Issued Week By Subscription $2.50 per year. Entered as Second Class Matter at the N. Y. Post Office by STREET & SMITH.

July 25, 1896. Vol. I.. No. 15. Price Five Cents.

 

 

 

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“FRANK |

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TURNER WAS COMING BACK TOWARD THE WAGON AS FAST AS HIS LEGS WOULD CARRY HIM.

 
 

 
 

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LIBRARY.

Tssued Weekly—By Subscription $2.50 per year. Entered as Second Class Matler at the N. Y. Post Ofice. SrrentT & SMITH, 29 ee S8t.,N¥

Enlered Aceording to Act of Congress, in the Year 1896, in the Office of the Librarian o Congre ss, Washington, D.
o

 

 

 

 

eae a

hls 25, 18096. Vol. 1. No. 15. Price Five Cents.

 

FRANK NERRIWELL IN COLORADO;

Trapping the TY rain Wreckers.

By the Author of “PRANK MERRIWELL. *

CHAP Tan. kk
‘“wmR. HARD PILL.”’

Shortly after crossing the line which
divides the States of Kansas and Colo-
rado, the engine of the Overland Flyer
shrieked “a wild warning of ‘‘down
brakes. ’’

The passengers were immediately
thrown into a state of confusion and ex-
citement, as several attempts at train
wrecking, one of which was successful,
had been made in Colorado within the
past few months. »

‘The brakes were applied whe a sudden
violence, which checked the forward
movement of the train so abruptly that
many of the passengers were thrown from
their seats. ;

‘““Shimminy Gristmas!’? gurgled a fat
Dutch boy, who had fallen from one of
the comfortable parlor car seats, on which

he had been taking a quiet nap. ‘‘Vot

vos der madder mit Hannah, ain’d id?”
‘“Boys, boys!’? roared a small red-
headed man, with a heavy voice, that

seemned quite out of proportion with his

body; ‘‘we’ve jumped the track! Hold-

fast before everything goes all to smash!”’

_ “Get up, Hans; keep cool, professor,’’
Pp P

ing to kill him and say it was: ote ina

 

advised another boy, who had remained
on his chair for all of the jarring shocks.
‘‘T reckon we’ve struck a snag of some
kind, but it is useless to get excited about
it? | 3

‘“Oxcited !’’ squawked the Dutch lad,
gétting upon his feet and pitching head-
long into the lap of the little man, who
was neatly crushed. ‘‘I dond’ peen ox-
cited, vos I, brovessor? Vot’s der mad-- es
der mit you?’’ he asked, as the unfor- d
tunate man_struglged to cast him off.
“You peen oxcited myseluf, ain’d id?”

‘*Help!’? rumbled the Duress in a
smothered tone. ‘‘Get up! You're sitting
on my stomach.’?

‘Vell, you peen kickin’ at efery hodel
sense we left der East because you~ don’d oa
ged someding to set vell your sdomach |
on, und now you kick ven you ged some-
ding to do dot. You vos Rise Barneys man
to suit vot I nefer seen.’

“Get up, Hans,”’ said Frank Merriwell,
the other boy. ‘“Have you got a grudge
against the professor so that you are try- |

     
        
         
     
           
 
   

railroad accident ?”’

‘‘Oh, I don’d vant to kill inne Viens 3 :
swered Hans Dunnerwust; “butIdinks
maype I holdt him sdill so he don’d ox-

 
   
   
   

  
 

 

2 FRANK MERRIWELL IN COLORADO.

cited get.
dow.”’

In a few moments the train came to a
stop. and

Windows were thrown open,

excited passengers thrust their heads out,

to ask what had happened, while train-

off and run forward.
‘“Come on, Hans,’’? said Frank Merri-

get out and stretch our legs.”’

_ Yaw,’ grinned the Dutch lad, ‘‘we

will done dot, Vrankie. Goot-py, bro-

fessor. Shust keep cool und led your hair

curl dot pald spot on your headt ‘mit.

Maype you seen us pack apoudt den min-

utes in. Dra-la-loo!’’
Then, airily waving his hand, Hans
Dunnerwust followed Frank Merriwell

from the car, leaving Professor Horace
Orman Tyler Scotch gasping for breath
_ on the chair. oe

‘“What’s happened?’? asked Frank,

springing from the car-steps to the ground.
‘Why did we stop?”’

‘*Don’t know,’’ puffed a fat man, who
was hurrying forward.

‘‘Obstruction on the track, I reckon,’’
said another man, who was following the
fat man.

‘‘Led’s go vorwart und see dot instruc-
tion, Vrankie,’’ urged Hans.

Come on.”

Away they went, the Dutch lad pant-
ing at the heels of his companion, who
ran easily, as if without effort.

A short distance in front of the power-
ful engine an excited knot of men were
gathered on the track. In the centre was
a wretched wreck of humanity—a tramp
in rags and tatters. ‘To Frark he seemed
a most misérable specimen of humanity.
He was tall and thin, so thin that he
looked as if he had not eaten a square
meal for a year; his cheeks were sunken,
and his face was covered with a stubbed
red beard of a week’s growth; his nose
had a purple tinge, and he seemed _ half-

As,

 

 

Se get Os sar BARE 6 a 2
asin ae Acme elt ak LN :

He mighd jump oudt der vin-|frozen, for it was late in the fall, and the
| weather was not mild, even on the open

plains.
This man was speaking.

‘‘VYes, gents,’’ he was saying, “I found

| ’
the loose rail at this particular curve. If
men and other passengers hastened to get |] ::

adn’t diskivered it, this train would be

‘in the creek down there now, and some of
the passengers would be in eternity. This
(C755 " . - ‘

> . ao nr Ic CC ac x7 a a fe . .
well; ‘‘give the professor a rest, while we ‘is the first time in a long, weary, and most

disappointing life that I have ever found

an opportunity to distinguish myself. I
grasped it as a drowning man grasps a
straw ;, I clung to it as an Ordway plaster
clings to a poor man’s back. I heard the
train approaching... I rushed to stop it.
You know the rest.”’ :

The conductor confronted the tramp.»

‘““How did you happen to be here,
sir ?’’ he demanded, sternly.

_“T was strolling along the track for my
health,’? answered the vagrant, with a
queer wink, which wrinkled the entire
side of his face and moved his’ scalp.
‘‘Walking, sir, isa most healthful exer-
cise, and I indulge in it each day—if I
can’t find a place to ride.’

‘“VYou’re a tramp!’’
‘*No, sir!. No, sir! I scorn the insinua-
tion, sir! I am a gent of leisure.”’ 3
“Which way wete you walking ?”?
-““Toward Denver.’’

‘(Denver is a long distance from here.

Where did you come from ?”’

‘“Well, the last place of importance in

which I stopped was Kansas City. I
came from Chicago to Kansas City in a

special car—that is, a car specially for the -

transportation of grain. I started from
Kansas City for Denver in another special
car, but there seemed. to be some mis-
understanding, and I was dropped by the
wayside. I am thinking of suing the
railroad for a hundred thousand dollars.
That may be another opportunity for me.
I have never struck an opportunity to

make a fortune before this. In fact, I am

ir

  

 

PROTO eS

Fos

 

‘ <BPr, , a
Dept Toe Oe

 

 
   

 

 

 

   
   
  
  
  
   
  
 

 

 

 

wreck the train, Your conscience may

FRANK MERRIWELL IN COLORADO.

known far and wide as ‘the man who
never had an opportunity.
‘‘What’s your name ?”’
‘‘Uim, let me see? Wonder if, I can re-
Ha! yes, I
I was christened Harden Pills-

Ae

member my original name?
have it!
bury, but, for short, my most intimate
friends and companions have come to call
me Hard Pill. To be sure, this is a
familiar mode of address that Ido not
countenance from strangers.’’

‘‘From your appearance, I should say
it is most appropriate. How did you hap-
pen to discover this loose rail, Mr. Hard
Par?”

‘Oh, I dunno. I jest noticed the spikes
had been pulled—that’s all.’’

‘*Are you aware there have been several
attempts at train-wrecking in this part of
the State lately ?’’

‘““Nope.”’

‘‘Haven’t heard anything about it?”

haope,

‘Papers have been full of it.’’

‘‘Never read papers; too much work.”’

‘‘You appear very innocent.’’

oT Oa

‘Look here, my beauty,’’ came sharply
from the lips of the conductor, ‘‘do you
know what I think ?’’

“Tm no mind reader.’

‘Well, I'll tell you. I believe you
know more than you see fit to tell; I be-
lieve you know something about the re-
moval of these spikes. ’’

‘“‘Oh, say! what’re ye trying to give
us! That’s rot! You don’t think I’d pull
the spikes ?”’ Say

“I do not think any better of you.”’

‘‘Why, how’d I do it—with my teeth ?”’
“You may have hidden the instrument
with which you pulled them, Mr. Hard
Pill.’”

*“What I do it for?’’

‘*Perhaps to get a ride to Denver—per-

’

haps to get the passengers in their grati-

tude to make a purse fot you—possibly to

    

3
have smitten you after you removed the
spikes, so you hastened fo stop the train.
You are a rascal—I can see it in your
face. It is “my opinion you ought to be
hanged for attempting to wreck this
train.

The conductor was angry, and he
wanted to frighten the tramp. Some of
the passengers were angry also, and they
shouted :

‘Hang him! Lynch him! String him
to a telegraph pole!”’

Hard Pill looked frightened.

k ‘‘Gents, gents! he called, appealingly;
‘‘T’m an orphan, and I never had but one
mother! Luck has run against me all
my life, and I’ve never found many op-
portunities

‘*You’ll find an opportunity at the end
of a rope now!’’ shouted a fat passenger.
‘*Yes,’’ cried an excitable littlé. man,

”?

 

ce

empty air! Hang the train-wrecker!’’

‘That’s dead wrong, muttered Frank
Merriwell.- ‘‘I believe in giving a man a
show. This fellow is a tramp, but he may
have told the truth about tlre rail.”’ ;

‘“Yaw,’’ nodded Hans; ‘the may haf
dold der trute, Vrankie, but J’ll pet id
makes him sick uf he did.’’

“Tf you think we’re fools enough to
raise a purse for you and: make a hero of
you, you are very much mistaken,’’ de-
clared the conductor. ‘‘We’ll take you to
Denver, and turn you over to the law.”’

‘“That’s right! that’s right!’’ cried
several voices. :

I’d found an opportunity to become
famous, ‘‘but it begins to look like an
opportunity to be hung, I ain’t goin’ to
help ye put the rope round my neck.’’

Then he gave a shout, struck out with
both hands, knocked down two men,
broke from the crowd, and took to his
heels.

 

an opportunity to do’a fancy dance on._

‘“Well,’’ said Hard Pill, ‘‘I did think

we,

  

 
hae

 

4 FRANK MERRIWELL IN COLORADO,

CHAPTER, II.
THE TRAIN WRECKERS.

**Stop him !”?

Somebody shouted the words, but it
was no easy thing to stop the tramp, who
seemed thoroughly frightened.

“Out of the way!’’

Away he went across the open ground.

The fat man fumbled furiously in his
hip-pocket, bringing forth a revolver.

“P11 stop him!’

‘*No, you don’t!’

Frank Merriwell uttered the latter ex-
clamation, thrusting up the hand that
held a revolver which had been drawn
and pointed in the direction of the run-
ning man.

The revolver spoke, but the bullet
whistled harmlessly over the head of Mr.
Hard Pill, who plunged into a small
ravine, and quickly disappeared.

‘What do you mean? What do you
mean?’’ spluttered the fat man, glaring
at Frank.

“Ido not mean to stand still and see
you make a target of a poor fellow like
that.’’

‘(He is a vagabond—a ruffan—a train-
wrecker! He might have sent us all into
eternity !’’

‘‘A vagabond he certainly is, but a
ruffian and train-wrecker—perhaps so,
perhaps not. It is possible he told the
truth—it is possible you would be a dead
man at this moment, buried beneath the

wreck of this train if that wretched
tramp had not happened along and dis-

covered the loose rail. You had no right
to shoot at him, and you should be pun-
ished for such a reckless and reprehensi-

ble act!’
‘“What—what! You young upstart | Do

you dare speak to me like this—do you
dare ?”’

i to Phe boy is tight,’ declartd the con-
“ductor, promptly.
_ frighten the tramp, but there was no ex-

“T was trying to

 

cuse for such a reckless use of fire-arms.

You must be one of those Easterners who,
have an idea that promiscuous shooting is,
indulged injall over the West. You should

be arrested and fined for carrying con-
cealed weapons.”’

Some of the passengers joined in with
the conductor, and the fat man found
himself regarded with universal con-
tempt, at which he hastened to beat a re-
treat to his car, muttering and growling
as he departed.

Frank was complimented for his prompt

Action, and he was regarded with no little.

admiration.

Directions were given for the respiking
of the rail, so the train might proceed.

‘Come, Hans,’’ said Frank. ‘‘We’ll
have time to walk out this way a short
distance before the train- goes on, and we
may find Mr. Hard Pill hidden out there
somewhere. ’’

‘Vell, I don’d peen surbrised at dot,
but I pet you your life he don’d found a
hole long enough for him to grawl indo
alretty yet.’’

Hans followed at Frank’s heels, like a.

big dog, and they followed along the
bank of the ravine, into which they could
look. Pretty soon they came to where it
branched, and some _ scrub bushes ss
them from the train.

“Say, Vrankie,’’ said iia “don’d

we petter gone pack britty queek? Maype _

dot drain vill valk avay mit oudt us.’’
- “The engineer will whistle a warning
before ‘the train starts, and we’ll have
plenty of time to get back.”’ .
So they went onward still farther. ..
All at once Hans caught Frank by the
arm, and pointed down into the aa
explaiming:
“Uf dot don’d peen Meeshter Hardt
Bill you vos misdaken!”’
Frank had seen a man aaakty dieups
pear from view behind some bowlders.
“I'd like to have a few words with
him, Hans,’’ he said. ‘‘Come on.” :

 

erty
yf

Sa pe a Perce tn ten
$9 ing ReAge cast

z r a te Ste wi . 4

  

et

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
         
         
      
     
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

~ some self- -acting revolver was *removed

 

 

FRANK MERRIWELL IN COLORADO. Lae

Down into the ravine slid Frank, and
the Dutch lad came tumbling after, losing
his footing, and landing on his stomach
with such violence that his breath was
driven in a great grunt from his lips.

“Shimminy Gristmas!’’? he gurgled.
“Uf I don’d look oudt, you vill kill
meinself!’’ .

“Which way did the tramp go?”?

“Dot rock aroundt,’’ answered the
Dutch boy, scrambling to his feet.

Fearing he might be lost, Hans kept as
close to Frank as possible, and both hur-
ried around the rocks, running into the
midst of a party of men who were

.crouching behind the bowlders.

