— me ai = sce ed EPS es Pea Nae an ywtered as Sé fost Office by STREET & SMITH, William St., IV. Y. Price, Five Cents. 96:0 SZ'0 veh ugh at ye: i Re Yi ge Seomses 10109 esUN Aq S1O}OD._ZPZ_40Z veceeed $i] 2805 | 62s | pzze | geen | te'¥s | ze'6e | soz Joze | Iie [ore 28 | Lb uz-| that followed was a scene of terrible carnage, fo ost to them at the moment they i . qi fy! i imme i % 7 e rift har ry A WEEKLY PUBLICATION DEVOTED TO BORDER HISTORY dssued Weekly. By Subscription $2.50 per year. Entered as Second Class Matter at the N. Y. Post Office, by STREET & SMITH, 2398 William St., N.Y. Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1903, ix the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D, C. Wo. 137. NEW YORK, December 26, ~ 1903. Price Five Cents. Red Hand, the White Mystery. - ‘By the author of “BUFFALO BILL.” _ Sg CHAPTER L q an THE RED RIGHT HAND. A singular-looking man, dressed as a Western hunter, | On the hat that covered his handsome, well-shaped _ head was a large pin of red coral, shapel like a human and. r The right hand of the hunter, which rested now on his Mm rifle, was blood-red in color, thus resembling the le m hand pinned to the side of his hat. : | These two things gave him the name by which he was known—Red Hand, the Scout. _ As he stood thus, a deer Jeaped into view, and behind | it came a man. { | \ | | | « The man’s rifle cracked, and the deer fell. | Then the hunter’s rifle sounded, almost as if it were an echo, and the man who had shot the deer fell dead on the | grass. With rapid strides the man of the red right hand ad- vanced and stood over the prostrate form of the man he | had slain. Into his face crept a look that was hard to 4 stood alone in a gorge in the depths of the Black Hills. fathom, for it held hatred, sorrow, triumph and remorse, all commingled. Though limp and stiffening with death, the form of the man who had been shot was of splendid proportions, and clad in a full suit of buckskin. The head was sheltered by a soft felt hat, beneath which were clusters of dark curls clinging around the neck, while the face, pale and lifeless, was most striking in appearance, and had doubtless once been exceedingly handsome, before the stamp of reckless dissipation had ~ been set upon it, . By the side of the slain lay a Spencer rifle, and in his belt were revolvers and knife, none of which. had served him when face to face with Hale man who had taken his life. At length the lips of Red Hand quivered slightly, parted, and he said, half aloud: “At last we have met, Ben Talbot, you and I! “Ves, met here, in the very heart of the wilderness— — how different from our last meeting, seven years ago. “Yes, met! you to fall dead at my feet, and your soul hurled into the bottomless pit by my hand, . 2 THE BUPEALO ‘Dead, Ben Talbot, ay, dead you are, for my aim could not fail when the muzzle of my me covered your cise “A strange fate brought your footsteps to this spot! A strange destiny led me alone into co wilds where I believed a white man never came, “Vour fate led you to death; my destiny led me to avenge. But for the sake of the olden time I will not leave you here to be torn limb from limb by wild beasts. “No; I will bury you beneath that tree, and a grave in the wilderness will be your tomb A moment longer the scout ed: silently and painfully musing,and then the night shadows creeping on, warned him . begin his work. Unslinging, from a loop behind his belt, a small but serviceable hatchet, he began to dig a grave in the soft eatth beneath a sheltering tree. An hour's work, and | he had desc depth, and a the thicket, he cut a number of poles just the length of the grave. een neh ‘iftened form was tenderly raised and laid in its earthly bed, the feet toward the rising sun. Above it the poles were placed and securely fastened, “for Red Hand knew that wild beasts would attempt to rob the grave of its human occupant, Carefully and compactly the grave was filled, and then, in the smooth bark of the tree at its head, Red Hand eut with his knife the name of the man he had slain and the date of his death. Le read: ended .to a sufficient SPEN TLARBOT, “Born “Portsmouth, N. H., “Siain in “The Black Hills, July 10, 1866.” in January 1, As Red Hand cut the last figure in the inscription, the darkness of night came upon the valley Far aboye, on the eastward slope of the hills, was visible the rosy tinge of the departed sunshine, and upon the summit of the western mountains was the mellow light of the rising moon, tinging with silvery radiance the forest-clad scen- ery, grand in its gloom, desolation and death-like silence. CRAP Ai Ue A STARTLING APPARITION, Having completed his task, Red Hand replaced his hatchet in its sling, shouldered his traps, and started down the valley, with steps slow. and uncerta in, as if he hardly cared where he went. A walk of half a mile, and he came to a precipitous hillside, which suddenly brought him to a halt and re- BILL STORIES, called him to himself. He glanced quickly around, and then said: “Why, this is the way I came into the gorge—I am strangely moody to-night; and no wonder, when,=two hours ago, my hand took the life of Ben Talbot. “Well, I must get away from here. This steep slope forces me to go back, too, and I must pass his grave. “T wish I had been less quick in my shot, or less true in my aim. Then his lips would not have been forever sealed, and he could have told me of her; but I forgot— she is dead—forever-dead to me, evem though she were living.” : All at once he stopped his audible musings and stared bout with a start of amazement. er no wonder he started, for there had burst forth won the crisp air the sound of a voice in song. “It was a beautiful, clear voice, but it sounded strangely weird there in that wild gorge. Spellbound, Red Hand stood and listened as the echoes broke upon the hillsides and swept on down the valley. It was a woman's voice. The man stood like one in a dream as the woman trilled forth in rich tones a song un- familiar to his ears: y a “In dreams I sigh for those dark eyes That ever lit with love for me; But they are veiled, their light is gone, And sorrow’s night shades gather fast, As through the vale I’m borne along— An ‘autumn leaf upon the blast.” Suddenly the man’s gaze became fixed upon a form that appeared upon a rocky shelf overhanging the trec beneath which was the new-made grave of Ben Talbot. It was a woman’s form, clad in a garb of white, and down her back hung heavy masses of golden hair. The moon had risen above the eastern hills, and poured a full flood of light directly upon her. Distinctly | large eyes glancing down into the gloom of the gorge be- neath, as if to penetrate the dark secret buried there. Then the song ceased, and the clear voice called out in tones that again startled the. silent depths: “Ben! Ben Talbot! Come!’ With a startled cry of fear, Red and turned and ashed away at mad speed down the gloomy gorge, his staring eyes glancing back as he ran, as.though ¢x- pecting to see upon his path a pursuing phantom. With the speed of a deer he sped along, his teeth shut close, his hands fiercely clinching his rifle, his breath drawn quick and hard, and his whole being wrought up to ae h of terrible excitement by what he had seen. 50 wrought up was he that through the long hours of the nicl he pressed on, until the morning sun, founc da he r o Red Hand beheld the beautiful, sad face, the... i us re him far from the scene where, as if-in punishment for his deed of blood, had appeared before him a very phantom of the mountains. Civ OR fit AN UNEXPECTED SIGHT. Five years afterward the murderer of Ben Talbot re- turried to that grave. The inscription yet remained, though worn by time. Though five years had passed they had left no trace of their footsteps upon the face of the murderer, excepting to make the features harder and sterner. He was dressed pretty nearly as upon his former visit to the gorge, his black felt hat still looped up with the red coral hand, though his knife and revolver were of a newer pattern, and his rifle was one of Evans’ improved repeat- ers, capable of firing thirty-five times without. reloading. When, five years before, Red Hand fled from the Black Hills, he believed he would never again profane its un- cnown fastnesses with his footsteps. But as time passed and the eyes of adventurers and hunters were turned toward the country now called the “Miner's New Eldorado,” a small band of hardy men de- termined to penetrate into its unexplored depths, and seek there the golden fortunes said to be buried beneath the rocky hills. The guide of that party was Buffalo Bill, the famous scout. As the party neared the almost unknown depths of the Black Hills, he had decided to employ another as a guide, for army duty was soon to call him in another direction. The guide thus chosen was Red Hand, for he was well known along the frontier as one of the most daring men on the border, and his skill in wood and prairie craft, and ability to outwit Indian cunning, had gained him a wide- spread reputation among the bold bordermen and the sol- diers of the outposts. Of Red Hand little, if anything, was known regarding his real name, whence he came, or why he, a man of superior education and ability, had banished himself from civilization and become an Indian fighter and hunter upon the Western border. Five years before his solitary pilgrimage into the Black Hills he had appeared upon the frontier, well armed and mounted, and possessed of considerable money, and his polite manner and ready generosity soon won for him marly. admirers, though no man among his companions could boast of being his intimate friend, or of any knowl- edge regarding him. His blood-red right hand attracted attention. But only one man had dared to make jest regarding it, and he never repeated the offense, for he found the stranger not the one to trifle with, THE BUFFALO BIL STORIES: 3 At first, the life on the plains seemed strange to Red Hand, for by that name he now became known, and, as if to encourage it, or to hide his real name, he adorned his hat with the red coral hand. However, he quickly learned the crafty ways of the Indian, could soon strike a trail and follow it across the prairies, became a dead shot with rifle and revolver, and a desperate fighter with the knife. Hence, before two years’ stay on the border, he was noted as a scout and hunter of superior ability, and a man of undaunted courage. After long days of travel the hill country was reached by the exploring party. Remembering a number of advantageous localities for a safe camp, Red Hand conducted the men to one of the most favorable positions. After a short rest he set out alone to visit the gorge, several miles above the encampment, for an irresistible at- traction lured him once more to the place which held the grave of Ben Talbot. For a long time after his arrival there Red Hand stood in silent bitterness at the grave, his eyes cast down and his hands resting upon the muzzle of his rifle. On his stern face was a shadow of mingled sorrow and pain, as some haunting memory was recalled from the long-buried past. At length, with a deep-drawn sigh, he slung his rifle across his shoulder and strode away, his eyes carefully scanning the ground, for around the grave were traces that showed that other feet than his had lately been there. Steadily following the trail, it led him, after a tramp of a mile, into a narrow gulch, where his ears were sud- denly startled by the unexpected and ringing report of. a rifle, followed by a series of yells, which he well. knew to be the war cry of the wild Sioux of the northern tribes. A single shot followed. Feeling confident that some one.of his comrades had left camp and met with a band of Indians, Red Hand ran hastily forward, and turning a bend in the gulch, beheld a sight that for the moment deprived him of action, so great was his surprise, Upon a ledge of rock, and partially protected by a huge bowlder, stood a young girl, scarcely more than six-_. teen years of age. A suit of buckskin, with dressed skirt, and leggings elaborately embroidered, set off her figure, and a soft hat surmounted her head, and half hid bgaids of golden hair that were in lovely contrast to her large, black eyes and dark lashes and eyebrows. The face was browned almost to the hue of an Indian’s, yet the pure blood of the white shone in every feature of her beautiful and daring face. Though in deadly danger, tae girl stood her ground with fearless determination, her small rifle, evidently just 4 THE BUFFALO discharged, clubbed in beth hands to beat back three painted Sioux warriors who were rapidly bounding up the ™ steep hillside to the ledge where she stood. Two more Indians lay further down the slope, one mo- tionless in death, the other writhing in agony, for a stream of Bleed poured from a wound in his side. That the girl had been surprised by the Indians and had sought the ledge for safety, was evident, and that her rifle had dropped two of her enemies was also evi- dent, while her powder flask and shot pouch, attached to her belt, and lying halfway up the slope, proved that she had lost her means of further defense. This fact the three remaining warriors knew, and with wild yells they bounded on up the steep ascent, while their pale but daring girl foe stood her ground with clubbed rifle to meet them. Such was the sight that greeted the cyes of Red Hand, and his surprise for a moment kept him motionless. Another bound of the leading warrior carried him al- most within reach of the clubbed. rifle, and the uplifted tomahawk showed that the girl would be killed unless Red Hand acted quickly. And Red Hand did act quickly. His rifle butt touched -his shoulder, his red forefinger tripped the trigger, the splendid weapon hurled forth its deadly pill, “and the Sioux sank dead at the feet of the girl he would have slain, Before the startled comrades of the fallen brave could fly, there followed two more quick reports from Red Hand's rifle, and the two dropped dead in their tracks.” In utter surprise, and with astonishment upon every feature of her face, the rescued girl Deas slope, picking up her belt as she and stood before Red Hand, her manner that of commingled timidity and fearlessness, while’ in a voice os melodious she . “T thought the paleface hunters did not dare come into this unknown land of the Indian.” “Yet I find here a young girl, can take care of herself,’ and Red Hand pointed to the dead and wounded Sioux that had fallen by the girl’s rifle. “But I should not now be alive had it not been for your true aim, sir; and from my heart I thank you.” The girl grasped the hand of the scout, to let it fall next instant with a half-cry of terror, as her eyes fell upon the red ane At her sudden actio then turned deadly ones might feel, he replied: “Iam glad my footsteps led me here to serve you; but ean I ask if you live in these hills?’ - “My home is far away from here, sir. Are you alone?” The girl asked the last question almost in a whisper. ame, and one who it seems , Red Hand’s’ face flushed and ae controlling any emotion he descended the’ BILL, STORIES. “No one is meee us now; but I have comrades camped | down the gorge.” The face of the girl took on a startled expression, and she seemed hesitating in her own mind as to the best course to pursue. In silence Red Hand gazed upon her. At length she spoke, and her voice was firm. “T am thankful to you for my life, sir, and there is one other that will bless you for it; but it couldn’t be that you should meet—no, no, I must leave - “Hold, I beg you! You live here in this wild_wilder- ness, you a mere child, and yet one whose language and border, and you would leave me address are not of the i Hand, with without one word of explanation?” said Red surp CONT: rise. Yes, sir; though I wish I could invite you to seek the shelter of my home after what you have done for me. But I cannot, for there is one other whom I must consult. One day, perhaps, we may meet again; now, we must part, and I beg you, as a true man, not to strike my trail and follow me.” “You increase my interest in you,’ said Red Hand. “But it shall be as you wish. Are there any white men in this country?” “Yes, sir; now and then a white hunter has wandered in here, and down the gorge a mile : the grave of one who lost his life here several years ago.” Red Hand started, and glanced searchingly into the girl’s face. A strange expression flitted across his own, as he asked: “How long have you known of that grave in the val- ley I was hunting in the and-he fell near the tree. Did “T first saw it fires years ago. valley, wotinded 4a. deer, you ever seec:the grave?” “Yes, I passed it half me s¢e your home, then?” : “No; your life might be the forfeit, and I would not have harm come to you. Good-by.”’ Without another word the girl threw her rifle acros her arm, gave a quick, earnest glance into the face Oo Red Hand, .and walked rapidly up.the gulch to soon dis- appear behind a large bowlder, while Red Hand silently and in wonder gazed after her retreating form. an hour ago; you will not let SS ae I oS CHAPTER IV. AN UNEXPECTED EN COUNTER. So mystified was Red Hand by all he had seen and heard that he was tempted to break his word and follow on after the girl, that he might solve the puzzle of her existence there in the midst of the Black Hills. Had her language and appearance been different, had 8 a ATONE FS OES int > Anka) d she been some bold, rude girl of the frontier, he might d have believed her the daughter of some reckless border- st man, who, tiring of the society of his fellowmen, had sought a home in that faraway country ;.or, he might have fancied her to be the waif of an Indian camp, stolen from some settlement during a redskin raid, and raised it the 1e wigwain of a chief. at But her looks, her language, all belied these supposi- tions. - “Well, Vl never solve the mystery standing here,” he id muttered. “I’ll go back to camp, and perhaps, as she said, 1 we may meet again.” So saying, Red Hand slung his rifle across his arm, and stepped forward, when there came the sharp crack of a rifle, the whir of a bullet, oe he d backward and fall a crimson stream bursting from his left temple. As Red Hand fell to the ground a tall form suddenly came down the steep hills ide, his rifle, still smokmg, in his hand. It was no Indian that had thus turned his rifle upon Red Hand, to avenge his slain comrades, but a man of his own race, though the upper part of his face was darkly bronzed, almost to the hue of the redskin, and the lower part of his face was concealed beneath an iron- gray beard, that fell in masses below his waist. His eyes were dark, fiery, constantly restless, and his hair white and worn long, though age could have scarcely thus frosted hair and beard, and left the form strong and upright. 5 st staggere + at Over six feet in height, straight as an arrow, with broad shoulders and massive breast, and clad in a suit of 1¢ buckskin, he was a majestic specimen of manhood, a man- id hood marred by a certain inquietude of manner, nervous restlessness of the eyes, and a lool: of cruelty and ava- et riciousness upon his face. Besides his rifle, one of the Speneer pattern, he carried ot in his belt a revolver, knife and-large ‘hatchet, and as he came down the hill at a long, swinging pace, he seemed 3S a dangerous foe to meet. yt Upon his face rested an exultant smile, as if he rejoiced - in his work, and he advanced toward the scout with a look 4 hard to read. But the bullet sent in search of life had missed its aim. Only momentarily stunned, Red Hand suddenly’ sprang to his: feet,°and with drawn knife rushed upon his would- bé slayer. i Unexpected as was the movement, the stranger leaped 1 . back quickly, and drawing his knife, met the blade of . his assailant in midair. With a loud clash, the weapons . rung together. t q Then each man stood at bay, eyes glaring, breath hard 1, 2 drawn, and muscles nerved to iron firmness. Both men were tall and of powerful build, and what- BUFFALO BILL Ce RE LS eae Lae SLORIES. 