DEVOTED T0 BORDER HISTORY

Issued Weekly. By Subscription $2.50 per vear. Entered as Second Class Matter at New York Post Office 61 STREET & SMITH, 238 William St., N. ¥

Price, Five Cents.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

veceeed

 

 

‘ellike muscles of the great scout had lost none of their force, and the unknown assailant was forced
to lose his hold. The next instant h= was picked up bodily and hurled out over
the brink of the chasm.

 
 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A WEEKLY PUBLICATION
DEVOTED TO BORDER HISTORY .

  
 

  

 

 

Issuad Waoekly. By Subscription $2.50 per year. Entered as Second Class Matter at the N..Y. Post Office, by STREET & SMITH, 278 William St., N. Y.
Entered according to Act of Congress tn the year 1904, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C.

 

No. 157.

NEW YORK, May 14, 1904.

Price Five Cents.

 

 

ILL AT

OR,

The Last Call at Lost Can

 

 

By the author of “BUFFALO BILL.”

 

CHAPTER I.
THE CLUBFOOT GRIZZLY.

“Waal, old gal, what do ye reckon is the meanin’ of
that air?”

_ The “old gal” did not make a direct reply, for the
eason that she was better at understanding the Eng-
lish language than she was at speaking it.

| But she laid back one ear and shook her head sagely,
in token of her inability to clear up the mystery which
puzzled her master.

| “Give it up, do ye, Diana?” resumed the old man,
as he rubbed one horny hand over the neck of the
scraggy mare to whom his remarks were directed.

“Diana” bowed her head emphatically, as a sign
that she had given up the problem. :

The master of the miserable-looking equine was
hardly less scraggy and useless looking than the mare
herself.

If he were not more than eighty years old then his
looks belied him.
His hair and
and his skin h’
with advance

kers, worn long,. were grizzled,
shiny, parchment look which goes

 

He was dressed in the old-fashioned costume of the
typical hunter and mountain trapper. He carried a
bowie-knife and a big, old-fashioned pistol.

His right hand also clasped the barrel of a long,
heavy rifle of a pattern which was fairly out of date.
Yet the weapon showed evidence of being well taken
care of; and the eyes of the man, almost hidden though
they were by shaggy brows, were wonderfully keen
and restless.

He was examining some tracks in the light snow
which had fallen on the mountain trail overnight.

They were the footprints ofa grizzly bear; but that

did not tell the whole story.

The old borderman, who had been famous in many
a campaign of an earlier date, was known as Nick
Wharton. This exact locality was new ranging ground
for him, amd to judge by his appearance, as well as that
of the mare, both would better have retired from the
dangers and hardships of that time and place.

The mare looked as if she might fall in her tracks at
any moment, and never be able to rise again. And the
man appeared to be an old, rheumaticky cripple, to say
nothing of having two or three fingers shot off, the lobe
of one ear gone where a bullet had nipped it, and a

a a it NE Ra a hk, GRE a BRR A tetanic LO gH Saks sym MN AN aha cs sa is ae pune aks
bee AN AS BARE AR i Oat wae G

 

 

   
    
  
  
  
   
    
   
  
 
 
    
 
   
   
   
  
   

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if

  
 

  

 

oe La | “THE BUFFALO

piece out of the rim of the other ear notched out by
an, Indian arrow.

There were scars on “him which had healed forty
years before. In his cap he wore a single eagle feather
which he had captured from the scalplock of an Indian
chief of a tribe. which was now almost extinct and
forgotten.

Nick Wharton limped along ahead of the horse, and.

the latter, also limping, followed with a submissive air.

‘There were the tracks, genuine grizzly, only that of
the left fore foot was blunt and with three toe and claw
marks missing.

The bear was a clubfoot.
in a trap or been mutilated in a fight at sometime
earlier in its career.
~-.. There were certain other pecularities about the trail
made by the club-foot grizzly which did not escape the
keen eyes of Nick Wharton.

First and foremost, the old man had been a mountain
trapper. It was said that he had become quite wealthy
from the sale of furs of his own catch.

That he had shot and chased redskins, downed des-
' peradoes, been a terror to evil-doers generally, was
a fact well known over a considerable range of country.

And yet not so very much was known about him.
Sometimes he would not be seen at a military post or a
border settlement for a full twelve months. —

Then the story would go out that the old man had

“pegged out’’ in some lonely mountain retreat, and two
or three hunts had been made for his body.

Each time the old man, with his scraggy horse, would
show up again, apparently as sound as ever.

“The timber they’re built out of was sawed from
the tree of life,’’ was the verdict, when old Nick and his
mare had come onto the stage a half dozen times after
being given up as dead. 4

It began to look as if this were true.

“A+ clubfoot bear ain’t nothin’,”’ observed ae old
trapper, after his lonely habit of talking to himself or
to the mare.

“Tve tracked “em afore now, and ketched ’em, and

skun ’em. They ain’t nothin’ tremenjus peculiar ‘bout

a bear bein’ clubfooted, specially a grizzly. Is there,
Diana?’ :

The mare shook her head emphatically.

“Seen their tracks a million times, hain’t

ye;
Diana?’

A debisive bow of ie head of the mare.

“Course ye have. Millions. But, durn if ye ever
seen a grizzly that took about twicet as many steps
with his front laigs as what he did with his hinder ones.
Now stop and ponderate a minute, Diana, and then
tell me, honest, if ye ever seen that ere afore ev

Nick Wharton patised and looked ue at the

are.

The latter seemed to be pondering the question. -

At last she decided it ne a deliberate wag of her head
in the negative.

It had either been: caught.

- to keep out of tarnal tangles.

Bint, STORIES:

. “Just as I expected ye ‘d say, Diana. I never seen
one, nuther. This ere bear does that very thing. It
steps two times with each of its front laigs to once with
its hinder ones. ’Tain’t nateral. It ain't ’cordin’ to
science and nater’: A grizzly that would do that ere

thing air a durn humped- up mongrel, and it orter be

severated, by mighty.”

The way was rugged and rocky, but there were at
that point no steep ascents. The track of the club-foot
bear was the only print in the new fallen snow, and
Nick Wharton, after climbing onto the back of the
mare, followed that track without anothef audible com-
ment. for a distance of a mile,

Then he came to other tracks—but they were not

made by grizzlies.

“Human critters’ tracks, by mighty !” ejaculated the
old man.

These crossed the other trail at right angles. But
the club-foot bear changed the direction of its trail at
the same point, and its tracks became mingled with
those of the men who seemed to have come from a
northerly direction.

“Tarnal curi’s!” grunted Nick.

Here the way became more rugged. -

There were loose bowlders set up like rude monu-
ments. : :

Diana pricked up her ears.

She suddenly stopped with a peculiar wheezing sound

‘from. her nostrils.

Instantly the old man leaped to the ground, and he
could not have performed the feat any nimbler had be
been a young man of twenty. |

“Diana,’’ said Nick, “you lay down and be a dead
hoss!’’ 4

Instantly the sagacious animal dgopped to the earth,
stretched out her limbs and flattened her head against
the snow-covered rocks.

No horse ever looked to be more dead than did this
one.

Nick Wharton nodded his eae approvingly oad

grinned.

' “Ary body that would shoot at that carcass would
‘be wuss’n a fool!” he muttered.. “Diana knows how
She’s got more gump-
tion than folks have, by mighty. “Now for a leetle
specteratin’.”’

Old Nick, as will be observed, used some large-

sounding words of his own invention.

He moved along the newly discovered trail with
long, rapid strides, at the same time taking pains to
keep his body sheltered behind the bowlders.

The tracks were so fresh that he had reason to think
the ones who made them were close at hand. Besides,
the instinct of the horse had evidently discovered the
proximity of the makers of the tracks.

These led to the base of a large uptight rock, sane

then skirted around it, close to its base.

” ick Wharton halted at the base of this large ros: ts |

 

as gs a
<

 

 
 

 

TOT ia aa STE

THE BUPVALO BILL STORIES. . 3

and from there he crept around literally by. inches, at

last poking his head forward with the utmost display of
catition.

Beyond the immense boulder was a rocky glen, shut
in on all sides excepting the one by which the approach
had been made.

There was a narrow fissure in the wall of rock on
the opposite side. It was barely wide enough for a
man of medium size to squeeze himself through.

Whether or not it would show the way to an open
trail beyond, was a question which the observer had no
means then of discovering.

But he.saw the occupants of the rocky glen.

There were four men—two of them white, the other
two evidently half-breeds.

They were in the act of gathering fagots for a fire.

On the steep slopes far above many resinous trees
grew, and the dead ceuches and twigs fell into the rock
glen. :

The light snow-fall only partially covered these, : and
it was little trouble to gather sufficient of the fagots
for starting the fire, and. enough more to keep it going’
for some time.

Nick Wharton did not waste much time in observing
these operations. They were too tame and unimpor-

- ‘tant.

He again turned his attention to the tracks which
passed the very spot where he was crouching.

There they were—the tracks of the clubfoot grizzly!

“By mighty!” exclaimed the old man, under his
breath. ,

For, although the mysterious tracks ted directly into
the rock glen, and did not lead out of it again, and
they had not been made twenty minutes ago, yet there
was no grizzly, clubfoot or otherwise, to be seen in
the elen!

The face of the old man was puckered. into a grin
..that formed a hundred wrinkles.

“By durn!—lI've got ye! Ho, ho!” he chuckled.

Then he rose from his crouching posture, but, still

bent almost double, he boldly marched into the rocky
glen.
He was instantly covered by four rifles!

CHAPTER: Ty.
BUFFALO BILL. AT BISMARCK,

Just two days prior to the incident given in the pre-
ceding chapter, Col. William F. Cody rode into the
bustling town of Bismarck with the usual dash and
ease of horsemanship which belonged to that gentleman
scout alone.

He pulled up in front of the most pretentious build-
ing on the single business street of the town.

The first floor was occupied by the office of a mining

 

te citar iin i Nas

spoken.

_th

company, a land or real estate office, a barber’s shop
and a saloon.

Buffalo Bill—the title which the noted scout always
preferred over that of Col. Cody—did not so much
as look at the saloon or the real estate office. He did
glance at the barber shop, and rubbed his fingers over
his cheeks, which he usually kept immaculately shaven.

“Better let the barber have a show before I call on
any ladies,’’ he decided.

Comfortably stretched out in the chair in the barber
shop, Cody gave himself over to the tender mercies of
a decidedly gentlemanly operator with the razor and
shears.

The barber was a ys man, neatly dressed, and
with a certain air about him that indicated something
more than the cheap dandy who so often presides in

uch a place, provided the man be not a negro.

For the first three minutes hardly a word was
The barber knew his business and asked no
questions.. There was a certain dignity in his manner
that impressed Buffalo. Bill as having some meaning
behind it.

“Bismarck is beginning to boom, I take it,” Cody
remarked, for the sake of sounding the barber in the
way. of talk. ;

“In the usual way—yes.
other with a Ue.

: “Good place for a man in your trade, eh?”
Nes. But the trade is bad for a man,
suited to a pig!”

“TI don’t wish to appear inquisitive, but it strikes me
that you-don’t' seem to be following the trade of your
choice.”’

“The trade of my choice!’ exclaimed the other, con-
temptuously. Then he added, with a laugh:

“But I suppose a man shouldn’t quarrel with the
business that gives him three square meals a day, with
a white frock to wear over his store clothes. But, once
in a while, I wonder if I'll ever get enough ahead to
go back to civilization, and there to open a shop of
the sort that ’'m supposed to be trained and educated
for.”

“May I ask what the trade may be?”

The other hesitated, and the scout could see by a
glance into the mirror that the barber’s face looked
serious.

“You seem to be a gentleman,”

Rum and bums!” said the

Better

said ‘the stranger,

“and so you may appreciate my situation better than the

ordinary patrons of this place would be likely to.

“Don’t think ’m a snob. I’m willing to earn my
bread by the sweat of my back. I would run a buci-
saw if it would give me a living and belp me to get
ahead of the game. But it wouldn’t. I graduated
from old Harvard, and finished up with a law course
six months ago.

“T went through on the strength of a little inheritance
l expected would last me till I got to going in my

at
profession,

sista itt Lis ti tha a= Mae a Ae i i a

 
  

   

4

“But the inheritance fell into a hole made by the.
failure of a relative in business. It left me stranded.
{ couldn’t have lived a month on what I had left. So
I lit out for the big West.

“I found this shop vacant on account of the former
owner having cut his throat with one of his own razors
after a prolonged booze. It didn’t cost me much to
take possession. I just paid for the burial of the for-
mer incumbent, and nobody objected to my stepping
into his shoes. —

“It looked to meas if they needed a barber out here
more than they did a lawyer. So I started in, and I
am pulling in some cash. © But don’t I hate it!”

Buffalo Bill was shaved, and it cost him a dollar.

Denton— which was the name given by the young
man— was not bashful when it came to chafging. In
that he showed that he had the making of a lawyer in
him.

“Why not put in some law business in connection
with this?” suggested Cody,

Denton grinned.

“That a joke?” he asked.

“Nary a joke. Trot out your books and range ’em

along on the shelf yonder in place of empty hair oil

bottles. Scatter a lot of blank legal papers on the table
and slosh around the ink. Hang out a shingle beside
the barber pole. . You'll get clients.”

The other pondered. =

“Thad thought of it,” he said.
ridiculous on the face of it.”

“Go ahead. Tl send you some clients. You'll be
in shape to quit the hair cutting and shaving in a month
or two. Things move in a hurry in Bismarck.”

“Don’t I know it?” muttered Denton.

“Now I have another call to make.
suggestion will prove profitable to you.”

“Wait, sir,’ said Denton. “Won't you oblige me
with your name?  You’re different from the sort. that
patronize me mostly,”’

“IT am William F. Cody. You may have heard of
Buffalo Bill?”

“Guess 1 have!” ee

The young man pushed out a hand in greeting.
Then, suddenly, with a hurried, apprehensive
toward the door, he added: :

“T-can do you a favor— warn you— maybe save your
life! It is a strange chance, but there may be a touch
of your good genius behind it all.”

Buffalo Bill was ready enough to listen.

Well did he know that warnings of trouble never
came amiss. And well did he know that no man ever
had greater need of friends than did he.

This did not mean that he was without friends.
contrary was the case. He had friends of the truest
sort by the score. .

He was always fighting for the lives and safety of
others and in that way he won lasting friendship.

“But it looked too

I hope my

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

said Buffalo Bill.

characteristic of your trade.”
now safe from observation, so here goes, ”

glance ©

_and shaves out of them. They had plenty of money.

The

_ the trap. Another said somebody was hard to k

But in nearly every case the friends made in this

 

way became immediately separated from him, and inj t
pursuing their own peaceful careers in life, they were
not in a poistion to make themselves helpful to-him
in any way. : . Se
_ When he made such friends, too, he could not ‘help
but make some enemies. Many of these were downed
for good and all. Yet there were always some who te
escaped, and whose hatred was added to that of others @ -
against him. ae . @
This had been going on for years, and that there i
was an accumulated store of hatred and desire for re- ;
venge against him he had the best of reasons to know. @
It was getting so that his life was in greater peril, @
however, than he realized. ‘
He was’ never reckless; yet constant contact with @
danger naturally made him in a measure indifferent tof
it. u

  
  

Fle had reason at this time to suspect that there was
more imminent peril in his environment than there
had ever been before. oo

In the sudden, friendly words of the young lawyer--
for Buffalo Bill would not insult Denton by calling him
a barber—the scout realized that there might be same:
thing that it would be worth his while to heed. ©

“I shall be glad to hear anything you may. fia
tell me, Mr. Denton,” said the great scout.

The other went tc the door and turned the key it
the lock. Then he took a look out of the window, and
ended by drawing the heavy shade. |
“You are rather og 8 about your precautions,”

   
  
     
 
 

“T wanted to make sure that no one should see me ff
talking with you in an evidently confidential manner..jae
A good deal might happen to me if I was spotted in the im
game of warning you.”