Every man had his face concealed by a
mask. “They were armed with rifles, re-
volvers, and knives, and each one held a
weapon ready for instant use.

‘‘Great Scott!’’ gasped Frank.

‘‘Dunder und blitzens!’’ gurgled Hans.

A dozen rifles were pointed at the heads
of the two lads, and one ef the men
sternly said:

“Be still, or-we’ll blow the tops of your
heads off! Don’t make an outcry! Up
with your hands!”’

‘‘Caught!’’ palpitated Prank:

‘Fast !’’ groaned Hans.

“Up with your hands!”? repeated the
man, in a low, harsh tone. -

‘““Up they go,’’ said Merriwell.

‘(Uf mein ain’d ub far enough vor you,
id voss pecause mein arms ain’d long
enough,’’ explained the Dutch boy,, his
_ teeth chattering and his eyes rolling.

_ “Disarni them,’’ ordered the spokesman
of the masks. _ :

2

The boys _ were searched, and a. hand-

from one of Frank’s pockets. On Hans,
concealed in some manner, they discov-
ered an old horse-pistol. that was not
“loaded. ; “a

OTe them,” directed the leader:

‘CWhat have we done to therit such treat-
ment?’?
‘“‘Keep still!’ grated one of the men,

and the cold muzzle of a rifle touched the

boy’s cheek. ;

Both lads were quickly and skilfully
tied.

“*Gag them!’

“Dot seddles id!’? murmured Hans,
who was ghastly pale. ‘‘You vos a
goner!’?

‘‘Give us a show,’’ protested Frank.
‘‘VYou have no reason to treat us this
way, and——”’

Again the cold muzzle of the rifle came
against his cheek, giving him a chill and
stopping him abruptly.

The masked men worked swiftly, and
the gags were soon applied to the mouths
of both boys.

Sitting on the ground, Frank and Hans
stared at each other in helpless dismay.

‘“There,’? muttered the man who had

given the orders, ‘‘there can be no danger.
that they will shout and bring the men

from the train on us now.”’

‘‘Not a bit of it,’? hoarsely chuckled a
gigantic man, who had lost the little
finger of his left hand. ‘‘If they were sent
out to work that little game, there’s goin’
to be a hitch in the proceedin’s.”’ _

“But we must get away from here,”?
said a third. ‘‘They may take a fancy to
hunt for these chaps, and——’’

‘‘Right,’’ broke in the leader. “Our.
little game was spoiled for to-day, and it

is dangerous in this vicinity, so we'd
better skip out.”’

Frank Merriwell iaaieiied to every word.
They had not plugged his ears, and he

was determined to remember the voices of

these men, if possible.
Frank knew they had sridsibled right
into the midst of a band of train-wreckers

—the very band that had been speenee

in Colorado of late. ‘These were the men

who had attempted to wreck the train—° = o |

 

Held on,’? ane ‘Frank, quickly.

nes men had loosened the rail.

  

 

    
   
   
   
     
     
     
     
     
   
     
       
     
     
     
     
 

 

6 FRANK MERRIWELL IN COLORADO.

Where was Hard Pill the tramp?

Looking around, Frank could see noth-
ing of the strange individual who had
stopped the train, and who had been
forced to flee for his life after—as it
seemed—he had averted a catastrophe and
saved many lives.

Still Hans had fancied he saw the
tramp dodge around those very rocks.

If he was with the party, his face was
concealed by a mask, and he had ex-
changed his ragged outer garments for
other clothes. .

Frank decided the man was not there.

What had become of Hard Pill?

Remembering the ravine branched near
at hand, Frank believed the tramp must
have gone the other way, thus escaping
Tunning straight into the clutches of the
.train-wreckers.
The masked men were making prepara-
tions to leave.

““What’ll we do with these boys ?”?
asked one. ,

**Leave them here,’’ jaslined. the
leader. ‘‘We can’t bother with them, and
they won’t be able to holler loud enough
to make anybody hear more than a mile
away.’? 7

bbe: from the train may search for
em.’

‘Let ’em search, By the time they’re
found we'll be where we can mount our
horses and defy pursuit. We can’t take
the kids along, so léave them.’

Frank felt both dismayed, and relieved.
Somehow he was filled with dismay at the
thought of being left thus, bound hand
and foot, gagged, helpless; but he was re-
lieved to know these desperadoes did not
contemplate doing them any further
injury.

The eyes of the boys met, and the a:
gusted look that passed-over Hans Dun-
_ nerwust’s face would have made Frank

laugh aloud had the gag permitted it.

 

weapons, got upon their feet, and started
down the ravine.

‘¢So long. boys,’’ called the giant, with
a farewell wave of his mutilated hand.
‘‘Sorry to leave ye this way, but it can’t
be helped. Business is business, and our
business makes it necessary for us to be
somewhat harsh in our measures at times.
This is one of the times. ~ Hope the
wolves won’t get ye. So long. We
may meet again.’’

‘‘Come on!’’ sharply ordered the leader
of the band. ‘‘Don’t make a fool of yer-
self, talking so much, Hank.”’

So the last man filed down the ravine

and disappeared from view.

?

——

CHAPTER III.
LEFT !
Frank listened till the sound of their
feet died out in the distance.

Click-plunk, click-plunk, ,click-plunk.
It was the men of the train respiking

the rail to th® sleepers, and Frank knew

that meant that the Overland Flyer
would soon be rushing on its way again,

with the engineer working hard to make

up lost time and reach Denver on the
schedule. |

“Tt looks 9s | if. -we are left,”’ thoughé
Frank.

He saw that*the same thought grad- _
ually worked itself through the brain of

the Dutch lad.
- What could they do?

If. they were left there, the chances
were that they would perish from the

cold, if it did not happen that they were

devoured by wolves.
Both boys strained at their bonds till

the cords*® cut into their wrists, but they

could not succeed in breaking away.

The gags kept them from talking or |
shouting for aid.. If the gags were not in |
their mouths they might succeed in mak- —
ing their voices heard by sc some one near
The masked men gathered up their 3

the train.

 

 

   
  
  
  
  
    
     
      

 
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  

   
     
  

about it. ,

- full-length on the ¢ goand, rolled toward

FRANK MERRIWELL IN COLORADO.

Frank fell to hoping that some of the
passengers would stroll away and come in
that direction. He hoped the passengers
had noted that two boys had wandered
away and failed to return.

Would the train go on without them ?

Frank feared it might, in case they did
not return in for the Overland
Flyer could. not afford to wait while a
search was made for two boys who had
been foolish enough to wander away and
get lost.

Toot! toot! toot!

A series of shrill shrieks from the en-
gine sent an electric thrill through Frank

time,

~ Merriwell.

The train was preparing to start, and
that was a warning for all to get aboard.

A dismal groan came from behind “the
gag that had been forced between Hans
Dunnerwust’s teeth, telling that the
Dutch boy fully wsidebstind sar meaning
of those whistles.

Hans’ eyes were filled with a question-
ing light, and the expression on his face
might have been laughable under other
circumstances. Just*then Frank Merri-
well did not find anything laughable

“The Frank.

professor,’’ thought

“Will he allow- them to go on? will he

go on himself ?’’

He knew the professor would be unable
to tell if they were on the train unless he
made a thorough search, and there would
be no time for anything of that sort.
Without doubt, Professor Scotch would
not miss them until it was too late.

Again Frank fought madly with his

bonds, and again he was baffled, relin-

quishing the struggle in despair.

But his brain was working. If their
feet were freed | How could the trick. be
done???

Again the engine sent forth a wild

shriek. %

In frantic haste, Frank flung himself at

 

 

7

Hans, and finally twisted about till they
were back to back, his fingers touching
the cord that was knotted about the wrists
of the Dutch youth.

This trick was not easily accomplished,
for it was a long time before Hans could
understand what his companion wanted to
do. At length, however, Frank succeeded
in getting into the position desired, and
he began picking and Vole at the
Dutch boy’s bonds.

Every knot had been drawn tight and
hard, and Frank was not aided in his
efforts by his eyes. He was obliged to
depend entirely on his sense of touch,
which prevented him from making as
rapid progress as he might under other
conditions.

Still he was not discouraged—still he
kept at work. desperately, hoping for suc-
cess,

Sometimes he would loosen a knot, and
then he might get hold of it wrong and
tighten it again, all because he could not
have his eyes to assist him.

At length; however, he succeeded in
getting Hans released so the Dutch boy
could set himself at liberty.

Hans sat up deliberately, removed the
gag from his mouth, worked his jaws,
and said: 2

“UF dot don’d peen a britty pad —
you vos a liar!”

He then began to slowly and carefully
untie the cords which held his feet.

Frank was bursting with impatience,
for every moment was precious, and the
train was liable to depart without them at
any time. He rolled up against his com-
panion, but the Dutch boy moved away,
continuing to slowly work at the knots
which held his feet, as he said» ~

‘Von dime I didn’d know but we peen
opliged to sday oudt mit dis blace all
nighd in. Dot peen a pad scrabe, eh,
Vrankie? You don’d like dot kindt ufa
scrabe? Vot you t’ink? You pelief dot
gang vos roppers, ain’d id? They dook -

’

    

  
     

  

8

 

our guns, but I don'd pelief they dook
notting else, do you???
Frank replied by giving Hans a kick
that nearly knocked him upon his back.
‘*Stob dot!’’ squawked the Dutch boy,
moving still farther away. ‘‘Vot you done
dot I kick you like dot, ain’d id?’’

“You blockhead!’ thought Frank,
furiously. ‘‘The train will leave us, after
all!??

This belief made Frank so angry that
he tried to get near enough to give Hans
another kick, but the Dutch lad freed his
feet and spratig up, observing:

“‘T don’d like dot, Vrankie. I haf
enough uf dot to last mealong dime,
alretty yet.’’

Then he stared down at Frank, seem-
ing to realize for the first time that his
companion was still helpless.

“Uf you keeb sdill, I couldt undie dot},

robe, Vrankie.’’
, Frank groaned, and lay still.

Hans began, in the most awkward man-
ner possible, untying Frank’s feet first,
and he was very slow about it. Just as
this task was accomplished, the engine
whistled for the third time, and Frank
felt that it.was the last warning.

Having set Frank’s feet free, Hans be-
gan work on the piece of Tope that held
his hands. It took him 4 full minute to
get it so the fuming lad could force his
bonds. ,

Getting a hand clear, Frank tore the
gag from his mouth, leaped to his feet,
and ran madly up the ravine.

To his ears came the regular ‘‘puff-
puff’’ of an engine starting a train.
Frank shouted with the full strength
of his voice, he ran with all the speed he
could command, and yet he was certain

he would be too late. ;

Panting, staggering, siniuhites: shout- |

ing, he made his way from the ravine and

reached a point where he could see the|

track, and, as he had expected, he was in
time to see the train rolling away in the

 

FRANK MBREIWELL IN COLORADO.

distance, with a trail of black smoke float-
ing away above it, like a pirate flag.
‘‘Gone!’’ gasped Frank, helplessly.

‘“Stob!’’ roared the voice of Hans Dun-
nerwust, as the Dutch lad came puffing to

the spot. ‘‘Vot dot drain gone off like dot
vor, ain’d id?”’

‘‘Because you were so slow!’ cried
Frank, hotly. ‘‘Because you _ spent

precious moments in
when you might hastened. If you
had untied my hands immediately on my
setting yours free, I could have torn that
rope from my feet and got out here in
time to hold that train.”’

‘*Vos dot so ?’’

‘‘Of course it is!’’

“Und I peen all to ne vor losin’ dot
drain ?”’

(Veg, ”?

‘*Vos dot so? Who vos id didn’d vant
to go no furder avay dot drain mit?) Who
vos id run down der rocks indo, und vos
caught virst?
valkin pusiness ?’”

setting me free,
have

‘Well,’ confessed Frank, ‘‘I presume
we are both to blame. I led you into the
trap, and you were too slow to help us
out’ when you had the opportunity. I
won’t jump on you too hard, Hans; I'll
give myself a kick at the same time.”’

‘‘Yell, yot we goin’ to do now, ain’d
) ’

id ?”?

** Wali

“Vale?

“Ves, ”?

“Wich vay ?”?

‘Toward Denver.”’

‘*How far vos dot ?”’

es about. two hundred miles or
more.’

‘¢‘Shimminy Gristmas! pr

Hans came near collapsing in a heap on
the ground, and he was such a picture of

forced to Frank’s face. pF Sad
“You don’t like the prespedt Hans a

Who vos id brobosed dis

woeful dismay that a smile was Lee .

SY

ha _
Farmerind,
y

 

Po

 

 
 

“Oh, I don’t. mindt der brospect; id
vos der valikn’ vot makes me tiredt.’? .

1 “Well, it is not particularly agreeable
4 to think about. I haven’t an idea how
far it is to the first railway station. We
may not be able = obtain ae to eat
for a long time.’

“Vot made you sbeak apout. dot,
fre: Vrankie? Id makes me hongry to haf you
| mention him.’’

“Tf we strike one of these Western
deserts on our way, we’ll be able to ob-
BabA tain luncheon.”’
ae “How???
ae “Why, just think of the sand wehickes is
there.”’

‘‘Sandviches there? Oh, yaw! Iseen
der boint now! Yaw! yaw! yaw! Vot
baper you read dot in, Vrankie—Buck or

eee

toa) - Shudge?”’ |
“Perhaps it was original.’’
-.“Oritchinal? I nefer seen dot baper.”’

‘Well, if we don’t want to sleep in
the open air to-night, we’ll have to move.
Come on; we’ll hoof it after the train.’’

But just as they started, a familiar
‘voice called: ;

‘Hello, hello, my youtisa friends!
whither away so hastily?”

_—_

CHAPTER IV.

' 4
4. >) MYSTERIOUS EXPLOSIONS.
ee ‘quickly, they beheld a jong,

lank, battered, tattered, red-headed man,
who was seated comfortably on a stone,
_ gerenely smoking a short-stemmed ‘‘Mis-
~gouri meerschaum.’? — ~

- This man was Mr. Harden Pillsbury—
“Hard Pill,’’ the tramp.

Frank ‘uttered an exclamation of satis-
faction, and immediately approached the
_ vagrant, while Hans followed doubtfully
atthe heels of his companion.

“There is no reason why you should
tear yourselves away,’’ said Hard Pill,
calmly. ‘‘Stop a while, and lets bs
sociable. This is my parlor—all outdoors.

 
 
 
 

FRANK MERRIWELL IN COLORADO.

Lmy boy.