5 a ever theif sits might be, they wete as brave as desert lions, and the struggle between them reidat be one of life and death, for neuer would yield an inch to the other. As for Red Hand, he had not sought the combat. A man he did not recognize had shoot him down. If, in return, he c he intended to do so, though life he could not understand. uthlessly attempted to ould aven the othér ge himselt, 1 Bau es why sought his For an instant thus stood the two men, their knives held firmly together.’ Vhen the glitter of Red Hand’s eyes proved that he meditated action. Gut before he could make the slightest motion there came a loud cry. of alarm, and the next moment a form bounded in between the two men. It was the girl. As she o 4 bounded hands seized a as she cried out: “Hold! ‘This must not be!’ “Back, Pearl, back! .I will have his life,-for my vow!” cried the stranger. : “No, father; lower your knife, ago this man saved my life—see !” The. girl addressed as Pearl pointed to the dead bodies of her Indian enemies. “Hal you were in danger, Pearl, and he saved you?’ The man spoke | 1 a Ty Mains Her: UDLEve ed tween the two men each, in bet of wrist and her voice fairly tang, you know 5 for not half an hour in -eatnest tones, and turned his again upon Red Hand, who had stepped back at the proach of the girl, yet still held his knife ready for de- fense. as Paze S anp- t “Yes, father; this brave man rescued me when those | have taken my life.” T did: assist Sio ux would » TPE, the girl, after she had already sent two of the red devils to their happy hunting grounds; but if you have anything against me, comrade, let not that act of mine stand in es e way, for twice you have attempted my lite Red Ela St to him when much now. poke in a reck etermined tone, peculiar The stranger turned his gaze nae the man he had at- tacked, and something he saw the emed to trouble him deeply, for he passed his hand oa his face, muttering as if communing with the past. “Ves At 15 it cannot be his hal the red face—-no, hand!” He staggered back a step or two, while the girl-sprang to his side, crying: “Vather, are you “No, child, 1 felt t for a moment, when I thought i how near | a 2 1 artner, do came to eo one who had saved your life. you journey often into these hills?” Red Hand saw that the old man had given an evasive reply, but replied, quietly; 6 THE BUFFALO “This is my second coming into the Black Wikis. (] thought this country far beyond the line where white men lived, yet I find you a dweller here.” “Comrade, I have sickened of life among my tellow- men, and came here to shun mankind. Take the warning of one who does not warn in vain, and this very night tutn your back upon these hills, for only dangers can surround you here.” “Comrade, I love dangers,” was the answer, with a reckless laugh, “and if you cam live here I can also. I bid you a pleasant good-night.” So saying, Red Hand wheeled on his heel,.'touched his hat politely to the girl and strode away, to soon disappear around a bend in the gulch. More and more mystified, Red Hand walked rapidly away in the direction of his camp, and arrived after night- fall. Then he was given another surprise. An old trapper had come in, and was telling to Buf- falo Bill his story of how he had been hunting on the streams, and had struck the trail of a party coming to the hills. Feeling assured that there was something up beyond his comprehension, the trapper said he had determined to strike the trail and follow it up, toe see what could carry a party into this wild region: , | The second night after starting upon the trail he. camped in a piece of timber bordering the bank of a small stream, and was soon fast asleep, to be awakened an hour after by the arrival of a train of emigrants, who were also moving for the Black Hills. From his retreat he observed that the train consisted of some thirty pack mules, instead of wagons, and about twenty men, all splendidly armed, while there were as many women and children accompanying them. Not wishing to make himself known, for he believed from all he saw that the expedition was a secret one, the old trapper lay quiet all night. . At early dawn he saw the party continue on their jour- ney directly toward the Black Hills, and following the trail of the party that had gone before. “Did you see the party again after that night, Lone Dick?” asked Buffalo Bill of the old hunter, whom he had met in the settlements now.and then, and knew as a brave man who always tramped alone, and never meddled with the affairs of other people. “No, I skarted around them and struck your trial ag’in, and then come on, and here I is,” replied Lone Dick, who was a real frontiersman in appearance and dress. “And why did you follow us, Lone Dick?” “T’ll tole you. Yer see, Buffler, I has hearn how there was yellow metal up in these diggin’s, and when I see’d yer trail I knowed as how somethin’ was up, and I detar- BILL STORIES. mined to nose it out, T’se been workin’ at traps nigh onto twenty year, and I ain’t got no fortin’ yet, and I felt as how ef yer was a good set of fellers you wouldn’t mind havin’ another true rifle and arm with your’n, for this is an all-fired dirty Injin country, you know.” “Ves, and I have no objection to the aid of your good arm, Lone Dick, and will tell you frankly this party of ours did come here to prospect for gold. “But, Lone Dick, I do not understand about the train you speak of, and think it strange that settlers should come into these hills, bringing their wives and children with them.” “Tt’s all-fired strange, Buffler; but we kin soon nose out what zhey’re doin’ here, and whar they’re goin’ to squat.” “True, and you and I will start on a scout in the morn- ing, and follow up their trail, while the boys are busy put- ting up a log fort.” “That’s right! for the Sioux are not going to let us have peaceful possession here, and will soon discover that some of their warriors were killed to-day,” said Red Hand. “What? Blazes! did yer riz the h’ar of some of ’em to-day ?” asked Lone Dick, and Buffalo Bill and the other members of the party gazed upon Red Hand in surprise, while he quietly replied: “I had a little skirmish to-day; not of my own seeking, . however.” Oe p— Turning away he rolled himself in his blanket.and soon appeared to be fast asleep, leaving his comrades surprised at his unwillingness to make known the particulars of his adventure with the Indians, and feeling confident that, as blood had already been shed, it was their duty to make every preparation against surprise and attack. CHAPTER V. AN OLD FRIEND AND NEW FACES. At the first glimmer’ of dawn in the east Buffalo Bill was on his feet, and calling to Lone Dick, the two soon set out upon their way to strike the trail of the emi- grants of whom they had been told by the trapper. Going in a southerly direction, and riding rapidly, for both were well mounted, shortly after noon the scout discovered fresh traces that proved the train had _ lately passed along. Following up, they were not long in finding out that the newly arrived party were dogged by Indians, who were determined to resist this invasion into their terri- tory. é As the sun went down beyond the western hills, there, came to the ears of the two men the sound of firing, and dashing on at full speed, they soon came upon a spirited scene, In the mouth of a small canyon were gathered Several persons, huddled together, and with their rifles endeavor- ing to keep back some twoscore Sioux braves, who were pressing them hard. Several Indians lay dead here and there, and, by the loss of their comrades, the band of warriors preparing to rush in force upon the small party in the canyon and end the combat by a hand-to-hand conflict. At this moment Buffalo Bill and Lone Dick came in sight. A glance showed them that the small party were whites, and with yells infernal they dashed upon the Indians, firing their repeating rifles as they rode. With never-failing aim, the rifle of Buffalo. Bill sent many a warrior and horse to the ground. Its rapid, ratt fire, added to that of Lone Dick kK, caused the redskins to believe a large reinforcement had arrived to aid the palefaces, an ud | y broke for cover. Then from the canyon dashed three men, firing < came, and greatly adding to the ivi cht of the Indians, w he hastily retreated into a gorge in the hills, leaving their dead upon the field. lin Q } a3 the as they “Hip, hip, hoopla! Buffalo Bill, as I live! Old fel- low, I owe you one,’ and one of the besieged dashed up to the scout, and warmly grasped his hand. That the man who so warmly welcomed Buffalo Bill was a frontiersman was evident by his attire and general appearance, for he was clad in buckskin, moccasins and all, and slouch hat ornamented with a gold sun looping up the rim in front, which added to the bold and determined expression upon his fine face, His form was graceful, wiry and denoted great strength while his movements were quick, nervous, and darlx eyes were restless, part ty, Wore 2 his ied fTenCo= his His features. were French—in fact, he was a said, i man, coming, it from where father lived—-a noble, | from land. ‘Thoroughly armed and eauinoed and mounted upon a Horse, Tom Sun—for ras a dangerous foe, Was exiled his native 344°] TAG LATS YT such was his name— ~ large, sinewy In his frank, pleasant way, he greeted Buffalo Bill and Lone Dic] turning to his comrades, “Here, Buffalo the hills te hunt a home. “Capt, Rat this “tam glad to meet yo known tome. This is n and this my daughter.” ed as Ca Ra msey tu man who rode by his side, and a fair Said fs <, and then iy i 4S + ii > > ill, are friends | am guiding up into y flalo Bill, the -scout.” nsey, 1, Sir, and your namé€ is not un- The man addresse tned to a young young girl, whe had reined her horse s hee - back. Buffalo Bill glanced first into the face and beheld a man of hier years of aEe wit! and stalwart form; man, his mé indicated that passed amid far ditte ent scenes. es 1, but tho ugn anner BILL STORIES. 7 His son, Burton Ramsey, was about twenty years of ge, and possessed a good-looking face and handsome orm, and was clad like his father in a suit of gray home- spun. Ruth Ramsey, shine in that The scout | tion before he bor the daughter, seemed like a ray of sun- eee of stern men. locked at her a moment in earnest admira- turned to Tom Sun, and said: fom, what brings -you into this wild land?’ “My horse, of course; but, joking aside, Cody, the captain here was in the army some years ago, and resign- ing his commission, settled dow n.upon the border of the southwest on a ranch; but he concluded he would do etter up in these hills, and so his whole “hborhood up stakes, and here they are, I being t f neig ng the gui He f the ex? pedition.””’ “There is no more beautiful country to settle Indians will only let you alone,” remarked Buffalo Bill. “Yes, and no richer country in minerals, | am con- vinced, Cody, and | believe we can get a Ns ald d here and soon get the government to support us.” “T dottbt the support of the government, captain, and it is a dangerous country into which to bring women and children.” ae is true, Buffalo Bill,” was the answer; “but 1 have to teach the Indians to let us alone, or pacify 1emi with presents.” hat ground, captain,” said the scout, “‘a1 we Quaker idea of dealin ng mn redskins is losing if the Indians know ce 1 4 ie fight, and a 4 all the ae ts by one number of scalps to boot, why, it is their nature to do so a paint a bad aoe Coc hills, and with > -L they y Can get c Lose dy; but, can | ask, how is ‘ou. here in these only one com- a dozen .dare not a band of brave fellows who brought you— ele man can go, sir, where T am here with came for the same: purpose that doubtless 1e to search fone oC ld ight, Cody! I have reason to know that Ries aS Nes AAS el Et tas ‘ i there are gold “here,” replied Capt. Ramse Cy, rae oe er; too, ‘for < Hillis come ae sir, cers 1n tk aS There that matter ; here at the s until the Se: sends troops to protect the miners; and that it is not likely to do for a number of years to come.” You speak kt JUGS that you are 4 1 < 4 4 ‘ aT eA ES Via eae Ar aALT?e aa nite Z + at hei Co We are alle se VEO CHIPORNG fOsreris 1owingly, Cody, and women and children with right to play and children, a THE BUFFALO and already you have had a sample of how the redskins intend to receive you.” The scout spoke warmly. “True: and had it not been for your brave dash to our relief, before now our end might have come; but let is on after the train. We can give you some good cheer, after we go into camp, and I beg of you not to paint a dark side to our expedition, for there may be a few faint hearts among us.” “T have said all I intend to, captain,” was the scout’s reply. “Have you determined upon where you intend to camp?” “No, for we dre in the dark regarding locations.” “Then I would advise that you bend more to the north- east. There you will find a fertile valley and good streams, and be also within a third of a day’s journey from our camp, and you know there is safety in numbers.” “T have advised building’ a stronghold at once, and then, should the Indians prove troublesome, we have at least protection,” said Tom Sun. “You are right, Tom! You can reach the spot I speak of early to-morrow, and circurnstances warrant that you make no delay in building your fort. How many men have you with your’ “We have about thirty, Buffalo Bill, and about ‘as many non-combatants, ane we are well armed and equipped, I assure you.” “Tn our band there are a score of miners,” said the scout, “and no women or children. If it comes to the worst, why, our united bands ae make a good fight. But come, we had better go on.” Then the party rode rapidly after the train. It was several miles ahead, and Capt. Ramsey had im- prudently allowed it to proceed while he stopped to ex- amine some traces of gold, accompanied only by his guide, son and daughter. Ramsey was most enthusiastic over the Black Hills, had a bad case of “gold fever,” and was willing to risk life and all in the search for the precious yellow gold. iw CHAPTER VI. THE TWO STRONGHOLDS. Somewhat alarmed, in spite of himself, by the words of Buffalo Bill, Capt. Ramsey began to feel that he had allowed his enthusiasm to go perhaps too far in leading an expedition into the Black Hills, when the lives of the whole party might be the forfeit for their foolhardiness. But, having at length entered the promised land, it was not in the nature of the old soldier to turn back, and He contented himself with a determination to so fortify his camp as to make it impregnable to the attacks of the red- skins. BILL STORIES. His energetic example, as soon as the train reached the designated spot for encampment, soon set all the men to work at the log fort. Having conducted the train to this site, which was ad- - vantageous both for gold hunting and defense from the Indians, Buffalo Bill left for his own camp, accompan ried by Lone Dick and Tom Sun, the latter going with his brother scout to learn the locality of the miners’ camp. As the three men rode along they conversed over the future prospects of the country which they had so boldly invaded. They did not doubt but that their example would be followed by others as soon as it became known that white men were living in the Black Hills, which had always before been considered the rightful land of the redskin. Arriving at his own camp,. Buffalo Bill found that his comrades had made rapid progress with their work, and that the walls of the stockade fort were already assuming shape. The situation selected by the scout was certainly a most advantageous position, being under the shelter of a huge hill of rock, inaccessible to the foot of man, and fronting on the bank of a mountain stream. The stockade fence encircled a portion of rich, grassy land where the horses could luxuriate and where a garden plot for vegetables was laid out. The only approaches were across. the stream, and around the base of the cliff by a narrow pathway that half a dozen men could defend against a hundred. The miners were delighted with the natural defense of their stronghold, while Tom Sun returned to his own encampment determined to take pattern after the example of Buffalo Bill and prepare for trouble ahead. Thus several weeks passed away .and the two Settle- ments in the Black Hills were made ready against every emergency. At length the miners began to turn their attention toward gold seeking, the real object that had caused then to risk life in journeying thus far beyond the confines of civilization. As for Buffalo Bill and Tom Sun, they cared little for gold, and were thorough plainsmen, spending their time in scouting and hunting for their respective camps. But Lone Dick had caught the fever of avariciousness and was preparing to dig his way to fortune, if he had to go clear through to China. Separated only by a score of miles from each other, the different members of the gold seekers’ camps became most friendly, and many were the young miners who loved to ride over to the Ramsey stronghold and sun themselves in the bright glances of Ruth Ramsey’s eyes, for, of the. half a dozen girls in her party, she was decidedly the belle. Thus the days and weeks glided by. Sa ORES EP I OP NOT i THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. With the exception of a skirmish now and then, the Indians had not disturbed the two camps, and daily the miners worked away for gold, while Tom Sun and Buf- falo Bill scouted and hunted through the hills and valleys. CHAPTER Vit. THE WHITE AND RED CHIEFS, Let us go back now to the point where that singular man, Red Hand, so nearly met death at the hands of the stranger. When Red Hand walk father, there was a silence of several minutes; old man said: ‘Pearl, you must not wander thus far from the retreat, bring me news of an invasion into ed away from the girl and her then the in future, for my scouts our tertiary “Are soldiers coming into the hills, father?” “Soldiers or citizens, they are all the same to me, and I am determinéd to make these hills too hot to hold them. The nfan who has just left us doubtless belongs to one of these invading bands,” ‘Father, why is it you so hate asked, people?” “Pearl, never dare to question my actions most shrieked the old man. — Then he continued: “You haye food in plenty, clothes to wear, and what more do you want? “Here no one molests us, and in the settlements and cities life is a continual struggle and all men are evil. Against all men | have a hate that will go with me to the grave. “Pearl, you know my vow, and I repeat it. I will kill, or cause to be killed, every white man that comes into these hills.”’ ne Pearl gazed upon the excited face of her father with a feeling of awe, and, accustomed to be’ wholly governed by him, she made no reply. After a little the old man dead Indians and examined them attentively. said: “Pearl, these redskins belong to the band of th chief, White Slayer. Can he have ordered this a you ?” “Tam sure I don’t know,’ she answered; “but I do know they rushed upon me to make me a prisoner. I fled to that ledge for safety, and shot two of their number. Had not’ the brave man who has just left us come to my rescue I should have Deen killed, 1. am certain.” “Strange, very strange,” he declared. “Did you Have any words with White Slayer when he was last at the re- treat ?” your race?” the girl walked up to the bodies of the Then he Guy FOUNS x ttack on “Tell me why you hide away from our own “I told him I would never become his wife.” The man looked startled. “Then he it was who neers this attack upon you. Come, Pearl, we must be off.’ Leading the way the old man started off up the gorge, followed by the girl, whose face had become strangely moody. After traversing a distance of several miles the man led the way up the steep hillside. For half an hour the two climbed up the mountain, until they came to a ledge, or shelf, half an acre in size, and above which the moun- tain towered to a vast height. From this ledge a grand and extensive view was had of . Far below lay valleys trav- where miles and miles of country. ersed by running streams and deep rocky canyons, it seemed hardiy possible for man to go, Against the base of the cliff, and fronting the magnifi- cent view, was built a log cabin, constructed for both defense and comfort, It was large and compactly put together, and the two windows commanded the only visible approach to the ledge, the one by which the old man and the girl had come. ; The cabin had one door in front. This was open, and in it sat an old Indian woman, pounding coffee in a stone jar. ‘ Within, the cabin was divided into two rooms, the first containing a rude table in the center, a cupboard with dishes and pans, a rack filled with books, another upon which hung, ready for use, rifles, shotguns, pistols and knives of various descriptions. In the corner was a cot of bear and beaver skins. A small door opened into the se cond room, which was at once noticeable for its air of neatness and comfort. The bed was tempting in its cleanliness, and around the chamber was every indication that Pearl was an ingenious and tidy housekeeper. A curtain, hung against the back of the cabin wall, was raised. This disclosed the opening of a large cave which extended far back into the interior’of the mountain. Entering the cabin, Pearl at once laid aside her rifle and accou cee and set about aiding the Indian woman to prepare supper, while her father continued on through the rooms into the cave beyond. As if familiar with the dark cavern, he walked on with ards, the cave gradually nto a small valley on the quick step for some hundred des cending, until he came out ide of the hill. : 4 Vy J 5 i chee A well-worn path led across the valley poe this, the old man skirted the base of the hill, a nas itera furthe walk of a mile suddenly came upon a rocky shelf. The scene that now met the view of the strange, old THE BUBEALO / man was a lovely valley spread out at his feet, for he was following a pathway that encircled a high hill. 2s the valley ran a winding stream, upon both banks of which were a score of Indian wigwams. Through is re open peaks of the wigwams the blue smoke curled lazily ae ard to mingle with the clouds above. lar above, the hilltops were painted in golden colors Io g sun; but below, shadow, for ma ht was coming on. : In the Bae ground of the scene, and close to the base of the hills Wop either side of the valley, were hundreds of horses and cattle, grazing upon tHe rich grass that in wild luxuriance beneath their feet. Here a one ere squaws were to be seen hurrying to and fro with arms full of wood brought from the forest, and. lying in ile upon the banks of the stream were lazy warriors lodking upon their wives preparing the evening meal and doing all the work. Groups of children skurried hither and thither in glee, and older ones, those youths who were aspiring to be mighty braves when their sun of manhood should rise, from ee setting sprung ut D hie were swimming in the waters of the river, or practicing at targets with their bows and arrows. It was a strange and picturesque scene, one only met with upon the frontier of our own land. Yet the old man seemed to care nothing for it, as he hurried down the steep hillside. As he entered the camp, much respect was shown him by the Indians he met. Yet he noticed none of them, as he bent his w ay toward a large lodge near the center of the encampment. In front of this wigwam. lay an Indian, reclining at length upon a bearskin. “As the white man ue eae he arose and greeted him. He was a warrior of striking and neple appearance, one of the noblest stripe of Indian braves, for his form was literally perfect, and his face almost handsome. His attire was also far better than that usually seen among redmen, his leggings being handsomely bordered, as was also a hunting shirt of the finest dressed deerskin. A coronet of gorgeously dyed feathers surmounted his head, and in his belt was stuck an ivory-handled bowie- knife, a tomahawk, ingeniously carved, and a while by his side lay a ve nounted rifle. 2 “The White Slayer is glad to see the Gray Chief,” this Indian. brother?” revolver, said “Will he enter the wigwam of his red The young warrior spoke with a dignity and politeness that seemed natural to him. “No; the White Slayer is false to me. Why did he at- tempt. to carry the Pearl of my heart from her cabin home?” angrily replied the white man, whom the Indians called the Gray Chief. the valley was cast in. BIEL STORIES. A flush stole into the red face of the young chiefvat the charge. For a moment he was silent, but then said, ear- nestly : “The heart of the White Slayer is not here in his bosom, but with the paleface maiden on the hill. She is the dew- drop that refreshes his life, yet she turns her eyes from the White Slayet, though he is the chief of his tribe.” “All true, chief; but, did you expect to win the girl by force?” “Could the White Slay of-the-Hills ?” indignar Vet oe sent five of your er use his arms toward the Pearl- said the Indian, braves to take the Pearl fly captive.” “Would the Gray Chief trifle with White Slayer, or does he speak with a false tongue?” said the chief. Glancing into the Indian’s face, the old man read there only truth, and felt that he had not ordered the violence “done to Pearl. Then in a few words he told the young chief all that had occurred. — With a surprised frown the White Slayer heard him through. Then he said: “The young men who thus acted toward the Pearl of the Hills were squaw braves, and they deserved their fate. “White Slayer me who-has done this wrong to the Pearl, and he shall make his knife drink his bl boat for it; but, Gray Chief, the Doe must not come into our lands. .They must be ae back upon the prairies.” The white man smiled, for he was well pleased with these words. “That 1s my opinion, too,” he declared, to see you are of the same mind. “Now listen to me. Scouts have brought news that there are two bands of palefaces marching into our hills, and I wish you to assemble your warriors and prepare them for the warpath. “Do not act in haste,” he urged, ‘for those men come here to remain, take my word for it. What we want to do is to bide our time, and so lay our plans that not one pale- face shall ever tread the prairie sward again.” “The Gray Chief hates his people,” quietly said the chief. “Hate! I abhor, I curse them; and, White Slayer, when the scalp of the last man of these bands hangs upon yon- der warpole, I promise you that the Pearl- ae the-Hills shall gladden your wigwam with her presence.” The eyes of White Slayer glittered with j joy, but he said, quietly : “and I am glad “It shall be as the Gray Chief says. In one moon there shall be five hundred warriors upon. the warpath of the palefaces. White Slayer has said it.” “It pleases me to hear you say it, chief; and let me tell you, that a great foe to your people is in yonder valley—a THE BUFFALO man before whom your stoutest warriors tremble. I saw “The Sioux warriors never fly from a foe; they know no fear,” proudly returned the chief. “And yet I have seen Sioux braves, who, when a score in number, dared not face that man.” “Who is this great brave?” asked the chief, with con- siderable interest. ‘Buffalo Bill, the scout !’’ In spite of himself the young chief flinched at the name, and his eagle eye glanced quickly around the surrounding hills, rapidly darkening before the approach of night. “He is a great brave; but his scalp will yet be taken,” replied White Slayer, with the braggadocio spirit natural to the redskin. The old man’s eyes lighted with triumph. “See that it is. Now I will back to my home in the hills, for I like not your lowlands, chief.” So saying, the old man walked rapidly back the way he had come, his thoughts too busy to bestow more than a passing glance upon the Indian village. - It was now hidden in gloom, excepting here and there where a campfire glimmered in front of some wigwam, whose lord had been late in returning to the bosom of his red family, and where the patient squaw was busy in pre- paring him his supper. After a rapid walk Gray Chief reached his cabin, and found an humble, but substantial supper awaiting him. After eating it, he lighted his brierwood pipe, and re- paired to the ledge to smoke and think over the murderous plan he had laid for the: destruction of those of his own race. CHAPTER: VEIL KANSAS KING, THE OUTLAW. Pearl, the attractive girl whose home ‘was the humble cabin in the hills, was strangely moody, after her meeting with Red Hand in the gorge, and her duties were attended to in silence, her thoughts seeming far away. Her life at the cabin was not a lonely one. Constantly Indian runners were arriving and departing, after holding interviews with her father, and twice a day White Siayer came to the hut, always to seek her society. Toward the young and handsome chief Pearl had a kindly feeling, for he had once saved her from a grizzly bear; but the idea of loving him, a redskin, never entered her mind, and she was determined she would never enter his wigwam as his wife, notwithstanding her father had told her she should do so. . From conversations had between White Slayer and the -old hermit, Pearl soon discovered that there were two bands of whites in the Black Hills, and that the Indians were laying their plans to massacre both parties. RL. Se aut Spa io PONE Sea BILL: STORIES. TI The thought sent a cold chill to the heart of the girl, and she at once determined to frustrate their designs. Going through the cave one morning, after White Slayer and the hermit had gone out together, Pearl reached a situation from which she could obtain a fine view of the Indian village. With surprise she noted that there were numbers of warriors in the camp, who, she knew, had been off for weeks on a southern trail, and hunting on the prairies. A closer inspection also showed her that a perfect chain of Indian sentinels extended around the village, and that sentinels were stationed upon the highest peaks of the sut- rounding hills. , Walking toward the council lodge on the river were her father and White Slayer, while a large body of the prin- cipal braves were gathered there to meet them, Al] this means mischief,” was her conclusion. “T know my father has set the Indians up to this work of devilment, for he has sworn not to spare a paleface who enters these hills. “But they shall not be caught asleep. That man of the red hand saved my life, and I will save his.” \ “Put 1 must act soon, for the work of death will not be long delayed.” Thus muttering to herself, the girl retraced her way through the cave, and entering the cabin, took her rifle and equipments from the rack over her cot. ‘Valleolo, tell my father I will be back before sunset,” she said to the Indian woman who aided her in the house- work. “There is danger in the forest and the valley,” the squaw warned. ‘Let the Pedrl-of-the-Hills hear the words of Valleolo and remain at the wigwam.” “There is no danger I fear to meet, Valleolo. I will be back at sunset.” So saying, Pearl threw her rifle across her shoulder and rapidly descended the mountainside toward the bottom of the gorge which divided the hill. Hardly had she gone half a mile down the gorge, pon- dering in her own mind how she was to make her news known to the whites, and not compromise her father and lead him into danger, when she was startled by a shadow falling across her path. Glancing up quickly she brought her rifle to a ready, for before her stood the form of a man. Not an Indian warrior was he, nor Red Hand, nor her father; but one she had never before seen. He was a young man, scarcely more than twenty-five years of age, and yet with something in his face that made him appear at least thirty, for dissipation and a cruel life of crime had set their seal there. His form was slight, but elegant, and showed to advan- tage in closely-fitting pants, and jacket of blue navy flan- ea THE 4 nel, decorated with brass buttons, and lace encircling each sleeve. with a The bottoms of the pants were stuck in a pair of hand- somely topped cavalry boots, the heels of which were armed with silver spurs of the Mexican pattern. A red silk sash encircled his small waist, and but par- tially concealed a knife and pair ef rePolvers. Upon his head was a large-brimmed slouch hat, looped up upon one side with an arrow pin, and half encircled by a ostrich plume. The face of this stylish-looking individual would have been decidedly handsome had it not been for the reckless expression resting on it, for the features were good, the eyes particularly fine, and a dark mustache and imperial, the same. shade as his long, curling hair, added to his se black general appearance, which was that of a dashing, gay,.- young cavalry officer. Behind the man stood.a superb black horse, richly capa- risoned with a Mexican saddle and bridle. Hanging to the horn of the saddle was a cavalry saber, while, a8 a companion to it, upon the other side, was a holster, from which protruded the butt of a revolver. At sight of this man in her pathway, the first act of Pearl was to bring her rifle to her shoulder; but in quiet tones the stranger said: “My dear girl, I pe you to lower that pretty toy, for I mean you no harm.” truck with his splendid appearance, and feeling that from a paleface she had nothing to fear, Pearl partially lowered the weapon, and then said: “Why are you here in these hills, sir ?” “T came for pleasure, and yet I dreamed not of behold- ng here one so beautiful,” gallantly replied the stranger, stepping a pace nearer to her. “Who are you, sir?” again oe Pearl, interested in pity of herself in the man. “T am called Kansas King.” : Instantly Pearl sprang back, and like a flash her rifle covered the heart of the outlaw chief. Without the quiver of a muscle Kansas King looked at the girl who so threateningly held him at disadvantage, and his voice was unmoved as he asked: “Why does my name thus offend you ?” “You are a vile murderer,” she said, “and have laid waste the homes of your own people and the vil llages of the redmen in wanton destruction; you are a white robber, Rigs Pearl’s eyes flashed fire, for often had the Indian run- ners brought news to her father of the ruthless acts of Kansas King and his band. “You paint my character*in harsh tones,” swer, was the an- “But, at any rate, I mean you no harm, but come | here to see an old hermit, one who has lived for years in BUFFALO band of gold. BILL, STORIES. the Black Hills, and is a medicine man or chief of the Sioux under White Slayer.” He was looking at her earnestly. “De you know anything of such a man, for I take it you are some waif of an Indian camp.” Pearl half-lowered her rifle. ‘If you refer to the man who is known as Gray. Chief, he is my father.” “Your father? Then, indeed, he is a fortunate man. Were I the kin of one so lovely I would indeed be happy.” Pearl made no reply, for compliments she was unused to, and Kansas King continued: ~ “Will you guide me.to your father, for I wee speak with him upon a matter of interest to both of us?” Without reply Pearl drew a small revolver from her belt and fired it three times in rapid succession, the ringing Topot rattling like a volley of musketry along the canyon. “Ha! would you call aid?” cried Kansas Ans; quickly, and his dark eyes flashed fire. “I have simply called my father; he will soon be here, Sy Si: Stil maintaining her position of defense, Pearl now re- plied to the question addressed her by the outlaw. chief, until the sound of running feet was heard. The next moment up dashed the hermit and White Slayer, their rifles ready in hand. At the sight of Kansas King the two halted. Seeing that their action was hostile, the outlaw cried, speaking in the Sioux tongue: : “Hold, chiefs! I sought you here, kind enough to call you to me.” “Who are you?” cried the old hermit, in English, his eyes glaring savagely upon the ue man. The latter answered bitterly “IT am an outlaw; one brantes with a curse; men call me Kansas King!” “You are the outlaw chief, then? What brings you here nto these hills?” “Mutual interest to you and me.” “I do not understand you,” the old man protested. “I will explain; I am an outlaw, and you are perhaps worse, or you dare not show your face among your fel- lowmen.’ and this girl was “By the heaven above, but you are bold to thus address me!” cried Gray Chief, furiously. ‘My worst foes never called me a coward,” said the young man. “But I came here not to parley about courage or character, but to discuss a more important matter. “You are accursed for some cfime, or you would never anges in these hills like a hunted wolf,’” “Lam an outlaw, a price is upon my head, and, figura- ay sy amtS a noose is around ty neck.” “Go on, sir,” said the old man. “Well, of late the troops have made it rather lively for me, because I have made it lively for the bordermen and emigrant trains. So lam compelled to have a prone x0ld that I can retreat to, and where noné dare follow me.’ “And you come here! . You are a robber by a and what guarantee have I that you will not murder us and plunder our homes?” said Gray Chief, sneeringly. ‘You have the guarantee of mutual protection, old man. “Already frontiersmen are turning their eyes upon your hills, and even now two bands of miners and settlers have a foothold here, one of them fortified not five leagues from this spot. 2? “Now, listen to me,” he continued. “One of these bands is fortified in a position that it will be hard to drive them from, and that place I need for my stronghold. “T want to be on friendly terms with you and these red- skins, and am willing to divide profits with you, and with White Slayer and his warriors, after each one of my raids upon the settlements. “With my band in the Black Hills, and my men on friendly terms with White Slayer and his half a thousand warriors, no man will be fool enough to attempt to come . here to settle, and there are not sufficient troops on the bor- der to attempt to follow me here, when they know they will have two forces to fight.” ‘You speak truly, young man,” said Gray Chief. “Of course I do, chief. My plan is. to capture the miners’ fort down the glen, and there establish myself at onee. The booty and the scalps may all go to you and to the redskins. Then I will attack and carry Ramsey’s camp, and again the spoils go to you, except three per- sons.” “And those are——” "Cook, Ramsey, his son and daughter; them I claim.” “And you wish me to aid you in taking these two points ?” “Yes; but whether you do or not, I shall carry them,” said the outlaw, with determination. “Where are you now encamped?” “Some twenty miles from here, in the lower hills.” “How many men have you with your” “About a hundred.” “Divide that by two, chief, and you'll be nearer right,” said Gray Chief, with a sneer. Kansas King looked at him defiantly. “Attempt to drive us from Be hills, and -vouw’ll think us double the number I named,” he threatened. “No threats, boy, for I do not like to hear them.” “One hears many things not pleasant, chief,’ was the retort. ‘But we must not quarrel. Will you become my ally 2” “That 1 must think over; to-morrow at this hour mest THE BUPPALO SL ROL SS MORSE bee Sel nao BILL STORIES. 