the act.

They had been somewharsurprised to learn that
their trusted watchman, Big'liill Bennernvas a rascal
and leugued with other rascals to rob them, but he
was not the first trusted employee to go wrong, and
they swallowed the fact as well as pessible.

hen the tumult began in town that night, and
they knew Brian Boone’s men had made a raid,
Savage &'Morgan, being resolute men, prepared to,
defend their property. Stuffing their pockets full of
revolvers, they went out on a. lean-to and sat down
where they had a ood view, but where they were
themselves in the s adow. '

That they were practically invisible was shown by
the fact that Banner did hot see_them. Their first
thought was to notify him they were there, as ho
was in easy sound of their voices, butit occurred to
them to watch him. ‘

Big Bill marched about the yard like a soldier on
his beat and seemed little concerned by the firing.

Half an hour passed. '

Then there was a knock at the ate.

Big Bill paused and listened. he knock was re-
poeated, and that, too, in a peculiar way. He went

the gate, spoke, and was answered, and then he
opened it and two men came in. ‘3

The partners touched each other on the arm; it
was a ositive order from them that the gate should
never 8 opened after dark until sunrise. But they
said nothing: they listened. _

- “ ls ther coast cl‘sr?" asked a subdued voice.

“Seems tor he," replied Banner.

“ Then let us talk. Rittor an' mo hez an idee."

“ What is it?" '

“ Why, that thar will never be a better chance
than now to carry off Savage & Morgan’s old~dust.

Thar is a big row in ther hull village' B an Doone
hez ste pad in; nu' i reckon we kin slide ther gold
out wk: 9 thcr rest is a-flghtin’. ' Thar is bosses in
ther stable, ain’t ther?" .

"Three on 'em." ‘

A “ Jest one apiece. Wal let's crack ther crib while
ther excitement runs big , load up ther bosses an‘
git up an’ dust, never to return."

" I reckon Arnold is right," said Bitter. “ Once I
had thoughts of marrying his daughter. but .it
seems she isn’t his daughter. and I or one, don't
.llke the way things are oln here. if I stay I shall
get into a worse muss t an did in New York City."

“ There‘s no vote from me ag‘inst ther plan,"
Benner said. ‘r‘ Come alon , soft an‘ creepin', an'
we'll be rich men in half an iour."

He led the way to the stable, the horses were pre-
pared, and tools secured for forcin the door of the
place where Sam 8 & Morgan's go (1 was stored.

This door was w thin a few feet of the watching

partners, and they cooked their revolvers and pre-
pared for work. The Western man has little syi'n-
pathy for such criminals, and they intended to give
them a baptism of lead.
- The burglars advanced to the. door and, while Ben-
ner held a bull’seye, Arnold, who had operated——
and served time—as a cracksmsn, undertook to pick
the lock. .

Rittcr was close behind him.

About thirty seconds was given them and then
the river leaped her banks. .

lrack'. crack!

Four times in succession their revolvers rung out
and then the mine-owners leaped from the lonn‘to.
There was no need of further firing. One robber lay
Silently on the ground, a second was howling wit

am, while the third dropped on his knees and

6 _ed for mercy.

is was Bonner, and Ritter had a broken arm.
They thou lit, at first, that Tom Arnold was dead,
but when hey looked closer they found him just
living, though within half an hour of eternity.

, The robbery bud failed.

For a year Jumping Jake had been carefully rac-
tici as a workman, both for trick-shots an the
regu r kind, so that be had become skillful; but
never before had be taken the pains that he did
when he glanced along his rifle with the bound as
the object of his aim. '

Weasel Jim held the light‘with a steady hand, and
if the advancing party saw it they gave no sign.

 

I

 

 

 

And the Juniper, having taken all the aim he de~
sired, pulled the trigger at last. .

The report rung out almost like thunder in the
cave. The rifle had barely spoken when Weasel
Jim cast his torch aside so there could be no return
shot. And then both saw the bound lenp mm the
air and full dead at the feet of his master. -

Bob Stiver had lost- his dog as he had expected.

J ake and Jim ran backward at full speed, end
they could hear the pursuers in their rear. Luckily,
however, the way was one much easier followed by
those who knew it than by strangers and the boys
perceptibly sined. . '

The foun Idala‘n and Kitty awaiting them with
a. 0 deal of fear. ‘

‘ Follow mei" said Joke, cheerfully. “Jim has
looked around here until he ows every crook and
turn, and it‘ll be awonder if t ose fellows et 115.”.

“ Bad 'cess to thim nn‘ dhe lolkes av t in," said
Kitty. “ It‘s mesilf . will scratch out dheir eyes,
cl‘ane out, if dhe throuble us furderi"

Be end a don t, Kitty, with her strong arms.
wou d be a good ally in time of danger, but the
Jumger hope( to win without a fight.

Le by Vi easel Jim they deserted their lunch ing-
place and went where it seemed as though 9 race of
giants had amused themselves by pitching huge

owlders together in a. haphazard way. These lay
about, here and there, upon top of each other and
in almost every way. and the number of passages and
nooks between was indeed wondi rful.

Before these were reached the pursuers Were all
the track and our young friends had ample time to
select such a hiding-place as they saw ilt.