 

9
Sit down on any of the ‘furniture that
comes handy—makes yourselves at home. ’’

‘“Thank you,’’ smiled Frank. ‘‘You
are very hospitable.’’
““That’s natural—can’t help it; born

that way. I’m one of the most generous
beggars on two legs. I am always willing
to give away all Ihave. However, that
may not be so very strange, for I never
have anything. Sit down. Let’s havea
sociable growl. Where are we at, any-
way? and how do we happen to find our-
selves there ??’

‘““We are here because the train went
off and left us,’’ exclained Frank, as he
sat dcwn on another stone near that
which served Hard Pill.

‘’TMhat is exactly why I am here,’’ de-
clared the tramp, with a comical twist of
his face. ‘‘When I found that loose rail,
I says to myself, says I, ‘Pill, you’ve
struck an opportunity—improve it; you’re
sure of a free pass into Denver, and that’s
all you want.’ I considered it a snap. My
heart rejoiced, and was exceeding glad.
I flagged the train with this old red hand-

kerchief. of mine—kept the whole outfit’

from going to eternal smash. How di
they thank me? Wow! Wanted to lynch
me! Tried to fill me full of bullets! I had

to run for my life, and the way I worked

these long legs of mine surprised myself.

At one time I did think I’d never stop

running, but I got « over my scare after I’d

covered about two™miles, and then I

sneaked back. Didn’t know but I could—

manage to get aboard the train some way.

Was too late. ‘Train had ptilled out when.
I got here. Just my luck. Never mind;

what do you care!’’.

“You are ee to take ings 3

philosophically, I see.’
“It’s no good to take pita otherwise,

till I’ve had the edges all knocked off me.

I have about given up looking for an op- .

portunity. When I strike anything by ac-—
cident, it turns out same as this affair qe

~
%

I’ve knocked round the world ©

wt

      
 
  
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
  
  
 
  
   

a?

      
     
     
   
   
   
     
   
   
     
   
     
   
 

-

      
     
     
       
   
   
    
   
    
   
     
   
   
   
  
 
       
   

   

10

to-day. But tell me how you happened to
get left. Did you wander so far from the
train that you could not get back after
‘she began to whistle a warning?”

‘‘We didn’t go very far; but we ran
into trouble.’

““1Jm? How?”

Frank explained, telling how they had
been’ captured by the masked men and
left to get out of the scrape as best they
could, how they had succeeded in freeing
themselves, but were too late to catch the
train.

Hard Pill whistled.

 “Well,”? he said, “‘it’s plain you struck

the fellers who pulled the spikes and
loosened the rail. ~ Thev’re the train-
wreckers who have been operating in
Colorado, and there’s a reward offered for
their capture. If you’d capture them all,
you’d make a ten-strike.”’

**Vell,’’ broke in Hans, ‘‘I don’d know
how we done dot, unless we surroundet
dem verllers.’’

“That would have been the slickest
way,’’ nodded Hard Pill, soberly. ‘‘Say,
boys, I’ve got a grudge against them
fellers, If they hadn’t loosened that rail I
Shouldn’t have tun into such deadly
danger. They have no right to endanger
the lives of persons who may be peace-
fully meandering along the railway.
There should be a law forit. When I
think it over it makes me real angry. I
feel like punching somebody’s head. I'd
like.to meet those gents. Kindly take me
to the spot where they effected your
capture. ’’

‘‘Wecan’d vaste der time, Vrankie,”’
protested Hans. ‘‘Uf we don’d ged a
move on, we don’d peen aple to valk to
Denver to-nighd britty queek right avay.”’

“You'll have to jig up a lively jog if
you come anywhere near Denver in a
week,’’ said Hard Pill. “Phere’s a ranch
over this way somewhere, and I’m goin’
to make for it. That’s the place to stop
to-night, and you’d better come along.”’

FRANK MERRIWELL IN COLORADO.

Frank took a fancy to accompany Hard
Pill, although he knew the man might
lead him into serious dangers.

Hans had to follow or be left, and he
chose to follow without further talk.

Frank led the way straight to the spot
where they had been captured by the
train-wreckets.

The tramp examined the ground with
a critical eye, asked several questioris,
and then told the boys to follow, striking

down the ravine in the direction taken by

the departing desperadoes.

Hard Pill walked with a long, swinging
step that enabled him to cover ground at
astonishing speed, and the boys were
forced to hustle to keep up with him.
For all “of his speed, the man’s footfalls
were soft and. cat- like, and there was
something pantherish in his appearance,
as Frank fancied.

The ragged vagabond kept his eyes on

the ground, and he seemed to follow the
trail left by the masked ruffians—followed
it with the ease and skill of an Indian
trailer. ~

He was not inclined to talk much after
taking up thé trail, and the boys te-
mained silent, paying attention to the task
of keeping up with him.

Suddenly a startling thing occurred.

High up in the air away, to the east,
sounded a heavy explosion.

The trio looked up instantly, bat they
saw nothing but a puff of bluish smoke,

that quickly vanished into thin air and.

was gone.

~

‘‘Shimminy Gristmas !”? gurgled Hans,

in terror. ‘‘Vot vos dot, ain’d id: es

‘It wasn’t thunder,’’ said Frank.
‘‘No, it was not,’’ agreed Hard Pill.
‘It sounded lie the bursting of a bomb-
shell.”’ ; ae
- “Maype dot peen id!’’ hitiaied the
Dutch lad. ‘‘Maype there haf peens a vaw

deglared mit dis gountry on, und,dot vos

 

a pombshell vrom a vawship New York

 

 

 

    
   
     

 
 

FRANK MERRIWELL IN COLORADO.

| harbor in. You know vot we read apoudt
dose long-range guns, Vrankie?’’
utterly bewildered,

Frank was for he

could not understand the cause of the ex-

plosion, if an explosion it had been. It
4 was neither thunder, a cloud-burst, nor a
cyclone.
[- ‘“What do you think it was, Mr. Pills-
| bury ?”” he asked.

The traamp staggered.

‘‘Mr. Pillsbury!’’ he gasped. ‘‘Say, go

light; I have a weak heart. You are the
first one who has called me anything but
Hard Pill, or bum, or something of that
soft in twenty years. Don’t do it again!
I have delicate nerves, as well as a weak
heart.”’

“All right,’’? laughed Frank;
what do you think it was?”

Fou tele *.

a Oan’ aM 2)

“‘Tet’s watch a while, Maybe there’ll
be another. Keep your eyes open in the

“but

2 bisa ed + =
Seaeiinenene area itt amma ns ee nv ies

sae

“"Sagee
_ “Und be reaty to dodge uf id comes
| dis vay,’’ advised Hans. .

it They sat down and watched, looking
upward and about them toward the sky.

 

hen — while when Frank exclaimed:

3 ‘Took there! What’s that?’’

‘ He caught Hard Pill by the arm, and
: pointed away toward the east, where a
: * black ball was seen slowly and steadily
=a rising into the sky.
oe “Tt looks like a large toy balloon,”’ said

aoe the tramp.

‘“That’s what it does.”’
- “Sus-sus-Say,’’? chattered the Dutch
boy, ‘‘vere vos a blace vot I can grawl
indo from ?”’ .

‘*Keep cool; Hans,’’
Don’t talk—watch.’”

“'Vot for?”

‘‘We want to see what’ll happen.”’

“Oxcuse me! I don’d eet anxious to
seen dot.”’
sens: and d higher rose. the black ball,

 

advised Frank.

  
  
  
    
 

They had not watched thus a great

 

    

    

11

from which a basket-like something was
dangling.

All at once, the watching trio saw a
blaze of fire, a bursting puff of smoke,
and the black ball had disappeaered from
the sky in the twinkling of an eye.
Directly after this came the sound of the
explosion, whch was far heavier than°the
first one.

Hans dropped on his knees, and mum-
bled:

*‘Dis vos der endt uf der vorid alretty
come, I pet you zwi dollars!”

Frank was filled with wonder, and Hard
Pill seemed puzzled to know the meaning.
of the mysterious explosions.

‘“There’s some kind of rascality behind
this,’’ declared the tramp. ‘‘Stay here.
I’m going to investigate.’’

And then, for all that Frank ealled to
him, he darted away, quickly disappear-
Wiph O,

Frank was not at all pleased with this,
not being ready to trust the tramp.

“I propose to do some investigating
myself,’? he said. ‘‘Follow me, Hans.’’

“Were tor”

“To find out what those explosions
mean.”’ if

‘‘Oh, dunder und blitzens! don’d gone
dot vay, Vrankie! I don’d vant to done
so! WfIdo, you vos a deat man!”’

“Don’t be foolish—come along!
don’t want to stay here.’ :

‘‘T had petter stayed fiat than gone ofer
dot vay. Idon’d féel so vell as you might.
Why don’d we gone back to der railroat
righd avay off?’ =

After no small amount of trouble, Frank

We

succeeded in inducing the Dutch lad to .

follow him, and he struck out toward the
point from which the balloon, or what-
ever it was, had seemed to ascend. |
For more than thirty minutes they
hurried forward at a brisk pace, and dur-
ing that time there were no explosions. |
Frank had begun to wonder if there
was a chance of finding the spot from _
 

  

42 FRANK MERRIWELL IN COLORADO.

which the balloons rose, when, all at
once, a huge round ball shot up into the
air just ahead of them.

CHAPTER V.
THE EXPEPIMENTER.

Hans uttered a gasp of dismay, and fell
to the ground, gurgling:

‘‘Dunder und _ blitzens!
goner !’’”

Three long strides brought Frank toa
point where he could look out into a bit
of open land, and there he saw a wagon,
a horse, andaman. The latter was paying
out a line attached to-the balloon, for
such the round ball was, as Frank had
believed.

‘“‘What’s he doing ?’’? thought the won-
dering boy. ‘‘This beats my time! Is he
crazy? Hear him-mutter!?’

The stranger was roughly dressed, and
wore a full black beard. . His hat lay on
the ground, so that its wide brim might
not obstruct his view of the balloon. He
was inuttering and mumbling as. the
balloon ascended.

Hans crept up behind pee past
whom he pecten at the man, his teeth
chattering.

‘“‘Led’s get avay oudt uf this, Vrankie!”’
he whispered. ‘‘Uf we-don’d, you vos a

deadt boy !’’
~ “Keep still,” ordered Frank. ‘‘Look—
-watch—wait! Pe

“Vait! Vait for vat? To peen bidwed
to kinkdom gone?” |

Before long the end of the line was
nearly reached. It ran into the wagon,
.toward which the man sprang. He did
something; and then there was another
explosion far up in the air. The balloon
was blown toa thousand fragments.

Hans tumbed over backward, and lay
groaning on the ground.

All at once, Frank dropped beside the
_. Dutch lad, over whose mouth a hand was
. clasped, while Merriwell softly panted:

you vas a

round and bothering me.

 

 

‘‘Keep still! Here are the masked train
wreckers! They’re coming to investigate.
If they find us—well, we may not get off
as easy as we did the other time.’’ |

Hans sat up. Some bowlders concealed

‘the two lads from the view of any one

within the opening. Peering forth, they
saw the masked mén surround the wagon,
the horse, and the author of the mysteri-
ous explosions. ‘The leader of the gang
confronted the man, and demanded:

‘‘What does this mean? Explain it!
What are you exploding away up there i in
the air?’’

‘Dynamite, giant-powder, anything to
make a thundering noise,’’ was the reply.

‘Well, why are you doing nat. Are
those explosions signals?’

‘You bet!”

“‘Of what?’
“Moisture. ’’ *

The masked men muttered. — They |

seemed mystified and bewildered; but
they were no more bewildered then were

the two lads peering from behind the.

bowlders. : °
‘*He’s crazy!’’ sibilated Frank.
‘As a ped-bug!’’ whispered Hans.
Some of the men spoke with one an-
other in asides. ‘They fell into groups.

about the stranger, who seemed serene

and unconcerned, for all of their presence.
In a few moments, the leader asked:
‘‘What do you mean by such a reply?

What do you mean by saying those ex-

plosions mean moisture?”

‘‘Just what I said,’? was the sharp
ply. ‘‘What do you mean by coming
I haven’t time
to waste with you. You are retarding the —

advance of science—you are making yours”

self uety obnoxious. I wish you would ‘go
away.’
‘“That’s nerve,’’ theuabe Frank Mer-
riwell. ‘‘That is a first-class bluff.’
The leader of the masked men was >
somewhat angered, | His has: fell on the

x ,

re «
e

   
  
    
   

 

i
7

ap

ant WE egihat

~~
: Sted ios
EO masta ms

 

 

 

 

 
 
  
 

 

 
 

FRANK MERRIWELL IN COLORADO.
j

shoulder of the black-bearded individual,

L. and he growled:

j - ‘You had better be a little more re-
: spectful, my man! Weare.not to be trifled
; with.’? en

i So?”

. ‘You will find itso. Now, you talk
a2 . straight, or we may take a fancy to fill
you full of holes. I want you to answer
some questions.’

“‘Rire away.’

‘What are you doing?”

t= ‘Making rain.’’

bia ‘“What’s that?”

‘It is condensed vapor precipitated
from the clouds.”’

‘You don’t mean to say—you can’t
mean that——”’’ :

‘“‘My dear Sir, that is exactly what I
es. mean. It has been demonstrated that
hy - clouds gather after heavy battles and rain
falls. Itis believed that this is brought
ae about by heavy concussions. I am experi-
menting. Iam attempting to kick upa

shower. This wagon is loaded with giant-
powder and dynamite. I have a number
of balloons, and I make my gas with this
small charcoal stove. I have been sending
up balloons and exploding them with elec-
tricity, the battery to generate which is
also here in the wagon. That is a full
and complete explanation, and ! hope you
are satisfied.”’ :
The masked men looked at each other.
They seemed hesitating and doubtful.
One of them went to pawing around the
wagon, and the stranger immediately
cried :

“Better let that alone, if you don’t
want to blow us all ni high! It’s ame
mite!”’ ,

The man fell back precipitately ; all
seemed alarmed.

“Vou don’t think you can bring on a
: ‘rainsstorm ~ now, do you?’’ asked the
_ leader of the masks. ‘‘This is the wrong
_ season of the year.”’ Rr

“So much the better. The dryer the] _

 
   
   
  
    
   
   
  
   

 

  
   
  
  
 

 

 

 

 

  

13
atmosphere the better I am pleased. If I
succeed, my -triumph will be all the
greater. It doesn’t make any difference to
me whether I bring on a rain-storm or a
snow-storm. Either will show me my ex-.
periment is successful. The name of Pro-
fessor Turner Side will be spread broad-
cast throughout the land. I shall become
famous. ’’ ce

‘‘Hank,’’? said the leader,
the big fellow, ‘‘come out here.
to talk to you.”’

They drew aside, put their heads close
together, and spoke in low tones. Turner
Side knew they were speaking of him,
but he seemed cool and unconcerned.
They did not worry him in the least.