13 me here, and you shall know whether you can remain in these hills, or must leave.” “No treachery, mind you, old man!” “I am no snake in the grass, boy; to-morrow, time, remember. - I will to-night hold council with White Slayer and his chiefs.” The outlaw bowed, kissed his hand gallantly to Pearl, sprang into his saddle and dashed down the glen, while the hermit and White Slayer turned and walked up the gorge, leaving the girl standing in the spot where the mect- ing had taken place. at this CHAPFER (1x: PEARL’S WARNING. For some moments after the departure of her father and White Slayer, Pearl stood in silent meditation, as though undecided what course to pursue. At length her mind seemed made up, and she started down the glen. But she had not taken a second step before she came to a sudden halt, for not twenty paces from her, she beheld a man, who had stepped from~behind a large bowlder and advanced toward her. At first Pearl seemed about to run, determination, she stood on the defensive, with her rifle half-raised to her shoulder. “Tt am a friend, miss, and the captain sent me back to give this to your father.” The man halted near her and held out give her something. He was a burly-looking fellow, clad. hali half in homespun, and was heavily armed with revolvers but checking this his hand as if to in buckskin, and knife. His face was wholly corrupt; in it there was not one redeeming expression. Pearl did not like his looks, and said, suspiciously : “What captain do you refer to?” “Kansas King. I am_ his. lieutenant, Burke, miss.” “Bad Burke, is it not?” said Pearl, quietly. “Well, my enemies do call me Bad Burke, miss, but it is because 1 am a bad hand with the knife, and no man dare meet me with it; but my friends don’t call me Bad and am called Burke.” “Your friends? Why, I should not had a single friend,” Pearl declared, bold lly. 1 The face of Bad Burke turned livid with rage. His iron muscles seemed to swell up with suppressed emotion, while think a man like you his evil eyes glittered like a snake's. But, controlling himself, he laugh, and an- swered : VOAT 1, “4 eres > Q 123 ge 4 even a.poor devil like me has friends; but, here is the pag der the capt tain sent to your father,” “Yes, miss, 14 ; ! THE BUFFALO He again held forth his hand. _ Pearl reached forth to take what she believed to be a small scrap of paper. Her hand was seized in the iron grip of Bad Burke, who instantly drew her toward him. Before she could offer the slightest resistance or cry out, his hard palm was over her mouth, and she was held as firmly as though in a vise. But, suddenly, she saw a dark object descending from a ener of rock fifteen feet above her. This dark object struck the burly ruffian fae on the shoulders and knocked him to the ground. The dark object that had descended so suddenly from the rock, and lighted upon the back of Bad Burke, was a man—one who did not lose his equilibrium by his jump, but caught on his feet, and stood ready, with drawn knife and pistol, to face the outlaw lieutenant. When released from the grasp of the ruffian, Pearl sprang backward, and again seized her rifle, which she turned upon the outlaw lieutenant. “Hold! do not shoot him. Let him come on and face me with his knife, for he boasted a moment since that no man dare face him.’ ° “Tn Satan’s name, who are you?” cried Bad Burke, his hand upon his knife-hilt. Buttalo Bill’ It was evident that Bad Burke had heard the name be- fore, for his hand quickly slipped from his knife-hilt to- ward a pistol-butt. “Just move one inch, ay, crook your finger, and I'll send your soul to perdition.” The pistol of Buffalo Bill covered the heart of the out- law, who whined out: “Pard, you've the advantage of a fellow and ought to let up a little.” “T will; miss, will you be kind enough to remove the pistols from that villain’s belt?” Pearl instantly stepped forward and did as directed, making a motion with the weapons as if about to murder the frightened lieutenant of bandits. : “Thank you; now, Bad Burke, we stand on an- cai footing,” and Buffalo Bill cast his pistols upon the ground. With a suppressed yell of rage Bad Burke rushed upon his cool enemy, for now he believed he had it all his own ‘way, as his boast was not an idle one regarding his prow~ ess with a knife. Calmly the scout met his attack. The blades clashed to- gether with an ominous ring. Notwithstanding his skill - and strength, Bad Burke was hurled backward, and seized in the powerful grip of the scout, whose keen knife » gleamed in the sunlight, and then, with a crunching thud, was driven to the hilt in the outlaw’s heart. A stifled groan, and Bad Burke’s cruel life had ended. BILL: STORIES. With bated breath Pearl had stood and watched the deadly encounter between Buffalo Bill and Bad Burke. Notwithstanding her apparent fear, the outlaw had been : in double danger, for, had there been the slightest sign that victory would fall to him, the girl had her ne ae) to do its deddly work. “You are from one of the Bes of the white men?” she asked. “Yes,” the scout answered. “T was on my way to find them. Your life and the lives of your friends are in danger,” simply replied the girl. “My life is ever in danger. You were going to warn us of danger, you say?” mY es. Siri? “Where did you expect to find us?” the scout inquired. “At the miners’ stronghold, far down the glen.” “It is miles away ,and your feet would have tired with their long walk.” “I am accustomed to long walks over the hills, sir.’ “Are you not afraid of danger meeting you?” the ols questioned. “No, sir; I have little fear.” “Yet, just now you were powerless in the hands of a ruffian.” “Very true. I thank you for saving me from him.” She looked at the dead outlaw witha shudder. “You are a brave girl, and deserve a different fate from lingering here in these hills, and living the life of a her- mitess,” : “Oh, I would so love to go away,” she declared. “But, sir, you must not stay here, for any moment some warriors may pass, and your life would certainly be the forfeit. “I was going to warn you of danger, because I did not wish to see you and your paleface friends massacred, and now I have double cause for saving you.” Her expressive face showed that she was very much in earnest. : “Oh, sir, fly from these hills, you and your friends, for even now the Sioux are assembling all their braves to at- tack you, and he that is called Kansas King will side with the Indians in the war against you.” “From my heart I thank you,” said the scout. “But I know all that you would tell me. Not ten minutes ago I was on that ledge and saw and heard all that passed be- tween your father, the White Slayer, and Kansas King.” The girl was very much surprised, but answered: “Iam glad you heard it; but you will leave these hills?” “No; we will show Kansas King and his Indian allies that we will not be driven from the Black Hills by fear of them,” and Buffalo Bill spoke with bitter determination. “Oh, what a terrible slaughter will oe 1” she ex- claimed. “How I wish I could aid you, sin). « ‘ “You can. You can aid me.” @ have gone, you still THE BUFFALO “And how? Tell me, and I an do all in my power,” said Pearl, earnestly. © “To-morrow is the meeting between Kansas King and your father. Yonder ledge is a secret spot where you can hide, and you can reach it from the hill above, I want to know the plans to be arranged between your father and the outlaw chief, and to-morrow night, just after sunset, i will meet you here.’ i “T understand, sir, and I will do as you wish me to; but, Buffalo Bill, the scout?” 39 tell me, please, are you “T am so called, but why do you ask? “Because I have so often heard the Sioux speak of you, and how terrible you were in battle; then, numbers have gone forth upon your trail, boasting they would return with your scalp, and though many warriors wear your scalp-lock, and many of wattiors those braves have not returned.” “Perhaps they are looking for me in the happy hunting grounds,” said Buffalo Bill. “Now 1 must be off; and remember—to-morrow night I will mect you; but, tell the, can I not cross this hill and strike the valley beyond?” “Ves sir; but, oh! do not go through that valley,” im- plored Pearl, with earnest manner. “And why, child? Are the redskins numerous there?” “Oh, no, sir; an Indian would not enter that valicy for a girdle of scalp-locks, and even .my father dare not go there.” “Why? Is it such a terrible place? The girl glanced ca “ati ously around he rhisper, replied : nN sat haunts the valley, sir.” “A spirit? Nonsense!” “No, sir! oh, no; it is the spirit of a woman dressed in white; she haunts it day and night, and when the moon is d? 99 4 ery Slightly shud-. bright she sings wild songs—— “Go on with your story,” he urged; know about the haunted valley.” “What shall I tell you, sir?’” innocen “When was this spirit first seen?” “Five years ago, ever since the paleface’s grave was in the spirit has been seen at times; but no warrior e who were bold enough to ve never returned.” — valley ?” “tell me all you isked ‘Pear the valley, dare go near the valley, and those go where the specter dwells hay -§Do you know anything about the grave in the “No, sir; the Indians say slain there by the spirit, for the grave lies just of the‘haunted father thinks that tw ne face hunters ills after ec one killed the other and a man Was valley; but my came into the h buried him there.’ “T thank you, Pearl, for the warning you have given me about the haunted valley; but I am eoing to the Ramsey nd it will save me many a mile to go through settlemenit, a BILL STORIES. 15 the glen, and I will risk seeing the spirit. Remember, to- morrow night I will meet you, and you had better not mention that you know anything of the death of Bad Burke, here.” ‘No, sir, I will not speak. of it,’ please do not go through ie haunted valley.” “Have no fear ; good-by.’ she promised; “but 50 Saye the scout turne d and walked to his Bors which was hidden not far away, and then ee down the elen, while Pearl, delighted at having warned him of dan- ge : yet dreading to have him risk his life in the spirit valley, walked with rapid steps back to her cabin, deter- ines to discover the plans“of her wicked father to bring “win and death upon the palefaces who had invaded the Black Hills. CHAPTER x. BAD BURKE'S. TREACHERY. Let us again go back a little. When Kansas King rode out from his hills, he was accompanied by his lieutenant, ‘Bad Burke, of his men. ¢ the western skies when they halted and others The sun was nearin in a gulch. “Well, woah with my glass the hone of the old her go up the ¢ gorge alone and endea girl has just left the cabin, an a o I will head her off.” “She is the girl they the daughter of the old hermit. tell me, who have “T have discovered nit chief, and 1 will yor to speak with him. A is coming down this w any aid Kansas King, call the Pearl-of-the-Hills, and is She can show her claws, so the Injuns been in this country,” said Bad Burke. : “T will have to clip her claws for her, then. You follow slowly on, and be ready to support me if you tee me call,” and Kansas King tapped lightly on a small silver bugle hanging to his belt. ‘PIL be on hand when you need me,’ B mounted his horse and rode on alone, Jea ving his companions in the gorge, Hardly had he been gone ten mifutes, when Bad Bur ke > answered Bad 3urke, and Kansas King 4 ylun tly : : _ fellows; vou all has sense and knows I picked vou-out to come with me, ‘catise 1 wanted work done. ny fellow here is afraid of blood, he’d better git. Ow, 11 any ee hére SRE BC Sere AR Taal gane: VV 110) SPCalxs ¢ Not a word of reply came from any of the men who had been with Kansas King. Then Bad Burke continued: “This country—I mean the prairies sie too hot for our business, and we've got to git; the nts to locate here, and have the Injuns for a sup- and the border-—is Baer ict cniel wa ¥ ois sit fetes < i wae toss oo Fae ines ace ti HOFer ce Ueno nme his asta ATTN OEM sea camp toward the — 16 port; but it won’t do, and I’ve got a plan, and we'll divide atween us seve en—what say you?” “I’m in for any job,” said one, and the others all nodded for the lieutenant to go ahead. “Well, I'll tell you; there is a big price offered for the head of Kansas King. We'll arrange to run him right off from here and deliver him up to the officers at the fort, and that will get us a pardon. ‘Then I know where there is a lot of gold and waluables buried, for | helped King to bury them, and we'll dig them up and just slide away from the country with enough metal to make us all rich. What say you?” “When can we get the chief?” asked one: “He is gone up the gorge to try and palaver with the Indians. When he comes back we'll bag him. Then [ll go up and talk to the old hers chief, and tell him Kan- sas was putting up a job on him, and get him to send his warriors down aiter our boys, and every one of them will get the knife and lose their hair. Now, are you ready, boys?’ “Will we be afther making tracks from these hills as soon as we have the chafe?’’ asked one of the men, who was an Irishman. “Yes, well start to-night, for it is moonlight, and. we will ride hard, and soon leave the Black Hills behind us.’ Ena ane oa “Um yer man.” “You bet on me.” Sundry other ejaculations of consent to the treacherous plan were given by the traitor-crew, the Lrishman being particularly loud in his glee at the prospects ahead. Excepting the Irishman, however, the other ruffians were sincere in their desire to betray their chief, and Bad Burke had selected the very men he knew had no love for Kansas King. It was now arranged that Bad Burke should at once fol- low Kansas King, watch his meeting with the old hermit, and then go himself to Gray Chief as soon as the outlaw leader left him, and place before him a plan for surprising the band. In the eae when Kansas King returned to the gorge, the six’ men were to throw themselves upon him, and at once make him prisoner, Bad Burke then departed, following the trail of his chief, From a place of concealment on the side of the hili he beheld the meeting of Kansas King and Pearl, the coming of the hermit chief and White Slay er, and then the depar ture of his leader back to the gorge Still lying quiet, he saw Gray Chief and White Slayer return up the gorge, and leave Pearl Chen where the meeting had taken place. “Noy ‘s Burke, you need just such a gal fer your “wife, and now’s your time to get her. “Ves, Vil carry the gal with me, and after I have given King up to the mi ilitary, Vial divide the blood- “money “with those fc lows, and then give them the slip and take the buried treasure myself; guess I won’t divide that, nor the gal either, “No, Tom Burke, your fortune’s made now, with money and a wife, and I guess you better light out for Texas and start a ranch, for this country won't be very healthy for you, I’m a thinking.” THE BURPALO BRILL STORIES. - rose into view. So saying, Bad Burke, the traitor-outlaw, descended to the bottom of the gorge, and, as the reader has seen; con- fronted Pearl. How his treacherous plans toward the maiden and his chief were frustrated, the reader has also seen, and that his crimes were rewarded by a death he had seemed little to anticipate. CHAPERR XI. THE SPECTER OF THE VALLEY. Buffalo Bill was not the only man who had been in concealment near the spot where Bad Burke met his death. Scarcely was he gone from the place, when Red Hand He stared after the retreating form of the scout, and muttered: “T shall go through that valley, too. If there is anything to be seen there I want to see it.’ But he shuddered as he spoke, and his face seemed drawn with pain. So it came about that Red Hand followed Buffalo Bill. But the scout had moved so rapidly that not once did Red Hand come in sight of him, And ina little while, so pain- ful were the thoughts of the latter, that Red Hand almost forgot that the scout was somewhere ahead of him. Thus Red Hand set forth upon his trip, wending his way in the direction of the Ramsey settlement, going: to- ward the point which Pearl had urged Buffalo Bill to avoid on account of the weird stories. among the Indians that a Spirit haunted the valley. As he walked along, the moon arose in brilliant beauty upon the wild scenery, and shed a bright light upon lofty hill; rocky gorge and lovely vale. The story of the spirit of the valley haunted Red Hand’s memory with weird and bitter thoughts, for he remem- bered the grave made in the valley, and the apparition he had seen there after he had consigned the body of Ben ‘Talbot to its last resting place. Often had Red Hand endeavored to convince himself that the sight was but a phantom of his troubled brain: but, no; it came too vividly before him in form, gesture and song, and he felt that if he had not seen a spirit from the shadowy land, he had certainly beheld a woman. Yet—who could this woman be who had thus been with Ben Talbot, living alone in the wild Black Hills? He entered the natrow gorge, the inlet to the accursed valley, and the silvery light of the moon caused every tree and bowlder to’stand forth in phantom-like shadow. But Red Hand was not of a superstitious nature. Nerving himself for what was before him, he hurried forward at a swifter pace. Down the valley he hastened for half a mil e. Then the shadowy hill and large trees at its DASE, both of which were peolese aphed upon his mind, loomed up before him. Buffalo Bill had passed on before, and was nowhere in sicht. Already Red Hand had almost forgotten him. “TIL solve this mystery, if I die in the attempt,” Red Hand, and he turned once more toward the tree. Then he halted, for, standing at the head of the grave was a woman. Nearer and nearer to the tree he drew, until the glimmer of the dark eyes wefe almost visible. Then he stopped short, for a strangely sad voice, striving to be firm, cried out; said | “Hold ! let not the foot of any man desecrate this sacred spot L “Great God! where have I heard that voice before?” was his thought. “No, it is not, it cannot be—for she is dead; yes, dead by her own hand,” i Red Hand trembled with the emotion that swept over him, “Lady,” he said, his voice shaking, “I would not dese- crate the resting place of the dead, yet.1 would know why you so jealously ¢ cuard the grave of Ben Talbot?” Though he shook, he spoke in his deep, distinct tones. As he commenced speaking a sudden change was visible in the woman;-her form bea forward and her ear was turned as if to-catch every, word, while her right Phos was pressed against her lips. 4: Then, in a voice that was nothing more than a hoarse whisper, she said: “I guard his grave because I loved him. Ben Talbot?” “Ay, did I, lady! He wrecked my life!’ ‘Wout life! Ha, ha, ha! I know you now, Vincer Vernon; | know you now in spite of the years that have swept over your accursed soul,’ almost shrieked the woran, raising both hands wildly above her head. “Good God! Grace, has the grave given you Mp, of are you a phantom from the shadow land 2” cried Re starting toward the woman. “Back | you red-handed murderer ! and do not pollute this sacred spot. ‘‘No, I am.not from the grave, and I hed I said I would ial my life. “Ha, ha, ha!