“ Now,“ said Jake, “ it will soon become a. sort of
hide-and-seek matter. Of course they can‘t track
us on the solid rock, and they no longer have a do .
In course of time, having their torches, they w l
happen on this place and suspect we are concealed
here. Then they have two things to tic—first, to
find us' secondly, to capture us. And we mean to
fight, if necessary.“

‘ But they will con uer sooner or later.“

“Who knows but eriff Burke may not ha pen
along? He is our good friend and I have confi ence
in him. Iiot us no for the best."

They did keep t eir spirits up wonderfully, and
even when the searchers came quite near and the

ht of their torches revealed their brawny forms,
I slab laid a steady hand on Jake's own.

“Have no fear for me," she said, with heroic «

cour e.
An‘ngake the Jumper, as cool as ever, brought his
pistol around as he saw Chapman and heard him
urge his men on with relentless hate, and had the
oun acrobat not been resolved to shed no human
bloo unless driven to the wall it would have fared
ill with Chapman ihat day. .... r .

But the young peoplc held their co and the
searchers came nearer. Kerrlgan he d back a little.
If he had a. strong dash of fool ’and villain in his
nature he was not all bad. and the turn the hunt
had taken rather worried him. Justice and parse-
cution arevdiflerent things. ,

Chapman, Drinkwater. Bob Stiver and a man
who was an avowed candidate for Burke’s oflice as
sheriff were at the head.

Suddenly there was a roar from among the rocks,
and Chapman recoilcd against Stiver. Twnce the
echo was repeated, and Jake, looking in amazement
knew it was the muffled report of a revolver, bu
could not im inc who held it.

A revolver of light arose from a. hole in the
rocks, but the marksman and the wen n were not
to be seen; But the execution was p sin and dis-
astrous. -

Chapman, Stiver and another man were down,
and momentary confusion reigned among the party.

But Drinkwater, never sun in it was another
hand than Jake’s that sped t e bu eta, aroused and
shouted a furious command. *

- “Forward, alll Shoot the demons—remember the
order is, (lmtl or alive I “

e words were his lost. He reeled back with a.
bullet in his brain and from the same, to J ske. un-
known hand, and his fall threw his followers into
confusion. _

They were about to turn and flee whenaheavy
form shot past them.

“Feller me, ye t‘arersl it is Brian Doone who is
s—droppin‘ ye; pull him from his hole!“

The speaker was Gaffer Burke. He shottothe
hole from which the flashes had come and disap-
peared. A confused struggle was heard, during
which men wilnger to t emselves, but did not
a ire to mix in t e frsy.

hen Burke appemd, dragging a wei bt equal to
his own, and he laid the body of Brian cone down
where the li ht from. their torches fell upon it.
Badly used the king of Rockefeller had been and
many a bruise told of the fall from the clifl. ll'rom
$16363 ncot kmfing whiretohls enemy was, he had
a , us stre enoug craw away.

He had not into the cave and hid-himself llko a.
bear in his hole, but Burke, doing he had said,
took his trail at da break and h hunted him
down. And now he ay dyimz on the bore rock,-n

sorry-looking “ king " in that hour, ‘as’ all kings am.

when Death stands by their side.

Oddly enough, however be turned his face to look
at Chapman and then 8111 led. ‘ '

“ I’ve done fur him an’ I'm content," he said. “ A
smooth, dplausible knave who led me the!" first» step
on ther 111nm road. We shall die to ether."

Jake t e Jumper, emerged from retreat. He
knew the tide had taken a final turn and felt safe
while Gaffer Burke was there. Men to see
him Mtg? went straight to‘ Brian Doone. ‘

“You ow why Chapman hated me," he said.
“ Will you tell me the story i" -

\A ,.

 

i

{f» .

 

 

 

_ Anthony P.
Enc

a.

“ Why not?“ Doono muttered. “ It's a short, sweet
story, and I‘ll thwart Chapman in ther eend. Che -
man? His real name was Alfred Earle. Twen y
years ago he loved Alice Drummond but she was
ther betrothed o’ Wilbur Renwood. Ilo resolved to
Dart them. He found an accomplice in MEdeInOD
selle Hendrix. who loved Renwood as vainly as
Earle loved Alice. The did part- them by hes o‘
thcr Evil One’s sort. om Arnold an‘ I was false
witnesses in ther case. We], they parted them, but
what good did it do? None. Neither 0‘ ther plotters
profited b it. Renwood married still another party
1111’ Alice oilered suit. Earle an' mademoisello lost
on ther very ground they won.“ ‘

Doone aused and 100 ed at Chapman, otherwise
Earle. he latter was conscious and listened.
Doone smiled and resumed:

“ Then Earle an‘ mademoiselle married each
other. .Ther woman is knowed in Slashawa ' Bar as
Madame Lenoir. The ' married, but they still hated
Ronwood 1111' Alice. hese two were forever sepa-
rated nn‘ a hundred miles apart, but hate still lived.
Renwood had a. son an‘ Alice a den hter. By an‘ by
they was stole; Earle nn‘ his Wife ad taken them.
it was their game Yer bring 'em un ienorant nn'
vicious. Renwood’s boy was placed With Hendrix.
therm dame's brother, an‘ become Jumpin‘ Jake.
Alice's dau hter was filmed with Tom Arnold au'
become Ida ah. We], y an odd coincidence, Reu-
wood an‘ Alice died, six months ago, within a week
0‘ each other. Thus. Cha man an‘ ther madame
lost all chance 0’ presentin the’r children ter them
in a way they‘d be ashamed on. But the still
hated ther children an‘ Chapman resolve that
Jake should die. You knowther rest. Chapman,
ain’t I spoke true?"

