Copyrighted in 1891 by BEADLE AND ADAMS, July 1, 1891: j

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entered as second-class matter at the New York, N. Y., Post Orfice, March 24th, 1891. LE AND /
Published Every ‘BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS, Price, Five Cents. = 7.7 7
No. 14. Wednesday. No, 98 William Street, New Yorke ’ $2.50 a Ye Vol. i.
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Cowboy Chris in Cinnabar.

 

 

Cowboy Chris in Cinnabar ;

oR,

The Battle for the Blue Jeans,

BY WM. WEST WILDER,
(** WYOMING WILL,”)
AUTHOR OF ‘‘ COWBOY CHRIS, THE MAN OF
CALIBER,” *‘ COWBOY CHRIS TO THE
FORE,” ETC., ETC.

CHAPTER I.
TWO COWBOY PARDS,

WHILE still several miles from Cinnabar City,
the regular stage was stopped in Cross-cut Can-
yon by three masked and mounted men, Al-
though this was something quite out of the
usual order of things, the driver pulled up
promptly when he heard the command to halt
and saw the three men blocking the trail with
leveled weapons.

“ Hold hard an’ stiddy, Johnny!” commanded
one of the men, who appeared to be the leader.
* Jest keep your level, ef you know w’en you’re
well off, This isa case of business, an’ we won’t
detain ye long.”

The veteran Jehu growled out some unintel-
ligible reply, but he was too wise to attempt
running the gantlet in the face of those cocked
and leveled “ eapons,

Revolver in band, the leader rode up to the
door of the stage and peered in,

‘““Hasy thar!” he sharply cried, turning the
muzzle of the revolver on the only male passen-
ger, a little man in gray, who was nervously
fumbling in his pocket after a weapon. ‘‘ Keep
yer han’ off ther barker, ef ye don’t want er
through ticket ter Glory.”

The little man fell back with a gasp and glared
despairingly at the bold bandit.

‘* You are not the game I am arter,” declared
the mask, and his eyes left the male passenger

, to turn upon the two ladies within the stage.

** This yere’s not a case of yer money or yer life,
it’s quite diffrunt biz, Madam,” lifting his
hat with his free hand and bowing to the elder
of the ladies, a woman of fifty, attired in deep
mourning, ‘‘ hev I ther honor of addressin’ Mrs,
George Newman?”

‘You haye, sir,” calmly replied the lady.

‘““And thet is your daughter?” nodding to-
ward the beautiful girl at the lady’s side.
“You are the people I am lookin’ fer, so you
will please be kind ernough ter step outside ther
stage.”

The lady started as if to obey, but the girl
caught her arm and drew her back, Her dark
eyes flashed, as she faced the masked man and
demanded;

“Why should we get out? What right have
you to ask such a thing of us?”

The outlaw laughed.

‘The right of might,” was the reply. ‘‘ You
sh’u’d see thet, young lady.”

**T do not see it,”

The mask made an impatient gesture.

‘*T hain’t got any time ter fool erway,” he as-
serted, ‘‘so you will jest git out of thar ter
oncet, or Pll call one of ther boys ter snake ye
out. Ef youdon’t want ter git handled rough,
you kin tumble out of your own accord,”

The beautiful girl glared angrily at him, her
eyes flashing in a manner that atid have made
most men quail.

“Coward! burst from her red lips,

“ Are you goin’ ter git out?”

“We had better obey, Grace, my child,” urged
the elder woman. ‘It is the most sensible thing
we can <lo,” ;

“But this is outrageous!” flashed the girl,
darting something like a scornful glance at the
little man in gray, who sat shivering and white-
faced in one corner, ‘If I were a man—”

“You w’u’d make a fool of yverself,” was the
mask’s rude interposition, ‘“‘Iam not a man
ter be trifled with, as you’ll—”

His words were cut short by a cry from one
of his men, which was answered at a distance
by a ringing yell that made the canyon echo.

“Yip, yip, yip!”

It was the regular cowboy yell, and a glance
‘showed the leader of the’ masked men that two
mounted cattlemen were charging straight down
‘toward the halted stage,

With a snarl of rage, he discharged his revol-
‘ver toward the oncoming cowboys, and, at the
‘same Moment, one of his men sent a rifle-bullet
‘whistling toward the daring riders,

One of the cowboys’ horses was seen to stag-
gera moment, asif hard hit, then the two dar-

\

 

ing fellows came on as before, one being a bit in
advance, Tbeir bridte-reins were held in their
teeth, and revolvers giittered in their*hands, al-
though as yet they had not fired a shot.

The road-agents, seized by sudden terror,
wheeled their horses, and spurred madly down
the canyon.

The stage-driver would have taken a hand
and sent a few bullets after the fleeing despers-
does, but his horses had been alarmed and he
had bis hands full to manage them. The inter-
vening stage preveuted the cowboys from open-
ing fire on the baffled ruffians,

The little man within the stage succeeded in
getting out a small 22-caliber revolver. Thrust-
ing his head out of the window, he fired every
chamber of the weapon toward the approaching
cattlemen, believing in Lis excitement they were
the fleeing outlaws. Fortunately, neither the
men nor theirganimals were touched by the
fusilade,

But one of the cowboys’ horses bad been hit
by the single rifle-bullet fired by the road-agents.
The bandsome young fellow who bestrode the
animal realized the creature was bard hit, and
thrust his weapons into their holsters, gathering
up the reins in Lis hands, crying to bis mate:

‘The old horse has got it for good, Rube!”

The other, a small, wizen old fellow with a
weather-beaten face, vouchsafed no reply, but
an angry glitter leaped into his keen little eyes.

However, when the passenger in gray opened
on them from the stage window, the small cow-
boy said something,

**Dern a fool!” he gritted, bending low in the
saddle and half-lifting a revolver, as if to return
the shots,

The one whose horse had been hit freed his
feet from the stirrups and prepared to leap if the
animal fell. It was well he did, for, just before
the stage was reached, the creature stumbled
and pitched headlong to the ground,

The nimble young cowboy alighted fairly on
his feet, and bis companion instantly reined up,
growling:

‘Blame ther beastly luck! A good hoss gone
ter thunder, an’ ther pesky varmints as sent it
thar hev got clean off!”

The younger man said nothing, but turned
back toward the fallen animal, Hoe was a hand-
some, manly-looking youth, the perfect contour
of his fine figure being well-displayed by an
attire that was somewhat fanciful for one of his
calling. There wasa look of mingled rage and
sadness on his shapely face as he bent over the
faithful black hcrse that had been his companion
through many a wild and exciting ride.

A glance showed the young man that thehorse
was fatally injured. It tried to arise and abcut
half-succeeded, but fell back with something like
a human groan of pain, turning its great eyes
appealingly upon its young master,

* Poor fellow—pocr boy!” and the cowboy’s
hand caressed the velvet muzzle of the heavily
breathing animal, while tears stood in his honest
eyes. ‘*I had rather lost a band! But, you
shail not remain unayenged, old pony! I will

et find the fellow who fired that shot and call
im to an account, He shall pay dearly for
your life!”

‘Best shoot him, pard,” asserted the wizen
cowboy. ‘ Thet?ll putt him outer bis misery.”

But the other shook his head, f

“{ can’t do it,” he declared. ‘If if must be
done, you will have to do the job, Rube.”

“) know how ye fee), Chris, Jest you git
erway, an’ [ll finish his sufferin’,”

The horse lifted its nose with a faint whivny,
that cut its young master’s heart like a knife,

‘*Poor boy!” he almost sobbed, shuddering as
he saw the blood gushing from the wound in the
ree pais breast, ‘‘Good-by, old fellow, good-

y !

With a parting caress he turned away, notic-
ing the heavy revolver that gleamed in his com-
rade’s hand. As he walked slowly toward the
stage, he was followed by the pitiful gaze of the
doomed creature’s eyes—a look which seemed to
ask as plainly as words, why he was being de-
serted just then,

The older cowboy had swung himself down
from the saddle, and once upon his feet, it was
seen he was wonderfully bow-legged, There
was no show of finery about his plain attire,
but he had the aspect of a man inured to hard-
ships, and uséd to wild life and stirring scenes.

Retaining a firm grasp on the bridle of his
own horse, the bow-legged cowboy advanced
toward his comrade’s wounded animal. There
was a hard look on his weather-tanned face, as
if he had steeled himself for the duty he was
about to perform.

The younger cowboy did not look back, but in
his mind be saw the picture of bis companion

 

bending forward to touch the revolyer’s muzzl®

oar’ the head of the unfortunate horse
and— ;

Crack! crack!

Two muffled reports, which sounded almost as
one, and be knew the deed was done. Never
again would the gallant horse bear a rider, as,
with arched neck, glowing eye and proudly-
flowing mane and tail, it joined in the blood-
stirring excitement of the round-up, or flew
across the plain in pursuit of a stampeded herd,

The young man dashed his hand across his
eyes, and, as the mist which bad gathered was
thus brushed away, he found himself face to
face with a beautiful girl, who was sympathet-
ically regarding him from the open window of
the stage door.

The next moment he was bowing before her
with true cowboy chivalry, his bead uncoy-
ered, the broad-brimmed sombrero clasped in his
left hand, see ‘

CHAPTER II.
GRACE.

“Oh, it is too bad!” cried the girl, impulsively,
“T am so sorry!”

The young cowboy actually blushed, for no
matter bow noble a certain amcunt of tender-
heartedness is in a man, he does not like to be
seen with tears in his eyes, and the sympath
of a woman on such an occasion is like gall and
wormwood,

The girl saw how confused her words had
made the young man, and she hastened to add:

** The r horse! From the window J saw
him when he fell. Did it injure him so muchit
was necessary to shoot him?”

“He was shot before tat, miss,” was the
reply. ‘One of those road-agents spotted him
with a rifle-bullet; that was why he fell.”

‘Stich a handsome animal! What a wretch
it must bave been who shot bim!”

The cowboy smiled:

“Without doubt the man is a pretty hard
case,” he ngreed, “‘ for the bullet was probably
inteuded for me instead of the horse. But my
pard and myself were fortunate enough to save
you from robbery—were we?”

“From worse than robbery, I think. The
horrid wretch who came to the door was about
to compel mother and myself to leave the stage,
while this gentleman ”—nodding toward the lit-
tle man in gray, who had drawn back into a
coi ner—‘ was to remainin the coach.” — j

Something like a scowl marked the young
man’s face for a moment, ¥

“ Almost a case of kidnapping, I should ihiok.
Tf that is true, we were fortunate indeed in be-
ing on hand.” }

% We are the fortunate ones; you were unfor-
tunate enough to lose a noble horse. Whom are
we to thank for our escape?”

“No one, miss, Both my pardand myself are
lain men, and the thanks of a lady would em-
arrass us, We were gled of an opportunity to

chip into the game, for we have struck nothing
in the way of excitement during the last two
days. As we find it almost impossible to exist
without excitement, you can imagine how de-

lighted we were when we saw the chance to take *

a band in a little game of this kind, We em-
braced the opportunity with great rejoicing.”

“But you must allow us to thank you,” in-
sisted the girl, with a charming smile,“ And I
trust that you will tell us your names?’

“TJ will do that certainly. The name of my

ard is Reuben Randall, but he is usually called
Rouges Rute. He is a man familiar with
every crook and turn of cowboy life and is as
true a friend as ever breathed.”

**-You forget yourself.” j

“T am Christopher Comstock, sometimes
called Cowboy Chris.”

‘Tam pleased to meet you, Mr. Comstock,”
declared the girl, holding out a shapely gloved
hand, ‘‘1am Grace Newman, and this is my
mother. We are going to Cinnabar City.”

Chris accepted the offered bard, and Mrs, .

Newman was also eager to shake hands with
him, ‘i ,

‘We are proud of the honor of toucbin;
hand of a brave man,” she said, at which the

the —

modest young fellow blushed again. ‘‘ Won't

you bring your friend forward?” -
“Tfear you have asked too much of me,”
smiled Chris, ‘‘Rube is very basbful in the

presence of ladies, and I think it would take a |

pair of horses to drag him up to the stage if he
knew I meditated introducing him to any of the
fair sex.”
“Ob, but ba een not escape!” asserted Grace,
‘*T will-speal m.
‘Rube bad removed the saddle and trappings
from the dead borse, and was bringing them to-

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Cowboy Chris in Cinnabar.

 

 

ward the stage, when he was suddenly confront-
ed by the charming girl.

“Oh, Mr, Randall!” she cried; ‘I want to
thank you.”

““Gug gug-great smoke!” stammered the old
fellow, ‘‘ Fer w’at?”

‘For saving us from those dreadful men.”’

“Never done it!” protested the bow-legged
cowboy. “It wuz Chris; you kin thank him.
Don’t thank me—fer goodness sake don’t !”

“Oh, but Ihave thanked him for his part,
and now I will thank you for yours, I would
shake hands with you, but I see you have both
hands full.”

‘“‘ Thet’s so,” admitted Rube; ‘‘an’ thet’s w’y
TI hain’t got this hat off. {[ hope you won’t think
I mean ary leetle bit 0’ disrespec’ ’cause I didn’t
take off my hat.”

“Ob, no! notatall. Won’t you come to the
door and permit mother to thank you?”

“Great Scott!” gasped Rube, turning pale
and appearing on the point of taking flight.
**Ernother shemale!”

“ No one but my mother.”

‘Well, you'll hey ter ’scuse me. I’m in a tur-
rible hurry, You kin jest take thet boy 0’ mine
in thar with ye an’ thank him all ther way ter
Cinnabar, He hain’t got no boss ter ride, an’
so he'll hev ter go on ther hearse.”

As quickly as possible, the old fellow escaped
from the laughing eyes of the girl, but he actu-
ally felt weaker than he would if he had been

, facing half a dozen foes,

‘“Hey, driver!” he called; ‘‘jest take this

saddle up thar with ye an’ tote it ter Cinnabar
fer'us.”
. “ Pll do it, ole man,” was the driver’s neers
fer you an? yer pard chipped in at ther right
time, Treckon ther company’s in debt ter ye
fer thet.”

Although Chris tried to escape from Grace and
ride with the driver, he was not successful, as
both Mrs, Newmun and her daughter insisted
that he should ride within the coacb. With
a farewell glance toward his dead horse, he
entered.

“*T shall send some one out from Cinnabar to
bury him,” he declared.

Once more the stage rolled on, the driver
cracking his long whip and yelling as if nothing
had happened. Round-up Rube galloped on
close behind,

“Do you belong in Cinnabar?” asked Mrs,
Newman of Chris.

The young cowboy shook his head slightly.

“Both my pard and myself will be strangers
in the town,” was his reply.

“ And we shall be in the same predicament,”
replied Grace, a sad louk falling upon her fair
young face.

** We are going there on business and to visit
my husband’s grave,” explained the widow.

And the girl sighed:

* Poor papa

The cowboy’s curiosity was touched, but he
asked no questions, However, Mrs. Newman
saw fit to explain..

‘*My husband was in business there, He was
the principal owner of the Blue Jeans Mine. At
least, 1 supposed be was the principal owner,
but sinee Mr, Newman’s death, a man has .ap-
peared who claims to be sole owner. I intend
to thoroughly investigate his claim, for I believe
there is something crooked about it.”

‘* Very likely,” returned Chris, by the way of
saying something.

**Oh, Iam sure he is a scoundrel!” vehement-
ly asserted Grace, ‘‘ Father scarcely ever men-
tioned him in his letters,”

“Who is this man?’

**One Martin Wynder.”

“Was he interested in the mine before Mr.
Newman’s death?”

‘‘He was in some way, although I cannot
understand exactly how. In all but one of Mr.
Newman’s letters I was impressed with the be-
lief that my husband was the principal or sole
owner of the Blue Jeans Mine. There was, how-
ever, one letter which sounded strangely unlike
him, and, but for the Seen. should
have pronounced it a forgery, In that he
spoke of Martin Wynder as his partner and
friend,”

““You are sure the letter was not a forgery?”
_ “Tt could not have been. I bave been familiar
with Mr. Newman's writing for years, and the
letter was certainly in his hand. Thereisno one
living who could have forged a letter in which I
Could not have detected one slip.”

“Then there must have been something in his
Statement that this Wynder was his partner.”

* Unless the letter was written under com-

ion. ;
© You had other letters afterwards?”

 

 

4c Yes,”

‘‘ He made no mention of being compelled to
write the letter you speak of?”

“ No.”

‘Then it hardly seems possible he was com-
pelled to do so.”

“You are right, Still there is something
about that letter I am not able to understand.
Since Mr, Newman’s death, I have read it over
fifty times, at least, and it sounds stranger every
time. The language is not like that used by my
husband—or, properly speaking, J should say the
phraseology is not like his, In everything but
the writing, it is as if a stranger had written the
letter and tried to write as be imagined a hus-
band would write to his wife.”

“ That is strange.”

“Tt certainly is strange. There is somothing
about it 1 cannot understand. Since Mr. New-
man’s death, this Wynder has come forward
and laid claim to the mine, producing papers to
prove his right. He is in possession now.”

*¢ But we will turn him out!” declared Grace,
her dark eyes flashing. ‘ He will find he cannot
cheat us, even though we are not men!”

“T admire your courage,” said Chris; “and I
sincerely hope you will be successful.”

Thank you.”

‘ Did this Wynder know when youstarted for
Cinnabar?”

“T notified bim I was coming,” replied Mrs,
Newman.

‘Ard you say you believe those road-agents
meant to kidnap you?”

“*Tt looked that way. Surely they had no no-
tion of robbing the stage, and one of them asked
if I was Mrs, Newman.”

A sudden light broke across the young cow-
boy’s face,

“ That settles it!” he exclaimed,

** Settles what?”

‘‘The fact that this Wynder is a fraud and is
playing some crcoked game for the mine.”

eS What caused you to so suddenly agree with
me?

“The fact that those men ery, meant to
kidnap you and your daughter, hey were
probably hired tools of this Wynder, who meant
to prevent your appearance in Cinnabar. He
hired them to stop the stage and get away with
you. Indeed, 1t may have been Wynder, bim-
self!

“JT believe Mr. Comstock is right, mother!”
cried Grace,

‘*T did not think of that before,” confessed the
widow: ‘ but it certainly looks reasonable.”

‘“Wynder must be a desperate man,” declared
Chris. ‘‘ He bas possession of the mine, and in
this country possession is nine points of law.”

‘*We will make him get out pretty quick,”
asserted the girl, ‘‘ We will find plenty of men
to stand by us when they see we are right.”

“That is true,” asserted the cowboy; ‘ and
you can depend on my peard and myself. I am
ready to see you through to the end, and Rube
will stick by me through thick and thin.”

“It is a bargain!” exclaimed Grace. ‘We
can not ask for better backers, and if you stay
by us, you shall not lose anything. Let’s shake
hands over it.” é

For a second time Cowboy Chris accepted
that warm gloved hand, and thus the compact
was sealed.

 

CHAPTER III.
WYNDER’S TOOL STRIKES A SNAG.

Into Cinnabar rode Martin Wynder, mounted
ona foam-flecked horse. Straight to the Blue
Jeans Mine he made his way. Giving the borse
to the care of an employee, be entered the cffice,
venting a berst of wrath the moment the door.
was elcsed behind his back.

“Such beastly luck I never saw before!” he
snarled, dashing his hat upon the floor then
kicking it clean across the office, where it land-
ed on a bit of fresh writing from the book-
keeper’s pen, :

‘*T will not be responsible for that smooch,
Mr. Wynder,” declared the rather effeminate-
looking young man, as be removed the hat and
gazed helplessly at the marred page.

“* Blow the smooch!”

‘‘T would, sir, if if wceuld do any good.”

‘Dustin, you’re a fool!”

“Thank you, sir.”

The meekness of the young man was some-
thing little sbort of distressing.

Wynder stood twitching savagely at his black
beard and glaring at the unoffending book-
keeper as if bé would devour the little fellow.

‘*T wish you had a little more sand,” cried the
self-proclamed owner of the Blue Jeans Mine,
“T know I can trust you, Dustin, and you have
been a great aid to mein my schemes. If you

«“

  

 

only had a little more sand, you would be an in-
valuable assistant,”

‘But, it is a distressing fact that I am a
coward,” confessed the bookkeeper, with a sad
shake of his head, one thin, white band gently
caressing his silky mustache. ‘‘I do not sup-
pose I can help it, for [am built that way.”

‘*Tf you only had the grit to serve me asI
like, you should have an interest in tbe mine,”

‘*T fear I shall have to remain contented with
my present wages, Mr. Wynder.”

The black-bearded man began to pace the
floor, his hands clinched and his forehead
wrinkled by a savage scowl], The bookkeeper
watched him from the ccrner of his eyes.

“It was’a complete failure,” muttered
Wynder, seeming to have for; otten the presence
of another in the room. ‘‘The women will be
in Cinnabar in Jess than half an hour, then the
battle will begin in earnest. But for those in-
fernal cowboys, my scheme would bave suc-
ceeded, desperate though it was, They had to
appear at the very moment when everything
was in my hands. WelJ, I have possession of
the mine, ard if I am not able to hold it, it will
be my fault.”

“So you did not succeed in capturing the
ladies?”