—no, why do I laugh? ery for me to laugh, and-—but what do you here, cursed? “Hal now I know by whose hand poer Ben fell— away! No, no, no; do not go, but stay until I tear you your coward heart.” . In wild frenzy the woman rushed toward knife gleaming in her uplifted hand, and her wl ing that of one gone mad. Like a statue stood Red Hand, his hands hanging list- lessly my his side, his eyes bent with fixed stare upon the woman. and his whole manner that of a man struck dumb by some ‘dating discovery, some terrible shock that had wholly unnerved him for the slightest motion. On rushed a mad woman, and still he stood passive, seemingly unconscious of his danger, or unmindful of her presence, for tas head was lowered upon his breast and his eyes downcast. A. few rapid bounds, a frenzied laugh, and the mad woman faced the man she had accused. The arm was poised in the air, the gleaming blade threatening instant death, the elarin: g wild with madness; yet Red Hand did not move, Then, with a werd. ry of revengeful joy the knife beg to descend, swiftly, ; inted at the heart of Red Hand. Before the keen tha de was sheathed in re broad brea there came a bright flash from the dark hillside, a sha Did you know d Hand, Back! I say, back! to you when tis hollow mock- thou ac- away ! from the man, a anole bear- UGat cyes, report, and wi ith a wild shrick the woman dropped the: knife. The shot awoke Red Hand from his apathy. With a cry of alarm he sprang forward, crying: THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. “Grace !Grace! you are hur “Back, sir! Do not ages me with your touch. still I have hope of revenge,’’ cried the woman. She drew with her left hand from her belt a pistol and quickly fired it in the face of Red Hand, who staggered back, bewildered by the flash, but uninjured. Believing that she had slain the man she seemed to hate, the unhappy woman almost shrieked: “Now I die content. Ben, you are avenged, and so 3? Hal is- The remainder of the sentence was drowned in the re- port of her. revolver, which she had placed against her heart and fired. : Too late did Red Hand spr ing forward to attempt to check her act. He could only catch her falling form in his strong atms and lower her gently to ne ground, just as a rapid footstep was heard, and Buffalo Bill dashed up with anxious tanner, crying: “Tid she wound you, cor mrade?”’ “No. but she has killed herself,” sadly said Red Hand. “In God’s name, who is she, Red | Pagid ©.” “One whom | knew long years ago—one whom I never harmed in thought, word, or action, and yet who has turned against me,” sadly replied Red Hand. Ele was gazing with bitterness and sorrow into the pale worn, yet stil beautiful face-—a face that possessed an al- most weirdlike loveliness, and a form ef wondrous grace and beauty. The.eyes were slumbering Ares nd- the raouth was small, vet stern, mayhap having become so in later 5 years: and the teeth were milky white, while a we h of black He hung down her back and covered her shapely Honldece She was dressed in a coarse garment of pure white, and moccasins incased her feet. A belt of buckskin, bead-worked, ors e large, almond-shaped, and had been full a th encircled her small ‘waist and supported. the scabbard and holster of the weapons she had endeavored to use against Red Hand. Breathing heavily, she lay in his arms, and at his words _ shé unclosed her lustrous eyes and met his gaze. ““Grace, Grace, do you know me, or does the shadow of death lay “between you and me?” softly said Red Hand. “Yes, Vincent Vernon, I know you, and the shadow of death does rest between us,” faintly replied the woman. She spoke with evident pain a and difficulty, while her left hand was held tight to her side, and through the fin- gers oozed a crimson tide, hastening her life away. Resting upon the grass, and staining its green with crimson, was the right hand, which had been stunned, but not in} jured in the least, by the bullet from Buffalo. Bilt’s rifle. The scott had shot at the handle of her knife and had struck it fair. Yet, though Buffalo Bill had not injured her, and had fired only to save the life of Red Hand, as he stood there, brave man though he was, his eyes dimmed with tears, as he muttered: te could not help it—I could not help it, for it was to save your life I fired, comrade.” . Grace, ’ and Red Hand’s voice was strangely soft and kind. “Grace, why did you leave me to a life of despair? Why did you wish to take my life?” 18 (THE BURRALO “Vincent, yonder is the grave of Ben Talbot. Answer me—did your hand place him there ?”’ Ot did, < Buffalo Bill started at the reply, and the woman groaned» aloud. “Again, answer me: did you take my father’s lifer’ “Grace, in God’s name! what do you mean?’ “Answer me! did my father fall by your hand?’ “Never! as God is my judge.” The eyes of the woman turned full upon the man, and she asked, tebe ee “Vincent, would you lie to a dying woman?Y “No! not one unkind word ever “passed between your father and me.’ “Thank God! Vincent, now I understand all, and—I— believe—you. “Hold—me—up—thus! yes, the shadow of death has blinded me, and the cold chill of the grave is upon me; but I would ask you to forgive me—me, a guilty thing that has so sinned against you. “Quick! hold down your ear and catch my words, for. —the papers—all—in cabin—yonder—quick | forgive me, and—kiss me, Vincent.” “Red Hand murmured softly: “Grace, 1 forgive,” Then his stern lips touched those of the woman just as her eyes closed and death laid his icy touch upon her pulse and stilled it forevermore.” “Come, comrade, old fellow, the night is creeping on, and we must not linger here.” It was Buffalo Bill who thus addressed Red Hand, who, an hour later, was still bending over the frail form of the woman he had called Gr ace, though two hours had passed since her spirit had winged its fight. Yet Red Hand had not let go the small hand, or ceased to gaze down upon the marble-like, upturned face. “Arouse yourself, comrade,” Buffalo Bill urged. “Come, I have dug a grave yonder under the hillside, just on the mossy bank of the stream; you can see it from here; and we must lay the poor girl away.” Still Red Hand returned no“answer. Again Buffalo Bill’s kindly tones addressed him: ive you forgotten, comrade, that many lives are de- pendent upon you, and that there is danger on the wind?” The scout still trusted Red Hand, though there were many things he could not yet understand. “Buffalo Bill, dear old fellow, I remember now. Let us first bury poor Grace—yes, bury her forever from sight; but I forgave her ere she died, and she believed me when I said my hand was not stained with her father’s blood. “There is a stain upon it, Buffalo Bill, but not of his life. Come, let us dig a grave,” and Red Hand arose to his feet. “The grave is dug, readiness over there.” “Thank you, my friend, for I would not have her rest aide by side with Ben Talbot., “Here is my blanket, and she shall have it for a shroud; poor, poor Grace!” Tenderly the graceful form was euvengel in the blanket of Red Hand, who then raised it in his arms and bore it to the newly-made grave, which Buffalo Bill had thought- 3? said. the scout. “See: al ds 1m BILL STORIES. fully filled in with poles cut from a iieke! near. by, which served as a rude coffin. Into her last resting place the poor woman was lowered, and the blanket dra over the beautiful, sad face, upon which Red Hand gazed with a stern, hard look that proved how deeply he suffered. A few moments more and the soil was thrown in most tenderly by the scout, who seemed to feel to the very soul for the stricken man. Red Hand stood with uncovered head and folded arms gazing down upon the grave which held one that he had cert tainly loved most dearly in bygone years, and who had so strangely crossed his path in the wilds of the Black Tiaras his path to die by her own hand before his very face. 3uffalo Bill,” he said, when the grave had been filled in, “I have much to thank you for; but we must not linger here. “Some day I will make known to you the story of my life, in all its cruelty and sorrow; but not now—no, not now, “But, tell me, how was it I found you here?’ Buffalo Bill asked. With an effort Red Hand seemed to bury his grief, and assuine his olden manner. “Things began to look squally, pard, and I started over to your lay- out to look you up, when I ran across Lone Dick, the scout, and he told me you had struck out in this direction. So I put after you over, the hills.”’ In a few more words Red Hand acquainted Buffalo Bill with all the discoveries he had made since coming to the Black Hills. “That we are going to have a hard time, Red Hand, is evident. My advice is for that other party to at once’ vacate their lay-out, and move bag and baggage to our stronghold, w hich we can hold against every Indian in these “hills : yet to be on the safe side, I have a plan to save the women, and that is to bring them here.”” “Here! how will that protect then?’ “This is the Haunted’ Valley of the Black Hills... And no Indian of the Sioux tribe, or outlaw, either, w rill ever penetrate into these wilds.” “We know, now, how it was haunted, and why,” said Red Hand, sadly. “Yes, Red na you and I know now, and we also know that this place will be sacred from intrusion. Here we will bring the women and children, and you, and Lone Dick, and Capt. Ramsey, and his son must be their guard.” “You mean for the party to leave the settlement to- night, then?” “Ves, for the Indians will'begin to move soon.” Buffalo Bill continued: “T will ride, as soon.as possible, to the Ramsey camp; have the women and their party pack up at once, mount and hasten to the head of the valley, with all the neces- sary stores and traps for a long siege; then tell the men to move off with all due haste for the miners’ camp, and, mind you, Red Hand, they. must be well on their way by daylight, for we have no time to lose. “Tam off at once, Red Hand, but, really, I do not like to leave you alone in this valley,” said Buffalo Bill, re- luctantly. e SRNR a a a 4 “It matters not, the dead can do no harm, and the living I have little fear of here.” “It is now about two hours to midnight. will be at the head of the valley.” So saying, Buffalo Bill mounted, and the rattle of his horse’s agate echoed dismally through the hills as he rode rapidly on his way, lea ving Red Hand alone in the Haunted Valley-——alone with the dead, Before day I CHAPTER ‘XII TICKETS ft Work. Instead of hast ening immediately toward Ramsey’s camp after leaving Red Hand, Buffalo Bil rode but a short distance in that direction. Then he an his horse to a stop, and sat for some time in the saddle, listening and cogitating. His sympathies had been aroused for Red Fan d, and he believed in the man. Not often did Buffalo Bill go amiss in his judgment of men; ve in a few instances he had made mistakes in his opinions of certain individuals. The life of Bed Hand was hidden in mystery. No one seemed to knew his past or anything much about hi “1 think he is all right,” thought the scout,‘ “but it is never safe to be too sure. I think that girl is all right, too; but even there I may be mistaken. The only way to be absolutely sure is to make'sure! I can’t make sure of Red Hand just now, but, perhaps, I can find out some- thing certain about the intentions of those Indians.” Pa ing thus come to a conclusion, he turned the horse softly from the trail, and in a little while was shaping his course toward the Indian village. The moon still shone brilliantly,"and in that clear at- mosphere moonlight sometimes is marvellously bright. The scout could see for a considerable distance in every ” di- rection. While this brightness of the night had been favorable him, in the events which had recently mela it promised to make extremely difficult and ticklish to which he was now setting his energies. When the scout had ridden as far as he thought it safe to go, he dismounted, and after tying his horse to the swinging bough of a tree, he went forward soitly on foot. As he approached the Indian village he heard droning sounds and the thump of drums. “A bad sign,” he said, to himself. “It is queer that whenever Indians meditate war they must work them- selves up to a fighting pitch by a lot of dancing and howling.” The Indian village was al! astir, as he discovered when he came in sight of it. There were lights in many of the lodges, and in the council house, which was the largest lodge, and pitched in the center of the village. The droning sound had now revealed itself as the sing- ing and chanting of warriors and medicine men, and the thump of the drums reached the scout with great dis- tinctness. Because of the brightness of the moonlight, Buffalo cae assumed a stooping posture as he crept forwar d, and little later he got flat down on the ground and crept on mith the litheness and softness of the panther stealing on its prey. Not a leaf rustled under him as he thus stole forward, e task THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES, 19 not a twig snapned; his advance was like the forward’ movement of a shadow, so silent was it. Buffalo Bill was no ordinary scout, no ordinary trailer, i ordinary Indian fighter. He could out-Indian an In- dian himself in all the tricks of Indian warfare. Now and then, when an Ca figure appeared at 2 opening in a tee or hurried along through the moon- light, the scout simply “froze” in his place; and, if seen, NOU wid then have been thought to be a mere shadow, or some prominence in the landscape, a stone or a bit, of elevated earth. When the Indian had disappeared, the scout writhed On, af gain, Thus Py progress that was slow and annoying, or wou . have beer (aueoying: a almost any other man, Buffal Bill drew close to the Indian village. In a short while after reaching it he was squirming along behind the lodges, seeking concealment in their s shadows. Always he headed toward the central lodge, where the drums were thumping and the braves were howling. What Buffalo Bill feared mest was that some maney an cur, of which numbers are always found in every Ind village, should scent him out and raise a clatter which would bring some ef the Indians dewn upon him. As if to be prepared for this, or to guard against it, when he had advanced a short distance he drew his knife from its case at his belt and held it in his teeth, ready for instant use. Lying flat in the shadow of a lodge, and looking out into the bright moonlight which lay before him, and see- ing how difficult bis advance from that point would be, the scout thought of an expedient, which he had more than once used’ on a similar errand. The idee was apparently deserted, the inmates having taken themselves to other lodges for purposes of talk, or to the council house. Lifting the skin flap of the ledge Buffalo Bill peered the dark interior. int It was periectly silent, and be- tiey ig it to’be quite deserted for the time, he crawled in, dropping th ¢ Having gained entrance to the lodge, the scout lay 2 pay listening and getting his bearings. red forward until his hands came in cen- tact with a hee This he appropriated; then began to feel about for some other article that would be us eful, At length his hand fell on a feathered Indian head- skin, covering into place behind him. : a a bry a nh oO ¢ = a3 tT oe ress ‘Tus t the thing, also. Now, if I only knew where to look for this warrior’s paint box, I could soon turn myself into a pretty fair speci- men of redskin,” But, though the scout felt about in the gloom of the lodge for some time, his hands did not light on the cov- eted box of Indian paints. They did Hehe on something, though, startled him; and that was an Indian baby. It was lying in a sort of cradle of deerskins: and, as soon as the scout’s fingers touched its face, it Soke and began to screech. “Thinks I’m some sort of wild animal,” muttered the 39 was his thought; and he took that, that almost 0 | THE BUFFALO scout, as the baby increased its yells. “Well, the thing for me to do is to get out of here as quick as I can.” Thereupon he “‘crawfished” rapidly back to the point where he had gained ingress, and again lifting the skin lodge-covering, he slipped out of the tepee. Scarcely had he done so when a squaw came running from an adjacent lodge. : Again the scout “froze” to the ground, but this time with the Indian blanket drawn about his shoulders and with the feathered Indian headdress on his head. His hat he held in one hand under the concealing folds of the blanket. In the other hand he held his knife. The coming of the squaw quieted the child. __ “I’m all right, if she doesn’t start up a fire, or get a . light, and so discover that the blanket and the headdress are gone,’ was the scout’s thought, as he heard the In- elian mother crooning to the baby. Then he arose softly to his feet; and with the head- dress in place, but with the blanket drawn up to conceal his face, and so draped about his form that his clothing was pretty well hidden, he waiked boldly out into the moonlight. It was a daring thing to do, but safety is often as- sured by the very audacity of any given line of action. Stalking alone with all the dignity of a painted Indian brave, Buffalo Bill made his way, without molestation or apparent observation, almost to the door of the council lodge. Instead of trying to enter it, however, he moved around it, until he was well within its shadow; and there, after looking about to be sure he was not observed, he lay down quietly on the ground, and placed an ear to the skin lodge- covering. The din within the lodge, now that he was so close to it, was well-nigh deafening. The warriors were howling and jumping in frenzied Indian fashion, and the beating of the Indian drums was something furious. Aside from the monotonous chanting of the drum- beaters, he heard no words for a while: Then one of the Indian dancers began in a bragging way, and in a high monotone, to boast of his many bloody deeds. ‘ He had slain may white men, he said, and now he would slay many more. .The white men were cowards, they were serpents, they had hearts like women, and they would run when he, this great brave, should lift the knife to strike. Buffalo Bill smiled when he heard the words of the boaster. “That’s all right, old bragger,” he muttered, “but you'll “ind out, when you go against them, that the white men don’t run worth a beaver skin!” Anxious to see what was going on within the council house, for what he heard was unsatisfactory, the scout softly lifted the lower edge of the skin, and peered in. As he did so an Indian dancer whirled with jerky mo- tion right past his face. All about, within the lodge, dancers were hopping, jumping and gyrating. ae The drum beaters were seated not far away in a group, pounding away with such energy that the sweat stood on _ theix painted faces, BILL STORIES. The Indian who was doing the boasting continued to tell what great things he would accomplish when he lifted his knife against the whites. Just at this juncture, when the scout was beginning to think that, perhaps, he might now acquaint himself with something definite concerning the plans of the Indians— though the fact that they were dancing and in war paint showed that they meditated an attack on the camps of the white men—one of the dogs, whose presence Buffalo Bill had feared, came sniffing around the lodge, and discovered him lying there in the shadow. : The scout let the skin of the tent fall, and turning about, gripped his knife. The dog was sniffing at him with suspicion, though the odor of the Indian blanket and the stght of the familiar headdress, no doubt, somewhat lulled the animal’s sus- picion. The dog could not see Buffalo Bill’s face, for the blanket was pulled rather closely about it. So again the animal advanced, with nose out-thrust, sniffing at the scout. The dog seemed to have an intuition that all was not well, and thrusting its sharp, wolflike nose into the air, it gave a long, whining howl, like a veritable wolf. The scout lay as if he were dead. The howling was heard in the lodge, but seemed to excite no thought that all was not well outside. These dogs were known to be great howlers. Ceasing its long-drawn howl of suspicion, the dog came forward again, and thrust its nose almost into the scout’s face. Discovering now that the man under the Indian blanket was not an Indian, it started to leap back, at the same time giving a short bark, like a dog that has treed game. “Curse you!” muttered the scout. At the same time his left hand shot out like lightning from under the blanket. The dog was about to bark again-when that hand caught it, Then it yelped, as a cur does when trodden upon. But it was the dog’s last yelp, and it was cut short. The hand that held the keen-bladed knife shot out from under the blanket; and, as the dog was drawn for- ward by the other hand, the knife ripped its throat open. The yelp and the flouncing of the dog had brought some Indians out of the lodge. The scout, lying quiet again, with the bloody knife in one hand and one of his ready revolvers in the other, heard the warriors talking. One of them, after a few words, began to walk around the lodge, in the direction of the scout. “Tf I lie here, I shall have to kill that Indian, as J did the dog; and I’ll be discovered, no doubt, after which there will be the greatest row and hubbub here any one ever heard. I guess it’s time for me to sneak.” Fle did not “sneak,” however. He was still concealed from the approaching Indian by the intervening tent wall. So he arose boldly to his feet and as boldly walked on around the council lodge, away from the advancing red- skin. Almost any other man would have jumped up and fled out through the village, trusting to his legs to carry him HI DL sh Ste {a Ta no mM So spe COU ove had side sary Stan but the pain an € THE BUEEALO to a point of safety. But that would have involved risks which Buffalo Bill did not care to take. Hence he walked straight on.