Some moments passed. Plainly the men
were doubtful. The leader turned to the
rain-maker once more.

‘“How did you happen to select this
spot on which to carry on your experi-
ments ?’’ he asekd. :

‘‘How did 1? Giveit up. Wanted to
get away where I should. not be seen.
Didn’t care to let everybody know all
about it if I failed in my efforts. Left the
train at Wild Horse. Hired this wagon
and beast and came here.. That’s all:’”

‘‘You may be telling the truth; but

”

addressing
I want

‘‘T am a peaceable nian, but I shall feel
it nity duty to thump you real hard if you |
call me a liar.”? ; : e
Then I won't call_you that ; but you'll
be watched, and, if it turns out that you
have lied—well, it will be very unfortu-
nate for you.”’

‘All right; let it go at that. I don’t
care. I’ll move into-the next county.
Don’t fancy being watched. _Somebody
might steal my secret and go into the
rain-making business. ’? '

“*You do not seem to have brought |
down much rain around here.”
‘“‘T had just begun.’’ %
“So? Well, go on. Come, boys."
The leader moved away, aud his men

      
     
 

-rain-maker.

 

Fe ine SNR itive

14

followed. Turner Side watched them till
all had disappeared from view, and then
he turned to his wagon, muttering:
‘“Too bad! Broke me off right in the
middle of my Let it go.
Won’t try it any more to-day. I'll strike
for the ranch I saw away to the north-

experiments.

east.’
He began making preparations to hitch

the horse, a scrawny, razor-backed beast,

‘into the thills.

A sudden impulse seized Frank Merri-
well, and he sprang to his feet, walking
béldly toward the rain-maker.

The man looked up and saw the lad

approaching.
‘‘Hello!’? he exclaimed. ‘‘More visi-
tors! Well, well! I didn’t suppose there

were so many people within a hundred
miles. ”’

Frank spoke.

‘*With a friend, I happened to overhear
your conversation “with those masked
men. We also heard you say you intend
striking out for a near-by ranch.”’

‘Oh, it is not so near. It 1s at least
fifteen or twenty miles away. Saw it from
an elevation.. Have good eyes in my
head. It’s a cattle ranch, for I could see
the herds. Must be a barbed-wire ranch.
Thought I might stop to-night. ”?

‘‘Tust so. Now, my friend and myself
have been left here—stranded. We’ve got
to stop sorhnewhere to-night. What say if
we go along with-you? We’ll pay.”’

“Come along. There won’t bé any
trouble about pay. We’ll travel along to-
gether.’’

Frank went back and spoke to Hans,

_but.it was some time before the Dutch lad

could be induced t6 trust himself with the
He felt sure the man was
crazy.

By the time Hans’ fears were overtome

Turner Side had gathered up everything
_and hitched the old horse into the thills

of the wagon. —-
7 OMe on, ben ”” he called, ‘as the jade

 

 

FRANK MERRIWELL IN COLORADO.

slowly approached.
waste if we want to strike that ranch to-
night. This fiery, untamed steed may feel
inclined to loiter on the way.

Frank thought of Hard Pill. He did
not want to abandon the vagrant, and he
vaguely wondered where the tramp ced
be.

‘‘What’s it best to do?”’
self. .
- The answer came quickly:

‘‘Hard Pill can take care of himself,
and we’ll look out for ourselves.’

The boys climbed on the. wagon, and
Mr. Side whipped up the old horse,

‘‘Never saw such a country,’ pai
grumbled. ‘‘Looks. deserted, but a little
noise seems < bring men and boys out of.
the ground.’

He found a road out of the opening. In
about half an hour they left the broken
ground and struck the great plain. The
strange man did not seem to hesitate about
the. direction they should pursue. He
selected the course, and the wagon went
creaking and complaining across the brown
expanse.

he asked hit

CHAPTER VI.

THE STAMPEDE...

Having left the broken country near
the railroad, it was not long before they
came to a barbed-wire fence. Still there
was no ranch-building to be seen, nor yet
any grazing herds in view.

The rain-maker explained that the fence
might inclose a ‘‘grazing range’? hun-
dreds of miles square, the property. of
several large cattle-raisers, who thus kept
their herds from the railroad, but allowed
them to mingle freely, each owner dis-
tinguishing his cattle by the brand, as of
old, before the time of barbed-wire fences.

COT is fence stops, us,’’ said Frank.
‘‘How are we going on? 2? Se

‘‘Dot’s vot I’d like to know, ”’ spoke up
Hans.

“‘T go prepared for such emergencies,’
replied the man, as he fumbled beneath
the wagon-seat and brought”™ out some
strong cut- nippers. ‘‘We’ll soon make an
opening.’

Bat Lik have you a right to cut the
fence?”

“Pl take the right.”’ me z s

‘‘We ain’t got time to~

-

te

|

 

Gs reese Ni II | STS

.

 

 
sa in MR iat tS a

 

   

ous Pome:

up the dastardly “band!”
hotly. -
' banded together to wreck trains and rob
the dead and. dying

FRANK MERRIWELL IN COLORADO.

Down from
strange man.

the wagon sprang the
Suap, snap, he clipped two
strands. Then he swung them aside, and
told Frank to drive through.

When the wagon had passed beyond
the fence, Turner Side tossed the nippers
back beneath the seat, brought out some
pieces of wire, and swiftly mended the cut
strands, so the fence was unbroken once
more.

‘That is what I call handiness!”
laughed Frank. ‘‘You myst have known
what you were liable to run across out
mere,” ; :

“Oh, I know something about barbed-
wire fences. Ifa fellow. runs on one of
them without: having nippers in his pos-

session, he is liable to travel a hundred

miles round to get ten miles across.”’

‘Don’t the ranchers ever kick about
having: the fence cut?’’

‘Not if they know vou mend it so it is
good as ever. If you cut it and left x,
you’d stand a first-class showof getting
shot.”?

They drove on.

The old ho1se was lame, and the boys
walked beside the wagon much of the
way. In fact, Hans preferred to walk all
of the time, as he was afraid of the explo-
sives which the wagon contained.

Frank asked Mr. Side many questions
about rain-making, and the man endeavy-

‘ored to explain his theory of producing

showers by means of heavy explosions.
He used so many large words and scien-
tific terms that his explanations were

- ratner vague and foggy to the boys, and

it is doubtful if he thoroughly understood
what he was talking aHuk: himself.

After a while; the rain-maker fell to
questioning the boys, and Frank told how

they came to be left by the Overland
‘Flyer.

‘Those gentlemen who wear mathe,
observed Mr. Side, ‘‘may be very danger-
All I want of a is to

\

let me alone.’

‘Something ought to be done to break
cried Frank,
“Just think of a body of men
is

passengers! It

  

horrible !”’
“It i is rather unpleasant to think of, x

 

 

’ 15

acknowledged the man.
perate devils.’’

‘“They are inhuman monsters! ‘They “
should be hanged, every one of them!”’

“T think you are right, but I would not
be too free in expressing my views on
that point; you don’t know who may be
in sympathy with them around these

arts.’

‘‘T am sure you are aut. 2

‘You are safe on that point, but there
are others. Heed my warning; keep still
about the train-wreckers.’’

‘I'd like to be able to turn the whole

‘They are des-

| gang over to the law.’’

‘‘A very commendable desire; but it
is not at all likely you will be able to do
anything of the sort.’’

‘Yd like to know vot pecome uf dot
Hardt Bill,’’ said Hans.

‘That fellow is a mystery,’ declared
Frank. ‘‘If he had not stopped the train,
and thus saved it from being wrecked, I
should- believe him one of the gang.’’

‘‘He may be,‘’ said Turner Side.
‘“That piece of business may \have heen
some part.of a scheme that failed to work.
Who knows ?’’

‘‘T don’t believe he is anything but a
wretched tramp who stumbled along the
track just in time to discover the loose
rail before the Flyer came along.”’

‘‘Vell,’’ said Hans, ‘‘I don’d know vat
he peen, but I’d like to know ver he vent
to oe = right avay ven he left
us.

‘*T shall not worry about him,’’ facie
Frank. ‘‘He’ll take care of himself.”

It wasaclear autumn day, and now, far
to the westward, a hundred and fifty miles
away, they could see the bluish ridge of
the Rockies, with Pike’s Peak looming
blue and white amid the range. It did
not seem possible that the mountains were -
so far away, but Turner Side assured them
that it was all of a hundred and fifty miles
to the base of Pike’s Peak. ‘

‘The plains were’ brown, the grass
having been baked into fairly good hay
by the summer’s heat and sunshine.

The old horse plodded steadily on, mile
after mile, and yet the ranch they were
seeking did not coine into view.

Finally the trio heard a faint, runibling
sound that seemed to come oe, out of the
very earth.

 

 

  
   
   

- with

 
  
   
  
   
   
   
   
     
 
 

«

  

DICT ra beac oma eee

aa
16

‘‘What’s that?’ asked Frank, in sur-
prise.

“‘Dunder,’’ suggested Hans.

Turner Side stopped the team and
listened.

With each passing moment the sound
grew louder and louder, swelling steadily
and ominously. :

‘‘Look out for squalls,’’
“If that isn’t a cyclone, the chances are it
is something fully as bad.’’

Frank’s eyes swept the horizon, and a
cry broke from his lips.

‘*Look—away to the west!
that ?”’

They looked in the direction he was
pointing, and the plain seemed covered
a dense moving, mass that
nearer and was more plainly seen with

9

What is

each moment. :

‘“VYot is id?’ gasped Hans.

‘‘A. stampede, by the eternal skies!”’
shouted Turner Side. ‘‘That is a-great
drove of cattle, and it is headed this
way !?”
“Then we’re in danger ?’’

“‘T should say so. If we do not get out
of the way, we’ll be run over by those
mad animals—trampled to death—exter-
minated !”’

““Our only hope is to get out of their!
y hop $

course!’’ came from Frank.
let them pass.’’

‘Right you are,’’ agreed Turner. “We
must keep straight ahead.’

Then he lashed the old horse with the
tawhide whip, and they were soon rat-

‘‘We must

tling along as swiftly as the creature could

carry them.

Neater and nearer came the great drove
of mad cattle, spreading out against the
horizon line in a manner that made
Frank’s heart sink within him.

‘‘We can’t escape !’’ ae

“Tt doesn’t look like it,”’ confessed the
man, whose face was very pale. “The

old horse is doing his best now.’’

“It is a singular thing that this stam-
pede should come in our direction just
now.’’

“Tt is rather remarkable, e

‘““Maype they vill durn oudt vor us,”’

ep fluttered WAGE. el phe

_“Never,’? declared the rain-maker.

= 2 oe be en away like so much ee) |

432 a

, ~
said the man.

drew |.

 

 

3 FRANK MERRIWELL IN COLORADO..

If wecan’t get out of their way, we are

done for.”?

It was not long
dent that such a thing was impossible.
The old horse was doing his best, still
Turner plied the whip. Finally the horse
stumbled and went down in a
throwing the trio from the wagon.

It had -been a wild ride, for they had
not known at what moment the jolting of
the wagon might cause some of. the dyna-
mite to explode, so they would all be
blown to pieces; but the ride was ended
now, and they were still in the road of
the on-coming herd.

‘‘Done for!’’ palpitated Frank, strug-
gling to his feet. ‘‘The old horse has
broken a leg! There is no escape now!”’

“Vo. are tight;??
Side. ‘‘We cannot escape them on foot!’’

The rumbling sound had increased to a>

dull roaring, and the ground quivered be-
neath
feet. With.clashing horns, fiery eyes,
bellowing madly, the furious herd rushed
down upon the unlucky trio.»

At times a steer would fall, others
would go whirling over him, still others
would pile upon them, and then the ones
that were down would be crushed and
trodden into the very ground, and the
herd flew on.

*“See!’’? shouted Frank.
men behind them—masked men, with
whips and revolvers! They have stam-
peded the cattle! ‘They are driving the
herd in this direction !”’

‘Right!’ cried the rain-maker. ‘‘’Those
are the train-wreckers! They have stam-
peded the herd in this direction! It is a
trick—a scheme to kill us all—to wipe
us off the face of the earth!’

‘“There are

The horsemen. who were urging the m
| frightened cattle on with whips and fire-.

arms could be plainly seen. They were
lashing the tail-enders of the herd, they
were yelling and shooting into the air,
‘land they were directing the herd toward
the stranded wagon! .

Frank was furious:

‘This is murder!’ he grated.
men believe we know too much.

dent!
-He longed for some means of defending

Preis

before it became oie

heap, ©

confessed ‘T‘urner _

the tread of hundreds of hoofed-

‘Those os
1-68
their plot to put us out of the way, andit

will seem that we were killed ae BOO ae

   

 

   
   
        
     
       
     
         
         
         
   
         
   
       
       
      
      
   
     
     
      
     
» a . er ne eee

FRANK MERRIWELL IN COLORADO. 17

himself, but there seemed none. Hans
was lying stunned on the ground, and
Frank would not have deserted the ‘Dutch
lad, even though he could have saved his
own life by doing so, :

‘“Wait!’? screamed the rain-maker.
‘It’s our only chance—it’s a bare hope!”’

Frank did not .know. what the man
meant. He saw Turner Side grab some-
thing from the wagon, saw him run
straight toward the on- coming herd. It
seemed that the mat’ was rushing head-
long to his death, and Frank watched
with baited breath.

In his hands Turner carried a Sesto
cans. What did he mean to do with

- them? How could he hope to check or

turn the mad herd?
‘‘He’s crazy!’ muttered the boy. ‘‘He
has gone mad! All of us are lost!’

CHAPTER VII. —
SPIATTING THE HERD.

The hoof-beats of the mad herd made
the ground tremble like the jarring of a
distant earthquake, and filled the air with
a sound similar to the steady roll of thun-
der—the pouring of a Niagara.

- Above the herd rose a cloud of dust,
Gecond which occasional -glimpses of
mounted men could be seen.” They were
wielding whips and yelling madly, but
not a sound of their cries came to the ears

of the unlucky trio in the track of the
stampede. Through this dust-cloud flashes

of fire were seen now and then, plainly
telling that the men were urging the
cattle onward by firing their rifles and re-

; volvers.

Frank shuddered and stood fascinated,

_ spell-bound, incapable of action.

Still the rain-maker ran straight toward

the herd, the sunlight glistening coldly

on the tin of the two cans he carried.
‘(He has gone mad!’’ repeated Frank.
‘‘He fancies he can frighten the cattle

some way by .running to meet them.

There is no hope for any of us. It is

_ doubtful if the world ever knows how we
_. died, for we shall be blotted out of ex-
istence.. Professor Scotch will search for
us in vain.’