“Take all the care you please. I suppose that is am

“Yes, it is, The attorney is cautious in what-te ie
may write or be heard to speak: .. But I think we are

“Yesterday a considerable number of strangers came
to Bismarck, and they were about here all day. Some (@
were at the hotel, and all of them were in a drinking a
place more or less of the time. :

“Several paid me a visit, and I got a few hair cuts #

 

“With all their drinking, however, they did not get
so that they could not take good care of themselves. q
But while three of them: were in here they got over je
there in the corner and held quite a lengthy confab, [a

“They maintained a great air of secrecy, and if 1
hadn’t caught a few words by chance I should have
paid no attention to what they were saying.

“But one of them spoke of making a sure thing of

    
 

lead. Other remarks of a. similar character®
dropped, and so I got to listening to see who it
THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

| they were plotting against, for it was clear that they

| were scheming to make an end of somebody.

| “T seated myself with my back to them and fell to

‘honing a razor. They thought I was busy, and that

| I didn’t take any interest in what was going on anyway,

' and so they grew less cautious.

“Some of them became excited and got into a
wrangle. They mentioned your. name half a dozen
times, and while I got nothing in a connected string,
so that I could repeat any of their plans, yet I gathered
that there was a conspiracy to make a sute thing of
wiping out Buffalo Bill.”

“You say that you got.no definite connection of de-
tails?”

eNO: 33

“Any names besides my own mentioned ?”

“One. I’ve been trying to recall what it was.
—I have it. It was Travis.”

Buffalo Bill’s eyes sent out a new gleam.

“Travis, you say!” a

“I’m sure that, was the name. It isn’t a common
one, and I wouldn’t have gotten it into my head if I
hadn’t heard it mentioned.”

“But it doesn’t seem possible.”

“Then you recognize the name?”

_ Yes. I was brought in contact with one of that
name on two or three occasions. ‘The last time he was
in disguise, and sailed as the leader of-a powerful band
of prairie pirates under the name of Prairie Paul. But
that episode ended in am encounter between us that I
supposed had wound the man up.”

“You thought you had killed him?”

Ves?

_But you were not absolutely sure about it

“No, the circumstances were such that I could not
make sure at the time. But I have never heard since
that he lived, and so I assumed that he was dead.”

~. “Vou had a desperate combat with him?”

ees. :

“Shooting and cutting him 1 in the fight ?”

Oy OR 39

“Tt he lived he would be a scarred, disfigured and
partially crippled wreck?” |

“Ves. 93 ‘ /

Ah

it 2”?

n here

% human

“Such a wreck was one of t
to-day. A more hideous and
being I never saw_before.”’

“And he was one of those who seemed to be
ing to wipe me off the earth?”

rt decided that he was the prime mover in the

cheme.

“Well, then I have the most dangerous sort of enemy
that a man can have—one who ie for hate alone.
Probably he has no other object in life save that of
revenge onme. And he has some of my other enemies
with him. Well, | reckon Im iniios 6 pienic before
the end of the game is reached. This warning comes
in good time.

schem-

sh cal ei dst ett hae a i tat pl iy adem ne ee eR ye ENE ES ine tno Naot a te

“Now I have another call to make.
leaving Bismarck, I will see you again.”
With this Buffalo Bill left the barber shop and en-

tered the office of the mining company.

Then, before

CHAPTER. 111,
A CHASE OUT OF THE TOWN,

In the office of the mining company Buffalo Bill
found no visitors. There was only the young woman
who presided at the desk.

She was pretty. Since the readers of these stories
saw her last a great improvement had taken place in her
appearance.

Her beauty had be ecome mor ed, and her man-
ners had undergone a similar change. Yet

ing t she had lost
none of the wit and liveliness which were a part of her
nature.

Rena Burns, as the bookkeeper for this same “ine
company in the mountain settlement where the mines
were located,. has pl layed her part. Of that part ‘the
story has been told in another number of this series.

Buffalo Bill knew her to be true blue, with wit and
nerve, and he had reason also to believe that she could
give’ him some information about a friend who had
recently “turned up missing.”’

The*friend was Philip R Ross, a superintendent of the
mining company for which Rena Burns was bookkeeper
in kite. Bismarck office. :

Ross had last been heard of on his way to Bismarck
from the works of the mining.con apany.

He made frequent trips ba ick and forth.

Rena Burns greeted the he scout warmly.
the first exchange of greetings Bt iffalo Bi

“Have you seen Mr. Ross, Miss Rena!

A. shadow of concern had crossed the face of the
girl.

“No.
ago.”

“Yes, for it is nearly a week since he left the works.
He was expected back there yesterday, and a message
from | him should have precec ded his arrival.

“I came from there on the same route that he follows
and if he had been on fhe way, having eae at any
point, | should have overtaken him. I had reason to
fear that he had not arrived here, and I almost ae
to ask you, for | dread a confirmation of bad appre-
hensions.”’

“tle has: not

And he should have been here several days

been here, and no word a
ceived from him since the time when I sup

left the mines. There had not been so
before that I have not heard from him since
the office at the works myself.”
A faint flush brightened the cheeks of the girl as sh
made this confession.
It showed that the oe superintendent. and the

%

Bi shi si ity efi Mo ie it

 
ce (| THE BUFFALO

oe whom he had. befriended tad kept up a
friendly correspondence.

It was even possible that the letters had been some-
thing more than friendly.

“Well,” said the scout, “that shows biyena a doubt
that there is something wrong. And I’m afraid it has
been neglected too long already.

“The sooner I get onto the trail the better.”

The girl came around from the desk, and after a
hurried glance out through the window she said in a
lower tone:

“There is special danger to you, Buffalo Bill.”

“So you have got an inkling of that, too?”

“Two of the ruffians who were engaged in the

mutiny at the mines, at the time that you helped to
ae ee out the difficulty, were in here yesterday,”

and | have reason to think that they were ing to
locate you.”

“What did you hear them say?’

“They asked me if that spotter scout who was at
the mines some time ago had been in Bismarck.

“They asked that, did they?”

UN es, 3?

“And what did you answer ?”

“T told them that. 1 was too busy to keep track of
people, where they went and what they were doing.”

‘What did they say to that r’

“They laughed and made an impudent remark, and
that was all. Directly after that the man who. has
charge of the office came in, and they got out of the
way. I should have had them put out of here if they
had not left of their own accord.”

“Was either of the men who you head talking
more or less of a cripple—with a face all scars?’

The girl bent a quick and somewhat penetrating
look at the face of the king of bordermen. >

' It was a way she had, as if she wanted to know why
a question was asked before she ventured to answer it.

Yet she did not really hesitate in this case, but re-

plied, promptly enough:

“No, that doesn’t describe either of the men who
‘were asking about you. But such a man was here,
just the same. He came into this office, and I saw him
hobbling past once a little later.”

“What was his errand in here?”

“He seemed to have none. He came in and looked
hastily about, somewhat as if he expected to see some
one here. He didn’t speak, nor did I, for I didn’t like
his looks, and I thought if he wanted anything prob-
ably’ he would find a way to tell me. He soon went
out without having spoken a word.”

“All right. He 1s the worst enemy, probably, that I
have in the world. Now have you any idea as to
where they went—any or all of them?”

“I have not the least idea. It was my. impression
that they came from the direction of the mountains,
and that they went away toward the same quarter.

&

or \

I

BILL STORIES.

Yet it isn’t absolutely certain that they all left the town
at all.”

“Thank you, Miss Rena. I feel that you have lis-
tened and observed to some purpose, and in my interest.
I wish you could have relieved my anxiety concerning
Ross. But it looks as if ae were about as anxious
as [.”

Her eyes fell hte her cheeks became a deeper red.

“T think I am more anxious than you, Buffalo Bill.
You will leave no stone unturned in your search for

him? And if you should find that he has become the
“victim of foul play, or if he is found to be safe and

unharmed, you will let me know as soon as you can,
will you not?”

Aes, ves!

“And now you must go?”

She laid a hand on his arm in her impulsive way,
and there was an anxious quiver in her tones.

“Now I must go.”

“T have a feeling that there is to be a greater danger
for you. than you have faced before for a long time—
perhaps ever.’

“T have something of the same impression,”

“T shall not have an hour of sound sleep until I hear
from you again, and know that all is well.”

“Don’t let it hang over you to that extent. You

may not hear for some time, and you can’t afford to |

lose your sleep. It would be a tough call for Ross
and me if we were to pull through allright in the course
of a few days and return toyfind that you had worried
yourself to death.”

“It will not be so bad as that.”

“Then good-by:”

“Good-by.” |

Buffalo Bill returned to the street of the new town

strangely impressed by the two interviews which he

had had.

It was clear that a deeper plot was working against
him personally than he had ever before had to combat.

“Generally my fight is made wholly for somebody
else,” muttered the scout as he mounted his horse.
“But this time it looks as if I would have to put up a
fight for myself. Well, that will be a novelty and
we'll see if | put the same vim into it that I do into the
other kind.”’

As he slowly wheeled his horse preparatory to riding
out of the town he saw another horseman scurry out
from a narrow side street and ride like mad up the
main street.

The unknown horseman was dressed in the conven-
tional garb of a mountaineer, and there was nothing in
: appearance worthy of special notice.

' But that he wanted to get out of the town ahead of
the border king, and unobserved by him, was so evident
that Cody. put spurs to his own horse to prevent it.

The stranger had a good lead, and his horse seemed
to be fresh. |

 
THE BUFFALO

Buffalo Bill, on the contrary, had ridden his horse
quite hard for several hours.

By good rights he should have had a fresh horse;
but he one he had was such a splendid animal that he
did not relish the idea of giving him up even tempor-
arily for another which he knew nothing about.

His animal had enjoyed only a brief period of rest.
But that was sufficient to make him capable of a
§ splendid spurt of speed.
| The stranger seemed to go faster and faster.
He was an easy rider, anid a reckless one.

Once he cast a swift backward glance over his

shoulder.

He saw the kind ae horse he had 0 win out against,
f and he dug spurs into the flanks of his own animal
BD without show of mercy.

The ground was frozen hard, and as yet no snow had
fallen—for it will be rem 1embered that this event pre-
ceded the incidents given in the first chapter of this
story.

Citizens of the new town gathered at windows or
ran out of doors to witness the strange race.

For. that it was a race became clear enough.

The one in advance was just as clearly striving his
best to get out of the way as was the scout to overtake
the leader. .

As the latter reached the end of the ae street,
and struck out onto the less traveled track, it became
certain that the gap between pusuer and oo was
closing cs ot haps, but none ae less

Ne
lien

ten by a new current of force, the duit a
draw away from the pursuer once more. di

“That is curious!” uatiored Buffalo Bill.

“He had to use something more than ordinary means
for urging his horse. He is a good one; but in a fair
race I’m satisfied that mine would win, tired though
he is.

“Confound the man—he'll get away from me at t
rate. Pil 1 aave to call a halt before he gets out
range.”

At this Buffalo Bill leveled his rifle at the fugitive.

At the same time he let out a penetrating yell to at-

tract the other’s attention. :

«

CHAPTER. 1V,

“A (TARNAL TANGLEZ

arton seemed to have lost his wits, to
ness with which he had walked into
a doubtful crew of half-breeds and
wie men were preparing to en-

Even when he found himself covered by four rifles
he did not appear to be in the least disconcerted.
He advanced with head down, seeming to pick his

BILL STORIES, 4. ae:

way, as if, on account of his age and infirmity, he found
it necessary to step with great care over the rough
ground.

“Halt, old man!” commanded
dently the leader of the quartet.

For the first time Nick Wharton appeared to notice
that he ‘was walking into a belligererit camp.

He stopped, so near to them that the muzzle of the
nearest rifle almost touched him.

A smile puckered his wrinkled face.

“Waal, by mighty!’ he ejaculated.

“You don’t want to come any nigher, old man, un-
less ye’re ready to pass in yer checks,” said the leader
again.

“Reckon yer’ve hit it, by durn. Leetle more’n I'd
run ae head plunk agin’ that shooter of your’n. Ye
orter be more keerful, youngster, for like enough it
would have knocked ye over.’

“You're a cool one,” observed
out lowering his rifle, although
dropped the miizzles of theirs.

“Yas, it air a leetle cool since this tarnal snow come.
And it makes my rheumatics twinge like a house a-fire.
Ever have rheumatics, stranger?”

Nick had grounded the stock of his old-fashioned
rifle and was leaning on it while he glanced inquiringly
from face to face of the ee

“The old chap is deaf, I reckon,” observed the

speaking in a lower tone to his companions.

Then the same speaker added, addressing the other

the one who was éyi-

the

tiie

first speaker, with-
his companions had

leader,

Then
members of his party:

“Did ye ever see the old man afore?”

‘They shook their heads.

“Little loose in the upper story, ain't he?’

“Acts that way.”

“Better take that-gun and the big knife away fro
him, to make sure he don’t do any mischief with ’em.”

“T reckon ye’d better, McBee.”

The man called McBee stepped closer
and said, in a louder tone:

“Give up yer gun, old man.”

“Guess | do—a man has to give up most kinds of
fun when he gits to my age and is so tarnal lame in
his j ints that ce kaint ‘skeercely walk!”

“That ain’t what I said.

to old N ick,

I told ye that _ et

give up yer gun—hand it over to me!’

‘And he illustrated his demand by oes to seize
the weapon and wrest it from the hands of the old
trapper.

But the latter twitched it away with a snap.

“Let alone of that piece, durn ye!’ he exclaimed.

And, shaking his head with: wrath, he hobbled away
from the one who would have robbed him of the
weapon.

“Reckon the old t
marked one of the ha

Nick Wi harton did n

39

Be Me ae
: Ae for nothin’,” re-

seem nt be so. deaf this time.

 
 

Be , THE BUFFALO

He turned on the speaker with a great ay of in-
dignation. |

“Think that ere ain’t no good, do ye?’ he cried.

“Bet ye can’t shoot and hit that big rock yonder
from where ye stand with it,” said the other.

“That’s right. Bet he dursent uy He’d miss, sure
as preachin’,”’ ‘j

“Now, ye don’ t know the reputation that rifle ies

‘got, young man,’ asserted Nick, warming up to the
_ defense of his favorite. weapon.

“T guess it’s old enough to have a reputation.”

“Guess it is. ‘Why, | shot fourteen Injuns with one
bullet, usin’ that same gun, jest nineteen year ago the
fourth of last February. Remember it jest as well
as if-it happened yisterday.”

The four men grinned and exchanged winks.

It began to look as if they might get some sport out
of this old simpleton, which was the way they sized up
the stranger.

“We'd like to hear how ye managed to do that
thing,’ said McBee. |
“Easy to tell; by mighty. Ye see, it had been a
sorter hot, sultry day and

The listeners were all coe uproariously.

‘What ye find so tarnal comical about that ere?’ de-
manded. Nick. |

“You said ye shot fourteen Injuns with one bullet
one day in February.”’ ‘

“And it’s jest as true as ever ‘twas!’ oa Nick.

“And then you say it was a hot, sultry day, They
don’t have that sort o weather in February in these
diggin’s.”’

“Pwan't in these be s, durn it all! It was the
year I spent in South Ameriky.. Ye see, the Injuns
were mighty ructious down thar that year. An’ in
South Ameriky February is a durned hot month. I
was Campin’ up in the mountains, and figgerin’ on how

 

soon I would git back to my old ee, ground in

lowy, when I heard the trompin’ of a lot of feet.