It was the bookkeeper who spoke, and Martin
turned like a flash.

““ What's that?” he snapped, his eyes glowing.
“ What did you say?”

“ Notbing, sir, nothing!” bastily stammered
the young man, his eyes falling before the glare
of the other’s,

With three strides, Wynder was at the desk,
and his hand fell on Howard Dustin’s shoulder.

* What—did—you—say ?”

The bookkeeper shrunk beneath that touch,
beginning to stammer a reply.

“ Hold on,” interrupted Wynder. ‘Don’t lie?
You must a mind-reader, Dustin, for I cer-
tainly told you nothing of my plans. This is
not the first time you have been aware of my
moves. By what means you obtain the know-
ledge I cannot say.

‘“No, I did rot succeed in capturing the ladies,
but I should have been successful had ‘not two
cowboys chip into the game. We were ob-
liged to give it up as a bad job, and Newman’s
wife and child will be in Cinnabar before long.
Then the fight for the mine will begin, and
hold the winning cards,”

“TY think you do, sir,” agreed Dustin,

* Tf not, P will steal some more from the pack
—with your aid.”

“You can deperd on me,”

‘*T believe it, ‘You will lose nothing by sery-
ing me,” ;

“You have always paid me well, sir.”

“But, I am going to do still better by you.
I do not know why it is, but I have taken a
liking to you, Dustin, Your face seems to re-
mind me of some one I have known in the past,
though I cannot tell just who that some one
was, You are handy with the pen, and may be
able to aid me in getting up some papers to use
in this case. If.I only knew what became of
Newman’s papers I would be all right; but I
am sure they are not, in S ion of his wife.
They were probably‘Bicden; in which case, it is
ver y@oupianl if they ever come to the light of

day.
f But if they should turn up— what?”
“T would have to gain possession of them and
destroy thein,?
“That wéuld"be the only way to hold the
mine?” \ “ee

‘“No; but that would be the better way, I
can hold it by the virtue of possession and
forged papers. But something tells me it is go-
ing tobe a stern fight. I feel as if those cow-
boys who balked me to-day are going to become
stumbling-blocks in my path, I shall have to.
see to it that they are [disposed .of, providing
they stop in Cinnabar.” :

yi resumed walking. the floor, and the
bookkeeper bent over his work once more. ‘Sud-
devly the plotter seized his hat and left thes
office. we

‘*T will be on hand to see the stage come in,”
he said, as. he hurried toward the Wasbington
Hotel. ‘I must receive Mrs, Newman cor-' »
dially.” he ee >

When he reached the hotel he was surprised
to notice’a big, broad-shouldered and bewhis- * -
kered fellow among the crowd of loafers, await-
ing the arrival of the stage. He caught the big
man’s eye, and the latter followed Wynder into
the building. ie

“You must have made good time, Dolby,”
pid the plotter, speaking in a cautious tone and

aking sure there was no one near tooverhear __
their talk. : / A ae

  
  

 

ah

 

Cowboy Chris in Cinnabar.

 

   

You bet yer boots I did, boss!” was the re-

ply.

% Where is Pat?”

a co We separated, an’ he struck roun’ by Devil’s
k

‘Good! That will make all three of us come
in by different roads, Woe shall not be sus-
pected.”
**T reckon not.”
‘¢There’s work ahead, Mat.”
o Ther more ther better, so long’s thar’s rocks
in it.
* Those cowboys—”
i ** Dern ’em!”

“If they stop in Cinnabar, they must be
downed.”

“ Will it pay?”

“T will make it pay. I will give a hundred

-— dollars each to have them disposed of.”

“Pm your huckleberry!”’

** You will take the job?”

** You're shoutin’.”

‘*Good! The quicker you down them the bet-
ter I will be pleased.”

‘* Tl jump ’em ter oncet,”

**' You must look out and do it in such a man-
nerthat ther boys won't take it into their heads-
to use you in a lynching picnic.”

“Trust me, pard; Big Mat hes got his eye-
tooths cut.”

‘* When will you tackle the job?”

‘* Didn’t you heur me say ter oncet? I'll pick er
fuss with one of ’em soon’s they striketown, All
Tax of you is thet you will look out fer t’other ’un
thet he don’t salt me ’fore I’m ready arter I’ve
downed his pard.”

“T will do it, Of course, I will see fair
play.”

- At this master and tool laughed evilly.
_ A few moments later someone in front of the
hotel shouted:

‘Thar she comes!”

Wynder and Big Mat hastened out and
mingled with the throng.

Through a cloud of dust the stage whirled

. fmto town and was swung upin front of the
hotel with a flourish, Round-up Rube riding in
; besiderit, 2

i **Your’re a bit late, ole man,” cried one of

_ the crowd to the driver. ‘ W’at’s ther trub?”

* Road-agents,” was the curt reply.

_ This threw the throng into a fever of excite-
ment, for not since the half-forgotten days
of her early existence had Cinnabar been
troubled by the knights of theroad. A hundred
: er questions were asked, but the driver re-

 

ed:

“¢ Feller on ther hoas thar ur ther cow-puncher
in ther hearse kin tell ye ’bout it, I hain’t got
time, They” dipped in an’ sept ther agents

ahi,
ut when the stage door swung open and the
throng caught sight of Grace Newman’s face, the
road-agents were forgotten for the time,’
* Gal in black!”
** Mournin’, [ reckon.”
‘* She’s a bu’ster!”
* Poorty as a chromo!”
‘* Thar’s an ole gal in black, too.”
* Must be her mammy.”
Bs From the open door Chris Comstock descend-
ed and assisted the ladies to alight, Mrs, New-
man coming first. The passenger in gray made
his appearance last.
_. Big Mat shouldered bis way through the
crowd, crying:
\ ‘Stan’ back hyer an’ make room fer ther
ladies, you critters. Guy er clean pass thar!”
Obedient to the bully’s command, a passage
_ was made to the door of the hotel,
“Git out ther way you!” exclaimed Mat,
‘giving Cowtoy Chris a rude thrust. ‘ We
ain’t got no use fer puppy dogs roun’ whar
thar is ladies, Git out, I say!”
- With the final words, he slapped the young
ee man’s face, ; :
ist _ Like a flash Chris Comstock’s fist shot out
| -—C.:« Straight from the shoulder, catching Mat Dolby
= fairly between the eyes and knocking the big
blusterer down as if he had been ‘struck by a
cannon ball! ass

  
  
  

  
 

  

   
  

CHAPTER IV.
a A TREACHEROUS SHOT.
Tux blow was ‘a stunner,” such as it never
__ before had been the bully’s misfortune to receive.
_ It sent him headlong to the ground, where, fora
. time, he lay in a quivering heap.
_ Then Chris quietly escorted the ladies up tho

me

  
   

   
  
 

_ steps and through the crowd, They were re-
_ « ceived at the door by Martin Niemi and the
iy landlord of the hotel,
ae gee at this is Mrs, Newman and her
_ Maughter? said Wynder, lifting his hat and

  

 

bowing with the grace of an apparent gentle-

man. 3

- On being assured he was correct, he added:
‘I am Martin Wynder of the Blue Jeans

Mine, your husband’s partner and friend. I

shall be happy to be of service to you, Mrs, New-

man,”

For ‘a moment the lady was startled by com-
ing so suddenly face to face with the man she
fully believed a scheming rascal, determined
upon robbing her of her rights, but she quickly
regained her composure and greeted the plotter
with all the grace at her command.

By this time Big Mat had staggered to his
feet, and was loudly calling for the man who
struck him,

‘*T shall have to ask you to excuse me, ladies,”
said Chris, smilingly lifting hishat, ‘‘I see I
am wanted back there.”

Grace impulsively caught his arm‘and detain-
ed him, speaking earnestly:

“ Do not go back there, Mr, Comstock!”

“ Why not?” 5

“ That big ruffian will hurt you.”

Sao but I shall look out for Number
ne,

“You would not get into a brawl with him?”

“Not if he minds his own business, I have
no taste for a quarrel with such a man.”

‘Then do not go back.”

*T trust you will pardon me for telling you so,
but, ifI followed your advice, I should be act-
ing like a coward, and every man here would
think me one. No matter how much I may wish
to avoid trouble with such a tough, I must meet
him if I am going to remain in Cinnabar. I
have struck him, and I must give him satisfac-
tion. There is no way out of it.”

was true, but she soon saw the young cowboy
was determined to return and face the brawling
ruffian, so she held out her hand to Chris, saying
earnestly:

**T hope you will give him such a whipping he
will learn to let gentlemen alone after this,”

“Thank you,” was his reply, as he pressed
her hand fora moment. ‘‘I will do my best to
teach him that lesson, and I think my success
will be all the more certain by knowing I have
Fone BEd wishes.” :
“Whar is ther measly whelp!” roared the
voice of Big Mat. ‘‘ Let me git at him an’ I'll
carve his gizzard! I’m ther high howler of ther
Sow-west, 1 am! Whoop! Whar’s ther critter
as struck ther ragin’ lion of Cinnabar? Trot
him out an’ let me etarnally claw him inter
oe up rags! I'll hey his wind fer thet blow!

har is he?”

“Were you inquiring for me, sir?” asked Chris
Comstock, as he came deliberately down the

steps.

Big Mat wheeled, his arms akimbo, his hands
ee on his hips, ‘

“ Wow - wow - woosh!” he howled, ‘‘Wur I
axin’ fer you? Wal, now you've hit it Bee
center! You're ther cuss I am lookin’ fer!”

‘* What do you want of me?”

“Wat do I want? Ob, holy smoke!
you heur thet, pards!
in’ galoot thet hit me a belch atween ther look-
ers, an’ now he axes wat do I want with him!
I’m goin’ ter carve bis hide, I am!”

“You are making lots of talk you are not
able to back up, you overgrown booby.”

The bully gasped for breath.

“Who's er booby?” he shouted.

Will

ing too much coffin-varnish. [advise you to go
soak your head,”

With a yell like the blast of a steam-whistle,
the tough drew a wicked - looking knife and
started for the undisturbed cowbow. "

“Pll cut out yer lung, dern—”

He halted suddenly, the muzzles of a pair of
gleaming revolvers staring him in the face,
Like magic they bad leaped into Chris Com-
stock’s hands, and as the young man’s fingers
gently pressed the triggers, the hammers par-
tially arose. A bit more pressure would send
two bullets through Big Mat’s head.

“Hole on!” et aia the astonished tough,
ducking his head. . ‘‘ Thet hain’t no go!”

‘You will find it a go if you do not put up
that knife,” was the stern retort. e

Round-up Rube had been quietly sitting on
his horse, near at hand, not even offering to
take a hand, which plainly showed he thought
his pard fully a master for the Chief of Cinna-
| bar. A chuckle broke from the old fellow’s lips
as he saw how readily Chris brought the would-
be heen ” to a halt. }

 

‘Tain’t 1air!” protested Dolby. :
“T suppose not; but it is fair for you to come
rs

“Do you think so? Well, he might try, Miss
y

It was difficult to convince the girl that this |

This is ther cow-punch- |

“You are, It must be you have been drink-.

/made another blind rush,. only to find b

at me with a knife—of course it is! You thought.

take that time, you big ruffian!” ;
** Knife !—w’at knife yer talkin’ about?” +
‘The one you have in your hand.” ae
Big Mat looked at the knife in apparent as-
tonishment, Kes ‘
“‘Didn’t_ know I hed it in my han’,” he pro-
tested,
w’en I drored it.

Thet’s Gospel facts.” f
“Very likely!”
But you hit me, youngker;
,

“Straight goods, y

an’ you’ve got ter settle fer it.”
‘You struck me first.” a
“You wuz ia my way.” ‘
“That will not wash!”  - bac

ruffian; ‘an’ I’m goin’ ter hev satisfaction.”
‘* How are you going to get it?”
‘*¢ Out of your hide, dern ye!” :
‘ And you propose to take it by coming at me ©
with a knife when I am unarmed, You dare

has provided us,”

‘Who says so?”

ac I sa 60.”

‘Wal, you lie! I’m jest
knock ther corners offen you!’ ; g
“Then give your weapons to one of your
friends, I will do the same, and we will meet

like men. What do you say?”

Chris was determined to teach the man a
lesson he would not soon forget, but he did
not wish to have Big Mat’s blood on his hands,

The bully hesitated for a moment, during
which several of the throng cried:

“Go fer him, Mat!”

‘* You've got ter doit!”

** ‘You kin down him!”

‘¢ Break his neck!”

yer man, an? T']]

as he surrendered his weapons into the hands
of a short, squat Irishman who appeared on the
scene at this moment. ‘‘I’ll break ther kid’s
neck,”

“ Begorra!” exclaimed the Irishman; ‘
kin doit, me b’y’, It’s Pritty Pat as is bettin?
the poile av him thit yez kin!”

Chris passed his weapons to Rube. yi

“ Look out ther skunk don’t try some crooked —
game on ye, pard,” cautioned the bow-legged
cowboy, passing one of his lower limbs around
the pommel of the saddle and sitting sidewise on ©
his horse. ‘‘He’s er p’ison snake,
one any crooked work, I’ll bore suthin’, yon

tI :

hands, keeping his eyes on the young cowboy all
the time. t ; A

‘You hain’t goin’ ter guy me ther slip, bab~—
by,” he declared, ‘‘I’m jest goin’ ter knock ther
linin’ offen you.” :

prospect of a fight, and the hotel steps afforded _
an excellent witness-stand, without placing a,
of the throng where they would interfere with
either of the parties engaged in the battle,

“ Are ye ready?” asked Mat, /

‘* All ready,” was the calm reply.

“Wal, hyer I kem, kerwhoopin’!” Bec

The tough made a rush for bis foe, which was
easily avoided by Chris. The rush was promptly.
repeated, and the cowboy slipped under the
bully’s right arm, wheeling in time to gi
big brute a whack behind the ear that sent him |
stag ering a few feet forward, Si

tage

for another charge. ‘‘ Wal, I'll git a punchat

ye this time.” { Te amas
He did, but the “punch” was wasted on

At the same moment, with a nimble kick, the |
cowboy sent the chief’s hat flying from his head! _
“You should always take your hat off a E

such occasion as this,” observed Chris, laug'

ingly. | ‘ se

f Bpode ou think thet’s funny!” growled the.
tough, ‘‘ Wal, I'll show ye suthin’ twicet as
funny, Jest you keep still tell I git my. claws.

vf

   

     

 

“All right: conie ahead ly 7a ae
Big Mat accepted the invitation, but when he
came within reach of Chris Comstock’s arms,
he was sent staggering back by two blows he
could not avoid, Fairly furious, the ruffian

 

cua

 

to catch me napping, but you made a big mis- —

“‘T wuz so derned excited I never knew (|

“ Anyhow you hit me,” doggedly insisted the |

6 a

not meet me like a man with the weapons Nature _

“Thet’s jest w’at I'll do,” declared the chief,

yez KE s0

Ef I ketch —

The bully rolled up his skeves and spat on his |

The crowd was excited and delighted at the '

4 i

give the

lippery, hain’. ye!” snarled Mat, turning i

 

   
    

 

caught at an advantage by a pair of iron |
The next moment the Chief of Cinna!
lifted off his feet, whirled in the air, and fa
stood on his head. Hees performed
trick, Cowboy Chris allowed his antagonist
fall flat on his back in the dust.

 
  

     

 

 

A shout of surprise and delight came
the throng. The feat had been neatly exe

    

 
  
 
  

eee ee ee eee ee

at se

ey

empty air, for Chris did not wait to receive it, th

       
     

     
  
    
   
   
   

    
  
  
    
 
 
  
 
   

me
are
ure

Pu

yur
cet

di
ds,
ing

ef,
ids
the
id's

yen
‘in?

A <
“3

Bi

eed
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nd
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yon j
his
all

  
 

Y asserted.
_ Tried ter kick ther sun, 1 reckon.”

| the shoulders.

7.

Piss

  

ip
. ip sorien sy 1

Cowboy Chris in Cinnabar.

 

 

ind many of the witnesses could not restrain
heir admiration, /
Big Mat ‘lay still for a momeut, evidently
dazed by what had happened, blinking up at the
lear sky. Then he slowly sat up and looked
round.

“ Wal, thet’s ther wu’st slip I ever made!” he
** Must hev stepped on some grease.

“Thet’s jest wat ye did, ole man!” laughed

one of the crowd; ‘‘but you wuz given a leetle

' help.” :
‘“Dunno as I jest understan’ it,” confessed the

dully, as he scratched his head. ‘I never tum-

bled in thet way afore.”

He deliberately arose to his feet, keeping his

eyes on Chris, who stood waiting for the attack

to be resumed.

“S)pose you think ye’r’ smart!” sneered the
tough. ‘‘Jest’cause I happened ter make er
slip, you think you upsot me. Wal, you never
done nothin’ of ther kind. Now I’m goin’ ter

pummel ye, boy!”

He advanced with more caution, his huge

clinched fists raised in an awkward guard.

Chris instantly fell into a boxing attitude, which
told he was no novice in the manly art of self-
defense. :

The fight now assumed a more serious aspect,

Big Mat baving learned he could not handle the

young man like a child. Fora few seconds the
sparring was very creditable, then the bully

' began to press the fighting again. Once more

he made a rush, and again Chris avoided him by
slipping under his arm.

As he straightened up behind the tough, the

_ young cowboy reached backward over his own

shoulders, and clutched Big Mat’s heavy shirt at
Then, throwing his body for-
ward, Chris fairly flung the bully over his head.

_ Mat landed on his feet, but bis momentum was
Such that be instantly sit down on the ground,

uttering @ grunt and a groan as his teeth snapped
together, with bis tongue between them.

‘* Begorra!” gasped Pretty Pat. ‘‘ Did ye iver
‘See the Joikes av thot! It’s th’ divvil’s own thrick,
80 it is!”

“*Git up, Mat!”
_** Wat yer restin’ fer?”
_ * Tired, hain’t ye?’
‘You'd better join a circus!”
__“ You’ve met more’n yer match, ole man!”
This final declaration made the bully furious.

He had long been known as the Chief of Cinna-

‘bar, and now he saw his prestige slipping from

_ him—stolen by this deceptive young cowboy.

‘Howling like a mad-dog, be leaped to his feet
and sprung at the young man once more. Chris
met him with a. blow that would have knocked

_ down a common man, but the ruffian’s rush was
- Hot stopped.

“Now I hev got ye, dern ye!” he snarled,
¢lasping his bated foe in his arms.

Just as this happened the smothered report of
a pistol was heard near at hand, and, without
ven a groan, Big Mat sunk t> the ground,

_ * By heavens, he is shot!” was the cry that

went up from the spectators.

 

ast ie: CHAPTER V.

 

 

STANDING OFF THE CROWD.

 

   
  

Ir was true; Mat Dolby had been treacher-
usly shot down. But, who bad done the deed?
‘That was a question no one seemed able to

tJ

 

auswer.

 

    
  
   
   
  

 

 

 

   
  
   
  
   

Brae of the weapon had seemed muf-

led, as if fired from a pocket, and there was no

sign of pistol-snoke about any of the throng.
owboy Chris seemed dazed for a moment,

en he turned to the crowd, crying:

__ ‘* Where is the man who fired that treacherous

Shot? The bullet was meant for me, for I felt it

istle past my ear. Who fired it?”

There was no reply.

‘It is some cowardly wretch who does not

lare to show his head!” scornfully asserted the

‘oung man, ‘I would like to get my hands on

  

m!?

 

   
 

_ "This is very foine torruk!” cried Pretty Pat.
‘But Oi am bettin’ ye know who foired the

 

   

 

  
  
  
    
  
  
   

, ye spalapeen!”
eet do you mean?”
‘Kin Oi make me m’anin’ any plainer? Ye
‘ind thit ye doon’t know who shot th’ b’y,
vs mesilf thit knows ye do.”
Ts are a liar by the clock, you monkey-
orra, I seen ye done it!”
w me do what?” ;
t th’ b’y! Ye hiv a pistil up the slave

could not deny he carried a weapon in
and of a sudden be remembered he

 

had not reloaded it the last time it was used.
The little derringer beld an empty cartridge in
its chamber!

‘*That is a little too thin!” he retorted. “If
I shot this man, otters would have seen me do
so, You cannot deceive the crowd with such a
yarn, Irish.”

‘“Theer’s no decavin’ about it. Oi know what
Oisaw, an’ Oi belave theer wur ithers as saw
th’ same.”

‘* Which is quite true, ” asserted Martin Wyn-
der, stepping forward. ‘I saw the weapon in
the cowboy’s hand as he fired the shot. The
trick was very neatly done, but I have a pair of
keen eyes,”

‘* And a lying tongue!” hotly cried Chris,

Wynder flushed angrily.

‘*You shall rue those words, young man!” he
declared. ‘‘I might have interceded in your
behalf, for I have no poe liking for Mat
Dolby; but now I shall allow Dolby’s friends to
give you what you deserve. Whether the man
is dead or not, you tried to kill him. That ought
to hang you to the nearest tree.”

‘* An’ begorra it shall!” shouted Pretty Pat.
“ Wheer is ti’ rope, me b’ys? It is th’ loikes av
a lynching bee we will be afther hivin’!”