And now terror no longet dominated

: ‘him, but a sort of stupor came upon him,
ene he stood there, cally anitnig death

 

beneath the crushing hoofs of: the wild
cattle. Most persons become calm when
they. know death is right at hand and
cannot be avoided; thus with Frank Mer-
tiwell. He knew there could be little
suffering ; he would go down beneath the
feet of the foremost steers, and it would
be all over in the twinkling of an eye.
He could feel no more than a shock; he
doubted if he would experience pain:
Suddenly his eyés turned from the herd:
to the rain-maker. The man had stopped
—he was carefully placing the cans on
the -ground at some distance from each

‘other—he was coming back toward the

wagon as fast as his legs. would carry
him.

Still Frank wondered. What did it,
mean? How could those innocent-looking
cans check. or turn the stampeded cattle.

As he ran toward the wagon, the man
wildly motioned to the boy, but Frank
did not understand the meaning of his
signals. Hesaw Turner Side open his
mouth, he knew Turner was shrieking
some words, but. every other.sound was
drowned in the thunder roar of the
stampede.

The earth seemed to quake with terror
beneath the feet of the boy who stood be-
side the wagon so calmly regarding ad-
vancing doom. He could see the fiery eyes
of the mad steers, could see the dust
blown from their nostrils like smoke,
could see their horns glinting like brist-
ling bayonets in the sunlight.

The van of the herd were close upon
the cans—had reached them, and then—— ©

It seemed that the earth upheaved to
the sky, and the very heavens were rent
asunder. ‘There was such a roar as might
come from the mouths of a ‘hundred
cannon. Frank caught a glimpse of a
black mass of earth and cattle flung far
into the air, and, at the same time, the
shock hurled him prostrate and stunned
upon the ground.

Dazed though he was, Frank wader:
stood what had happened, and he gasped:

‘‘Nitro - glycerine — dynamite — some-
thing of the sort! That’s what the cans
contained! The hoofs: of the cattle ex-
ploded it!” ©

Deafened and dazed, he Vitted ‘hissiselt< ke

on one elbow and looked toward the spot >
where the = caos had ss pa At i

-

 
 

   

18

the same. time he saw the rain-maker,
who had also been flung to the ground,
sit up and look toward the herd.

Where the cans had been there was a;
great hole in the ground. A hundred torn |
and mangled steers had been, hurled in
every direction from that spot. ‘The herd
was split—it was swinging tothe right
afid left—they were saved!

Saved? Yes, if the herd did not unite
again, they were saved. That great open-
ing in the ground yawned directly in the
path of the stampeded cattle, and the
leaders had been frightened into dividing.
Having divided, it was doubtful if they
united again.

Turner Side got upon his feet and ran
toward the wagon. Frank struggled ‘up,
‘and found Hans sitting with his back
against a wheel, staring, shivering, quak-
ing. It seemed as if the shock of the ex-
plosion had aroused him from his stunned
condition. ‘ .

And the horse

 

the old horse was get-

ting on its feet! The creature’s leg had|,

not been broken after all!

“Hurrah! screamed Frank. ‘We're
all right!’’

he rain-maker came aes Up, <7 a2e
leaped upon the wagon, caught up a rifle,
brought the butt to his shoulder. And
then, standing thus, he worked the re-
peater so swiftly that a steady stream of
fire and smoke seemed to pour from its
muzzle. .

. |
He was shooting over the herd—he was |

trying to reach some of the masked
horsemen !

“Give it to’em!’’ shouted Frank, in
savage joy. ‘‘They tried to kill us! Salt
some of them, if you can!?’

The man could not have heard a word,
but he did not need such advice. He was
thoroughly aroused, and the wondering
boy admired him at that moment.

To the right and left rolled the cattle,
to the right and left swept the mounted
men, and they took good care to keep be-
yond ordinary rifle-shot.

‘The cloud of dust closed in and covered
the wagon and the human beings hear it
like a pall. For some minutes the stam-
peded, cattle continued to thunder past.
At length they swept on, and the danger
was over. ‘he masked horsemen were |
‘seen departing with the cattle.

FRANK MERRIWELL IN COLORADO,

| The rain-maker refilled the magazine of
his rifle with cartridges. Then he’ sprang
to the ground and proceeded to examine
the horse. He lifted the animal’s feet, he
ifelt of: its legs, he nodded with satisfac-
‘tion.

**Dead lucky!’ he said aloud. ‘‘Leg
wasn’t broken, after ‘all. © Critter’s all
right. We’ll make the ranch, and our
colors willbe flying. It’s rather hard
work to down Turner Side.’’

Frank hurried to the strange man,
grasped his hand, and shook it with great
heartiness.

*‘Vou’re a dandy, Mr. Side!’’ cried the
boy.. ‘‘’Fhat was a great trick! It saved
our lives!”’

“Without a doubt, young man. So it
seems that my stock is good for some-
thing, if I have not been able to rai up
a rain-storm with it.’?

‘“‘T couldn’t imagine what you were do-
ing; I thought you had gone crazy. My
wits must have been datied just then.’
‘‘Vell,’’ said the Dutch lad, who had
gathered himself up from the ground,
don? d you een surbrised at dot,
Vrankie; mein vits vas tulled a leedle
bit, you pet me my life!’’:

Those fellows who stampeded the herd
didn’t. seem to care about getting too
near us;’? chuckled Turner.’ “‘They
sheered off beyond good rifle-shot.”’

“tT don’t wonder,’’ laughed Frank.
\‘’Thateexplosion must have given them a

 

another.’

‘I'd like to get a can of that stuff under
them!’ cried the rain-maker. _ \ They
wouldn’t wreck any more trains.’

The divided herd was rolling on to the
east in two sections, the thunder of their
hoofs sounding fainter and fainter with
each moment.

No longer were the cattle pursued by
ithe masked horsemen. The two parties

'the north.
| ‘That shows they intended to destroy
us with the cattle,’’
ing failed, they follow the creatures no
farther.’

‘The ig stardly wretches!??

 

more to- ‘day. Coie on, old horse; let’s
‘gee if you are able to draw this load.?”

 

shock. They didn’t know but there’d cS,

 

had united, and they were ridirg away to —

said Turner, ‘‘Hav- -

‘‘Well, we won’t let ’em worry ug any

 

 

   
  
  
 
   
  
  
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
   
   
   
  
  
 
 
 
 
 

 
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
     
 

 

    
   
  
    
 

FRANK MERRIWELL

The horse was still quivering with the
fear that had made it stand stil] after get-
ting on its feet; but*the animal started at
the word, and the wagon rolled on once
more,

Man and boys walked: They could have
_crawled and been thankful then.

In time the herd and the horsemen had
disappeared.

There was enough to talk about as they
pressed forward. Such an adventure could
pfovide material: for any amount of dis-
cussion. \

After a while, however, Turner Side
grew taciturn and moody. He ceased to
take any part in the conversation unless
questioned, and then, he answered curtly.
He seemed to be thinking, spectlating,
planning.

In time they came in view of some
ranch buildings, toward which they headed
direct. The buildings did not seem many
miles away, but the sun was well. down
toward the distant peaks of the Rockies,
and the afternoon was far spent before
they came near the ranch-house and cor-
rals.

Fierce icc barked and ran out toward
them, some men came round one of the
corrals, and another man whistled to the
dogs from the broad veranda of the
house.

Hans quickly climbed on thes wagon to
get away from the dogs, but the creatures
responded to the shrill whistle of the man
on the veranda, and quickly turned back.
He drove them away to one of the stables,
and then came forward to meet the boys
and the rain-maker. /

He was dressed roughly, but was smok-
ing a fragrant cigar.
imperial were coal black, as also were his
piercing eyes.

‘*Hello, strangers!” he bluffly called.
‘(Whar away? an’ wher from ?”’

“tT, sit,’ explained. the han eke:
‘tam Professor Turner Side, experimental-
ist. Ihave come out to these parts to con-
duct a few eae with the atimos-
pHere,.”

‘*Wa-al, I’m right elad to see yer, Pyo-
. fessor. Give us. yer paw. My name’s
Robinson—Lije Robinson—an’ this yats’
myranch. Ye’re welcome to stay hyar
just as long as yer want to, an’ don’t: yer
sant its?!

Se

‘

His mustache and)’

  

IN COLORADO. 19

‘““Thank you, Mr. Robinson; you area
gentlemen—a thorough gentleman. We'll
gladly accept your hospitality. Permit
me to introduce my companions. Mr. Rob-
\inson, this is Frank Merriwell; and this
is Hans Dunnerwust. ‘These young gen-
tlemen were dropped from the Overland
Flyer.’

‘‘Dropped ?”’ questioned Robinson, with
a puzzled expression on his face as he

 

shook hands with the boys. ‘‘How
dropped ?”’
Frank explained, and the rancher

| whistled,

‘‘So the train-wreckers are at it again,
and they’re near us, eh?. Wa-al, I like
that thar—dern my hoofs if I don’t!”’

The way he uttered the words seemed
to indicate he did not like it.

Turner Side continued to explain, tell-
ing of the stampede, while Robinson
listened with a black frown on his face.
When the rain-maker had finished, the
rancher said:

“Herder brought in word a bunch had
stampeded, but he didn’t seem ter know
thar wuz human critters behind it. I’ve
sent out men ter look arter the critters.”’

After a moment, Robinson whistled
again, and this time the-signal brought
two men running to the spot.

“‘Hyar, boys,’’ he. said, ‘‘take car’ o’
this yar hawse, while I take car’ o’ these
uns. Come, Side; come on, boys. Tl
allow you may be hungry.’”

‘*‘T-can eat a pair of broiled boots!’’ ex-
claimed Frank.

‘“Wa-al, yer shall have something better
as soon as*it can be made ready fer yer.
Come inter ther house.”’

They followed him.

 

CHAPTER VIII.

A RANCH DANCE.
‘Robinson had a wife and daughter.
The latter was black-eyed, like her father,
and rather pretty in a wild sort of way.
She was two or three years older than
Frank Merriwell, but the boy caught her
regarding him with admiring eyes Store
than once during supper. |
Hans. tried to mash the girl, but she
gave him such a SHOP: that he was quite

 

~ > { ‘
-- é

aes ~s

  

   
 

 

  

  

20

Her name was Edna, and Robinson saw
that both lads were introduced to her.

‘‘Want yer ter make yerselves right-ter
home,’’ said the rancher, ‘‘We’re sociable
people hyar. ’Tain’t often we have visi-
tors from ther East.’’

After supper, as they were sitting on

the veranda, watching the glow of the
“sunset, which rose over the purple Rock-
ies, amid
snowily, Robinson said:

‘*You fellers come along, at just about
ther right time.
hoe-down hyar ter-night.”’

‘‘A hoe-down?’’? questioned Frank.
‘‘What’s that??? ;

**Don’t yer know what a hoe-down is?
Why, it’s a dance, of course. Haw! haw!
haw!”?

‘“Why, of course .it is!’’
Frank, rather embarrassed.
have known that.’’

‘Oh, wa-al, you’re excusable, seein’ as
how ye’re a tenderfoot. Tenderfeet ain’t
expected ter know ev 'rything. os

‘Vos you peen goin’ to haf a tance?”
cried Hans, in delight. ‘‘Vell, uf dot
don’d peen der stuff! -Don’d I vos glat I:
gome!’’ » ‘

“Veh,’’? nodded Robinson,
smoking another cigar; ‘‘ goin’
reg’lar ole rip-snorter. Invited every-
body fer a hundred miles round hyat.
They'll be comin’ in purty soon.’

All at oiice, Turner Side made a leap
and came to his feet, crying:

‘Great smoke! I forgot to say anything
to the cowboys about the contents of my
wagon! = If they g go to monkeying with
that stuff, they’re liable to blow : up the
whole ranch !??

Round the corner he plunged, running
toward the stable, whither the wagon had
been taken.

Robinson rose deliberately, saying:

*“Dern my boots! it’s lucky ther boys
ain’t been nosin’ round that yar wagon.’’

Then he slowly followed the . rain-
maker.

_ Shortly after this the ‘first squad of
visitors arrived, bringing the musicians
_ with them. These musicians were three
decidedly villainous-looking Mexicans, a
violinist, a harper, and a ‘guitar player.

exclaimed

who was

—

FRANK MERRIWELL IN COLORADO,

which Pike’s Peak gleamed|

We’re goin’ ter have a}

‘*T should |

ter have a!

girls. .

 

There were three other men, and two
- women, in the party.

Big feppentey pemmough. he had an idea that »

  

  

From that time .onward the visitors
came thickly, and Robinson was on hand
to welcome them all.

Frank felt a touch on his arm, and saw
Turner Side at his elobw. The rain-
maker walked -round the -corner of the

icabin, and the boy followed.

‘‘Are you armed ?’’ whispered the mati.

‘‘No. Train-wreckers took my revolver
to-day.”’

Turner thrust a revolver into Frank’s
hand. :

‘Take this; keep it out of sight.
may need it later on.”’

‘“Why? What have you heard? What
makes you think I may need a revolver?”

“‘T heard something when I hurried
into the stable to warn those fellows about
monkeying with my wagon. ‘T'wo of the
cowboys rend talking together. What I
did hear was enough to make me think
we might find ourselves in serious trouble
to-night. We mustn’t talk too much;
might be heard. It was unlucky for you
when you fell in with me. Iam sus-
pected.”’

‘‘Of what ?”’

“Of being an enemy of the train-
wreckers. ’Sh! You’re a level-headed.
boy, or I would not trust you as much as
I have. Look out for yourself. We may
find ourselves in the midst of a pack of
tigers before long. Don’t say a word to
the Dutch boy; he’s too thick. Now get
back. ‘Some one may be looking for us
now. Becautious. If we get in a tight
corner, we must stand together.”’ |

“Depend on ime.’’,

‘*Good !””

Turner Side strolled round the ranch,

You

land Frank returned te the veranda.

The ‘interior of the house was illumi-
nated with many tallow candles. The
visitors were talking and laughing, the |
coarse voices of .the men mingling with
the smoother voices of the women and
f

Some of the girls were opatiy. ina rough
way, some were bashful, and some were
boisterous. .

Somehow Hans. had taken a fancy that
he was a great masher, and he was doing _
his best to make a hit with the” girls. |

Frank found him the center of a laughing _ ee 2

party, all of whom were having sport at —

 

 

 
     
     
       
    
 

   

 

they were laughing at his bright remarks.
Seeing Frank, the Dutch lad called:

‘‘Gone avay from here, Vrankie; you
don’d cut some ice ven I vos aroundt.’’

_ Edna Robinson quickly left the group
and approached Frank, to whom she said:

‘‘Permit me to introduce you, Mr.
Mertiwell. You may find a pretty girl in
the party.’

‘‘T found one before the party came, 4
returned Frank, in
the color to her cheeks. ‘‘It is not possi-
ble to find a prettier one now.”’