“I jumped up and hid behind a tree, and not a min-
ute too quick, for along come nineteen Injuns——”

“You said fourteen in the first place,’’ corrected
McBee. 7

“Wait till ye hear me through. I said I shot four-
teen Injuns with one bullet, and I’m goin’ to stick to
it, by mighty. And ye’ll get the p’int of the yarn a
dum sight quicker if ye quit breakin’ in when I’m
tellin’.”’
_ The others were curious enough for the end-up of
the yarn to be silent while the old man proceeded:.
_. “As I was sayin’, along come nineteen Injuns walkin’
in single file, same as they giner’ly do. They didn’t
git a glimpsé of me or ‘spect that I was nigh.

“l had this same rifle, and ye may bet I had a pretty
good charge of powder in it, and remmed down and
rammed | down: As I see how them Injuns. was walk-

ing I figgered that I might maybe git two on ’em by —

shootin’ oh when they was in line.

 

‘moren a

the long rifle which waé the hero of*his yarn,

what we was going to do.

BILL STORIES,

“So I waited tilf they got in jest the right poosish, so
they was right in front of me and the nighest not
tod off.

"Then I :pulled up and drew bead on the. niphest
one, aiming straight between the shoulders. In them
days I was pretty fair at hittin’ a mark, if it was only
big enough.

“Then I let her go. I tell you, this old rifle can
speak when she tries ter. And she spoke then.

“Waal, by mighty! I thought I should drop right
down ae I was, I was so stabergasted at the result
of that ere shoot.

“Down dropped all but five of them Injuns—the five
that was ahead! And ye may reckon that they didn’t
stop to twitter any when they seed their comrades
mowed down behind ’em like so much grass.

“Waal, I was pretty nigh as much upsot as they was.
But I went ahead after a spell and took a look at them
Injuns, jest to make sure how they died. It was jest
as I reckoned it would be. There was. a hole clean
through from back to chest of every one of the var-
mints excepting 'the fourteenth one. The bullet didn’t
have quite force enough left in it when it got to him
to ge clean through. But it come pretty nigh it, for

it smashed his breast bone and lodged jest under. the
skin!” -

The four ruffians wete roaring with. incredulous

laughter by this time.

“It’s jest as true as ever ’twas, by mighty!” added
old Nick Wharton.

It may appear on the ee as if this yarn was a
useless waste of breath on the part of the eccentric
old man.

But it had served its purpose.

. When he had first shown himself in the rock glen
ee had covered him with their rifles and comumanded
him to surrender his own weapons.

Fe had bluffed them out of their purpose temporarily |
and now they seemed to have forgotten it entirely.

_ Another thing they had seemed to forget—this wa
their preparations for a ae

“By the way, gents,”’ said Nick Wharton, patting
os reck-
oned when I fust looked in here that you was gettin’
ready to settle down and have somethin’ to eat. Hope
I ain't spilt yer appetites?” |

“Not at all,” said McBee. “But you made us forgit
About the gun, I reckon
we'll let ye hold onto it, provided ye don’ t try to get
us to stand in a line and put a charge through the whole
of us at once.’

“T’ve no notion of doin’ of it, stranger. - And T want
to warn ye not to try shooting this ere gun, if it ever
does fall into yer hands.”

ie not?”

“Because I put in an extry heavy charge this moru-

  

 
 

 
 
 

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

in’, and it might work the same as it did with a cousin
of mine some twenty-odd year ago.”

“How was that?”.

“He took the rifle unbeknownst to me, and tried for
to shoot a perarie chicken. The charge was heavier
than the gun, and the tarnal ‘weapon jest slipped right
off the charge, and fired my cousin heels over stomach
right up agin’ the barn.

“Queerest jigger yer ever see! That charge never
budged ‘an inch! It was the tarnal gun that did the
movin’. My cousin, with the weapon plunked up agin’
his shoulder, smashed right through the side of the
barn and brung up agin’ a cow that was chewin’ her
cud.

“Pretty nigh killed the cow, by mighty! To say
nothin’ of my cousin, whose featur’s were all knocked
skew-jaw. That cousin became the first instance of a
man bein’ homely in the Wharton family.”

The ruffians were laughing again. Meanwhile they
went about the task of getting supper.

They believed that Nick Wharton was no more than
1 half-crazy old vagabond, as harmless as he was ec-
éntric.

He seemed to be both lame and feeble, and they
strongly suspected that the rifle about which he boasted
was as useless as its owner.

They went about the task of getting a supper, and
Nick appeared to take it for granted that he would be
invited to partake.

He mentioned the fact that he had > *
the glen, and that he would hove *
‘he animal. What b-
tO get up,.an. | CY Site

Th -4 the dried

us about there.
14 Was capable of finding feed
ALTAE? ete
ion, Kept auEeree to the mare while he was put-
ering over her, mostly about the missing club-foot
srizzly.

When he returned to the glen he found that the sup-
er was prepared. Without waiting for an invitation
ie “pitched in” and did justice to the provision which
1ad been made.

When he was through he rose and began to squint at
he tracks which had puzzled him.

“What ye lookin’ at, old man?” demanded McBee,
vith a sudden show of suspicion.

“The grizzly tracks that I was follerin’,” said the
id trapper.

7 Uhe eritter ain't here. I reckon it clim’ up ’mongst
he cocks. Let the tracks alone.”

“But I’m the greatest hand to track grizzlies ye ever
ee. I’ve killed jest four hundred and ninety-eight of
em, and I want to fetch the number up to an even five

ndred afore my next birthday, which is in a week.
ad this light snow makes it tarnal easy trackin’ of
2m,”

 

“Thunder! what an old liar!” ejaculated McBee.

But he seemed resolute and disturbed
man’s persistence in the following of the bear trail.

“Let the tracks alone, I tell ye!” he ordered, thrust-
ing his burly form in the y way of Nick.

‘The latter stiffened up. ._ With unlooked-for s:
denness he poked the muzzle of his gun into the ¢
ach of McBee with so much force that the ruff
back, and would have dropped to the ground
desperate effort to recover his balance.

The man uttered a roar of rage.

The other three, who would under offic « f0S

have been ready enough to go to the as neir
comrade, now only stood and stared yunter,
believing, doubtless, that McBee w« to make
short work of the old man wither 4 from the
outside.

They saw him make a sp ne old trapper,

with the evident purpose of im. with a blow
in the face, hee
But the rheumatic of “arton seemed to get
better with surprisine 3.
He leaped nimbly de as McBee made for
him.
Then bhisiket

‘ne trapper’s big, skinny’ fist
under the ear ;

And the } sown as if he was shot.
Then tt wheeled and faced the others.
“Com ye!” he yelled, swinging the png
rele | dnd his head like a flail. “Tf it’s a
aoa) te teat ye want to git mixed up in, I’m yer
like a “tangle” indeed!
CHAPTER <V,

THE WARNING.

The warning yell from Buffalo Bill, intended to at-
tract the attention of the one he was pursuing, accom-
plished its purpose.

The fugitive looked back over his shoulder ne saw
that the scout was covering him with his rifle.

For an instant he seemed to debate with himself
whether to halt in obedience to the command or not.

But some impulse—fear of meeting Buffalo Bill face
to face, probably—decided him to continue his flight.

So he turned his back on his pursuer and urged his
horse to keep up the forced pace he was following.

“He’s got to stop, then!’ muttered Buffalo Bill.

The spurt of flame from the rifle and the cutting re-
port told the story. .

The fugitive flung up his arms and pitched from his
horse to the ground.

It did not take Buffalo Bill long to overtake the one
whom he had shot.

The horse, with its empty saddle, went careering

©

ver the old

ep En

  
   
  
  
  
   
   
    
  
  
   
 
   
    
  
   
   
  
 
  
  
  
   
 
 
 
  
  
  
   
   
 
 
  
  
  
  
   
   
  

  
 

 

   

  

  
  
 
 

 

IO

ie

sildly away from the fee ine the rider lying’.

where he had 1 fallen.

Buffalo Bill had not intended that his shot chould
be a fatal one, since the other had made no actual dem-
onstration against him. But the man had shifted his
position in the saddle at the very moment of the dis-

charge of the scout’s weapon, therefore the buillet had :

fouched a. vital spot, when it had been intended to
merely stop the man’s flight. ,

The border king sprang from -his saddle and bent
over the fugitive, who seemed to be in great pain.

The man looked up into the face of the scout, and
the latter instantly recognized him as one of the men
who had allied himself with the ruffianly element at
the mining town of Flamingo, on the occasion when
Buffalo Bill and Philip Ross had subdued a mutiny and
broken a conspiracy.

The man was not a leader in the fight against law
and order, but, like many others, he had chosen to fol-
low lawless leadership. Now. he was reaping the fruits
of his choice.

“It is my last call, Cody!” groaned the man as Buf-
falo Bill made a hasty examination of the wound, and

took measures to stanch the flow of blood to some

extent.

“T reckon it is, man,” said the scout.
mean to make it a fatal hit.
just as I fired; I should never have made such a miss
of the spot I aimed at otherwise.” :

“That's all right, boss. It would come to that any-
how. I was bound to fetch ye or somebody up 16 it:
I’ve been a knave and a fool, and now I’ve got to pass
_ in my checks to pay for it.”

“Vm sorry I shot so close. But [ yelled at you,
hoping you would slow up and save my forcing a halt.”

“T know it. But I took my chances.”’

“You haven’t long to live, and I’m not the sort to
hold anything against a dying man, unless he has done
something pretty black. Why were you so anxious to
skip away from me?”

The other hesitated. For the moment he was easier,
and when pain lets up on a wounded man he is apt to
have a glimmer of hope.

But a glance showed him that the blood had not
ceased to flow, and then he realized that he was in less

ain because of growitig weakness.

“TIL tell ye, the truth, Buffalo Bill, ” he said,
voice that was noticeably weaker.

“If there is anything on your mind that may be of
importance for me to know, and you care to relieve
yourself of the burden of it, you oe better lose no
time,’ suggested the scout.

“That's jest how the matter stands.
ye. Yeair in the worst sort of danger. Ye—ye——”

The man choked, coughed, and for a moment it
looked astif he would not be able to speak again.

But his throat cleared once more, and although his
voice was weaker, he spoke with distinctness as he said;

99

a ut I didn’t

I oughter warn

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

_ part of a criminal conspiracy.

You rose in your saddle

But that was ‘not important.

     

“Ve’re the same as hernamed in, Mr. Cody. - ve can’t
get away front Bismarck wi ithout ee yer nose into
a trap.’

“Then there must be a good many against me! ”

“There is.”

- “Under a leader, of course?”

ess :

“Tell me whom?’”

The other hesitated.

“Tm bound—by an oath,” he. faltered.

“Death unbinds all oaths, especially if they are a
Speak, man, for it is
important that I should know whom I shave to fight.”

“There’s nigh a hundred against ye.”

“Yes, yes! But I want to know who leads them.”

“Man—all shot and cut to pieces—by you—year or
two.ago. Name is Q

Again the man seemed about to strangle.

And once more he rallied, but so feably that it be-
came certain that he could not last more than a mo-

 

ment or two longer.

“Prairie—Paul—name he went by,’ the man fal-

tered, at last.

“Ah! And he had another name. Was it Travis?

or don’t you know about that?’

“Yes—Travis.”

“Where is he?”

“Left Bismarck this morning.’

“Any more of his men in the town! »

ON es?

“How many?”

“Hatta dozen, maybe.”

“Waiting to make sure > that I 80, and in what di-
rection?”

eyes.)

_ Do you know by which road or trail Praitie Paul
left?”

- “Western—trail.
you-———””
_. Once more the throat contracted.
_ This time the struggle was less violent..

_ When it ceased, it was to never begin again.

Buffalo Bill had not even obtained the man’s name.
He had gained facts of
the utmost importance, few. in number though they
were.

First, the suspicion that it was his old enemy, whom
he had believed to be dead, was working up this ven-
geance plan against him, was confirmed beyond the
shadow of a dqubt.

~Second, the fact that all the roads and trails away
from Bismarck were watched and patrolled by the en-
emy was a warning which would be of incalculable
service to him.

Now, although his knowledge of the condi’
would not deter him from leaving the town in the
ner he had originally intended, he would not do

eS ae

Join crew of his men. Xo

ignorance of the dangers which would beset his pz

  

     
  
 
   
   
    
  
 
 
 
 
  
   
     
  
  
   
  
   
 
   
   
   
 
    
    
  
 
  
  
   
  
  
    

 

 

  
  
  
  
THE BUFFALO

Lifting the body of the dead man to the back of his
horse, the scout hastened back into the limits of the
town.

There he reported the affair to the proper authori-
ties, and furnished them with satisfactory proofs as to
the lawless character of the man whom he had killed.

Being well known himself, and understanding that
it was necessary there for every man to take care of

himself as best he might, no one questioned but that
the shooting of the man was justifiable under the cir-
cumistances.

Next the border ae looked the town through nad
made inquiries, in a quiet way, to see if it were not
possible for him to obtain a half dozen trustworthy
men to accompany him on his expedition in quest of his
missing friend, Philip Ross, the young mine owner and
superintendent.

But he soon discovered that there was not a man to
' be found in Bismarck of the character that he dared
| to trust, who was at liberty to go with him.

It was not for personal protection that he wanted
help in the present case.

In case anything should happen that he should not
be allowed to return to civilization: alive, he wanted
some one with him who might carry ae a trustworthy
Teport from him.

Two or three men offered their services. But he
suspected that they were members of the secret lot
whom the outlaw had warned him were still in Bis-
marck to observe his movements. So he could not
think of employing them.

Before taking final leave of the town ae again called
upon Denton, the lawyer-barber.

He briefly informed him of the conditions which had
just come to light.

“You oughtn’t to stir a step out of the town without
a strong body of men to accompany you for self-pro-
tection,” said the lawyer, decisively.

Buffalo Bill smiled.

“I never took anybody along for self-protection in
my life,” he said.

“Then you should let this be the first time.”

“It is impossible. There is no person here at liberty
to go that I can trust. No, I will have to go alone
and act under extra caution.”

“I shall never expect to hear from you again—
living.”’

“And yet I seem to be a slow man to die, Mr. Den-
ton. Don’t give me up too easy. What is death?
Something to dodge just as long as you can, knowing
all the while that it will win out in the race in the end.
So oe to you. We won't call it good-by—that
sounds too final.”

They shook hands, and then the king of the border
again mounted his horse and rode boldly forth in the
face of what he knew to be one of the most perilous
expeditions of his lifetime.

CHAPTER VI.

ee VOR ATE Ole DIATE,

It was near the close of the day when Buffalo’ Bill
rode away from Bismarck.

Two hours later he became aware that he was being
followed by a single horseman. Observing that the
one in pursuit appeared to be trying to overtake him,
the scout halted and waited for the other to come up
with him.

The one on his trail had a good mount, and he was
making the best of time. So Buffalo Bill did not have
to wait long.

When the follower at fast came in hailing distance
the border king, as a matter of precaution, held his
rifle ready for quick use, withéut, however, ‘appearing
to be especially on his guard.

The horseman proved to be a young, slight-built fel-
low, with a complexion as dark as that on a Mexican.

But Buffalo Bill did not believe that he was a native
of that far-southern clime. The features and expres-
sion did not tally with the complexion.

The dusk of evening was falling, and that interfered
somewhat with the scrutiny which the scout would
have bestowed upon the stranger..

The latter was well armed, but he made no move to-
ward having a weapon of any sort ready for use.

He touched his cap with a salute which had a touch
of the military in it, and Buffalo Bill guessed that the
young fellow oe seen training somewhere, and at some
time.

Heol. Cody, I believe?” he questioned, in a pleasant,
velvety voice, and* with what. seemed like a slightly
foreign accent.

“Yes. What do you want?’

“You were inquiring in Bismarck, a few hours ago,
for men to accompany you on some sort of an expedi-
tion—or search—to the mountains, I believe?”

“T didn’t say to anybody that I asked that there was
to be any search.”

The other compressed his lips and shrugged his
shoulders.

“The word ‘search’ was mentioned by the one who
spoke to me about it,” insisted the young stranger.