Angry mutterings came from the crowd.
Big Mat had not many friends, but the men
were lovers of fair play and did not care to see
the bully shot in such a treacherous manner.
Chris faced them without flinching, his eyes
flashing.

‘*Men,” he cried, ‘‘ will you believe such a
ridiculous story? If 1 had shct this man, you
would all have been able to see the act.”

Martin Wynder stepped to the front.

““1 saw it because I was looking for sometbing
of the kind,” he declared, ‘‘Itis not the first
time I have seen the trick performed, When
skillfully done, it is apt to deceive every one
around, This cowboy did it very neatly, but
not quite well enough to fool me.”

Chris gave the man a scornful look.

“Tf you do not get a hot corner down belowit
will not be your own fault,” he declared. ‘‘ You
are the boldest liar I ever saw!”

‘Tf my words are not true, allow your sleeves
to be searched,” sneered the plotter, who began
to believe the young man really had a weapon
hidden there, ‘‘ Surely that is fair,”

‘Yes, yes, that is fair!” cried a dozen voices.

“Do you consent to this?” asked Wynder.

_ “No! was the ringing reply. ‘‘ Your tale is
preposterous, and I refuse to consent to the dis-
grace of being searched!”

“That is enough!” nodded the claimant uf the
Blue Jeans Mine, satisfaction gleaming in bis
dark eyes. ‘‘ You have condemned yourself! By
refusing to be searched, you acknowledge your
guilt. Boys,” turning to the crowd, ‘‘ what
does he deserve?”

“ Ther rope !”

“That is roight!” shouted the Irishman,
‘* Hurro fer th’ rope an’ nearest tree!”

Up to this point Round-up Rube had been
looking calmly on, showing nothing more than
ordinary interest. Of a sudden, he gavea low
whistle, At this signal, Chris turned toward
him, and Rube tossed his imperiled pard his
weapons, which were skillfully caught by the
younger cowboy. But, before Chris could get
the drop, Wynder’s voice rung out sharply:

‘“Hold hard! I have you covered, young
man!” ;

A revolver gleamed in the mine-claimant’s
right hand, :

‘An’ I hev you kivered!” asserted Round-up
Rube, turning a pair of cocked revolvers on
Wynder. ‘It w’u’d guv me great sackers-
faction ter drill ye, fer you are ther blamest
liar in seven States! My pard never shot thet
galoot, but I more’n hafe believe you did, ye
skunk of a hole in the ground!” :

At this moment two more strangers appeared
in town, both being mounted on mules, one of
the animals being large and the otber small.
The rider of the larger mule was a young man
of rather fine appearance, despite the fact that
he was dressed in the rude garb of a miner.
Bebind him a small prospector’s outfit was
ee on the mule’s back.

The young man’s companion was a ‘‘ Heathen
Chinee,” shoes, pig-tail and all, The animal
which he rode was the famous ‘ Colorado
Canary,” the burro. There was no prospecting
outfit on the ae back,

These two singularly mated strangers drew
rein in front of the hotel, regarding the scene
with interest, 7

“Ffello!” exclaimed the young man, ‘‘ What
does this mean? It looks like trouble.”

)‘ Velly big flight,” commented the China-
man. ‘‘Velly much one-slided, Cloud all

 

jumpee on tlo ’Melican men.  Gless we have to
chipee in, dlon’t it?”

‘“ Well, it looks that way,” confessed the
younger man. ‘‘ What do you say, Wun Lung,
shall we take a hand?”

‘*You blet! We tlake tlo hand! They flind
we velly blad bloys. We shootee like blazes.
How this flor high?”

The Chinaman produced a huge horse-pistol
from some hidden pocket, deliberately pockiae
and turned the muzzle on the crowd, at the
same time grinning in a manner that would
have stopped a clock,

The other quietly produced and cocked a hand-.
some pair of revolvers,

Thus the two cowboys unexpectedly found
some allies.

Martin Wynder was furious,

‘* We will hang the whole gang!” hesnarled,

‘““Whole glang velly hard cloud, you blet!”
declared Wun Lung. ‘* We shootee-shootee velly
miuch; ylou glit hitee velly blad. We havee
blood in lour eye. Yum!”

** Tt begins to look jest er leetle diffrunt, don’t
it, my Christian frien’?’ laughed Round-up
Rube, coolly surveying the claimant of the Blue
Jeans Mine, ‘‘ Thar are ’bout ernough of us ter
make it very warm fer you and your backers,”

‘‘Miake it hottee,” grinned the Chinaman.
“‘Miake lem thlink Ole Bloy gotee hlold of lem!
Velly gleat plile of flun!”

‘* Begobs! we'll make it hot fer yez, ye bloddy
Haythen!” roared Pretty Pat.

‘“Whospleak slay not’ing? Velly mluch loom
tlo plaint washee-washee slign on [lishman lup-

r lipee. Chinaman he opee washee slop, hire

lishman tlo havee slign plainted on lippee and

stland in flont of slop. He, he! Gleat skleem!
Catchee blig tlade. hoop-la!”

This caused Pretty Pat to fairly dance with

rage.

* Oi wull hiv the skelp av thit Haythen!” he.
shouted. ‘‘Begorra! Oi wur niver so insulted
in all me loife bafore! Luk at th’ grin on the
moog av th’ crayther! It is enough to giv wan
th’ paralysis, so it is!” by

‘‘Tlishman beapee blig fool! like ape!”

‘Oh-wow! Lit me git at thit crayther!”

But Wun Lung flourished his big pistol in a
threatening manner.

‘ Bletter ha loff,” he observed, ‘‘ China-
man blow velly large jat-hole thlough Ilishman.
Tlishman keep loff letee wind blow tlough wlis-
kers him be all light to-moller; [lishman come
at Chinaman gitee velly blad dose. To-moller
ae : be planted where flowlers blow. Ketchee
on? : :

“That is business,” declared the Chinaman’s
companion. ‘{[f you know when it is healthy,
you will steer clear of Wun Lung, Irish. When
he fires that blunderbuss in his hand it usually
sweeps the whole country in front of the muz~
zle.

Martin Wynder stepped forward,

“You have no right to interfere here,” he
said, restraining his passion and addressing
the youth on the larger mule, ‘‘ You will sim-
ply get yourself into trouble, You are alto-
gether too fresh.” \

‘* Now you have hit me right where I live,”
was the laughing reply. ‘That is the matter
with me, I am very, very fresh, and that is
why I am cajled Fresh Ford. When I see a
crowd like this on the verge of jumping one
or two helpless men, I always have to take
ahand. I can’t help it, because I am built that

wa Sus /

But this young cowboy has just shot the man
lying there.” :

Fresh Ford, as the youthful stranger had
called himself, regarded Chris sharply, then
turned toward Wynder, saying:

‘Well, itis all rightif be did. I will betallI
possess he did it in self-defense, He has the
right kind of a face, and I am willirg to allow
he is a boy to tie to.”

Wynder stormed furiously.

“You shall pay dearly for this folly!” he
snarled.

“*Velly gleat mlad,” snickered Wun Lung.
“Dlance likee tlurky on. blot plate. Kleepee
clool, lole man; plaps may hlurt lumslelf.” ;

‘““Thet is good advice, pard,” said the bow-
legged cowboy, ‘‘Ther Chinaman has got
more sense than you have, an’ thet’s a scandu-
lus fac’.” : ec oee ee:
ee shook his fist, first at Rube then at

bris, 5 j

“Vou shall hang for this!” he frothed. —
“This man is dead—treacherously shot down _

while engaged in a contest with a person be :up-

 

posed unarmed, and—” ee Crag
“Who's dead?” suddenly danente ie Mat,
sitting up and wiping away blood which”

      
 
 

  
   

 
   
 
 
  

6

 

Cowboy Chris in Cinnabar.

 

 

ran down toward bis eyes. ‘‘I want ye ter
know I bain’t dead by er derned sight! I reckon
ther blamed bullet rubbed my skull poorty
hard, but I’m allright. Still, 1 lows I hev got
ernough of ee fer ther present,”

Then, to the astonishment of the crowd, ho
arose to his feet and walked unsteadily away,

CHAPTER VI.
WARNED—BY WHOM?

MARTIN WYNDBR uttered an exclamation of
disgust as he saw the See dead man arise
wet walk away, while und-up Rube broke
into a laugh.

**Hooled erg’in, Whiskers!” cried the bow-
legged oor one

*““Velly miuch gitee left,” observed Wun

ung,

“That is about the liveliest dead man I
have seen in a month of Sundays,” smiled Fresh
Ford,

“* Well, this eoea ae mrey tried to kill him,”
doggedly persisted Wynder. ‘That is as bad
asif he succeeded, I do not believe the men of
Cinnabar will allow the would-be assassin to
escape.”

But the spectators’ thirst for the young cow-
pers life had suddenly diminished on seeing the
bully arise and depart, and there were those
who expressed their regret that Big Mat’s career
had not been finished by the bullet, saying Cin-
nabar would be well rid of an undesirable
character.

Wynder suddenly saw the folly of pressing the
matter further, and, without a word, turned
away.
bat What's your burry?” inquired Fresh Ford.

*'Ta-ta!” called Round-up Rube, in a tantal-
izing manner,

**’Melican man feel velly blad,” observed Wun
Lung. ‘“ Him glo loff tlo ktick himself.”

rey Pat had suddenly disappeared, and the
crowd began to disperse. However, there were
not a few who pressed around Chris Comstock
with their congratulations on the manner in
which he had handled the Chief of Cinnabar.
But the young cowboy did not take very kindly
to their protestations, for among them ho saw
some of the men who had seemed the most
eager to hang him for the supposed murder of the
tough.

 

Among other things, Chris was warned to
look out for Big Mat, it being said the ruffian
would not rest easy till he had been revenged
for his disgrace.

The first thing the cowboy pards did was to
express their thanke to Fresh Ford and his
**Chinee” companion for so promptly siding
with them against the crowd,

‘Don’t ‘mention it!” laughed Ford, ‘‘ That
was the most natural thing in the world for me
to do, and I always side with the weak, no mat-
ter what the odds. I can’t seem to help it, and
I notice my friend, Wun Lung, is inclined that
way. Allow me to make you acquainted with a
white Chinaman, if you never saw one before.
This one possesses that admirable quality known
as sand, strange as it may seem—the grittiest
kind of sand.”

“Velly mluch sloft-slope!” exclaimed Wun
Lung. ‘’Melican man haveé tlo ’scluse my
blushee, Chinaman velly blashful.”

**You’re ther fu’st Heathen I ever saw thet I
wuz willin’ ter shake han’s with,” declared Rube:
ae but Pm proud to grip your fin, my pig-tail

With bis usual grin spreading over his face,
‘Wun Lung accepted the bow-legged cowboy’s
hand, and Rube’s terrific squeez2 was returned
‘with an interest that amazed the old fellow,

*'You’vo got a grip like iron, No Lungs,” he
said. ‘‘{ will risk you.

** Now this yere’s my pard, Chris Comstock,
as wite er lad as eyer breathed ther rarefied
atmosphere o’ this ga-lorious kentry. He's er
hummer—er hull team, bull-purp under ther
kerriage an’ all thet. He’s ther right kine ter
tie to, you bet!”

“T knew it the minute I set my eyes on him,”
asserted Fred, grasping Chris's hand,

“Tam jest plain Rube Randall, ur Round-up
Rube,” added the wizen cattleman. ‘‘ Chris an’
I hev got tired 0” bein’ tied down, so we're rovin’
roun’ in search fer excitement. We struck er
bit jest outside this yere town an’ er leetle more
jest inside, L opine tbar’s more ter foller.”

““Tf so, I wonld like to take a hand in it. My

mame is Ford Webster, and I am from the East,
though I have been in the West Jong enough to
gt the rough edge of the tenderfoot off me.

ave been prospecting of late, and was on my
way to Cinnabar when I was held up by two
fellows who thought they would confiscate my
moule and property. They were proceeding to

 

do so when this Chinaman appeared and shot
one of them dead with that blunderbuss of a
pistol. Then he charged on the other, uttering
a yell that sent the would-be robber skurrying
out of that section of the country as fast as his
legs could carry him, Very naturally, I swore
by the Chinaman and we became friends—
pards, you might say. We were both bound
for Cinnabar, Wun Lung contemplating set-
ting up in the washee business here, That ex-
plains how we happened to appear on the scene
just as we did.”

“Fleshee bloy mlake long tlak, ’splain ebly-
tling. Chinaman havee notling tloslay, Allee
light; let her slide,”

“Tell be rty likely thet you hev madesome
foes by takin’ sides with me an’ my pard,” said
Rube to Ford, ‘Both you and the Chinaman
will have to look out for yourselves,”

‘* Well, I have found it necessary to look out
for myself ever since I came into this part of the
country, and I think Wun Lung is apt to have
his eyes open.”

“ Keepee leys pleeled allee timee,” grinned the
Chinaman, ‘‘Melican man clach Chinaman
sleeping hlave to gitee Jup velly learly in day or
stlay mt allee nightee,”

?

“Well,” said Chris, ‘I am hungry, and I
propose to have some kind of food to alter my
feelings. Myself and pard are going to stop here

at this hotel.”

“We are with you,” declared Ford,

“Wun Lung heapee hollal on linslide! Him
fleel blackblone when him lub stomach with
handee, Bly gol! it mlake him velly tlired!”

“Wal, my critter’s got ter ba seen to,” ob-
served Rube, ‘

“‘ And I must find somebody who will go out
and bury my poor horse,” said the younger cow-
boy, struck by a sudden thought, ‘‘I had almost
forgotten him,”

The quartette pe around to the stables,
conducted by the landlord, who had now made
his Ber retain: having disposed of his lady
guests,

It was not a difficult thing to find two men
who agreed to bury the young cowboy’s horse
for a reasonable sum,

Then the four returned and entered the hotel,

As they were passing into the building, a man
brushed hastily past them, and Cowboy Chris
felt something thrust into his hand, Lifting it,
he saw it was a piece of paper.

Chris whirled swiftly to spring to the door,
but*in so doing he coliided with Rube and was
detained fora moment. When he reached the
door, the person who thrust the slip of paper into
his band bad disappeared.

The young cowboy noticed there was writing
on the paper, but he bad not paused to read it
before endeavoring to discover who thrust it into
his hand. However, as soon as he saw the un-
known had disappeared, he lifted the slip and
read the words, which had been hastily written
with a lead-pencil.

The chirograpby was somewhat effeminate,

This is what he read:

e
P an out for Martin Wynder! Heis your deadly
oe!”

A warning, the import of which could not be
mistaken. But who had thrust it into Chris
Comstock’s hand? That was a question he could
not answer, and ou making inquiry of his com-
panions, he found they had taken no particular
note of the person who brushed past them as
they entered. eee
CHAPTER VII,

WYNDER’S STORY.

Wrwnver. had informed Mrs, Newman he
would call on her as soon as she was somewhat
recovered from the effect of the journey and
tell her the true story of her husband’s strange
actions and death. Tho lady urged him to call
as soon as possible, as she was eager to know
the exact truth, and he said he might be around
later in the day, if he could find the opportunity.

Evidently he had little trouble in finding the
opportunity, for, just as it was growing dusky,
there was a rap on the door of the ladies’ room
at the hotel, and, when the door was opened,
Wynder stood there, bowing, hat in hand,

*T have found time to run round to the hotel
ae tell you the particulars I promised,” he
said.

Mrs. Newman invited him in, and Grace
placed a chair for him. Martin retained his hat
close at hand, as was his custom on all occa-
sions.

“You have come to tell me of my husband?”
spoke Mrs, Newman,

“T have,”

‘‘T am glad you came so soon, for I am eager

 

to get at the facts at once, I trust you will
pardon me if I say your letters concerning his
death and the cause thereof have been very
vague and unsatisfactory.”

“T am well aware they must have been,
madam, It was not an easy thing for me to
write you the unpleasant facts, and how much

harder will it be for me to tell them to your |

face!”

“Bat I insist on knowing,” firmly asserted
the lady, taking a seat where she could look
Martin fairly in the face as well as permitted by
the gathering darkness. ‘‘It is my rightas a
wife,”

‘¢ Tt can do you no good to know.”

“Still I would know.
mystery about Mr. Newman’s death—a mystery
I mean to solve. There

I feel there is some ©

is also something .

strange about the condition of his business as

revealed since his death.”
“You have said as much in your letters.”

“Yes, for I did not dream but he was the sole |

owner—or very nearly that—of the Blue Jeans,”

“Tt is really a siugular thing Mr. New-
man did not see fit to inform you when he took
me into partnership with bim. It was at the
time when the mine seemed to have run out—
the lead was lost.”

“How long ago?”

“¢ About two months—a, trifle more perhaps,”

‘“‘And at that time his letters were the most
hopeful and enthusiastic.
at any trouble.” .

Wynder lightly struck his knee, as if a sudden
thought had flashed through his mind.

He did not even hint. |

“ After all, that was the most natural thingin |

the world!” he exclaimed. ‘‘ His entire fortune
was invested in the Blue Jeans; if it failed, he

wasruined. Why should he not seek to keep ©

the terrible danger from you?”
The widow shook her head.
‘“Tt was not like him,” she asserted.
always trusted me in everything.” — ‘
“It is plain he did not do so on this occasion,”
‘T am not so sure of that,”
‘* What do you mean?”

“George |

“Never mind just now what I mean. Go on, |

Mr. Wynder.”

But the plotter hesitated for several moments, |

seeming hurt by her recent words.

“Tt is useless for me totell you anytbing, Mrs, _

Newman, unless I have your confidence.”

‘‘ We must be sure a person is worthy of con- |

fidence before we bestow it,” ventured Grace,
who found it difficult to restrain herself in the
presence of the man she firmly believed was
robbing them of their rights.

Wynder shook his head slowly.

‘*T see you are doubtful,
that. All I can do is to tell you whet I know,
and regret I ever became entangled in such an
unpleasant effair. 1 am aware that you ladies
Jook on me as an enemy, but Iam nothing of the
kind. Indeed, I am ready to be your most sin-
cere friend. You are ina wild land, aod may
need friends, It is a country where evil men
abound, and fair women are not safe without a
protector.”

‘But the particulars you were to tell us,” said
the widow, impatiently; ‘‘let’s hear them.”

‘ Well, I will make the story as brief as pos-
sible, for I have no care to drag out such a tale.
It is a story of an unfortunate man beset by
eyil influences, which soon dragged him to
doom,

‘*T first became acquainted with George New-.
man about three months ago, At tbat time I
came to Cinnabar to look for an investment, be-
ing in a speculative mood, Then Newman was
happy and apparently prosperous, for the Blue
Jeans was paying, although it surely was not
panning out as wellas the Bonny Bess. We be-
came acquainted by accident, and I sought bis
advice in regard to investing the capital in my
possession, He gaye me some good pointers,
tock me into his mine, showed me what be was
doing, and pointed out what he hoped to do, I
cffered to purcbase an interest, but he flatly re-
fused, although he did so with the courtesy
which always characterized his genial ways.

“ At that time Mr, Newman said the Blue
Jeans was more than paying its way, with a
prospect of doing much better very soon, There
was no reason why he should take in a partner,
unless we except the reason that two heads are
often better than one—a fact Mr. Newman
afterward found to be true.

“T thought no more of the matter, but lqoked
around for another opening. In some way, Mr,
Newman ani I became very friendly. The so-
ciety of thecamp was not very satisfactory to
either of us, and it was quite a relief for us te
get together and talk of things which these com-
mon plodders never dream. Despite his busi~

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Cowboy Chris in Cinnabar.

 

 

ness abilities, I found George Newman a man of
fine thought and great ideality, Although
forced to come in daily contact with the rougher
side of life, it was not pleasant to him. He was
of a somewhat poetic temperament, and was a
person I judged easily influenced by another
of stronger mind, a thing I afterward found
tru

8.

“ Within a week after visiting the mine with
Mr. Newman I noticed a slight change in his
appearance, He seemed worried about some-
thing and was extremely nervous. I could not
account for it, and, to tell the truth, I did not
try, for I considered it none of my affairs,

‘“T was unsuccessful in finding an investment
which pleased me, still 1 lingered in Cinnabar,
meeting Mr. Newman each night and having a
pleasant talk with him. But 1 observed how his
nervousness increased, and I felt sure something
was going wrong.

‘One night he said to me:

‘©* Wynder, do you still wish to become my
partner in the Blue Jeans? :

“T was startled by the suddenness of the in-
quiry, but immediately asked him if he had
changed his mind about selling a share. He ac-
knowledged be had.

‘“*« But I will not deceive you,’ came frankly
from his lips. ‘I have a reason for doing 80,’

‘* He then went on to speak about the possibil-
ity of putting the mine’s stock in the market
and raising a large sum in that way, but de-
clared he was averse to tbat plan. —

‘“¢You may wonder whyI wish to raisea
sum of money,’ and he looked me squarely in the
eyes. ‘ Well, [am going to tell you the plain
truth, then you can come in with me and make
a venture which will surely result in disaster or
fortune, or you can stay out and be.safe, I
have no desire to draw you in on false pre-
tenses.’ :

“T was impressed by bis frankness, and it was
thus he gained my confidence more quickly than
he could in any other mapner. Had he tried to
conceal the truth, I should have suspected there
‘was a reason why he so suddenly changed his
mind, and I certainly would not have invested
money without once more examining the mine,
That would have shown me the true state of
things, and I would not have invested at all,
as I would then have been sure he was seeking
to deceive me.