‘*You are a flatterer!’’ she murmured,
with her eyés on the floor. ee

‘‘Not at all; Iam a second edition of
the immortal George—I can tell noLins
but the truth.”’

“She introduced him all round, and
Frank set about making himself as agree:
able as possible.

Robinson came up and slapped. him’ on
the shoulder with good-natured familiarity.

“That's right, young man; hoe right
He, ner music is goin’ ter start up ina
minute, an’ you want ter capter ther
purtiest gal for ther fust dance.’’

‘“Thank you, Mr. Robinson.’’

The musicians began to tune up. The
cowboys and ranchers were impatient for
the dance to begin.

Frank looked around for Robinson’s
daughter, and found her talking witha
rather dandified, oe faced, black-eyed
fellow.

“Wonder if he is asking her to dance
with “him?’’ speculated
meant to be ahead of all comers.’?

_ He slowly approached them, and Edna
saw him, immediately saying:

‘“‘Oh, you want a partner, Mr. Merri-
well. Iwill get one for you. Excuse me,
SACK ens

The young fellow with whom she had
been talking scowled blackly at Frank, as
the girl skipped away and took the boy’s
arm, asking: —

‘Whom ‘have you. chosen as the one
you most desire for your first partner?”

‘*You,’’ he replied, softly.

“Me?” 4

_ She seemed greatly surprise.

Yes. I sincerely hope you are not
engaged for the first dance???

Well, no—not exactly. I suppose
a Darrol vas me to REpee with him.

}

 

 

the boy. ‘‘T}

FRANK MERRIWELL IN COLORADO.

a tone that brought | young

/

21

He’s the one I was talking with just now.
I don’t like him too well; but pop thinks
he’s all right, and Darrol bothers me to
death. Everybody thinks I’m going to tie
to him; but I reckon they’ll find out

they’ re mistaken.’

‘She tossed her od and looked prettier
than ever.

‘“By Jingoes! she has spirit and nerve!’? _

thought Frank.
panther. ’’

Aloud he said:

‘“Give me the first dance;
take his turn later.’’

‘‘All right, it’s a go. Jack may be
mad, but he ain’t got any rope on me, and
I want him to understand it.”’

The music struck up, and the couples
began to form on for the first dance. It

‘*She is something like a
$

let Darrol

happened that Frank and Edna were at :

the head of the first set. Frank saw Jack
Darrol approaching in a hurry, his face
black as a thunder-cloud.
“Took here, Miss Robinson,”’
Darrol, ‘‘this is our dance.’
The girl pretended to be very much
surprised.
“Ours!
mex, * ;
‘‘T didn’t; but you knew. You always
dance the first dance with me. Come.”’
‘*Not this time, Jack. I’m on the floor,
and I can’t leave my partner. Ill dance
next time with you.’’
‘““To blazes with the next dance! I
want this one, and I’m going to have it!”’
Then she showed her spirit; her head
went back, and her eyes blazed upon him.
““Vou have made a mistake, Mr. Dar-
rol; I shall not dance this set with you,
nor will I dance with you at all, unless

said

I reckon not. You didn’t ask

| you are more respectful in your language.’

He ground his white teeth, and hissed:

‘‘All right! Dance away! You'll be
‘sorry for it, and so will that kid tender-
feet you’ve ‘cottoned to! He may be taken
sick before morning!”

-

— ——

CHAPTER IX.
TROUBLE. .
The look which Jack Darrol shit at

Fiank Merriwell betrayed the murderous

hate gnawing at the man’s heart,
Just the faintest trace of a contemptuous

smile flitteréd across the boy’s face: _

Darrol walked away, and the ae of

     
   
  
   
   
  
 
  
    
   
  
    
   
  
  
    
  
     
   
   
 

witectnse ett i). ai

   
    
  
   
  
 

    

 

 
 
   
       
 
      
   
   
   
   
         
       
         
     
 

22 FRANK MERRIWELL IN COLORADO,

Edna Robinson fell on the arm of her
partner, while she whispered:

“T oughtn’t to have done so! He is
dangerous—is Jack. I didn’t think what
kind of a quarrel I might get you into,
Mr. Merriwell.”’

‘‘Don’t worry about me,’’ said Frank,
quietly. ‘‘I can take care of myself.’’

‘*Ah, but you don’t know Jack Darrol.
He has a fearful temper, and he is handy
with oi or knife.”’

-““P]] keep my eyes open for him.”’

‘“That’s right, keep your eyes peeled.
If he tries to jump on you, holler for help.
There goes the music!’’

The dance had begun.

The music was rather lively, and the

dance started off with a whoop from the

cowboys, who soon kicked up the dust
out of the floor with their heavy boots so
that the entire party fell to coughing. It
was a wild ‘‘hoe in’’ affair such as Frank
Metriwell had heard about, but never
dreamed of taking part in. The foreman
of the ranch, who had been "itrigating™
freely from the jug* of ‘‘strong water’?

which was kept in an ,adjoining room,

stood up on a chair and roared:

‘‘Dance thar, you sfellers, or you’ll git
ther gout!”’

Edna Robinson was the best @ girl dancer
in the room, and Frank entered into the
spirit of the dance most heartily.

The jug’ *of ‘strong water’? had been
freely drawn on by the majority of the
guests, so that every one seemed to feel
like dancing. :

At the expiration of the first dance,
‘Edna whispered to Frank:

“Remember to be on your guard for
Jack Darrol. I like you, and I don’t want
to-see you carved just ee you took a
shine to me.’

Frank thanked her, and they scnatiied:
He took a fancy to.watch the next dance,
and he wandered’ into the room where a
hilarious party was gathered round the

jug. ’

Darrol was there, and he was talking in|

a corner with a big, ugly looking ruffian.
They were speaking in a low tone, and
they saw Frank enter the room.
Almost immediately Darrol left the big
man and approached the boy, ‘saying:
ge wa it slick, tenderfoot, and

scooped my gal. That’s one on me. Let’s
take a drink together and talk it over.”

‘Tam willing to talk,’? said Frank,
pleasantly; ‘‘but I beg you to excuse me
from drinking, as I never touch liquor.”’

““Get out!’’ cried Darrol, with an at-
tempt at good-natured bluffness. ‘That
won’t go down here. You may not drink
in the East; but everybody drinks out
here. Eh, boys???’

‘“That’s right,’’? chorused the gather-
ing.

‘*So now, come on,’’ said Darrol, drop-
ping a hand on Frank’s arm. ‘It is a
personal insult to refuse to drink when
asked—it’s an insult to me and to Lije
Robinson, who provides the stuff.’’

‘“T am sorry; I assure-you I mean no
insult to anybody, but I never touch
liquor, and I cannot do so now.

Frank regretted that he had entered the
rooin, but now that he was there, the
only possible course seemed to be to keep
a stiff back and face the affair through to
the end. He knew well enough that Dar-
rol meant to force a quarrel, and he did
not mean tc be taken at an advantage.

Darrol’s teeth came together with a
click.

“You must drink!”’

“You cannot force me to do so.”’

‘‘Vou’re a baby! Men drink whisky;
babies drink milk. Boys, who’ll bring
the baby-boy some milk 2”?

The hot blood rushed tO Frank? s
cheeks, but he held himself in check.

Darrol’s scornful words had caused the
big ruffian to roar with laughter, and the
boy looked sharply at the man. The
giant's hands were resting on his hips,
and, in a moment, Frank noted that the
little finger of the left hand was missing!

That discovery came near staggering
}Frank Merriwell.

finger of his left hand.
The big fellow spoke:

watered.’

The vate was that of the masked giant,
and Frank knew this man had been =
the train-wreckers.

 

He remembered that the giant among
the train-wreckers had lost the little

‘‘Reo’ler cow’s* milk might be too
strong for the kid; he must take it

Such Demy the case, it was possible ; <

 

   
  
   
    
  
      
      
      
      
   
   
       
      
        
           
        
        
       
       
 
      
     
   
     
       
       
        
    
   
    
       
 
    
      
   
        

 

vw
 

     
     
    
      
   
     
   
     
      

Jack Darrol was one of the. dastardly
band.

Besides those two, there might be many
more of the wreekers present at the dance.

Frank began to feel that his situation
was far from pleasant, as it was possible
those men would suspect*him of being a
spy. At any rate, if Darrol belonged. to
the band, he would stand little show of
receiving a square deal.

Frank’ backed up against the wall, not
wishing to be caught from behind.

“Boys,” cried Darrol, ‘‘hold the jug,
an’ I'll lead the kid to it.”’

‘All right,’’ laughed the giant; ‘‘bring
ther babby up.’”?

“Tf you touch me, you will besdam-
aged,’’ said the boy, very calmly.

Darrol laughed. derisively, and at-
tempted to grasp Frank’s arm, when——

Spat! a hard fist struck the young

ruffian fairly between the eyes, driven
with all the strength of Frank Merriwell’s
muscular arm. © ‘

Having been the champion all-round
athlete and boxer at school, Frank was
not to be despised, boy though he was;
and the promptness with which the calm
lad knocked Jack Darrol down brought
exclamations of amazement from the men
in that room. Ra

‘‘What’s this??? roared the giant,
_thunderstruck. ‘‘Dern my eyes! the kid
_has hit Jack with a club!’

*“‘Nary club,’’ declared another. who
was no less astonished. **He done it with
his little fist!’

‘“But—but he knocked Jack down!”?

«Sure pop.’’

“Tt wuz an accident—it sure wuz an
accident. No onery kid like this could do
that job.’’ |

‘“‘Waal,’’ growled the big ruffian, ‘‘I
reckon I'll have ter spank ther babby fer
that.”

He took a step toward Frank, but took
_ Darrol sat up, sharply, crying:

“ayer, you! don’t be interfering with
my meat! I can look out for myself; let
the tenderfoot alone.”’

“All right, Jack, $f yer say/so; but thes

ae Ma tenderfoot seems ter be mighty
ee tively.”

‘“I’l] make him lively!’ snarled the

_ young ruffian, as he got upon his feet, his
black. eyes fixed menacingly on Frank.

‘a Sa?

FRANK MERRIWELL IN COLORADO. s 23

 

‘Boy, there’s going to.bea funeral to-
morrow, and you’ll provide the corpse!’’

‘“‘You alarm me,’’ smiled Frank, his
manner seeming to indicate that he was
quite cool and unconcerned. ‘‘This is the
first time I have heard that such an event
is to take place.”’

Ol. 2e18%",

‘“That’s what I said.”’

‘‘Well, you hear it now, and you hear
it straight. No man ever struck me like
that and got away with a whole skin;
much less, a kid.’?

Slipping his feet forward slowly, Jack
Darrol began advancing inch by inch
toward the boy. Looking the man square
in the eye, Frank saw murder there.

‘*Brace up!’* was his mental exclama-
tion. ‘‘You are in a decidedly bad
scrape.’’

Then he flung up one hand, crying:

“Stop, Jack Darrol! If you crowd me,
you will be the one to get hurt!”’

This brought a roar of laughter from
the ruffianly gang, for there was not one
present who did not think Frank had suc-
ceeded purely by accident in knocking
Darrol off his.feet. That there was the
least chance for such a thing to be re-
peated they did not dream.

Darrol did not laugh, nor dia he pause.
He continued to advance on the lad, and
his manner of. doing so was So snaky that
it gave Frank a chill.

Of a sudden, Darrol’s hand disappeared
into his bosom, appeared again, and in
his fingers glittered a knife. Not a word
came from his lips, but he hurled himself
forward, striking straight at. Frank Merri-
well’s heart.

‘It was the first time in his life that

| Frank had faced peril of such a nature,

and he retained his presence of, mind in a
most marvelous manner. rads

Swift as were Darrol’s movements,
Merriwell moved still more swiftly. Like
a cat, he leaped aside, and the blade of

the knife i in Jack Darrol’s hand was ariven

into the wall. Like a cat, Frank went

under his assailant’s arm, caught Darrol

by the collar, stooped with a twisting
movement, and flinging the fellow over his
back, sent him whirling oe across the
room. - i
It was a wrestling fick “Frank had
studied, and, in this case, he had exerted

.

     
     

  
  
   
  
   
    
    
  
  
  
  
   
  
    
   
  
   
   
    
  
  
    
   
  
 
   
  
   
 

 

 
 

pee)

every man m
Darrol, and,

%

24

every pound of ~strength he possessed.

The result amazed all’ who witnessed the
feat.

‘ Darrol spun and slid across the room,
and his. head struck the wall with such
force that he fell back and lay quivering
on the floor.

For a moment an awed hush came over
the ruffans who had seen this wonderful
feat; then the silence was broken by a
roar ‘of astonishment and anger.

‘Out came revolvers, and bang, bang,
bang, out went the lights, the lighted
wicks being cut by the bullets.

Quick as thought, Frank Merriwell

flung himself flat upon the floor, and a

dozen bullets passed - over his body and
lodged in the wall.

CHAPTER X.
‘FRANK OVERHEARS A PLOT.

Up to the moment Jack Darrol drew
the knife Frank had not realized the full
extent of his danger. Now he knew that
that room stood in’ with
more than that, was ready
to shoot in a manner that was decidedly
dangerous.

Having dropped to the floor when the
lights were extinguished, he escaped
harm.

For all of his fortune thus far, he felt

that he was still in a bad scrape, and he

instantly resolved to get out of the room
with the least delay possible.

‘The door will be guarded,’’ was his
thought. ‘‘I must escape by the window.”’

He had located the window before the
lights were shot out, and he’ made for it
the instant he could ‘leap to his feet..

_ By good fortune, he made no mistake.

But the window was. closed, and it did
not open to his touch.

Frank backed off a few steps, preparing
to hurl himself headlong through the
witidow, for he was ready to accept a few
gashes from broken glass if he could get

. anes. without further damage.

Just as he was on the point of making

a leap he felt himself grasped by the hands.

_of' some unseen person.

_ Finding he could not break away, the
_ desperate boy turned and grappled with
panies ‘assailant.
ae Not' a oe passed borten them, but)

answering so many “questions. :
there. I want you to watch ’em, while iT
gathee in Wat Dutch, MES You stick. to” |

 

 

FRANK MERRIWELL, IN COLORADO,

the man quickly found he had more than
his match.

With an outlay of strength that aston-

ished himself, Frank broke the man’s
hold, lifted him from-his feet and fairly
hurled him through the window.
- In another moment the lad had followed
the man through the window, striking on
his feet, and he lost not a moment in slip-
ing away from that locality.

Round the corner of the house he went,
and there he paused in the darkness, mut-
tering :

‘“That was a decidedly close shave, and
I don’t care about getting into that kind
of a scrape again. It is rather unhealthy
round “hete, and I feel like moving. on
without delay.”