Jake‘s enemy, looking at the youth, spoke one
word:

“Yes!”

Then his eyes closed and he was dead. ‘
Brian Doone smiled again and then tried to rise.
To his elbow he moved, wavered, fell back and
breathed his last.

The drama was near its end.

Jake, the Jumper, was full vindicated. Arnold.
shot during the robbery, had 'ved to tell hisystory
—and then die—and there could beno doubt. Jake
was neither rich nor of princel birth, but he had an
ho .10er name and the resoiu on to make a. fortune
for himseif.

Kerrigan resigned and left the Bar. and Gaffer
Burke was his successor. He still reigns, and Wea-
sel Jim is his right hand man.

Hendrix and Mad :mo Lenoir fled: but, a little
later. the latter died in Santa Fe. Bitter, too. met
with trouble. Wounded and miserable, he went to
prison to serve a term with Big Bill Bonner for a
companion.

The Ti (er-Tamera Tattooed Man. Living Skeleton,
and Fat oman. jomed another and more prosper-
ous circus. , .

Three years have passed since the scenes we have
described. And they are rendered the more inter-
esting, because, in Denver, Jake and Idalah have just
been married. Honored and prosperous. we now
leave them.

The nest Weekly ofPopular, Entertain-

lng and Useful Literature Pub-
lished in America!

THE END.

 

 

its Unrivnled Corps Of Contributors, almost all of
whom write Nduszv‘rly {or its publishers —embl‘aces
the following authors 01 world wide repute-—
Colonel Prentiss Ingraham. Albert W. ikcn.
Ca%. Fred. Whittaker, (rapt. Mayne Reid, oseph
E. Edger, Jr., Edward L. \ hecler, Charles Morris.
Oil Coomes, C. Dunning Clark. Buffalo Bill, White
Beet/er, Buckskin Sam, Major Dangerfield Burr,
T. C. Harbin h. Philip S. Warne, Wilham R. Eyster,
orris. Launce Poyntz. '
h and all of whom give to BEADLE‘s W EEKLY
their very best productions in all the varied fields of

Border and Wild West finance—-
Adventure. Exploration and Sport-
City Life, Character, Courts and Ways——
Detective and ‘ shadow’ Revelations —
Stories of the Great Deep, etc., etc.
So that each and every number is overflowimr
with reedin oi the most interesting and PXL‘itlllZ

nature; whi e in itsfiyolcial Departments.‘covering
all the needs. and (ling to the gene linterest

‘and usefulness of the Dopular jotirna,BEAnLE‘s

WEIR“ is the paper of all others for your weekly
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Jumping Jake.

Waverley Library.

1 THE MASRED BRIDE. Byers. Mary R. Crowell.
2 WAS IT LOVE? By Wm. ason Turner.

‘3 THE GIRL \VIE'E. I? Bartley '1‘. Campbell.
4 A BRAVE HEART. y Arabella Southworth.

5 BESSXE RAYNOR. By Wm. Mason Turner, M. D.
6 THE SECRET MARRIAGE. By Sara Clnxton.

7 A DAUGHTER or EVE. By Mrs. Crowell.

8 HEART T0 HEART. By Arabella Southworth.

9 ALONE IN THE WORLD.  author of “Clifton,”
10 A PAIR OT GRAY EYES. y Rose Kennedy.

11 ENTANGLED. B Henrietta Thackeray.

1‘2 HIS LAWHUL IEE. B Mrs. Stephens.

13 MADCAP. By Corinne ushman.

14 WHY I MARRIED HIM. By Sara ClaxtoD.

15 A FAIR FACE. By Bartley T. Cam bell.

16 TRUST HER NOT. By Margaret Le cester.

17 A LOYAL LOVER. By Arabella Southworth.

18 HIS IDOL. By Mrs. .Iary Reed Croweli.

19 THE BROKEN BETROTHAL. By Mary G. Halpine.
‘20 ORPEAN NELL. By le Penne.

21 Now AND FOREVER. y H. Thackeray.
22 THE BRIDE OF AN ACTOR. By the author of

“ Alone in the World," etc., etc.

23 LEAP YEAR. By Sara Ciaxtou.

21 HER FACE WAs HER FORTUNE. By E. Blaine.
27‘ ONLY A SCHOOLMISTRESS. By A. Southworth.
26 WITHOUT A HEART. By COL P. Incl-sham.
27 WAS SHE A C UETrE? By H. Thackeray.
28 SY‘BIL CHASE. Mrs. Ann S. Ste hens.