‘¢ He then went on to explain that the lead had
been suddenly and most unexpectedly lost, and
at the same time the failure of a small banking-
house in Denver had left him with scarcely a
dollar ‘to carry on business, He was confident
the lead could be recovered, but it would take
money to carry on the search, and he was down
to bed-rock, as they say out bere, He enjoined
was the only person who
knew the truth, besides himself.

‘Wad I been thus inclined, I might have used
my knowledge to ruin Mr, Newman, but he had
made no error in trusting me, As he had been
frank with me, I resolved to make an examina-
tion and go in witb him, if there was a show of
coming out all right in theend. I told him as
much then, and he pressed my hand warmly,

“The following day I investigated, spendin;
almost the entire day in the mine. When i
came out, I was convinced the lead could be re-
covered, but that work was being carried on in
the wrong direction. That night I completed
the bargain with your husband, Mrs, Newman,
and became an equal partner with him in the
mine, a fact he said he should immediately write
to you. Did you not receive a letter to that ef-
fect?”

“T have a letter in which hg spoke of you as
his partner,” confessed the widow.

The gathering darkness concealed the look of
triumph which passed over Martin Wynder’s

ace,

“On the following day,” continued the narra-
tor, ‘I communicated my belief concerning the
lead to Mr. Newman. It was some time before
I could make him see the matter in the light that
I did, but he concluded to give my theory a

_ trial. Work was begun in quite another direc-

tion from which he had been prosecuting, and
within forty-eight hours ths pay-streak was
struck, It was not Jong before he was forced to
acknowledge we had hit the true vein, and in a
week’s time the mine was paying better than
ever before,

““It-was about that time that a gambler ap-
peared in this town, calling himself Prince Roy-
al. He was a handsome and prepossessing fel-
low, having a fascinating way about him, and
appearing a gentleman born. But he was a
snake—a villainous rascal! :

‘t Almost everybody in the mines plays cards,
We have no theaters, no lectures, no churches,

\

 

Card-playing is our amusement. Mr. Newman
indulged only on rare occasions, but for s»me
reason, Prince Royal chose my partner as a vic-
tim. I[ do not understand why he did not select
me, for I played a great deal more than George
Newman. But the gambler seemed to know his
business, and your husband, Mrs, Newman, was
the person he decided to fleece.

‘“Now comes the unpleasant part of my
story.” a uh A

CHAPTER VIII.
THE TRUTH OR A LIB—WHICH?

It was now so dark the expression on the man’s
face was quite hidden.

Mrs, Newman apologized for not procuring a
light, saying the landlord had not yet provided
them with one,

“Hor which I am sincerely thankful,” de-
clared Wynder. ‘It will be hard enougb to tell
you the truth here in the dusky darkness, for it
will be far from pleasant to your ears; but it
would be a hundred times harder for meif there
were a light in the room.”

‘Go on, sir,” came quietly from the widow’s
lips. ‘* No matter how unpleasant it may be, it
is my duty to hear it.”

The crafty rascal cleared his throat, and con-
tinued:

‘‘T sincerely believe Prince Royal exercised
some unnatural influence over Mr. Newman—
more, I am sure of it. Newman himself con-
fessed it was so, and the gambler did not deny
it, bold villain that he was!

“Tt was not long before Mr. Newman was
spending the greater part of his time in company
with Prince Royal, and the most of that time
was passed in playing cards for money. He—”

But Grace could restrain herself no longer.

““My father was not a gambler!’ she hotly
exclaimed.. ‘“‘ You cannot mwuke me believe
that!”

ven. replied with deliberation:

‘*Y told you I had to come to the unpleasant
part of the story, and I expected you would
doubt my words; but I am telling you nothing
but the truta, Mr. Newman did not care to
have it known he gambled, and the fact was
kept a secret as much as possible, although
there were those in Cinnabar who suspected it—
some knew it. Royal would come to the office
of the mine, and they would play there, with
drawn curtains, That is, they did so as long as
I would stand it; but I finally kicked against it
so stoutly that they were forced to abandon that
resort for another. Where this later place of
misfortune was I cannot say.

“Day by day Mr. Newman grew haggard,
and a strange light crept into his eyes, He did
not look one squarely in the face, asof old, I
knew he was losing, and I did my best to dis-
suade him from further folly. It was useless.
The demon of cards had laid its foul grasp upon
him, and he was unable to break away.

“] have said L believe Royal exercised a
powerful influence over the man he had chosen
for a victim. Several times I asked Mr. New-
man if he liked the man, His eyes would glow,
and he almost always replie?:

“«¢Vike bim! I hate him!’

‘Still, for all that, he allowed the gambler to
lead him on and on to ruin and doom,

‘‘One morning after anentire night spent
with ah I found my partner in a wretcbed
state, @ was so excited and nervous that he
appeared like a hysterical woman,

““* Newman,’ J said, laying my hand on his
shoulder as he satin a chair at the office, ‘you
are killing yourself.’

“He sprung up as if touched by an electric
wire and dashed across the room, shouting:

‘““<Tt ig not that! it is not that!’

“T was astounded, but I got him by the arm
and forced bim into the chair again,

“¢ What do you mean by such an outburst?
Tasked, ‘You appear like a demented person
this morning.’

‘“**Crazy—demented!’ he retorted. ‘It is a
wonder I am not! Ob, that cursed villain!’

“© Who do you mean?

“* Prince Royal, the infernal scoundrel!’

‘“*Look here, Newman,’ came soberly from
my lips, ‘why don’t you drop that card-sharp?

‘** And he replied:

‘** Wynder, I can’t! Strange as it may seem
to you, I am telling the sober trutb when I say I
cannot drop him, I have made at least a dozen
resolves to do so, but I find it impossible to keep
them, Ido not know why it is, but, although I
hate and detest him, I find it impossible to get
away fromhim, He has me foul.’

‘‘Of course, I could not understand this, and
{I derided him for his weakness.

‘**It is a weakness,’ he confessed, ‘but one I

 

am unable to overcome. Wynder, I shall leave
my wife and child to poverty!’

“Not it I can help it? I cried. ‘If I can do
nothing with you, I will try my luck with the
card-sharp himself!’

““*T wish you would!’ came eagerly from his
lips ;, ‘I wish you would drive him out of Cinna-
bar!

‘“T resolved to try that very thing, and with-
out delay, I sought Prince Royal. I found him
calmly sleeping at the hotel, and he was decided-
ly angry at being aroused. But I was angry
myself, and I went straight to the point.

“** Royal,’ I said, sternly, ‘wrat kind of a
game are you playing with my partner? .

*** Poker,’ was his reply—‘ poker with a sky-
high limit. Ob, itis a large game!

“*¢ You know that is not whatI mean. You
have gotten Newman into your power in some
way, and he is unable to get out, Now, let me
give youa pointer: If you do not let up on
him, there,is going to be trouble,’

“¢ He actually whistled in my face,

‘“*Tt seems that something is gnawing you,’
was his insulting response. ‘ What do you take
me for?

“* & card-shark and a scoundrel!—an infernal
villain and a cheat!’

‘*T had my hand on a revolver, and I was fully
determined to shoot him dead if he attempted to
craw. But he did not; he simply laughed.

“Tt won't work,’ he asserted. ‘ You have
come here for the purpose of drawing me into a
fuss and shooting me, but I am too sharp for you.
Keep a close grip on that revolver, pard.’

“ Failing in this, I began to threaten him, and
I finished by asserting I would shoot him if be
did not immediately leave Cinnabar. Again he
laughed in my face, saying I would change my
mind when I cooled off. And I did; I did not
want his blood on my hands.

“And so this attempt to save my partner was
a failure. Royal remained, and Mr. Newman
continued to gambie with him,

‘““One morning I found my partner in a worse
condition than ever before, and in a short time I
succeeded in discovering be had gambled away
every dollar of ready money. he possessed.

*** Now you will have to stop,’ I said.

‘* He shook his head.

‘*¢There is no such word as stop. Why, last
night that infernal blood-sucker tried to get me
to remain in the game and venture an interest
in the mine!’

“To say I was startled would be putting it
mildly. I began to comprebend the full extent
of the gambler’s villainy, and the thought that
he might soon hold a share in the mine filled me
with fury.

“ But what could be done?

““*There is only. one thing,’ said my unfortun-
ate partner. ‘1 must sell you my share in the
mine.’

‘‘ And gamble the ncney away, a8 you have
the other!”

‘** No, I will leave Cinnabar. I will go away
secretly in the pvight when no one knows apy-
thing about it. Once far, far away, I will be all
right, for I sball be beyond the influence of this
human devil.’

‘‘T considered the matter for a long time, and
I finally came to the conclusion that he bad
struck upon the only way to save himself, But «
it would not do to let him bave the money
till he was ready to deyart. I cautioned
him to keep his intention a profound secret,
while I would get everything ready for the move,
To this he consented, and the plan was carried
out. He transferred all the old papers into my
hands and made cut some new ones, and, with
the money in his pessession, he left Cinnabar in
the night, promising to write me from Denver.

“But, in some way, the villainous gambler
had become aware of Mr. Newman’s intention,
and in the morning he was gone from the camp,
As soon as I learned of this, I became uneasy,
and my uneasiness increased with the day.
When night came I was unable to sleep, for 1
dreamed horrible things of Mr. Newman’s mur-
der. I decided to send out a party to look for
the man in the morning, and I did so.

‘“‘Within ten miles of Cinnabar the body of
my former partner was found. It was brought
into camp and buried in our cemetery. He had
been shot through the head from bebind, and I
have no doubt but it was the work of Prince
Royal. Nota dollar was found on the body,

‘That is the whole of the story.” j

There was a profound silence for several mo-
ments, then the widow caught her breath with a
little gasp and asked; |

‘“You are certain it was my husband’s body
you found—you identified him?”

“* As well as I could?”

 

 

 
 

 

 

4 e : AeAR So:
ais zt 4

 

Cowboy Chris in Cinnabar.

 

“ As well as you could? what do you mean by
that?” ae / ‘

_ Wynder hesitated, but Mrs. Newman insisted
that he should answer,

‘Well, then, to tell you the truth, the body—
and the face in particular—had been somewhat
mutilated by vultures. Still there is not a doubt
but it was your husband.”

“ Why’ not a doubt?”

“The clothes were his, and the things which
the robber left in his pockets I recognized. They
are here in this package,” taking a paper-wrap-
ped parcel from his pocket. ‘‘ And here is the
ring which he always wore. That was proof
conclusive, for I found it upon the finger of the
corpse.”

It truly seemed all the proof one could ask for,

Grace was very silent. She bad shed no
tears, but the expression of her face could not
ibe seen,

“Tn the morning,” said Wynder, “if you
wish, I will come over and escort you to your
husband’s grave,” , \

“Thank you. We will be ready to accom-
pany you at an ealy hour.” f

The mau arose to depart, but found himself
‘confronted by a dusky figure that, had arisen
from one of the other chairs, .

‘Stop a moment, Mr, Wynder.”

It was Grace’s fvoice, but it sounded strained
and unnatural,

The man involuntarily recoiled a step, as if
he feared an attack,

‘* What has become of this Prince Royal?”

The question seemed to take him by surprise,
for he hesitated and stammered before re-
plying:

“T do not know.”

** Have you done nothing to find out—nothing
to avenge the murder of the man who was your

partner?” :
‘Yes, yes! I have done everything in my
power. I put several men on the search for the

dastardly wretch, and they trailed him quite to
Santa Fe, There they lost track of him,”
i 4 did not find it again?”
0

i They must have been anything but skillful
trailers.” {
_“ They were called skillful.”

‘““Tt hardly seems as if you have done your
duty in trying to avenge my father’s death, If
this gambler really killed my poor father, he
shall be bunted down and punished. as he de-
serves. Iam nothing but a girl, but I could not
rest while I knew my father’s assassin lived.”

She stepped aside, and Wynder moved hastily
toward the door, a sudden chill having passed
over his body. As quickly as possible in accord-
ance with natural politeness, he bade them good-
meas then departed. —

When the visitor was gone, the girl came and
knelt beside her mother’s chair,

\ “ Mother,”

‘Yes, my child,”

‘*That man did not tell the truth.”

‘* Are you sure, Grace?”

._‘* Yes: something in my heart tells me he lied.
He may have told some things which were true,
ke he lied about the most of them. He is a vil-
ain!” ¢

‘“ You are right !” spoke a hollow voice, which
seemed to float in at the open window. ‘‘ He is
a villain and a murderer!”

‘*Great heavens!” screamed Mrs, Newman,
springing to her feet. ‘* That wasmy husband's
voice |”

CHAPTER IX,
i TWO APPARITIONS.

WYNDER descended the stairs and left the
hotel, turning his steps toward the Blue Jeans
Mine. He muttered to himself as he walked
along.

“That was a pretty good yarn, although it
had some weak poiots, I did not think they

would ask what I had done to punish Prince

Royal for the murder, and I bungled a little right

there. But, on the whole, I think they swal-

Jowed it quite well. They did not make the

inquirics about the transfer of the mine the

same as\I expected, and my preparation for
such questions proved unnecessary on this occa-
sion, though it may come in handy later on.

There is going to be a struggle for the mine. If

I only had possession of that paper old New-

man started to show me one day I would be all

right. The paper is forever lost, without doubt,
and I am safe,

“T bave some tools that are valuable, and

_ Dnstin is one of them. He is the handiest fel-

low Lever saw when it come to pen work, and

 

he can get up some papers to deceive the very

elect. will set him to work on them to-mor-

   

 

row, for I ought to bave them now. If that fel-
low only had the courage ot Mat Dolby, we
would form a partnership to cheat the world.
He lacks sand, I scarcely wonder, for he isa
sissy-man at best.

“Tf anything should happen that Mrs, New-
man attempted to get hold of the mine, I would
fight for it. Icould make a stern battle, and
the chances would bein my favor, If I had ob-
tained possession of the woman and girl as I
planned, 1 would bave held them till they made
over everything into my hands—relinquished all
claim to the mine, But perhapsit is well enough
as it is,

‘*Mrs, Newman is a really charming woman.
If I thought there was a show for mg, I would
try my fortune there. With her for my wife,
there would be none to dispute my claim to the
mine. It is worth contemplating. But, if sho
knew the truth, she would not be likely to marry
the man who killed® her husband, for with my
own band I sent the bullet through his head,
The vultures mutilated his body, and he is
buried over yon in Cinnabar’s graveyard.

‘This is one of the great games of my life,
and I have been engaged in many. Some have
succeeded; some have not, It is true] am some-
times startled by the magnitude of the crimes
by which my hands are stained; but what is
life good for if one cannot scheme and plot. It
is half the pleasure of living in this world, and
as for the next world— Bah! there is none}
Death ends all! A dead man is dead; he never
returns asa spirit. I will hold tothat, for never
yet have I seen a spirit. Ican put no faith in
what I have not seen.”

Talking or thinking thus, to himself, he reach-
ed the office, which stood a short distance from
the building that concealed the mouth of the
shaft. Inserting a\key, he unlocked the door
and entered, It closed behind him with a snap
of the spring lock.

Wynder fumbled in his pocket for a match.

“ Hang the luck!” he growled. ‘I do not be-
lieve I have a match in— Great Scott!”

The exclamation was caused hy the appear-
ance of a patch of white light on one of the office
walls, At first it was about the sizeof a man’s
hand, but it grudually_ increased till it was as
large as a person’s head. There was no expres-
sion to it at first,and Wynder stared at it in
surprise.

But gradually the patch of light took the
shape and form of a buman being’s head. By
imperceptible degrees the features became
plainer and more distinct till at last they
hung before Wynder’s staring eyes fully recog-
nized in all their ghastly and ghost-like horrible-
ness,

1t seemed like the head of a corpse,
corpse— i

George Newman!

As if chained to the floor Martin Wynder
stared at the awful apparition, bis blood seem-
ing clogged in his veins and his heart almost
ceasing to beat, Never before in all his life bad
he seen anything like it, for the features wera
the exact counterpart of those belonging to the
dead owner of the Blue Jeans Mine, It was as
if the murdered man’s head was there before
his slayer’s eyes, a white light glowing from
every part of it. {

Then, to complete the villain’s terror, a hol-
low voice, which seemed to issug from the part-
ed lips of the death-head, distinctly said:

‘t Assassin, perjurer, thief, your hours are
numbered |”

Like a flash, the ghostly head vanished, and
the fear-stricken man was shaking from head to
foot in the darkness of the office,

With a gasping groan, Wynder wheeled and
tore at the door behind him. By chance his
hand fell on the little knob of the spring-lock,
and heiwas able to jerk the door open. As he
did this, he felt as if something bad brushed
lightly against him, and he fancied an unseen
form had passed out into the night,

But, Martiu did not stop, Utteringa cry, he
leaped out of the office, slamming the door be-
hind him. Straight toward the building which
concealed the mouth of the shaft be ran, and all
the time he felt as if be were pursued by some
fearful thing, ,

Never before in all his life had the man re-
ceiyed such a scare,

Reaching the building, he cowered close under
the wall, his breath sounding like the gasps of a
dying person. Keenly bis eyes searched the
surrounding darkness, and he more than half-
expected to see that horrible apparition appear
before him again. ;

For a long time he crouched and shivered
there like a whipped cur, but gradually his
nerves became quieter and he was more like

and that

     

\ i

   

himself, Still it was a long time before he ven-
tured to utter a sound, At length, a harsh laugh
broke from his dry lips. : ar

“What a fool I am?” he huskily muttered,
“That was all a freak of my imagination—
nothing more! It could not have been any- —
thing more! There are no such things as spirits,
and the dead are dead! Yet, how plain it was!
I never saw anything more plainly in all my
life. And the voice—that was as distinct as pos-
sible, I must be getting into a wretched con-
dition to imagine such things! Can it be I am
drinking too much and this is nothing more
than a touch of the tremens? Great Heaven!
I hope I am not getting into that condition!”

He felt of his arms and legs and found they
were still shaking a little. He tried to steady
himself, but that he found no easy thing to do.

‘* That must be the explanation—I bave been
drinking too much of the vile stuff they sell for
liquor out here. It is enough to ruin any man’s
verves. If I had remained in the office and *
struck a light, 1 would have been all right. I
will go back there, But no, I am afraid I
have'not the nerve to do that. Although I
| now know it was a trick of my imagination, I
am in no condition to re-snter that dark room
to-night.” 4

The more he thought of his recent fright the
more foolish it seemed, and he roundly con-
demned himself for so foolishly running away.

“Spirits!” he sneered. ‘‘ Why, just before I
entered the office; I expressed my opinion that —
there are no such things. I have defied them a —
hundred times, and I defy them again—” \@

* Beware !” ing BERS eh ae

Wyihder jumped as if shot, wheeling toward
the point from which the voice had seemed to
come. There in the darkness he saw the dusky
outlines of a form—a'woman’s figure! ~ ;

‘““Who is that?” demanded the scheming ras-
cal, lifting the revolver in hishand, ‘‘ Speak or

“Hal ha! hal” Y

It was a chilling laugh, and it caused an icy
thrill to run over the man’s body. Ph ti

‘‘Murderous wretch! from this hour to the
hour of your death you shall’ be haunted by the
spirits of your victims!” yg i '

Martin Wynder decided that this was no hal-
lucination, The words were really spoken
by the woman whose figure he could indistinctly
see. ay SSeS

‘* Who are you?” he snarled. ‘‘Don’t try any |
trickery on me!” ;

foully murdered!” : oye
With a snarling exclamation, the, haunted. —
man lifted the revolver, pulling on the trig-.
ger. The weapon was a self-cocker, and the-
click of the hammer followed, but there was no
report! AEA ye
‘Poor fool!” came from the apparition, ‘‘ Do
you think you can barm a spirit?’ a
‘Well, I will try lead on one, and see what
effect it will have!” * \ cpr eg
Again he pulled the trigger, but the fall of the
hammer was followed by a dull click and, no re-

no shot woke the echoes of the night, :
Once more Martin Wvnder was seized by an

uncontrollable terror, Flinging the revolver

from him, he uttered a wild cry and dashed from

\.

the camp, the wild Jaugh of the mysterious fig-
ure ringing in bis ears as he fled. Pax

 

CHAPTER X.

STRAIGHT toward the ‘‘ Bang-up” Saloo
rusbed the terrified man, now and then casting —
frightened glances over his shoulder. Within
the town he passed several persons, and more —
than one paused and stared after bim in aston- |
ishment, for never before had they seen Martin”
Wynder tearing along after such a fashion, ¥

The frightened rascal did not pause till he was
at the very dcor of the saloon, and could plainly
hear the music, shuffling feet, babel of voices, —
and occasional shouts which came from within ©

second revolver as he stood panting at the door —
of the saloon, CSC

“ Gone!” A ae athe ga

The exclamation came from his white lips, as
he made the discovery that his other revolver
was missing. ro ataen
tried to use it, and where is its mate? Has the
very Old Nick got into things to-night?”