T Well

“IT came to. volunteer for the service. You had left
the town well behind before I knew of it. I lost no
time in trying to overtake you. I’m anxious for the
chance... .

“Who told you that I wanted somebody o)

_Mr. Denton, in the barber shop.”

said something about there being a
search for gomenony a
“Or for something.

He explained no more than
that.” | = )
‘““And he knows you?”

“A little. He writes a line and sends by me, as a
sort of guarantee.”

 
 

oo - ‘. THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES.

66

T will look at it? ot

' No detective ae in a city boon ve been more
cautious or exacting than was Buffalo Bill in looking
up the character of the persons whom he should allow —
to accompany him on this expedition,

It was necessary. He might have to be out for sev-
‘eral nights, and he would have to sleep. He could not,
do-so safely with a single person with him of whom he
might even remotely fear treachery.

It was with good reason that he was cautious.

The young man handed him a slip of paper on which

was written the following in a free, professional hand:

“Just after your departure from my ‘office’ this
young man, whose name is Allen Parsons, came in and
said he heard that Col. Gedy wanted some men to ac-
company him on some sort of an expedition.
ing that he has held a position in this place ever since I

- cathe here, and that he has at all times seemed to bea

young man of good character and habits, with plenty
of coolness and nerve, I do not hesitate to recommend
him to your confidence.

“I write this while he is making hurried prepara-
tions to follow you.

know that you are not entirely alone under the circum- °

stances. I would at least like to hear how and where
you ‘passed in your checks.’
want this fellow you can send him back, and I will not
consider it any personal affront.

“With best wishes for your success, and with the
hope that you may return to see how I succeed in run-
ning a law and barber shop behind the same sign, I beg.
to remain, ‘Sincerely yours,

“WILLARD DENTON.”

Buffalo. Bill folded the letter and put it in his pocket.
“Your name is Allen Parsons?’ he asked.

eV as +7

“And you have been in Bismarck for some time?’
“For more than six months.”

“What have you been doing there?”

“Working in a real estate office.’

“T never happened to run across you.”

“It doesn’t follow, does it, that I have been lying to.

you! ??

_ “Oh, no. I reckon we'll have to swallow your yarn,
since it squares with Mr. Denton’s. You have plenty
of guns?’ ;

“Two revolvers and a rifle.”

“And you know. how to tse them?”

“T never shot any Indians or outlaws.
wouldn’t stand idle and let them shoot at me.’

“Good! You look pretty young—just a bit girlish.
‘But if you have the herve, that is all you'll need. ‘Now
T reckon we'll be movine on, for we'll have to stop
pretty soon after sundown for a rest. My horse needs
it more than Ido. And on our horses may depend the
chances of our own lives.”

But 1

Know-

Of course, if you don't .

“All right, Col Cody!” :

And again young Parsons gave the military welite

The ‘scout was on the point of requesting the other
to address him as Buffalo Bill, but decided to let the
matter starid.. * 4

“Let him regard me as his officer and he’ll be the
more ready to obey orders without asking questions,
maybe.”

‘In a little more than an hour they encamped for the |

night, with the understanding that, if no interruption
occurred, they would get under way again before dawn
the next morning.

This program was carried out, and the night passed
without incident. :

Buffalo Bill well understood in advance that there
would be great relief to him with one companion, even,
for it would allow him to sleep soundly for one-half of

the night, while the other stood guard.

The young stranger was quiet, respectful and at all
times perfectly self-possessed.

But the scout found it impossible to gain saihine
like ah intimate acquaintance with him.

-It was the same during the hours of. riding and

I shall feel better, Mr. Cody, to |\the halts for rest and food the next day.

Allen Parsons, as the young fellow called himself,
was civil and straightforward in answering questions,
but not a word would he volunteer concerning his own
past, or the object of his willingness to join in the per-
ilous expedition.

Of course, Cody had offered to pay liberally for his
services, and he had appeared to be willing to accept
of the compensation. _

This left the scout free to infer that the fellow was
anxious*for the trust on account of the money there
was.in it.

Yet Buffalo Bill was convinced from the beginning
_that this was not his only object.

‘And as the time wore on the scout’s conviction on
that score became the stronger.

“Fe is in this business for some mission of his own,
and I know it!” was the scout’s mental comment, half-

uttered several times during the day that followed.

“Can it be that he is a traitor, after all, and that he
has managed to deceive Denton as well as mie?

“He may have been employed in that real estate of-
fice at Bismarck, as he says, and as Denton knows, and
yet have been bribed by my prime enemy, Thede
Travis.

“He is just the sort of appearing fellow to play such
a. part to perfection, and, provided that he were black
at heart, and capable of accepting such a bribe, a better
person for the game it would have been hard to find.

“The fact that he has acted on the square so far is
no proof of his integrity. The main body of the en-
emy is probably still a good distance ahead. I am
pretty big game, and they won’t take any chances if
they can help it.

“Another day’s journey will take us to a locality

*
©

  

 
THE UUPFALO BILL STORIES = 9. is

iwhere it will be easy for them to try to spring their
trap on me. That is when I will have to look out.
To-night I will pretend:to give Parsons the last half
(of the night to watch, and T will try playing ‘possum
fa little, and see how he kills the time when he thinks I
fam asleep.”

Buffalo Bill reached this conclusion at about camping
‘time on the second night.

After they had staked out their horses and made all
‘snug for the night, Cody said:

“We'll shift the program to-night, Parsons. You
sleep until I wake you, then T’fl take my turn.”

“Don’t let me sleep too long, for you gave me more
than half of the night for sleep last night, and you'll
need your full share to-night.”

“All right. If I cheat myself it won't be your fault.
Lie down now and go to sleep.”

The young man rolled himself in his blankets, at
quite a distance from the fire, and the scout had reason
‘to believe that he fell asleep almost immediately.

Buffalo Bill did not awaken him until about one
O'clock.

By that time it was quite cloudy, and thefe was an
increased chill in the air that portended snow.

“Better keep a rather sharper lookout than you did
last night, for I reckon that we are drawing near to
the point of danger,” admonished Cody, as he replen-
ished the fire and spread his blankets in a less secluded
spot than the one which the other had chosen.

Parsons made no response, but he made a circuit of

the camp as soon as Buffalo Bill.lay down for the rest

of the night.

“T have a feeling that this is to be a trail of death!”
was the thought that intruded on the brain of the scout
as he pretended to sleep while he furtively and tire-
lessly watched the movements of his, mysterious
comrade. -

His watchfulness was not without result.

CHAPTER VII"
THE TRAIL OF THE CLUBFOOT.

Buffalo Bill, the border king, had the trick of sleep-
ing like a cat—literally with one eye open.

Many were the nights the great scout had slept in
this way, actually obtaining repose for body and brain
and yet with every sense so keenly alert that a shadow
falling across his face or a leaf falline-within a yard
of where he lay would have aroused him to full con-
sciousness.

In no other way could he have withstood the pro-
tracted tax upon his forces and at the same time have
been in shape to outwit the craftiest of his enemies or
to fight the greatest odds that might be brought against
him.

It was so that he reposed with Allen Parsons, the
mysterious young man, on guard.
He was really favorably impressed by the fellow, and

yet his reticence and some peculiar points in his be-_

havior called for explanation.
For an hour there was nothing suspicious in the con-
duct of the fellow on guard.

Before the scout had even pretended to go to sleep

Parsons had made a reconnoissance of the vicinity of
the camp.

But he spent but little time in this, and he reported
no. discovery.

In a little more than an dour the scout observed that
Parsons had failed to replenish the fire which they kept
burning for the warmth and cheer, as well as to keep

back the wolves and coyotes, which were ntimerous in
that locality at that season.

Then, with one eye half open, Buffalo Bill observed
that Parsons had left his post, and that he seemed to
be slowly moving farther away from the narrow circle
of light.

There were trees in the vicinity, although there was
not what could be called a dense forest thereabout.

A moment more and Parsons had disappeared en-
tirely.
The scout watched and-listened.

He gave the young fellow time to make a circuit of
the entire camp as he had done in the first place.

Still he did not return.

“That may mean something,
tered Buffalo Bill.

“Anyhow, I’m not going to let it pass without look-
ing into it. If he is acting on the square and wonders
why I got up to prowl around I can tell him that I
thought I heard something suspicious, and that I
couldn’t sleep until I had investigated for myself.”

The scout waited a moment longer only, and then
sprang up and, with the silence of a panther, he crept
out to where Parsons had stood when last he had t beeti
observed.

Even before getting up, Buffalo Bill had noticed that
it was beginning to snow in a steady, gentle fashion,
which would soon spread a mantle of white over the
landscape.

He moved silently out as far as the most distant
point that he had himself reconnoitered when he had
been on guard.

Then he looked along the ground for tracks.

‘These were easy to find.

The snow was a little moist and stuck to the feet of
Patsons and any others who might be abroad. Then
it would be left in. little compressed patches where it
was trodden.

Buffalo Bill followed. such traces as these until they
took him to a distance fully one hundred yards from
the camp.

“He had no business to. go as far as | this without re-

or it may not,”

mut- —

 
   

THE BUFFALO

Ta

 

porting to me, even if there was something suspicious

that he wanted to investigate.

“Tt looks more and more as if he was planning to
play a treacherous game. And yet I hate to think it of
the. young fellow, for he looked to be so innocent and
square, and there isn’t a point about him that wouldn’t
naturally inspire confidence.”

Suddenly Buffalo Bill came to a halt and bent over
the tracks with a half audible ejaculation.

There were more than one set of tracks—of this
there could not be a doubt.

But there was something peculiar about them that it
was not possible to make out at first glance.

\ One of the tracks was not that of a human being——
it was made by an animal of some sort.

They were too large for those of a wolf or coyote,  .
They were not ordinary bear’

or even a panther.’
tracks.

It was dark enough so that the scout hod to bend
with his nose almost to the eome to make out the
trail.

Yet so practiced was his. eye that he soon solved
every detail, and decided on the character of the maker
of the strange tracks.

Pa ant izaly, but with one aibed foot, ech shat or
trapped. It is a clubfoot grizzly!”

This was the verdict.

This will be remembered as the verdict of the eccen-
tric old trapper, Nick Wharton, some hours later, who
found tracks that answered the same description and
followed them.

But when Nick Wharton followed the tracks and
read their character with such remarkable sagacity, it
cae also be remembered that there was a consid-

rable fall of snow in which every track was made with
as great distinctness as it could have been by an im-
pression in wax.

The border king did not have any such perfect me-
dium by which to read the trail; and yet there was only
one point which old Nick had discovered that Buffalo
Bill failed to read.

This was the fact that the fate feet of the animal
made more frequent tracks than did the hind feet.

But there was enough in the discovery to excite the
curiosity of Buffalo Bill to the highest pitch, andy he
followed them. with swift and silent strides.

_ All the while he madé sure that Parsons’ tracks
were also mixed with those of the clubfoot grizzly.

Tle made sure also that the bear tracks had been
made first, and that the young fellow had been follow-
ing the trail as he himself was doing.

This«gave the scout a new hope that Parsons had
been acting on the s square, after all,

It was not to be wondered at that the young man
had been curious enough about such a trail upon its
discovery, to have followed it for a considerable dis-
tance without taking the precaution to inform the
scout, whom he 2 to ‘be sleeping ey

BILL STORIES.

“TE it ,may only turn out that the young: fellow is
all right, I don’t care a hickory for the rest,” was the
thought of Buffalo Bill.

He reached a slope that became steeper at each step,
and finally descended into a gully, where a small
stream of water gurgled over the rocks.

All the while it was snowing quite steadily, and he
was close enough to the makers of the trails to find
the tracks before they were filled in.

Indeed, the deeper layer of snow made hate all the

- more easy to read, and the scout was soon following the

trail almost as fast as he could have gone had he not
been tracking at all.

The: gully narrowed and made A, sharp turn to the
right.

MAS Buffalo Bill reached the narrowest point he heard
a hurtling sound overhead.

‘There was no time to stir or to dodge.

‘There was a stunning blow on the top of his head,
and almost for the first time in his life the border king

- was felled to the ground, completely stunned!

- * “x * « * *

\

It is never possible for one to judge as to the length
of a period of unconsciousness,

When it is total it is like sound sleep.

The moment of awakening seems like the next in
stant after the loss of consciousness.

It-was so with Buffalo Bill.

But he was unlike most people in one respect.

Whether from a natural or an unnatural stupor, he-
always. roused with a distinct and prompt recollection
of the last events that preceded the attack.

In this case, therefore, as his senses returned to him
and he felt a dull ache i in his head, he remembered that
he had been struck down by a terrible blow from above.

He remembered, too, where he was, and the sort ore

a trail he had been following.
He remembered also with a pang of keenest regret
that he had been following the tracks of Parsons, the

. yyoung fellow who*thad professéd to be so anxious to

be his faithful comrade on the perilous expedition.

Was Parsons in any: way responsible for this hap-
pening? .

Was it the culmination of a deliberate act of
treachery?

This aspect of the situation troubled the great scout
more at the first dawn of returning feeling than ae
any other consideration.

He opened his eyes cautiously.

It was broad daylight!

Then the ee had passed while he had been uncon-

scious.
What had belived during the lapse of time?
He tried cautiously to stir —to change his position.
He was bound hand and foot. :

  
    
  
  
  
   
   
 

   
 
  
   
    
   
 
  
  
  
 
   
  
  
  
   
 
   
  
    
  
   
   
  
  
   
  
   
   
 

     
THE, BUBFALO

Even the attempt to move caused the most intense
winges of pain all through his limbs and body.

He had been bound so tightly that the circulation of
ylood had been impeded, almost stopped.

It was with difficulty that he could repress a groan
f misery, for it was intense at the moment.

At the same time something like a feeling of rage
wept throtwgh his brain as he realized that he, the in-
rincible, had been tricked and trapped. °

“At last they’ve got me!” he mentally exclaimed.

“Already they are gloating over their triumph, and
slanning how they will pay off all the old scores they
nay have to settle against me.

“Well, maybe my ‘turn has come at last. 1 suppose
t will have to sooner or later. A man can’t follow
ich a career, as | am pursuing forever and not get to
he bottom. I’m human, and maybe I’ve been getting
o think that nothing could beat me.

“T reckon I needed a pull-up——and [’ve got it! And
f I don’t figure sharp it will be my last and only!

“So much for letting my curiosity lead me on the
rail of a clubfoot grizzly!”

- Buffalo Bill slowly turned his head to look about
11m.
What he saw brought < a startled exclamation to his

ips:

CHAPTER Vit
BACK TO OLD NICK AND DIANA.

Possibly the reader does not care to get another’

xlimpse of the sub-hero of this yarn—old Nick Whar-
‘on—at this time.

But old Nick would not have come into the story if
ye had not an important part to play in the career of
Buffalo Bill. And in himself, and in his way, he was
it that time one of the most important and peculiar
characters throughout the great West.

He belonged to an earlier generation than did Buf.
falo Bill) He was a pardernan of the old type to
which Davy Crockett, Kit Carson and Daniel Boone

mm oelonged.,

In his younger days he had been one of the pioneer
‘rappers, guides and Indian fighters of the old frontier.

In speech and thought he was old-fashioned, and full
of eccentricity. He was ignorant of the learning that
books may impart, for he could not even write his
qame.

And yet his shrewd, kindly brain, keen wit and
dauntless, even reckless courage made him a character
worthy ae admiration and respect by his friends, while
his foes had good cause to reeard him with a different
kind of fear from an 1y that they might feel for others.

Nick Wharton had hunted and trapped in a region
mostly which had been quite remote from the newer
West where Buffalo Bill had become famous.

BILL STORIES, ae

But now he had come into this region with-all the -
old qualities which had carried him through a campaign
that was a matter of history before Buffalo Bill was
born.

Old Nick wasn’t up-to-date.

He had no new weapons, and he was inclined to be
contemptuous about the modern rifles and dainty re-
volvers.