- As he came out into the moonlight and toward the front of the council house, he was seen by one of the Indians who had stood talking near Ay lodge door. This Indian called to him, aski ing if he had heard the dog; for the blanket and the headdress made the Indian think the scout was another redskin. As the scout had heard the words that were spoken be- fore the lodge door and had noted the tones of the voice, he a answered, for he understood the Sioux language per- fectly, and imitated almost to perfection the voice of an Indian. “The dog has gone off that way,” he said, “I think he is after a rabbit: | will see!” Then the scout broke into a run, as if he were hasten- ing after the dog. He knew that now he would have to “‘cut sticks,” as he would have expressed it; and when he had another lodge between him and the Indian he had spoken to, he ran with all his might, yet as softly as he could. It was "well for Buffalo Bill that he had moved thus promptly. For, as he ran, he heard a wild yell behind him, which told him that the body of the dog had been discover ed. The yell stopped the dancing and the drum beating as ae as if a tifle shot had been fired. The Indians poured pell-mell out of the council house, The yells that now sounded seemed to arouse all the village curs at once; and some of them discovering the hurrying figure of the scout, they rushed at him like a pack of wolves chasing a deer. But the scout was now on the edge of the village, and before him was the wild-timbered hills. Turning suddenly, as the foremost of the dogs pressed him and “began to snap at his heels, he’ cast aside the planket and the headdress and lifted his revolver, They were plainly to be,seen in the moonlight. Two shots sent the leaders rolling in their death agonies, and so startled the others that they drew back, thus giving Buf- falo Bill avclear path again before him. Then arrows began to sing and rifles to bark, as the Indians, guided by ‘the yelping of the dogs, and knowing now that.an enemy had invaded the village, began to fire in the direction of the scout’s flight. But the missiles went wild. Their singing and hurtling in the trees seemed, however, to increase the scout’s speed, so that he almost flew, selecting the wildest and rockiest spots course for the line of his retreat. As soon as he was clear of the village he shaped his course toward the point where he had left his horse. Fortunately Buffalo Bill was a good runner. More- over, he did not wish to be captured by the Sioux. He had a due regard for his own personal safety, and be- sides he had important information which it was neces- sary to carry to the camps of the white men. He had not heard much in the Indian village, notwith- standing the great risks he had run to gain information ; but what he had heard, together with the dancing and the drum beating and the sight of the warriors in war- paint, was enough to assure him that the Sioux meditated an eatly, if not an immediate attack on the whites. ce 3?) BILL STORIES, a The dogs still pursued him, and kept up with him, though he. began to drop the Indians. T urning at bay, bi scout killed two. more of the leading dogs, and again an on. The other dogs seemed to lose heart eek of this, and dropped back, though they followed along his trail and continued their yelping, thus aiding the Indians in their pursuit. The rapidity of the scout’s flight brought him, after a time, ‘to his horse. : “All safe and sound, old fellow, are you?” he said, speaking to the animal. “Well, let them catch me now, if they can! I have found out enough to show me that that girl wasn’t lying to me; and, when I'meet her again, she will no doubt give me particulars of the Indians’ plans, as she promised. So, here we go!” : a away the scout sped through the silvery moon- 1gnt, CHAPIER X11 THE MEETING IN THE CANYON. Let us return again on the trail of our story. As the moments passed, and Bad Burke did not return to his companions in the gulch, they became uneasy at his long absence. H lardly daring to delay longer, they fled hastily from the scene, lest Kansas King should return, and, finding his lieutenant missing, accuse them of treachery. Therefore, when Kansas King returned to the rendez- vous, he found no sign of lieutenant or men. Swearing vengeance, against Bad Burke, if he should ever lay his hands sate him, or any of the treacherous crew who had deserted him, Kansas King rode on at a sweeping gallop, until mile after mile had been cast behind him and his stronghold was not far away. Fearin g treachery there, also, upon the principle that a ‘‘burat “child dreads the fire, ” the chief determined to make a flank movement upon his camp, and apercalh it from the hills. ‘ He reasoned that in case of suspicions of fewae to himself were aroused he could withdraw immediately and rapidly, and returning to the cabin of the hermit chief throw himself upon his protection, telling him frankly his men had turned traitors. With this intention he charfged his course, and, turn- ing into a narrower canyon which he knew would lead him around toward the hills overhanging his camp, he urged his horse into a gallop. Suddenly he reined the horse back upon its haunches with terrible force, for the sound of hoofs rapidly ap- proaching through the gorge startled him. Drawing his revolver, King sat quietly awaiting the coming stranger, whoever it might be. An “exclamation of surprise broke from his lips, as a steed dashed around the bend, bearing upon his back—a woman ! Yes, a woman; or, rather a young girl, for she was none other than Ruth Ramsey, who, quickly oy ee an unlooked-for obstacle im her path, attempted to draw rein. But she was too late; her steed was a willful animal, not easily checked, and before she could come to a halt the out- 22 : THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. law leader spurred alongside of her, and his left hand grasped her bridle-rein. “Leo Randolph! You here!” she demanded. It was all she. could say, and across her face swept a deathly pallor. “Yes, sweet Ruth, your lover of lang syne is delighted to behold you once more,” said the chief, with irony in his voice. . : “It was proven you were an outlaw,” she said, “the leader of a wild and desperate band; men called you Kan- sas King, because you ruled the border and none dare face you. “Yes, all these things were proven, and—and—I found Thad loved unworthily.” Ruth spoke half aloud, her eyes downcast, as though musing with the past. “Ruth, all these things were told against me; what was proven was that I had been brought up by a fond mother who idolized her boy, yet upon whose life a stain rested, and hence the curse fell upon the son. “That mother died, Ruth, and then came the news to her son that a brand rested upon his life. “Was it any wonder, then, vantages bestowed upon him by his loving mother, and became a wild and reckless outcast? “Oh, Ruth, you cannot know how I have suffered, and what a curse, a misery, my life has been. If you knew you would pity me—and pity begets love—'tis said. (ou did love me once, Ruth.’ The outlaw chief laid his hand softly upon the gloved hand of the girl, who, quietly withdrawing the hand, re- plied, kindly: a ‘thought I loved you once, Leo; but I did not know my heart; “and yet, had your life been different, and not a blot upon the earth, we might have been more to each other than lovers; but you have not forgotten that when my father exiled you from our home, and I told you I did not love you, you basely endeavored to carry me off.” “No, Ruth, I have not forgotten. I loved you, and that must be my only excuse. I longed to have you with me, to have you my bride, and—forgive me, Ruth—lI was mad enough to think that I might aan you to become: my wite.” “My consent never could have bens won by force, Leo Randolph; but, this is idle, to thus stand and talk with you. Believe me, I feel for you in the evil career you have chosen. “But I must hasten, for the night is coming on, and I was foolish to venture thus far from the fort,.” Ruth attempted to ride on, but the outlaw chief still kept his hand firmly upon her rein, while he asked: “How is it you are thus far from your ee and alone ?” “I came out with my father and brother for a ede. ey discovered traces of Indians near the fort, and rode bn to investigate, telling me to return, for I was not half a mile away. “I lost my road, and only ne now discovered that my way back lay through this gulch.” Again she urged her horse forward, yet the chief held him firm! oo his strong grasp. “Mr. Randolph, will you release my bridle rein?” said Ruth, in a firm voice, that he threw away the ad-- “Miss Ramsey, I will not—hold! hear me, and heed— you are in my power, and I am a desperate man. “Go with me willingly; become. my wife, and I will SoG my evil life, and live for you alone : refuse, and—— “You plead in yain, Mr. Randolph ; your evil life has already put out every spark of regard I ever felt for you. Again [ ask you to release my rein. “And again I say I will not. More—if you will not be a willing bride, you shall be an unwilling one.’ “God have mercy upon me!” groaned poor Ruth, as she reeled as if about to fall from her saddle. . CHAP TER XIV: THE ANSWERED CRY. The moonlight that fell weirdly upon the haunted val- ley, and lighted up the sad scene enacted there, also cast its silvery “radiance upon the mountain hut of the hermit chief. Pacing to and fro in the moonlight, with quick, nervous tread, was Gray Chief, his brow dark, and his lips set stern and hard. A few moments before the White Slayer io his chiefs had left a council which had determined a deadly exter- | mination of every paleface in the Black Hills. (Gray Chief had been pleased with the decision of White layer, for to him all white men were enemies, and he de- sired that not onl y should the miners perish, but also the outlaws. In that cot uncil it had been decided that they should seem to agree to Kansas King’s arrangement for an alliance, and by so doing disarm suspicion, and get him and his men in their power, After that the Sioux watriors were ‘to fall upon them and not a man should escape—no, not one, swore the hermit chief. Having thus disposed of. their would-be allies, it was believed that the Tadiane could arm themselves with the weapons taken fram the outlaws, and then make war upon the two camps of-the invaders. The old hermit chuckled gleefully as he thought over his plans, and saw how eagerly the Indiahs had agreed to them. - , Yet, had he known, within the cabin window stood one who had heard every arrangement made, and after learn- ing all she could, arose from her crouching attitude, and stole away. : lf the hermit had known this, he would not have walked the ledge in the moonlight, gloating over his diabolical in- vention to rid the Black Hills of every paleface who had invaded their unknown fastnesses. After parting with Buffalo Bill, Pearl had returned eae and learned from Valleolo, the Indian woman, that the chiefs were to assemble at once. Instantly she secreted herself in her room, and from her ambush learned their plans, after which she hurried away through the cavern, descended the hills to the Indian village, and quickly mounted a splendid horse which White Slayer had captured in battle and presented to her. Like the wind she then rode through the valleys and. over the, hills, directing her course toward the Ramsey settlement, as she dared not take the lower canyon lead- ing to the fort of the miners, : oO o> hort eae Ti fi te “yield to the command a sweet lips, which ye THE BUFFALO Z wn At length she drew near the spot where she had been told the palefaces were encamped, and was just turning into the narrow gulch leading to the stockade fort, when she heard a loud cry for help. “Help! help! Oh, Fieaven, save me! yp again rang the ery, and in a woman’s voice. With the impulsiveness of her nature, Pearl was about to dash at once to the rescue, when there came the sound of coming hoofs. The next insta oh riding up the gulch, she beheld two horses bearing a man anc da a girl, the man holding the girl firmly in her sad idle, e, and at the same time grasping w vith his other: hand the bridle rein of her horse. They were Kansas King and Ruth Ramsey. \ Infuriated by her refusal of his love, the outlaw chief was bearing the girl by force to his camp, in spite of her heart-rending cries for help. “Hold!” The voice was that of a woman, yet it had in it a stern and determined ring that brought the robber chief and his aptive to a sudden halt. Before them, seated upon her horse, with her rifle leveled at the broad breast of Kansas King, was Pearl, the Maid- of-the-Hiils. At the command Kansas ae drew rein. “Well, girl, what do you want?” he asked. “That you ‘tide on and leave a girl alone,” firmly re- plied Pearl “Hala stern comimand from such sweet lips; but what if I refuse? sey T wil! kill you “farsher still, my mountain beauty; but your aim may 39 not be true, and “One wave of my ad ind Kansas King, and you might find out how true is my aim. Do you think i am a fool, to come this far from my home unprotected ?” Pearl spoke as though there were a-hundred warriors at her back. The outlaw chief glanced somewhat nervously around, and, doubtless believing that the rocks and trees did con- ceal innumerable redskins, he said: “Vou hold the winning card, fair Pearl-of-the-Hills. - I et I may pun- ish for their’ unkind words with a kiss. Ruth Ramsey, we will meet again. Fair maids, | bid 3 you good-even- ing.” Then, with a muttered curse, Kansas King drove his spurs deep into the flanks of his horse, and dashed away up the gulch at a mad speed. Before the rattle of his horse’s hoofs resounded through the canyon the heavy tect, In dismay, Ruth cried: “Come; oh, come, for the Indians are coming!” Pearl listened an instant, and then said: “No, those are not Indians, for I h against the rocks of white men’s.shod horse friends.” Before more could be said a long line of horsemen filed around a bend in the canyon. Whether friendly or hostile, it was then too late to fly. died away, there y tramp of many the iron ring ; they are your BILL STORIES. CHAPTER XV. UNCLE SAM’S BOYS. The column of horsemen that was filing at a slow trot through the canyon were, as Pearl had said, not Indians, but palefaces s, and with a half cry of joy, Ruth saw that they were troopers, dressed in the uniform of United States cavalry. It was-a squads -on of less than a score. At their head rode a young and dashing officer of perhaps twenty-five years of age. At a glance, womanlike, both the girls took in his su- perb form, splendid seat in the sadd le, stylish uniform and. broad shoulders, with the straps of a captain thereon. Then they saw his handsome, daring face, with its dark, earnest eyes, and firm mouth, shaded by a dark mustache, Certainly he was an clegant- looking young officer, and into his frank, noble face ‘the two girls, the. daughter of the prairie, and the child of the hills, gazed with admira- tion and trust. With surprise upon his features, a rinsed surprise he did not attempt to conceal, the young officer drew rein be- fore the two girls, whose ‘horses stood side by side across the canyon, and, respectfully raising his plumed hat, said, pleasantly : “This is an unlooked-for pleasure—meeting ladies in these wild hills.” “And a particular pl leasure, sir, to us, at least to me, for there is certainly need for you and your troopers here,” replied Ruth. Pearl remained silent, and the young captain again said: “My instructions were to come into these hills and pro- tect all white settlers. “T expected to find here a band of ride miners—cer- inly not any ladies.” “I sir, am the daughter of Capt. Ramsey,” said Ruth. “Fe is the leader of a small oy of settlers who came here to establish homes and also dig for gold; this girl I never met until ten minutes ago, when she saved me “from a terrible fate—a fate to which death was preferable.” Ruth Ramsey spoke with exceeding earnestness. “Indeed!” exclaifned the young officer. “This young lady, then, does not belong to your settlement. Can there be another band of settlers in these hills?” He asked the question with surprise, gazing with ad- miration upon Pearl’s lovely face. Pearl flushed slightly, to find herself the object of such ardent notice, and replied: “t was on my way to warn the palefaces of danger, when I came suddenly upon this lady and Kansas King, the ee was forcing her to accompany him.” WV arn the e palefaces of danger ? Are you not a pale- face?’ ae 1 the stonished soldier. “T am a paleface, yes. But I cannot say more than that I was going to tell the settlers that White Slayer and his band are to move to-morrow night upon their forts, and that ee is no hope for them unless they at once Jeave these hills.” “And you! Are you not in danger?” said Ruth Ram- sey, earnestly. “No, I am not in danger; but you mus red devils, who will soon be on the as paleface who has lately come into the hills.” “You bring bad news, miss,” said the officer, “and yet cape from the against every 24 I fear true tidings, as I know the bitterness of the Indians to those who would settle here. ‘[o-morrow night, you say, they will commence the attack?’ “Yes, sir.’ “And Maj. Wells will not be up before day after to- morrow, hasten as he may, and I have but fourteen men with me,” was the thoughtful statement. “You have other troops coming, then, sir?’ asked Ruth, anxiously. “Ves, over a hundred troopers; Iwas merely an ee vance euard; here, Wentworth, hasten back with all dis- patch and ask Maj. Wells to ride his horses down, but that he reaches here to-morrow night.” The captain turned to a horseman who was half-scout,: half-soldier, and a bold-looking fellow, who promptly re- plied: “I'll fetch him, Capt. Archer, if hoofs can make it!” “Do so, Wentworth, and bring him to this point, do you hear ?”’ “Ay, ay, sit!’ and» away dashed the courier, at full speed. “Now, young nee said the officer, ‘‘there is but one thing for me to do, and that is to go secretly into camp near here and await the attack upon ‘the fort, and then en- deavor to make the redskins believe a large force of cav- alry has come to the assistance of the settlers. “Were the Indians to know that [ had but my present force they would not fear me, so I beg that you keep my presence in the hills a secret, and in the time of need I will be on hand. “My orders, Miss Ramsey, the settlers.’’ “T will guide you to a safe place, sir, where you could conceal a hundred men,’ Pearl volunteered, Then she considerately added: “We should first see this lady home.” “True. Miss Ramsey, we will ride with you to within a short distance of your camp,’ The cavalcade at once moved off, Pearl guiding, and.as they rode along the two girls and the young - soldier chatted pleasantly together. At length the stockade was visible, and the party halted, while Ruth, after bidding adieu to the captain, kissed her new-found friend and rode on alone. Then away dashed Pearl, side by side with the captain, and behind came the troopers riding in Indian file. A gallop of two miles brought them to one of those gorges so common in the Black Hills, and into this Pearl led the ¥ way until they came to a small glen, fertile and well watered. “Here you can rest secure, sir. If there is any change in the plans of the Indians I will come and let you know,’ said she. Then she made known to the officer all that had trans- pired, with which the reader is already acquainted. In surprise and astonishment, the young man listened; and then said, kindly,’taking her hand: “The settlers have much to thank you for, miss, I asstre you, and it is noble of you to thus warn them of danger, at the risk of your life, for I feel that you are an inmate of the village of the Sioux to thus know their plans. “This, 1 hope, will not be our last meeting, and in full sincerity I say, if in any way I can befriend you, com- 29 66 are to protect the lives ot THE BUFFALO. replied the young officer. - BILL STORIES. mand me. My name is Edwin Archer, and I am a captain in the Cavalry, now on the. prairie border.” Pearl made no reply, waved her hand pleasantly, and away bounded her steed on the return to the - indian vil- lage. CHAPTERS XVE "ho BR ASE RN Ga BN When Ruth Ramsey returned to the stockade she found the whole settlement about to turn out in search of her. Her friends were delighted at her return, for they had believed her lost, or captured by the Indians, as her father and brother had returned some time before, and reported that she had started home. Ruth made known her startling adventure with Kan- sas King, her rescue by a strange white girl; but the com- ing of the ey she kept to herself, as the officer had requested her to do. The settlers were all in a state of fermentation at the hostile Porton. oe by the Sioux, and the coming into the hills of Kansas es and his band. ‘ Buffalo Bill had made known the enmity of the In- dians and advised that the settlers should move over to the thiners’ fort until after the battle they knew must cdme with the Indians. There were some who declared against the move, un- willing to leave off their gold digging, and thus a- war of words was prog oe when suddenly Buffalo Bill again appeared in their midst, and at once his report settled the matter. Two hours after, the crbetatte was deserted by one and all, and the men at once set off for the miners’ camp, ex- cepting those designated to go ‘with the women and children into the haunted va alley. A mile from the stockade the party divided, with many tears, kind wishes, and tender farewells, and Buffalo Bill led his precious charge by the nearest route to the valley where Red Hand awaited them. After an hour’s tramp, they entered a narrow gorge, the western inlet to the valley. as orm coming toward them. it was 8 Hand, : He bowed pleasantly to the aS pressed lightly t the hand | Ri a extended to him, and said, sin uply : Come.” Leading the way through the beautiful yet strangely wild glen, Red’ Hand turned, after a walk of a third of-a mile, into a thick piece of timber, through which ran an distinct trail. A still farther walk through the woods of two fine dred yards, and before them arose the precipitous and lofty sides of the mountain, pierced by several narrow gorges, that appeared like lanes through the massive hills. Into one of these chasms, for they were hardly anything mote, Red Hand walked, and soon it widened into a per- fect ee with towering walls upon every side. It was a fairy spot, where one would love to dwell and dream away a lifetime, far away from the cares of the Maa there, sheltered against the base of the lofty hill, was a neat little cabin home—a hermitage in the hills, ad of them Buffalo Bill suddenly descried a tall, up- It was an humble abode, built of stout logs, and yet around it was’an air of comfort, while the interior, con- sisting of two rooms, ¢ certainly looked cozy and most com- fortable, for the furniture, though of rude manufacture, was useful, and around the walls were many articles of use and enjoyment, from rifles, knives and pistols, cooking utensils, and a very fair selection of books. “This was her home,” he said, simply and: meaningly, speaking to Buffalo Bill. ‘From here to his grave is but a short dis stance, and her going there has marked a distinct trail. “And, friend Cody, last night, I made strange discov- eries.” Turning to Capt. Ramsey, Red Hand requested him to keep his party in the gorge. Promising to bring the anxious mothers, wives, sisters and daughters good news, Buffalo Bill set out with Red Hand for thé fort t, which they knew, before many hours, would be the scene of a terrible border battle. The scout even had his doubts as to a result in favor of the whites. “Cody, if it comes to the worst, you can wait in the gorge until the Indians believe you escaped before the fight, and then make for the settlement with all haste.’ “Twill try to take care of myself,’ was the cheerful an- swer. “Never mind me, old fellow! but, if we do go under, why, redskins’ scalps will be a drug in the market,” and Red Hand smiled, a sad smile, upon his stern, sorrowful face. CHAPTER XVII. THE WAR CRY AND THE SURPRISE, Nicht, serenely beautiful, with its silver moon lighting up the bold ae upon every hand, came again to the Black Hills, and the shadow of the mountains fell v ipon the miners’ fort, he all seemed lost in deep repose. But the silence resting there was a treacherous one, for within those stockade walls were half a hundred brave men resting upon a arms and awaiting the coming of their foes, aula, all knew, were to hurl themselves against them that night. Since the day before, when he had left the valley re- treat with Red Hand, Buffalo Bill had been constantly on the move, scouting about the hills, and ! his reconnoissance had discove ered the plan of attack decided upon by the In- dians. According to pro mise, | Pearl had met him in the eg ae and told We a that | from the ledge she had witnessed the coming of Kansas King, and heard all that had ie between him and hee father, who had told the outlaw chief that the night following he would come to his camp with five hundred warriors, and that they would together move on the miners’ stronghold. Kansas: King had agreed to Gray Chief’s plans, and then took his departure, apparently satisfied w rith the good faith of his allies. As for the old | 2 aA hermit, he laughed in his sleeve way he had fooled the outlaw, for it was his int ention that very night to hurl his whole force upon the robber camp, and, after a general massacre, to divide his ee into THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. 25 two parties and at once attack the two paleface en- campments. As soon as he learned the plans of the Indians, and also heard from Pearl about the arrival of the cavalry in the Black Hills, Buffalo Bill at once set out on his return to the stronghold. Whether Kansas King suspected the hermit chief of bad faith, or determined to strike a blow himself against the ttlements, is not known; but certain it is, that, as soon ; darkness set in, he moved his men at once toward the has stockade, and after a gallant charge up to the walls, discovered that the occupants had deserted the place. Ch agrined at this discovery, t he outlaw/chief rode with all dis pach toward the stronghold of the miners, and ar- rived there about the time that “Gray Chief and his red war- riors reached the camping ground of the robbers, to find that they had fled. With rage at the move of Kansas King, the Indians at once set out for the Ramsey settlement, gientns over their anticipated revel in blood. Again were they doomed to disappointment, a in fear that their enemies had escaped them they rode rapidly for the stronghold of the miners. Before they arrived, however, they heard the rattle of firearms, Then it flashed across ihe hermit chief that Kansas King had outwitted him and was determined to alone take the plunder from’ the miners and reduce their stronghold to ashes. | The firing grew louder, and then the fort came in sight, he flashes of thes rifles lighting up the dark mountainside. As the band of warriors pressed on, Kansas King sud- en y confronted the hermit chief, and, with coolness, said: Dues old man, you procrastinated too much, so I have begun the fight!” Bo ae men felt that che other was playing some deep game; yet they were anxious to receive aid, the one from the other. The outlaws had already suffered severely, and at a glance the hermit chief and White Slayer felt that 6): Th eS HH Om fee) i base pS eet g the stronghold would not be easily taken. So the outlaws and the Sioux concluded to fight to- gether aga ainst the miners. The Indians were thrown into position, a and the battle at once raged in all its fierceness. In vain the outlaws, under their reclless young lea der, hurled thems« selves against the stockade walls; in vain the ae s resorted to every cunning artifice known to them. Che brave Sede garrison poured in constantly a oe fire upon their enemies, and many an outlaw and ‘India bit the dust. “Come, this will never do. We must charge in column with our wl force and throw ourselves over the walls. I will lead,” cried Kansas King, almost wild with fury at the stubborn resistance of the gallant defenders. “Tt is the only chance, : see. Here, White Slayer, form your men for a bold rush,” replied the stern old hermit chief. . Then, with demoniacal yells, the mad column of out- ; and redskins started upon the charge. ike the leaden bullets fell in their midst, and ter- rible was the havoc; but on they pressed—Kansas King, the hermit chief, and. White Slayer at their head. On, still on, until the dark column reached the stockade, Springing upon the shoulders of the braves, the daring ae ( a 101 ea i i 4 { 26 White Slayer was the next instant upon the top of the wall, his wild war whoop echoing defiance and triumph. But suddenly behind the Indians came a ringing order in trumpet tones: “Troopers to the rescue—charge!” Then was heard the hearty cheer of regular soldiers, a rattling of sabers, a heavy trampling of many hoofs, and upon the rear of the attacking force rushed a squadron of cavalry, half a hundred strong, and at their head rode Capt. Edwin Archer. The sight that followed was a scene of terrible carnage, for in wild dismay the Indians and outlaws fled, the battle - lost. to them at the moment they believed victory their - own. As the stampede became general, two men mounted their horses ad dashed rapidly away up the gorge. But upon their tracks rode two other men who had dashed out of the stronghold in hot pursuit. The two who were flying in advance for’ their lives were the hermit chief and Kansas King, both bitterly curs- ing their misfortune... The two men who had ridden from the stronghold in ‘pursuit were, Red Hand and Buffalo Bill. On flew the two chiefs up the dark gorge, and like bloodhounds on the trail rode Red Hand and the famous scout. Up the valley, over the ridges, ta ah the canyon, up to the base of the hill, whereon stood the hermit’s cabin, rushed the riders. Here. the two fugitives sprang from their horses and darted up the steep ascent. But close behind them was Red Hand and Buffalo Bill. At last the ledge was reached, and upon it the hermit turned at bay, for he saw that Red Hand was close be- hind him. _ Like an entaged beast, the hermit chief cried: “Tracked to my lair at last—at last: but, Vincent Ver- non, you shall die!” With gleaming knife, the old hermit sprang forward, _but Red “Hand, with a cry of rage, as though he recog- nized the man before him, and had some oie injury of the past to avenge, met him with a terrible earnestness— met him to hurl "him back from him with a strength that was marvelous, and with one plunge of his bla de: sent its keen point deep into the broad bosom of Dis foe. One stifled cry, and the hermit chief fell back his full length upon the hard rock, just as i ansas King, who had found the door of the cabin ee against him, turned also at bay, to be met by a blow from the pistol butt of Buffalo Bill, which felled him, stunned, to the ae CHATIER XVIII THE MYSTERY SOLVED, Alpen the rocky ledge, in front of the cabin, the moon- light streamed with almost noonday brilliancy, ‘and lighted up a strange scene. Lying upon the rock was the hermit chief, his long gray beard and hair shining like silver in the moonlight, “and his broad chest heaving with every hard-drawn breath — for the hermit had received his death wound. Standing near was Kansas King, a bloodstain upon his THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. forehead, from a wound made by the butt of the scout’s pistol. ; The face of the hermit was pallid with pain and some inward emotion of bitterness. \ | The face of the man whose deeds had won him the name of Kansas King was still unmoved and reckless. In front.of these men stood Buffalo Bill and Red Hand. Red Hand was slightly in-advance, and he was speaking, while his deep voice was stern and alrnost cruel in tone. He was saying: “Carter Bainbridge, you have but a short time to live. Before your soul takes its flight, I would have you speak, if the story. 1 am now about to relate is not true in every word,”’ : After a moment, the hermit replied: “Hell has certainly, aided you, Vincent Vernon, in let- ting your hand take my life; tell all you wish to, for I care not now—no, not now ha! there comes Pearl,” At that moment the girl rushed from the cabin, and, be- holding the strange scene and the hermit lying wounded upon the rock, cried: “Father! my father! are you dying ?” Quickly Red Hand stepped forward, and, restraining her, said; ; a “My dear girl, this man is not your father—waste not your pity on him.” “Not my father! Oh, surely you are “He tells the truth, Peart; I'am not your ie Lis- ten and he will tell you all.” The hermit “pe ke with difficulty. “Yes, I tell the truth, as you shall all hear,” said Red Hand. “Many years ago, in a New England State, I was tiv- ing with my He red mother ; my ate a naval officer, having died when I was a mere lad. “My mother had wealth, and, being youthful and hand- some, had many admirers. “When I was fifteen years of age I first saw this man— Carter Bainbridge—known to you all as the Hermit of the Black Hills. “This man became, as I believed, the husband of my mother. She loved him dearly, and so did I; but his was a black heart, for already he had a wife living in a South- ern State—the mother of a son whom this man brought to _ our house after his marriage with my mother, and passed - as his nephew. “From the day of that son’s arrival, there began a plot for my mother’s and my wealth, for the pretended nephew ‘was as bad as his professed uncle. “At length I entered the navy as a midshipman, and after an absence of three years returned to find my mother pa “Even then I suspected no evil, but lon investigation proved that this man had cr mother’s life. “Again I went to sea, and I left this man and his son at my house, as I believed, but.the son, as a common sea- man, shipped on my vessel, and as I was pacing the deck one sieht in a hard blow, I was thrown overboard by a sailor who approached me unawares. g afterward an telly taken my © Ne ee ot ws % “The Wedel went on, for none had seen the act, and I would have been lost had not a schooner picked me up not twenty minutes after I was hurled into the sea. “Returning home again, I found the father and son there. Their fright at my appearance I took for surprise and joy, for all believed me lost, and the man who had thrown me into the sea had left the vessel at the first port and returned to report his success. “Dwelling in the same town where was my home was a physician and his daughter, an only child. “That girl I loved with my whole heart, and before | gain went to sea she became my wife. Wy ith perfect trust, I left her at home with my sup- posed stepfather and his son, while her father, the doctor, accompanied me to sea as my guest, for his health was in a precarious condition, and he believed a sea voyage would benefit him. year after my marriage, word came Then my “When in Spain, a from my wife of the birth of atittle daughter. father-in-law, who was still with me, urged that I should resign and return home. “T followed his advice, and together we were to sail for London. The night before we sailed from Spain, when my father-in-law and 1 were returning to the hotel late in the evening, an assassin sprang from a. dark corner and struck him to the heart with a knife. “Strange to say, I was arrested as sent to America for trial, for he was a man of vast wealth, and my wife was his only heir. “For nearly two years I lay in prison, and then was ac- quitted, for no proof could be found against me. “And yet, in all that time my wife did not come near me, nor did my stepfather or his son. “At last I left my cell, and returned I had no home, no wife, no child. “This man, Carter Bainbridge, had sold all my prop- erty that he could lay hands on, and my wife had gone off with the son, whose name was Ben Talbot. “My child, I was told, was dead; and I believed it, espe- cially when I received a letter from my misguided wife, bidding me farewell, and telling me that she intended to die by her own hand. “Considerable property, left me by an aunt, I still had, and, with money at my disposal, | started to hunt down Carter Bainbridge and Ben Talbot. “It was long and tedious work, but I tracked this old man, step by step, for a long time, and discovered much of his evil life—ay. I discovered that he had deceived an- other woman, who believed she became his wife, and was then cast off by him, after he had robbed her of her wealth, and left her and her boy to “That woman was the mother of Kansas King.” his murderer, and to my home, to find starve. the man known as THE BURBALO BILE STORIES. 27; With breathless suspense, all had listened to the story of Red Hand, and yet none were prepared for the sudden and startling assertion he made regarding the parentage of the outlaw chief. As for Kansas King, he stood amazed and silent—for a moment—and then said, bitterly: “Red Hand, I feel that you speak the truth; tell me, old man, am I your son?” -is your right name Leo hermit. Randolph?” faintly asked the “So men call me; but if ny parentage was dishonorable 1 ie no claim to any name “You are, then, my son,” “Good God! Well, if lam hung by Capt. Archer here, my fate will be the proper thing, I suppose, and yet I pre- fer hanging to acknowledging you as my father.” The outlaw spoke with terrible bitternress. ‘Then Red Hand continued, in the same deep tones: “At length, I tracked this man to his home, and I believed I killed him, for I drove my knife deep into his side. ‘ “It was the first time my hand was stained with blood, though from my birth I have borne this mark which has given me my name upon the frontier.” Red Hand held up his hand so that the moonlight re- vealed its crimson hue. Again he went on; “But I was only half avenged, lived. for Ben Talbot still “What destiny ever led my footsteps into these hills, God only knows; but here, five years ago, 1 met Ben Tal- bot—-and killed him.” “Tell me, Vincent Vernon, tell me—is the grave in the haunted 1 ey that of my son?” said the old hermit, eagerly. ; ed him, and, for the sake of the happy days ogether in boyhood, 1 buried him, and ipon a tree at the head of his grave.” cg but never saw it—never knew that my son lay buried there, for I thought he had gone East,” muttered a“ old hermit. “Tell me, Carter Bainbridge,” continued Red Hand, “did Ben Talbot come here with you ?” “Ves; I fled here in fear of my life, for.I have been a great sinner, and Ben and Grace came with me; but we and they left, as I believed, to go Hast, le ioe Bill we had passed to ed his nam carv eu ah knee of the had a quarrel, and—— i “And they settled in the haunted valley, and there they lived, until I killed Ben Talbot. Then poor Grace still remained, alone, to watch his grave, until last night she fell by her own hand, as this scout knows. “Ay, fell by her own hand, and we two buried her there in the valley. 