Barely had these words left his lips
when he felt himself clutched once more,
and his first thought was that he had
been followed by the man whom he had
cast through the window; but he was
amazed to hear a familiar voice say:

“So you’ve struck fast company, have
you, Frank Merriwell? Well, you area
rising young man, and it may be hard
work to down you. Now, I am a fellow
who never had an opportunity to rise—
unless it happened to be Si toe of
somebody’s boot.’’

“Hard Pill!’ eee Prank
—you here?’?

‘‘T guess yes.’? . ~

“Why—why, how——’’ a

‘“‘Now don’t go to asking too many :
questions,’’ cautioned the tramp, for it
was indeed Harden Pillsbury. ‘‘I am_
here about my business—seeking an op-
portunity. ”’

‘An opportunity for what?”

‘OSh! Keep your voice down. Are you
aware that you have ee into-a nest
of very bad birds ?”?

“T had begun to suspect it. ys
« “Um=yes, Well,

“Vou

away from here soon as possible.’’
“T think you’re right.”’
“T know I am.
horses out here a short distance.
mind how they came there. I object to

 

    
    

it is not healthy 5 = e
round these parts, and it will beagoqgd
thing for you to move right up and get Pb

    
       
    

Now, I have some rar
Never. “21:

        
 

They’ fais |

      
   
 

  
  
 
  

  
  
   

  
 
 
  
 
 
  

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 

FRANK MERRIWELL IN COLORADO, 26

me, and you’ll come out of this with a
whole skin; but I don’t allow you'll be

“that lucky if you attempt to go it alone,”’

Frank did not know just why, but he

placed a large amount of confidence in,

Hard Pill, wretched tramp and vagrant
though the fellow was; and he permitted

‘himself to be led away by the. man,

although fully aware that he was taking
many chances by so doing.

They proceeded some little distance in-
to the darkness, and then they came toa
hollow where three horses were huddled.
Hard Pill quieted the animals by speaking
to them in a low tone, and the lad noticed
that the voice of this miserable tramp

was musical and soothing.

““Stay right here till I come back,’’ ad-
vised the man. ‘‘Keep close to the
horses.’

And then, before Frank could say any-
thing more, Hard Pill slipped away into
the darkness.

There had been considerable excite-
ment about the ranch, but it was sub-|a
siding, although Frank had no doubt but

~asearch was being made for him at that

moment.

The music had started up again, and he
could hear the cowboys whooping with
delight as they capered about.

It was all very wild and strange to
Frank Merriwell, and he wondered if he

were not dreaming.

What had become of Hans ead rirenes

Side?

He began to feel as if he had deserted

‘the Dutch lad ina time of danger, and

that thought made him very uneasy and
restless.
Then, when he came to think of it all,

_ Hard J Pill had acted queerly. He had de-

clined to answer questions, and he had
seemed to talk and appear differently from
his manner at the time when Frank had
first seen him.

‘“There’s something about that fellow

that isn’t just as it shows on the surface,’’
- thought the boy. ‘‘He did not question
me as to how I came here, and he would
not allow me to question him.’”

-Frank’s uneasiness increaseed.  Per-
haps, after all, Hard Pill was not to us

be trusted.

 

 

   

_ Then came a thought that fonts stip:

 

‘““How should a tramp have three
horses? If he did not steal them, it is
possible he contemplates doing so. Or it
is possible I have let him lead me into a
trap. If I were found here with these
horses, I should be taken for a horse-thief,
and they make short work of horse-thieves
out in this country.’’ ‘.

“It did not take Frank ong to decide
that hé would look after Hans himself.
He could see no reason why a common
tramp should take so much interest in
them, and he was not going to trust
everything to Hard Pill.

Having atrived at a belief that it was:
not best to trust the tramp too far, it was
not long before Frank slipped away from
the horses, and he breathed easier when
he was at a safe distance in the darkness.

‘‘Now,’’ he muttered, ‘“‘I must ap-
proach the house without being seen. I’Il
slip round behind the nearest corral.’’

This he soon did, but, as he was steal-
ing round the corral, he was brought to

sudden halt by the sound of voices close
at hand—the voices of men talking ina
low tone in the darkness.

Slowly and cautiously Frank crept ii
ward, and he was soon able to make out
that a little knot of men had gathered
there in the darkness, and the manner in
which they were speaking seemed to indi-
cate they did not wish to be overheard.

The boy’s curiosity was thoroughly
aroused, and he resolved to hear what the
men were saying, if possible. .

Lying flat upon the ground, he wormed
his way forward, and he did not stop till
he was near enough to overhear and
understand their talk. ,

The first words he heard were spoken
by the big man who had been so ready to
back Jack Darrol a short time before.
This man, whom Frank firmly believed
was one of the train-wreckers, was saying:

‘“That boy is altogether too smart for
an innercent kid—you hear me. He
didn’t come hyar for the fun of it, you
bet; an’ I think we hadn’t oughter rest
till be s found.’’ \

“Oh, let the kid go, Hank!’ said
another voice, which Frank instantly —
recognized as being that of the leader of |
the train-wreckers. ‘‘He’s liable to come .
back to the ranch, and then os
take care of him.’
 

a8

   

26

“Darrol is the man to do that.’’

“Wa-al, I dunno,’’ put in .a third.
From what we saw,’ ther boy is altogether
too swift fer Darrol.”’

‘“‘Next time it will be different. But
the chances are that the boy was so badly
scared that he hasn’t stopped running
yet, and I do ut think he will be found. ”

“Vou’re m.xin’ a mistake in that

boy,’’ declared the voice of the giant.
‘To begin with, he ain’t as young as, he

looks—not by a blamed sight; and you’d
all oughter

he appeared.
he turned out to be Jarvis Jackson, the
detective who had sworn to break us up.”’

“Oh, he ain't Jackson! Such a thing
is impossible.

‘“Mebbe so; mebbe not.”’

“Well, Jackson or not, we’re to throw
the east bound Pacific express just the
same, eh ?”’

‘Of course.’

Now the boy in the grass listened with
the most intense eagerness.

“Tt’s a daring scheme, cap; right on
top .of our failure with the Overland
Flyer.’

‘That is why I believe in doing it at
once. In every other instance we have
waited some time, and then had madé a
big jump from one place to another. We
won’t be expected to repeat the trick on
the same _ track in a little more than
twenty-four hours.’ ’

“That’s right. 2

‘‘Of course it’s right.”

‘Well, what you say goes.

“Then be at White G sap to-morrow
night at the time set, and we will carry
out the work. We can dump the express
into Sandy Creek, and we’ll do the job
under cover of darkness, too.’’
~ “All right, cap, we'll be on hand.”’

Frank hugged the ground, his heart
pounding in his bosom, for he had over
heard a plot to wreck ‘another train, and

he knew that he, and he alone, might be

able to save that train. If he were dis-
covered, he would not only lose his own
life, but the lives of many on the express
would be sacrificed.

The boy was horrified by the cold-
blooded manner in which the desperadoes
had talked of hurling the ee from

 

‘ the track into neces Creek.

FRANK MERRIWELL IN COLORADO.

know he ain’t as innercent as}
I wouldn’t be surprised if|

‘of the boy’s arm.

 

‘They are monsters!’’ he mentally ex-
claimed. ‘‘If I am discovered by those
ruffians, it will mean sure death !”’

He was about to begin creeping away,
but he suddenly ‘realized that it was too
late. The little party of plotters was
breaking up and separating.

Then Frank caught his breath ‘end
hugged the ground, for one of the men
was coming that way.

Straight “toward the spot where Frank
lay walked the man,
grass began to think that he was sure to
be discovered.

CHAPTER XI.
IN THE HERDERS’ HUT,

Frank lay close and still upon the
ground, and the man passed within reach
Frank did not venture
to stir till the sound of footsteps had died
out.

‘To-morrow night at White Gap,’’
thought Frank Merriwell. ‘‘I ought to be
able to save that train—-— I must do so!
More—I should be able to trap those
ruffians in some way. I must trust to my-
self—I must depend on myself. How can
I get there? Those horses~+I can take one
of them—must do so. I must run my
chances of being taken for a horse-thief.”’

He was on his feet and ready for the
move, when he suddenly exclaimed :

“Hans !?

He could not desert the Dutch boy
Hans must be found and taken along.

With great caution, he passed round
the corral and approached the house, from
which’ came the sounds of hilarious
revelry. In afew moments he obtained
a position where he could look in by a
window, and he saw Hans wildly prancing
around in the midst of the dancers.

It was evident the Dutch boy ‘was hav--

ing a very good.time, and Frank was tre-
lieved to see that his ‘friend had not been
harmed. ~

‘Ten to one he doesn’t know anything

about my close call. If he did, he’d not
be there.

closely that the ruffians have not had a

good opportunity to down him, if they.
He is quite un-—
How in the world
am I going to get him out of that? It Wile

contemplate doing so.
aware of his danger.

not do for me to go in there, and——"?

and the lad in the

    
  

 

He has stuck by the girls so-
4 _ Frank, modestly.

FRANK MERRIWELL IN COLORADO.

He broke off abruptly, for the ranch
door opened, and a girl came out. Fora
moment the light behind her revealed her
distinctly.

It was Edna Robinson.

“Why 4s. she coming out here?”
thought Frank. ‘‘If she will get away
from that door, I can—— _ By Jingoes!
she is going!”’

Edna came down the veranda, and
passed round the corner of the house.

Frank lost no time in following.

**Miss Robinson,’’ he called, in a low
tone.

She was a short distance ahead of him,
and he saw her pause an , uttering a
low cry. In a moment h s beside her,
saying, swiftly, in a guarded manner:

‘“This is a great piece of fortune! How
did you happen to come out here ?’’

*‘T came to look for you,’’ she replied.

VOL met.

‘CVes, ”)

‘How did you happen todo so?’ .

*‘T heard Bud Hayes and Mike Grady
talking. They did not know I was listen-
ing. We all thought the shooting and the
smashing of the window was a little fun—
that is, we thought so at first. After a
while I missed you. And then I found
Jack had a black eye. . I began to suspect
you had gone into that room and found

_ trouble; but Icouldn’t find out a thing
 tfll I heard Hayes and Grady talking it
over. They said you soaked Jack in the
eye and then threw him against the wall
and stunned him when he tried to stab
you. How could you do it? Why, you
are only a boy, and Jack Darrol is a tiger
to fight.”? .
“YT don’t know how I did it,’’ said
**T found I was» cor-
nered and must do something, so I waded
leks?
; ‘“‘Now they think you’re a detective,
or something; but I don’t believe. it.
You’re not a detective, are you?’
7 ce oO. +

**T knew it; but Hayes was sure you
could not be as young as you look.”’

“Tam younger, as I am
vage,”?
‘Well, you are certainly the most won-
_derful boy I ever knew; but you must not
go back there. There are some ugly men
in there, and you could not get off so well

large for my

27

though you are his guest. I did not ex-
pect to find you; but now that I have, I
will tell you that you must. go away from
| here at once.’’

| ‘*T am quite ready to go,’’ half-laughed
ithe boy. *But it is not so easy getting
|away.’?

| ‘TY will provide a horse for you. I own
two horses of my own, and you shall have
one of them.”’

‘*But I cannot go away and leave Hans
Dunnerwust.’’

‘‘Of course
alone.”’

The way she spoke the words made the
boy fear she was about to make an open
declaration of affection for him, but if she
felt such an impulse, she restrained it.

“‘Dunnerwust shall have my other
horse,’’ she declared. ‘‘Strike straight
for the railroad, which is to the south.
The clouds are beginning to break away
without so much as a’drop of rain, for all
of Professor Side’s efforts, of which he
has been telling the company. ‘The stars
will guide you. From the wire fence to
the railroad is but a short distance—two
or three miles, When you reach the
track, turn to the west, and you will come
to a station within eight or ten miles.
There you can flag the first train, and take
my advice, get out of this part of the
country as soon as You can. , We may
never meet again, but you are the boy
who .downed Jack Darrol, and I shall not
forget you.’’

‘‘Nor shall I forget you,’’ assured
Frank. ‘‘You have done me a great
service. How can I pay the debt I shall
owe you?’ <3

He saw her head droop, and her words
were a mere murmur, as she said:

‘‘Pay me? I don’t know. Do you want
to pay me?’’

~*“To be sure I do.”’

In a moment she stepped close to him,
and swiftly whispered:

‘‘T don’t care if tt is bold—I don’t care
what you think! We’ll never see each
other again. Then kiss me—kiss me
good-by!”’ ,

Frank hesitated in his surprise. To be
sure this girl was not like other girls he
had met; but he knew from her speech
and her manner that she had not lived all

jagain. Father could not protect you, even

not! I thought of you

 

 
28

her life on aranch. She admired him,
but still she looked on him as a boy,
younger than herself, and she asked a kiss
in return for what she had offered to do
for him—for saving his life, perhaps.

He felt the blood burning in his cheeks,
and then, just as his hand touched hers,
she started away, exclaiming:

‘‘No! Isee you do think Iam bold—
too bold. Perhaps I am. Good-by!”’

Before he could detain her, she darted
away, leaving the boy troubled with con
fusion and regret.

‘It is her way,’’? he murmured. ‘‘She
thas befriended me; I should not have
hesitated, and now——”?

“Now I'll fix you!’

He distinctly heard the words—recog-
nized the voice—and then it seemed that
the very heavens fell crashing upon his
defenseless head.

Jack Darrol had followed the girl, and
he had seen them»meet. Consumed by
jealousy, he crept swiftly up behind
Frank Merriwell, and the butt of a heavy
revolver struck the boy senseless to the
ground.

With the return of consciousness, Frank
_ became aware that two men were quarrel-
ing near at hand. He started to sit up,
and then he discovered that he was bound
securely,

“He isaspy. How can you doubt it.
He must be put out of the way.”’

It was Darrol’s voice.

“You're away off, Darrol,”? declared
the voice of the other man, ‘and the un-
fortunate lad recognized it as that of Lije
Robinson, the rancher. ‘‘This yar boy is
no spy, and I don’t propose ter have him
murdered on my ranch. You hear me
shout !?’ .

“I wish I had finished him, instead of
bringing him here! I’d done it, too, if
you hadn’t made such a fuss about having
him wiped out round the house.”’

“You're altogether too ready ter do
dirty- work. That? s why Edna has soured
on you.’’

‘*And she has taken a fancy toa baby,
like this youngster!’
“It’s a mighty
| ~ youngster is, as your eye shows. - You’re
eieplons of him, Jack, an’ that’s what’s

ae matter with yeu: er Book,

4

lively babby this

 

FRANK MERRIWELL IN COLORADO,

‘Tf the whole gang is roped in you’ll be
to blame for it.’’ .

“Pll take ther chances. I promised my
little gal that I’d see this yam kid hada
squar’ deal, an’ I’m goin’ ter do it, you
bet!”