29 FOR HER DEAR RE. By Sara C axton.

30 THE BOU UET GIRL. By Agile Penna.

 

31 A MAD ARRIAGE. B Mary A.Denison.
3‘2 MARIANA. THE PBIMA ONNA. B ' A. Southworth..
33 THE THREE SISTERS. By Alice leminsz.

34 A MARRIAGE or CONVENIENCE. By Sara Claxton.
35 ALL AGAINsT HER. By Clara Au sta.
86 SIR AROHER's BRIDE. By Arabe a Southworth.
37 THE COUNTRY COUSIN. B ' Rose Kennedy.
88 HIS OWN AGAIN. By Ara lla Southworth.
33 FLIRTATION. By Ra ph Royal.
PLEDGED To MARRY. By Sara. Claxton.
41 BLIND DEvoTION. _ By Alice Fleming.
42 BEATRIcE, THE BEAUTIFUL. By A. Southworth.
43 THE BARONET'S SECRET. .By Sara Claxton.
44 THE ONLY DAUGHTER. ByAlice Fleming.
45 HER HIDDEN FOE. By Arabella Southworth.
46 THE LITTLE HEIREss. By M. A. Denison.
47 BEGAusE SHE LOVED HIM. By Alice Fleming.
48 IN SPITE 0F HERSELE. By S. R. Sherwood.
49 BIS HEART’s MISTRESS. By Arabella Southworth.
50 THE CDEAN HEIREss. Bilers, Mary A. Denison.
51 Two YOUNG GIRLS. By 'ce Fleming.
52 THE WINGED MEsSENGER. By Main-i Reed Crowell
5'3 AGNES HOPE. By W. M. Turner, . D.
54 ONE WOMAN'S HEART. 1? George S. Kaime.
55 SHE DID NOT LOVE HIM. yArabelln Southworth.
56  By Wm.ll[. Turner, M. 'D.
57 A BRAVE GIRL. By Alice Fleming.
58 THE EEON MASK. ByéMary Reed Crowell.
59 A WIDow’s WILEs. yRachel Bernhardt.
80 CEOII.’s DEOEIT. By Jennie Davis Burton.
61 A WICKED HEART. B Sara Glendon.
62 THE MANIAO BRIDE. fillet-germ Blount.
63 THE CREOLE SIsTERs. y Anna E. Porter.
64 WHAT J EALOUSY DID. By Alice Fleming.
65 THE Wmc's SECRET. By Col. Juan Lewis.
66 A BRMHER‘S SIN. By Rachel Bernhardt.
67 FORBIDDEN BANE. By Arabella Southworth.
68 WEAVERE AND, WENT. By Mrs. M. E. Braddon.
69 CAMILLE. By Alexander Dumas.

70 THE Two OanANs. ’Enne '.

71 MY YOUNG WIFE. B; Yo ife’s Husband,
72 THE Two WIDows. nnie omas.

73 Ross MICHEL. By aude Hilton.

74 CECIL CASTLEMAINE‘S GAGE. By Guide.
75 THE BLACK LADY or DUNA. By J. S. Le Fanu.
76 CHARLOTTE TEMPLE. By Mrs. Rowson.
'7? Cams-run OAKLEv‘s MIsTAxn. By Miss Mnlock.
78 M“ YOUNG HDsDAND. By Myself.
79 A QI‘EEN AMONGST WOMEN. By the author or
“ Dora Thorn.” ,
an ll'm LORD AND MASTER.
81 LUCY TEMPLE.
82 A LUNG TIME AGO. BfMetn Orred.
83 PLAYING FOR HIGH STAREE. By Annie Thomas
84 THE LAI'REI. BUSH. V By Miss Mulock.
85 LED ASTRA'I. By Octave li‘euillet.~
8Q JANET‘E REPENTANOE. By George Eliot.
84 ROMANCE or A POOR YOUNG MAN. Bv O. Feuiliet.
88 A TERRIBLE DEED. By Emma G. Jones.
390 A GIKDED SIN. D
HE UTHOR‘s AUGETER. B ' Ma Hewitt.
91 THE JILT. By Charles Reade. y ry
9:2 EILEEN ALANNA. By Dennis O‘Sullivan. '
93 Lovn’s VICTORY. By B. L. Farjeon. x
94 THE QUIET HEART. B Mrs. Ollphant.
95 LETTICE ARNOLD. By rs. Marsh.
96 HAUNTED HEARTS. By Rachel Bernhardt.
9? Boos MELTON. By Catherine Kin .
98 ALICE LEARMONT. By Miss Muioc .
99 MARJORIE BRDOE’s LovER. Bv MaryPatrick.
100 THROI‘GH FIRE AND WATER. By Fred. Talbot.
101 HANNAH. By Miss Mulock.
102 PEG WOFFINGTON. By Charles Reade.
103 A DESPERATE DEED. By Erskine Boyd.
1M SHADows ON TIIE SNow. By B. L. Fe II.
105 THE GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND. W. M.
Thackeray. - r
106 FRoM DREAMS TO WARING. By E. Lynn Linton.
107 POOR Zlill’ll. By F. W. Robinson.
108 THE SAD FORTI-Nnn or THE REV. AIOS‘BARTON.
George Eliot. , , .
109 BREAD-AND-CHEESE AND KIssEs. By B. L. Fodeon
110 THE WANDERIND Hm. By C. Reade.
111 THE Emma‘s Brr. By '3. Roman. ‘
112 A HERO. By Miss Muiock.