28 “Then I sought the cabin where they lived, and the pa- pers I found there told me all; yes, that Ben Talbot had slain the father of my wife, and then placed the crime at my door to have me hung, and that, believing the story told her, Grace had fled, a guilty thing, from my love. But I have forgiven her-all. “Ay, more did I learn, and that is that this girl here, who has heard every word of my story, is my own daugh- ter, “Pearl, will you come to your father’s heart ?” Words cannot portray the tenderness with which Red Hand spoke, and, comprehending the whole plot of crime against him, and feeling that he was indeed her father, the girl sprang forward and nestled close in the arms of the man whose life had known so much of misery. Not a word, not a motion, marred the silent joy of that moment for those two, father and daughter, so cruelly di- vided through life. Finally Red Hand turned once more to the old hermit, and said: “Carter Bainbridge, I can now, in my joy, even forgive you.” No word of reply came, the eyes gazed straight at the moon with a fixed stare, and the voice of Buffalo Bill said, quietly : “He’s gone to another trapping ground, comrade.” It was indeed true; and Red Hand turned and led poor Pearl into the cabin: to prepare for the return to the stronghold of the miners. CHAPTER: SEX, CONCLUSION. . Tn the shadow of the hill that sheltered his cabin, Car- ter Bainbridge, the hermit of the Black Hills, found his last earthly hermitage—the grave. Standing by, watching the burial of the hermit, was Pearl, leaning upon the arm of her father, and so intent were T'om Sun, Lone Dick and Buffalo Bill in digging the grave, and Edwin Archer in gazing upon the beautiful face and form of Pearl Vernon, that no one noticed the prisoner, Kansas King, quietly steal away, until all was over. Search and pursuit were then uséless, and, mounting their steeds, awaiting them in the gorge, the par e started for the miners’ stronghold, where they arrived “just at sunrise, and were greeted with wild hurrahs from all. Buffalo Bill then accompanied Red Hand and his daugh- ter to the haunted valley, and while he went on to tell the glad tidings of victory to the anxious party in the secret retreat, the husband and the daughter halted-at the grave of poor Grace, and, guilty thoes she was, they sorrowed for her most deeply. THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. During the day the whole party of miners and settlers _were gathered together at the stronghold. _ Most warmly was Pearl welcomed by Ruth Ramsey and all, when they heard the strange story of her eventful life, and hearty congratulations were bestowed upon Red Hand in honor of his new-found happiness. ~loward evening Maj. Wells arrived with his squadron. Though the settlers and gold seekers had nothing to fear while the soldiers were there to protect them, the danger from hostile Indians was still so great that the scout and the officers urged the settlers not to remain in the hills. The greater part of the two bands were most willing to “acquiesce, and the following day the entire company, ac- companied by the cavalry, left the inhospitable, but beauti- ful land, and took up their march for the boundary of civilization. During the march, Edwin Archer and Pearl Vernon were often together, and so also were Red Hand, known as Vincent Vernon, and Ruth Ramsey. The result of this intimacy was that, shortly after their arrival at North Platte, there was an engagement entered into between each couple, to be consummated one year from that date. Then were the two bands scattered to the four winds of heaven, some remaining upon the frontier, among whom was Lone Dick, who returned to trapping, and Tom Sun, who entered the army under Maj. Wells. ‘ As for Capt. Ramsey, he went East with his family, and purchased a home in Maryland, while Capt. Edwin Archer started for New York to take possession of a for- tune left him by a maiden aunt. Tired of a wild life on the border, found a beautiful daughter, Red Hand also left for New York, where he placed Pearl at school for one yéar. She became the bride of Edwin Archer, the same day that beheld Ruth Ramsey married to Vincent Vernon, and now well I know,that every reader of these lines will wish them happitiess as they journey through. life together. As for the subsequent history of the great scout, Buffalo Bill, it is known of all men. THE END, Next week’s issite (No; 138) will contain “Buffalo Bill’s the Branded Brotherhood.” This is truly a story of daring deeds performed by the great scout against the. notorious gang of outlaws known as the Branded Brotherhood. Butialo Bill does some clever trailing and some splendid rescue work ; and there is fighting in plenty against desperadoes and See Indians. Altogether this tale gives a lively and swiftly moving picture of border history. oF Vari ing ; Or: and rejoiced to have... Con’. AINING THE MOST UNIQUE AND FASCINATING TALES OF WESTERN ROMANCE nN Soba le delay sladbonep Fenaegnn i reesbsiekipennigsts SH 88) Np Sm R-pM 342—Diamond Dick’s Summer Resort; or, High Old Times at the Sea Shore. 343—Diamond Dick’s “Give-and-Take”’; or, Caught in the Undertow. 344—Diamond Dick’s “White Ghost’; or, Run Down by Auto. 345—-Diamond Dick at the Circus; or, An Old Friend in a New Game 346—Diamond Dick at Coney Island; or, A Warm Proposition Played to a Finish, 347—Diamond Dick’s Skiplap Pard; or, The Cheerful Wait’s Big Winning. 348—Diamond Dick’s Stand-Off; or, The Shotgun Messenger’s Last Trip) 349-——Diamond Dick at Fort Piegan; or, Calling an Army Bluff. 350—Diamond Dick’s Makeshift; or, The New Boss at Hold-Over. 351—Diamond Dick’s Golden Spike; or, Bucking the Track Layers. 352—Diamond Dick’s Schedule; or, The First Train to Dangerfield. 353—Diamond Dick’s Wild West; or, A Fair Field and No Favor. 354—Diamond Dick’s Double-Bill; or, A Hot Turn Between Acts. 355—Diamond Dick’s Farewell ee or, A Warm Go for the Gate Money. 3s6—Diamond Dick’s Dago Dupes; or, The Bowery Boy and the “Has-Been.” 357—-Diamond Dick’s Phantom Hand; or, The Mystery of the “Fly-by-night.” ~ 388—Diamond Dick’s World-Beater; or, The Race for the Hurricane Handicap. 359—Diamond Dick’s Boy Pards; or, The Boarding House Puzzle. 360—Diamond Dick and the Satfe-Crackers; or, Two-Spot’s Level Best. 361—Diamond Dick’s Last Call; or, Run Down.on the — 362—Diamond Dick’s Four-Hands-Round; or, A Game of Keeps in the Catskills. 363—Diamond Dick’s Line-Up; or, The Voune Sport’s Banner Play. 364—Diamond Dick’s Web-Foot Pard; or, Queer Work on the Hurricane Deck. 365—-Diamond Dick’s Run to Denver; or, Old Sixty’s Last Mix-Up. 366—Diamond: Dick Among the Puchi: or, A Bold Play for a Big Stake. 367—Diamond Dick’s Dark Chase; or, Captured by Flash-Light. 368—Diamond Dick on the Bar-X Range; or, Captain Fan and the Rustlers. 369—Diamond Dick as a Deputy Sheriff; or, Fighting the Mob at Piute. 370—Diamond Dick’s Pair of Winners; or, Two-Spot and Nixey’s Double- Play. 371—Diamond Dick in Old Mexico; or, The Gold-Bugs of Guanajay. 372—Diamond Dick’s Treasure-Trove; or, The Secret of the Great Stone Idol. 373—Diamond Dick in the Field; or, Handsome Harry’s Peril. 374—Diamond Dick, Jr.’s, New Pard: or, Brick-Top Ben and His Little Joker. 375—-Diamond Dick, Jr.'s, Roughest Trail; or, Foiling the Governor's Foes. 376—Diamond Tick. Jr., and the Black Riders; or, Saved by a Daring Leap. nants em opera ae ae ah ca To A eae LE I a has safes tea st, WF at My : are naan ‘ Xk Oc bese ad | All of the above numbers always on hand. If you cannot get ther from your newsdealer, five j cents a copy will bring them to you by mail, postpaid. | STREET & SMITH, Publishers, 238 William Street, New York. a ee Sankt Se ae. TESS Se Na EI Sie SAREE ar ne SURE ae ars SFE SaaS - Contains Stories of YOUNG BROADBE OM, the ‘aa. Boy Dete OLD BROADBRIM, the Great Quaker. oe fo ea 33—Old Broadbrim Doomed by an Invisible Hand; or, The Victims of the Vial of Death. 34——Old Broadbrim in the Jaws of a Tigress; or, Fighting Against Fearful Odds. . 35-——Old Broadbrim Trumping the Trick; or, The Strange Disappearance from a Wagner Cay: 30—Old Broadbrim In and Out of the Toils; or, The Pursuit of Red McMahon and His Gang. 37—Old Broadbrim in the Eleventh Hour; or, The Mystery of the Headless Man. 36—Old Broadbrim Following Up a Golden Clow sor, 1 he Extraordinary Spey ge at ee Manor. 39——Old Broadbrim Dealing the Death Cards; or, The Doom of the Scarlet Stranglers. 40—Old Broadbrim Balking a Deep-Laid Plot: or, Geraldine Joslyn’s Remarkable Double. 41—Old Broadbrim Tra obire the Dead; or, The Hidden Battery of Doom. »——Old Broadbrim Always on Hand; or, The Target of an Infamous Band. 43-—Old Broadbrim in a Fight for Millions; or, The Daring Impersonation at Stonelow Grange. 44-—Old Broadbrim at Close Quarters: or, ie Puzzle of the Blue Silk Cord. 45——Old- Broadbrim Under Crime’s Thiet: In The Confines of the Dread Circle. 46—-Old Broadbrim Leagued with Nick oe or, The Biggest Case of Their Lives. 47——Old Broadbrim’s Clew from the Dead; or, Two Famotis Detectives on the Same Case. 48—-Old Broadbrim in a Deep Sea Struggle; or, A Helping Hand from Nick Carter. — io d Broadbrim on the Wrong Case; or, Revenge After Two Years. 50—Old Broadbrim in the Dark; or, Throwing Ligh ht on a Tangled Mystery. 51—Old Broadbrim on the Stage: or, How the Ouaker Foiled a “Bema é Fiend, 52—-Young Broadbrim, the Boy Detective; or, The Old Quaker’s Youthful Ally. ey Veune Broadbrim in Kansas City; or, What Was Found in the Flood. 54—Young Broadbrim on an Aérial 7 or, ‘The Terrible Ordeal of Fire. 55—Young Broadbrim & Company; or, Solving the Mysteries of Rockweod. 56—Young Broadbrim: Triumphant; or, The Girl Cracksman. 57-—-Young Broadbrim Fighting an Unknown Power: or, A Scientific Murderer. 58— Young Broadbrim on a Weird Case: or a Mystery of the Phantom Voices. s9—Young Broadbrim on a Long Trail: or, Dandy Dick Shanghaied. 60-—Young Broadbrim on a Newsboy ay or, Dandy Dick’s First Case. 61—-Young Broadbrim on the Border; or, Catching ‘the Smugglers of Canada. 62—Young Broadbrim in the Lumber Camp; or, Getting the Best of Outlaws. 63—Young Broadbrim and the Hotel Thieves: or, Clever Crooks Run’ to Earth. 64—-Young Broadbrim’s Perfumed Clew: or, Dandy Dick’s Star Play. 6s—Young Broadbrim’s Great Duel; or, The Boy Detectives Abroad. All of the aLove numbers always on hand. [ff you cannot get them from your newsdealer, five cents a copy will bring them to yeu’by mail, postpaid, STREET & SMITH, Publishers, 238 William Street, New York, ECoptaining ae Most Thrilling A aatures of the Cele _ Government Scout “BUFFALO BILL” (Hon. William F. Cody). 104—Buffalo Bill in Disguise; or, The Boy Boomer at Danger Divide. 105—Buffalo Bill’s Ordeal of Fire; or, The Siege of Longhurst Ranch. 106—Buffalo Bill on a Renegade’s Trail: or, The White Queen of the Mandans. 107—-Buffalo Bill’s Balloon Trip; or, Foiling the Apaches. r08—Buffalo Bill’s Drop; or, Dead Shot Ned, the Kansas Kid. 109—Buffalo Bill’s Lasso-Throwers; or, Shadow Sam’s Short Stop. 110—Buffalo Bill’s Relentless Trail; or, The Unknown Slayer of the Black Cavalry. t11—Buffalo Bill and Silent Sam; or, The Woman of the Iron Hand. 112—Buffalo Bill’s Raid on the Midnighters; or, Following a Specter Guide. 113—Buffalo Bill at Beacon Rock; or, Drawing Lots with Death. 114—Buffalo Bill and the Wolves of Mexico. t15—-Buffalo Bill and the White Buffalo; or, The Black Horse Rider, 116—Buffalo Bill and the Prairie Hercules; or, The Spectre Soldier of the Overland. 117—Buffalo Bill and the Doomed Thirteen; or, Out on the Silver Trail. 118—Buffalo Bill’s Ride for Life; or, A Hard-Won Victory. 119—Buffalo Bill’s Grim Guard; or, The Chinaman in Buckskin, 120—Buffalo Bill’s Discovery; or, The Mystery of the Gold Treasure. 121—Buffalo Bill’s Clean-Up; or, Routing the Rascals of Gold Dust City. 122—Buffalo Bill’s Pards of the Plains; or, The Dread Shot Four. 123-—Buffalo Bill’s Helping Hand; or, The Secret of Kid Glove Kate. 124—Buffalo Bill’s Boy Pard; or, Captain Hyena and His Red Angelis. 25—Buffalo Bill’s Sacrifice; or, Waneta, the Indian Queen. 126—Buffalo Bill’s Red Trail; or, The Unmasking of Captain Hyena. 127—-Buffalo Bill’s Death-Deal; or, The Wandering Jew of the West. 128—Buffalo Bill’s Double; or, The False Guide. 129—Buffalo Bill at Advance City; or, The Wolves of the Mountains. 130—Buffalo Bill and the Black Trailers; or, White Coyote, the Renegade C hief 131—Buffalo Bill’s Dead-Shot Dragon; or, The Man-Killer of Perdition City. 132—Buffalo Bill’s Trump Card; or, The Indian Heiress. _ 133—Buffalo Bill and Old Buckskin; or, Hugh Harcourt, the Man of Mystery. 134—Buffalo Bill’s Gold Trail; or, The Desperado Dozen. : 135—Buffalo Bill in Arizona; or, The Black Brotherhood. 136—Buffalo Bill and the Revolver Riders; or, Kent King, the Gambler Guide. I 37-—Buffalo Bill'in the Black Hills; or, Red Hand, the White Mystery. 138—Buffalo Bill’s Daring; or, The Branded Brotherhood. STOR aes soe , ae , ce All of the abuse numbers always on hand. If you cannot get them from your newsdealer, five © cents a copy will bring them to you by mail, postpaid. STREET & SMITH, Publishers, 238 William Street, New eRe SORT ST ET SIBRRERESS IBZ pape SIS TR RES LARGEST CIRCULATION IN- AMERICA. TIP. TOP. WEEKLY The ideal publication for the American youth. Contains stories of the adventures , of Frank merrjwell, the famous Yale athlete, and Dick, his younger Brother, who is the pride of Fardale Academy. There are’ competitions con- ‘tinually running in its columns, whereby the stuccessful teams may win complete outfits, in- eluding uniforms. The following is a list of the latest numbers: Dick Merriwell Surprised; or, Cap'n Wiley’s Wind Jammers. Prank Merriwefi’s Quick Move; or, Cooling Off Cap'n Wiley. : Dick Merriweli’s Red Friend; or, Old Joe Crowfoot to the Frout. Frank Merriwell’s Nomads; or, Cap’n Wiley’s Clever Work. Dick Merrtwell’s Distrust; or, Meeting the Masked Champions. Praak ns Grand Finish ; or, The Independent Champions \ of America. A Different Complete Story Every Week. BRAVE AND BOLD This line is sure to please every boy “who likes variety. The stories are long, and detail thé adventures of an entirely new get of characters each week. The authors are the best known, and have made excellent reputa- tions by their highly interesting and original stories. Boys, if you want a treat, get this library every week. The following is a Ust of the iatest numbers: &3. Upright and Honest; or, Harry Hale's eoeas le te Success. y¥ Heary Harrison Haines 84. Two Young Inventors; or, The Treasure of Three Pine Mouniain. : By Bennett 85. The Lilie of the School; or, Out for Fun and Fortune. ; By Author of ‘Bicycle Boys of Biueville.’” 36. Tom Hamlin, Mesmerist; or, The Boy With the Iron Will. By Matt Royal 87. The Puzzle of Panther’s Ruz; or, Leon Gale’s Triumph. By Frank Earle 38. A Girl Crusoe; ar, The Wonder of the Isle of Gnomes. By Corgelius Shea Greatest Detective Alive, Nick Garter Weekly No detective stories published can compare with those pub- lished in this library. Nick Carter has had innumerable thrilling adventures in which he was assisted by Chick and Patsy, two fine, intelligent young fel- lows. Boys, you ought to buy this publication every week and read about Nick’s wonderful escapes and captures The following is a Hst of the latest numbers: 346. Nick Carter On and Off the Scent; or, The Mysterious Tragedy at Herald Square. 347. Nick Carter on a Parisian Trail; or, The Death Trap ofthe *‘Silencers’* 348. Nick Carter’s Battle Against Odds; or, The, Mystery of the Detroit Pawabroker. A 349, Nick Carter on His Metal. or, The Trapping of Cool Kate. 350. Nick Carter's Life Chase; or, The Shet From Ambush. 351, Nick Carter’s Chain of Guilt: or, The Robbery of Express No. 5, STORIES OF THE FAR WEST. Diamond Dick Weekly These are stories abont the Sey Diamond Dick and his son, ertie, Every boy will be more than satisfied with these tales, because they are drawn trueto life, and are extremely interest- -ing. Diamond Dick 1s a dead shot, and never allows a des- perado to get the drop on him, The following is a list of the latest numbers: ODE OCIS SPs Wa Diamond Dick’s Boy Pards; or, The Boarding House Puzzle. . Dismond Dick and the Safe Crackers ; or, Two Spot's Level Best. Diamond Dick’s Last Call: or, Rum Down on the Ferry. ‘ Diamond ae Four Hand’s Round; er, A Game of Keeps in the Catskills. ; Diamond Dick’s Line Up; or, The Young Sport’s Banner Play. ae vo. Web Foot Pard; or, Queer Work on the Hurricane Deck, More Reading Matter Than Any Five-Cent Detective Library Published. Young Broadhrim Weekly Young Broadbrim is the shrewdest and most clever boy detective that ever Hved. His marvelous strength and wonder- ful nerve enabies him to pene- trate where most men would fear to go. Ali the tales of his adventures are absolutely new. The Palisa Gy is a Hst of the latest numbers written espec- { jally for this line: Young cs the Boy Detective; or, The Old Quaker’s Faiihfu Ve Young Broadbrim in Kansas City; or, What Vas Pound in the Flood Young Broadbrim on an Aerial Trail; or, The Terrible Ordeal of Fire &&. Young Broadbrim and Company; or, Solving the Mysteries ef Rock- ee woed. Young Groadbrim Triumphant; or, The Girl Cracksman. Young Pr biennial Pighting aa Unknown Power; or, A Selentitic urderer, TALES OF FRONTIER! | ADVENTURE. Buffalo Bill Stories Every boy ought to read the adventures of Buffalo Bill, as detailed in this library. They are full of lively advent- ure, and just the kind that thrills the heart of every true boy. The following is a list of the latest numbers: Buffslo BilP’s Discovery; or, The Mystery of the Gold Treasure. 126. Routing the Rascals of Yellow Dust i21, City. Buffalo Bill’s Pards of the Plains; or, The Dead Shet Feur. 23. Buffalo Bill’s Helping Haine ; oF, The Secret of Kid Glove Kate. 124, Buffalo Bill’s Boy Pard; or, Captain Hyena and His Red Angels. 125. Buffalo Bill’s Sacrifice; or, Waneta, the Indian Queen. & oe ‘of Western Adventure _ ee Cc Handsome Colored if 32 Large-Sized Pages ® Covers The Diamond Dick Weekly contains the best tales of Westen life ever written. They detail the adventures of Diamond Dick and his clever son Bertie, who protect the | weak and maintain law and order on our western plains. Do not fail tgiced them. LATEST NUMBERS 1 364. Diawoud Dick’s Web Foot Pard; 3 or, Queer Work on the Hurricane Deck. 365. Diamiodd Dick’s Run to Denver; or, Old Sixty’s Last ‘Mix-Up. 366. Dianoul Dick Among the Pueblos; or, A Bold Play for a Big Stake. 367. Giaiiond Dick’s Dark Chase; : or, Captured by Flashlight. 368. Diamond Dick on the Bar X Range; | | or, Captain Fan and the Rustlers. 369. Diamond Dick as a Deputy Sheri or, Fighting the Mob. at Piute. , 370. Diamond Dick’s Pair of Winners; or, Two Spot and Nixey’s. Double Play. : 371. Diamond Dick in Old Mexico; or, The Gold Bugs of Guanajay. 372. Diamond Dick’s Treasure Trove; : or, The Secret of the Great Stone Idol. 373. Diamond Dick-in the Field; or, Handsome Harry’s Peril. To be had from all newsdealers, or sent by the pub lishers upon receipt of price STREET ®@© SMITH, 238 William St., New York