‘"Well, are you goin’ to set him free,

‘and let him run ?”’

‘‘Not yet. I’m goin’ ter keep him hyar
a while, till I am sure he ain ‘ta spy.”

CThen what ?”’

‘‘T may set him free.’’

Darrol growled in his throat, like an
enraged beast.

“Why, don’t you take him home, and
marry him toeyeur daughter, She’ s in
love with the baby, and she——”’ Z

““Stop—stop right thar, Jack Darrol!
It won’t be healthy fer you ef you slur
my little gal! She’s as good a gal as ever
drew a breath; an’ she ain’t got no reason
ter be proud of her father. Ef she knew
ther whole truth, I’d never dare look her
in ther eyes again; an’ I’m aftaid she
suspects a heap.”’

‘You’re getting soft, Rob!”

“'Wa-al, I do curse ther day day I ever
fell in with this yar gang, an’ I’d like ter

begin life over; but it’s too late, an’ I

can’t turn back. Some day Edna’ll know
her old dad fer jest what he is, an’ then—
wa-al, life won’t be worth much arter
that!’ “
Frank felt a sudden sympathy for
Robinson, as it was evident the man was
not wholly bad. He had fallen into evil
ways, and had been led on by evil com-
panions, but he was inclined to be re- —
morseful. Sak
Darrol laughed harshly.
“You make me sick!
join the church!”’

You’d better go

"That? s all right, Jack; you ain’t got

a gal o’ your own as loves yer, an’ so you
don’t know.’’
‘‘Drop that! It’s this kid we were talk-—
ing about. So you’re bound to a him
here ?”?
‘‘Ror a while.’ hi
‘“There may be a search for him.’?
‘“Wa-al, they won’t be likely to find ©
him in ‘this old herders’ hut.’’
‘He may get away.”’ ‘Ss cs
“Not with Manuel watchin’ hin, ie ie
‘“Then you’re goin’ to leave —— to.
guar. him My cried Darrol, areas

 

 
“T am; an’ I’m goin’ ter tell ther
greaser that ther boy ain’t ter be hurt.
Pll fix it so you can’t get back hyar an
knife ther lad, you bet! You thought o’
doin’ that—I saw it. @MWa-al, you can’t
work ther trick, Jack.”’

‘‘Bah! You're a fool!”

“‘T may be; but I kin read you.”’

‘OSh! The boy moved—he’s coming
round. We’d better get out.”

*“Phat’s right. Come on.’’

They hurriedly left the hut.

‘“This is what I call a mighty bad
scrape,’’? thought Frank, as he strained
at his bonds.» The chances are against
me, for Darrol means to murder me in the
end. Ihave been getting in deeper and
deeper, ard it looks as if I had got in so
far that there is no getting out. These
rawhide ropes, they cut into my wrists,
but I cannot loosen them. So I am to be
left to the care of a greaser. ‘Ten to one,
Darrol will slip back here, fill the greaser
With liquor, and then finish me. Frank

- Merriwell, you have, been in many tight
places, but this looks about as bad as any
of them.”’

His head was throbbing with the pain
of the blow he had received, but he did
not think of that.

In vain he tried to free his hands; the

_work of binding him had been well done.

In a few moments the door of the hut
opened, and a villainous-looking Mexican

entered. —

Frank tried to talk with the fellow, but
the Mexican would make no reply to his
questions. Squatting in a corner, the
fellow rolled and lighted cigarette after
cigarette, smoking in stony silence.

_ ‘The hours passed, and Frank was.sure
another day had dawned, although it was
dark and gloomy within the hut, which
_was lighted by a single candle. The burn-
ing of the candle téld him the flight of
time. It burned itself out, and another
was lighted by the Mexican. \
At length, utterly worn out and ex-
hausted, although aching in every limb,
_ the captive boy slept.

~ When Frank awoke it was with a feel-

 

 

 
   
   
   
 
   
  
 
   
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
   
   
   
  
  
  
   

of, his stomach. The old Mexican was
still squatting in the corner and the boy
b lieved. the ee: asleep; but. ae in-

  
 
 

 

FRANK MERRIWELL IN COLORADO.

ing of hunger seeming to gnaw at the pit

  

29:

stant Frank stirred, Manuel was on the
alert.

‘*Say,’’ Frank called,
starved to death ?””

Without a word, the Mexican arose and
brought some coarse bread and water to
the captive.

Placing the bread and water on the
ground, the guard cut the bonds that held
the boy’s hands; but as Frank was ready
to fling himself at Manuel, a revolver ap-
peared in the fellow’s hand, and it was
pointed straight at.the lad’s head.

Frank ate in silence, and he was forced
to submit himself to be bound again when
he had satisfied his hunger. -
~ ‘hen came other wretched hours, and
the boy began to long for something to
happen.

He thought of the plot to wreck the °
Pacific express, and a groan was forced
from his lips when he contemplated his
inability to prevent the consummation of
the nefarious scheme.

Another night must be at Hind Ina
short time-the train would be derailed,
and many of the passengers must be
hurled into eternity.

What was that? Frank listened, and he
was sure he could hear the thud-thud of
horses’ feet. The sound came nearer and
nearer; it stopped close to the hut.

Manuel arose, his hand resting on a
weapon.

Then the door of the hut was flung
open, and ini the doorway appeared Edna
Robinson, the rancher’s daughter!

‘fam I to be

ee

CHAPTER XII.
TRAPPED.

“Round !””

The word fell from the girl’s lips as her
eyes rested on Frank Merriwell.

Frank gave an exclamation of relief and
satisfaction. |

Manuel seemed to hesitate.

Suddenly the girl whirled toward the
Mexican, and a revolver appeared in her
hand. It was ponies straight at Manuel 's
head.

‘“Throw down your weapons!’ she
cried. ‘‘Throw them down! You know
me, and you know I can shoot. If you do-

not obey me, I swear I will shoot you!”’ .
There could be no doubt but she was. in >

 

  
 

-

 

aes

30 FRANK MERRIWELL IN COLORADO.

deadly earnest, and with a muttered ejac-
ulation in Spanish, the Mexican cast his
weapous on the dirt floor at his feet. She
made him thus dispose of every one of
them, then she made him hold his hands
above his head, face about, and walk up
against ‘the wall.

Quickly catching up Manuel’s knife,
the girl lost not a moment in setting:
Frank free.

“This makes the debt larger than it
was before,’’ he said. ‘‘I cannot—’’

‘*Don’t spend time in talk,’’ she cut
‘in. ‘‘We have no time to lose. I knew
they had taken you somewhere, but it
was no easy task finding you. You must
not fall into their hands again. Here,
take these cords, bind that greaser’s
hands, and make them secure. He must
be trussed up so he cannot wiggle till
some one sets him free.’’

Frank followed her directions in every-
thing, and it was not long before Manuel
was lying on the floor, bound so he could
scarcely wiggle a finger.

‘'That settles him,’’ said the girl.
‘‘Now we must be off. Come.”’

He followed her from the hut, and it
was with a feeling of unutterable thank-
fulness that he breathed the free air
again.

It was near sunset. Unless he could
prevent it, in a few hours the express
would be derailed at White Gap.

There were two horses near at hand,
both saddled.

‘‘T brought an extra horse, hoping I’d
find you,’’ explained the girl. ‘‘We must
strike for the railroad without the loss of
a moment.’’

“But the other boy—Hans Dunner-
wust ?’’

‘“He disappeared, together with the
tain-maker. Somebody told him you had
gone, and he said he wouldn’t stop run-
ning till he struck Denver. Come,
mount. ’’

She was in the saddle before he could
swing up, and soon they were riding
away to the south. Few words passed.be-
tween them, for the girl did not seem in-
clined to talk.

The sun sunk from view, and night
came on. Still the gitl led the way un-
hesitatingly. When they reached the

 

barbed-wire fence, she dismounted, and it
did not take her long to remove the top
strand, so they were able to leap the
horses over.

Then, passing @hrough a broken coun-
try, they cane to the railroad and toa
small station, about which were a collec-
tion of rude houses. Hdna accompanied
Frank to the station.

It happened that the station-agent was
on the point of closing. He had been
talking with a long, lank, red-headed,
trampish-looking man, who turned to
leave, and ran full into Frank.

‘*Hard Pill!” cried the boy, in surprise.

‘Well, throw me cold!’’ gasped the
tramp. ‘‘You have turned up all right!
That’s a surprise. We gave you up as
done for.”’

“We? Who?”

‘Phe rain-maker, the Dutch boy, and
myself.’’

“Hans and Turner Side; where are

they ?”’

vetaeeres. | e

‘“Where??? :

‘‘Near-by, at the hotel.’’

‘*A hotel in this place ?”’

‘Well, it is called that; but it’s not
exactly first-class.’ .

Frank was relieved, but he had no time
to ask for a complete explanation. He
remembered that there was a plot to
wreck the express, and he asked how far
it was to White Gap. When he found it
was less than ten miles away, he took
Hard Pill aside, and said:

\‘Look here, Iam going to trust you,
for it seems that you are square.’

‘‘Appearances may be against me, but —

I’m -a white man,’’

assured the vaga-
bond.”

‘““Well, I know of a plot to wreck the

Pacific express this night, and—”’
Hard Pill caught Frank by the shoulder,
with a grip of iron, hoarsely hissing: ;
‘‘You know of a plot to wreck the ex-
press? Then tell me, boy; tell me!”?
“But you re

 

‘Look here, I am no tramp; I am.
and I am

Jarvis Jackson, a detective,
here to break up this gang of train-
wreckers. You can help me, and you
shall have the ctedit for doing so. You

    

ie ee oa

 

 

are a boy, but you’re the smartest lad I
ever struck, and that’s why Iam ready to _
a.

See

af Pcs if

“A

ie?

  

‘not do to tell her too much,

but Wym

 

FRANK MERRIWELL IN COLORADO.

give myself away to you. Tell me what
you know, and be lively.’’
So Frank told the man everything, and

he did not waste many words in doing so.

“Good !??) cried the detective. “I “will |
best Wyman Hawes on this job.”’

‘*Who is Wyman Hawes?’

‘““Turner Side, the rain-maker. Heisa

rival detective, and I am dead onto him;
I have penetrated his disguise. Tl] dump
fifty men upon the wreckers, at White
Gap, and I reckon the gang will be wiped
out.”?

He stopped the station agent as that
worthy was leaving, and, ten
later, a cipher telegram was being sent to
intercept the express a hundred miles

west of White Gap.

* * * * “k

In a remarkably brief space of time
Jarvis Jackson set his trap, as he had

been prepared to act swiftly in case it

should be required.

Edna Robinson, forgotten for the time
by Frank, had overheard the boy when
he told Jackson he knew. of a plot to
wreck the express. In a moment*she was
excited and interested, but she had not
been able to hear and understand more of
the conversation that passed between the

Jad and the detective.

As soon as possible, Edna drew Frank

aside, and began to question him.

The boy instantly realized that it would
for it was
quite likely that Robinson himself was
with the train-wreckers.

Feeling like an ingrate, sick of the
whole business, Frank ‘avoided telling her
at what point the wreckers meant to de-
rail the train; avoided doing so till Hard
Pill stepped in and told her a deliberate
falsehood.

Sometime later a little band of horse-
men rode out from the town, and made
= Straight for White Gap.

And they were followed by the girl,
who had not been deceived by Hard Pill.

Frank and Hans were with the party,
Hawes was left behind. ©
Every individual of the eas was

‘thoroughly armed.

Before White Gap was reached the
oe left the horses behind, proceeding
_ cautiously on foot.

Jackson aid” some es on his own

minutes

 

 

31
hook, and succeeded in locating the
wreckers, after which he struck the rail-
road to the west, and fastened two tor-
pedoes to the track. +

When this was arranged, he placed his
men so the wreckers were cut off on one
side, and then they waited for the express.

It came on time, and the explosion of
the torpedoes gave the warning required.

The train stopped before the fatal point
was reached—stopped to allow a band of
men to leap off, every man carrying a
rifle.’

Then it was that the wreckers sought
to ‘take to flight,
between two fires, as Jackson. was ready
for the move..

A short, fierce encounter followed, and
the ruffians wete overpowered, although
they did not surrender till several had

been shot down

but found themselves 3

When the captured desperadoes were in-

spected, Jack Darrol was found among
them. He fairly frothed at the mouth, as
his eyes rested on Frank Merriwell.

‘I knew it!’ he grated. ‘‘I knew you
were aspy! You have worked the trick,
as I told Robinson you would.”’

A hand was on Frank’s arm, a pleading
voice sounded in his ear:

‘“My father—where is he? Is he here?
Save him—help him to escape! Remem-
ber what I have done for you!”’

It was Edna Robinson, and the appeal
touched the boy’s heart. He did not pause
to ask how she came there, but he cau>
tiously declared :

‘‘T will save him if it is possible.’

Then he found Jackson—told him all—
explained how the capture could not have
been effected but for Edna.

‘Now she asks that her father may be
given a show to escape. Can it be done?
He saved my life, and now——”’

‘“We’ll try it,’’ whispered Jackson.

Five minutes later there was consider-

’

able commotion, for one of the captives —

broke away and took to his heels) being
quickly swallowed in the darkness. Thirty
bullets were sent after him, but Lije
Robinon escaped unscathed.

“The girl had disappeared, and Frank
Merriwell never saw her again. Nor was
Robinson captured. He did not return to

his ranch, and Frank believes he is living /
in some foreign land, safe from the clutch —

ae

   

 
 

  

32

 

FRANK MERRIWELL IN COLORADO.

of the law, aud trying to be an honest!country to the other that a boy had been

man. It is probable that Edna is with
him. /

The other wreckers who were captured
were brought to trial, and all of them re-
ceived long sentences. As Jack Darrol
was shown to be sort of a lieutenant, he
was given a sentence equal to that of the
chief of the gang.

Wyman Hawes, the ‘‘rain-maker,’’ was
thoroughly disgusted by Jackson’s suc-
cess; but Jackson came out fairly and de-
clared he owed it all to Frank’ Merriwell,
so it was soon known from one end of the

(en ac a a eg ee a ee 4

IT TOPS EVERYTHING!

ie LOE

 

instrumental in breaking up the worst
band of train-wreckers ever known.
Frank and Hans rejoined Professor

Scotch in Denver, and the trio continued’

on their travels.
[THE END. ]

‘“RRANK MERRIWELL IN ARIZONA; or,
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1.—Frank Merriwell’s Fate; or, The
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14.—Frank .Merriwell in Chicago; <or,
Meshed by Mysteries. By the Au-
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Author of ‘Frank Merriwell.’’
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Author of ‘Frank Merriwell.’’

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Author ot ‘‘Frank Merriwell.”’
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