   

I fire!” ‘ 4.

“Tam the spirit of Hester Doyle, whom you

port, Six times in all he repeated this act,-but |

a eee ae

the spot, rushing straight toward the center of | | t

STRAIGHT TALK FROM CHRIS. _ a

the place, Then he halted, bishandseekinga =

‘“‘ What in the devil ailed my weapon ‘when Ld

 

It almost seemed that way to th Geen an

plotter. yey ;
“ What made me run? This is a question I

cannot answer, I wassuddenly seized by an

     

  

 

Ls tet Pee

   

     
  
    
  

  
  

 

 

 

  

Wi glasses, saying:

 
 
  

 
 

to dispose of the eow
ao

 
  
 
  
 

 

  

 

: ‘Cowboy Chris in Cinnabar.

 
 
  

9

 

30.
govern my actions. >
“That was no spirit, but I surely did not im-
agine I saw the woman. She was there, and
bad my revolver worked, I would have sent a
bit of lead through her. That would have cured
_ her of her desire to play a joke on me.
“Joke! Was ita joke? She claimed to be
‘the spirit of Hester Doyle, and what person
living knows Martin Wynder was ever anythin
‘to Hester Doyle? There is something about it
, cannot understand. Hester Doyle is dead, for
‘did I not put her out of my way when, after
discovering our marriage was a a sham, she
insisted I should marry her in good faith? I
Surely did!

“Yet who was that woman who knew of Hester
Doyle? Great God! Can it be there are such
things as spirits and I am really to be haunted
by my victims? I cannot believe it possible, yet
what other explanation can there be for what I

have seen to-night, for I now believe I really
_ Saw the death-head in the office?

‘* And my revolyer—what ailed it? Never be-
fore has the weapon failed me, and I always
carry it ready for instant use. Still, to-night

very cartridge refused to explode, And that

woman, were she flesh or spirit, did not seem in

~ the least alarmed when I attempted to shoot her,

If she was flesh—a human being—she must have

} cc mad to face a man with a revolver in his
and,

“My other weapon—what has become of it?

_ It should be here in my left-hand pocket. I am
Sure I have not left it anywhere, so it must have

worked from my pocket as I was running,
 *T am now convinced that what saw was
not caused by the liquor I have been drinking,

_ It was no hallucination of the brain,

“Here I am trembling from head to feet once
more! What makes me tremble now? Iam no

| longer afraid. I must be all broken up! I be-

lieve I will goin and take a drink to brace my
nerves,”
Assuming as nonchalant an air as possible un-
der the circumstances, he entered the saloon.
Immediately ou passing through the doorway,
Wynder found himself in that portion of the
Bang-up Saloon set aside for gambling: The
card-tables were nearly all in use, and a faro
lay-out was doing a thriving business, Midway
ot the room was the bar, a set of double counters
‘Tunning across the room, leaving a wide passage
at one end, Between these two counters three
- men were kept busy setting out the drinks for
_ the thirsty souls within the saloon. All the
liquor was kept under the bars, x
he further part of the room was the dance-
hall, and more than two-score of human beings
“were whirling over the floor to the inspiring
strains of a rather lively waltz tune. The music
was provided by a barrel-organ,
_. Wynder made his way to the bar and called
for whisky, dashing off a glass as soon as it was
placed before him. Once more be filled the glass
Rearly to the brim, but as he was on the point of
lifting it to his lips, a band was laid upon his
_ 4rm and a hoarse voice said:
» “ Wal, boss, can’t ye let us in?”
It was Big Mat, the Chief, a dirty handker-
chief being tied around his head beneath his hat.
He bad a companion in the form of the Irish
rascal, Pretty Pat.
_ “It’s excadingly droy the throats av us be,
Misther Wynder,” put in the ‘‘son av the ould
sod.” ‘‘ We are nearly doying fer th’ bit av a
- drink.” ®
__. A scowl passed over the mine-claimant’s face,
but be promptly motioned to the barkeeper for
4

 

   

  

 

 

  
  
  
  

  
   
 

 
  
 

_ “Yes, you can drink at my expense.”

“Minny thanks, yez Honor,” bowed Pretty
at, hastening to turn out the liquid poison,
It’s plazed we will be to tip th’ hilth av yez.”
__ *Thet’s er fac’,” echoed the bully, grasping
the bottle in turn. “Youre er double-an’-

 

twisted gentleman, Pard Wynder.”

,_ Lhe liquor was disposed of, and, at a motion

  
 

. |. from Wynder, the three moved to a vacant ta-
ie * “ble and sat.down.

      
 

_“ You made a bad botch of your attempt

ys, Mat,” observed Mar-

}
The bully uttered a growl, _
“I didn't size ther young galoot up kerrect,”
he acknowledged, ‘Thar wuz more stuff in
im then xe bt. a wat’s ther matter
ye, par ou’re white ez if ye hed
er ata yer han’ se sae se oe
‘Oh, it’s nothing, nothing ynder hastened
declare, “Tamall pete lok . oe
Begorra! yez may be all roight, but th’ look
ez gives yez th’ loie.” : 4 %

pulse to flee, and I could not refrain from doing
Something besides my own will seemed to

“Then you should remember appearances are
often deceptive. But we were speaking of these
cowboys. Where are they to-night?” :

“Ef you’d looked very cluss, you’d seen them
in this very saloon. One of ’em’s dancin’, while
t?other’s lookin’ on,”

“* An’ th’ fresh b’y wid th’ Haythen Chinee is
in here too,” added Pat.  ‘‘ Oh, it’s gittin’ at
thit pig-tailed naygur Oi’ll be doin’ wan av these
toimes!”

“T care nothing for this Fresh Ford and the
Chinaman,” declared Wynder. ‘It is the
mre I want disposed of as soon as possi-

18

“Tkem mighty nigh bein’ disposed of w’en I
wuz gittin’ a mf of em,” growled Mat, ‘‘ Irish
made a bad shot thet toime,”

“‘ Were you the one who fired that shot?” asked
Martin,

‘*Bo jabex!’ Oi am ashamed to allow thit Oi
wuz. It’sa moighty big blunder Oi was afther
makin’,” ;

* Well, I should say so!”

‘* Qi foired from me pocket, yez see.”

“No, I did not see, but I_ suspected the bullet
was meant for the cowboy.”

‘ Thit same it wur.”

‘An’ it kem mighty nigh bein’ my everlastin’
sickness, I might hey downed the cow-puncher
thet time.”

‘““Yez moight—in a horn! Ye are no match
fer ther b’y, me daisy. If ye downed th’ loikes
av him, yez will hiv to do it whin he is not look-
in? ”»

‘Well, I want him downed,” came from Mar-
tin Wynder’s lips. I care not how the job is
done if they are only put out of the way. I
have taken a hatred to them that I cannot over-
come,”

‘* An’ is it a payin’ job, boss?”

‘*T offered Mat a hundred for each of them.”

‘* An’ he will surely take mein wid him, Th’
two av us kin polish thim off.”

“Do not try it openly.’ Get at them when
they are not expecting it.”

‘Trust us for thit. Oi will tap thim a knock
on th’ bids, an’ thin Mat kin give thim the
length av his knoife. Thit will put thim to
sl’ape in foine shape.”

hacen money will be ready as soon as you do
that.

“Are yez shakin’ on it, boss?”

“Not bere, There are too many around. I
do not care to be seen. with you fellows too
much,”

At this both of the tougbs uttered a growl,
ahi Derned p’tic’ler, hain’t ye!” snapped Big

at.

“Oi do not suppose th’ loikes ay us are good
enough fer yez?” sneered Pat.

“It is not that,” Wynder hastened to say,
seeing his tools had misunderstood him, ‘* You
ee I joined in with you against the cowboys,
and if we are seen too much together, it will be
said I had a reason for doing so. There may be
a row raised when these fellows are found ccld,
and you will need backers, If I step in, it will
be all right, providing people cannot say I was
behind the whole affair. See?”

The two toughs confessed they did.
“Then I will get away before we are spotted.
Keep your eyes open for your opportunity.”

re aa bet.”

“We will call fer th’ cash to-morrow, Misther
Wynder.”

The chief villain covertly slid a five-dollar
gold piece across the table.

“This is to pay for your bracers,” he said.
s But have a care not to get too much of a load
on, 4
Pretty Pat’s hand covered the yellow coin, as
that rascal grinned: j
‘““Thank yez, boss; ye’re a jintlemon av th’
ae sort. May yez live till yez are ready to

oie, :

Wroder arose and left the table. As he did
so, Cowboy Chris and Round-up Rube came out
from the part set off for dancing. The bow-
legged cowboy gave the mine-claimant a sig-
nificant glance, and then turned toward the two
toughs at the table,

“ Birds o’ a feather!” was his comment,

The chief rascal’s hand fell toward the pocket
where he usually carried his weapon, but the
revolver was not there, |

“Go on, curse you!” he grated, as the cowboys
continued on their way, ‘' You are both marked
men!” Y me

Something caused him to follow them across
the room, and he saw them pause and watch the
pane at the faro table, The Chinaman, Wun
ung, was also a spectator near the table.

_ As Wynder approached, the dealer looked up

 

‘Hello, Martin! Going to try your luck?”

“Not to-night,” was the reply. “If I did, I
should surely b’ust the bank,”

‘*He, he!” snickered Wun Lung. ‘ Him vel-
ly gleat hand tlo blust blanks! Him blust gleat
eee blanks. Blanks not this klind, He,

e! Me

Wynder turned pale, then his face became
dark as.a thunder-cloud. ;

‘* What do ‘hen mean, you infernal pig-tailed
imp?” he saarled, taking a step forward, as if to
lay hands on the Chinaman,

.‘Holdee lon!” cried Wun Lung, retreating a
bit. ‘*Kleepee hands loff Chinaman, lum gitee
blurt!”

“T want to know what you mean!” asserted
the an man. ‘You insinuated something,
though it is difficult to tell what you mean by
that infernal jargon. Explain!”

‘* No lexplainee.”

“Why not?”

“ Dion’t havee tlo.”

‘* By heavens! I have half a mind to break
your nose!”

Wun Lung promptly put up his hands ina
guarding attitude,

‘“‘Comee Ton!” he cried. ‘Chinaman glib
*Melican man tlo three ploints. Chinaman velly
blad boy with fistee. Him tlake lessons lof
Jobnee L. Ccomee lon, him knockee corner loff
lum, see how lum likee that.” _, \ /

“TJ will not disgrace myself by getting into a
quarrel with such a creature,” asserted Wynder,
with dignity. ‘‘But, if you are in town to-
morrow, you pig-tailed whelp, I will see that
you are run out or hanged to the nearest tree!
That is the kind of a man 1 am, and I mean
business!”

Chris Comstock stepped forward.

‘“‘That isa threat you shonld be ashamed of,
and you would be ashamed if you were anything
but a most contemptible villain!” came deliber-
ately from the fearless young man’s lips. pa

ynder recoiled as if struck, and for several
moments he was unable to speak, Finally he
hissed :

“You shall pay dearly for those words, you
young puppy!” :

Chris snapped his fingers. .

“That for your frothing threats, Martin
Wynder. You can frighten nobody with them.
‘You say you will see this Chinaman hanged or
run out of town, but you will do nothing of the

kind, The chances are you will be hanged
yourself or run out of town,”
“You infernal dog!” panted Wynder. ‘ Do

you dare talk like this to me!”

The cowboy continued, calmly: ;

‘* My advice to you is to get out of Cinnabar
while you have a chance and before the people
become aware of the notoriously crooked game
you have played. It will be better for you to do
so, for the truth is bound to come out sooner or
later.” ;

“*T do not know what you mean.” *

“Your lips say so, but they lie! You do
know what I mean! I have been making some
inquiries concerning you, and I find it is still a
mystery to many peur bow you hold possession
of the Blue Jeans Mine, You came here only a
few months ago in company with a gambler
known as Prince Royal, and in some way a
got George Newman into your power. You
lured the man on while the card-sharp fleeced
him. Royal has disappeared, and no one knows
whither he has gone. Mr. Newman is dead, and
ee hold possession of his property. There is a

ig rat in the meal, and he is bound to come out.

hen be does, you will find yourself in a tight
corner, Martin Wynder, so-called.”

The mine-claimant’s face became pale once
more, but his eyes blazed,

‘You shal! suffer for these insults!” he assert-
ed, speaking as calmly as he could under the
circumstances, ‘‘ You will find you have made
a big mistake in trying to buck against Martin
Wynider. Ihave the papers to show I am the
rightful owner of the Blue Jeans Mine by right
of purchase, I paid good money for everything
I possess in Cinnabar, and 1 have not a few.
friends here who will stand Py. me against any
one who may try to rob moe of my rights.”

“The time is not far distant when you and |
your friends will wish they had never seen this —
town. Thererare plenty of honest menin this
town who will not see George Newman’s widow
and daughter robbed by a miserable scoundrel.”

Wynder’s hand slid into the pocket which
coil contained his revolver, but once more he
found the weapon missing. Had it been there,
he would have had no chance to use it, for Chris
Comstock cried, sternly: a

 

and perceived him, immediately calling:

W.

" you lined!”

“Take your hand off your pocket, sir! I have

 

  

      
      
             
     
    

10

Cowboy Chris in Cinnabar.

 

 

Which was true, the young cowboy having
drawn a weapon witk characteristic swiftness.

With a snarl the villain’s hand was with-
drawn. ; ;

“Tt is your time now,” he said, with all the
calmness he could command, ‘‘ Mine is coming
right soon!”

He turned and walked deliberately out of the
saloon.

 

CHAPTER XI.
FRESH FORD ON HAND.

THE following morning Martin Wynder was
on hand to escort the mother and daughter to
George Newman’s grave. They were soon
ready to accompany him, and the three set out
together. ,

Wynder was exceeditigly polite and affable,
seeming so much like a perfect gentleman that
Mrs. Newman caught herself wondering if the
man could indeed be avillain. If he were, then
he was certainly to be dreaded, for he was no
ordinary rascal.

Cinnabar’s cemetery was on the outskirts of
the camp, the buildings at the mouth of the
Blue Jeans Mine being in plain view.

When the graveyard was reached, Wynder

inted out a mound of earth which had not

een long erected. To the astonishment of the
widow and her daughter, a handsome marble
shaft had been erected at the head of the grave,

“T caused it to be placed there,” explained
Wynder. ‘I thought it would not seem so
bare and lonely. I will have it removed, if
you wish to put up another to suit your own
taste.”

They also saw fresh flowers had been strewn
on the grave,

Wydenr immediately left them alone by the
last resting-place of the unfortunate husband
and father,

Mrs, Newman’s tears flowed freely, but
Grace’s eyes were dry. Tho girl had loved her
father with all the affection of a true daughter,
but for some reason, she felt no desire to weep
as she stood there beside the mound.

Upon the pure white shaft was cut:

“GEORGE NEWMAN,
“ DIED JULY 21, 18—.”

For a long time the mother and daughter re-
mained beside the grave. While they were
there, the two toughs, Pretty Pat and Mat
Dolby, came staggering along, both being un-
usually full of bad liquor,

“‘ Hello!” growled Big Mat, pausing with his
feet very wide apart and turning his red eyes
on the widow and her daughter, ‘ Looker
hyer, pard; byer’s caliker.”

“ Begorra, thit is a fact!” nodded Pat. ‘It
looks loike it wur th’ ould duck an’ th’ goosaling.
Faith! an’ it’s a foine pair they be!”

““Thet's a fac’, Paterick, me noble sir, They
jest look scandulus invitin’, an’ thet’s bed-rock
truth!”

** It’s th’ young birrud as takes the eye av me,
Oi’d not moind st’alin’ a kiss from the two pretty
rid lips av her,” |

“‘ Ther old gal’s good enough fer me,” chuckled
Mat. “ Let’s go catch the pair,”

“Oi am wid yez.”

Mrs. Newman and Grace had overheard a
pence of this talk, and they were greatly terri-

ied.

“We must run, mother!” exclaimed the girl.

“But we cannot run fast enough to get away
from them!”

“Tam not sure of that; they are both intox-
icated,”

“« How are we to get past them?”

‘We cannot; we must run they other way.”

“That will take us from town. Oh, where is
Mr. Wynder?”

But the mine-claimant. was not in sight, and
there was no alternative but to take to flight,
which they did, Instantly the two ruffians
started after them, calling for them to stop.
This only gave them additional terror, and for
a time they more than held their:own with the
‘pursuing toughs,

This did not last long, for Mrs. Newman’s
strength began to give out. Soon the heavy
ee of the pursuers was beard close bebind

em, . °

“Hole on thar!” roared Big Mat. ‘ Wat's
ther use ter run? You can’t git erway!”

“It’s ounly windin’ av yezzelf ye are, me
foine birruds,” added Pretty Pat.

With a cry of despair, Mrs. Newman whirled
and faced the cowardly wretches, and the next
moment she was clasped in Big Mat’s arms.

“Ha, ha!” lauged the brute. ‘* Now I hey ye,
ole gal!”

 

 

Grace whirled and came at the ruffian like a
furious cat, and in another moment Big Mat had
received such a scratching as had never before
fallen to his fortune.

“Ob, holy jumping up _ jee-thutter!” he
howled. . “‘Take this thing off ‘fore I’m all
tored ter pieces, pard! Take her off, I say!”

“Thit’s jist what Oi am afther doin’, me
b’y,” and the Irishman dragged the screaming
girl away.

At this moment another person appeared on
the scene: it was Fresh Ford,

Snatching the girl from the Irishman’s grasp,
he sent the wretch staggering to the ground,
knocked down bya single blow. In another
moment, Big Mat was served in the same man-
ner.

The two astonished toughs struggled up, their
hands falling upon their ready weapons,

‘* Hands off, or chew hot lead!”

It was Ford that spoke, and he covered the
discomfited men with a pai~ of heavy revol-
vers,

* Great thunder!”

* Mither av Mowses!”

“T mean business,” declared the young man;
‘‘and I have more than half a mind to shoot
you anyway.”

‘‘ Hiven kape ye from hivin’ a whole moind!”

‘Don’t shoot, pard—don’t |”

“Then get up and get out of this! Belively!”

They lost no time in obeying the command,
hurrying away toward the town.

Fresh Ford put up his weapons and turnéd to-
ward the mother and daughter, who were clasped
in each other’s arms,

‘“Grace—Mrs, Newman!”

“My gracious!” cried the girl, starting for-
ward, her hands outstretched. “It is Ford—
Ford Webster!”

He caught her fingers in his grasp, and it is
pretty certain he would have kissed her if her
mother had not been present.

“Why, Ford!” cried Grace in delight. ‘Is
it really and truly you—can it be?”

“lt is, without a doubt; but I little expected
to see you here,”

Mrs. Newman came forward and held out her
hand, but there was none of the impulsiveness
which characterized her daughter's greeting.

““T am pleased to see you, Mr, Webster,”
she said. ‘‘ You appeared very fortunately for
us, and we are bound to thank you ror what you
have done.”

There was something about these words which
chilled the young man, and he instantly fell in-
to a manner of gentlemanly reserve,

Grace noticed this, but tried to conceal it
as much as possible by her own friendly man-
ner,

““How in the world does it happen you are
here, Ford?” she asked. ‘‘ You are the last per-
son [ would have dreamed of seeing, and the
one above all others I am the most pleased to
see,” with something like a defiant look at her
mother,

Such words as these could not fail to be pleas-
ing to the young man’s ears, and he showed bis
gratitude by a look.

Then came explanations as to the cause of
their meeting, and for the first time Ford Web-
ster heard of the death of Mr. Newman,

Once more Mrs. Newman thanked him for
what he had done,

‘We are stooping af the Washington Hotel,
Mr. Webster,” said the widow, ‘and we would
be pleased to have you call.”

e bowed, but Grace detected a doubtful look
on his face, and she instantly cried:

“You must come, Ford! Give me your
protnise that you will, You cannot refuse, and
surely you have not forgotten old times!”

Forgotten! No, not he! The memory of
those old days was of the bitter-sweet sort that
one does not easily forget.

He accompanied them back to town, and be-
fore leaving them, promised to call at the hotel,
which was quite enough to make little Grace
happier than she had been since hearing of her
father’s death,

CHAPTER XII.

THE SITUATION ASSUMES A NEW ASPECT.

Forp Wersstrr and Grace Newman had been
schoolmates and youthful lovers, but the girl’s
father had not favored the young fellow’s atten-
tionsto his daughter. The cause of this was a

former trouble between Newman and Ford’s
father, the former firmly believing Horatio
Webster had bitterly wronged bim,

When the attentions of the youthful gallant
came to Mr, Newman’s notice, he had promptly
forbidden Grace having anything further to do

 

with the son of his enemy, and he had been
seconded by Mrs, Newman.

There is no more certain way of making two
infatuated young people believe they are madly
in love with each other than by attempting to
keep them apart, and George Newman discoy-
ered his words had ae fanned the flame he
hoped to extinguish, Then Grace was taken
out of school and put under the supervision of
a private tutor and chaperon,

Shortly after this, Horatio Webster died, and.