He felt that, to be effective, they should be big and
heavy. And, probably, in his hands, the old, long-
barreled rifle was a more dangerous weapon than the
lighter and more quick-acting rifle of Buffalo Bill would
have been.

So, with his unexpected quips and quirks in fighting,
he would sometimes vanquish the foe by pure audacity
and surprise.

We left Nick Wharton in the midst of what he called
“tarnal tangle.”’

He had knocked down the ruffian, McBee, with his
fist.

‘Then, as the other three would have leaped tipon him,
he swung his long-barreled rifle about his head and
invited them to “come on.”

But they did not accept the invitation.

And so, with unexpected agility, the old man ane
toward them, and they heard the hiss and whir of the
swinging shooting-iron so close to their heads that they
fairly tumbled over each other to get out of the way.

Their rifles were not in their hands, and in the sud-
den onslaught made by the old trapper, they did not
think to draw their revolvers.

Back they scrambled, yelling with dismay.

It was incredible that this old man could really pitch
into them if he was in his right mind.

The suspicion that he was insane—that such was the
real cause for his eccentricity —filled them with a terror
which was greater far than it would have been had they
found themselves suddenly face to face with heavy
odds in the shape of superior numbers.

If it was a madman with whom they had to cope
they wanted no part in the combat.

There would be no glory in victory, and in possible
defeat there would be something worse than ordinary
death. a

They shrank from coming into individual contact
with their assailant.

Of course this terror would not last long.

But it was enough to send them tumbling heels over
head in a mad scramble to get out of the way of the
impetuous onslaught of Nick ‘Wharton.

McBee was still on his back.

No human fist had ever hit him like that beings

The other three made for cover, scattering in such
fashion that Nick Wharton could not have followed
them up had he wished to do-so.

As a matter of fact, he did not wish to follow them

mp:

 
 

We ee or

When they were fairly out of his way he had accom-

-plished all he had intended.
_ Wheeling suddenly, he made off to the other side of

the big bowlder, and in a moment he was on the back

of Diana.

“Old. gal,” he said, with his Lips close to her ear,
its a: durned good time for us to vamose.
yer huffs and git out of here, so to speak, as it were.”

Something like an electric thrill seemed to pass
through the body of the mare.

It was as if the decrepit old frame ‘had been suddenly |

animated by an elixir of some sort, for she straight-
ened her joints, put back her ears, and then scooted
away from the spot as if she were shot out of a gun.
The phenomenon was not without a witness.
» McBee had gotten back to his feet, and he was just

in time to see Nick Wharton dart around the bowlder.

As soon as he could pull himself together he ran in
pursuit, principally out of curiosity to see what would
be the next antic to be cut by the old man.

He was in time to see Wharton mount Diana, to see
him lean his face close to the ear of the mare, and ob-
serve the effect of what seemed to be a whispered
command.

McBee had never witng§sed anything like it.

When he first glimpsed Diana he judged that the
latter would be scarcely able to get away from the spot
at a walk.

When the animal had seemed to be animated by such
‘life, and to display such speed, there appeared to be

something uncanny in it, and McBeé could only rub his

eyes to get the witchery out of them.

He waited only to see horse and rider disappear in.

the gloom like a wraith.

Then he returned to look for bis companions.

One of the latter had ventured to return to the camp,
and when McBee confronted him it could be see: that
the faces of both were pale\with actual fear.

‘There was also a black, baggy swelling on the face
of McBee, where Ly rock-like fist of the old man had
hit him.

It had been quite a “‘tangle,”’ and it was easy to see
that it hadn’t been old Nick Wharton who came out at
the worst end of the fight. .

“Look heare, Rocky Rob!’ McBee exclaimed as the
other ruffian stared into his face. “What do ye make
of that old party, anyhow?’

“Crazy as a loon, I reckon.”

“Looks some like it. And yet

“Well, what else?”

“He wa’n’t so crazy about some things as he might
be. He seemed to have a durned clear idea of what
he was doin’.” ‘
ene s Totty ;

“He tried for to find out about then grizzly tracks,

 

and that was what made me shut down on him. ie

reckoned afore that he was harmless enough—jest a

A

BILL STORIES.

Wiggle —

- about.sich critters,

»

 

lyin’ old stringer of yarns. Then I suspected that he
might be bluffin’. So I interfered—ye know there is
good reason why we don't keer to have the grizzly
tracks followed too close.”

i haes son.

“So I stepped i in and forbid him.”

“And he waded in and laid you out, McBee.”
"You, bet.”

“And then, the best I can recall the scrimmage, he
come at us with his long gun whackin’ the air close
to our heads. I half pulled a knife and dropped it.
Long Joe lost his wits entirely and fell over himself.
Samp run agin’ me and pretty nigh knocked the breath
out of both our bodies. Then we all made a break for
cover, and I’m durned if I cared whether it was Sunday
or middle of the week.”

By this time Long Joe and Samp, the other two ruf-
fians of the crew, crawled out into the glen, looking as
if they had been doing stunts in a riot.

They had nothing to say. They had rather fe
and coax up the fire which had begun to languish for
want of attention.

“There’s more to the yarn that you didn’t see,” said
McBee as he felt of the punch over his eyes in a gin-
gerly way.

“What .is the rest of it?”

““T was in time to see the old man dodge around
yender and git onto his hoss. And sich a hoss!’”’

© EEOW Waste

“Tt’s an old beast that looks as if she might have
been buried a good many years ago and then dug up
and set a-goit’, without rubbin’ her down with so much
as a wisp of hay.

“The old man jumped, onto her back as if i. wa'n’t
more’n sixteen, and seemed to whisper ace tniD in the
old critter’s ear.

“What do ye reckon that hoss did? She straight-
ened her old legs and went off like a shot! I never sec
anything like it! I never rode a hoss that could go as
that one did, and you’d say she couldn’t stand without
being propped up, to lool at her.”

Te ait natural, McBee. There’s somethin’ queer
” said Rocky Rob, sagely.

“You think there’s some superhuman wrinkle about
the works?”

“Must be.. A natural hoss can’t race like a colt when
he’s old and stiff, as you say that one was. And a
natural man that looks to be ninety can’t tear around
like that old chap did. First, I reckoned he was a fool,

then I figgered out he might he crazy, and now I reckon

he wa’n’t a live, natural man at all.”
_ McBee shook his head.

He was not so superstitious as the other members of
the party.

Secretly he believed that they had merely been
fooled by a man who was nimbler, and_ possibly
younger, than he looked.

 

 
   

Tera eaheseeree tees oN HME ea man oh Til a RAR iG

‘

THE BUPPALO

But it occurred to him that it would sound better. to
have it go out that they had been vanquished by a force
which no human power could haye coped with.

That would relieve them of the charge of being too
easily scared, or inefficient.

And he knew there was one to whom they would
have to give an acount of this encounter, and that he
' would give them a call-down.

And he was right.
!) came into the glen and they met the gaze of a
) piercing eyes.

   
  
 
 
 
  

pair of

 
  
 

CHAPTER IX
BUFFALO BILL'S TRACKER.

   
   

The one whose malignant and singularly penetrating
eyes met the gaze of McBee, the outlaw, was a strange-
looking being.

Originally of fine proportions, a terrible experience
ad left him bent, twisted, deformed and crippled.

His face and hands were scarred and hideous.

Even his eyes, with the protuperant brows, had a
new look of ferocity, like the eyes of the fiercest of
wild beasts.

This was the man who, a graduate of an Eastern col-
lege, had once been known by the name of Theodore
Travis.

Later, having given himself over to the service of
hatred, which will twist and deform the soul of any
human being, he posed as the leader of a powerful band
of “prairie pirates.”

As the chief of this outlaw band he had been known
fas Prairie Paul.
= it was then that he had been vanquished in a

hand-to-hand fight with Buffalo Bill; the king of the

border.
| In that fight Cody had been obliged to abandon the
utlaw chief wee making sure whether he was alive
Or not.
h But his reine had been so desperate and per-
istent that the great scout had been obliged to show
mo mercy, and he had not a thought that the man
would ever survive the wounds cee had been in-
Miicted. Lee

But there sometimes seems to be a persistency in the
fe of hate which is not matched by the life of love.

  
 
 
    
    
   
  
   
   
  
  
    
   
  
 
 
  
   
 
  
  
  

vas in such a physical condition that he became an’ ob-
ect of disgust so far as his looks were concerned.
But the spirit in him seemed to be stronger than ever
e fore. :

He still possessed in a remarkable degree the power
f leadership.

He went deliberately to the task of gathering about
him the most numerous and powerful band of outlaws
nd secret spies that were ever gathered in a lawless
ause in the great West up to that time.

   
    
   
   

     

At that very moment a shadow

Prairie Paul—as he still called himself—tived, but it

 

BILL STORIES. | e

And he did this with a single purpose in view.

That was revenge!

And-the person against whom he was directing all
this machinery, for that individual's destruction, was
raked Bill, the king of bordermen—the one man who

nad seemed invincible against all attacks.

- Force, strategy and secrecy—these were the weapons
which were to be used.

It was expressly ordained by Prairie Paul that Buf-.

falo Bill Should not under any conditions be killed
quickly with bullet or knife.

Indeed, although the avenger had not spoken of this
secret desire of his, it was his hope to be able to inflict
some sort of a torture upon Buffalo Bill which should

‘not result in the death of the scout, but which should

leave him an object of abhorrence and ridicule, like
Prairie Paul himself.

And now, as ‘that man of hate; mounted on a mag-
nificent horse, confronted McBee and his other outlaw
confedetates—or this detachment of them, as it would
be better to term them—they involuntarily quailed be-
fore his terrible and penetrating gaze.

They felt that he knew something of what had just
occurred, and that he would require of them a full ac-
count of*the affair, they well knew.

Besides, there would be'no use of trying to deceive
him in a single particular, for they knew that would
be impossible.

He looked from one to another of the members of
the party, but his gaze rested first and last on,the face
of McBee, as the one who was really their leader.

“Well, Mac?” he exclaimed, in a deep and not un-
musical voice.

“There—-there ain't much of anything to report,
Capt. Paul,” faltered the man.

He was trying to call together his scattered wits, so
as to tell a decent. yarn which should not be too much
to his and his companions’ discredit.

But his wits were not extra quick, and a ‘terrible
smile began to show itself about the scarred lips of
Capt. Paul before he could summon the nerve to say :

“We just had a rather queer experience, and I
haven't been able yet to make out the meaning of it.”

Ob! that's ii)

“Tt was something that I think would have puzzled
you as much as it did us. We're not the sort to back
down for smail cause.”’ :

“Of course not!’ smirked their king, with his ter-
rible grimace.

“Did you see anything of a horseman, Capt. Paul,
as you came up just now?’

“T saw the tracks. They have been just outside the.
glen, and the rider of the horse has been here with you.
I saw his tracks, made as he came in here and went out.
He retreated on the run, and it seems that the whole
of‘you weren’t quick enough to overtake him, or even
te put a bullet into him. But perhaps he was a friend
of yours.”

   
       
 

 

18

THE BUFFALO

“Well, no; not exactly a friend.”

“Then he didn’t give you that pretty-looking bunch
over your eyes in an attempt to embrace you?’

“That—that was a clip with—with a

“A fist—nothing else; and don’ty try to lie to me,
man, or you'll get something worse from me! Now
tell the truth. Who was this visitor who hoodwinked,
struck and then got away from the four of you?’

McBee dared not lie.

He was not sure that the other had’ not seen more
of the affair than he pretended. He would be sure to
detect an attempt to misrepresent the facts, and after
the threat he had just made he would be swift to
punish.

So, with some faltering, and a little smoothing down
of the disagreeable and ridiculous. points, McBee told
the story ot the encounter with old Nick Wharton
practically as it occurred. @

To the surprise of McBee, Capt. Paul did not fall
into so much of a rage as he had anticipated.

“That was old Nick Wharton that you ran up
against,” said the leader. a

“Old Nick Wharton? Who is he?”

“An eccentric old-timer who, I hear, has recently
come to this part of the West, He is a queer char-
acter, and I’m not surprised that he took you off your

 

guard. Ill tell you what to do the next time you
sight him.”
“What?” .

“Take good aim and put a bullet through his brain
or heart. .Make it a sure go. If you miss he'll beat
you. No man can ever.get a second chance at that
man at close range, any more than he can at a certain
other whom I don’t need to name—the one of all men
whom you have been instructed how to deal with.”

“All right. But I had no idea that the old_covey
was dangerous. And that hoss of his x

“May_not be so old as it appears. In any case, it is
a remarkable trick animal and a racer when youetry to
come up with it. This much I have heard from va-
rious sources, without ever having seen either the man
or his mare. I would like only one thing better than
to be brought face to face with them.”

“Wish you'd been here jest now, Capt. Patil.
wouldn’t have got away so easy, I reckon.”

The other was silent for a moment.

Then he abruptly asked:

‘Any other news?

“Nothing.”

“No reports ?”

“No reports.”’

“Well, I have one.”

“Eh !—what is it?”

“Buffalo Bill, the proud king of the border, as he is
called, is caught!”

“No! Impossible! So soon as this!’

“It has been so signaled. Iam on my way to maké
sure of its truth. You will accompany me.’’

 

He

BILL STORIES.

 

“Then you don’t know how it was done?”

’ “T only know that the signal to tell me of the accor
plishment of that end‘has been given. The signal w:
to be given for no other purpose. If I have been dup
woe to the one who deceived me!’ |

“Do you know where-the capture took Since | Ee

“Somewhere betwixt here and Bismarck. I can on
guess at the exact locatiort.”’

“Some miles from here?” |

ves. \

“Well, then there’s no reason why| we should:
break camp and go along. But you know we have 1
horses. You wouldnit let us have any, you remer
EE.

A peculiar smile twisted the lips of Capt. Paul.

“When a man has no horse he can’t run away fro
another who has one,” he said. “And when he car
run away sometimes he’ll stay and make a fight.”

This, then, was the reason that Paul would not |
these men have horses—he wanted to make it impo
sible for them to run away in case they should con
upon Buffalo Bill.

And, rather than stand idle and be shot, they mig

_make an attempt to carry out the orders of their lead«

It was one way to guard against what he knew
be the inherent cowardice of some of his followers.

What cared he if they lost their lives because of the
inability to flee?

What cared he, how many of his men might.be sac:
ficed in the cause of his vengeance, so that that ve
geance were compassed at last?

He had no gleam of mercy for any living soul left
his heart.

His mind was as scarred and distorted as was |

body,
“Come!” he ordered, harshly. “Get ready to fc.
low me. You can’t keep-up, but you can make t!

best speed in your power. You will want to be «
hand when the grand wind-up occurs.”

With. this, the strange man wheeled his horse at
dashed ewey from the rocky glen.

 

CHAPTER 3X:

WHAT ALLEN PARSONS WAS ABOUT.

Nick Wharton, on the back of Diana, rode swift
for at least an hour.

It was over a rough country, at that.

But the old trapper seemed to make nothing of th:
Nor did Diana.

She seemed to go by steam. She was awkwat!
ridiculous, uncouth, like her rider.

But she could just go!

Then, her small hoofs seemed to have as great
power of clinging to steep and slippery places as wot!
the hoofs of a mountain goat or a donkey.

 

 
 

  
 
 
 
 
    
 
  
 
 
 
   
    
  
 
  
 
    
  
   
   
 
   
     
   
 
  

Qld Nick leaned forward in the saddle and went
bumpety-bump, up and down, until it would seem that
his vital organs must have been shaken to a jelly.

But he didn’t seem to mind. Not a word passed
his lips. . Diana minded the rein, the faintest hint of a
pull seeming to be sufficient to inform her of her
master’s will.

' On and on!

At last they descended into a sort of gully, and then
the old man: suddenly pulled up, and it appeared likely
that he would be fired.over the mare’s head when she
‘came to a sudden stop. _

“This ere is the spot. by mighty!’ . exclaimed.
Then he slid to the ground.