By Florenci- Mnrryat.

 

15

 

113 PAUL AND VIRGINIA. From the French of Ber
nardin de St. Pierre. ,

114 ’TWAs IN TRAFAEGAR’E BAY. By Walter Besant
and James Rice.

115 THE MAID on KILLEENA. By \Viliiam Black.

116 HETTY. By Henry Kin .ley.

117 THE WAYSIDE CROss. y Capt. E. A. .‘liilman.

118 THE VICAR or WAKEFIELD. By Oliver Goldsmith.

119 MAUI) MORAN. By Annie Thomas.

120 THADDEUS or WARSAW. B ' Miss Jane Perter.

121 THE KING or NO-LAND. I B. L. Fsrjeon.

122 LOVEL THE WIDOWER. By M. Thackeray.

12% AN ISLAND, PEARL. By B. L. Farjeon.

124 COUSIN PHILLIS.

125 LEILA; or THE SIEGE 0F GRENADA. By Edward
Bulwer, (Lord Lytton.)

126 WHEN THE SHIP COMES HOME. By Walt er
Bosant and James Rice.

127 ONE on THE FAMILY. figsJames Payn.

128 THE BIRTHRIGHT. By .Go

re.
129 MOTHERLEss; or, The Farmer's Sweetheart. By
Colonel Prentiss Ingraham.
130 HOMELESS; or, The Two Orphan Girls in New
York. By Albert W. Aiken. A
131 SISTER AGAINST SISTER: or. The Rivalry of
Hearts. 'By' Mrs. Mary Reed Croweli.
132 SOLD FOR GOLD. By Mrs. M. V. Victor.
133 LORD Ron-H’s SIN; or, Betrothed at the Cradle.
By Mrs. Georgiana Dickens.
131 DID HE LOVE HER? By Bartley '1'. Campbell.
135 SINNED AGAINsT; or, Almost inflls Power. By
Lillian Love 0y. .
136 WAs SHE HIS 'III'E? By Ma Reed Crowell.
137 THE V LLAGE ON THE CLIFF. Miss Thackeray.
138 POOR ALERIA. By Margaret lount.
139 MARGARET GRAHAM. By G. P. B. James.
140 WITHOUT MERCY. By rtley '1‘. Can phell. .
141 HONOR BOUND. ‘ By Lillian Ipvejoy.
142 FLEEING mu LoVE. Mrs. Harriet Irving.
143 AEDDcTED. By Rett Winwood.
144 A STRANGE MARRIAGE. By Lillian Love 0y.
145 Two Gmm’ Lms. By Mrs. Mary Reed wall.
146 A DEspERATE VENTURE. By Arabella Southworth
147 THEaWAR 0F HEARTD. By Corinne (Mailman.
148 WEIGII WAs THE WOMAN? By Sara Clinton.
149 AN Axnrrrccs GIRL. By Frances H. Davenport.
150 LOVE Loan on ALL. By Alice May Fleming.
151 A WILD GIRL. By Corinne Cushman.
152 A MAN‘S SACRIFICE. By Harriet Irving. ‘
15'} ID SHE SIN? By Mrs. Mary Reed Crowefl.
154 E Loves ME Kerr. By Lillian Lovejoy.
155 WINNING WAvs. By Margaret Blount.
156 YBAT SHE COST Hm. ByArabella Southworth
157 GIRL’s HEART. By Rett “inwood.
158 5A BITTER. llllSTAKE. By Agnes Mary Shelton.
159 LADY HELEN’s Vow. By the late Mrs. E. F. Eliot.
160 BUYING A HEART. B llian Lou‘ejoy.
161 PEARL or PEARLs. y A. P. Morris, r.
162 A FATFFUL GAVE. By Sara Claxton.
163‘THE CREOLE COL'sINs. By Philip S. Warns.
164 A S‘ A DING 0 DEAL. By_Geo‘{FIan& Dickens.
165 A S’WIANGE GIRL. By x‘ lbert . Aiken.
166 A MAN'S SIN. By Rett Wirtwood.
167 THE BAND or FATE. B Arabella Southworth.
168 Two FAIR. WOMEN. By '11:. Mason Turner.
169 TEEPTED THROUGH-LOVE. l? Lillian Lovgoy.
170 BLIND BAREAEA‘s SECRET. y M G H pine.
171 A Wom‘s WITCBEEY. B SaraC xton.

172 BLACK EYES AND BLUE; Corinne Cushman.
173 THE COST or A Four. B Georgiana Dickens,
174 THE PRETTY PnnITAN. By Parson’s Daughter.

176 Is LovE A MOOKER'I? B Arabella I w

176 ADRIA, THE ADOPTED. lyoJenme Davis Burton.

177 11% irth WOEAN HE VE . ByAgnesum-y
e n.