Ford was thus left alone in the world, his mother
having been dead several years.
father’s affairs were settled, Ford discovered he
had scarcely a dollar in the world, Greedy
creditors swallowed everything.

Then the young man resolved to strike out for
himself and make a fortune, and what was more
natural than that be should follow Horace
Greely’s advice. In the mining country for-
tunes were sometimes made in a day, so he
be¢ame a wandering prospector, tenderfoot
though he was. Up to the date of this story he
had made no big strike, although he had sue-
ceeded in finding sufficient ‘‘ yellow” to enable
him to exist. When he made the fortune he
expected would surely come, be would return to
the East and Grace should become his wife,
How many nights, lying by his lonely camp-
fire, he dreamed of the happy days to come!

And now fortune had thrown the youthful
lovers together again. How would it end?

Grace was trembling with excitement and
delight as she ascended the hotel stairs with her
mother.

‘Who would have dreamed of such a thing!”
she exclaimed, being unable to restrain herself
till they were in their room. ‘* Who would have
dreamed of seeing Ford Webster here! It is
such a jolly surprise. And how handsome he
has grown! and bow brave he is! and how
easily he sent those two wretches hurrying off!
It is perfectly delightful, mother!”

Mrs. Newman said nothing.

“Don’t you think it delightful?” persisted the
excited girl,

‘‘T think it very fortunate he happened along

just as he did. There is no telling to what an’

extreme those intoxicated men would have
one.”

‘* Well, I gave one of them some scratches to
remember me by, anyway.”

When they entered their room they were sur-
prised to find a large yellow envelope which had
been thrust under the door, Mrs; Newman
picked 1t up and found her name was written
upon it:

-“ Now, whocould have placed this there?” she
mused, gazing in a puzzled manner at the hand-
writing.

‘‘Open it, mother!” cried Grace, ‘‘ Let’s see
what there is inside!”

The widow deliberately tore open the envelope,
but ker deJiberation was a mask to her real feel-
ings, for her hands trembled slightly.

From the envelope she drew two papers, one
of which was crumpled and stained as if it had
seen severe usage, The other was a common
sheet of ledger paper, clean and neatly folded.
Opening this, she found one side was covered
with writing.

“It is for me!” she exclaimed, “her voice
sounding husky; ‘‘and written by a woman, 1
should say. But you can see to read it better
than I, Grace. Let me hear it,” : ;

The girl took the sheet of paper and read aloud,
as fojlows;

‘Mrs, Grorce NewMan,
“Rightful Owner of the ‘ Blue Jeans’ Mine: —

Dear MapAM:—

‘“With this I inclose-a valuable document which

roves your rizht as the sole owner of the Blue J. ans

ine. Your husband purchased the mine in your
name, and it is thus recorded. I am well aware that
the villain who calls himself Martin Wynder has,
formed and put into execution a scheme to rob you
of your proper, and T hope to be instrumental in
his overthrow an rnin, for I hate him with an undy-
ing hatred. He is a bank-robber, bigamist, murder-
er—a dastard of the blackest die! He has wronged.
me in a manner that can never be repaired.

“I know not how this serpent succeeded, but in
some way he crept into the good gracesf Mr. New-
man. He exercised a wonderful influence over your
husband and led him on to ruin, But his elaim that
he purchased the mineis utterly false, as the aceom-
panying paper will show, for George Newman could
not sell what was not his. For all of this he holds
possession, and he is resclved to make a desperate
fight to retain the property if needs’ be. Nothing
but vigorous vim wil: oust the rascal, and I advise
vou to louse no time in going for him as he deserves.
Call an officer at once and have Wynder notified to
abandon the mine. If hedoes not get out, enlist a
force to back you, and take possession. This ma;
seem a desperate thing for a woman to do, but itis
just what you will have to do if you hope to obtain
your rights. > 1A

é

When his .

 

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- Sell what he did not own.”

Te ee

Cowboy Chris in Cinnabar,

ee OAR

ris

 

 

“In conclusion, let me tell you of a thing I
suspect—a thing of which I am nearly certain: J
believe Martin Wynder is the man who shot your hus-
band! In time, I hope to have proof of this,
ae there are enough ad crimes of which he

ilty to hang him several times.

ee i, “Your unknown a 7

“It is impossible to describe the amazement
created by this strange letter.

Mrs, Newman examined the other paper, and
found it was adeed of the mine, which she really
owned,

For more than an hour, mother and daughter
discussed the situation, and then Mrs. Newman
found herself quite overcome by excitement.

It was decided to summon an officer and have
@ notice served on Wynder without delay.

The necessary papers were made out in the
hotel, and the notice was served before noon,
Chris Comstock and Round-up Rube accom-

anied the city marshal to the office of the Blue
ae Wynder met them at the door,

Great was the daring schemer’s rage when the
contents of the paper in the marshal’s hand was
read to him,

“Tt is an infernal fraud!” he stormed. ‘It is
an attempt to cheat me out of what is rightfully
mine! But it will not succeed! My money pur-
chased this mine, and I will hold it with armed
men!”

“Oh, go fall on yerself!” sneered the bow-
legged cowbay. ‘‘ Your game is too thin ter
work fer shucks! Ther hull town sees through
it, an’ you will fine two-thirds o’ ther people are
agin’ ye, You'd best come off yer perch an’ git
out afore ye are hurt bad.” :

Wynder shook his fists at the cowboys,

““T knew you were my enemies as soon as I
saw you!” he cried. ‘‘ But you will find lam
the worst man you ever tried todown! I will
live to see you both buried!”

“Tf you do,” put in Chris, “you will have to
get out of Cinnabar very lively. Your days in
this town are past, and your game has fallen
through,” ‘

They turned away, leaving the man snarling
and frothing like a mad-dog.

An hour later, Wynder appeared at the hotel
and at once hastened up the stairs and knocked
on the door of the room occupied by the widow
and her daughter. Mrs, Newman answered the
rap, but started back in alarm when she saw
who her caller was,

Wynder bowed with mock courtesy, but there
was a black look on his face,

**T do not care to come in,” he declared, be-
fore the woman could speak. ‘I bave called to
see if you really mean to make an attempt to
enforce your preposterous claim.”

“T certainly do,” was the calm reply,

Tbe man laughed harshly, ;

“You are wasting your time, I have papers
which prove my right to the claim,” e

““T doubt it.”

** What do you mean by that?”

“* Hixactly what you heard me say, J have a
Paper which proves my ownership of the mine,
which has been duly recorded in my name.”

**Do not try such a trick on me, There is no
such a paper in existence.”

“That is where you make a big error; it is in
my possession.”

‘“‘But your husband gave me a deed of the
mine.”

“If he did so it was without my consent or
signature. I do not know as it was necessary
to obtain either according to the law in this
part of the country; but I do know he could not

‘Tt is a plot to defraud and rob me!” cried
Wynder, beginning to grow excited. “‘ If New-
man took my money when he did not own the
mine, he cheated me like a villain!”

“Stop!” cried the voice of Grace, and the
girl appeared at her mother’s side, her face
white with passion, ‘You need say nothing of
the kind against my father! He was an bonor-
able man, but it is plain he fell into the hands of
ascoundrel, I do not believe you ever paid him
a dollar for the Blue Jeans Mine!”

“It makes no difference what you believe,
young lady. Your belief will not change the
situation. I am not a man to be driven from
what is rightfully mine, by two females!”

‘You may find us more powerful than you
think. Wehave some friends in Cinnabar, al-
though we have been here but a short time,”

“Y care nothing for your friends, I hold
on areas of the mine, and I shail continue to

old it though it costs blood! you persi-t,
‘you shall rue the day you ever set foot in Cin-
nahar!”

With this threat, he turned and hurried down
the stairs,

 

 

CHAPTER XIII.
WUN LUNG SHOWS HIS STUFF.

As he rushed out at the door of the hotel,
Wynder collided with the Chinaman, Wun
Lung, who was coming in. Uttering a snarl,
the mine-claimant drew back bis clinched fist as
if to strike the Celestial, but Wun Lung faced
him without quailing or showing the least sign
of fear,

‘Bletter not hitee, lole bloy,” he advised.
‘*Stlikee Wun Lung gitee headee plunched,
Chinaman velly blad chapee with dlukes.”

Something restrained the man, but he hissed:

“You know too much to live, you pig-tailed
dog! Iwill see that your hash is cooked with
the rest!”

‘Melican man tlurn clookee, hey? Bletter
not glo into. washee blisness, Chinaman bleat
lum all hollal if lum do, Bletter stlay in blank-
bleakee business. Gleat sluccess in that line,
lole bloy.”

“JT would like to know what you mean by
that, you yellow-skinned imp of Satan!”

Wun Lung winked and grinned in a knowing
manner.

“?Melican man dlon’t know what Chinaman
meanee? Bly gol! that velly flunny! ’Melican
man gleat tlo gitee lound in the nightee. He

flind way to gitee into blanks, Lockee-lockee
no glood tlo kleep lum out. Rakee in velly
gleat bloodle, He! he! he!” ‘

‘‘ He, he, he! you monkey-faced fool! You
know too much to live long! You will suddenly
die one of these days! Do you mind that?”

‘’Melican man bletter glo fall on lumself!”

Wynder fairly danced with tury.

“Go fall on myself!” he frothed. ‘If you
were anything but what you are, I would punch
your head!”

Wun Lung suickered,

“ Heapee gleat plile lof flun! ’Melican actee
like he was ’sclaped flom loonerticky ’slylum.”

Once more Wynder seemed on the point of
striking the tantalizing Celestial, and once more
‘Wun Lung faced him unflinchingly,

“You are too big a fool to know when to be
frightened ue

‘’Melican man chlangee his mlind bout Wun
Lung be flool plitee sloon, Wun Lung velly
mluch smartee than lum thlinkee. He gitee
stladdle ’Melican’s neckee plitty quickee.”

Wynder turned away, but seeing the two
toughs, Mat Dolby and Pretty Pat approaching,
he cried:

‘‘ Here, you fellows, make yourselves useful!
Down this yellow cur for keeps, arid I will pay
you enough to keep you drunk for the next
month!”

‘*Do you really mean it, boss?” asked Big Mat,
spitting on his hands and keeping his eyeson the
Chinaman.

“Tf yez do,” added Pat, jerking off an old
coat he always wore, and rolling up his sleeves,
“we won't ’ave ser much asa gr’ace spot av the
crayther. It’s doying Oi am to git at the loikes
ay bim!”

Wynder glanced hastily around, and seeing no
one in the immediate vicinity, he said, in a low
tone:

“TI mean it. Down him—kill him some way!
I will pay you well. He seems nothing but a
Heathen, but he knows too much to live. Pick
a quarrel] with him, and give him the length of
a knife when you get a chance!”

* All right, boss,”

“His goose is the same as cooked, Misther
Wynder,”

The Chinaman had overheard enough of this
to catch the full meaning, still he retained his
composure in a remarkable manner, and be did
not even seem to look for a chance to escape.
Such a chance there certainly was bad he taken
to his heels, though it is possible he might have
bee: treacherously shot down by the two ruffians.
Per. aps he knew this, and preferred to stand
his ground for that reason,

“Velly blave "Melican man!” he sneered, his
eyes fastened on Wynder, “ Him flaid lof Wun
Lung, blire tlo toughee clustomers tlo flinish
Chinaman, That allee lightee. Wun Lung
velly mluch able to tlake caree lof lumself,”

** Down him, lads!” hissedWynder. ‘Come to
may office when you have done the job,”

hen he left the hotel and hastened away.

Pretty Pat chuckled with villainous delight,

‘* An’ now begorra we hiv got ye, Haythen!
1t’s chewin’ yez up we will be afther doin’. Do
yez moind thot now?”

“Tlishman heapee flool !”

‘Oh, yez hiv the gar] to soay th’ loikes av
thit, hiv yez! Well, lit me tell yez a thing or
two: you are th’ fool, ye knave av th’ worruld{
It’s an idiot yez made av yersilf whit ye troied
to buck aginst Pat Muldoon. Oi s’id thin Oid

i,

 

hiv it out av yer hoide, an’ now Oi am about to
k’ape me worrud.”

An’ Pm ee ter holp him chaw ye up,”
nodded Big Mat, lifting one huge fist and sur-
veying it. ‘“‘Thar won’t be nuthin’ left of ye
arter | hit ye with this thing.”

“Wun Lung dlon’t want tlo gitee hitee with
that,

“Ho, ho! So ye are jest beginnin’ to realize
the sitty washun ye are in! Ye’re jest beginnin*
to git skeered! Jest gittin’ it through yer head
thet ye’re goin’ ter be everlastin’ly chawed upt
Wal, I don’t wonder ye don’t want to git bit
with this batterin’-ram.”

*“No wantee glit hit, Chinaman cleanee now;
glittee hit, then havee tlo glo washee lumself tlo
glitee dlirt loff.”

‘*Great howlia’ thunder!” roared the chief, in
amazement. ‘‘ Did you heur thet, pard!”

“* Begorra, Oi did!”

‘‘Ther critter ther same as said thet my fist
wuz dirtyl”

““Thit’s whut he did.”

** Holy smoke!”

* Lit’s go fer him!”

* Allright. We're comin’, you Chinee skunk!”

Atthis moment Chris Comstock stepped. out
of the hotel door and confronted the two ruf-

ans.

“Hold hard here!” came sternly from the
cowboy’s lips. ‘‘I happened to overhear your
intentions asexpressed. So the two of you were
about to jump tho Chinaman, Well, I will let
daylight through you if you try it!”

The toughs drew back with expressions of an-
ger and dismay, enraged at being balked in
their evil purpose.

But this did not suit Wun Lung.

“Velly mluch ’bligee tlo Melican man,” he
said, ‘‘Tloughee bloys dlunk; Chinaman lickee
bloth lof lum,”

“You don’t mean you want to fight both of
these roughs?”

Wun Lung ncdded.

‘* That ’blout sizee lof it.”

Chris was amazed,

“The two of them
claimed.

The Chinaman winked in a knowing manner.

“Wun Lung velly hard bloy to killee. Him
knockee stufflin lout lof lum.”

**ButI cannot see you figbt them both! If
ba must fight—and you are the first Chinaman

ever saw who insisted on such a thing!—take
them one at a time.”

The Celestial shook bis head.

** Lickee bloth lof lum. ‘They dlunk now; that
not velly hard jobee,”

“They will not give you a fair show.”

““Tlakee my glun, slee flair show,” and the
huge pistol was extended toward the cowboy,

Chris laughed and shcok his head,

“Tam afruid I should kill all three of you if I
used that,” he said. ‘‘ But I am ready to see
fair play, as you call it, and I will use one of
my own guns, if necessary. Still I think jt is
folly for you to encounter both of these toughs.”

“Chinaman slow what made lof. Velly
glood stuffy in Chinaman,”

As the Celestial insisted on meeting the two
ruffians, Chris stepped back, saying:

“All right, go ahead; but I shall keep my
eyes peeled for crooked work, and if one of
those dogs tries a crooked game, it will be the
worse for him.”

By this time

will kill you!” he ex-

uite a little crowd had assem-
bled, Round-up Rube being among the number.

“Ef thet Chinee is a match fer tlem two
skunks, I'll sw’ar he’s er tiger from ’Wayback,”
said the bow-legged cowboy. ‘ Anyhow, he's.
the dernedest quare Chinaman I ever sot my
ole eyes on, an’ thet’s Gospel,”

““Tloughee bloys allee leddy?” asked Wun

Lung.
ot) Sail bet!”

“ Waitin’ fer yez.”

** Lookee Jout flor stleam -injine!”’

With a yell that sounded almost like the blast
of a steam-whistle, Wun Lung charged at the
ruffians, dodging from side to side in a singular
manner that seemed to surprise his foes, Al-
most before they were aware of it he had
dodged in between them. Then, with a sudden
impulse, both sprung forward to grasp him—
but he was not there. As a result, they col-
lided.

“ Hoop-la!” yelled the Celestial, kicking the
feet of both men from under them and sending
the toughs rolling in the dust locked fast in eac
other’s arms.

“ Velly gleat lot lof flun!” sales

The fallen rascals ‘‘ unshackled ” and star
to scramble to their feet, but Wun Lung gave-
Big Mat a kick in the stomach that sent that

 

   

 
 

rege

_ camp actually cheered for a Celestial!

  
   

 
 

‘worthy
breath,
attention to Pretty Pat.

_ The Irishman was on his hands and knees in
the act of arising to his feet. Wun Lung saw
his PE eae and improved it promptly, giv-
ing Pat a kick that sent him sprawling on his
‘stomach again,

‘*Howly mither av Mowses!” howled the Irish

tough, “If Oi iyer git on me feet, Orll—
Wugh!

9

olling over and over, gaspin for
Then the Soop

Once more he had struggled to his hands and
knees, but it was only to receive another kick
that caused him to plow a line in the dust with
his nose.

‘* Hoop-la!” shouted the Chinaman once more,
“* How Ilishman likee this flor change?”

Then he gave Pat another kick in the same
place.

Oh, great hoppin’ Hannah!” roared Round-
up Rube, his face crimson with laughter.
** Hain’tI glad I lived ter see this day! I never
saw so much fun in all my life afore! This yere’s
er regler jubilee picnic, an’ thet blessed Chini-
man is chief cook an’ bottle-washer! Oh, thet is
ther blamndest derned delightful Heathen I ever
saw !

Six times in all Wun Lung sent Pretty Pat

sprawling before he decided to remain quiet and
make no attempt to arise,

By that time Big Mat had recovered his
breath and struggled to his feet. He made.a
rush for Wun Lung, and the Celestial whirled
just in time to meet\ it, How he managed to
avoid the shower of blows the big ruffian rained
at him no one could say, but avoid them he did,
and before long he found the chance to give
Mat a ‘‘teller” exactly in the pit of the
stomach,

That was enough. _

It quite knocked the Chief of Cinnabar out.

‘But Pretty Pat was not satisfied, and he at-
tempted to get in a blow at the back of Wun
Lung’s head,

It did not seem that the Chinaman was pro-
vided with more than one pair of eyes, yet he
seemed to see Pat’s moyement without turning
his head. Just as the Irishman drew back bis
fist to deliver the blow, the left foot of the
Celestial shot out backward,

It wasakick that would have done credit to

_acontortionist, and it landed very nearly in the
pit of Pat’s stomach, sending him over flat on
bis back,

That was the end of the affair.

had

ae
eee, fer Pig-tail!” bellowed’ Round-up
ube, :
And the crowd of a rough and tough mining-

A Chinaman
fairly whipped two of Cinnabar’s worst

feta
CHAPTER XIV,
A WRONGED WOMAN’S REVENGE,
oe FRom the hotel, Wynder hurried toward the
- Bl.e Jeans Mine, muttering as he went:
What does that cursed Chinaman know?
That is a question I cannot answer. It is plain
that he knows something of the past, yet how
is it possible? Never since I assumed the excel-
lent disguise of Martin Wynder haveI been con-
nected with the Duncan Wort or Seth Lawson
of the past, No, this is not true! I forgot the
woman, or apparition, or whatever it was I saw
last night. That thing seemed to know of my past.
This Chinaman is not the fool he looks, for he
knows of hoy Can it be he is—”
_ The man halted, his face turning white,
“Tf I thought so,” he muttered, savagely,
after a few moments of silence, “T would go
back there and end his life myself. if I thought
30, I would trust nothing to those half drunken
fools. But it is hardly probable; I cannot have
been trailed here.” ;
He resumed his way to the mine,
_ ‘Things bave reach a crisis; the tug of war
_isatband. I knew it was coming, but I wished
to put it off for a time. It has come sooner than
I wished to have it. By to-morrow they will
try to take the mine by force, but I shall be
ready for them, I have sent Dustin after men;
he will bring me some fellows who will fight
like dogs for money. I will pay them well to
- stand by me, !
_ *Itis plain Mrs, Newman has obtained pos-
session of that pve Isought for after Newman’s
_ death. How she secured it is more than I can
tell, But she is only a woman! It. is true those
_ cowboys are ber friends, but they are not smart
_ enough to outwit Martin Wynder,
of the workmen will stand by me, I fancy, and
_ those, with the ones Dustin brings, will be suf-
ficient to stand off the whole town. :
_ “TI may be forced to make some kind of terms

 

singular Chinaman turned his

A good part |

 

Cowboy Chris in Cinnabar.

with Mrs, Newman, but she shall not have a
tenth part of what is hers—that is, unless she
will marry me, itis too bad this stage of the
affair arrived before I could play that card. I
might bave been a winner in an easy manner,
But I will make the best of it.

‘There is one thing I cannot understand, and
that is what became of Royal’s body. I had no
further use for the fellow, and so I shot him
through the head, as [did Newman. Newman’s
body was found, but Royal’s was not-—not even
a trace of it. Is it possible that the vultures de-
stroyed one and only mutilated the other? It
does not seem so, yet what became of the other
body?”