A footstep came to his keen hearing.
He wheeled like lightning, and his Aone rifle looked
with its single eye at.the slender figure which had sud-
enly appeared in the gully.

' “Nigh enough, sonny! I’m a leetle trembly, and I
ight shoot without really meanin’ ter!” he cautioned.
The one who was confronting him laughed in a clear,
usical voice.

“You'd never shoot me, Nick ae Of course
“By durn! Waal, I wouldn’t shoot yer voice, a the
st on ye I ain’t so sure about.”

The gun was lowered, however, for the old eauper
sg He have any real doubts about the friendliness of

The latter approached and looked up, into Nick
harton’s face.

“Don't know ye!’ he grunted. “Yer complexion
nd yer whole tarnal rig are a tangle. I can’t unravel
ye. But yer voice are natural.”

“You were in Bismarck a few weeks ago.”

“Waal, that wa’n’t no credit to me. It’s the tar-
nalest town for tangles I ever got up agi’nst yit.”’

“T remember that you did have a little trouble in one
‘the resorts. Somebody tried to guy you—took you
for an old innocent—and you wiped up the floor with
them. That’s the way the story came to me. It was
before that that you came and asked me a lot of ques-
tions. Don’t you remember?”

“There wa’n’t but one individual in the hull of Bis-
marck that I axed any questions ‘of, and that was a gal.
f) She's the only one that had a face that I'd trust.”

y “Well?” smiled the slender fellow confronting the
old man. )

| You aint a oale’

“Tam Rena Burns, the girl bookkeeper in the mining
office, that you picked out for a friend and general
trusty while you were in the wicked town of Bis-
marck !”

Nick Wharton whistled.
And so would Buffalo Bill have whistled had he been

Hthere to hear this confession, for the s speaker was no
g other than the one who had volunteered to accompany

 

Poe DUPE ALY) Bie STORIES.

a

down to sleep while I watched.

19.

him on the Geerous mission under the name of Allen
Parsons!

Before old Nick could make any comments the hve
but singular girl had explained how she happened to
be in that place in such a guise.

“But the worst has happened,’ she said,.in con-
clusion.

“What is that, gal? Durn it all, ye orter be whipped
and sent to bed, to pay for sich a keerless break as this.
Ye had, by mighty!”

“T suppose so... But as I am an orphan, and I have
no one to keep me under discipline, I fear that I shall.
have to be left to go to the bad—if this is doing it.
But I couldn’t put up with the idea of Buffalo Bill com-
ing out to face what looked like certain death alone.
And it is fortunate that I came. They have captured
him already. I was on my way back to get help to
go to‘his rescue. Perhaps you--—’

“Hey ?—what?”’ ejaculated Nick Wharton.

“T said that they had captured Buffalo Bill.”

“Who's captured’ him?”

“Some of the followers of his great enemy, Prairie
Paul.”’

“When did it happen?’

“Nearly twenty-four hours ago.”

“Lord! And now they’ve likely got him hamstrung
and busticated! What ye been doin’ all this time, that
ye ain't warned anybody ?”’

“Doing! Why, the night he was captured he laid
I thought I heard
something creeping up to the camp and went to in-
vestgiate.

“T came upon some tracks which I did not under-
stand and followed them. .They seemed to be the
tracks of a very large grizzly bear. I followed them
for a considerable distance.

“At last I came in sight of the animal. It turned
and stood erect like a man! Before I had time to fleé
or to fire I was seized from behind and thrown down.

“If I had been a good sturdy man of my own weight
I might have put up a better fight. As it was, my as-
sailant had a cinch.

“He bound me hand and foot, and I thought I was
a goner. Of course I was afraid that some chance
might betray my sex. Altogether, I was in an awful-
state of mind.

“I don’t know how-many there were of my captors.
They soon had me in a sort of cave among the rocks—
merely a shallow depression.

“There they leit me, probably expecting that the
wolves, finding me at their mercy, would finish me.
And so they would but for a streak of good luck.

“It was snowing, and that which fell in the little
cave where I lay softened and melted almost as fast as
it fell. I soaked the cords that bound my wrists in
the water and stretched them until I ae one hand
loose. .

 
 

“Then I was soon. free.
away, but did not touch my other weapons.
seemed to think that, as I was nothing but a boy, and
had showed such slight power of resistance when they
captured me that they had nothing to fear from me.

“Tn any case, | was then free, and I had learned to
be more cautious in my next movements. In a short
‘ime I found, by the tracks in the snow, that Buffalo
Bill had followed me and the tracks of the grizzly, and
fallen into the trap which:had been set for him. ‘There
was blood on the snow, and probably they managed in
sete way to. strike him down, or to drop. a rock onto
his head_

“At first 1 feared that they might have killed him.
But I found that they made their way back to our

camp and took out horses, and I judge that they must

have mounted him on his horse..
“As T had none to ride, it was a rather hard*look
for me to get back to Bismarck, It was not until I
had backed them for a considerable distance that I de-
cided to try to look for help. It didn’t seem possible
that I could do much alone toward effecting his rescue.
It is wonderful good fortune that brought you here.”

“No ’tain't—twas Diana, that ere mare that fetched
me,” corrected old Nick, with a grin.

“Then Diana shall have the credit.
. how it happens?”

“No happen about it, nuther.
egtizzly.”

“The one I was tracking?” é

“T reckon so. It was a clubfoot.”
- “Ves, I remember that one of the feet made a queer~
lookin track.)

“The same critter. Waal, I was trackin’ of him a
spell ago. He led me into the camp of four miser’ble
sneakin’ cowards. They tried for to bluff me, but
I wa’n’t takin’ bluffs. I had my eyes open, and I
made out that the bear went into the rocky inclosure
and didn’t go out ag’in—not a foot! | found hoss
tracks. I put two and two together, and made up my
mind that the bear went out hoss back!”

“The bear went. horseback !’’

“Yes, by mighty!’

“But what do you mean?”

“It wa’n’t no bear. Jest a tarnal dummy, with one
clubfoot. Fixed up with a grizzly hide, and makin’
tracks round for some purpose—prob’ly as a decoy.
Worked that way in our cases, anyhow. Only they
didn’t succeed in ketchin’ you and me, not to keep.”

“They were trying for bigger game—for Buffalo
Bill.”

“Maybe. Thotgh it’s a matter of opinion *bout his
bein’ biger game than old Nick Wharton. Ye see;
there's a family reputation behind me. There wa’n’t
afy one in my family that wa’n’t famous ih some way.
My youngest brother, Jim Wharton, for instance, when

he was a mere infant, as ’twere, stuck a knothole into
his heel———

But I wonder

It was that durned

ae

 

They had taken my rifle
They ~

move hand or feet, this was, after all, but a small ele-

perfectly smooth and unclimbable, even leaning out-

wens

20 7 THE BUPFALO, Bil STORIES.

    

“Oh, Nick!” pleaded the
laughing. ‘“‘Was there ever
couldn’t think of a Story to tell?
es re

disguised Rena~ Burns,
a situation that. you
And such big ones,

“Jest as true as ever-’twas,” he asserted, soberly.

“But something must be done for Buffalo Bill. And
i look to the most famous member of the ‘Wharton
family to do it.”

“Yas, He prob’ly will.

NG.” :

“What ye goin’ to do?”

“Isn't there room for me on the back of Diana?’

“Ain't ary saddle for ye.”

_“T can ride without one.’

‘Diana may hump ye off het back. She heerd me
call ye gal, and she abominates gals, bein’ one herself.
But ye can try. Let. me pull ye up. There! Now sit
durn quiet.”

But at that moment Diana “humped” a peculiar, sud-
den lifting of her hips, and Rena Burns slid off.

She struck on her feet, and old Nick laughed, and
Diana showed her teeth as if she, too, were grinning.

Rena joined in the mirth, while Nick told her to
try again. :

She did so, and this time she had better jhe
ambled easily up the gully, carrying double.

Got a hoss, gal e

‘Diana

CHAPTER XL
‘BACK «TO\-BUBFALO BILL;

The position in which Buffalo Bill found himself
was indeed a most startling one.
Bound, as we have said, so tightly that he could not

ment in the awful misery of his situation. “
He was lying on a narrow projection of rock thaw
jutted out over a chasm of a depth which, at that dis-
tance, the eye could not fathom!
On one side rose a sheer sheet of rock, a precipice,

 

 

ward, as if it would crowd him from the narrow shel!
where he lay.

That shelf was not an inch wider than his body as
he lay upon his back. He lay so that he was partially
facing outward—his face, we mean, toward the abyss.

By turning his head slightly he could behold the
looming height of the rock above; and without turning
his head he could look into the chasm.

Bound hand and foot, and left there to die!

For what hope was there of escape? - ‘4

It might have been possible that, with time and exer- @
tion, he might loosen his hands. But free of them,
what better off would he have been?

He could not even have risen to a sitting posture,
much less to his feet.

 

 

 

 
 

 
  
  
  
  

4

And to struggle to loosen the cords that bound him

was dangerous. ;

He felt that a slight movement might cause him to

toll forward. And two inches nearer the edge and he
would’ surely go over.

) In figuring on his chances he was

exaggerate the chances against him:

i He estimated all the hope there might be at its true
, value—and that was nothing at all!

He might shout for help—yes, and be heard and

Bp ockes by his enemies, who were, without a ca

not disposed to

  
    
    
   
   
  
   
  
 
   
    
 

The king as the butder was not afraid of death.

_ It was not the dread of death that made the perspira-
tion start now from every pore.

' It was the thought that his greatest’ foe had at last
‘gotten the best of hige that there was no doubt now
but that his foe would triumph, would live to see him
‘dead!

But the truth was, as the reader knows, it ‘was not
he purpose of Prairie Paul to kill his victim, either
loutright or by inches.

» It was the wish of the avénger that Buffalo Bil
should be brought to suffer in. the same manner that he
ad done.

Captain Paul, as his followers called him, had learned
“that physical suffering was nothing as compared with
ithe torture that may ‘be endured by the mind.

» And Paul had suffered in a way that had been keener
' to him that the same condition would have entailed to
‘some. "

He wished to infict this . péculiar misery upon
Buffalo Bill, the proud king of the border, whom no
one had ever been able to vanquish.

As a matter of fact, Prairie Paul-was at that very
moment being informed that his enemy was caught.

The manner of conveying the signal was one ‘which
Paut had suggested. It was a signal which should in
no case be given for any other purpose.

@ It should convey the information that Buffalo Bill
m@ had been captured.
The signal was first shown before dawn that morn-

 

ing.
A rocket had been sent up.
But Paul was too distant at the time to see it.

This contingency had been provided for.

# Others of his men had seen it, and passed it along
Bby a ° stem of shooting with their revolvers, until it
came one of his men who knew where to go to find

1
i
This messe enger

did not reach the leader so that the
information was delivered until the evening, which
really was d: ‘awine near when Buffalo Bill aroused

from his unconsciousness.
Of only a part of the conditions governing his sittua-
tion, was Buffalo. Bill informed.

But he was in da nger of instant de ath

nevertheless

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES. ee 21

The situation in which he found himself was one
which would have a peculiar and destructive effect on
the nerves.

He had a feeling that the overhanging rock was
pressing momentarily closer to him, ever leaning far-
ther and farther outward.

Then, as he strained at his bonds—more from an

involuntary impulse than because he had any hope of
gaining thereby—it seemed to him that every pull

moved him a‘fraction of an inch closer to the brink.

Then, the pain, of the position and his bonds was
almost intolerable.

To get relief from that, therefore, he felt compelled
to break the bonds that held his wrists.

But it was only a trial to that end, after all.

It seemed that the bonds were absolutely unyielding.

He pulled at them until the cords cut into his flesh.

Possibly they relaxed a little under this strain.

Those on his legs now gave him the more pain, be-
cause they impeded the circulation.

ile drew up his knees a little, to exert all the force
he could to loosen the bonds.

In doing so he rolled slightly toward the edge of the
narrow shelf of rock.

A slight exclamation escaped him. He thought for
the moment that he was going over the brink.

Indeed he would have done so had he not, by an

almost superhuman effort, thrown himself back again
into his original position.

After that, for a time, he could not summon the
resolution to renew his effort to loosen the bonds that
held his ankles.

He closed his eyes, to shut out the sight of the abyss,
which he could not otherwise hide from them.

He lay thus for what. seemed to be a long while.

Then a new species Of nervous torture attacked him.

He had a feeling that the upright rock. against which
his body rested was ptessing farther’ outward, and it
seemed to him that it must soon dislodge him from the
narrow shelf on which he lay.

So persistent was this sensation that he was obliged
to ope his eyes to dispel it.

“Well,” muttered the scout, at last, speaking aloud
in an effort to break the terrible spell which had fallen
upon him, “if ay arch enemy could only know how I
am feeling now he would get some comfort out of it.
I never kn ew before just w vhat it was to suffer in this

ar have been a good t at apes where I was toler-
ably certain that my wind-up would come in a few
minutes. But the situations were not of the sort to
bring me just the sensatiogs that I am having now.

“I suppose all kinds of experierice may be good for
a man. But this won’t do me much. good since it
appears sure that I’ll never get out of it.

“The sensible thing for me to do is to roll myself off
from this infernal shelf, and have it over with. ‘Then

 
 

22 COE BULPALG
oe woud have to die but once, while now I am suffering
a new death every moment.

“Shall I do it? W hy not? It would not properly
be suicide since I must die that death arryway. It
“would be better for me to do that than to remain here
until I became insane and threw myself off. Yes
it would: be far better: Petr*there 1s no hope, and |
am suffering the most terrible angony in flesh and
joints. And it must grow worse every. moment that I
stay in this position.”

If the great scout had but realized the truth he was

approaching eee near to the point of madness _

already.

The very thought of throwing himself off into that
abyss was an indication of it.

Again he closed his eyes; and once more the ponder-
ous rocks seemed to be pushing him off.

Then a strange change came to him

He was injured by the blow that had fallen on his :

head, and from which he had so long been unconscious.
Besides, he was exhausted by the strain upon his
nerves.
Then the most natural,
pected, thing occurred.
He fell asleep. 3
Tow long he slept he had no means of chow
But when he awoke it was night, and as the sky was
overcast almost pitchy darkness reigned on all sides of

although the most unex-

him.
A man with the training which Buffalo Bill had had
never awakes in a bewildered state of mind. ai
He is certain to recall almost instantaneously all that
occurred last before he fell asleep.

So in the present instance he remembered at once —
the terrible position in which he had been when he

fell asleep.

_ He cautiously tried his bonds; there was no change.
But he was more comfortable, in mind as well as in

body.

. The straining at his bonds before he fell Paden Hag

loosened them slightly, enough to relieve the circula-
tion of blood in his limbs.

Then the slumber had slackened the tension of his
nerves so that his brain was no longer affected by the
hallucinations which had come so near to forcing him
to end his own life.

He no longer felt in the least impelled to do this.

“I will wait,” he reflected. “There is no telling
what may happen. I have escaped from well-nigh

=

BILL STORIES.

hopeless pinches te Probably this is my last call;

_ but I won't make it so.’

. With resolution, he lay silent and still, gazing up
a the gray sky line which he could see overhead. .

Suddenly a sound came to his ears from above.

It was a low shout—uttered in a voice which was
hoarse and unfamiliar to his ears.

‘It came from a point almost directly over, his head.

For the first time, the sound of that voice brought
to him a wonderment as to how his enemies had man-

-aged to lodge him down on that narrow shelf of rock
‘when the precipice above projected out over him.

Ele wondered if there were not some peculiarity of
the conformation of the rocks over him which he had
not observed in his fear of ee the position of
his head.

Now it was too dark for him to make out anything.

Again he heard the shout, in the same voice.

This time it seemed to him that his name—Bill—
was spoken.