178 THE LOCKED HEART. By Corinne Cushmon

179 PARTED BY TREACEERY. By Harriet Irving.

180 WAS SHE A WINE? By Rett Winwood.

181 UNDER A CmUD. By Sara Claxton.

182 AN AHERIGAN QUEEN. By Grace Mortimer. .

183 A POINT on HONOR. ByLillian Lovejo .

184 Pam To THE ALTAR. By Corinne

186 PUT To A Tm. By Georgiana Dickens.

186 THE TERRIBLE TEETH. By Jennie Davis Burton.

187 OI'TWITTED BY Hmm. _By A Southworth.

188 From. By Col. Prentiss I ham.

189 HER GUARDIAN’s SAcnmon. y Sen Clinton.

190 Pam-n AND PROUD. By Corinne Cushman.

191 A WOMAN’S MANEUVEE. By Lillian Lovejoy.

192 THE BITTER FEUD. By Jennie Davis 311MB.

193 FREAKING TEE FETTERs. By Goor Dickens.

194 THE MirsTERIous GUARDIAN. By rlnne Cush-

man. v .
195 IN THE BALANCE. By Arabella. Southworth.
196 JULE, TEE'JEWEss. BygDr. Noel Dunbar.
197 A SIsTEE-‘s CEnIE. By A as Ma Shelton.
198 WIuIA WILDE. By Jon e Davis rton.
199 THE BEAUTIFUL DEMON. Byji‘rancis EDI;an
200 In Mle BEECHEs. By Corinne Cushman.
201 A YOUNG GmL’s ORDEAL. By SnraClnxton.
902 HER EVIL GENIUS. By Harriet Irving.
203 PAssIon's REPBJSAL. Blyb-Liilian Lovejny.
904 ELEGANT EGDERT. By ilip S. Wynne.
205 A MINIETERING ANGEL. By Georgiana Dickens.
m6 OUIDA’s LOVE. By Henriette E. De Condo.
W7 A HAsTT MARRIAGE. By Mrs. M. L. Fordham.
we BOWIE, THE KNIGHT or CHIVAntr. y P. 8. wane
319 CHERRY. B ' Arabella Southvwrth. I
210 CARLYON'S EAR. By James Payn. .
211 AN mm. or CLAY. By Harriet Irving"
219 THE LADDER 0! LINE. Bv Amelia B. Edwards.
918 A WILLEUI. WIFE. By Lillian Lovejlo . ‘
214 THE Two DESTINIEs. Br Wilkie Coins.
915 A THORN! BATH. ,_ Sara (llama. ‘
916 'VALERTE. By Cantnm Marryat. .

.4 new issue wary week.

For salmby all Newsdealers, {Iago mental-ts each,

d on recolp six oen
°r '8“ B ABEE’ AND ADAMS, Publishers.
919 William street. N. Y.

man.

 

 

l Adventures ofBumtlo Bill. From Boy-
hood to Manhood. Deeds of Darin and Roman-
tic Incidents in the early life of Wi iam F. Cody.
By Col. Prentiss Ingrahani.

2 The Ocean Hunters; or. The Chase of
Leviathan. A Romance of Perilous Adven-
ture. B Captain Mayne Reid.

WA“. Jim Large Number.

3 Adventures of \Vild Bill, the Pistol
Prince. Remarkable career of J. B. Hikok,
(known to the world as “Wild Bill,” giving the
true stor of his adventures and no 5. By Col.
Prentiss ngraham.

4 The Prairie Ranch - or, The Young Cattle
Borders. By Joseph E. B’adger, Jr.

6 Texas Jack, the Mustang King. Thrill-
in Adventures in the Life of J. B. Omohundro,
“ exas Juck.‘,’ By Col. Prentiss lngraham.

8 Cruise of the Flyinvay; or, Yankee Boys
in Ceylon. By C. Dunning Clark.

7 Roving Joe 1 The History of a Young “Bor-
der Ruffian." Brief Scenes from the Life of
Joseph E. Badger, Jr. By A. H. Post.

8 The Flyawny Afloat; or, Yankee Boys
'Round the World. By C. Dunning Clark.

9 Bruin Adams, Old Grizzly Adams’
Boy Purd. By Col. Prentiss Ingrnham.

10 The Snow-Trail ' or, The Boy Hunters of
Fur-Land. By T. C. nrbaugh. ,

11 Old Grizzly Adams the Bear Tamer;
or, The Monarch of the Mountain. By Dr.
Frank Powell.

12 \Voods and Waters; or, The Ex lolts of
the Littleton Gun Club. By Capt. F. W ittaker.

13 A Rolling Stone: Incidents in the Career
on Sea and Land as Bo and Man of Colonel
Prentiss lngrahum. By roi’. Wm. B. Eyster.

14 Adrifl. on the Prairie, and Amateur
Hunters oh the Buii‘ulo Range. By
011 Coomes.

l5 Kit Carson, King of the Guides; or
Mountain Paths and Prairie Trails. By A. W.
Aiken.