This was a question that seemed to perplex the
villainous schemer,

‘* Well, both men are out of the way, anyhow.
Hypnotism placed Newman in my power and
led himontodoom, Little dces his widow dream
that letter in which he speaks of me as his part-
ner was written when he was in a hypnotic
trance and fully under my contro]. L had per-
fect command of his thoughts then, and he
wrote exactly what I put into his mind. Ha!
ha! ha! Hypnotism is a great thing! Had I
been given plenty of time, I would have tried it
on the widow. Being successful I could have
compelled her to become my wife whether she
wished to or not.”

Reaching the office, he unlocked the door and
entered, only pausing a moment to listen to the
sound of the quartz-crusher, the mine being
worked as if nothing unusual had happened,

“It is a pleasant sound,” he chuckled.
hi Grinding out dollars for my pocket! Oh that—
Thunder!’ y

‘The exclamation burst from his lips as he saw
a figure appear before bim—a yailed woman
who arose from a cbair in which she had been
seated. j

‘* Who in blazes are you, and how did you
come in here? The door was locked!”

“Don’t you know me?” ~

“Tf I could see your face, I might answer
better.”

‘* You want to see my face, Seth Lawson?”

The man recoiled as if struck a blow.

‘*Seth Lawson!” he hoarsely gasped.

“ That is what I called you.”

The vailed woman’s voice was cold and me-
tallic, and one of ber hands was concealed in the
folds of her dress, Wynder believed she clutch-
ed a revolver, and he was right.

“ Are yow a madwoman?” snarled the man,
‘You must be! How did you get into this
office? Why do you call me by the name of
Lawson?”

** Was not Lawson one of
past?”

* Never!”

* Liar!” rs

He took a step forward.

“Stop!” Oue free hand, concealed by a
glove, was outthrust. ‘‘ Stay where you are!”

Her words seemed to chain him in his tracks.
There was something strangely familiar in that
tone,

‘* Have a care, Seth Lawson!”

‘Ab! You call me that again!
that vail—let me see your face!”

‘€ Will you remove that false beard?”

He fell back, a look of fear filling his eyes,

‘* What do you mean?” i )

**T only asked you it you would remove that
false beard you wear. That makes you Martin
Wynder; without it, you would be Seth Law-
sop.

‘Who is this Seth Lawson?”

“A bigamist—murderer !”
‘ a onals do you know what you are say-
ng?

“ Perfectly. Deny the charge if you can,”

A desperate look came into the man’s eyes,

“ You know too much for your own good!” he
snarled. /

“T have not a doubt but you would murder
me if you had a chance, The crime would be
nothing new to you,”

** Remove that vail, or I will tear it aside!”

‘* You are determined to see my face?”

“Yes,” 7 f ‘

*¢ Then look |”

Quick as thought, the vail was snatched aside,
revealing the pale and somewhat masculine face
of a woman—a face that had evidently been
handsome in the past. \

: Oe reéled back, a gasping groan break-
ing from his lips, his hands pressed to his head,

‘Hester a God |»

A bitter smile passed over the woman’s face,

‘* Yes,” she said, barsbly, ‘* Hester Doyle!”

* But she is dead—dead!” { ‘

“No, she lives—for revenge !”

your names in the

Remove

 

+

It seemed as if the shaking man still believed :

himself confronted by a spirit, for his eyes were
staring and his whole aspect one of abject terror,

**But—but,” he gasped, ‘I killed her! She
lay dead at my feet!” 4 :

“So you thought, but you made a botech of
the job. She is alive, and she has come to square
the score.” ;

“Then you are not—a spirit?” ss

‘“No; Iam flesh and blood—I am the woman
you so. bitterly wronged and then tried to mur-
der! Now you do not deny you are Seth Law-
son!

He did not speak. 5

‘What has become of your true wife?”

‘* She is dead.”

“ Another red stain on your hands!”

“No; sbe died a natural death,” i (

“ T can scarcely believe you speak the truth,”

“T swear I do!” / §

“ Anyway, she was killed by your wrongs to
her. You married me while she was still liv-
ing, and so our marriage wasa sham, When I

discovered you had another wife, you tried to

put me out of the way.”
“ And 1 cannot understand how I failed.”

‘“‘T was spared to bring your evil career to an
end. You are still engaged in crooked work, —

aud, as usual, your plots are against a woman,
They shall end with this hour!”
‘What would you do?”
* Kall you |”
The man’s hand crept toward a weapon.
“Stop! From the folds of the woman’s dress
came the revolver, and it was pointed straight
at the cornered villain’s heart. ‘* You cannot:
get the weapon out quick enougb,.” é
A bunted look appeared in Wynder’s eyes.
“Hold, woman!? he cried, ‘ Do not makea

me.
Again that harsh laugh came from her lips.
‘You do not know me! Since I recovered
from your attempt to end my life, it has been
my one dream to obtain revenge. My time has
come!” Va Oa
‘‘] will make all the reparation I possibly
can,” { f

wrong you have done me!”
thing!” oN
iS eit would kill me at the first opportunity!”
“No, no! I—” i . ae

‘Tt is useless to promise. Prepare to die!”

He saw there was no escape, and uttering a
snarl, he snatched at bis own revolver,

Deliberately the wronged woman .pulled the oi
3 i 5 Martin’

For a moment the woman stood looking down

trigger. Tbe revolver cracked, and
Wynder fell heavily to the floor!

at the result of her work, then she muttered: —

“T shot him straight through the heart! Thus

Iam revenged!”

She returned the revolver to her pocket, con-—

cealed her face by the vail once more, and, with

a last look at the motionless figure, passed out oe

the cffice,

 

CHAPTER XV. Re
WYNDER'S DEFIANCE, 4
BARELY had the door closed behind the wo-
man when Martin Wynder stirred and sat up, a
look of crafty satisfaction on his face. ‘
‘Fooled ber!” he hissed, triumphantly. ‘TI
don’t know how hard I am hit, but I am still
very much alive.” !
Hearose quickly to his feet and crept across
the office, revolver in hand. Looking out at the
window, he saw the revengeful woman walking
away toward the camp, Swiftly be lifted the
weapon and took aim at ber back. 4
But he did not fire. {

“No,” he muttered, lowering the revolver and
“T might miss, and I want —

shaking his head, c L
to make sure of my work next time, I will let

her go for the present, but she shall suffer for

this little piece of work!

“J felt her bullet strike me, but I go nob feel

any pain, I will see how hard I am hit.”

An examination revealed the fact that blood —

had not been drawn. The bullet was imbedded

 

in the handsome watch which very fortunately —

for him, the plotter had worn over his heart.

 
  

a little!’ “Ber aim was not faulty, but th
watch stopped the bullet, I felt the lead when
it struck me, It. seemed to deprive me of
strength for an instant, and I fell to the fl .
It is fortunate I had sense goopen to keep stil
for a second shot would had finished the j
without a doubt, Poesy
But it is the most wonderful tbing |
world that woman is living! I cannot und

“The ele saved my life,” hesaid, paling —

Mie

fool of yourself! Tt can co you no good to kill —
” ; i

“Nothing but your death will repair the

, “I will marry you—give you money—do any- i)

 

 
     

   

   
 
 
 
   
 

 

 

     
   

 
 
  
     
      
   

 

  
    

      

   

 

 

 

 

 
  
   
     
 
   
 

 

“Cowboy Chris in Cinnabar.

     

 

 

 

stand it, for I surely thought i had ended her

life.

‘¢T now understand about the second appari-
tion I saw last night. It was this Nemesis.
She played the trick very well, but I know not
why my revolver failed to work. I searched

_ for the weapon this morning, but could not find
it. That glowing bead I thought I saw imthis
room must have been a hallucination.

“Tt is well for me that woman’s weapon did
not carry a heavy ball, else the watch would
‘not have stopped it. Asit is, a good timepiece

is ruined.” ; :
Aes And he might have added a miserable life was
' saved,

Straight toward the Washington Hotel the
woman avenger made her way, little dream-
ing the man she thought she had slain was un-
harmed.

- Before she reached the hotel she came face

to face with Cowboy Chris, and she made a
signal for the young man to stop. He did so,
wondering who she could be and what’ she
wanted of him.

“fT have a word to say to you,” said the
Nemesis, without lifting her vail. ‘‘ You have
been making preparations to oust Martin
Wynder from the Blue Jeans Mine. Am I not
right?”

Chris bowed.

“¢ You are.”

“You are working in the interest of Mrs.
Newman and daughter?”

“ I am,”

“ Well, if you will come to Mrs. Newman’s
room at the hotel ia about ten minutes you will
hear something of importance. Will you be

  
   
 

there?”
“T will.”
! The woman bowed and went on. \
“Phat is a lady I never met before,” mused
q the young cowboy. ‘I wonder who she is.”
S Hester Doyle, to give her the name by which
Martin Wynder had recognized her, proceeded

| -ter, Mrs. Newman answered the knock,
} “T trust you will pardon me,” spoke the call-

ae er, ‘ but I have something of importance to tell

you. May I come ina moment

 

ONS _ *” “Certainly,” was the reply.

4 Hester Doyle accepted the chair which Grace
placed for her, but she did not offer to lift her
vail,

“T have come to speak about the Blue Jeans
ee Mine,” she declared, with abruptness,
9 Both moter and daughter looked at her in-

   
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
   
 
 
 

   
 

 

 

 quiringly. y :
“ “You are eT nn he a possession of
16 mine ree, if neces:

the That ie rue” acknowledged Mrs, Newman,
“The letter you received this morning led you

touch a. fx?

 
 
    
  
    
  

Yes,” t \ f
“Then you are our ‘ unknown friend?”
_. “Tam, Ihave been working for some time
__-to complete the ruin of this man, and by good
fortune I was able to obtain possession of that
paper which I sent with the letter. I intended
_ to work hig ruin a little at a time, but, for a cer-
tain reason, I changed my plans and decided to
end it allat once, Of course you understand I
ve a good reason for the hatred I feel toward
‘this man—for T still hate him, though he is

Bs “ Dead!” cried both the widow and her daugh-
J _ ter in a breath. f
Yes, dead. He is forever past doing you
further injury.” :
This seamed almost incredible,
é “Why, he was alive an hour ago!” fell from
aati _Newman’s lips. F

_. That is quite true, but none of us know what
_ the next hour will bring forth. Iam telling you

   

 

 

   
 

 

 

  

”

  
 
    

__. | the truth when I say Martin Wynder, your ene-

- my, is dead.”
‘How did he die?”

__ “Much better than he deserved. He should
have been hanged, but he died with a bullet in
his heart,” |
‘‘ Who fired it?

“TT diay
Mrs. Newman and Grace started back in hor-

  

  

hing,” said Hester Doyle; ‘but you do not
-know how this man wronged me. It isa wonder
have restrained a band as long as I have, for

f ) nity to slay the dastard has

LT only ended his life to-day to pre-
trouble

vm cai

 

 
 
  
   

 

  

directly to the room of the widow and her daugh-

 

and bloodshed, for I knew he |

intended making a savage fight for the mine.
If I delayed longer, he would have a score of
ruffianly backers behind him. Once he tried to
kill me, but I lived to destroy him, You should
rejoice that the murderer of your busband is no
more.”

“* Do you know this man killed my husband?”

“Ido not know it; still I have little doubts
about that, He put bim out of the way io get
possession of the mine.”

At this moment there was another rap on
the door, and Chris Comstock was admitted.

_ With afew words, Hester Doyle explained the
situation,

‘Now is the time to obtain possession of the
mine,” she said. ‘It is not best to wait till
Wynder’s friends learn of bis death, I know
you are interested in the welfare of these ladies,

r. Comstock, and that is the reason why I ask-
ed you to come here. With Mrs. Newman’s
consent, you are the very one to take possession
of the mine and hold it against the toughs
who may try to drive you out, You have
made friends with the better class in Cinnabar
by the manner in which you whipped Big Mat.”

Mrs. Newman was ready to consent to any
move that appeared right, and plans were
quickly formed for taking immediate posses-
sion of the mine, |

A short time later, Chris was on the street,
looking after his friends, It did not take him
long to find those whom he sougbt, and soon five
men moved toward the Blue Jeans Mine. They
were Chris, Rube, Fresh Ford, Wun Lung and
the Marshal of Cinnabar.

Wun Lung seemed “all broke up” when he
heard Wynder was dead.

‘To bad!” he groaned, ‘‘ Chinaman no gitee
chlance tlo givee him black eye. Chinaman
havee velly gleat gludge ’gainst that lole bloy.”

When they came in sight of the buildings at
the mouth of tbe shaft, they were surprised to
see several men hurriedly enter the cffice,
aan does that mean?’ exclaimed Fresh

‘ord.

‘Tt looks as if Wynder’s body had been
found,” said Chris.

“The report of the woman’s pistol was pro-
bably heard.”

“Thar wuzn’t much show v’ thet, ‘less some
galoot wuz ’roun’ ther cffice,” asserted Rube,
“Ther crusher makes racket ernough ter drown
ther report o’ er leetle pop-gun same -as thet
woman most likely kerried.” /

When they had approached nearer to the
buildings, a man stepped out of the open office-
door and hailed them. It was Big Mat, and he

ried:
‘Wat do you critters want sneakin’ round
hyer?”
‘“We have come to take possession of this
mine,” replied the young cowboy. *
“Sho! You don’t mean it!”
*“ We do.” 2
“Wal, ye hain’t goin’ ter take it right off now,
are ye?”
. ae is Sees gaan
al, your ‘tention will git mightily step
on, Martin Wynder hain’t goin’ ter guv pis
yere mine ter-day.”
_. “Martin Wynder no longer has a claim upon
it. Heisdead.” |
‘“‘That is where you are greatly mistaken,”
triumphantly cried Wynder himself, appearing
at the door, ‘I was never more alive in all my
life, as you will discover if you persist in buck-
ing against me. Iam in this mine to stay, and
I defy ajl my enemies in Cinnabar to get me out.
You fellows are barking up the wrong tree, and
the sooner you take a tumble to yourselves the
better off you will be. Now, you get out be-
ee take a notion to riddle you with bul-
2
Asif to add emphasis to the villain’s words,
some one within the office took a snap shot at
Cowboy Chris, and the bullet knocked the young
man’s hat from his head.

CHAPTER XVI.
t A DASTARD’S SHOT.

_ Ir would be difficult to depict the astonish-
ment and disgust of Cowboy Chris and his
friends, and their dismay must have afforded
Martin Wynder infinite delight. Round-up Rube
vented his feelings in no mild terms.

Ther o’nery, no~count cuss hain’t dead arter
all, rot his hide!” a the bow-legged cattle-
man. It wuz all er blamed lie erbout his hev-
in’ passed over ther dead range! It wuz er game
ter foo] us, : ay

CT aut nob Santet otal 12
- n ched at all,” was the reply, as
Chris Es up his hat, ‘* Whoever fired Yhat
shot aimed a trifle too high,”  .
x

’ N

“Ther next one may be lower,” said Bruce,
the marshal.
back a little ef we don’t want ter git per-
forated.”

‘‘Wal, I'll hev one snap at ther chief cock 0” —
ther roost,” came through Rube’s teeth, as he
snatched out a weapon.

But Martin Wynder had been on the watch
for such a move, and a single bound carried him
through the doorway aud out of sight.

From a place of safety, he yelled:

“ Not this time, old man! I havea dose laid
| by for you. If you fellows know when you are

well off, you will get out of range. In exactly
thirty seconds I shall tell my men to open fire,
and you will be ridaled it you are within range.
I mean business, so git!” -

“Tt is the most sensible thing we can do just
ie declared the marshal, and they all fell

ack,

‘Wun Lung was delighted.

“ Chinaman glit at ’Melican man knockee leye-
lout! Wun Lung havee chlance tlo plunchee
velly blad Melican. Hitee him in headee makee
him nosee bleedee. *Melican whisker man flind
Wun Lung blad bloy tlo slet him dlogees Jon..
He! be! he!” :

‘“‘This may be funny,” admitted Rube; ‘“ but
I fail ter see whar ther fun comes in. I don’t
cotton ter this yere kind o’ er joke fer shucks!”

‘That is because it is on us, probably,” smiled
Fresh Ford, ‘‘ It is pretty certain Wynder con-
siders it very laughable.”

‘¢ But thet derned woman—”

“Told a falsehood,” nodded Chris.’ ‘She:
seemed honest, but she must have been one of
Wynder’s tools, The man put up this job for
the purpose of harassing us.”

e Wal, it’s our duty ter root him out o’ thar,
an’ I propose we don’t lose nary bit o' time in
doin’ it, Let’s git arter him without losin’ ary
bit 0’ time.”

“ Just bow are we going to do it?” ‘

‘Thet’s ther question pards,” nodded the
marshal, ‘ How is it ter be did?’

“ You can arrest him.”

“For what?”

‘We inust find ackarge.”

Rube turned toward Bruce.

‘Ef ye hed er warrant, w’u’d ye serve it?”

“T most certainly sb’u’d make the attempt.
I hain’t got any love fer this Wynder.”

“Thet settles it! We'll fine some kind o’ er
charge, ur bu’st tryin’!” :

“T bave it!” exclaimed Chris, ‘tI believe
Wynder was tke leader of the road-agents who
stopped the stage yesterday, and I will swear
out a warrant charging bim with that crime,
That will be enough to put him under arrest,
and then it will not'be difficult to take possession.
of the mine.” / ,

“Then come with me and sw’ar out ther war-
rant,” said Bruce. i

‘The mine must be watched.” é

“Ther rest o’ us will look arter thet,” declared
the bow-legged cowboy. ‘‘ We'lljest camp down
hyer, ur hyerabovts, an’ keep our lookers out fer

ynder’s movin’,.”

i Kleepee velly sharp watchee,” grinned Wun
Lung. ‘‘ No letee lum glittee loft, .

This being settled, Chris and Bruce departed,
leaving the others on guard. i

“T do not know as it was necessary to leave
any one to watch Wynder,” said Chris, as they
moved along. ‘There is little danger of the
man trying to slip away.” z

‘He’ ll hole ter ther Blue Jeans ter ther last.
gasp.” pet es

“7 don’t know but it would be a good thing
if he would get out, We have no use for him.”

“Ther Chinaman seems ter want ter git at.
him pretty bad.” ;

‘Wun Lung is revengeful.”

‘* He’s ther derndest Chinaman ever I saw!”

“ He is certainly a queer Heathen.” _

‘Ther pig-tailed critter’s smarter’n lightnin’

“Well, you have not made a mistake in that
statement.” .

‘Et must be he knew Wynder before hestruck —
Cinnabar.”

“T think so myself.”

“ Waal, I’ll do.my level best ter rake in Wyn-
der fer road-ridin’, an’ I'll git him somehow.
Ef he won’t come down, I'll call on ther town
ter back me. Then we'll git him ef we hev ter
pull thet ranch down ’round hisears. But do ye
really think he wuz ove of ther critters as.
stopped ther hearse?” " }

Po.” HS i aiaalte aie

“ Waal, road-agentin’ is ernough ter hang er
man in this yere part of ther kentry.” vy

“But murder will hang him quicker!”

 
 
  
  

      
 

         
  

 

 

 

 

Chris and the marshal started at these
and looked around. Directly bebind them

  

 

‘Tt would be prudent to move —

 

  

     
    
   
    

14

Cowboy Chris in Cinnabar.

 

 

 

a ragged, white-bearded, vagabondish-looking
man, who had evidently overheard their con-
versation,

“Good-day, gentlemen,” said the stranger,
touching the lopping brim of his old hat, ‘I
happened to overhear some of your talk. You
spoke of one Wynder?”

“ We did.”

“He isthe man who holds possession of the
Blue Jeans Mine?”

‘Yes, sir.”

*¢ Well, he is a murderer.”.

** How do you know?”

** I saw him shoot a man,”

“i Who?”

“ Was not George Newman, the former pos-
sessor of the Blue Jeans, found with a bullet
through his head?”

‘* He was!” exclaimed Chris, excitedly. ‘‘ And
you saw Wynderdothe deed? By heavens! this
is the very evidence we want!”

‘An’ it hes come jest in time,” nodded the
marshal,

‘<'Will you swear out a warrant charging
Martin Wynder with murder?” asked the cow-
boy, trying to study the face of the old man,
but getting very little satisfaction, as the
stranger’s features were almost concealed by bis
beard and drooping hat-brim.

‘*T will,” was the prompt answer,

‘* That is enough!” cried Chris, with satisfac-
tion, ‘‘ You can go with Bruce, while I will in-
form Mrs. Newman her enemy still lives.”

“An ef yegit yer han’s on thet other shemale,”
said Bruce, ‘‘ jest make her explain w’at she
meant by seck an infernal lie.”

‘© Pll do it.”

Chris turned toward the hotel, while the
tagged stranger accompanied the marshal.

The cowboy’s rap was answered by Grace,
who greeted him pleasantly, her face eager with
expectation,

“Mother has been quite overcome by the ex-
citement,” explained the girl. ‘‘ Have you taken
possession of the mine?”

“ T regret to say we havo not.”

‘Have not—why?”

ee We found Martin Wynder still in posses-
sion,

* But—but—”

“ He is not dead,”

‘“Not dead? cried Mrs, Newman, throwing
back the curtain which had been arranged to
hide the bed, and appearing. ‘* That woman
told—”

£6 Ai lia.)