. 1! do no harm to answer ae see what comes of

’ he reflected.

oe he raised his voice in an answering shout which
was loud enough to have been heard for a quarter of
a mile.

There was a brief interval of silence.

Then, from directly. over him came a voice which

distinctly said:

“Say—is that you, Bill Coane And if it is, by
mughty, I want to know whether ye're dead or ‘killed! 1

CHAPTER: XI
A TURN

“Tt is I, and I’m neither dead or killed,” answered
the scout, while his heart leaped with a sudden revival
of the hope of life.

Of course the one who addressed him in that eccen-
tric way was old Nick Wharton.

But Buffalo Bill did not recognize the voice or words,
because it had never been his fortune to meet that
queer old fellow.

He had heard of him more than once. But it had
chanced that they had never before come together,
principally because they had roved over different sec-
tions of the West.

But the next moment he was greeted by another
voice—one that he did recognize.

OP THE TABLES:

 
~ Te UP AL()

    
    
  
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
  
     
  
 
 
  

It was the voice which had been assumed by Rena
Murns when she had been with him disguised as Allen
arsons.

| “It is Nick Wharton, the famous old trapper that
spoke to you, Mr. Cody,” said the girl, “And 1 am
ithe one whom I suppose you think deserted or betrayed
ou. But I’ll have a chance now, I hope, to prove that
didn’t do it.”

“Allen Parsons!’’ exclaimed the scout. ;
“Until you know more about it, Col. Cody,” an-
iswered Rena.
| “And you say it is Nick Wharton with you?”

“Ves. And of course you know——”

-“T know there was a famous scout and trapper who
erved on the border against the Indians during the
ivil War, and later. Can this be he?”

“Tt’s Nick Wharton's father’s third son, by mighty !”
hipped in the old man.

“This isa miracle! But I don’t know whether you
an do anything for me, especially in this darkness.’
In a few words Buffalo Bill explained as well as he
ould the situation he was in, and how he supposed that
e came to be there. |

Before. he had fairly finished his story he saw a
limmer of light descending over the edge of the rocks
ust above his head, but so far back that it was with
idifficulty that he could twist his neck so as to obtain a
Wisicht of it.

The light was in the form of an old-fashioned tir
lantern, the sides of which were full of small holes.

It sent out sprinkles of light, which were a little
better than nothing.

| To Nick Wharton, however, they seemed to be suffi-
cient.

‘situation of the scout on the shelf of rock, and the

difficulties which would have to be overcome to get him

up from there that Rena Burns, with her young™eyes

could gain.

“Durn it all!’ exclaimed the old trapper. “It’s all

jest as easy as rollin’ off a log. Jest wait a minute
| 10w quick I’ll git down there and cut the

ings on that feller, Then see how quick we'll git

1p here ag’in to terret a

cautioned Buffalo Bill,

_ |@ thinking of the age of his ae rescuer.

“Let me go down, Nick!

: \ fh ook here!

“You'll have to be careful,”

 

bi

chipped in Rena Burns.
’ exclaimed the old man. ‘“‘You’ll be

gittin’ me scrumptious if ye keep on. The Wharton

In any case he appeared to obtain a better idea of the,

ea

BILL STORIES. - 23

family are famous for losin’ their temper and doin’
desprit things when under the influence of their cere-
brums, so to speak. If I had the time I’d tell ye of my
third brother, Hiram, who had a ructious spell once,
and got to tearin’ round so that he smashed pretty nigh
everything there was within a space of half a mile.
He did, by mighty. He got hold of a big apple tree
out in my father’s back yard and broke it right off cluss
to the ground! And if you was ever round to the old
place where we was all borned and brung up, I’d show
ye stubs of that ere tree, pervided it’s still there.”

For once the old man did not neglect the business he
had in hand for the sake of putting a proper finish on
his story.

The lantern was lowered to the rock shelf whereon
Buffalo Bill lay. Then the trapper rigged up a stouter
lariat, and was soon descending it hand over hand, ,as
easily as a boy of sixteen could have done.

He was spare of flesh and with muscles of iron, and
the feat was not so difficult for him, with the constant
activity to which he was accustomed, as it appeared.

Reaching the rock shelf, which was in reality but a
short distance below the point from which the descent
was made, Nick Wharton made short work of releasing
Buffalo Bill.

But the latter was not strong enough to ascend hand
over hand, although Nick explained to him that at a
little more than his own height he would reach a
depression in the rock whence the rest of the ascent
could be made without the aid of a rope.

“Waal, then, Vu have to give ye a boost,” decided
the old man.

“Will that be easier than pulling ‘me up with the
help of your companion, whom I took for a tolerably
strong young fellow?”

“Ho. ho!—by mighty!” was the comment of the.

old man.
‘Then he said:

“Ye git holt of that rope and haul up the best ye
can, I'll take holt of yer laigs and h’ist.”

Buffalo Bill was not the sort to argue the case.
For once he was the weaker party in the difficulty, and
he must take things as they were offered him.

He put out all the strength he could summon for
the climb, and Nick Wharton “boosted” with such
effect that he had hardly anything to do.

He was soon where he could get a hold on the slop-
ing rock and turf, and in another moment he was at
the side of the disguised Rena Burns. ‘

Pi pk pea e ui ca i 5 ae aes)

 
 

  

24

“Buffalo Bill.”’ said the girl in a low voice, as she
seized his hand and carried it to her lips. “I never
expected to see you again! Forgive me for deceiving
you a little bit. I really thought you would recognize
me when you had a fair look at me. But I really
couldn’t bear to have you start on this expedition with
no one with you.

“And, as you see, while I dida’t amount to very

much, I was the means of bringing Nick Wharton to
the rescue.”’

“What !—_you are not—-Miss Rena Burns?”

“That was my name when I was in Bismarck sling-
ing ink.”

“Well, I didn’t look you ap: so sharp as I pretended
to. That note from Denton pulled the wool over my
eyes. And, to tell the truth, I had a feeling that I
should need to have somebody with me, if it wasn’t
anything more than a tame kitten. |

“You've saved my life, Miss Rena.”

. “With old Nick Wharton’s help.”’

“T wouldn’t think of counting him out of it.”
~ Cody took hold of the rope and drew with all his re-
turning strength, and in truth the old man was glad
of the help, for it was not such an easy matter for him
to climb even that short distance unaided hand over
hand.

But, once with a grip on the solid earth, Nick sprang
up the rest of the way with the agility of a cat.

Indeed, it was evident that he rather liked to show
off haw spry he was for his age.

Every man, who advances in, years, comes to a time
when he likes to “show off’ as he did when a boy.

But he had hardly reached the upper level acre the
sharp crack of a rifle split the air.

Simultaneously they heard the click of a bullet
against the rocks below at a point close to where the
lantern was still hanging.

“They'll spile that: lantern, by mighty!” exclaimed
Nick, and he began hauling it up as fast as he could
handle the rope. |

But there was a second report before the lantern was
up to his hand, and that time the vale whistled close
to the old trapper’s face.

A quick pull landed the lantern over back of where
they were crouching. At the same time Nick glanced
across the canyon, toward the point Whence the shots
had come.

He had seen the flash of the second discharge.

Now he quickly raised his heavy weapon to his

THE BUPEALO

Bik, SIORIES.

shoulder, took quick aim, and the thunderous rep,
sounded on the air, sending its reverberations along |
rocky and wooded barriers on the opposite side of {
chasm. |

And, instantly following the report and minglj
with its echoes, there was a yell of death agony, endi
in a moan which came to the ears of our friends w
singular distinctness.

“A remarkable shot!” exclaimed Buffalo Bill, W
would not have expected such accuracy from the «
rifle and the hand of a man of Nick Wharton’s yea
with only the memory of the spot where he had se
the flash to aim at.

“Now ye better move along a bit while I load the «
shooter. If they should git the range there might
more of a tarnal tangle out of it than we could ta

« keer of.”

Buffalo Bill was already changing his position, wh
he drew Rena Burns after him.

_ Nick also shifted so that a shot at the point whe
the flash of his gun had appeared would not be in ran
for him, who then proceeded to ram home anoth
heavy charge for his old-fashioned weapon.

He was not so very long about it, either.

At that time no more s ‘shots were fired, however, |

either side.

A brief consultation was held to decide upon t
next immediate action.

There was only one horse for the use of them, ai
it could hardly be expected that even Diana wot
be able to carry three persons at one time. _

Buffalo Bill was without any weapons, and Rei
Burns gave him both of her reyolvers, which had n
been taken aw ay from her.

What had become of his own valuable rifle and hor
could not even be conjectured. Of course they we

inthe hands of some individuals among his enemiec
but whom, and where they could be found, were hop
less problems.
Chance was as likely to solve them as anything els
“There is probably a way across’ that gully som
said Buffalo Bill. “But I wi

brought here unconscious and I confess that I haver

where near here,”

been able to locate myself in the darkness.”
“Tain’t fur to git across, and that’s the thing f
us to do!” said Nick Wharton. |

  

 

 
 

 

 

 

e even pitch,

-a doubt.

yo ncablgnnlN A NNAGR Sg tb ye ee on Tt ee aa LN

PHe BUPFPALO

CHAPTER. XITt
OVER THE CH AS M

Buffalo Bill was even more anxious to get to the
other side of the chasm than were his companions, for
the reason that he wished to be active in an attempt to
get hold of a horse and rifle.

Without these he felt so helpless that he did not
know what to do.

As old Nick seemed to be confident that he knew the
lay of the land, Cody was glad to leave to him the
responsibility of showing the way to the ie they
were most anxious to reach.

The old trapper made good his word.

He did not mount Diana, but led the way on foot
for a short distance along the edge.of the gully, the
mare following like a dog.

They soon turned to the left, descended a steep but
reached the bottom of the depression, and
then ascended a similar pitch on the opposite side.

“Now we're across, and mabbe we'll wish ourselves
back again, by mighty!” exclaimed Nick Wharton as

he came to a halt, breathing a little hard from his exer-

tion in,climbing the steep ascent out of the gully.

“That is so!” agreed Buffalo Bill, who well under-
stood what the other meant.

That there were others belonging to the ranks of the
enemy on that side of the gully there could be hardly
Already had he received abundant testimony
of the craftiness and desperation of the men with whom
he had to cope, and there was every reason to believe
that the one who had probably been struck by the shot
from Niek Wharton's rifle was only one of many, or at

a

tecst.several, lying in wait in the vicinity.

Buffalo Bill naturally inferred that it had been the
purpose of his foes to merely abandon him in the
position in which he had found himself, to either die
from exhaustion or to fall off into the chasm through

| some imprudent attempt toward relief.

On that supposition he had supposed that those who

| had placed him in that position might linger for a
| while in the vicinity out of curiosity to satisfy them-
) selves as to his actual fate.

But that he had been placed there merely for the

| purpose of safe keeping, not unmixed with torture, he
“did not even remotely suspect.

So he had no thought that those who had done this
would wait expecting the arrival of others in response
to signals announcing his capture.

“Ye wanted to git over to this side of the gully, Mr.

APS Fieconctlncnbimiet Ale fl ah hs. yy Li lt ety ys eM

Me hs AR i Ae AM fg My ANE ae tk et AM ON inne a,

BILL STORIES. 25

Cody,” said Nick Wharton. “And here ye air, as the
spider said to the snap-bug. I reckon ye had some
reason in yer noddle, and I ain’t axin’ ary questions. —
But I’m durned curi’s, jest the same.”’

“I was in hopes . finding the body of the r man you
shot a moment ago.”’

Uloipig bis tiller’,

es. 4 an

“Then go and hunt it up, durn it all! The Wharton
family always had a feelin’ agin’ techin’ or makin’ use
of shootin’ irons belongin’ to a corpse. It all comes
of an experience of a great uncle of mine. Ina fight
with Injuns he picked up the rifle of a corpse and as he

.was lookin’ down the barrel on’t to see if there was

a charge in it, the durned thing shooted itself and
blowed my great uncle’s head off. After that my
venerated relative would never have nothin’ to do with
any kind of a firearm that had belonged to a corpse.”

Buffalo Bill did not wait tc hear the end of the old
fellow’s yarn.

By this time he felt almost completely recovered
from the nervous collapse which he had suffered while
in the terrible situation on the narrow rack shelf,

His head was still sore from the bruise received when
he had been stunned by the rock which had been thrown
down upon him, and by means of which he had been
first taken by the enemy.

But the sickening weakness which he had at ‘Stet
experienced was entirely gone. —

All the old vigor was returning to his muscles,

He felt a sense of hunger, and resolved to Bet a
square meal upon the first opportunity.

But he was anxious to be on the move again, and
the first thing to be done, was to put himself into a
competent condition by the possession of suitable
weapons.

He had so well marked the distance they had gone
since leaving the spot where Nick Wharton had fired
across the chasm that he knew when he had reached a
point opposite.

Here he moved with the greatest caution,

He could see but faintly.

He went by sense of touch quite as much as by sieht,
groping his way along the ground close to the a
of the gully. !

His hand presently came in contact with what he
knew to be the body of the victim:of Wharton’s shot;

The man lay close to the very brink.

A foot closer and he would have fallen to the bottom.

Pe suk EN Oe ON tig Be Nl. iN Hie te lg age eu.

i

> TW ae Oe Min tt Ae

 
THE BUFFALO

At first Cody feared that the rifle belonging 9 =
man had fallen into the gully.

But his hand soon came in contact with the weapon.

Then he lost no time in possessing himself of the
cartridge belt and such other weapons as were on the
person | ‘ot the dead man.

Of these there was a good supply, and ina moment
’ Buffalo Bill once more felt like a border king, for he
was as well and completely armed as ever. '

“Now I feel like myself again!’ he muttered.

He rose to return to his companions and in doing so
collided with some one who was in the act of bending
over the inanimate body.

An ejaculation of surprise half escaped the lips of
the unknown—and that was all.

The hand of Buffalo Bill stopped his mouth, and
the next instant both went to the evr locked in each
other’s embrace.

But it was a short fight.

The steellike muscles of the great scout had eke
none of their force, and the unknown assailant was
forced to loose his hold.

The next instant he was picked up bodily and then,
with a shriek of mortal terror he was hurled out over
the brink of the chasm! ©

The cry ceased with the sound ofa body — on
the rocks fiity feet below.

Then, as the scout heard the sound of running foot-
steps he ran back to the pee where he had lef his
companions.

‘“Vve got em!” its whispered. “And now the
quicker we get back to the other side of the gully the
better.” : 5

“Back we go, then,” said Nick. “But ’m kinder
ashamed to say so to Diana, for fear that she'll think I
ain’t actin. with the usual skiacity that governs my
ordinary locomotions.”

Still possessed of no horse, Buffalo Bill was not in-
clined to attempt to journey far before daylight should
show him more clearly their exact situation.

The chance which had thrown him temporarily into

the hands of the enemy did not make him forget that
the mission upon which he had left Bismarck was yet
‘unaccomplished.
_ He had started out for the purpose of learning what
_ had become of his friend, Philip Ross, and to restore
him to safety if.the young man were found to be en-
trapped by Prairie Paul or any of his emissaries.

. Nick Wharton’s age showed itself in one way: that
was in the degree of fatigue which followed protracted
effort of any kind.. So in the present case the old man
complained that he wanted a chance to let Diana “rest
her laigs.”

And Buffalo. Bill and Rena Burns both knew that
it was the old trapper himself who craved the rest.

So it_was decided to stop in the most secluded spot
they could find in the vicinity and give Nick Wharton

Biel STORIES.

"a chance to sleep until morning, provided they were

not interrupted by the enemy.

This program was carried out, Buffalo Bill insisting
on standing guard during the entire interval before
daylight.

The first streak of dawn, however, found old Nick
astir.

He had provisions in his saddle bags for breakfa
and he set about getting a meal ready as soon as he was
up.