16 Red River Rovers; or Life and Adven-
tures in the Northwest. By C. Dunning Clark.

17 Plaza and Plain ' or, Wild Adventures of
“Buckskin Sam " Iiajor Sam S. Hall.) By
Colonel Prentiss lngraham.

18 Rifle and Revolver; or, The Littleton
Gun Club on the Bufl’alo Range. By Captain
Frederick Whittaker.

l9 Wide-Awake George, The Boy Pioneer;
or, Life in a Log Cabin. Incidents and Adven-
tures in the Backwoods. By Edward Willett.

20 The Dashing Dragoon; or. The Story of
General George A. Custer, from West Pointto
the Big Horn. By Captain Frederick Whittaker.

21 Deadwood Dick as a Bo ; or, Why
Wild Ned Harris, the New-En land arm-lad, be-
came the Western Prince 0 the Road. By Ed-
ward 'L. Wheeler.

22 The Boy Exiles of Siberia; or, The
Watch-Dog of Russia. By T. C. Harbaugh.

23 Paul De Lacy, The French Beast Charmer
or New York Boys in the Jungles. A Story 0
Adventure Peril and Sport in Africa. By C.
Dunning Clark.

24 The Sword Prince: The Romantic Life
of Colonel Monste , (American Champion-at-
arms.) By Captain rederick Whittaker.

25 Round the Camp Fire or Snow-Bound
at “Freeze-out Camp." By 05. E. Badger, Jr.

26 Snow-shoe Tom; or, New York Boys in
the Wilderness. A Narrative of Sport and Peril
in Maine. By T. C. Earbaugh.

27 Yellow Hair, the Boy Chief of the
Pawnees. The Adventurous Career of Eddie
Burgess of Nebraska. By Colonel Prentiss In-
graham.

28 The Chase of the Great White stag
312i Camp and Canoe. By C. Dunning
r

29 The Fortune-Hunter; or, Roving Joe
is  Cowboy, Trapper and Hunter. By

80 Walt Ferguson’s Cruise. ATale oi' the
Antarctic Sea. By C. DunningClark.

81 The Boy Crusader; or. How a Page and a.
Fool Saved a King. By Capt. Fred. W ittaker.

82 White Beaverikthe Indian Medicine

Chief or The mantle and Adventurous
Life of r. 15.1mm; Powell. ByCol.Ingraham.

83 Ca taln Roi h the Young lorer: or,
The ntlpede Agonkmem By .Dunning

 

34 The Young Bear Hunters. A Story of
the Ha. s and Mishaps of a. Party of BO 5 in
the W' ds of Northern Michigan. By ll orris
Redwing.

35 The Lost Boy “’halers ' or. In the Shadow
of the North Pole. By T. C. ai‘baugh.

36 Smart Siln the Lad with a Level Head.
By Edward Willett.

37 Old Tar Knuckle and His Boy Chums; or.
The Monsters of tho Esquimuux Border. By
Roger Starbuck

38 The Settler’s Son; or, Adventures in the
Wilderness and Clearing. By Edward S. Ellis.

39 Night -Hnwk George, and His During
Deeds and Adventures in the Wilda of the South
and West. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

40 The Ice Elephant; or, The Castaways of
the Lone Coast. By Capt. Fred. Whittaker.

41 The Pampas Hunters' or. New York
Boys in Buenos Ayres. By T.  Harbaugh.

42 The Young Land-Lubber° or, Prince
Porter‘s First Cruisa. By C. Dunning Clark.

43 Bronco Billy, the Saddle Prince. By Col.
Prentiss Ingraham.

44 The Sno‘v Hunters; or, Winter in the
Woods. By Barry De Forest.

45 Jack, Harry and Tom. The Three
Champion Brothers; or, Adventures of Three
Brave Boys with the Tattooed Pirate. By Capt.
Frederick Whittaker. ‘

46 Th» Condor Killers' or, Wild Adventures
at the Equator. By T. C. Ilarbaugh.

47 The Boy Coral-Fishery or, The Sea-
Cavern Scourge. By Roger Star uck.

48 Dick, the Stowawa ; or, A Yankee Boy‘s
Strange Cruise. By Char es Morris.

49 Ti Tresscll, the Floater; or, Fortunes and
o‘rctunes on the Mississippi. By Edward
e .

50 The Adventurous Life of Nebraska
Charlie, (Charles E. Burgess.) By Colonel
Prentiss lngraham.

51 The Colorado Boys° or Lite on, an Indi o
Plantation. By Joseph E.’Badger, Jr. g

52 Honest Harr ; or, The Country Boy Adrift
in the City. By harles Morris.

53 The Boy Detectives; or, The Young Call-
fornlans in Shanghai. By T. C. Harbaugh.

54 California Joe, The Mysterious Plainsman.
By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

55 Harry Somers, The Sailor~Boy Magician.
By S. W. Pearce.

5 6 Nobody’s Boys ; or, Life Among the Gipsies-
.By J. M. Hoffman.

67 The Menagerie Hunter; or, Fanny Ho-
bart, the Animal Queen. By Major H. Grenville.

58 Lame Tim, the Mule Boy of the Mines; or,
Life Among the Black Diamonds. By Charles
Morris.

59 Lud Lionheels, the Young Tiger Fighter.
By Roger Star-buck.

60 The Young Trail Hunters; or, New
York Boys in Grizzly Land. By T. C. Harbaugh.

61 The Young Mustangers. By C. D. Clark.

62 The Tiger Hunters; or, The Colorado Boys
in Tiger-Land. By Joseph E. Badger. Jr.

63 The Adventurous Life of Captain
J tick, the Border Boy. (John W. Crawford,
the Poet Scout.) By Col. Prentiss lngraham.