The amazement of the widow and her daugh-
ter was great,

‘*She seemed like a friend,” faltered Mrs.
Newman; ‘‘ and she said she sent that paper.”

* That also must have been a falsehood.”

“But how.did you know about it?”

‘You forget that Wynder knew.”

** And you think—?”

** Sbe is one of the villain’s tools—yes,”

** Tt does not seem possible!”

‘* Where is she now?”

‘She departed immediately after you left.”

** Well, she is probably beyond our reach, but
we hope soon to have Wynder in our grasp.”

“ How”

““A man has appeared who has gone with
Marshal Bruce to swear out a warrant charg-
ing Wynder with murdér. Bruce will serve it
immediately. As soon as the villain is under
arrest it will not be a hard matter to take pos-
session of the mine.”

Mrs. Newman was not profuse with her
thanks, but in a ladylike way she gave Chris to
understand how much his kindness was appreci-
ated. And when he had departed, she said to
Grace: ‘

“He is a noble young man, my child, He
has the frankest, openest face I ever saw. If it
were only he instead of Ford Webster!”

Chris was soon joined by the marshal and the
ragged stranger. Quite a crowd followed them
toward the Blue Jeans, it having been rumored
i something unusual was about to take
place.

Rube greeted them with the declaration that
Wynder was still in the office, but he had re-
ceived an addition to his force in the person of a
small, dark-clothed man whose horse was still
hitched not far from the office,

“Tf he does not receive a greater addition
than that, we stand a good show of coming out
at the top,” smiled the younger cowboy.

Chris wished to eon eny Bruce when he
served the warrant, but the marshal would not
consent,

‘They will not dare harm me, for they know
Ihave lots of friends,” he said; ‘‘ but some of
them critters might take er notion ter putt a

 

bullet through ye. Ef I can’t take Wynder
alone, then I'll hey, some one go “long with me.”

He boldly advanced toward the office, the
warrant in his hand. When he was still some
distance away, the door was thrown open, and
Wynder appeared,

“Hold on there, Sam Bruce!” he cried.
** What do you want?”

‘Tam arter you, Martin Wynder,” was the
reply, as the marshal continued to advance.

“ Halt, I say!” shouted the villain. ‘‘ What
do yon want of me, Bruce?”

‘*T have a warrant here for your arrest.”

“ Well, you can’t serve it to-day, for I decline
to be arrested. lf you don’t chain up, one of
my men will put a bullet through you!”

Still Bruce boldly advanced.

sy You cursed fool!” shouted Wynder. ‘‘ You'll
get—

His words were broken by the whip-like crack
of a rifle, and, flinging up his arms, Sam Bruce
a rey to the ground, treacherously shot

own

 

CHAPTER XVII.
A FATAL BLUNDER,

Wuen Hester Doyle had vanished, Wynder
turned from the window, exclaiming:

“TI will wager something she goes direct to
Mrs, Newman with the information that I am
dead! If she does, there will be a crowd bere to
take possession of the mine before long, I must
be, prepared to receive them,”

He hastened out of the office and entered the
mine. In a short time he returned, accom-
panied by five rough-looking fellows,

“Tf you have to fight, I will pay you well,”
he declared, ‘‘ Everything is on my side, and I
shall come out triumphant in the end. Remem-
ber there will be big money in it if you are forced
to fight. I am _ hourly expecting six good men
from Wild Hog Bar,asIsent for them in the
night. When they get here, I shall be ready
to defy Cinnabar.”

A few moments later, Pretty Pat and Mat
Dolby appeared, They bore tke marks of their
encounter with Wun Lung,

“Did you kill that infernal Chinaman?’
eagerly asked Wynder,

‘*Begorra, an’ it’s very near bein’ killed our-
silves: we came!” as erted the Irishman. ‘‘ Thit
crayther is the very divvil on whales!”

‘He is wuss then a wild cyclone!” growled
Big Mat, rubbing his stomach,

“You don’t mean to say he got away with
you both?’ shouted the mine-claimant, in sur-
prise and disgust,

‘¢ Waith, an’ thit’s about the soize av it!”

“ Well, you must have been asleep! I am
ashamed of you! Why didn’t you knife him?”

“Tt’s thit Oi thought av doin’, boss, but wan
av thim cow-punchers stood ready to shoot at
the soign ay it, yez Honor.”

Wynder’s rage and contempt was unbounded,
but he finally said:

“You can stay here. I expect a crowd
from town to att2mpt taking the mine, and I
am going to stand them off. You will add to
our force, though I scarcely think you better
than dummies,”

It was not a great while before Chris Com-
stock and his companions appeared and were
received in the manner already related. Wyn-
der chuckled with evil satisfaction, as he saw
the little party falling back.

“T fancy they will think it over a while be-
fore they come at us again,” laughed the dar-
ing rascal. ‘‘It must be pretty plain to them
all that Martin Wynder means business,”

“Oi jist wish Oi hid shot a litthle lower,”
declared Pretty Pat, who fired the shot at Chris,
“hit wud hiv inded the loife av thit gallus
young cock av a cow-puncher.”

‘Which might bave been a bad thing for us,”
said Wynder. ‘I would like to see both of
those cowboys put out of the way, but I don’t
care to have itdone while they are trying to
take the mine—unless it is absolutely necessary.
If any one is shot, it may get us into hotter water
than we care for at present. When the men
from Wild Hog Bar arrive, I shall be ready for
war,

‘Nixt to the cow-puncher, Oi’d loike to put a
bit av lead th’ough Sam Bruce,” growled the
Irishman, ‘It’s niver abit av love am Oi
wastin’ on th’ loikes avy him! Do yez moind
thot now?”

eee paced nervously up and down the
office.

“If Dustin would return,” he muttered, glanc-
ing from the window at his enemies, who were
discussing the situation. ‘I'am beginning to

 

get nervous, for I believe those fellows mean
business. They are not going to give over the
attempt to take the mine,”

“They're boldin’ a pow-wow of some kind,”
said Mat. ‘How like thunder they must hev
bin s’prised! It wuz ’bout ez much funas I hev
seen lately.” '

W ynder went to where a Winchester rifle was
slung against the wall and took the weapon
down. He examined it and found it was ready
for use,"

‘*Tf worse comes to worse,” he observed, ‘ this
can be used very effectively.”

Then he stood the weapon beside the window,
where it would be handy in the time of need.

“They’ve kem ter some kind of a decision,
boss,” said Big Mat, who had been watching
from the window. ‘Ther Chinee, ther, bow-
legged cow-puncher an’ ther fresh hev stopped
ahind, wile ther marshal an t’other cowboy’s
gone fer town.”

Wynder knit his brows.

“T don’tylike that,” he confessed, ‘‘It looks
as if those fellows who have remained behind
were left to watch until the others’ return. If
that is true, it must be they have decided on
some scheme by which they hope to down me.”

“‘Oi’d loike the foon ay thryin’ a pop at thim
wid the roifle,” asserted Pretty Pat, ‘‘ Oi reckon
Oi’d make thim move baek a litthle out av thot.”

“Tt would not do,” retorted Martin, shaking
his head, ‘' Where in the world is Dustin?”

It was not a great while before Dustin ap-
peared, but, to tle plotters’ surprise and dismay,
the bookkeeper was alone,

“Where are the men I sent you after?” cried
Wynder. ‘‘ Why havo you returned alone?”

“The men sre un their way, sir,” was the re-
ply. ‘‘They will be horesoon, I am not much
abead of them,”

The villain’s face brightened at this informa-
tion.

‘“*T wish they were bere now. The sooner they
get aloug the better. We have already had
some trouble.”

Then he told the bookkeeper what had oc-
curred.

“Tt is probable an attack will occur soon,”
he concluded. ‘‘ Are you willing toremain here
in the office and take your chances with the
rest of us, Dustin?”

The young fellow hesitated an instant, then
replied, firmly: ‘

©) will remain,”

Martin nodded with satisfaction.

‘Good enough! You may not turn ont to be)

such a coward after all, Dustin. You have done —

a good bit of work by riding to Wild Hog Bar,
and you shall have the money I promised you.
If you stand by me through the trouble which

may come, I will pay you as much as I do these |
others, and your salary will be going on just the
same.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Something caused W ynder to regard the meek
yourg man ina puzzled manner. What was it
that seemed so familiar about Howard Dustin’s
face and voice? If he could only get a good look,
at the eyes concealed behind the glasses, he fan-
cied he could solve the mystery.

Dustin did not seem to like the close scrutiny,
for he turned away.

* Oi say, boss.”

“ Well Pat.”

“ They’re comin’.”

It was‘true. Chris, Bruce and the ragged
stranger appeared, followed by quite a number
of Cinnabar’s citizens,

‘“ Who is thet ole rag-bag?” asked Big Mat.

No one seemed to know the strange old man,

Pretty Pat’s eyes glowed when hesaw Marshal
Bruce advance alone, and when the efficer failed
to stop at Wynder’s command, the Irishman
softly cocked the rifle, 3

‘“Begorra, Oi bel’ave Oi’ll bore him!” he
thought,

It happened that little attention was being
rae Pat just then. Had it been otherwise, Sam

ruce might not have fallen before the fire of
the murderous-minded ruffian. c

When he saw the marshal absolutely refused.
to stop, the wretch lifted the rifle, took quick
aim and fired , dropping the man instantly, But
Marshal Bruce was not killed outright. Ho
slowly arose to his feet and staggered toward his
friends, crying:

“Tve got it, pards—got it fer good!”

Before he could reach them, he fell again.

Cowboy Chris was quickly bending over the
brave fellow, tearing aside the clothing to get a
look at the wound,

“Its clean through my right lung,” said
Bruce, faintly. ‘‘Itsasettler. P’r’aps youkin
patch me up so I’ll last tell you root them crit-

 

 

MO Rese
  
     
   
    
    
  
     
    
   
  

 

   
  
 
 
    
     
 
   
   
   
  
   
  
     
    
     
      
    

 
   
  

t

 

fs ; : / obey the command:

   
  
 

 
 
    
   

 

Cowboy Chris in Cinnabar.

  

15°

 

ters out of thet nest. Id like ter see ther imp

thet shot me!”

_ “You shall see him if you live an hour!” came
sternly from Chris Comstock’s lips. _‘* Some-
body go for a medicine sharp. Pard Rube, see

that every man in Cinnabar knows what has

happened, and when you return, bring every

: ere you who is ready to see this dastard’s

work avenged.” ‘

Rube lost no time in obeying. f

Wynder’s rage and despair cannot be depicted.

_ “Qh, you fool!” he screamed, as he rushed

into the office and seized Pretty Pat, shaking the

' Irishman till his teeth rattled. ‘* Do you know

what you have done? “You have ruined every-

thing! Bruce was the most popular man in Cin-

-mabar. The very devil will Bs to pay now!”

‘But the whilp did uot stop whin yez told
him. He would hiv been afther arresthing yez
in a minute more,”

__ “Nothing of the kind, | I would have stepped

_ back into the office. If he entered, we would
_ have taken him prisoner. Now, aftef’What has

happened, we shal] have'the whole oi” Cinnabar

on _us and have to fight like dogsi” »

Some of the men looked frightened, for they
were sensible enough to understand how serious
the situation really was.

‘Our only hope is in the arrival of the men

i: from Wild Hog Bar,” declared Wynder.

mi Preparations were made for a desperate bat-
‘tle, and these were scarcely finished when a
i - gound of many voices was heard and a large

- erowd came hurrying out of the town, led by

ey Round-up Rube. |
ay “They're coming!” grated Wynder, ‘“ Every
man stand to his post! Fight to the last gasp,
for it means hanging if we are taken!”

The crowd only paused for a moment around
the wounded marshal. With yells of fury, they
charged toward the mine, weapons gleaming in
‘their hands,

And at the very front were the two cowboys
with Fresh Ford and Wun Lung.

 

 

 

CHAPTER XVIIL
THE STRUGGLE ENDS,

“I will bave the life of that cursed cowboy!”
viciously snarled Wynder, as he seized the rifle
and took deliberate aim at Chris Comstock,

, Before the weapon could be discharged it was
_ dashed aside, and Howard Dustin leaped like a

tiger upon the chief villain, shouting to the
others:

‘* Help me secure this mau! Do not resist the
men of Cinnabar and you will not be harmed!
Pretty Pat is the only one who needs to suffer.

) rest have done nothing for which they will
punished. It will be madness to try to fight
that crowd!” 4
With a howl of fury, Wynder tore at the
_ Small but strong white hands which had fastened
Upon him, :

. “A traitor!” he raved—‘‘an infernal traitor!
oy 4 Down him, boys!” " i
Pretty Pat was the only one who offered to
# The men seemed to under-

stand the folly of the fight against the enraged

_ citizens of Cinnabar, and even Big Mat was
cowed. But the Irishman leaped forward and

Sra Howard Dustin, who cried to the men:

Ne AS, elp—help me, and I will stand by you
when ‘Men ot Cinnabar come! I can save
- your necks}? j “|

at was enough, In another moment the
rough fellows precipitated themselves upon
_ Wynder-and the irae: resolved to do what
__ they could to save themselves from lynching,

_ ‘Ob, you treacherous curs!” frothed the
é doomed Tain, as he struggled like a madman,
_ “I would like to kill you ali!”

ae ruggle was useless; the two men were
quickly overpowered, and the excited citizens
a Uaiplees Wieete into the office fonnd them
“Hold!” cried Howard Dustin, springing for-

re ard with uplifted hand, sale a f
‘ ‘mob sa ates the men within the offlce.

‘Donot shoot! We surrender!”

Roatan Bape eae is level im retorted
aa outer ye» Y° hedn’t, we'd blowed

 

  

 
 
 
    
  
 

  
   
  
   

   

 
 
  
 
  
 

  
  

 

 

 

 

 
  
   
  
 
   
   

  

 

, is ‘the Man wh B ”
as the cry that © shot Sam Bruce
heart’s blood of the wrote feos very
i % 8s prisoner,” was Dus-
justice you will give

be Serve in the same man-
ing of him here; but before
tion.” | e, I wish to make a

Crowd was clamorous for the blood of the

of the |

man who had shot Bruce but, at the bookkeep-
er’s entreaty, Chris, Rube and Ford did their

best to restrain them for a time, ,

_ “ Hullo, lole bloy!” grinned Wun Lung, as he
bent over the chief plotter, whose schemes
‘had been ruined at a blow. ‘*’Melican blank-
bleaker don’t lookee velly well. Him feel velly
blad, Allee tlied lup with stlings, s’posee him
have these listers plut lon slee how lum likee
that.”

From a pocket the Chinaman produced a pair
of handcuffs which he deliberately snap on
the man’s wrists.

‘* Now Chinaman tlakee loff liskers,” he chuck-
led, and with very little trouble he removed
Wynder’s luxurious beard, which was thus
proven false,

‘“‘T thlought slo, lole bloy,” nodded the Celes-
tial ‘‘You are the chapee tbat clackee the
Waterville blank and slootee clashiere. You
gitee your neck stletched flor that jobee.”

“Curse you!” frothed Wynder, ‘You area
detective in disguise!”

“That is right, Duncan Wort,” came from the
lips of the one all Cinnabar had believed a
Chinaman till that moment. ‘I am Spotter
Scott, of the New England force. You have
given me a tough chase, but I have run you
down at last, and now you shall answer for your
crimes. I would have arrested you when I first
appeared in Oinnabar, but that beard was a

really clever disguise, and I was not sure I had
hit the right man. My face is one that can
be easily made up as a Chinaman’s.”

“Wal,” drawled Round-up Rube, ‘this
’splains a thing thet has bin er derned big puzzle
ter me. Ic’u’dn’t understan’ how thar c’u’d be
are. Chinee with ther sand thet you hey
got.

*T have the first claim on this man!” cried
Howard Dustin. ‘‘ He is mine!”

‘““Oh, you miserable traitor!” grated the un-
masked villain, glaring at the bookkeeper. ‘To
think I trusted you so and was thus deceived!
I do not believe you went to Wild Hog Bar
at all.”

“You are right,” was the reply. “I did
not,”

““T would like to get my bands at your
throat!”

‘ But you never will, Seth Lawson.”

“Hal You call me that!”

“Yes, for that is your truename, You call
me atraitor. Ihave good causetobe. I work-
ed my way into your confidence for the purpose
of ruining you. When you trusted me the most,
I was the worst foe you had in existence,”

“At times I have recognized somethi
familiar about you,” confessed the beaten rascal,
‘“‘T have thought perhaps you were known to me
in the past.” ator

“You were right. Now do you know me?”

The glasses were removed, and the young man
bent forward to fix a pair of eee eyes on
the orbs of the one he had so deceived.

*Greit God!’

“Hal ha! Ycu know me now!”

** Hester Doyle !”

“Right! I am the woman who tried to end

our miserable life a short time ago. Howl

ailed I cannot say, but now you are doomed.
Now you understand why the cartridges in your
Tevolver failed to explode. You often hung
your coat in the office here, and yesterday I re-
moved both revolvers, and fixed the weapons so
ee is

The man ned with rage.

“The death-head’ you saw in this office was
some of my work, done with a tiry magic lan-
tern, It nearly frightened you out of your
senses, as I hoped it would,

‘You escaped my bullet, but I have brought
you iP your doom atlast. You not escape
now pa ;

The woman avenger snatched out a knife and
bent over the man to deal a death-blow; but ber
hand was caught by the detective, and ber pur-
Pi Mice aaah nt his bl 7

_ ‘You do not want his blood on your b: a
said Scott. ‘‘ Let the law dispose a = cee

“T have a revelation to make,” said the ragged
stranger who had sworn out a warrant for the
man of many names and many crimes, “I
would like to ask eee wretch a question.
What became of the ly of Prince Royal, the
gambler? oy Sean

“J do not know,” } A
_ ‘Well, J know!” asserted the ragged man.
“‘T saw you shoot Prince Royal, and the warrant
which I swore out charged you with his murder
instead of the murder of George Newman,
Prince Royal rests 7p ihe grave above which you

 

caused a stone to erected bearing
Newman’snamel” ee

ey

George |

 

t ee a Ve ee as

After a moment's pause, the old man con
tinued. j

** You do not understand this, do you? Well,
1 will explain. Isaw you shoot Prince Royal
and I followed you clean to Cinnabar, Then t
resolved to go back and bringin the body as
evidence against you. I went back, but the
vultures had been at work ahead of me, and the
gambler’s face was mutilated He be recog ni-
tion. A thought struck me. stripped the
body of its clothing and then attired it in the
garments of George Newman, whom you _be-
lieved you had also shot dead, but whose skull
was not even fractured by your bullet. Iplaced
the ring on the dead man’s finger, where it was
found. Then, to keep tke vultures from further —
work, I watched till the searchers came and dis-
covered the body. My scheme worked. It was
thought George Newman was dead, but he still
lived—and Iam he !”

The old hat was thrown aside, and the false
white beard removed. And in truth George
Newman, alive and well, stood before the aston-
ished crowd! 4 ;

cecil

Pretty Pat received his just due, from the
limb of a tree. With the exception of the chief
rascal of the lot, Big Mat and the other men
found in the office when the crowd broke in,
were escorted to the border of the town and
told to “git.” They lost no time in doing so.

It would be folly to attempt to describe the
scene which took place when Grace and her
mother were brought face to face with George
Newman. He was greeted as one risen from the
dead, and the citizens of Cinnabar left them
alone with their great joy.

It was a day of great excitement in the town,
and the bars did a rushing business,

% was with the greatest difficulty, however,
that the enraged citizens were prevented from
serving the man they had known as “ Martin
Wynder ” in the same manner as they had Pretty
Pat. Marshal Bruce was still alive, but it was
thought he could not survive long. In this,
however, they were mistaken, for, despite the
seriousness of the wound, a strong constitution
brought the man through and he lived to do
many a good service in the cause of justice.

Among those whom the citizens of Cinnabar
delighted to honor were the two cowboys, Chris —
and Rube. Indeed, so much attention was paid
them that the bow-legged cattleman said to bis
young pard; 4 :

“Its gittin’ too hot fer comfut, Chris, Ther
jints in my arm are nigh worn out fer ther han’-
shakin’s I hev got, an’ ef this thiag keeps on, I'l!
be hevin’ er drink inter me, Thet won't do, fer
ye know w’en I gits started thar hain’t sech a
thing as stoppin’.”

“Then I think it isabout time we bade Cinna-_
bar farewell.” ;

oe Me too.” r . Oe

They quietly said good-by to all their friends,
and, despite all objections, rode away. i

'

Gradually Mr. Newman lost his prejudice
against Ford Webster, andthe young man final-
ly won Grace, and a worthy husband he made
the admirable and courageous girl. r

Spotter Scott carried his prisoner to the scene
of his crime. The man was tried, found guilty
and sentenced to be hanged. —

During the trial a woman dressed in black
and closely vailed attracted some attention by
sitting as close to the prisoner as possible and
watching him intently, but it was little dreamed _
she constantly grasped a loaded revolver with
which she intended to end the villain’s life if he _
should be acquitted. Mean

With theend of the trial she disappeared, and
what became of Hester Doyle it is impossible xed

 

  
  
 

 

 

 

 

        

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