While he was thus employed Buffalo Bill returned
to the vicinity of the any to reconnoiter.

As he approached the deeper part of the chasm where
he had met the adventure of the night before he was

- startled by a hoarse cry from the opposite side.

The scout ran forward, rifle in readiness.

A glance showed him a man who had just attempted
to ascend the steep declivity on the other side.

The man had lost his footing, his hat had fallen off
and he was clinging desperately with his hands to some
roots that grew out near the top of the ascent.

Buffalo Bill recognized him instantly as one of
Prairie Paul’s men, and a notorious desperado whom
he had hunted more than once and in vain.

Instantly Buffalo Bill dropped to one knee and
leveled his rifle at the desperado,

The latter,glanced back and saw and recognized him,
while a cry of despair burst from his lips.

At the same time the scout spoke in a ringing tone.

“Drop,” he cried, “and be erushed on the rocks or
cling, and get a bullet in your back!”

CTLAP LE Ri DV,
THE LAST CALL AT LOST CANYON.

The despera do let go his hold, as he would have been
obliged to do anyway, and ened with a whimpering
cry into the depths. a

The scout did not stop to witness more. ee

“One by one, I’m pees them off!” he mutte: ed

_as he returned to the Spot where they had encamped.

He did not then even take the trouble to tell his
companions what had occurred.

He had satisfied himself that no more of his Es
were in sight before leaving the gully. And he ha
feeling that no more w puld be encountered unti ‘a
had gone further in his quest of Philip Ross.

This assumption proved to be correct.

An hour later they once more crossed the gully, this
time making a swift search of the trails w hich had beet
made by the outlaws in that vicinity.

To his great ae Buffalo Bill found two
horses which had been left by the ruffians who had lost
their lives in the gully. A third had stampede.

There were tracks of a fourth which, evidently guided
by the hand of the rider, had gone in a northerly
direction.

The horses were fairly good animals, and the finding

 
 

THE BUFFALO

f of them provided both Buffalo Bill and Rena Burns
f =r with means of keeping along with Nick Wharton.

: The latter expressed himself as determined to see
| the “tangle’ through now that he had started out on
f it. Being fully informed as to the object of Buffalo
| Bill he was sure that he knew where Philip Ross would
© be hidden, provided that Prairie Paul’s men had en-
p. trapped fied
b “T come down this yere gully t’other day,” he de-
elared, “and so I knows jest where it leads to. At the
upper end there’s a tolerable deep canyon that ye can't
git out of exceptin’ by t the same way ye go 1n,

“IT got tangled up in there myself, and had to go
a long ways round, by mighty, afore I was clear of it.
But I found that there was a lot of good hidin’ holes
up in there, and it looked. to me as 7 they had been
used.”’

“That is the place they call Lost Cae said the
border king, recognizing the locality by the descrip-
tion of the old Ce

“Durn good place to be lost in, by mighty.
there that ye’re sot on goin’ next 2”

oy Ose |

“Then I can show ye a short cut from here. It
, | ain’t no credit to me that I struck it. ® It’s all Diana’s
gumption. She’s a great mare for short cuts, She'll
square a ee or skew a triangle without ary strap
or string all, by mighty!”

Buffalo =e felt his heart warming with a singular
_ liking for the old man who seemed to “have a story ora
' jest at the end of his tongue, no matter how tired he
might be, or how great the danger that was looming

 

 

Ts it

 

    
   
 
 
  
  
  
   
   

        

  
 
  
 

““There’s a ivhole load of sunshine in that man, and
it'll hold out as long as there is a breath of life in his

This is what the great scout found opportunity to
«249.Rena Burns later in the day when they were just
enteting the Lost Canyon.

“T’m going to ask you. both to stop here while I do
the reconnoitering,”’ said the scout, when they had gone
a half- mile further.
“Jest as you say, mister. But take my advice and
tbe keerful and not let ’em podulate yer royal syphax!’”’
‘said Nick, solemnly.

Buffalo Bill had been reading the trail, and that was
why he wished to enter the Lost Canyon alone.

A single horseman, according to his calculation, had
entered the place within a half hour and had not come
out again.

There were no other recent tracks in the vicinity,
and Buffalo Bill had a strong impression that the one
who had approached the interior of Lost Canyon alone
at that time was one whom it belonged to him.to meet,
m and that the object of that person in coming here had
hy something to do with the disappearance of Philip Ross.

fF So strong were these impressions that he wanted
fF some one to stay behind to guard against others coming

Made C ale attest aa Stent eee Mae

BRILL SUORIES 37 : 27
up in the rear unexpectedly, and bottling them up in the
blind passage.

He rode on alone at an easy but fairly rapid pace.

At last he pulled up and leaped to the ground, ad-
vancing more silently on foot:

He found himself in a gloomy and rugged spot.

He knew that he could not go much farther.

Shielding himself as much as possible behind rocks
and projections he advanced until he could see the
closed end of the canyon.

Just as he reached this point he saw a horse standing
near the limiting wall of rock:

At the same time a queer figure crept forth from a.
niche among the rocks and writhed itself along, with a
horrible, crawling pace, toward the horse.

“Prairie Paul—and alone!’”’ came from: the lips of, the
scout.

He hesitated only for a moment.

Then’ he sprang forward and approached Prairie
Paul ata run.

“Hands up!—it is my call!’ cried Buffalo Bill.

Prairie Paul seemed to fall back, while a peculiar cry
burst from his lips.

He held up his hands then, and Buffalo Bill believed
that he had done so in token of surrender.

But a second later a half dozen powerful and fully
armed ruffians leaped out from a low cavern retreat
and raised their rifles to fire upon Buffalo Bill.

“Cripple him-—cripple him!” cried Prairie Paul.
“You must not kill him—remember!”

The rifle of the border king spoke first.

One of the men fell.

Then the scout fell back and stood at bay, btaced
against the wall of rock.

The rifles of the outlaws sputtered.

A twinge in his leg caused the scout to drop to one
a

Je dropped his rifle and pulled his revolvers, which
he a made sure were properly loaded.

Then the leaden hail began to patter against the
rocks, and a chorus of hideous yells burst from the lips
of his foes, several of whom he observed were redskins.

They attempted to fire again; but the rapid shooting
of Buffalo Bill disconcerted them so that they could
not.

Within an incredibly short space of time every man
of them lay upon the rocks, either killed or more or less
seriously wounded.

Only one was unharmed.

That was Prairie Paul.

The latter now sprang toward the scout with a cry
like that of a madman.

He had a revolver in one hand, and this he began
firing point-blank at Buffalo Bill.

The latter replied with a similar fire, and yet beither
of them fell.

Was it impossible for these two deadly foes to kill
each other?

 
 

 

THE BUFFALO

28

wv

It seernedso for the moment. : |

But suddenly 4 wild shriek rang upon the air.
Prairie Paul’s crippled form fell to the ground and
tumbled about in strange contortions,

But only for a moment. The fatal shot had found
its home—the avenger, instead of compassing his de-
signs, had met his own doom!

Limping, with blood flowing from several wounds,
the scout king’ reached the side of his now silent enemy
and bent over him.

“Dead this time, beyond the shadow of doubt! It
was his last call instead of mine.
he had me, for I couldn’t seem to reach him with the

lead! | a

“He got some of my blood, and it remains to be seen
if I am in time to save Ross. I believe they have hid-
den him among these rocks.”

CHAPTER XY.
CONCLUSION.

“Waal, I come pretty nigh bein’ too late for this
tarnal tangle!’

It was Nick Wharton who uttered this remark, of
course.

Mounted on Diana he had burst into Lost Canyon
like a streak, and he was in time to find Buffalo Bill
fainting and falling from loss of blood at the entrance
to a small cave among the rocks,

“Tn there—quick—I reckon.they have their prisoner
there!” spoke Buffalo Bill, weakly, pointing into the
cave.

~ Nick was off he mare, and he sprang into the cave,
in response to the urgent appeal of the scout.

And there, lying on a heap of skins, was Philip Ross,
pale, weak, almost unconscious from starvation !

This was the revenge of Prairie Paul upon his first
object of hatred—his rival of earlier days!

At this moment Rena Burns came up, and Nick
turned Ross over to her care, briefly telling her what
appeared to be the matter with the young man.

Then the old trapper turned his attention to Buffalo
Bill. who seemed to be in a fair way to bleed to death
unless he received immediate care. :

The wounds were tied up with rude yet not unskill-
ful surgery. Then some stimulant was poured down
the throat of the scout. And there was the expected re-

sult—Cody revived, and very soon he was asking about -

“ROSE

Rena came out to answer his inquiries. Her eyes

were shining with tears of sympathy, for she hadfound '

the young man pitiably weak.

“He'll pull through after he has ad some provender
stuffed inter him,” was the verdict of Nick Wharton.

And it fell to him to “‘stuff the provender,” which,
however, he did with great caution lest he might over-
do the process. _

The little party stayed in Lost Canyon until dawn of
the next day. They were not pursued by other mem-

BILL STORIES.

And yet I thought —

be realized—
Ross did not fully recover from his ordeal for several 7

bers of Paul’s vengeance band, for the reason that he
had not ordered them to go to Lost Canyon, and they

dared not transgress one of his explicit orders.

Ross recuperated rapidly, and was soon able to re-
late how .he had left the mines, as me had agreed to do
and started for Bismarck. a

On the second day he had been caught happing by
some of the outlaws with Prairie Paul himself in the
Patty. 2:

He had been taken directly to Lost Canyon, and
there left under guard of a half dozen of the men,

But they had given him almost no food since he had
fallen into their hands, and one of them hinted that
Prairie Paul had instructed them to starve him to death,
by inches.

It was another aceon of the insanely vengeful
nature of Prairie Paul.

Such a man could not be regarded as possessed of his
natural feelings. He was mad with hate.

At length the party started back toward Bismarck.

But, before reaching the town, Nick Wharton os
Diana out of the line, saying:

“This ’ere is the limit! Ye won't ketch Nick i ear-
ton in that towa ag’in. He needs more room—he don’t
like to feel crowded, as it were. Bismarck is a town
of ructions and tangles, seditions and ’sputations!
Mabbe we'll meet ag’in, though. Till then, how are

el?
,

He doffed his cap to Rena, heard their chorused

  

good-bys, and then wheeled Diana and scooted away #ay

_ like a comet.

We will echo his eonde with the hope that they may
“Mebbe we'll meet ag’in!’?

weeks. During that period Rena Burns was rather
kinder to him than a sister would have been:

Buffalo Bill, too, had to lie still for a while to get §
seg Me

over his Gouade.

Meanwhile, the followers of Prairie Paul, as soon as |

they heard of his death, were ready enough to break
up their organization.

Nothing more was seen of the “clubfoot grizzly,”
which was merely one of the men of Prairie Paul’s band
who chose that clever disguise as a decoy.

McBee, with his comrades, were glad to get as far
away as possible from the new hunting grounds of old

Nick Wharton.

_* It was well for them that they did so!

TELE END,

The next issue (No. 158), will contain “Buffalo
Bill’s Cold Chase; or, Running Down Redskins on the
ice.”

This is another Indian story, full of new ineidents,
strange strategems, exciting encounters and plenty o!
fun. Buffalo “Bill shows his mettle in unusual situa-
tions, and there is a. plot that you will like to have un-
raveled. Don’t miss this story.

i

 

 
 

 

This is the Newest and Most Up:to-Date Boys’ Weekly Published

 

 

DON'T READ IT if you don’t want to keep on

reading it for you will find it a habit easily

formed. You will find in these stories something

new, they are entirely different from any western
stories you have ever read for they contain real,

~ live American boys such as you meet every day;

and show you what actual life on the cattle
ranges is like. They have plenty of real excite-
ment, cattle herding, broncho busting, etc., and
plenty of fun and human interest

 

 

 

 

_ HERE ARE THE FIRST NUMBERS

i. TED STRONG'S ROUGH RIDERS; or, The Boys of Black Mountain
2. TED STRONG'S FRIENDS :
3. TED

Five ' Cents at all newsdealers or from

STREET & SMITH, 238 William St., N. Y.

0 Lo LF. LO» Lo LE Ee LO» M0
oe: Rae Wa Mae Mar Mas Me ye

or, The Trial of Ben Tremont
STRONG'S WAR PATH; or, The Secret of the Red Cliffs
4, TED STRONG'S STRATAGEM :
5. TED STRONG'S RIDE FOR LIFE ;
* 6. TED STRONG ON THE TRAIL; or, The Cattle Men of Salt Licks

or, Saving a Boy's Honor
or, Caught in the Circle

 

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Containing the Most Thrilling Adventures of the Celebrated
Government Scout “BUFFALO BILL’’ (Hon. William F. Cody.)

 

 

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 Angels
~125—-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 Chief.
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.
137—Buffalo Bill in the Black Hills; or, Red Hand, the White Mystery.
138—Buffalo Bill’s Daring; or, The Branded Brotherhood.
-139—-Buffalo Bill’s Pluck; or, The Mysterious Boy of the West.
 140—Buffalo Bill’s Long Chase; or, Grit, the Gambler Sport. |
141—Buffalo Bill’s Nerve of Iron; or, The Chief of the Gold Wolves.
-142—Buffalo Bill’s Raid of Death; or, The Border Robin Hood. _
143—Buffalo Bill’s Triple Duel; or, Red Plume, the Boy Hermit.
144—-Buffalo Bill’s Boy Scout; or, The Phantom Spy of the Prairie.
145—Buffalo Bill’s Feather-Weight; or, Apache Charley, the Indian Athlete.
146—Buffalo Bill’s Fire Fighters; or, Darrell, the Drover from Dead Easy.
147—-Buffalo Bill's Boy Beagle; or, New York Ned’s Redskin Trail.
148—Buffalo Bill’s Five “Friendlies”: or, Wally Burt, the War Hawk of Tomaclub.
149—Buffalo Bill’s Banner Play; or, Cripps, the Canyon Centaur.
150—Buffalo Bill’s Pawnee Pard; or, The Comanche Captive.
151—Buffalo Bill, the Spotter Scout; or, The Saddle Knight from SAod
- 152—Bufialo Bill’ s Danger Line; or, Snake Eye’s Silent Signal.
153—Buffalo Bill’s Blind Lead; or, The Pirates of the Prairie.
154—Buffalo Bill’s River Rovers: or, Redskins and Rangers.

 

 

 

All of the above 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 st., NEW YORK

 

 

 

$00600000006000006080008000000000000000 0100004000000 0000 00 BION ICoSE NCO OODOENTEIOIES:

    
 
 
   
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  

 

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~ ADVENTURES IN THE WILD WEST

THE BUFFALO BILL STORIES

32 Large Sized Pages 5 Handsome Colored
Clear Type Cc; Covers

 

 

 

 

LATEST TimrLes:

163—Buffalo Bill and the Great Sunstone; or, The
Trick That Trapped the Duke of the Dagger
164—Buffalo Bill’s Wildest Ride; or, The Monster
Serpent of the Bad Lands Lake

165—Buffalo Bill and the Green Goods Cabal;

or, The Woman With the Manacled Agi
166—Buffalo Bills Lightning Shot;

or, The Red Gulch Rescue
1o7— —Buffalo Bill’s Bandit Friend ;
or, The Mystery of the Black Riders

168—Buttalo Bill at Bay :

or, The Claim Jumper of Silver Gulch
169—-Buffalo Bill’s Dark Drive;
| or, Manton, The Mountain Mystery
170—Buffalo Bill’s Fair, Square Deal;
or, The Duke of the Daccer: s Dead Lock
17, 1—Buffalo Bill’s Bold Brigade;

or, Injun Joe’s Burrow

’ 172—Buffalo Bill on a Hunt For Gold;

or, The Lost Mine of the Cimarrons

 

 

To be had from ail newsdealers, or sent upon receipt of
price, Five Cents, by the publishers |

pe MEET @ SMITH, ef8 William St., New York

 

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