64 The Young Moose-Hunters; or. Trail
and Camp-fire in the New Brunswick Woods. By
Wm. H. Manning.

65 Black Horse Bill, the Bandit Wrecker: or.
Two Brave Boys to the Rescue. By Roger
Starbuck.

66 Little Dan Rocks; or. The Mountain Kid‘s
Mission. By Morris Redwing.

67 ’Longshore Lilo; or. How 3. Rough Boy
Won His Way. By C. Dunning Clark.

68 Flatboat Fred; or. The Voyage of the “ Ex-
periment.” By Edward Willett.

69 The Deer-Hunters; or. Life in the Ottawa
Country. By John J. Marshall.

70 Kentucky Ben, the LongRifle oithe Plains;
or. The Boy Trappers of Oregon. By Roger
Starbuck.

71 The Boy Pilot; or, The Island Wreckers.
By 00]. Prentiss ingraham.

 

72 Young Dick Talbot. By AlbertW. Aiken. l

’73 Pat Mullaney’s Adventures; or, Silver
Tongue, the Dacotah Queen. By C. L. Edwards.

74 The Desert “over; or. Stowaway Dick
Among the Arabs. By Charles Morris.

75 The Border Gunlnakcr; or, The Hunted
Maiden. By James L. Bowen.

76 The Kit Carson Club; or, Young Hawk-
eyes in the Northwest. By T. C. Harbaugh.

7’7 Left-Handed Pete, the Double-Knife. By
Jos. E. Badger, Jr.

1 78 The Boy Prospector; or, The Scout of the

Gold Ravine. By Roger Starbuck.

7 9 Minonee, the Wood Witch; or, the Squatter’s
Secret. By Edwin Emerson.

80 The Boy Cruisers; or, Joe and Jap's Big
Find. By Edward Willett.

81 The Border Rovers ; or, Lost on the Over-
land Trail. By J. Milton Hoflman.

82 Alaska, the \Volt‘ Queen; or, The Girty
Brothers’ Double Crime. By Capt. 0. Howard.

83 Tile Young Nihilist; or, A Yankee Boy
Among the Russians By Charles Morris.

84 Little Rifle; or, The Young Fur Hunters.
By Capt. “ Bruin " Adams.

85 Fighting Fred ; or, The Castaways or
Grizzly Camp. By T. C. Harbaugh.

86 Dr. Carver, the “ Evil Spirit ” of the Plains;
or, The Champion Shot of the World. ‘ By Col.
Prentiss Ingraham.

87 Rufl‘ Rob—art and His Bear.
“ Bruin " Adams.

88 Pony, the Cowboy. By Major H. B. Stod~
dard.

89 Gaspar, the Gaucho; or. Lost on the
Pampas. By Captain Mayne Reid.

W111: 112nm Large Numberrm
90 Texas Charlie, the Boy Ranger. By 00).
Prentiss Ingraham.
91 Mosco‘v to Siberia; or. A Yankee Boy
to the Rescue. By Charles Morris.
92 Boone, the Hunter; or, The Backwoods
Brothers. By Capt. Frederick Whittaker.
93 Oregon J osh, the Wizard Rifle; or, The
Young Trapper Champion. By Roger Star-
buck.
94 Christian Jim, the White Man’s Friend.
By Edward 8. Ellis. -
95 Plucky Joe, the Boy Avenger.
Hoffman. ‘
96 Roving Rifle, Custer’s Little Scout
C. Harbaugh.
97 Hurricane Kit; or, 01d Lightning on the
Rampage. By A. F. Holt.
98 Sam Spence, the Broadhorn Boy. ByEd.
Willett.
99 Little Buck, the Boy Guide; or, The Gold
" Eye " of Montana. By Barry Ringgold.
100 Revolver Billy, the Boy Ranger of Texas.
By Colonel Prentiss lngraham.

101 The River Rifles; or, The Fate of the
Flatboat. By Capt. J. F. 0. Adams.

102 Captain Fly-by-Night; or.The Colorado
Boys on the War-Path. By Joe. E. Badger, Jr.

103 Alone on the Plains; or, The Outlaw’s
Plot. By Edward Willett.

104 Silver Horn and His Rifle, Fire.

death. By Roger Starbuck.

105 Exploits oi‘ Hezekiah Smith, the

Backwoodsman. By Emerson Rodm'n.
Jake the Colorado Circus Boy.
106 gyugapinfi . i
101 Mariano, the ottawn Girl; or. The
Mysterious Canoe. By Edward S. Ellis.
108 Old Traps; or, The Boy Rivals. By Barry
Ringgold.
A new issue every weak.

Bunts's Bor's Linux! is for sale by all news;
dealers flve cents per copy, or sent by mail on re-
ceipt of six cents.

BEADIE AND ADAMS, Putnam,
98 William street, N. I-

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